US3883251A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Single photo epipolar scan instrument
Assignee: Bendix Corp
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Filing: 1974-04-12
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Granted: 1975-05-13
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Expires: 1994-04-12
Abstract
Abstract An instrument for scanning single photographs to generate and store image data along epipolar lines for subsequent processing and map making is disclosed. The instrument embodies an electronically controlled mechanical stage translating the photographic image relative to a stationary microdensitometer along epipolar lines and a storage unit for storing the image data generated by the microdensitometer. An alternate embodiment of the mechanical stage includes a rotary stage reducing the scanning along epipolar lines to a simple X or Y translation. Alternate embodiments of the microdensitometer includes linear arrays of detector elements permitting the scanning of adjacent lines parallel to the epipolar lines for removing Y parallax in the subsequent processing or for scanning a plurality of epipolar lines during a single X axis translation. The storage unit may store the image data in analog or digital form in accordance with the requirements of the associated processing equipment.
Inventors
- 👤 Uuno V Helava
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 01:14
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/59; G01N21/5907; G01N21/5911; G01C; G01C11/00; G01C11/04; G01C11/06; G01J; G01J1/00; G01J1/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A scan instrument for generating image data from a single photographic image along epipolar lines and storing the image data for subsequent data processing and map making comprising: a rigid base; stage means attached to said base for providing translatory motion along at least two mutually perpendicular axes relative to said base, said stage means adapted to receive said photographic image and translate said image along said mutually perpendicular axes; microdensitometer means fixedly attached to said base for detecting the image details within a predetermined area on the photographic image and generating electrical signals indicative of the detected image details; control means for actuating said stage means to translate said photographic image relative to said densitometer causing said microdensitometer means to generate electrical signals indicative of the image details along a predetermined set of epipolar lines on the photographic image; and means for storing the electrical signals generated by said microdensitometer means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
A scan instrument for generating image data from a single photographic image along epipolar lines and storing the image data for subsequent data processing and map making comprising: a rigid base; stage means attached to said base for providing translatory motion along at least two mutually perpendicular axes relative to said base, said stage means adapted to receive said photographic image and translate said image along said mutually perpendicular axes; microdensitometer means fixedly attached to said base for detecting the image details within a predetermined area on the photographic image and generating electrical signals indicative of the detected image details; control means for actuating said stage means to translate said photographic image relative to said densitometer causing said microdensitometer means to generate electrical signals indicative of the image details along a predetermined set of epipolar lines on the photographic image; and means for storing the electrical signals generated by said microdensitometer means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The scan instrument of claim 1 further including a microscope fixedly attached to said base for visually observing a portion of the photographic image in the immediate vicinity of the predetermined area being detected by said microdensitometer to permit alignment of the photographic image with reference to the area detected by the microdensitometer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
112 words
The scan instrument of claim 2 wherein said stage means comprises: a first stage, attached to said base and adapted to translate along one of said mutually perpendicular axes; a second stage attached to said first stage and adapted to translate along the other of said mutually perpendicular axes, said second stage further adapted to receive and hold the photographic image; and wherein said control means coordinately controls the translation of said first stage along said one axis and said second stage along said other axis to move the photographic image along each epipolar line in said set relative to the predetermined area being detected by said microdensitometer in a predetermined sequence.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The scan instrument of claim 3 wherein the epipolar scan pattern for the photographic image has been predetermined and a program coordinating the translation of said first and second stages for each epipolar line prepared, said control means is a program reader means actuating said first and second stages in accordance with said prepared program.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
The scan instrument of claim 3 wherein the geometrical parameters of the photographic image are known, said control means includes means for inserting said geometrical parameter into said control means and logic circuitry for computing from the known geometrical parameters the coordinate translation of said first and second stages required to scan the photographic image along the desired set of epipolar lines relative to the predetermined area being detected by the microdensitometer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
91 words
