U.S. patent application number 09/956373 was filed with the patent office on 2002-05-09 for fast, auto-cropping, bi-directional multi-resolution scanner apparatus, system and software therefor.
Invention is credited to Blair, John, Os, Ron Van.
Application Number | 20020054715 09/956373 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26926986 |
Filed Date | 2002-05-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020054715 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Os, Ron Van ; et
al. |
May 9, 2002 |
Fast, auto-cropping, bi-directional multi-resolution scanner
apparatus, system and software therefor
Abstract
Bi-directional multi-resolution scanner having software/firmware
for 1- to 2-pass high resolution scanning, enabling the scanner to
capture and render image data both the standard direction, top to
bottom pass, as well as the return direction, that is,
bi-directional scanning, in contrast to prior art scanners which
return to the start position after each pass without reading
(scanning). Typical current B&W scanning of an 81/2.times.11"
image at 600 dpi takes a total time from start to reload to the
next image of on the order of 42-67 seconds. In contrast, the
inventive system scans and displays the high resolution image in
about 37 seconds, some 7-30 seconds faster than a conventional
scanner. In multiple image scanning, since the time for the two
return passes and the preview pass is eliminated, the productivity
is increased from 20 to 300% or more. Since multiple non-scan
return passes are eliminated, the inventive system is also a
substantial improvement for limited power bus devices.
Inventors: |
Os, Ron Van; (Morrison,
CO) ; Blair, John; (San Ramon, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jacques M. Dulin, Esq.
Innovation Law Group, Ltd.
Suite 101
851 Fremont Ave.
Los Altos
CA
94024
US
|
Family ID: |
26926986 |
Appl. No.: |
09/956373 |
Filed: |
September 17, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60233528 |
Sep 19, 2000 |
|
|
|
60239652 |
Oct 11, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
382/276 ;
382/286; 382/295 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 1/1039 20130101;
H04N 1/3873 20130101; H04N 1/00702 20130101; H04N 1/00737 20130101;
H04N 1/1017 20130101; H04N 1/0455 20130101; H04N 1/193 20130101;
H04N 1/00708 20130101; H04N 1/0408 20130101; H04N 1/04 20130101;
H04N 1/00816 20130101; H04N 1/00758 20130101; H04N 2201/0416
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
382/276 ;
382/286; 382/295 |
International
Class: |
G06K 009/36; G06K
009/32 |
Claims
1) In a digital scanner having a platen for receipt of an image
document to be scanned, a scanner bar moveable from top to bottom
in a preview, low resolution scan mode in a first scanner bar pass,
or in a final, high resolution image acquisition scan mode in a
third scanner bar pass, and back from bottom to top in a plurality
of return, non-scan mode second and fourth scanner bar passes, and
firmware and software for operation of the scanner and for
selection, cropping, editing, management and storage of acquired
images, the improvement comprising initiating scanning at high
resolution mode on a return pass and eliminating one or more
non-scan return passes of the scanner bar.
2) Improved digital scanner as in claim 1 which includes an auto
crop mode.
3) Improved digital scanner as in claim 2 wherein said scanner
previews and auto crops a first image in said first pass and
acquires the high resolution cropped image in the second bottom to
top pass without pause for user initiation of final scan after said
preview scan.
4) Improved digital scanner as in claim 3 wherein a second image is
auto cropped and scanned at high resolution in a third, top to
bottom pass.
5) Improved digital scanner as in claim 4 wherein subsequent images
are auto cropped and scanned at high resolution in each subsequent
pass.
6) Improved digital scanner as in claim 1 which includes a manual
crop mode.
7) Improved digital scanner as in claim 6 wherein said scanner
previews a first image in said first pass, permits user cropping of
said image, and acquires the high resolution cropped image in the
second, bottom to top pass upon user initiation of final scan after
cropping.
8) Method of operation of a digital scanner having a platen for
receipt of an image document to be scanned, a scanner bar moveable
in a plurality of passes from top to bottom and bottom to top in
one or more of a first, preview, low resolution scan mode and in a
final, high resolution image acquisition scan mode, and firmware
and software for operation of the scanner and for selection,
cropping, editing, management and storage of acquired images,
comprising the step of scanning at high resolution mode on a return
pass.
