PORTABLE SCANNING DEVICE

• US 20110242617A1
• Filed: 09/29/2010
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Kushler, Clifford A., Stafford-Fraser, James Q., King, Martin T., Grover, Dale L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,179,563 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/474
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/284 Lexical analysis, e.g. tokenisation or collocates
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/12 Details of acquisition arrangements; Constructional details thereof

Abstract

A handheld optical scanner for capturing images of text from a rendered document is described. The scanner includes a package suitable to be held in a user'"'"'s hand. The package contains an optical sensor that captures images of text from a rendered document. The package also contains a proximity sensor that determines when the optical sensor is within a predetermined distance and orientation of a rendered document. The package further contains a triggering mechanism that causes the optical sensor to capture an image of text from a rendered document when the proximity sensor determines that the optical sensor is within a predetermined distance and orientation of a rendered document.

Claims

1. A handheld optical scanner for capturing images of text from a rendered document, comprising:

a package adapted to be held in a user'"'"'s hand; and

inside the package;

an optical sensor that captures images of text from a rendered document;

a proximity sensor that determines when the optical sensor is within a predetermined distance and orientation of a rendered document; and

a triggering mechanism that causes the optical sensor to capture an image of text from a rendered document when the proximity sensor determines that the optical sensor is within a predetermined distance and orientation of a rendered document.

2. The handheld optical scanner of claim 1, further comprising an output indicator.

3. The handheld optical scanner of claim 2, further comprising a source of electrical energy used to power components of the handheld optical scanner, wherein the output indicator indicates that the electrical energy source has been exhausted.

4. The handheld optical scanner of claim 2 wherein the output indicator indicates that text recently scanned from a rendered document by the user should be re-scanned.

5. The handheld optical scanner of claim 2, further comprising a data interface for exchanging data between the scanner and a host, wherein the output indicator indicates whether the data interface is presently connected to a host.

6. The handheld optical scanner of claim 2, further comprising a gesture detection subsystem for detecting the performance of a gesture with the scanner,

wherein the output indicator indicates that the gesture detection subsystem has detected the performance of a gesture.

7. The handheld optical scanner of claim 2, further comprising a memory that stores images of text captured from a rendered document, wherein the output indicator indicates that the extent to which capacity of the memory has been consumed.

8. The handheld optical scanner of claim 2 wherein the output indicator indicates that text recently scanned from a rendered document by the user is adequate to uniquely identify the rendered document.

9. The handheld optical scanner of claim 2 wherein the output indicator indicates that text recently scanned from a rendered document by the user is adequate to uniquely identify an electronic document from which the rendered document was rendered.

10. The handheld optical scanner of claim 2 wherein the output indicator is a visual indicator.

11. The handheld optical scanner of claim 2 wherein the output indicator is an audio indicator.

12. The handheld optical scanner of claim 2 wherein the output indicator causes the package to vibrate.

13. The handheld optical scanner of claim 1, further comprising a memory for storing images of text captured from a rendered document.

14. The handheld optical scanner of claim 1, further comprising:

a clock; and

a timestamping module that associates with each image of text stored in the memory an indication of a time obtained from the clock when the image of text was captured from a rendered document.

41. The handheld optical scanner of claim 1, wherein the package is a housing for a mobile phone.

42. The handheld optical scanner of claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor determines when the optical sensor is within the predetermined distance and orientation of the rendered document based on image data received from the optical sensor.

15-40. -40. (canceled)

43. A method for interacting with a rendered document using a mobile phone, the method comprising:

capturing, using a camera of the mobile phone, an image of a portion of a rendered document;

presenting, via a display of the mobile phone, a menu of user-selectable options associated with the content within the image of the portion of the rendered document; and

performing an action in response to receiving a selection of one of the user-selectable options.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

detecting that the mobile phone is within a predetermined proximity to the rendered document; and

automatically capturing the image of the portion of the rendered document in response to the detection.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

identifying an electronic counterpart of the rendered document based on the content within the image;

wherein performing the action includes presenting the electronic counterpart of the rendered document.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

identifying an electronic counterpart of the rendered document based on the content within the image;

wherein performing the action includes electronically transmitting the electronic counterpart of the rendered document to a recipient.