GB2224614A - High resolution imaging system - Google Patents
High resolution imaging system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2224614A GB2224614A GB8825981A GB8825981A GB2224614A GB 2224614 A GB2224614 A GB 2224614A GB 8825981 A GB8825981 A GB 8825981A GB 8825981 A GB8825981 A GB 8825981A GB 2224614 A GB2224614 A GB 2224614A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- elements
- plotting
- plotted
- movement
- scanning
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
- H04N1/19—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays
- H04N1/195—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
- H04N1/19505—Scanning picture elements spaced apart from one another in at least one direction
- H04N1/1951—Scanning picture elements spaced apart from one another in at least one direction in one direction
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K15/00—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers
- G06K15/22—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using plotters
- G06K15/225—Arrangements for producing a permanent visual presentation of the output data, e.g. computer output printers using plotters using optical plotters
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
- H04N1/19—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays
- H04N1/195—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
- H04N1/19505—Scanning picture elements spaced apart from one another in at least one direction
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
- H04N1/19—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays
- H04N1/195—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
- H04N1/19505—Scanning picture elements spaced apart from one another in at least one direction
- H04N1/19521—Arrangements for moving the elements of the array relative to the scanned image or vice versa
- H04N1/19573—Displacing the scanned image
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
- H04N1/19—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays
- H04N1/195—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using multi-element arrays the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
- H04N1/19584—Combination of arrays
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
Abstract
A raster plotting or scanning system has a line or array of elements, eg. photocells or LEDs, aligned at an angle alpha to the line scan direction Y to increase the resolution generated by the elements scanning across the image or plotting surface. The elements may be mounted on a plurality of rods (Fig 4) which may be connected together (Figs 6, 8) to extend to the required width. A measurement system for gauging the movement between two plane parallel surfaces in exact steps of resolution may be used to control the elements and in particular a bar B may be mounted on the image or plotting surface to act as a trigger as it interacts with sensors. <IMAGE>
Description
HIGH RESOLUTION PLOTTING/SCANNING SYSTEM
This invention relates to the construction of plotting and scanning machinery.
Plotting machines are used to transfer images from electrical format into a 2 dimensional form (the inverse process is scanning). A simple class of plotters are the printers attached to computerized equipments. More sophisticated machines generally have higher operating speeds and for high resolution frequently use lasers as the plotting element.
Components of any plotting system are
- An element or elements which transfer the electrical image signal(s) into the physical form of the image.
- A transport mechanism to align the plotting element/elements with the correct location on the plotting surface. The transport mechanisms may be required to work along and across the plotting surface.
- A measurement system(s) must be included to ascertain the correct juxtaposition of the surface and the plotting element(s).
A scanning system requires similar equipment but with the essential feature that plotting elements are replaced with scanning elements. There exists the combined
Scanner/Plotter machine where suitably common elements are shared by the two different functions.
An essential feature is the size of the elements for plotting/scanning and the method by which this is rendered compatible with the required plotting resolution and mimimum feature size within the image.
The method of measuring the movement from one point to another is critical to the accuracy of the plotted image.
This invention provides for the plotting of images on a surface by setting at an angle, to the direction of flow of the surface, a line or array of regularly spaced plotting elements. The instant at which each element is activated (to create the images) is controlled to coincide with the correct position on the plotting surface. The resolution of the plotter is equal to the projection of the elements on to a line at right angles to the direction of movement. A single line of plotting elements gives continuously variable resolution. A parallel array of elements where the first and last elements of adjacent columns are aligned with the direction of movement relative to the plotted surface, is used to plot at a single resolution. This can be altered in discrete steps by aligning other elements.
Additionally this invention provides for the determination of the exact plotting time instant (or plotting surface position) without error accumulation, by reference to the plotting array. It is possible for this measurement device to be applied independently of plotter/scanning machinery (ie. linear encoder). This is achieved by detection of the movement, in the direction of plotting, between a line of elements and a measurement line.The measurement line is set at twice the angle of the elements relative to the direction of plotting such that the line of elements bisect this angle.The measurement line is moved in the direction of plotting together with the plotted media.Detection of the correct position is by detection of the line passing an element
A scanning machine may be constructed on an identical principle by replacing plotting elements with scanning elements and a combined scanner/plotter may be constructed with the two functions sharing those elements common to both functions.
