Photocopying – Projection printing and copying cameras – Detailed holder for original
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-27
2001-08-07
Adams, Russell (Department: 2851)
Photocopying
Projection printing and copying cameras
Detailed holder for original
C355S040000, C358S487000, C358S496000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06271912
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a film scanning device for capturing images formed on a photographing film.
Recently, in association with widespread use of personal computers, images captured by digital still cameras and/or scanned by scanners are often processed by the personal computers. In order to make use of images photographed with photographing films (i.e., images formed on silver-salt films), a film scanner has been developed and used.
An example of a film scanner is provided with a sensor such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) line sensor. By the CCD line sensor, an image on the photographing film is scanned in one direction (i.e., in a principal scanning direction), and by moving the CCD line sensor relative to the image in a direction perpendicular to the principal scanning direction (i.e., in an auxiliary scanning direction), the electronic image can be obtained (i.e., the image is scanned and image data corresponding to the scanned image is generated).
In such a film scanner, in order to scan the image accurately, a pre-scanning may be performed generally before a normal, or a main-scanning is performed. The pre-scanning is performed to check the orientation, position and the like of the image to be scanned, while the main-scanning is performed to obtain the image data. In view of the purpose, the pre-scanning need not be performed at high resolution. Further, it is preferable that the pre-scanning is performed at relatively a high speed, and a pre-view image is provided immediately for a user of the film scanner.
In the conventional film scanner, when the pre-scanning is performed, the number of auxiliary scanning operations is reduced by performing the principal scanning operation only at every predetermined number of auxiliary scanning pitch. In such a system, however, the moving speed of the line sensor with respect to the image is unchanged even if the pre-scanning is performed, and only the quantity of data is different. Therefore, the scanning period is substantially the same regardless whether the pre-scanning or main scanning is performed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved film scanning device, with which a scanning period for the pre-scanning operation is reduced with respect to the normal scanning operation.
For the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a film scanner which is provided with: a line sensor for capturing an image formed on a film in a principal scanning direction; and a scanning mechanism for moving the film relative to the line sensor in an auxiliary scanning direction, which is perpendicular to the principal scanning direction. The scanning mechanism is provided with: a film holder for holding the film; a table for slidably mounting the film holder, the film holder being slidable in the auxiliary scanning direction; and a first driving system which drives the table in the auxiliary scanning direction at a first predetermined speed; and a second driving system which drives the film holder in the auxiliary scanning direction at a second predetermined speed, the second predetermined speed being faster than the first predetermined speed.
Since the two distinct driving systems driving the table and the film holder at respective speeds. Thus, it is possible to drive the film holder at a fast speed and to execute the pre-scanning quickly.
Optionally, the first driving system may include a first driving mechanism which moves the table at the first predetermined speed, and the second driving system may include the first driving mechanism and a second mechanism which moves the film holder with respect to the table. In this case, a sum of the first predetermined speed and a speed at which the second mechanism moves the film holder with respect to the table is equal to the second predetermined speed. Since both the table and the film holder are moved when the pre-scanning is performed, even if the second driving mechanism drives the film holder to move relatively slowly, the film holder moves faster in the pre-scanning operation than in the main-scanning operation.
Alternatively, the first driving system may include a first driving mechanism which moves the table at the first predetermined speed, and the second driving system may include a second driving mechanism which moves the film holder with respect to the table at the second predetermined speed. In this case, the second driving system drives only the film holder to move when the pre-scanning is performed.
Optionally, the film is formed as a strip on which a plurality of image frames are formed along a longitudinal direction of the film. The film holder may have a slit in which the film strip is inserted along a longitudinal direction which is the auxiliary scanning direction of the film scanner. The film holder is formed with a plurality of openings, arranged in the auxiliary scanning direction, corresponding to the plurality of image frames. The film holder is moved in the longitudinal direction thereof by the second driving system.
Further, a window is formed on the table. A size of the window is substantially the same as each of the plurality of openings formed on the film holder, and an image is scanned through the window of the table and an opening of the film holder.
Optionally, the first driving system may include:
a rack provided at a portion of the table;
a first motor fixed to the film scanner; and
a pinion secured to a spindle of the first motor and engaged with the rack, and
second driving system may include:
a rack formed on a portion of the film holder;
a second motor fixed on the table; and
a pinion secured to a spindle of the second motor and engaged with the rack formed on the film holder.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5933222 (1999-08-01), Hoshino et al.
patent: 5995201 (1999-11-01), Sakaguchi
patent: 6088084 (2000-07-01), Nishio
patent: 6175406 (2001-01-01), Iizuka et al.
Kurosawa Yuichi
Seo Shuzo
Yamamoto Yasuhiro
Adams Russell
Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Greenblum & Bernstein P.L.C.
Nguyen Henry Hung
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