Electronic control system

Claim 2

Method to automatically correct abutment, alignment and skew in the composite image of a continuous object being reproduced by the arrays of a multiple array scanner, said method comprising the steps of: generating an electronic image of a test pattern; analyzing the electronic image to obtain an alignment error, an abutment error and a skew error; storing the errors; and correlating the errors with the composite electronic image of the continuous object to generate thereafter a continuous image of the continuous object.

Claim 11

The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the analyzing step for each array includes: establishing a memory reference zone; determining a first value for the right horizontal edge of the uncorrected electronic image; storing the first value; determining a second value for the left horizontal edge of the uncorrected electronic image; storing the second value; determining a third value of the left vertical edge of the uncorrected electronic image; storing the third value; determining a fourth value for the right vertical edge of the uncorrected electronic image; and storing said fourth value.

Claim 12

The method of claim 6 wherein an abutment correctional factor is being achieved by taking the algebraic sum of the third and/or fourth value; and storing the result.

Claim 13

The method of claim 6 wherein a skew correctional factor is being calculated by taking the algebraic difference of the second and first value, respectively; and storing a value representative of said algebraic difference.

Claim 14

The method of claim 5 wherein the alignment correctional factor includes the step of taking the difference between the value generated for the left horizontal edge of a first array and the value generated for the left horizontal edge of a subsequent right array; and storing the result.

Claim 15

In an array scanner wherein a document to be reproduced is disposed at the document platen of said scanner and an electronic image of the document is generated, a method to electronically adjust the scanner so that data in the electronic image is in proper orientation, said method comprising the following steps: (a) positioning a test pattern on the document platen; (b) scanning the test pattern to generate an electronic image of said test pattern; (c) storing the electronic image; (d) analyzing the electronic image to generate one or more correctional factors, with each correctional factor being representative of a dimensional defect associated with the electronic image of the test pattern; (e) storing the correctional factors; (f) generating an electronic image of the document to be reproduced; (g) correlating the correctional factors with dimensional defects in the document's electronic image; and (h) utilizing the correctional factors to adjust the document's electronic image to form an adjusted image free from the dimensional defects.

Claim 16

In an array scanner wherein a document to be reproduced is disposed at the document platen of said scanner and an electronic image of the document is generated, a method to electronically adjust the scanner so that data in the electronic image is in proper orientation, said method comprising the following steps: (a) positioning a test pattern on the document platen; (b) scanning the test pattern to generate an electronic image of said test pattern; (c) storing the electronic image; (d) analyzing the electronic image to generate one or more correctional factors, with each correctional factor being representative of a dimensional defect associated with the electronic image of the test pattern; (e) storing the correctional factors; (f) generating an electronic image of the document to be reproduced; (g) correlating the correctional factors with dimensional defects in the document's electronic image; and (h) utilizing the correctional factors to adjust the document's electronic image to form an adjusted image free from the dimensional defects.

Claim 17

Apparatus for correcting skew, aligning and abutting the electronic image generated in a multiple array scanner comprising: means including the multiple array scanner operable for generating the image; means for analyzing the electronic image and to generate a skew correction factor, a misalignment correction factor and an abutment correction factor; and means for applying the correction factors to the electronic image to thereby correct dimensional errors associated with data scanned by the multiple array scanner.

Claim 18

Apparatus for correcting skew, aligning and abutting the electronic image generated in a multiple array scanner comprising: means including the multiple array scanner operable for generating the image; means for analyzing the electronic image and to generate a skew correction factor, a misalignment correction factor and an abutment correction factor; and means for applying the correction factors to the electronic image to thereby correct dimensional errors associated with data scanned by the multiple array scanner.

Claim 19

In a multiple array scanner wherein an original document is placed at a document plane and a straight line of data on said document is being scanned by a plurality of arrays positioned in an offsetting relationship in the direction of scan and in an overlapping relationship in a direction parallel to the straight line of data the improvement comprising in combination: a predetermined test pattern, being positioned at the document plane; a scanning means including the arrays for scanning the test pattern; means for generating an electronic image representative of the test pattern; means for storing the electronic image; means for interrogating the electronic image to determine a skew error, an abutment error, an alignment error; and means for applying the skew error, the abutment error and the alignment error to reconstruct electronic images representing a straight line scanned from the original document.

