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US5502578A
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Optical scanner having a variable resolution
Assignee: Contex AS
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Filing: 1994-03-16
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Granted: 1996-03-26
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Expires: 2014-03-16
Abstract
Abstract An optical scanner having a variable resolution wherein an optical detecting unit controlled by a pixel clock signal generates a discrete signal representing pixels scanned in a region. An analog-to-digital converter converts the signal to a digital signal with a preselected resolution controlled by a sample clock generator. The sample clock generator receives the pixel clock signal, and through a counter and a store, operates an addressed, binary data word which is sent to a register. The register is coupled to a further periodic clock generator that controls reading from the register and provides a clock signal with pulses when the bits of the data word assume a first binary state, and no pulses when the bits assume a second binary state. The clock signal is passed to the analog-to-digital converter as a sample clock signal.
Inventors
- 👤 Asbjorn Smitt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 22:18
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N25/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
An optical scanner having a variable resolution comprising: an optical detecting unit which, controlled by a controller generated pixel clock signal, applies a discrete signal representing pixels in a scanned region; a filter for filtration of the discrete signal; a sample clock generator comprising a counter, a store, and a first register; a clock-controlled analog-to-digital converter connected to receive the discrete signal from the filter, said converter converts the discrete signal to a digital signal having a preselected resolution, said resolution being controlled by the sample clock generator; said counter receiving the pixel clock signal and generating a multibit signal; said store containing binary data words, said multibit signal from the counter serving as an address signal for the store, an addressed, binary data word generated and read by the store; said first register receiving the read, binary data word from the store and being coupled to a second periodic clock generator which controls reading from the register so as to provide a clock signal having clock pulses when individual bits of the data word assume a first binary state, and having no clock pulses when the individual bits of the data word assume a second binary state, said clock signal being passed to the analog-to-digital converter as a sample clock signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
An optical scanner having a variable resolution comprising: an optical detecting unit which, controlled by a controller generated pixel clock signal, applies a discrete signal representing pixels in a scanned region; a filter for filtration of the discrete signal; a sample clock generator comprising a counter, a store, and a first register; a clock-controlled analog-to-digital converter connected to receive the discrete signal from the filter, said converter converts the discrete signal to a digital signal having a preselected resolution, said resolution being controlled by the sample clock generator; said counter receiving the pixel clock signal and generating a multibit signal; said store containing binary data words, said multibit signal from the counter serving as an address signal for the store, an addressed, binary data word generated and read by the store; said first register receiving the read, binary data word from the store and being coupled to a second periodic clock generator which controls reading from the register so as to provide a clock signal having clock pulses when individual bits of the data word assume a first binary state, and having no clock pulses when the individual bits of the data word assume a second binary state, said clock signal being passed to the analog-to-digital converter as a sample clock signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
An optical scanner according to claim 1, wherein the optical detecting unit comprises a CCD array connected to a sample and hold circuit, and said sample and hold circuit holding signals at levels for a period corresponding to a pixel clock period.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
87 words
An optical scanner according to claim 1, wherein the optical detecting unit further comprises at least two CCD arrays having signals; at least two sample and hold circuits, each connected to one of the CCD arrays, each sample and hold circuit holding signal levels for a period corresponding to a pixel clock period; and said optical scanner further comprising a multiplexer for multiplexing the signals from the sample and hold circuits, said multiplexer generating an output signal corresponding to a line located transversely to the scanned region.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
110 words
An optical scanner according to claim 3, wherein the store comprises a RAM containing information on how the signals from the individual CCD arrays are to be multiplexed and including: multiplexed data words generated by the multiplexer; the multiplexed data words having addresses selected by the counter; and said optical scanner further comprising a fourth register to receive the multiplexed data words from the RAM; a decoder connected to the counter to control reading and transferring the multiplexed data words to the forth register; and a correct scanning line determined by the multiplexed data words in the fourth register, said multiplexed data words joining signals from the individual CCD arrays.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical scanner according to claim 1, wherein the filter comprises an analog lowpass filter which smooths the discrete signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
An optical scanner according to claim 1, wherein the analog-to-digital converter converts the discrete signal to a digital signal; the filter comprises a digital filter which uses weighed averaging, and the digital filter averages digital grey level values for a pixel with digital grey level values for adjacent pixels.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical scanner according to claim 1, further comprising: a variable gain amplifier connected to the filter; said detecting unit having light sensitive cells; and the variable gain amplifier regulating an amplitude of a signal sequence from the filter in response to the light sensitive cells.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
