Patent ID: 6157373
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: G02B,G03B,H04N

Abstract:
An apparatus for displaying a digital image of at least a portion of an object displayed in a film transparency corresponding to the position of a selected point of interest on the film transparency, the film transparency being of a type having object and alignment identifying indicia thereon, the apparatus comprising:a position sensitive panel having a surface for supporting the film transparency and further having an output for providing an output signal corresponding to a two dimensional spatial position of a selected point of interest on the panel;an object identifying indicia reader having an output for providing an output signal corresponding to object identifying indicia read from the film transparency;a storage device for storing data corresponding to a digital image of the object displayed in the film transparency; anda display device for displaying digital images; the apparatus further characterized in that it includes:means for determining the horizontal, vertical and angular alignment of the film transparency relative to the position sensitive panel; anda computer controller operatively connected to the position sensitive panel output, the object identifying indicia reader output, the storage device and the display device, and wherein the controller is adapted to receive output signals from the indicia reader and the position sensitive panel, to recall data corresponding to the object in the film transparency from the data storage device based upon the output signals received and the determined horizontal, vertical and angular alignment of the film transparency relative to the panel, and to display a digital image on the display of at least a portion of the object displayed in the film transparency corresponding to a selected point of interest on the transparency.