US6421079B1 — Film scanner

Claim 1

Independent Claim 220 words

A photographic film scanning system for scanning a film strip containing a plurality of photographic images and for creating a corresponding plurality of digital representations of the photographic images, the system comprising: a light source for projecting light through the film strip; a light sensor for sensing the light projected through the film strip and for generating pixel data, the light sensor located at a first light sensor position; a film drive for advancing the film strip between the light source and the light sensor; a lens located between the film strip and the light sensor for directing the light projected through the film strip onto the light sensor, the lens located at a first lens position; adjustable resolution means for changing the position of the lens to a second lens position and for changing the position of the light sensor to a second light sensor position, wherein the change in positions of the lens and the light sensor results in a change in the scanning resolution; means for generating a digital image of the film strip from the generated pixel data, the digital image of the film strip including the plurality of digital representations of the photographic images; and means for locating the plurality of digital representations of the photographic images in the digital image of the film strip.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 220 words

A photographic film scanning system for scanning a film strip containing a plurality of photographic images and for creating a corresponding plurality of digital representations of the photographic images, the system comprising: a light source for projecting light through the film strip; a light sensor for sensing the light projected through the film strip and for generating pixel data, the light sensor located at a first light sensor position; a film drive for advancing the film strip between the light source and the light sensor; a lens located between the film strip and the light sensor for directing the light projected through the film strip onto the light sensor, the lens located at a first lens position; adjustable resolution means for changing the position of the lens to a second lens position and for changing the position of the light sensor to a second light sensor position, wherein the change in positions of the lens and the light sensor results in a change in the scanning resolution; means for generating a digital image of the film strip from the generated pixel data, the digital image of the film strip including the plurality of digital representations of the photographic images; and means for locating the plurality of digital representations of the photographic images in the digital image of the film strip.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 78 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a code sensor having a light emitter, a fiber optic cable and a light detector, wherein the light emitter projects light through an edge of a film strip where coded data is located, the light projected through the film strip is guided to the light detector with the fiber optic cable, and the light detector generates signals that are representative of the coded data on the film strip.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 45 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 2 further comprising conversion means for converting the signals generated by the light detector into binary values, the conversion means comparing the signals generated by the light detector to a first threshold value to obtain the binary values.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the conversion means automatically adjusts the threshold value.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 32 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the film drive further comprises means for reversing the direction of advancement of the film strip so that selected images can be rescanned.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 63 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a light filter located between the light source and the light sensor, wherein the light filter reduces the intensity of light projected on the light sensor, and means for automatically moving the light filter away from the path of light projected on the light sensor when the scanning resolution reaches a predetermined threshold.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 22 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for displaying the plurality of digital representations of the photographic images.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 44 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising first and second position sensors, wherein the first position sensor detects when the lens reaches a first predetermined position, and the second position sensor detects when the light sensor reaches a second predetermined position.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 38 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light source includes a cylindrical flourescent bulb having a reflective coating over substantially the entire surface of the bulb except for an aperture portion facing the light sensor.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 34 words

The scanning system of claim 9 further comprising a clamp attached to the cylindrical flourescent bulb to maintain the bulb in place and to ensure that the aperture portion continuously faces the light sensor.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 45 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an anti-static electricity mechanism having a multiplicity of brush bristles electrically connected to ground, wherein static electricity is removed from a film strip prior to scanning by rubbing the film strip against the brush bristles.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a detachable basket for catching small film strips and keeping the film strips in the same order as they were scanned.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 24 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising adjustable intensity means for changing the intensity of light generated by the light source.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 33 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the adjustable intensity means automatically changes the intensity of light generated by the light source when the adjustable resolution means changes the scanning resolution.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 57 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for blocking the light projected through the outer edges of a film strip where the film strip has perforations or sprocket holes, so that substantially the only light reaching the light sensor is the light projected through the portion of the film strip containing photographic images.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 28 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for bending the film strip longitudinally as it passes between the light source and the light sensor.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 40 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a guide track consisting of a continuous left guide to guide a first edge of the film and a continuous right guide to guide a second edge of the film.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 37 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the left guide and right guide are spring loaded to maintain constant pressure on the edges of a film strip regardless of the thickness of the film strip.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 47 words

