Video densitometer with determination of color composition

Claim 1

An apparatus for determining an integrated density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising: means for deriving an analog video image signal representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; means for converting the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; means for converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; means for displaying a video format image of the specimen; means for calculating one or more background density values associated with the video format image; means for selecting one or more areas of the displayed video format image for calculation of one or more spot densities; means for calculating one or more spot density values for each said selected area of the video format image; and means for displaying each of said one or more calculated spot density values.

Claim 2

An apparatus for determining an integrated density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising: means for deriving an analog video image signal representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; means for converting the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; means for converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; means for displaying a video format image of the specimen; means for calculating one or more background density values associated with the video format image; means for selecting one or more areas of the displayed video format image for calculation of one or more spot densities; means for calculating one or more spot density values for each said selected area of the video format image; and means for displaying each of said one or more calculated spot density values.

Claim 6

An apparatus for determining an integrated density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising: means for deriving an analog video image signal representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; means for converting at least a portion of the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; means for storing the digital values; means for sending the stored digital values to a computer at a slower rate than the analog-to-digital conversion; means for converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; means for displaying a video format image of the specimen; means for calculating one or more background density values associated with the video format image; means for selecting one or more areas of the displayed video format image for calculation of one or more spot densities; means for calculating one or more spot density values for each said selected area of the video format image; and means for displaying each of said one or more calculated spot density values.

Claim 7

An apparatus for determining an integrated density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising: means for deriving an analog video image signal representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; means for converting at least a portion of the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; means for storing the digital values; means for sending the stored digital values to a computer at a slower rate than the analog-to-digital conversion; means for converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; means for displaying a video format image of the specimen; means for calculating one or more background density values associated with the video format image; means for selecting one or more areas of the displayed video format image for calculation of one or more spot densities; means for calculating one or more spot density values for each said selected area of the video format image; and means for displaying each of said one or more calculated spot density values.

Claim 11

A method for determining an integrated density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; converting the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a video format image of the specimen; calculating one or more background density values associated with the video format image; selecting one or more areas of the displayed video format image for calculation of one or more spot densities; calculating one or more spot density values for each said selected area of the video format image; and displaying each of said one or more calculated spot density values.

Claim 12

A method for determining an integrated density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; converting the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a video format image of the specimen; calculating one or more background density values associated with the video format image; selecting one or more areas of the displayed video format image for calculation of one or more spot densities; calculating one or more spot density values for each said selected area of the video format image; and displaying each of said one or more calculated spot density values.

Claim 19

A method for determining an integrated density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal having bright and dark intensity references, and representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; converting at least a portion of the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; storing the digital values; sending the stored digital values to a computer at a slower rate than the analog-to-digital conversion; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a video format image of the specimen; calculating a background density value for an area associated with the video format image; selecting an area of the displayed video format image for calculation of a spot density; calculating a spot density value for said selected area of the video format image; and displaying said calculated spot density value.

Claim 20

A method for determining an integrated density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal having bright and dark intensity references, and representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; converting at least a portion of the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; storing the digital values; sending the stored digital values to a computer at a slower rate than the analog-to-digital conversion; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a video format image of the specimen; calculating a background density value for an area associated with the video format image; selecting an area of the displayed video format image for calculation of a spot density; calculating a spot density value for said selected area of the video format image; and displaying said calculated spot density value.

Claim 27

A method for determining an integrated density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal having bright and dark intensity references, and representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; converting at least a substantial portion of the analog video image signal into a set of digital values representing intensity; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a video format image of the specimen; calculating a background density value for an area of the video format image; selecting one or more vertical lanes of spots bounded by a first and second horizontal coordinate associated with the displayed video format image; calculating a plurality of lane density values, each lane density value being representative of the sum of digital density values for a given horizontal line of density within each lane; selecting an upper and lower vertical coordinate for each said selected vertical lane; and displaying said calculated lane density values.

