Device for converting analog signals from a natural leaf scanner into digital signals and method of operating same
US4296405A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 2, 1978 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 1981 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 2, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06T1/0014
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
There is provided a device for converting a succession of analog voltage signals representative of light intensity of light from and controlled by a corresponding succession of finite surface locations of a natural leaf into high or white, low or black and intermediate or gray digital signals. This device includes an arrangement for creating a white digital signal when the analog voltage of a given location exceeds the threshold voltage. The digital signals are continuously averaged and updated to provide a datum voltage against which the analog voltage is compared after the datum voltage is decreased by a preselected amount. If the analog voltage is less than the reduced datum voltage, a black digital signal is created. If there is neither a black nor a white digital signal, a gray digital signal is created. In this manner, the general light intensity characteristics of each successive location on the leaf can be recorded as either white, black or gray. This device and its method of operation is useful in creating a profile of the actual natural tobacco leaf for a subsequent use in cutting profiles from the leaf at desired areas.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.