Scanner having remote control system

• US 6,141,043 A
• Filed: 06/09/1997
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Ohishi, Michiro, Suzuki, Minoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Au, Amelia
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Martin E.
• Application Number:
  US08/870,128
• Time in Patent Office: 1,240 Days
• Field of Search: 382/313, 382/314, 382/317, 340/825.69, 340/825.71, 340/825.72, 348/734, 348/836, 348/211, 348/376, 386/83, 359/196-226, 250/201.2, 250/201.4, 250/201.7, 250/201.8, 250/206.1, 250/234-236, 358/474, 358/482, 358/494, 358/296, 396/6, 396/53-59
• US Class Current: 348/211.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00397 Switches, knobs or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00405 Output means output arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0049 providing a visual indication to the user, e.g. using a lamp H04N1/00408 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00538 Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00925 Inhibiting an operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/113 using oscillating or rotating mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0075 by a user operated remote control device, e.g. receiving instructions from a user via a computer terminal or mobile telephone handset

Abstract

A scanner that scans an object using a one-dimensional image sensor in order to capture a two-dimensional object is provided with a detachable remote control device. The scanner is controlled such that scanning will only be performed when the remote control device is detached from the scanner.

Claims

1. A scanner comprising:

a body;

an image sensor, housed in said body, said image sensor capturing a line image;

a scan system that scans an object such that said image sensor captures a plurality of line images to form a two-dimensional image of said object;

a remote control device detachably provided to said body, said remote control device including an operation switch that instructs said scan system to start scanning and a signal sending portion that sends a signal representing said instruction;

a signal receiving device that receives said signal from said remote control device;

a detecting device which detects if said remote control device is attached to said body; and

a control unit which controls said scan system;

wherein said control unit, responsive to said signal received by said signal receiving device, drives said scan system only when said detecting device detects that said remote control device is detached from said body, and when said operation switch of said remote control device is operated.

2. The scanner according to claim 1, wherein said control unit performs a predetermined procedure other than driving said scan system, when said signal receiving device receives said signal and said detecting device detects that said remote control device is attached to said body.

3. The scanner according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is arranged to determine if said detecting device detects that said remote control device is detached from said body after said signal receiving device receives said signal from said remote control device.

4. The scanner according to claim 1, said scan system comprising a scanning mirror rotatable about an axis parallel to said image sensor and a scanning mirror drive mechanism for rotating said scanning mirror.

5. The scanner according to claim 1, said body provided with a recessed portion for mounting said remote control device.

6. The scanner according to claim 5, said detecting device comprising a photo-sensor provided at said recessed portion.

7. The scanner according to claim 1, said signal sending portion comprising an infrared LED and said signal receiving device comprising an infrared sensor.

8. The scanner according to claim 1, said signal receiving device comprising a first sensor provided to an outer surface of said body and a second sensor provided to said recessed portion.

9. The scanner according to claim 8, wherein the sensitivity of said second sensor is lower than the sensitivity of said first sensor.

14. The scanner according to claim 1, upon detection that said remote control device is attached to said body, operation of said operation switch of said remote control device actuates a non-scanning operation.

15. The scanner according to claim 1, said scan system being inoperable to perform an object scan when said remote control device is attached to said body.

16. The scanner according to claim 1, wherein in response only to said signal received by said signal receiving device, said control unit drives said scan system only when said detecting device detects that said remote control device is detached from said body and when said operation switch of said remote control device is operated.

10. A scanner comprising:

a body;

an image sensor housed in said body, said image sensor capturing a line image;

a scanning mirror provided in a light path between said image sensor and an object, said scanning mirror rotatable about an axis parallel to said image sensor;

a scan system that rotates said scanning mirror thereby to capture a two-dimensional image;

a remote control device detachably provided to said body, said remote control device including an operation switch that instructs said scan system to start scanning and a signal sending portion that sends a signal representing said instruction;

a signal receiving device that receives said signal from said remote control device;

a detecting device which detects if said remote control device is attached to said body; and

a control unit which controls said scan system;

wherein said control unit, responsive to said signal received by said signal receiving device, drives said scan system only when said detecting device detects that said remote control device is detached from said body and when said operation switch of said remote control device is operated.

11. The scanner according to claim 10, wherein said control unit performs a predetermined procedure other than rotating said scanning mirror, when said signal receiving device receives said signal and said detecting device detects that said remote control device is attached to said body.

12. The scanner according to claim 10, said body provided with a recessed portion for mounting said remote control device.

13. The scanner according to claim 12, said detecting device comprising a photo-sensor provided to said recessed portion.

17. The scanner according to claim 10, upon detection that said remote control is attached to said body, operation of said operation switch of said remote control device actuates a non-scanning operation.

18. The scanner according to claim 10, said scan system being disabled from performing an object scan when said remote control device is attached to said body.

19. The scanner according to claim 10, wherein in response only to said signal received by said signal receiving device, said control unit drives said scan system only when said detecting device detects that said remote control device is detached from said body and when said operation switch of said remote control device is operated.

20. A scanner comprising:

a body, said body including a first signal receiving device and a second signal receiving device;

an image sensor housed in said body, said image sensor capturing a line image;

a scanning system positioned in said body, said scanning system scanning an object to enable said image sensor to capture a plurality of line images to form a two-dimensional image of said object;

a remote control device detachably provided to said body, said remote control device including an operation switch that controls said scan system to perform a scanning operation and a signal sender that sends a signal to either said first signal receiving device of said body or to said second signal receiving device of said body;

a control unit which controls said scanner;

wherein said control unit, responsive to a signal received by said first signal receiving device from said signal sender of said remote control device drives said scanning system, said control unit performing another operation, distinct from driving of said scanning system responsive to a signal received by said second signal receiving device from said signal sender of said remote control;

said remote control device actuating said scanning system to scan an object only when said remote device is attached from said body.

21. The scanner according to claim 20, said signal sender transmits a signal to said first signal receiving device when said remote control device is detached from said body and transmits a signal to said second signal receiving device when said remote control device is attached to said body.

22. The scanner according to claim 20, further comprising a sensor for determining whether said remote control device is attached to or detached from said body.

23. The scanner according to claim 20, a sensitivity of said first signal receiving device being larger than a sensitivity of said second signal receiving device.

24. The scanner according to claim 20, said signal sender comprising an infrared LED cooperating with either said first signal receiving device or said second signal receiving device.