Portable Scanner with Local Storage for Offline Data Capture

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional handheld scanners are cumbersome due to the need to transfer data to a computer for storage, as they typically do not store large amounts of data and require a constant wired connection, making them inefficient for capturing and processing information independently.

Innovation Solution

A portable scanning device that captures visual and audio information from rendered documents, stores data locally, and communicates with separate computing devices or networks via USB, allowing for offline operation and subsequent data transfer, with features like optical character recognition and context-based action determination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If handheld scanners are designed to be portable, then they reduce in size and improve mobility, but they cannot store large amounts of data and require constant wired connection to computer

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveportabilityVSAvoiddata storage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the scanning device with a portable media player (such as an iPod), merging the data capture functionality with existing portable storage and processing capabilities. This allows the scanning function to leverage the media player's storage capacity, battery power, and wireless communication abilities, thereby resolving the contradiction between portability and data storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Device complexity

If handheld scanners store minimal data locally, then device size remains small, but users must transfer data frequently to computer for storage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoiddata transfer time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables the scanning device to perform preliminary data storage and processing actions locally before transferring data to a computer. By incorporating portable media storage capability, the device can accumulate data over time without requiring frequent transfers, thus reducing the time loss while maintaining device simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If handheld scanners require wired connection for data transfer, then data can be transferred reliably, but user convenience and mobility are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer reliabilityVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a portable media player as an intermediary between the scanning device and the computer system. The media player handles wireless data synchronization and transfer, allowing the scanning device to operate independently without requiring direct wired connection to the computer for every data transfer operation, thereby improving user convenience while maintaining reliability through the established media player ecosystem.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8081849B2Portable scanning and memory device

Publication Date: 2011.12.20 KYOCERA CORP

AI summary

A handheld optical scanner and/or memory device for capturing images of text from a rendered document is described. The handheld device may include a data storage component, a scanning component configured to capture text from rendered documents, a power storage component, and a universal serial bus port configured to receive and store data from a computing device and transmit data to the computing device.