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A system for communication, storage, retrieval and delivery of information between the system and participating institutions and sites includes institution, warehouse and central servers sequentially receiving data from the participating institutions. The institution server is provided with an index

A system for communication, storage, retrieval and delivery of information between the system and participating institutions and sites includes institution, warehouse and central servers sequentially receiving data from the participating institutions. The institution server is provided with an index stored in the institution server and constantly updated upon receiving new information. The central server has a long-term storage accessible from the warehouse server to provide the requested information to the participating institutions if this information is not found on either of the institution or warehouse servers.

대표청구항 ▼

A system for communication, storage, retrieval and delivery of information between the system and participating institutions and sites includes institution, warehouse and central servers sequentially receiving data from the participating institutions. The institution server is provided with an index

A system for communication, storage, retrieval and delivery of information between the system and participating institutions and sites includes institution, warehouse and central servers sequentially receiving data from the participating institutions. The institution server is provided with an index stored in the institution server and constantly updated upon receiving new information. The central server has a long-term storage accessible from the warehouse server to provide the requested information to the participating institutions if this information is not found on either of the institution or warehouse servers. , WO bout half the distance between adjacent pixel sites in said direction; and (d) an actuator coupled to said movable mounting, said actuator providing said displacement of said planar array of pixel sites in said direction. 25. An imaging apparatus for forming an image from digital data, the apparatus comprising: (a) a light source for providing an incident light beam; (b) a spatial light modulator comprising a planar array of pixel sites, each pixel site is for selectively modulating said incident light beam according to the digital data in order to form an image pixel; (c) a movable mounting for retaining said spatial light modulator substantially within a fixed plane, said movable mounting allowing a displacement of said planar array of pixel sites in a direction along said fixed plane to within a predetermined distance between a first position and a second position, wherein said predetermined distance is less than about half the distance between adjacent pixel sites in said direction, wherein said displacement is not large enough to allow overlap between said adjacent pixel sites; and (d) an actuator coupled to said movable mounting, said actuator providing said displacement of said planar array of pixel sites in said direction. 26. An imaging apparatus for forming an image from digital data, the apparatus comprising: (a) a light source for providing an incident light beam; (b) a spatial light modulator comprising a planar array of pixel sites, each pixel site is for selectively modulating said incident light beam according to the digital data in order to form an image pixel; (c) a movable mounting for retaining said spatial light modulator substantially within a fixed plane, said movable mounting allowing a displacement of said planar array of pixel sites in a direction along said fixed plane to within a predetermined distance between a first position and a second position, wherein said predetermined distance is less than about half the distance between adjacent pixel sites in said direction; and (d) an actuator coupled to said movable mounting, said actuator providing said displacement of said planar array of pixel sites in said direction, wherein said actuator is moved during modulation of said incident light beam by said spatial light modulator. 27. An imaging apparatus for forming an image from digital data, the apparatus comprising: (a) a light source for providing an incident light beam; (b) a spatial light modulator comprising a planar array of pixel sites, each pixel site is for selectively modulating said incident light beam according to the digital data in order to form an image pixel; (c) a movable mounting for retaining said spatial light modulator substantially within a fixed plane, said movable mounting allowing a displacement of said planar array of pixel sites in a first direction along said fixed plane to within a first predetermined offset between a first position and a second position, wherein said first predetermined distance is less than about half the distance between adjacent pixel sites in said first direction, said movable mounting also allowing a displacement of said planar array of pixel sites in an opposite direction along said fixed plane, to within a second predetermined offset between a first position and a third position, wherein said second predetermined offset is less than about half the distance between adjacent pixel sites in said opposite direction; and (d) an actuator coupled to said movable mounting, said actuator providing said displacement of said planar array of pixel sites in said first direction and in said second direction. 