The scan instrument of claim 3 wherein said stage means further includes a rotary stage attached to said second stage and adapted to rotate the photographic image in a plane parallel to said mutually perpendicular axes, and said control means further includes means for actuating said rotary stage to rotate said photographic image to align the epipolar lines along one of said mutually perpendicular axes whereby the scan of each epipolar line by the microdensitometer is reduced to a line scan along the mutually perpendicular axis aligned with the epipolar line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The scan instrument of claim 6 wherein the epipolar scan pattern for the photographic image has been predetermined and a program coordinating the translation of said first, second, and rotary stages for each epipolar line prepared, said control means is a program reader means actuating said first, second and rotary stages in accordance with said prepared program.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
The scan instrument of claim 6 wherein the geometrical parameters of the photographic image are known, said control means includes means for inserting into said control means the geometrical parameters and logic circuitry for computing from the known geometrical parameter the coordinate translation and rotation of the first, second and rotary stage respectively to scan the photographic image along the desired set of epipolar lines relative to the predetermined area being detected by said microdensitometer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
The scan instrument of claim 3 wherein said microdensitometer comprises: input means rigidly attached to said base and disposed on one side of said photographic image for illuminating with light said predetermined area on the photographic image; and detector means rigidly attached to the base and disposed on the other side of said photographic image for detecting the light modulated by the image detail in said predetermined area and for generating electrical signals indicative of the intensity of detected light.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The scan instrument of claim 9 wherein said means for illuminating illuminates a point on the photographic image and said means for detecting detects the light modulated by the image detail on the photographic image at said point.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
167 words
The scan instrument of claim 9 wherein said input means for illuminating illuminates the photograph with the image of a narrow slit of light, said slit of light disposed transverse to one of said mutually perpendicular axes and wherein said means for detecting comprises a linear array of detector elements disposed parallel to said slit of light, one of said detector elements disposed to receive the light transmitted through the photographic image from a small portion of the slit image during the scan translation transverse to the slit image, said small portion being indicative of said epipolar line and the other detector elements of said linear detector disposed to receive other portions of the slit image transmitted by the photographic image, said other portions defining lines displaced a predetermined distance from said epipolar line and parallel thereto, thereby providing image data along the epipolar line and lines disposed both sides of and parallel to the epipolar lines for the removal of residual parallax during subsequent data processing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
93 words
The scan instrument of claim 11 wherein said linear array of detector elements is an integrated array of detector elements having storage and sequential readout capabilities, said input means includes discharge lamp producing short pulses of high intensity light in response to a trigger signal and said scan control means further includes means for sequentially generating trigger signals to trigger said discharge lamp and readout signals to sequentially readout said integrated array at predetermined intervals indicative of a predetermined translation of the photograph along the mutually perpendicular axis transverse to said epipolar lines.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
152 words
The scan instrument of claim 9 wherein said input means illuminates the photographic image with the image of a narrow slit of light, said slit of light disposed transverse to one of said mutually perpendicular axes, said detector means comprises: a linear array of detector elements disposed parallel to the slit of light; a zoom lens having a variable magnification disposed between said photographic image and said linear array of detector elements for focusing the light transmitted by the photographic image across the detector elements; and wherein said control means further includes means for actuating the zoom lens to change the magnification of the slit image focused across the detector elements as a function of the mechanical translation along said axes transverse to said slit area to cause the detector elementS to detect imagery along a plurality of epipolar lines during each mechanical translation along said axis transverse to said slit image.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
95 words
The scan instrument of claim 13 wherein said linear array of detector elements is an integrated array of detector elements having temporary storage and sequential readout capabilities, said input means includes a discharge lamp producing short pulses of high intensity light in response to a trigger signal, and said control means further includes means for sequentially generating trigger signals to trigger said discharge lamp and readout signals to sequentially readout said integrated array at predetermined intervals indicative of a predetermined translation of the photographic image along the mutually perpendicular axis transverse to said epipolar lines.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The scan instrument of claim 2 wherein said storage means is an analog storage means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The scan instrument of claim 2 wherein said storage means is a digital storage, said digital storage means further including means for converting the electrical signals generated by the microdensitometer into digital data.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-12 | 1978-11-11 | 1979-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-12 | 1982-11-11 | 1983-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-12 | 1986-11-11 | 1987-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |