DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SCANNING AN OBJECT ON A WORKING SURFACE

• US 20110193944A1
• Filed: 02/05/2010
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Creative Technology Ltd.
• Inventors: LEUNG, Wei Lit Wilfred, YONG, Seah Seang, LIAN, Yam Fei, CHONG, Kin Fui, TAN, Thuan Hwei
• Granted Patent: US 8,593,512 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/47
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00347 with another still picture apparatus, e.g. hybrid still picture apparatus circuits or arrangements for control or supervision between image input and image output device H04N1/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00562 Supporting the apparatus as a whole, e.g. stands
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00827 Arrangements for reading an image from an unusual original, e.g. 3-dimensional objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/195 the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/19584 Combination of arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/19594 using a television camera or a still video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/239 using two 2D image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance H04N13/243 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 13/243 using three or more 2D image sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0416 Performing a pre-scan
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0446 Constructional details not otherwise provided for, e.g. mounting of scanning components H04N2201/0448 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0452 Indicating the scanned area, e.g. by projecting light marks onto the medium

Abstract

A device and method for scanning an object on a working surface, the device comprising: a body located adjacent to the working surface; two or more cameras mounted on the body at a location elevated adjacently above the working surface for capturing images of the object on the working surface, the two or more cameras being angled such that their range of image captures overlap and the common overlapping region of the range of image captures of the two or more cameras corresponds with the size of the working surface, the two or more cameras being spaced apart such that each of the two or more cameras captures a different angle of the common overlapping region; and a processing unit capable of correcting skewed images of the working surface captured by the two or more cameras and capable of converting the images captured by the two or more cameras into a three dimensional image.

Claims

1. A device for scanning an object on a working surface, the device comprising:

a body located adjacent to the working surface;

two or more cameras mounted on the body at a location elevated adjacently above the working surface for capturing images of the object on the working surface,

the two or more cameras being angled such that their range of image captures overlap and the common overlapping region of the range of image captures of the two or more cameras corresponds with the size of the working surface,

the two or more cameras being spaced apart such that each of the two or more cameras captures a different angle of the common overlapping region; and

a processing unit capable of correcting skewed images of the working surface captured by the two or more cameras and converting the images captured by the two or more cameras into a three dimensional image.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two or more cameras are spaced apart from one another and disposed along a horizontal axis substantially parallel to the working surface, wherein the two or more cameras are pivotable synchronously about the device and rotatable synchronously about the horizontal axis.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, the device comprising one or more feet located at the bottom of the body where the device rests on, the one or more feet being use as markers to facilitate the alignment of a document on the working surface for scanning.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, the device further comprising:

an indicia located on the body to indicate the position to place the midpoint of a document on the working surface for scanning.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, the body of the device comprising:

a screen for displaying the captured images of the object, the screen comprising screen markers for assisting alignment of the object in the captured images.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two or more cameras are spaced apart by substantially 6.35 cm.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two or more cameras are arranged to capture part of a lower portion of the body adjacent to the working surface to provide reference for the processing unit to identify the working surface for correcting skewed images.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lower portion of the body adjacent to the working surface is of a uniform colour.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two or more cameras are configurable to capture images of documents in portrait or landscape arrangement on the working surface.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, the two or more cameras being substantially identical.

11. The device as claimed in claim 1, the device comprising a sound producing device for producing sound when there is alignment of objects in the working surface.

12. The device as claimed in claim 1, the device comprising a laser pointer for marking out the working surface to facilitate placement of the object.

13. A method for scanning an object on a working surface, the method comprising:

capturing images of the object on the working surface using two or more cameras mounted on a body at a location elevated adjacently above the working surface, the body being located adjacent to the working surface;

angling the two or more cameras such that their range of image captures overlap and the common overlapping region of the range of image captures of the two or more cameras corresponds with the size of the working surface;

spacing apart the two or more cameras such that each of the two or more cameras captures a different angle of the common overlapping region; and

correcting skewed images of the working surface captured by the two or more cameras, or

converting the images captured by the two or more cameras at into a three dimensional image.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, the method further comprising:

spacing apart the two or more cameras from one another and disposing them along a horizontal axis substantially parallel to the working surface, wherein the two or more cameras are pivotable synchronously about the device and rotatable synchronously about the horizontal axis.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, the method further comprising:

facilitating the alignment of a document on the working surface for scanning using one or more feet located at the bottom of the body.

16. The method as claimed in claim 13, the method further comprising:

indicating the position to place the midpoint of a document on the working surface for scanning using indicia located at the foot of the body.

17. The method as claimed in claim 13, the method further comprising:

displaying the captured images of the object on a screen; and

assisting alignment of the object in the captured images using screen markers on the screen.

18. The method as claimed in claim 13, the method further comprising:

spacing apart the two or more cameras by substantially 6.35 cm.

19. The method as claimed in claim 13, the method further comprising:

arranging the two or more cameras to capture part of a lower portion of the body adjacent to the working surface to provide reference for the processing unit to identify the working surface for correcting skewed images.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the lower portion of the body adjacent to the working surface is of a uniform colour.

21. The method as claimed in claim 13, the method further comprising:

configuring the two or more cameras to capture images of documents in portrait or landscape arrangement on the working surface.

22. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the two or more cameras are substantially identical.

23. The method as claimed in claim 13, the method further comprising:

producing sound when there is alignment of objects in the working surface.

24. The method as claimed in claim 13, the method further comprising:

facilitating placement of the object by marking out the working surface using a laser pointer.