David W Boothe

US Patent:

D493228, Jul 20, 2004

Filed:

Oct 22, 2002

Appl. No.:

29/169519

Inventors:

Mark A. Spangler - Roanoke VA
Dwayne H. Bennett - Roanoke VA
David W. Boothe - Vinton VA

Assignee:

Foot Levelers, Inc. - Roanoke VA

International Classification:

2401

US Classification:

D24171

US Patent:

20040111544, Jun 10, 2004

Filed:

Dec 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/318671

Inventors:

Dwayne Bennett - Roanoke VA, US
Mark Spangler - Roanoke VA, US
David Boothe - Vinton VA, US
Charles Gore - Pulaski VA, US
William Eanes - Roanoke VA, US

International Classification:

G06F013/12

US Classification:

710/062000

Abstract:

To optically scan a patient's feet for the purpose of obtaining measurements useful to constructing orthotics, each foot should be scanned while the patient is standing naturally. A logical apparatus for this purpose is one with two scanners, side by side, packaged as a single unit. The scanners would (again, logically) be identical. However, connecting two identical peripheral devices to a computer creates identification difficulties. It is also prudent to minimize the number of communications ports the apparatus uses. To connect two identical optical scanners to a single communications port (such as a Universal Serial Bus port), a switch is employed, for switching the communications port between each scanner; or a USB hub arbitrates the communications between the computer and each scanner. A time delay is used to separate the scans of each scanner in time, so the computer's software can differentiate between the scan of the first foot and the scan of the second foot.