Integrated and auxiliary light for image scanners for scanning transparencies and method of lighting transparencies for image scanning
OwnerRichard Emil Kajanderinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A universal transparency adapter for use on flat bed image scanners. The transparency adapter, which is placed on the image window of an image scanner, utilizes circumferential back lighting to uniformly project through and illuminate the desired transparent image to be scanned. A circular or other perimeter surrounding light source provides lighting to the transparency original in an economical and simple manner. The inventive light source can also be integrated with a conventional scanner by using the inventive light source as a lid for the conventional scanner.
Claims21
A transparency adapter for use with a flat bed or hand held image scanner to scan transparencies, negatives, slides, and X-rays comprising an opaque housing with a closed or nearly closed annular or polygonal perimeter light source mounted therein, said housing covering a top of said light source and extending down, but spaced from an outer periphery of said light source to a point beyond the bottom of said light source.
A transparency adapter in combination with a conventional flat bed or hand held image scanner to scan transparencies, negatives, slides, and X-rays comprising an opaque housing with a closed or nearly closed annular light source mounted therein, said housing covering a top of said light source and extending down, but spaced from an outer periphery of said light source to a point beyond the bottom of said light source, said transparency adapter being attached to said image scanner.
A method of scanning an item selected from the group consisting of transparencies, negatives, slides, and X-rays on a conventional reflective scanner comprising opening a lid on said scanner, placing and centering the item to be scanned on an image window of said scanner, placing a transparency adapter over said item, said transparency adapter comprising a housing with a closed or nearly closed annular or polygonal perimeter light source mounted therein, said housing covering the top of said light source and extending around and down, but spaced from an extreme outer periphery of said light sources to a point lower than a lowest extremity of said light source, said transparency adapter placed such that said item is within a vertical projection of the inner peripheral circumference of said light source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.