Abstract:
An integrated imager and camera mounting assembly that allows a single operator to scan the crime scene for prints without assistance, and to attain an optimally illuminated and stably focused recorded image with single handed adjustments. The assembly includes an A-frame stand which carries a pair of UV lights on adjustable arms for single handled adjustment by the operator in the scanning and recording modes. The stand includes a footed base that allows the operator to securely engage the frame against vertical, horizontal and irregular surfaces using the imager handle thereby locating the imager at a fixed distance from the print area and permitting ready focusing of the image with the other hand. The base further includes a sliding scale for placement in the field of view for dimensional referencing.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to forensic apparatus and, in particular, an integrated forensic imager and stabilizer mount for visualization and recording evidentiary material such as fingerprints. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The investigation at crime scenes is assisted by the thorough investigation for trace evidence not readily visible by the investigator. Lighting conditions vary considerably, both indoors and outdoors ranging from bright daylight to darkness. To permit the identification of probative evidence under such conditions, devices and techniques have been developed to highlight and record potentially important trace evidence, such as fingerprints, body fluids, and blood. After location and identification, the recording of the evidence may be enhanced by highlighting using applied materials and lighting techniques. 
   The potential for probative evidence may not always be readily visually assessed. To enable a rapid evaluation of a scene, visualization systems, such as the Krimesite Imager from Sirche Fingerprint Laboratories, have been developed whereby the scene can be visually scanned under ultraviolet illumination which highlights potential print areas as viewed through the imager. Thereafter, the areas of interest are digitally or photographically recorded by a camera mounted on the imager. Generally, two persons are required, one to direct the UV illumination about the scene and another using the imager to identify areas of interest. Inasmuch as the prints may be located on a variety of surfaces, horizontal or vertical or inclined, a stable mounting platform is required for the camera, typically a tripod or quadpod having adjustable telescopic legs requiring the operator to use both hands for adjustment, preliminary visualization and focusing, and subsequent iterations until satisfactory positioning was achieved. Concurrently, the lights are adjusted for proper illumination. To provide dimensional reference on the print for analytical use on auxiliary equipment with photographic software, a scale is inserted into the field of view, and oftentimes taped to prevent movement. Thereafter, if all components were properly oriented, the print is recorded. If not readjustments are made. While widely regarded as a significant advance, it has been desired to reduce further the labor and time required for the scanning and recording processes. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides an integrated imager and camera mounting assembly that allows a single operator to scan the crime scene for prints without assistance, and to attain a stable focused and recorded image of select areas with single handed adjustments. The foregoing is achieved by an A-frame stand to which the imager is attached and which permits scanning without obstruction therefrom. The stand carries a pair of UV lights on adjustable arms for single handled adjustment by the operator in the scanning and recording modes, thereby eliminating the need for supplemental lamps and attendant personnel. The stand includes a footed base that allows the operator to securely engage the frame against vertical, horizontal and irregular surfaces using the imager handle thereby locating the imager at a fixed distance from the print area and permitting ready camera adjustments with the other hand. The base further includes a sliding scale that may be placed in the field of view for scaling of the recorded image. Resultantly, the operator may, without assistance or auxiliary equipment, scan and record scalable images of probative prints from the scene. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide forensic visualization and recording apparatus operable without auxiliary equipment or personnel. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide an integrated mounting platform for a forensic imager that permits stable orientation and recording on varying evidentiary surfaces. 
