US3604846A — Method and system for reconstruction of half-tone…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 264 words

The method of making a half-tone image reproduction comprising the steps of: a. scanning a viewing sensor in a predetermined first pattern over a master image and in timed relation therewith generating an analog signal having an amplitude which varies in correspondence with the density of successively viewed elemental areas within said master image, b. periodically sampling said analog signal to obtain a sequence of samples each having a sequence position representing the location of the sampled elemental image area within said master image, c. translating said samples into a corresponding sequence of binary words, each word having its information bits arranged in correspondence with an arrangement of marking cells within a two-dimensional marking matrix which when viewed by an observer will give a visual impression approximating that of the associated elemental area within the master image, d. storing said sequence of binary words, e. producing relative scanning movement in a predetermined second pattern between a binarily actuatable marking means and an image receiving member; said second pattern successively bringing said marking means into marking relationship with all members of a field of marking cells collectively defining a contiguous set of two dimensional marking matrices for halftone reproduction of the master image, f. retrieving the stored bits in timed relationship with the relative movement of the marking means and in a retrieval sequence corresponding to said second pattern, and g. binarily actuating the marking means in sequential response to the binary states of the bits being retrieved and thereby appropriately marking each marking cell as it moves into marking relationship with the marking means.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 264 words

The method of making a half-tone image reproduction comprising the steps of: a. scanning a viewing sensor in a predetermined first pattern over a master image and in timed relation therewith generating an analog signal having an amplitude which varies in correspondence with the density of successively viewed elemental areas within said master image, b. periodically sampling said analog signal to obtain a sequence of samples each having a sequence position representing the location of the sampled elemental image area within said master image, c. translating said samples into a corresponding sequence of binary words, each word having its information bits arranged in correspondence with an arrangement of marking cells within a two-dimensional marking matrix which when viewed by an observer will give a visual impression approximating that of the associated elemental area within the master image, d. storing said sequence of binary words, e. producing relative scanning movement in a predetermined second pattern between a binarily actuatable marking means and an image receiving member; said second pattern successively bringing said marking means into marking relationship with all members of a field of marking cells collectively defining a contiguous set of two dimensional marking matrices for halftone reproduction of the master image, f. retrieving the stored bits in timed relationship with the relative movement of the marking means and in a retrieval sequence corresponding to said second pattern, and g. binarily actuating the marking means in sequential response to the binary states of the bits being retrieved and thereby appropriately marking each marking cell as it moves into marking relationship with the marking means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 252 words

Apparatus for digital image reconstruction, comprising means for producing a focused beam of radiant energy, means for supporting a graphic representation to be scanned by the beam, drive means connected to cause relative scanning movement between the beam and the representation at a predetermined rate along adjacent paths, a transducer responsive to variations in the beam after modulation of the beam by the representation, a converter connected to receive the analog output of said transducer and produce corresponding digital input signals related to incremental areas of the representation, control means connected to gate the output from said converter in synchronism with said drive means, means for producing from said input signals related binary output code signals defining the relative density of each incremental area as a two dimensional increment matrix in which dots are located according to the density of the individual areas, a printing device including means for mounting a receiving member and a marking device capable of creating individual dots on the receiving member, a coordinated drive control producing relative movement between said marking device and the receiving member and gating the output signals to said marking device synchronously with such relative movement to produce visual two dimensional increment matrices related as the incremental areas of the representation, and control means responsive to said output signals and connected to control said marking device for causing placement of dots on the receiving member within said matrices to create a half-tone reproduction consisting of the composite dot patterns of the increment matrices.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 252 words

Apparatus for digital image reconstruction, comprising means for producing a focused beam of radiant energy, means for supporting a graphic representation to be scanned by the beam, drive means connected to cause relative scanning movement between the beam and the representation at a predetermined rate along adjacent paths, a transducer responsive to variations in the beam after modulation of the beam by the representation, a converter connected to receive the analog output of said transducer and produce corresponding digital input signals related to incremental areas of the representation, control means connected to gate the output from said converter in synchronism with said drive means, means for producing from said input signals related binary output code signals defining the relative density of each incremental area as a two dimensional increment matrix in which dots are located according to the density of the individual areas, a printing device including means for mounting a receiving member and a marking device capable of creating individual dots on the receiving member, a coordinated drive control producing relative movement between said marking device and the receiving member and gating the output signals to said marking device synchronously with such relative movement to produce visual two dimensional increment matrices related as the incremental areas of the representation, and control means responsive to said output signals and connected to control said marking device for causing placement of dots on the receiving member within said matrices to create a half-tone reproduction consisting of the composite dot patterns of the increment matrices.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 115 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said mounting means is a cylinder rotatable past said marking means, said marking means including an ink drop generator arranged to project drops of an electrically conductive ink along a trajectory intersecting the path of a receiving member on said mounting means, means for selectively charging individual drops, means providing a deflection field through which the drops are projected whereby individual drops are diverted from said trajectory depending upon the charge status of each drop, means for preventing diverted drops from depositing on the receiving member, and said control means including gating means arranged to control said charging means according to the binary status of the output signals.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 197 words

Apparatus for digital image reconstruction, comprising means for supporting an original image representation, scanning means cooperating with said supporting means to scan the original and produce digital input information representing incremental areas of the original and graded according to the relative density of each incremental area, means for processing said digital information and producing related binary output code signals defining the relative density of each incremental area as a two dimensional increment matrix in which dots of equal size are located in selected cells of the matrix according to the density of the individual areas, a printing device including means for mounting a receiving member, a marking device capable of creating individual dots on the receiving member, and means for producing relative movement between said mounting means and said marking device to bring the marking device into marking relation with each cell of the increment matrices, and control means responsive to said output signals and connected to control said marking device for causing placement of dots on the receiving member to create a half-tone reproduction consisting of the composite dot patterns of the increment matrices corresponding to the densities of the related incremental areas of the original.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 197 words

