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:
Aug. 12, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 09, 1997
Jeffrey D. Renk, Derry, NH (US);
Richard F. Lehman, Nashua, NH (US);
Mark R. Fernald, Amherst, NH (US);
Calvin M. Winey, Carlisle, MA (US);
Howtek, Inc., Hudson, NH (US);
Abstract
A digitizing scanner particularly for scanning transparent films such as X-rays provides an improved illuminator for transmitting light through the film. The illuminator defines a line array of a plurality of individually calibrated and controlled LEDs. The LEDs are calibrated by determining their relative points of projection on a CCD camera array. The camera array scans the LEDs and adjusts them individually to produce a predetermined illumination pattern from the group. The adjustment occurs over a plurality of cycles that address cross-talk between LEDs in the array. The camera includes anti-reflection elements to minimize bounce-back of image light and noise suppression circuitry to reduce low-level signal noise. A central processing unit, interconnected with the camera assembly includes a pixel averager to reduce the inherent resolution of the CCD to a desired level and to attenuate further noise. The scanner can include an illuminator for illuminating a scannable opaque bar-code strip and size-measurement circuitry for determining the relative size and location of the scanned image.