Curved Scanning Surface Patents (Class 358/493)
  • Patent number: 6771398
    Abstract: In a combination of a drum scanner and a loading magazine, the drum scanner includes a holding and rotating device equipped for holding an interchangeable copy cylinder firmly from below in an at least approximately upright position and for rotating it about a longitudinal axis thereof for scanning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventor: Norbert Roth
  • Patent number: 6768563
    Abstract: This invention provides an image input system capable of setting an arbitrary imaging inhibited area. This system displays a map showing the positions of cameras arranged in an office and the directions in which these cameras can be aimed, or displays the view angles of the cameras. An operator designates an imaging inhibited area on the map. In accordance with the designated imaging inhibited area, a limiting direction is calculated for each camera, and each camera is so controlled as not to point in that direction. Even when cameras are fixed, the system controls display so that an imaging inhibited area is not displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Makoto Murata, Tomoaki Kawai, Kazuko Tsujimura, Takashi Oya
  • Patent number: 6768562
    Abstract: A method for correcting recording positions of light beams scanned by a light beam scanning apparatus, in which at least one of plural light beams is deflected by an optical deflecting device and all the plural light beams are combined and scanned by a common scanning optical system. The beam position correction data for the optical deflecting device for keeping positions of the light beams constant is obtained by detecting the beam positions before the scanning optical system. The recording positions of respective light beams on a recording surface is also detected to obtain an additional correction data for correcting deviations of the recording positions due to uneven optical power distribution of the light beam or astigmatism of the scanning optical system. The additional correction data is added to the beam position correction data to obtain the final correction data, by which the optical deflecting device is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihisa Takada, Takeshi Fujii
  • Patent number: 6735003
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing artifacts in an imaging system by directing a stream of air onto the beam deflection assembly of the imaging system. An air displacement system, such as a fan assembly or the like, is oriented to direct, a stream of air onto the rotating deflector element of the beam deflection assembly. The stream of air is positioned to distribute a substantially uniform amount of air around the rotating deflector element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Agfa Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph R. Lyons, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20040085596
    Abstract: A scanning apparatus of the invention comprises a scanning module that is slidably mounted to a guiding structure, and a scanning platform where is placed a document sheet to be scanned. The guiding structure includes a first track portion and a second track portion that oppositely face the scanning platform. Thereby when the scanning module is located on the first track portion, it captures the image of the front side of the document sheet. When the scanning module is located on the second track portion, it captures the image of the reverse side of the document sheet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Inventors: Shih-Huang Chen, Yin-Chun Huang
  • Patent number: 6721074
    Abstract: A double side scanner module which consists of a U-shaped inversion device and two image information reading devices is provided for reading images on the two sides of an original in a single pass. The U-shaped inversion device has two ends for providing a paper feeding path and a paper output path respectively. The two ends are at the same side for the convenience of operation. At both of the two ends, there is a glass window. Beneath each of the glass windows, there is an image information reading device. When an original is fed into the paper feeding end and conveyed through the first glass window, the first image information reading device starts to read the image on the first side of the original. When the original is conveyed through the U-shaped inversion device, the scanned side will be inverted to the other side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: Mustek Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Will Kao
  • Publication number: 20040061910
    Abstract: The invention discloses an improved structure of light-source module, which arranges a reflection piece of light-source module in an image picking-up device of optical scanner. The invention applies the design of improved reflection piece to generate a compensatory function to the light source to reduce the waste formed by the light dissipation, which will be gathered by the reflection piece and be reflected to the document to be scanned. With the design of appropriate angle and position, the reflection piece may completely reflect the light onto the document to be scanned for obtaining a preferable quality of scanned image. Wherein, the reflection piece may be designed as two pieces, one of which may reach the function of light compensation, or one reflection piece may be designed as two reflection parts, one of which may reach the function of light compensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2002
    Publication date: April 1, 2004
    Inventors: Yin-Chun Huang, Chih-Wen Huang
  • Patent number: 6697174
    Abstract: An assembly for transferring information to and/or from flexible sheet media in a highly advantageous curved configuration is disclosed. The sheet material includes a length and a width defining first and second opposing surfaces. The assembly includes support means for supporting the sheet the curved configuration across its width, having the first surface inwardly oriented with respect to the curved configuration. Thereafter, moving means moves the flexible sheet material so supported in a direction along a read/write path generally parallel to the sheet material length and transverse to the direction of curvature. A read/write arrangement is provided which is configured for reading and/or writing information across the width of the first surface of the sheet as the sheet is moved along the path in the curved configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventor: John E. Mercer