Apparatus for digital image reconstruction, comprising means for supporting an original image representation, scanning means cooperating with said supporting means to scan the original and produce digital input information representing incremental areas of the original and graded according to the relative density of each incremental area, means for processing said digital information and producing related binary output code signals defining the relative density of each incremental area as a two dimensional increment matrix in which dots of equal size are located in selected cells of the matrix according to the density of the individual areas, a printing device including means for mounting a receiving member, a marking device capable of creating individual dots on the receiving member, and means for producing relative movement between said mounting means and said marking device to bring the marking device into marking relation with each cell of the increment matrices, and control means responsive to said output signals and connected to control said marking device for causing placement of dots on the receiving member to create a half-tone reproduction consisting of the composite dot patterns of the increment matrices corresponding to the densities of the related incremental areas of the original.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 4, said control means including a coordinated drive control producing said relative movement and gating the output signals to said marking device synchronously with such relative movement.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 114 words

Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said mounting means is movable cyclically past said marking means, said marking means including a drop generator arranged to project marking drops of an electrically conductive liquid along a trajectory intersecting the path of a receiving member on said mounting means, means for selectively charging individual drops, means providing a deflection field through which the drops are projected whereby individual drops are diverted from said trajectory depending upon the charge status of each drop, means for preventing diverted drops from depositing on the receiving member, and said control means including gating means arranged to control said charging means according to the binary status of the output signals.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 359 words

The method of image reproduction comprising the steps of: a. scanning a viewing sensor in a predetermined first pattern over a master image, and in timed relation with said scanning action, generating an analog signals having an amplitude which varies in correspondence with the density of successively viewed elemental areas within said master image; b. digitizing said analog signal to create a set of digital words; each word being coded to represent the density and location of one of said successively viewed element areas, and in positional correlation with said elemental area; c. for each said digital word, providing a corresponding information matrix on a different scale comprising a set of binary storage locations, the number of storage locations in said information matrix corresponding to the number of levels into which said analog signal is digitized; d. translating each digital word into a corresponding sequence of bits which identifies the location of dots within the cells of each matrix for producing a visual matrix reproduction having a density corresponding to the related elemental image area; e. defining a field of marking cells on an image receiving member; each marking cell corresponding to one storage location in one of said information matrices, the set of marking cells corresponding to the set of storage locations in one information matrix collectively defining a contiguous marking matrix, and the field of marking cells collectively defining the area for reproduction of the master image; f. producing relative scanning movement in a predetermined second pattern between a binarily actuatable marking device and the image receiving member; said second pattern successively bringing said marking device in marking relationship with all marking cells in said field; and g. as the marking device is presented to each marking cell, actuating said marking device in accordance with binary state of the corresponding one of said storage locations, thereby creating a halftone reproduction of the master image; each marking matrix within said halftone reproduction corresponding to one of said elemental areas within the master image and the number of marked marking cells within said marking matrix collectively defining an area related to the density of the associated viewed elemental area.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 359 words

The method of image reproduction comprising the steps of: a. scanning a viewing sensor in a predetermined first pattern over a master image, and in timed relation with said scanning action, generating an analog signals having an amplitude which varies in correspondence with the density of successively viewed elemental areas within said master image; b. digitizing said analog signal to create a set of digital words; each word being coded to represent the density and location of one of said successively viewed element areas, and in positional correlation with said elemental area; c. for each said digital word, providing a corresponding information matrix on a different scale comprising a set of binary storage locations, the number of storage locations in said information matrix corresponding to the number of levels into which said analog signal is digitized; d. translating each digital word into a corresponding sequence of bits which identifies the location of dots within the cells of each matrix for producing a visual matrix reproduction having a density corresponding to the related elemental image area; e. defining a field of marking cells on an image receiving member; each marking cell corresponding to one storage location in one of said information matrices, the set of marking cells corresponding to the set of storage locations in one information matrix collectively defining a contiguous marking matrix, and the field of marking cells collectively defining the area for reproduction of the master image; f. producing relative scanning movement in a predetermined second pattern between a binarily actuatable marking device and the image receiving member; said second pattern successively bringing said marking device in marking relationship with all marking cells in said field; and g. as the marking device is presented to each marking cell, actuating said marking device in accordance with binary state of the corresponding one of said storage locations, thereby creating a halftone reproduction of the master image; each marking matrix within said halftone reproduction corresponding to one of said elemental areas within the master image and the number of marked marking cells within said marking matrix collectively defining an area related to the density of the associated viewed elemental area.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 7, including the additional step, following step (b), of recording the digital input information, then reading the recorded digital information into a computing machine to initiate step (c).

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 7, wherein step (c) includes determining the span of density variation in the digital input information, and rescaling the information according to its proportionate value in the increment area matrix during processing into output code signals.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 7, wherein the receiving member is recirculated past the marking device to produce a helical scanning pattern, and parts of adjoining increment area matrices are produced during each single scan of the member past the marking device.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method of claim 7, wherein the receiving member is recirculated past the marking device and the marking device is moved stepwise transversely to the motion of the receiving member to produce successive circular scans, and parts of adjoining increment area matrices are produced during each circular scan of the receiving member.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 7, wherein the rate of scanning movement is sensed and is utilized to gate the operation of said marking device to align adjoining increment area matrices and parts thereof on the receiving member.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-09-13	1975-03-15	1975-09-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-09-13	1979-03-15	1979-09-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-09-13	1983-03-15	1983-09-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and system for reconstruction of half-tone images

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