Patents Assigned to Contex A/S
  • Patent number: 10298804
    Abstract: A method, and document scanner system, for correcting image values recorded by an optical document scanner with multiple color cameras arranged in a staggered configuration with overlap scan areas includes storing color correction values mapped to respective color index values, where a color correction value is computed from a color difference between a first color value and a second color value of the respective overlap sets, and correcting a third color value which is a color value from the second set of color image values by a color correction value which is looked up via a color index value determined from the third color value. Thereby color variations among staggered cameras are corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Contex A/S
    Inventors: Poul Overgaard, Peter Nissen, Gerard Verhaegh
  • Publication number: 20170195511
    Abstract: A method, and document scanner system, for correcting image values recorded by an optical document scanner with multiple color cameras arranged in a staggered configuration with overlap scan areas includes storing color correction values mapped to respective color index values, where a color correction value is computed from a color difference between a first color value and a second color value of the respective overlap sets, and correcting a third color value which is a color value from the second set of color image values by a color correction value which is looked up via a color index value determined from the third color value. Thereby color variations among staggered cameras are corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Applicant: Contex A/S
    Inventors: Poul OVERGAARD, Peter NISSEN, Gerard VERHAEGH
  • Patent number: 9690628
    Abstract: A method of operating a server computer serving a group of scanners; wherein the scanners are registered in a database with a respective indication of reservation status. The method includes receiving, at the server computer, a request for a scanning operation from a user's electronic device; wherein the request includes a user identifier and a scanner identifier; granting a reservation of the selected scanner upon reception of the request for a scanning operation, wherein the reservation lapses unless the request is confirmed within a predefined time period; and receiving, from the selected scanner, a predefined user generated event. Upon reception of the predefined user generated event within the predefined time period: maintaining the reservation until a scanning operation is terminated or cancelled, and transmitting any electronic reproduction resulting from the selected scanning operation performed at the selected scanner to the user identified by the user identifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Contex A/S
    Inventors: Nis Engholm, Jørgen Rasmussen, Peter Nissen
  • Patent number: 9398173
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of processing image signals from a first and a second image sensor, both of a document scanner unit, where the first image sensor provides a first image, and the second image sensor provides a second image. The first and the second image are two-dimensional images wherein said first and second image are recorded at respective areas of a scanned medium, where a portion of the respective areas is recorded also by the other of the respective image sensors. Thereby image data from overlapping and non-overlapping areas are present in the first and the second image. The method comprises: correlating the first image with the second image, creating a correlation image and processing the correlation image to determine a displacement between the first and the second image. Consequently, a versatile calibration method is provided that can determine a displacement between the first and the second image in two dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: CONTEX A/S
    Inventor: Gerard Verhaegh
  • Patent number: 9237252
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of processing signals from a large-format scanner comprising a first and a second image sensor that provide respective image signals recorded at respective areas of a scanned medium, where a portion of the respective areas is recorded also by the other of the respective image sensors, whereby image data from overlapping and non-overlapping areas are present in the respective signals; the method comprising: determining a first and a second level of intensity from image signals from the first and the second image sensor at the overlapping area, respectively; determining a compensation value by processing the first level of intensity and the second level of intensity to determine a discrepancy between the level of intensities; applying compensation values to image data from overlapping and non-overlapping areas to provide compensated image data to compensate for a discrepancy between levels of intensity from the first and the second image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Contex A/S
    Inventor: Gerard Verhaegh
  • Publication number: 20150324235
    Abstract: A method of operating a server computer serving a group of scanners; wherein the scanners are registered in a database with a respective indication of reservation status. The method includes receiving, at the server computer, a request for a scanning operation from a user's electronic device; wherein the request includes a user identifier and a scanner identifier; granting a reservation of the selected scanner upon reception of the request for a scanning operation, wherein the reservation lapses unless the request is confirmed within a predefined time period; and receiving, from the selected scanner, a predefined user generated event. Upon reception of the predefined user generated event within the predefined time period: maintaining the reservation until a scanning operation is terminated or cancelled, and transmitting any electronic reproduction resulting from the selected scanning operation performed at the selected scanner to the user identified by the user identifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: Contex A/S
