Enhanced Scanner Design

• US 20120250118A1
• Filed: 06/12/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scientific Games Corporation
• Original Assignee: Scientific Games International Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Irwin, Kenneth E. Jr., Mejenborg, Sten, Holbrook, Jonathan, Herndon, Burbank, Behm, William F., Streeter, Gary R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,638,479 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/509
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2425 Scanners, e.g. for scanning regular characters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 3/064 Electric devices for filling-in or checking
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/084 using a removable filtering or hiding screen associated with windows or windscreens B60J3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/195 the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays

Abstract

Improved scanner designs are provided to improve imaging and reduce errors during the scanning process. Embodiments disclosed include, for example, the use of dual cameras to improve imagery and reduce the scanner enclosure size, synchronized lighting techniques during the scanning sequence, shielded lens for the camera scanner, a scanner enclosed on at least three sides, adjustments to scanner lighting based on the levels of ambient lighting, a combined branding and scanner apparatus, a gimbaled scanner mount, and a tilted platen with stop for document alignment.

Claims

1. An improved method for operating a scanning device, the steps comprising:

positioning an object to be scanned in proximity of a plurality of scanner lights and an optical element;

activating a first subset of the plurality of scanner lights;

scanning a first portion of the object, said first portion selected as a portion of the object that does not create a direct reflection to the optical element of light from the first subset;

deactivating the first subset of the plurality of scanner lights;

activating a second subset of the plurality of scanner lights; and

scanning a second portion of the object, said second portion selected as a portion of the object that does not create a direct reflection to the optical element from the second subset.

2. An improved method for operating a scanning device as in claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises a raster scan camera.

3. An improved method for operating a scanning device as in claim 1, wherein the scanner lights comprise light-emitting diodes.

4. An improved scanning device, comprising:

a raster scan camera for scanning an item;

a plurality of light sources positioned to illuminate the item during scanning; and

a switching device for synchronizing the activation of said plurality of light sources, said switching device configured to activate and deactivate portions of the light sources during scanning so as to prevent direct reflection to said raster scan camera.

5. An improved scanning device as in claim 4, wherein said plurality of light sources comprise light-emitting diodes.

6. An improved scanning device, comprising:

an optical element for scanning an item;

a substantially monochromatic light source positioned to illuminate the item during scanning; and

a filter positioned proximate to the optical element and configured for substantially eliminating the passage to said optical element of light from sources other than said monochromatic light source.

7. An improved scanning device as in claim 6, wherein said substantially monochromatic light source comprises light-emitting diodes.

8. An improved scanning device as in claim 6, wherein said filter comprises a 500 nanometer band pass filter.

9. An improved method for operating a scanning device, the steps comprising:

positioning an object to be scanned in proximity of red, green, and blue scanner lights and in proximity of a camera comprising red, green, and blue pixels;

capturing with the camera an image of the object with all scanner lights deactivated;

determining the light level for each of the red, green, and blue pixels; and

selecting for further image processing the lowest light level of the red, green, and blue pixels.

10. An improved method for operating a scanning device as in claim 9, wherein said scanner lights comprise light-emitting diodes.

11. An improved scanning device, comprising:

a platen for receipt of an object to be scanned;

at least two cameras positioned proximate to the platen and configured for scanning the object, said at least two cameras positioned so as to have substantially non-overlapping fields of view; and

an image processor configured for providing a composite view of the object from images captured by said at least two cameras.