Abstract: A scanner includes a first illuminant device having a first power associated therewith, and a second illuminant device having a second power associated therewith. The first power is greater than the second power, and each of the first illuminant device and the second illuminant device is configured to selectively scan a document. The scanner is configured to select one of the first illuminant device and the second illuminant device based, at least in part on, a level of power supplied to the scanner via a power source, and perform a single scan of the document using only the selected one of the first illuminant device and the second illuminant device.

Abstract: An image correction method able to avoid error image. According to opposite properties of black and white, only the last few bits of the scanned digital signal are extracted for black correction, while only the first few bits of the scanned digital signal are extracted for white correction. Further, the most significant bit of the digital signal is 1 for white correction. Therefore, the unwanted LBB effect on the scanned image caused by dust or spot on the correction document is avoided. In addition, as only a few bits of the scanned digital signal are extracted, the requirement in memory capacity is reduced.

Abstract: An opening method for a double-sided scanner is provided. A light source of one particular color inside a first group of light sources and a light source of a different color (or the same color) inside a second group of light source are lit to scan the front and back surface of a scan document. Optical signals from the front and back surface of the scan document are received and converted into analogue electrical signals. Thereafter, the analogue electrical signals are converted into digital electrical signal. Finally, the digital electrical signals are output to a host computer. This invention utilizes two groups of light sources (for example, light-emitting diodes) to serve as light sources for the double-sided scanner. Because light-emitting diodes require no warm-up period and is quick to switch, double-sided scanning is simplified.

Abstract: A mixed-voltage buffer circuit coupled between a first circuit operative at a first power supply voltage and a second circuit operative at a second power supply voltage. The buffer circuit is connectable to the second power supply voltage and a third power supply voltage and includes an input circuit coupled to the first circuit through a first node and to the second circuit through a second node. The input circuit includes a first part coupled to the first node and an inverter coupled to the second node. The first part provides a signal having a voltage level approximately equal to the third power supply voltage to the inverter in response to a first signal on the first node, and provides a signal having a voltage level approximately equal to the second power supply voltage to the inverter in response to a second signal on the first node.

Abstract: A semiconductor device suitable for applications in an electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit, including a semiconductor substrate, a first well formed in the substrate, a second well formed in the substrate, and a first doped region formed in the second well, wherein the first well, the second well, and the first doped region collectively form a parasitic bipolar junction transistor (BJT), and wherein the first well is the collector of the BJT, the second well is the base of the BJT, and the first doped region is the emitter of the BJT.

Abstract: A method for recognizing abnormal image is disclosed. The invention utilizes level comparisons of adjacent image lines to determine if there is any abnormal image amid an image picture and whether the abnormal image belongs to shading or LBB. The method comprises the following steps. First of all, two adjacent image lines having level values Pi and Pi?1 are selected. Then an absolute value of the Pi and the Pi?1 is calculated. Next the absolute value is compared with a value X. When the absolute value is smaller than X, then the image lines are determined as normal. On the contrary, when the absolute value is larger than X, then at least one of the image lines is determined as abnormal. Moreover, another two image lines having level values Pi+1 and Pi?2 separately adjacent the image lines having level values Pi and the Pi?1 are selected. An absolute value of the Pi+1 and the Pi?2 is calculated and the absolute value of the Pi+1 and the Pi?2 is compared to the value X.

Abstract: An image processing method for facilitating data transmission is provided. An image compression method is performed to convert X-bits binary digital signals to a binary compressed data in the form of n*2m, in which n is represented by the former Y bits of the X-bits binary digital signals, m is set to the value of (X?Y), and represented by binary numbers with [log2(X?Y+1)] bits. The binary compressed data is transmitted with a sequence of [log2(X?Y+1)]+Y bits, representing (m, n), wherein m is the former [log2(X?Y+1)] bits and n is the latter Y bits. Therefore, by the present image compression method, the transmission amount of image data is reduced. The transmission time of image data and the volume of a memory for storing the image data are also reduced.

Abstract: An image compensation method is provided. At least one light source and a plurality of reflecting elements each capable of reflecting light from the light source are provided. Each reflecting element reflects a beam of light from the light source to produce a beam of reflected light having a unique color content. The reflecting elements are shifted to a location where one of the reflecting elements is capable of reflecting light from the light source.

Abstract: A method for generating a calibration curve is disclosed. The method comprises the following steps. Calibration data of one line image of a previous scan are first provided. Reference pixels are selected from the image line. Then a calibration board is scanned and calibration data of the reference pixels are generated. Calibration data of the reference pixels of a previous scan are then selected from the calibration data of one image line of a previous scan. Ratios of the calibration data of the reference pixels and the calibration data of the reference pixels of a previous scan are calculated. Calibration data of all pixels of the image line are finally generated by multiplying the calibration data of the image fine of a previous scan and the ratios.