    Inventors: Nis Engholm, Jorgen Rasmussen, Peter Nissen
  • Patent number: 9118785
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of scanning a physical medium by an image scanner comprising a first image sensor having a plurality of image sensor elements that provide an image, and a first light source associated with the first image sensor, the method comprising: guiding light from the first light source towards a first group of image sensor element(s); recording a first light calibration value using the first group of image sensor element(s). The method further comprises repeating the above step by using a second group of image sensor element(s) thus resulting in a second light calibration value; generating a first compensation signal for image sensor elements positioned between the first and the second group of image sensor element(s) by processing the first and the second light calibration value together; compensating said image signals provided by the first image sensor using the first compensation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Contex A/S
    Inventors: Gerard Verhaegh, Troels Pedersen, Lars Errebo Larsen, Jens Kærgaard Nielsen
  • Publication number: 20150172612
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of processing data from an image scanner for reducing image artefacts. The image scanner comprises a first image sensor arranged to: record a first set of lines, the first set of lines comprising a plurality of pixels representing recorded intensities of a first colour, record a second set of lines, the second set of lines comprising a plurality of pixels representing recorded intensities of a second colour; and record a third set of lines, the third set of lines comprising a plurality of pixels representing recorded intensities of a third colour. The method comprises the steps of: processing at least two of the first, the second or the third set of lines to create a first combined set of lines and filtering said first combined set of lines to filter out image artefacts creating a first filtered combined set of lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: Contex A/S
    Inventors: Poul Overgaard, Peter Nissen
  • Patent number: 8686336
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for optical scanning, comprising: a plurality of photo sensors, where the photo sensors are arranged to detect light incident on the photo sensors, emitted from a light source and reflected from an object subject to optical scanning; wherein the amount of light received at least one of the photo sensors is to a larger extent light transmitted from the light source; and to a smaller extent light reflected from the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Contex A/S
    Inventors: Lars Errebo, Nis Engholm
  • Patent number: 8675264
    Abstract: The document conveying device (2) for use in a scanner (1) or the like comprises a conveyor belt (3) arranged to convey a document (4) between an outer surface (5) of the conveyor belt and a flat surface (6). The conveyor belt (3) has an inner surface (9) supported by a first and a second roller (10, 11). Each of the first and second rollers (10, 11) is supported at three or more positions along its length in order to at least partially counteract forces from the conveyor belt (3) tending to deflect said roller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Contex A/S
    Inventor: Bo Kjær Olsen
  • Patent number: 8659804
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of adjusting a scanner for scanning of an original, the scanner comprising an image sensor and a light source for emitting light, the method comprising the steps of: a) moving the image sensor in order for it to be located at a predefined scanning position by means of a movable mechanical member; b) determining the difference between the scanning position and the predefined scanning position; where the method further comprises: determining the difference between the scanning position and the predefined scanning position by detecting radiation from at least one fix-point having a fixed position relative to the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Contex A/S
    Inventors: Nis Engholm, Anders Ørbæk
  • Publication number: 20130286451
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of processing signals from a large-format scanner comprising a first and a second image sensor that provide respective image signals recorded at respective areas of a scanned medium, where a portion of the respective areas is recorded also by the other of the respective image sensors, whereby image data from overlapping and non-overlapping areas are present in the respective signals; the method comprising: determining a first and a second level of intensity from image signals from the first and the second image sensor at the overlapping area, respectively; determining a compensation value by processing the first level of intensity and the second level of intensity to determine a discrepancy between the level of intensities; applying compensation values to image data from overlapping and non-overlapping areas to provide compensated image data to compensate for a discrepancy between levels of intensity from the first and the second image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: Contex A/S
    Inventor: Gerard Verhaegh
  • Publication number: 20130258418
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of scanning a physical medium by an image scanner comprising a first image sensor having a plurality of image sensor elements that provide an image, and a first light source associated with the first image sensor, the method comprising: guiding light from the first light source towards a first group of image sensor element(s); recording a first light calibration value using the first group of image sensor element(s). The method further comprises repeating the above step by using a second group of image sensor element(s) thus resulting in a second light calibration value; generating a first compensation signal for image sensor elements positioned between the first and the second group of image sensor element(s) by processing the first and the second light calibration value together; compensating said image signals provided by the first image sensor using the first compensation signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: CONTEX A/S
