Scanner Control Unit for Large Document Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image processing technologies face difficulties in understanding how a scanner reads a large document, particularly during A3 combining, as users struggle to comprehend the reading process and positioning of document sections.

Innovation Solution

An image processing apparatus with a control unit that includes a determining unit to identify document sections using marks or identification marks, a position detecting unit to determine read positions, and a notification output unit to inform users of the next read position, allowing for easier understanding and management of the scanning process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If A3 combining is performed by an image reading apparatus that can read one side of a document using a carrier sheet, then large documents can be read, but the reading process becomes difficult for users to understand

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument sizeVSAvoiduser understanding of reading process

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides visual feedback by displaying the carrier sheet image with the document on the screen, showing users exactly which portion is being read and what remains to be read. This feedback mechanism makes the reading process transparent and easy to understand, resolving the contradiction between handling large documents and maintaining user comprehension.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The carrier sheet acts as an intermediary object that users can visually track. By displaying the carrier sheet image with reading position markers, the system creates a visual mediator between the physical document and the digital reading process, making the abstract scanning operation concrete and understandable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the image reading apparatus reads portions of a document sequentially, then large documents can be processed, but users cannot easily understand which portion is read next

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocument processing capabilityVSAvoidread position information

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously provides visual feedback by displaying the carrier sheet image with markers indicating the current reading position and the next reading position. This feedback prevents information loss about reading status, allowing users to understand exactly which portion has been read and what comes next, while maintaining sequential processing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary visualization by displaying the entire carrier sheet image with all reading positions marked before the actual reading completes. This preliminary display of reading status information helps users plan and understand the sequential reading process ahead of time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8570595B2Image processing apparatus, method and computer readable medium for reading and obtaining a combined image of a document having a size larger than a readable document size

Publication Date: 2013.10.29 PFU LTD

AI summary

An image processing apparatus includes a control unit and an output unit. The control unit includes an image output unit that arranges an image read by reading processing in an area shifted in a certain direction in a display area in which read image on which reading processing is performed by an image reading apparatus is displayed, and outputs the image to the output unit.