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US3978280A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Image analysis apparatus

Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Co
•
Filing: 1974-04-05
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Granted: 1976-08-31
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Expires: 1994-04-05
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Abstract

Abstract Image analysis apparatus has a cathode ray tube and an associated light pen. The light pen can be used to draw on the screen of the cathode ray tube a frame around a feature. A detector connected to receive the video signals only responds to features within that frame. The apparatus can be switched to another mode in which the cathode ray tube displays, to a higher magnification, a point indicated on the screen of the cathode ray tube using the light pen.

Inventors

  • 👤 Lawrence Grote Kavanagh
  • 👤 Brian Martin Hopkins

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 23:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N15/00; G01N15/10; G01N15/14; G01N15/1429; G01N15/1433; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/04845; G06V; G06V10/00; G06V10/98; H; H04; H04N; H04N7/00; H04N7/18

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 118 words
Image analysis apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube; generating means for generating horizontal and vertical deflection signals connected to the cathode ray tube; a light pen comprising a photoelectric sensor manually movable over the screen of the cathode ray tube; a store which is connected to the output of the photoelectric sensor; and gate means which is connected to the output of the store and to receive video signals applied to the cathode ray tube and which passes only those received video signals occurring within a closed path defined by points whose coordinates are stored in the store; a television camera, the output of the camera being connected to the cathode ray tube and to the gate means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 118 words
Image analysis apparatus comprising a cathode ray tube; generating means for generating horizontal and vertical deflection signals connected to the cathode ray tube; a light pen comprising a photoelectric sensor manually movable over the screen of the cathode ray tube; a store which is connected to the output of the photoelectric sensor; and gate means which is connected to the output of the store and to receive video signals applied to the cathode ray tube and which passes only those received video signals occurring within a closed path defined by points whose coordinates are stored in the store; a television camera, the output of the camera being connected to the cathode ray tube and to the gate means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 16 words
An image analysis apparatus according to claim 1, including a microscope coupled to said television camera.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 which comprises a optical magnification changer coupled to the microscope.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 which comprises positioning means for positioning, in relation to the microscope, a feature of said closed path whose image is to be magnified.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 which comprises control means which is connected to the store, the magnification changer and the positioning means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 73 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 which comprises a magnification changer coupled to the microscope; positioning means for positioning, in relation to the microscope, an object whose image is to be magnified; control means which is connected to the store, the magnification changer and the positioning means; and the control means is connected to the gate means and defines a closed path, the gate means passing only those video signals within that path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the control means is manually controllable to vary the magnification and the size of the defined closed path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 which comprises switch means switchable between a position in which it completes a path between the output of the store and the gate means.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3637997A Cited
US3801741A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-08-31 1980-03-01 1980-08-31 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-08-31 1984-03-01 1984-08-31 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-08-31 1988-03-01 1988-08-31 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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