9) Method of scanning as in claim 8 which includes the step of
selective auto cropping an image document in a first top to bottom
pass.
10) Method of scanning as in claim 9 which includes the added step
of acquiring a high resolution cropped image in a second bottom to
top pass without pause for user initiation of final scan after said
preview scan.
11) Method of scanning as in claim 10 which includes the step of
auto cropping and scanning at high resolution a second image in a
third, top to bottom pass.
12) Method of scanning as in claim 11 which includes auto cropping
and scanning subsequent images at high resolution in each
subsequent pass.
13) Method of scanning as in claim 8 which includes the step of
selective manual cropping of said preview image.
14) Method of scanning as in claim 13 which includes the added step
of acquiring a high resolution cropped image in a second, bottom to
top pass upon user initiation of final scan after cropping.
15) An article of manufacture comprising a computer useable medium
having computer readable code means embodied thereon, and said code
means comprising a plurality of instruction sets for causing a
digital scanner to scan at high resolution in a bottom to top pass
of a scanner bar.
16) A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium
having computer readable program code embodied thereon for
controlling the movement and scanning resolution of a digital
scanner bar during passes from top to bottom and bottom to top of a
digital scanner platen, and image data transfer, image cropping,
image management, image rendering and image data storage and
retrieval, said computer readable program code means in said medium
comprising computer readable program code means for causing a
computer to initiate said scanner to scan at high resolution in a
bottom to top pass of said scanner bar.
17) A computer program as in claim 16 wherein said code means
effects selective or auto cropping of an image document upon a
first, preview scan of an image in a first top to bottom scan pass,
and a high resolution cropped image acquisition in a second, bottom
to top scan pass.
18) A computer program as in claim 17 wherein said code means
effects high resolution scanning of subsequent image documents upon
subsequent top to bottom and bottom to top passes.
19) Firmware for a digital scanner comprising executable
instructions that, when executed, direct a digital scanner to read
a first image document at high resolution on a second, bottom to
top scanner bar pass.
20) Firmware as in claim 19 wherein said instructions direct said
digital scanner to read subsequent image documents at high
resolution at each subsequent scanner bar pass.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to Provisional Applications
SNos. 60/233,528 and 60/239,652 filed Sep. 19, 2000 and Oct. 11,
2000, respectively, by the same inventors, both of which
applications are entitled FAST, AUTO-CROPPING, BI-DIRECTIONAL
MULTI-RESOLUTION SCANNER APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND SOFTWARE THEREFOR,
the priority of which are claimed under 35 USC .sctn. 119.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to apparatus and methods for image
acquisition. More particularly, the invention is directed to the
use of desktop image acquisition peripherals, primarily a
bi-directional scanner mechanism to preview scan and simultaneously
automatically crop images in a first pass at a low resolution, and
scan images at high resolution in a second, return pass, to reduce
the time necessary to convert images into digital data. Multiple
images can be acquired without the scanner head returning to its
home position between scans. The hardware and software of the
invention shows particular utility in personal, home office, and
small office applications or anywhere image acquisition and
transfer is used.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The background of this invention involves digital scanners
and software based methods. Presently, typical scanners provide
very high optical resolutions and brilliant color depth. However,
the superior imaging quality typically results in long scan times
and slow imaging speeds.
[0004] The optical resolution of the images scanned by digital
scanners is a function of the number of pixel capture sites (also
called "photosites" or "pixels" in the electro mechanical sense) on
the electro-mechanical sensor assembly in the scanner. Scanning is
done in a Cartesian mode, i.e., a linear array of the pixel sites
are mounted on a longitudinal bar; the bar is moved as a unit along
a vertical path. Each pixel is a small area on the surface of the
image sensor that captures the brightness of a single image area
pixel of the image, with one scanner pixel for each image pixel in
the digital image. In that way, the number of pixels on the
scanner's image sensor bar determines the horizontal optical
resolution. The distance the bar advances between acquisitions
(also called "shots") determines the vertical resolution. For
example, a scanner with a resolution of 600 dots per inch
(dpi).times.1200 dpi has 600 pixels on its sensor bar which moves
{fraction (1/1200)} of an inch between each scan shot. Together,
the horizontal and vertical resolutions constitute the optical
resolution and determine the level of detail that the scanner can
capture.
