FILM RECORDER LIGHT SOURCE BASED ON FIELD EMISSION CATHODE

摘要

A print head utilizing a field emission CRT for an optical printer for printing on photosensitive surfaces is disclosed herein. A plurality of small electron sets consisting of cathode emitting cones (26) in an anode aperture form a gap which is less than the electron mean free path in ambient atmosphere and the sets are preferably closely spaced to form a substantially columnated beam. A third electrode preferably accelerates and cleans up the beam which is separated from the cathode (24). The beam is then incident upon a luminophor film (34) which is excited, thereby generating light. The light is transmitted through a transmissive face plate (36) such as a fiber optic face plate where it is incident upon the photosensitive material. Multiple transmissions of a single color is also described to speed printing by time delay integration.