  • Publication number: 20040017593
    Abstract: An optical scanner including a housing having a top portion, a bottom portion, a front portion and a rear portion; a platen member forming a portion of the housing top portion, the platen member having a flat upper surface defining a platen plane; a scanner base provided on the housing bottom portion and defining a base plane; the platen plane being inclined relative to the base plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventor: Modest Khovaylo
  • Publication number: 20040008386
    Abstract: An image reader has a transport passage for transporting an original, a CIS for reading an image on the original transported on the transport passage, and a control member for pressing the transported original against an abutment member disposed at an opposed side of the transport passage at a read position of the CIS. The original does not slide on glass at the read position of the CIS and is moved with the original abutted against the abutment member of a chute on the opposed side, and image data is read in sequence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Applicant: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryuuichi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 6643049
    Abstract: Several optical heads are mounted on a common carriage adapted to scan a photosensitive printing plate. Each head is equipped with a laser source, a modulator and projection optics and can project a segment containing a plurality of pixels. The optical track of beams in each head is folded several times in such a way as to reduce the width of the head as well as its height. When the carriage moves from one edge of the plate to the other edge a swath of pixels is projected. Each head includes means to adjust the width, location, orientation and intensity of the segment it generates. Each head is accurately positioned on the carriage so that at least two abutting swaths are projected during each sweep of the carriage to produce a wider swath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Kodak Polychrome Graphics LLC
    Inventor: Michel Moulin
  • Patent number: 6628446
    Abstract: A scan systems include at least one radiation source for directing at least one beam toward a spinning scan device. The scan device reflects these beams as rotating scan beams to track rotating scan lenses without translation between the scan beams and the scan lenses. The rotating scan lenses focus the scan beams into radiation spots and project them onto a scanned surface as moving scan spots. Relative movement between the scanned surface and the scan lenses produces an inner drum area scan. According to another version the system includes at least one radiation source for directing at least one beam toward a spinning scan device. The scan device reflects these beams as rotating scan beam to track rotating reflectors, The reflectors direct the beams to rotating tracking lenses without translation between the beams and the lenses. The lenses focus the scan beams into spots and project these onto a scanned surface as moving spots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventors: Arie Shahar, Nira Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20030147107
    Abstract: Depending on the lateral width thereof, an image recording material P is stably positioned on a recording drum, employing two positioning pins with an appropriate pitch therebetween. Non-contacting portions prevent any irrelevant positioning pins from coming into contact with the material P.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Kawada, Toshio Tamura, Shiro Kitawaki
  • Patent number: 6587229
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for point-by-point and line-by-line scanning of a master chucked on a scanner drum, for pixel-by-pixel illumination of the master, a light spot is generated in a light conductor and is imaged onto the master as illumination spot. The light conductor is arranged displaceable with an actuating drive for the purpose of modifying the imaging scale of the illumination spot. For setting the illumination, the luminance of the illumination spot is measured with the opto-electronic scanner element. In a computer, control signals for the actuating drive are generated dependent on the measured luminance. For setting the optimum illumination of the master, the imaging scale of the illumination spot is modified such by displacing the light conductor that the measured luminance of the illumination spot is maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Axel Heuer, Holger Suhr
  • Patent number: 6587230
    Abstract: In an apparatus for point-by-point and line-by-line, opto-electronic scanning of masters chucked on a scanner drum, an illumination unit is provided for generating an illumination spot on the master. A scanner objective, a scanner element and a feed support is provided at which the illumination unit, the scanner objective and the scanner element are arranged. The illumination unit comprises a light conductor that is aligned in the direction of the rotational axis of the scanner drum and has a light exit face for generating a light spot and has optical elements for imaging the light spot onto the master as an illumination spot. At least a sub-section of the light conductor in the region of the light exit face can be inclined by small angles relative to the rotational axis with a Cardanic bearing for fine adjustment of optical beam paths, as a result whereof the illumination spot is displaced on the scanner drum. The slope of the light conductor that has been found to be optimum is then fixed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Lange, Axel Heuer, Axel Gebhardt, Bernd Lassen
  • Patent number: 6580527