Claim 28

A method for determining an integrated density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal having bright and dark intensity references, and representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; converting at least a substantial portion of the analog video image signal into a set of digital values representing intensity; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a video format image of the specimen; calculating a background density value for an area of the video format image; selecting one or more vertical lanes of spots bounded by a first and second horizontal coordinate associated with the displayed video format image; calculating a plurality of lane density values, each lane density value being representative of the sum of digital density values for a given horizontal line of density within each lane; selecting an upper and lower vertical coordinate for each said selected vertical lane; and displaying said calculated lane density values.

Claim 29

A method for determining an integrated density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal having bright and dark intensity references, and representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; converting at least a substantial portion of the analog video image signal into a set of digital values representing intensity; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a video format image of the specimen; calculating one or more background density values associated with the video format image; selecting one or more horizontal rows of spots bounded by a first and second vertical coordinate associated with the displayed video format image; calculating a plurality of row density values, each row density value being representative of the sum of digital density values for a given vertical line of density within each row; selecting a left and right horizontal coordinate for each said selected horizontal row; and displaying said calculated row density values.

Claim 30

A method for determining an integrated density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal having bright and dark intensity references, and representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; converting at least a substantial portion of the analog video image signal into a set of digital values representing intensity; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a video format image of the specimen; calculating one or more background density values associated with the video format image; selecting one or more horizontal rows of spots bounded by a first and second vertical coordinate associated with the displayed video format image; calculating a plurality of row density values, each row density value being representative of the sum of digital density values for a given vertical line of density within each row; selecting a left and right horizontal coordinate for each said selected horizontal row; and displaying said calculated row density values.

Claim 31

An apparatus for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising: means for deriving an analog video image signal representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; means for converting at least a portion of the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; means for converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; p1 means for calculating one or more background density values associated with the specimen; means for calculating one or more spot density values associated with the specimen; means for calculating one or more color composition density values associated with the specimen; means for displaying one or more of said one or more calculated spot density values; and means for displaying one or more of said one or more calculated color composition density values.

Claim 32

An apparatus for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising: means for deriving an analog video image signal representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; means for converting at least a portion of the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; means for converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; p1 means for calculating one or more background density values associated with the specimen; means for calculating one or more spot density values associated with the specimen; means for calculating one or more color composition density values associated with the specimen; means for displaying one or more of said one or more calculated spot density values; and means for displaying one or more of said one or more calculated color composition density values.

Claim 33

An apparatus for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising: means for deriving an analog video image signal representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; means for converting the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; means for converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; means for displaying a video format image of the specimen; means for calculating one or more background density values associated with the video format image; means for selecting one or more areas of the displayed video format image for calculation of one or more spot densities; means for calculating one or more spot density values for each said selected area of the video format image; means for calculating one or more color composition densities for each said selected area of the video format image; means for displaying each of said one or more calculated spot density values; and means for displaying each of said one or more calculated color composition density values.

Claim 34

An apparatus for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising: means for deriving an analog video image signal representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; means for converting the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; means for converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; means for displaying a video format image of the specimen; means for calculating one or more background density values associated with the video format image; means for selecting one or more areas of the displayed video format image for calculation of one or more spot densities; means for calculating one or more spot density values for each said selected area of the video format image; means for calculating one or more color composition densities for each said selected area of the video format image; means for displaying each of said one or more calculated spot density values; and means for displaying each of said one or more calculated color composition density values.

Claim 38

An apparatus for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising: means for deriving an analog video image signal representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; means for converting at least a substantial portion of the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; means for storing the digital values; means for sending the stored digital values to a computer at a slower rate than the analog-to-digital conversion; means for converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; means for displaying a video format image of the specimen; means for calculating one or more background density values associated with the video format image; means for selecting one or more areas of the displayed video format image for calculation of one or more spot densities; means for calculating one or more spot density values for each said selected area of the video format image; means for calculating one or more color composition density values for each said selected area of the video format image; means for displaying each of said one or more calculated spot density values; means for displaying at least one of said one or more calculated color composition density values.

