US3835245A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Information modification in image analysis systems employing line scanning
Assignee: Image Analysing Computers Ltd
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Filing: 1972-08-07
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Granted: 1974-09-10
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Expires: 1992-08-07
Abstract
Abstract Image analysis apparatus and methods of operating same, having a surface on which outlines or areas can be delineated by hand, using either a light pen or conventional drawing instrument such as a pencil and near or on which a representation of a field under analysis is generated, a scanner for generating a video signal relating to the delineated outline or area in synchronism with the scanning of the field under analysis and circuit means for combining the video signal pulses obtained from scanning the field with pulses obtained from the video signal relating to the delineation.
Inventors
- 👤 L Pieters
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:43
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N5/00; H04N5/14; H04N5/142; G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04845; G06K; G06K11/00; G06K11/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 52
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of amending a picture signal obtained by scanning a field containing features, comprising the steps of: scanning the field at a predetermined rate to produce a first picture signal representative of the field, displaying said first picture signal on a C.R.T. also scanned at said predetermined rate, delineating on a surface in front of said C.R.T. a correction required to at least one of said features, generating a second piCture signal from said delineation and from the display scan of said C.R.T. in synchronism with the generation of the first picture signal, and combining said first and second picture signals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of amending a picture signal obtained by scanning a field containing features, comprising the steps of: scanning the field at a predetermined rate to produce a first picture signal representative of the field, displaying said first picture signal on a C.R.T. also scanned at said predetermined rate, delineating on a surface in front of said C.R.T. a correction required to at least one of said features, generating a second piCture signal from said delineation and from the display scan of said C.R.T. in synchronism with the generation of the first picture signal, and combining said first and second picture signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: forming the surface of transparent plate and situating said plate in front of the representation of the field.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of delineating includes the step of: forming a plurality of points defining a complex shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: removing the representation of said field at least from the field of view of a means scanning said delineations to produce said second picture signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: inverting first picture signal and combining said inverted first picture signal with the second video signal to cancel out the first signal component therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: said step of combining includes the step of adding said first and second signals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: obtaining two value signals by threshold detection of the original amplitude modulated video signals and wherein said step of combining includes the step of OR gating said first and second signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: delineating the missing portion of a feature displayed in a representation of the field on the surface, scanning the delineation to produce the second picture signal, detecting the amplitude excursions thereof to produce detected signal pulses corresponding to the missing portions, those detected signal pulses constituting a subsidiary detected signal; and combining the pulses of the subsidiary detected signal with those of the first picture signal obtained by scanning the field.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: electronically joining two or more features displayed in the representation of the field as being separated by delineating on the surface a bridging portion to close the gap between the two features in the representation of the field, scanning the delineated region, detecting the video signal amplitude excursions obtained thereby and, combining the detected signals with those of the first picture signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: blanking the C.R.T. so as to provide uniform illumination on the screen, when the delineated marking is to be scanned.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: projecting the display on the C.R.T. onto said surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: locating the C.R.T. screen relative to the surface so as to be seen therethrough.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: producing the second picture signal by line scanning.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: removing said first picture signal representing the original field and uniformly illuminating the surface while the delineated marks are scanned to produce the second picture signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of delineating includes the step of: forming a line in a closed loop.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 15 further comprising the steps of: converting the second picture signal pulses into gating pulses and employing said gating pulses to cause brightening of the scanning spot of said C.R.T. for producing a bright region on the C.R.T. screen corresponding in shape and proportional in size to the delineated outline.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: subjecting the actual video signal obtained by scanning the field to threshold detection to produce a two level detected signal which is displayed instead of the original video signal on the C.R.T.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of: subjecting the video signal obtained by scanning the delineations to threshhold detection to prOduce a two level detected signal as said second picture signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of: making measurements on the signal formed by combining the first and second picture signals.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: focussing the C.R.T. screen display onto a photomultiplier target so that the scanning spot of the C.R.T. and the photomultiplier combine to form a flying spot scanner.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of: making the delineations in opaque ink on the surface situated just in front of said C.R.T.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of: reducing the effect of ambient light variation by using a dual-phosphor tube in said C.R.T. wherein, the secondary phosphor produces a U.V. component and the photomultiplier is only sensitive to U.V. light.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 in which said step of delineating further comprises the step of: masking out a selected region.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of: obtaining gating pulses by scanning the masked out region and threshold detecting the second picture signal amplitude excursions so obtained.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of: employing the gating pulses to brighten up the scanning spot of said C.R.T.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of: employing the gating pulses generated from the second picture signal to gate the first picture signal so as to release the latter corresponding to the region bounded by the delineation.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of: employing the gating pulses generated from the second picture signal to gate the first picture signal so as to release the latter corresponding to the region outside the delineated region.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 in which said step of delineating further comprises the step of: making one delineation on the surface in a different colour from another delineation.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising the steps of: separating the second picture signal pulses relating to the one delineation from those relating to the other by filtering the light passing through the delineations to remove the unwanted wavelengths and supplying the filtered light beams to two separate scanning devices.