Sheet-fed double-sided document scanner capable of changing scanning modes dependent on power input

• US 8,305,659 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2010
• Issued: 11/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Avision, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Yen-Cheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Baker, Charlotte M
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRISHAM, RURY L
• Application Number:
  US12/726,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20110116143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• Field of Search: 358/498, 358/474, 358/408, 358/496, 399/374, 399/367, 355/23, 355/24
• US Class Current: 358/498
• 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 1/00899 Detection of supply level or supply failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1215 Feeding using one or more cylindrical platens or rollers in the immediate vicinity of the main scanning line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/203 Simultaneous scanning of two or more separate pictures , e.g. two sides of the same sheet refeeding a sheet for double-sided scanning H04N1/00572
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2032 of two pictures corresponding to two sides of a single medium refeeding a sheet for double-sided scanning H04N1/00572

Abstract

A sheet-fed double-sided document scanner is disclosed and includes a first image-capturing assembly, a second image-capturing assembly, a sheet-transporting mechanism, a power receiving interface, and a control circuit. The scanner switches scanning modes according to a power input. The sheet-transporting mechanism transports a document past the first image-capturing assembly and the second image-capturing assembly. The power receiving interface receives power. When a power level of the received power is less than a default threshold level, the control circuit controls the scanner to scan a first side and a second side of the document in a first mode. When the power level of the received power reaches the default threshold level, the control circuit controls the scanner to scan the first side and the second side of the document in a second mode.

Claims

1. An sheet-fed double-sided document scanner, comprising:

a first image-capturing assembly;

a second image-capturing assembly;

a sheet-transporting mechanism, for transporting a document past the first image-capturing assembly and the second image-capturing assembly;

a power receiving interface, for receiving power; and

a control circuit, coupled to the first image-capturing assembly, the second image-capturing assembly, the sheet-transporting mechanism, and the power receiving interface;

wherein, when a power level of the power is less than a default threshold level, the control circuit controls the scanner to scan a first side and a second side of the document in a first mode, and when the power level of the power reaches the default threshold level, the control circuit controls the scanner to scan the first side and the second side of the document in a second mode.

2. The scanner of claim 1, wherein in the first mode the control circuit controls the sheet-transporting mechanism to transport the document in a first direction past the first image-capturing assembly for capturing an image of the first side of the document, and the control circuit then controls the sheet-transporting mechanism to transport the document in a second direction opposite to the first direction past the second image-capturing assembly for capturing an image of the second side of the document.

3. The scanner of claim 1, wherein in the second mode the control circuit controls the sheet-transporting mechanism to transport the document in a first direction past the first image-capturing assembly and the second image-capturing assembly for capturing images of the first side and the second side of the document.

4. The scanner of claim 1, wherein the power receiving interface is for coupling with a power input port of an external power source, and the power level of the power received by the power receiving interface from the external power source reaches the default threshold level.

5. The scanner of claim 4, wherein the power input port is a plug-in socket for a direct current power source.

6. The scanner of claim 1, wherein the power receiving interface comprises a transmission port for coupling with a universal serial bus (USB) cable, and the scanner is connected through the USB cable to an electronic apparatus.

7. The scanner of claim 6, wherein the USB cable is a USB cable having dual input ports, and the power level of the power received from the electronic apparatus through the USB cable by the power receiving interface reaches the default threshold level.

8. The scanner of claim 6, wherein the power level of the power received through the USB cable by the power receiving interface from the electronic apparatus is less than the default threshold level.

9. The scanner of claim 1, wherein the default threshold level is a current threshold level.