Patent Publication Number: US-11039026-B2

Title: Multipurpose image capturing apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     1. Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates to an image capturing apparatus, and more particularly, to a multipurpose image capturing apparatus with flexibility in use. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     With advancement of scanning technology, scanners are widely used in homes or offices. The scanners can capture images of physical objects, such as documents, photographs and books. The captured digital images can be displayed and stored in computer devices. The digital images of the physical objects can be stored permanently. Therefore, it is not required to store the physical objects anymore, which can save space occupied by the physical objects. Furthermore, it also allows a user to edit or transfer the images easily. Therefore, the scanners have an extensive range of applications. However, although there are various multipurpose scanners available in the market, such conventional multipurpose scanners are large and lack of flexibility in use. There is a need to provide an improved multipurpose image capturing apparatus. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Therefore, an objective of the present disclosure is to provide a multipurpose image capturing apparatus with flexibility in use for solving the aforementioned problem. 
     In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, the present disclosure discloses a multipurpose image capturing apparatus includes a first shell, a driving assembly, a first image capturing module, a first control module, a second shell, a second image capturing module and a second control module. A passage is formed inside the first shell. The driving assembly is disposed inside the first shell and for driving a first object to move along the passage. The first image capturing module is disposed inside the first shell and for capturing a first image corresponding to the first object when the driving assembly drives the first object to pass by the first image capturing module along the passage. The first control module includes a first control unit and a first electrical connector. The first control unit is electrically connected to the first electrical connector and the first image capturing module. The second shell is disposed beneath the first shell and supporting the first shell. A chamber is formed inside the second shell and for accommodating a second object. An opening is formed on the second shell and communicated with the chamber for allowing the second object to enter the chamber. The second image capturing module is disposed inside the second shell and for capturing a second image corresponding to the second object accommodated inside the chamber. The second control module includes a second control unit, a second electrical connector and a third electrical connector. The second control unit is electrically connected to the second electrical connector, the third electrical connector and the second image capturing module. The first control unit transmits the first image captured by the first image capturing module to an external apparatus via an electrical connection of the first electrical connector and an electrical connector of the external apparatus when the first electrical connector is electrically connected to the electrical connector of the external apparatus. The first control unit transmits the first image captured by the first image capturing module to the second control unit via an electrical connection of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector when the first electrical connector is electrically connected to the second electrical connector. The second control unit transmits the first image transmitted from the first control unit via the electrical connection of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector, or the second image captured by the second image capturing module to the external apparatus when the first electrical connector is electrically connected to the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector is electrically connected to the electrical connector of the external apparatus. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second image capturing module is configured to capture the second image when the first electrical connector is connected to the second electrical connector. The second image capturing module is configured not to capture the second image when the first electrical connector is not connected to the second electrical connector. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an engaging recess is formed on a side of the second shell adjacent to the first shell for at least partially accommodating the first shell. The first shell is installed on the second shell by the engaging recess. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a shape of the engaging recess substantially corresponds to a shape of a bottom portion of the first shell. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one positioning portion protrudes from a side of the second shell adjacent to the first shell for positioning the first shell. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the multipurpose image capturing apparatus further includes a fastening component. A through hole is formed on the at least one positioning portion. A fastening hole is formed on the first shell. The fastening component passes through the through hole to be fastened with the fastening hole for fixing the first shell with the second shell. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the multipurpose image capturing apparatus further includes a detector disposed inside the second shell and electrically connected to the second control unit. The detector is configured to determine whether the second object enters into the chamber to be located at an image capturing position. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second shell comprises a first assembling component and a second assembling component, the first assembling component is detachably assembled with the second assembling component, and the chamber is formed between the first assembling component and the second assembling component. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second assembling component is substantially a platform structure. A middle portion of the first assembling component protrudes away from the second assembling component to form the chamber and the opening communicated with the chamber. The second object is allowed to enter the chamber through the opening. 
     According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the second image capturing module is disposed on the second assembling component. At least one engaging slot is formed on the first assembling component. The second assembling component is inserted into the at least one engaging slot to be combined with the first assembling component. 
