Patent Publication Number: US-2009219580-A1

Title: Scanning system with real-time display unit

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a printer having a scanner and more particularly relates to a scanner with one or more image capture modules being operative to include a display system and related method. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Document scanners have become a popular computing accessory both in the home and the office. Essentially, document scanners (or simply “scanners”) come in three distinct varieties: sheet-fed scanners, platen scanners and scanners having a rigid combination of sheet-fed and platen scanning capabilities. With respect to sheet-fed scanners, an image-forming subsystem, such as a camera, typically including a linear imaging sensor and a lens in combination with an illumination source, scans an image by moving a sheet of paper past the sensor, which sits in a stationary position. The documents are fed from a stack and are passed through a paper path disposed at the field of view of the sensor. As each document passes in front of the sensor individual raster lines are imaged by the imaging device and then pieced together to create a 2D image representation of the original document. The imaging device captures the width of the image, line by line, while the document is moved past the sensor. 
     With respect to platen scanners, a document is placed face down onto a stationary flat transparent surface of the scanner and the image-forming subsystem and illumination source, moves underneath the fixed document to perform the scanning operation. In this case, the imaging device is moved the length of the document while the optics covers the width of the scanned document. The platen scanner requires lifting a lid and placing document sheets face down one at a time. The platen capability is also employed to deal with documents that do not feed from a stack reliably. 
     Scanners vary in speed, function, and cost and are often used by businesses for scanning large quantities of documents. The demand for scanning at a given installation can be as high as from several hundred (100) to several hundred thousand (100,000) pages per day. Sheet-fed scanners offer greatest productivity by employing an imaging system on both sides of the paper path, imaging both the front and back of each document during the same scanning operation. One type of production scanner attempts to combine the functionality of a sheet-fed scanner with that of a platen scanner. Essentially, such combination production scanners are manufactured as a single unit that combine the platen scanning functions with the sheet moving functions in a single box. 
     With prior sheet-fed, platen, or combination scanners, the user must select one type in favor of another. For those customers whose primary need is for a sheet-fed scanner but who occasionally need the platen utility, they must purchase a combination device or two separate scanners (one sheet-fed and one platen). Purchasing both types of scanning devices may be cost prohibitive or impossible and, in either case, impractical for applications where portability is desired. For example, a scanning service provider may require the ability to carry the scanner and host computer in order to transport both systems to a remote jobsite. After the job is finished, the scanner and computer must be brought back to the service bureau headquarters or to the next jobsite. One task may require scanning a large number of similar documents, suited to the sheet-fed scanner and not requiring a platen. The next task at the next site may require scanning fragile documents or books, requiring the use of a platen. Thus, portability and the ability to reconfigure and perform multiple scanning functions are critical to people who buy scanners to scan documents as a service. 
     Typically flat bed scanners are configured as desktop computer peripheral devices and therefore they incorporate various data communication, control and power conversion structures suitable for such use. Some scanners of this type can operate independently from the computer when used as a component for an “all-in-one” device also incorporating a printer and modem to provide copying and taxing capabilities. However, scanners of this type typically do not include portable power supplies and may have memory card slots and displays, but the displays are used for scanner operation, reading the contents of the memory cards, and displaying the post scanned image when not connected to a computer. 
     Document scanners come in various sizes to accommodate different sizes of “flat art” including images, documents, artwork, and the like. When scanning documents that are larger that the scan aperture, it is known to use “digital stitching algorithms” to combine multiple overlapping sections of an image into a complete seamless digital image. Because many images are recorded on tangible mediums that are stored in photo albums with image bearing mediums adhered to pages with many different techniques using glues, adhesives, and tapes, removal of these image bearing mediums from the photo albums would be labor intensive, time consuming, and could subject fragile, one of a kind, images to potential damage. Since photo albums typically are formed by bound pages it would not be possible to scan these pages with a smaller format scanner with an incorporated print feed mechanism. In addition, when attempting to scan bound albums with a typical flat bed scanner, damage to the binder, binding means, and/or book spine could occur when pressing an opened album against the scan aperture. Finally, transporting a large format document scanner, that is not capable of operating independently from a computer, to an event such as a family holiday celebration in order to copy images from a bound photo album would be difficult if not impractical. 