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for point-by-point and line-by-line scanning of masters chucked on a scanner drum, for pixel-by-pixel illumination of the master, a light spot is generated with a light conductor, the light spot being imaged by a matching objective onto the master as an illumination spot. The scan light is focused with a scanner objective and is converted into an image signal in an opto-electronic scanner element. The illumination spot, scanner objective, and scanner element implement a feed motion in the direction of the rotational axis of the scanner drum for planar scanning of the master. Given employment of scanner drums having different diameters, the size of the illumination spot is corrected by a modification of the imaging scale of the light spot. The modification of the imaging scale occurs by displacing the light conductor with an actuating drive relative to the stationary matching objective. A corresponding focus correction occurs with a radial displacement of the scanner objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Lange, Axel Heuer, Axel Gebhardt
  • Patent number: 6545702
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for mapping images obtained using a multiple-viewpoint imaging system are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for projecting an image using a panoramic imaging device which includes a first camera includes selecting a single viewpoint that is near a plurality of virtual viewpoints associated with the device. Once the single viewpoint is selected, an optical ray which intersects a surface of the device at a first angle is selected from the plurality of optical rays. The optical ray is then moved or otherwise displaced so that it intersects the single viewpoint while substantially maintaining the first angle. Once the optical ray is displaced, an image is formed using the displaced optical ray to create a reprojection from the single viewpoint. In one embodiment, the panoramic imaging device includes a spherical mirror, and the first camera includes a perspective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: SRI International
    Inventors: Kurt Konolige, Steven Derrien
  • Patent number: 6535250
    Abstract: An electronic camera adopts an image pickup and optical system of a mirror scan type in which a mirror for scanning is disposed at a forward side of a taking lens. A line image sensor relatively scans an object while rotating the mirror to perform photographing. When controlling the exposure, the taking lens is moved synchronously along with rotation of the mirror to adjust the focal position thereof each time a slender sub-image of the object is picked up by the CCD. Driving the taking lens to focus the sub-image each time of scanning the sub-image enables picking up an entirety of the object image perfectly in a focused state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Okisu, Keizou Ochi
  • Publication number: 20030038990
    Abstract: The present invention is a convex printing table for use with wide-format and super wide-format digital printers, which print on flexible substrate up to 5 meters in width. The convex profile of the table creates contact force between the flexible substrate and the support surface. This contact force lessens the formation of wrinkles in the flexible substrate during the printing process, which permits the print heads to be positioned closer to the flexible substrate than with the flat tables currently in use. The size and number of wrinkles and the distance of the print heads from the flexible substrate impact the overall quality of the finished product. The convex printing table also provides a plurality of flat printable regions, enabling use with a four-color digital printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2001
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Applicant: SCITEX VISION LTD
    Inventor: Boris Liberman
  • Patent number: 6525844
    Abstract: In a device for point-by-point and line-by-line scanning of masters chucked on scanner drums having different diameters with an optoelectronic scanner element, which converts the scan light modulated with the content of the master and focused with the scanner objective into an image signal, a scanner element comprising a reflected light illumination is provided for generating an illumination spot on an opaque original. The scanner objective for correction of the focusing of the scan light onto the scanner element given employment of scanner drums having different diameters—is seated displaceable on the optical axis of the scanner element into radial working positions determined by the diameter of the respective scanner drums. The reflected light illumination can be displaced in the direction of the optical axis by the focal intercept change of the scanner objective for the purpose of optimizing the illumination spot given employment of scanner drums of different sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Helmut Lange, Axel Gebhardt, Axel Heuer
  • Patent number: 6285400
    Abstract: A solid state image pick-up device has a rigid retainer having a hollow space, a resilient plate member closing the hollow space, a charge coupled device integrated on a semiconductor chip mounted on the resilient plate member, an optical lens focusing an image on a photo-electric converting region of the charge coupled device and an actuator connected between the bottom surface of the retainer and the resilient plate member so as to deform the resilient plate member and the semiconductor chip, thereby adjusting the surface of the semiconductor chip to a focal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yasuaki Hokari
  • Patent number: 6262825
