Information processing system and method of using same

A method of processing discrete images in an unattended pre-calibrated image processing system, comprising:

• determining the area location of individual ones of a plurality of discrete image areas arranged in uniform rows and non uniformly arranged columns of varying size, shape and position on an image bearing substrate;
• and
• scanning only the determined area locations of each individual one of said plurality of discrete images disposed on said image bearing substrate;
• wherein said step of scanning includes:
• positioning a high resolution camera at an in focus y coordinate axis position relative to said image bearing substrate;
• positioning said image bearing substrate at an in focus x coordinate axis position relative to said high resolution camera;
• moving said high resolution camera and said image bearing substrate relative to one another to scan a determined area location of an individual one of said plurality of discrete image areas;
• and
• repeating said steps of positioning, positioning and moving a sufficient number of times until each individual one of said plurality of discrete image areas has been scanned by said high resolution camera.

An unattended pre-calibrated apparatus for processing large sequences of light passing documents in an unattended manner, comprising:

• means for automatically identifying active image areas and borders of varying size, shape and position on a plurality of light passing documents transported seriatim along a prescan path;
• means for generating a plurality of active image area signals indicative of the active image areas and borders of varying size, shape and position on said plurality of light passing documents;
• means for responding to individual ones of said plurality of active image area signals by automatically focusing a high resolution line scanner on only the active image areas of said light passing documents traveling seriatim along said scan path;
• and
• means for converting the image information carried on the individual ones of said light passing documents captured by said line scanner into corresponding enhanced digital information signals indicative of the image information carried on the individual ones of said light passing documents.

A method of unattended processing of large sequences of light passing documents, comprising:

• automatically identifying active image areas and borders on a plurality of light passing documents transported seriatim along a prescan path;
• generating a plurality of active image area signals indicative of the active image areas and borders on said plurality of light passing documents;
• responding to individual ones of said plurality of active image area signals by automatically focusing a high resolution line scanner on only the active image areas of said light passing documents traveling seriatim along said scan path;
• and
• converting the image information carried on the individual ones of said light passing documents captured by said line scanner into corresponding enhanced digital information signals indicative of the image information carried on the individual ones of said light passing documents.

An information processing method for determining uniform active image row locations for discrete microfiche on an aperture card, comprising:

• enhancing a prescan image of the aperture card by using a dilating operator when border lines are assumed bright;
• maximizing a borderline variable fitted to the image enhanced with said dilating operator when border lines are assumed bright;
• enhancing said prescan image of the aperture card by using another dilating operator when border lines are assumed dark;
• maximizing another borderline variable fitted to the image enhanced with said another dilating operator when border lines are assumed dark;
• and
• selecting an optimal positive polarity pattern defined by said border line variable and a pre negative polarity pattern defined by said another border line variable whichever is greater, wherein a resulting paten of horizontal rows, defined by a number of rows, a starting y-coordinate of a first row, an a vertical y-height for each row to identify the uniform active image rows.

An unattended image processing system, comprising:

• imaging means for capturing a low-resolution image of light passing media having at least one discrete image disposed thereon;
• image finding means responsive to said imaging means for determining the location of said at least one discrete image on said light passing media;
• quality-of-fit means responsive to said image finding means for fitting the discrete image in a determined height dimension and a determined width dimension relative to the light passing media;
• and
• wherein said imaging means is responsive to said quality-of-fit means for capturing a high-resolution image of only the determined location of said at least one discrete image and for converting the image into an image data file.

An unattended image processing method, comprising:

• capturing a low-resolution image of a light passing media having at least one discrete image disposed thereon;
• determining the location of said at least one discrete image on said light passing media;
• fitting the discrete image in a determined height dimension and a determined width dimension relative to said light passing media;
• and
• capturing a high-resolution image of only the determined location of said at least one discrete image to facilitate converting the discrete image into an image data file.