Handheld Pen Scanner Optical Sensor Distortion Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hand-held OCR scanners face challenges in accurately reconstructing two-dimensional images due to manual operation-induced distortions and limited computing power on mobile devices, leading to inefficient information selection and processing from physical documents.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a mobile device connected to a hand-held pen scanning device, which provides an interface for selecting information, validates received data locally or remotely based on database comparison, and applies character recognition processes flexibly between the mobile device and a remote computer to correct distortions and enhance OCR accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hand-held scanning device is operated manually over printed text, then portability and ease of operation are improved, but image distortion and OCR accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical speed calculation methods (rubber rollers, mechanical encoders) with optical sensor-based speed calculation. The optical sensor measures the speed of relative movement between the scanning device and the text by analyzing the time interval required for an image to traverse the sensor, eliminating mechanical components that compromise portability while improving measurement accuracy for distortion correction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter used for speed measurement from mechanical displacement to optical signal traversal time. By using a two-dimensional optical sensor to measure the time interval required for an image to traverse the sensor, the system dynamically adjusts this parameter to calculate instantaneous scanning speed, enabling accurate distortion correction without mechanical components.
2Device complexity
If one dimensional optical sensor is used for scanning, then device complexity is reduced, but image reconstruction accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a one-dimensional optical sensor to a two-dimensional optical sensor. This dimensional change enables the sensor to capture both horizontal and vertical image information simultaneously, allowing accurate calculation of instantaneous scanning speed in two dimensions and proper reconstruction of the scanned image without increasing overall device complexity significantly.
3Loss of information
If full document scanning is performed for information extraction, then information completeness is improved, but processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the relevant information from the document rather than processing the entire document. By using the optical sensor to identify and extract specific information elements based on their positional and contextual characteristics, the system achieves information completeness for the required data while significantly reducing processing time and energy consumption compared to full document scanning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by scanning and processing only the necessary portions of the document rather than the entire document. The system determines the minimal scanning area required to extract the needed information, performing partial scanning that suffices for information extraction while avoiding the excessive processing of irrelevant document sections.
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
This approach enables efficient selection and processing of information from physical documents by correcting distortions and leveraging remote computing resources for complex validations, improving OCR accuracy and reducing the need for full document scanning.
Implementation Method 1
The OCR hand-held scanners comprise a one dimensional optical sensor for acquiring image information
Data Source
AI summary
A method implemented on a mobile device for selecting information on a paper document using a hand-held scanning device. The method provides an interface to the user, receives information from the hand-held pen scanning device connected to the mobile device and determines if the received information is valid information for the type of information to be selected. The invention further relates to using a remote computer for performing image processing and data extraction when more powerful resources are needed.