US5280370A — Apparatus and method for scanning by means of a r…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 187 words

An apparatus for capture of image data from an object, comprising: (a) a detector array containing at least one detector row; (b) rotation means for rotating the detector array relative to the object; (c) scan means for moving the object and the detector array relative to one another in a desired direction of scan; (d) means, in communication with the detector array, for using signals generated by the detector array in an initial data capture to determine a desired orientation for the detector array with respect to the object based on the image data in the object; and (e) control means, in communication with the rotation means and the scan means, for causing the detector array to be rotated to the desired orientation and for causing the object to be scanned by the detector array in such a way that the at least one detector row is at right angles to the direction of scan; whereby orientation of the direction of scan can be determined and achieved solely on the basis of the image data in the object and otherwise independently of its orientation on the apparatus.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 187 words

An apparatus for capture of image data from an object, comprising: (a) a detector array containing at least one detector row; (b) rotation means for rotating the detector array relative to the object; (c) scan means for moving the object and the detector array relative to one another in a desired direction of scan; (d) means, in communication with the detector array, for using signals generated by the detector array in an initial data capture to determine a desired orientation for the detector array with respect to the object based on the image data in the object; and (e) control means, in communication with the rotation means and the scan means, for causing the detector array to be rotated to the desired orientation and for causing the object to be scanned by the detector array in such a way that the at least one detector row is at right angles to the direction of scan; whereby orientation of the direction of scan can be determined and achieved solely on the basis of the image data in the object and otherwise independently of its orientation on the apparatus.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scan means includes means for moving the object in two coordinate directions at right angles with respect to one another.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 68 words

An apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: illumination means for illuminating the object; wherein the scan means includes a picture transport for holding within a picture area a portion of the object containing the image data being captured, and the picture transport further includes at least one calibration field, disposed outside of the picture area, for calibration of the detector array in relation to the illumination means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

An apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising: means for calibrating the detector array on a repetitive basis utilizing detector output resulting from scanning the calibration field.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 17 words

An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the illumination means further includes a plurality of interchangeable filters.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 109 words

A method for capture of graphic data from an object, comprising: (a) providing a detector array containing at least one detector row; (b) performing an initial capture of graphic data from the object; (c) using the signals obtained in the initial capture to establish a desired orientation of the detector array, such that the desired orientation is based on the graphic data in the object; (d) rotating the detector array to the desired orientation; and (e) moving the object and the detector array relative to one another in a direction of scan such that the at least one detector row is at right angles to the direction of scan.

Claim 8

Independent Claim 109 words

A method for capture of graphic data from an object, comprising: (a) providing a detector array containing at least one detector row; (b) performing an initial capture of graphic data from the object; (c) using the signals obtained in the initial capture to establish a desired orientation of the detector array, such that the desired orientation is based on the graphic data in the object; (d) rotating the detector array to the desired orientation; and (e) moving the object and the detector array relative to one another in a direction of scan such that the at least one detector row is at right angles to the direction of scan.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

A method according to claim 6, wherein step (e) includes the step of moving the object in two coordinate directions at right angles to one another.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 6, further comprising: (F) calibrating the detector array before commencement of a scan of the object.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 24 words

An method according to claim 8, including the step of repeating (F) after the occurrence of a predetermined number of scans of the object.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method according to claim 8, wherein step (f) includes the step of having the detector array scan a calibration field, the calibration field being disposed outside of a picture area in which the graphic data of the object is located.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 13 words

A method according to claim 6, wherein the object is an aerial photograph.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 169 words

An apparatus for capture of image data from an object comprising: (a) a detector array containing at least one detector row for detecting a row of image data on the object; (b) scan means for moving the object and the detector array relative to one another to permit the detector array to scan a swath of image data on the object in a desired direction of scan; (c) rotation means for rotating the detector array to orient the detected row of image data perpendicular to the desired direction of scan; and (d) control means, in communication with the rotation means and the scan means, for operating the scan means to cause the detector array to successively scan contiguous swaths across the object wherein the desired direction of scan is based on the image data in the object and for causing the rotation means to rotate the detector array to orient the detected row of image data perpendicular to the desired direction of scan as defined by the image data.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 169 words

An apparatus for capture of image data from an object comprising: (a) a detector array containing at least one detector row for detecting a row of image data on the object; (b) scan means for moving the object and the detector array relative to one another to permit the detector array to scan a swath of image data on the object in a desired direction of scan; (c) rotation means for rotating the detector array to orient the detected row of image data perpendicular to the desired direction of scan; and (d) control means, in communication with the rotation means and the scan means, for operating the scan means to cause the detector array to successively scan contiguous swaths across the object wherein the desired direction of scan is based on the image data in the object and for causing the rotation means to rotate the detector array to orient the detected row of image data perpendicular to the desired direction of scan as defined by the image data.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 40 words

An apparatus of claim 12 wherein the scan means includes means for moving the object in a first coordinate direction and means for moving the object in a second coordinate direction at a right angle to the first coordinate direction.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 67 words

An apparatus of claim 13 further comprising: illumination means for illuminating the object; wherein the scan means includes a picture transport for holding within a picture area a portion of the object containing the image data being captured, and the picture transport further includes at least one calibration field, disposed outside of the picture area, for calibration of the detector array in relation to the illumination means.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 26 words

An apparatus of claim 14 further comprising: means for calibrating the detector array on a repetitive basis utilizing detector output resulting from scanning the calibration field.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 16 words

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the illumination means further includes a plurality of interchangeable filters.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 103 words

A method for capture of graphic data from an object, comprising: (a) providing a detector array containing at least one detector row that detects a row of image data on the object; (b) rotating the detector array such that the at least one detector row detects a rotated row of image data that is rotated with respect to the row of image data; and (c) moving the object and the detector array relative to one another to cause the detector array to successively scan contiguous swaths across the object, each swath being at a right angle to the rotated row of image data.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 103 words

A method for capture of graphic data from an object, comprising: (a) providing a detector array containing at least one detector row that detects a row of image data on the object; (b) rotating the detector array such that the at least one detector row detects a rotated row of image data that is rotated with respect to the row of image data; and (c) moving the object and the detector array relative to one another to cause the detector array to successively scan contiguous swaths across the object, each swath being at a right angle to the rotated row of image data.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of performing an initial capture of graphic data from the object and using the signals obtained in the initial data capture to establish a desired orientation of the detector array and wherein step (b) comprises rotating the detector array to the desired orientation.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 17 wherein step (c) includes moving the object in two coordinate directions at right angles to one another.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 18 wherein step (c) includes moving the object in two coordinate directions at right angles to one another.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 17 further comprising calibrating the detector array before commencement of a scan of the object.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 21 including the step of calibrating the detector array after the occurrence of a predetermined number of scans of the object.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 41 words

The method of claim 21 said step of calibrating includes the step of having the detector array scan a calibration field, the calibration field being disposed outside of a picture area in which the graphic data of the object is located.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 12 words

The method of claim 17 wherein the object is an aerial photograph.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-01-17	1997-07-19	1998-01-18	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-01-17	2001-07-19	2002-01-18	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-01-17	2005-07-19	2006-01-18	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Apparatus and method for scanning by means of a rotatable detector array

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