Imaging Method Including Exposure of Photoconductive Imaging Member Through Lenticular Lens Element

FIG. 1 is a partially schematic, partially cross-sectional view of a cylindrical-type lenticular lens element.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an imaging system employing the method of the instant invention.

FIG. 3 is a graph showing the idealized variation in light intensity across the imaging member when processed according to the instant invention.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the original density and the reproduction density of an exemplary imaging system undergoing different exposures corresponding to different density ranges.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method of extending the dynamic range of imagewise exposure systems.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of screening continuous tone images.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a method of screening continuous tone images using lenticular elements either out of, or in, contact with the imaging member.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a method of screening continuous tone images wherein the loss of light due to reflection or absorption of light by the screen is, for all practical purposes, eliminated.

It is an even still further object of this invention to provide a method of screening which requires the creation of imperfect images of the imaging lens on the photosensitive surface of the imaging member.

These, and other, objects are obtained by providing a method for extending the dynamic range of imagewise exposure systems by transmitting the electromagnetic radiation image through two angularly displaced cylindrical lens arrays and then to a photosensitive surface so that the image at the photosensitive surface is imperfect.

As stated above, lenticular elements are not new in photographic screening systems. FIG. 1 is a schematic of the well-known cylindrical lenticular lens with uniform elements running parallel in one direction.

Most of the methods that increase the tonal information in a given photograhic system are inefficient. The inefficiency is caused by the opaque optical screen or optical filter which must absorb or reflect some of the light so that the highlights are not "burned out" by the longer exposure time required. The lens of the instant invention does not exhibit these characteristics inasmuch as it transmits substantially all radiation presented to it to the imaging member.

The half-tone image reproduction system herein proposed is of much higher efficiency than the prior art systems described above. Attention is directed to FIG. 2 wherein one embodiment of the system of the instant invention is shown. An imaging lens 2, which images electromagnetic radiation, e.g., light rays 3, through aperture 4, is positioned adjacent composite lenticular element 1. Composite element 1 comprises two lenticular lens arrays, 1a and 1b, which have their lenses running at angles to each other. The composite element 1 is interposed between lens 2 and the light image receiving surface 5 which is photosensitive to radiation 3. Note that the lenticular element 1b is not in contact with the image receiving surface 5, but rather is spaced some distance therefrom. This distance is determined by the various structural parameters of the composite element 1 and can take any practical value so long as the image remains imperfect.

In FIG. 2, composite element 1 is shown as being made up of two lens arrays facing in opposite direction. The instant invention is not limited to such an arrangement, but rather includes all four possible relative positions. Furthermore, composite element 1 can be made of separable lens arrays, or, in the alternative, can be a single structure with arrays 1a and 1b on opposite faces thereof.

Basically, each lenslet formed by a combination of a part of 1a with the corresponding part of 1b forms an image of aperture 4 on the photosensitive element 5. If this image were perfect, that is without aberration, its linear dimension would be smaller than the line spacing of cylindrical lens array 1a or 1b. Aberration is designed into elements 1a and 1b so that the distribution of light on the photosensitive element is controlled to be a series of soft dots. The controlled focusing of a perfect lens may produce the same result.

The relative spacings, array to array and array to imaging member, can take any practical values depending upon the focal length and other optical parameters of the various arrays. Generally, however, the distance between arrays should be kept to a minimum for best results.

Since the invention is concerned with half-toned reproduction, it is necessary that the screening structure produce the well-known soft dot pattern, i.e., a dot of varying intensity from the center to the edge. A lenticular element which produces perfect images provides a system with high sensitivity (see copending U.S. pat. applications: Ser. Nos. 429,446 and 429,445, both filed on Dec. 28, 1973, while a lenticular element which produces imperfect images (see copending U.S. pat. application Ser. No. 429,253, filed on Dec. 28, 1973 provides a system with greater acceptance, i.e., extended range. A lenticular element which produces an imperfect image does not focus the impinging light into a sharp dot, but rather creates one which is of varying intensity as explained below in regard to FIG. 3.

Basically, there are two ways in which to create the above-described "imperfect image". One is to use an optically good composite element 1 and intentionally locate it out of focus with the surface of photosensitive member 5. The other is to use an optically imperfect composite element 1 in relative focus with the surface. An optically good lens out of focus would be one in such a condition that its resolution limit is significantly less than the number of lenticules per inch. On the other hand, an optically poor lens is one of such quality that the resolution of a given lenticule, in line pairs per millimeter, is less than or equal to the lens frequency in line pairs per millimeter.