    Inventors: Gerard Verhaegh, Troels Pedersen, Lars Errebo Larsen, Jens Kærgaard Nielsen
  • Publication number: 20130250371
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of processing image signals from a first and a second image sensor, both of a document scanner unit, where the first image sensor provides a first image, and the second image sensor provides a second image. The first and the second image are two-dimensional images wherein said first and second image are recorded at respective areas of a scanned medium, where a portion of the respective areas is recorded also by the other of the respective image sensors. Thereby image data from overlapping and non-overlapping areas are present in the first and the second image. The method comprises: correlating the first image with the second image, creating a correlation image and processing the correlation image to determine a displacement between the first and the second image. Consequently, a versatile calibration method is provided that can determine a displacement between the first and the second image in two dimensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Contex A/S
    Inventor: Gerard Verhaegh
  • Publication number: 20120033271
    Abstract: The document conveying device (2) for use in a scanner (1) or the like comprises a conveyor belt (3) arranged to convey a document (4) between an outer surface (5) of the conveyor belt and a flat surface (6). The conveyor belt (3) has an inner surface (9) supported by a first and a second roller (10, 11). Each of the first and second rollers (10, 11) is supported at three or more positions along its length in order to at least partially counteract forces from the conveyor belt (3) tending to deflect said roller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: CONTEX A/S
    Inventor: Bo Kjær Olsen
  • Publication number: 20110299137
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of adjusting a scanner for scanning of an original, the scanner comprising an image sensor and a light source for emitting light, the method comprising the steps of: a) moving the image sensor in order for it to be located at a predefined scanning position by means of a movable mechanical member; b) determining the difference between the scanning position and the predefined scanning position; where the method further comprises: determining the difference between the scanning position and the predefined scanning position by detecting radiation from at least one fix-point having a fixed position relative to the image sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: Contex A/S
    Inventors: Nis Engholm, Anders Ørbek
  • Publication number: 20110036968
    Abstract: Disclosed is a device for optical scanning, comprising: a plurality of photo sensors, where the photo sensors are arranged to detect light incident on the photo sensors, emitted from a light source and reflected from an object subject to optical scanning; wherein the amount of light received at least one of the photo sensors is to a larger extent light transmitted from the light source; and to a smaller extent light reflected from the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 17, 2011
    Applicant: Contex A/S
    Inventors: Lars Errebo, Nis Engholm
  • Patent number: 7190379
    Abstract: A method for defining the size of an object displayed on a computer screen, the computer screen having a matrix of sensor points, said method comprising the steps of displaying an object on a computer screen, defining at least one screen area having a reference point associated therewith, reading an input from a sensor point in a screen area, calculating a vector between the read input and the reference point of that screen area, and defining the size of the object based on the vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Contex A/S
    Inventor: Peter Nissen
  • Patent number: 6295383
    Abstract: An optical scanner and a method of operating an optical scanner comprising: a light source, a line detector detecting pixel intensity information, and a computer having a memory wherein the computer is capable of controlling the optical scanner such that the detected pixel intensity can be adjusted and wherein the memory holds a procedure comprising the steps of: initially generating line profile data comprising pixel intensity information by scanning a reference, initially generating first smoothed line profile data comprising pixel intensity information by scanning a background, whenever required generating second smoothed line profile data comprising pixel intensity information by scanning a background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Contex A/S
    Inventors: Asbjørn Smitt, Michael Rindsig, Jørgen Rasmussen
  • Patent number: RE37282
    Abstract: An optical scanner having a variable resolution wherein an optical detecting unit controlled by a pixel clock signal generates a discrete signal representing pixels scanned in a region. An analog-to-digital converter converts the signal to a digital signal with a preselected resolution controlled by a sample clock generator. The sample clock generator receives the pixel clock signal, and through a counter and a store, operates an addressed, binary data word which is sent to a register. The register is coupled to a further periodic clock generator that controls reading from the register and provides a clock signal with pulses when the bits of the data word assume a first binary state, and no pulses when the bits assume a second binary state. The clock signal is passed to the analog-to-digital converter as a sample clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Contex A/S
    Inventor: Asbjørn Smitt