Abstract: A motor failure detecting module and a motor driving circuit with the module are proposed. The driving circuit includes a sensing unit, a comparator, an AND gate, a switch and a failure detecting module. The sensing unit is to measure the current flowing through the motor and generating a detecting voltage. The comparator is used to compare the detecting voltage with a reference voltage and generate a compared signal. The AND gate receives the compared signal and a control signal and generates a motor driving signal to control the switch. The switch controls the coils of the stepping motor. And the failure detecting module is used to detect whether the motor is failure according to the frequency and/or duration of the compared signal.

Abstract: A transmissive/reflective optical scanner including a gravity assist optical switch that reconfigures a flat bed scanner adapted for transmissive scanning into a flat bed scanner adapted for reflective scanning.

Abstract: An optical, multi-resolution scanning apparatus for scanning transparent or opaque objects including a high resolution lens, a low resolution lens, a flip mirror switch which alternates between high resolution mode and low resolution mode of scanning, a flip mirror switch which alternates between transmissive mode and reflective mode of scanning whereby high and low resolution scanning of opaque and/or transparent objects may be accomplished through movement of flip mirror switches, without transverse movement of the lens assembly.

Abstract: A stand alone flat bed scanner including a CPU, a removable storage medium, a control system displaying digital image and controls for controlling the mode of operation, degree of resolution, related parameters associated with generating, storing and displaying digital data. Ports for printers, accessories and other peripherals, an internal hard drive, and software adapted to display images directly on a television screen, including battery, and a pivotal handle for portable use in environments not having an external power supply.

Abstract: A light diverting channel for use in a scanner. The channel is incorporated into the cover of a flat bed scanner and transmits light from the lamps positioned longitudinally along the scanner, up through the side of the channel, and through a central region or sheet of the channel, and then down through objects to be scanned. The light diverting channel thereby more efficiently uses the light generated by the lamps and more evenly disburses the light over and through the object to be scanned.

Abstract: An interface system enables conventional software applications running on host computers linked via a network to communicate with in-circuit emulators having component ports accessed through the network. The interface system represents each in-circuit emulator as a separate communication object model (COM) object. Each COM object has a set of interfaces, with each interface including a set of methods for carrying out various in-circuit emulator programming and data transfer functions. To communicate with an emulator, a software application links to an instance of the emulator's COM object and thereafter makes calls to the methods included in the object's interfaces. The system permits an application linking to an instance of an in-circuit emulator's COM object to optionally block other applications from linking to other instances of that COM object to prevent conflicts in control over the in-circuit emulator.

Abstract: An optical media access device with image scanning function is provided. The optical media access device comprises a fixed housing mountable into a computer; a moveable housing moveably disposed within the fixed housing; a first driving mechanism used to drive the moveable housing to move within the fixed housing; an optical media access module disposed within the moveable housing, having an optical head, an optical head driving mechanism; a tray for holding an optical disc, a second driving mechanism to drive the tray, and a rotating mechanism to rotate the optical disc; a control panel mounted at the front end of the moveable housing, having a plurality of keys to control the actions of the optical media access device; a scanning module mounted closely to the front end of the movable housing to scan document images; and a control module for controlling the action of the optical media access module and the scanning module.

Abstract: This invention provides a scanner, which is capable of scanning document images based on a stepping control table and a method to generate such a table. This scanner includes a scanning module to scan a document and generates a responding image signal, a stepping motor to drive the scanning module or the document and a control device to control the operation of the scanning module and the stepping motor. This control device includes a stepping control table, which contains the stepping numbers for the stepping motor to drive the scanning module or the document. While scanning a document, this device will accurately control the stepping motor according to the stepping numbers relating to the locations of the lines to be scanned, and further move the scanning module or the document to a pre-defined position for a scanning task. A design like this will reduce errors in a scanning module's movement caused by the mechanical deviation.

Abstract: A flat bed scanner of the type commonly used as a stand-alone computer peripheral in combination with a contact image sensor module, which extends the full width of the scanner area to provide a 1:1 scanning ratio using a rod lens to focus the image onto the image sensors, with or without a motor driven feed mechanism and which can scan the entire width of a standard sheet of paper in a single pass.

Abstract: An image scanner employs sliding elements to keep a regular depth of field between a scanning module and a scanned object. The image scanner comprises a housing, a scanning plate for holding scanned object, a plurality of sliding elements, a movable carriage, a scanning module and a driving device. The sliding elements pinch at the both sides of scanning plate and slide freely lengthwise along the scanning plate and the carriage is fixed at the sliding elements. Because the scanning plate is the same reference base for both carriage and scanned object, it is easy to keep the regular distance between carriage and scanned object.

