Apparatus operable as a viewer or image scanner

Claim 2

Apparatus having two capabilities operable at separate times wherein one of the capabilities is a light image projection capability that provides for projection to a viewing screen via a light path for light image created from an image carried on a film when presented to the apparatus, the apparatus including a linear scan array operable to produce signals representative of a light image presented to it; and light directing means positionable with respect to the light path provided for the light image projection capability for progressive presentment of the light image to said linear scan array so said linear scan array receives the full dimension of the light image along a line in one direction whereby the second capability of the apparatus provides for the creation of digital image reproduction data on a line-by-line basis and representative of the image carried on a film when presented to the apparatus, and for the storage of the digital data representative of the light image so the image can be reproduced from the data.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said light directing means includes a mirror operable for movement about an axis of rotation.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said linear scan array is provided by a series of linearly positioned charge coupled devices or photodiodes.

Claim 5

The reader/scanner of claim 1 and further including an image device for producing a visual representation of the two-dimensional image as a function of the digital image production data.

Claim 6

A film reader/scanner, including: film receiving means for receiving film bearing a two-dimensional image; a lamp for illuminating the film to produce a light image of the image on the film; a visual projection screen for providing a visual display of the light image; an optical sensor for receiving and producing signals representative of the light image; a reader mode optical path for propagating the light image from the film to the visual projection screen; a scanner mode optical path for propagating the light image from the film to the optical sensor; mode selection optics for selectively causing the reader/scanner to operate in either a reader mode or a scanner mode, the mode selection optics causing the light image to be propagated about the reader mode optical path when operated in the reader mode, and causing the light image to be propagated about the scanner mode optical path when operated in the scanning mode; circuitry coupled to the optical sensor for generating digital image reproduction data representative of the two-dimensional light image; and electronic storage for storing the digial image reproduction data for subsequent reproduction of the image.

Claim 7

A film reader/scanner, including: film receiving means for receiving film bearing a two-dimensional image; a lamp for illuminating the film to produce a light image of the image on the film; a visual projection screen for providing a visual display of the light image; an optical sensor for receiving and producing signals representative of the light image; a reader mode optical path for propagating the light image from the film to the visual projection screen; a scanner mode optical path for propagating the light image from the film to the optical sensor; mode selection optics for selectively causing the reader/scanner to operate in either a reader mode or a scanner mode, the mode selection optics causing the light image to be propagated about the reader mode optical path when operated in the reader mode, and causing the light image to be propagated about the scanner mode optical path when operated in the scanning mode; circuitry coupled to the optical sensor for generating digital image reproduction data representative of the two-dimensional light image; and electronic storage for storing the digial image reproduction data for subsequent reproduction of the image.

Claim 8

The reader/scanner of claim 4 wherein: the optical scanner includes a linear optical sensor for receiving and producing signals representative of a one-dimensional portion of the light image; and the reader/scanner further includes an image directing mechanism for producing relative motion in a second dimension between the light image and linear sensor to cause progressive presentment of the light image to the linear sensor.

Claim 9

The reader/scanner of claim 4 and further including an image device coupled to the electronic storage for producing a visual representation of the two-dimensional image as a function of the digital image reproduction data.

Claim 10

The reader/scanner of claim 7 wherein the linear sensor includes a series of linearly positioned charge coupled devices or photodiodes.

Claim 11

The film reader/scanner of claim 6 wherein the image directing mechanism includes a mirror figured for a movement about an axis of rotation.

Claim 12

The reader/scanner of claim 7 wherein the reader mode optical path and scanner mode optical path include a mirror.