28. An imaging apparatus for forming an image from digital data, the apparatus comprising: (a) a light source for providing an incident light beam; (b) a spatial light modulator comprising a planar array of pixel sites, each pixel site is for selectively modulating said incident light beam according to the digital data in order t o form an image pixel; (c) a first movable mounting for retaining said spatial light modulator substantially within a fixed plane, said first movable mounting allowing a displacement of said planar array of pixel sites in a first direction along said fixed plane to within a first predetermined distance between a first position and a second position, wherein said first predetermined distance is less than about half the distance between adjacent pixel sites in said first direction; (d) a first actuator coupled to said first movable mounting, said first actuator providing said displacement of said planar array of pixel sites in said first direction; (e) a second movable mounting for retaining said spatial light modulator substantially within a fixed plane, said second movable mounting allowing a displacement of said planar array of pixel sites in a second direction along said fixed plane to within a second predetermined distance between a first position and a third position, wherein said second predetermined distance is less than about half the distance between adjacent pixel sites in said second direction; (f) a second actuator coupled to said second movable mounting, said second actuator providing said displacement of said planar array of pixel sites in said second direction; and wherein activating said first actuator and said second actuator imparts a dither pattern to image pixel placement in the image. 29. In an imaging apparatus using a spatial light modulator comprising a planar array of pixel sites for forming an image as an array of image pixels modulated according to digital data, a method for image pixel dithering, the method comprising: (a) mounting the spatial light modulator on a movable mounting, said movable mounting is for allowing a displacement of the spatial light modulator in a direction substantially within a fixed plane between a first position and a second position; and (b) coupling an actuator to said movable mounting, said actuator providing said displacement such that said first position and said second position are spaced apart no further than about one half the distance between centers of adjacent pixel sites in said direction. 30. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of coupling an actuator comprises the step of coupling a piezoelectric actuator. 31. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of coupling an actuator comprises the step of coupling an electromagnetic actuator. 32. The method of claim 29 wherein the step of coupling an actuator comprises the step of coupling an electrodynamic actuator. 33. The method of claim 29 wherein said image is formed on a photosensitive medium. 34. The method of claim 29 wherein said image is formed on a surface. 35. The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of: (e) sensing information about said surface; and (f) modifying said displacement of the spatial light modulator based on said information. 36. The method of claim 35 wherein modifying said displacement comprises changing the direction of said displacement. 37. The method of claim 29 wherein said direction is substantially diagonal with respect to an orthogonal arrangement of said array of image pixels. 38. In an imaging apparatus using a spatial light modulator comprising a planar array of pixel sites for forming an image as an array of image pixels modulated according to digital data, a method for dithering said array of image pixels, the method comprising periodically displacing said spatial light modulator between a plurality of positions, each said position being no further from any other said position than about one half the distance between centers of adjacent said pixel sites in the direction of the displacement. 39. In a printing apparatus using a spatial light modulator comprising a planar array of pixel sites for forming an image as an array of image pixels modulated according to digital data, a method for adjusting the duration of exposure dwell between a first point and a second point during image pixel dithering, the method comprising adjusting the rate of change of the drive waveform of an actuator coupled to said spatial light modulator. 40. In an imaging apparatus using a spatial light modulator comprising a planar array of pixel sites for forming an array of modulated beams according to digital data, said modulated beams directed towards a surface, a method for adjusting the duration of dwell of each said modulated beam between a first point on said surface and a second point on said surface during image pixel dithering, the method comprising adjusting the rate of change of the drive waveform of an actuator coupled to said spatial light modulator. 41. In an imaging apparatus using a spatial light modulator comprising a planar array of pixel sites for forming an image as an array of image pixels directed to a surface, said array of image pixels modulated according to digital data, a method for image pixel dithering, the method comprising: (a) modulating an incident light beam at said spatial light modulator to form a modulated light beam for forming said image on said surface as said array of image pixels; and (b) actuating an actuator coupled to said spatial light modulator to move said modulated light beam in a direction between a first position and a second position with respect to said surface, such that said first position and said second position are spaced apart no further than about one half the distance between centers of adjacent image pixels in said direction, said actuator controlled by a drive signal having a predetermined rate of change. 