Patent Publication Number: US-2005133598-A1

Title: Scanning device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention generally relates to a scanning device which utilizes a mechanism of scanning tunnel. Particularly, a document is placed into the tunnel and later a motor rotates a scanning module to scan the document in the tunnel.  
      2. Background Description  
      Usually, a flatbed scanner is placed on a desk and connects to a personal computer. The scanning module employs a charge coupled device (CCD) as an image sensing unit. In the recent market, a Contact Image Sensor (CIS) is mostly employed as an image sensing unit. The signals of scanned images are firstly transformed from the image sensing unit to a multiplexer. The asynchronous signals are therefore modulated and offset to digital format. The digital signals are saved in a RAM buffer for further image processing. After the above steps, the mirror and lens modules as well as the light source are advanced to a next position for continuing a complete scanning.  
      As to the structure of a scanning device, the traditional flatbed scanner is placed on the desk. The document is placed flat on the glass of the flatbed scanner. Usually, the flatbed scanner is necessary to be placed flat and therefore needs lots space of the desk. Besides, the monitor, keyboard and others device also occupy the desk-top. The left zoom for the user is relatively small. In this case, the present invention provides a conserved scanning device with tiny desk-top need to accommodate the modern computer user&#39;s need.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a scanning device capable of being placed horizontally and vertically to fit any available space on the desk-top.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide a tunnel type scanning device to scan a document with a substantial length.  
      It is yet an aspect of the present invention that the scanning device is able to be placed at a declined angle to conduct the scanning by the assistance of a stand.  
      The scanning device includes a housing, a center portion, a document pathway, a document, a rotation conveying means which is placed between said center portion and said document pathway, and an image sensing unit, connected to said rotation conveying means, wherein said rotation conveying means rotates, said image sensing unit rotates to conduct scanning onto said document placed at said document pathway. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages will be better understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  shows a prior known flatbed scanner;  
       FIG. 2  is a three-dimension scheme diagram of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-section diagram of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is an assembly diagram of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  shows the placement of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION  
      Please refer to  FIG. 1 , this diagram shows a traditional scanning device. In  FIG. 1 , the flatbed scanner  3  is placed on the desk. The document is placed on the glass  2 . When the flatbed scanner is connected to a personal computer, the cover  1  is close. Usually after a button being pressed down, the flatbed scanner is able to conduct scanning.  
      Please refer to  FIG. 2  of the present invention, there is a center portion  22  inside the tunnel housing  21 . The center portion  22  is rotatable and connects to an axel of a motor which drives the center portion  22  (not shown in the figure). The center portion  22  drives an image sensing unit  24  to conduct scanning the document  27  which is inserted from the opening  26 . The document pathway  28  is also inside the tunnel housing  21 . A rotation conveying means  23  is placed between the tunnel housing  21  and the document pathway  28 . The support  25  connects the center portion  22  and the rotation conveying means  25  for supporting purpose.  
      Please refer to  FIG. 3 , it shows the cross-section view of the present invention. It shows the center portion  22  is on the axle of the tunnel housing  21 . The center portion  22  is rotatable. By the help of the support  25 , the rotation conveying means  23  is therefore rotatable. In this case, the image sensing unit  24  is able to scan the document  27  in the pathway  28  by rotation.  
      Please refer to  FIG. 4 , it shows the assembly diagram of the present invention. In  FIG. 4 , the image sensing unit  24  is attached to the rotation conveying means  23 . Therefore, when the rotation conveying means rotates, the image sensing means is able to rotate at the same direction.  
      Please refer to  FIG. 5 , it shows the varieties of the placement of the present invention. The present invention is able to place at any available place of the desk-top at horizontal or vertical positions. By the help of stand  30 , the present invention is able to be placed at a declined angle to suit a particular angle of available space of the desk-top.  
      Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in the forgoing description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substituting of parts and elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to encompass such rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions of parts and elements as fall within the scope of the appended claims.