Scanner Controller Warm-Up Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scanning devices require significant warm-up time for their lamps, leading to wasted time before users can make scans or copies, as they typically wait for the lamp to reach a sufficient output level for quality scanning.
Innovation Solution
A scanning device with a controller that allows scanning to proceed with a light source output less than 80% of its maximum, adjusting scanning speed and receptor output based on the light source's warm-up status, enabling quick scanning even when the lamp is not fully warmed up, by accommodating reduced light output through controller-managed scanning processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the lamp is allowed to warm up fully before scanning, then the scanning quality is improved, but the waiting time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by allowing scanning to proceed with the lamp at less than full warm-up (less than 80% of maximum output). Instead of waiting for complete warm-up, the system performs scanning with partial lamp output, accepting reduced quality for the benefit of significantly reduced waiting time. This resolves the contradiction by enabling functional scanning before the lamp reaches optimal performance.
2Loss of time
If the scanning proceeds with low light source output, then the waiting time is reduced, but the scan quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the scanning speed variable based on the lamp's warm-up status. When the lamp output is low (during warm-up), the system automatically reduces scanning speed to compensate for the reduced light output. This dynamic adjustment allows scanning to proceed with low light output while maintaining acceptable quality through speed modulation, thus reducing waiting time without excessive quality deterioration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the scanning speed parameter in response to the lamp's output level. When the lamp is not fully warmed up, the controller reduces the scanning speed to allow more time for light exposure, compensating for the lower light output. This parameter change enables the system to operate with reduced light output while maintaining functional scan quality, resolving the contradiction between waiting time and scan quality.
3Productivity
If the scanning speed is increased to compensate for low light output, then the productivity is improved, but the image quality deteriorates further
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the scanning speed variable based on the lamp's warm-up status. When the lamp output is low, the system automatically reduces scanning speed rather than increasing it. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the scanning speed matches the available light output, preventing further deterioration of image quality while still improving productivity by eliminating the initial warm-up wait time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces waiting time for users by allowing scans or copies to be made quickly, even when the light source is not fully warmed up, while maintaining sufficient image quality for rough outlines or orientation adjustments, thus minimizing the impact of warm-up time on user productivity.
Implementation Method 1
The light source is shaped and located such that at least part of the light emitted from the light source is reflected off of a document to be scanned, and the light source has a maximum output when the light source is fully warmed up
Data Source
AI summary
A scanning device including a controller and a light source operatively coupled to the controller. The light source is shaped and located such that at least part of the light emitted from the light source is reflected off of a document to be scanned, and the light source has a maximum output when the light source is fully warmed up. The scanning device further includes a receptor operatively coupled to the controller, the receptor being located to receive the light reflected from the document to be scanned such that the at least part of the visual properties of the document to be scanned are transmitted to the receptor in a scanning process. The controller is configured to selectively allow the scanning process to proceed when an output of the light source is less than about 80% of the maximum output.