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, there are provided apparatus and methods useful for efficiently subjecting photosensitive materials to a relatively low energy pre-exposure using the electromagnetic energy during the non-imaging portion of the exposure process (i.e., a backscan beam exposure) prior to subjecting such materials to the main imaging exposure (i.e., an imagewise exposure). In a further aspect of the present invention, there are provided combinations and improvements useful for the enhanced imagewise exposure of photosensitive materials. In additional aspects of the present invention, there are provided methods of enhancing the imagewise exposure of photosensitive materials, imagewise exposed photosensitive material made according to such methods, methods for enhancing sensitivity of a photosensitive material for imagewise exposure, and photosensitive materials having enhanced sensitivity for imagewise exposure made according to these methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignees: Napp Systems, Inc., Cymbolic Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory E. Mueller, Daniel John Whittle
  • Patent number: 6256411
    Abstract: An image processing device and method recognizing and deleting extraneous objects in image for data based on analysis of the image data. An object detection means detects an object region such as a finger or the like in a document image, and an image processing means erases part of an image corresponding to the object region of a finger or the like in the image data. The object detection means detects the object region by a dynamic contouring method in which a specific initial contour is set relative to the image data, and the initial contour is adjusted along a border of variable density in the image data so as to accurately erase an object image of a finger of a user holding a document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kentaro Iida
  • Patent number: 6252694
    Abstract: A laser beam emitted from a laser beam generator is modulated by a laser beam modulator depending on an image to be recorded, and then guided by a reflecting area or a transmitting area of a laser beam switcher toward one of reflecting surfaces of respective spinners. The laser beam is then reflected thereby toward a recording medium attached to an inner circumferential surface of a semicylindrical drum. The spinners alternately scan the recording medium with the laser beam while they are being displaced axially in the semicylindrical drum, so that a two-dimensional image can efficiently be recorded on the recording medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Shinada
  • Patent number: 6144483
    Abstract: A beam scanning system for scanning an imaging surface includes a phase shifter for issuing phase signals, a radiation emitter for emitting a beam of radiation and a deflection element, such as an acousto-optic modulator or translating lens, for deflecting the radiation beam. Depending on the implementation, the emitter can be configured to phase shift the radiation beam and/or the deflection element can be configured to deflect the radiation beam in accordance with the issued phase signals. By emitting and/or deflecting the radiation beam in accordance with the phase signals, the length of the scan line formed on the imaging surface can be controlled. A deflector, such as a spin mirror or rotatable prism, is provided to direct the radiation beam to form a scan line on the imaging surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Agfa Corporation
    Inventors: Roy D. Allen, Frank Scholten
  • Patent number: 6137616
    Abstract: A multi-beam optical scanning device capable of suppressing jitter at the image edges within allowable tolerance by satisfying the following equation: ##EQU1## Where r represents the radius of photosensitive member (mm); .alpha. represents the maximum value of the angle obtained by subtracting the angle formed by the light beam and the scanned line on the surface of the photosensitive member from 90 degrees; D represents the distance (mm) on the surface of the photosensitive member between the light beam condensing position on the furthermost upstream side and the condensing position on the furthermost downstream side in the direction of rotation of the photosensitive member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Inagaki, Akiyoshi Hamada, Toshio Naiki
  • Patent number: 6126335
    Abstract: The film holder comprises a plurality of holder elements. Adjacent holder elements are connected to each other by a pin, so that the holder elements can be pivoted. A film engaging groove is formed on a side of each of the holder elements. The film engaging grooves are aligned with each other such that a peripheral edge of the film is engaged. The holder elements being rotatable while the film engaging grooves maintain a curvilinear alignment, allows the film to be smoothly curved, and the size of the image reading device, to which the film holder is mounted, to be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6124950
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus is disclosed which reads from above a book document mounted as opened upwardly. This image reading apparatus decides the positions of face terminal parts of the document by detecting longitudinal edges in accordance with differences in luminance contrasts which occur in the face part of document and the lateral face part of document in the lateral direction of an image and further detecting the pattern of longitudinal edges due to the overlap of pages in the lateral face part of document and the amount of change of the position of the upper side edge of the document. The apparatus, therefore, is capable of accurately detecting the face of the document and the lateral face of the document and producing exclusively the image of the face of the document in spite of the presence of an index, a pattern of black frame, or a black background in the terminal parts of the face of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Honda
  • Patent number: 6081352
    Abstract: An image scanner in which an original is scanned by a trilinear CCD array, i.e. the original is scanned line by line, three lines at the time, one line for each color. Thus, at a specific time "only" the area of the original that is scanned by the trilinear CCD array at that time has to be positioned in focus of the imaging means of the image scanner while the remaining part of the original may be positioned anywhere and may adopt any suitable form. Thus, there is no need for all parts of the original to be kept flat and planar as required in known flat bed scanners. The original is kept flat and straight along a line to be scanned by imparting a substantially cylindrical shape, such as a circular cylindrical shape, to at least part of the original. The original is scanned along lines that are substantially parallel to the generatrix of the cylindrical part of the original.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Imacon ApS
