PDA compatible text scanner

• US 8,056,805 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2008
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Erich W. Wolf II
• Original Assignee: Erich W. Wolf II
• Inventors: Wolf, Erich W. II
• Primary Examiner(s): HESS, DANIEL A
• Application Number:
  US12/070,803
• Publication Number:
  US 20080237347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,363 Days
• Field of Search: 235/454, 358/473, 358/474
• US Class Current: 235/454
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• 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 1/00236 using an image reading or reproducing device, e.g. a facsimile reader or printer, as a local input to or local output from a computer image input to or image output from a computer via a network H04N1/00209
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00331 with an apparatus performing optical character recognition character recognition G06V30/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0044 for image preview or review, e.g. to help the user position a sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/03 with photodetectors arranged in a substantially linear array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0301 using a bent optical path between the scanned line and the photodetector array, e.g. a folded optical path
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0303 with the scanned line and the photodetector array lying in non-parallel planes
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0305 with multiple folds of the optical path
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/195 the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/001 Sharing resources, e.g. processing power or memory, with a connected apparatus or enhancing the capability of the still picture apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0051 Card-type connector, e.g. PCMCIA card interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0056 Using mechanical couplings, e.g. mating elements H04N2201/0049, H04N2201/0051, H04N2201/0058 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0068 Converting from still picture data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0084 Digital still camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0096 : Portable devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/043 : Viewing the scanned area
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0452 : Indicating the scanned area, e.g. by projecting light marks onto the medium

Abstract

An optical text scanning device compatible with a small handheld computer such as a personal digital assistant (PDA). The scanning device allows for a clear view of the text that is scanned simultaneous to the scanning process so that the operator can continuously align the device to the text. The scanned images of the text are converted in real-time to standard byte or word characters for subsequent display on the computer'"'"'s viewing screen. The operator can quickly verify the accuracy of the conversion by comparing the displayed character with the actual character of text on the surface that is being scanned. Scanned text characters are stored in standard digital text files for ease of manipulation.

Claims

1. A PDA scanner comprising:

a housing means, attached to a PDA, for visually targeting a subject to be scanned;

a camera means, contained within the housing means, for electrically capturing an image of the subject to be scanned wherein the camera means comprises a camera and an image control means, in an optical path between the subject to be scanned and the camera;

a light directing channel contained within the housing means between the camera means and the subject to be scanned, the light directing channel comprising an optical fiber.

2. The PDA scanner of claim 1 wherein the camera means further comprises an illumination means for illuminating the subject to be scanned.

3. The PDA scanner of claim 2 wherein the illuminating means produces visible light.

4. The PDA scanner of claim 2 wherein the illumination means produces light with a spectrum to match the peak sensitivity of the camera means.

5. The PDA scanner of claim 1 including a scan indicator light electronically connected to the PDA.

6. The PDA scanner of claim 1 wherein the camera means includes an electronic image capture device.

7. The PDA scanner of claim 6 wherein the electronic image capture device is a charge-coupled device camera.

8. The PDA scanner of claim 1 wherein the camera means is electronically connected to the PDA.

9. The PDA scanner of claim 1 wherein the PDA further comprises a microprocessor electronically coupled to the camera means and a display electronically coupled to the microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed to carry out the steps of:

accessing the camera means;

recording an image of the subject to be scanned; and

displaying the image of the subject to be scanned.

10. The PDA scanner of claim 9 wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to carry out the step of recognizing the subject to be scanned.

11. The PDA scanner of claim 1 wherein the housing means further comprises a transparent window area adjacent the subject to be scanned.

12. The PDA scanner of claim 1 wherein the housing means is formed of a transparent plastic.

13. The PDA scanner of claim 1 wherein the housing means includes a scan alignment means, inset in the housing means, for aiming the camera means at the subject to be scanned.

14. The PDA scanner of claim 1 wherein the camera means includes a memory for storing an image.

15. The PDA scanner of claim 1 wherein the housing means includes a cradle removably attached to the PDA.

16. A scanner for attachment to a PDA having a camera comprising:

a housing means, adjacent the PDA, for visually targeting a subject to be scanned; and

an optical channel, adjacent the camera, for directing light from the subject to be scanned to the camera;

wherein the optical channel includes a reflecting element and a refracting element between the camera and the subject to be scanned; and

,

a light source passing light energy through the reflective element and onto the subject to be scanned.

17. The scanner of claim 16 wherein the optical channel includes an aperture stop.

18. The scanner of claim 16 further comprising a light source to illuminate the subject to be scanned.

19. The scanner of claim 16 including a light source reflected by the reflective element and incident on the subject to be scanned.

20. The scanner of claim 16 wherein the housing means further includes an optical passage in between the camera and the subject to be scanned.

21. The scanner of claim 16 wherein the housing means is transparent.

22. The scanner of claim 16 wherein the housing means contains a window for sighting the subject to be scanned.

23. The scanner of claim 16 wherein the housing means is removably attached to the PDA.

24. The scanner of claim 16 wherein the PDA includes a microprocessor connected to the camera, the microprocessor programmed to carry out the steps of:

accessing the camera; and

recording an image of the subject to be scanned.

25. The scanner of claim 24 wherein the PDA further includes a display screen connected to the microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed to carry out the further step of:

displaying the image of the subject to be scanned on the display.

26. The scanner of claim 24 wherein the housing means further includes an indicator light, connected to the microprocessor and the microprocessor is further programmed to carry out the step of:

activating the indicator light upon a successful scan of the subject.

27. The scanner of claim 24 wherein the microprocessor is further programmed to carry out the steps of:

analyzing the image of the subject to be scanned; and

translating the image into a secondary electronic form.

28. The scanner of claim 27 wherein the secondary electronic form is a character.

29. The scanner of claim 27 wherein the step of translating is accomplished by optical character recognition.