Method and apparatus for converting a conventional copier into an electronic printer

Claim 2

In an apparatus for presenting an image to a copier through a copier window to enable reproduction of the image by the copier, the copier comprising a scanning light source that moves relative to the copier window, a system for modifying the angular orientation of the image relative to the copier window, the system comprising: display means for displaying the image through the copier window, the display means and the copier window being in spaced relationship and defining a relative angular orientation, a plurality of sensors associated with the display means and arranged in a substantially rectangular orientation, whereby each of the plurality of sensors is exposed to light from the scanning light source at a different point in time, and whereby the time intervals between exposure of the different sensors is determined by the relative dimensions of the rectangle formed by the sensors and the relative orientation of the display means and the copier window, processor means in communication with the sensors for calculating the relative angular orientation between the display means and the copier window based upon information received from the sensors, and image rotation means for rotating the image relative to the copier window.

Claim 3

The system as in claim 1 wherein the processor means further comprises means for calculating the relative angular orientation between the display means and the copier window in accordance with the following formula: Ω=Tan.sup.-1 (L/W) * (t.sub.1 /(t.sub.2 -t.sub.1)) where Ω represents the relative angular orientation between the display means and the copier window, L represents the length of the rectangle defined by the sensors, W represents the width of the rectangle defined by the sensors, t 1 represents the elapsed time between exposure of a first sensor to the scanning light source and exposure of a second sensor to the scanning light source, t 2 represents the elapsed time between exposure of the first sensor to the scanning light source and exposure of a third sensor to the scanning light source.

Claim 4

The system as in claim 2 wherein the image rotation means comprises means for electronically rotating the image relative to the copier window by the calculated angle Ω.

Claim 5

The system as in claim 2 wherein the display means includes an operator console screen for visually displaying the calculated angle Ω.

Claim 6

The system as in claim 2 wherein the display means includes an operator console screen for visually displaying the calculated angle Ω as an arc of a circle.

Claim 7

In an apparatus for presenting an image to a copier through a copier window to enable reproduction of the image by the copier, wherein the copier window defines at least one edge, a system for modifying the rectilinear orientation of the image relative to the copier window, the system comprising: display means, in spaced relationship with the copier window, for displaying the image through the copier window, the display means defining at least one edge, at least one manually operable switch provided on the display means, the at least one switch being associated with the at least one edge of the display means, processor means, in communication with the display means and the switch, for generating a dot image on the display means in response to the operation of the switch, the dot image defining a distance relative to the edge of the copier window, image shifting means for rectilinearly shifting the image relative to the copier window by a distance substantially equal to the distance between the dot image and the edge of the copier window.

Claim 8

In an apparatus for presenting an image to a copier through a copier window to enable reproduction of the image by the copier, wherein the copier window defines at least one edge, a system for modifying the rectilinear orientation of the image relative to the copier window, the system comprising: display means, in spaced relationship with the copier window, for displaying the image through the copier window, the display means defining at least one edge, at least one manually operable switch provided on the display means, the at least one switch being associated with the at least one edge of the display means, processor means, in communication with the display means and the switch, for generating a dot image on the display means in response to the operation of the switch, the dot image defining a distance relative to the edge of the copier window, image shifting means for rectilinearly shifting the image relative to the copier window by a distance substantially equal to the distance between the dot image and the edge of the copier window.

Claim 9

In an apparatus for presenting an image to a copier through a copier window to enable reproduction of the image by the copier, a method for modifying the rectilinear orientation of the image relative to the copier window, the method comprising: providing display means, in spaced relationship with the copier window, for displaying the image through the copier window, the display means defining a back, providing a substantially rectangular frame on the back of the display means, the substantially rectangular frame being configured to receive a page from the copier, the substantially rectangular frame defining a first edge and a second edge, the first edge and the second edge being on opposite sides of the substantially rectangular frame, providing a first touch sensitive strip associated with the first edge of the frame, providing a second touch sensitive strip associated with the second edge of the frame, placing a page containing printed material from the copier into the frame, touching a location on the first strip corresponding to the location of the printed material on the page, touching a location on the second strip corresponding to the desired location of the printed material on the page, moving the image rectilinearly relative to the copier window based upon the information received from the first and second strips.

Claim 10

In an apparatus for presenting an image to a copier through a copier window to enable reproduction of the image by the copier, a method for modifying the rectilinear orientation of the image relative to the copier window, the method comprising: providing display means, in spaced relationship with the copier window, for displaying the image through the copier window, the display means defining a back, providing a substantially rectangular frame on the back of the display means, the substantially rectangular frame being configured to receive a page from the copier, the substantially rectangular frame defining a first edge and a second edge, the first edge and the second edge being on opposite sides of the substantially rectangular frame, providing a first touch sensitive strip associated with the first edge of the frame, providing a second touch sensitive strip associated with the second edge of the frame, placing a page containing printed material from the copier into the frame, touching a location on the first strip corresponding to the location of the printed material on the page, touching a location on the second strip corresponding to the desired location of the printed material on the page, moving the image rectilinearly relative to the copier window based upon the information received from the first and second strips.

Claim 11

In an apparatus for presenting an image to a copier through a copier window to enable reproduction of the image by the copier, a method for modifying the angular orientation of the image relative to the copier window, the method comprising: providing display means in spaced relationship with the copier window, for displaying the image through the copier window, the display means defining a back, providing a substantially rectangular frame on the back of the display means, the substantially rectangular frame being configured to receive a page from the copier, the substantially rectangular frame defining a first edge and an opposing second edge, providing a first touch sensitive strip associated with the first edge of the frame, providing a second touch sensitive strip associated with the second edge of the frame, placing a page containing printed material from the copier into the frame, touching a location on the first strip corresponding to the location of the printed material on the page, touching a location on the second strip corresponding to the desired location of the printed material on the page, rotating the image relative to the copier window based upon the information received from the first and second strips.

Claim 12

In an apparatus for presenting an image to a copier through a copier window to enable reproduction of the image by the copier, a method for modifying the angular orientation of the image relative to the copier window, the method comprising: providing display means in spaced relationship with the copier window, for displaying the image through the copier window, the display means defining a back, providing a substantially rectangular frame on the back of the display means, the substantially rectangular frame being configured to receive a page from the copier, the substantially rectangular frame defining a first edge and an opposing second edge, providing a first touch sensitive strip associated with the first edge of the frame, providing a second touch sensitive strip associated with the second edge of the frame, placing a page containing printed material from the copier into the frame, touching a location on the first strip corresponding to the location of the printed material on the page, touching a location on the second strip corresponding to the desired location of the printed material on the page, rotating the image relative to the copier window based upon the information received from the first and second strips.

Claim 13

The method as defined in claim 8 wherein the step of rotating the image comprises the step of calculating the desired angle of rotation in accordance with the following formula: θ=Tan.sup.-1 δ/λ, where θ represents the desired angle of rotation, λ represents the width of the page containing printed material, and δ represents the vertical distance between the location of the printed material and the desired location of the printed material.

Claim 14

In an apparatus for presenting an image to a copier through a copier window to enable reproduction of the image by the copier, the copier comprising a scanning light source that moves relative to the copier window, a system for detecting and responding to an angular rotation of the image relative to the copier window, the system comprising: display means for displaying the image through the copier window, the display means and the copier window being in spaced relationship and defining a relative angular orientation, a plurality of sensors associated with the display means, whereby each of the plurality of sensors is exposed to the scanning light source at a different point in time, and whereby the time intervals between exposure of the different sensors is determined by the relative positions of the sensors on the display means and the relative orientation of the display means on the copier window, processor means, in communication with the sensors, for determining the magnitude of angular rotation between the display means and the copier window based upon information received from the sensors, and control means, responsive to the processor means, for halting the display of images subsequent to the detection of an angular rotation between the display means and the copier window.

Claim 15

In an apparatus for presenting an image to a copier through a copier window to enable reproduction of the image by the copier, the copier comprising a scanning light source that moves relative to the copier window, a system for detecting and responding to an angular rotation of the image relative to the copier window, the system comprising: display means for displaying the image through the copier window, the display means and the copier window being in spaced relationship and defining a relative angular orientation, a plurality of sensors associated with the display means, whereby each of the plurality of sensors is exposed to the scanning light source at a different point in time, and whereby the time intervals between exposure of the different sensors is determined by the relative positions of the sensors on the display means and the relative orientation of the display means on the copier window, processor means, in communication with the sensors, for determining the magnitude of angular rotation between the display means and the copier window based upon information received from the sensors, and control means, responsive to the processor means, for halting the display of images subsequent to the detection of an angular rotation between the display means and the copier window.

Claim 16

An apparatus as in claim 10 including warning means for warning that an angular rotation exists between the display means and the copier window.

Claim 17

An apparatus as in claim 11 wherein the warning means includes at least the issuance of an audible tone.