Patent Publication Number: US-2002003167-A1

Title: Mobile optical scanning device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates to mobile optical scanning devices, and more particularly, to a mobile optical scanning device which scans and stores data therein in the condition of no host being connected therewith.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] In order to improve the quality of images or pictures commonly used in documents or publications e.g. posters, journals or flow charts, the images or pictures are generally collected and scanned into a computer by using an optical scanning device so as to achieve reality and easiness in edition for the images or pictures.  
       [0003] A widely used optical scanning device is a peripheral device associated with a personal digital assistant (PDA). As a result, the optical scanning device can not operate if not being connected with a host.  
       [0004] Therefore, how to make an optical scanning device operate in the condition that a host is unavailable, is a problem to solve. As such, the present invention proposes a mobile optical scanning device, which can be used in the absence of a host being connected therewith.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a mobile optical scanning device which can scan data in the absence of a host being connected therewith. Moreover, the mobile optical scanning device can store the scanned data in the absence of the connected host. In addition, the mobile optical scanning device allows the data stored therein to be transmitted and processed in various host systems by means of an input/output processing module being provided in the mobile optical scanning device.  
       [0006] In accordance with the foregoing and other objectives of the invention, a mobile optical scanning device is proposed, which comprises a power supply module; a contact image sensor (CIS) module having a driving unit and a signal processing unit; an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having a controlling module, a memory processing module and an input/output processing module; and a memory module. The mobile optical scanning device of the invention contains a plurality of batteries acting as a power source, allowing convenience in carriage and in operation to be achieved for the scanning device. Further, the scanning device of the invention has the ASIC incorporated therein for controlling data and signal transmission between the modules of the scanning device. Moreover, the scanning device of the invention contains a plurality of memories, allowing image data to be stored therein in the condition of no host being connected with the scanning device. In addition, the scanning device of the invention has the input/output processing module, allowing digital data stored in the memory module to be transmitted and utilized in various external host systems.  
       [0007] First, a plurality of batteries are placed in the power supply module of the mobile optical scanning device of the invention so as to provide power for the scanning device. Then, the input/output processing module of the ASIC is inputted with a collecting signal for scanning, allowing the controlling module of the ASIC to generate a driving signal for scanning to the CIS module, so as to activate the driving unit of the CIS module for scanning images to be collected and converting the collected images into electric signals by means of the signal processing unit, i.e. converting analog signals to digital signals, and then digital data of the collected images in the form of the digital signals are inputted to the ASIC and transmitted to the memory module for storage. For reading out the digital data stored in the memory module, a read-out signal is inputted to the input/output processing module of the ASIC, which then withdraws the stored digital data from the memory module and outputs the data through the input/output processing module to various external host systems, allowing a user to edit the data. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0008] The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
     [0009]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic structure of the mobile optical scanning device of the invention; and  
     [0010]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the connection between the mobile optical scanning device of the invention and a host. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
     [0011]FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the basic structure of the mobile optical scanning device of the invention. As shown in the drawing, the mobile optical scanning device  1  of the invention comprises a power supply module  4 , a contact image sensor (CIS) module  2 , an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)  3  and a memory module  5 .  
     [0012] The power supply module  4  is set with an installing portion (not shown) for placing a plurality of batteries therein, so as to provide power for the mobile optical scanning device  1 .  
     [0013] The memory module  5  consists of DRAM, SRAM, flash memory and the like. During the scanning for images to be collected, the memory module  5  is used to store digital data converted from the collected images. Further, the memory module  5  can be set with a receiving portion (not shown) for memory replacement, that is, when the digital data to be stored are over the capacity of the current memory, the memory can be removed from the receiving portion and replaced by another memory having sufficient capacity, e.g. flash memory with a card structure, so as to complete the storage process. The card structure includes the flash memory card and smart medium card, wherein the flash memory card uses surface mounting technology to densely encapsulate the flash memory on a printed substrate, and the smart medium card is substantially thinner than the flash memory card in thickness. Since the card structure of the flash memory is a conventional skill, thus not to be described herewith.  
     [0014] The application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)  3  is a central processing unit of the mobile optical scanning device  1  of the invention, which comprises a controlling module  30 , a memory processing module  31  and an input/output processing module  32 . The controlling module  30  controls the transmission of the digital data between the memory processing module  31  and the input/output processing module  32 . Further, control bus (not shown) is used to control the digital data transmission among the memory processing module  31 , the memory module  5  and the input/output processing module  32 . That is, data bus (not shown) of the foregoing three modules determines to write or read the data. The memory processing module  31  is provided with the data bus and address bus (not shown), which are connected with the memory module  5 . The controlling module  30  controls the data transmission between the memory processing module  31  and the memory module  5  by the control bus (not shown) thereof, that is, the data bus controls and switches to writing the digital data converted from scanned data in the memory module  5  or reading the stored data in the memory module  5 . The input/output processing module  32  comprises an input signal processing unit (not shown) and a peripheral interface processing unit (not shown), wherein the input signal processing unit allows a user to input a signal for scanning and storing an image or a signal for reading out a stored image, and the peripheral interface processing unit allows the stored digital data in the mobile optical scanning device  1  to be read in an external host. For scanning an image to be collected, the input signal processing unit of the input/output processing module  32  is inputted with a collecting signal for scanning, so as to activate the scanning process through the controlling module  30 . In addition, for reading the digital data stored in the memory module  5 , the input signal processing unit of the input/output processing module  32  is inputted with a reading signal, so as to activate the read process through the controlling module  30 , and then the digital data are transmitted through the peripheral interface processing unit of the input/output processing module  32  to the external host system (not shown), allowing the user to edit the read data. Therefore, the ASIC  3  is used to determine if the user inputs a signal for scanning/storing or a signal for reading, and then the scanning/storing process or the read process are controlled and performed by the mobile optical scanning  1  device according to the input signal. The input signal processing unit has a keyboard or a switch, acting as communicating interface between the user and the mobile optical scanning device  1 . The peripheral interface processing unit is connected with a data transmitting interface device, such as universal serial bus (USB), enhanced parallel port (EPP), serial port, personal computer memory card international association (PCMCIA) or IEEE 1394, provided in the external host system, e.g. desktop, notebook, iMAC or personal computer (PC). As such, the peripheral interface processing unit acts as data read-out interface between the mobile optical scanning device  1  and the external host system, allowing the user to select suitable data transmission interface according to the data transmitting speed or the operating environment.  
     [0015] The contact image sensor (CIS) module  2  comprises a driving unit  20  and a signal processing unit  21 . The driving unit  20  connected with the controlling module  30  of the ASIC  3  proceeds scanning if receiving a driving signal for scanning from the controlling module  30 . The driving unit  20  consists of mechanical and electronic devices, wherein a plurality of light-emitting diodes or optical elements e.g. light tubes arranged in a long line or rows are generally used as a light-emitting source (not shown). The light-emitting source is moved so as to irradiate an image to be collected, and a transducer is used to sense pixel data of the image and then transmit the pixel data to the signal processing unit  21 . The signal processing unit  21  contains an analog to digital converter (ADC) for converting analog signals of the data to electric signals as voltage or current i.e. digital signals. During the signal conversion, since the input analog signals are varying, if the converting speed of the ADC can not catch up the varying speed of the signals, then a sampling and holding circuit (not shown) is used to obtain and store an instant value of the varying analog signals for subsequent analog conversion. However, when using the sampling and holding circuit, offset i.e. spike noise is generated overlapping the signals, and thus an operational amplifier (not shown) is applied for processing the offset. Further, during converting the pixel data to the electric signals, since a signal outputted from the transducer is usually smaller than 1 mV, an amplifier (not shown) is needed for amplifying the signal to a level to be easily processed Moreover, an input range for a general ADC is mostly −5V to +5V, or −10V to +10V; or a range of 0 to +5V or 0 to +10V is also applicable. If voltage of the signal is 0 to 10 mV, sufficiently accurate conversion can not be achieved by the ADC; if the signal voltage is out of the input range for the ADC, conversion can not be performed, and possibly damage to ADC is caused due to no proper protection for the ADC. As a result, in accordance with the input range for the ADC, the signal voltage must be processed by a voltage amplifier or a voltage reducer, i.e. an adjuster (not shown) for generating a proper signal voltage. Then, the digital signals processed by the ADC are transmitted to the controlling module  30  of the ASIC  3 , and stored in the memory module  5  after being processing by the controlling module  30  and the memory processing module  31 .  
     [0016] As a result, in the condition of the scanning device with no host being connected therewith, the mobile optical scanning device  1  of the invention can be used for scanning an image to be collected and storing the scanned image therein  
     [0017] In conclusion, first, a plurality of batteries are placed in the power supply module  4  of the mobile optical scanning device  1  of the invention so as to provide power for the scanning device  1 . Then, the input/output processing module  32  of the ASIC  3  is inputted with a collecting signal for scanning, allowing the controlling module  30  of the ASIC  3  to generate a driving signal for scanning to the CIS module  2 , so as to activate the driving unit of the CIS module  2  for scanning images to be collected and converting the collected images into electric signals by means of the signal processing unit  21 , i.e. converting analog signals to digital signals, and then digital data of the collected images in the form of the digital signals are inputted to the ASIC  3  and transmitted to the memory module  5  for storage. For reading out the digital data stored in the memory module  5 , a read-out signal is inputted to the input/output processing module of the ASIC  3 , which then withdraws the stored digital data from the memory module  5  and outputs the data through the input/output processing module  32  to various external host systems, allowing a user to edit the data.  
     [0018]FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the connection between the mobile optical scanning device of the invention and a host  7 .  
     [0019] In the condition of no host being available for a scanning device, the mobile optical scanning device  1  of the invention can be applied.  
     [0020] First, a plurality of batteries placed in an installing portion (not shown) in the power supply module  4  of the mobile optical scanning device  1  act as a power supply. Then, for scanning, a scanning signal is inputted to an input signal processing unit  320  in the input/output processing module  32  of the ASIC  3 . In the input signal processing unit  320  there can be provided a keyboard (not shown) or a switch (not shown), which acts as a communication medium between a user and the mobile optical scanning device  1 . The inputted signal is then transmitted to the controlling module  30 , so as to generate a driving signal and a scanning time series to the driving unit  20  of the CIS module  2 . The driving unit  20  contains a transducer  200  and a red green blue (RGB) sensor  201 . As such, an image collected by the transducer  200  is analyzed for its pixel components by the RGB sensor  201 . Then, the pixel components are transmitted to the signal processing unit  21  of the CIS module  2 . Since skills for sensing and analyzing are well known in arts, thus not to be described herewith.  
     [0021] Analog signals for the obtained pixel components are mostly smaller than 1 mV, and thus they are transmitted to an amplifier  210  for amplifying the signal to a level to be easily processed, and thus the amplified signals can be more accurately converted to digital signals in an analog to digital converter (ADC)  213  of the CIS module  2 . Further, since the analog signals are always varying, a sample and holding circuit  211  is used to detect and store an instant value of the signal for subsequent conversion in the ADC  213 . During applying the sample and holding circuit  211 , offset is generated, and an operational amplifier is required for processing the offset. Moreover, if the output voltage of the converted signal is over the input range for the ADC  213 , the conversion can not be achieved by the ADC  213 , and further damage may be caused to the ADC  213  due to no sufficient protection for the ADC  213 . As a result, according to the input range of the ADC  213 , a voltage adjuster  212  is required for generating a proper signal voltage to be applied to the ADC  213 .  
     [0022] The output signals of the pixel components obtained from the RGB sensor in the driving unit  20  are processed by the amplifier  210 , the sample and holding circuit  211 , and the voltage adjuster  212 . The processed signals are transmitted and generate a analog time series (not shown) to the ADC  213 , and then the processed signals are converted to digital data (i.e. 0 and 1), which are transmitted to the controlling module  30  by data bus DB 1  in the ADC  213 . At the mean time, control bus CB of the controlling module  30  sends a writing signal to the memory processing module  31 , so as to activate data bus DB 3  disposed between the memory processing module  31  and the memory module  5  for writing. As a result, after the controlling module  30  transmits the digital data through data bus DB 2  to the memory processing module  31 , the data bus DB 3  further transmits the digital data to the memory module  5  for storage. In addition, when the data bus DB 1 , DB 2  and DB 3  share the same data bus, address bus AB in the memory processing module  31  and the control bus CB in the controlling module  30  can be used to process the digital data transmission among the ADC  213 , the controlling module  30 , the memory processing module  31  and the memory module  5 .  
     [0023] For reading the data stored in the memory module  5 , as shown in FIG. 2, a data transmitting interface device USB  6  is used and connected with the host  7  in the embodiment. First, an I/O port (not shown) of the host  7  is connected through the USB  6  with a peripheral interface processing unit  321  of the input/output processing module  32  in the mobile optical scanning device  1 . Besides the USB  6 , other data transmitting interface devices such as EPP, serial port, IEEE 1394 can be applied. Then, a signal for reading data is inputted to the input signal processing unit  320  of the input/output processing module  32 , wherein the input signal processing unit  320  is provided with an input device such as a keyboard or a switch (not shown) for transmitting the input signal to the controlling module  30 . The controlling module  30  then generates a reading signal to the memory processing module  31 , and through the control bus CB allows the data bus DB 3  between the memory processing module  31  and the memory module  5  to perform the reading process. That is, the stored data is transmitted first through the memory module  5  to the peripheral interface processing unit  321  of the input/output processing module  32 , then through data bus DB 4  of the peripheral interface processing unit  321  to the USB 6 , and then to the host  7 , so as to show the data on a display (not shown) of the host  7  for edition.  
     [0024] In addition, since the peripheral interface processing unit  321  of the input/output processing module  32  is connected with the I/O port (not shown) of the host  7 , for reading the data stored in the memory module  5 , besides inputting a signal for reading data to the input signal processing unit  320 , a peripheral input device such as a keyboard can be used for inputting the signal thereto. Then, the signal is transmitted through the USB 6  to the peripheral interface processing unit  321 , which then activates the controlling module  30  for reading the data stored in the memory module  5 .  
     [0025] As concluded from the above-mentioned, the mobile optical scanning device proposed in the invention has the following advantages. First, the device is provided with a power source and memory, allowing scanning and storing data to be performed in the condition of no host being connected with the device. Moreover, the device can be used by being connected with various data transmitting interface devices, so that that device provides high compatibility to be applied in various host systems. In addition, the device is provided with a peripheral interface processing unit, allowing the data transmitting interface device to be selected according to transmitting speed for digital data or the operating environment.  
     [0026] The invention has been described using exemplary preferred embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements. The scope of the claims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.