Abstract: The invention provides an axle sleeve apparatus for optical chassis. By the guidance of a guiding rod, the optical chassis making a linear displacement motion along the extension direction of the guiding rod. The axle sleeve apparatus for optical chassis includes an axle sleeve main body and at least one anchoring mechanism. The axle sleeve main body has a fastening mechanism capable of proceeding connection with the optical chassis. The anchoring mechanism is arranged at one side of the axle sleeve main body and capable of proceeding connection with the guiding rod. It is arranged with: a convex arm extending out one side of the axle main body and an elastic body corresponding to the convex arm. By elastic force, the elastic body may move between a first position and a second position.

Abstract: A method for increasing signal to noise ratio is disclosed. The method can automatically detect saturation output voltage of the photosensors via adjusting exposure time or illumination intensity so as to obtain optimum output voltage of the photosensors as well as high signal to noise ratio that can generate high quality images.

Abstract: A method and user interface is provided for use on a computer system coupled with a scanner for performing an automatic scan operation on an original document, with the computer system running a scanner driver and an application program. By the method and user interface, the scanner is first activated to perform a primitive scan operation on the original document based on the default image processing settings to thereby obtain a primitive scanned image. Next, the scanner driver is activated to perform a set of image processing routines on the primitive scanned image to thereby obtain the image qualities of the original document; and based on the image qualities of the original document, a set of suited image processing settings are specified for optimal scan of the original document.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide an image scanner, for scanning a reflection document or a transmission document. The image scanner comprises a shell, a document window glass, a transmission document carrier, and an optical chassis. The shell has a groove on its upper surface. The document window glass is capable of connecting with the groove, for scanning the reflection document. The transmission document carrier is capable of connecting with the groove, for scanning the transmission document. The optical chassis is provided at a proper location, for retrieving the images of the reflection document and the transmission document and converting them to an electronic signal. Wherein, by placing the document window glass or transmission document carrier into the groove, the image scanner is capable of scanning the reflection document or transmission document, respectively.

Abstract: An image correction method able to avoid error image. According to opposite properties of black and white, only the last few bits of the scanned digital signal are extracted for black correction, while only the first few bits of the scanned digital signal are extracted for white correction. Further, the most significant bit of the digital signal is 1 for white correction. Therefore, the unwanted LBB effect on the scanned image caused by dust or spot on the correction document is avoided. In addition, as only a few bits of the scanned digital signal are extracted, the requirement in memory capacity is reduced.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method and a system for promoting scanning speed are provided. The method comprises steps of determining a transmission rate of a transit interface, adjusting system clock responsive to the transmission rate of the transit interface to change a data generated rate, and scanning an original to generate data at the rate controlled by the system clock. The key aspect of the present invention is by adjusting system clock to change the data generated rate corresponding to the transmission rate of the transit interface. Therefore, in response to the transmission rate of the transit interface, the system clock is adjusted to produce the data at a rate that can reduce the possibility of memory buffer full leading to the reduction in the time wasting on start-stop processes and therefore promote the scanning speed without requiring the increase in size of a memory buffer.

Abstract: An error reporting and correcting method applied to a peripheral. The peripheral can be connected to the user terminal via the network. In the error reporting and correcting method, an error record file is generated immediately after an error operation occurs to the peripheral. The error record file is uploaded via the network by the user host, and a correction program corresponding to the error file is downloaded to the user host via the network. After being downloaded, the correction program for automatically performing error correction is automatically installed in the user host.

Abstract: A light-source mechanism for an optical scanner includes a chassis, a lamp, a lamp holder and a buffering device between the chassis and the lamp holder. If the buffering device is subjected to an external force of impact and vibration, the buffering device may effectively absorb the influence of the external force, such that the lamp generally will not be damaged.

Abstract: An installation for increasing the scanning range along the axial direction of the light source. The installation includes a light source and a transparent glass panel. The light source provides a light beam necessary for scanning a document. The transparent glass panel has a coating thereon for lowering light transparency near the mid-portion of the light axis relative to either end.

Abstract: A method and system of merging a pair of images to form a seamless panoramic image including the following steps. A set of feature points are extracted along the edges of the images, each feature point defining an edge orientation. A set of registration parameters is obtained by determining an initial set of feature points from a first one of the images which matches a set of feature points of a second one of the images. A seamless panoramic image is rendered using the first and second images with the set of registration parameters.

Abstract: Data encryption systems and methods. The system includes a storage device storing data and an encryption/decryption module. The encryption/decryption module randomly generates a device key seed according to the occurrence time of a specific operation or the interval between two specific operations on the storage device, and applies the device key seed to data encryption.