     Another problem with such flat bed scanning systems and other known scanning devices for scanning a document having an image recorded thereon is that such systems do not have real-time viewing capability. This is important because in order to use most scanners to their full potential there is a need to interact with the scanner and/or copier in real time, such as when repositioning a document on a scanning surface. 
     It is desirable to have a scanner system and related methods of scanning that correct these problems. A scanner and/or printer that is actuatable to capture an archival image of the capture zone in real time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is defined by the claims. The invention, in broader aspects, provides a body, a transparent platen mounted to the body to define a capture zone adjoining the platen also including, a scanning module mounted in the body to scan the capture zone and to capture an image of the document in the capture zone in real time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention and its objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings. 
         FIGS. 1-3  are perspective views of a prior art sheet-fed, platen, and combination scanners. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a scanning system with real-time display according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic side view, showing details of the internal mechanisms of the scanning system. 
         FIG. 6  shows a portion of an embodiment of a scanning system. 
         FIG. 7  is an embodiment of the scanning system. 
         FIG. 8  shows the embodiment of the scanning system. 
         FIG. 9  shows the embodiment of the scanning system. 
         FIG. 10  shows the steps for a method of using the document scanner with display system. 
         FIG. 11  shows an embodiment of the scanning system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Essentially, document scanners (or simply “scanners”) come in three distinct varieties: sheet-fed scanners  10  as shown in  FIG. 1 , platen scanners  20  shown in  FIG. 2 , and scanners  30  having a rigid combination of sheet-fed and platen scanning capabilities shown in  FIG. 3 . With respect to platen scanners  20 , a document is placed face in relation to a platen, often face down onto a stationary flat transparent surface of the scanning unit so that an image-forming subsystem and illumination source can move underneath the fixed document to perform the scanning operation. The platen scanner can require lifting a lid and placing document sheets face down one at a time. The platen capability is also employed to deal with documents that do not feed from a stack reliably. 
     Scanners vary in speed, function, and cost and are often used by businesses for scanning large quantities of documents. The demand for scanning at a given installation can be as high as from several hundred (100) to several hundred thousand (100,000) pages per day. Sheet-fed scanners offer greatest productivity by employing an imaging system on both sides of the paper path, imaging both the front and back of each document during the same scanning operation. One type of production scanner  30  attempts to combine the functionality of a sheet-fed scanner with that of a platen scanner. Essentially, such combination production scanners are manufactured as a single unit that combine the platen scanning functions with the sheet moving functions in a single box. More recently combination scanners have become popular. Prior art scanners that have preview functions do not actually show you the preview in real time because the scanner first previewed the image which takes a period of time, and then the user viewed the image. This was not real-time viewing. 
       FIG. 4  shows a document scanner with real-time display system  100 , hereafter referred to as a real-time document scanner or simply scanning system  100 . One skilled in the art wild understand that the display system could be used in conjunction with other similar systems such as copies, fax machines, mobile phone and other devices used in a similar manner. The scanning system  100  includes a body  102 , a platen  104  held by the body  102 , and an optional lid  106 . The scanning system  100  has an image viewing system  108  shown here as mounted on the body. The image viewing system  108  could also be located elsewhere as long as it communicated with the scanner.  FIG. 4  also shows a scanning module  110  mounted below the platen. 
     The scanning module  110  has an image forming subsystem  112 , such as a linear imager  125 , or an image capture module  124 , area camera, CCD or a combination of one or more of each. The image forming subsystem  112  being translatable relative to the platen  104  wherein, in this embodiment, the platen defines a capture zone  114 . If an item or items  115 , such as a document  116  having an image  118 , are scanned and portions of the item are not positioned properly or portions are out of the scanning area then the item(s) can be viewed real time or as a non-archival image  111  and can be repositioned with the scanner system  100  prior to printing by a printing engine  120 . The document scanner with real-time display system  100  allows real-time viewing since the area camera is situated to overlap the viewing area. The image-forming subsystem has one or more are array cameras and may use these for imaging as well as the real-time viewing, “preview” function. The array cameras can also be combined with linear imagers that may copy the image to produce archival copies or other similar devices. 
     Scanning Unit 
     The scanning unit  110 , also referred to as a scanning module, is located in the upper portion of the body  102 , also referred to as a housing or cabinet that can house the upper scanning module  110  and the lower printing engine or module  120 . The upper portion of the body  102  includes the platen  104  shown here as a transparent (e.g. glass) plate upon which the item  115 , such as a document  116  having the image  118  as shown in  FIG. 4 , is placed in a face-down position. The glass platen  104  is where documents will be placed in relation to an image capture module  124  having a device as described above, is provided in association with platen  104  for capturing of images on documents. 
     The lower portion of the body  102  encloses the lower printing engine or module  120 , sometimes simply referred to as a printer, that houses the mechanisms necessary to effect printing. It is known that these modules could be arranged in other configurations that are known in the art to cooperate to scan and print an item. In this embodiment, the glass top or platen  104  provides the place where documents to be scanned are placed. The optional lid  106  allows covering of the documents to be scanned, and limits the outside influence of lights, which would interfere with proper scanning of a document as well as helps to hold any item flat against platen  104 . The lid  106  is attached by a hinge or in another appropriate manner or may be just a lift able separate part. The scanning system contains the same subsystems plus additional systems for communicating to a host computer, the hardware and firmware for processing and transmitting the images, motion controllers, etc. 
     The embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  of the present invention shows that the scanning module  110  can include one or more image capture modules  124  or image viewers, shown here as a live, real-time active camera (or cameras), placed in the body of the scanner to output to a display screen  130 , such as an LCD screen and shown in  FIG. 4  as mounted on the body  102  but which could be connected in a wired or wireless configuration adjacent to or remote from the body. This allows the user access to a live picture of what is in the high-resolution system  100  in what can be a low resolution image as seen in the capture zone  114 . The capture zone is defined by the angle of view of the image capture modules  124 . This embodiment has two image capture modules  124 , each having an angle of view and together forming an angle of view that encompasses the whole platen. 
     The user has an active/live real-time view of the object on the scanner platform. This view can be low resolution or non-archival in that it is not held in long-term memory and is not intended for long-term use or it can be a high resolution image that is archived thus eliminating a need for a separate linear scanner to capture the archived images that are intended for long-term use in a down stream process. The scanning system  100  can be adapted to engage an interface that can be used to convey images and related data to and/or from any imaging device including any electronic device having images stored therein including, but not limited to cellular phones, personal digital assistants, personal computers, and image players. 
       FIG. 5  shows a portion of the scanning system  100  including the image-forming subsystem  112 , for linear capture of an archival item in addition to the image capture module  124  that is used in this embodiment to capture an image in real time for real time display. One or more light sources  126  respectively, provide the light energy necessary to illuminate images on the document and supply any light that might be needed by the image capture modules  124  Alternatively any required light needed, the light source, could be provided by an internal part of the imaging control module  125 , such as a LED. The image-forming subsystem  112  traverses along an axis substantially parallel to axis Y. A translation means is provided within the enclosure and attached to the image-forming subsystem and causing it to move in a direction permitting scanning of documents placed on the glass top. The translation means can include a pulley and belt system adapted to engage the image-forming subsystem for effecting its motion and permitting platen scanning of documents placed on the glass top. A rod or rods within the enclosure can be engaged with the image-forming subsystem and guide its movement for platen scanning. 
     Image Capture Device 
     To obtain images, the one or more image capture modules  124  that utilize the image capture device as shown in  FIG. 5 , which is typically configured as a charge couple device (CCD) and/or a camera with a light source. The use of a CCD or other device can be paired with appropriate filtration and sensitivity capture red, green, and blue image signals from the image bearing mediums being scanned. These additional features may not be necessary since in most instances only a low-resolution image will be needed since for the non-archival images. Other forms of image sensors can be used such as those that use complimentary metal oxide, and charge injection devices to capture image information. Image information from image scanner is provided to scanner driver having appropriate driving and image processing circuits and systems of the type commonly used to convert image data from image scanner into a digital image. The scanner can, for example, contain a single camera, usually comprised of one or more CCD or CMOS arrays and supporting electronics, and a motor for moving the camera. 
     Control Unit 
     A controller  140  and processor  150 , as shown in  FIG. 5 , is used to control portions of the scanning operation, including parts of the scanning system such as the image capture module  125 , which would allow them to be coordinated in such a way that one may be operating at times the other is not as well as for other scanning related options. The controller could let an operator use one or the other or both at the same time. The controller can include a microprocessor, micro-controller, or any other electronic circuit adapted to govern image scanning, processing, storage and sharing processes. The captured digital images may be stored, transmitted and/or manipulated as desired. The captured archival digital images may be sent to a device for writing the information on to a storage medium for example, a CD or computer disk and/or sent to the viewer. 
     Printing Engine 
       FIG. 5  shows the printing engine  120  that applies markings or otherwise forms an image on a receiver medium, such as a document  116  within a printable area with the printable area being constrained as is known in the art by the size of the receiver medium, the type of printing engine used and the type of receiver medium. Preferably, the printable area extends across all of the available space on (receiver medium. The printing engine can record images on receiver medium using a variety of known technologies including conventional four color offset separation printing or other contact printing, silk screening, dry electrophotography such as is used in the NexPress 2100 printer sold by Eastman Kodak Company, Rochester, N.Y., USA, thermal printing technology, drop on demand ink jet technology and continuous inkjet technology. For the purpose of the following discussions, printing engine will be described as being of a type that generates color images. However, this is not necessary and the claimed methods and apparatuses can be practiced with a printing engine that is adapted to form monotone images such as black and white, grayscale or sepia toned images. Medium advance is used to position the receiver medium and/or printing engine relative to each other to facilitate recording of an image on receiver medium 
     The image viewing system  108  of the scanning system  100  is mounted relative to the body as shown in  FIG. 5  including the image forming subsystem  112  in relation to the capture zone  114 . The image viewing system  108  can also include a user input system  156  or other device capable of receiving an input from a user and converting this input into a form that can be used by a processor  150 . For example, user input system  156  can comprise a touch screen input, a touch pad input, a 4-way switch, a 6-way switch, an 8-way switch, a stylus system, a trackball system, a joystick system, a voice recognition system, a gesture recognition system or other such systems. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 5  the user input system  156  includes a keypad or keyboard for receiving input from a user. The display  130  is connected to processor  150  and provides information to a user so that the user can interact with printer  120  and scanning module  110 . Various components of user input system  156  and/or display  130  can be located within housing or can be separate therefrom. Where separate, user input system  156  and display  130  can exchange signals with processor  150  by way of wired or wireless signals and connections. 
     The image viewing system  108  acts as the user interface with human interface features allowing a user to input information in a way that can be detected by controller  140  and the display  130  allowing the scanning module  110  to provide information to the user. Display  130  can include a status indicator such as a visible signal or icon, text messages, or images. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the system can be used to receive signals from controller  140  and to convert these signals into a form that can be used by display  130  to present information to a user. This information includes the real time image of the item, having a camera-viewing angle  115 , on the platen  104  during scanning. Also shown on  FIG. 5  is the “user input system  156 ” 
     The scanning system  100  also can include memory  158 . Memory  158  can include conventional memory devices including solid state, magnetic, optical or other data storage devices. Memory  158  can be fixed within the scanning system  100  or it can be removable. In the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , memory  158  is shown adjacent the processor  150 . Data, such as control programs, digital images and metadata, can also be stored in remote memory. The scanning system  100  can use a communication system  160  for communicating, for example, an optical, radio frequency circuit having a transducer as well as appropriate signal processing circuitry to convert image and other data into a form that can be conveyed to a remote device. The communication system  160  can also be used to receive a digital image and other information from a host computer or network. 
