US5744795A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Illumination strobing in a scanner to improve image sharpness and power consumption
Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
•
Filing: 1995-07-31
•
Granted: 1998-04-28
•
Expires: 2015-07-31
Abstract
Abstract An optical scanner that employs a pulsed light source that is synchronized to the scan position by a position encoder and a pulse control system. Such a scanner has an improved image sharpness and improved image registration. Moreover, a pulsed light source in a scanner of the present invention is more efficient and uses less power, which results in various cost and power savings. Such a scanner is capable of operating off a smaller power source (battery) and is capable of running for longer periods of time off a battery than scanners with a light source that is on during the entire scanning process.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark J. Bianchi
- 👤 Richard L. Kochis
- 👤 Ronald K. Kerschner
- 👤 Dan L. Dalton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:23
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K7/00; G06K7/10; G06K7/10544; G06K7/10821; G06K7/1092; G06K2207/00; G06K2207/1018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
An optical scanner comprising: a) a light source for generating light directed at an object to be scanned; b) a switch for switching said light source on and off; c) an optical sensor having a predetermined sampling rate, said optical sensor generating a data signal representative of a scanned object; d) a driver assembly for enabling displacement of said optical scanner across a scanned object in a predetermined scan direction; e) a position encoder for sensing the displacement of said optical scanner and generating a displacement signal representative thereof; and f) a controller for actuating said driver assembly during a scanning operation, said controller strobing said switch to said light source on and off synchronized to the sampling rate of said optical sensor and the displacement signal from said position encoder.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
An optical scanner comprising: a) a light source for generating light directed at an object to be scanned; b) a switch for switching said light source on and off; c) an optical sensor having a predetermined sampling rate, said optical sensor generating a data signal representative of a scanned object; d) a driver assembly for enabling displacement of said optical scanner across a scanned object in a predetermined scan direction; e) a position encoder for sensing the displacement of said optical scanner and generating a displacement signal representative thereof; and f) a controller for actuating said driver assembly during a scanning operation, said controller strobing said switch to said light source on and off synchronized to the sampling rate of said optical sensor and the displacement signal from said position encoder.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical scanner according to claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light emitting diodes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical scanner according to claim 2 wherein said optical scanner comprises a hand-held optical scanner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical scanner according to claim 2 wherein said optical scanner comprises an automatic document feed scanner.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical scanner according to claim 2 wherein said optical scanner comprises a flat bed, moving light source scanner.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The optical scanner according to claim 1 wherein said light source is strobed on for a predetermined percentage of the sampling time of said optical sensor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical scanner according to claim 1 wherein said light source is strobed on for approximately 10% of the sampling time of the optical sensor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical scanner according to claim 1 wherein said optical scanner operates off of a small power source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical scanner according to claim 1 wherein said optical sensor comprises a CCD array.
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) | 2001-04-27 | 2001-10-27 | 2002-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-27 | 2005-10-27 | 2006-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-27 | 2009-10-27 | 2010-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |