Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for facilitating the input of information into a computing device by a scanning means. A pocket scanner that has only the minimum components/parts therein and will not operate without being connected to the computing device that subsequently receives scanning signals therefrom. In particular, the disclosed scanner does not have a separate power supply to energize the components/parts to work.

Abstract: To facilitate the decoding of a 2D symbol (e.g., PDF417), a plurality of positioning lines are attached to the 2D symbol. Depending on implementation, these substantially parallel positioning lines may be provided on at least one side of the symbol or superimposed on the symbol. A scanning device is provided to capture an image of the symbol together with these positioning lines that are then detected to determine an orientation of the 2D symbol. In some cases, these positioning lines are used to correct images with distortion.

Abstract: It is disclosed that a mobile scanner includes only the minimum components to operate as a scanner. The disclosed scanner does not have a separate power supply to energize the components to work. Further, unlike many scanners in the market, there is not a single microcontroller in the disclosed mobile scanner while the performance thereof could outperform those scanners commanded traditionally by a microcontroller in the scanners. The disclosed scanner is coupled by an interface engine to a computing device that provides system control signals and power supply. The interface engine comprises a control circuit providing logic control signals to the scanner to operate in response to the system control signals. As such, the scanner is of high performance and low cost and so lightweight that it can be used in any conditions.

Abstract: Methods and systems for encoding and decoding a 2D symbol is disclosed. According to one aspect of the 2D symbol, the following characteristics are realized: 1) variable symbol widths and height; 2) variable print resolution, 3) multiple damage protection levels; 4) large information storage; 5) high redundancy; 6) readable by line based scanning devices; 7) recognizable by either contact scanning or non-contact scanning devices. In addition, a set of positioning lines are attached 2D symbol for guiding scanning devices to decode the 2D symbol with proper resolution.

Abstract: To facilitate the decoding of a 2D symbol (e.g., PDF417), a plurality of positioning lines are attached to the 2D symbol. Depending on implementation, these substantially parallel positioning lines may be provided on at least one side of the symbol or superimposed on the symbol. A scanning device is provided to capture an image of the symbol together with these positioning lines that are then detected to determine an orientation of the 2D symbol. In some cases, these positioning lines are used to correct images with distortion.

Abstract: An integrated circuit architecture of contact image sensor for generating bi-level images and associated method are disclosed. The architecture comprises an image sensor, an amplifier, an analyzing circuit and a comparator, in one particular embodiment, it further comprises an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). The amplifier is coupled to the image sensor and receives electronic signals therefrom and further receives pairs of gain and offset from the EEPROM. The electronic signals are adjusted in the amplifier respectively and sequentially in accordance to the pairs of gain and offset. The analyzing circuit determines a dynamic threshold to the comparator that subsequently produces the bi-level images.

Abstract: An improved color image linear sensor is disclosed to minimize the registration problems commonly seen in a sensor using three rows of photodetectors. In particular, according to one embodiment, the photodetectors in the improved color image linear sensor are shaped in triangle so that the triangular-like shaped photodetectors are interspersed with the upside-down triangular-like shaped photodetectors.

Abstract: An image sensor employing multiple arrays of photodetectors is disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, every two of three arrays are shielded with a non-transparent material. When charge signals are generated in the non-shielded array in response to light reflected from a scanning document illuminated by one of three colored lights, the charge signals are shifted to a next adjacent shielded array so that another set of charge signals can be generated under another one of the three colored lights. Essentially, the shielded arrays are used as buffers to separate the charge signals independently generated under three different colored lights. Subsequently, the charge signals corresponding to the same colored light can be accumulated to produce a much stronger scanning signal.

Abstract: A portable dual-mode scanner device capable of being powered through a universal serial bus connection where the individual components of the portable scanner are selectively and controllably powered so as to function within the power limitations of the usb port (i.e., 5 Volts, 2.2 watts) without appreciable degradation of a captured image whether that image resides on a transparent media (i.e., a negative) or an opaque media (i.e., paper) is described.

Abstract: A self-calibration system for image sensors is disclosed. The system compensates signals from the image sensors for any distortions caused by inherent deficiencies in the image sensors. Image sensing modules employing the present invention will produce self-calibrated image signals without requiring the commonly used follow-up signal processing schemes. To achieve the self-calibration, an analyzing circuit is used to determine gains and offset values for each of the photodetectors in the image sensor based on a set of test signals. The gains and offset values are then stored in a persistent memory for access by an amplifier to adjust scanning signals representing a scanning object.