       FIG. 6   a  shows the item  115  as it would “normally appear” to a user or as it would be seen by an image capture module  124  looking up from the underside of the platen  104  with the item  115  placed face-down prior to the copying process.  FIG. 6   b  shows the orientation of item  115  as it has been placed face-down on platen  104 . With the item  115 , in this face-down position, the actual image  118  would not be visible, as shown in  FIG. 6   a , since the user would be looking at the backside of the media containing item  115  in the cover was open.  FIG. 6   c  represents the processed image of item  115 , as it has been inverted left-to-right and is now displayed to the user on display  130  of the system  100 , including a border view of the “previewed” image. Note that the border could frame the item, a portion of the item or the whole platen depending on the user commands. In order to obtain the correct inversion of image  118  it is necessary to use the appropriate software in the processor. 
     This is especially critical when enlarging or reducing the image as well as in duplex mode or any manual adaptations performed by the user that changes the location of the item relative to the capture unit(s), This system can communicate to the user what the expected output would be if a full scan were initiated with the object in that position as shown in  FIG. 6   b . Once the user is satisfied that all the desired material is inside the border a high-resolution scan may then be initiated. In one example when the user has moved the physical image around on the platen to achieve the desired composition, the user may change the displayed border to whatever size the printer can output (4×6, 8.5×11, 8.5×14 etc). Similarly the user can choose the border to be displayed in a portrait or landscape orientation. It is also possible in some instances to obtain similar results by manipulating the border displayed on the LCD device itself such as grabbing the border by means of a touch screen and positioning it on the previewed image instead of moving the physical material that is to be scanned. 
     In one embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the scanning system  700  includes a body  702  and an upper housing  706  that are in communication, shown here together to enable both wide and thin articles to be scanned and copied. The scanning system  700  includes one or more scanning modules  710  and a transparent platen  704   a,b  that together define the image capture area. The upper housing  706  is shown in a pivoted and raised position such to allow the manual loading of items to be scanned. The one or more scanning modules  710  shown in this embodiment include both a linear imager  712   a,b  and an image capture module  724   a,b  that are contained both in the body  702  and in the upper housing  706 . 
     The scanning system  700  also includes one or more printing engines disposed in the body relative to at least one of the media transports similar to those described in  FIG. 4  as transports  170 . The one or more image capture modules are disposed in the body facing respective portions of the one or more media transports. The first set of linear imager  712   a  and an image capture module  724   a  are shown below the platen in this embodiment. The second linear imager  712   b  and an image capture module  724   b  are shown above the platen and are especially useful in this embodiment for displaying as real time display of the items that are to be duplex copied. These are also especially useful when coping large objects or objects that have a relief and thus would be difficult to view accurately with only a planar viewing subsystem. Real time viewing with high resolution is critical in the relief and larger, thicker items and the one or more capture modules described will be able to give the user an accurate view of all aspects and both sides of such objects. This embodiment is also useful for uniquely sized and shaped items and allows accurate real time viewing as discussed above. Any delicate item, such as antique books and 3-dimensional delicate items that can withstand only limited applied pressure would be able to be observed and thus protected using this method. It is possible to even do “non-contact” copying by positioning the upper housing  706  above the item  115 , similar to the position shown in  FIG. 8  but stopping the lid before it touches the item since real-time viewing is possible in this system. 
       FIG. 8  shows scanning module  700  with the upper housing  706  in a second position that is parallel to body  702 . The area  710  in between body  702  and upper housing  706  is such that document  716  is accessible to the user for manual repositioning. 
       FIG. 9  shows scanning module  700  with the upper housing  706  lowered down to contain document  716  during the scanning operation. 
     Operation 
     The display system shown in  FIG. 10  is used when an item is being scanned would be applicable to any problem that can be aided by a real-time visual inspection and/or information such as is supplied by one or more image viewers. The method  800  includes the steps of the steps of transporting  810  media on one or more media transports of a printing system, during the transporting operating  820  one or more image capture modules disposed facing respective portions of the one or more media transports, each the image capture module generating  830  real-time image(s). Then capturing  840  the real-time image on one or more media transports and responding  850  to the detecting using the one or more image capture modules and by generating accurate real-time views that correct any mirror effects  860  and optionally generating a log  870  including one of more real-time images. 
     The method further includes correcting an image so that it is in its normal orientation as usually viewed by the user. For example by correcting for mirror inversions as shown in  FIG. 10 , so that the user can move the upside-down item and observe in real time the item as if it were right side up in front of the user. This eliminates the painful process of trying to move the item in the correct direction to enable accurate copied. This is especially useful when a portion of the item is to be copied a, enlarged or reduces in size. It is clear that this method would also be applicable to other areas of operations that have problems detectable by visual inspections that an image viewer could make but an operator would not be able to correctly observe in real-time without the aid of the image corrections as described herein. Other corrections are possible in a similar manner by using one or more of the capture devices shown in  FIG. 5 . This is also extendible to any duplex situation since this embodiment has a second pair of capture devices as discussed above. 
     A user of scanner module in the manual configuration manually positions upper scanner module at an edge of an area of image bearing medium to be scanned, and manually advances the upper scanner module across the area to be scanned along a first path. Where the area to be scanned is wider than the maximum scanner width, the upper scanner module can be returned to a start position and manually scanned along other scan paths of the medium until all portions of image bearing medium have been scanned. This can be done, for example, to enable scanning of oversized images or to allow scanning of oversized images, or to allow scanning of a scanning area that incorporates the entire image bearing medium such as to capture an image of an entire scrapbook page. In this example, the user of upper scanner module manually guides the upper scanner module over the wider media in a series of overlapping sections, which will be digitally “stitched” by the microprocessor. In this way upper scanner module can be dragged over image bearing medium by the user and feedback from the un-powered drive motor can be used to determine the scanner position and rate of movement. Alternatively, scanner module can be used to obtain images of only a portion of image bearing mediums. 
     The method shown in  FIG. 10  for real-time viewing of a scanned image includes capturing one or more images in a capture zone defined by a border, which could be the outer limits of the platen or other, and generating right-left mirror inverses of each of said non-archival images to provide mirror images; and delivering said mirror images to a display. The system can use a mirror inverter to generate right-left mirror inverses of each of said non-archival images to provide a mirror image. 
     With the configuration previously described in  FIG. 4 , the image capture module  124  discussed above in conjunction to the embodiment described in  FIG. 7 , resides under platen  104  and faces up toward the image  118 . Because of this specific camera-platen spatial and operational relationship a normal display of item  115  would be generated and viewed in real-time on display  130  as shown in  FIG. 11   a . Consequently when the user moves the item  115  in a direction from left to right the motion shown on display  130  will move in a reverse direction, right to left. This perceived reversed action and reaction presents the need for the user to learn to reverse their normal way of thinking to manipulate the item  115  while it is on the platen  104  which is difficult for some, and impossible for others, to accomplish and is further complicated by other adjustments, such as image size changes or margin adaptations, such as used for book binding. 
     The method shown in  FIG. 11  demonstrates the left-to-right inversion of the image  118 .  FIG. 11   a  shows item  115  in a normal user viewing position. By processing the image  118  to display a version that is a left to right mirrored image  119  as shown in  FIGS. 11   b ,  11   c  the display of the mirrored image  119 , now shown on display  130  will now imitate the motion of the user positioning. Thus moving item  115  to the left while it is sitting face-down on platen  104  will now show a similarly leftward motion. 
     The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     PARTS LIST 
     
         
           10  sheet-fed scanner 
           20  platen scanners 
           30  scanner 
           100  scanning system 
           102  body 
           104  platen 
           106  lid 
           108  image viewing system 
           110  scanning module/scanning unit 
           111  non-archival image 
           112  image forming subsystem 
           114  image capture zone 
           115  items (scan articles) 
           110  document 
           118  image 
           119  mirror image 
           120  printer engine/printer module/printer 
           124  image capture module 
           125  linear imager/linear imaging device 
           126  light source 
           130  display/display screen 
           140  controller 
           150  processor 
           152  housing 
           156  user input system 
           158  memory 
           160  communication system 
           170  transports 
           700  scanning system 
           702  body 
           704  platen 
           706  upper housing 
           710  scanning module/scanning unit 
           712  image forming subsystem 
           716  document 
           724  image capture module