Patent ID: 6778738
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: B41J,G02B,H04N

Abstract:
Digital photographic reproduction apparatus for producing a photographic image from digital image data, the apparatus comprising carrier means (1) for receiving a suitable photographic image carrier medium, an optical light pipe (10) having a light receiving face (13) at one end and a light transmitting face (12) at an opposite end arranged to lie adjacent to the carrier medium, an array of light-emitting devices (14) arranged adjacent the light receiving face (13) of the light pipe (10), and digital control means (3) for controlling the light-emitting devices (14) so as to supply, in response to digital image data, optical writing signals which are transmitted along the light pipe (10) to the carrier medium to produce a photographic image on the carrier medium, characterized in that the light pipe (10) comprises a solid coherent bundle of optical fibres which is tapered in a region (17) between the light receiving face (13) and the light transmitting face (12) so that the light receiving face (13) has a substantially greater surface area than the light transmitting face (12) to thereby increase the optical resolution of the photographic image.