A scanning system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: means for locating images of coded data in the digital image of the film strip; and means for identifying the located images of coded data by comparing the located images of coded data to stored image data.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 222 words

A scanner for generating pixel data from a photographic film, the scanner comprising: multiple inlet tracks, each inlet track adapted to receive a photographic film; an outlet through which the film exits the scanner; a common guide track located between the inlet tracks and the outlet, the common guide track for guiding the film from the inlet tracks to the outlet; a film drive mechanism for advancing the film through the common guide track; a light source for projecting light through the film; a light sensor for sensing the light projected through the film and for generating pixel data based upon the intensity of the light sensed, the light sensor located at a first light sensor position; a lens located between the film strip and the light sensor for directing the light projected through the film strip onto the light sensor, the lens located at a first lens position; a lens drive mechanism for changing the position of the lens to a second lens position; a light sensor drive mechanism for changing the position of the light sensor to a second light sensor position; and a controller for receiving scanning resolution data and sending control signals to the lens drive mechanism and the light sensor drive mechanism to position the lens and the light sensor in accordance with the scanning resolution data.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 222 words

A scanner for generating pixel data from a photographic film, the scanner comprising: multiple inlet tracks, each inlet track adapted to receive a photographic film; an outlet through which the film exits the scanner; a common guide track located between the inlet tracks and the outlet, the common guide track for guiding the film from the inlet tracks to the outlet; a film drive mechanism for advancing the film through the common guide track; a light source for projecting light through the film; a light sensor for sensing the light projected through the film and for generating pixel data based upon the intensity of the light sensed, the light sensor located at a first light sensor position; a lens located between the film strip and the light sensor for directing the light projected through the film strip onto the light sensor, the lens located at a first lens position; a lens drive mechanism for changing the position of the lens to a second lens position; a light sensor drive mechanism for changing the position of the light sensor to a second light sensor position; and a controller for receiving scanning resolution data and sending control signals to the lens drive mechanism and the light sensor drive mechanism to position the lens and the light sensor in accordance with the scanning resolution data.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 51 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 20 wherein the common guide track includes a left guide for guiding a first edge of the film, a right guide for guiding a second edge of the film, and distance adjusting means for adjusting the distance between the left guide and the right guide.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 38 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 21 wherein the left guide and right guide are continuous and spring loaded to maintain constant pressure on the edges of a film strip regardless of the thickness of the film strip.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 75 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 21 wherein each inlet track includes a film entry sensor that output signals indicating whether film is present in that inlet track, and wherein the distance adjusting means moves the right guide and the left guide in accordance with the signals output by the film entry sensors, thereby changing the distance between the left guide and the right guide to accommodate the film detected by the film entry sensor.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 66 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 21 wherein the scanner includes a film exit sensor located adjacent to the outlet of the scanner, the film exit sensor outputs signals indicating whether film is in the outlet of the scanner, and wherein the distance between the left guide and the right guide cannot be adjusted when the film exit sensor indicates that film is in the scanner.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 77 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 20 further comprising a code sensor having a light emitter, a fiber optic cable and a light detector, wherein the light emitter projects light through an edge of a film strip where coded data is located, the light projected through the film strip is guided to the light detector with the fiber optic cable, and the light detector generates signals that are representative of the coded data on the film strip.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 44 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 25 further comprising conversion means for converting the signals generated by the light detector into binary values, the conversion means comparing the signals generated by the light detector to a first threshold value to obtain the binary values.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 16 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 26 wherein the conversion means automatically adjusts the threshold value.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 32 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 20 wherein the film drive mechanism further comprises means for reversing the direction of advancement of the film strip so that selected images can be rescanned.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 62 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 20 further comprising a light filter located between the light source and the light sensor, wherein the light filter reduces the intensity of light projected on the light sensor, and means for automatically moving the light filter away from the path of light projected on the light sensor when the scanning resolution reaches a predetermined threshold.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 43 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 20 further comprising first and second position sensors, wherein the first position sensor detects when the lens reaches a first predetermined position, and the second position sensor detects when the light sensor reaches a second predetermined position.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 37 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 20 wherein the light source includes a cylindrical flourescent bulb having a reflective coating over substantially the entire surface of the bulb except for an aperture portion facing the light sensor.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 33 words

The scanner of claim 31 further comprising a clamp attached to the cylindrical flourescent bulb to maintain the bulb in place and to ensure that the aperture portion continuously faces the light sensor.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 44 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 20 further comprising an anti-static electricity mechanism having a multiplicity of brush bristles electrically connected to ground, wherein static electricity is removed from a film strip prior to scanning by rubbing the film strip against the brush bristles.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 30 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 20 further comprising a detachable basket for catching small film strips and keeping the film strips in the same order as they were scanned.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 23 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 20 further comprising adjustable intensity means for changing the intensity of light generated by the light source.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 32 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 35 wherein the adjustable intensity means automatically changes the intensity of light generated by the light source when the adjustable resolution means changes the scanning resolution.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 56 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 20 further comprising means for blocking the light projected through the outer edges of a film strip where the film strip has perforations or sprocket holes, so that substantially the only light reaching the light sensor is the light projected through the portion of the film strip containing photographic images.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 27 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 20 further comprising means for bending the film strip longitudinally as it passes between the light source and the light sensor.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 43 words

A scanner as claimed in claim 20 further comprising: means for locating images of coded data in the generated pixel data; and means for identifying the located images of coded data by comparing the located images of coded data to stored image data.

Claim 42

Independent Claim 148 words

A method of scanning a photographic film and creating pixel data that is representative of the photographic film, the method comprising: advancing the film between a light source and a light sensor, the light sensor located at a first light sensor position; projecting light through the film with the light source; directing the light projected through the film onto the light sensor with a lens, the lens located at a first lens position; receiving scanning resolution data; changing the position of the lens to a second lens position and changing the position of the light sensor to a second light sensor position, the change in positions made in accordance with the received scanning resolution data; sensing the light projected through the film with the light sensor; and generating pixel data based upon the light sensed by the light sensor, wherein the pixel data is representative of the film.

Claim 43

Independent Claim 148 words

A method of scanning a photographic film and creating pixel data that is representative of the photographic film, the method comprising: advancing the film between a light source and a light sensor, the light sensor located at a first light sensor position; projecting light through the film with the light source; directing the light projected through the film onto the light sensor with a lens, the lens located at a first lens position; receiving scanning resolution data; changing the position of the lens to a second lens position and changing the position of the light sensor to a second light sensor position, the change in positions made in accordance with the received scanning resolution data; sensing the light projected through the film with the light sensor; and generating pixel data based upon the light sensed by the light sensor, wherein the pixel data is representative of the film.

Claim 44

Independent Claim 159 words

A method of automatically adjusting the focus of a film scanner prior to scanning a film strip, the method comprising: inserting a calibration film strip into the scanner, the calibration film strip having a plurality of dark lines extending longitudinally along the length of the film strip; projecting light through the calibration film strip with a light source; generating pixel data representative of the light projected through the calibration film strip with a light sensor; advancing the calibration film strip between the light source and the light sensor; directing the light projected through the calibration film strip onto the light sensor with a lens, the lens located at a first lens position; calculating the contrast between a dark line on the film strip and the space adjacent to the dark line from the generated pixel data; and changing the position of the lens and recalculating the contrast between the dark line and the space adjacent to the dark line.

Claim 45

Independent Claim 159 words

A method of automatically adjusting the focus of a film scanner prior to scanning a film strip, the method comprising: inserting a calibration film strip into the scanner, the calibration film strip having a plurality of dark lines extending longitudinally along the length of the film strip; projecting light through the calibration film strip with a light source; generating pixel data representative of the light projected through the calibration film strip with a light sensor; advancing the calibration film strip between the light source and the light sensor; directing the light projected through the calibration film strip onto the light sensor with a lens, the lens located at a first lens position; calculating the contrast between a dark line on the film strip and the space adjacent to the dark line from the generated pixel data; and changing the position of the lens and recalculating the contrast between the dark line and the space adjacent to the dark line.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-07-15	2006-01-14	2006-07-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-07-15	2010-01-14	2010-07-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-07-15	2014-01-14	2014-07-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Film scanner

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