Nikon Corporation

Eisaku Maeda

Masashi Tazawa

Nobuhiro Fujinawa

Toshiya Aikawa

Maki Suzuki

Hidehisa Tsuchihashi

Toru Ochiai

Osamu Ikeda

Takahiro Ikeda

Seiichi Morimatsu

Kumiko Matsui

Takuya Shirahata

Marco Brandestini

Satoru Yoshizawa

Richard A Ferraro

Tadashi Ohta

Yoshitaka Araki

Masayuki Inami

Nobukazu Ito

Hideaki Kishino

Hideya Nagata

An image reading system prescans and/or scans a film with magnetic recording and image data to be stored in a film cartridge after the film is developed. The image reading system employs a one-dimensional CCD and is capable of recording/reading retrievable ID numbers on a magnetic recording part. A thumbnail display simultaneously displays all image and magnetic information of all frames of a film, and selected frames to be scanned can be easily identified and compared after obtaining the image data of such film through prescanning. Magnetic recording information and image information are rapidly read during prescanning and selected frames are then scanned with more refinement as compared to the coarse scanning of the film during prescanning.

Image reading device and method

An image processing method includes the steps of resolving the color of an image on a transparent original to extract an infrared component, detecting the level of the infrared component, detecting the defect infrared component level at the defect position on the transparent original where the infrared component level becomes lower than a first infrared level, obtaining a correction factor by calculating (first infrared component level)/(defect infrared component level) on the basis of the first infrared component level and defect infrared component level, resolving the color of the image on the transparent original to extract a visible component, detecting the visible component level of the visible component, and calculating the corrected visible component level by multiplying the defect visible component level at the defect position on the transparent original by the correction factor.

Image processing method, image processing apparatus, and storage medium for storing control process

An image reading system prescans and/or scans a film with magnetic recording and image data to be stored in a film cartridge after the film is developed. The image reading system employs a one-dimensional CCD and is capable of recording/reading retrievable ID numbers on a magnetic recording part. A thumbnail display simultaneously displays all image and magnetic information of all frames of a film, and selected frames to be scanned can be easily identified and compared after obtaining the image data of such film through prescanning. Magnetic recording-information and image information are rapidly read during prescanning and selected frames are then scanned with more refinement as compared to the coarse scanning of the film during prescanning.

A transporting system for an image digitizer can handle both positive and negative transparent film material. The transport features accurate linear motion with high resolution in a single compact unit. For the processing of individually framed slides, an automatic eject mechanism is provided. Both manual and motor driven focus adjustments are provided. Individual images can be oriented by an angular adjustment option. A special carrier allows the system to process negatives in uncut strips. The transport can manage larger number of images using either a slide tray or roll feed attachment.

Image digitizing system

A film scanner generates and stores data for display on a display monitor of a host Computer. A user can use the film scanner and the host computer to view thumbnail images recorded on a film roll and to verify, create, or adjust information recorded on the film roll. The information recorded on the film roll includes data regarding a) the film roll, b) images on the film roll, and c) parameters for printing the images. In particular, the data includes selections of film image frames for which duplicate prints are desired, as well as information regarding the type and characteristics of the film and shooting conditions for each exposed frame of the film. The film scanner can record data onto, and read is data from, magnetic regions of the film. The film scanner can also read bar code information recorded on the film.

Film image reading device and a storage medium which stores a control procedure for the film image reading device

An image reading system that reads long-type film images and displays the images on a monitor screen. The image reading system includes a display method having the capability to effectively utilize, on the monitor screen, all of the image information that is on the film, and which allows easy imaging capability of the final image when changes have been made to the original image. The image reading system creates first image data corresponding to roughly the entire body of the image storage region based on the image signal, and creates second image data corresponding to the image of the image storage region that has been trimmed based on trimming-related related information included in the image signal and magnetic information. The image reading system displays the first image corresponding to the first image data and the second image corresponding to the second image data on the display.

