WO2002009416A1

WO2002009416A1 - Portable scanning device with on/off button positioned on top

Info

Publication number: WO2002009416A1
Application number: PCT/US2001/023275
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raja Tuli
Original assignee: Docuport, Inc.
Priority date: 2000-07-25
Filing date: 2001-07-24
Publication date: 2002-01-31
Also published as: WO2002009417A2; AU2001278996A1; AU2001276222A1; WO2002009417A3; EP1312203A1

Abstract

The invention discloses a portable and hand-held scanning device comprising an on/off button (2) mounted to the top of the housing. The user must maintain the on/off button (2) in a pressed position, or an 'on' position, for the device to function for the duration of a scanning operation. The device further comprises an LCD display (23) enabling the user to view individual scan lines. The user can scroll through the scan lines by means of a thumb-wheel (24).

Description

PORTABLE SCANNING DEVICE WITH ON/OFF BUTTON POSITIONED ON TOP

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to portable and hand-held document and image scanners. Hand-held scanners are manually moved across a document to be scanned such that an image of the face of the document is produced. Hand-held scanners such as those disclosed in US patents #5552597 Hand-Held Scanner having Adjustable Light Path and #5586212 Optical Wave Guide for Hand-Held Scanner, by McConica, are examples of such scanning devices. The present invention, however, differs from these devices in that it discloses a hand-held scanner that has a design that constrains a user to pose the user's fingers in the appropriate position such that the force required to traverse the device is exerted downwards, which is necessary to achieve a proper scanned image.

SUMMARY

The present invention discloses a portable and hand-held scanner for scanning documents. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the housing of the device is designed with depressions or indentations into which the user's fingers are placed. The depressions constrain the user to put forth pressure on the top of the device. The On/off button is mounted to the top of the device and must be depressed continuously while the user is scanning a document. The invention further discloses an LCD display that displays the information that has been scanned. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in more detail below with respect to an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates the rubber rollers and single shaft Figure 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the device with points of contact Figure 3 shows the preferred finger position and button on top Figure 4 shows an incorrect finger position

Figure 5 depicts the LCD display and thunb-wheel

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention discloses a portable and hand-held scanner, for scanning documents, integrated with a writing implement. Disclosures of applications previously filed and describing portable scanners 09/323,258 Apparatus and Method for Reading a Document, 09/476,104 Apparatus and Method for Reading a Document Using a Waveguide Formed in a Substrate, and 09/414,103 Portable Apparatus and Method for Reading a Document, are each specifically incorporated by reference.

The device is substantially cylindrical, compact and lightweight so as to be easily manipulated by a user. The length of the device is approximately equal to the width of a standard sheet of paper. The width of a standard sheet of paper is defined as 8 1/2 inches and thus the device is approximately 8 1/2 inches long. The length is the largest dimension of the device.

The housing of the device comprises a plurality of scanning mechanisms necessary for a contact image type scanner. The scanning mechanisms are mounted along the length of the device such that the scan line is perpendicular to a document to be read. Furthermore, because the scanning mechanisms are disposed along the length of the device the entire width of a line of a page may be read and converted into a digital image.

A linear array of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) serve as an illumination source which send rays of light through a light guide that focuses the light onto the surface of the document to be read. The LEDs and the light guide span the entire reading length of the device. The illuminated portion of the document is reflected and focussed by an optic fiber lens array onto an optical sensor array. The optical sensor array consists of one or more solid state devices comprising multiple individual photo cells in a linear array, which convert the image focussed onto them into electrical signals, producing a digital image which can be stored in an internal memory for future use. The stored data may be downloaded into a computer or laptop at a later time. The LEDs and the lens array must be arranged with the illuminated surface of the document to ensure proper focussing of the image on the solid state reading devices. The solid state devices are capable of reading one line of information at a time restricted by the size, spacing and width spanned by the individual photocells in the linear array. Each line of information is read multiple times with 200 or 400 dpi but sent only once to a microprocessor, which assembles the image received in lines. The microprocessor performs image enhancement techniques to correct any errors in the image due to the motion of rubber rollers to produce a true representation of the image or text being read. The microprocessor further compresses the image and stores it in a flash memory. The solid state devices read the lines of information continuously, to form a 2-D image.

