Cordless image scanner

• US 5,550,938 A
• Filed: 12/21/1993
• Issued: 08/27/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Hayakawa, Tomohiko, Tashima, Toshihiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Boudreau, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Phuoc
• Application Number:
  US08/170,918
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 358/473, 382/59, 382/61, 382/65, 382/67, 382/313, 382/314, 382/315, 382/317, 382/321, 382/323, 382/189, 364/708.1, 364/709.11
• US Class Current: 382/313
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/002 Specific input/output arrangements not covered by G06F3/01 - G06F3/16 other optical apparatus G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00204 with a digital computer or a digital computer system, e.g. an internet server programmed control between transmitter and receiver or between image input and image output device H04N1/32561
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32358 using picture signal storage, e.g. at transmitter H04N1/17 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0034 Details of the connection, e.g. connector, interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0077 Types of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0089 Image display device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/043 Viewing the scanned area

Abstract

An image scanner comprises an image sensor for inputting image data, a rotary encoder, LED and read out window for reading image data, a buffer D RAM, ROM and S RAM for storing image data, a LCD display for displaying input image data, a power source for supplying electrical power, and a memory card for communicating stored image data to a host, wherein the above elements are formed as a cordless, card-shaped unit.

Claims

1. A cordless hand-held image scanner comprising:

input means for inputting image data;

reading means for enabling said input means to input image data;

data storing means for storing image data input through said input means and reading means;

display means for displaying data input through said input means and for displaying, after the inputting and storing of said image data has been completed, image data stored in said data storing means;

processing means connected to said input means, reading means and display means for causing said display means to display input image data thereby enabling a user of said image scanner to correct movement of said scanner as said image data is input;

power supply means for supplying electrical power;

communication means for communicating the stored image data with a host computer; and

a common card-shaped housing for supporting said input means, reading means, data storing means, display means, processing means, power supply means and communication means, said housing being user graspable and having a generally planar configuration with substantially coextensive upper and lower surfaces and side edges connecting said upper and lower surfaces, the planar area of each of said upper and lower surfaces being greater than that of said side edges, the lower surface of said housing including a read out window through which image data is input to said input means, the upper surface of said housing supporting said display means, said display means being rotatably mounted to said housing and including at least one handle for raising said display means by rotation relative to said housing from a first position where said display means forms a substantially planar upper surface of said housing to a second upstanding position.

2. An image scanner according to claim 1, wherein said reading means includes:

a pair of spaced apart axially aligned rotary encoders adjacent one end of said lower surface for rolling said image scanner across a script; and

a LED for illuminating the script; and

said read out window being located between said rotary encoders through which said image sensor reads image data.

3. An image scanner according to claim 1, wherein said display means is a touch panel, and wherein said display means includes handles for standing up said touch panel.

4. An image scanner according to claim 1, wherein said processing means further enables a user to see an entire image after completion of scanning.

5. An image scanner according to claim 1, wherein said communication means comprises a card edge type connector provided on one of the side edges of said housing which can be connected to the host computer.

6. An image scanner according to claim 1, further comprising control means for controlling operation of said reading means, said data storing means, said display means and said communication means.

7. An image scanner according to claim 6, wherein said control means causes said scanner to have a plurality of modes of operation, further comprising selection means for selecting one of said plurality of modes of operation, wherein said plurality of modes of operation includes at least one of displaying image data, inputting image data, storing image data, and transferring stored image data to said host computer.

8. An image scanner according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of modes of operation includes a display mode, and when said control means causes said scanner to be in said display mode of operation, said control means enables said display means to display data stored in said data storing means.

9. An image scanner according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of modes of operation includes a reading mode, and when said control means causes said scanner to be in said reading mode of operation, said control means enables said reading means and said processing means such that image data is input by said input means and displayed on said display means.

10. An image scanner according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of modes of operation includes a storing mode following said reading mode, and when said control means causes said scanner to be in said storing mode of operation, said control means enables said data storing means to store image data input through said input means and said reading means.

11. An image scanner according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of modes of operation includes a storing mode, and when said control means causes said scanner to be in said storing mode of operation, said control means enables said data storing means to store image data input through said input means and said reading means.

12. An image scanner according to claim 7, wherein said plurality of modes of operation includes a communication mode, and when said control means causes said scanner to be in said communication mode of operation, said control means enables said communication means to communicate said stored image data with said host computer.

13. An image scanner according to claim 7, wherein said data storing means stores image data for a plurality of images, and wherein said control means enables said display means to display image data corresponding to a selected one of said plurality of images.

14. An image scanner according to claim 1, wherein said data storing means stores image data for a plurality of images, and wherein said display means can display image data corresponding to a selected one of said plurality of images.

15. An image scanner according to claim 1, wherein said data storing means stores image data for a plurality of images, and wherein said communication means can communicate image data corresponding to a selected one of said plurality of images to said host computer.