Abstract: The invention is a mobile pan and tilt camera and display-control apparatus comprising (1) a fully rotatable camera mounted to a vehicle for capturing images, (2) a display-control box having an image display screen and control buttons for controlling the camera and its movement, and (3) an image capture box for storing the captured images or transmitting the captured images to a remote location. The display-control box is attached to an adjustable mount in the vehicle within an operator's view and reach.

Abstract: A mobile pan and tilt camera and display-control apparatus comprising a fully rotatable camera mounted to a vehicle for capturing images, a display-control box having an image display screen and control buttons for controlling said camera and its movement attached to an adjustable mount in said vehicle within an operator's view and reach, an image capture box for storage on various recording media or for transmission of said captured mobile images, said captured mobile images are sent by radio frequency transmission to a data storage server for a consumer to access. A preferred embodiment includes further comprising a mount that incorporates a quick disconnect mechanism along with a locking mechanical base and an electronic signal connector for easy camera installation and removal. A preferred embodiment includes further comprising a double locking mechanism where one mechanism is a security fastener.

Abstract: The invention is a method and apparatus for exercising surveillance over a surface from an observation point above the surface utilizing three-dimensional map data pertaining to the surface. The method comprises the steps (1) intercepting the light rays from a surface in a field of view, (2) separating the intercepted light rays into a plurality of light-ray clusters, a light-ray cluster comprising a plurality of light-ray bundles, a light-ray bundle being the light rays from a point on the surface in the field of view, a light-ray cluster being the light-ray bundles from a region of contiguous points on the surface, (3) determining the map coordinates of each region from which a light-ray cluster comes, (4) obtaining a measure of the radiant power and/or color of each light-ray cluster at predetermined time intervals, and (5) identifying the map coordinates of a surface activity from measurements of the radiant power of the light-ray clusters.

Abstract: The distance-measuring apparatus utilizes an interferometric technique to measure the distance to a light-reflecting surface. A laser-generated plane wave is split by a beam splitter into first and second plane waves. The first plane wave is directed to the reflecting surface which reflects it back to the beam splitter. The second plane wave is directed to a reference mirror which reflects it back to the beam splitter where it combines with the reflected first plane wave to form a combination plane wave. The combination plane wave is caused to vary periodically in amplitude by modulating the position of the reference mirror. Changes in the distance to the reflecting surface are obtained by electronically processing the changes in the power of the combination plane wave.

Abstract: The high-resolution scanning apparatus utilizes conventional transport mechanisms in combination with a precision interferometric distance-measuring apparatus to achieve extremely-precise measurements of pixel locations thereby permitting scanning resolutions exceeding 10,000 dpi to be achieved. The high-resolution scanning apparatus is comprised of the conventional elements of a scanner together with one or more precision interferometric distance-measuring devices for the purpose of establishing the precise location of the pixel being measured. With this approach the mechanical limitations of the transport mechanisms that cause the optical system to scan the image-containing medium do not limit the resolution achievable with the scanning apparatus. The invention also provides compensating unit for variations in the object distance to the lens introduced by imperfections in the transport mechanisms.

Abstract: A conventional flat bed greyscale digitizing scanner which operates in conjunction with reflective media is retrofitted with an adapter assembly which permits it additionally to process X-ray film transparencies. Accordingly, the resulting apparatus, in addition to performing digitization of data imprinted on reflective media, is also capable of digitizing X-ray images on X-ray film transparencies. The adapter assembly is constucted to be easily mounted on a conventional flat bed scanner to permit the scanner to process the film transparencies, and to be easily removable from the conventional scanner to permit the scanner to operate in a conventional mode to process reflective media. The scanner may be constructed to perform transparency digitization and to provide an optical density dynamic range greater than the prior art CCD technology used in the more expensive machines will allow.

Abstract: The extended dynamic range image digitizing apparatus digitizes image-containing media with dynamic ranges that significantly exceed the dynamic range of the low-cost solid-state light detectors that are customarily used in such equipment. The essence of the invention is the incorporation of controllable light attenuators means in the light path from light source to light detectors thereby permitting the light emerging from an image pixel to be matched to the available dynamic range of the light detector. The pixel light sensed by the detector is controlled in any one of a number of ways. One way is to control the intensity of the light source. A second way which is appropriate for certain types of light detectors is to apply a gating signal to the detector which controls the period of time that the detector is sensitive to incident light. A third way is to interpose an electronic or mechanical shutter mechanism with a controllable open-shutter time in the light path.

Abstract: A charge collection control circuit generates a time-varying voltage that is used to control the charge collection process in an MOS photodetector for the purpose of obtaining greater dynamic range. Control is exercised either by means of an integration control electrode that controls the flow of charge from a charge-collecting region to a sink or by means of a transfer electrode that controls the flow of charge from the charge-collecting region to a charge-transport region through which the collected charge flows to an output circuit.

Abstract: The charge collection control circuit generates a time-varying voltage that is used to control the charge collection process in an MOS photodetector for the purpose of obtaining greater dynamic range. Control is exercised either by means of an integration control electrode that controls the flow of charge from a charge-collecting region to a sink or by means of a transfer electrode that controls the flow of charge from the charge-collecting region to a charge-transport region through which the collected charge flows to an output circuit.

Abstract: A conventional flat bed greyscale digitizing scanner which operates in conjunction with reflective media is retrofitted with an adapter assembly which permits it additionally to process X-ray film transparencies. Accordingly, the resulting apparatus, in addition to performing digitization of data imprinted on reflective media, is also capable of digitizing X-ray images on X-ray film transparencies. The adapter assembly is constructed to be easily mounted on a conventional flat bed scanner to permit the scanner to process the film transparencies, and to be easily removable from the conventional scanner to permit the scanner to operate in a conventional mode to process reflective media. The scanner may be constructed to perform transparency digitization and to provide an optical density dynamic range greater than the prior art CCD technology used in the more expensive machines will allow.