Duplex Document Scanning Using Dual Imaging Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing duplex copying methods require expensive hardware and additional processing time due to the need for two sets of scanner sensors or complex sheet feeding systems, especially when flipping documents for scanning both sides.
Innovation Solution
A method that scans only one side of a duplex document under two different imaging conditions to retrieve information about both the front and back sides, allowing for the determination of digital representations of both images without the need for expensive hardware or complex systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If two sets of scanner sensors are used to scan both sides of the document, then the scanning accuracy and completeness are improved, but the hardware cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single scanner sensor is designed to perform multiple functions by scanning the document under different imaging conditions. The same sensor captures both front-side and back-side image information, as well as show-through content, eliminating the need for separate sensors for each scanning task.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging conditions (such as light intensity, wavelength, or illumination angle) are changed to enable a single sensor to capture different types of information from the document. By varying these parameters, the sensor can distinguish between front-side content, back-side content, and show-through, achieving multi-functionality without additional hardware.
2Measurement precision
If a sophisticated sheet feeding system with flipping mechanism is used, then both sides of the document can be scanned, but the processing time and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary scanning of the front side under multiple imaging conditions to capture all necessary information before any physical manipulation of the document. This allows the backend processing to begin in parallel with the flipping and re-scanning operations, reducing overall processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical flipping systems with an image processing approach. By capturing show-through information from the front side scan and using computational methods to extract back-side content, the system eliminates the need for sophisticated mechanical sheet feeding and flipping mechanisms.
3Loss of information
If the document is flipped over for scanning, then both sides can be captured, but additional processing time is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses show-through information as an intermediary to extract back-side content without physically flipping the document. The show-through data captured during front-side scanning serves as a mediator that, when processed computationally, reveals the back-side image content, eliminating the need for physical document manipulation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of physically flipping and re-scanning the document, the system creates a digital copy of the back-side content by processing the show-through information from the front-side scan. This computational copying approach replaces the physical copying operation, significantly reducing processing time.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for performing duplex copying of a document having a first side with a first image and a second side with a second image includes scanning only the first side of the document under a first imaging condition to retrieve first information relating to each of the first image and the second image; scanning only the first side of the document under a second imaging condition to retrieve second information relating to each of the first image and the second image; determining from the first information and the second information contents of the first image on the first side of the document; and determining from the first information and the second information contents of the second image on the second side of the document.