Multi-mode scanner

• US 9,402,008 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2015
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Avision, Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Chi-Yao, Peng, Chao Yu
• Primary Examiner(s): Safaipour, Houshang
• Application Number:
  US14/953,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20160080598A1
• Time in Patent Office: 242 Days
• Field of Search: 358/488, 358/474, 358/498, 358/497
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00525 Providing a more compact apparatus, e.g. sheet discharge tray in cover
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00716 Thickness
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00827 Arrangements for reading an image from an unusual original, e.g. 3-dimensional objects
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/02815 Means for illuminating the original, not specific to a particular type of pick-up head
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/121 Feeding arrangements transporting sheets to or from the scanning position H04N1/0057; control or error compensation of sub-scanning velocity H04N1/0473
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/123 Using a dedicated sheet guide element
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2036 of a plurality of pictures corresponding to a single side of a plurality of media
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/2038 lying in the same plane
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0094 Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0434 specially adapted for scanning pages of a book

Abstract

A multi-mode scanner comprises a first body, a second body and a scanning module. The first body connected to the second body has connected first and second sides. A passageway accommodating a first portion of a bent document is formed between the first and second bodies. A second portion of the bent document is connected to the first portion of the bent document and supported by a second side of the first body. The first and second bodies are configured such that a weight of the bent document makes the second portion be in flat surface contact with the second side, or makes the first portion be in flat surface contact with first side. The scanning module disposed in one or both of the first and second bodies performs an image scan operation on the first portion of the bent document in the passageway to obtain an image signal.

Claims

1. A multi-mode scanner, comprising:

a first body having a first side and a second side connected together;

a second body connected to the first body, wherein a passageway for accommodating a first portion of a bent document is formed between the first body and the second body, a second portion of the bent document is connected to the first portion of the bent document and is supported by the second side of the first body, and the first body and the second body are configured such that a weight of the bent document makes the second portion be in flat surface contact with the second side, or makes the first portion be in flat surface contact with the first side; and

a scanning module, which is disposed in one or both of the first body and the second body and performs an image scan operation on the first portion of the bent document in the passageway to obtain an image signal.

2. The multi-mode scanner according to claim 1, further comprising:

a transporting mechanism, which is disposed in the first body and the second body and transports the bent document past the passageway.

3. The multi-mode scanner according to claim 2, wherein the scanning module is disposed in the second body and scans the first portion of the bent document.

4. The multi-mode scanner according to claim 2, wherein the scanning module is disposed in the second body and the first body, and scans a reverse side and a front side of the first portion of the bent document.

5. The multi-mode scanner according to claim 2, wherein the second body comprises:

a base connected to the first body; and

a cover pivotally connected to the base, wherein the scanning module and the transporting mechanism are disposed on the cover of the second body.

6. The multi-mode scanner according to claim 2, further comprising a control module, which is electrically connected to the transporting mechanism and the scanning module, and controls the scanning module to scan the first portion of the bent document concurrently.

7. The multi-mode scanner according to claim 2, further comprising a control module, which is electrically connected to the scanning module and the transporting mechanism, and controls the scanning module to scan a front side and a reverse side of the first portion of the bent document, which are transported by the transporting mechanism in opposite directions.

8. The multi-mode scanner according to claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency identification reader, which is disposed in the first body and reads radio frequency identification information of the bent document.

9. The multi-mode scanner according to claim 1, further comprising a fingerprint sensor, which is disposed on the first body or the second body and reads a fingerprint.

10. The multi-mode scanner according to claim 9, further comprising a control module electrically connected to the fingerprint sensor and the scanning module, wherein the control module controls the scanning module to perform the image scan operation when the fingerprint sensor successfully reads the fingerprint.

11. The multi-mode scanner according to claim 1, further comprising a card reader, which is disposed on the first body or the second body and reads a chip card or a memory card.

12. The multi-mode scanner according to claim 1, further comprising buffer pads, which are disposed on two neighboring sides of the multi-mode scanner, and support a weight of the multi-mode scanner in two modes.