SYSTEM FOR ANALYZING MULTICOLORED SCENES

• US 3,778,541 A
• Filed: 09/03/1971
• Issued: 12/11/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John Kent Bowker
• Original Assignee: John Kent Bowker
• Inventors: Bowker, John Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Martin, John C.
• Application Number:
  US05/181,141
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 178/5.2A,5.2D,5.2R,6.6B,DIG.34,6.7A,6.7R,DIG.28 355/38.41 356/175-178,2
• US Class Current: 358/505
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2003/466 Coded colour; Recognition of predetermined colour; Determining proximity to predetermined colour
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/46 Measurement of colour; Colour measuring devices, e.g. colorimeters measuring colour temperature G01J5/60
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/462 Computing operations in or between colour spaces; Colour management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/51 using colour filters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/513 having fixed filter-detector pairs
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/73 Controlling exposure by variation of spectral composition, e.g. multicolor printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/90 Determination of colour characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/993 Evaluation of the quality of the acquired pattern

Abstract

A given scene such as that retained by a colored photograph is scanned both by a high resolution scanner that detects image density gradients and a color analyzer with lower resolution. Controlled by the gradient detecting scanner is a printer that produces, on an appropriate work surface, a line drawing delineating prominent object boundaries in the image. The color information extracted from discrete areas of the image by the color analyzer is compared by a computer with colors available in a preselected finite set of distinctly colored substances and an appropriate selection is made from the set for each area analyzed. In response to the computer selections, a color indicia printer produces on the work surface a color outline of surface areas geometrically corresponding in position to the discrete areas of the image. The color outline is superimposed on the line drawing but is distinguishable therefrom. Also produced by the color printer within each surface area is indicia representing the particular colored substance selected for application thereto. In a preferred embodiment, the density gradient and color analyzer scans are made simultaneously in parallel adjacent paths across the image. The line printer responds instantaneously to the output of the high resolution gradient detector. The color analyzer, however, supplies information at intervals along the scan and the color indicia printer prints on each scan line information from the preceding scan line and in a position corresponding to the area from which the information was obtained. The delay in color indicia printout provides time for color evaluation by the computer.

Claims

1. A system for analyzing multi-colored scenes and comprising:

a. framing means for locating a scene to be analyzed;

b. optical scanning means for scanning the scene to produce an optical output modulated by the image detail therein;

c. gradient detector means receiving said optical output and responsive to image detail boundaries in the scene;

d. color analyzer means receiving said optical output and responsive thereto to locate in the scene individual zones having predetermined color characteristics; and

e. resolution control means for rendering said gradient detector responsive to image detail in scanned sample scene areas substantially smaller than the scanned sample scene areas retaining image detail to which said color analyzer means responds.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said resolution control means comprises optical divider means for separating said optical output into a gradient optical output for said gradient detector means and a zone optical output for said color analyzer means.

3. A system according to claim 1 including an interlace means for intermittently enabling said color analyzer means so that successively located ones of said individual zones are destributed in the scene in an interlace pattern.

4. A system for analyzing multi-colored scenes and comprising:

a. framing means for locating a scene to be analyzed;

b. optical scanning means for scanning the scene to produce an optical output modulated by the image detail therein;

c. gradient detector means receiving said optical output and responsive to image detail boundaries in the scene, said gradient detector means comprising gradient detector output means for producing a gradient output signal indicating the location of said detail boundaries in the scene; and

d. color analyzer means receiving said optical output and responsive thereto to locate in the scene individual zones having predetermined color characteristics, said color analyzer means comprising zone detection output means for producing a zone output signal indicating the location of said zones in the scene and color output means for producing a zone color output signal identifying the color characteristics present in each of said zones, and wherein said color output means comprises color comparator means for selecting from a predetermined finite set of color characteristics a particular color characteristic having a predetermined relationship with each of the analyzed color characteristics present in said zones, and said zone color output signal identifies said particular color characteristic selected for each zone.

5. A system according to claim 4 including printout means for producing a diagram of said boundaries and zones represented by said gradient and zone output signals and indicia in each of said diagram zones representing the particular said color characteristic associated therewith and identified by said zone color output signal.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein said printout means compriseS scanning means having radiant energy projection means for selectively exposing photosensitive material.

7. A system according to claim 6 wherein said projection means comprises a first radiant energy source means and first modulation means therefor and a second radiant energy source means and a second modulation means therefor.

8. A system according to claim 7 wherein said printout scanning means further comprises scanner control means for producing a relative scanning movement between said radiant energy outputs of said first and second modulation means and said photosensitive material, and including synchronizing means for synchronizing said scanning movement of said radiant energy outputs across said material with said analyzer scanning means.

9. A system according to claim 8 wherein said optical scanning means comprises resolution control means for rendering said gradient detector responsive to image detail in scanned sample scene areas substantially smaller than the scanned sample scene areas retaining image detail to which said color analyzer means responds.