An optical scanner according to claim 7, wherein the store comprises a RAM having stored therein data words with information on variations of the light-sensitive cells of the detecting unit located transversely to the scanning line, the data words having addresses selected by the counter; and said optical scanner further comprising a third register to receive the data words from the RAM; a decoder connected to the counter to control reading and transferring the data words to the third register; and said variable gain amplifier generating signal sequences of the discrete signal which are regulated by the data words.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optical scanner according to claim 1, wherein the analog-to-digital converter comprises a threshold value comparator which compares a threshold value to a signal received from the filter at a sampling time and generates a 1-bit value binary signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical scanner according to claim 9, wherein the threshold value comparator comprises a digital comparator which compares a digital signal with a digital threshold value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
An optical scanner according to claim 9, wherein the store comprises a RAM having stored therein data words having information on local threshold values located transversely to the scanning line; said data words having addresses selected by the counter; and said optical scanner further comprising a second register to receive the data words from the RAM; a decoder connected to the counter to control reading and transferring the data words, and the threshold value comparator using data words from the second register to generate an actual, local threshold value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optical scanner according to claim 11, further comprising a digital-to-analog converter to transfer the data words of the second register to the comparator, and said digital-to-analog converter generating an analog threshold value representation of the data words.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical scanner according to claim 11, wherein, the data words of the second register are transferred to the comparator as a multibit threshold value representation.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical scanner according to claim 1, wherein the analog-to-digital converter samples the discrete signal and generates a multibit, digital signal controlled by the sample clock generator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optical scanner according to claim 1, wherein the counter comprises an incremental counter which counts clock pulses, and the incremental counter generates a multibit signal having information on a position of an actual pixel in a scanning line.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical scanner according to claim 1, wherein the store comprises a RAM having stored therein data words selected by the counter; and said optical scanner further comprising a decoder connected to the counter to control reading and transferring the data words to the first register.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical scanner according to claim 1, wherein the second clock generator comprises a multiplication means which multiplies the pixel clock signal by N, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical scanner according to claim 17, wherein the multiplication means multiplies the pixel clock signal by two.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
204 words
An optical scanner having a variable resolution comprising: an optical detecting unit which, controlled by a controller generated pixel clock signal, applies a discrete signal representing pixels scanned in a region; an analog filter for lowpass filtration of the discrete signal; a clock-controlled analog-to-digital converter which converts the discrete signal to a digital signal having a preselected resolution, said resolution being controlled by a sample clock generator; said sample clock generator comprising a counter, a store, as well as a first register; said counter receiving the pixel clock signal and generating a multibit signal; said store containing binary data words, said multibit signal from the counter serving as an address signal, an addressed, binary data word generated and read by the store; and said first register receiving the read binary data word from the store and being coupled to a second periodic clock generator which controls reading from the register so as to provide a clock signal having clock pulses when individual bits of the data word assume a first binary state, and having no clock pulses when the individual bits of the data word assume a second binary state, said clock signal being passed to the analog-to-digital converter as a sample clock signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
204 words
An optical scanner having a variable resolution comprising: an optical detecting unit which, controlled by a controller generated pixel clock signal, applies a discrete signal representing pixels scanned in a region; an analog filter for lowpass filtration of the discrete signal; a clock-controlled analog-to-digital converter which converts the discrete signal to a digital signal having a preselected resolution, said resolution being controlled by a sample clock generator; said sample clock generator comprising a counter, a store, as well as a first register; said counter receiving the pixel clock signal and generating a multibit signal; said store containing binary data words, said multibit signal from the counter serving as an address signal, an addressed, binary data word generated and read by the store; and said first register receiving the read binary data word from the store and being coupled to a second periodic clock generator which controls reading from the register so as to provide a clock signal having clock pulses when individual bits of the data word assume a first binary state, and having no clock pulses when the individual bits of the data word assume a second binary state, said clock signal being passed to the analog-to-digital converter as a sample clock signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