   A further object of the invention is to provide a forensic image recording apparatus that permits adjustment of illumination and camera setting with one hand while maintaining a stable camera orientation with the other hand. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of forensic visualization and recording apparatus provided with a stabilizer mount according to an embodiment of the invention with the imager carrying an eyepiece for operating visualization; 
       FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of the forensic view and recording apparatus of  FIG. 1  with the imager carrying a camera for recording a fingerprint on an evidentiary material; 
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the stabilizer mount, with the imager removed; 
       FIG. 4  is an illustrative view of the image field showing the fingerprint on the evidentiary material; 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged partially sectioned side view of the forensic visualization and recording apparatus of  FIG. 1  showing the mounting of the imager on the support plate and the pivotal connection for the lamp bracket; 
       FIG. 6  is an enlarged rear view of the upper end of the stabilizer mount; 
       FIG. 7  is an enlarged top view illustrating the scale slide assembly for the stabilizer mount; 
       FIG. 8  is a view taken along line  8 — 8  of  FIG. 7  showing the bearing block for the scale slide assembly; 
       FIG. 9  is a view taken along line  9 — 9  of  FIG. 8  showing the mounting of the bearing block on the slide plate of the scale slide assembly; and 
       FIG. 10  is a view taken along line  10 — 10  in  FIG. 7  showing the clearance of the scale slide assembly with respect to an evidentiary surface. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to the drawings,  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a forensic visualization and recording apparatus  10  for the visual scanning of an evidence site for trace evidence and the photographic recording of selected areas. The apparatus  10  comprises a forensic imager  12  coupled to a stabilizer mount  14 . As described below the stabilizer mount  14  is releasably carried on the imager  12  and permits unobstructed visualization of the crime scene in a scanning mode ( FIG. 1 ) and a secure positioning in a recording mode ( FIG. 2 ) over a selected area of evidentiary material  15  having a detected print  16  in a field of view  18  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
   The imager  12  utilizes reflective ultraviolet imaging technology, know as RUVIS, to locate latent fingerprints that are invisible to the naked eye, on most non-porous surfaces, without the prior use of powders, chemicals or vapor treatments of any kind. Unlike other types of alternate light sources and lasers, such imagers are not affected by ambient light and can be used in a broad range of environments, including daylight or total darkness, indoors or out doors. A suitable commercially available imager is the Krimesite Imager available from Sirchie Finger Print Laboratories of Youngsville, N.C., assignee of the present invention. 
   The imager  12  selectively amplifies 254 nm shortwave ultraviolet light and ignores all other wavelengths. The ultraviolet light is reflected off the residues left behind from a finger print. The imager  12  receives the reflected light through a front lens assembly  20  having an optical axis  22  that focuses the image to an internal high gain intensifier in the imager housing  24 . The light is then amplified several thousand times and converted into visible light providing a visible image of the untreated print at either an eyepiece  26  ( FIG. 1 ) for operator visualization or at a recording film or digital camera  28  ( FIG. 2 ) for real time image capture for permanent records of untreated prints. A sliding detented filter slide  30  is carried at the rear of the lens assembly  20 . The filter  30  has a first position interposing a clear filter in the light path for visible and Luminol visualization and a second position interposing an ultraviolet filter for RUVIS visualization. 
   The stabilizer mount  14  comprises an A-frame support stand  40 , an imager mounting plate  42  having a pair of laterally extending pivotal brackets  44  carrying frontally projecting lamp units  46  and a scale slide assembly  48  providing dimensional reference in the recording mode. The stand  40  is a unitary structure formed of 13 ga. cold rolled steel and coated with a black wrinkle paint. The stand  40  includes a pair of upwardly inclined legs  50  converging at a generally triangular top section  52  as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Each leg  50  terminates at a lower end with a transverse foot  54 . The legs  50  have an L-shaped cross section including a base section  56  outwardly terminating with a forwardly turned flange  58 . Prior to forming the flanges  58 , the planar stock for the stand is provided with a vertical series of circular holes  60  serving to reduce the carrying weight of the stand without a loss of operative strength. The legs  50  at flanges span an acute angle of about 30° symmetrical with a vertical plane  62  ( FIG. 6 ) coincident, in assembly, with the focal axis  22  of the imager  12 . The feet  54  extend forwardly and rearwardly of the legs, and are inwardly turned at the bases thereof at a shallow angle of about 30°. Downwardly projecting tabs  64  are formed at the lower ends of the feet  54  and have lower surfaces lying in a common plane orthogonal to the plane  62 , thereby allowing the stand to be engaged against a planar surface, horizontal, vertical or inclined, for recording located prints as described below, as well as a stable three point engagement for irregular surfaces. While the scale assembly  48  provides lateral and torsional strength, a cross member  61  or other reinforcing means may be provided between the legs. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the mounting plate  42  is a unitary member formed of a light weight material such as black anodized aluminum. The mounting plate  42  includes a base  70  having outwardly extending wing sections  72  and a central upwardly extending head section  74 . The rear surface of the base  70  is connected to the front surface of the top section  52  by a plurality of threaded fasteners  75 . 
   The outer ends of wing sections  72  terminate with circular recessed bearing pads  77  having threaded bores. The front surface of the head section  74  includes a recessed top mounting surface  76  ( FIG. 5 ) having a lower horizontal locating surface  78  and a central mounting hole  80 . In assembly, the imager  12  is positioned on the mounting plate  42  with a front end portion  82  engaging the locating surface  78  and the base of the imager engaging the mounting surface  76 . The imager  12  is provided with a removable handle  84  having a shaft  85  that is inserted through the mounting hole  80  and a shank  86  that is threaded into the imager base to securely mount the imager on the stand at a fixed distance and with the focal axis normal to the engagement surface. 
