Document Imaging System with Electronic Zooming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing document cameras and scanners face limitations in capturing high-resolution real-time video and still images efficiently due to constraints in electronic components and optical lens assemblies, leading to bulky devices with poor portability and time-consuming scanning processes.
Innovation Solution
A compact document imaging system utilizing advanced CMOS or CCD sensors and compact optical lenses, integrated with a personal computing device, enables real-time high-resolution video capture and instant high-resolution still image scanning, eliminating the need for elaborate optical zoom lenses and motorized housings, and allowing for one-click image capture and real-time video streaming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high resolution video capture is achieved using prior art document cameras, then video quality improves, but device size and weight increase due to elaborate optical lens assemblies and motorized housings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical optical zoom systems with electronic/digital zooming capabilities. The document camera uses electronic components and software processing to achieve zooming effects without requiring complex mechanical lens assemblies or motorized housings, thereby reducing device weight while maintaining video resolution quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies of the captured image through software-based zooming and cropping techniques. Instead of optically zooming with heavy lens assemblies, the system captures the full scene and creates magnified digital copies of specific regions, achieving the same visual effect with significantly reduced hardware complexity and weight.
2Measurement precision
If high resolution still images are captured using prior art document cameras, then image quality improves, but device complexity increases requiring elaborate optical lens assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex optical lens assemblies with simplified optical systems combined with electronic image processing. High resolution still images are achieved through digital enhancement, software-based sharpening, and post-processing techniques rather than relying solely on complex mechanical optics, thereby reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal imaging system that can capture both real-time video and high-resolution still images using the same simplified optical components. The system uses a single imaging sensor and optical assembly that serves multiple functions, eliminating the need for separate complex optical paths for video and still image capture.
3Measurement precision
If document scanning is performed using prior art flatbed scanners, then scanning resolution improves, but device size increases requiring large platen dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flatbed scanning surface to a three-dimensional overhead camera system. By capturing documents from above at an angle, the system achieves high resolution scanning without requiring a large horizontal platen area, effectively utilizing the vertical dimension to reduce device footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies of documents through overhead imaging rather than contact scanning. The camera captures the entire document surface in a single frame or through panning, creating a digital replica without requiring the physical document to rest on a large scanning bed, thereby reducing the required device area.
4Adaptability or versatility
If real-time video with zooming capability is achieved using prior art, then video functionality improves, but portability deteriorates due to heavy structural configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical zoom mechanisms with electronic zooming software. The document camera achieves variable magnification through digital processing of the captured video feed, eliminating the need for heavy motorized lens assemblies and complex mechanical structures, thereby improving portability while maintaining zooming versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies and magnified views of the video feed through software processing. Instead of physically moving lens elements or changing optical paths with heavy mechanisms, the system generates magnified digital copies of the video image, achieving zooming capability with minimal additional hardware weight.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system achieves high-resolution image capture with minimal space and weight, offering instant processing, high portability, and efficient document scanning, while maintaining real-time video capabilities, thus addressing the limitations of prior art in terms of size, speed, and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
A compact document imaging system utilizing advanced CMOS or CCD sensors
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method of acquiring an image of a target to provide an output video image that has a plurality of frame images. The method includes the steps of receiving a series of frame images from a video camera, using a processor to manipulate the series of frame images from a video camera, using a processor to manipulate the series of frame images, which includes determining a reference resolution for providing output frame images, and displaying and/or storing the manipulated series of frame images as the output video image without changing a resolution of the output frame images. Also disclosed is a document imaging apparatus that includes a digital imaging unit. The digital imaging unit contains optics that having an infinite focal length. The document imaging apparatus also includes a processor that is coupled to the digital imaging unit and that is configured to cause the digital imaging unit to zoom in or zoom out in real-time while maintaining a resolution value of stored images constant. A non-transitory storage medium stores images obtained from the digital imaging unit and a display displays the stored images. A folding suspension arm supports the digital imaging unit at a distance from a target to be imaged.