Abstract: A scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen for scanning a small-sized document has the casing, the cap, the input slot and the output slot for inputting and outputting the small-sized document on the casing, respectively, the transmission apparatus for driving the small-sized document, the light source for emitting the light, the photoelectric sensing device for receiving a light signal reflected by the small-sized document and then outputting a digital data of captured image to the control processing unit. The scanning apparatus also has 1394 interface connector or USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector to transmit the digital data stored in the control processing unit to the terminal operating system such as the computer, the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or the cellular phone for editing or printing. The scanning apparatus of the invention is easy to carry and can be operated anywhere and anytime.

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 of generating timing signals for a charge-coupled device. A plurality of input timing signals produced by an application specific integrated circuit according to a system clock is transmitted to the charge-coupled device. The programmable timing signals for the charge-coupled device are produced by determining the position of each cycle for these input timing signal, adjusting each cycle of the input timing signals in each system clock cycle and downloading their relationship into the application specific integrated circuit by programming.

Abstract: An imaging device for an optical scanning module of an optical scanner apparatus is disclosed. By use of an optical well imaging device to replace the conventional micro-lens imaging device to receive the straight imaged light, which is generated from the scanning object is illuminated by an illuminant. Moreover, the height of the non-inducted region on the optical sensor is higher enough to block the interfered light that is formed by other beam of the imaged light such that the optical sensor can receive the part of the beam of the straight imaged light and will not be interfered. Therefore, by use of the optical well imaging device, the light dispersion effect can be improved and the imaging data can be completely focused on the optical sensor to obtain an optimum resolution and the best MTF (modulation transfer function).

Abstract: A carrier mechanism for supporting and moving a travelling module along a predetermined travelling path is disclosed. The carrier mechanism includes a guide device fixed inside a casing, a carrier movable along the guide device between a forward and rearward positions with the travelling module removably mounted on the carrier and a driving mechanism including a motor mounted to the carrier and in driving engagement with the guide device for moving the carrier between the forward and rearward positions. The guide device includes an elongate strip integrally formed on a bottom of the casing with a rack formed along a side face thereof to drivingly engage a pinion of the motor. Alternatively, a timing belt and toothed wheel system or a wire and pulley system or a worm and gear system may be used to replace the pinion and rack system.

Abstract: A speed-changing gear set inside the drive system of a scanner, wherein the drive system has a driving motor and an output unit. The speed-changing gear set has a control element and a cam driven by the control element. The cam has a first set of gears fastened to the cam such that one of the gears in the first group engages with a gear on the output unit. An axle is in contact with the cam such that movement of the cam produces a shift in the position of the axle. The axle has a second set of gears mounted on the axle. When the cam stops at a first designated position, one of the gears in the first set of gears meshes with the driving motor so that the output unit is driven. When the cam stops at a second designated position and shifts the position of the axle, gears in the second group mesh with the gear on the driving motor and a gear in the first group, respectively. The output unit is thus driven by the driving motor through the gear train that has the first set of gears and the second set of gears.

Abstract: A method and user interface is provided for use on a computer system coupled with a scanner for performing a scan operation on an original document, which allows the user to acquire scanned images in an easier and more user-friendly manner. The method allows the user to scan an original document without requiring the user to have learned knowledge background in the science of image processing, and also allows the scanner to perform only one scan operation on the original document. These features allow the use of the scanner to be easier and more user-friendly than the prior art. By the, method, the first step is to determine a set of image processing settings by a scanner driving program that are suited for optimal scan of the original document; and then the scanner is activated to perform a scan operation on the original document based on the image processing settings to thereby obtain a primitive scanned image.

Abstract: A filtering method and mechanism for scanners includes a regular visible light source and an infrared light source that are both turned on under a scanner normally on state during scanning operation. A transmission mechanism is provided for reciprocally placing a visible light filter plate and an infrared light filter plate in the scanner light path to filter light emitting from the regular visible light and infrared light source. Changing and switching between regular and infrared light scanning may be done quickly without warm up delay of the light source. More versatile and powerful function thus may be built in the scanner.

Abstract: A modularized light-guiding apparatus and manufacturing method, which may make the light of a light source proceed at least twice light reflections of predetermined directions. The light-guiding apparatus includes a plurality of modularized reflection elements, which may be differentiated to several different types of reflection element. Each type of each reflection element all has substantially same adjoining device and edge size for providing to be adjoined and piled-up with another reflection element. But, the reflection element of different type individually has different number of reflection plane for providing the light to proceed different times of light reflection. It may determined the light reflection times and light-path length for the light-guiding apparatus, by choosing several different types of reflection element among plural reflection elements to proceed the piling-up for the light-guiding apparatus.

