Eastman-kodak Company

Martin C Kaplan

Heemin Kwon

Krishnan Chari

Samuel Chen

Russell J Palum

Douglas Lincoln Vizard

Joaquin Calcines

Andrew Frederick Kurtz

James R Milch

Clarke K Eastman

Hsien-Che Lee

Robert M Goodwin

Richard J Federico

Gary L Erck

Robert B Bilhorn

H Galen Parker

Anthony E Taddei

A method of determining one or more color characteristics of a colored microsphere comprising: providing a microarray of microspheres, including at least one colored microsphere which has a color characteristic; producing a magnified optical image of individual microspheres of the microarray; locating a microsphere in the aperture of a spectrometer to confine the color region of interest of the located microsphere in order to determine one or more color characteristics thereof; and determining one or more color characteristics of the located microsphere by means of the spectrometer.

Color detection using spectroscopic imaging and processing in random array of microspheres

A method of determining one or more color characteristics of a colored microsphere comprising: providing a microarray of microspheres, at least one of which has a color characteristic; capturing the microarray with an electronic color image sensor assembly having a matrix of pixels to produce an electronic microarray image; detecting the location of a microsphere within the captured microarray image; and identifying a color characteristic of the detected microsphere.

Color detection in random array of microspheres

The invention discloses an apparatus for compensation for spectral fluctuation of a light source. Additionally the invention discloses a scanner incorporating the apparatus for compensation. A lamp generates light, which is sent into a light directing device. From the light directing device a sensor means and a spectral monitor means for determining the spectral content of the light from said lamp receive the light. A signal processing means receives the output from said spectral monitor means and said sensor means for producing a signal compensated for spectral fluctuations. A scanner, incorporating the inventive apparatus, additionally comprises a medium for scanning which is positioned between said sensor means and said light directing device and a lens is positioned between said medium for scanning and said sensor means, for imaging said medium onto said sensor means.

Apparatus for compensation for spectral fluctuation of a light source and a scanner incorporating said apparatus

An image sensing device having an array of photodetectors capable of generating electron/hole pairs from incident photons, with multiple charge coupled devices organized in a tandem well design that employs multiple storage wells per pixel. The wells use thresholds to control the overflow of charge from one well to the next and are arranged such that a first charge coupled device having a plurality of cells is operatively coupled to the photodetectors by first transfer means for placing charge accumulated within the photodetectors from generated electron/hole pairs within the first charge coupled device, and a second charge coupled device having a plurality of cells being operatively coupled to the first charge coupled device by second transfer means for removing charge exceeding a predetermined threshold within the first charge coupled device and placing charge exceeding the predetermined threshold within the second charge coupled device. Clocking means are provided for cycling charge through the cells of the charge coupled devices. Embodiments have output means for combining signals from first and second charge coupled devices, and generating either analog or digital outputs. These techniques can also be employed with an active pixel architecture.

Image sensor having multiple storage wells per pixel

An optical element having a light carrying medium through which light can propagate by total internal reflection. The light carrying medium has at least one surface. A layer is positioned adjacent the surface and is of a porous first material of sufficient porosity and with pores which are vacant or contain a second material having an index of refraction lower than that of the light carrying medium, such that the layer reduces total internal reflection in the light carrying medium less than would be reduced using a non-porous layer of the same dimensions of only the first material. A light integrator and scanner using such integrator are also provided.

Coated internally reflecting optical element

A spectral filtration system comprising a non-imaging optic having entry and exit faces, the exit face being tilted relative to the entry face, and a filter positioned so as to receive light from, or transmit light to, a face of the non-imaging optic.

Spectral filter

A border treatment is supplied to an image which is to be processed by using an algorithm operation on a neighborhood surrounding each image pixel of the image. The border provides a high frequency high contrast area which appears to the image processing system as an undesirable area and which is eliminated thereby allowing an uninfluenced treatment of each of the pixels in an image including the pixels at the edges of an image. Any neighborhood influence resulting from border pixels near the edge of the image is eliminated because these border pixels appear as noise which is eliminated. The appearance of noise is due to the high frequency alternation of contrasting areas which are processed as noise and thereby eliminated.

Border treatment in image processing algorithms

A light integrator in a first aspect, comprises:

Light integrator

The method of the present invention reduces noise in digital photographic images by decomposing the digital image into smooth regions and edge regions and by electronically blurring the smooth regions. Smooth regions are areas lacking any sharp detail, such as blue sky. Edge regions are regions containing sharp detail, such as grass. The method operates by choosing a set of neighborhood pixel types from a matrix of pixels representing an image. For each target pixel in the image, all neighborhoods that include the target pixel are considered and a linear least squares regression is computed to fit a plane to the code values of the pixels in each neighborhood, resulting in a goodness of fit and least squares estimate for the code value at the target pixel. Finally, a noise reduced code value for the target pixel is computed as a normalized, weighted sum of the least squares estimates for the target pixel, summed over all the neighborhoods containing the target pixel. The weights are determined as a function of the goodness of fit and the neighborhood type.

