Document Scanner Encoding Efficiency via Single Buffer Merging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional techniques for simultaneously reading the front and rear surfaces of a document and creating a single file require twice the encoding time due to sequential encoding processes, leading to low encoding efficiency and high costs associated with the use of two buffers.
Innovation Solution
An image reading apparatus with a front surface reading sensor, a rear surface reading sensor, a storage control unit, and an encoding unit that interleaves and encodes image data from both surfaces in a single memory, reducing processing time and costs by eliminating the need for separate buffers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If image data of front and rear surfaces are stored in different buffers and encoded sequentially, then the images can be simultaneously read and stored, but the encoding time is doubled resulting in low encoding efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the storage of front and rear surface image data into a single buffer memory, allowing both images to be stored simultaneously. The encoding unit then encodes both images together in a single encoding process rather than sequentially, which resolves the contradiction by maintaining reliable storage while significantly improving encoding efficiency and reducing processing time.
2Reliability
If two separate buffers are used to store image data of front and rear surfaces, then the images can be stored simultaneously, but the cost increases due to requiring additional memory resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the storage function for both front and rear surface images into a single buffer memory unit. This merging approach maintains the ability to store both images simultaneously (preserving reliability) while reducing device complexity and cost by eliminating the need for two separate buffer memories and their associated control logic.
3Ease of manufacture
If image data of rear surface is encoded after the front surface data is encoded, then the encoding process can be completed systematically, but the total processing time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous encoding by processing both front and rear surface image data simultaneously in a single encoding operation rather than sequentially. This maintains systematic control over the encoding process while eliminating the idle time between encoding operations, thereby reducing total processing time and improving overall efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading apparatus includes a front surface reading sensor configured to read a front surface of a document, a rear surface reading sensor configured to read a rear surface of the document, a storage control unit configured to store image data of the front surface of the document read by the front surface reading sensor and image data of the rear surface of the document read by the rear surface reading sensor, and an encoding unit configured to encode image data of the paired front and rear surface images based on the image data of the front surface and the image data of the rear surface.