   The brackets  44  are generally L-shaped and include apertured semicircular inner ends  88  engaging the pads  77  and connected thereat by controlled resistance pivotal connections  90 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the pivotal connections  90  each include threaded fastening means, such as an adjusting screw  94 , having a threaded shank  95  extending through the inner end  88  and threaded into the bore in the pad  77 , circular washers  96  engaging opposed surfaces of the inner end  88  and a compressible annular gasket  98  between the outer washer and the base of the adjusting screw  94 . In assembly, the screw  94  is tightened sufficiently such that the washers  96  and gasket  98  provide controlled frictional resistance at the brackets to maintain desired angularity while accommodating manual movement to moved positions without loosening the connection thereby enabling single handed adjustment of the position of the lamp brackets  44 . Permanent assembly of the bracket is provided by torquing the screw  94  sufficiently to resist unloosening during bracket movement. 
   Referring to  FIG. 3 , the brackets  44  include a transverse center section and outer ends terminating with a generally L-shaped apertured mounting pads  100  to which the base ends of the lamp units  46  are removably attached by threaded mounting knobs  102 . The lamps  46  are an ultraviolet light source, at peak wavelength of about 254 nm, for illuminating longwave invisible fingerprints. The lamps  46  include a housing  110  containing a power supply energized by switch  112  for illuminating an elongated UV light source  114 . A suitable commercially available lamp is the UV Mini Light Source, available as catalog no. CUV100TS from Sirche Fingerprint Laboratories of Youngsville, N.C. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 7 through 9 , the slide assembly  48  provides a scaled indicia that may be moved into the recorded field in the recording mode to permit scaling of the print information for analytical use on auxiliary equipment, and rearwardly shifted outside the field of view in the scanning mode. The slide  48  comprises a slide plate  120  supported on a slide assembly  122  for manual sliding movement between a forward extended position and a rearward retracted position. The slide plate  120  includes a rectangular base plate  124  having an upwardly and rearwardly extending handle  126 . A scale member  128  having linearly scaled indicia  130  on the top surface thereof is attached to the front of the slide plate  120  by fasteners  132 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , the scale member  128  is formed of thin shim stock and positioned to have a minimal clearance “d” with the stand engagement surface  134  thereby placing the indicia in substantially the same narrow focal plane as the print image to be recorded ( FIG. 4 ). Preferably, a clearance “d” of about 1/32 inch is desired thereby placing the indicia in the focal plane of the image for use in conjunction with photograph processing programs. 
   The slide assembly  122  includes a laterally spaced pair of cylindrical slide bars  140  connected to the legs  54  at cylindrical spacers  142  by fasteners  144 , and interconnected at rear ends by cross bar  146  at fasteners  148 . The plate  124  is supported on the slide bars  140  at transverse passage in slide blocks  150  and attached to the plate  124  by fasteners  152 . A thumb screw  154  on each of the blocks  150  may be manually tightened to lock the plate in a desired position. 
   In use in investigating a crime scene, the operator deploys the apparatus in the scanning mode shown in  FIG. 1  with the slide  120  in the retracted position outside the field of view. The brackets  44  are adjusted to project the UV light of the lamps  46  forwardly for detecting evidentiary areas of interest, visualization through the imager  12  with the eyepiece  26 . Upon detection, the areas containing prints or other evidentiary material of interest are tagged and labeled for recording. After completing the scanning, the operator mounts the camera  28  to the eyepiece  26 . The operator then positions the stand  14  with one hand at the imager handle to support the apparatus against the evidence surface over the detected area, and using the other hand, adjusts the camera settings to focus on the print adjusting the stand position as required; adjusts the positions of the lamps  46  for optimum illumination; moves the slide  120  to position the scale indicia  130  in the field of view; and initiates recording to capture the print as shown in  FIG. 4 . During periods of inactivity, the stand serves to park the imager in either the horizontal or vertical orientation, minimizing the chance of accidental damage. 
   Having thus described a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will now be appreciated that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved, and it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the sprit and scope of the present invention. The disclosures and description herein are intended to be illustrative and are not in any sense limiting of the invention, which is defined solely in accordance with the following claims.