Abstract:
An optical scanner may be used either with or without a support stand. When operated without the support stand, the scanner may be used to acquire an image of an object in virtually any location and/or orientation, e.g., an image of a picture hanging on a wall. When used in conjunction with the support stand, the support stand may hold the scanner in a non-horizontal orientation so that the combined scanner and support stand occupy a relatively smaller footprint. The scanner may attach to the support stand such that it is able to pivot with respect to the support stand. An object to be scanned (e.g., a document) may then be placed on a support surface of the support stand and the scanner pivoted to a closed position to allow scanning of the object. In this manner, the scanner may also be used in a manner similar to a conventional flatbed scanner.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/461,273, filed Apr. 7, 2003, for OPTICAL SCANNER ASSEMBLY of Modest Khovaylo which is hereby incorporated by reference for all that is disclosed therein. 
   U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/461,261, filed Apr. 7, 2003, for OPTICAL SCANNER ASSEMBLY of Modest Khovaylo and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/820,086, filed Apr. 6, 2004, for OPTICAL SCANNER ASSEMBLY of Modest Khovaylo et al. are hereby incorporated by reference for all that is disclosed therein. 

   BACKGROUND 
   Scanner devices, such as flatbed scanners, are well-known in the art and produce machine-readable image data signals that are representative of a scanned object, such as a photograph or a page of printed text. In a typical scanner application, the image data signals produced by a scanner may be used by a personal computer to reproduce an image of the scanned object on a suitable display device, such as a CRT or a printer. A typical flatbed scanner may include illumination and optical systems to accomplish scanning of the object. The illumination system illuminates a portion of the object (commonly referred to as a “scan region”), whereas the optical system collects light reflected by the illuminated scan and focuses a small area of the illuminated scan region (commonly referred to as a “scan line”) onto the surface of a photosensitive detector positioned within the scanner. Image data representative of the entire object then may be obtained by sweeping the scan line across the entire object, usually by moving the illumination and optical systems with respect to the object. 
   SUMMARY 
   An optical scanner may be used either with or without a support stand. When operated without the support stand, the scanner may be used to acquire an image of an object in virtually any location and/or orientation, e.g., an image of a picture hanging on a wall. 
   When used in conjunction with the support stand, the support stand may hold the scanner in a non-horizontal orientation so that the combined scanner and support stand occupy a relatively smaller footprint. The scanner may attach to the support stand such that it is able to pivot with respect to the support stand. An object to be scanned (e.g., a document) may then be placed on a support surface of the support stand and the scanner pivoted to a closed position to allow scanning of the object. In this manner, the scanner may also be used in a manner similar to a conventional flatbed scanner. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an optical scanner; 
       FIG. 2  is a back perspective view of the optical scanner of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the optical scanner of  FIG. 1  showing certain internal structure thereof in hidden lines; 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic cross sectional view of the optical scanner of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of an optical scanner support stand; 
       FIG. 6  is a back perspective view of the optical scanner support stand of  FIG. 5 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a left rear perspective view of an optical scanner assembly; 
       FIG. 8  is a right front perspective view of an optical scanner assembly having a document positioned therein; 
       FIG. 9  is a front perspective view of an optical scanner assembly having a document to be scanned positioned therein and with the scanner in scanning position; 
       FIG. 10  is a left side perspective view of the optical scanner assembly with the optical scanner in the scanning position illustrated in  FIG. 9 ; 
       FIG. 11  is a front perspective view illustrating use of the optical scanner of  FIGS. 1 through 4  to perform scanning of a vertical surface; 
       FIG. 12  is a front perspective view illustrating use of the optical scanner of  FIGS. 1 through 4  to scan the page of a book. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  illustrates an optical scanner  10  having a thin rectangular housing  12 . The housing has a front face portion  14 , back face portion  16  ( FIG. 2 ); a top portion  18 ; a bottom portion  20 ; a left side portion  22 ; and a right side portion  24 . It is to be understood that the designations top, bottom, front, rear, left side and right side are arbitrary and are merely for the purpose of establishing a frame of reference for description of the scanner. 