Claim 39

An apparatus for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising: means for deriving an analog video image signal representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; means for converting at least a substantial portion of the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; means for storing the digital values; means for sending the stored digital values to a computer at a slower rate than the analog-to-digital conversion; means for converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; means for displaying a video format image of the specimen; means for calculating one or more background density values associated with the video format image; means for selecting one or more areas of the displayed video format image for calculation of one or more spot densities; means for calculating one or more spot density values for each said selected area of the video format image; means for calculating one or more color composition density values for each said selected area of the video format image; means for displaying each of said one or more calculated spot density values; means for displaying at least one of said one or more calculated color composition density values.

Claim 43

A method for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; converting the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a video format image of the specimen; calculating one or more background density values associated with the video format image; selecting one or more areas of the displayed video format image for calculation of one or more spot densities; calculating one or more spot density values for each said selected area of the video format image; calculating one or more color composition density values for each said selected area of the video format image; displaying each of said one or more calculated spot density values; and displaying one or more of said color composition density values.

Claim 44

A method for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; converting the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a video format image of the specimen; calculating one or more background density values associated with the video format image; selecting one or more areas of the displayed video format image for calculation of one or more spot densities; calculating one or more spot density values for each said selected area of the video format image; calculating one or more color composition density values for each said selected area of the video format image; displaying each of said one or more calculated spot density values; and displaying one or more of said color composition density values.

Claim 52

A method for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; converting at least a substantial portion of the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; storing the digital values; sending the stored digital values to a computer at a slower rate than the analog-to-digital conversion; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a video format image of the specimen; calculating a background density value for an area associated with the video format image; selecting an area of the displayed video format image for calculation of a spot density; calculating a spot density value for said selected area of the video format image; calculating a color composition density value for said selected area of the video format image; displaying said calculated spot density value; displaying said calculated color composition density value.

Claim 53

A method for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; converting at least a substantial portion of the analog video image signal into a set of digital values; storing the digital values; sending the stored digital values to a computer at a slower rate than the analog-to-digital conversion; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a video format image of the specimen; calculating a background density value for an area associated with the video format image; selecting an area of the displayed video format image for calculation of a spot density; calculating a spot density value for said selected area of the video format image; calculating a color composition density value for said selected area of the video format image; displaying said calculated spot density value; displaying said calculated color composition density value.

Claim 60

An apparatus for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising: means for deriving an analog video image signal with a color video camera representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; means for calibrating the video image dark intensity to a black level by repetitively counting the number of digital density values equal to zero while adjusting an analog voltage means for changing the video image dark intensity threshold bias until the preferred number of digital density values is equal to zero; means for calibrating the video image bright intensity to a white level by repetitively counting the number of digital density values equal to a maximum digital value while adjusting an analog voltage means for changing the video image bright intensity threshold bias until the preferred number of digital density values is equal to the maximum digital value, wherein the video signal bright and dark intensity references define a calibrated analog video image signal intensity range; means for converting the calibrated analog video image signal into a set of digital values by using a high speed analog-to-digital converter; means for storing the digital values; means for sending the stored digital values to a computer at a slower rate than the analog-to-digital conversion; means for converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; means for displaying a digital format image of the specimen based upon the digital density values; means for selecting one or more areas of the displayed digital format image for calculation of one or more spot densities; means for calculating one or more background density values each associated with a selected area of the digital format image; means for calculating one or more spot density values each associated with a selected area of the digital format image; means for calculating one or more color composition densities for each said selected area of the digital format image; means for displaying each of the one or more calculated spot density values; and means for displaying each of the one or more calculated color composition density values.

Claim 61

An apparatus for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising: means for deriving an analog video image signal with a color video camera representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; means for calibrating the video image dark intensity to a black level by repetitively counting the number of digital density values equal to zero while adjusting an analog voltage means for changing the video image dark intensity threshold bias until the preferred number of digital density values is equal to zero; means for calibrating the video image bright intensity to a white level by repetitively counting the number of digital density values equal to a maximum digital value while adjusting an analog voltage means for changing the video image bright intensity threshold bias until the preferred number of digital density values is equal to the maximum digital value, wherein the video signal bright and dark intensity references define a calibrated analog video image signal intensity range; means for converting the calibrated analog video image signal into a set of digital values by using a high speed analog-to-digital converter; means for storing the digital values; means for sending the stored digital values to a computer at a slower rate than the analog-to-digital conversion; means for converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; means for displaying a digital format image of the specimen based upon the digital density values; means for selecting one or more areas of the displayed digital format image for calculation of one or more spot densities; means for calculating one or more background density values each associated with a selected area of the digital format image; means for calculating one or more spot density values each associated with a selected area of the digital format image; means for calculating one or more color composition densities for each said selected area of the digital format image; means for displaying each of the one or more calculated spot density values; and means for displaying each of the one or more calculated color composition density values.

Claim 62

A method for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal having bright and dark intensity references, and representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; calibrating the video image dark intensity to a black level by repetitively counting the number of digital density values equal to zero while adjusting an analog voltage means for changing the video image dark intensity threshold bias until the preferred number of digital density values is equal to zero; calibrating the video image bright intensity to a white level by repetitively counting the number of digital density values equal to a maximum digital value while adjusting an analog voltage means for changing the video image bright intensity threshold bias until the preferred number of digital density values is equal to the maximum digital value, wherein the video signal bright and dark intensity references define a calibrated analog video image signal intensity range; converting the calibrated analog video image signal into a set of digital values; storing the digital values; sending the stored digital values to a computer at a slower rate than the analog-to-digital conversion; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a digital format image of the specimen based upon the digital density values; selecting an area of the displayed digital format image for calculation of spot density; calculating a background density value for the selected area of the digital format image; calculating a spot density value for the selected area of the digital format image; and calculating one or more color composition densities for said selected area of the digital format image; displaying the calculated spot density value; and displaying the one or more calculated color composition density values.

Claim 63

A method for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal having bright and dark intensity references, and representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; calibrating the video image dark intensity to a black level by repetitively counting the number of digital density values equal to zero while adjusting an analog voltage means for changing the video image dark intensity threshold bias until the preferred number of digital density values is equal to zero; calibrating the video image bright intensity to a white level by repetitively counting the number of digital density values equal to a maximum digital value while adjusting an analog voltage means for changing the video image bright intensity threshold bias until the preferred number of digital density values is equal to the maximum digital value, wherein the video signal bright and dark intensity references define a calibrated analog video image signal intensity range; converting the calibrated analog video image signal into a set of digital values; storing the digital values; sending the stored digital values to a computer at a slower rate than the analog-to-digital conversion; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a digital format image of the specimen based upon the digital density values; selecting an area of the displayed digital format image for calculation of spot density; calculating a background density value for the selected area of the digital format image; calculating a spot density value for the selected area of the digital format image; and calculating one or more color composition densities for said selected area of the digital format image; displaying the calculated spot density value; and displaying the one or more calculated color composition density values.

Claim 64

A method for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal having bright and dark intensity references, and representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; calibrating the video image dark intensity to a black level by repetitively counting the number of digital density values equal to zero while adjusting an analog voltage means for changing the video image dark intensity threshold bias until the preferred number of digital density values is equal to zero; calibrating the video image bright intensity to a white level by repetitively counting the number of digital density values equal to a maximum digital value while adjusting an analog voltage means for changing the video image bright intensity threshold bias until the preferred number of digital density values is equal to the maximum digital value, wherein the video signal bright and dark intensity references define a calibrated analog video image signal intensity range; converting the analog video image signal into a set of digital values by using a high speed analog-to-digital converter, wherein a low resolution mode is used for calibration and a high resolution mode is used for data collection; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a digital format image of the specimen based upon the digital density values; selecting an area of the displayed digital format image for calculation of spot density; calculating a background density value for the selected area of the digital format image; calculating a spot density value for the selected area of the digital format image; calculating a color composition density for the selected area of the digital format image; displaying the calculated spot density value; and displaying the calculated color composition density value.