[0005] To increase the resolution of a scanner, the number of pixel
sites on the scanner head (the "horizontal" or transversely aligned
bar containing the linear array of CCD or CIS photosensitive
elements) must be increased, the distance the scanner bar mechanism
moves between acquisition shots (the "vertical" or longitudinal
resolution) must be decreased, or some combination of the two.
Current technology offers two basic types of pixels: CSI and CCD
(other types of elements may become available in the future). There
is a technological constraint on the horizontal resolution, which
is determined by the number of pixels arrayed on the bar due to
their physical size and how closely they can be positioned to one
another. To increase the vertical resolution, digital scanners must
move smaller and smaller distances between scans. Since the
illumination lamp output changes over time, and the length of
exposure depends on brightness and dpi, the scanner head is
ordinarily calibrated from time to time (often at each scan) to
control the length of pause for exposure at each acquisition shot.
CSI element-containing scanner bars are typically slower as they
require more light per exposure, and the slow down is more
pronounced at low resolution.
[0006] Typical digital scanners today provide vertical optical
resolutions of 1200 to 4800 dpi. Thus, the scanner mechanism moves
{fraction (1/1200)} to {fraction (1/4800)} of an inch between each
single line shot or scan. This process generates a large quantity
of digital data (large image data file), which needs to be
transferred to the host system (computer). Because of limitation in
the communication speed with the hose, high-resolution scans take a
long time, with typical scanners on the market presently taking two
minutes or more to complete a single pass at the highest resolution
for the full length of the scanner platen (typically 11.69").
Current CCD scanner bars employ around 3.times.10,400 pixels (the
"3" refers to the colors R, G, B), and scanner bars having higher
resolutions are within the scope of this invention. The net actual
attainable resolution is not determined only by the pixel density,
but in large part is determined by the optics of the scanner. For
example, most scanners rated at "1200 dpi" resolution are limited
to 600 dpi or less due to optical constraints.
[0007] The high-resolution scan is slower than preview scanning,
the rate depending on the resolution. The scan bar moves at a speed
proportional to the resolution, regardless of whether the image is
in B&W, grayscale or color, and how fast the data can be
transferred to the host. The scan speed is dependent on the
resolution, color/grayscale/B&W, and transfer-to-host speed,
but is independent of the area of the image being scanned. That is,
if nothing is on the platen, even though the scanner head sees
"white", where high resolution is the selected scan mode, the scan
speed is slower than if preview or low resolution is selected as
the scan mode. Although some scanners may have a relatively fast
return feature in which the non-scanning return to the start
position is faster than scan, that return time is still wasted wait
time. CIS heads are slower than CCD, and for large color photo
images, the data files can be very large, with consequently slow
transfer. For a CCD head scanning an 81/2".times.11" image on a
standard 8.7.times.11.69" platen, the scan times are set forth in
Table 1 below.
1TABLE I Scan Time at Various Resolutions Scan Time in Seconds, for
8.5" .times. 11" Image Resolution, DPI B & W Color 100 7 8 300
20 30 600 30 120
[0008] Return speed typically ranges from 31/2 seconds to 15
seconds, depending on the scanning motor type and the return speed
is set, not variable or programmable. CIS head return speeds are
slower.
