Method of pressure detection for selective scanning of a document

A method of scanning comprises detecting a document on a scanning device scanning surface, wherein the document lies directly on the scanning device scanning surface; detecting pressure on the scanning device scanning surface to scan a region of the document; detecting a first point pressure of a first point and a second point pressure of a second point; connecting the first point and the second point, the connecting the first point and the second point forming a boundary between a first document region and a second document region; and receiving a scan instruction to scan at least one of the first region of the document and the second region of the document.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to the field of computing, and more particularly to scanning and cropping of a document or photograph.

BACKGROUND

Document scanning and cropping are useful for providing document clean-up, digital image creation, and electronic document retrieval.

SUMMARY

The present application provides a method of scanning including, but not limited to: detecting a document on a scanning device scanning surface; and detecting pressure on the scanning device scanning surface to scan a region of the document, further including at least one of: (a) detecting a pressure point applied to the document on the scanning device scanning surface; and scanning the document in response to the detecting the pressure point applied to the document on the scanning device scanning surface; (b) detecting a continuous application of a pressure point applied to the document, the pressure point having a perimeter translatable into a bound region formed on the document, further including: increasing an area of the bound region in response to a length of time of the continuous application of a pressure point; setting an area inside the bound region as a first region and an area outside the bound region as a second region; and receiving a scan instruction to scan at least one of the first region and the second region; (c) detecting a first point pressure of a first point and a second point pressure of a second point; connecting the first point and the second point, the connecting the first point and the second point forming a boundary between a first document region and a second document region; and receiving a scan instruction to scan at least one of the first region of the document and the second region of the document; and (d) detecting at least a first point pressure of a first point, a second point pressure of a second point and a third point pressure of a third point; connecting at least the first point, the second point and the third point to form an enclosed boundary; setting an area inside the enclosed boundary as a first region and an area outside the enclosed boundary as a second region; and receiving a scan instruction to scan at least one of the first region and the second region.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS. 1A and 1B, flow diagrams representing a method100for scanning a document are shown. The method100includes detecting a document on a scanning device scanning surface102. In one embodiment, method100may determine a desired portion of the detected document (e.g., a photo, a text document) to be retained or excluded during the scanning process. For example, a portion of a 4×6 picture, when placed on a scanning device, may be scanned, the selected portion or portions of the picture may be retained for display, manipulation, printing, etc., and the non-selected portion may be excluded.

The method may further include detecting pressure on the scanning device scanning surface to scan a region of the document104. For instance, the method100may detect an application of pressure and scan an entire document. Detecting an application of pressure on the scanning device scanning surface to scan a region of the document104may further include detecting a pressure point applied to the document on the scanning device scanning surface106, and scanning the document in response to the detecting the pressure point applied to the document on the scanning device scanning surface108. A time interval may be programmed, and the method100may include receiving an instruction to scan the document upon detection of pressure for the programmed time interval. Method100may detect an application of pressure applied for the programmed time interval (e.g., 1 second, 5 seconds, etc.), and scan the document.

The method100may also provide scanning of a region or portion of a document based on the detection of an applied pressure to the surface of the document before or during the scanning process. For instance, the method100may include detecting a continuous application of a pressure point applied to the document, the pressure point having a perimeter translatable into a bound region formed on the document110. Detecting a continuous application of a pressure point applied to the document may further include increasing an area of the bound region in response to a length of time of the continuous application of a pressure point112. Method100may further include setting an area inside the bound region as a first region and an area outside the bound region as a second region114, and receiving a scan instruction to scan at least one of the first region and the second region116. For example, pressure may be applied to a specific point on the document, and the method100may exclude from the scan all portions of the document outside of a radius of the single pressure point (e.g., a first region), or scan all portions of the document within the radius of the single pressure point (e.g., a second region). Continuous application of pressure may be within a range of 1-10 seconds of applied continuous pressure, or may be shorter or longer than this range. In further embodiments, method100may provide expansion of the bound region in response to detecting a series of taps in substantially the same location on the scanning surface. For instance, two taps may indicate enlarging the bound region by a factor of 2; three taps may indicate enlarging the bound region by a factor of 3, etc. However, it is contemplated that any number of taps may correspond to any size increment.

In other instances, the method100may utilize multiple point pressure detection to define an area of the document to be scanned or excluded. For instance, the method100may include detecting a first point pressure of a first point and a second point pressure of a second point118, connecting the first point and the second point, the connecting the first point and the second point forming a boundary between a first document region and a second document region120, and receiving a scan instruction to scan at least one of the first region of the document and the second region of the document122. For instance, if only a top half of a document is desired to be scanned, pressure may be applied on or about the middle of a first longitudinal edge of the document and on or about the middle of a second longitudinal edge of the document substantially opposite from the first longitudinal edge. Method100may connect the first pressure point and the second pressure point to form a horizontal line dividing the document substantially in half. Method100may designate the top half of the document and a first region and the bottom half of the document as a second region. Method100may receive an instruction to scan the first region (the top half of the document). It is further contemplated that a non-enclosed boundary may also be formed from three or more connectable pressure points.

Method100may further include detecting at least a first point pressure of a first point, a second point pressure of a second point and a third point pressure of a third point124, connecting at least the first point, the second point and the third point to form an enclosed boundary126, setting an area inside the enclosed boundary as a first region and an area outside the enclosed boundary as a second region128, and receiving a scan instruction to scan at least one of the first region or the second region130. For instance, if only a triangular region within the document is desired to be scanned, pressure may be applied on or about three spatially distinct points within the document. Method100may connect the first pressure point, the second pressure point, and the third pressure point to form a triangle within the document. Method100may designate the interior region of the triangle a first region and the region of the document substantially outside the triangle as a second region. Method100may then receive an instruction to scan the first region (the triangle). It is further contemplated that a enclosed boundary may also be formed from four or more connectable pressure points.

Method100may detect pressure points applied simultaneously or consecutively. In the instances when pressure points are applied consecutively, method100may retain the pattern of applied pressure points until all pressure points have been applied.

In further embodiments, the method100may utilize shape pressure to define the area of the document to be retained or excluded. Specific shaped pressure (e.g., square, triangle, circle, abstract shape) may be applied to the back of the picture as the picture is scanned excluding the portion of the picture outside the shaped pressure area.

In all embodiments of the method100, pressure may be applied directly to a document on a scanning surface of a scanning device, or to a protective overlay (e.g., a clear or opaque film) positioned over at least a portion of the document. To this end, the method100provides for the use of a transparent layer or film to protect the document surface from damage during the pressure application process. Pressure points applied to the surface of the document or scanner may be applied on the transparent layer or film may be detected through the transparent layer or film.

Method100may scan at least a portion of a non-excluded document area as detected by the application of one or more pressure points. Non-excluded document area may be processed further (e.g., saved, displayed, manipulated further, printed, and/or transferred) as desired. In some instances, method100may also include scanning the document in its entirety, and displaying only the non-excluded document portions. For instance, when at least one document exclusion area has been determined, method100may scan the entire document and display (e.g., on a display of a computing device) only the non-excluded document portions for further processing.