Abstract: A scanning system for scanning and identifying an X-ray film in a medical application includes a scanner configured to accept the X-ray film and provide an image digital signal representative of an image stored on the X-ray film, wherein the X-ray film includes an image portion and a text portion, and a computer configured to accept the image digital signal and convert text characters of the text portion into a text digital signal representative of the text characters. Optical character recognition software may be utilized to recognize and convert the text characters of an image signal into the digital signal. The scanning system may create a reflective label such as a bar code label or a text label that may be affixed to an associated X-ray film to aid in identification of such X-ray.

Abstract: A digitizer having a dual exposure technique is combined with an associated LUT for each exposure. Each LUT may have a transfer function including a logarithmic operator resulting in a digitized image with improved photometric resolution and increased dynamic range. A digitizer utilizing multiple exposures at approximately equal exposure time intervals provides a noise reduction for lower optical density portions of the data medium further contributing to increased dynamic range. Associated methods are also provided.

Abstract: A dual digitizer for digitizing both transparent and reflective data mediums is provided where light from the reflective illuminator reflects off the transparent illuminator when the transparent illuminator is off to provide a white reference signal for use in calibrating the dual digitizer. A method of calibrating a dual digitizer for reflective scans includes: digitizing a transparent data medium; calibrating the dual digitizer to establish a white reference signal, the calibrating step including generating a light beam, reflecting a first portion of the light beam off a transparent illuminator, and utilizing the first portion of said light beam to establish the white reference signal; and digitizing a reflective data medium. The dual digitizer may be used in medical applications to digitize a transparent data medium such as an X-ray film.

Abstract: A digitizer having an illuminator with a mask configured to rotate about a central axis for reducing flare from the illuminator when digitizing a data medium having a width less than an associated length of the illuminator. A page width guide of the digitizer may be operatively coupled to the mask so that movement of the page width guide automatically rotates the mask a predetermined amount. A rare gas, external electrode, cold cathode fluorescent lamp may also be utilized as an illuminator in the digitizer.