     In summary, in the present disclosure, when the first electrical connector is electrically connected to the electrical connector of the external apparatus, a user can control the first control unit to transmit the first image captured by the first image capturing module to the external apparatus via the electrical connection of the first electrical connector and the electrical connector of the external apparatus. Furthermore, the user can control the second control unit to transmit the first image transmitted from the first control unit via the electrical connection of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector of the second electrical connector, or the second image captured by the second image capturing module to the external apparatus when the first electrical connector is electrically connected to the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector is electrically connected to the electrical connector of the external apparatus. The relation of the aforementioned electrical connectors can be adjusted according to practical demands to operate the first image capturing module disposed inside the first shell to capture the first image corresponding to the first object or to operate the second image capturing module disposed inside the second shell to capture the second image corresponding to the second object, and therefore, the multipurpose image capturing apparatus of the present disclosure has flexibility in use. Besides, the first shell can be detached from the second shell for reducing occupied space when it is desired to operate the first image capturing module only. 
     These and other objectives of the present disclosure will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a multipurpose image capturing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an internal structural diagram of the multipurpose image capturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are exploded diagrams of the multipurpose image capturing apparatus at different views according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram of the multipurpose image capturing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  are schematic diagrams of a multipurpose image capturing apparatus in different states according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  are exploded diagrams of the multipurpose image capturing apparatus at different views according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a functional block diagram of the multipurpose image capturing apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. In this regard, directional terminology, such as “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” etc., is used with reference to the orientation of the Figure(s) being described. The components of the present disclosure can be positioned in a number of different orientations. As such, the directional terminology is used for purposes of illustration and is in no way limiting. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions will be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of a multipurpose image capturing apparatus  1  according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  is an internal structural diagram of the multipurpose image capturing apparatus  1  according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4  are exploded diagrams of the multipurpose image capturing apparatus  1  at different views according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 5  is a functional block diagram of the multipurpose image capturing apparatus  1  according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 5 , the multipurpose image capturing apparatus  1  has function of scanning or capturing images and includes a first shell  11 , a driving assembly  12 , a first image capturing module  13 , a first control module  14 , a second shell  15 , a second image capturing module  16  and a second control module  17 . A passage P is formed inside the first shell  11 . The driving assembly  12  is disposed inside the first shell  11  and for driving a first object, which is not shown in the figures, to move along the passage P. The first object can be a scanned object, such as paper. The first image capturing module  13  is disposed inside the first shell  11  and for capturing a first image corresponding to the first object when the driving assembly  12  drives the first object to pass by the first image capturing module  13  along the passage P, so as to provide a function similar to a sheet-fed scanner. Preferably, in this embodiment, the driving assembly  12  can be a gear drive assembly including a roller  121 , a motor, which is not shown in the figures, and a gear set, which is not shown in the figures. However, it is not limited to this embodiment. For example, in another embodiment, the driving assembly also can be a belt drive assembly including a belt. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the first image capturing module  13  can include two optical sensing components  131  disposed at two opposite sides of the passage P, and each optical sensing component  131  can be a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a contact image sensor (CIS). However, the present disclosure is not limited to thereto. 
     Besides, the second shell  15  is disposed beneath the first shell  11  and supports the first shell  11 . A chamber C is formed inside the second shell  15  and for accommodating a second object, which is not shown in the figures. An opening O is formed on the second shell  15  and communicated with the chamber C for allowing the second object to enter the chamber C. The second image capturing module  16  is disposed inside the second shell  15  and for capturing a second image corresponding to the second object, so as to provide a function similar to a flatbed scanner. In this embodiment, the second image capturing module  16  can include an optical sensing component, such as a charge-coupled device (CCD) or a contact image sensor (CIS). However, the present disclosure is not limited to thereto. 
     Specifically, an engaging recess  151  is formed on a side of the second shell  15  adjacent to the first shell  11 , i.e., an upper side  15 A of the second shell  15 , and for at least partially accommodating the first shell  11 . The first shell  11  is installed on the second shell  15  by the engaging recess  151 . A shape of the engaging recess  151  can substantially correspond to a shape of a bottom portion of the first shell  15  for restraining the first shell  11  inside the engaging recess  151 , so as to achieve a purpose of restraining movement of the first shell  11  relative to the second shell  15 . Furthermore, two positioning portions  152  protrude from the upper side  15 A of the second shell  15  for positioning the first shell  11 . The two positioning portions  152  can be located at an outer periphery of the engaging recess  151  and for guiding the first shell  11  to properly engage with the engaging recess  151  when the first shell  11  is moved toward the engaging recess  151 . Besides, the two positioning portions  152  can further prevent the first shell  11  partially accommodated inside the engaging recess  151  from disengaging from the engaging recess  151  when the first shell  11  is forced by an external force. In such a way, installation and positioning of the first shell  11  relative to the second shell  15  can be achieved by the aforementioned configuration. However, the number of the positioning portion is not limited to this embodiment. It depends on practical demands. For example, in another embodiment, there can be only one positioning portion. 
     Furthermore, the second shell  15  includes a first assembling component  153  and a second assembling component  154  detachably assembled with the first assembling component  153 . The second assembling component  154  can be substantially a platform structure. The second image capturing module  16  is disposed on the second assembling component  154 . A middle portion of the first assembling component  153  protrudes away from the second assembling component  154 . Two engaging slots  1531  are formed on two lateral portions of the first assembling component  153 . The second assembling component  154  is inserted into the two engaging slots  1531  to be combined with the first assembling component  153 . When the second assembling component  154  is inserted into the two engaging slots  1531  to be combined with the first assembling component  153 , the chamber C and the opening O communicated with the chamber C are formed between the first assembling component  153  and the second assembling component  154  for allowing the second object to enter the chamber C through the opening O. In addition, when the second assembling component  154  is inserted into the two engaging slots  1531  to be combined with the first assembling component  153 , the second image capturing module  16  disposed on the second assembling component  154  is aligned with the chamber C for capturing the second image corresponding to the second object entering into the chamber C correctly. In such a way, the installation and positioning of the second image capturing module  16  relative to the second shell  15  can be achieved by the aforementioned configuration. 
     Besides, the first control module  14  includes a first control unit  141  and a first electrical connector  142 . The first control unit  141  is electrically connected to the first electrical connector  142  and the first image capturing module  13 . The second control module  17  includes a second control unit  171 , a second electrical connector  172  and a third electrical connector  173 . The second control unit  171  is electrically connected to the second electrical connector  172 , the third electrical connector  173  and the second image capturing module  16 . In this embodiment, the first control unit  141  or the second control unit  171  can be a microprocessor, a micro control unit (MCU), a digital signal processor (DSP) or any other processing component, or can be realized by an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     The first control unit  141  can transmit the first image captured by the first image capturing module  13  to an external apparatus via electrical connection of the first electrical connector  142  and an electrical connector of the external apparatus when the first electrical connector  142  is electrically connected to the electrical connector of the external apparatus, e.g., the first electrical connector  142  can be electrically connected to the electrical connector by a corresponding data transmission cable. Besides, the first control unit  141  can further transmit the first image captured by the first image capturing module  13  to the second control unit  171  via electrical connection of the first electrical connector  142  and the second electrical connector  172  when the first electrical connector  142  is electrically connected to the second electrical connector  172 , e.g., the first electrical connector  142  can be electrically connected to the second electrical connector  172  by a corresponding data transmission cable. Furthermore, the second control unit  171  can transmit the first image transmitted from the first control unit  141  via the electrical connection of the first electrical connector  142  and the electrical connector of the external apparatus, or the second image captured by the second image capturing module  16  to the external apparatus via electrical connection of the third electrical connector  173  and the electrical connector of the external apparatus when the first electrical connector  142  is electrically connected to the second electrical connector  172  and the third electrical connector  173  is electrically connected to the electrical connector of the external apparatus, e.g., the first electrical connector  142  is electrically connected to the second electrical connector  172  by a corresponding data transmission cable, and the third electrical connector  173  is electrically connected to the electrical connector of the external apparatus by a corresponding data transmission cable. The relation of the aforementioned electrical connectors can be adjusted according to practical demands to operate the first image capturing module  13  disposed inside the first shell  11  to capture the first image corresponding to the first object or the second image capturing module  16  disposed inside the second shell  15  to capture the second image corresponding to the second object, and therefore, the multipurpose image capturing apparatus of the present disclosure has flexibility in use. 
