Method and scanning apparatus for color separation and identification

Claim 2

In a system for detecting and separating different colors from among a set of colors and for reducing the detected colors into digital information, the color separation being done on the basis of the spectral reflectivity pattern of the individual colors which appear on the surface of a document to be scanned, the document to be scanned having a background color which is in the set of colors, and which reflects as a neutral color which is uniform across the frequency bandwidth utilized and is of an intermediate level between black and white, the combination comprising: holding means for supporting a document that presents a scanning surface; light source means for providing light energy to be reflected from said surface; receiving means for separating the reflected light energy emanating from the surface of the document into two light energy channels of different spectral regions such that the background color reflects as a neutral color in each of said spectral regions i.e., uniform across each spectral region and intermediate between black and white; two photoresponsive means, each being in the light path within a different one of the light energy channels for detecting the amount of light energy present in the channel and for providing an electrical signal which is a function of the amount of light energy in the channel, the electrical signal being referred to as a background signal when the amount of light energy present in the channel is the amount of light energy which is present in the channel when the color reflecting the light is a background color, the electrical signal being referred to as a high energy signal when the amount of light energy in the channel is greater than the amount of light energy present when the color reflecting the light is a background color, and the electrical signal being referred to as a low energy signal when the amount of light energy in the channel is less than the amount of light energy present when the color reflecting the light is a background; digitizing means generating a zero output signal in response to a background signal from the photoresponsive means, generating a positive signal in response to a high energy signal from the photoresponsive means and generating a negative signal in response to a low energy signal from the photoresponsive means; decoder means for receiving said output signal to determine the spectral reflectivity pattern of the color present on the scanning surface and to provide a further output signal which indicates the spectral reflectivity pattern of the scanned portion of the surface; encoder means responsive to the position on the document surface from which light energy from the light source means is being reflected, for providing position signals; and timing means connected to the encoder means for receiving said position signals from said encoder means, said timing means generating timing signals from the position signals and an output of said timing means being connected to the decoder means so that the timing signals determine when the decoder means receives and decodes the electrical output signals generated by the digitizing means for the two light energy channels.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the background color is substantially achromatic.

Claim 4

In a system for detecting and separating different colors from among a set of colors which appear on the surface of a document to be scanned and for reducing the colors into digital information, the color separation being done on the basis of the spectral reflectivity pattern of the individual colors which appear on the surface of the document to be scanned, the document having a background color which is in the set of colors and which reflects as a neutral color which is uniform across the frequency bandwidth utilized and is of an intermediate level between black and white, the combination comprising: holding means for supporting a document that presents a scanning surface; light source means for providing light energy to be reflected from said surface; receiving means for separating the reflected light energy emanating from the surface of said document into light energy channels of different spectral regions such that the background color reflects as a neutral color, in each of said spectral regions i.e., uniform across each spectral region and intermediate between black and white; two photoresponsive means, each being in a light path within a different one of the light energy channels for detecting the amount of light energy present in the channel and for providing an electrical signal which is a function of the amount of light energy in the channel, the electrical signal being referred to as a background signal when the amount of light energy present in the channel is the amount of light energy which is present in the channel when the color reflecting the light is a background color, the electrical signal being referred to as a high energy signal when the amount of light energy in the channel is greater than the amount of light energy present in the channel when the color reflecting the light is a background color, and the electrical signal being referred to as a low energy signal when the amount of light energy in the channel is less than the amount of light energy present in the channel when the color reflecting the light is a background color; digitizing means generating a zero output signal in response to a background signal from the photoresponsive means, generating a positive signal in response to a high energy signal from the photoresponsive means and generating a negative signal in response to a low energy signal from the photoresponsive means; decoder means for receiving said output signals to determine the spectral reflectivity pattern of the color present on the scanning surface and to provide a further output signal which indicates the spectral reflectivity pattern of the scanned portion of the surface; encoder means connected to the holding means for providing position signals responsive to the position on the document surface from which light energy from the light source means is being reflected; timing means connected to the encoder means for receiving said position signals from said encoder means, said timing means generating timing signals from the position signals and an output of said timing means being connected to the decoder means so that the timing signals determine when the decoder means receives and decodes the electrical output signals generated by the digitizing means for the two light energy channels; storage means for storing said further output signals; and control means connected between said encoder means and said decoder means for selectively gating said further output signals to said storage means.

Claim 5

In a system for detecting and separating different colors from among a set of colors which appear on the surface of a document to be scanned and for reducing the colors into digital information, the color separation being done on the basis of the spectral reflectivity pattern of the individual colors which appear on the surface of the document to be scanned, the document having a background color which is in the set of colors and which reflects as a neutral color which is uniform across the frequency bandwidth utilized and is of an intermediate level between black and white, the combination comprising: holding means for supporting a document that presents a scanning surface; light source means for providing light energy to be reflected from said surface; receiving means for separating the reflected light energy emanating from the surface of said document into light energy channels of different spectral regions such that the background color reflects as a neutral color, in each of said spectral regions i.e., uniform across each spectral region and intermediate between black and white; two photoresponsive means, each being in a light path within a different one of the light energy channels for detecting the amount of light energy present in the channel and for providing an electrical signal which is a function of the amount of light energy in the channel, the electrical signal being referred to as a background signal when the amount of light energy present in the channel is the amount of light energy which is present in the channel when the color reflecting the light is a background color, the electrical signal being referred to as a high energy signal when the amount of light energy in the channel is greater than the amount of light energy present in the channel when the color reflecting the light is a background color, and the electrical signal being referred to as a low energy signal when the amount of light energy in the channel is less than the amount of light energy present in the channel when the color reflecting the light is a background color; digitizing means generating a zero output signal in response to a background signal from the photoresponsive means, generating a positive signal in response to a high energy signal from the photoresponsive means and generating a negative signal in response to a low energy signal from the photoresponsive means; decoder means for receiving said output signals to determine the spectral reflectivity pattern of the color present on the scanning surface and to provide a further output signal which indicates the spectral reflectivity pattern of the scanned portion of the surface; encoder means connected to the holding means for providing position signals responsive to the position on the document surface from which light energy from the light source means is being reflected; timing means connected to the encoder means for receiving said position signals from said encoder means, said timing means generating timing signals from the position signals and an output of said timing means being connected to the decoder means so that the timing signals determine when the decoder means receives and decodes the electrical output signals generated by the digitizing means for the two light energy channels; storage means for storing said further output signals; and control means connected between said encoder means and said decoder means for selectively gating said further output signals to said storage means.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the background color is substantially achromatic.

Claim 9

The method of claim 5 wherein the background color is substantially achromatic.

Claim 10

The method of claim 5 wherein said spectral regions are nonoverlapping and comprise substantially the entire visible spectrum.

Claim 11

The system of claim 3 wherein said receiving means is a dichroic mirror.

Claim 12

The system of claim 1 further comprising storage means for storing said further output signal.

Claim 13

The system as defined in claim 2 further comprising control means connected between said encoder means and said decoder means for selectively gating said further output signal to said storage means.

Claim 14

The system of claim 1 wherein said receiving means is a dichroic mirror.