Mobile scanners
DCFirst Claim
1. A mobile scanner comprising;
- a main case housing an image sensing module and a motion mechanism, the image sensing module including;
a one-dimensional image sensor array;
an array of rod tenses mounted in front of the sensor array; and
a first illumination source;
the main case having an elongated receiving opening and an elongated exiting opening, the sensor array imaging a scanning document through the army of rod lenses when the scanning document is moved by the motion mechanism to pass from the receiving opening and exit from the exiting opening, wherein the motion mechanism is triggered to operate by a document sensor and the document sensor detects a presence of the scanning document; and
wherein the mobile scanner does not have an external power unit, the image sensing module and the motion mechanism are energized from a computing device when the mobile scanner is coupled to the computing device.
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Abstract
It is disclosed that a mobile scanner includes only the minimum components to operate as a scanner. The disclosed scanner does not have a separate power supply to energize the components to work. Further, unlike many scanners in the market, there is not a single microcontroller in the disclosed mobile scanner while the performance thereof could outperform those scanners commanded traditionally by a microcontroller in the scanners. The disclosed scanner is coupled by an interface engine to a computing device that provides system control signals and power supply. The interface engine comprises a control circuit providing logic control signals to the scanner to operate in response to the system control signals. As such, the scanner is of high performance and low cost and so lightweight that it can be used in any conditions.
20 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A mobile scanner comprising;
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a main case housing an image sensing module and a motion mechanism, the image sensing module including;
a one-dimensional image sensor array;
an array of rod tenses mounted in front of the sensor array; and
a first illumination source;
the main case having an elongated receiving opening and an elongated exiting opening, the sensor array imaging a scanning document through the army of rod lenses when the scanning document is moved by the motion mechanism to pass from the receiving opening and exit from the exiting opening, wherein the motion mechanism is triggered to operate by a document sensor and the document sensor detects a presence of the scanning document; and
wherein the mobile scanner does not have an external power unit, the image sensing module and the motion mechanism are energized from a computing device when the mobile scanner is coupled to the computing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
an interface engine; and
a multi-line cable coupling the image sensing module and the motion mechanism to the interface engine.
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5. The mobile scanner as recited in claim 4, wherein the interface engine provides a power supply and control signals to the image sensing module and the motion mechanism to operate when the interface engine coupled to the computing device.
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6. The mobile scanner as recited in claim 5, wherein the interface engine comprises a control circuit producing the control signals in response to system control signals from the computing device operating a control process.
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7. The mobile scanner as recited in claim 6, wherein the control process is executed by a processor in the computing device and is caused to:
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detect sensor parameters of the image sensing module;
calibrate the image sensing module with respect to the sensor parameters; and
generate a set of optimum timing parameters for the first illumination source or the second illumination source.
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8. A mobile scanner comprising:
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a portable housing;
an image sensing module mounted in the housing and including;
a one-dimensional image sensor array;
a lens mounted in front of the image sensor array; and
an illumination source comprising three colored lights that are turned on independently and successively by an illumination control signal;
a motion mechanism working in synchronization with the image sensing module, the motion mechanism causing a scanning document illuminated by the illumination source to pass through the lens so that the scanning document can be imaged by the image sensor array to generate an image thereof; and
wherein the image sensing module and the motion mechanism are powered by a power supplied from a computing device when the mobile scanner is coupled thereto. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A mobile scanner comprising:
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a portable housing;
an image sensing module mounted in the housing and including;
a one-dimensional image sensor array;
a lens mounted in front of the image sensor array; and
an illumination source;
a motion mechanism working in synchronization with the image sensing module, after a presence of a scanning document is determined, the motion mechanism causing a scanning document illuminated by the illumination source to pass through the lens so that the scanning document can be imaged by the image sensor array to generate an image thereof; and
wherein the image sensing module and the motion mechanism are powered by a power received from a computing device when the mobile scanner is coupled to the computing device by a multiple-line cable, and wherein the image is subsequently received in the computing device through the multiple-line cable. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A mobile scanner comprising:
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a portable housing;
an image sensing module mounted in the housing and including;
a one-dimensional image sensor array;
a lens mounted in front of the image sensor array; and
an illumination source;
a motion mechanism working in synchronization with the image sensing module, after a presence of a scanning document is determined, the motion mechanism causing a scanning document illuminated by the illumination source to pass through the lens so that the scanning document can be imaged by the image sensor array to generate an image thereof;
wherein the image sensing module and the motion mechanism are powered by a power received from a computing device when the mobile scanner is coupled to the computing device by a multiple-line cable, the image is subsequently received in the computing device through the multiple-line cable; and
wherein the mobile scanner, when used for the first time, scans a test sheet to produce test signals for the computing device to determine various parameters that are afterwards used to correct actual scanning signals from the image sensing module when the scanning document is scanned. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification