Method and apparatus for transparency scanning with a duplex reflective scanner
First Claim
1. A document scanner for performing a duplex or a transparency scanning operation comprising:
- a first camera including a first light source and a first aperture;
an opposed second camera including a second light source and a second aperture, wherein each aperture of each camera is offset from the light source of the oppositely positioned camera during duplex scanning;
a motor for moving said second camera from a first position for duplex scanning to a second position for transparency scanning;
a controller for sending a drive signal to said motor to cause said motor to move said second camera from said first position to said second position when a transparency scanning mode is selected; and
wherein said controller, during movement of the second camera from the first duplex scanning position to the second transparency scanning position, moves the second light source from a first offset position for duplex scanning to a second position aligned with the first aperture of the first camera to enable transparency scanning.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The scanning method of the invention enables a user to scan transparencies with a duplex scanner having a moveable camera, and a mirror or light source associated with the camera on each side of the document path. The scanner, in its normal mode of operation, is a duplex reflective scanner which means the image, per side, is captured by reflecting light from a light source located on the same side of an opaque flat object as the CCD of the camera that captures the image. In order to scan transparencies, a mechanism is provided which allows an opposing camera light source to be aligned (moved at runtime) with the aperture of the camera opposite the opposing camera light source. This allows the light of the opposing camera light source to project through a transparent object while the opposite camera CCD captures an image of the transparency. The opposite camera, which captures the image, has its light source turned off while in the transparent scanning mode.
66 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A document scanner for performing a duplex or a transparency scanning operation comprising:
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a first camera including a first light source and a first aperture; an opposed second camera including a second light source and a second aperture, wherein each aperture of each camera is offset from the light source of the oppositely positioned camera during duplex scanning; a motor for moving said second camera from a first position for duplex scanning to a second position for transparency scanning; a controller for sending a drive signal to said motor to cause said motor to move said second camera from said first position to said second position when a transparency scanning mode is selected; and wherein said controller, during movement of the second camera from the first duplex scanning position to the second transparency scanning position, moves the second light source from a first offset position for duplex scanning to a second position aligned with the first aperture of the first camera to enable transparency scanning. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A document scanner for performing a duplex or a transparency scanning operation comprising:
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a first camera having a first light source; an opposed second camera including a second light source and a second aperture, wherein each aperture of each camera is offset from the light source of the oppositely positioned camera during duplex scanning; a motor for moving said second camera from a first position for duplex scanning to a second position for transparency scanning and for tilting said second light source from a first position for duplex scanning to a second position for transparency scanning; a controller for sending a drive signal to said motor to cause said motor to move said second camera from said first position to said second position and to move said second light source from said first position for duplex scanning to said second position for transparency scanning when a transparency scanning mode is selected; and wherein said controller, during movement of the second camera from the first duplex scanning position to the second transparency scanning position, moves the second light source from a first offset position for duplex scanning to a second position aligned with the first aperture of the first camera to enable transparency scanning. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification