초록 ▼

System and methods for querying digital image archives containing digital photographs and/or videos (collectively, "digital images"). The digital images are indexed in accordance with a plurality of recorded parameters including time, date and geographic location data (altitude and longitude), as we

System and methods for querying digital image archives containing digital photographs and/or videos (collectively, "digital images"). The digital images are indexed in accordance with a plurality of recorded parameters including time, date and geographic location data (altitude and longitude), as well as image data such as lens focal length, auto focus distance, shutter speed, exposure duration, aperture setting, frame number, image quality, flash status and light meter readings, which are used for searching a database consisting of the digital images. These images are preferably generated by an image capturing system which is capable of measuring and recording a plurality of parameters with each captured digital image. The image retrieval system allows a querying user to search the image archive by formulating one or more of a plurality of query types which are based on the recorded parameters, and then retrieve and display those images having the specified parameters.

대표청구항 ▼

System and methods for querying digital image archives containing digital photographs and/or videos (collectively, "digital images"). The digital images are indexed in accordance with a plurality of recorded parameters including time, date and geographic location data (altitude and longitude), as we

System and methods for querying digital image archives containing digital photographs and/or videos (collectively, "digital images"). The digital images are indexed in accordance with a plurality of recorded parameters including time, date and geographic location data (altitude and longitude), as well as image data such as lens focal length, auto focus distance, shutter speed, exposure duration, aperture setting, frame number, image quality, flash status and light meter readings, which are used for searching a database consisting of the digital images. These images are preferably generated by an image capturing system which is capable of measuring and recording a plurality of parameters with each captured digital image. The image retrieval system allows a querying user to search the image archive by formulating one or more of a plurality of query types which are based on the recorded parameters, and then retrieve and display those images having the specified parameters. aid analyzer region. 4. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein, said ion outlet is located on said outer outer electrode body proximate to said second end, said sampler oriface being positioned proximate to said ion outlet to receive said selectively focussed ions. 5. The apparatus in claim 3, wherein, within said ion diverting region said generally cylindrical inner electrode body has a curved surface terminus proximate to said second end, said ion outlet being axially aligned with said inner electrode body, said asymmetrical waveform voltage, compensation voltage, and said gas flow being adjustable, whereby, said selectively focussed ions tend to follow the curved surface of said terminus and are directed radially inwardly towards said ion outlet. 6. The apparatus in claim 5, wherein, said outer electrode body forms a curved surface which substantially follows the curved surface of said terminus, so as to maintain a substantially constant distance between said inner and outer electrodes at said second end. 7. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein: a) said ionization source is an electrospray ionizer for producing ions from a sample liquid phase; and b) at least a portion of said gas flow is counter-current to said flow of ions being introduced at said ion out inlet into said analyzer region, whereby, in use, said counter-current gas flow reduces the level of solvation of said flow of ions being introduced into said analyzer region. 8. The apparatus recited in claim 7, wherein said ion inlet is located in said outer electrode wall for introduction of said ions into said analyzer region. 9. The apparatus recited in claim 8, further comprising an ionization chamber housing said ionization source, said ionization chamber being provided with a second gas outlet for allowing said counter-current gas flow to exit. 10. The apparatus recited in claim 8, further comprising an ionization chamber housing said ionization source, and a purge gas chamber positioned between said ionization chamber housing and said ion inlet, said purge gas chamber providing a purge gas flow for desolvating said ions entering said ion inlet. 11. The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein, said ionization source is coaxially aligned with said electrodes and positioned external to said inner electrode body, whereby, in use, said flow of ions are evenly directed into said generally annular shaped analyzer region in a radial fashion. 12. The apparatus recited in claim 3, further comprising a generally cylindrical ionization chamber housing said ionization source, said ionization inlet comprising a gap between said ionization chamber and said inner electrode. 