The following examples show practical implementations of this invention.
1.ONE DIMENSIONAL ARRAYS.
Application example 1.1
A single line of elements aligned with the direction of movement of the plotted surface is rotated through an angle to project the plotting resolution across the plotted media.
see Figure 1
L =(N-l) b (mm)
E =L-sina =(N-1).b.sina (mm)
RES Resolution in X direction (points/mm)
RES =(N-1)/E =(N-1)/((N-1) bWsina) =1/(D sina) where:
Parameters: b,N (built into device)
Controlled: a (00 < a < = 900) (by operator)
Results:
1) Resolution changes continuously
2) Usable width (E) changes continuously
3) " > Res > = 1/b
4) 0 < E < = L
This approach is practical for low resolutions and short usable widths.
Example of calculation:
Given:
b =0.5mm -spacing between elements.
N =481 -number of elements.
Needed:
Res =12 points/mm
Calculation:
12 =1/(0.5 sin ) Therefore:
a =9.59 Emax(Res =12) =(N-l) b sina =39.98mm
For this given combination we can use up to 39.98mm at
Res 12 (scan or plot). Different angles will give corresponding resolutions and maximum sizes.Different b and N parameters will give other combinations, according to the formulae presented.
Practical implementation
see Figure 2
On a long rod there are photocells in positions 1 to N.
An operator (or a controller) moves the rod to an angle a relative to Y, rotating it about a pivot.
A carriage, carrying a picture, moves in direction Y, controlled by a controller and a linear encoder aligned in direction Y. At regular points, decided by the controllers program, the photocells sample the data passing underneath them, building lines of data in the resolution defined by the angle a (in direction X ). The resolution in direction Y is decided by the carriage controller and its measurement system.The final result will be a digitized picture, stored in the computer at the required resolution.
see Figure 3
Photocells can be replaced by Light Emitting Diodes (LED's) to implement a plotter.
Application example 1.2
This is an expansion of Application example 1.1. In order to obtain a longer usable width (E), more than 1 rod can be used. An example is: - a few rods are inserted between 2 limiting boundaries
see Figure 4
The distance (h) between the 2 boundaries can be varied continuously, and the angle of each of the rods (1,2,3, t) will change similarly, relative to Y.
The boundaries are then moved together until the last (Nth) element of each preceding rod aligns with the 1st element of each following rod.
The result is now a long element that looks:
see Figure 5
The same formulae apply as in Application Example 1.1 but for a number "t" rods the usable size = t-E.
Application Example 1.3
This is an expansion of application example 1.2.The rods are connected and placed between two limiting boundaries.
The distance between the boundaries (h) is continuously variable. The same formulae and considerations apply as for the Application examples 1.1 and 1.2.
see Figure 6
The elements alone will look as shown in figure 7.
By forcing the rods to fit the variable gap (h), different angles (relative to Y) are obtained; this results in different resolutions.
Application example 1.4
This is an expansion of application example 1.3. In order to simplify control over the rods, they are connected as follows:
see Figure 8
By squeezing and pulling in X direction, the resolution changes according to the formulae already seen.
2. TWO DIMENSIONAL ARRAYS.
On a rectangular support there are elements arranged in a grid format NxM. By rotating the support relative to the media to be acted upon any resolution combination can be achieved. In the following particular cases, the drawing will show the media rotated with reference to the support, to facilitate the drawings.Within the calculations n refers to any element numbered from 1 to N (on the vertical axis) and m refers to any element numbered from 1 to M (on the horizontal axis).
Application example 2.1
see Figure 9
The media direction of movement Y is parallel to an imaginary line connecting the last element (N) on the array vertical axis to 2nd element on the array horizontal axis.
