Laser beam is intensity modulated in response to incoming video signals. Latent image is recorded on rotating drum which generates raster in conjunction with incrementally-driven lens carriage. Image is fed automatically to thermal processor; actual image is developed by controlled application of heat onto medium containing latent image

Shim, I. H.

Stelben, J. J.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

July 1974	 B74-10042 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
Goddard Space Flight Center 
NASA Tech Briefs announce new technology derived from the U.S. space program. They are issued to encourage 
commercial application. Tech Briefs are available on a subscription basis from the National Technical Information 
Service, Springfield, Virginia 22151. Requests for individual copies or questions relating to the Tech Brief program may 
be directed to the Technology Utilization Office, NASA, Code KT, Washington, D.C. 20546. 
Recorder/Processor Apparatus 
The problem: 
Present image-recording systems used for the record- 
ing of latent images are not capable of producing 
actual images at their outputs. Normally, the media 
containing these latent images are removed from these
systems and are processed separately in photolaboratories 
with either wet or dry processing methods. As a result, 
there are unnecessary time delays between the recording 
of and the production of actual images. 
Laser I	 'Z's.. Mirror 
. 
Video Signal 2 Data
Amplifier/ ^Vldm.
Driver Modulator 
Video Signal I Data Drift Assembly I Control Film/Paper 
Supply 
Video Signal 
Carriage 
Drive Mirror Cutter/Loading 1 
Control Assembly 
carriage 
Drive
Lens 
Carriage 
and Optics
0Film/Peper 
Video Signal I 
Carriage 
Drive System Vacuum 
Control Control Drum System 
Electronics 
Video Motor/ 	 Recorded hometer Signal 1 Sync Tac 0Film/Paper 
Video Signal 1 
Video Sync 
Signal I O	 • - -	 Acquisition/! 
Processing
Servo 
Control 
Network 
Video Signal 2 Thermal 
Sync Processor 
Acquisition Timing
TPaper
Video Processing Signal 2 System
 
Signal 2 Sync
Sensor 
Network
Recorder/Processor Block Diagram
(continued overleaf) 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National
	
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States 	 will be free from privately owned rights. 
S
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19740000042 2020-03-17T14:00:40+00:00Z
The solution: 
A new image-recording apparatus contains a thermal-
processing subsystem which automatically develops the 
latent images, eliminating the unnecessary time delay. 
How it's done: 
The apparatus includes a laser beam which is inten-
sity modulated in response to incoming video signals. 
The latent image is recorded on a rotating drum which 
generates a raster in conjunction with an incrementally-
driven lens carriage. Once recorded, the latent image is 
fed automatically to a thermal processor. The actual 
image then is developed by the controlled application 
of heat onto the medium containing the latent image. 
As shown in the figure, the apparatus receives and 
selects one of the two incoming video signals. The 
signals are fed to a conventional video processor 
normally utilized in facsimile devices for reproducing 
continuous tone material. The processor provides positive 
and negative selection and gamma compensation for any 
nonlinear response of the storage medium. It also 
includes an enhancement amplification network to 
enhance either a black or a white detail, to emphasize 
the desired detail in a contrasting background. 
The output of the video processor network is 
supplied to an amplifier/driver network which drives 
a conventional electro-optic modulator assembly. The 
modulator operates with a conventional argon laser. A 
conventional drift control network is used also to 
compensate for any modulator drift that may result 
from temperature variations. 
The intensity-modulated laser beam output of the 
modulator assembly is supplied to a lens carriage 
having a focusing lens. The lens focuses the intensity-
modulated laser output to form a recording spot. The 
spot is focused on a recording drum supporting an 
image-recording storage medium, held on the outer 
surface of the drum by a conventional vacuum system.
The focused recording spot is utilized to generate a 
raster scan line on the storage medium located on the 
drum. The point of focus of the spot is advanced 
parallel to the drum axis of rotation, forming a 
multitude of scan lines to generate the raster. 
The drum is automatically loaded with the storage 
medium from a film/paper supply and is automatically 
unloaded to a thermal processor upon completion of 
recording. The latent image then is processed by the 
controlled application of heat to produce an actual 
displayable image at the output of the apparatus. 
Note: 
Requests for further information may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Goddard Space Flight Center 
Code 207.1 
Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 
Reference: TSP74-10042 
Patent status: 
This invention has been patented by NASA (U.S. 
Patent No. 3,781 ,902). Inquiries concerning nonexclu-
sive or exclusive license for its commercial development 
should be addressed to: 
Patent Counsel 
Goddard Space Flight Center 
Code 204 
Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 
Source: Ivan H. Shim and John J. Stelben of
Image Information, Inc.

under contract to
Goddard Space Flight Center
(GSC-1 1553)
is 
B74-10042	 Category 03,02


Recorder/processor apparatus

An apparatus is described for recording a data input on, a thermally processible storage medium. A light source, whose intensity is modulated in response to the incoming data input, generates a raster in conformance with incoming timing/control signals so as to expose a latent image of the input information on the storage medium. A rotating drum in conjunction with an incrementally driven lens carriage associated with the laser optical system provides the raster generation. The drum is automatically loaded with the storage medium from a supply means and automatically unloaded to a thermal processor upon completion of recording. The latent image is processed by the controlled application of heat so as to produce an actual displayable image corresponding to the data input at the output of the apparatus

Recorder/processor apparatus

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