Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Picture signal generator
Patent
1996-12-17
1998-12-29
Vu, Kim Yen
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Picture signal generator
358497, 37910002, H04N 104, H04M 1100
Patent
active
058546944
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to portable apparatus preferably capable of image acquisition, handling and communication and more particularly to lightweight hand-held apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Known apparatus of this type include a cordless image scanner, known for example from EP 393509A2 which discloses a scanner having an in-built power source and an image sensor which reads image data representative of an image into a memory. The image can be shown on a display on the hand-held scanner or communicated to a computer using a memory card connector. A portable facsimile machine is also known, for example from U.S. Pat. No. 4,652,937 which discloses a rather large facsimile machine in two principal parts which are powered from a mains supply. The two parts can be positioned one above the other to enable an automatic paper feed operation of an image through the machine for facsimile transmission over a telephone network. Alternatively, the upper portion of the machine can be detached for manual scanning of an image such as a page of text from a book.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The known devices are however, of limited use due to the limited functions, such as image handling and communication functions, which they are able to perform, and their size and/or weight which creates a problem for portability. One known facsimile device taught by U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,091 is specifically limited to use in a vehicle in receiving facsimile transmissions.
The present invention seeks to avoid or at least mitigate these and other problems of the prior art. According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a machine for use in image scanning and the storage and transmission of data representative of the scanned image, the machine comprising an internal power source and a user input device for communicating with a controller which controls the operation of devices within the machine which devices comprise a scanner for inputting data representative of a scanned image into a memory, a display for a user to view the scanner image stored in the memory and a communication system having a transducer operable to create an outgoing signal representative of the image data to enable transmission in use of the image data. Beneficially therefore, this aspect of the invention enables the machine, which is preferably a facsimile machine, to be truly portable since it has its own power source and scanned images can be taken from otherwise inaccessible places and stored in memory prior to transmission to a remote device such as, for example, another such machine for use in image scanning, for example a facsimile machine having a printer or a computer.
Preferably the transducer is a modem which generates an audio signal which modem is preferably adapted also to receive and convert an incoming signal representative of an image to provide image data to be viewed on the display as a copy of the image.
Preferably the machine is an integral hand-held device which is preferably lightweight and operable by a user using one hand.
The scanner can be positioned adjacent to an outside surface of the machine and preferably the opposite surface to that having the display.
The scanner can comprise a roller device for providing position reference information during a scanning operation which roller device has a roller which comprises 2 or more separately rotatable portions at different axial positions, their positions being provided with respective angular displacement encoders operable to communicate to the controller respective signals representative of displacement of the machine relative to the scanned image during scanning to enable correction of image data for arcuate movement of the machine or non-linear scanning of the scanned image.
Preferably, a user is able to manipulate image data by communicating with the controller via the user input, preferably the image contrast can be adjusted, and/or the image brightness can be adjusted, and/or the image can be magnified or reduced in size.
The machine can have an
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Love Stephen John
Payne Simon Graham
Howison Gregory M.
Optionexist Limited
Vu Kim Yen
Williams Kimberly A.
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