Claim 20

In a multiple array scanner wherein an original document is placed at a document plane and a straight line of data on said document is being scanned by a plurality of arrays positioned in an offsetting relationship in the direction of scan and in an overlapping relationship in a direction parallel to the straight line of data the improvement comprising in combination: a predetermined test pattern, being positioned at the document plane; a scanning means including the arrays for scanning the test pattern; means for generating an electronic image representative of the test pattern; means for storing the electronic image; means for interrogating the electronic image to determine a skew error, an abutment error, an alignment error; and means for applying the skew error, the abutment error and the alignment error to reconstruct electronic images representing a straight line scanned from the original document.

Claim 21

The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the test pattern includes a first indicia being intersected by a second indicia whereby the point of intersection between said indicium substantially represent an overlap point between the array.

Claim 22

The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the first indicia includes a straight line, said line being positioned to run substantially parallel with a line of data on the original document.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the second indicia includes a line, said line being positioned substantially perpendicular to the line of data.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the storage means includes a controlled RAM.

Claim 25

The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the means for applying the abutment error includes a column pointer operable to define a storage address for storing incoming data whereat data generated by overlapping arrays are being arranged contiguously.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the pointer includes at least two registers, each register being associated with one of the scanner arrays; first means for loading a starting memory column address into said registers; control means operable to select the memory column address from one of the registers; counting means operable to receive the contents of the selected register; and control clock means operable to step the counter to thereby define sequential memory address.

Claim 27

The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the means for applying the alignment error includes a row pointer means operable to define a row position in the storing means so that incoming data is stored in linear alignment.

Claim 28

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the row pointer means includes at least two registers each register being associated with at least one of the arrays; first means for loading a memory row address into said registers; means for stepping the contents of the register at the completion of a scan line; means for sequentially selecting the register; row counter means for accepting the contents of the selected counter; and control clock means for stepping the counter.

Claim 29

The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the means for applying the skew error includes a row counter operable for defining sequential memory row addresses; loading means operable for loading the memory row address; and adjustment means operable to selectively adjust the row counter thereby changing the contents periodically.

Claim 30

In a multiple array scanner wherein a horizontal line of data from an original document is being scanned by a plurality of overlapping arrays the improvement conprising in combination: a document plane for supporting an original document; said document plane having a controlled section and a working section; a test pattern positioned within the controlled section; scanning means including the arrays operable for scanning the pattern and outputting electrical signals; means for intercepting the signals and outputting an electronic image indicative of the test pattern; means for storing the electronic image; controlling for analyzing the image and generating a skew error, an aligment error and an abutment error; means for storing the errors; and means for applying the errors thereafter to effectuate alignment, abutment and skew on data outputted from the scanner.

Claim 31

In a multiple array scanner wherein a horizontal line of data from an original document is being scanned by a plurality of overlapping arrays the improvement conprising in combination: a document plane for supporting an original document; said document plane having a controlled section and a working section; a test pattern positioned within the controlled section; scanning means including the arrays operable for scanning the pattern and outputting electrical signals; means for intercepting the signals and outputting an electronic image indicative of the test pattern; means for storing the electronic image; controlling for analyzing the image and generating a skew error, an aligment error and an abutment error; means for storing the errors; and means for applying the errors thereafter to effectuate alignment, abutment and skew on data outputted from the scanner.

Claim 32

In a multiple array scanner wherein a straight line on an original document is being scanned by a plurality of overlapping arrays, the improvement comprising in combination: an addressable storage means; test pattern being positioned at the object plane of said scanner; scanning means including the multiple arrays for scanning the test pattern; means associated with the scanner and operable to generate an electronic image representative of the test pattern; memory address pointer means operable to identify storage address whereat data outputted from the scanner is being accessed; and enabling means including a controller operable for selectively adjusting the contents of the memory address pointer to effectuate electronic correction to thereby reconstruct a copy of the straight line.

Claim 33

In a multiple array scanner wherein a straight line on an original document is being scanned by a plurality of overlapping arrays, the improvement comprising in combination: an addressable storage means; test pattern being positioned at the object plane of said scanner; scanning means including the multiple arrays for scanning the test pattern; means associated with the scanner and operable to generate an electronic image representative of the test pattern; memory address pointer means operable to identify storage address whereat data outputted from the scanner is being accessed; and enabling means including a controller operable for selectively adjusting the contents of the memory address pointer to effectuate electronic correction to thereby reconstruct a copy of the straight line.