Offset Swivel Wheel Positioning Module for Handheld Scanners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional handheld scanners face challenges in maintaining a fixed speed and precise positioning due to roller restrictions and surface quality errors with optical mouse sensors, leading to image distortion and poor quality.
Innovation Solution
A positioning module with an offset swivel wheel and shaft body, utilizing two sensors to detect linear and angular displacements, allowing accurate scan path positioning and minimizing size for integration in handheld scanners, while avoiding surface characteristic errors by using optical mouse sensors to detect the wheel and shaft body instead of the object surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single row or dual rows of rollers combined with a rotary encoder is used for positioning, then the positioning structure is established, but the scan path is restricted and cannot change direction arbitrarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional roller-based mechanical positioning system with an optical mouse sensor-based system. The optical mouse sensor uses optical fields instead of mechanical contact to detect movement, allowing the scanner to move freely in any direction without being constrained by roller alignment, thus achieving arbitrary scan direction changes while maintaining positioning capability
Solution Approach 2:
The optical mouse sensor serves multiple functions: it detects both linear displacement and angular displacement, and can adapt to various scanning directions. This multi-functional sensor replaces the specialized roller-and-encoder system that could only detect motion along fixed axes, providing universal positioning capability for any scan path
2Adaptability or versatility
If an optical mouse sensor is used to detect the scanned object surface directly, then the scanner can change moving direction, but sensing accuracy errors occur due to different surface qualities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary reference surface (the bottom surface of the scanner housing) between the optical mouse sensor and the scanned object. Instead of detecting the variable surface qualities of different documents, the sensor consistently detects the uniform reference surface, eliminating positioning errors caused by surface quality variations while maintaining the ability to move in any direction
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a homogeneous detection surface by using the scanner's own bottom surface as the reference. This uniform surface has consistent optical properties throughout, ensuring that the optical mouse sensor receives uniform reflected light regardless of which document is being scanned, thereby maintaining constant positioning accuracy across different scanning scenarios
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional optical mouse sensors are used for positioning, then the scanner can adapt to different surfaces, but positioning precision deteriorates due to surface quality variations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the scanner's bottom surface as an intermediary reference plane that decouples the positioning function from the scanned object's surface characteristics. The optical mouse sensor detects movement relative to this controlled reference surface rather than the variable document surfaces, maintaining positioning precision while allowing the scanner to adapt to any document surface
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
Enables accurate and efficient scanning of large-scale documents by generating precise positioning data for image combination, ensuring stable and high-quality image capture across varying surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
The first sensor is disposed on the rotation support member and configured to detect rotation of the shaft body to obtain the linear displacement of the main body
Implementation Method 2
The second sensor is disposed on the base and configured to detect the rotary plate to obtain the angular displacement of the main body of the rotation support member
Implementation Method 3
While the wheel is affected by a frictional force and rotates about a second axis, the main body is moved to generate a linear displacement
Implementation Method 4
While the wheel is affected by the frictional force, the wheel drives the main body of the rotation support member to rotate about the first axis at an angular displacement
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure is related to a positioning module and a handheld scanner using the same. The positioning module includes a base, a rotation support member, a shaft body, a wheel, a first sensor, and a second sensor. The rotation support member is pivoted to the base and rotates relative to the base about the first axis. The shaft body and the wheel are pivotally contacted to the main body and in constant contact with each other. When the wheel is rotated about a second axis due to a frictional force, the main body displace linearly and the shaft body is driven to rotate. Since the second axis is offset by the first axis, the rotation support member is driven to rotate at an angular displacement synchronously. The first and second sensors detect the shaft body and the main body to obtain the linear and angular displacements for positioning.