EP0541262A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Unified scanner computer printer
Assignee: Canon Inc
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Filing: 1992-10-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2012-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A scanner (12), computer (2), and printer (13) are preferably combined within a single housing (1). The scanner (12) optically scans an input paper document (11) into a storage buffer (22) within the computer (2). The scanned information (22) is edited by automatic means (21), human-activated means (23, 3), or some combination thereof. The edited information is printed by the printer (13) onto the original input paper document (11). A single preferably linear paper transport mechanism (4) is used to move the document (11) through the scanner (12) and the printer (13). An authentication code (14,16) may be superimposed onto the document (11) to prevent the unauthorized editing thereof.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry c/o Canon Res. Center America Inc Garland
- 👤 Roger D. c/o Canon Res. Center America Inc Melen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K17/00; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/002; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S271/00; Y10S271/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
A unified scanner computer printer, comprising: means for optically scanning an input paper document into a storage buffer within a computer; coupled to the storage buffer, means for editing the scanned paper document; and coupled to the computer, means for printing the edited document onto the input paper document.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the editing means comprises: a display in communicative relationship with the storage buffer; and human-activated input means in communicative relationship with the display.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the human-activated input means comprises a keyboard.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the human-activated input means comprises a mouse.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the human-activated input means comprises an electronic pen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input paper document is a preprinted form.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the editing means comprises an optical character recognizer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the optical character recognizer comprises: a set of programmed instructions that recognizes digital representations of the scanned paper document within the storage buffer; and a look-up table accessible by the set of programmed instructions, whereby the set of programmed instructions edits the digital representations automatically using information from within the look-up table in response to triggers contained within the digital representations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the scanner, computer, and printer all reside within a single housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising mechanical paper transport means for continuously transporting, along a single path, the input paper document from the scanning means to the printing means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the single path is linear.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input paper document contains an authentication code.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the authentication code is a pattern of invisible dots.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the computer further comprises: a set of programmed authentication instructions that recognizes a digital representation of the authentication code within the storage buffer; and an authentication look-up table accessible by the set of programmed authentication instructions; whereby the set of programmed authentication instructions examines the digital representation by comparing it with information contained within the authentication look-up table.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the authentication code is contained within a logo.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the authentication code is constructed within a preselected region within the input paper document by: using the scanning means to scan all of the document except for the preselected region, creating a digital representation; using the computer to apply a coding algorithm to the digital representation to produce an authentication code; and using the printing means to print the authentication code onto the preselected region of the document.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for authenticating a document, comprising the steps of: using a computer to generate a digital representation of an authentication code; storing the digital representation in a storage bin within the computer; printing a graphical version of the code onto the document; converting the graphical version into a digital version by optically scanning the document; and comparing the digital version with the digital representation stored in the storage bin.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for authenticating a document, comprising the steps of: optically scanning all but a relatively small code portion of the document using an optical scanner, to create a first digital representation; applying a coding algorithm to the first digital representation to produce a first code; printing the first code onto the code portion; subsequently re-scanning all but the code portion using an optical scanner, to create a second digital representation; applying a coding algorithm to the second digital representation to produce a second code; and comparing the second code with the first code.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
112 words
A method for authenticating a document, comprising the steps of: optically scanning all but a relatively small code portion of the document using an optical scanner, to create a first digital representation; applying a coding algorithm to the first digital representation to produce a code; printing the code onto the code portion; subsequently re-scanning the document using an optical scanner, to create a second digital representation corresponding to the code portion of the document and a third digital representation corresponding to remaining portions of the document; applying a decoding algorithm to the second digital representation to produce a fourth digital representation; and comparing the fourth digital representation with the third digital representation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
A scanner (12), computer (2), and printer (13) in combination, said scanner (12) serving to scan optically an input paper document (11) for storage into a storage buffer (22) within the computer (2), the scanned information (22) being edited by automatic means (21), human-activated means (23,3), or a combination thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
A combination as claimed in claim 20, characterised in that edited information is printed by the printer (13) onto the original input paper document (11).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
A computer system for scanning and editing information from a pre-printed form document, authenticating the document through the use of a random number code, and printing the edited information on the original scanned document.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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