Scanner Dual Sensor Arrays Synchronized Light Source Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image scanners with RGB sensor arrays face quality issues due to differences in light source emission timing relative to sensor drive periods, leading to suboptimal exposure conditions and image quality.
Innovation Solution
A scanner configuration with two sensor arrays offset in the sub-scanning direction and a timing controller that outputs synchronized drive signals for both arrays, ensuring the light source emits during both halves of the drive periods for both arrays, thereby reducing exposure timing differences and improving image quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the light source emits only during one drive period (either first or second), then the device complexity is reduced, but the exposure conditions of the sensor arrays become inconsistent leading to degraded image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The light source performs periodic emission actions during both drive periods of the first and second sensor arrays. By making the light source emit periodically during each drive period rather than continuously or during only one period, the patent ensures that both sensor arrays receive consistent illumination conditions while maintaining a relatively simple control mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The light source is controlled to provide equal illumination conditions for both the first and second sensor arrays by emitting during both of their drive periods. This creates equipotential exposure conditions where both arrays operate under equivalent lighting circumstances, eliminating the image quality degradation caused by inconsistent exposure.
2Measurement precision
If the drive timing of sensor arrays is shifted to cancel scanning position differences, then the scanning accuracy is improved, but the light source emission timing relative to sensor drive periods becomes inconsistent leading to degraded image quality
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is configured to emit periodically during both the first drive period and the second drive period. This periodic emission strategy ensures that even though the sensor arrays have different drive timings for scanning position alignment, both arrays receive illumination during their respective active periods, maintaining consistent exposure conditions and preventing image quality degradation.
3Manufacturing precision
If the light source emits during both drive periods of the sensor arrays, then the exposure condition consistency is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous emission, the light source uses periodic emission during the drive periods of the sensor arrays. This approach provides the necessary illumination for consistent exposure while limiting energy consumption to only the periods when the sensors are actively scanning, rather than keeping the light source on continuously.
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
This configuration enhances the quality of scanned images by ensuring consistent exposure conditions for all sensor arrays, resulting in improved image quality compared to configurations where exposure conditions are not synchronized.
Implementation Method 1
The light source emits and illuminates the document in periods between the first drive signal and the second drive signal output next after the first drive signal, and periods between the second drive signal and the first drive signal output next after the second drive signal
Implementation Method 2
The first sensor array has multiple first sensors arrayed in a main scanning direction. The second sensor array is a second sensor array of multiple second sensors arrayed in the main scanning direction
Data Source
AI summary
A scanner has a first sensor array; a second sensor array; a timing controller that individually outputs at different times a first drive signal that drives the first sensor array, and a second drive signal that the second sensor array; and a light source configured that emits and illuminates a document during periods between the first drive signal and the second drive signal output next after the first drive signal, and periods between the second drive signal and the first drive signal output next after the second drive signal.