Patent ID: 7140738
Filing Date: 2006-11-28
Classification: G03B

Abstract:
1. A system for calibrating an orientation of slides within a storage receptacle, each slide having top, bottom, side and edge surfaces, the storage receptacle having one or more slots for receiving slides and one or more trays for holding a slide, the system comprising: a reflective marking, the reflective marking being applied to an edge of a slide, thereby forming a reflective section and a non-reflective section; an emitter; a detector, the emitter and the detector being positioned so that the emitter directs light towards the reflective and non-reflective sections of the slide, and the detector generates a signal or data representing an orientation of the slide based on the reflected or non-reflected light; and a controller, the controller processing signal or data from the detector to determine whether the slide is properly oriented on a tray in the storage receptacle.