All The Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A method for printing an image on a printing substrate comprising the steps of:
producing a plurality of portions of fluid printing ink on a printing-ink carrier by inputting energy using a plurality of image spots of an array of individually controllable VCSEL light sources; and
transferring the fluid printing ink to a printing substrate.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the producing step includes melting solid printing ink on the printing-ink carrier on a dot-by-dot basis.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein the printing ink exhibits delayed solidification.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the producing step includes suctioning fluid printing ink into depressions on a dot-by-dot basis upon cooling of volumes of depressions heated by the input energy.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of portions of fluid printing ink are produced by detachment from a printing-ink layer; and wherein the transferring step occurs due to the input energy in a contact-free manner.
6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the plurality of portions of fluid printing ink are produced by expelling the fluid printing ink from depressions in the printing-ink carrier.
7. A device for inputting energy to a printing-ink carrier comprising:
a plurality of individually controllable laser light sources having a modular design including subarrays disposed in an array, the subarrays being VCSEL bars; and
a printing-ink carrier having an axis of rotation and a surface for receiving a plurality of image spots of the laser light sources, rows of the image spots being inclined with respect to the axis of rotation when the VCSEL bars are triggered simultaneously.
8. The device as recited in claim 7 wherein the laser light sources on the VCSEL bars are arranged on intersection points of a regular Cartesian, two-dimensional grid.
9. The device as recited in claim 7 wherein an inclination angle between an unfolding direction of the row of image spots of the VCSEL bars and the axis of rotation is selected such that projected spots of the image spots on a line parallel to the axis of rotation have even spaces between neighboring spots.
10. The device as recited in claim 7 wherein the printing-ink carrier has an underside and the printing ink carrier is imaged by the laser light sources from the underside.
11. The device as recited in claim 7 wherein the VCSEL bars are staggered in at least two substantially parallel rows.
12. The device as recited in claim 7 wherein at least one VCSEL bar of the plurality of VSEL bars emits laser radiation used for inputting energy through a semiconductor substrate.
13. The device as recited in claim 7 wherein at least one VCSEL bar of the VCSEL bars includes at least one drive electronics, the drive electronic being at least partly accommodated on the substrate of the VCSEL bar andor at least partly accommodated on a common heat sink together with the VCSEL bar andor having a common cooling circuit with the VCSEL bar.
14. The device as recited in claim 7 wherein at least one VCSEL bar of the VCSEL bars and a part of a drive electronics for the VCSEL bar are made from one substrate.
15. The device as recited in claim 7 further comprising a surface, at least one VCSEL bar of the VCSEL bars being accommodated on the surface, the surface containing diamond andor aluminum nitride.
16. The device as recited in claim 7 further comprising conductor tracks, at least one VCSEL bar of the VCSEL bars being contacted by the conductor tracks from two sides.
17. The device as recited claim 7 further comprising a surface, at least one VCSEL bar of the VCSEL bars being deposited on the surface, the surface having conductor tracks for
controlling the individual light sources.
18. The device as recited in claim 7 wherein the array of VCSEL bars is page-wide; and
projected spots of the image spots on a line parallel to the axis of rotation are dense.
19. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the input energy is produced by a device including the array, the array including subarrays of VCSEL bars, the printing-ink carrier having an axis of rotation and a surface for receiving the plurality of image spots of the laser light sources, rows of the image spots being inclined with respect to the axis of rotation when the VCSEL bars are triggered simultaneously.
20. A printing press for printing an image on a printing substrate comprising:
a plurality of individually controllable laser light sources having a modular design including subarrays disposed in an array, the subarrays being VCSEL bars; and
a printing-ink carrier having an axis of rotation and a surface for receiving a plurality of image spots of the laser light sources, rows of the image spots being inclined with respect to the axis of rotation when the VCSEL bars are triggered simultaneously, the light sources producing a plurality of portions of fluid printing ink on the printing-ink carrier by inputting energy using the plurality of image spots, the printing-ink carrier transferring the fluid printing ink to a printing substrate.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. An optical fiber coupling assembly, comprising:
an optical fiber receiving structure;
an optical filter; and
an optical spacer interposed between the fiber receiving structure and the optical filter;
wherein light incident upon a region of the optical filter that is outside the passband for that region is recirculated within the optical spacer so that the light is repeatedly incident upon the optical filter.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical spacer comprises a monolithic block of transparent material.
