Read Size Determination Circuit for Image Scanners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image reading apparatuses lack a unified method to determine and set the read size of documents across different reading units, leading to inconsistencies and user confusion when switching between document placement on a platen and a document placement table.
Innovation Solution
The image reading apparatus incorporates a read size determination circuit with multiple operation modes, allowing users to set and display read sizes for both document reading units, ensuring consistent size determination and user input across different document placement methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the apparatus uses sensor-detected document size for reading, then the reading process is automated and efficient, but the read size may not match user intentions leading to incorrect readings
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit displays the detected document size to the user and accepts user input to confirm or modify the read size. This feedback loop ensures that the automated size detection is verified and corrected if necessary, resolving the contradiction between automation efficiency and read size accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary size detection using the sensor before the actual reading process, then presents this detected size to the user for confirmation. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare the reading parameters in advance while giving the user opportunity to correct any detection errors.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the apparatus provides separate size detection for each reading unit, then each unit can operate independently, but the system complexity increases and user confusion occurs when switching between units
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves as a universal size determination device that manages both reading units. Instead of each reading unit having its own independent size detection system, the control unit centrally manages size determination for both the platen-based and document feeding-based reading units, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the size determination functionality into a single control unit that handles both reading methods. The first size detection means detects document size for both reading units, and the control unit统一管理 the size settings, combining what could have been separate systems into one integrated solution.
3Measurement precision
If the apparatus allows user setting of read size, then user control and precision are improved, but the operation process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary size detection using the sensor before requiring user input. This preliminary detection provides a suggested read size that the user can accept or modify, reducing the operational burden compared to requiring complete manual size specification while maintaining user control and precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects document size and presents it to the user, allowing the user to simply confirm or adjust the detected size rather than manually specifying it from scratch. This self-service approach maintains user control while simplifying the operation process.
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading apparatus includes a read size determination circuit. The read size determination circuit has a plurality of operation mode including a first mode and a second mode. The first mode determines the size of the document detected by the first document reading unit as a first read size and determines a read size of the document set in advance as a second read size. The first read size is the read size of the document when the first document reading unit reads the document. The second mode determines the size of the document detected by the first document reading unit as the first read size. If the second document reading unit reads the document, the second mode determines the read size of the document set in the setting screen as the second read size when a start instruction of a reading job is entered using the operation circuit.