Abstract: An analog to digital conversion apparatus, method and system accepts an analog input signal having analog values ranging from an analog minimum to an analog maximum and converts the analog input signal into a digital signal. The digital signal includes X-bit numbers, where X is an integer greater than one, according to a truncated transfer function, which includes a linear portion of a full-scale transfer function of an analog-to-digital converter. A range of the truncated transfer function is bounded by a truncated maximum number corresponding to the analog maximum and a truncated minimum number corresponding to the analog minimum. The range of the truncated transfer function is set, through a calibration procedure, to be within the full-scale transfer function of the analog-to-digital converter. The digital signal is then either output in X-bit numbers or in corresponding Y-bit numbers, where Y is an integer and Y<X.

Abstract: A V-shaped scanning head, a book support, and a scanner that includes the V-shaped scanning head and the book support. The V-shaped scanning head comprises a pair of scanning surfaces angled relative to each other to form a V-shaped scanning face. An image capturing means preferably in the form of a pair of angled photoelectric detector arrays or a pivotable scanning arrangement is provided for capturing images of both sides of a book, the images being received through the scanning face. Processing circuitry, typically provided in the scanning head, processes the signals received from the image capturing means. The book can be supported on a movable book support that is capable of adopting a V-shaped configuration to support the open book.