Optical imaging device with speed variable illumination

• US 6,646,244 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Nuttall, Gordon R., Aas, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Porta, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Patrick J.
• Application Number:
  US10/027,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20030111589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 250/208.1, 250/216, 250/205-206, 250/239, 250/227.26, 250/227-8-2, 250/234-236, 250/556, 250/566, 250/559-2-5, 250/559.4, 385/136, 358/505, 358/524, 358/474, 358/480, 358/482, 358/488, 358/496, 358/475, 355/41, 355/67-68, 355/84, 359/200-201, 359/298, 359/310, 359/315, 359/318, 382/112, 382/116-117, 382/162-167
• US Class Current: 250/205
• 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 1/031 the photodetectors having a one-to-one and optically positive correspondence with the scanned picture elements, e.g. linear contact sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/107 with manual scanning
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0458 Additional arrangements for improving or optimising scanning resolution or quality
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0471 using dedicated detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/04731 in the sub-scan direction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/04743 by detecting the image directly detecting reference images H04N2201/04717

Abstract

The invention discloses a system and method for an optical imaging device comprising an image sensor for reading image data from an original slid over the image sensor, a variable power interface for varying an intensity of an illumination source corresponding to the image sensor, wherein the intensity is varied responsive to velocities of the original slid over the image sensor, and a processor for processing the image data.

Claims

1. A hand-held optical imaging device comprising:

an image sensor for reading image data from an original slid by a user over said image sensor;

a variable power interface for varying an intensity of an illumination source corresponding to said image sensor, wherein said intensity is varied responsive to velocities of said original slid over said image sensor; and

a processor for processing said image data.

2. The hand-held optical imaging device of claim 1 further comprising:

a motion detector for calculating said velocities of said original.

3. The hand-held optical imaging device of claim 1 further comprising:

a rail guide protruding along an edge of said device for restricting a dimension of movement of said original.

4. The hand-held optical imaging device of claim 3 wherein said rail guide is disposed substantially perpendicular to said image sensor.

5. The hand-held optical imaging device of claim 2 wherein said motion detector:

activates said image sensor when said original is placed against said motion detector.

6. The hand-held optical imaging device of claim 1 further comprising

a friction guide disposed adjacent from said image sensor for securely supporting said original against said image sensor while sliding said original across said image sensor.

7. The hand-held optical imaging device of claim 2 further comprising:

a second motion detector for calculating velocities of said original slid over said second motion detector.

8. The hand-held optical image device of claim 1 wherein said motion detector captures an area of feature data for detecting surface features of said original for use in said velocity calculation.

9. The hand-held optical imaging device of claim 1 wherein said processor processes said image data into a portable digital image format.

10. A method of optoelectronically copying an original image comprising the steps of:

passing said original image over a first optical sensor during said passing;

calculating a speed of said original image;

adjusting an exposure timing of said first optical sensor responsive to said calculated speed;

varying an intensity of light sources associated with said first optical sensor; and

electronically copying said original image using image data obtained by said first optical sensor.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

sliding said original image across a second optical sensor; and

using position data obtained by said second optical sensor to perform said calculating step.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

using a linear track to restrict a direction of said original image during said sliding step.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

passing an end of said original image by said second optical sensor;

calculating a remaining time using said calculated speed and a distance between said second optical sensor and said first optical sensor; and

deactivating said first optical sensor after expiration of said remaining time.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said electronically copying step comprises:

processing said image data into an image format.

15. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

slideably bracing said original image against said first optical sensor during said passing step.

16. An optical imaging device comprising:

illumination means for providing illumination to an original to be scanned;

imaging means for directing light reflected from said original to form an image on an image sensor;

mounting means for holding said imaging means, said illumination means, and said image sensor in relationship for scanning;

motion means for providing relative motion between said mounting means and said original;

measurement means for measuring the speed of said relative motion; and

light control means for varying an intensity of said illumination in response to variation in said speed while a user manually moves said original to be scanned over said optical imaging device.

17. The optical imaging device of claim 16 wherein said light control means increases said intensity when said speed increases, and decreases said intensity when said speed decreases.

18. The optical imaging device of claim 17 wherein said light control means varies said intensity substantially in direct proportion to said speed.

19. The optical imaging device of claim 16 further comprising:

restriction means for restricting a motion of said original to substantially one dimension.

20. The optical imaging device of claim 16 further comprising:

detection means for activating said illumination means by detecting a presence of said original.

21. A method of optoelectronically copying an image, comprising:

moving said image over an optical sensor;

calculating a velocity of the image over the optical sensor;

using said velocity to adjust a sampling rate of the optical sensor; and

using the velocity to adjust illumination to the image.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein a user performs the step of moving the image over the optical sensor.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein a user manually slides the image over said optical sensor.