Wedge scanner utilizing two dimensional sensing arrays

• US 5,359,207 A
• Filed: 11/29/1993
• Issued: 10/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Turner, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MINTEL, WILLIAM A
• Application Number:
  US08/158,676
• Time in Patent Office: 330 Days
• Field of Search: 257/98, 257/432, 257/443, 257/466, 257/80, 257/81, 257/82, 257/84, 257/85, 359/831, 250/208.1, 250/568, 250/370.09, 250/370.06, 250/370.11, 250/370.14
• US Class Current: 257/81
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14643 Photodiode arrays; MOS imagers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/02815 Means for illuminating the original, not specific to a particular type of pick-up head
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0285 in combination with at least one reflector which is in fixed relation to the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/02855 in combination with a light guide, e.g. optical fibre, glass plate light-guides per se G02B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0289 Light diffusing elements, e.g. plates or filters optical diffusing elements per se G02B5/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/10 using flat picture-bearing surfaces H04N1/113, H04N1/195 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/195 the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0434 specially adapted for scanning pages of a book

Abstract

The present invention is a novel book scanner that employs 2-dimensional array detectors attached, either rigidly or rotatably, at a common edge and disposed in a wedge shaped manner. The opposite edges of the arrays are housed in a base portion. The base portion additionally supports backlight to provide the necessary illumination of the book pages and the read-out electronics which output the image data stored in the detectors to other processing units that may use such data.

Claims

1. A scanner for capturing the image of pages in a book, said scanner comprising:

a substantially wedge shaped member having an apex and a pair of angularly splayed surfaces extending from said apex, upon which a partially opened book may be supported with its spine adjacent said apex and its opposing pages adjacent said surfaces;

a 2-dimensional detector located upon each of said surfaces for collecting image data;

a light source for illuminating the opposing pages through said detector; and

read-out circuitry connected to said detector for obtaining image data collected by said detector.

2. A scanner for capturing the image of pages in a book, said scanner comprising:

a first and a second 2-dimensional detector, each detector having a surface, a first edge and a second edge opposite said first edge, said detectors coupled at said first edges such that said surfaces are disposed in a substantial wedge shape;

a light source for illuminating the opposing pages through said detector; and

read-out circuitry connected to said detector for obtaining image data collected by said detector.

3. A scanner as recited in claim 2 wherein said first and second detectors are rigidly coupled at said first edges.

4. A scanner as recited in claim 2 wherein said first and second detectors are rotatably coupled.

5. A scanner as recited in claim 2 wherein said first and second detector are electrically coupled such that there is one logical scanning surface.

6. A scanner as recited in claim 5 wherein the first and second detectors, each detector having grid lines, are coupled such that each pair of corresponding grid lines is connected by a connector.

7. A scanner as recited in claim 5 wherein the first and second detectors, each detector having grid lines, are coupled such that each grid line from each said detector is connected to an interconnect circuit.