E-image Data Corporation

Xidex Corporation

Clear Industries

Todd Kahle

Grant Taylor

The present disclosure provides a heating device for the removal and/or prevention of ice masses or snow. The heating device can include a heating cable formed in a pattern of loops, arcs, or other shapes. Power can be applied to the heating cable and, when placed on top of an ice mass or within a concrete or asphalt surface, the heating device can melt the ice mass or snow.

Ice melting assembly

A digital microform imaging apparatus includes a bracket movably coupled to a chassis. A microform media support is coupled to the bracket and includes a frame and a window supported by the frame. An illumination source is provided to direct light through the window of the microform media support along an optical axis. An optical sensor is positioned along the optical axis. A motor is operatively engaged with the microform media support to move the bracket and frame relative to the chassis along an axis perpendicular to the optical axis.

Automatic microform carrier systems and methods

Systems and methods use a digital microform imaging apparatus for sensing an image mark on the microform containing the image of a document. The use of an area sensor with an adjustable region of interest can be used to improve the detection speed of image marks as a roll of microform is being transported.

Image mark sensing systems and methods

Systems and methods use a digital microform imaging apparatus for sensing an image mark on the microform containing the image of a document.

A digital imaging system and method for searching for expressions that appear on a microform medium, the system having a computer including a processor and an input device, and a digital microform imaging apparatus having an area sensor generating a digital microform image of the microform medium. The computer is configured to receive a search expression from the input device, create an expression template representing a shape of the search expression, and search the digital microform image for instances of the expression template.

Microform word search method and apparatus

A digital imaging system for real-time searching for expressions that appear on a microform medium, the system comprising a computer including a processor, a display, a temporary memory, and a non-volatile memory, and a digital microform imaging apparatus including a controller and an area sensor generating a real-time digital microform image of the microform medium. The controller is in communication with the area sensor and receives the image. The controller is in communication with the processor and outputs the image to the processor that temporarily stores the image in the temporary memory. The processor uses the image output by the controller to drive the display with the image being generated by the area sensor in real-time. The processor searches the image used to drive the display for instances of a search expression, the processor visually distinguishing identified instances of the search expression on the display.

Systems and methods to generate a multi-mode image containing different modes such as color, grayscale, and black and white to minimize digital file size while retaining the desired modes for selected portions of the image.

Multi-mode image capture systems and methods

A digital microform imaging apparatus, comprising a chassis, a fold mirror supported by the chassis and including a reflecting surface for directing light from a first substantially vertical optical axis to a second substantially horizontal optical axis, a microform media support structure supported at a location intersected by the first optical axis, a first carriage supported for movement along a trajectory that is substantially parallel to the second optical axis, an area sensor supported for movement along the second optical axis, the area sensor further supported by the first carriage for rotation about an axis parallel to the second optical axis and a lens supported for movement along the second optical axis, the lens positioned between the area sensor and the fold mirror, a first motor mounted to the first carriage and linked to the area sensor for rotating the area sensor between at least two positions for obtaining portrait and landscape images of a microform media.

Digital microform imaging apparatus

A microform imaging apparatus comprising a chassis including a microform media support structure configured to support a microform media within a plane substantially orthogonal to a first optical axis, a fold mirror supported along the first optical axis to reflect light along a second optical axis that is angled with respect to the first optical axis, a lens supported along one of the first and second optical axis, an area sensor supported along the second optical axis, a first adjuster for moving the area sensor along at least a portion of the second optical axis and a second adjuster for moving the lens along at least a portion of the one of the first and second optical axis.

An apparatus for searching for expressions that appear on a microform medium, the apparatus comprising a microform imager including a sensor for generating digital microform images of one segment of the microform medium at a time, a display screen; and a processor programmed to, while the microform imager is generating a digital microform image: (i) use the digital microform image generated by the microform imager to drive the display screen, (ii) search the digital microform image presented via the display screen for instances of a search expression and (iii) visually distinguish the located search expressions in the digital microform image presented via the display screen.

A digital microform imaging apparatus which includes an approximately monochromatic illumination source transmitting an incident light through a diffuse window along a first optical axis of the apparatus. A microform media support is configured to support a microform media after the diffuse window and along the first optical axis. An approximately 45 degree fold mirror reflects the incident light transmitted through the microform media approximately 90 degrees along a second optical axis. An imaging subsystem includes a lens connected to a first carriage which is linearly adjustable approximately parallel with the second optical axis, and an area sensor connected to a second carriage which is linearly adjustable approximately parallel with the second optical axis.

A multiple lens image rotation system includes an elongated base fixedly mounted to a microfilm reader apparatus having a plurality of projection lenses with different magnification levels on a carrier movably mounted with respect to the base. The carrier is adapted to move along an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base defining a first position wherein one projection lens is aligned with an image projection path and a second position and subsequent positions wherein other projection lenses are aligned with the image projection path. A single image rotation prism is rotatably mounted in the image projection path for use with the plurality of projection lenses one at a time. The image rotation prism is adapted to rotate about an axis generally coaxial with the image projection path.

Growing community of inventors

Hartford, WI, United States of America

Todd Kahle