Abstract: A digital camera system is provided for capturing pictures of scenery or scanning the text of a document. A lens of the digital camera system receives light from a scene, and a conversion device defines a first set of digital data based on this light. A scanning mechanism included within the digital camera system scans a document as the system is passed over the surface of the document and produces a second set of data that defines an image of the document. An audio signal interface included within the digital camera system receives an audio message and defines a third set of digital data based on the audio message. A system controller stores the first, second, and third sets of data into a storage device. If desired, the first and second sets of data may be merged together to define a combined image depicting at least a portion of the scene defined by the first set of digital data and depicting at least a portion of the document defined by the second set of digital data.

Abstract: A digital camera system is provided for capturing pictures of scenery or scanning the text of a document. A lens of the digital camera system receives light from a scene, and a conversion device defines a first set of digital data based on this light. A scanning mechanism included within the digital camera system scans a document as the system is passed over the surface of the document and produces a second set of data that defines an image of the document. An audio signal interface included within the digital camera system receives an audio message and defines a third set of digital data based on the audio message. A system controller stores the first, second, and third sets of data into a storage device. If desired, the first and second sets of data may be merged together to define a combined image depicting at least a portion of the scene defined by the first set of digital data and depicting at least a portion of the document defined by the second set of digital data.

Abstract: The switching transistors in multiple switching regulators sharing the same input power source are coordinated to lower the peak current drain on the input power source. The turn on times of the transistors in each regulator are set so that each switching transistor turns on at a predetermined time in a cycle. The predetermined time for each regulator is chosen so that the maximum peak current drain on the input power source is minimized. The predetermined times may be changed on-the-fly by inputs to the system when information about current or projected output loads are known. The transistors in each regulator may also be turned on when the transistor in the previous regulator in a sequence turns off. Another embodiment lets the regulator with the largest change in input current over a cycle run independently. The other regulators then switch in a designated order, or at designated times after the first regulator turns its switch off.

Abstract: The switching transistors in multiple switching regulators sharing the same input power source are coordinated to lower the peak current drain on the input power source. The turn on times of the transistors in each regulator are set so that each switching transistor turns on at a predetermined time in a cycle. The predetermined time for each regulator is chosen so that the maximum peak current drain on the input power source is minimized. The predetermined times may be changed on-the-fly by inputs to the system when information about current or projected output loads are known. The transistors in each regulator may also be turned on when the transistor in the previous regulator in a sequence turns off. Another embodiment lets the regulator with the largest change in input current over a cycle run independently. The other regulators then switch in a designated order, or at designated times after the first regulator turns its switch off.

Abstract: The switching transistors in multiple switching regulators sharing the same input power source are coordinated to lower the peak current drain on the input power source. The turn on times of the transistors in each regulator are set so that each switching transistor turns on at a predetermined time in a cycle. The predetermined time for each regulator is chosen so that the maximum peak current drain on the input power source is minimized. The predetermined times may be changed on-the-fly by inputs to the system when information about current or projected output loads are known. The transistors in each regulator may also be turned on when the transistor in the previous regulator in a sequence turns off. Another embodiment lets the regulator with the largest change in input current over a cycle run independently. The other regulators then switch in a designated order, or at designated times after the first regulator turns its switch off.

Abstract: The invention relates in general to providing greater accuracy in scanning and digital reproduction of images. More specifically, the invention acts to improve the precision of optical data by substantially eliminating sensor drift or “dark current” and acts to improve the accuracy in identification of the position at which various optical samples are taken by determining and correcting for the lag time inherent in initiating and executing a sampling operation.

Abstract: An optical scanner that employs a pulsed light source that is synchronized to the scan position by a position encoder and a pulse control system. Such a scanner has an improved image sharpness and improved image registration. Moreover, a pulsed light source in a scanner of the present invention is more efficient and uses less power, which results in various cost and power savings. Such a scanner is capable of operating off a smaller power source (battery) and is capable of running for longer periods of time off a battery than scanners with a light source that is on during the entire scanning process.