   The scanner housing  12  in one embodiment comprises a front housing member  26  attached to a rear housing member  40 . The front housing member  26  may comprise a opaque peripheral structure  28  having a transparent plate  30  mounted thereon with the upper surface of the opaque peripheral structure  28  and transparent plate positioned in substantially coplanar relationship. Resilient guard members  32  may be mounted at corner portions of the transparent plate  30  the resilient guard members  32  act to prevent the surface of the transparent plate  30  from coming into contact with an adjacent flat surface. 
   Rear housing member  40 ,  FIG. 2 , comprises a peripheral opaque structure  42  within which is mounted a plate member  44  in generally coplanar relationship with the adjacent surface of the peripheral structure  42 . The plate member  44  comprises a rectangular transparent portion  46  aligned with the transparent plate  30  on the front housing member  26 . Transparent portion  46  comprises a scanning face which is positioned in engagement or near engagement with an object, such as a document, which is to be scanned. Plate member  44  also comprises a black peripheral portion  48  which encompasses the transparent portion  46 . Transparent longitudinal strips  52   54  are also defined within the opaque portion  48 . The longitudinal strips extend in the direction of scanner head displacement as described in further detail below. Resilient corner guard members  56  (only one shown) extend a short distance outwardly from peripheral opaque structure  42  to help prevent abrasion of the rectangular plate member  46  when the scanner rear face is positioned against a flat object, for example when it is laid on a desk top. The front and rear housing members  26 ,  40  may be connected by screws, bolts, rivets, adhesive or other attachment means. In one embodiment the opposed interior peripheral edges of the front and rear housing members  26 ,  40  are separated by spacers e.g., tubular sleeves held in position by screws  58  extending there through. In one embodiment the gap  59 ,  FIG. 4 , formed by the spacers may be about 5 mm and may be sealed with a resilient grommet  60 . Control surfaces such as push button  62 ,  64 , etc. may be positioned in the gap  59  as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Support stand registration tabs  66  may be mounted in the gap  59  and extend outwardly a short distance e.g., 3 mm from the bottom portion of the scanner housing  12 . 
   As illustrated by  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a displaceable scanning head  80  is position within the enclosure  70  defined by the housing front and rear members  26 ,  40 . Scanning head  80  may comprise a contact image sensor assembly or other type sensor assembly capable of being provided in a small thickness configuration. The displaceable scanning head also comprises an illumination source such as LED&#39;s, one or more flourescent bulbs, or other illumination means. Scanning head  80  extends from the top portion  18  to the bottom portion  20  of the scanner terminating near the transparent strips  52 , 54 . The scanning head  80  is displaceably supported on support rails  82 , 84  which extend in the direction of scanning movement. A sleeve  96  (only one shown) is slidingly mounted on each rail  82   84  and is attached by a connection member  98  to scanning head  80 . One or more electric drive motors  86  are also mounted within the housing enclosure  70  at a lateral end of the enclosure. In one embodiment there is only one drive motor  86  having a single endless belt  88  connected. The belt extends in alignment with one of the drive rails e.g.,  82 . The drive belt  88  may be connected to a drive pulley (not shown) on the motor  86  and may be connected to an idler pulley near the end of support shaft  82  opposite to the end where the motor  86  is located. The belt  88  comprises a first portion  90  and a second portion  92 . In one embodiment the first and second portions of the belt  90 ,  92  and the shaft  82  are positioned in front to rear alignment in the space  94  between opposite opaque portions of the front and rear housing member  26 ,  40 . The sleeve  96  is connected to the adjacent belt portion  92  by any appropriate connector such as a clip, strap, rivet, adhesive or other connector. Rotational displacement of the drive motor  86  causes linear displacement of the portions  90 ,  92  of the endless belt which in turn causes linear displacement of the sleeve  96  and attached scanning head  80 . 