Abstract: It is disclosed that a mobile scanner includes only the minimum components to operate as a scanner. The disclosed scanner does not have a separate power supply to energize the components to work. Further, unlike many scanners in the market, there is not a single microcontroller in the disclosed mobile scanner while the performance thereof could outperform those scanners commanded traditionally by a microcontroller in the scanners. The disclosed scanner is coupled by an interface engine to a computing device that provides system control signals and power supply. The interface engine comprises a control circuit providing logic control signals to the scanner to operate in response to the system control signals. As such, the scanner is of high performance and low cost and so lightweight that it can be used in any conditions.

Abstract: An improved flatbed scanner comprises a frame transparent scanner and a cradle having a lid. The frame transparent scanner is a stand-alone portable scanner that can scan both transparent and opaque scanning objects. When the frame transparent scanner is rested in the cradle, a flatbed scanner, appearing as a regular flatbed scanner, is structured. The operations are no different from that of the regular flatbed scanner. One of the advantages and benefits of the disclosed flatbed scanner is that a user no longer has to have two scanners, typically one for mobile applications and one for stationary applications. With the current disclosed flatbed scanner, the user can take the frame transparent scanner off the cradle for the mobile applications and rest the frame transparent scanner in the cradle for office uses.

Abstract: The disclosed architecture for an image sensor and the associated method employ an internal switching mechanism controlled by a much reduced number of shift registers to facilitate the readout of electronic signals generated by the photodetectors in the image sensor. The switching mechanism comprises resolution switches that can act sequentially or simultaneously so that image resolution can be controlled within the image sensor. Further, the overall performance of the image sensor is improved.

Abstract: A lensless optical system comprises identical tubes that can be made and molded out of a plastic material. Each of the tubes includes an opening at the end that faces a scanning object. When the scanning object is illuminated and passes through the image sensing module, openings of all the tubes capture incident light reflected from the scanning object and the captured light passes the tubes and subsequently impinges onto the image sensor. An image of the scanning object is produced when the image sensor is activated.

Abstract: The present invention has been made in consideration of accommodating a higher sensor clock signal to increase the pixel readout rate from a regular image sensor and has particular applications to generating high-resolution and high-speed images from scanning objects. The sensing module in the present invention uses a number of readout passages in parallel to produce several segmented outputs from the image sensor and subsequently combine the outputs to produce an interleaved scanning signal under a sequence of control signals derived from a sensor clock signal.

Abstract: A computer/scanner combination, in which a portable computer having a base and a lid, a sheet-fed scanner and a hook mounting the sheet-fed scanner to the lid of the portable computer; the hook further comprises a clip-holder removably mounted on the top of the lid and two ends removably mounted to the sheet-fed scanner.

Abstract: The present invention has particular applications to scanners such as desktop and sheet-fed scanners. To keep the scanner cost down while increasing the overall system performance, the present invention discloses an improved scanning mechanism that uses a single image sensor and a hybrid light source comprising at least one colored LED and at least one colored cold cathode fluorescent lamp. According to one embodiment, the hybrid light source uses a blue cold cathode fluorescent lamp and a red LED and a green LED. Three color signals are respectively generated under three different illuminations, namely the blue cold cathode fluorescent lamp alone, the red LED together with the blue cold cathode fluorescent lamp and the green LED together with the blue cold cathode fluorescent lamp. With the strong intensity provided by the blue cold cathode fluorescent lamp, the light integration process intervals are significantly reduced as such the overall system performance of scanning systems is greatly improved.

Abstract: The present invention has been made in consideration of accommodating a higher sensor clock signal to increase the pixel readout rate from a regular image sensor and has particular applications to generating high-resolution and high-speed images from scanning objects. The sensing module in the present invention uses a number of readout passages in parallel to produce several segmented outputs from the image sensor and subsequently combine the outputs to produce an interleaved scanning signal under a sequence of control signals derived from a sensor clock signal.

Abstract: Scanners disclosed in the present invention uses a dual-illumination system comprising a front illumination source and a back illumination source. The front illumination source is controlled to illuminate a scanning object when the scanning object is opaque. The back illumination illuminates a scanning object when the scanning object is transparent. An optical system collects lights reflected from the opaque scanning object illuminate by the front illumination source or transmitted through the transparent scanning object illuminated by the back illumination source and focuses the lights upon an image sensor, thereby an image of either the opaque scanning object or the transparent scanning object can be obtained.