The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 04, 1983
Filed:
Jul. 31, 1981
Kenneth A Bushaw, Longmont, CO (US);
Ronald D Gillingham, Berthoud, CO (US);
Gary W Jorgenson, Longmont, CO (US);
Clyde L Manning, Longmont, CO (US);
Michael A Steffes, Louisville, CO (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A linear image sensor and the video channel associated with the sensor are calibrated to maximize the video signal available. The sensor is limited in output by saturation of the CCD analog shift registers in the sensor. The channel is limited by the range of the analog-to-digital converter in the channel. The useable video signal is maximized by calibrating the sensor relative to its saturation condition and by adjusting the gain of the video channel relative to the range of the analog-to-digital converter. The sensor is calibrated by adjusting its exposure to illumination. The adjustment may be made by adjusting the illumination source or by changing the sampling interval for the sensor. The gain is adjusted by using a variable gain amplifier. A microprocessor monitors the digitized video signal and controls the exposure and gain to calibrate the sensor and channel.