Computer based digital image noise reduction method based on

A linear light source includes: a lamp for producing a beam of light; a cylindrical integrating cavity having an entry port for introducing the beam of light into the cylindrical integrating cavity and a linear slot parallel to the cylindrical axis of the integrating cavity for emitting a line of diffuse light that is uniform over an angular range; and an optical element aligned with the slot for reducing the angular divergence of the light exiting from the slot.

Linear light source for a film scanner

The present invention reduces noise in digital photographic images based on the assumption that images may be decomposed into two types of regions, smooth regions and edge regions. Smooth regions are areas of the image lacking any sharp detail, such as blue sky. Edge regions are regions containing sharp detail, such as edges and textured regions (such as grass). The present method reduces noise in the smooth regions by a mathematical blurring technique based on least squares regression. The blurring does not degrade the sharpness of the image, because there are no sharp details in the smooth regions. Edge regions are left undisturbed to maintain sharpness, but the noise is less noticeable in those regions than in the smooth regions. The method operates upon the luminance and chrominance component of a digital image.

Digital image noise reduction of luminance and chrominance based on

A moving mask is incorporated in a flying spot scanner to reduce flare. The mask obscures all portions of the object being scanned, except for a small region surrounding the point currently being scanned. The mask moves to maintain registration with the flying spot. A rotating slotted disk with curved slots in cooperation with a fixed mask having a slot is described as one mechanism for achieving such masking.

Flying spot scanner

A highly uniform infrared illumination source for illuminating a stripe of a moving sensitized web for line scan imaging of imperfections in the coating on the web by a CCD imaging camera. A light integrator having an elongated housing formed with side and end walls defines a linear light integrating cavity having diffusely reflecting interior wall surfaces. An elongated array of infrared LEDs is spaced along the side wall for emitting light into the cavity for integration within the cavity. A longitudinally extending slit is formed in the side wall through which a diffuse, linear light beam exits the elongated slit having a varying longitudinal intensity profile. The intensity of the light emitted by the LEDs is modulated in an intensity pattern that alters the varying longitudinal intensity profile of the linear light beam to provide a desired longitudinal intensity profile of the stripe of diffuse illumination. Preferably, the intensity modulation renders more uniform the longitudinal intensity profile of the linear light beam illuminating the web as viewed by the imaging camera. The desired light intensity profile along the length of the emitted light beam is achieved by clustering the LEDs with LED drive circuits operated at different drive currents as a function of a set point control signal appropriate to the characteristics of the imaging camera and a transmitted light intensity feedback signal to maintain the intensity pattern of the LEDs and the uniform intensity profile as viewed by the imaging camera regardless of the optical density of the web.

Linear integrating cavity light source for infra-red illumination of

The method of the present invention reduces noise in digital photographic images by decomposing the digital image into smooth regions and edge regions and by electronically blurring the smooth regions. Smooth regions are areas lacking any sharp detail, such as blue sky. Edge regions are regions containing sharp detail, such as grass. The method operates by choosing a set of neighborhood pixel types from a matrix of pixels representing an image. For each target pixel in the image, all neighborhoods that include the target pixel are considered and a linear least squares regression is computed to fit a plane to the code values of the pixels in each neighborhood, resulting in a goodness of fit and a least squares estimate for the code value at the target pixel. Finally, a noise reduced code value for the target pixel is computed as a normalized, weighted sum of the least squares estimates for the target pixel, summed over all the neighborhoods containing the target pixel. The weights are determined as a function of the goodness of fit and the neighborhood type.

Computer based digital image noise reduction method based on overlapping

A linear light source for a film scanner includes an elongated light integrating cavity, formed within a light integrator, having diffusely reflective walls. Light is introduced into the cavity through an input port, and an output scan line of diffuse light is produced through an exit slit which is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the integrating cavity. The scan line of light is directed on film to be scanned in a stripe of illumination. The scan line of the illuminated film stripe is imaged onto a tri-linear CCD array for conversion of color intensity modulated pixels into scan line data sets. The linear light beam is reflected from a source region within the integrating cavity visible through the exit slit. In order to make the brightness profile of the linear light beam more uniform and avoid position dependent signal level drop outs, sharp angle joints in the source region are replaced by arcuate sections. Particularly the right angle junctions of an interior longitudinal baffle with light integrator end walls are replaced by arcuate sections in the source region.

Growing community of inventors

Rochester, NY, United States of America

Martin C Kaplan