PORTABLE SCANNER

• US 20120300269A1
• Filed: 07/27/2012
• Published: 11/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sunwell Concept Limited
• Original Assignee: Sunwell Concept Limited
• Inventors: SUEN, Chih Hoh, Li, Watson
• Granted Patent: US 8,767,269 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/474
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00326 with a data reading, recognizing or recording apparatus, e.g. with a bar-code apparatus arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus G11B31/00
• 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 1/107 with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/19594 using a television camera or a still video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0056 Using mechanical couplings, e.g. mating elements H04N2201/0049, H04N2201/0051, H04N2201/0058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0087 Image storage device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0096 Portable devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0452 Indicating the scanned area, e.g. by projecting light marks onto the medium

Abstract

A portable document scanner that records both image and voice information, comprises a digital camera module configured to capture document images, and a laser frame generator configured to project a visible beam of light forming a laser frame to indicate the corresponding field of view of the optical lens for framing a document to be captured. A light source generated by a laser diode is shaped by passing through a collimating optical element and a diffractive optical element which is configured to produce a visible laser frame for framing a document to be captured. The captured data is then stored in an internal memory of the scanner. A data connector is permanently attached to the scanner body, which is used to connect the scanner directly into a receptacle on an external device for accessing data.

Claims

1. A portable scanner comprising:

a digital camera module configured to capture digital images;

an optical lens optically coupled to the digital camera module;

a laser frame generator configured to project a visible laser frame having a two-dimensional interference pattern;

a portable scanner body housing at least the digital camera module and the optical lens;

a power supply coupled to the digital camera module and configured to supply power to the digital camera module;

a control interface on the portable scanner body comprising a power button and a shutter button, wherein the power button is configured to cause the portable scanner to turn on, and the shutter button is configured to control capturing of digital images;

a memory coupled to the digital camera module and configured to store the digital images captured by the digital camera module; and

a data connector for connecting with an external computer to transfer stored data.

2. The portable scanner of claim 1, wherein the portable scanner further comprises an auxiliary light configured to provide illumination for capturing image under the condition of low ambient light.

3. The portable scanner of claim 1, wherein the digital camera module comprises:

a digital image sensor optically coupled to the optical lens; and

a central processor for providing functions and controls on image data acquisition and capture from the image sensor.

4. The portable scanner of claim 1, wherein the laser frame generator comprises:

A laser diode;

a collimating element through which a collimated light source is formed when a light source of the laser diode passes;

at least one diffractive optical element which receives the collimated light source generated by the laser diode via the collimating optical element, wherein the diffractive optical element is employed to produce a highly structured visible laser output by interference effect; and

a laser frame generator body housing at least the laser diode.

5. The portable scanner of claim 1, wherein the memory comprises a non-volatile internal memory or a removable memory.

6. The portable scanner of claim 1, wherein the shutter button comprises a two-stage pressure sensitive button, when the shutter button is pressed to the first stage, the projection of the laser frame is activated, and when the shutter button is further depressed to the second stage, the image capture mechanism is activated.

7. The portable scanner of claim 1, wherein the portable scanner further comprises an auto-focus unit coupled to the digital camera module, wherein the auto-focus unit is configured to adjust the optical lens to obtain best focus of image to the image sensor according to various distance between the portable scanner and the object being captured;

the auto-focus unit comprises a driver moving a position of the optical lens relative to the digital camera module in a light axial direction.

8. The portable scanner of claim 1, wherein the portable scanner further comprises:

a microphone and audio sensor coupled to the digital camera module.

9. The portable scanner of claim 1, wherein the portable scanner further comprises:

a audio indicator coupled to the digital camera module.

10. The portable scanner of claim 1, wherein the portable scanner further comprises:

a visual indicator coupled to the digital camera module.

11. The portable scanner of claim 1, wherein the control interface further comprises:

a mode button configured to change mode of operation between image capturing and voice recording.

12. The portable scanner of claim 1, wherein the data connector is configured to protrude from a distal end of the scanner body.

13. The portable scanner of claim 1, wherein the portable scanner further comprises a pen mechanism having a hollow proximal end which is removably attachable to a distal end of the scanner body, wherein the pen mechanism comprises:

a retractable pen cartridge;

a single assembly having means for connection to a distal end of the scanner body;

wherein the pen cartridge is capable of advanced or retracted by twisting the assembly relative to the scanner body; and

the pen mechanism is capable of being removably attached to the scanner body when the portable scanner is not coupled to the data port of external computer, and detached from the scanner body when the portable scanner is coupled to the data port of external computer.

14. The portable scanner of claim 1, wherein the portable scanner further comprises a protective outer cap configured to be removably attachable to the data connector;

wherein the protective outer cap comprises;

an opening for accepting a key ring; and

the protective outer cap is capable of being removably attached to the data connector when the portable scanner is not coupled to the data port of external computer, and detached from the data connector when the portable scanner is coupled to the data port of external computer.