Abstract: A method for quick determination of a scan start point for an image scanner is disclosed. The image scanner includes a photo-processing device and a scanning platform for placing thereon a document to be scanned. The scanning platform is printed with a pattern mark which is located between a home position and a scan start point of the photo-processing device, and has a specified point being a predetermined first shift to the scan start point along a specific direction. According to the method, the photo-processing device moves a predetermined distance from the home position to a pre-scan position overlapping with the pattern mark, then moves a calculated distance from the pre-scan position to the specified point, and moves another predetermined distance from the specified point to the scan start point along the specific direction.

Abstract: The scanning system with a retractable scanning portion in the present invention includes a frame and an image capturing device. The frame provides a space for receiving parts of the scanning system. The image capturing device is retractably mounted within the frame. The scanning system can further includes means for guiding a document into the image capturing device. Means for retracting the image capturing device from the frame can also be added. The document guiding means can be a foldable paper guide which is attached with the image capturing device and can be received into the frame with the image capturing device. In addition, the foldable paper guide has a pair of sildable guiding keys which are mounted on the foldable paper guide and slidably in parallel with a document front. The scanning system can be mounted to a computer, a keyboard, a monitor, or a printer by the frame.

Abstract: The invention discloses a multi-resolution scanner that scans documents without moving scanner components. Single light source and lenses with different resolutions are combined for scanning the transparent and the reflective documents that reduces the scanner sizes and cost. Lights from the transparent documents follow different optical path with the reflective documents' to project to the charged-coupled device. The transparent documents and the reflective documents respectively use a lens with different resolution for achieving the documents' requirements.

Abstract: A test chart printed on the front end of a calibration paper readable by an optical scanner for image quality test. The test chart comprises missing line test patterns for showing line missed in an image; gray-level test patterns located at the left side, the right side and at the center of said test chart for showing color balance, color consistency, black and white effects, and step transition of an image; resolution test patterns each located at the left side, the right side and at the center of said test chart for showing resolution of an image read by said optical scanner; and scaling-up test patterns each located at the front end on the two sides of said test chart and at the bottom of said test chart for showing the horizontal scaling up and vertical scaling up of an image. The patterns on the test chart are so compact and well designed that they can be read by an optical scanner by only one pass of image reading.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hinge for connecting any two separate apparatuses that rotates around a common axis. Advantages of the proposed hinge comprise simple combination process, secured structure and no assistant tool is required. The proposed hinge comprises a first pair of structures, a second pair of structures and a torsional spring, where first pair of structures is fixed in one apparatus and second pair of structures is fixed in another apparatus. Moreover, the torsional spring connects both apparatuses. The combination process of the proposed hinge is that two separate apparatuses are initially connected by the torsional spring when the torsional spring is not compressed or elongated, then these apparatuses are rotated around the common axis until first pair of structures is directly coupled with second pair of structures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid crystal display projector with a lens protecting device capable of protecting and positioning lens of liquid crystal display projector. The lens protecting device of the invention comprises a cover, a top housing, a bottom housing, an actuating device, a plurality of springs and a mirror, where the lens is secured in the top housing and the actuating device also is connected to the top housing. Moreover, the mirror is located in the cover, and the top housing and the bottom housing are connected to each other by said springs. Further, the cover can be connected to the top housing or the projector with at least one hinge and projection of the projector is adjusted by only rotating the cover around the hinge. When the top housing is gradually covered by the cover, the actuating device will touch the top housing and deform these springs such that the top housing is located into the LCD projector and the lens is located in the protecting position.

Abstract: A device for adjusting a resolution of an image-pickup apparatus in horizontal and vertical directions is disclosed. The resolution adjusting device includes a diagonal pattern for providing an image to be received by the photoelectric conversion device to obtain an adjusted resolution by adjusting a position of the focusing device according to the image.

Abstract: An optical ruler is provided on the back surface side of the top housing and close to the transparent window along a scanning direction for providing a calibration reference. The optical ruler is formed with black and white blocks alternately arranged in an array. An image sensor which has a width larger than the width of the transparent window is provided for reading the image information of the optical ruler along with a scanned sheet while being progressively driven by a step motor. A determining element computes the actual moving steps of the step motor by calculating the number of black and white pixels from the scanned image of the optical ruler. When the actual moving steps of the step motor are fewer than a predetermined threshold value, or when the frequency of the occurrences of the scan line losses is higher than a predetermined threshold value, the image sensor is driven by the step motor to scan the sheet again.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a built-in scanner that applies a single light source to scan both the reflective and the transparent documents according to their materials. After the single light source is properly switched, scan operations start to pick-up image information of the scanned documents. In addition, the single light source can be allocated outside the computer case for further increasing effective scanning range.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scanner with an object distance adjusting device that allows effective scanning of documents placed at varying heights over its transparent platform. The scanner comprises a movable scanning module with an optical sensing device for converting light into image signals, a lens set for focusing light onto the optical sensing device, and an object distance adjusting device for adjusting the object distance from the lens set to the document. The object adjusting device allows accurate object distances regardless of whether a transmitted document or a reflective document is scanned leading to exact resolution and high scanning quality.