Abstract: A friction plate coupling structure inside an automatic document feeder. The friction contact surface of the friction plates is designed to have a slant surface resembling a frustum so that overall contact area is increased and stability of the coupling between the friction plates is improved.

Abstract: A control method for removing scanning discontinuity in scanners. The relationship between a driving motor and an elastic body such as a leather belt or a steel cable linked to the chassis inside a scanner is investigated so that time constants for achieving system stability are found. Through setting the time constants, the forwarding and reversing motion of the chassis is controlled so that scanning discontinuity due to stopping and restarting is reduced.

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 reporting system capable of reporting the end of a scanning session to a user through existing computer peripheral devices is proposed. By reporting at the end of a scanning session, the user can proceed with subsequent scanning operations with no delay. Hence, idle time of the scanner is greatly reduced.

Abstract: A paper-separating plate is adapted for a paper-separating mechanism having a paper-separating roller. The paper-separating plate placed around a side of the paper-separating roller comprises a main body and a cushion. The main body has a surface and a plurality of grooves and the grooves are positioned on the surface. The cushion is positioned on the surface of the main body and covers the grooves. The cushion positioned over the partial grooves is elastically pressed onto the paper-separating roller. The grooves, neighboring one another or each other, linearly extend in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of the paper-separating roller. Besides, the cushion is made of flexible material and the main body is made of rigid material.

Abstract: A single step multi-section exposure scanning method for a scanner. The scanner includes a photo-sensor and a stepper motor. The photo-sensor has N rows of sensor cells that correspond to each primary color. The scanning device is driven forward an exposure distance for each revolution of the stepper motor. The single step multi-section exposure scanning method includes the following steps. First, the photo-sensor moves forward one exposure distance. One row of sensor cells is exposed after moving every 1/Nth of the exposure distance. Thereafter, analogue voltages obtained through the exposed row of sensor cells are transmitted to an analogue/digital converter. The above process is repeated until the entire document is scanned.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a scanning method, more particularly, to a two-directions scanning method by using a user interface (UI). At first, a scanning mode is chosen and the first dpi (dots per inch) of the preview procedure is set in the user interface. Then an instruction is keyed in the user interface to make a scan head move along the first scanning direction by using the first dpi and start the first scanning procedure. The first scanning procedure is a preview procedure. After finishing the first scanning procedure, a user can view the first image, which is got from the first scanning procedure, on a monitor and the scan head moves along the second scanning direction by using the second dpi to start the second scanning procedure. The second image data, which is got from the second scanning procedure, is saved in a memory. The second dpi is usually the highest dpi of the scan head.

Abstract: A reflection mirror support structure, applied to support a reflection mirror of an optical scanner. Using three points or a single point and a line to construct a plane, projecting rib and projecting point are formed on a carrier to hold the reflection mirror. The image distortion caused by bending the reflection mirror and twist deformation because of structures not being parallel to each other is improved.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus utilizing gravity acceleration for scanning is provided. The scanning apparatus comprises a U-shaped housing, a shaft bearing, a housing and a scanning head. The shaft bearing passes through the housing with two ends thereof respectively and rotationally fastened on two sidewalls of the U-shaped housing, thereby the housing is vertically and rotationally fastened in the U-shaped housing. The scanning head is disposed in the housing with an engageable piece engaged with a hook-type element of the housing so as to fasten the scanning head at a predetermined position close to the top end of the housing. When the scanning head is going to scan, the engagement between the engageable piece and the hook-type element is released and a starting power is applied to the scanning head by gravity acceleration. Thereby the scanning head is guided to move downward to scan via cooperation between a guiding piece and a guiding rail.

Abstract: A bi-directional transmission mechanism is provided for an image scanner to increase the scanning speed. The bidirectional transmission mechanism provides a first transmission device for driving a sheet table in a first direction, and a second transmission device disposed below the sheet table for driving an image reading device in a second direction. The two transmission devices are moving towards opposite directions and at the same time when the scanning operation is enabled. The present invention mainly encompasses a sheet table for placing a document sheet. A first transmission device is provided for supporting and connecting to the sheet table for driving the sheet table from a first direction to a second direction. An image reading device disposed under the sheet table reads the image information of the document sheet.

Abstract: The image-capturing system comprises a image-capturing module and a plurality of mirrors, wherein the image-capturing module has a lens and a charge-coupled device (CCD). The image-capturing module is located on about the center in the image-capturing system, and a plurality of mirrors are arranged in the peripheral region within the image-capturing system to make the layout of optical path around the image-capturing module. Furthermore, reflectional angle of each mirror can be adjusted according to the requirement for design, so as to obtain the longest optical path.