Eastman-kodak Company

Image Trends Inc.

Applied Science Fiction, Inc.

Visual Content Ip, LLC

Astral Images Corporation

Image Trends Ip, LLC

Martin Potucek

Albert Durr Edgar

Darryl Ray Polk

Michael Charles Wilder

Michael David Wilkes

Sheppard Parker

Donald Saul Rimai

Jeffrey Alan Small

Hieu T Pham

Sven Sonnenberg

Mary A Hadley

Thomas A Dundon

Mark E Stefanik

Yee S Ng

Herbert J Erhardt

Theodore H Morse

Gordon D Ford

Antonio S Ciccarelli

George A Hadgis

David D Almeter

Raymond S Lee

Keith W Agar

A system for digitizing an image from an optical substrate having at least a first defect comprises a digital image capture device, a first light source positioned at a first position relative to the digital image capture device, and a second light source positioned at a second position relative to the digital image capture device. The second position is offset with respect to the first position. Light emitted from the first and second light sources are combined at a light receiving portion of the digital image capture device for causing the first defect to be nullified from a composite digital representation of the image that is generated using information outputted from the digital image capture device.

System and method for processing an image carried by an optical substrate and computer readable medium made using same

An image capture unit and computer readable medium used in combination therewith includes an image capturing sensor, a visual display, an instance of the computer readable medium, and circuitry for integrating functionalities thereof. The computer readable medium causes sensor data received from the image capturing sensor to be processed. The sensor data includes a plurality of image tiles and position indicating data defining a respective relative position of each one of each image tiles. Each one of each image tiles includes data representing a discrete portion of visual content. The computer readable medium causes a feedback image be displayed on the visual display. Displaying the feedback image includes correlate the relative position of each one of each image tiles with at least one other image tile that has been previously generated and displayed.

Image capture unit and computer readable medium used in combination with same

An image capture unit and computer readable medium used in combination therewith is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the image capture unit includes an image capturing sensor, a visual display, an instance of the computer readable medium, and circuitry for integrating functionalities thereof. The computer readable medium causes sensor data received from the image capturing sensor to be processed. The sensor data includes a plurality of image tiles and position indicating data defining a respective relative position of each one of each image tiles. Each one of each image tiles includes data representing a discrete portion of visual content. The computer readable medium causes a feedback image be displayed on the visual display. Displaying the feedback image includes correlate the relative position of each one of each image tiles with at least one other image tile that has been previously generated and displayed.

An image capture unit and computer readable medium used in combination therewith is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment, the image capture unit includes an image capturing sensor, a visual display, an instance of the computer readable medium, and circuitry for integrating functionalities thereof. The computer readable medium causes sensor data received from the image capturing sensor to be processed. The sensor data includes a plurality of image tiles and position indicating data defining a respective relative position of each one of each image tiles. Each one of each image tiles includes data representing a discrete portion of visual content. The computer readable medium causes a feedback image be displayed on the visual display. Displaying the feedback image includes correlate the relative position of each one of each image tiles with at least one other image tile that has previously generated and displayed.

A handheld scanner system and method is disclosed. The depicted embodiment is a mouse scanner system operable to scan a document. In this embodiment, the mouse scanner system includes a scanner built into a computer mouse and a scanner software application operating on a computer. The scanner includes a positioning system operable to output position indicating data and an imaging system operable to output captured image data. The data is sent to the scanner software application where a feedback image is constructed and displayed on a display in real-time or near real-time to allow the user to view what areas have been scanned. The scanner software application also constructs an output image that can be printed, saved or communicated.

Handheld scanner and system comprising same

An image processing system and method is disclosed. The image processing system can be configured for use with a mouse scanner system operable to scan a document. The mouse scanner system includes a scanner built into a computer mouse and the image processing system includes a scanner software application operating on a computer. The scanner includes a positioning system operable to output position indicating data and an imaging system operable to output captured image data. The data is sent to the scanner software application where a feedback image is constructed and displayed on a display in real, or near real, time to allow the user to view what areas have been scanned. The scanner software application also constructs an output image that can be printed, saved or communicated.

Image processing handheld scanner system, method, and computer readable medium

A method and apparatus for defect detection through color-filter channels is provided. The present invention includes an electronic scanner or similar device having a multilinear imager, a computer, and software that implements all the color channels of the multilinear imager to collect IR information in order to detect defects on a physical medium. The present invention implements methods to increase IR gathering speed and/or increase the clarity of captured images on multilinear-imager devices. These improvements are accomplished by capturing infrared (IR) light through each color-filter channel such that image defects such as dust and scratches are removed. In one embodiment of the present invention, IR information is collected from each color channel at different scan positions in either a one-pass or a two-pass scanning system. In another embodiment of the present invention, each RGB color channel is used to collect both image and detect information at every scan line, again, either a one-pass or a two-pass scanning system.

