Abstract:
A flatbed-type digital scanner has a vertically oriented scanning surface. Because the size of the scanner in a dimension normal to the scanning surface is significantly less than the length or width of the scanning surface, the scanner is taller than it is wide, and consumes less space on a desktop than conventional flatbed scanners. Preferably, an outer cover and an intermediate transparent cover are attached to the scanner by a hinge near the bottom. The inner surface of the outer cover has a relatively high coefficient of friction, to prevent slippage of documents. To scan a document, the outer cover is pulled down to a horizontal position, and the document is placed face-up on the outer cover, and the intermediate cover is lowered into position next to the outer cover, so that the scanned document is held in place between the two covers. The two covers are then rotated together to position the document next to the scanning surface for scanning. A latch mechanism holds the covers in place during rotation. The scanner may optionally be wall mounted or mounted in a conventional orientation. This digital scanner reduces consumption of critical desktop area. An additional advantage is that it is easier to align multiple small documents, such as photographs, because these are placed in a face-up position on the horizontally positioned cover.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to digital data processing devices, and in particular to devices for scanning documents to create digital images. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The latter half of the twentieth century has been witness to a phenomenon known as the information revolution. While the information revolution is a historical development broader in scope than any one event or machine, no single device has come to represent the information revolution more than the digital electronic computer. The development of computer systems has surely been a revolution. Each year, computer systems grow faster, store more data, and provide more applications to their users. 
     Early computer systems were very expensive and difficult to use, capable of being programmed and manipulated by only a handful of highly-educated specialists. The cost of operating such computers was correspondingly high, and they were therefore used for only the most essential tasks. The dynamic which has driven the information revolution is the sustained reduction in the cost of computing. Thus, information which was too expensive to gather, store and process a few years ago, is now economically feasible to manipulate via computer. The reduced cost of information processing drives increasing productivity in a snowballing effect, because product designs, manufacturing processes, resource scheduling, administrative chores, and many other factors, are made more efficient. 
     The declining prices and expanding capabilities of modern computers cause them to be applied to an ever increasing variety of applications. For some years now, inexpensive “personal computers” have been available for personal use at home or for the use of a single individual at a place of business. Although small, these machines provide capability that could have only been imagined not long ago. 
     Computing power and digital storage being as inexpensive as they are, it has become increasingly popular to create digital records of matter previously embodied in other formats. Digital records enable visual images, audio recordings, and the like, to be stored in digital computers, replicated with digital copying devices, edited using highly flexible and sophisticated editing tools, and transmitted over digital networks, such as the Internet. 
     Digital images may be created in various ways, but one of the most straightforward is to scan a document, photograph, or similar visual image to create a digital copy of the visual image. For this purpose, many digital equipment manufacturers offer a peripheral device for a computer, known as a “flatbed scanner”. Typically, a flatbed scanner is a box-like device of short stature, having a width and length a little larger than a piece of paper of some standard size. The upper horizontal surface of the scanner contains a glass scanning surface, over which rests a removable cover. The cover is lifted, and a document is placed face down on the scanning surface. An internal carriage containing digital optical sensors moves inside the scanner from one end of the scanning surface to the other, scanning the document and creating a digital image as it moves. The flatbed scanner is typically coupled to a computer via a data communications cable, and as it scans the image, the data is transmitted to the computer. The computer may compress the data using any of various compression techniques, and stores the scanned image in its internal storage, typically a rotating magnetic disk drive storage device. 
     Because personal computers and their associated peripheral devices are often used in homes and small offices where space is at a premium, it is desirable to reduce the amount of space used by such devices, and in particular, the amount of desktop space used. For example, many personal computers are designed with a floor-mounted “tower” system unit, containing the processor, main memory, and storage devices, while input devices such as a keyboard and mouse, and video display unit, are remotely attached via cable. This flexibility allows the user to put the system unit on the floor or at another less valuable location, while only the display unit goes on the desktop, leaving the desktop as free as possible. In a similar vein, a number of “multi-function” devices, which combine the functions of printer, copier, fax machine, answering machine, telephone, and/or scanner, have been marketed, one of the chief advantages of such devices being that they conserve space. 