3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical spacer comprises a plurality of reflective walls that define an optical cavity.
4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber receiving structure comprises a fiber receiving block with a fiber ferrule therein.
5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the fiber ferrule extends partially through the fiber receiving block, the assembly further comprising a microchannel that is radially centered and linearly arranged with the fiber ferrule such that the fiber ferrule and the microchannel together form a conduit through the fiber receiving block.
6. The assembly of claim 4, further comprising a fiber connector surrounding a portion of the fiber ferrule.
7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical filter comprises a linear variable filter.
8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical filter comprises a linearly variable thin film coating applied on the surface of a substrate.
9. The assembly of claim 8, further comprising a blocking filter coating over the linearly variable thin film coating.
10. An optical fiber coupling assembly for an optical detecting device, the assembly comprising:
an optical fiber receiving structure;
an optical spacer including a plurality of walls that define an optical cavity;
a reflective surface on one side of the optical cavity; and
an optical filter defining a surface of the optical cavity opposite from the reflective surface;
wherein light incident upon a region of the optical filter that is outside the passband for that region is recirculated within the optical spacer so that the light is repeatedly incident upon the optical filter.
11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the fiber receiving structure comprises a fiber receiving block with a fiber ferrule therein.
12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the fiber ferrule extends partially through the fiber receiving block, the assembly further comprising a microchannel that is radially centered and linearly arranged with the fiber ferrule such that the fiber ferrule and the microchannel together form a conduit through the fiber receiving block.
13. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a fiber connector surrounding a portion of the fiber ferrule.
14. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the optical filter comprises a linear variable filter.
15. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the optical filter comprises a linearly variable thin film coating applied on the surface of a substrate.
16. The assembly of claim 15, further comprising a blocking filter coating over the linearly variable thin film coating.
17. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the optical cavity is defined by a surface of the optical filter, the reflective surface, and four lateral surfaces.
18. An optical fiber coupling assembly for an optical detecting device, the assembly comprising:
a fiber receiving block having a fiber ferrule configured to receive an optical fiber;
a monolithic optical spacer;
a reflective surface adjacent to the optical spacer; and
an optical filter for selectively transmitting light in a predetermined range of wavelengths along a length thereof, the optical filter adjacent to the optical spacer and opposite from the reflective surface;
wherein light incident upon a region of the optical filter that is outside the passband for that region is recirculated within the optical spacer so that the light is repeatedly incident upon the optical filter.
19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the reflective surface comprises a polished surface of the fiber receiving block.
20. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the reflective surface comprises a reflective coating applied to the fiber receiving block or the optical spacer.
21. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the optical spacer is composed of glass.
22. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the fiber ferrule extends partially through the fiber receiving block, the assembly further comprising a microchannel that is radially centered and linearly arranged with the fiber ferrule such that the fiber ferrule and the microchannel together form a conduit through the fiber receiving block.
23. The assembly of claim 18, further comprising a fiber connector surrounding a portion of the fiber ferrule.
24. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the optical filter comprises a linearly variable thin film coating applied on the surface of a substrate.
25. The assembly of claim 24, further comprising a blocking filter coating over the linearly variable thin film coating.
26. An optical fiber coupling assembly for an optical detecting device, the assembly comprising:
an optical spacer having a first side and an opposing second side, the first side having a reflective coating thereon and the second side having an optical fiber coupling portion; and
an optical filter facing the second side of the optical spacer, the optical filter including a linear variable filter coating adjacent to the second side of the optical spacer;
wherein light incident upon a region of the optical filter that is outside the passband for that region is recirculated within the optical spacer so that the light is repeatedly incident upon the optical filter.