An optical scanner according to claim 19, wherein the optical detecting unit comprises a CCD array connected to a sample and hold circuit, and said sample and hold circuit holding signal levels for a period corresponding to a pixel clock period.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical scanner according to claim 19, wherein the analog lowpass filter smooths the discrete signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical scanner according to claim 19 further comprising: a variable gain amplifier coupled to the filter; said detecting unit having light sensitive cells; and the variable gain amplifier regulating an amplitude of a signal sequence from the filter in response to the light sensitive cells.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
99 words
An optical scanner according to claim 22, wherein the store comprises a RAM having stored therein data words with information on variations of the light-sensitive cells of the scanning unit located transversely to the scanning line, the data words having addresses selected by the counter; and said optical scanner further comprising a third register to receive the data words from the RAM; a decoder connected to the counter to control reading and transferring the data words to the third register; and said variable gain amplifier generating signal sequences of the discrete signal which are regulated by the data words.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optical scanner according to claim 19 wherein the analog-to-digital converter comprises a threshold value comparator which compares a threshold value to a signal received from the filter at sampling time and generates a 1-bit value binary signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
90 words
An optical scanner according to claim 24, wherein the store comprises a RAM having stored therein data words having information on local threshold values located transversely to the scanning line; said data words having addresses selected by the counter; and said optical scanner further comprising a second register to receive the data words from the RAM; a decoder connected to the counter to control reading and transferring the data words; and the threshold value comparator using the data words from the second register to generate an actual, local threshold value.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optical scanner according to claim 25, further comprising a digital-to-analog converter to transfer the data words of the second register to the comparator, and said digital-to-analog converter generating an analog threshold value representation of the data words.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical scanner according to claim 19 wherein the analog-to-digital converter samples the discrete signal and generates a multibit, digital signal controlled by the sample clock generator.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optical scanner according to claim 19, wherein the counter comprises an incremental counter which counts clock pulses, and the incremental counter generates a multibit signal having information on a position of an actual pixel in a scanning line.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical scanner according to claim 19, wherein the store comprises a RAM having stored therein data words selected by the counter; and said optical scanner further comprising a decoder connected to the counter to control reading and transferring the data words to the first register.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical scanner according to claim 19, wherein the further clock generator comprises a multiplication means which multiplies the pixel clock signal by N, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical scanner according to claim 30, wherein the multiplication means multiplies the pixel clock signal by two.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
213 words
An optical scanner having a variable resolution comprising: an optical detecting unit which, controlled by a controller generated pixel clock signal, applies a discrete signal representing pixels scanned in a region; an analog-to-digital converter for converting the discrete signal to a digital multibit signal; an digital filter for filtration of the multibit signal; a sample clock generator comprising a counter, a store, and a first register; a digital comparator for comparing the filtered signal with a digital threshold value representation received from the first register and said digital comparator generating a digital signal; said counter receiving the pixel clock signal and generating a multibit signal; said store containing binary data words, said multibit signal from the counter serving as an address signal, an addressed binary data word being read from by store; said first register receiving the read binary data word from the store and being coupled to a second periodic clock generator which controls reading from the register so as to provide a clock signal having clock pulses when the individual bits of the data word assume a first binary state, and having no clock pulses when the bits of the data word assume a second binary state, said clock signal being passed to the analog-to-digital converter as a sample clock signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
213 words
An optical scanner having a variable resolution comprising: an optical detecting unit which, controlled by a controller generated pixel clock signal, applies a discrete signal representing pixels scanned in a region; an analog-to-digital converter for converting the discrete signal to a digital multibit signal; an digital filter for filtration of the multibit signal; a sample clock generator comprising a counter, a store, and a first register; a digital comparator for comparing the filtered signal with a digital threshold value representation received from the first register and said digital comparator generating a digital signal; said counter receiving the pixel clock signal and generating a multibit signal; said store containing binary data words, said multibit signal from the counter serving as an address signal, an addressed binary data word being read from by store; said first register receiving the read binary data word from the store and being coupled to a second periodic clock generator which controls reading from the register so as to provide a clock signal having clock pulses when the individual bits of the data word assume a first binary state, and having no clock pulses when the bits of the data word assume a second binary state, said clock signal being passed to the analog-to-digital converter as a sample clock signal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
