SCAN STAND SYSTEM FOR IMAGE CAPTURE

• US 20120274842A1
• Filed: 04/20/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patrick G. Cordes
• Original Assignee: Patrick G. Cordes
• Inventors: Cordes, Patrick G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,730,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/373
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/19594 using a television camera or a still video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0422 Media holders, covers, supports, backgrounds; Arrangements to facilitate placing of the medium H04N2201/0406 - H04N2201/0412, H04N2201/0434 take precedence
• 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 2201/045 Mounting the scanning elements in a collapsible or foldable structure, e.g. for ease of transportation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display

Abstract

Embodiments of scan stand systems or kits for positioning a document or other object to be imaged or scanned in relation to an imaging device are described. Also described are embodiments of systems for video conferencing/telephony/scanning and optical projection functions.

Claims

1. A portable scan stand kit for capturing images of documents and other objects, comprising:

a receiver box defining a storage space and an open top, the receiver box having a bottom surface and side walls defining a storage space;

a removable box lid configured to cover the open top and the storage space;

a post system; and

a digital imaging device configured to be supported by the post system above the box in an image scan position, the digital imaging device having a field of view sufficiently large to encompass a document or object positioned on or in the box;

the post system and digital imaging device further configured for sufficient disassembly to fit within the storage space in a storage configuration.

2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the box includes an attachment structure, the post system and attachment structure configured to removably receive a first end of the post system to support the post system in an upright position, the attachment structure configured to permit the post system to be removed from the attachment structure for storage in the box.

3. The kit of claim 2, wherein the attachment structure includes at least one receptacle at or adjacent said one of the side walls, and the first end of the post structure is configured to engage the at least one receptacle.

4. The kit of claim 3, wherein the at least one receptacle is configured with the post system to permit the at least one receptacle to receive the first end of the post system with the box disposed in an upright position on a work surface with the bottom surface adjacent the work surface, and with the box disposed in an inverted, upside-down position relative to the work surface with the open top of the box adjacent the work surface.

5. The kit of claim 4, wherein the lid is configured to attach to the box in the inverted, upside-down position in a cantilevered arrangement to extend a scan bed area.

6. The kit of claim 3, wherein the at least one receptacle includes a plurality of receptacles at spaced locations at or adjacent said one of the side walls.

7. The kit of claim 2, wherein the post system is a telescoping post system configured to provide an adjustable height above the box for positioning the digital imaging device at a plurality of scan positions.

8. The kit of claim 2, wherein the post system includes a first post and an extension post configured to removably attach to the first post to provide a length extension of the post system, to provide a plurality of scan positions of the digital imaging device.

9. The kit of claim 1, further including a flexible gooseneck configured for attachment to the post system and connected to the digital imaging device, the flexible gooseneck configured to allow a user to move the digital imaging device to different scan positions above the box, with the gooseneck attached to the post system.

10. The kit of claim 1, wherein the digital imaging device includes a web camera (webcam).

11. The kit of claim 1 wherein the digital imaging device includes an electronic connection for electronic transfer of a captured image to a computer system.

12. The kit of claim 11, wherein the electronic connection is a cable connected to the digital imaging device and having a connector for connection to a computer.

13. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a target image disposed on the bottom wall of the box for use in manually adjusting a focus of the digital imaging device.

14. The kit of claim 1, wherein the box further includes a set of partition slots disposed on opposite ones of the side walls and configured to receive and support a box partition to reduce a size of the storage volume to configure the box to support a document or other object of a footprint size smaller than the bottom wall in a position to be scanned by the digital imaging device.

15. The kit of claim 1, further comprising:

an imaging device support bracket or tray configured for removable attachment to the post system to be supported by the post system, the support bracket or tray having an opening formed in a bottom surface thereof, the support bracket or tray tray arranged to support the digital imaging device with its field of view through the tray opening.

16. The kit of claim 1, further comprising:

a light shielding structure arranged to cover the camera in the image scan position, the post system and the box, the light shielding structure fabricated of a translucent, flexible material, and configured to be collapsible to a substantially flattened configuration to fit into the box in the storage configuration; and

wherein the post system further comprises a lid support post system to removably attach to the lid structure to support the lid in an elevated position above the digital imaging device in the image scan position, the lid structure configured to support the light shielding structure.

17. The kit of claim 16, wherein the light shielding structure comprising a flap which may be lifted to access the interior of the light shielding structure.

18. A portable scan stand kit for capturing images of documents and other objects, comprising:

a receiver box defining a storage space and an open top, the receiver box having a bottom surface and side walls defining a storage space, the bottom surface providing a document or object support surface for supporting the document or object during an imaging operation;

a removable box lid configured to cover the open top and the storage space;

a post system; and

an imaging device support bracket or tray configured for removable attachment to the post system to be supported by the post system, the support bracket or tray arranged to support a stand-alone digital camera device with its field of view oriented in a direction facing the box in an image scan position;

the post system and imaging device support bracket or tray further configured for sufficient disassembly to fit within the storage space in a storage configuration.

19. The kit of claim 18, wherein the stand-along digital camera device is a cell phone with a camera function.

20. The kit of claim 18, wherein the post system is a telescoping post system configured to provide an adjustable height of the support bracket or tray above the box for positioning the stand-alone digital camera device at a plurality of scan positions.

21. A portable scan stand system for capturing images of documents and other objects, comprising:

a receiver box defining a storage space and an open top, the receiver box having a bottom surface and side walls defining a storage space;

a removable box lid configured to cover the open top and the storage space;

a removable post system configured to attach at a first end to the box and to a digital imaging device to support the digital imaging device above the box in an image scan position to image a document or object positioned on or in the box;

wherein the box includes an attachment structure at one of said side walls, the post system and attachment structure configured to receive the first end of the post system to support the post system in an upright position, the attachment structure configured to permit the post system to be removed from the attachment structure for storage in the box

the post system further configured to fit within the storage space in a storage configuration in an assembled or unassembled condition.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the post system includes a post structure and a bracket structure for removable attachment to the post structure, the bracket structure comprising a main bracket structure having a first end for removable attachment to the post structure and a camera mount structure arranged for pivotal movement relative to the main bracket structure and having a receptacle configured to removably attach to the digital imaging device, the pivotal movement providing vertical adjustment in a position of the digital imaging device.

23. The system of claim 22, further comprising the digital imaging device, and wherein the digital imaging device comprises one of a web camera, a digital camera, and a cell phone with a camera function.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the receiver box is a unitary one piece structure fabricated of a plastic material, and the removable box lid is a one piece unitary structure fabricated of a plastic material.