    Inventors: Christian Poulsen, Anders Heger
  • Patent number: 6014470
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus having a function for rectifying an image distortion caused by a curvature of a document surface, wherein the image distortion is rectified by duplicating image data that is a line of pixels in accordance with a varied amount of heights of a document surface, and a data conversion that is a image processing procedure in which the number of bits for pixels is reduced, is executed for the rectified image data. Data conversion elements whose number is the same as the maximum duplicated number "N", are arranged in a data conversion device, and the image data of a line to be duplicated arc input to the data conversion elements whose number is the same as duplicated number "n" of the line (n.ltoreq.N), and then, n-line image data which is processed in n data conversion elements, are stored in a memory. Thereby, reducing a memory capacity needed for the distortion rectification can be achieved without lowering picture quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Matsuda
  • Patent number: 5978102
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus for reading open-faced documents comprises a document table for placing documents, an image sensing device for reading a document placed on said document table, a height detector for detecting height of said document at different positions in the main scan direction, and a displacement mechanism for displacing said image sensing device to accomplish focusing within a plane perpendicular to the subscan direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Matsuda
  • Patent number: 5969795
    Abstract: A book scanner which reads an image of a book or a bound document placed as turned upward, computes the document inclination from the outer shape of the document, detects the top end of the bound part of the document from the document height, thereby determines the accurate position of the center line existing in a slanted posture, detecting the brightness in the neighborhood of the bound part, thereby computes the erasing width to be erased as unnecessary for an image with precision, and erases only the center line zone without failing to effect thorough erasure of the slanted center line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Honda
  • Patent number: 5969829
    Abstract: An image reader capable of outputting excellent quality read images, without illumination irregularities, similar to that of flat documents even when the document surface is curved as in the case of book-like documents. An image reader provided with a memory to store correction data to correct differences of illumination of each pixel of a document image, and which corrects the read information of each pixel in a document image using correction data corresponding to the measured height of a document surface among correction data stored in the memory. For one aspect, this image reader is constructed so as to correct a group of read information corresponding to a set of pixels arrayed in one direction by excluding specific frequencies among the illumination distribution from the set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Matsuda, Koichi Kamon
  • Patent number: 5963751
    Abstract: An image reader reads an object image recorded on a flexible light-transmissible recording medium formed in the shape of an elongated web. A curved guide member guides the recording medium, and has at least an arcuate portion formed as a light-transmissible area. A light source is provided at one side of the arcuate portion, for illuminating the object image with light rays emitted from the light source. An image sensor is provided at the other side of the arcuate portion, and is aligned with the light source to receive the light rays passing through the object image. Thus, the image sensor optically and electronically senses the object image. A drive mechanism moves both the light source and the image sensor along the arcuate portion so that the object image is scanned with both the light source and the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5923461
    Abstract: A multi-beam scanning system for scanning a curved imaging surface includes at least one radiation emitter which emits first and second beams of radiation. A spin deflector, rotatable about a spin axis, directs the first beam to form a first scan line and the second beam to form a second scan line on the imaging surface. A deflection element, disposed in the path of the first beam and upstream of the spin deflector, operates to deflect the first beam with respect to the rotation of the spin deflector. The spin deflector is impinged by beams of radiation only at a distance, other than zero, from the spin axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Agfa Corporation
    Inventors: Roy D. Allen, Frank Scholten
  • Patent number: 5907412
    Abstract: A rotatable image-mounting drum for use in a scanner or plotter. The drum has an end for permitting the releasable attachment of the drum to the scanner's or plotter's supporting and turning means. The drum's image-mounting surface and the drum's attachment end are preferably made of the same material, preferably acrylic. The attachment end of the drum includes a disk at the end of the drum, which has an opening or openings passing from its outer face to its inner face. The other end of the drum preferably is not attached directly to the rest of the scanner. The plotter's or scanner's mechanism for releasably attaching the rotatable drum includes a drum mount rotatable by a motor. A clasp stem, passing through a drum-mount opening, has a clasp finger rigidly attached thereto. A cam surface, having a varying elevation, can be rotated so as to push the cam stem through the drum-mount opening. A spring urges the stem against the cam surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Optronics International Corporation