Image reading and readout system

A film scanner device is provided with a support device that can load and hold a cartridge having a cartridge shaft. The cartridge houses a transmissive original medium that is stored around the cartridge shaft. In a device housing, a detector detects the presence or absence of the cartridge and whether or not the transmissive original medium in the cartridge has been developed. The detector has a minimal number of components to reduce the device costs. The detector can be a single electrical switch that detects at least three states of the support device holding the cartridge. A cover opens to expose and closes to cover a loading unit on the support device. The cover is provided on one portion of the outer surface of the device housing. The cover slides between an open position and a closed position by moving in a surface direction of the outer surface. Accordingly, the cover does not protrude outside the outer surface. Thus, the device provides an efficiency of space for arranging external apparatuses around the device housing while smoothly loading the film cartridge. In addition, a pressing member in the support device moves into the loading unit with the closing motion of the cover to support the cartridge shaft in the closed position of the cover. A film feeding shaft engages the cartridge shaft with the closing motion of the cover. Further, a guard unit is provided that protects the film feeding shaft during loading of the cartridge. The feeding shaft is provided in a notch that is accessed through an opening in the guard unit. The film feeding shaft can be inserted or withdrawn through the opening.

Picture image input apparatus

An image input apparatus enables image reading at a number of different resolutions including higher and lower resolutions without incurring excessive costs. In the present invention, the image input apparatus includes two scanning states. A first scanning state is achieved by performing film take-up with a take-up spool driven by a DC motor and high-speed image reading during the scan. A second scanning state is achieved by performing film feeding with a scan roller driven by a step motor and lower speed image reading during this scan.

Image input apparatus

In order to suppress generation of the line bow phenomenon created when light from a light source is collected into a linear form on the surface of an original document by a toric mirror, for example, and in order to obtain uniform lighting, the optical axis of the light source is made to be in a common plane with a line normal to the surface of the toric mirror. Accordingly, the light travelling to the toric mirror, between the light source and the toric mirror, and the light reflected by the toric mirror, travelling between the toric mirror and the second mirror, is not inclined relative to the toric mirror normal line. The second mirror, the optical path conversion mirror, can be a half-mirror positioned between the light source and the toric mirror. Alternatively, a separate light source can be provided on opposite sides of the second mirror. As another alternative, the second mirror can be divided into two portions, with the light source being provided between the two portions.

Light-supplying optical device

An image input apparatus includes an illumination unit to produce a quantity of light to illuminate a transmitting original and a support unit operable to allow the quantity of light to be scanned and to support and move the transmitting original. Additionally, the image input apparatus includes a reading unit to read light which is received by or passed through the transmitting original.

An image input system includes an image input device having a movable carriage and a feeder removably attached to the image input device. The image input device performs a reading action of image information from a source document loaded onto the carriage. The image input device uses a single opening for loading and discharging the film mounts to prevent double loading. The feeder loads the source document onto the carriage during a loading action and discharges the source document from the image input device during a discharging action. A controller controls the operation of the image input device and the feeder. The controller operates a detection system to detect the presence of a film mount remaining in an image input device.

Image input system having an auto-feeder and method

An image reading device and method for producing a uniformly focused light image on a source document includes a document mount, an imaging device, and a drive assembly for moving at least one of the mounting device and the imaging device in a secondary scanning direction. The image reading device includes a control circuit for establishing multiple designated positions on the source document in the primary scanning direction and in the secondary scanning direction and for calculating the focus position from a signal output from the imaging device for the multiple designated positions. A cam member can be provided to adjust the position of the document mount along the optical axis of the light striking the document, a cam surface of the cam member contacting the document mount.

Focus adjustable image reading device for calculating a focus position

An image input device is provided with an engagement assembly that releasably engages a document to hold the document on a carriage against the bias force of a biasing member. The engagement assembly includes a stop assembly that releasably engages the document and a release mechanism for releasing the original document from the stop assembly permitting the biasing member to urge the document in a discharge direction. The engagement can be operated either manually or by motor. The document can then be removed from the input device at any time except during the scanning operation.

Eject mechanism for an image input device

In order to provide an approximately straight line of light on an original document that is to be read, for example, by an image reading system, a light-supplying optical device includes a light source that produces a bow-shaped (i.e., curved) line of light in order to nullify the line bow phenomenon caused by an optical member such as, for example, a toric mirror that reflects the light towards the original document.

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Sakura, Japan

Eisaku Maeda