Abstract: A magnifying device for magnifying an object and displaying the object on a monitor is disclosed. The magnifying device includes a hand held unit or scanner and a base unit. The scanner includes a solid state camera which is mounted in a housing. The scanner includes a focusing control and a zoom control. The focusing and zoom controls are interconnected so that the image will not have to be refocused if the magnification of the image is changed. The camera converts the image to an electrical signal which is sent to the base unit. A mobile holder for the scanner is provided having an upper frame of space apart, horizontally extending arms. The arms extend laterally from the top edge of a vertical side wall. The scanner can be removeably attached between the arms and there by elevated above the object being read. The side wall has a pair of wheels attached to the bottom corners. There is a support member at one corner which extends laterally from the wall and parallel to the support arms.

Abstract: A magnifying device for magnifying an object and displaying the object on a monitor is disclosed. The magnifying device includes a hand held unit and a base unit. The hand held unit includes a solid state camera which is mounted in a housing. The housing is supported above the text to be enlarged by a set of legs having rollers extending therebetween, to allow the hand held unit to be easily and smoothly moved across the text. The hand unit includes a focusing control and a zoom control. The focusing and zoom controls are interconnected so that the image will not have to be refocused if the magnification of the image is changed. The camera converts the image to an electrical signal which is sent to the base unit. The base unit includes inverting circuitry to convert the image from black on white to white on black, if desired. The base unit can be connected either to video monitor or a standard television.