Apparatus and method for exposing photosensitive recording media with digital image data
First Claim
1. Apparatus for recording an image on photon sensitive recording media, comprising:
- a source of image pixel data in digital form having a multiplicity of possible intensity values which multiplicity of intensity values are multiples of a lowest intensity value greater than zero;
photon generator means for exposing the photon sensitive recording media at a first fixed intensity level corresponding to the lowest intensity value greater than zero, of the pixel data, and at a second fixed intensity level which is a multiple of the first fixed intensity level; and
means for controlling the amount of time of exposure of the recording media at the first and second intensity levels in correspondence with the pixel data intensity values from the source.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method are provided for recording images on photon sensitive recording media (20) which includes a source (12) of image pixel data in digital form having a multiplicity of possible intensity values, a photon generator 16 for exposing the photon sensitive recording media at a fixed intensity level, and a controller (24, 22, 14) for controlling the amount of time of exposure of the recording media in correspondence with the pixel data intensity values from the source. Previously known apparatus either have problems producing clearly distinguishable shades of gray on the recording media or else require much more expensive technology. The most likely applications are the production of hard copy from medical imaging data where clarity and detail are the most important consideration. Other applications may prove feasible with any form of digitizable image data.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. Apparatus for recording an image on photon sensitive recording media, comprising:
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a source of image pixel data in digital form having a multiplicity of possible intensity values which multiplicity of intensity values are multiples of a lowest intensity value greater than zero; photon generator means for exposing the photon sensitive recording media at a first fixed intensity level corresponding to the lowest intensity value greater than zero, of the pixel data, and at a second fixed intensity level which is a multiple of the first fixed intensity level; and means for controlling the amount of time of exposure of the recording media at the first and second intensity levels in correspondence with the pixel data intensity values from the source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for recording an image on photon sensitive recording media, comprising the steps of:
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receiving image pixel data in digital form with a multiplicity of possible intensity values which multiplicity of intensity values are multiples of a lowest intensity value greater than zero; exposing the photon sensitive recording media with photons at a first fixed intensity level corresponding to the lowest intensity value greater than zero, of the pixel data, and at a second fixed intensity level which is a multiple of the first fixed intensity level; and controlling the amount of time of the exposing at the first and second intensity levels in correspondence with the intensity values represented by the pixel data. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification