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US5360968A
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"Consensus sync" data-sampling systems and methods
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1992-01-17
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Granted: 1994-11-01
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Expires: 2012-01-17
Abstract
Abstract Image processing systems and methods for retrieving digital data stored in a plurality of contiguous data cells on photographic film. An image sensor samples the image data at a plurality of pixel positions in each of the data cells and generates grayscale image data that is processed into a one-dimensional stream of binary pixels. A data sampling system processes the binary pixels by first selecting those binary pixels that correspond to the data cell centers. Then, a digital output signal is constructed from the selected pixels to represent the original data stored on the film. The stream of binary pixels are read in series. In particular, transitions, detected in the stream of binary pixels, are used to periodically estimate the data cell pitch and the transition phase. A plurality of, e.g. N, suggested distances from the current pixel to the next sampling point are located using the transition phases of the most recent N transitions. A preferred sampling phase is determined through a histogram to find a consensus among the N suggested distances. The digital output signal is constructed from those pixels that occur at the preferred sampling phase.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin C. Scott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:24
CPC Classifications
G; G11; G11B; G11B20/00; G11B20/10; G06; G06T; G06T1/00; G06T1/20; G11B7/00; G11B7/002; G11B7/0033; G11B7/004; G11B7/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for retrieving data from a data storage medium having a plurality of data cells in which discrete values are stored said apparatus comprising: sample means for sampling said data at a plurality of sampling points in each of said data cells and for generating a stream of data samples; transition-detector means for detecting transistions in said stream of data samples; data-pitch means for estimating a current pitch of said data cells based on the distance between two of said transitions; transition-phase means responsive to said current pitch for determining a transition phases of said transitions; sampling-phase means, responsive to said transition-phase means, for finding a preferred sampling phase; and output means for constructing a data output signal from said data samples occurring at said preferred sampling phase.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
Apparatus for retrieving data from a data storage medium having a plurality of data cells in which discrete values are stored said apparatus comprising: sample means for sampling said data at a plurality of sampling points in each of said data cells and for generating a stream of data samples; transition-detector means for detecting transistions in said stream of data samples; data-pitch means for estimating a current pitch of said data cells based on the distance between two of said transitions; transition-phase means responsive to said current pitch for determining a transition phases of said transitions; sampling-phase means, responsive to said transition-phase means, for finding a preferred sampling phase; and output means for constructing a data output signal from said data samples occurring at said preferred sampling phase.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said data storage medium is photographic film and said data is stored as grayscale images.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said data is digital data stored as a grayscale image on photographic film.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said sample means comprises: image sensor means for sensing said grayscale image such that each of said plurality of sampling points corresponds to an image pixel; and quantizing means, responsive to said image sensor means, for generating grayscale image data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said data cells form contiguous rows on said film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sample means includes thresholding means for converting said data samples into a one-dimensional bit stream.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said data-pitch means includes initialization means, responsive to a predetermined test pattern of said data samples, for estimating an initial pitch of said data cells by determining the number of bits per data cell in said test pattern.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said data-pitch means includes update means for periodically estimating a current updated pitch of said data cells.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said transition-phase means includes means for determining a most recent of said transition phases as a function of a most recent estimate of said current updated pitch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said transition-phase means includes N suggested-distance means, responsive to the N most recent of said transition phases, for determining N suggested distances from a current sampling point to a sampling point located at said preferred sampling phase.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said sampling-phase means includes histogram means for counting the number of said N suggested distances that fall in each of a plurality of intervals having a total width substantially equal to said current updated pitch to find an interval with a maximum count of said N suggested distance, said interval with said maximum count of said N suggested distance located therein being substantially one sampling point