Abstract: An apparatus for automatic scanning a document is described. The automatic scanning apparatus including a scanning device which is used for scanning a document, the scanning device being positioned at a home position when the scanner is not in use. The other component is a driving device moving the scanning device from the home position responsive to a signal. Another component is a sensor device providing the signal for driving the driving device to move the scanning device from home position, the sensor device produces the signal according to the position of the cover. When the cover is positioned on the surface of the transparent plate, the sensor device generates the signal, and the driving device moves the scanning device responsive to the signal. The sensor device includes a sensor base and a sensor dog, the sensor base including a housing for providing space for accepting the sensor dog.

Abstract: The present invention provides an automatic document-feeding device. The device includes a scanning area facing the scanner; a document-feeding path for transmitting therein a document to the scanning area to be scanned by the scanner; a document urging device for urging the document to be moved within the document-feeding path; and a scanning status indicating device connecting to the document-feeding path for changing a brightness situation when the document is passing to be observed by a user.

Abstract: A process in displaying a video signal according to a sequence of synchronous pulses is disclosed. The process is based on the adjustment of timing of the active part of a video signal to be displayed. That is the starting point of active part of the video signal for each line-displaying is properly and immediately adjusted according to the detection if the trailing end of the previous active part of the video signal lags the synchronization pulse next to its leading end, whereby it can be achieved that the video signal is always displayed in a specified region and synchronization failure can be avoided.

Abstract: A hidden document-covering device for a scanner, especially for a scanner built in the case of a computer in which a device is used for holding the document on a moving tray during scanning process. The document-covering device always hides itself in the case even when the tray moves out. During the scanning process, the document for scanning is firmly pressed onto the tray to prevent from curling or sliding. After scanning, i.e. when the tray moving out, the document-covering device will release the document for easy loading and unloading.

Abstract: A device for holding a Charge Couple Device (CCD) in an optical scanner where optical alignment of the CCD to the position of scanned image of document can be easily made. The device includes a holder for holding a lens and providing a focused image taken from the scanned document; a positioning element mounted on the holder for adapting a CCD to be slightly rotated in a plane around a pivot point fixed on the holder and aligned with the focused image. The positioning element is furnished with a matching hole for precisely carrying a bottom portion of the CCD. The positioning element mounting to the holder needs only one dimensional adjustment which is easier and more effective.

Abstract: An image scanner having an improved scanning quality is disclosed. Two different color blocks having an interface therebetween are provided on the document platform of the image scanner. The image pickup device passes by the color blocks prior to the document area so that color calibrations and/or error detection can be performed before the scanning operation is performed. By this way, the color data such as the brightness of the obtained image can be compensated, and the deflection rate and/or the amplification error of the image pickup device can be corrected.

Abstract: The present invention establishes DDE conversation between Data Source software and Source Manager software in TWAIN interface. The invention primary involves in TWAIN-DDE actions which convert TWAIN operation triplets into DDE codes. Consequently, TWAIN can adapt to Microsoft Windows 95 and Windows NT and exist in a computer network. The invention also allows Data Source Software to stand alone for being accessed by a client application software.

Abstract: A method of controlling a parallel port for connecting multiple devices is disclosed. The method controls the connection between a computer and one of the peripheral devices by way of using the different on-line codes corresponding to the peripheral devices respectively. Further, a common off-line code is set and shared by all peripheral devices. When the off-line code is sent out, all peripheral devices are disconnected from the computer, and the control status of the previous on-line device is backed up for the use of recovering the previous on-line state. Furthermore, a parallel port for connecting multiple devices is also proposed to incorporate with the controlling method such that the computer can switch the on-line state between an on-line peripheral device and the other peripheral standby devices.

Abstract: A multiple-resolution optical device used to scan objects of variable sizes in various resolutions and forming corresponding images onto an image sensor is disclosed. The multiple-resolution optical device according to the present invention comprises a light source, a mirror set, and a lens set. The mirror set reflects the light from the light source projected onto the object and provides a plurality of optical paths. The lens set selects one of the optical paths to provide an object distance and an image distance whereby the corresponding image is clearly formed on the image sensor in response to said size. Hence, an optimal resolution is acquired and the optical resolution for optical scan processing is substantially enhanced.

Abstract: A contact image sensor module having a plurality of spring mountings is provided to allow the CIS module contact tightly with the bottom surface side of the sheet table. The spring mountings are made of spring steel so that they are soft and elastic enough to support the CIS module. The spring mountings are engaged to the CIS module in a manner that ear-shaped spring steel plates are formed to rest on the side walls of the carriage for absorbing the shock of the CIS module. When conveyed by a carriage, the present invention can be adapted to any flatbed scanner having either a single guiding device or a pair of guiding device.