Scanner Split Image Files for Shadow Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanners produce incomplete scans due to holes or damaged areas, leading to wasted toner when printing and requiring complex post-processing to remove shadows and accurately crop images.
Innovation Solution
A scanner that generates split image files including transmitting and visible light information, using a scanning module, processor, and output port to create separate files for visible and transmitting light images, allowing for accurate removal of shadows and precise contour detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional scanning is performed on documents with holes or damaged areas, then the scanning process is simple and fast, but the resulting image contains black holes and shadows that require complex post-processing and waste toner when printed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the scanned image into multiple layers: visible light image layer, transmitting light image layer, and alpha channel layer. This segmentation allows each layer to handle specific information (visible content, hole detection, transparency) separately, eliminating the need for complex post-processing to remove holes and shadows while maintaining scanning speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces transmitting light imaging as an intermediary mechanism to detect holes and damaged areas. By using a light source that can penetrate through the document and detecting the transmitted light, the system identifies transparent or damaged regions without requiring post-processing operations.
2Measurement precision
If transmitting light imaging is added to detect holes and contours, then hole detection accuracy improves, but the scanning system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges visible light imaging and transmitting light imaging into a single scanning system that operates simultaneously. The scanning module captures both types of light information in one pass, and the processor integrates them to generate multi-layer image files with alpha channels, achieving accurate hole detection without requiring separate scanning operations.
3Ease of operation
If shadows are removed through frame cropping, then the process is simple, but the document contour accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical approach of frame cropping with an optical-detection-based approach using transmitting light imaging. The system uses light transmission patterns to automatically and precisely identify document contours and shadow regions, then applies alpha channel masking to remove shadows while preserving exact contour accuracy without manual cropping.
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 direct generation and output of split image files, allowing for efficient removal of shadows and accurate representation of document contours, reducing the need for complex post-processing and minimizing toner waste.
Implementation Method 1
The scanning module scans a document to generate a first signal and a second signal. The first signal is representative of a composite visible light image of the document and a background element.
Implementation Method 2
The second signal is representative of a transmitting light image transmitting through the document.
Data Source
AI summary
A scanner includes a scanning module, a processor and an output port. The scanning module scans a document to generate a first signal representative of a composite visible light image of the document and a background element, and a second signal representative of a transmitting light image transmitting through the document. The processor generates a first final image file having first pixels and first complementary pixels according to the first signal, and generates a second final image file having second pixels and second complementary pixels according to the second signal. The first pixels are representative of a visible light image of the document. The first complementary pixels are representative of a remaining visible light image other than the document. The second pixels are representative of a transmitting light image of the document. The second complementary pixels are representative of a remaining transmitting light image other than the document. The output port outputs the first and second final image files to an external device.