     Unfortunately, flatbed scanners remain major space consumers. Since the flatbed scanner must be at least as long and wide as the document to be scanned, there are limits to the size reduction possible. While there are alternatives to flatbed scanners (such as hand-held scanners or paper-feed scanners, in which a document being scanned is moved past a stationary scanning mechanism), flat-bed scanners provide certain advantages in accuracy and flexibility that are not possible with alternative devices. An unrecognized need exists for a flatbed-type scanning device which, while not necessarily smaller than conventional flatbed scanners, consumes less valuable space, and in particular, consumes less of the desktop. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A flatbed-type digital scanning device has a vertically oriented scanning surface. Because the internal mechanism is such that the size of the device in a dimension normal to the scanning surface is significantly less than the length or width of the scanning surface, the device is taller (vertically) than it is wide (in the dimension normal to the scanning surface), and consumes a smaller area of space even though its volume may be the same as conventional flatbed scanners. 
     In the preferred embodiment, an outer cover is attached to the scanner by a hinge near the bottom of the scanning surface. The inner surface of the outer cover is a light-colored material having a relatively high coefficient of friction, to prevent slippage of documents. To scan a document, the outer cover is pulled down to an approximately horizontal position, and the document is placed face-up on the outer cover. An intermediate transparent cover is also attached via a hinge along the same axis, the intermediate transparent cover being positioned for rotation between the outer cover and the scanning surface. The intermediate cover is left in a vertical orientation while the document is being aligned on the outer cover, and then lowered into position next to the outer cover, so that the scanned document is held in place between the two covers. The two covers are then rotated together to position the document next to the scanning surface for scanning. A latch mechanism holds the covers in place during rotation. 
     Preferably, the outer cover has feet near the end opposite the hinge to stabilize the device while the cover is in the lowered position. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the scanner has feet for placing the scanning surface in a horizontal orientation or a vertical orientation, according to the user&#39;s choice. The scanner also has appropriate receiving cavities for wall mounting. 
     The digital scanning device herein described reduces consumption of critical desktop area. An additional advantage of the device is that it is easier to align multiple small documents, such as photographs, because these are placed in a face-up position on the horizontally positioned cover. 
    
    
     The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a digital document scanning device, with covers in closed position for scanning or idle, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a digital document scanning device, with covers in horizontal position, in accordance with the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 3 is a side plan view of a digital document scanning device, according to the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional detailed view of a portion of the outer cover, showing in greater detail the swing-down foot, according to the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the latch mechanism for latching the scanner covers, according to the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 5B is a sectional view of the right lever portion of the latch mechanism, which latches the intermediate cover to the frame, according to the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 5C is a sectional view of the left lever portion of the latch mechanism, which latches the outer cover to the intermediate cover, according to the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 6 is a rear plan view of a scanning device, showing wall mounting apparatus, according to the preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 7 depicts a simplified internal carriage mechanism which is counterbalanced for vertical motion, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the Drawing, wherein like numbers denote like parts throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 and 2 are perspective views of a digital document scanning device  100 , in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows the scanner with covers in closed position, which is the normal position when the device is idle, or when a document is being scanned. FIG. 2 shows the scanner with both covers in a horizontal position, which is used for placing documents to be scanned on the cover, as described more fully herein. Scanner  100  is housed in a frame  101  in the shape of a substantially rectangular parallelopiped, the edges of which correspond to three perpendicular axes, x, y and z. For consistency of description and ease of understanding, the vertical direction is referred to herein as the y-dimension or y-axis, the horizontal direction parallel to cover  102  is referred to herein as the x-dimension or x-axis, and the horizontal direction perpendicular to the cover, corresponding to the shortest edge of frame  101 , is referred to herein as the z-dimension or z-axis, as indicated in FIG. 1, it being understood that designation of axes is purely arbitrary. Outer cover  102  is a flat, rectangular member attached by elongated hinge  105  to frame  101  along the bottom of the frame. An intermediate transparent cover  103  is also attached to hinge  105 , and sandwiched between outer cover  102  and frame  101 . A transparent scanning surface  201  covers interior optical, electrical and mechanical components used for scanning images, the images being visible to the interior components through transparent scanning surface  201 . In closed position, covers  102  and  103  conceal scanning surface  201 . 
     Covers  102  and  103  rotate about the x-axis on hinge  105 . Covers  102  and  103  are capable of independent rotation, so that cover  102  may be rotated down to a horizontal position, while cover  103  remains vertical or in any intermediate position. A pair of travel limit arms  205  attached to cover  102  limit rotation of the covers beyond horizontal position. A pair of swing-down feet  106 , described more fully herein, extend to support cover  102  when the latter is in a horizontal position. A latch mechanism  107 , described more fully herein, latches covers  102  and  103  in vertical position, or latches only cover  103  in vertical position, or latches the two covers in unison. 
     Frame  100  rests on four feet  111  (of which three are visible in FIG.  1 ), which are made of a soft, resilient material such as rubber. A power cable  121  for supplying electrical power to scanner  100  connects to frame  101  at a side, near the bottom, as shown. Data cable  122  for communicating with a digital computing device connects to frame  100  near the power cable connection. Power switch  123  is located on the side of frame  100 , near the top, as shown. Scanner may optionally contain a small control panel (not shown) for controlling scanner functions. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of scanner  100 . FIG. 3 shows outer cover  102  in horizontal position, with rotating feet  106  lowered to support the cover. Intermediate cover  103  is shown in a position between horizontal and vertical. As depicted in FIG. 3, when the outer cover is fully lowered to horizontal position, the intermediate cover may assume a vertical position next to scanning surface  201 , a horizontal position next to outer cover  102 , or any position in between. 
     Also shown in FIG. 3 are feet  302  projecting from the rear surface (i.e., the surface opposite scanning surface  201 ) of frame  101 . Four feet  302  project from the rear surface, of which only two are visible in FIG.  3 . Feet  302  are identical in size and composition to feet  111 . Feet  302  allow scanner  101  to be rotated 90 degrees for optional use in a conventional orientation, i.e., with the scanning surface  201  oriented horizontally. 
     Outer cover  102  is a stiff, opaque polymeric material. For consistent appearance, cover  102  may be of the same material as the outer portion of frame  101 . Many suitable polymers exist, such as ABS, polycarbonate, etc. On the inner surface of outer cover  102  is a resilient layer  301  having a relatively high coefficient of friction, for retaining documents in place. This layer is preferably white in color. Silicone rubber may be used for the resilient layer  301 , although many other suitable materials are available. Travel limit arms  205  are preferably steel. 
     Transparent intermediate layer  103  is a stiff, transparent material. Glass, transparent polycarbonate, or other suitable materials may be used. In the preferred embodiment, layers  102  and  103  are attached to a common hinge assembly and rotate on a common axis, although they could be attached to separate hinges. The transparent layer, for example, could be attached to a separate hinge at the end of cover  102  opposite hinge  105 . Alternatively, the transparent layer could be attached to a separate hinge or pair of hinges near and alongside hinge  105 , the separate hinge(s) accommodating thicker documents. 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional detailed view of a portion of cover  102 , showing in greater detail swing-down foot  106 . Each foot  106  is mounted in a respective recess  401  in cover  102 . Foot  106  is hinged on an axis  403  parallel to the axis of hinge  105 , axis  403  being perpendicular to the plane of the detailed section view of FIG.  4 . Foot  106  may be attached to cover  102  via a small cylindrical coaxial pin, via a pair of coaxial projections from either side of the foot, or other means. At the bottom of foot  106  is a rubber pad  402  for contact with a table, desk or similar surface. Foot  106  may optionally contain a weight (not shown) near the bottom thereof. Foot  106  is rotated by gravitational force. When cover  102  is in a vertical position, foot  106  rotates to a position inside recess  401 . When cover  102  is rotated to a horizontal position, foot  106  rotates to its extended position substantially perpendicular to the cover, as depicted in FIG. 4, thereby providing support for the cover. 
     FIGS. 5A,  5 B and  5 C show the latch mechanism  107  is greater detail. In each of FIG. 5A, FIGS. 5B and 5C, covers  102  and  103  are in the closed (vertical) position. FIG. 5A is a perspective view of the latch mechanism from the front of scanner  100 . Latch mechanism  107  comprises a right lever portion  510  and a left lever portion  520 . 
     FIG. 5B is a sectional view of the right lever portion  510  of latch mechanism  107 . Right lever portion  510  latches intermediate cover  103  to frame  101 . Lever portion  510  is a pivoting arm mounted on intermediate cover  103 , and pivoting about axis  512  which is parallel to the axis of hinge  105 . One end of lever  510  provides a handle  513  for grasping and rotating downward as indicated. At the other end is a pawl  514  for engaging a projection in frame  101 . A recess  511  in frame  101  provides a limited range of motion for pawl end  514 . A biasing spring (not shown) holds lever  510  as shown, with pawl  514  against the projection in frame  101 , thus locking intermediate cover  103  to frame  101 . When handle  513  is pulled down against the force of the biasing spring, cover  103  is released. Cover  103  is latched to frame  101  by pushing cover  103  against frame, whereby a beveled portion of the frame causes pawl to rotate upwards until it engages the projection in the frame. It will be observed that outer cover  102  contains a relief  515  allowing lever  510  to be released or engaged when outer cover  102  is positioned adjacent intermediate cover  103 . 
     FIG. 5C is a sectional view of the left lever portion  520  of latch mechanism  107 . Left lever portion  520  latches outer cover  102  to intermediate cover  103 . Lever portion  520  is a pivoting arm mounted on outer cover  102 , and pivoting about axis  522  which is parallel to the axis of hinge  105 . One end of lever  520  provides a handle  523  for grasping and rotating downward as indicated. At the other end is a pawl  524  for engaging the end of cover  103 . A recess  521  in frame  101  provides a limited range of motion for pawl end  524 . A biasing spring (not shown) holds lever  520  as shown, with pawl  524  against intermediate cover  103 , thus outer cover  102  to locking intermediate cover  103 . When handle  523  is pulled down against the force of the biasing spring, outer cover  102  is released from intermediate cover  103 , but intermediate cover  103  is not released from frame  101  (unless right lever  510  is simultaneously activated). Outer cover  102  is latched to intermediate cover  103  by pushing the two covers together, whereby a beveled portion of cover  103  causes pawl  524  to rotate upwards until it engages the cover. 
     Preferably, the latching mechanism should satisfy the following three criteria for optimal performance: (1) the latch should be able to hold intermediate cover  103  in the vertical position while outer cover  102  is pulled down to horizontal; (2) the latch should be able to lock intermediate cover to outer cover while the two covers are rotated in unison; and (3) the latch should be able to hold both covers in the vertical position for scanning and while the scanner is idle. The latch  107  above described satisfies all three criteria, although it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many variations in latching mechanism are possible. In addition to spring-biased levers, latches could be any of various mechanical designs or could be magnetic, electro-mechanical solenoids, etc. As used herein, a “latch” or a “latching mechanism” is intended to encompass any of these alternatives. 
     A user operates scanner  100  as follows. When scanner  100  is idle, both covers  102  and  103  are in the vertical position, and both levers  510  and  520  of latch  107  are engaged, locking covers  102  and  103 . The user pulls down handle  523  of left lever  520 , thereby releasing outer cover  102  but not releasing intermediate cover  103 . The user rotates outer cover  102  to a horizontal position. The user then positions a document (or multiple small documents) for scanning face-up on resilient layer  301 . When the user is satisfied with the alignment of the document(s) to be scanned, the user pulls down handle  513  of right lever  510 , thereby releasing intermediate cover  103 . The user rotates intermediate cover  103  to a horizontal position, pushing it against outer cover  102 , thus causing lever  520  to engage, locking intermediate cover  103  to outer cover  102 . The document(s) to be scanned is now held in place, sandwiched between outer cover  102  and intermediate cover  103 . The high coefficient of friction of layer  301  additionally helps to retain the document(s) in place. The user then rotates outer cover  102  and intermediate cover  103  in unison from a horizontal to a vertical position, pushing the two covers against frame  101 , thereby causing right lever  510  to engage, latching the covers to the frame. The user then activates the scanner in a conventional manner, i.e., from a computer, control panel, or the like, to scan the document. The scanned document is removed by reversing the above steps. 
     Preferably, scanner  100  can optionally be mounted on a wall or similar vertical surface, in order to further conserve desktop area. FIG. 6 is a rear plan view of scanner  100 , showing wall mounting apparatus. Two cavities  601  are molded in the rear surface of frame  101 , near the top thereof, as shown. These cavities accept conventional wall-mounting hardware, such as hooks, screw heads, etc. A retailer of scanner  100  may optionally include appropriate wall mounting hardware with the scanner. When wall mounted, feet  106  will dangle, providing no support. For this reason, limit arms  205  are used to hold outer cover  102  in a horizontal position for wall mounting. However, it will be appreciated that there are various alternatives to limit arms  205 , e.g. one or more cables of appropriate length extending from the top of frame  101  to the outer edge of cover  102 , thus limiting travel of cover  102 , nor is it necessary that wall mounting be supported. If wall mounting is not supported, limit aims  205  may be omitted, since swing-down feet  106  provide support to the outer cover when the scanner is resting on a horizontal surface. 
     Generally, the internal components of scanner  100  are of conventional design, and therefore the width of scanner  100  in the z-dimension, as well as the total volume, are approximately the same as conventional flatbed scanners. The advantage of scanner  100  lies in the fact that the “footprint”, i.e., the area of desktop, table or similar surface consumed, is reduced because the z-dimension (perpendicular to the plane of the scanning surface) is typically the shortest dimension of a scanner. The x-dimension and y-dimension are necessarily at least as large as the dimensions of the document to be scanned. 
     Because a conventional scanner typically has moving parts which scan the document horizontally, some minor modifications may be necessary for vertical scanning. In particular, depending on the internal component design, it may be necessary to counterbalance a moving carriage or the like for vertical motion. FIG. 7 depicts a simplified internal carriage mechanism which is counterbalanced for vertical motion. Carriage  701  supporting scanning electronics moves along a vertical rail  702 . A drive belt  703  attached to an electric motor  704  provides motive force to carriage  701 . When rail  702  is positioned horizontally, drive motor  704  has only to overcome the inertial and frictional forces of the carriage and rail. However, when positioned vertically, drive motor must additionally overcome the weight exerted by gravity when moving carriage  701  upwards. If this is a problem, it would be possible to attach counterweight  705  to belt  703  as shown, counterweight  705  weighing approximately the same as carriage  701 . Counterweight  705  slides along rail  706 , the rail providing lateral support to the counterweight, particularly when the scanner is mounted with the scanning surface in a horizontal orientation. However, there are numerous alternative solutions to this problem. For example, a more powerful motor  704  can be used. Alternatively, the document can always be scanned with carriage  701  moving downward, so that the motor does not need to overcome gravity when scanning; when returning the carriage to its original position, the motor can go much more slowly, so that a more powerful motor or other solution is not required. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the longest dimension (y-dimension) is oriented vertically, for minimum footprint. However, it would alternatively be possible to design scanner  100  so that scanning surface  201  is oriented with the longer dimension horizontal, and the shorter dimension vertical. Preferably, other design features would retain their orientation, i.e., the axis of hinge  105  would still be horizontal, but hinge  105  would now have a longer length; latch  107  would still be opposite hinge  105 , but would be along a longer edge of covers  102  and  103 . This alternative design would offer somewhat greater stability since it would have a larger base and not be so tall, at the cost of a larger footprint. 
     In the preferred embodiment, intermediate cover  103  is used to hold documents in position while cover  102  is rotated from a horizontal position to the vertical scanning position. It would be possible to use alternative means for holding documents in position. I.e., an adhering surface coating, such as from certain adhesives or naturally tacky materials, might be placed on the cover; a static electrical charge might be used; or any of various mechanical clips might be used. 
     In the preferred embodiment, travel limit arms  205  limit rotation of covers  102 ,  103  to approximately 90 degrees. However, it would alternatively be possible to remove travel limit arms (particularly if wall mounting is not supported), supporting rotation of covers  102 ,  103  up to approximately 180 degrees. The advantage of such an approach would be that documents could be arranged face-up on cover  102  when scanner  100  is mounted with the scanning surface  201  in a horizontal orientation (i.e., mounted in the conventional orientation). 
     While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described as a document scanning device, it will be further understood that such a scanning device could be integrated with other functions in a single unit. For example, it could be part of a copier machine, a facsimile transmission device, or any of various multiple function devices. 
     Although a specific embodiment of the invention has been disclosed along with certain alternatives, it will be recognized by those skilled in the art that additional variations in form and detail may be made within the scope of the following claims: