Apparatus for digitalizing an image by analysis by means of a light beam

Claim 1

An apparatus for digitalizing an image carried by a transparent medium, comprising: (a) a transparent analysis cradle shaped as a portion of a cylinder for receiving a transparent medium carrying an image to be digitalized; (b) light source means; (c) a first optical device for projecting a light beam emitted from the light source means onto an image carried by a medium fixed on the analysis cradle, said first optical device comprising a mirror which is rotatable about an axis aligned with that of the analysis cradle and which is oriented for receiving said light beam and reflecting said light beam perpendicularly to the surface of the analysis cradle; (d) means for rotating the mirror about said axis; (e) a second optical device comprising optico-electrical means hving a photosensitive surface to convert light received by said photosensitive surface into an electrical signal, and an elliptic mirror with a reflecting surface situated on a portion of a surface of a cylinder having an ellipse as a base and having an axis parallel to the axis of the analysis cradle, the center of the rotatable mirror and the center of the photosensitive surface being respectively substantially located at the focal points of the elliptic mirror, said elliptic mirror receiving the light beams which have gone through the analysis cradle and an image carrying medium fixed thereon as the rotatable mirror is rotated to scan one image line, and said elliptic mirror reflecting the received light beam onto the photosensitive surface so as to convert successive image elements of said image line into respective electrical signals; (f) means for digitalizing said electrical signals; and (g) means for moving the analysis cradle in translation with respect to the rotatable mirror and second optical device so that an image carrying medium fixed on the analysis cradle is scanned line by line.

Claim 2

An apparatus for digitalizing an image carried by a transparent medium, comprising: (a) a transparent analysis cradle shaped as a portion of a cylinder for receiving a transparent medium carrying an image to be digitalized; (b) light source means; (c) a first optical device for projecting a light beam emitted from the light source means onto an image carried by a medium fixed on the analysis cradle, said first optical device comprising a mirror which is rotatable about an axis aligned with that of the analysis cradle and which is oriented for receiving said light beam and reflecting said light beam perpendicularly to the surface of the analysis cradle; (d) means for rotating the mirror about said axis; (e) a second optical device comprising optico-electrical means hving a photosensitive surface to convert light received by said photosensitive surface into an electrical signal, and an elliptic mirror with a reflecting surface situated on a portion of a surface of a cylinder having an ellipse as a base and having an axis parallel to the axis of the analysis cradle, the center of the rotatable mirror and the center of the photosensitive surface being respectively substantially located at the focal points of the elliptic mirror, said elliptic mirror receiving the light beams which have gone through the analysis cradle and an image carrying medium fixed thereon as the rotatable mirror is rotated to scan one image line, and said elliptic mirror reflecting the received light beam onto the photosensitive surface so as to convert successive image elements of said image line into respective electrical signals; (f) means for digitalizing said electrical signals; and (g) means for moving the analysis cradle in translation with respect to the rotatable mirror and second optical device so that an image carrying medium fixed on the analysis cradle is scanned line by line.