[0009] Image Cropping:
[0010] In order to reduce scanning time and to reduce file size,
present scanner manufacturers allow users to either manually, or
automatically, make a single, low resolution scan, e.g., at 72-100
dpi. An example of current cropping hardware and software
technology is shown in Santos, U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,635
(Hewlett-Packard). The image created from the preview scan by the
digital scanner is rectangular in shape and consists of an image of
everything on the flatbed scanner, e.g., the document being scanned
as well as all the blank space around that document. The software
or firmware of the systems creates a low-resolution image, and
either the user or an automatic cropping algorithm selects the
desired region of the image. The user or cropping algorithm draws a
box or "lasso" around the image and then transmit to the scanner
the instruction to scan, at a high resolution, the area marked off
by the crop box or lasso. While the user or cropping algorithm
selects the region of the low-resolution image to rescan, the
scanner bar returns to its normal starting position in order to
prepare to make the next, high-resolution, scan, e.g., 300, 600,
1200 or more dpi. Cropping and B&W scanning reduces data
transfer time, cropping because there is less total data, and
B&W because it is 1 bit vs 24 bit data for color. With
automatic cropping algorithms, the cropping action may take a
fraction of a second, but currently available scanners take time
for the scan bar to return to its starting position to begin the
high-resolution scan.
[0011] A serious disadvantage of the present scanning/cropping
technology arises from the number of passes that the scanner bar
must take in order to acquire and render the final high-resolution,
useable image on screen for saving to a data file. Typically,
currently available scanners take 4 passes per image: 1) Low
resolution preview/crop; 2) return; 3) high resolution acquisition
scan; and 4) return. Where there are multiple images to acquire,
this process takes a very long time, and adds significant cycle
wear to the scanner hardware.
[0012] There is thus a significant need for a scanning system that
automatically crops and acquires high resolution images in short,
fast scanning cycles that permits faster through-put and reduced
component cycle wear.
THE INVENTION
SUMMARY, INCLUDING OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
[0013] The invention is directed to digital imaging devices,
methods of image data acquisition, and driver software therefor.
More particularly, the invention comprises a desktop flatbed
digital image scanner apparatus and software that makes possible
the complete previewing, calibration at both low and high
resolution, cropping, high resolution scanning, and transfer of
digital image data from a flatbed to a computer or saved onto
memory media in significantly less time than present scanners.
[0014] The inventive apparatus comprises a desktop flatbed digital
scanner that is capable of bi-directional multi-resolution
scanning; i.e. scanning both on a first scan at a first, typically
low, resolution as the scanning bar moves longitudinally along the
platen, and also scanning at a second, typically high, resolution
scan during the reverse or "return" movement longitudinally back to
the initial position of the bar. The inventive system is also a
substantial improvement for limited power, bus, USB, "Firewire",
IEEE 1394, etc. devices.
[0015] As used herein the initial or "start" position of the
scanning bar is considered by convention to be the "top", and the
end of the bar movement, or "pass", is the bottom. The user
ordinarily places the item (image or text document) on the glass
platen of the scanner oriented with the top of the item at the end
of the scanner platen designated as the top, which is where the bar
starts. A "pass" constitutes the motion of the scanner bar (or
relative motion of the item past a fixed, slit-masked, stationary
head). Thus, the first pass comprises the relative motion of the
bar the length of the platen from the top to the bottom, i.e.
one-way. The second pass in currently available scanners is a
reload or return to start or top, during which no scanning is done.
In such conventional scanners, the third pass is the
high-resolution scan, which pass is identical in direction (down
the page/platen). In the inventive scanner, the return or second
pass is the high-resolution scan. This defines the bi-directional,
multi-resolution scanning attribute of the inventive scanner and
its associated software.
[0016] The inventive scanner system comprises any suitable scanner
bar with modified electronics, scanner firmware and software
drivers that are enabled in accord with the principles disclosed
herein, which scanner captures and reads image data both the
standard direction as well as the return direction, that is
bi-directional scanning. On the return pass, the software and
hardware of the invention reads the image data and sends that data
to the associated computer in reverse bit stream sequence, from the
bottom of the image to the top of the image, although the image is
displayed (rendered) oriented top up on screen. In this manner, the
apparatus and software of the invention create a preview resolution
scan for cropping on the first pass, automatically crops the image,
and on the second pass creates a high resolution image of the
cropped region while scanning on the return movement to the
starting location.
[0017] The scanner apparatus and software system of the invention
thus reduce the time necessary for scanning by reducing the overall
distance the scanner bar must move. Typical scanners require the
scanner bar to move from the starting location, to the end of the
flatbed, back to the start, and again to the end of the flatbed to
complete the high-resolution scan. At that point, the scanning is
done, but the scanner bar must return to the starting location for
the next image to scan, i.e. 4 passes to reload for the next item.
Thus, present scanners need 4x passes per image, while the
inventive scanner/software system only requires 2x for the first
image, where x is the number of images to be scanned for the first
image, and only single passes for subsequent similarly cropped
images. The inventive system reduces the number of steps to a
maximum of two: the scanner bar moves to the end of the flatbed and
returns. The software of the invention reads the high-resolution
image data on the 2.sup.nd pass from the bottom of the image to the
top and displays the final image in that order, much faster than
present scanners do. For example, in current B&W scanning of an
81/2.times.11" image at 600 dpi the total time from start to reload
to the next image is on the order of from about 42-67 seconds. In
contrast, in the inventive system the image is scanned and
displayed in about 37 seconds, some 7-30 seconds faster than a
conventional scanner. In multiple image scanning, since the time
for the two return passes and the preview pass is eliminated the
productivity is increased from 20 to 300% or more.
[0018] In an important option, the inventive scanning system can
also crop automatically on the initial preview scan, or the
cropping lasso can be set at the end of the first "downward" pass,
and for the scanning of a number of subsequent similar and/or
identical sized images, high resolution scan can be done on each
subsequent pass, back to the top, second downward pass, etc. In
this embodiment, Pass 1 (top to bottom) is preview and autocrop;
Pass 2 (bottom to top) acquire document 1 (high resolution); Pass 3
(2.sup.nd top to bottom pass) acquire document 2 (high resolution);
Pass 4 (2.sup.nd bottom to top) acquire document 3 (high
resolution), etc. As compared to the prior art which requires 4
passes to acquire one document at high resolution, the inventive
system can acquire 3 documents in the same number of passes, an
improvement ratio of 3:1 (300%).
[0019] Likewise, when cropping is not required, the inventive
scanner system can significantly reduce the time required to scan
multiple documents. When a user wants to acquire a stack of x
images, the scanner can acquire the first image on its pass from
top to bottom, the second image from bottom to top and so on,
reducing the wait for the scanner head to return home between
scans. This dramatically increases productivity, especially on
scanners with a limited power budget, e.g., buss powered devices
(USB), wherein the lower power limits the return speed of the
scanner head. For example a bus-powered USB scanner is limited to
operation at about 500 mA, which is low for a stepper motor, so the
scan speed is slower.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] The invention is described by reference to the drawings in
which:
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates the manual or automatic cropping steps
required on typical scanners, including the corresponding software
flow sheet;
[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates the scan-bar movements necessary to
create both a preview and high resolution image in a currently
available conventional scanner, in which
[0023] FIG. 2A is a hardware schematic, and
[0024] FIG. 2B illustrates the software flow sheet and the
corresponding scan head position during the operational steps;
and
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates the method used by the inventive
apparatus to complete a preview and final scan, in which
[0026] FIG. 3A is a hardware schematic, and
[0027] FIG. 3B illustrates the software flow sheet and the
corresponding scan head position demonstrating that for the first
image acquisition, only half the number of passes is required.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION, INCLUDING THE BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE
INVENTION
[0028] The following detailed description illustrates the invention
by way of example, not by way of limitation of the principles of
the invention. This description will clearly enable one skilled in
the art to make and use the invention, and describes several
embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the
invention. The description includes what are presently believed to
be the best modes of carrying out the invention.
[0029] In this regard, the invention is illustrated in several
figures (and tables where included), and is of sufficient
complexity that the many parts, interrelationships, process steps,
and sub-combinations thereof simply cannot be fully illustrated in
a single patent-type drawing or table. For clarity and conciseness,
several of the drawings show in schematic, or omit, parts or steps
that are not essential in that drawing to a description of a
particular feature, aspect or principle of the invention being
disclosed. Thus, the best mode embodiment of one feature may be
shown in one drawing, and the best mode of another feature will be
called out in another drawing. Process aspects of the invention are
described by reference to one or more examples or test runs, which
are merely exemplary of the many variations and parameters of
operation under the principles of the invention.
[0030] The hardware system of the invention comprises a desktop
digital scanner with a scanner bar that scans in two directions.
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate prior art operations of conventional
scanners. FIG. 1 illustrates the manual or automatic
preview/cropping steps of typical prior art scanners, followed by
user-initiated high resolution scanning for acquisition and
transfer to a computer or other memory media (such as disk and
memory stick-type media). FIG. 2 illustrates the 4 passes (scan-bar
movements) necessary to create both a preview and high resolution
image in a typical scanner. In the example given, the return time
is an average of 7.5 seconds, and the resolution is taken as 600
dpi.
[0031] In more detail, FIG. 1 shows the prior art preview, cropping
and acquisition scanning, schematically on the left and in
operational flow sheet format on the right, which includes the
software/firmware interaction with the user for manual cropping
selection. The upper left schematic schematically shows scanner
system 10 comprising a scanner platen 12 on which is placed an
image document 14 which is to be acquired and rendered, e.g., on
the display screen of a computer (not shown). The widely spaced
dashed lines represent the low resolution scan of the entire
platen. When the user initiates a preview scan 50, the entire
flatbed area 12 is scanned in 24-bit color at low resolution,
typically 72-100 dpi, representing the acquisition of the image 52.
The real-time preview image 10 of the scanned data is displayed on
the computer screen (not shown). The preview image 10 includes both
the image area 14 and the remaining blank or "white" area 16, and
is typically not saved on the computer hard drive. If the user has
selected auto crop 54, 56 the software automatically determines the
location of the original image document on the platen 58 and
derives the proper high resolution scan area for the image (final
scan), and executes the final scan 20 automatically. If the user
did not select auto crop 54, 60, the user is directed to select the
area to be finally scanned from the preview, e.g. by a mouse
directed lasso utility. Then the user presses the "scan button" 18,
either a hardware button on the scanner or a software clickable
button on screen, and the scanner rescans/acquires the defined
image area 20 at high resolution, typically 300+ dpi. This acquired
image 20 is then typically stored in memory.
[0032] Continuing with the prior art process in FIG. 2, the upper
portion FIG. 2A illustrates the scanner system 10 having platen
aperture 12 on which is placed the image document to be scanned 14,
and around which is the blank, white area 16, as in FIG. 1. The
scan bar 24 has an initial or "Start" position 26 at the Top of the
platen 28. The bar moves downwardly during scan 30 to the end scan
position at the bottom of the platen 34, after which it returns 36
to the top, start position 26 for the next step of the process.
[0033] The lower portion, FIG. 2B, shows on the left side, the
start of preview/auto crop scan 50 for image I.sub.n, the
acquisition of the preview, low resolution image 52, the
determination of the location of the image for auto-cropping 58,
the acquisition of the high resolution image 20, followed by the
storage of image I.sub.n in high resolution 22, followed by the
loop back, 80, to the start condition 30 for new image I.sub.n+1.
The corresponding position of scan head 24 is shown just to the
right of the flow sheet for image I.sub.n, with the head starting
at the top 28, scanning 30 at preview scan speed to the bottom 34
during previewing 52 in Pass 1, returning to the top 28 without
scanning at return speed in Pass 2, full resolution scanning 30 at
high resolution scan speed from top 28 to bottom 34 in Pass 3, and
returning again to the top 28 without scanning at return speed in
Pass 4, which readies the scanner for image I.sub.n+1. The 4-Pass
time is about 52 seconds for this first 81/2.times.11" image
document. For the second, third, etc., images the time is the same
for each, that is n images.times.52 seconds.
