Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus which enhances the visual contrast between bright and dark features of an object by projecting an image of the object onto the object. The features of the projected object image overlay the features of the object such that an observer of the enhanced object senses that the bright features are brighter and the dark features remain the same. A light source illuminates the object, a video imaging means, such as a video camera, creates a video signal representative of the object image, and a video projector receives the video signal from the video camera and projects a visual image of the object. A filter prevents video projector light from reaching the video imaging means, thereby eliminating positive feedback. A preferred apparatus includes a beam separator which causes the image projected from the video projector to illuminate the object from the same perspective that the video imaging means views the object. Preferably, the light source is an infrared light source, the filter transmits infrared light but not visible light, and the beam separator reflects visible light and transmits infrared light. Alternately, the invention visually enhances the edges of features of an object with an unsharp masking edge enhancement technique, thereby making the features of the object easier to distinguish.

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First Claim