Abstract:
A device that scans an image from source media automatically detects the source media type being scanned. Interpretation of scanned data may be automatically adjusted based on the source media type sensed. In this way, the quality of the scanned data and the images produced from it can be improved by making adjustments appropriate to the source media type scanned.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to scanning, and more particularly to adjusting the interpretation of scanned data based on automatic detection of physical characteristics of the scanned media.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    Copiers, scanners, and other devices that scan images from source media and convert those images to data are common in business and home environments. A typical scanner scans one or more images from source media, converting those one or more images to data. A software program typically interprets that data and converts it to a data file for storage and use. Such a data file may be in GIF, JPEG, or other format. A copier typically scans one or more images from source media. A digital copier converts those one or more images to data and stores that data. That stored data is then interpreted by a controller or other device within the copier, and transmitted to a marking engine within the copier. The marking engine produces one or more copies of the image on destination media.  
           [0003]    The source media used with a copier, scanner or other such device can be any media that can be placed onto a scanning surface. Such source media may include standard paper, bond paper, glossy paper, transparencies, photographs, and a number of other different kinds of media. The properties of the image data scanned from these different source media may vary according to the source media type. For example, image data scanned from a transparency often has blurry edges, as a result of the transparency of the source media. As another example, image data scanned from one side of thin or translucent source media having images printed on both sides may include undesired background material bleeding through the source media from the opposite side. To ameliorate these problems, copiers often include controls for varying the contrast or other properties of the copies printed on the destination media. However, to the extent these controls are effective, their use is a matter of trial and error for the operator, resulting in waste of destination media as well as user frustration. While scanners do not typically offer such controls, imaging software utilized with scanners typically includes such controls in software, where those controls relate to the display of the scanned data. These controls result in similar limitations and problems as described with regard to the copier controls.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0004]    A scanning device adjusts the interpretation of scanned data based on automatically-detected source media type.  
           [0005]    In one aspect of the invention, a device that scans an image from source media automatically detects the source media type being scanned. A sensor may detect the translucency of the media in order to determine the source media type.  
           [0006]    In another aspect of the invention, interpretation of scanned data may be automatically adjusted based on the source media type sensed. Such interpretation includes interpretation of scanned data within a copier before transmission to a marking engine, and interpretation of scanned data by a software program for conversion to a data file. In this way, the quality of the scanned data and the images produced from it can be improved by making adjustments appropriate to the source media type scanned.  
           [0007]    The invention will be more fully understood upon consideration of the detailed description below, taken together with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a scanning component of a device that provides for scanning source media.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a scanning component of a device that provides for scanning source media.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method for adjusting the interpretation of scanned data based on automatically-detected source media type.  
         [0011]    Use of the same reference symbols in different figures indicates similar or identical items. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0012]    Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of one embodiment of a scanning device  100  is shown. The scanning device  100  may be a standalone scanner adapted for connection to an information handling system, a portion of a copier, or any other device adapted to scan images from source media. The scanning device  100  includes structures, mechanisms and/or software for scanning images from source media, and is standard to one of ordinary skill in the art.  
         [0013]    The scanning device  100  includes a window  110  on which source media  112  may be placed. The window  110  is substantially clear, and allows the structures and/or mechanisms used for scanning images to view the source media  112  without the need to contact the source media  112  or expose those structures and/or mechanisms. The use of a window  110  on a scanning device  100  is standard in the art.  
         [0014]    The scanning device  100  includes a cover  104 . The cover  104  may be connected to the scanning device  100  via a hinge or other mechanism, such that the cover may be lifted away from the scanning device  100  as needed. The cover  104  is adapted to cover the window  110  when no source media  112  is placed on the window  110 , and to substantially cover relatively thin source media  112  placed on the window  110 . In one embodiment, the cover  104  may be connected to, or may be a part of, a feeder device (not shown) that automatically feeds source media  112  to be scanned onto the window  110 . Such a feeder device is standard to one skilled in the art, and may be of a type commonly utilized as a copier component.  