27. The assembly of claim 26, wherein the optical spacer comprises a plurality of reflective walls that define an optical cavity.
28. The assembly of claim 26, wherein the optical spacer comprises a monolithic transparent material.
29. The assembly of claim 26, wherein the linearly variable thin film coating is on the surface of a substrate.
30. The assembly of claim 29, further comprising a blocking filter coating over the linearly variable thin film coating.
31. A color measuring sensor assembly for a spectrometer device, the assembly comprising:
a fiber coupling means for securely receiving an optical fiber;
a filter means for selectively transmitting light received from the fiber coupling means in a linearly variable manner along a length thereof;
a light circulating means for repeatedly reflecting light received from the optical fiber onto the filter means;
a detector means for measuring the spectral characteristics of the light transmitted through the filter means, the detector means having a photosensitive surface positioned directly opposite from the filter means a predetermined distance; and
a light propagating means for transmitting light from the filter means to the detector means and projecting an upright, noninverted image of the filter means onto the photosensitive surface of the detector means.
32. The assembly of claim 31, wherein the light propagating means comprises a plurality of gradient index lenses.
33. The assembly of claim 31, wherein the light propagating means comprises a plurality of microlenses.
34. The assembly of claim 31, wherein the light propagating means comprises a coherent fiber plate.
35. A color measuring sensor assembly for a spectrometer device, the assembly comprising:
a fiber receiving block having a fiber ferrule configured to receive an optical fiber;
an optical spacer;
a reflective coating adjacent to the optical spacer;
a linear variable filter for selectively transmitting light in a predetermined range of wavelengths along a length thereof;
a linear detector array having a photosensitive surface positioned directly opposite from the linear variable filter a predetermined distance; and
a light beam propagating means for transmitting light from the filter to the detector array and projecting an upright, noninverted image of the filter onto the photosensitive surface of the detector array.
36. The assembly of claim 35, wherein the optical spacer comprises a plurality of reflective surfaces that define an optical cavity.
37. The assembly of claim 35, wherein the optical spacer comprises a block that is optically transparent over a predetermined wavelength range.
38. The assembly of claim 35, wherein the optical spacer comprises a monolithic transparent material.
39. A method of fully illuminating a linear variable filter, comprising:
directing a beam of light into an optical spacer, the optical spacer having a first side and a second side, the first side having a reflective coating adjacent thereto and the second side adjacent to a linear variable filter;
repeatedly reflecting light that is incident upon a portion of the linear variable filter that is not in a preselected passband for that portion of the linear variable filter; and
repeatedly reflecting light that is incident upon the reflective coating towards the linear variable filter.

1. An engine starting method for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle having an internal combustion engine and having at least one electric motor as a drive motor, wherein the internal combustion engine and the electric motor are arranged on a common shaft, wherein the internal combustion engine andor the electric motor can introduce torque into a transmission arranged downstream in the drivetrain, and a separating clutch is provided between the internal combustion engine and the electric motor, having the steps:
a. increasing the torque of the electric motor,
b. increasing the rotational speed of the electric motor and setting slip conditions at least one clutch of the downstream transmission,
c. engaging the separating clutch to a transmissible torque greater than a reserve torque of the electric motor and no greater than a maximum transmissible torque, thereby decreasing the rotational speed of the electric motor and increasing a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine,
d. reducing the transmissible torque of the separating clutch while maintaining the rotational speed of the electric motor constant when the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine has at least substantially reached the ignition rotational speed,
e. starting the internal combustion engine, disengaging the separating clutch, and ending the slip conditions of the at least one clutch of the downstream transmission,
f. ending the increase of the torque of the electric motor when starting the internal combustion engine, and