13. An apparatus for desolvating and selectively transmitting ions, comprising: a) at least one electrospray ionization source for providing ions from a sample in liquid phase; b) a high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometer, comprising: i) an analyzer region including a space between first and second parallel surface regions of spaced apart electrodes respectively, said analyzer region being in communication with a gas inlet at a first end thereof, and having an ion inlet for introducing a flow of said ions into said analyzer region, and an ion outlet at a second end thereof for allowing extraction of ions from said analyzer region; ii) a source of gas in communication with the gas inlet, for providing a flow of gas through said analyzer region and out of said ion outlet, at least some of the gas flow being counter-current to said flow of ions being introduced at said ion outlet so as to desolvate said flow of ions entering said ion outlet; iii) an electrical controller connectable to said electrodes and capable of applying an asymmetric waveform voltage and a direct-current compensation voltage to selectively transmit a type of ion in the analyzer region between said parallel surface regions of said electrodes, at a given combination of asymmetric waveform voltage and comp ensation voltage; and, iv) a terminus provided on one of said electrodes and shaped for concentrating and directing said ions along an ion flow path passing substantially through said ion outlet in dependence upon the flow of gas, said terminus being a part of said one of said electrodes opposing said ion outlet, which part is closest to said ion outlet and spaced apart from said ion outlet, wherein absent the terminus, a substantially smaller fraction of the selectively transmitted ions are extracted from said analyzer region via said ion outlet. 14. The apparatus recited in claim 13, further comprising a mass spectrometer having a sampler cone with a sampler orifice, said sampler orifice being positioned proximate to said ion outlet so as to receive said selectively transmitted ions. 15. The apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein, said first and second electrodes comprise curved electrode bodies and provide a non-constant electric field therebetween, said ions being selectively focussed in a focussing region created between said curved electrode bodies in said analyzer region. 16. The apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein, said first and second electrodes comprise outer and inner generally cylindrical coaxially aligned electrode bodies with a generally annular space formed between them, said annular space defining said analyzer region. 17. The apparatus claimed in claim 16, wherein, said annular space between said first and second electrodes defining said analyzer region is generally uniform. 18. The apparatus claimed in claim 13, wherein said terminus is tapered toward said ion outlet. 19. The apparatus recited in claim 18 wherein said terminus is a curved surface terminus of said inner electrode body proximate to said second end, said ion outlet being axially aligned with said inner electrode body, said asymmetrical waveform voltage, compensation voltage, and said gas flow being adjustable, whereby, said selectively focussed ions tend to follow the curved surface of said terminus and are directed radially inwardly towards said ion outlet. 20. The apparatus claimed in claim 19, wherein, said curved surface is substantially a portion of a sphere. 21. The apparatus in claim 19, wherein, said outer electrode body forms a curved surface which substantially follows the curved surface of said terminus, so as to maintain a substantially constant distance between said inner and outer electrodes at said second end. 22. An apparatus for selectively transmitting ions, comprising: a) at least one electrospray ionization source for producing ions from a sample in liquid phase; and b) a high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometer, comprising: i) an analyzer region including a space between first and second parallel surface regions of first and second spaced apart electrodes, respectively, said analyzer region being in communication with a gas inlet at a first end thereof and a gas outlet at a second end thereof, for providing a gas flow through said analyzer region, an inlet at the first end for introducing a flow of ions produced by said electrospray ionization source into said analyzer region, and an ion outlet at the second end for allowing extraction of ions from said analyzer region; ii) an electrical controller connectable to said electrodes and capable of applying an asymmetric waveform voltage and a direct-current compensation voltage to selectively transmit a type of ion along an ion flow path in the analyzer region between said parallel surface regions of said electrodes at a given combination of asymmetric waveform voltage and compensation voltage; iii) a terminus having a surface, the terminus provided on one of said electrodes and shaped for extending said ion flow path along a part of said electrodes opposing said ion outlet, which part closest to said ion outlet and spaced apart from said ion outlet; and, iv) a gas flow region for providing an adjustable gas flow through said analyzer region and