   Prior to a scanning operation the displaceable scanning head  80  is parked at a location at one lateral end e.g., end portion  22  of the housing below the opaque portion thereof. During a scanning operation the displaceable scanning head  80  moves in a path defined by support rails  82 ,  84 , passing between the front transparent plate  30  and the rear transparent plate portion  46 . At the end of the scanning operation the scanning head returns to its parked position between opaque portions of the front and rear housing members  26 ,  40  at end  22 . In a alternative embodiment rather than having a single motor  86 , two drive motors could be provided, one associated with each guide rail  82 ,  84 . In this alternative embodiment the motors may be locked in a phase locked loop to provide synchronous operation. In another embodiment a single drive motor  82  rotates a drive shaft (not shown) having a drive pulley mounted in association with each of the support rails  82   84  and a separate endless build  88  is operably connected to these drive pulleys and also to the separate support sleeves to which the scanning head is connected. 
   In further alternative embodiments the endless belt is positioned between the scanning head  80  and shaft  82  and only one guide shaft  82  is used. The side of the scan head located opposite the shaft  82  is supported by spring wheels (not shown) which engage the interior glass panel surfaces of both the front and rear housing members  26 ,  40 . 
   Various electronic components and interfaces  110  may be mounted at one end portion, e.g.,  24  of the housing and connected to the scanning head as by electrical cables (not shown). An exterior cable  112  connected to the electronic components  110  may in turn be connected to a scanner input receiving device such as a computer or printer (not shown). The cable  112  may be a power cable such as a Firewire connector, a universal serial bus connector or any other appropriate type of electrical connector in current use or developed in the future. In an alternative embodiment a transmitter is provided either in electronic components  110  or directly on the scanning head  80  which transmits data signals wirelessly to a receiver in a computer, scanner, etc. Power to the unit may be provided from an external power source as through cable  112  or other power cable or alternatively may be provided by batteries or other onboard power source. 
   A scanner support stand  200  is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The support stand comprises a generally J-shaped support member  202  and a pair of U-shaped leg members  280   282 . The J-shaped support member  202  has a generally flat upper front face portion  204  comprising a flat panel  205  encompassed by an opaque peripheral portion  203 . In the illustrated embodiment panel  205  is transparent, but in other embodiments it is translucent or opaque. The opaque portion  203  comprises a top portion  206  bottom portion  208 , left side portion  210  and right side portion  212 . Deflectable sheet registration members  216 ,  218  may be position at a lower end of the upper front face portion  204  in alignment with the vertical edges  214  of the transparent panel  205 . Deflectable sheet support members  220 ,  222 ,  240  are positioned at a bottom edge of transparent panel  205 . Each of the deflectable members  216 ,  218 ,  220 ,  222 ,  240  is outwardly biased to the position shown in  FIG. 5  as by one or more springs (not shown) or other biasing means. In one embodiment each of the deflectable members  216 ,  218 ,  220 ,  222 ,  240  is a portion of a unitary structure such that deflection of any member causes deflection of all other members. Each of the deflectable members may be urged into a position in flush relationship with the planar surface of transparent panel  205 . 
   The generally J-shaped support member  202  comprises a hooked shaped bottom portion  250 . The hooked shaped portion  250  comprises a rearwardly and downwardly inclined wall portion  252  which may be about 10 millimeters long and may be inclined at about 45 degrees with respect to the surface of plate member  205 . The hooked shaped portion  250  also includes a vertical wall portion  254  aligned parallel to plate  205  which may have a dimension of approximately 23 millimeters. Attached to vertical wall portion  254  is a horizontal wall portion  256  which may have a dimension of approximately 35 millimeters. A second vertical wall portion  258  is connected to an end portion of horizontal wall portion  256 . The second vertical wall portion may have a dimension of approximately 255 millimeters. A support pad member  262  which may have a thickness of approximately 3 millimeters and an increased thickness, arculate portion located adjacent to wall  254  is mounted on the horizontal wall portion  256 . Support pad members  264 ,  266  of identical cross section to support pad member  262  are also positioned along horizontal wall  256  and are spaced apart by small gaps  268 ,  270  of slightly greater width than the width of scanner registration tabs  66 ,  68 . The width and the depth of the gaps are such that when the scanner tabs are received therein the optical scanner  10  is prevented from moving left or right but may pivot forward and backward. 
