PORTABLE DEVICE SCANNER SUPPORT WITH CONTOUR CORRECTION AND AUTOMATIC COPYING

• US 20150138609A1
• Filed: 11/18/2013
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Golding, Michael Peter, Wilsher, Michael John, Roche, Lee, Jenkins, Jack Douglas Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 9,041,982 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/447
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00541 with detachable image reading apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00557 Connection or assembly of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00559 Mounting or support of components or elements H04N1/00538 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/10 using flat picture-bearing surfaces H04N1/113, H04N1/195 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0096 Portable devices

Abstract

Systems and methods use a supporting arm having a first end and a second end, and a program of scanning instructions readable by a computerized processor. The first end of the supporting arm is connected to a secondary device. The second end of the supporting arm holds a portable device comprising a camera. The camera has a field of view within which images are captured. The portable device maintains the scanning instructions. The second end of the supporting arm is positioned to hold the camera in a location, relative to the secondary device, to maintain the surface of the secondary device within the field of view of the camera. The camera of the portable device obtains images of objects placed on the surface of the secondary device when the portable device is held by the portable device holder.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a support arm having a first end and a second end; and

a program of scanning instructions readable by a computerized processor,

said first end of said support arm comprising a surface connector,

said surface connector being sized and shaped to connect to a secondary device,

said second end of said support arm comprising a portable device holder,

said portable device holder being sized and shaped to hold a portable device comprising a camera,

said camera having a field of view within which images are captured,

said portable device maintaining said scanning instructions,

said second end of said support arm being positioned to hold said camera in a location, relative to said secondary device, to maintain a surface of said secondary device within said field of view of said camera,

said camera of said portable device obtaining images of objects placed on said surface of said secondary device when said portable device is held by said portable device holder, and

said scanning instructions causing a processor of said portable device to automatically correct distortions of said images of said objects placed on said surface of said secondary device to generate undistorted images of said objects.

2. The system according to claim 1, said portable device holder comprising one of a biased clamp and a slotted frame holding said portable device.

3. The system according to claim 1, said surface connector comprising one of a biased clamp and permanent physical connections.

4. The system according to claim 1, said scanning instructions causing said portable device to display a grid on said objects to obtain images of grid covered objects.

5. The system according to claim 4, said causing said processor of said portable device to automatically correct distortions uses said images of grid covered objects to determine an amount of angular distortion within said images of said objects for distortion correction.

6. The system according to claim 1, said portable device comprising one of a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, a tablet computer, and a stand-alone digital camera.

7. The system according to claim 1, said undistorted images containing said objects appearing as laid flat on said surface.

8. A system comprising:

a support arm having a first end and a second end; and

a program of copying instructions readable by a computerized processor,

said first end of said support arm comprising a surface connector,

said surface connector being sized and shaped to connect to a printer device,

said second end of said support arm comprising a portable device holder,

said portable device holder being sized and shaped to hold a portable device comprising a camera,

said camera having a field of view within which images are captured,

said portable device and said printer device maintaining said copying instructions,

said second end of said support arm being positioned to hold said camera in a location, relative to said printer device, to maintain a surface of said printer device within said field of view of said camera,

said camera of said portable device obtaining images of objects placed on said surface of said printer device when said portable device is held by said portable device holder,

said copying instructions causing a processor of said portable device to automatically correct distortions of said images of said objects placed on said surface of said printer device to generate undistorted images of said objects,

said copying instructions causing said processor to forward said undistorted images of said objects to said printer device, and

said copying instructions causing said printer device to print said undistorted images of said objects.

9. The system according to claim 8, said portable device holder comprising one of a biased clamp and a slotted frame holding said portable device.

10. The system according to claim 8, said surface connector comprising one of a biased clamp and permanent physical connections.

11. The system according to claim 8, said copying instructions causing said portable device to display a grid on said objects to obtain images of grid covered objects.

12. The system according to claim 11, said causing said processor of said portable device to automatically correct distortions uses said images of grid covered objects to determine an amount of angular distortion within said images of said objects for distortion correction.

13. The system according to claim 8, said portable device comprising one of a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, a tablet computer, and a stand-alone digital camera.

14. The system according to claim 8, said undistorted images containing said objects appearing as laid flat on said surface.

15. A method comprising:

connecting a first end of a support arm to a secondary device using a surface connector of said first end of said support arm;

connecting a second end of said support arm to a portable device using a portable device holder of said second end of said support arm, said portable device holder being sized and shaped to hold said portable device, said portable device comprising a camera;

positioning said second end of said support arm to hold said camera in a location, relative to said secondary device, to maintain a surface of said secondary device within a field of view of said camera, said portable device maintaining a program of scanning instructions readable by a computerized processor;

obtaining images of objects placed on said surface of said secondary device using said camera of said portable device when said portable device is held by said portable device holder; and

automatically correcting distortions of said images of said objects placed on said surface of said printer using said scanning instructions executed by a processor of said portable device to generate undistorted images of said objects.

16. The method according to claim 15, said connecting said second end of said support arm to said portable device comprising using one of a biased clamp and a slotted frame to hold said portable device.

17. The method according to claim 15, said connecting said first end of said support arm to said secondary device comprising using one of a biased clamp and permanent physical connections.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising causing said portable device to display a grid on said objects during said obtaining images of said objects using said scanning instructions executed by said processor of said portable device to obtain images of grid covered objects.

19. The method according to claim 18, said automatically correcting distortions using said images of grid covered objects to determine an amount of angular distortion within said images of said objects.

20. The method according to claim 15, said undistorted images containing said objects appearing as laid flat on said surface.