ULTRALINEAR FLYING-SPOT SCANNER,

An investigation was conducted to establish means of improving the accuracy of photographic data-scanning devices using flying-spot scanners which employ a repetitive, unmodulated, single-line scan. Reduction to a minimum of the distortions and nonlinearities inherent in this type of scanning system was attempted by using an accurate optical mask and a precision source of time as the standards for measuring linearity. The unltralinear flying-spot scanner demonstrated that, through the use of an optical-electronic feedback system, the sweep position accuracy of a flying-spot scanner can easily be held to better than one part in a thousand. Therefore, to a degree not previously possible, the techniques developed in this investigation can be used to greatly improve both the long- and short-term stabilities of single-line-scan flying-spot scanners. Author