Abstract: An image scanner with an image correction function generates a primary image and an auxiliary image of a document. The image scanner includes an image sensing module, a lens module, a scanning platform, a primary light source and an auxiliary light source. The primary light source illuminates the document from a first optical angle and the auxiliary light source illuminates the document from a second optical angle. During alternate illumination by the primary and auxiliary light sources, the scanner respectively generates two images for each document, one of which is a primary image and the other of which is an auxiliary image. The auxiliary image, which includes information concerning damage to the document, is used to correct the primary image, either transmitting the images to a host for further processing, or by processing the images within the scanner.

Abstract: A light diverting channel for use in a scanner. The channel is incorporated into the cover of a flat bed scanner and transmits light from the lamps positioned longitudinally along the scanner, up through the side of the channel, and through a central region or sheet of the channel, and then down through objects to be scanned. The light diverting channel thereby more efficiently uses the light generated by the lamps and more evenly disburses the light over and through the object to be scanned.

Abstract: An improved high resolution scanner for use in a conventional scanner housing. A light receiving guide transversely moves a conventional lens and CCD for scanning portions of an object to be scanned. The resulting scanned portions, when combined, produce a high resolution image of the scanned image.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a scanning module with variable optical paths for increasing scanning resolution. The scanning module comprises a carriage with a first scanning position, a light detecting device, a plurality of mirrors, and a lens set. The light detecting device is installed inside the carriage for detecting light transmitted from the document at the first scanning position. The plurality of mirrors is installed inside the carriage for reflecting the light from the document to the light detecting device. The plurality of mirrors comprises at least one moveable mirror for changing an optical path from the document to the light detecting device thereby allowing the light from the document be transmitted to the light detecting device along a first optical path or a second optical path. The lens set is installed inside the carriage with a first end and a second end for focusing the light from the document onto the light detecting device.

Abstract: An optical, multi-resolution scanning apparatus for scanning transparent or opaque objects including a high resolution lens, a low resolution lens, a flip mirror switch which alternates between high resolution mode and low resolution mode of scanning, a flip mirror switch which alternates between transmissive mode and reflective mode of scanning whereby high and low resolution scanning of opaque and/or transparent objects may be accomplished through movement of flip mirror switches, without transverse movement of the lens assembly.

Abstract: A focus adjusting system of an optical scanner which comprises an optical scanning module having a focus for scanning line images of a document line by line and converting each of the line images into a digital image signal set, and a scanning driver for driving the scanning module back and forth so as to scan the document. The focus adjusting system comprises a focus driver for adjusting the focus of the scanning module, and a focus controller for controlling the focus driver according to the digital image signal sets generated by the scanning module at various foci over a line position of the document so as to adjust the focus of the scanning module.

Abstract: A multi-purpose scanner that can be integrated into a computer. In one embodiment, the multi-purpose scanner functions as a desktop scanner. It includes a scanning engine and an external housing. The external housing substantially encapsulates the scanning engine to reduce electromagnetic interference to the scanning engine. In another embodiment, the multi-purpose scanner scans with scanning engine mechanically attached to the computer. The scanning engine includes an internal body, a chassis and a positioning assembly. The chassis holds the internal body, and the assembly moves the internal body relative to the chassis. In this embodiment, the scanner extends a part of the internal body out of the chassis in order to scan a medium. In a third embodiment, the multi-purpose scanner functions as a handheld scanner. The scanning engine includes a front-panel unit that is releasably attached to an engine unit.

Abstract: An optical length adjusting device provides different optical length for different lenses in a multi-resolution scanner. The optical length adjusting device includes a focus module for focusing the optical image on an image sensor, a first light reflecting device for directing the light from an object to the focus module, a first carrier for fixing the first light reflecting device, a second carrier for fixing the focus module, and a driving module for moving the first and/or second carriers to change the distance between them. Since the distance between the focus module and the first light reflecting module can be adjusted, the light from the object can be guided to the focus module via the same optical path for different resolution.

Abstract: An image scanner capable of scanning double-sided documents or of being divided into two single-sided scanners includes a main body with an automatic document feeder and an image capture device, a base, and a flatbed scanner with its own image capture device. The main body can be secured either to the base, in which case a sheet fed single-sided scanner is formed, or to the flatbed scanner, in which case a double-sided scanner is formed. The automatic document feeder eliminates the need for a transparent document thin film guide by using the top surface of the base or of the flatbed scanner to guide a document past the image capture device and onto a guiding plate extending at a non-zero angle from the main body and into a groove in either the base or the flatbed scanner, the groove receiving the guiding plate so that the guiding plate extends into the path of the document to guide the document into an output tray.

Abstract: Resolution of a scanner is upgraded by utilizing refraction to shift light rays incident on an image capture device by a small distance, thus capturing image data between picture elements of an original picture. The scanner includes a scanning platform arranged to support a scanned object, a scanning light source, an image capture mechanism having a lens and a CCD component arranged to capture light received from said light scanning light source after the light has scanned the object on the scanning platform, and a light refracting component having a moving end and a fulcrum end, the light refracting component being pivotably interposed between the scanning platform and the image capture mechanism. An electro-magnet mechanism is arranged to attract the moving end of the refractive component and thereby pivot the component about its fulcrum end.