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said sampling-phase means includes averaging means for averaging the N suggested distances in said maximum count to find said preferred sampling phase.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said sampling-phase means includes means for tracking the position of said maximum count to locate said preferred sampling phase when said maximum count is at a predetermined position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said predetermined position is located at a sampling point corresponding to the midpoint of said data cell.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said update means includes means, responsive to said transition-phase means and said sampling-phase means, for causing said current updated pitch to be updated when said most recent of said transition phases is within a predetermined distance from said preferred sampling phase.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein each of said N suggested-distance means includes a register means for storing non-integer values of said N suggested distances.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said register means includes reload means, responsive to said transition detector means, for reloading a different one of said register means with an updated one of said N suggested distances based on the transition phase of said most recent of said phase transitions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein each said register means includes logic means, responsive to said sample means, for decreasing said N suggested distances by one unless said N suggested distance is less than one or said register means is being reloaded.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said logic means includes means for increasing said N suggested distances by said current updated pitch when said suggested distance is less than one and said corresponding register means is not being updated with an updated one of said N suggested distances.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said data is digital data stored as a grayscale image and said data cells form contiguous rows on said data storage medium.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of retrieving data from a data storage medium having a plurality of data cells in which discrete values are stored, said method comprising the steps of: generating a stream of data samples by sampling said data at a plurality of sampling points in each of said data cells; detecting transitions in said stream of data samples; estimating a current pitch of said data cells based on two of said transitions; determining the transition phases of said transitions based on said current pitch; determining a preferred sampling phases from said transition phases; and constructing a data output signal from said data samples occurring at said preferred sampling phase.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
109 words
A method of retrieving data from a data storage medium having a plurality of data cells in which discrete values are stored, said method comprising the steps of: generating a stream of data samples by sampling said data at a plurality of sampling points in each of said data cells; detecting transitions in said stream of data samples; estimating a current pitch of said data cells based on two of said transitions; determining the transition phases of said transitions based on said current pitch; determining a preferred sampling phases from said transition phases; and constructing a data output signal from said data samples occurring at said preferred sampling phase.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said data is digital data stored as a grayscale image on photographic film and said data cells form contiguous rows on said photographic film, and said generating a stream of data samples step includes the step of sensing said grayscale image such that each of said plurality of sampling points corresponds to an image pixel and said data samples are grayscale image data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 21 further including the step Of thresholding said data samples into a one-dimensional bit stream.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 23 further including the step of generating an estimate of an initial pitch of said data cells by determining the number of sampling points per data cell.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 24 further including the step of periodically estimating a current updated pitch of said data cells.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 25 further including the step of determining the most recent of said transition phases as a function of the most recent estimate of said current updated pitch.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 26 further including the step of determining N suggested distances from a current sampling point to a current preferred sampling phase based on the N most recent of said transition phases.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 27 further including the step of generating a histogram for counting the number of said N suggested distances in each of a plurality of intervals having a total width substantially equal to said current updated pitch, and finding an interval with set of said N suggested distances having a maximum count, step said interval with said maximum count associated with one of said sampling points.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 28 further including the step of generating an average of the N suggested distances in said set to find said preferred sampling phase.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 28 further including the step of tracking the position of said set to locate a preferred phase when said set is at a predetermined position.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 30 wherein said predetermined position is located at the sampling point corresponding to the midpoint of said data cell.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 29 further including the step of updating said current updated pitch when said most recent of said transition phases is within a predetermined distance from said preferred sampling phase.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 32 further including the step of storing non-integer values of said N suggested distances in a set of N registers.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 33 further including the step of reloading a different one of said set of N registers with an updated one of said N suggested distances based on the transition phase of said most recent of said transitions.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 34 further including the step of decreasing said N suggested distances by one unless an N suggested distance is less than one or said different one of said set of register is being reloaded.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 35 further including the step of increasing each of said N suggested distances by said current updated pitch when said each N suggested distance is less than one and said corresponding one of said set of registers is not being updated.
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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) | 1997-10-31 | 1998-05-02 | 1998-11-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-10-31 | 2002-05-02 | 2002-11-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-10-31 | 2006-05-02 | 2006-11-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |