Scanner Media Sheet Demarcation via Illuminated Scanlid
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing scanners face challenges in accurately demarcating multiple media sheets during simultaneous scanning, especially when the background color matches the media sheets, leading to merged edges and inaccurate replication, and the use of a glow-in-the-dark scanlid introduces drawbacks such as interference with content replication and undesirable effects on thin sheets.
Innovation Solution
A scanner with a platen, pivotally coupled scanlid, and an illuminating mechanism that captures a background image to detect edges and demarcate each media sheet, eliminating the need for a glow-in-the-dark configuration and minimizing light interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the scanlid is configured to glow in the dark to demarcate media sheets, then the demarcation accuracy is improved, but the content replication is hindered and light reflection on thin sheets occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the scanning process into two separate phases: first capturing the background image with the scanlid illuminated to detect edges and demarcate media sheets, then capturing the foreground image with the scanlid in normal state to replicate content. This temporal segmentation allows each phase to optimize for its specific function without interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs the background capture with illuminated scanlid before the foreground capture. By preliminarily establishing the demarcation boundaries when the scanlid is glowing, the system prepares the framework for subsequent content replication without the harmful light reflection effects during the actual content scanning phase.
2Measurement precision
If the scanlid is illuminated to detect edges of media sheets, then the demarcation is improved, but the content replication accuracy deteriorates due to light interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the imaging process into two distinct captures: background image acquisition with scanlid illumination for edge detection, and foreground image acquisition with scanlid in normal state for content replication. This separation ensures that light interference only affects the edge detection phase, not the content replication phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic action by sequentially switching the scanlid illumination state between two phases: illuminated state for background capture and normal state for foreground capture. This periodic switching allows the system to alternate between edge detection and content replication functions.
3Productivity
If multiple media sheets are scanned simultaneously against a white background, then the scanning efficiency is improved, but the edges of media sheets merge and demarcation fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the effective background color through illumination. By illuminating the scanlid, it transitions from blending with white media sheets to providing a distinct contrast, enabling the detection algorithm to differentiate edges even when multiple white sheets are scanned simultaneously against a white background.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary background capture with illumination before content replication. This preliminary action establishes the demarcation framework by detecting edges when the illuminated scanlid provides sufficient contrast, enabling subsequent accurate separation of multiple simultaneously scanned sheets.
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
The solution enables accurate demarcation of each media sheet without reconfiguring the scanlid, effectively separating content and preventing light reflection on thin sheets, thus improving scanning efficiency and accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
The illuminating mechanism is capable of being activated for selectively illuminating the background for scanning of the multiplicity of media sheets
Implementation Method 2
Scanning of the multiplicity of media sheets by the scanhead upon activation of the illuminating mechanism captures a background image of the multiplicity of media sheets
Data Source
AI summary
A scanner for demarcating each media sheet of a multiplicity of media sheets and a method thereof. The scanner includes a platen, a scanlid, an illuminating mechanism and a scanhead. The platen accommodates the multiplicity of media sheets. The scanlid is pivotally coupled to the platen and provides a background for scanning the multiplicity of media sheets. The illuminating mechanism is coupled to the scanlid and is activated for illuminating the background. The scanhead scans the multiplicity of media sheets. A single background image of the multiplicity of media sheets is captured by activating the illuminating mechanism during scanning. A single foreground image of the multiplicity of media sheets is captured by deactivating the illuminating mechanism during scanning. Edges of each media sheet are detected in the background image, and are combined with the foreground image to extract content thereof.