42. The method of claim 41 wherein said predetermined rate of change is constant. 43. The method of claim 41 wherein said predetermined rate of change varies sinusoidally. 44. In an imaging apparatus using a spatial light modulator comprising a planar array of pixel sites for forming an image as an array of image pixels directed to a surface, said array of image pixels modulated according to digital data, a method for image pixel dithering, the method comprising: (a) modulating an incident light beam at said spatial light modulator to form a modulated light beam for forming said image on said surface as said array of image pixels; (b) actuating a first actuator coupled to said spatial light modulator to move said modulated light beam in a first direction between a first position and a second position with respect to said surface, such that said first position and said second position are spaced apart no further than about one half the distance between centers of adjacent image pixels in said first direction, said first actuator controlled by a first drive signal having a first predetermined rate of change; and (c) actuating a second actuator coupled to said spatial light modulator to move said modulated light beam in a second direction between a first position and a third position with respect to said surface, such that said first position and said third position are spaced apart no further than about one half the distance between centers of adjacent image pixels in said second direction, said second actuator controlled by a second drive signal having a second predetermined rate of change, said second direction orthogonal to said first direction. 45. The method of claim 44 wherein said first predetermined rate of change varies sinusoidally and said second predetermined rate of change varies sinusoidally and said first predetermined rate of change is 90 degrees out of phase with respect to said second predetermined rate of change, in order to effect a circular motion of said modulated light beam. he ionizer comprising: (a) a corona electrode of negative polarity; (b) a counterelectrode having an ion collecting surface and spaced apart from the corona electrode; (c) a corona-free dc bias electrode of positive polarity spaced apart from the corona electrode and the counter electrode; and (d) a control circuit configured to control the output of at least one electrode so as to cause a balanced flow of positive and negative ions to be emiffed from the ionizer and directed towards the workspace or target, thereby creating a static-free environment at the workspace or target. 2. The ionizer of claim 1 wherein the corona electrode is an extended corona structure, thereby improving contact between positive and negative ions and gas flow. 3. The ionizer of claim 1 wherein the corona-free electrode is spherically shaped. 4. The ionizer of claim 1 wherein the corona electrode is arranged in a point geometry, the counterelectrode is arranged in a plane geometry, and the corona-free electrode is arranged in a point geometry on the opposing side of the counterelectrode from the corona electrode. 5. The ionizer of claim 1 wherein the corona electrode is a needle electrode, the counterelectrode is arranged in a ring or tube geometry about the corona electrode, and the corona-free electrode is arranged in a ring or tube geometry about the counterelectrode. 6. The ionizer of claim 1 wherein the control circuit controls the output of the corona-free electrode. 7. A method of creating a balanced flow of positive and negative ions, the balanced flow of positive and negative ions being directed toward a workspace or target, the method comprising: (a) providing a variable ion mobility gaseous environment, the workspace or target being located in the gaseous environment; (b) operating an ionizer in the gaseous environment to create corona current distribution, the workspace or target being located downstream from the ionizer, the ionizer including a corona electrode and a corona-free electrode; (c) controlling the corona electrode with a fixed voltage potential current limiting power supply of negative polarity; and (d) controlling the corona-free electrode with a voltage controlled power supply of positive polarity based on the output signal of a balance sensor located near the workspace or target so as to cause a balanced flow of positive and negative ions to be emitted from the ionizer and directed towards the workspace or target, thereby creating a static-free environment at the workspace or target. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the corona electrode is an extended corona structure, thereby improving contact between positive and negative ions and gas flow. 9. The method of claim 7 wherein the variable ion mobility gaseous environment provided in step (a) is substantially nitrogen. 10. The method of claim 7 wherein the variable ion mobility gaseous environment provided in step (a) is substantially a gas, selected from the group consisting of helium, hydrogen, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, or radon. 11. The method of claim 7 wherein the variable ion mobility gaseous environment provided in step (a) is between about 200 degrees Kelvin to about 450 degrees Kelvin.