The design of the dot pattern created by the multiple lens arrays of the instant invention is determined by the relative angle between the two arrays 1a and 1b. By varying the angle between 90.degree. and 0.degree. the dots change from circular to ellipsoidial.

The Intensity vs. Distance graph of FIG. 3 exemplifies the ideal characteristics of cylindrical lens arrays according to the instant invention. The image outside the lenticule is such that in one quarter (Y) of the distance under the lens (X), the intensity is approximately 4 times greater than the intensity of the remaining three-fourths of the distance, and that the intensity of the three-fourths of the area is reduced from about 1.75 units (J) to about 1.0 units (I). In other words the distance I is 0.75 density units smaller than the intensity without the lens J.

Further by way of example, let us look at the exposure of an amorphous selenium photoconductive layer of the type used in conventional commercial xerography using arrays of cylindrical lenticulated lenses. Amorphous selenium xerography has a density input range of approximately 0.6 density units which, when used with the concepts of the instant invention, will be increased to about 1.2 density units. The three-fourths of the area under the lenticule which received one-fourth of the density will be used to record the shadow information and the remaining one-fourth of the area will be used to record the highlight information.

For a better understanding of the concepts and value of the instant invention, attention is directed to the graph of FIG. 4 which shows the relationship between the density of the original, D.sub.O, and the density of the reproduction, D.sub.R, in an unscreened system. It is helpful to compare this graph with the one of FIG. 3 and consider the imaging members to be the same except that, as noted previously, FIG. 3 represents results obtained in a screened system and FIG. 4 represents results obtained in an unscreened system. Using the same exposure as used in FIG. 3 produces a density relationship according to curve a, which reaches a maximum value corresponding to the dotted line J in FIG. 3. The copy content represented by curve a a useful in reproduction systems; however, it does not have the capability of reproducing the highlight information of the original. Now, if a higher level of exposure is used, a density relationship according to curve b is produced which also reaches a maximum value and corresponds to value Z in FIG. 3. Note that the curve b represents a higher density of the original, and, obviously contains more highlight information. In other words, curve b contains highlight information which curve a does not, but does not contain the same amount of shadow information.

Therefore, it can be seen that exposure through the inventive screen will give density information covering an extended range greater than any single exposure level taken alone.

The lens can be designed to give any type of quasi-step function or continuous curve to give the desired half-tone image.

The quality of the image presented to the photosensitive surfce of the imaging member is important to the instant invention. The prior art systems are all directed to the transmission of an image which is as near perfect as possible, while the instant invention intentionally does contrary. The desired imperfect image is obtained by either using optically good lenticular lens arrays out of focus, or optically poor lenticular lens arrays substantially in focus. In the former situation, it is also possible to vary the size of the dot by moving the lens elements with respect to the recording medium.

Composite lenticular element 1 is illustrated in the figures as being out of contact with the imaging member; however, it is important to note that embodiments can be made which have contact between the two elements and in which they form an integral member. It is important only that an imperfect image can be created.

The developed image is normally viewed otherwise than through the lenticular lens array. This is especially true in the embodiments wherein there is no contact between the array and the imaging member.

Generally, there is no limitation on the number of lenticules per millimeter; however, a preferred mode would require the number of lenticules per inch to have about 21/2 times the frequency of the image to be resolved.

The system of the instant invention produces, at the expense of resolution, an increase in density input which is equal to the density difference between light and dark areas. Or, more specifically, the increase equals log .sub.10 of the ratio of the maximum intensity and minimum intensity of the lens.

As noted herein, lenticular lenses are not new in the art and can be purchased to order from numerous sources, for example, Photosystems N.Y. of Hauppauge, N.

The advantageous invention of the instant application can be applied to any photosensitive imaging system. Photosensitive imaging members include all such members which attribute their functionability to a sensitivity to activating radiation.

Although specific apparatus and process steps have been described, other elements and steps may be used where suitable.

It will be understood that various changes in details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have herein been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, will occur to and, may be made by those skilled in the art upon a reading of the disclosure within the principles and scope of the invention.