         [0015]    In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a light source  102  is connected to the cover  104 , and positioned to face the window  110 . The light source  102  may be mounted to the cover  104  in any manner that provides for a secure connection between them, and that substantially prevents the light source  102  from interfering with, damaging or being damaged by source media  112  and/or the window  110 . The light source  102  may be a light-emitting diode (LED), an incandescent light, or any other source of light. The light source  102  is connected to a power supply (not shown) within the scanning device  100  to receive power to generate illumination.  
         [0016]    A sensor  106  is provided within the scanning device  100 , behind the window  110 . The sensor  106  is positioned relative to the light source  102  such that the source media  112  is interposed between them. Further, the sensor  106  and the light source  102  are substantially aligned with one another, such that the light source  102  is substantially directed toward the sensor  106 . The sensor  106  is adapted to sense the particular frequency or frequencies of light emitted by the light source  102 . Thus, if the light source  102  is an LED emitted light at a particular frequency, the sensor  106  is adapted to detect that frequency. The sensor  106  may be a photoelectric cell, a charge-coupled device (CCD), or other device adapted to sense light. In one embodiment, the sensor  106  outputs an analog electrical signal that corresponds to the light level that it senses. In another embodiment, the sensor  106  outputs a digital electrical signal that corresponds to the light level it senses.  
         [0017]    The sensor  106  is electrically connected to a controller  108 . The controller  108  may be a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or other device. Among other functions, the controller  108  processes information received from the sensor  106 . If the scanning device  100  is a component of another device, the controller  108  may pass information received from the sensor  106  to that other device. In another embodiment, if the scanning device  100  is a component of another device, the controller  108  may be omitted altogether, such that the sensor  106  transmits analog and/or digital signals to an information processing component of that device.  
         [0018]    Referring to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the scanning device  100  is shown. This embodiment of the scanning device  100  is substantially the same as the first embodiment described above, except for the placement of the light source  102  and the sensor  106 . In this embodiment, the light source  102  and the sensor  106  are both located within the scanning device  100  on the same side of the window  110 . The light source  102  and the sensor  106  are positioned relative to one another such that a portion of the light from the light source  102  may be reflected from the source media  112  to the sensor  106 . In this embodiment, the cover  104  has an interior surface facing the window  110  that is substantially white in color, and has substantially the same reflective properties over its entire surface. This interior surface of the cover  104  assists in reflecting into the sensor  106  light that passes through the source media  112 , as is described in greater detail below.  
         [0019]    Referring as well to FIG. 3, a method  300  is shown for adjusting the interpretation of scanned data based on the type of source media scanned. In block  302 , source media  112  is received by the scanning device  100 . In one embodiment, the source media  112  is placed in contact with the window  110  such that an image to be scanned from the source media  112  faces downward toward the window  110 . The cover  104  may be lowered over the source media  112  if the source media  112  is sufficiently thin. That is, if the source media  112  is a sheet of paper or other thin media, the cover  104  can be closed onto it. If the source media  112  is a book or other large object, the size of the source media  112  may prevent the cover  104  from closing over the source media  112 .  
         [0020]    In block  304 , the source media  112  is illuminated. Illumination is provided by the light source  102 . In one embodiment, the light source  102  may be switched on in block  304 , then switched off when no longer needed in the method  300 . However, the light source  102  may remain illuminated for a longer period, if desired. For example, the light source  102  may be illuminated at all times while the scanning device  100  is operational.  
         [0021]    In the embodiment of the scanning device  100  in which the light source  102  is connected to the cover  104 , and positioned to face the window  110 , the cover  104  is closed over the source media  112 . In this embodiment, the light source  102  illuminates the upper surface of the source media  112 . A portion of that illumination travels through the source media  112 . If the source media  112  is opaque, that portion is zero. If the source media  112  is transparent or translucent, that portion is greater than zero. The amount of illumination passing through the source media  112  is related to the translucency of the source media  112 , and thus to the type of the source media  112 .  
         [0022]    In the embodiment of the scanning device  100  in which the light source  102  is located within the scanning device  100  on the same side of the window  110  as the sensor  106 , the cover  104  is closed over the source media  112  if the source media  112  is sufficiently thin. However, if the source media  112  is large, such as a book or other bulky object, the cover  104  need not be closed. In this embodiment, the light source  102  illuminates the lower surface of the source media  112 . A portion of that illumination is reflected from the source media  112 . The amount of illumination reflected from the source media  112  is related to the type of source media  112 , and is also related to the optical properties of the inner surface of the portion of the cover  104  from which illumination may be reflected. Reflection from the inner surface of the cover  104  may occur where the source media  112  is a transparency or other substantially transparent media, such that illumination travels through the source media  112 , is reflected from a portion of the inner surface of the cover  104 , then travels back through the source media  112 .  
         [0023]    In block  306 , the resultant illumination received at the sensor  106  is measured. The illumination received at the sensor  106  is a result of the transmission of illumination through, or the reflection of illumination from, the source media  112 . The measurement of the resultant illumination at the sensor  106  may be a measurement of the intensity of the illumination. Other characteristics of the resultant illumination may be measured in addition to, or instead of, the intensity of the illumination.  
         [0024]    In block  308 , the media type is determined based on the characteristics of the resultant illumination measured by the sensor  106 . The characteristics of this resultant illumination are related to the media type of the source media  112 . For example, the characteristics of the resultant illumination will be different for transparencies, bond paper, photographic paper, and cardboard. In one embodiment, the controller  108  compares the characteristics of the resultant illumination measured by the sensor  106  to stored illumination data, to match the measured characteristics to a particular media type. In another embodiment, the controller  108  converts the characteristics of the resultant illumination to an index or other reference number relating to the translucency of the source media  112 . In such an embodiment, determining the media type refers to determining the translucency of the source media  112 . The determination of media type may be stored in the controller  108  or in a memory storage device (not shown) connected to the controller  108 , for later use. This information may be stored in another location or a different location in a device connected to the scanning device  100 , if desired.  
         [0025]    In block  310 , the source media  112  is scanned. The scanning process, and the mechanisms to perform it, are standard to one of ordinary skill in the art. As a result of the scanning process, raw data is generated that represents an image present on the side of the source media  112  facing the window  110 . This raw data may be received by the controller  108  and stored in a memory storage unit (not shown) within the scanning device  100 , or may be received and stored at a location in a device connected to the scanning device  100 .  
         [0026]    In block  312 , interpretation of the raw data obtained in block  310  is adjusted based on the media type of the source media  112 . The raw data obtained in block  310  is interpreted by the controller  108  or other device in order to convert that raw data into a usable form. Such interpretation is standard to those of ordinary skill in the art. Interpretation of the raw data may include interpretation of the raw data before transmitting that data to a marking engine, interpretation of the raw data for conversion to a data file such as a JPEG file, or other types of interpretation.  
         [0027]    Adjustments to the interpretation of the raw data are made based on the media type of the source media  112 . As an example, the media type of the source media  112  may be a transparency. Typically, the data that results from the scan of a transparency includes blurry edges, as a result of the transparent nature of the source media  112 . Because the media type was determined to be a transparency, the interpretation of the raw data is adjusted automatically to sharpen the edges of the scanned image, thereby compensating at least in part for scan defects resulting from the nature of the source media  112 . As another example, the media type of the source media  112  may be thin glossy paper, such as a page of a magazine. Typically, the data that results from a scan of such thin glossy paper printed on both sides includes image artifacts from the side of the paper facing away from the window  110 . Because the media type was determined to be thin glossy paper, the interpretation of raw data is adjusted automatically to remove those image artifacts via a background removal process. Other adjustments may be made to these and other media types, in order to at least partially correct scan defects associated with the type of the scanned source media  112 .  
         [0028]    In one embodiment, instructions for implementing the method  300  are provided as a computer program product. A computer program product is a set of instructions for a device such as a controller  108 . The computer program product may be stored in a memory storage device within or connected to the scanning device  100 . The computer program product may be received into the scanning device  100  or associated device via a communications network, a compact disc, a removable hard disk, a removable optical disk, flash memory, or any other hardware, network, device or method capable of storing and/or transmitting data.  
         [0029]    Although the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, the description is only an example of the invention&#39;s application and should not be taken as a limitation. Consequently, various adaptations and combinations of features of the embodiments disclosed are within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims and their legal equivalents.