US5477343A — Micrographic reader with digitized image

Claim 1

Independent Claim 174 words

An imaging system for viewing and providing a digital representation of a two-dimensional image carried on a film medium comprising: a housing; a source of radiant energy carried by said housing; a support carried by said housing for positioning the medium relative to said source for projection of a selected image carried thereon; a linear motion apparatus carried by said housing, wherein said apparatus has a linearly movable slide with a viewing position and a digitizing position; first and second mirrors carried linearly by said slide wherein said first mirror reflects said projected image onto said display surface when said slide is in said viewing position; a sensor, carried by said housing, wherein said second mirror reflects said projected image onto said sensor when said slide is in said digitizing position; a unit for storage of a digitized representation; and a control circuit coupled between said sensor and said storage unit for generating a digitized representation of an image incident on said sensor, and for directing the digitized representation to said unit for storage.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 174 words

An imaging system for viewing and providing a digital representation of a two-dimensional image carried on a film medium comprising: a housing; a source of radiant energy carried by said housing; a support carried by said housing for positioning the medium relative to said source for projection of a selected image carried thereon; a linear motion apparatus carried by said housing, wherein said apparatus has a linearly movable slide with a viewing position and a digitizing position; first and second mirrors carried linearly by said slide wherein said first mirror reflects said projected image onto said display surface when said slide is in said viewing position; a sensor, carried by said housing, wherein said second mirror reflects said projected image onto said sensor when said slide is in said digitizing position; a unit for storage of a digitized representation; and a control circuit coupled between said sensor and said storage unit for generating a digitized representation of an image incident on said sensor, and for directing the digitized representation to said unit for storage.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 19 words

An imaging system as in claim 1 wherein said apparatus carries a lens adjacent to one of said mirrors.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 16 words

An imaging system as in claim 1 wherein said control circuit includes a programmable digital processor.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 22 words

An imaging system as in claim 1 including further, optical limit switches carried by said housing for limiting movement of said slide.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 33 words

An imaging system as in claim 1 wherein said sensor is a linear element and including a linear movement mechanism for moving said sensor, thereby scanning an image reflected from said second mirror.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

An imaging system as in claim 5 wherein said linear movement mechanism includes a lead screw and a plurality of linear bearing elements.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 21 words

An imaging system as in 6 including further optical limit switches carried by said housing for limiting movement of said sensor.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 21 words

An imaging system as in 6 including further optical limit switches carried by said housing for limiting movement of said sensor.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 24 words

An imaging system as in claim 1 wherein said first mirror has a first orientation and wherein said second mirror has a second orientation.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 28 words

An imaging system as in claim 1 including further a lens system carried by said housing and positioned, at least in part, between said source and said support.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 78 words

A method of viewing and digitizing a projectable image prestored on a film medium using first and second reflectors, comprising: positioning the first reflector at a selected position; projecting the image from the film medium, using the first reflector, onto a viewing region; linearly moving the first reflector from the selected position and linearly moving the second reflector thereto; projecting the image from the film medium, using the second reflector onto a digitizing region; and digitizing the image.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 78 words

A method of viewing and digitizing a projectable image prestored on a film medium using first and second reflectors, comprising: positioning the first reflector at a selected position; projecting the image from the film medium, using the first reflector, onto a viewing region; linearly moving the first reflector from the selected position and linearly moving the second reflector thereto; projecting the image from the film medium, using the second reflector onto a digitizing region; and digitizing the image.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

A method as in claim 10 including optically detecting when said second reflector has moved into the selected position.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 158 words

An apparatus for displaying images prestored on a movable medium and for generating a digitized representation thereof comprising; a housing; a medium support carried by said housing; a source of radiant energy directed to impinge on and pass through, at least in part, an image prestored on a medium carried on said medium support so as to create a projected image; a scanning stage having first and second parts, carried by said housing, movable relative to one another, and linked via a coupling member, said scanning stage being movable between a displaying position and a digitizing position, said first part carrying a lens, and said second part carrying a sensor; a motor coupled to said second part for moving said stage in said first direction to a digitizing position wherein said lens is positioned to permit said projected image to pass therethrough and for subsequently moving only said second part opposite said first direction thereby scanning the image.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 158 words

An apparatus for displaying images prestored on a movable medium and for generating a digitized representation thereof comprising; a housing; a medium support carried by said housing; a source of radiant energy directed to impinge on and pass through, at least in part, an image prestored on a medium carried on said medium support so as to create a projected image; a scanning stage having first and second parts, carried by said housing, movable relative to one another, and linked via a coupling member, said scanning stage being movable between a displaying position and a digitizing position, said first part carrying a lens, and said second part carrying a sensor; a motor coupled to said second part for moving said stage in said first direction to a digitizing position wherein said lens is positioned to permit said projected image to pass therethrough and for subsequently moving only said second part opposite said first direction thereby scanning the image.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 36 words

An apparatus as in claim 12 wherein said motor subsequently moves said stage, opposite said first direction, away from said digitizing position to said displaying position wherein said lens is positioned away from said projected image.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 25 words

An apparatus as in claim 12 including a control unit coupled to said second part for receiving and storing a digital representation of the image.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 128 words

An image displaying and digitizing device for displaying or digitizing images on a moveable medium comprising: a housing; a medium support carried by said housing; and a two part structure for scanning an image projected from said medium, said structure having first and second parts movably mounted on said housing, and movable relative thereto, wherein said structure is movable from a non-digitizing position to a digitizing position wherein said second part is movable relative to said first part so as to scan across the image, said first part having a reformatting lens and said second part having a sensor, said reformatting lens permitting said projected image to pass therethrough when in said digitizing position, said reformatting lens being spaced from said projected image when in said non-digitizing position.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 128 words

An image displaying and digitizing device for displaying or digitizing images on a moveable medium comprising: a housing; a medium support carried by said housing; and a two part structure for scanning an image projected from said medium, said structure having first and second parts movably mounted on said housing, and movable relative thereto, wherein said structure is movable from a non-digitizing position to a digitizing position wherein said second part is movable relative to said first part so as to scan across the image, said first part having a reformatting lens and said second part having a sensor, said reformatting lens permitting said projected image to pass therethrough when in said digitizing position, said reformatting lens being spaced from said projected image when in said non-digitizing position.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

An apparatus as in claim 15 including a projection screen wherein said projected image is displayed on said projection screen when said two part structure is in said non-digitizing position.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 15 words

An apparatus as in claim 16 including an inversion prism carried on said first part.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 25 words

An apparatus as in claim 17 wherein said projected image passes through said inversion prism when said two part structure is in said non-digitizing position.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 22 words

An apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said image is projected directly onto said sensor without being reflected by a reflection means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-12-18	1999-06-19	1999-12-19	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-12-18	2003-06-19	2003-12-19	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-12-18	2007-06-19	2007-12-19	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Micrographic reader with digitized image

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