Flat-folding document imaging apparatus

• US 8,767,056 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2011
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Carpenter, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Czekaj, Dave
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beck, Leron
• Application Number:
  US13/038,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20110216178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 348/61
• US Class Current: 348/61
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00031 Testing, i.e. determining the result of a trial H04N1/00029 takes precedence; using test signals for transmission mode changing H04N2201/33371
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00045 using a reference pattern designed for the purpose, e.g. a test chart
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00063 using at least a part of the apparatus itself, e.g. self-testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00087 Setting or calibrating picture signal circuits H04N1/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/195 the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/19594 using a television camera or a still video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0402 Arrangements not specific to a particular one of the scanning methods covered by groups H04N1/04 - H04N1/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0436 Scanning a picture-bearing surface lying face up on a support H04N2201/0434 takes precedence; using cylindrical picture bearing surfaces H04N1/06; with manual scanning H04N1/107
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

Document imaging apparatuses, systems, and methods. An apparatus includes a base having a platen on a top surface. The apparatus includes a boom having a first end and a second end. The first end is rotatably connected to the base, and the is boom movable between a first position where the second end is above the platen and a second position wherein the boom is stored within the base. The apparatus includes a camera mount located at the second end of the boom. The camera mount is configured to removably attach to a camera so that the camera is located above the platen and positioned to capture an image of the platen.

Claims

1. A document imaging apparatus, comprising:

a base having a platen on a top surface, wherein the platen is permanently printed with a test pattern;

a boom having a first end and a second end, the first end rotatably connected to the base, the boom movable between at least a first position wherein the second end is above the platen and a second position wherein the boom is stored within the base; and

a camera mount located at the second end of the boom, the camera mount configured to removably attach to a camera so that the camera is located above the platen and positioned to capture an image of the platen.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a document cover that is sized to cover the platen, the document cover fastened at a first end to the base.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the document cover is a non-glare transparent film.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the document cover has an end strip across a second end, opposite the first end.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the document cover has an end strip across a second end, opposite the first end, that magnetically fastens to the base.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the end strip also magnetically fastens to the boom.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the document cover is configured to hold a document against the platen so that the document is visible through the document cover.

8. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the boom and camera mount are configured to position the camera above and orthogonal to the platen.

9. A document imaging system, comprising:

a data processing system;

a digital camera in communication with and controlled by the data processing system; and

an apparatus having a base with a platen on a top surface;

a boom having a first end and a second end, the first end rotatably connected to the base, the boom movable between at least a first position wherein the second end is above the platen and a second position wherein the boom is stored within the base; and

a camera mount located at the second end of the boom, the camera mount configured to removably attach to the camera so that the camera is located above the platen and positioned to capture an image of the platen,

wherein the digital camera is mounted on the camera mount and positioned to capture an image of a test pattern permanently printed on the platen.

10. The document imaging system of claim 9, wherein the data processing system stores a reference image corresponding to the test pattern.

11. The document imaging system of claim 10, wherein the data processing system is configured to capture an image of the test pattern using the camera.

12. The document imaging system of claim 11, wherein the data processing system is configured to compare the captured image to the reference image.

13. The document imaging system of claim 12, wherein the data processing system is configured to determine a set of image adjustments according to the comparison, and to thereafter apply the image adjustments to captured images of documents.

14. A method, comprising:

capturing a test pattern image by a data processing system using a digital camera mounted on a document imaging apparatus, the test pattern image permanently printed on a platen of the document imaging apparatus;

comparing, by the data processing system, the captured test pattern image to a reference image stored in the data processing system;

determining, by the data processing system, a set of image adjustments based on the comparison;

capturing a document image by the data processing system using the digital camera mounted on the document imaging apparatus; and

applying the set of image adjustments to the captured document image to produce a corrected document image.