Scanning Device Dual Light Source Warm-Up Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional scanning devices require a lengthy warm-up time for cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) to produce stable light, leading to inefficiencies and errors during the scanning process, as users must wait for the CCFL to reach a high temperature before scanning can commence, even if only low-quality scans are needed.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a light-emitting diode (LED) as a secondary light source that can begin scanning immediately, allowing scanning to commence during the warm-up period of the CCFL, which reduces overall scanning time and eliminates the need for users to wait for the CCFL to reach its operational temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) is used as the light source, then stable and bright light is produced for high quality scans, but a long warm-up time period (45-90 seconds) is required before scanning can commence
Solution Approach 1:
The light source function is segmented into two independent components: CCFL for high-quality scanning and LED for quick scanning. This segmentation allows each light source to serve its specific purpose without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between scan quality and warm-up time.
Solution Approach 2:
The scanning device is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating both CCFL and LED light sources. The system can selectively use CCFL for high-quality scans requiring stable light, and LED for quick scans where warm-up time is critical, providing universal scanning capability across different quality requirements.
2Illumination intensity
If multiple CCFLs are provided to increase light intensity, then higher light intensities are available, but the warm-up time period remains unchanged
Solution Approach 1:
The LED light source acts as a temporary or alternative solution for situations where immediate scanning is needed. While LED may not provide the same sustained high-quality output as CCFL, it provides sufficient light intensity for quick scans without requiring warm-up time, effectively serving as a short-term or alternative light source.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by switching between two different light source types with different characteristics. LED provides immediate light with different intensity parameters compared to CCFL, allowing the system to adapt light intensity and response time parameters based on scanning requirements.
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 scanning to start during the CCFL's warm-up period, reducing user wait time and allowing for both low-quality and high-quality scans without the need for prolonged warm-up times, enhancing user convenience and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the CCFL 14 generates light to illuminate the document 15... the CCFL 14 must reach a sufficiently high temperature to excite enough ions to strike the fluorescent material disposed on the glass tube of the CCFL 14
Implementation Method 2
a light emitting diode (LED), both for emitting light
Implementation Method 3
the photosensor 16 detects the reflected light from the document 15... the photosensor 16, which can be a Charge-Coupled Device (CCD)
Data Source
AI summary
A scanning device includes a housing, a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL), and a light emitting diode (LED), a photosensor for detecting light that is emitted from the CCFL and the LED and then by way of a document, and a control circuit for controlling operations of the scanning device. The LED can be used to perform scans while the CCFL is heating.