Facsimile and static presentation processing – Natural color facsimile – Scanning
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-22
2001-08-07
Grant, II, Jerome (Department: 2624)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Natural color facsimile
Scanning
C356S446000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06271941
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Cross reference is made to commonly assigned, copending U.S. Applications, filed concurrently herewith and entitled “ULTRAVIOLET CURABLE RIVETING OF PRECISION ALIGNED COMPONENTS”, and Ser. No. 09/083,604 filed concurrently herewith and entitled “IMAGING APPARATUS FOR A PHOTOGRAPHIC FILM IMAGE SCANNER”.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of photographic media image scanners. More specifically, the invention relates to small, low cost scanners adapted for use with personal computers by consumers who wish to generate digital images from processed film stored in a film cartridge as in the case of the Advanced Photo System (APS) film.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Users of personal home computers are increasingly loading digital image files into their computer for viewing, communicating images through the Internet and printing hardcopies on personal color printers. With the introduction of the Advanced Photo System, which stores processed film in the film cartridge, there is a growing interest in being able to scan and digitize images from the stored film for use on the personal computer. Such a scanner should not only be low cost, to obtain broad acceptance as a consumer product, but also needs to be compact in size to be able to fit into a standard disk drive bay on a personal computer.
In designing a film scanner for this type of application, it is important to have a design that uses a minimum of parts, is simple to manufacture and yet creates and maintains critical, micro-precision alignment of the photosensor with the film plane in the scan gate. The design of the present invention fully meets these objectives.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the invention therefore, there is provided an illuminant head assembly for a photographic media image scanner which comprises a linear light source and a main body having a first elongate planar light conducting channel aligned with the linear light source, wherein the light conducting channel includes a planar light pipe therein, the light pipe having a light diffusion material dispersed throughout the light pipe.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an illuminant head assembly is provided for a film scanner of the type having a scan gate and a pair of support arms on opposite sides of the scan gate, at least one of the support arms having a notch formed therein. In this aspect of the invention, the head assembly comprises a linear light source and a main body having a first elongate planar light conducting channel aligned with the linear light source, the light conducting channel including a planar light pipe therein, the light pipe having a light diffusion material dispersed throughout the light pipe. The main body has opposite side portions adapted to mate with the support arms of the film scanner. At least one of the side portions has a spring finger positioned to mate and lock into the notch in the support arms when the illuminant assembly is mounted into position on the support arms.
These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings.
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Arnold Stephen C.
Ashe Robert E.
Carlile Dana A.
Condo Mary-Irene E.
Jensen Thomas D.
Boos, Jr. Francis H.
Eastman Kodak Company
Grant II Jerome
Schindler, II Roland R.
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