Abstract: A document scanner method and apparatus is provided which allows for the detection of the presence and size of a document to be scanned. The scanner is also able to determine whether the document being scanned is skewed. The document scanner includes an automatic document feeder (ADF), which includes a light pipe. The light pipe on the ADF redirects light from a light source to extra CCD pixels in a CCD array. Accordingly, when a document is present, the document will come between the light pipe and the light source and the extra CCD pixels in the CCD array will not detect light. When this occurs, a controller will determine that a document is present and will send commands to the ADF to feed the document forward and to the scanner to begin the scanning process. Similarly, other light pipes along the document scan path redirect light to extra CCD pixels of the CCD array and permit document size and document skew to be determined.

Abstract: A hand-held optical scanner comprising a hand-displaceable scanner housing; scanner electrical components mounted within the housing for performing scanner operating functions; a battery disposed in the housing and electrically connected to the electrical components; a generator disposed in the housing and operatively associated with the battery; and a roller assembly mounted in the housing and drivingly linked to the generator.

Abstract: A hand-held optical scanner comprising an optical sensor for generating a data signal representative of a scanned object; a housing for hand-displaceably supporting the optical sensor; a roller mounted on the housing for enabling rolling displacement of the housing over a scanned object in a predetermined scan direction; a displacement sensing device for sensing the angular displacement of the roller and generating a displacement signal representative thereof; a motor drivingly linked to the roller for applying a driving torque thereto; a controller for actuating the motor responsive to the displacement signal for angularly accelerating and decelerating the roller for urging an operator to hand displace the housing across a scanned object within a predetermined speed range which is optimal for scanning.

Abstract: Disclosed is a switch that allows a peripheral device, such as a PCL printer, to be shared by multiple computer systems. The switch connects to each of the computer systems, and also to the peripheral device being shared. The first system is considered the primary user of the peripheral device, so when the second system requests access to the peripheral device, the switch causes the peripheral device to save its state temporarily while the second system uses the device. When the second system's use is complete, the switch causes the peripheral device to restore its state to the last state established by the first system. Therefore, the first system need not know that the other system used the peripheral device, since the state of the peripheral device appears unchanged from the last time the first system used the device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system that accepts data, either from a facsimile scanner or from a computer file, and allows the data to be printed before being sent to a remote facsimile device. The system reads the data, converts the data to a bit mapped raster image if necessary, and prints the data locally before it is sent to the remote facsimile receiving device. The local print resolution for printing the data is selectable, and the system will convert the data into a form suitable for printing that resolution on the local printer. If the local printer can print at a higher resolution, the data is scaled to allow the printing to appear at the desired facsimile resolution to allow the user to evaluate the quality of the data prior to the data being sent.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system that transmits a data file between two computer systems using facsimile transmission. The file is converted into a FAX graphical image by the transmitting system, then transmitted using a standard CCITT FAX protocol, and converted back to an ASCII format in the receiving computer system using optical character recognition (OCR). A significant advantage of this system is that it avoids the requirement that the two FAX facilities be capable of directly transmitting an ASCII file. Instead, the two FAX facilities need only be capable of using the CCITT standard FAX protocol. Another advantage is the elimination of the noise induced by the printing and re-scanning of the file during file transfer.

Abstract: A facsimile device (also called a fax machine), having programmable autodial capabilities, which automatically generates legible telephone directory labels. The fax machine of the present invention has a window for displaying the telephone directory label and a memory for storing programmed telephone numbers and names. The fax machine also has a port which is connected to a printer. To automatically generate the telephone directory label, the fax machine accesses the memory for the programmed telephone numbers and names. Then, the fax machine causes the printer to print the telephone directory label by sending commands and the programmed telephone numbers and names to the printer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system having a Multi-Functional Peripheral Device with a FAX transmitting facility attached to a local computer, and a compatible FAX receiving facility, with an attached printer, accessible remotely from the computer. The local computer sends a command to the local FAX transmitting facility causing it to connect to the remote FAX receiving facility. The computer then sends data to the local FAX facility, which sends the data to the remote FAX facility where it is printed on the printer. Both FAX facilities use a FAX transmission protocol, CCITT Group 3, however, they use the Non-Standard Facility (NSF) within CCITT Group 3 to transfer the file without converting it into a graphical image format.