Optical scanner

Details Optical scanner Optical scanner

2000-01-24

2001-09-04

Phan, James (Department: 2872)

Optical: systems and elements

Deflection using a moving element

C358S474000, C358S494000, C358S497000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06285483

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an optical scanner and particularly to an optical scanner that has modular components to facilitate assembly, disassembly and transportation.
2 Description of the Prior Art
Scanner is a widely used computer peripheral device for capturing document image and converting the document image to digital signals for computer process.
FIG. 1
shows a typical conventional optical scanner
10
which generally includes a base
11
, a driving means
12
, a chassis
13
, a document board
14
and a top cover
15
.
The base
11
is a rectangular casing with a top opening for housing a circuit board
112
, a slide bar
114
and a rail
116
therein. The circuit board
112
generally mates with the chassis
13
to. provide a fixed resolution power and is fixedly mounted in the base
11
. The slide bar
114
is a round metal bar having two ends fixedly engaged in the base
11
at one side. The rail
116
is parallel with the slide bar
114
and is located at another side in the case
11
. The casing has four side walls each has a plurality of slots
118
formed therein.
The driving means
12
is fixedly mounted in the base
11
and includes a motor
122
and a belt
124
driven by the motor
122
. The belt
124
is parallel with the slide bar
114
.
The chassis
13
includes mirrors, lens and a charged couple device (CCD, not shown in the figure) for transmitting and receiving document image. The image is converted to signals for transmitting to the circuit board
112
by mean of a flat cable
132
. The chassis
13
further has a clamp
134
to engage with the belt
124
, a pulley
136
running on the rail
116
and a guiding bore
138
slidably housing the slide bar
114
.
The document board
14
is a rectangular board covering the top opening of the base and is transparent in the center for holding a document thereon. The document image may be transmitted to the chassis
13
. The document board
14
has side edges which has a plurality of lugs
142
engageable with the slots
118
. At one end of the document board
14
, a pair of spaced pivot shafts
144
are provided.
The top cover
15
is a rectangular flat member having two pivot seats
152
at one end engageable with the pivot shafts
144
. Under the top cover
15
, a white pad (not shown in the figure) is provided to match the transparent portion of the document board
14
.
The circuit board
112
usually can process only fixed resolution and is fixedly mounted in the base
11
. The chassis
13
has to match with the circuit board
112
for a processing fixed resolution image. For assembly, the guiding bore
138
should engage with the slide bar
114
then mount the side bar
114
in the base
11
. The pulley
136
is slidable on the rail
116
. The lugs
142
should engage with the slots
118
. The aforesaid assembly has the following disadvantages:
a. The scanner
10
is usually sold and delivered by complete unit. It means the assembly and packaging have to be completed before shipment. It is bulky and costs higher.
b. The components are not modularized. It is difficult for production and assembly.
c. It offers only fixed resolution and no casing color selection.
d. It is difficult to disassemble for repairs and maintenance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of aforesaid disadvantages, it is therefore an object of this invention to provide a scanner that has modular components. Individual component modules may be produced and shipped independently without final assembly to a complete scanner unit. Assembly and package costs are lower. It is also more flexible to assemble different type of final product to suit user's needed.
It is another object of this invention to provide a scanner that offers different resolution. User may select different component module to obtain different resolution desired.
The scanner according to this invention includes a base, a driving means, a chassis, a document board and a top cover.
The base is a rectangular casing with a top opening. Inside the casing, a removable circuit board is provided to couple with the removable chassis for offering changeable resolution. A slide bar and a rail are parallel located at two sides within the casing. Inside the casing, a pair of lower support arms are provided to hold the slide bar at two ends. The base further has two screw seats and two latch grooves.
The driving means includes a motor driving a belt which is parallel with the slide bar. The chassis includes a clamp engaged with the belt, a pulley running on the rail and a guiding bore slidably housed the slide bar. The chassis connects with the circuit board through a flat cable.
The document board is a rectangular flat board covering the top opening of the base and is transparent in the center for holding a document thereon. It has two screw bores and two shafts at one end, and two latch lugs at another end engageable with the latch grooves. The top cover is a rectangular flat member having two pivot seats at one end engageable with the pivot shafts.
The components set forth above (including the base, driving means, chassis, document board and top cover) are modularized and may be produced and shipped individually. Different components modules may be used to assemble different final products (i.e., scanners). It offers more product selection to users. Assembly, disassembly and transportation become easier and less expensive.
Furthermore, the circuit board and the chassis are flexible to change to get different resolution desired. It may better meet user's requirements.


REFERENCES:
patent: 6163387 (2000-12-01), Han

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