Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Picture signal generator
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-15
2001-07-03
Lee, Cheukfan (Department: 2722)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Picture signal generator
C358S474000, C358S487000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06256117
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is related to a distinguishing method for an object, and more particularly to a distinguishing method for an object scanned by a transmissive/reflective scanning device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
At the present time, the scanners are so popular that they are required to have more and more functions. The flatbed scanner used today has both transmissive mode and reflective mode, and so does the sheetfed scanner. If a reflective object such as a piece of paper needs to be scanned, the reflective mode must be in use. The light source (hereafter called “reflecting light source”) mounted at the same side of the charge coupled device with respect to the reflective object is turned on to scan the reflective object. A reflected image signal is sensed by the photo sensor on the charge coupled device to form the digital data. If a transmissive object such as a transparency needs to be scanned, the transmissive mode must be in use. The light source (hereafter called “transmitting light source”) mounted at the opposite side of the charge coupled device with respect to the transmissive object is turned on to scan the transmissive object. A transmitted image signal is sensed by the charge coupled device to form the digital data. However, the problem is that the users must know the type of the scanned object and switch among the reflective mode and the transmissive mode of the scanner by themselves. The users are often puzzled by such manual operation when a great number of non-arranged documents including both types of the scanned objects need to be scanned. Obviously, it is not convenient for the users to switch the scanning mode of the scanner.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An objective of the present invention is to provide an method for a scanner to automatically distinguish the object.
In accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for distinguishing a scanned object between a transmissive object and a reflective object used in a transmissive/reflective scanning device having a transmitting light source and a reflecting light source. The method includes steps of (a) lighting up one of the transmitting light source and the reflecting light source, (b) scanning a portion of the scanned object by using the lighted light source to obtain an image signal, (c) calculating a scanning value of the image signal, and (d) distinguishing the scanned object to be one of the transmissive object and the reflective object according to the scanning value of the image signal.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, before the step (b), the method includes a step of (b1) feeding the portion of the scanned object into the scanning device.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the portion of the scanned object preferably has a shape of a rectangle.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the scanning value is an average gray scale.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, in order to get the average gray scale, the step (c) includes steps of (c1) summing up gray scale values of the total number of pixels of the image signal, and (c2) getting the average gray scale by dividing the summed gray scale values by the total number of pixels of the image signal.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the lighted light source may be the transmitting light source. Thus, the scanned object is distinguished to be the transmissive object if the average gray scale is greater than a specific value. On the contrary, the scanned object is distinguished to be the reflective object if the average gray scale is less than the specific value.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the lighted light source may be the reflecting light source. Thus, the scanned object is distinguished to be the reflective object if the average gray scale is greater than a specific value. On the contrary, the scanned object is distinguished to be the transmissive object if the average gray scale is less than the specific value.
In accordance with the present invention, a method is provided for distinguishing a transmissive object and a reflective object used in a transmissive/reflective sheetfed scanning device having a transmitting light source and a reflecting light source. The method includes steps of (a) lighting up one of the transmitting light source and the reflecting light source, (b) feeding a portion of said scanned object having a specific length into the scanning device, (c) scanning the portion of the scanned object with the specific length by using the lighted light source to obtain an image signal, (d) calculating a scanning value of the image signal, and (e) distinguishing the scanned object to be one of the transmissive object and the reflective object according to the scanning value of the image signal.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the step (c) further includes a step of (c1) detecting a width of the scanned object. Thus, the scanned object has a shape of a rectangle having the specific length and the width.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the scanning value is an average gray scale.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, in order to get the average gray scale, the step (d) includes steps of (d1) summing up gray scale values of all pixels of the image signal, and (d2) getting the average gray scale by dividing the summed gray scale values by the total number of pixels of the image signal.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the step (e) includes a step of (e1) distinguish the scanned object to be one of the transmissive object and the reflective object by comparing the average gray scale and a specific value.
The present invention may best be understood through the folloiling description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
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Fan Ching-Chih
Hsu Adolf T. R.
Lee Cheukfan
Mustek Systems Inc.
Skjerven Morrill & MacPherson LLP
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