     Furthermore, the second image capturing module  16  of the present disclosure can be configured to capture the second image when the first electrical connector  142  is electrically connected to the second electrical connector  172 . The second image capturing module  16  can be configured not to capture the second image when the first electrical connector  142  is not electrically connected to the second electrical connector  172 . For example, the second image capturing module  16  can be powered on when the first electrical connector  142  is electrically connected to the second electrical connector  172  and can be powered off when the first electrical connector  142  is not electrically connected to the second electrical connector  172 . Therefore, when it is only desired to capture the first image by the first image capturing module  13  without capturing the second image by the second image capturing module  16 , the first electrical connector  142  can be electrically connected to the electrical connector of the external apparatus. At this moment, the user can operate the first image capturing module  13  but cannot operate the second image capturing module  16 . Therefore, the first shell  11  can be detached from the second shell  15  for reducing occupied space and achieving a purpose of modularization. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 10 .  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7  are schematic diagrams of a multipurpose image capturing apparatus  1 ′ in different states according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  are exploded diagrams of the multipurpose image capturing apparatus  1 ′ at different views according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 10  is a functional block diagram of the multipurpose image capturing apparatus  1 ′ according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 6  to  FIG. 10 , different from the first embodiment, the multipurpose image capturing apparatus  1 ′ of this embodiment further includes a feeding tray  18 , an output tray  19 , a detector  1 A and two fastening components  1 B. The feeding tray  18  and the output tray  19  are pivotally connected to a first shell  11 ′ and respectively located at an entrance and an exit of the passage P. The detector  1 A is disposed inside the chamber C and electrically connected to the second control unit  171 . The detector  1 A can determine whether the second object enters into the chamber C to be located at an image capturing position. The second control unit  171  can control the second image capturing module  16  to capture the second image corresponding to the second object when the detector  1 A determines that the second object enters into the chamber C to be located at the image capturing position. Therefore, it is not required to operate the second control unit  171  by human machine interface, e.g., a control panel shown in  FIG. 8 , to control the second image capturing module  16  to capture the second image, which brings convenience in use. In this embodiment, the detector  1 A can preferably be a non-contact sensor, such as an optical sensor, or a contact sensor, such as a pressure sensor. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     Furthermore, in this embodiment, two positioning portions  152 ′ protrude from a second shell  15 ′. A through hole  1521 ′ is formed on each positioning portion  152 ′. Two fastening holes  111 ′ are formed on the first shell  11 ′. The two fastening components  1 B pass through the two through holes  1521 ′ to be fastened with the two fastening holes  111 ′ for fixing the first shell  11 ′ with the second shell  15 ′, so as to prevent separation of the first shell  11 ′ and the second shell  15 ′. Structure and operational principle of other components of this embodiment are similar to the ones of the first embodiment. Detailed description is omitted herein for simplicity. 
     In contrast to the prior art, in the present disclosure, when the first electrical connector is electrically connected to the electrical connector of the external apparatus, a user can control the first control unit to transmit the first image captured by the first image capturing module to the external apparatus via the electrical connection of the first electrical connector and the electrical connector of the external apparatus. Furthermore, the user can control the second control unit to transmit the first image transmitted from the first control unit via the electrical connection of the first electrical connector and the second electrical connector, or the second image captured by the second image capturing module to the external apparatus when the first electrical connector is electrically connected to the second electrical connector and the third electrical connector is electrically connected to the electrical connector of the external apparatus. The relation of the aforementioned electrical connectors can be adjusted according to practical demands to operate the first image capturing module disposed inside the first shell to capture the first image corresponding to the first object or to operate the second image capturing module disposed inside the second shell to capture the second image corresponding to the second object, and therefore, the multipurpose image capturing apparatus of the present disclosure has flexibility in use. Besides, the first shell can be detached from the second shell for reducing occupied space when it is desired to operate the first image capturing module only. 
     Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.