   The U-shaped leg members  280 ,  282  are mounted in a manner to allow pivotal movement between an erect positioned as illustrated in  FIG. 5  and a folded position as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , as by mounting holes  282 ,  284 ,  286 , etc. and appropriate internal stop structures. 
   A rear portion  292  of the J-shaped support member  202  is illustrated in  FIG. 6  the rear portion includes a rear surface of panel  205 . The panel  205  is recessed from an opaque flat peripheral portion  302  by a transverse recessed wall  304 . The raised wall portions  306 ,  308  may be provided on flat peripheral portion  302  to facilitate mounting of U-shaped leg member  280  thereon. In one embodiment the leg members  280 , 282  are adapted to be folded into a relatively flat compact relationship with the generally J-shaped member  202  as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
   As illustrated in  FIG. 7  the hooked shaped bottom portion  250  and the support pad members  262 ,  264 ,  266  ( FIG. 5 ) are adapted to receive the optical scanner  10  in fixed registered relationship with support stand  200  with respect to left or right movement and in pivotable relationship with stand  200  with respect to forward and rearward movement. The tabs  66 ,  68  of the scanner are located in gaps  268 ,  270  and the bottom terminal edge portion of the scanner  10  rests on the surface of pads  262 ,  264 ,  266 . 
   In the operating position illustrated in  FIG. 7  the scanner is in a pivoted forward position in which it engages the vertical wall portion  258  of the hooked-shaped bottom portion  250  of the support stand  200 . The thickness of the optical scanner  10  and the construction of lower-hooked shaped member  250  are such that the rear face plate  46  of the scanner is engaged by terminal edge surfaces of horizontal deflectable support members  220 ,  222 ,  240  such that there is no gap between the horizontal deflectable members and the scanner rear plate portion  46 . The deflectable sheet registration members  216 ,  218  also contact the plate member  46 . Thus, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , a document  330  may be supported at its lower edge  332  by deflectable sheet support members  220 ,  222 ,  240  with a vertical edge  334  of the document in registration with the deflectable sheet registration number  216 . A rear face portion of the document  330  is supported against the front surface of support stand plate member  205 . The engagement of support members  220 ,  222 ,  240  with the optical scanner  10  prevent documents which are to be scanned from moving out of proper registration with the scanner  10  as by sliding vertically downwardly along the face of the scanner  10  or the opposing face of the support stand  200 . 
     FIG. 9  is a front view of the optical scanner  10  mounted on the support stand  200  with the scanner  10  pivoted rearwardly such that document  330  is disposed in close “sandwiched” relationship between the transparent plate portion  205  of the support stand and the transparent plate  30  of the optical scanner  10 . In this position the faces of the document, the transparent plates  30  and  46  of the optical scanner and the transparent plate  205  of the support stand  200  are all positioned in substantially parallel relationship. This parallel relationship is further illustrated in  FIG. 10  which is a left side elevation view of the optical scanner  10  supported in a scanning position in the support stand  200 . In this position the scanner  10  may be actuated to scan the document  330 . The two transparent faces of the scanner  10  facilitate placement of document  330  in relationship to the scanning face  46  of the scanner  10 . 
     FIG. 11  is a perspective view illustrating the use of the optical scanner  10  to scan a vertically oriented object. It may be seen that the transparent front and rear panels of the optical scanner facilitate placing the object to be scanned  350 , in this case a picture fastened to a vertical bulletin board, for proper scanning. Thus the scanner may be used without the scanning stand  200  in order to scan objects which may not be conveniently placed between the scanner  10  and the support stand  200 .  FIG. 12  illustrated another such scanning operating in which a thick dictionary  360  is scanned by pressing the scanner  10  against the dictionary and aligning it through the transparent portions  30   46  of the scanner.