10. A system according to claim 9 including printout control means for continuously modulating the energy output of said first modulation means in response to said gradient output signal, and for intermittently modulating the energy output of said second modulation means in response to said zone and color output signals.

11. A system according to claim 10 wherein said printout control means comprises printout delay means for providing a predetermined time delay between a given enablement of said color analyzer means and response of said second modulation means to the zone and color signals representing image detail information derived thereby;

said predetermined time delay being controlled by said synchronizing means so as to produce a printout of color indicia at a time when said radiant energy output of said second modulation means is directed by said scanning means onto an area of said photosensitive material corresponding geometrically to the area of said scene being scanned at the time said given enablement of said zone detection means occurred.

12. A system according to claim 11 wherein said synchronizing means comprises a rotatably mounted mirror and drive means therefor, one surface of said mirror being disposed to reflect said optical output and the opposite surface of said mirror being disposed to reflect the output from said radiant energy projection means.

13. A system for analyzing multi-colored scenes and comprising:

a. framing means for locating a scene to be analyzed;

b. optical scanning means for scanning the scene to produce an optical output modulated by the image detail therein;

c. gradient detector means receiving said optical output and responsive to image detail boundaries in the scene, said gradient detector means comprising gradient detector output means for producing a gradient output signal indicating the location of said detail boundaries in the scene;

d. color analyzer means receiving said optical output and responsive thereto to locate in the scene individual zones having predetermined color characteristics, said color analyzer means comprising zone detection output means for producing a zone output signal indicating the location of said zones in the scene; and

e. recording means for recording the information retained by said gradient and said zone output signals, said recording means comprising printout means for producing a diagram of said boundaries and zones represented by said gradient and zone output signals.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein said printout means comprises scanning means having radiant energy projection means for selectively exposing photosensitive material.

15. A system according to claim 14 including synchronizing means for synchronizing said optical scanning means and said printout scanning means.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein said projection means comprises a first radiant enErgy source means and first modulation means therefor and a second radiant energy source means and a second modulation means therefor, said first modulation means being controlled by said gradient output signal and said second modulation means being controlled by said zone output signal.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein said first radiant energy source means comprises a polarized light source and said first modulation means comprises an electro-optical modulator.

18. A system according to claim 16 wherein said synchronizing means comprises a rotatably mounted mirror and drive means therefor, one surface of said mirror being disposed to reflect said optical output and the opposite surface of said mirror being disposed to reflect the output from said radiant energy projection means.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein said first radiant energy source means comprises a splitter means providing a primary input to said first modulation means and a supplementary output directed onto a surface of said rotatably mounted mirror and including clock means disposed to receive said supplementary output after reflection from said mirror.

20. A system according to claim 19 wherein said clock means comprises a gating means responsive to said supplementary output to produce a timing pulse train synchronized with said scanning means.

21. A system according to claim 19 wherein said second radiant energy source means comprises a plurality of flash tubes arranged in a pattern and selectively energized by said zone output signal to provide different optical outputs.

22. A system for analyzing multi-colored scenes and comprising optical scanning means for scanning the scene to produce an optical output modulated by the image detail therein;

radiation spectral analyzer means receiving said optical output and responsive thereto to locate in the scene individual zones having predetermined spectral characteristics, said spectral analyzer means comprising spectral output means including comparator means for selecting from a predetermined finite set of spectral characteristics a particular characteristic having a predetermined relationship with each of the analyzed spectral characteristics present in said zones and further including characteristic output means for producing a characteristic signal that identifies said particular spectral characteristic selected for each zone, and said spectral analyzer means further comprises zone detection output means for producing a zone output signal indicating the locations of said zones in the scene.

23. A system according to claim 22 including printout scanning means for producing a diagram of said zones represented by said zone output signals and indicia in each of said diagram zones representing the particular said spectral characteristic therewith and identified by said characteristic output signal.

24. A system according to claim 23 wherein said printout scanning means comprises radiant energy projection means for selectively exposing photosensitive material and modulation means for modulating said projection means in response to said zone and characteristic output signals.

25. A system according to claim 24 including synchronizing means for synchronizing said scanning means and said printout scanning means.

26. A system according to claim 25 including an interlace means for intermittently enabling said spectral analyzer means so that successively located ones of said individual zones are destributed in the scene in an interlace pattern.

27. A system according to claim 26 wherein said printout means comprises printout delay means for providing a predetermined time delay between a given embodiment of said zone detection means and response of said modulation means to the zone and characteristic signals representing image detail information derived thereby;

said predetermined time delay being controlled by said synchronizing means so as to produce printout of characteristic indicia at a time when said radiant eneRgy output of said modulation means is directed by said scanning means onto an area of said photosensitive material corresponding geometrically to the area of said scene being scanned at the time said given enablement of said zone detection means occurred.