g. closing the separating clutch when the rotational speed of the internal combustion engine equals the rotational speed of the electric motor.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the increase of the rotational speed of the electric motor takes place to such an extent that the kinetic energy thereby stored is sufficient to increase a rotational speed of the internal combustion engine to a rotational speed value at least close to the ignition rotational speed of the internal combustion engine.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the engagement or disengagement again of the separating clutch takes place in a torque-modulated manner in multiple phases.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the torque transmissible by the separating clutch set in a first phase is at least twice as great as the reserve torque of the electric motor.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the transmissible torque set in a second phase is reduced in relation to the torque set in the first phase.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the transmissible torque is reduced to the value of the reserve torque or to zero.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the friction time of the separating clutch lies in the range from less than 50 ms to 150 ms.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A support structure for a splitter of a cutting tool having a table, comprising:
a guide device constructed to permit movement of the splitter between an operational position and a storage position;
a lock device constructed to lock and unlock the splitter at either of the operational position and the storage position, at least a part of the splitter extending upward from an upper surface of the table when the splitter is in the operational position, and the entire splitter being positioned below the upper surface of the table when the splitter is in the storage position; and
an ejecting device constructed to automatically move the splitter from the storage position to an ejected position between the operational position and the storage position upon unlocking of the splitter at the storage position, the ejecting device including an engaging member and a biasing device coupled to the engaging member,
wherein:
as the splitter is moved from the operational position toward the storage position, the engaging member engages the splitter when the splitter reaches the ejected position, and the engaging member maintains engagement of the splitter until the splitter reaches the storage position; and
the biasing device accumulates the movement force of the splitter from the ejected position to the storage position as a biasing force in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the splitter.
2. The support structure as in claim 1, wherein the ejecting device comprises an operation lever for a remote operation of the splitter for the movement from the storage position to the ejected position.
3. The support structure as in claim 1, wherein:
the splitter has an engaging hole engageable with the engaging member; and
the engaging member does not engage the engaging hole during the movement of the splitter between the operational position and the ejected position.
4. The support structure as in claim 3, wherein the biasing device is a tension spring connected between the engaging member and the guide device.
5. The support structure as in claim 1, wherein the splitter moves between the operational position and the storage position within a plane parallel to the splitter.
6. A cutting tool comprising:
a table having an upper surface;
a cutting blade constructed to cut a workpiece placed on the upper surface of the table;
a splitter proximate the cutting blade and constructed to enter a kerf of the workpiece formed by the cutting blade, the splitter being movable between a first position and a second position relative to the table, and the splitter being movable between the first position and the second position within a plane that is parallel to the splitter;
a lock device constructed to lock and unlock the splitter at the first position;
a moving device constructed to automatically move the splitter from the first position to the second position upon unlocking of the splitter at the first position by the lock device, the moving device comprising a first biasing device arranged and constructed to apply a biasing force to the splitter to move the splitter from the first position to the second position; and
an engaging device coupled to the first biasing device and arranged and constructed to engage and disengage the splitter, so that the biasing force is applied to the splitter when the engaging device engages the splitter,
wherein the engaging device can engage the splitter as the splitter moves from the second position to the first position and the engaging device can disengage the splitter as the splitter moves from the first position to the second position by the biasing force of the first biasing device.
7. The cutting tool as in claim 6, wherein:
the first biasing device comprises a tension spring; and
the engaging device comprises an engaging member pivotally connected to the tension spring.
8. The cutting tool as in claim 6, further comprising a second biasing device constructed to bias the engaging device in an engaging direction with the splitter.
9. The cutting tool as in claim 6, further comprising an operation device coupled to the lock device, wherein the operation device includes an operation member operable at a position remote from the lock device.
10. The cutting tool as in claim 6, wherein:
substantially the entire splitter is positioned below the upper surface of the table when the splitter is in the first position; and
at least a part of the splitter extends upward from the upper surface of the table when the splitter is in the second position.
11. The cutting tool as in claim 6, wherein the first biasing device is configured to accumulate the moving force of the splitter from the second position to the first position as the biasing force in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the splitter.