Automatic scanning parameter setting device and method

• US 7,403,313 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Transpacific IP Group Limited
• Inventors: Kuo, Shih-Zheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Cheukfan
• Application Number:
  US09/967,715
• Publication Number:
  US 20030058484A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,490 Days
• Field of Search: 358/474, 358/486, 358/497, 358/494, 358/442, 358/468, 358/505, 358/401, 358/501, 358/444, 358/448, 358/488, 358/473, 382317-319, 382/312, 382/313
• US Class Current: 358/486
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00005 relating to image data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00039 Analysis, i.e. separating and studying components of a greater whole
• 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 1/0036 Alphanumeric symbols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00371 on a separate sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00376 Means for identifying a mark sheet or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00795 Reading arrangements details of scanning heads H04N1/024; scanning arrangements therefor H04N1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00819 Self-calibrating reading means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00962 Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0402 Scanning different formats; Scanning with different densities of dots per unit length, e.g. different numbers of dots per inch (dpi); Conversion of scanning standards H04N1/00283 takes precedence; picture signal circuits for modification of image resolution H04N1/3935, H04N1/40068
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/33315 reading or reproducing mode only, e.g. sheet size, resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3222 of processing required or performed, e.g. forwarding, urgent or confidential handling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33314 of reading or reproducing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33321 Image or page size, e.g. A3, A4
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33328 Resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/33378 Type or format of data, e.g. colour or B/W, halftone or binary, computer image file or facsimile data

Abstract

An automatic scanning parameter setting device and method. The automatic scanning parameter setting device is a scanner that automatically sets the scanning parameters of a plurality of scan images so that scanning can be conducted in batches. The automatic scanning parameter setting device includes an image input device, an analysis device and a control unit. The image input device is attached to the scanner for inputting a plurality of scan images. A portion of the scan images contains a set parameter format. The set parameter format contains a plurality of scanning parameter values. The analysis device performs an analysis of the scan images containing recorded scan parameter values. The control unit uses the analyzed scanning parameter values to conduct a scanning parameter setting operation on the scan images having recorded scanning parameter values as well as the ordered scan images after the scan images with recorded scan parameter values but without recorded scan parameter values.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an analysis device adapted to analyze one or more scan images to identify one or more scan parameter values included in at least a portion of the scan images and compare the identified scan parameter values to a library of scan parameter values to obtain one or more scanner settings corresponding with the identified scan parameter values, wherein the scan images include a specified set parameter format having an initial label and an end label and the scanning parameter values are located between the initial label and the end label; and

a control unit electrically coupled to the analysis device and adapted to provide said scanner settings to a scanning device.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a buffer.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the buffer is adapted to store the scan images, and wherein said analysis device is adapted to analyze the scan images stored in said buffer.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the buffer is adapted to store the identified scan parameter values.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis device is integrated with to the control unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis device and the control unit are integrated with the scanning device.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an automatic document feeder integrated with the scanning device.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises an application specific integrated circuit.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein text characters are used to represent at least one selected from the group including the initial label, the end label, and the scan parameter values.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis device is adapted to determine whether a particular scan image includes the scan parameter values and is further adapted to indicate the presence of the scan parameter values to the control unit.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the control unit is configured to provide said one or more scanner settings to the scanning device responsive to the analysis device indicating the presence of the scan parameter values.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the scanner settings comprise at least one selected from the group including a scan mode of the image, a resolution, an initial position value, an image size, a color, and a brightness.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising a document input mechanism adapted to receive one or more documents that include the scan images.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

an analysis device adapted to perform a scanning parameter analysis on one or more scan images to identify one or more scan parameter values included in at least a portion of said scan images and compare the identified scan parameter values to a library of scan parameter values to obtain scanner settings corresponding with the identified scan parameter values, wherein the portion of the scan images further includes an initial label and an end label and the one or more scan parameter values are included between the initial label and the end label; and

a control unit adapted to provide settings to a scanner for at least the portion of the scan images based at least in part on said scanning parameter analysis.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a buffer.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the buffer is adapted to store the scan images prior to the a scanning parameter analysis.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the buffer is adapted to store the identified scan parameter values.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control unit and the analysis device are electrically coupled to a host system.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the control unit comprises a central processing unit.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the initial label, the end label and the one or more scan parameter values include text.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the analysis device is further adapted to determine whether a particular scan image includes the scan parameter values and is adapted to indicate the presence of the scan parameter values to the control unit.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the scanner is controlled automatically and responsive to identifying the scanning parameter values.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the scanner settings comprise at least one selected from the group including a scan mode of the image, a resolution, an initial position value, an image size, a color, and a brightness.

24. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an image input device.

25. A method of operating a scanner, comprising:

determining whether an image of a document includes a scan format indication;

wherein the scan format indication includes an initial label and an end label;

if the image does include the scan format indication, comparing said scan format indication to a library of scan format indications to obtain scanner settings corresponding with said included scan format indication; and

scanning the document in accordance with the obtained scanner settings.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising scanning the document in accordance with preset scanner settings if the image does not include the scan format indication.

27. The method of claim 25, further comprising scanning the document in accordance with scanner settings associated with a previous image if the image does not include the scan format indication.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the initial label and the end label are represented by text characters.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the scan format indication includes text characters positioned between the labels.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the scanner settings comprise at least one selected from the group including a scan mode, a resolution, an initial position value, an image size, a color, and a brightness.