Image analysis – Image sensing – Hand-held
Patent
1999-05-28
2000-08-15
Lee, Thomas D.
Image analysis
Image sensing
Hand-held
358473, 23547201, G06K 922, G06K 710, H04N 1024
Patent
active
061048453
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to hand-holdable optical scanners for scanning record media, and also to a rotary encoder useful in such scanners. The invention is particularly useful in a scanner-type electronic translator for scanning printed texts on record media and for simultaneously translating the words from one language into another language, or from one definition to another definition in the same language.
Hand-holdable optical scanners have come into widespread use for a number of applications, such as for bar-code readers at points-of-sale of products and/or services, for recording data appearing on original documents for later reproduction or processing, and for translating documents. Examples of optical scanners for the latter applications are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,393,460, 4,523,235, 4,639,790, 4,890,230, 4,947,261, 4,959,871, 5,063,508 and 5,301,243.
OBJECTS AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a hand-holdable optical scanner of a very compact construction which makes it particularly useful as an electronic translator. Another object of the invention is to provide a rotary movement detector, or rotary encoder, particularly useful in such a hand-holdable optical scanner but also useful in other rotary encoder applications.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical scanner comprising a hand-holdable housing including: a scanner head for scanning a record medium; a roller engageable with and rotatable by the record medium when scanned by the scanner head, the roller including an optically-sensible marking for use in measuring the rotary movements of the roller; a light source illuminating the roller and the marking thereof; an optical sensor for sensing information on the record medium and the marking of the roller; and a control system for periodically energizing the light source during predetermined time periods enabling the optical sensor to sense the marking of the roller during the predetermined time periods, and the information on the record medium during other time periods.
Such an arrangement enables the scanner to be of a very compact construction since it permits the optical sensor to be used, in a time sharing manner, both for sensing the informational data on the record member and for tracking the movements of the scanner. The scanner movements thus generate address data for storing and processing the sensed informational data.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a detector particularly useful in an optical scanner for detecting the rotary movements of a roller in the scanner, but also useful in other rotary-encoder applications for detecting the rotary movements of a rotary member, such as a rotary shaft. The novel detector comprises: a linear array of optical sensor elements extending parallel to the rotary axis of the rotary member; a light source for illuminating the outer surface of the rotary member; and an optically-sensible marking including at least one line extending helically on the outer face of the rotary member.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of one form of hand-holdable optical scanner constructed as an electronic translator in accordance with the present invention;
FIGS. 2 and 3 are side and front diagrammatical views, respectively, more particularly illustrating the internal construction of the scanner of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view illustrating the roller in the scanner of FIGS. 1-3;
FIG. 4a is a flat projection of the outer surface of the roller of FIG. 4;
FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams helpful in explaining the operation of the position detector system including the roller of FIGS. 4 and 4a;
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the electrical cir
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Manual for a japanese Scanner Aparatus, Purchased in 1996.
Lipman Adi
Lipman Aharon
Chen Wenpeng
Lee Thomas D.
Wizcom Technologies Ltd.
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