Television – Special applications – Film – disc or card scanning
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-06
2001-07-03
Britton, Howard (Department: 2613)
Television
Special applications
Film, disc or card scanning
C348S097000, C348S102000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256056
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image input apparatus, and more particularly to an image input apparatus which inputs an image while simultaneously moving film and imaging means relative to each other.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publications No. 07-143396 and No. 07-184002 relate to image input apparatuses. The former publication is directed to a method of moving film and determining the time at which an integrating operation is performed for image detection. To be more specific, the publication discloses a technique for performing an integrating operation while continuously moving film at constant speed. The latter publication discloses a technique for performing an integrating operation while continuously moving a detecting system at constant speed.
However, in a case where film is driven at constant speed, the control operation required for maintaining the constant film speed is inevitably complex, since the roll of film thickens each time the film is wound. In addition, in a case where either the detecting system or film is driven at constant speed, it may be hard to perform accurate positional control repeatedly. In addition, if images that are input in succession differ in resolution, the speed control is very complex.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image input apparatus which is capable of performing accurate positional control repeatedly and which produces images of high quality.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image input apparatus capable of producing high-quality images corresponding to a desired resolution.
To achieve these objects, the present invention provides an image input apparatus comprising:
imaging means, including a charge accumulation type line sensor, for converting an image printed on film into electric signals;
scanning means for mechanically scanning a relative positional relationship between the film and the line sensor in an intermittent fashion; and
charge accumulation control means for controlling start time at which charge accumulation by the line sensor is started, in association with an intermittent scanning operation of the scanning means.
The present invention also provides an image input apparatus comprising:
imaging means, including a line sensor, for converting an image recorded on film into electric signals;
scanning means for mechanically scanning a relative positional relationship between the film and the line sensor in an intermittent fashion;
resolution setting means for setting a resolution with respect to an image to be input, when the imaging means converts the image into the electric signals; and
scan control means for varying the scanning speed of the scanning means in accordance with the resolution set by the resolution setting means.
The present invention further provides an image input apparatus comprising:
imaging means, including a charge accumulation type line sensor, for converting a film image into electric signals;
driving means for mechanically changing a relative positional relationship between the imaging means and film in a stepwise fashion;
charge accumulation control means for controlling the line sensor to perform charge accumulation when the driving means is in operation; and
charge transfer means for transferring a charge signal obtained by the charge accumulation controlled by the charge accumulation control means, when the driving means is at rest.
Moreover, the present invention provides an image input apparatus comprising:
an imaging mechanism, including a line sensor, for converting an image recorded on film into electric signals;
a scanning mechanism for mechanically scanning a relative positional relationship between the film and the line sensor in an intermittent fashion;
a trimming setting mechanism for setting a trimming position of an image to be input, before the imaging mechanism converts the image into the electric signals; and
a scanning control mechanism for driving the scanning mechanism to the trimming position set by the trimming setting mechanism; and
a charge accumulation control mechanism for controlling the start time at which the line sensor starts charge accumulation, in association with an intermittent scanning operation of the scanning mechanism.
Additional object and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The object and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
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Patent Abstracts of Japan, No. 7-143396 dated Jun. 2, 1995.
Patent Abstracts of Japan, No. 7-184002 dated Jul. 21, 1995.
Kodama Shinichi
Kunishige Keiji
Britton Howard
Diep Nhon T
Frishauf, Holtz Goodman, Langer & Chick, P.C.
Olympus Optical Co,. Ltd.
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