초록 ▼

A hand-held image capture and communication appliance and method of using same are provided wherein images may be scanned and saved in an internal memory. The appliance includes a processor for manipulating and exhibiting the images on a built-in display screen. Program code stored in the internal m

A hand-held image capture and communication appliance and method of using same are provided wherein images may be scanned and saved in an internal memory. The appliance includes a processor for manipulating and exhibiting the images on a built-in display screen. Program code stored in the internal memory includes a help utility module that allows the user to obtain information on operating the various features of the appliance. The help utility module includes code segments for displaying a textual dialog and/or an animation that convey information correlated with the help topics. Advantageously, animation can be used to demonstrate features that would be difficult to explain in words or would require a lengthy dialog. For those topics requiring a more extensive textual explanation or if it is desired to combine a textual discussion with an animation, the help utility module includes a code segment for scrolling the display to communicate multiple screens or pages of information to the user.

대표청구항 ▼

A hand-held image capture and communication appliance and method of using same are provided wherein images may be scanned and saved in an internal memory. The appliance includes a processor for manipulating and exhibiting the images on a built-in display screen. Program code stored in the internal m

A hand-held image capture and communication appliance and method of using same are provided wherein images may be scanned and saved in an internal memory. The appliance includes a processor for manipulating and exhibiting the images on a built-in display screen. Program code stored in the internal memory includes a help utility module that allows the user to obtain information on operating the various features of the appliance. The help utility module includes code segments for displaying a textual dialog and/or an animation that convey information correlated with the help topics. Advantageously, animation can be used to demonstrate features that would be difficult to explain in words or would require a lengthy dialog. For those topics requiring a more extensive textual explanation or if it is desired to combine a textual discussion with an animation, the help utility module includes a code segment for scrolling the display to communicate multiple screens or pages of information to the user. ng said time determination when either said scanning light beam or said inspection light beam passes a time reference sensor, and terminating said time measurement as to each said reflected light beam when said reflected light beam arrives at a said detector. 15. The method of claim 14 including delivering said sensor electrical signals to a processor, and employing said processor to determine wall thickness of said article from said electrical signals. 16. The method of claim 1 including positioning a first group of said sensors to receive reflected light beams emerging from a first said inspection light beam, and positioning a second group of sensors to receive reflected light beams emerging from a second said inspection light beam. 17. The method of claim 1 including employing said method to determine wall thickness of said article. 18. The method of claim 17 including employing said method on a container. 19. The method of claim 18 including employing said method to determine if the outer and inner surfaces of a container wall are generally parallel. 20. The method of claim 1 including employing said method to determine shape of said article. 21. The method of claim 20 including employing said time measurement to determine said shape with greater frequency of reflected light beams received at a plurality of said sensors indicating a reduced radius on said article. 22. The method of claim 21 including determining if said electrical signals received from a pair of opposed said sensors are received at the same time intervals that said shape is round. 23. The method of claim 21 including determining if said electrical signals received from a pair of opposed said sensors at different time intervals that the shape is not round. 24. The method of claim 1 including causing said two inspection light beams to impinge on said article from generally opposed directions. 25. The method of claim 24 including causing said inspection light beams to impinge on said article at an included angle of about 80° to 140° degrees. 26. The method of claim 25 including each said inspection light beam impinging on said article within about 60° degrees of a radial plane oriented perpendicular to said article. 27. The method of claim 1 including performing said method without employing image forming lenses between said article and said sensors. 28. The method of claim 1 including employing said method to determine whether the inner surface of a container wall is parallel to the outer surface thereof. 29. The method of claim 28 including employing elapsed time between successive electrical pulses of two or more said sensors in making said determination of whether the surfaces are parallel. 30. Apparatus for inspecting a transparent hollow article comprising a light source for emitting a light beam, a scanner for receiving said light beam and emitting a scanning light beam, a beam splitter for converting said scanning light beam into two inspection light beams which generally simultaneously impinge said article from generally opposite directions, a first plurality of sensors for receiving reflected light beams from said article solely from one of said inspection light beams and emitting responsive electrical signals, a second plurality of sensors for receiving reflected light beams from said article solely from a second of said inspection light beams and emitting responsive electrical signals, and a processor for receiving said electrical signals and determining the time of arrival of said reflected light beams at each of said sensors and determining a physical characteristic of said article whereby said inspection is effected without requiring collimation of said reflected light. 31. The apparatus of claim 30 including said processor being structured to determine wall thickness of said hollow article. 32. The apparatus of claim 30 including said processor being structured to determine shape of said hollow article. 33. The apparatus of claim 32 including said processor structured to sequentially generate information regarding the shape of said article as said scanning occurs. 34. The apparatus of claim 32 including said processor determining from the time of arrival of reflected light beams from said article to at least two sensors whether the article is round in shape. 35. The apparatus of claim 34 including said processor determining when said electrical signals received from a pair of opposed sensors are received at the same time intervals that the shape of the article is round. 36. The apparatus of claim 35 including said processor means determining said round shape has a reduced radius when the frequency of electrical signals emanating from at least two compared said sensors is less than a reference standard. 37. The apparatus of 34 including said processor determining when said electrical signals are received from a pair of opposed sensors at different time intervals that the shape of the article is not round. 38. The apparatus of claim 30 including said processor being structured to receive information regarding the initiation time of said scanning light beam. 39. The apparatus of claim 30 including each said inspection light beam impinging on said article within an angle with respect to a radial plane perpendicular to said article of about 70° degrees. 40. The apparatus of claim 30 including said apparatus being structured to measure non-round articles. 41. The apparatus of claim 40 including said apparatus being structured to measure non-round portions of said article. 42. The apparatus of claim 30 including said processor being structured to determine if the exterior and interior surfaces of the wall of said article are parallel. 43. The apparatus of claim 30 including a reject mechanism for removing a container if said processor issues a reject signal thereto. 44. The apparatus of claim 30 including said apparatus having a plurality of said light scanning, and detecting systems with each inspecting a different portion of said article. 45. The apparatus of claim 44 including each said additional system positioned at a different elevation from the other. 46. The apparatus of claim 30 including beam forming optics for directing each said inspection light beam onto said article. 47. The apparatus of claim 46 including a mirror for receiving said inspection light beam from said beam forming optics and directing said inspection light to said article. 48. The apparatus of claim 30 including said apparatus being structured to inspect a container. 49. The apparatus of claim 48 including a container support structured to effect axial rotation of said container. 50. The apparatus of claim 30 including said apparatus being structured to inspect a tube. 51. The apparatus of claim 30 including said light source including a laser. 52. The apparatus of claim 30 including said apparatus being structured to cause said inspection light beams to impinge on said article from opposed directions. 53. The apparatus of claim 52 including said apparatus being structured to effect said impingement of said inspection light beams on said articles substantially simultaneously. 54. The apparatus of claim 30 including at least one of said sensors being a time initiation sensor, to provide a reference for measurement of elapsed time of reflected light beams received by the other said sensors. 55. The apparatus of claim 30 including said inspection light beams being directed onto said article with an included angle therebetween of about 80° to 140° degrees. 56. The apparatus of claim 30 including said processor controlling the arrival of said two inspection light beams to effect impingement on said article substantially simultaneously. 57. The apparatus of claim 30 including beam forming optics interposed between said beam splitter and said article for directing said inspection light beams. 58. The apparatus of claim 57 including mirrors for receiving said inspection light beams from said beam forming optics and directing said intersecting light beams to said article.