Howtek Devices Corporation

L.a. Batchelder and Sons Consulting, Inc.

Other

Nashua Corporation

Lee A Batchelder

William A Langille

Richard F Lehman

Nicholas John Phillips

Louis M Scarmoutzos

Eitan Zeira

Robin Clabburn

Eitan Chaim Zeira

Terence Edward Yeo

Joseph S Formosa

Christopher Alan Barnett

Steve Giordano, Jr

A scanning system for scanning and identifying an X-ray film in a medical application includes a scanner configured to accept the X-ray film and provide an image digital signal representative of an image stored on the X-ray film, wherein the X-ray film includes an image portion and a text portion, and a computer configured to accept the image digital signal and convert text characters of the text portion into a text digital signal representative of the text characters. Optical character recognition software may be utilized to recognize and convert the text characters of an image signal into the digital signal. The scanning system may create a reflective label such as a bar code label or a text label that may be affixed to an associated X-ray film to aid in identification of such X-ray.

Scanning system for identifying and labeling X-rays

The durability and abrasion resistance of nano-structured optical surfaces, particularly those formed of or on polymeric substrate, are enhanced by at least one of adhering to it a fluorinated carbon molecule or other reactive lube composition as a monolayer coating (or a thin and substantially uniform multi-layer coating) and by treatment with a surface-active cross-linking agent.

Durable nano-structured optical surface

A dual digitizer for digitizing both transparent and reflective data mediums is provided where light from the reflective illuminator reflects off the transparent illuminator when the transparent illuminator is off to provide a white reference signal for use in calibrating the dual digitizer. A method of calibrating a dual digitizer for reflective scans includes: digitizing a transparent data medium; calibrating the dual digitizer to establish a white reference signal, the calibrating step including generating a light beam, reflecting a first portion of the light beam off a transparent illuminator, and utilizing the first portion of said light beam to establish the white reference signal; and digitizing a reflective data medium. The dual digitizer may be used in medical applications to digitize a transparent data medium such as an X-ray film.

White reference calibration in a dual digitizer

A digitizer having an illuminator with a mask configured to rotate about a central axis for reducing flare from the illuminator when digitizing a data medium having a width less than an associated length of the illuminator. A page width guide of the digitizer may be operatively coupled to the mask so that movement of the page width guide automatically rotates the mask a predetermined amount. A rare gas, external electrode, cold cathode fluorescent lamp may also be utilized as an illuminator in the digitizer.

Digitizer with masking apparatus

A light diffusing screen is made by exposing a photopolymerisable material to polymerising light through a mask having an array of light-transmitting apertures in an opaque background or vice versa, at least some of the light being directed obliquely onto the photopolymerisable material. The resulting photopolymerised material has asymmetric light diffusing properties. In some embodiments two beams of light directed onto the photopolymerisable material are equally and oppositely inclined to the perpendicular to the plane of the material. An analogous effect may be provided, in other embodiments, by exposing the photopolymerisable material to light converging conically on the photopolymerisable material.

Projection screens and the like

An automated negative scanner that sequentially positions photographic image-bearing negative film relative to an image gathering device which electronically captures a negative film image and digitizes the image without relying on DX code information regarding exposure conditions. The automated scanner comprises a feed spool and a take-up spool for image-bearing negative film, each spool connected to a motor for rotational movement wherein the feed spool and take-up spool are separated by a negative capture area, and wherein the feed spool holds a plurality of negative film rolls spliced together. The negative capture area contains a belt transport to transport the negative film and two dancer rollers connected to a tensioned lever arm each separately associated with both of the feed spool and take-up spool wherein the dancer rollers separate the rollers rotational movement from the transport of the film in the negative capture area. The negative capture area also contains a continuous source of light and a notch detector to center the imaged areas of the negative with respect to the image gathering device as well as two splice detectors and a bar code reader to identify and distinguish between the spliced single film rolls on the feed roller.

Automated negative scanner

Apparatus for continuously micro-embossing a seamless precision optical pattern onto a moving substrate without the use of an intermediate layer, comprising an energy source, such as a laser, along with reduction optics, a mask and a moving substrate. The moving substrate provides both precision linear and rotational movement which motion is coupled with the laser projection imaging episode. Etched patterns can therefor be continuously and precisely ablated in the substrate to substantially cover the entire surface to uniquely micro-emboss therein a seamless precision optical image.

Growing community of inventors

Derry, NH, United States of America

Lee A Batchelder