Portable Scanner Polarizing Filter Stray Light Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanners face issues such as reduced scanning area proximity to side walls, lack of positional indicators for stitching images, absence of metadata embedding capabilities, and stray light interference, which affect image quality and usability.
Innovation Solution
A self-contained portable image scanning system with a modular design featuring a scanner within an enclosed space by mated upper and lower housings, allowing upright or inverted operation, integrated metadata embedding, and a linear guide for minimal rotation during scanning, along with a light filter to reduce stray light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the scanned area is positioned close to the side wall of the scanner, then the scanning area is maximized, but the image quality deteriorates due to stray light reflection from the viewing window
Solution Approach 1:
A polarizing filter is introduced as an intermediary element between the light source and the scanned document. The filter polarizes the light in a specific direction, and when combined with the scanner's optical system, it blocks stray light reflections from the viewing window while allowing the desired light to pass through, thus maintaining image quality even when the scanned area is close to the side wall
Solution Approach 2:
The optical parameters of the viewing window are changed by adding a polarizing filter that modifies the light polarization state. This parameter change allows the system to differentiate between useful light (from the document) and harmful reflected light, enabling close positioning of the scanned area to the side wall without quality degradation
2Device complexity
If the scanner controls are fixed on one side of the scanner, then the device structure is simplified, but the ease of operation deteriorates when the scanner is used in inverted condition
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface is made dynamic by implementing a rotatable control panel that can be rotated 180 degrees. This allows the controls to be repositioned from one side of the scanner to the opposite side, enabling users to access controls regardless of whether the scanner is in upright or inverted position, thus improving ease of operation without significantly increasing device complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If the scanner operates as a standalone portable device, then the independence and portability are improved, but the device complexity increases due to integrated metadata embedding and processing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The scanner is designed with multi-functionality by integrating metadata embedding capabilities directly into the scanning device. The same processing unit that captures images also handles metadata generation, storage, and association, allowing the device to function independently as a complete documentation system rather than requiring separate external devices for different functions
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 independent operation, efficient image stitching, improved image quality, and contextual data embedding, addressing the limitations of conventional scanners.
Implementation Method 1
Another substantial problem with conventional scanners having a scanned transparent window and a viewing transparent window can be stray light reflected or otherwise transmitted from the viewing window which impairs the quality of the generated image
Data Source
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AI summary
A self-contained mobile optical scanning system having an image scanner contained within a hollow inside space defined by mated engagement of an upper housing and a lower housing having corresponding upper and lower transparent windows having reduced margins and a scanning control interface rotatable through the enclosed space which allows scanning through the upper transparent window in either the upright or inverted condition by alignment of viewable indicator marks and overlap indicators in relation to an article which allows stitched alignment of a plurality of scanning cycles to generate images embeddable with metadata or data files.