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US 6,720,560 B1Granted
Method and apparatus for scanning images
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorsAlbert D. Edgar, Steven C. Penn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for generating a digital representation of an image by scanning the image with two different types of light. A system for use in generating a digital representation of an image, as well as digital representation of an image are also provided.
Claims34
A method for generating a digital representation of an image, comprising:
- (a) applying visible and infrared light to an image storing medium which includes the image;
- (b) directing said visible and infrared light which is reflected from or transmitted through said image storing medium to a reflective surface, wherein said visible light is reflected by said reflective surface towards a first sensor and said infrared light is transmitted through said reflective surface towards a second sensor;
- (c) detecting said visible light which is reflected from or transmitted through said image storing medium at said first sensor in order to provide a first image signal;
- and
- (d) detecting said infrared light which is reflected from or transmitted through said image storing medium at said second sensor in order to provide a second image signal;
- whereby said second image signal may be used to modify said first image signal to generate a modified digital representation of said image;
- and wherein the optical distance between said image storing medium and said first sensor is different from the optical distance between said image storing medium and said second sensor.
4 more elements
A method for generating a digital representation of an image, comprising:
- (a) applying visible and infrared light to an image storing medium which includes the image;
- (b) directing said visible and infrared light which is reflected from or transmitted through said image storing medium to a reflective surface, wherein said visible light is transmitted through said reflective surface towards a first sensor and said infrared light is reflected by said reflective surface towards a second sensor;
- (c) detecting said visible light which is reflected from or transmitted through said image storing medium at said first sensor in order to provide a first image signal;
- and
- (d) detecting said infrared light which is reflected from or transmitted through said image storing medium at said second sensor in order to provide a second image signal;
- and
- whereby said second image signal may be used to modify said first image signal to generate a modified digital representation of said image;
- and wherein the optical distance between said image storing medium and said first sensor is different from the optical distance between said image storing medium and said second sensor.
5 more elements
A system for use in generating a digital representation of an image, comprising:
- (a) one or more light sources operable to apply first and second types of light to an image storing medium having an image;
- (b) a first sensor responsive to at least said first type of light;
- (c) a second sensor responsive to at least said second type of light;
- and
- (d) a reflective surface which reflects said first type of light and transmits said second type of light, said reflective surface positioned such that when said first and second types of light are applied to an image storing medium, said first type of light which is reflected from or transmitted through said image storing medium will be reflected towards said first sensor and said second type of light which is reflected from or transmitted through said image storing medium will be transmitted through said reflective surface towards said second sensor;
- wherein the system is configured such that the optical distance between said image storing medium and said first sensor is different from the optical distance between said image storing medium and said second sensor.
3 more elements
A digital representation of an image, generated by the method comprising:
- (a) applying a visible and infrared light to an image storing medium which includes the image;
- b) directing said visible and infrared light which is reflected from or transmitted through said image storing medium to a reflective surface, wherein one of said visible and infrared light is reflected by said reflective surface towards a first sensor and the other is transmitted through said reflective surface towards a second sensor, and further wherein the optical distance between said image storing medium and said first sensor is different from the optical distance between said image storing medium and said second sensor;
- (c) detecting said visible light which is reflected from or transmitted through said image storing medium in order to provide a first image signal;
- (d) detecting said infrared light which is reflected from or transmitted through said image storing medium in order to provide a second image signal;
- and
- (e) modifying said first image signal by said second image signal in order to generate a modified digital representation of said image.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.