Multi-mode Scanner with Invisible Light Contour Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanners waste toner when printing images with holes and struggle to accurately remove hole portions, and preview scans often result in incomplete scans due to complex operation methods.
Innovation Solution
A multi-mode scanning device with a background element that transmits invisible light and reflects visible light, allowing for the scanning of visible light images, obtaining contour information, and inpainting images with holes using a combination of visible and invisible light sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If conventional scanners directly print visible light images with holes, then printing is simple, but toner is wasted in printing fully black hole portions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the scanning process into two distinct modes: visible light scanning for general image capture and invisible light scanning for contour detection. This segmentation allows the system to obtain contour information separately from the main image, enabling precise hole detection and inpainting without complicating the overall scanning workflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary background element with specific optical properties (transmits invisible light, reflects visible light) that mediates between the light sources and the document. This background element enables the invisible light source to illuminate contours while maintaining visibility of the document in visible light mode, resolving the contradiction between added functionality and system complexity.
2Loss of substance
If image processing software is used to remove hole portions, then toner waste is reduced, but processing time increases and user complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary contour detection using invisible light scanning before the actual printing process. By obtaining contour information in advance through a dedicated calibration scan, the system prepares hole mask data that enables automatic inpainting during printing, eliminating the need for time-consuming post-scan image processing by users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs automatic hole detection and inpainting using the contour information obtained from invisible light scanning. The scanning device itself provides the inpainting functionality through integrated processing, eliminating the need for users to manually use image processing software, thus reducing both processing time and user complexity.
3Measurement precision
If preview scan is performed to set scanning boundary, then hole portions can be prevented from scanning, but information beside holes may not be scanned and operation becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the background element serve multiple functions: it acts as a reflective background for visible light scanning and as a transmission medium for invisible light contour detection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate preview scans to detect holes, as the invisible light mode automatically identifies contours and boundaries during the main scanning process.
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
Enables efficient scanning and inpainting of images with holes, reducing toner waste and simplifying the scanning process by providing precise contour information for image processing.
Implementation Method 1
The background element transmits the invisible light and reflects the visible light
Implementation Method 2
The background element transmits the invisible light and reflects the visible light
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-mode scanning device includes a background element, a transparent platen, first and second light sources and an optical module. The first light source outputs visible light to irradiate the background element and an original on the transparent platen to generate first and second light, respectively. The second light source outputs invisible light to irradiate a combination of the background element and the original to generate third and fourth light. The movable optical module receives the first to fourth light and generates sensing signals, and obtains visible light information and invisible light information representative of the original according to the sensing signals. The original is disposed between the background element and the optical module. The first light source and the optical module are disposed on a same side of the background element. The optical module and the second light source are disposed on different sides of the background element.