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US 5,331,435 AGranted
Digitizer for raster digitizing an image
AssigneeLenzar Electro-Optics, Inc.
InventorJohn S. Scott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A digitizer is provided with a camera, a movable stage and a control device. The stage may be moved by first and second linear motors such that the digitizer can be used in non-stationary or vibrating environments. A bundle of fiber optics is used to constantly illuminate a patch of an image to be digitized. Also, a control device is provided between the camera and the first and second linear motors for controlling the camera and the positioning of the stage. Various sized images can easily be digitized while memory requirements are kept low and speed is kept high. This digitizer provides for an adaptive dynamic range as well as an improved contrast sensitivity. Also, a mechanism for correcting the effects of skew and keystoning is provided which enables collection of seamless mosaics.
Claims30
A digitizer comprising:
- a camera provided in a camera housing;
- a movable stage for holding an image to be viewed by the camera;
- a first linear motor for moving the stage in a first direction;
- a second linear motor for moving the stage in a second direction, said first and second linear motors being gearless and screwless in moving the stage;
- control means, operatively connected to the camera and the first and second linear motors, said control means controlling the camera and positioning of the stage relative to the camera;
- means for digitizing the image viewed by the camera;
- stage controller means operatively connected to said first and second linear motors and said control means for controlling movement of the stage in the first and second directions by the first and second linear motors;
- and
- input means connected to the control means for enabling an operator to selectively control positioning of the stage, said input means enabling an operator to select coordinates for a home position of said image, an amount of movement of the stage relative to the camera, and a time delay after movement of the stage before the digitizing means will process the image.
6 more elements
A digitizer comprising:
- a camera provided in a camera housing;
- a movable stage for holding an image to be viewed by the camera;
- a first linear motor for moving the stage in a first direction;
- a second linear motor for moving the stage in a second direction, said first and second linear motors being gearless and screwless in moving the stage;
- control means, operatively connected to the camera and the first and second linear motors, said control means controlling the camera and positioning of the stage relative to the camera, the control means comprises camera control means for controlling an angle of the camera relative to the stage and exposure time of the camera;
- and
- means for digitizing the image viewed by the camera, the means for digitizing being located within the camera housing and wherein the camera control means comprises a first board which controls the camera and gathers digitized data from the digitizing means, the control means further comprises a second board, a third board and memory means, said second board being operatively connected to the first board for receiving the digitized data therefrom and temporarily holding the digitized data, said memory means being operatively connected to the second board for receiving selected digitized data therefrom and for storing said selected digitized data and said digitizer further comprising means for displaying the image viewed by the camera, said display means being operatively connected to the third board.
4 more elements
A digitizer comprising:
- a camera provided in a camera housing;
- a movable stage for holding an image to be viewed by the camera;
- means for moving the stage;
- control means operatively connected to the camera and the means for moving, said control means controlling the camera and positioning the stage relative to the camera, the control means controlling an angle of the camera relative to the stage and exposure time of the camera;
- means for digitizing the image viewed by the camera;
- means for illuminating a patch of the image to be viewed by the camera, said means for illuminating providing a substantially constant illumination to the image and said means for illuminating comprising a bundle of optical fibers;
- wherein the means for moving the stage comprises a first linear motor for moving the stage in a first direction and a second linear motor for moving the stage in a second direction, said first and second linear motors being gearless and screwless in moving the stage;
- stage controller means operatively connected to said first and second linear motors and said control means for controlling movement of the stage in the first and second directions by the first and second linear motors;
- and
- input means connected to the control means for enabling an operator to selectively control positioning of the stage, said input means enabling an operator to select coordinates for a home position of said image, an amount of movement of the stage relative to the camera, a maximum amount of movement of the stage relative to the camera, and a time delay after movement of the stage before the digitizing means will process the image.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.