Image analysis – Image sensing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-15
2001-08-28
Johns, Andrew W. (Department: 2621)
Image analysis
Image sensing
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282331
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of alignment, adjustment for a scanning system, and more specifically, to an adjustment, alignment apparatus and method for a CCD, lens used in scanning system.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional scanning system can be approximately divided into two segments that are handy scanning system and flat-bed scanning system. A scanning system makes use of focusing a reflecting light beam through a photo detector to generate an image signal for further image processing. A conventional scanning system apparatus includes a light source, a mirror, and a lens set, which are used to guide the reflecting light to a charge couple device (CCD). The charge couple device is utilized to generate an image signal. Typically, image capture is achieved by passing the document in front of a device known as a CCD. This consists of a large of very small, individual semiconductor receptors, disposed in a linear array. The document is passed in front of the CCD and a complete image of the document linear segments individually captured from the CCD. A preprocessing element is used to respond an image signal and adjust dc gain of the image signal. An analogue to digital converter is used to convert adjusted image signal to a digital signal and a post-processing element to generate an image code by processing said digital signal through highlight, shadow, and Gamma correction.
Alignment is an important step for setting up a scanning system. In general, it needs an alignment pad
10
for the alignment, as shown in FIG.
1
. The alignment pad
10
includes a set of black patterns
12
for boundary alignment. The boundary alignment is used to determine whether the area scanned by a CCD is in desired area or not. The height of the alignment pad
10
is used for horizontal alignment. The horizontal alignment can determine whether the line scanned by the CCD is horizontal or not. The resolution of a lens is determined by a plurality of vertical lines
14
on the alignment pad
10
. The alignment signals is responsive to an oscilloscope, and the signals are displayed, analyzed on it. However, it is very hard to achieve exact results of the CCD and the lens by analyzing the alignment signal on the oscilloscope. By using the conventional alignment method, the horizontal resolution, vertical resolution, and magnifying power of the lens can not be achieve. Further, the boundary alignment and the resolution analysis can not be done at the same time. Thus, it is a hard task to align the CCD, lens by using the conventional method.
Therefore, what is required is a method for alignment the CCD and lens for a scanning system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A scanning system includes an image sensor for capturing the image of an object. An alignment pad is set in front of the image sensor. A lens is set between the alignment pad and the image sensor. The alignment pad includes a set of boundary alignment patterns that are respectively formed adjacent to the two terminals of the alignment pad. At least one sets, preferably three sets, of resolution analysis patterns are formed on the alignment pad. The resolution analysis pattern is used to determine the resolution of the lens. Each set of the resolution analysis pattern includes a horizontal analysis resolution pattern and a vertical resolution analysis pattern. The horizontal analysis resolution pattern is consisted of a plurality of vertical lines to analyze the horizontal resolution of the lens. Each line is spaced with an equal distance. The vertical resolution analysis pattern is consisted of a plurality of oblique lines to analyze the vertical resolution of the lens. Preferably, the oblique lines are tilted with an angle about 5 to 10 degrees respective to the vertical lines.
The signals detected by the image sensor is fed to an application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) to generate a collation data. Subsequently, the collation data is fed into a buffer to store the data. The data is responsive to a computer for further processing the data. The processed data is then displayed on a monitor of the computer. The computer is responsive to these signal, and displays the collation data on the monitor in gray mode for collation. The data shown on the monitor is divided into three major portions. A first data portion relates to the resolution of the lens. A second data portion includes the collation signals according to the boundary alignment pattern. A third data potion is used to show valves about the resolutions of the lens.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3852573 (1974-12-01), Dulch
patent: 5477057 (1995-12-01), Angeley et al.
patent: 5500516 (1996-03-01), Durbin
patent: 5513275 (1996-04-01), Khalaj et al.
patent: 5539532 (1996-07-01), Watanabe
patent: 5600432 (1997-02-01), Lengyel
patent: 5796114 (1998-08-01), Mizutani
patent: 5939708 (1999-08-01), Tsai
Chen Hsi-Min
Lee Wayne
Tsai Jenn-Tsair
Azarian Seyed
Johns Andrew W.
Lowe Hauptman & Gilman & Berner LLP
Mustek Systems Inc.
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