US 6,211,949 B1 · Method of aligning images to be scanned and a scanning apparatus for such alignment

Abstract

A method of scanning a plurality of images that arranges a portion of an image medium, in a position with a reference mark roughly aligned. The portion of the image medium is scanned to determine the location of the reference mark. The entire image is then scanned immediately after scanning only the portion with the reference mark. A second image is positioned with a reference mark roughly aligned on a scanner. The portion of the second image that has the second reference mark is scanned to determine the location of the second reference mark. The second image medium is repositioned so that the reference mark is placed accurately in the same position of the scanner which was occupied by the first reference mark. The entire second image is then scanned immediately after repositioning the second image medium. The images, and corresponding reference marks, may be recorded in different image media, or in the same medium, such as a single sheet of film. A device according to the invention determines the position of the first and second reference marks, and repositions the second image medium such that the second reference mark coincides with the location which was occupied by a first reference mark.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A method of aligning and scanning at least two images, each image of said at least two images being formed in a portion of a respective image substrate and being associated with at least one corresponding alignment area or mark positioned in a respective one of said image substrates in relation to a respective one of said each at least two images, said at least two images when aligned and scanned are arranged on a substantially planar surface of a scanning apparatus for digitizing images, said method comprising:

identifying an approximate position of at least one corresponding alignment area or mark associated with each of said at least two images,
scanning at least part of the at least one alignment area or mark of a first image of said at least two images, directly followed by a complete scanning of the first image,
scanning at least part of the at least one alignment area or mark of a second image of said at least two images,
determining a displacement of a position of each of the at least one alignment area or mark of the second image in relation to a position of the at least one alignment area or mark of the first image, and
cancelling out at least partly the determined displacement, directly followed by a complete scanning of said second image.

2 more elements

A method of scanning a plurality of images, comprising:

positioning a portion of a first image medium in a partial scanning region of a scanning device, said portion of said first image medium having a first reference mark formed therein and said first image medium having a first image formed therein, said first reference mark being at a fixed location in said first image medium relative to said first image and defining a reference position;
scanning said portion of said first image medium and determining a location of said first reference mark in a resultant first partial image;
scanning the entire first image immediately after said scanning said portion of said first image medium;
positioning a portion of a second image medium in said partial scanning region of said scanning device, said portion of said second image medium having a second reference mark formed therein and said second image medium having a second image formed therein, said second reference mark being at a fixed location in said second image medium relative to said second image;
scanning said portion of said second image medium and determining a location of said second reference mark in a resultant second partial image;
repositioning said portion of said second image medium to arrange said second reference mark substantially in said reference position;
and
scanning the entire second image immediately after said repositioning of said portion of said second image medium.

5 more elements

A method of scanning a plurality of images, comprising:

positioning a first portion of an image medium in a partial scanning region of a scanning device, said first portion of said image medium having a first reference mark formed therein and said image medium having a first image formed therein, said first reference mark being at a fixed location in said image medium relative to said first image and defining a reference position;
scanning said first portion of said image medium and determining a location of said first reference mark in a resultant first partial image;
scanning the entire first image immediately after said scanning said first portion of said first image medium;
positioning a second portion of said image medium in said partial scanning region of said scanning device, said second portion of said image medium having a second reference mark formed therein and said image medium having a second image formed therein, said second reference mark being at a fixed location in said image medium relative to said second image;
scanning said second portion of said image medium and determining a location of said second reference mark in a resultant second partial image;
repositioning said second portion of said image medium to arrange said second reference mark substantially in said reference position;
and
scanning the entire second image immediately after said repositioning of said second portion of said image medium.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of aligning images to be scanned and a scanning apparatus for such alignment

Life of this patent

Method of aligning images to be scanned and a scanning apparatus for such alignment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24