Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Imation Corporation

Todd G Langmade

Paul C Schubert

Richard R Lemberger

Terrence H Joyce

Mark J Giebler

Mark D Hunter

Douglas J Rowen

Robert N Friz

Charles N McMacken

Steven J Craig

A performance monitoring system and method are realized and implemented, respectively, by a software system. The software system can be configured to automatically monitor one or more remotely located laser imagers over a period of time to generate image quality control reports, eliminating the need for manual generation of such reports by a technician. The software system also can be configured to monitor modality usage, imaging media usage, and the occurrence of errors for each laser imager, and to automatically generate usage reports and error reports. In addition, the software system can be configured to automatically send the reports to users of the laser imagers, automatically initiate an order to send additional imaging media, and automatically initiate a request for dispatch of a service technician in response to an error condition. As a further advantage, the software system can be configured to generate the image quality control reports in conformance with standards of regulatory agencies or other organizations regulating usage of laser imagers.

Performance monitoring system and method for a laser medical imager

An imaging system and method employ a linear perceived optical density interface that produces a substantially linear relationship between digital image values generated by an input imaging device and perceived optical densities of corresponding pixels within a visible representation of the image on film. The interface produces a linear change in perceived optical density in response to a linear change in the digital image values, enabling a system user to achieve predictable changes in appearance characteristics by simply adjusting the digital image values. The user can adjust the appearance characteristics in a flexible manner, without being constrained to a set of fixed transfer functions. The user can also perform desired formatting of the image at the input imaging device. The interface provides a single transfer function that is commonly applicable different input imaging devices, such that development of modality-specific transfer functions is unnecessary. The interface also eliminates the extensive hardware previously necessary for supporting a fixed set of transfer functions and formatting options, reducing cost and complexity.

Imaging system and method using linear perceived optical density

A multi-user digital laser imaging system for imaging film from bar coded cartridges as a function of image values representative of the images to be printed. The imaging system includes memory for storing transfer functions and film models for each of several users. The transfer functions characterize the relationships between image values and expected imaged film transmittance quantities. The film models characterize the relationship between the transmittance quantities and laser drive values that will provide the appropriate film exposure. An image management subsystem generates lookup tables characterizing the relationship between image values and laser drive values on the basis of user-selected transfer functions and film models selected by the system through the use of film identification information read from the bar code. During imaging operations the image management subsystem accesses the lookup tables as a function of the image values to obtain the appropriate laser drive values. The transfer functions can be modified to accommodate user preferences. Test wedge calibration procedures are periodically implemented to correlate the film models to measured sensitometric characteristics. Density patch calibration procedures are performed during each imaging operation to correct for drifts caused by the film developing subsystem.

Multi-user digital laser imaging system

Growing community of inventors

Mahtomedi, MN, United States of America

Todd G Langmade