The media has an encoder in the Y direction, measuring the movement. The interaction with the media of each element is controlled according to the media's relative movement in the Y direction. The sensed points are accumulated until 1 full straight line of the required image (in X direction) is completed. Each line is built gradually as the media moves relative to the array.The resulting resolution in the X direction is:
Res =(N-1)/(a.cosa) (by taking every i-th element, where i equals any
integer between 2 and M-N, Resolution becomes: Res/i)
a =arctan(a/((N-l) b)) E =effective width in X direction =Macosa Application example 2.2
The media direction of movement Y is parallel to any chosen imaginary line connecting any element n on the vertical axis to the second element on horizontal axis, where n equals any integer between 2 and N.
The resulting formulae are:
Res =(n-1)/(acosa) (by taking every i-th element,Resolution becomes:Res/i)
a =arctan(a/((n-l) b)) E =effective width in X direction = Ma cosa Application example 2.3
The media direction of movement Y is parallel to any chosen imaginary line connecting the element N on the vertical axis, to any element m on the horizontal axis, where m equals any integer between 3 and M.
The resulting formulae are:
Res =(N-1)/((m-l)-a-cos (by taking every i-th element,Resolution becomes:Res/i)
a =arctan(((m-l) a)/((N-l) b)) E =(Integer({N-1)/(m-l))+l) a-cosa Application example 2.4
The media direction of movement Y is parallel to any chosen imaginary line connecting any element n on the vertical axis to any element m on the horizontal axis.
The resulting formulae are:
Res =(n-1)/((m-l)a'cosa) (by taking every i-th element,Resolution becomes:Res/i)
a =arctan(((m-l) a)/((n-l) b)) E =(Integer((M-1)/(m-1))+1).a.cosa By controlling in manufacture the parameters: a,b,M and N - any resolution can be accurately obtained, and with the same array, the additional discrete resolutions according to the above formulae can be obtained.
Application example 2.5
We align element n on the vertical axis to element m on the horizontal axis.We use every i-th element in the vertical axis (ie. taking elements 1,l+i,1+2i,etc). In the cases where:
(n-1)/i equals an integer ((n-l) b)/((m-l) a) equals an integer the sequence (advance) step in direction Y to enable correct positioning of the media under/over the elements, is equal to the resolution in the X direction.
Example: i=l,n=7,m=2,a=b.
see Figure 10
Application example 3
=======================
This is an example of a machine that does both the sensing task, plotting or scanning, at the required resolution and the sequencing task in the Y direction.
This eliminates the need for an external encoder to measure the distance in Y direction.
see Figure 11
The bar B is attached to the moving media at the same angle a, relative to the Y axis, as the Y is relative to the vertical axis but in mirror position. As the media advances, the bar hits the sensors at a physical interval equal to the resolution in the X direction. This is used as a trigger mechanism for the interaction of the elements and the media.
Claims (6)
1. A plotting system comprising of a line or array of plotting elements. These elements are arranged at an angle to the direction of movement, relative to the surface to be plotted, whereby the projection of the elements onto a line perpendicular to the direction of movement is arranged to be equal to a defined output resolution across the width of the plotted surface. The operation of the plotting elements is sequenced with the movement, relative to the plotted media, to give a defined output resolution along the length of the plotted surface.
2. A plotting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plotting elements are replaced by scanning elements to provide an input to an image storage or image processing system.
3. A plotting system as claimed in claim 1 and a scanning system as claimed in claim 2 arranged as a single machine.
4. An apparatus to measure a fixed step of known dimension, in a single plane, comprising a regular line of detectable elements arranged at an angle a relative to the direction of movement of the step and a graduated bar arranged at twice the angle a relative to the direction of movement of the step and an angle a relative to the detectable elements.The step is measured by the detection of a graduation meeting each element in sequence.
5. A plotting system as claimed in claim 1 and a measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 4 using a common line or array of elements for plotting and position sensing.
6. A scanning system wherein the plotting elements of claims 4 and 5 are replaced by scanning elements and the plotted surface is replaced by the scanned image.
6. A scanning system as claimed in claim 2 and a measuring apparatus as claimed in claim 4 using a common line or array of elements for scanning and position sensing.
Amendments to the claims
have been filed as follows 1. A plotting system comprising of a line or array of plotting elements. These elements are arranged at an angle to the direction of movement, relative to the surface to be plotted, whereby the projection of the elements onto a line perpendicular to the direction of movement is arranged to be equal to a defined output resolution across the width of the plotted surface. The operation of the plotting elements is sequenced with the movement, relative to the plotted media, to give a defined output resolution along the length of the plotted surface.
