Registers – Coded record sensors – Particular sensor structure
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-06
2001-01-09
Le, Thien M. (Department: 2876)
Registers
Coded record sensors
Particular sensor structure
C235S462130
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170751
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scanning module of an optical scanner, and more particularly, to a scanning module with variable optical paths for increasing scanning resolution.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art optical scanners such as flatbed scanners or sheet-fed scanners usually comprise a scanning module with a fixed optical path along which an image of a document is focused by a lens onto a light detecting device within the scanning module for scanning the document. The use of such a scanning module is adequate for scanning text documents, but if the scanning module is used for scanning documents containing graphics, images or color films, the resolution of the scanning module in the prior art scanning module is insufficient and cannot be easily increased because the optical path is fixed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a primary objective of the present invention to provide a scanning module to solve the above mentioned problems.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention provides a scanning module of a scanner comprising:
a carriage with a first scanning position;
a light detecting device installed inside the carriage for detecting light from a document which is transmitted from the first scanning position;
a plurality of mirrors installed inside the carriage for reflecting the light from the document to the light detecting device, the plurality of mirrors comprising at least one moveable first mirror for changing the optical path of the light from the document to the light detecting device so that the light from the document can be directed to the light detecting device along a first optical path or a second optical path; and
a lens set installed inside the carriage for focusing the light from the document onto the light detecting device, the lens set comprising a first end and a second end;
wherein in the first optical path, the light from the document is directed through the lens set from the first end to the second end of the lens set and then focused by the lens set onto the light detecting device, and in the second optical path, the light from the document is transmitted through the lens set from the second end to the first end of the lens set and then focused by the lens set onto the light detecting device.
It is an advantage of the present invention that the resolution of the scanning module can be easily increased by rotating the moveable mirror.
It is another advantage of the present invention that the light detecting device and lens set are currently available components, thus the scanning module can be manufactured easily and inexpensively.
This and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after having read the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment which is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
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Le Thien M.
Microtek International Inc.
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