Optical: systems and elements – Deflection using a moving element
Reexamination Certificate
2000-12-28
2002-09-03
Phan, James (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Deflection using a moving element
C358S483000, C358S487000, C358S474000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06445480
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scanner, and more particularly to a scanner with a switching mechanism for selecting a reflective optical path for scanning a reflective original document, or a transparent optical path for scanning a transparent original document.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The original document to be scanned with an scanner can be divided into two different categories, reflective and transparent. In order to effectively scan the image from the original document, the scanners are configured to reflective type for scanning reflective original document, and transparent type for scanning transparent original document.
Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, a typical reflective type scanner is shown. The scanner
1
generally includes a top frame
11
with a document positioning plate
12
which is a plane surface made of for example glass or other light transmittable, substantially rigid material, for supporting an reflective original document
10
to be scanned, defining a document scanning window. A cover
13
is pivotally attached to the top frame
11
of the scanner
1
for covering the document positioning plate
12
during the scanning process.
The reflective type scanner
1
generally includes an optical scanning module
14
and a pair of guiding rails
15
a,
15
b.
The optical scanning module
14
is provided with a light source
16
, a plurality of light reflection mirrors
171
,
172
,
173
,
174
, a focusing lens
18
, and an image sensing module
19
such as a Charge Coupling Device (CCD) or a Contact Image Scanning (CIS). The optical scanning module
14
may be moved by a driving device (not shown) along the guiding rails
15
a,
15
b.
When the optical scanning module
14
completes a scanning process, the image of the reflective original document
10
is scanned.
As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4
, a typical transparent type scanner
2
is shown. The scanner
2
also includes a top frame
21
and a document positioning plate
22
. A back lighting module
23
is pivotally attached to the top frame
21
of the scanner
2
. The back lighting module
23
is provided with a back light source
26
therein.
The transparent type scanner
2
includes an optical scanning module
24
moveably supported by a pair of guiding rails
25
a,
25
b.
The optical scanning module
24
includes a plurality of reflection mirrors
271
,
272
,
273
, a focusing lens
28
, and an image sensing module
29
. The optical scanning module
24
may be moved by a driving device (not shown) along the guiding rails
25
a,
25
b.
When the optical scanning module
24
completes a scanning process and with the light provided by the back light source
26
, the image of the transparent original document
20
supported on the document positioning plate
22
is scanned.
The conventional reflective or transparent scanner can only conduct a specific scanning mode, i.e. the reflective type scanner can not conduct a transparent scanning process, while the transparent type scanner can not conduct a reflective scanning process. In prior art, there is provided with a mode-selective scanner which is capable of selectively conducting reflective or transparent scanning processes. However, the scanner is too complicated to economically manufacture. In addition, it is too complicate to assemble.
Thus, it is desirable to provide an image scanning device with a switching mechanism which is capable of overcoming the problems described above and facilitating scanning operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Consequently, a primary object of the present invention is to provide an image scanning device with a switching mechanism. By means of the switching mechanism, the scanner is capable of conducting either a reflective scanning mode or a transparent scanning mode.
In order to achieve the object set forth, a scanner for selectively scanning reflective and transparent original document in accordance with the present invention comprises an optical scanning module having first and second light sources for selectively projecting light beam to a reflective original document or a transparent original document, respectively to generate a corresponding reflective or resulted image. A reflective optical path mechanism includes a plurality of first reflection mirrors and a first focusing lens for collecting the reflective image from the first reflection mirrors. A transparent optical path mechanism includes a plurality of second reflection mirrors and a second focusing lens for collecting the resulted image from the second reflection mirrors. An image sensing module is arranged adjacent to the first and second optical path mechanism for selectively picking up image from the first or second focusing lens. A switching mechanism is coupled to the image sensing module to selectively align the image sensing module to the first focusing lens to pick up the reflective image, or to the second focusing lens to pick up the resulted image.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a second focusing lens is provided thereby providing different resolutions.
To further understand the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as well as the attached drawings, wherein:
REFERENCES:
patent: 6081363 (2000-06-01), Shen et al.
Huang Yin-Chun
Yeh Chien-Liang
Phan James
Rosenberg , Klein & Lee
Umax Data Systems Inc.
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