2. A plotting system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plotting elements are replaced by scanning elements to provide an input to an image storage or image processing system.
3. A plotting system as claimed in claim 1 and a scanning system as claimed in claim 2 arranged as a single machine.
4. A plotting system comprising a rectangular array of plotting elements, which are arranged at an angle and in parallel plane to the surface to be plotted whereby the angle is arranged to give regularly spaced plotted points in the width with sequencing in time of the plotting elements to give identical resolution along the length of the plotted surface.
5. A plotting system as described in claim 4 whereby the angle of the plotting array is varied in discrete steps to give a change of output resolution (possible for that particular size of array) by the alignment of different pairs of elements to the direction of movement of the plotted surface.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8825981A GB2224614A (en) | 1988-11-07 | 1988-11-07 | High resolution imaging system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8825981A GB2224614A (en) | 1988-11-07 | 1988-11-07 | High resolution imaging system |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB8825981D0 GB8825981D0 (en) | 1988-12-14 |
| GB2224614A true GB2224614A (en) | 1990-05-09 |
Family
ID=10646413
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB8825981A Withdrawn GB2224614A (en) | 1988-11-07 | 1988-11-07 | High resolution imaging system |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2224614A (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2246047A (en) * | 1990-06-18 | 1992-01-15 | Armstrong World Ind Inc | Two-dimensional matrix print head control system |
| EP0544002A1 (en) * | 1991-05-14 | 1993-06-02 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Image-forming device |
| GB2299476A (en) * | 1995-03-28 | 1996-10-02 | Integrex Ltd | Electronic printing with increased resolution |
| DE102007022320B4 (en) | 2006-05-19 | 2018-05-09 | Austrian Research Centers Gmbh - Arc | Method and device for testing objects |
Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2128439A (en) * | 1982-10-01 | 1984-04-26 | Mead Corp | Ink drop duplicating system |
-
1988
- 1988-11-07 GB GB8825981A patent/GB2224614A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2128439A (en) * | 1982-10-01 | 1984-04-26 | Mead Corp | Ink drop duplicating system |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| JP A1 600577 * |
Cited By (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2246047B (en) * | 1990-06-18 | 1995-02-22 | Armstrong World Ind Inc | Control system for ion projection printing and the like |
| US5170188A (en) * | 1990-06-18 | 1992-12-08 | Armstrong World Industries Inc. | Control system for ion projection printing and the like |
| GB2246047A (en) * | 1990-06-18 | 1992-01-15 | Armstrong World Ind Inc | Two-dimensional matrix print head control system |
| US5610647A (en) * | 1991-05-14 | 1997-03-11 | Seigo Epson Corporation | Image forming apparatus including a plural laser beam scanning apparatus |
| EP0544002A4 (en) * | 1991-05-14 | 1993-06-09 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Image-forming device |
| EP0544002A1 (en) * | 1991-05-14 | 1993-06-02 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Image-forming device |
| US5870132A (en) * | 1991-05-14 | 1999-02-09 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Laser beam scanning image forming apparatus having two-dimensionally disposed light emitting portions |
| EP0903929A1 (en) * | 1991-05-14 | 1999-03-24 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Image forming apparatus |
| EP1134966A2 (en) * | 1991-05-14 | 2001-09-19 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Image forming apparatus |
| EP1134966A3 (en) * | 1991-05-14 | 2001-10-10 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Image forming apparatus |
| US6326992B1 (en) | 1991-05-14 | 2001-12-04 | Seiko Epson Corporation | Image forming apparatus |
| GB2299476A (en) * | 1995-03-28 | 1996-10-02 | Integrex Ltd | Electronic printing with increased resolution |
| GB2299476B (en) * | 1995-03-28 | 1999-06-23 | Integrex Ltd | Electronic printing method and apparatus |
| DE102007022320B4 (en) | 2006-05-19 | 2018-05-09 | Austrian Research Centers Gmbh - Arc | Method and device for testing objects |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB8825981D0 (en) | 1988-12-14 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |