Patent Publication Number: US-2011063600-A1

Title: Film holder

Description:
This application claims the benefit of People&#39;s Republic of China application Serial No. 200920169693.1, filed Sep. 12, 2009 the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates in general to a film holder, and more particularly to a film holder which is adapted in a film scanning device and has an information window. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Nowadays, various image scanning devices have been widely used in work or everydayness. Examples of the image scanning devices include flatbed scanners or portable scanners with film scanning function, or apparatus capable of converting films, such as positives, negatives, slides and reversal films, into electronic files/images. During scanning of a film, the user normally places the film into a film holder and loads the film holder into the scanning device; and scanning of the film is completed via a drive device and a light source. 
     During scanning, logic judgments regarding the type and the disposition of the scan film are made. The alphabetic information on the two lateral sides of the film is read for optical recognition. The alphabetic information includes film code, DX code, and the digits, the brand and the marks printed on the film. However, in prior art, the film carrying portion of the film holder will block the above alphabetic information and impede function augmentation of the scanning device, and cause inconvenience to the user. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     To resolve the above technological problems, in embodiments of the invention, an information window is formed on and through the film holder, so that the alphabetic information or the film primary color on the lateral side of the film lateral is fully used, and the function is augmented. 
     A film holder is provided. During scanning of a to-be-scanned object, the film holder is inserted into a scanning device. The film holder includes an input portion, a guiding portion and an information window. The input portion has an entrance, a channel and an exit, the channel disposed between the entrance and the exit. During scanning of the to-be-scanned object, the to-be-scanned object passes through the channel. The guiding portion connects to the input portion for guiding the to-be-scanned object. The information window is formed at and through the guiding portion. During scanning of the to-be-scanned object, the side regions of the to-be-scanned object pass through the information window. 
     According to the film holder of embodiments of the invention, the information window includes a via hole intersecting the guiding portion. Furthermore, the via hole is a closed hole disposed in the guiding portion, or a semi-closed hole disposed on one side of the guiding portion. 
     Furthermore, the via hole is anyone of a circle, an ellipse, a rectangle and a trapezoid or a combination thereof. 
     According to the film holder of embodiments of the invention, a slide boosting coating is formed on the guiding portion. In greater details, the slide boosting coating is realized by a PTFE (PTFE) coating. 
     According to the film holder of embodiments of the invention, the guiding portion includes two opposite guiding slots. The side regions of the to-be-scanned object are received in the two guiding slots, respectively. The image region of the to-be-scanned object is located between the two guiding slots. The guiding slot and the channel are interconnected. 
     According to the film holder of embodiments of the invention, the input portion includes an incoming surface and the upper cover; the incoming surface is disposed at the entrance and is further extended to the channel surrounded by the upper cover and the incoming surface. Furthermore, the input portion further includes a protrusion disposed on the upper cover. When the film holder is inserted into the scanning device, the protrusion leans against the scanning device. 
     The film holder of embodiments of the invention further includes a blocker disposed at one end of the guiding portion far away from the input portion. The blocker has a bevel. When the film holder is inserted into the scanning device, the bevel leans against the scanning device. 
     By embodiments of the invention, the optical recognition function of the scanning device is effectively augmented; and it is convenient to use the scanning device. 
     It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosed embodiments, as claimed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic diagram of a film holder according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic diagram of a film holder according to another embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 3  shows operations of the film holder according to the embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     The objects, structures, characteristics and functions of embodiments of the invention are disclosed below with accompanying drawings. 
     An embodiment of the invention provides a film holder for carrying a to-be-scanned film. The film includes an image region and two side regions. The side region includes tooth holes and some alphabetic information such as the film code, DX code and the digits, the brand and the marks printed on the film. The side regions further show the primary color of the film. During scanning of a film, the film holder is inserted into the scanning device. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a schematic diagram of a film holder  2  according to an embodiment of the invention is shown. The film holder  2  includes an input portion  21 , a guiding portion  22  and an information window  23 . The input portion  21  has an entrance  210 , a channel  211  and an exit  212 , the channel  211  disposed between the entrance  210  and the exit  212 . During scanning of the film, the film passes through the channel  211 . The guiding portion  22  connects to the input portion  21  for guiding the side region of the film. For example, the guiding portion  22  is disposed at the exit  212 , but the invention is not limited thereto. In practical application, the guiding portion  22  may includes two opposite guiding slots  220 , in which the side regions of the film are received, respectively. The image region of the film is located between the two guiding slots  220 . The guiding slots  220  and the channel  211  are interconnected. In an embodiment, to avoid the film being scratched when sliding in the guiding portion  22 , a slide boosting layer is formed on the guiding portion  22 . In greater details, the slide boosting coating is realized by a PTFE layer. The information window  23  is formed at and through the guiding portion  22 . During scanning of the film, the side regions of the film pass through the information window  23 . The side region could be disposed at the left side and the right side of the image region, or disposed at the top side and the bottom side of the image region. The position of the information window  23  in the guiding portion  22  may be changed without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof, as long as during scanning, the to-be-recognized information of the side regions of the film pass through the information window. 
     In the embodiment, the information window  23  includes via holes  230  intersecting the guiding portion  22 . As indicated in  FIG. 2 , the via hole  230  is semi-closed and disposed on one side of the guiding portion  22 . However, the a semi-closed via hole would make the film come off from the via hole  230 . Also, due to the design of tooth hole on the film, motion blur may occur during image scanning. 
     To resolve the above problem, a film holder with new design is provided in another embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 2 , a schematic diagram of a film holder  3  according to another embodiment of the invention is shown. The film holder  3  includes an input portion  31 , a guiding portion  32  and an information window  33 . The input portion  31  has an entrance  310 , a channel  311  and an exit  312 , the channel  311  disposed between the entrance  310  and the exit  312 . During scanning of the film, the film  30  passes through the channel  311 . The guiding portion  32  connects to the input portion  31  for guiding the film. The information window  33  is formed at and through the guiding portion  32 . During scanning of the film, the side regions of the film pass through the information window  33 . For the same elements in the present embodiment of  FIG. 2  and in the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the same designations are used and the similarities are not repeated here. The present embodiment is different the above embodiment in that the via hole  330  of the information window  33  is a closed hole and disposed in the guiding portion  32 . In practical application, the via hole  330  is anyone of a circle, an ellipse, a rectangle and a trapezoid or a combination thereof. The via hole  330  is different from the positioning hole formed during the manufacturing process. For example, the positioning hole  321  of  FIG. 2  is formed for positioning the film holder during the manufacturing process, and does not have any practical function during image scanning. In other possible embodiment of the invention, positioning holes located at suitable location can be used as an information window, without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof, as long as the to-be-recognized information on the side regions could pass through the information window during scanning. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a diagram of operations of the film holder  3  according to the embodiment of the invention is shown. The following descriptions on the film holder are also applicable to the film holder (such as the film holder  2 ) of other embodiments. During scanning of the film, the film  30  passes through the channel  311 . The input portion  31  includes an incoming surface  313  and an upper cover  314 , wherein the incoming surface  313  is disposed at the entrance of the input portion  31  and is further extended to the channel  311 . The channel  311  is surrounded by the upper cover  314  and the incoming surface  313 . In other possible embodiment, in order to increase the friction between the film  30  and the driving roller  301  inside the scanning device  300  so that the driving roller  301  can easily drive the film  30  to move, the input portion  31  further includes one or more protrusions  315  disposed on the upper cover  314 . When the film holder  3  is inserted into the scanning device  300 , the protrusion or the protrusions  315  lean against the scanning device  300 . For example, the protrusion or the protrusions  315  lean against the housing (not illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) of the scanning device  300 . 
     The film holder  3  further includes a blocker  34  disposed at one end of the guiding portion  32  far away from the input portion  31 . The blocker  34  has a bevel  340 . When the film holder  3  is inserted into the scanning device  300 , the bevel  340  leans against the scanning device  300 . For example, the bevel  340  leans against the passive roller inside the scanning device  300 , so that the passive roller (not illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) and the bevel  340  generate a pushing force for achieving element positioning and increasing the hand feeling. 
     The information window  33  is formed at and through the guiding portion  32 . During scanning of the film, the alphabetic information  302  on the side regions of the film  30  passes through the information window  33 . The alphabetic information  302  on the two lateral sides of the film  30  is read by the sensing element of the scanning device  300  for optical recognition. The alphabetic information includes for example but not limited by film code, DX code, and the digits, the brand and the marks printed on the film. Logic judgments regarding the type and the disposition of the scan film are made according to the alphabetic information. The sensing element may also sense other information of the film, such as the primary color of the film, through the information window for the future function augmentation. 
     The guiding portion of the embodiments of the invention could be made from metal or plastics. The guiding portion may be fixed on the input portion or integrally formed in one piece with the input portion. 
     The film holder of the embodiments of the invention could also be used for carrying other to-be-scanned objects such as a film with a positive, and the invention is not limited thereto. 
     The embodiments of the invention effectively augment the optical recognition function of the scanning device, avoid the film from being scratched, keep the quality of image scanning from being deteriorated and increase the convenience of use of the scanning device. 
     It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the disclosed embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that the disclosed embodiments are not limited to the particular examples disclosed, but is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments as defined by the claims that follow.