[0034] In summary, the 4 prior art steps and motions of the scanner
bar are:
[0035] Image 1:
[0036] Pass 1), Top to Bottom: Preview image, 72-100 dpi at preview
bar speed;
[0037] User selects crop; a) Manual; or b) Auto Crop out White
(this may be selected before Pass 1);
[0038] Pass 2), Bottom to Top: Scanner bar returns to start
position at return speed without scanning;
[0039] User selects "Scan" and presses or clicks "Button";
[0040] Pass 3), Top to Bottom: Rescan at high resolution,
typically, 300+ dpi at slower high-resolution speed; and
[0041] Pass 4), Bottom to Top: Scanner bar returns to start
position at return speed.
[0042] Image 2:
[0043] Repeat Passes 1) through 4).
[0044] Nth Image:
[0045] Repeat Passes 1) through 4).
[0046] In contrast, in the present invention as shown in FIGS. 3A
and 3B, the scan bar 24 of the inventive scanner 10 makes a
standard, low resolution scan 52 on its first pass 30, Pass 1. The
software system of the invention transmits the collected image data
to an attached computer or display to allow the user to view the
preview scan. The software system of the invention automatically
crops the image 58, and on the return pass 30 of the scanner bar,
Pass 2, creates a high-resolution image 20 of just the area
selected by the cropping algorithms. Both of the non-scanning
return passes 36 of the conventional scanner of FIG. 2B are
eliminated. In the above example, the present invention provides a
reduction of 15 seconds, to about 37 seconds, which is over a 40%
time reduction. Depending on the resolution and rate of return, the
reduction can range from about 20% to 100%, and typically, 3 to 7
images can be scanned at high resolution in the time it ordinarily
takes to scan two images in a conventional scanner.
[0047] Even more striking, as seen in FIG. 3B, where there are
multiple same-sized images to scan, e.g., multiple image documents
of the same size, the inventive system follows the path 82 for
image I.sub.n+2, and subsequent images. That is, one image is
scanned at high resolution for each pass of the scanner head 24,
for even greater time savings.
[0048] Note that FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the functionality of
the inventive system and details of the operational hardware and
firmware operations that programmers skilled in the art will
recognize as adequate disclosure for use to write appropriate
software code to realize the inventive hardware operation and
process step functionality.
[0049] It should be understood that although the image document 14
is shown being placed in the center, top of the platen 12, it is
ordinarily placed in the upper right hand corner of the platen. The
scanner software, e.g., "One Touch" scanner software from
Visioneer, Inc. of Pleasanton Calif., which is hereby incorporated
by reference, will let the user know when the document is not
placed in that position by a pop-up warning notice "Original not
placed properly" which instructs the user to align the original as
shown in a diagram so the original will be scanned straight.
Further, the software can be enabled with a pop-up notice that the
scanner is waiting for the next document to scan, and such notice
can include a count of pages previously scanned. This pop-up notice
can offer instructions for continued scanning, and a menu of
software clickable buttons can be provided, such as "Done
Scanning", "Scan Next" or "Cancel All", to facilitate use.
[0050] Industrial Application:
[0051] It is clear that the system of the invention comprising a
digital image acquisition device that sends high resolution image
data to a computer more quickly than possible today will have wide
industrial application, among others for small office, home office,
and personal use. An important aspect of the invention is that
since the number of passes is cut in half or less, the effective
scan motor usage is also reduced, meaning the life of the scanner
mechanicals is extended, and the mean time between failure is
extended.
[0052] Because the system allows the user to import images as
digital data onto a computer, the apparatus and software system
will work where users need images without long delays. The
productivity gains are particularly in cases of multiple and/or
high volume image scanning. Once scanned, the user can process the
image by computer, by e-mail, editing, archiving, copying,
printing, or sending images for professional processing and
printing.
[0053] It should be understood that one skilled in the art can make
modifications and adaptations of the hardware or system elements
within the scope of this invention without departing from the
spirit thereof. It is therefore wished that this invention be
defined by the scope of the forthcoming claims as broadly as the
prior art will permit, and in view of the specification if need
be.
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