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising the steps of: employing a single scanning device and threshold detecting the amplitude modulated video signal obtained from the scanning device with reference to a plurality of different threshold levels to enable the different amplitude level excursions fo the video signal relating to the different colours to be distinguished one from the other.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising the steps of: inserting separate different optical filtering devices between the surface and a single scanning means during different frame scans to obtain a form of time multiplexing, and gating the output of the scanning device during the appropriate frame scans to produce the different picture signals.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of: storing the separate picture signals for subsequent simultaneous address.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for amending a picture signal comprising: means for scanning a field or an image thereof to produce a first picture signal representing the field, a surface, means for displaying said first picture signal on said surface, means for delineating on the surface a correction required to a feature in the field, means responsive to said displaying means for generating a second picture signal which represents the delineations in synchronism with the generation of the first picture signal and means for combining the first and second picture signals.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for amending a picture signal comprising: means for scanning a field or an image thereof to produce a first picture signal representing the field, a surface, means for displaying said first picture signal on said surface, means for delineating on the surface a correction required to a feature in the field, means responsive to said displaying means for generating a second picture signal which represents the delineations in synchronism with the generation of the first picture signal and means for combining the first and second picture signals.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of amending an image of an object projected on a screen comprising the steps of: projecting an image of said object on a semi-reflecting mirror, reflecting said projected Image onto a screen, delineating desired amendments on said screen, and scanning said screen with a television camera to detect the image of said object combined with said delineated amendments thereto.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of amending an image of an object projected on a screen comprising the steps of: projecting an image of said object on a semi-reflecting mirror, reflecting said projected Image onto a screen, delineating desired amendments on said screen, and scanning said screen with a television camera to detect the image of said object combined with said delineated amendments thereto.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 34 further comprising the step of: removing said projected image prior to scanning the delineations on the surface.
Claim 39
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of amending a picture signal obtained by scanning a field containing features, comprising the steps of: scanning the field at a predetermined rate to produce a first picture signal representative of the field, displaying said first picture signal on a C.R.T. also at said predetermined rate, electronically delineating a correction required to a least one of said features by a light pen which is actuated from the display scan of said C.R.T., generating from the actuation of the light pen a second picture signal of said delineation in synchronism with the generation of the first picture signal and combining said first and second picture signals.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of amending a picture signal obtained by scanning a field containing features, comprising the steps of: scanning the field at a predetermined rate to produce a first picture signal representative of the field, displaying said first picture signal on a C.R.T. also at said predetermined rate, electronically delineating a correction required to a least one of said features by a light pen which is actuated from the display scan of said C.R.T., generating from the actuation of the light pen a second picture signal of said delineation in synchronism with the generation of the first picture signal and combining said first and second picture signals.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 36 wherein said step of combining includes the step of: adding said first and second signals.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of: obtaining two value signals by threshhold detection of the original amplitude modulated video signals and wherein said step of combining includes the step of OR gating first and second signals.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 36 further comprising the steps of: storing the instantaneous co-ordinate positions of the light pen relative to the scan raster in a memory and addressing said memory to release the stored signals as the second picture signal is synchronism with the scanning.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 39 further comprising the step of: amplifying the second picture signal to generate a brightness control signal which is applied to the C.R.T. to adjust the brightness of the scanning spot of the C.R.T. in response to the signals from the memory, to produce for example a bright line trace on the C.R.T. over the region thereof determined by the stored co-ordinate values.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of: subjecting the actual video signal obtained by scanning the field to threshhold detection to produce a two level detected signal.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 41 further comprising the step of: subjecting the video signal obtained by scanning the delineations to threshhold detection to produce a two level signal as said second picture signal.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 42 further comprising the step of: making measurements on the signal formed by combining first and second picture signals.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of amending a picture signal obtained by line scanning a field containing features, comprising the steps of: scanning the field at a predetermined rate to produce a first picture signal representative of the field, displaying said first picture signal on a C.R.T. also scanned at said predetermined reate, delineating a correction on a surface near to the C.R.T. display, generating a second picture signal which represents the delineated correction in synchronism with the scanning of the field, and subtracting the second picture signal from the first picture signal.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of amending a picture signal obtained by line scanning a field containing features, comprising the steps of: scanning the field at a predetermined rate to produce a first picture signal representative of the field, displaying said first picture signal on a C.R.T. also scanned at said predetermined reate, delineating a correction on a surface near to the C.R.T. display, generating a second picture signal which represents the delineated correction in synchronism with the scanning of the field, and subtracting the second picture signal from the first picture signal.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 44 further comprising the step of: subjecting the actual video signal obtained by scanning the field to threshhold detection to produce a two level detected signal.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 45 further comprising the step of: subjecting the video signal obtained by scanning the delineations to threshhold detection to produce a two level detected signal as said second picture signal.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 46 further comprising the step of: making measurements on the pulses which remain after the second picture signal is subtracted from the first picture signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2986596A
Cited
US3617630A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-09 | 1978-03-11 | 1978-09-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-09 | 1982-03-11 | 1982-09-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-09 | 1986-03-11 | 1986-09-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |