Mixed-Size Document Scanning with Preliminary Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanners face inefficiencies in scanning mixed-sized documents, requiring users to choose between productivity and individual image size detection, leading to either excessive memory usage or reduced scanning efficiency, and duplex scanning systems incur additional costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A scanner with a first image sensor, local memory, and processor that determines document size during scanning, allowing for high-productivity single-pass scanning of mixed-sized documents without user intervention, while preserving image size and enabling efficient duplex scanning without additional electronics costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If full productivity mode is selected, then scanning speed and throughput are improved, but memory resources are wasted due to scanning all documents at the largest detected size
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary low-resolution scan to detect document sizes before the final high-resolution scan. This preliminary action allows the system to determine the actual size of each document, enabling subsequent scans to allocate appropriate memory resources and avoid wasting pixels on nil areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes scanning parameters (resolution, memory allocation) based on detected document characteristics. By adjusting the scan parameters according to the actual document size detected in the preliminary scan, the system optimizes both productivity and memory efficiency.
2Quantity of substance
If individual image size detection is selected, then memory resources are optimized for each document size, but scanning efficiency decreases due to multiple passes
Solution Approach 1:
A preliminary low-resolution scan is performed to detect document sizes, enabling the system to optimize memory allocation for the subsequent high-resolution scan without requiring multiple full-resolution passes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous scanning operation by performing the preliminary detection and final scanning in a seamless two-pass process, avoiding the need to stop and re-scan documents multiple times, thus preserving scanning efficiency while optimizing memory usage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If duplex scanning is implemented with traditional multi-channel electronics, then dual-sided scanning capability is achieved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the scanning operations for both sides of a document into a single integrated scan path. By combining the duplex scanning functionality into one scan mechanism rather than requiring separate independent channels, the system achieves dual-sided scanning capability while reducing electronic complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning system is designed with universal capability to handle both simplex and duplex scanning modes using the same hardware infrastructure. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to different scanning requirements without requiring additional dedicated electronics for duplex operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A scanner enables full productivity and individual image size detection, without user intervention for mixed size originals in both simplex and duplex scanning modes. The scanner provides high-productivity single pass scanning while preserving the image size for each of the document scanned. In addition, the scanner may support duplex scanning by adding a second image sensor, for example, in the document handler. Methods of scanning are also provided.