US5367386A — Image scanning apparatus adapted for thermally an…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 112 words

Document imaging apparatus including transport means disposed on a transport platform and associated document imaging means including lamp means and associated imaging optic means, said imaging means being integrated in a single mount casting MC, disposed on said platform; said casting providing a protective package housing optical components for said imaging, said casting being adapted to be conveniently, removably coupled to this platform, and arranged to thereby thermally and optically isolate these components from interference with, or by, other operating structure; said apparatus also including one or more tower-castings TC, mounted removably on mount-casting MC, each tower-casting including light filter means adapted to condition document-images for image lift by associated camera means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 112 words

Document imaging apparatus including transport means disposed on a transport platform and associated document imaging means including lamp means and associated imaging optic means, said imaging means being integrated in a single mount casting MC, disposed on said platform; said casting providing a protective package housing optical components for said imaging, said casting being adapted to be conveniently, removably coupled to this platform, and arranged to thereby thermally and optically isolate these components from interference with, or by, other operating structure; said apparatus also including one or more tower-castings TC, mounted removably on mount-casting MC, each tower-casting including light filter means adapted to condition document-images for image lift by associated camera means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 43 words

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a pair of camera means and associated lens means are mounted on casting MC; and wherein said filter means emphasizes wavelengths perceptible to the human eye and thus adapts the images to better reflect human eye response.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 31 words

The array of claim 2 including a front-imaging means and rear-imaging means to receive illumination from each side of a document and conduct it to said filter means and camera means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 90 words

A document-imaging arrangement including one or more document-imaging stations, illumination-means and associated image-lift means adapted to receive the images from said stations and including electronic, camera means adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, and an associated optical image-path array; this image path array including photopic filter means adapted to shift the spectrum of the received images in the direction of optimal human-eye response; said camera means being selected and operated to exhibit a spectral response close to that of the human eye.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 90 words

A document-imaging arrangement including one or more document-imaging stations, illumination-means and associated image-lift means adapted to receive the images from said stations and including electronic, camera means adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, and an associated optical image-path array; this image path array including photopic filter means adapted to shift the spectrum of the received images in the direction of optimal human-eye response; said camera means being selected and operated to exhibit a spectral response close to that of the human eye.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 14 words

The invention of claim 4 where each said camera means comprises "charge-coupled photo-diode" means.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 30 words

The invention of claim 5 where the beam from said illumination means is split and sent to illuminate the Front and the Rear of each document advanced past said stations.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

The invention of claim 6 wherein the said one or more document-imaging stations comprise two said stations, one for the Front, one for the Rear of the documents.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 23 words

The invention of claim 7 where a pair of like said illumination-path arrays are provided, one for Front illumination, one for Rear illumination.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 61 words

The invention of claim 8 where each said illumination-path array conducts one of the beams so split to a respective Front or Rear side of the documents; and wherein each said path array further splits its illumination beam into two like sub-beams, these being directed to focus at a prescribed point, but being disposed at opposing, equal angles about this point.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

The Invention of claim 9 wherein each of the sub-beam pairs are offset about ±30° from the Normal to the documents.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 58 words

An arrangement for lifting the image of documents, with a Xenon lamp, fluorescent lamp or like source of stable-wavelength-output and Charge-coupled photodiode camera means selected to exhibit "close-to-human" spectral response plus a photopic filter, disposed upstream of the camera and adapted to shift its received image-light spectrum in the direction of that which is optimal for the human-eye.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 58 words

An arrangement for lifting the image of documents, with a Xenon lamp, fluorescent lamp or like source of stable-wavelength-output and Charge-coupled photodiode camera means selected to exhibit "close-to-human" spectral response plus a photopic filter, disposed upstream of the camera and adapted to shift its received image-light spectrum in the direction of that which is optimal for the human-eye.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 96 words

A method of lifting check images, comprising defining one or more check-imaging stations; providing illumination-means and providing image-lift means including electronic camera means which is adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, and also providing an associated optical image-path array; this image path array being arranged to include photopic filter means adapted to shift the spectrum of the images received from said station in the direction of optimal human-eye response; said camera means being selected and operated to exhibit a spectral response close to that of the human eye.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 96 words

A method of lifting check images, comprising defining one or more check-imaging stations; providing illumination-means and providing image-lift means including electronic camera means which is adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, and also providing an associated optical image-path array; this image path array being arranged to include photopic filter means adapted to shift the spectrum of the images received from said station in the direction of optimal human-eye response; said camera means being selected and operated to exhibit a spectral response close to that of the human eye.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 55 words

An arrangement for lifting an image of passing documents comprising, illumination source means of stable-wavelength-output and CCPD camera means selected to exhibit "close-to-human" spectral response plus photopic filter means, disposed upstream of the camera and adapted to shift its received image-light spectrum to be closer to that which is optimal for perception by the human-eye.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 55 words

An arrangement for lifting an image of passing documents comprising, illumination source means of stable-wavelength-output and CCPD camera means selected to exhibit "close-to-human" spectral response plus photopic filter means, disposed upstream of the camera and adapted to shift its received image-light spectrum to be closer to that which is optimal for perception by the human-eye.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 100 words

A method of document-imaging at one or more document-imaging stations, with illumination-means and associated image-lift means adapted to receive the images from said stations including electronic camera means adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, and an associated optical image-path array; whereby, by this method the image path array is made to include photopic filter means adapted to shift the spectrum of the received images in the direction of optimal human-eye response; and the said camera means is selected and operated to exhibit a spectral response close to that of the human eye.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 100 words

A method of document-imaging at one or more document-imaging stations, with illumination-means and associated image-lift means adapted to receive the images from said stations including electronic camera means adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, and an associated optical image-path array; whereby, by this method the image path array is made to include photopic filter means adapted to shift the spectrum of the received images in the direction of optimal human-eye response; and the said camera means is selected and operated to exhibit a spectral response close to that of the human eye.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 14 where each said camera means is made to include "charge-coupled photo-diode" means.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 89 words

In a document-imaging arrangement including one or more document-illumination stations and associated image-lift means adapted to receive the images from said stations and record of the images with electronic camera means adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, the improvement therewith of photopic filter means adapted to limit the spectrum of the received images at camera to that of optimal human-eye response; with said camera means being selected and operated to exhibit a spectral response close to that of the human eye.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 89 words

In a document-imaging arrangement including one or more document-illumination stations and associated image-lift means adapted to receive the images from said stations and record of the images with electronic camera means adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, the improvement therewith of photopic filter means adapted to limit the spectrum of the received images at camera to that of optimal human-eye response; with said camera means being selected and operated to exhibit a spectral response close to that of the human eye.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 14 words

The invention of claim 16 where each said camera means comprises "charge-coupled photo-diode" means.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 59 words

An arrangement for lifting the image of documents with electronic camera means selected to exhibit "close-to-human" spectral response and adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, plus a photopic filter, disposed upstream of the camera means and adapted to limit the received image-light spectrum to that which is optimal for the human-eye.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 59 words

An arrangement for lifting the image of documents with electronic camera means selected to exhibit "close-to-human" spectral response and adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, plus a photopic filter, disposed upstream of the camera means and adapted to limit the received image-light spectrum to that which is optimal for the human-eye.

Claim 27

Independent Claim 71 words

A method of lifting the image of documents with electronic camera means adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, this method including: selecting the camera means to exhibit "close-to-human" spectral response; and disposing photopic filter means upstream of the camera means, the filter means being adapted to limit the image-light spectrum received at the camera means to that which is optimal for the human-eye.

Claim 28

Independent Claim 71 words

A method of lifting the image of documents with electronic camera means adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, this method including: selecting the camera means to exhibit "close-to-human" spectral response; and disposing photopic filter means upstream of the camera means, the filter means being adapted to limit the image-light spectrum received at the camera means to that which is optimal for the human-eye.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 75 words

A method of lifting document images, comprising defining one or more document-illumination stations; providing image-lift means including anthropomorphic electronic camera means adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, and having a spectral response approximating that of the human eye; and also providing filter means disposed upstream of said camera means and adapted to limit the spectrum received by said camera means to that perceived by the human eye.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 75 words

A method of lifting document images, comprising defining one or more document-illumination stations; providing image-lift means including anthropomorphic electronic camera means adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, and having a spectral response approximating that of the human eye; and also providing filter means disposed upstream of said camera means and adapted to limit the spectrum received by said camera means to that perceived by the human eye.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 83 words

In an arrangement for lifting document images from one or more document-illumination stations which send the images to camera means; the improvements of: digital electronic camera means adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, and adapted to have a spectral response approximating that of the human eye, and also providing photopic filter means disposed upstream of said camera means and adapted to limit the spectrum received by camera means to that perceived by the human eye.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 83 words

In an arrangement for lifting document images from one or more document-illumination stations which send the images to camera means; the improvements of: digital electronic camera means adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, and adapted to have a spectral response approximating that of the human eye, and also providing photopic filter means disposed upstream of said camera means and adapted to limit the spectrum received by camera means to that perceived by the human eye.

Claim 33

Independent Claim 84 words

A method of lifting an image of passing documents and recording it at distal electronic camera means adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, this method including selecting and arranging said camera means to be anthropomorphic, exhibiting "close-to-human" spectral response; and also disposing photopic filter means upstream of said camera means, this filter means being adapted to limit the image-lift spectrum received by said camera means to that which is optimal for perception by the human eye.

Claim 34

Independent Claim 84 words

A method of lifting an image of passing documents and recording it at distal electronic camera means adapted to record image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, this method including selecting and arranging said camera means to be anthropomorphic, exhibiting "close-to-human" spectral response; and also disposing photopic filter means upstream of said camera means, this filter means being adapted to limit the image-lift spectrum received by said camera means to that which is optimal for perception by the human eye.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 77 words

An arrangement for lifting images of passing documents and recording them, this arrangement including anthropomorphic digital electronic camera means selected and arranged to receive said images and to exhibit "close-to-human" spectral response while recording image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, plus photopic filter means disposed upstream of the camera means and adapted to limit the image-lift spectrum received thereby to be close to that which is optimal for perception by the human-eye.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 77 words

An arrangement for lifting images of passing documents and recording them, this arrangement including anthropomorphic digital electronic camera means selected and arranged to receive said images and to exhibit "close-to-human" spectral response while recording image bits as digital electronic pulses to be stored and/or transmitted, plus photopic filter means disposed upstream of the camera means and adapted to limit the image-lift spectrum received thereby to be close to that which is optimal for perception by the human-eye.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 14 words

The invention of claim 4 wherein said filter means is selected to shift red.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 14 words

The invention of claim 12 wherein said filter means is selected to shift red.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 14 words

The invention of claim 16 wherein said filter means is selected to shift red.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 12 words

The invention of 18 wherein said filter is selected to shift red.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 12 words

The invention of 18 wherein said filter is selected to shift red.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1997-11-21	1998-05-23	1998-11-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2001-11-21	2002-05-23	2002-11-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2005-11-21	2006-05-23	2006-11-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Image scanning apparatus adapted for thermally and optically isolating imaging components

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