With reference to Figure 1, multiple rubber rollers 20 are disposed along the length of the device and are arranged along a single shaft 21. The rubber rollers are separated and partially project from the housing. This arrangement of the single shaft and the rubber rollers mounted thereon is an essential component for the elimination of skewing in the generated image. The single shaft constrains the rubber rollers to rotate at equal speeds, as the device is manually traversed across the document to be scanned. Furthermore, the surface of the document adheres to the rollers' rubber segments. The rubber rollers rotate against the surface of the document as the device is manually traversed, by the user pressing the device against the surface of the document. The adherence of the surface of the document to the rubber rollers further ensures proper alignment of the document, and therefore eliminates skewing in the image.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device 1 and illustrates the state of equilibrium of the device. The optic sensor lens array 13 and optical sensor array 14 are disposed linearly along the length of the device. Substrate 15 also extends along the length of the device. Arrows 9, 10, 11 represent the force components acting on the device, and as those of ordinary skill in the art know, the device is in equilibrium because the forces' net sum is equal to zero. The substrate 15 is fixedly mounted at an inclination. The inclination causes the multiple rubber rollers arranged along the length of one side of the device to contact the surface of the document and a portion of the housing of the device or a portion of the substrate to also contact th§ surface of the document. Thus, substantially the entire surface of the substrate does not contact the surface of the document, and thus the substrate will not be scratched by the surface of the document, during a scanning procedure.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the housing of the device is designed with depressions or indentations into which the user's fingers are placed. The depressions constrain the user to put forth pressure on the top of the device and between the rubber rollers and the area of the substrate contacting the document. It is necessary that the pressure be exerted in such a manner because the device is unstable. The width and the height of the device are of equal dimensions, therefore, the device is not as stable as other scanners that are usually wider than they are high.

Thus, to initiate scanning, the user positions the device flat across the surface of the document to be scanned and manually traverses the device in a desired direction. On/off button 2, as shown in Figure 3 is mounted to a top center location of the housing, and must be maintained in an "on" position, or in a depressed position, for the device to scan the document for the duration of the traversal. The device is constructed such that the user's fingers are compelled to be posed in an optimal position to ensure an adequate scanning operation is achieved. The location of the on/off button constrains the user to exert in between the rubber rollers and the portion of the substrate contacting the surface of the document the required pressure to activate the on/off button. It is necessary for the pressure to be put forth between the two points of contact to achieve a proper scanning operation.

Preferably, the device includes depressions in the housing, to assist or guide the user with proper finger placement. Figure 3 illustrates preferred finger and thumb positions. The user's index finger is positioned on the on/off button mounted to the top of the device and the user's thumb is positioned on the side of the device. Thus, the user can easily maintain the on/off button in a depressed position simultaneously as the user is moving the device, to scan the document.

The mounting of the on/off button to the top center location of the device, ensures that the pressure put forth by the user to activate the on/off button is exerted in the optimum location for producing proper images. It is necessary for the pressure to be directed downwards and between the two points of contact, i.e. the rubber rollers and portion of the platen, for proper images to be produced. If the user were to position the user's index finger and thumb on each side of the device, as illustrated in Figure 4, it would be difficult to apply pressure in the appropriate location to generate proper images.

In an alternate embodiment, multiple rubber rollers may be disposed along both sides of the length of the device. Thus, it is only the rubber rollers that contact the surface of the document, thereby providing the necessary two points of contact of the device on the document.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the on/off button may be pressed in various sequences to scan documents at different resolutions. Users will undoubtedly have documents that require scanning at a higher resolution because such documents have a greater importance, as well as documents that can be scanned at a lower resolution because such documents have less significance. The scanned images will be stored in the memory with the scanned resolution. Therefore, when the images are downloaded to a computer, the images will be displayed properly.

Thus, to scan a document at a low resolution of 200 x 100 dpi, the user can press the on/off button once, and subsequently hold the button in a pressed position. This procedure will ensure that the document is scanned at a low resolution. To scan a document at a higher resolution of 200 x 200 dpi, the user can press the on/off button once and release it, and then press it again and hold the button in a pressed position. This procedure will ensure that the document is scanned at a high resolution.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the user can press the on/off button once and release it to scan a document at a resolution of 200 x 100 dpi. The user can press the on/off button twice and release it to scan a document at a resolution of 200 x 200 dpi.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises an LCD display. As shown in Figure 5, the LCD display 23 allows the user to view the information that has been scanned, one scan line at a time. The LCD display spans the length of the device, thus the entire width of the scan line may be viewed, and is mounted on the top of the device.

Thumb-wheel 24 allows the user to scroll through the scanned information after the scan is complete, therefore the user can verify the information and ensure that the document has been scanned properly.

In another embodiment of the present invention, various categories exist for categorizing and storing scanned documents. The user can slide or push button to any of the categories, prior to scanning a document, and any subsequently scanned document will be stored in the specified category. For example, the user can slide the button to "receipts" and then scan one or a multiple receipts. The scanned receipts will be stored in the "receipts" folder.

To view all scanned files of a particular category, the user can slide the button to the specific category and scroll through all of the files that have been stored. For example, to view all of the stored files in "business cards", the user can slide the button to the "business card" location. The user can then scroll through the stqred business cards. Buttons "previous" and "next" can also be utilized for accessing scanned files. The user can press the 'previous" button to view the file stored before a particular file, or the user can press the "next" button to view files stored after a particular file.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed:

1. A device and method for scanning a document comprising; design of said device constraining a user to apply pressure to the top of the device and thereby exerting the pressure downwards and between two points of contact of the device and the document.

2. A device and method for scanning a document, as claimed in Claim 1 , comprising:

The user pressing a button in various sequences to scan a document with different resolutions.

3. A device and method for scanning a document comprising; an LCD display enabling the user to view previously scanned images individually and scroll through them with a thumb-wheel.