    Inventor: Alfred R. Ouellette
  • Patent number: 5886342
    Abstract: This invention relates to an image reader capable of reading document images in parallel with the measurement of the state of curvature of the document surface, and correcting image distortion caused by said curvature in real time. An illumination light source for reading documents is provided with a filter to separate infrared light and visible light. The visible light is used to read document image information, and the infrared light is used to measure the state of curvature of the document. Since document reading and document curvature measurement are accomplished using light having different characteristics, these operations can be accomplished simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toru Matsui
  • Patent number: 5835241
    Abstract: An overhead scanning system records pages from bound documents in an upright and open condition. A light stripe is projected onto each page of the bound document to measure the non-planar deformations of each page. The scanning system records a first image with the light stripe and a second image without the light stripe. After identifying a set of pixels representing the light stripe in the first image, the set of pixels is smoothed to minimize large transitions between scan lines. Subsequently, a crease is identified in the set of pixels that represents the spine of the bound document. The pixels forming the crease are replaced with pixels that are defined using a parametric model that approximates the spine region of a bound document. This substitution insures that the spine region of a bound document is accurately depicted before determining a page shape transform with the identified set of pixels representing defining the projected light stripe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Saund
  • Patent number: 5835686
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an electronic prepress system includes a computer workstation for preparing electronic image files. The computer workstation transfers the image files to an image processor that converts the image files into digital data. The digital data is then transferred to a virtual-drum capstan-driven output device for outputting the image files onto paper, film or plate material. The output device has increased output speed and reduced cost compared to an internal drum device. A capstan drive moves web type image recording media through a curved media platen having an upper curved surface and a lower curved surface which form the media into a virtual drum. The optical system has a rotating reflective spinner at the center of curvature of the virtual drum to scan modulated image date across media while being continuously driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Agfa Division--Bayer Corporation
    Inventor: Arthur J. Bellemore
  • Patent number: 5831750
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus which reads document surfaces of open book-like documents placed on a document platen in a face upward condition and detects height of the document to control an image reading operation. An image reader reads the document platen on which the document is placed and outputs image data. A height detector detects height distribution of the document, and a discrimination device determines whether or not abnormalities occur in the height distribution of the document. A memory stores the height distribution of the document, and a update device updates the height distribution of the document stored in the memory when the abnormalities do not occur in the height distribution of the document. A correcting device corrects distortion of the image data caused by the height of the document in accordance with the height distribution of the document stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriyuki Okisu, Tetsuya Iida, Toru Matsui, Keiichiro Bungo
  • Patent number: 5808756
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus for book-like document includes a height detecting device which detects a height of the document, a luminance detecting device which detects a luminance of a background portion of the document image, a gloss calculating device which calculates gloss of a surface of the document in accordance with the height and the luminance, a luminance calculating device which calculates luminance corresponding to a background portion of the document image in accordance with the gloss and the height, a selecting device which selects either the detected luminance or the calculated luminance, and a density correcting means for correcting a density of the image data in accordance with said selected luminance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shinya Matsuda
  • Patent number: 5796511
    Abstract: A multi-beam scanning system for scanning a curved imaging surface includes at least one radiation emitter configured to emit a first beam of radiation and a second beam of radiation. A spin deflector, rotatable about a spin axis, directs the first beam to form a first scan line and the second beam to form a second scan line on the imaging surface. At least one acousto-optic element, disposed in the path of at least one of the beams and upstream of the spin deflector, is operable to deflect the at least one beam with respect to the spin axis of the spin deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Agfa Division, Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: Roy D. Allen, Frank Scholten
  • Patent number: 5764383
