Abstract:
An image capture device, such as a scanner, is built including hardware necessary to capture both reflective and transmissive image data from a transparency. The device may associate the two types of data internally or rely on other hardware, such as a controlling computer, to do the association of the two quantities of data. In one possible embodiment, the device would include the ability to perform optical character recognition (OCR) of the reflective data (or the transmissive data, if desired), converting to a type of text format any printing on the transparency.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an image capture system and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for capturing reflective and transmissive data from an image. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Image capture devices are currently used for a wide variety of applications. Typical applications include document scanning (possibly including optical character recognition (OCR)), digital photography, photographic print scanning, and photographic transparency scanning. Many photographers currently capture images to photographic films using standard 35 mm, medium format, or large format cameras. The resulting film (or print) may then be digitally captured using a scanner. Many of these scanners allow only the capture of images from either transparencies or prints. Some scanners, such as the Hewlett-Packard a PhotoSmart™ S20 (Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto, Calif.), allow the user to choose between scanning a print, a 35 mm mounted transparency, or a strip of 35 mm film. 
     Many photographers use transparency film, since many current publications prefer to have images submitted in this format. The images are then scanned for inclusion in the publication and the transparencies are returned to the photographer. Such photographers may have collections of tens of thousands of transparencies that must be organized in a way that the photographer is able to find a particular image at any later date. 35 mm transparencies typically are mounted in plastic or cardboard 2 inch by 2 inch (50.8 mm by 50.8 mm) mounts. Many photo labs print a frame number on each mount and may also print the month and year the film was processed on the mount. Some photo labs use mounts that are pre-printed with the brand of film or processing that was used. Also, when 35 mm transparencies are duplicated, the duplicate transparencies are typically labeled to distinguish them from the original slide. While all of this information from the photo lab helps in organization of the collection of slides, it rarely is sufficient to catalog a large collection. Many photographers place further identification on each slide mount, such as a roll number, subject of the slide, copyright notice, location where the slide was shot, and/or the name and address of the photographer. 
     By printing or writing all of this information directly on the slide mount, the photographer is assured that the information is securely associated with a particular image. However, should the photographer scan some or all of a collection of images, this information may be neglected. If not neglected, the information likely will have to be manually entered into a database for association with the proper image. This process may be error prone when a large number of images are captured or scanned in a single session. Thus, there is a need in the art for a method and/or apparatus that allows users to electronically capture both the image data and any associated information for the image. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An image capture device, such as a scanner, is built including hardware necessary to capture both reflective and transmissive image data from a transparency. The device may associate the two types of data internally or rely on other hardware, such as a controlling computer, to do the association of the two quantities of data. In one possible embodiment, the device would include the ability to perform optical character recognition (OCR) of the reflective data (or the transmissive data, if desired), converting to a type of text format any printing on the transparency. 
     Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the principles of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of an example photographic transparency with information included on the transparency mount. 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram side view of one possible embodiment of an apparatus for capturing both reflective and transmissive data from a photographic transparency. 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram side view of one possible embodiment of an apparatus for capturing both reflective and transmissive data from a photographic transparency using a single light source. 
     FIG.  4 A and FIG. 4B are block diagrams of possible contents of the processing block from FIG.  2  and FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for capturing both reflective and transmissive data from a photographic transparency concurrently. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of an example photographic transparency with information included on the transparency mount. FIG. 1 is an example of some of the information that might appear on the mount portion of a 35 mm transparency. In this example the slide mount  100  includes an opening  102  where the actual film is mounted. Surrounding this opening  102  may be a variety of written or printed information such as a date  104 , roll number  106 , frame number  108 , note about the subject of the photo  110 , note about the series of the photo  112 , and/or copyright notice  114 . 
     FIG. 2 is a block diagram side view of one possible embodiment of an apparatus for capturing both reflective and transmissive data from a photographic transparency. In this example configuration, the transparency  200  is shifted by an upper roller  202  and a lower roller  204  driven by a motor  228  past reflective and transmissive scanner hardware. The transmissive portion of the transparency  200  is illuminated by a transmissive light source  206 . The transmissive light path  208  passes through the transparency  200  and strikes the transmissive sensor  210  where the transmissive image data is captured. The opaque portion of the transparency  200  is illuminated by a reflective light source  212 . The reflective light path  214  reflects off the opaque portions of the transparency  200  and strikes the reflective sensor  216  where the reflective image data is captured. The transmissive image data and reflective image data are captured concurrently. The data from the transmissive sensor  218  is associated with the data from the reflective sensor  220  in an association step  222  and the associated data  224  may then be stored in a data storage unit  226 . Note that the association step  222  may take place in hardware, or it may simply consist of a data structure associating the two images within the data storage unit  226 . 
     FIG. 3 is a block diagram side view of one possible embodiment of an apparatus for capturing both reflective and transmissive data from a photographic transparency using a single light source. In this example configuration, the transparency  200  is shifted by an upper roller  202  and a lower roller  204  driven by a motor  228  through an image plane  201  past reflective and transmissive scanner hardware. The transmissive portion of the transparency  200  is illuminated by a light source  302 . The transmissive light path  304  passes through the transparency  200  and strikes the transmissive sensor  210  where the transmissive image data is captured. The opaque portion of the transparency  200  is illuminated by a light source  302 . The reflective light path  214  reflects off the opaque portions of the transparency  200  and strikes the reflective sensor  216  where the reflective image data is captured. The transmissive image data and reflective image data are captured concurrently. The data from the transmissive sensor  218  is associated with the data from the reflective sensor  220  in an association step  222  and the associated data  224  may then be stored in a data storage unit  226 . Note that the association step  222  may take place in hardware, or it may simply consist of a data structure associating the two images within the data storage unit  226 . 
     FIG.  4 A and FIG. 4B are block diagrams of possible contents of the processing block  222  from FIG.  2  and FIG.  3 . In a simple embodiment, shown in FIG. 4A, the data from the transmissive sensor  218  and the data from the reflective sensor  220  are simply associated with each other as they are output  224  for storage. In a somewhat more powerful configuration, shown in FIG. 3B, the data from the reflective sensor  220  is examined in a reflective decision step  402 . If the reflective digital image data  220  contains textual information the data is passed through a reflective OCR  404  where it is converted to reflective text data. Otherwise, the reflective digital image data  220  bypasses the reflective OCR  404  and goes directly to the association block  400 . Within the association block  400 , the transmissive digital image data  218  is associated with the reflective digital image data  220  when neither image data contains textual information. The transmissive digital image data  218  is associated with the reflective text data when the reflective image data contains textual information. 
     FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for capturing both reflective and transmissive data from a photographic transparency concurrently. After a start step  500 , in a scanning step  502 , transmissive image data and reflective image data is captured. Note that this scanning step  502  may be implemented in two sub-steps where the transmissive image data is collected in one sub-step and the reflective image data is collected in another sub-step. In an optional reflective decision step  504 , if the reflective image data comprises text, an optional reflective OCR step  506  may be performed to convert the reflective image data into textual data. In an association step  508 , the reflective image or text data is associated with the transmissive image or text data, and in a storage step  510  the associated data is stored in memory, on a hard disk, on a CDROM, or on other recordable media. The method then reaches an end step  512 . 
     The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and other modifications and variations may be possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include other alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.