Two-dimensional CMOS sensor array to image documents and other flat objects
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A flatbed scanner, comprising:
- a housing;
a transparent platen atop the housing comprising an area for imaging, the area for imaging receiving an object to be scanned;
a first stationary lighting source and a second stationary lighting source housed within the housing and fixed relative to the transparent platen, wherein the first stationary lighting source is configured to generate light that overlaps light generated from the second stationary lighting source to illuminate the area for imaging;
a stationary photodetector array housed within the housing and fixed relative to the transparent platen, wherein the first and second stationary lighting sources are fixed on opposing sides of the stationary photodetector array; and
optics that direct light reflected from the entire object to the stationary photodetector array;
wherein the optics and stationary photodetector array are configured to receive the reflected light from the entire object at once in order to image the entire object simultaneously;
wherein both the first stationary lighting source and the second stationary lighting source are configured to remain stationary throughout a duration of the optics and the stationary photodetector receiving the reflected light in order to image the entire object; and
wherein the first stationary lighting source and the second stationary lighting source are configured to face the transparent platen such that a plane defined by the first stationary light source and the second stationary light source is parallel to a plane defined by the transparent platen.
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Abstract
A flatbed scanner includes a housing, a transparent platen atop the housing for receiving an object to be scanned, and a carriage operable to travel along a horizontal direction and a vertical direction. The carriage includes a light source for illuminating the object and a rectangular photodetector array for simultaneously detecting light intensity of multiple scan lines.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A flatbed scanner, comprising:
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a housing; a transparent platen atop the housing comprising an area for imaging, the area for imaging receiving an object to be scanned; a first stationary lighting source and a second stationary lighting source housed within the housing and fixed relative to the transparent platen, wherein the first stationary lighting source is configured to generate light that overlaps light generated from the second stationary lighting source to illuminate the area for imaging; a stationary photodetector array housed within the housing and fixed relative to the transparent platen, wherein the first and second stationary lighting sources are fixed on opposing sides of the stationary photodetector array; and optics that direct light reflected from the entire object to the stationary photodetector array; wherein the optics and stationary photodetector array are configured to receive the reflected light from the entire object at once in order to image the entire object simultaneously; wherein both the first stationary lighting source and the second stationary lighting source are configured to remain stationary throughout a duration of the optics and the stationary photodetector receiving the reflected light in order to image the entire object; and wherein the first stationary lighting source and the second stationary lighting source are configured to face the transparent platen such that a plane defined by the first stationary light source and the second stationary light source is parallel to a plane defined by the transparent platen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 13, 15, 18)
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7. A flatbed scanner comprising:
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a housing; a transparent platen; a plurality of stationary light sources configured within the housing to illuminate the transparent platen, wherein light from each of the plurality of stationary light sources overlap at least a part of the transparent platen; and a stationary photodetector array to receive light reflected off of an object on the transparent platen; wherein the plurality of stationary lighting sources are fixed surrounding the stationary photodetector array; wherein the plurality of stationary light sources and the stationary photodetector array are fixed relative to the transparent platen; wherein the plurality of stationary lighting sources are configured to remain stationary throughout a duration the stationary photodetector array receiving the light reflected off the object; and wherein the plurality of stationary lighting sources are configured to face the transparent platen such that a plane defined by the plurality of lighting sources is parallel to a plane defined by the transparent platen. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 16, 19)
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14. A method of scanning an image in a flatbed scanner, the method comprising:
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receiving an object to be scanned in an area for imaging of a transparent platen atop a housing; illuminating the area for imaging using first and second stationary lighting sources housed within the housing and fixed relative to the transparent platen; directing light reflected from the object to a stationary photodetector array; and receiving the light at a stationary photodetector array housed within the housing and fixed relative to the transparent platen, wherein the first and second stationary lighting sources are fixed on opposing sides of the stationary photodetector array with the stationary photodetector array positioned between the first and second stationary lighting sources, and wherein light from the first stationary lighting source overlaps light from the second stationary lighting source 4 at least a portion of the transparent platen; and wherein the first stationary lighting source and the second stationary lighting source are configured to remain stationary throughout a duration of the stationary photodetector array receiving the light reflected from the object; and wherein the first stationary lighting source and the second stationary lighting source are configured to face the transparent platen such that a plane defined by the first stationary light source and the second stationary light source is parallel to a plane defined by the transparent platen. - View Dependent Claims (17, 20)
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Specification