Patent Publication Number: US-2003231367-A1

Title: Document image capture device with integrated document display screen

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of imaging devices, and more particularly to a document image capture device with an integrated document display screen.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] Document image capture devices such as scanners, multi-function devices, copiers, network senders and the like have long been equipped with a small LCD (liquid crystal display) screen generally used to display the operating status of the device. These LCD screens are typically capable of displaying one or two character lines such as the “ready” operational status or a facsimile number destination for sending the captured document image. In some handheld pen-shaped models designed for capturing text, the integrated LCD screen is capable of displaying an icon-based operating menu or several (heretofore six to seven) lines of scanned text. These text-capturing portable devices generally use optical character recognition software to “read” the text, which is then stored and transferred as editable text to a computer. Some devices are operable to display a final scan of an image or a thumbnail of an image stored on portable storage media. In all of these above-described devices, the captured text or images are transferred to a computer for viewing on the computer monitor screen prior to performing a final scan, printing, sending, or storing the scanned document.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a document imaging device comprises a housing, and a document display screen disposed in the housing and operable to display a digitally scanned image of a document generated by a document imaging mechanism.  
       [0004] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, an imaging device comprises a housing, an imaging plate disposed in the housing and adapted to receive a document, a cover coupled to the housing and adapted to cover the imaging plate, and a document display screen disposed in the cover and operable to display a captured image of the document.  
       [0005] In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of scanning a document using a document imaging device comprises the steps of making a preview scan and generating a scanned image of the document, and displaying the scanned image of the document in a document display screen integrally disposed in the document imaging device. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0006] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
     [0007]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an exemplary flat bed scanner with an integrated document display screen according to the teachings of the present invention;  
     [0008]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an exemplary combination function image capture device with an integrated document display screen according to the teachings of the present invention;  
     [0009]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of another embodiment of an exemplary multi-function device with an integrated document display screen according to the teachings of the present invention; and  
     [0010]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary operation process of the image capture device with integrated document display screen according to the teachings of the present invention.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0011] The preferred embodiment of the present invention and its advantages are best understood by referring to FIGS. 1 through 4 of the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.  
     [0012]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an exemplary flatbed scanner  10  with an integrated document display screen  12  according to the teachings of the present invention. Flat bed scanner  10  also comprises a base  14  that houses the image capturing electronics and mechanism now known or later developed (not shown) and a hinged document lid  16  over a glass platen or imaging plate  18  disposed in base  14 . Documents to be imaged such as paper documents, transparencies, photographs, and photographic negatives are generally positioned face down on imaging plate  18 . Integrated document display screen  12  is sized to be capable of displaying most if not all of a captured image of a standard letter-sized document, for example. Scrolling control devices such as up and down buttons  20  and  22  may be provided to enable a user to scroll up and down the captured image so that the entire document image may be viewed using integrated document display screen  12 . Scanner  10  may also display the captured document image so that its displayed size enables the entire document image to be displayed on integrated document screen  12  without scrolling. This feature may require a captured document image to be reduced to smaller-than-actual size for a large document as well as enlarged to bigger-than-actual size for a small document. For example, if scanner  10  is a photographic scanner, integrated document display screen  12  may show an enlarged scanned image of the photograph or negative for easier viewing by the user. Document display screen  12  may use one of several display technologies now known or later developed, such as liquid crystal display (LCD), thin film transistor (TFT), light emitting diodes (LED), organic polymers, touch screens, etc. Although not shown explicitly, circuitry and other hardware as well as software and firmware enabling and supporting the communication of the preview scan image to the integrated document display screen and storage media for storing the preview scan images are incorporated in scanner  10  and other embodiments of the present invention. For example, scanner  10  and other embodiments of the present invention may comprise one or more drives (not shown) for reading and writing portable storage media such as a disk, compact flash card, USB (universal serial bus) storage media, memory stick, and other forms of storage media now known or later developed.  
     [0013] A control panel  24  is disposed on scanner  10  to allow the user to issue operational commands such as send as facsimile, send as email, send to a storage media, and other commands. An additional and optional button  26  may be provided to enable the user to approve the scanned image, if desired. A plurality of indicator lights or LEDs  28  may be provided as further visual indication of device status.  
     [0014] For a flatbed-style scanner such as shown in FIG. 1, integrated document display screen  12  is incorporated in an upper surface of lid  16 . The size of lid  16  makes it possible to provide a screen size that is capable of displaying a document image in its actual size or close to it. Up and down buttons  20  and  22 , instead of or in addition to providing a scrolling function, may provide a zoom function. Further, buttons  20  and  22  may be used to crop the scanned image. A user may therefore manipulate the display size (zoom function) and display area (scroll function) of the captured document image to obtain a clear view of the entire document image either simultaneously or with minor manipulation. Because the user is given the opportunity to check the quality of the scanned image, the sending, storing or printing of a mis-aligned or blurry captured image is avoided.  
     [0015] Preferably, the processing capabilities of the on-board microprocessor (not shown) is operable to process the user&#39;s commands to zoom, scroll and crop the preview image. Further, the memory capacity of on-board memory (not shown) is appropriately sized to temporarily store the preview scan image as well as support these user functions. If desired, the resolution of the integrated document display screen  12  may be set by the user.  
     [0016]FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an exemplary combination function image capture device  40  with an integrated document display screen  42  according to the teachings of the present invention. Device  40  comprises image capturing, transmission and printing electronics and mechanism now known or later developed (not shown). Device  40  is operable to scan a document, print the document, send the captured document image via facsimile, store the image in a storage media, and/or other functions. Device  40  comprises an integrated document display screen  42  disposed on its control panel  52  along with scroll/zoom buttons  44  and  46 , and one or more control buttons  54 . Integrated document display screen  42  is sized to be capable of displaying a large portion of a captured image of a standard letter-sized document. For example, the size of integrated document display screen  42  may enable the simultaneous display of at least half of the document image without scrolling. Scrolling control devices such as up and down buttons  44  and  46  may be provided to enable a user to scroll up and down the captured image so that the entire document image may be viewed using screen  42 . Scanner  40  may also display the captured document image so that its displayed size enables the entire document image to be displayed on integrated document screen  12  without scrolling. This feature may require a captured document image to be reduced to smaller-than-actual size as well as enlarged to bigger-than-actual size, depending on the original document dimensions.  
     [0017] Control panel  52  is disposed on an exterior surface on the housing of combination scanner  40  to allow the user to easily view the captured image and issue operational commands such as print, send as facsimile, send as email, store the image and other commands. Control buttons  54  comprise numerical buttons to enable the user to enter a facsimile number for sending the captured image. An additional and optional button  56  may be provided to allow the user to approve the captured image, if desired. Control panel  52  may additionally comprise a plurality of indicator lights or LEDs to provide further visual indication of device operating status. Combination scanner  40  also comprises a document feed slot and pathway and one or more document output trays  50  for receiving printed outputs.  
     [0018] As described above, up and down buttons  44  and  46 , instead of or in addition to providing a scrolling function, may provide a zoom function. A user may therefore manipulate the display size (zoom function) and display area (scroll function) of the captured document image to obtain a clear view of the entire document image either simultaneously or with minor manipulation. Because the user is given the opportunity to check the quality of the scanned image, the sending, storing or printing of a mis-aligned or blurry captured image is avoided.  
     [0019]FIG. 3 is an isometric view of an embodiment of another exemplary multi-function device  60  with an integrated document display screen  62  according to the teachings of the present invention. Device  60  comprises image capturing electronics and mechanism now known or later developed (not shown) and an automatic document feeder unit  63  that may be raised to reveal a glass platen or imaging plate (not explicitly shown). Automatic document feeder unit  63  comprises integrated document display screen  62  and a number of control buttons  64 ,  66  and  68  arranged on a control panel  70 . Automatic document feeder unit  63  further comprises a document input tray  73  for feeding a document to be processed and a document output tray  74  for receiving the processed document.  
     [0020] Integrated document display screen  62  is sized to be capable of displaying most if not all of a captured image of a standard letter-sized document, for example. Scrolling control devices such as up and down buttons  64  and  66  may be provided to allow a user to scroll up and down the captured image so that the entire document image may be viewed using integrated document display screen  62 . Digital sender  60  may also display the captured document image so that its displayed size enables the entire document image to be displayed on integrated document screen  62  without scrolling. This feature may require a captured document image to be reduced to smaller-than-actual size for a large document as well as enlarged to bigger-than-actual size for a small document. Control panel  70  is disposed on digital sender  60  to allow the user to issue operational commands such as send as facsimile, send as email, and other commands. An additional and optional button  68  may be provided to allow the user to approve the scanned image, if desired. Up and down buttons  64  and  66 , instead of or in addition to providing a scrolling function, may provide a zoom function. A user may therefore manipulate the display size (zoom function) and display area (scroll function) of the captured document image to obtain a clear view of the entire document image either simultaneously or with minor manipulation. The user may further use buttons  64  and  66  to crop the captured image. Because the user is given the opportunity to check the quality of the scanned image, the sending, storing or printing of a mis-aligned or blurry captured image is avoided.  
     [0021]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary operation process  80  of the image capture device with an integrated document display screen according to the teachings of the present invention. The user first positions or feeds the document so that the image capture device may scan the correct side of the document and generate a captured image, as shown in block  82 . The captured document image is then displayed on the integrated document display screen, as shown in block  84 . The integrated document display screen is capable of simultaneously displaying most if not all of the captured document image. The user may scroll up and down the captured document image if not all of the captured image is displayed simultaneously on the screen, as shown in block  86 . Further, the user may zoom in and out of the captured document image to allow a viewing of most or all of the document image, or focus on a certain portion of the document image. User input may further include an indication of approval of the scanned image, send the captured image as a facsimile, send the captured image as an email attachment, store the captured image, print the captured image, etc. In block  88 , the image capture device performs as instructed by the user, including scrolling, cropping and/or zooming, and also the sending and printing functions. The process ends in block  90 .  
     [0022] Unlike conventional devices, an image capture device incorporating an integrated document display screen does not have the added expense and bulk of a computer that is typically connected to the image capture device to enable a display of a preview scan image. Embodiment of the image capture device can then be standalone while still enabling the user to verify that the captured image is not skewed, blurry or otherwise undesirable. Furthermore, unlike the status text screen of conventional devices, the integrated document display screen is capable of displaying the captured image of documents, either in its entirety simultaneously or a substantial portion thereof.