Abstract: A method and apparatus for developing an unprocessed photosensitive media and providing a visual receipt of the images developed. The apparatus includes a mechanism for moving a strip of photosensitive media along a processing path; a mechanism for applying a coating of a developing solution on the photosensitive media so as to develop any exposed image presented on the photosensitive media; a scanner for scanning the photosensitive media after the images have been developed so as to provide a digital record of the images; an order mechanism for allowing a consumer to place a photofinishing order; and a printing mechanism for printing a customer order receipt of the photofinishing order.

Abstract: The method and system embeds digital meta-data into an original image in such a way that the meta-data can be completely removed at a later time to allow loss less recovery of the original image. The loss less recovery of the original image allows for a digital signature of the image to be embedded in the image itself and later recovered and used to verify the authenticity of a received image.

Abstract: A color spatial filter for ink jet color printers, especially four color CYMK printers. The printer includes an enhanced print mode and associated logic circuitry which examines and corrects black pixel coloring to increase black picture quality and reduce intercolor bleeding. This is accomplished by examining a surrounding neighborhood of pixels around each pixel as they flow to a color swath print buffer and selecting a method of correcting the representation of each pixel, based on a set of predetermined rules, to produce black by choosing either K, a slow-drying high density ink, or CYM, a fast-drying ink having low intercolor bleeding to thereby control bleeding characteristics that provide the best copy quality images. A lookup table may be used for greater gradations of black representation. Alternatively, printing may be performed using a color printer having two black inks, each with different drying rates and picture qualities.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating long full width scanning arrays for reading or writing images. For this purpose, smaller scanning arrays are assembled in abutting end-to-end relationship, each of the smaller arrays being provided with a pair of V-shaped locating grooves in the face thereof. An aligning tool having predisposed pin-like projections insertable into the locating grooves on the smaller scanning arrays upon assembly of the smaller arrays with the aligning tool is used to mate a series of the smaller arrays in end-to-end abutting relationship, there being discretely located vacuum ports in the aligning tool to draw the smaller arrays into tight face-to-face contact with the tool. A suitable base is then affixed to the aligned arrays and the aligning tool withdrawn.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating long full width scanning arrays for reading or writing images. For this purpose, smaller scanning arrays are assembled in abutting end-to-end relationship, each of the smaller arrays being provided with a pair of V-shaped locating grooves in the face thereof. An aligning tool having predisposed pin-like projections insertable into the locating grooves on the smaller scanning arrays upon assembly of the smaller arrays with the aligning tool is used to mate a series of the smaller arrays in end-to-end abutting relationship, there being discretely located vacuum ports in the aligning tool to draw the smaller arrays into tight face-to-face contact with the tool. A suitable base is then affixed to the aligned arrays and the aligning tool withdrawn.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating long full width scanning arrays for reading or writing images. For this purpose, smaller scanning arrays are assembled in abutting end-to-end relationship, each of the smaller arrays being provided with a pair of V-shaped locating grooves in the face thereof. An aligning tool having predisposed pin-like projections insertable into the locating grooves on the smaller scanning arrays upon assembly of the smaller arrays with the aligning tool is used to mate a series of the smaller arrays in end-to-end abutting relationship, there being discretely located vacuum ports in the aligning tool to draw the smaller arrays into tight face-to-face contact with the tool. A suitable base is then affixed to the aligned arrays and the aligning tool withdrawn.

Abstract: A combined raster input and output scanner employing spaced document reading and copy printing arrays at a common read/write station. The document to be read and the copy to be printed are disposed in back to back relation and fed simultaneously to the read/write station between the document reading and copy printing arrays. The image reading array is a monolithic full line chip having dual staggered rows of image sensors with individual lenslets for focusing each sensor onto a scan line at the read/write station. To reduce cost, a minimum number of image sensors with relatively wide spacing therebetween is used. To offset loss of resolution, the reading array is movable between a first reading position where one-half of the document line is scanned and a second reading position where the remainder of the line is scanned.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are described for a data communication network which has topological independence, low variance service time distributions, potentially guaranteed maximum time to transmit, easy expansion and high error tolerance.The network access control is fundamentally a permit (token) based system. This yields highly efficient utilization of the channel and powerful control over priorities on access to the network. In addition, a contention based scheme is provided to enable error recovery, startup, and restart to be fast and reliable.

Abstract: A multi-mode scanner having a first automatic simplex scan mode, a second automatic duplex scan mode, and a third manual simplex scan mode, the scanner including a pair of scan stations for scanning opposing sides of a document, automatic document feeder means for separating a document to be scanned from a document supply and transporting the document to the first one of the scan stations where one side of the document is scanned in the first mode, and thereafter inverting the document and transporting the inverted document to the second one of the scan stations where the opposite side of the document is scanned in the second mode; a platen for manually accepting a document to be scanned in the third mode, and a movable scan carriage positionable in accordance with the mode selected having presettable optics to convey image rays from either the first or second scan station or from the platen to a scanning array.

Abstract: An image input terminal (IIT) with automatic document handler for feeding documents to be scanned into registered position on the IIT platen. The IIT includes a pair of multi-element scanning arrays with cooperating scan lamp and optics on a movable carriage disposed in scanning relationship with the platen. Analog image signals generated by the scanning arrays are initially processed in separate channels and then combined into a serial stream. The stream of analog image signals may optionally be thresholded or screened to provide binary level image signals or converted to multi-bit gray scale. A control system including microprocessor provides timing and control signals for synchronizing operation of the scanning carriage, document handler, and image signal reading and processing together with electronic crossover between arrays to avoid loss of data, automatic signal gain and deletion of bad image signals or pixels.

