US3988602A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for enhancing data
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Tactical Systems Inc
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Filing: 1975-02-03
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Granted: 1976-10-26
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Expires: 1995-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A technique and apparatus for enhancing the data upon a film transparency is presented. The density characteristics of the object film are digitized and shifted to exponentially increase the magnitude and significance of the digitized data. This amplified data is then utilized for producing a second film transparency having increased contrast in accordance with the amplification of the original data. There is also provided means for offsetting the digitized data with respect to a fixed reference such that features of interest may be separated from their background before the final recording of the enhanced film.
Inventors
- 👤 Thadeus E. Gorsica, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 02:29
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/407; H04N1/4072; H04N23/00; H04N23/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
Apparatus for enhancing the data contained on a film transparency, comprising: first means for scanning said film transparency in discrete elements and digitizing the data of each of said elements; a shifting circuit connected to said first means for shifting the digitized data of each and every element a predetermined number of positions toward the most significant bit of said data; second means connected to said shifting circuit for converting said amplified digital data into analog signals; and third means connected to said second means for receiving said analog signals and recording the same on an output medium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus for enhancing the data contained on a film transparency, comprising: first means for scanning said film transparency in discrete elements and digitizing the data of each of said elements; a shifting circuit connected to said first means for shifting the digitized data of each and every element a predetermined number of positions toward the most significant bit of said data; second means connected to said shifting circuit for converting said amplified digital data into analog signals; and third means connected to said second means for receiving said analog signals and recording the same on an output medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus for enhancing data as recited in claim 1 which further includes an adder interconnected between the first means and said shifting circuit, said adder adding a fixed value to the digital value of each and every element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus for enhancing data as recited in claim 1 which further includes a gradient removal circuit interconnected between said first means and said shifting circuit; the gradient removal circuit normalizing the digital value of the data of each of said elements with respect to certain surrounding elements.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus for enhancing data as recited in claim 1 wherein said first means comprises a microdensitometer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said second means comprises a digital to analog converter and wherein said third means comprises a film recorder.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
102 words
The method for enhancing the data contained on a film transparency, comprising the steps of: a. sectioning said transparency into specific discrete elements; b. digitizing the data contained in each of said elements, said data being a function of the density of the elements; c. amplifying the digitized data of each and every element by the same order of magnitude by shifting the digitized data a specific number of positions toward the most significant bit thereof; d. converting the amplified digitized data of each of said elements to an analog data form; and e. recording the analog data on an output medium.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
102 words
The method for enhancing the data contained on a film transparency, comprising the steps of: a. sectioning said transparency into specific discrete elements; b. digitizing the data contained in each of said elements, said data being a function of the density of the elements; c. amplifying the digitized data of each and every element by the same order of magnitude by shifting the digitized data a specific number of positions toward the most significant bit thereof; d. converting the amplified digitized data of each of said elements to an analog data form; and e. recording the analog data on an output medium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method for enhancing data as recited in claim 6, which further includes the step of adding a preselected fixed value to the digitized value of the data of each and every element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method for enhancing data as recited in claim 7 which further includes the step of normalizing the value of the digitized data of each and every element with respect to the value of the digitized data of certain neighboring elements of each of said elements.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method for enhancing data as recited in claim 6 which further includes the step of normalizing the value of digitized data of each and every element with respect to the digitized data of certain neighboring elements of each of said elements.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method for enhancing data as recited in claim 6 which further includes the step of adding a preselected fixed value to the digitized value of the data of each and every element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-10-26 | 1980-04-26 | 1980-10-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-10-26 | 1984-04-26 | 1984-10-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-10-26 | 1988-04-26 | 1988-10-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |