Image scanning device and multifunction apparatus having the same

• US 8,077,362 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2008
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: S-Printing Solution Co., Ltd. (Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kang, Kyung-pyo, Choi, Yong-sung
• Primary Examiner(s): Worku, Negussie
• Application Number:
  US12/033,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20090002780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 358/474, 358/497, 358/486, 358/461, 358/505, 358/501, 358/1.5, 358/468, 358/494, 737/60
• US Class Current: 358/497
• 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 1/1017 the main-scanning components remaining positionally invariant with respect to one another in the sub-scanning direction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence

Abstract

An image scanning device includes a main body casing, a scanning unit which is movably disposed within the main body casing, and a position indicating unit to generate position information of the scanning unit, and to wirelessly receive and display the position information.

Claims

1. An image scanning device, comprising:

a main body casing;

a scanning unit which is movably disposed at the main body casing; and

a position indicating unit to wirelessly determine a position of the scanning in response to moving the scanning unit in the main body casing and to display position information of the scanning unit received wirelessly based on the determined position.

2. The image scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the position indicating unit comprises an indicating member which is provided to at least one of the scanning unit and the main body casing, and forms a signal which indicates a position of the scanning unit.

3. The image scanning device according to claim 2, wherein the position indicating unit further comprises a display provided at the main body casing, and wirelessly receives the signal from the indicating member to display the position of the scanning unit.

4. The image scanning device according to claim 3, wherein the display interacts with the indicating member with a magnetic force to display the moving position of the scanning unit.

5. The image scanning device according to claim 4, wherein the indicating member comprises a magnet which is disposed at the scanning unit.

6. The image scanning device according to claim 4, wherein the indicating member comprises a magnet which is disposed at the main body casing, and has a rod shape elongated in a moving direction of the scanning unit.

7. The image scanning device according to claim 6, wherein the display comprises a coil which is disposed at the scanning unit, and is wound around the magnet to move relative to the magnet to form an induced current.

8. The image scanning device according to claim 4, wherein the indicating member comprises a magnet which is disposed at the scanning unit, and

the display comprises a sheet which is disposed at an outer side of the main body casing along a moving path of the magnet, and allows color of the position of the sheet to be changed with a change of the magnetic force received by the magnet.

9. The image scanning device according to claim 3, wherein the indicating member comprises:

a light source which is disposed at the main body casing, and

a reflecting member which is coupled to the scanning unit to reflect a light beam from the light source.

10. The image scanning device according to claim 9, wherein the display comprises a window which is formed to the main body casing along a moving path of the scanning unit to receive the light beam which is reflected by the reflecting member.

11. A multifunction apparatus, comprising:

an image forming device which forms an image on a printing medium; and

an image scanning device to scan an image of a target object including a main body casing, a scanning unit which is movably disposed at the main body casing, and a position indicating unit to wirelessly determine a position of the scanning in response to moving the scanning unit in the main body casing to display position information of the scanning unit received wirelessly based on the determine position.

12. An image scanning device comprising:

a transparent plate including a first surface on which to place a document;

a sensor array moveable along a second surface of the transparent plate to sense image information of a document; and

a user interface positioned on an exterior of the image scanning device to wirelessly receive position information regarding a position of the sensor array and to display the position information.

13. The image scanning device of claim 12, further comprising:

a magnet connected to the sensor array to move with a fixed positional relationship with the sensor array;

wherein the user interface receives position information in the form of a magnetic field from the magnet.

14. The image scanning device of claim 13, wherein the user interface comprises a guide and a body reactive to the magnetic field moveably positioned within the guide.

15. The image scanning device of claim 12, further comprising:

a light source connected to the sensor array to move with a fixed positional relationship with the sensor array;

wherein the user interface includes a window in a external housing of the image scanning device to transmit light from the light source external to the image scanning device.

16. The image scanning device of claim 15, wherein the window of the image scanning device includes a transparent material.

17. The image scanning device of claim 15, wherein the window of the image scanning device includes a translucent material.

18. The image scanning device of claim 12, further comprising:

a light source emitting a light beam mounted within an external housing of the image scanning device to have a fixed positional relationship to the housing; and

a mirror mounted to the sensor array to have a fixed positional relationship with the sensor array to receive the light beam from the light source and redirect the light beam;

wherein the user interface includes a window in the external housing of the image scanning device to transmit light from the light beam redirected by the mirror.

19. The image scanning device of claim 18, further comprising:

an opaque material positioned between the sensor array and the mirror; and

a bracket connecting the sensor array and the mirror.

20. A method of displaying a position of a sensor array of an image scanning device comprising:

moving the sensor array to scan a document positioned on a scanning bed with a source of electrical power received external to the scanning device;

moving a device connected to the sensor array with a fixed positional relationship to generate a position signal, the device being electrically isolated from the source of electrical power;

wirelessly transmitting the position signal;

wirelessly receiving the transmitted position signal; and

displaying a position of the sensor array as a function of the received position signal.