Multi-stage Optical Module Scanning for Speed and Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanning methods face challenges in increasing scanning speed and maintaining image quality due to insufficient accelerating distance, which requires high-cost motors and can result in unstable optical module speeds and deteriorated image quality.
Innovation Solution
A multi-stage scanning method that involves moving the optical module in forward and reverse directions to define a scan range, allowing for longer accelerating distances and stable scanning speeds, and stitching images from these stages to create a complete document image.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If the distance from end position P6 to forward-boundary position P5 is shortened to reduce scanner size, then the scanner size is reduced, but the accelerating distance becomes insufficient causing unstable optical module speed and deteriorated image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning process is divided into multiple stages: a first scanning stage from start position P1 to forward-boundary position P5, and a second scanning stage from end position P6 to reverse-boundary position P2. This segmentation allows each stage to have optimized accelerating distances, ensuring sufficient acceleration space in both directions while maintaining compact scanner size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces bidirectional scanning capability, utilizing both forward and reverse directions for document scanning. By adding the reverse scanning dimension, the system creates additional accelerating distance without increasing the physical scanner size, as the optical module can accelerate in either direction within the same physical space.
2Volume of stationary object
If the distance from start position P1 to reverse-boundary position P2 is shortened to reduce scanner size, then the scanner size is reduced, but the accelerating distance becomes insufficient requiring higher-cost motors
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning path is segmented into two directions with separate acceleration zones. The forward scan uses acceleration distance from P1 to P5, while the reverse scan uses acceleration distance from P6 to P2. This segmentation distributes the acceleration requirements across both directions, eliminating the need for a single high-power motor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between forward and reverse scanning modes. By making the scanning direction flexible and adjustable, the system can optimize the acceleration distance for each scanning operation, allowing standard motors to achieve required speeds through proper utilization of available acceleration space in either direction.
3Productivity
If the optical module is moved at higher speed to shorten scanning time, then the productivity is improved, but the image quality deteriorates due to unstable speed
Solution Approach 1:
The scanning process is divided into acceleration phase and constant-speed scanning phase. The optical module accelerates during dedicated acceleration distances (P1 to P5 in forward direction, P6 to P2 in reverse direction) and maintains stable constant speed during the actual scanning portions, ensuring high image quality while achieving high overall scanning speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical module performs preliminary acceleration in dedicated zones before entering the scanning zone. By completing acceleration beforehand (P1 to P5 or P6 to P2), the system ensures the optical module enters the scanning phase at stable constant speed, preventing speed fluctuations during image capture and maintaining high image quality.
Data Source
AI summary
In a multi-stage scanning method for increasing a scanning speed and enhancing an image quality, an optical module is firstly moved from a start position to a forward-internal position in a forward direction, and then enabled to scan a first portion of a document to obtain a first image until the module reaches a forward-boundary position. Then, the module is moved from the forward-boundary position to an end position in the forward direction. Next, the module is moved from the end position to a reverse-internal position in a reverse direction, and then enabled to scan a second portion of the document to obtain a second image until the module reaches a reverse-boundary position. Then, the module is moved from the reverse-boundary position to the start position, in the reverse direction, and then stopped. Finally, the first and second images are stitched into a complete image.