System and method for an image reader with electronic travel

• US 20040036663A1
• Filed: 06/04/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Betacom Corporation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Betacom Corporation Incorporated
• Inventors: Borge, Peterson, Bevers, David R.
• Application Number:
  US10/453,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036663A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/7
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0402 Scanning different formats; Scanning with different densities of dots per unit length, e.g. different numbers of dots per inch (dpi); Conversion of scanning standards H04N1/00283 takes precedence; picture signal circuits for modification of image resolution H04N1/3935, H04N1/40068
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0408 Different densities of dots per unit length
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0432 Varying the magnification of a single lens group
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0443 Varying the scanning velocity or position
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0455 using a single set of scanning elements, e.g. the whole of and a part of an array respectively for different formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/195 the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/19568 Displacing the array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0436 Scanning a picture-bearing surface lying face up on a support H04N2201/0434 takes precedence; using cylindrical picture bearing surfaces H04N1/06; with manual scanning H04N1/107

Abstract

An image reader apparatus for modifying a visual characteristic of a document, the apparatus comprising: a frame; a table coupled to the frame and adapted to position the document for viewing; an imager assembly having an addressable image array adapted to produce a digital image of a selected portion of the document positioned on the table, the addressable array having a programmable pixel group; a lens assembly adapted to focus the selected portion on the pixel group of the array; a processor for monitoring the relative spatial position of the document with respect to the imager assembly, the processor for coordinating the position of the pixel group within the array; a display coupled to the processor and adapted to receive the digital image communicated by the imager assembly; wherein movement of the pixel group within the array provides for movement of the selected portion over the surface of the document.

Claims

1. An image reader apparatus for modifying a visual characteristic of a document, the apparatus comprising:

a) a frame;

b) a table coupled to the frame and adapted to position the document for viewing;

c) an imager assembly coupled to the frame and having an addressable image array adapted to produce a digital image of a selected portion of the document positioned on the table, the addressable array having a programmable pixel group;

d) a lens assembly coupled to the frame and adapted to focus the selected portion on the pixel group of the array;

e) a processor for monitoring the relative spatial position of the document with respect to the imager assembly, the processor for coordinating the position of the pixel group within the array; and

f) a display coupled to the processor and adapted to display the digital image communicated by the imager assembly;

wherein movement of the pixel group within the array provides for electronic movement of the selected portion over the surface of the document.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a motion system configured for providing relative mechanical movement between the spatial position of the imager assembly and the spatial position of the table.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the electronic movement and the mechanical movement are combined to provide an effective movement of the digital image on the display.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a sensor for monitoring the relative mechanical movement between the imager assembly and the table.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sensor is a digital encoder.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a degree of the mechanical movement sensed by the sensor is used by the processor to calculate a corresponding degree of the electronic movement.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the degree of electronic movement is greater than the degree on mechanical movement.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising an illumination device for providing a sufficient degree of illumination to saturate the pixels of the pixel group.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the sufficient degree of illumination is greater than ambient lighting conditions surrounding the table.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the illumination device comprises light emitting diodes.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the illumination device further comprises a lens for focussing the illumination of the light emitting diodes on the table.

12. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the motion system moves the table.

13. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a contrast unit coupled to the processor, the contrast stretch unit for modifying the contrast properties of the digital image prior to display on the display.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the contrast unit uses dynamic thresholding for modifying the contrast properties.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a threshold value.

16. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sensor is selected from the group comprising:

pressure sensor;

proximity switch;

hall sensor;

digital encoder; and

optical encoder.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the sensor senses mechanical movement properties selected from the group comprising relative spatial position, velocity, and acceleration between the table and the imager assembly.

18. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the mechanical movement and the electronic movement are added simultaneously to provide an effective simultaneous displacement of the digital image on the display.

19. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the mechanical movement and the electronic movement are added sequentially to provide an effective sequential displacement of the digital image on the display.