Image scanner with a function of initiating scanning automatically

• US 5,900,950 A
• Filed: 08/19/1997
• Issued: 05/04/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mustek Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Hsu, Adolf T. R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Cheukfan
• Application Number:
  US08/914,175
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 358/497, 358/494, 358/474, 358/471, 358/488, 358/461, 358/464, 358/400, 358/401, 358/296, 358/498, 358/475, 358/487, 358/505, 358/506, 358/513, 358/514, 358/496, 250/208.1, 355/75, 399/9, 399/32, 399/206
• US Class Current: 358/497
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00 Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof

Abstract

This relates to an image scanner with a function of initiating scanning automatically. In addition to the main light source, an independent light source is provided in an image scanner for supplying a specific light signal, and a corresponding sensing window is also provided for detecting the open/close status of the top cover by means of the existing CCD/CIS in the image scanner, and decide the scanning of the document automatically or not accordingly. The independent light source being provided can be lighted on continually or be flickering for cooperating with the sensing window for detecting the open/close status of the top cover.

Claims

1. An image scanner with a function of initiating scanning automatically, wherein a sensing window is provided in front of a scanning start position of a document window of said image scanner, and an additional independent light source is provided below said sensing window, thereby to cooperate with CCD/CIS (charge-coupled device/contact image sensor) on the optical carriage of said image scanner to detect the open/close status of a top cover of said image scanner, a specific pattern of the portion of said top cover corresponding to said sensing window can not be all black, so as to determine to automatically initiate scanning of said image scanner or not.

2. The image scanner according to claim 1, wherein when said optical carriage of said image scanner moves to a position below said sensing window, said independent light source is turned on, so said CCD/CIS on said optical carriage can detect said specific pattern of the portion of said top cover corresponding to said sensing window, so as to determine to automatically initiate scanning of said image scanner or not, and when said optical carriage leaves said sensing window, said independent light source as turned off automatically.

3. The image scanner according to claim 1, wherein when said optical carriage of said image scanner moves to a position below said sensing window, said independent, light source will be flickering, so said CCD/CIS on said optical carriage can detect a brightness variation of the portion of said top cover corresponding to said sensing window, so as to determine to automatically initiate scanning of said image scanner or not, and when said optical carriage leaves said sensing window, said independent light source is turned off automatically.

4. The image scanner according to claim 3, wherein when said optical carriage of said image scanner moves to said position below said sensing window, said independent light source will be flickering, so said CCD/CIS on said optical carriage can detect a brightness variation of a portion of said top cover corresponding to said sensing window, while said CCD/CIS on said optical carriage will detect said specific pattern of the portion of said top cover corresponding to said sensing window as said independent light source is lighted on, so as to determine to automatically initiate scanning of said image scanner or not, and when said optical carriage leaves said sensing window, said independent light source is turned off automatically.

5. The image scanner according to claim 1, wherein said independent light source is LED.

6. The image scanner according to claim 1, wherein the number of said sensing window can be greater than 1, the size and position of said sensing window should be able to pass the light emitted from said independent light source and the reflected light thereof for said CCD/CIS to detect, and the number of said independent light source can also be greater than 1.