Thomas A Light

US Patent:

44471262, May 8, 1984

Filed:

Jul 2, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/394976

Inventors:

Paul F. Heidrich - Tucson AZ
Robert A. Laff - Yorktown Heights NY
Thomas B. Light - Chappaqua NY

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G02B 514
G03B 2700

US Classification:

350 9631

Abstract:

An improved optical printing head is described including a linear array of light sources, and a lens array comprised of graded index optical fibers arranged in a hexagonal close-packed array, there being at least three rows of individual fiber lenses. The linear array of light sources is aligned with, and parallel to, lines of symmetry of the graded index lens array, where the lines of symmetry are defined as lines along said graded index lens array which will transmit a line of light incident thereon with a minimum deviation in the intensity of light transmitted through the lens array. A photosensitive surface on a rotating drum is provided onto which light images from the optical printhead are incident. The print head can be used in optical printing machines.