Method and system for multi-sensor signal detection

An image processing system is disclosed. The system includes a first light source operable to illuminate an image plane in a first direction and a second light source operable to illuminate the image plane from a second direction. Also included is a sensing device operable to detect light from the first and second light source that interacted with the image plane. A processor operable to receive information from the sensing device and determine an image and image defects is coupled to the sensing device.

Method and apparatus for differential illumination image-capturing and defect handling

The present invention provides a system for image-capturing devices, such as scanners, to accurately identify defects in objects. The objects can be the physical images to be captured or elements of the image-capturing devices such as the platen and mirrors. The image-capturing devices can then use this defect information to remove defects from captured images. The invention teaches an advantageous arrangement of illumination and sensor elements to record defect data at an angle roughly equal to the angle at which light is directed to an object, i.e. where the angle of reflection roughly equals the angle of incidence. Light reflected from surface defects has a wider diffusion and thus a lower amplitude than light reflected from the surface of the object itself. Accordingly, this characteristic can be utilized to identify defect information. Image-capturing devices can use this defect information in software applications with mathematical algorithms to enhance captured images by removing the information that corresponds to defects.

Apparatus and methods for capturing defect data

A solid state image sensor architecture that utilizes drain structures at one or more locations on a shift register, as set by the design, allowing the user to select which charge packets are needed to represent the image and draining the remaining packets. Since the used packets are drained, there is no need to provide clock cycles to output charge packets that are not used while in the low resolution mode. Clocking can be stopped after the needed number of cycles without leaving charge packets in the shift register without the possibility of corrupting subsequent image information by charge packets that have not been removed. Additionally, the reduction in clock cycles decreases the time required to process the current information, and allows the system to operate at higher speeds.

Solid state image sensor with selectable resolution

A scanner having a photosensitive scanning array includes a timing generator having (a) a first state wherein pixel clock signals with a predetermined frequency are produced and (b) a second state wherein a D.C. restore clock signal with a frequency that is 'N' times slower than the predetermined frequency is produced. The timing generator controls the rate of sampling the scanning array to acquire image data by producing a series of analog image signals containing (a) a video component which is characteristic of a density pattern of a scanned image and (b) a D.C. offset component which is characteristic of the scanning array. The timing generator also controls the rate of sampling the scanning array to acquire an analog signal containing only the D.C. offset component. A D.C. restore calculates an output signal containing only the video component of the series of analog image signals containing the video component and the D.C. offset component. The timing generator is selectively switched to its first state during acquisition of the image data, and to its second state during acquisition of the analog signal containing only the D.C. offset component.

D.C. offset restoration for image scanners

A toner mass sensor includes a piezoelectric crystal having a resonant frequency, an electrode on a first face of the crystal, an electrically conductive lead connecting the first face of the crystal to an electrical contact point in the vicinity of a second side of the crystal, and a casing closed at one end by the crystal with the first face of the crystal allowed to contact developer outside of the closed casing through the opening of the casing. The casing and crystal defines an interior which is sealed from developer in a development station, within which sealed interior the second face of the crystal is protected from contamination by developer. The electrode is wrapped around the edge of the crystal to be accessible from the second side of the crystal, and the electrode is a metal; preferably aluminum. The interior of the casing is closed by a base member which carries an electrical circuit. The casing is cylindrical, and an elastomeric, electrical insulator gasket around the crystal seals the interior of the casing to inhibit contamination of the interior of the casing by developer.

Piezoelectric sensor for in-situ monitoring of electrostatographic

A piezoelectric toner mass sensor to be positioned adjacent to a toner applicator in an electrostatographic recording apparatus. The piezoelectric sensor has a circular central crystal having its front and rear surfaces metallized, the two metallized surfaces being concentric with one another. The front surface of the sensor directed toward the toner applicator is smaller than the rear surface. Reducing the area of metallization on the piezoelectric toner mass sensor greatly increases sensitivity of the device. In addition, limiting the development area on the sensor facilitates the cleaning of the piezoelectric element and facilitates the mounting of the sensor in a suitable holder.

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Austin, TX, United States of America

Martin Potucek