Claim 65

A method for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal having bright and dark intensity references, and representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; calibrating the video image dark intensity to a black level by repetitively counting the number of digital density values equal to zero while adjusting an analog voltage means for changing the video image dark intensity threshold bias until the preferred number of digital density values is equal to zero; calibrating the video image bright intensity to a white level by repetitively counting the number of digital density values equal to a maximum digital value while adjusting an analog voltage means for changing the video image bright intensity threshold bias until the preferred number of digital density values is equal to the maximum digital value, wherein the video signal bright and dark intensity references define a calibrated analog video image signal intensity range; converting the analog video image signal into a set of digital values by using a high speed analog-to-digital converter, wherein a low resolution mode is used for calibration and a high resolution mode is used for data collection; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a digital format image of the specimen based upon the digital density values; selecting an area of the displayed digital format image for calculation of spot density; calculating a background density value for the selected area of the digital format image; calculating a spot density value for the selected area of the digital format image; calculating a color composition density for the selected area of the digital format image; displaying the calculated spot density value; and displaying the calculated color composition density value.

Claim 66

A method for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal having bright and dark intensity references, and representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; calibrating the video image dark intensity to a black level by repetitively counting the number of digital density values equal to zero while adjusting an analog voltage means for changing the video image dark intensity threshold bias until the preferred number of digital density values is equal to zero; calibrating the video image bright intensity to a white level by repetitively counting the number of digital density values equal to a maximum digital value while adjusting an analog voltage means for changing the video image bright intensity threshold bias until the preferred number of digital density values is equal to the maximum digital value, wherein the video signal bright and dark intensity references define a calibrated analog video image signal intensity range; converting the analog video image signal into a set of digital values representing intensity; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a digital format image of the specimen based upon the digital density values; selecting an area of the displayed digital format image for calculation of spot density; calculating a background density value for the selected area of the digital format image by summing the digital density values located on the left and right vertical edges of the selected area, dividing the sum of the left and right vertical edge densities by the number of the digital density values summed, and multiplying by the number of digital density values contained within the selected area; calculating a spot density value for the selected area of the digital format image; calculating a color composition density value for the selected area of the digital format image; displaying the calculated spot density value; and displaying the calculated color composition density value.

Claim 67

A method for determining an integrated color composition density of irregularly shaped light absorbing areas of a subject specimen, comprising the steps of: deriving an analog video image signal having bright and dark intensity references, and representative of the optical intensity of light associated with the specimen; calibrating the video image dark intensity to a black level by repetitively counting the number of digital density values equal to zero while adjusting an analog voltage means for changing the video image dark intensity threshold bias until the preferred number of digital density values is equal to zero; calibrating the video image bright intensity to a white level by repetitively counting the number of digital density values equal to a maximum digital value while adjusting an analog voltage means for changing the video image bright intensity threshold bias until the preferred number of digital density values is equal to the maximum digital value, wherein the video signal bright and dark intensity references define a calibrated analog video image signal intensity range; converting the analog video image signal into a set of digital values representing intensity; converting the digital values representing intensity to digital values representing density by calculating a reciprocal value of the intensity and calculating the log 10 of the reciprocal value; displaying a digital format image of the specimen based upon the digital density values; selecting an area of the displayed digital format image for calculation of spot density; calculating a background density value for the selected area of the digital format image by summing the digital density values located on the left and right vertical edges of the selected area, dividing the sum of the left and right vertical edge densities by the number of the digital density values summed, and multiplying by the number of digital density values contained within the selected area; calculating a spot density value for the selected area of the digital format image; calculating a color composition density value for the selected area of the digital format image; displaying the calculated spot density value; and displaying the calculated color composition density value.