Method for selecting and adjusting scanner illuminant

• US 7,679,791 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2003
• Issued: 03/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Transpacific Systems LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Chen, Chun-Jen
• Primary Examiner(s): Worku; Negussie
• Application Number:
  US10/337,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20040130756A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,626 Days
• Field of Search: 358/475, 358/509, 358/474, 358/487, 358/486, 358/494, 358/402, 358/446, 355/233, 235/454, 250/208.1, 250/214.1, 250/221, 250/222.1, 345/211, 345/100, 345/212, 348/371, 348/372, 348/33.13
• US Class Current: 358/474
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00885 Power supply means, e.g. arrangements for the control of power supply to the apparatus or components thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00901 Using different supplies or connection to an external supply H04N1/00893, H04N1/00896 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00904 Arrangements for supplying power to different circuits or for supplying power at different levels H04N1/00896 takes precedence

Abstract

A method applied in a scanner for selecting and adjusting scanner illuminants including procedures herein below is provided. Start the scanner; determine what type of power supply the scanner is connected to; select suitable illuminant which fits the adopted power supply; and start to scan. Of which, the power supply adopted is either self power or bus power, while the suitable illuminant is either a high power illuminant or a low power illuminant. Another method including procedures herein below is also provided. Start the scanner; determine what type of power supply is adopted in the scanner; adjust the drive setting for the illuminant which fits the adopted power supply; drive the illuminant; and start to scan. Of which, the power supply adopted is either self power or bus power, while the drive setting for the illuminant is either a high power setting or a low power setting.

Claims

1. A method of operating a scanner, comprising:

determining what type of power supply the scanner is connected to, wherein the scanner comprises a high-power scanner illuminant device and a low-power scanner illuminant device, and wherein each illuminant device is configured to scan a same side of a document;

selecting the high-power scanner illuminant device when the scanner is connected to a high-power power supply;

selecting the low-power scanner illuminant device when the scanner is not connected to the high-power power supply, but is connected to a low-power power supply; and

performing a scan of the document using the selected scanner illuminant device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the high-power power supply comprises self power.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the low-power power supply comprises bus power provided by a host computer, wherein the host computer is external to the scanner.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the high-power illuminant device comprises a high-power cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) and the low-power illuminant device comprises a low-power CCFL.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the high-power illuminant device comprises a high-power light emitting diode (LED) and the low-power illuminant device comprises a low-power LED.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the high-power illuminant device comprises a CCFL and the low-power illuminant device comprises a LED.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting a scan speed of the scanner, wherein a high speed scan setting is selected when the power supply comprises the high-power power supply and the selected scanner illuminant device comprises the high-power scanner illuminant device, wherein a low speed scan setting is selected when the power supply comprises the low-power power supply and the selected scanner illuminant device comprises the low-power scanner illuminant device, and wherein said performing the scan includes using the adjusted scan speed.

8. An apparatus, comprising:

means for determining what type of power supply a scanner is connected to;

means for selecting a high-power illuminant device when the scanner is connected to a high-power power supply;

means for selecting a low-power illuminant device when the scanner is not connected to the high-power power supply, but is connected to a low-power power supply; and

means for performing a scan using the selected illuminant device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the high-power power supply comprises self power.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the low-power power supply comprises bus power.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

means for adjusting a scan speed in the scanner, wherein the scan speed is adjusted to be fast when the power supply comprises the high-power power supply and the selected illuminant device comprises the high-power illuminant device, wherein the scan speed is adjusted to be slow when the power supply comprises the low-power power supply and the selected illuminant device comprises the low-power illuminant device, and wherein the scan is performed using the adjusted scan speed.

12. A scanner, comprising:

a high-power illuminant device; and

a low-power illuminant device, wherein each illuminant device is configured to scan a same side of a document, and wherein the scanner is configured to;

select one illuminant device from the group consisting of the high-power illuminant device and the low-power illuminant device based, at least in part, on a level of power supplied to the scanner by a power source;

adjust a scan speed based on the selected one illuminant device; and

use only the selected one illuminant device in a single scan of the document.

13. The scanner of claim 12, wherein the scanner selects the high-power illuminant device when the scanner is coupled to a high-power source, wherein the scanner selects the low-power illuminant device when the scanner is coupled to a low-power source and not the high-power source, wherein the scan speed is adjusted to a fast scan speed when the scanner selects the high-power illuminant device, wherein the scan speed is adjusted to a slow scan speed when the scanner selects the low-power illuminant device, and wherein the scanner is configured to perform the single scan by providing power to the selected illuminant device and by using the adjusted scan speed.

14. The scanner of claim 13, wherein the high-power source comprises alternating current.

15. The scanner of claim 13, wherein the low-power source comprises power provided by a computer.

16. The scanner of claim 12, wherein the scan speed is adjusted based, at least in part, on the level of power supplied to the scanner.

17. An apparatus comprising:

a scanner having an illuminant drive setting, wherein the scanner is configured to adjust the illuminant drive setting based, at least in part, on a level of power supplied to the scanner, wherein a high voltage illuminant drive setting is selected when the scanner is coupled to a high-power source, wherein a low voltage illuminant drive setting is selected when the scanner is coupled to a low-power source, and wherein the scanner is configured to perform a scan by providing power to an illuminant device using the selected voltage setting.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the high-power source comprises alternating current power.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the low-power source comprises power provided over a USB port.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a scan speed is adjusted based, at least in part, on the level of power supplied to the scanner.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein a scan speed is adjusted based on the selected illuminant drive setting.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the scan speed is adjusted to be fast when the selected illuminant drive setting is the high voltage illuminant drive setting, and wherein the scan speed is adjusted to be slow when the selected illuminant drive setting is the low voltage illuminant drive setting.

23. An apparatus comprising:

means for determining what type of power supply a scanner is connected to;

means for selecting a high-power illuminant device when the scanner is connected to a high-power power supply;

means for selecting a low-power illuminant device when the scanner is connected to a low-power power supply;

means for adjusting a scan speed of the scanner based, at least in part, on the type of power supply the scanner is connected to; and

means for performing a scan using the selected illuminant device and the adjusted scan speed.

24. An apparatus comprising:

means for determining what type of power supply a scanner is connected to;

means for selecting an illuminant drive setting in the scanner, wherein a high voltage setting is selected when the power supply comprises a high-power source, and wherein a low voltage setting is selected when the power supply comprises a low-power source;

means for adjusting a scan speed of the scanner, based on the selected illuminant drive setting; and

means for delivering power to an illuminant device using the selected illuminant drive setting to perform a scan at the adjusted scan speed.

25. A method of operating a scanner, comprising:

determining what type of power supply the scanner is connected to;

selecting a high-power illuminant device when the scanner is connected to a high-power power supply;

selecting a low-power illuminant device when the scanner is connected to a low-power power supply;

adjusting a scan speed, based at least in part on the selected illuminant device; and

scanning a document using the selected illuminant device and the adjusted scan speed.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the high-power illuminant device is configured to scan one side of the document, and wherein the low-power illuminant device is configured to scan the one side of the document.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein one side of the document is scanned using the selected illuminant device.

28. A method of operating a scanner, comprising:

determining what type of power source the scanner is connected to;

selecting an illuminant drive setting in the scanner, wherein a high voltage setting is selected when the power source comprises a high-power source, and wherein a low voltage setting is selected when the power source comprises a low-power source;

adjusting a scan speed of the scanner, based at least in part on the type of power source the scanner is connected to; and

delivering power to an illuminant device using the selected illuminant drive setting to scan an image at the adjusted scan speed.