Autonomous Sheet-Fed Scanner With Embedded Storage And Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet-fed scanners require connection to a computer and power source for operation, limiting their portability and autonomy.
Innovation Solution
A battery-powered sheet-fed scanner with embedded storage and processing capabilities, allowing for autonomous operation and wireless connectivity, enabling scanning and storage of documents without a computer, with integrated sorting and compression applications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If sheet-fed scanners are made compact and portable, then they become easier to transport, but they require connection to a computer and power source which limits their autonomy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple previously separate functions into the scanner itself: power supply (battery), storage (memory card interface), and processing (OCR software). This merging eliminates the need for external computer connection during operation, resolving the contradiction between portability and operational autonomy.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanner is designed to be self-sufficient by incorporating its own power source (battery), storage capabilities (memory card slots), and processing software (OCR). The device can independently scan, process, and store documents without requiring external assistance, thereby achieving operational autonomy while maintaining portability.
2Extent of automation
If software processing is moved from computer to scanner, then operational independence is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scanner is designed with universal functionality that can operate in multiple modes: with or without a computer connection, with or without memory cards, and with varying levels of software processing. This multi-functionality allows the system to gain operational independence while managing complexity through flexible, context-dependent operation.
Data Source
AI summary
Battery-powered portable sheet-fed scanner, comprising: a scanning unit (21-23) for scanning documents and forming digital representations thereof; a sheet feeder (28) for feeding a document past the scanning unit; a processor (20), communicatively connected to the scanning unit and provided for controlling the scanning operation; a plurality of embedded storage capabilities, each of which is communicatively connected to the processor and each of which comprises either an internal memory (26) for internally storing the digital representations or a communication link (24; 25) to an external storage medium for externally storing the digital representations. The processor is provided with an embedded routing application which is provided for routing the digital representations to a predetermined selection among the embedded storage capabilities.