    Abstract: A platenless book scanner with line buffering performs electronic perspective correction to account for rotation of the spine of a non-planar bound document relative to a reference line in a support plane of the platenless book scanner. A pre-scan of the non-planar bound document is performed to provide a geometrical contour map of the bound document. The geometrical contour map, which identifies displacement of the bound document from the support plane, is analyzed to calculate an angular offset between a spine of the bound document and the reference line in the support plane. The angular offset is used to identify a minimum number of scan line buffers for recording image data, from a set of scan line buffers. Once the minimum number of scan line buffers is filled with recorded image data, distortions caused by displacements of the non-planar bound document from the support plane and skew of the bound document relative to the reference line in the support plane are corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Saund, Andrew A. Berlin
  • Patent number: 5764381
    Abstract: An internal drum recorder images a media to a radiation pattern using an image array, which extends along a primary track, such as a helical track, and in a direction essentially perpendicular to the primary track. In one embodiment, the source of radiation is a laser aimed along the longitudinal axis of the drum, deflected and applied through a light modifier within a spinner. The light modifier is a device breaking the single laser beam into a number of sub-beams. Alternately, a number of laser diodes rotating within a translatable spinner may be used to produce the image. A gripper bar rotating about the longitudinal axis of the drum facilitates introducing and removing new sheets into the drum. A focus detector rotating within the spinneris used to correct the radial distance to the media surface from the spinner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Scitex Corporation Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert M. Landsman
  • Patent number: 5724171
    Abstract: Optical scanning apparatus is disclosed wherein a plurality of reading heads are mounted on a rotating support, and a light source directs light through an optical beam switching means which rotates about an axis colinear with that of the support but at half the rotational speed, whereby the reading heads are caused to be successively operational in turn over a given segment of each revolution of the support, which has a linear transnational movement relative to image-bearing subject(s) to be read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Assignee: Medical Research Council
    Inventors: William Bradshaw Amos, John Francis William Mallett, Richard Henderson
  • Patent number: 5721604
    Abstract: A feeding apparatus has a rotatable feed drum and first and second nip rollers movable into rolling contact with an outer circumferential surface of the feed drum by gravity. The first nip roller is made of a metal, and the second nip roller is made of rubber, so that the first nip roller exerts feeding forces smaller than feeding forces exerted by the second nip roller. A film that is fed by the feed drum in coaction with the first and second nip rollers is reliably prevented from being lifted off the outer circumferential surface of the feed drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takao Ozaki
  • Patent number: 5711516
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a sheet feeder used with an image scanner for transmitting a sheet object to be scanned through the image scanner which has a sloping plane detachably mounting thereon the image scanner and allowing the sheet object to be transmitted between the image scanner and the sheet feeder along the sloping plane for assisting in monitoring a transmission situation of the sheet object. The present invention utilizes an improvement on a sheet feeder structure to make the sheet feeder more pragmatic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Storm Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Ampere Pan
  • Patent number: 5710642
    Abstract: A multi-format scanner, has first and second laterally spaced film gates which are dimensioned to accomodate film of respective different widths lengthwise therethrough for scanning. Each gate has an aperture through which light can pass. A light source illuminates film at the aperture of at least a selected one of the gates. A sensor receives light from the light source which has passed through film at the aperture of the selected gate. A film input and output track set is aligned with the selected gate to lengthwise convey elongated film of either width, into and out of the selected gate. A drive moves the film lengthwise through the selected gate. At least one of: the film gates, the sensor or track set, can be laterally moved so that either gate can serve as the selected gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Ronald Herbert Kiesow
  • Patent number: 5574578
    Abstract: A film transparency (7) is held by centrifugal force with its emulsion side in contact with the inside of the transparent drum (1) of a rotary drum scanner (1, 2, 3) used in a graphic reproduction process. A transparency locator is in the form of either an insert (4) or a clip device (20) and serves to hold the film transparency in position until the drum is rotating at a sufficiently high speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: I.C.G. Ltd.
    Inventors: Alan R. Dresch, Stephen C. Smith, Andrew G. Sokoloff
  • Patent number: 5572339
    Abstract: A scanner housing encloses a rotatable cylindrical drum, the outer surface having opposing rims or hubs which support respective outer edges of a film strip or slide to be scanned. The edges of the film are releasably held flat against respective rims by means of bands contacting respective radially outer edges of the film to maintain them against the respective outer rim surfaces of the drum whereby the film rotates with the drum's rotation past a scanner assembly. The scanner assembly is disposed internally of the housing adjacent one outer side of the drum and includes a linear array scanning transducer. A light source is located adjacent an opposing outer side of the drum at a location substantially diametrically opposed from the scanner assembly. A focusing lens assembly is disposed internally of the drum between the light source and the scanner assembly. The film being carried on the outer circumference of the rotating drum as the drum rotates, passes adjacent the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Albert D. Edgar, Steven C. Penn