Computer input scanner incorporating multiple scanning modes
First Claim
1. A user-manipulated scanner useful as a high resolution input device for a computer, the scanner comprising sensing means for providing an image signal from a fixed image to a display device connected to the computer, said sensing means including a solid state image sensor having a two-dimensional array of picture elements, optical means for directing image light along a light path toward the sensor, and varying means for varying the portion of the fixed image scanned by the sensor in order to compose an image shown on the display device, said scanner being selectively operable in two modes, including a prescan mode in which said varying means is operated by the user to select a portion of the fixed image and in which said portion of the fixed image is rapidly and repeatedly scanned into the computer for substantially real time display of said image signal while operating said means for varying the portion of the fixed image scanned by the sensor, and a high resolution input scan mode in which said portion of the fixed image is scanned for input to the computer, said scanner including hand-activated means for initiating the prescan mode prior to the high resolution scan mode.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A scanner useful as an input device for a computer is operable in two scanning modes: a prescanning mode in which subsampled images are rapidly output to the computer for substantially real-time display, and an input scanning mode in which three successive high resolution color scans are obtained. A fixed image is supported on a movable, hand-manipulated stage that interactively controls the conjugate distances of the optical system so that zooming and cropping is obtained without losing focus. By situating the control buttons for the scanning modes on the movable stage, a single hand can control zooming, cropping, and prescanning without having to interact with a keyboard or like input device to the computer.
46 Citations
16 Claims
- 1. A user-manipulated scanner useful as a high resolution input device for a computer, the scanner comprising sensing means for providing an image signal from a fixed image to a display device connected to the computer, said sensing means including a solid state image sensor having a two-dimensional array of picture elements, optical means for directing image light along a light path toward the sensor, and varying means for varying the portion of the fixed image scanned by the sensor in order to compose an image shown on the display device, said scanner being selectively operable in two modes, including a prescan mode in which said varying means is operated by the user to select a portion of the fixed image and in which said portion of the fixed image is rapidly and repeatedly scanned into the computer for substantially real time display of said image signal while operating said means for varying the portion of the fixed image scanned by the sensor, and a high resolution input scan mode in which said portion of the fixed image is scanned for input to the computer, said scanner including hand-activated means for initiating the prescan mode prior to the high resolution scan mode.
-
8. A manually-operated scanner suitable for one-handed operation and useful as an input device for scanning a fixed image into a computer, said scanner comprising:
-
an image sensor having a two-dimensional array of picture elements; gate means for supporting a fixed image; an optical system defining an optical path for imaging the fixed image upon said sensor; manual hand-operated means for selecting the portion of said fixed image scanned by said sensor; means for imaging a selected portion of the fixed image upon the sensor; a plurality of color filters interposed in the optical path between said gate means and said image sensor; control means for operating the scanner in either of two modes, including a prescan mode in which said portion of the fixed image is imaged through a single color filter interposed in the light path and an image signal is repetitively read from the sensor while said manual hand-operated means for selecting the portion of said fixed image scanned by said sensor is concurrently operated and an input scan mode in which the plurality of filters are sequentially interposed into the light path and a color sequential image is read from the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A manually-operated film scanner suitable for one-handed operation and useful as an input device for scanning a film image into a computer, the scanner comprising an optical system defining an optical path, an image sensing means located in the optical path and including a two-dimensional image sensing array, a gate from supporting the film in the optical path, means for adjusting the optical system to dispose different portions of the film image upon the image sensing means thereby providing the effect of zooming and/or cropping the image scanned into the computer;
-
means for operating the scanner in either of two modes, including a prescan mode in which partial resolution renditions of a selected portion of the image are repeatedly taken from the image sensing means while manually operating said means for adjusting the optical system, and an input scan mode in which a full resolution rendition of said selected portion of the image is taken from the image sensing means; and a manually-operated scanning stage from which said adjusting means and said mode operating means can be actuated in substantial simultaneity by a single hand. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
-
Specification