Optical: systems and elements – Deflection using a moving element
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-13
2001-06-05
Phan, James (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Deflection using a moving element
C358S474000, C358S482000, C358S483000, C358S487000, C358S494000, C358S497000, C250S234000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06243185
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reflective/transmissive scanner with a removable scanning platform and a docking port. More particularly, the present invention relates to a scanner which reduces the number of times that light must pass through a transparent plate during the scanning of an object, thereby improving the quality of the scanned image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent developments in the use of high speed, low cost digital electronic imaging systems to process, transmit and display digital information have substantially increased the demand for optical scanners to convert information into digital electronic form. A variety of optical scanners, including facsimile machines and digital copiers, have been developed to meet this growing demand. There are generally two types of scanners: reflective scanners for scanning opaque objects, such as documents and photographs; and transmissive scanners for scanning transmissive objects, such as slides and transparencies. Reflective scanners project light onto the surface of the object to be scanned. The light reflected from the opaque object is then received by an image-retrieving device which converts the image of the scanned object into an electronic signal. Transmissive scanners project light through the object to be scanned. The light passing through the transmissive object is then received by an image-retrieving device which converts the image of the scanned object into an electronic signal. The growing demand for both reflective and transmissive scanners has resulted in a need for scanners to provide both capabilities.
FIG. 1
a
illustrates the path of light during the scanning of an opaque object
1
positioned on the transparent plate
2
. As illustrated by the arrows, light emitted from the light source
3
(typically located in the base of the scanner) passes through the transparent plate
2
and is reflected by the surface of reflective object
1
, whereupon it passes back through the transparent plate
2
again and is then received by the image-retrieving device
4
. In this example, light must pass through the transparent plate
2
twice. The physical properties of the transparent plate
2
can cause distortion of the light; therefore, the quality of the obtained image is degraded.
FIG. 1
b
illustrates the path of light during the scanning of a transmissive object
13
positioned on a transparent plate
14
. As illustrated by the arrows, the light emitted from the light source
11
first passes through a transparent cover plate
12
, then passes through the transmissive object
13
and the transparent plate
14
and finally be received by the image-retrieving device
15
. Typically, the light source
11
is located in the lid of the scanner whereas the image-retrieving device
15
is located in the base of the scanner. The cover plate
12
can protect the light source
11
from dust or other damage. In this case, light must pass through both the cover plate
12
and the transparent plate
14
. The physical properties of these two transparent plates can cause distortion of the light; therefore, the quality of the obtained image is degraded.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a scanner capable of scanning both opaque and transmissive objects. It is another object of this invention to provide a scanner in which light does not need to pass through a transparent plate during the scanning of an opaque object, thereby improving the quality of the scanned image. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a scanner in which light needs to pass through only one transparent plate during the scanning of a transmissive object, thereby improving the quality of the scanned image.
The present invention achieves the objects by providing an optical scanner for retrieving images of opaque and transmissive objects, comprising: a body defining a longitudinal axis; a docking port formed in a side surface of the body; a removable scanning platform on which a document to be scanned is placed, wherein the scanning platform is docked in the docking platform during scanning; a sensor module disposed within the body above the docked scanning platform and movable along the longitudinal axis; a first light source disposed on sensor module for providing light to scan an opaque object; an image-retrieving device disposed on the sensor module for retrieving digital images; a support frame disposed within the body below the docked scanning platform and movable along the longitudinal axis; a second light source disposed on the support frame for providing light to scan a transmissive object; a connecting rod engaging the sensor module to the support frame; and a driving device for synchronously moving the sensor module and the support frame along the longitudinal axis.
In a first embodiment of the present invention, a loading area of the scanning platform includes means for temporarily adhering an opaque object to be scanned to the surface of the scanning platform, for example an adhesive tape.
In a second embodiment of the present invention, the scanning platform comprises: a platform body; an upper lid disposed on the platform body with a perforated area for positioning an opaque object to be scanned; and a vacuum device disposed in the platform body and communicating outside the platform body; wherein the vacuum device creates a suction force through the perforations of the perforated area, thereby holding the object to be scanned to the scanning platform.
In a third embodiment of the present invention, a transparent plate is disposed in the surface of the scanning platform, on which a transmissive object to be scanned can be positioned.
In the case of scanning an opaque object, the object to be scanned is positioned on the scanning platform and the platform is docked in the docking port. During scanning, light from the first (reflective) light source does not pass through any transparent plates; therefore, the light is not distorted and the quality of the scanned image is improved. In the case of scanning a transmissive object, the object is positioned on the transparent plate disposed in the scanning platform and then the platform is docked in the docking port. During scanning, light from the second (transmissive) light source passes through only one transparent plate, compared with two in the prior art; therefore, the light is less distorted and the quality of the scanned image is improved.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5574274 (1996-11-01), Rubley et al.
Ho Yi-Yi
Lin Martin
Acer Peripherals Inc.
Ladas & Parry
Phan James
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