Low-cost high-resolution digital scanning camera

• US 5,610,730 A
• Filed: 08/16/1994
• Issued: 03/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yuri V. Osipchuk
• Original Assignee: Yuri V. Osipchuk
• Inventors: Osipchuk, Yuri V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, David E.
• Application Number:
  US08/291,138
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 358/412, 358/413, 358/415, 358/418, 358/471, 358/474, 358/479, 358/482, 358/483, 358/494, 345/901, 345/905, 364/708.1, 364/709.11, 364/709.01, 348/205, 348/195, 348/202, 348/203, 348/551
• US Class Current: 358/494
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1696 the I/O peripheral being a printing or scanning device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/113 using oscillating or rotating mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0436 Scanning a picture-bearing surface lying face up on a support H04N2201/0434 takes precedence; using cylindrical picture bearing surfaces H04N1/06; with manual scanning H04N1/107
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 3/08 having a moving reflector
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

A low-cost, high-resolution digital scanning camera for obtaining a digital image of objects within a field of view. Light from the objects in the field of view is reflected off a pivoting mirror through a focusing lens onto a linear CCD image sensor. The linear CCD image sensor provides the horizontal scan. A pivot means pivots the mirror to provide the vertical scan. A computer means converts the output of said CCD image sensor into an image of said objects in said field of view.

Claims

1. A low-cost high-resolution digital scanning camera for obtaining a digital image of objects within a field of view comprising:

a) a linear CCD image sensor,

b) a mirror,

c) a lens for focusing onto said linear CCD image sensor, light reflected off said mirror from said field of view,

d) a pivot means for pivoting said mirror through a scan angle so as to permit light from all points within said field of view to be focused on said linear CCD image sensor, and

e) a notebook type computer for converting the output of said CCD image sensor into an image of said objects in said field of view, said notebook type computer comprising a monitor on which are mounted said linear CCD image sensor, said mirror, and said pivot means.

2. A scanning camera as in claim 1 wherein said pivot means comprises a servo motor.

3. A scanning camera as in claim 1 wherein said pivot means comprises a pair of elecrto-optic end position sensor means to limit the scan angle.

4. A scanning camera as in claim 1 and further comprising a control circuit means for controlling said pivot means and said linear CCD image sensor.

5. A scanning camera as in claim 1 and further comprising a means for correcting distortion in said image.

6. A scanning camera as in claim 5 wherein said distortion correcting means comprises a rotary interrupter and said computer means is programed to initiate scans at a variable rate based on signals from said rotary interrupter.

7. A scanning camera as in claim 1 and further comprising an auto focusing means to move said lens for focusing said camera on said objects.

8. A scanning camera as in claim 1 wherein said lens is a zoom lens.

9. A scanning camera as in claim 8 wherein said zoom lens is computer controlled.