Abstract: A combined raster input and output scanner employing spaced document reading and copy printing arrays at a common read/write station. The document to be read and the copy to be printed are disposed in back to back relation and fed simultaneously to the read/write station between the document reading and copy printing arrays. The image reading array is a monolithic full line chip having dual staggered rows of image sensors with individual lenslets for focusing each sensor onto a scan line at the read/write station. To reduce cost, a minimum number of image sensors with relatively wide spacing therebetween is used. To offset loss of resolution, the reading array is movable between a first reading position where one-half of the document line is scanned and a second reading position where the remainder of the line is scanned.

Abstract: An adaptive thresholder of the fractional average context type for processing image pixels in which an offset potential, which is used in conjunction with the image potentials of the nearest neighbor pixels to provide an updated threshold potential, is obtained on a pixel by pixel basis as a function of the pixel white peak and black valley potentials. The white peak and black valley potentials are compared with the image potential of each pixel being processed and with predetermined minimum white and maximum black potentials to provide updated white peak and black valley potentials for use in updating the offset potential during processing of each pixel.

Abstract: Scanning apparatus having at least one self scanned array; a multispeed transport for carrying documents to be scanned past a scanning slit where the moving document is scanned line by line by the array at high speed on the assumption that most documents are composed of lines or text; processing the image signals produced by a line processing means; while scanning, using halftone and continuous tone detectors to look for halftone and continuous tone images respectively; where halftone images are detected, rescanning the line at low speed and processing the resulting image signals by a halftone processing means and thereafter reverting to high speed scanning; and where continuous tone images are detected, rescanning the entire document page at low speed and processing the resulting image signals by a continuous tone processing means and thereafter reverting to high speed scanning. Optionally, to enhance system operation, sub-sampling of the document being scanning when scanning at high speed may be performed.

Abstract: An adaptive thresholder for processing image pixels. A portion of the image pixel line or lines is examined and the maximum and minimum pixels in the line portion determined. The maximum and minimum pixels are differenced, and the resulting difference signal compared to a constant representing the minimum desired change in background level. Where the difference signal is larger, a new threshold is thereafter used.To determine the new threshold level, the difference signal is multiplied by a factor representing the amount of change in threshold for a given event and the result subtracted from the previously determined maximum pixel. The subtracted output is brought within predetermined maximum and minimum threshold constraints to provide the new threshold.

Abstract: A high density charge coupled device imaging array 58 with a bilinear array 60, 62 of photosites on a single integrated circuit chip is utilized in an image scanning configuration. Offset photosites 60a, 62a in two rows are coupled via transfer gates 64 to storage register 72 and then to two shift registers 74, 76, and via transfer gates 66 directly to two shift registers 68, 70 in a quadrilinear array. The output of these four shift registers 68, 70, 74, 76 are multiplexed to generate a single output pulse train representative of the information scanned.

Abstract: A high speed parallel process raster input scanner employing time delay in integration (TDI) arrays for scanning plural lines of an original document. The lines of image signals output by the arrays are processed simultaneously, such processing including a two dimensional digital processor for processing text and pictorial image signals which are then input to a detector for selecting one or the other of the text and pictorial image signals for output from the scanner.

Abstract: A high density charge coupled device imaging array 28 with a bilinear array 30, 32 of photosites on a single integrated circuit chip is utilized in an image scanning configuration. Offset photosites 30a, 32a in two rows are coupled via transfer gates 36 to storage register 38 and then to shift register 44, and via transfer gates 34 to shift register 42. The output of these two shift registers 42, 44 are multiplexed to generate a single output pulse train representative of the information scanned.

Abstract: A two dimensional radiometric compensation system for scanning devices of the type employing one or more lamps for sweeping a line-like beam of light across the document original to be scanned. Brightness profiles for various x and y points along the scan path and which are designed to compensate for deficiencies in the illumination components, are stored in memory. Where the scanning device comprises a raster input scanner with linear array for reading the document original, the brightness profiles are addressed in synchronization with the output of image signals by the array and the brightness compensating values obtained are used to modify the image signals output by the array.

Abstract: A separable two dimensional Finite Impulse Response (FIR) digital image processing filter with X-dimension filter section having a delay buffer series to which digitized image signals or pixels are first input. The buffer inputs and output are tapped and pixels tapped off are processed by preset multiplier factors and input to an adder where the processed pixels are summed. The summed pixels are fed to a line buffer series of a Y-dimension filter section, tapped off from the filter inputs and output, and processed by further preset multiplier factors. The processed pixels are input to a second adder and summed to provide filtered output pixels.In a second embodiment, the filter is symmetric and has a center point response of unity. In a third embodiment, the filter X and Y dimension filter sections are reversed.

Abstract: Analog image data pixels are sampled and held to produce a box car wave representative of the image data. Wave height differences are bridged by linear interpolation, with frequency enhancement imposed at the bridge junctures. The modified image wave is thresholded and sampled at a multiple of the original frequency to provide an image pixel stream comprised of both original image pixels having one or more interpolated image pixels therebetween. One or more intermediate image lines are interpolated by comparing binary image data, portions of which may be interpolated, on a pixel by pixel or multiple pixel basis one line pair at a time. The pixel comparison produces an address used to identify a specific image pixel pattern from multiple image pixel patterns stored in memory. The image pixel pattern taken from memory is used to form the interpolated intermediate line or lines.