42 words
An optical scanner according to claim 32, wherein the optical detecting unit comprises a CCD array connected to a sample and hold circuit, and said sample and hold circuit holding signals at levels for a period corresponding to a pixel clock period.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
88 words
An optical scanner according to claim 32, wherein the optical detecting unit further comprises at least two CCD arrays having signals; at least two sample and hold circuits, each connected to one of the CCD arrays, each sample and hold circuit holding respective signal levels for a period corresponding to a pixel clock period; and said optical scanner further comprising a multiplexer for multiplexing the signals from the sample and hold circuits, said multiplexer generating an output signal corresponding to a line located transversely to the scanned region.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
112 words
An optical scanner according to claim 34, wherein the store comprises a RAM containing information on how the signals from the individual CCD arrays are to be multiplexed and including: multiplexed data words generated by the multiplexer, the multiplexed data words having addresses selected by the counter; and said optical scanner further comprising a fourth register to receive the multiplexed data words from the RAM; a decoder connected to the counter to control reading and transferring the multiplexed data words to the fourth register; and a correct scanning line determined by the multiplexed data words in the fourth register, said multiplexed data words used for joining signals from the individual CCD arrays.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
49 words
An optical scanner according to claim 32, wherein the analog-to-digital converter converts the discrete signal to a digital signal; the filter comprises a digital filter which uses weighed averaging, and the digital filter averages digital grey level values for a pixel with digital grey level values for adjacent pixels.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical scanner according to claim 36, wherein said filter comprises a high order digital filter which interpolates digital grey level values for the pixel on the basis of grey level values for at least one adjacent pixel by use of a higher order interpolation function.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical scanner according to claim 32 further comprising: a variable gain amplifier coupled to the filter; said detecting unit having light sensitive cells; and the variable gain amplifier regulating an amplitude of a signal sequence from the filter in response to the light sensitive cells.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
98 words
An optical scanner according to claim 38, wherein the store comprises a RAM having stored therein data words with information on variations of the light-sensitive cells of the detecting unit located transversely to the scanning line, the data words having addresses selected by the counter; and said optical scanner further comprising a third register to receive the data words from the RAM; a decoder connected to the counter to control reading and transferring the data words the third register; and said variable gain amplifier generating signal sequences of the discrete signal which are regulated by the data words.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optical scanner according to claim 32, wherein the analog-to-digital converter comprises a threshold value comparator which compares a threshold value to a signal received from the filter at a sampling time and generates a 1-bit value binary value.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical scanner according to claim 40, wherein the threshold value comparator comprises a digital comparator which compares a digital signal with a digital threshold value.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
89 words
An optical scanner according to claim 40, wherein the store comprises a RAM having stored therein data words having information on local threshold values located transversely to a scanning line; said data words having addresses selected by the counter; and said optical scanner further comprising a second register to receive the data words from the RAM; a decoder connected to the counter to control reading and transferring the data words, and the threshold value comparator using data words from the second register to generate an actual, local threshold value.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical scanner according to claim 42, wherein the data words of the second register are transferred to the comparator as a multibit threshold value representation.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optical scanner according to claim 32, wherein the counter comprises an incremental counter which counts clock pulses, and the incremental counter generates a multibit signal having information on a position of an actual pixel in a scanning line.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical scanner according to claim 32, wherein the store comprises a RAM having stored therein data words selected by the counter; and said optical scanner further comprising a decoder connected to the counter to control reading and transferring the data words to the first register.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical scanner according to claim 32, wherein the second clock generator comprises a multiplication means, which multiplies the pixel clock signal by N, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 1.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical scanner according to claim 46, wherein the multiplication means multiplies the pixel clock signal by two.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-03-26 | 1999-09-25 | 2000-03-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-03-26 | 2003-09-25 | 2004-03-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-03-26 | 2007-09-25 | 2008-03-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |