JPH08110825A - Computer interface as well as apparatus and method for acquisition of other integrated keying data and optical scanning data - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a new and improved method and station device which mechanically and electrically integrate a keyboard and a scanner data catching device with a single keyboard device for interfacing with a computer or the other devices. CONSTITUTION: Keyboard keys which are attached in an internal standard keyboard frame having side walls that support a scanner assembly on an internal panel 11 which is useful as a mechanical support and under a keyboard, a document guiding route 16, a document carrying-in port 14 arranged on the outside of the upper end of the keyboard, and a document outlet 15 arranged on the outside of the lower end of the keyboard approaching a user are shown in a longitudinal section.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to multifunctional data capture devices for computers and others, and more particularly to keystrokes and similar document and optical scan image data to computer and other processing or similar systems. Regarding data entry.

[0002]

The prior art is complete with computer data processing systems and various other data acquisition methods,
Different and different devices are used, each as follows:

A) Application of a text input device (keyboard) for inputting data of a keyed and edited character and number original.

B) In the use of image capture devices (scanners) for capturing drawings, photographs and textualized alphanumeric documents, such scanners range from hand scanners, page scanners to large drawing scanners.

C) Use of local and / or telecommunications lines for data transfer generated separately from devices such as those described above.

Separate keyboards are very widely used as input and control devices adjacent to computer and multiprocessor systems, each with a fixed number of keys, a local indicator light, an internal control unit, and a communication interface. ing. The internal control unit monitors the keys, analyzes and filters keystrokes, and generates the appropriate code to be sent to the host computer via the communication port. In addition, the control unit operates the indicator lights on the keyboard. An example of such is shown below. Northg
ate Omnikey keyboard (101N1,102, Ultra), for example, Key Tronic 101 keyboard, Cherry, BTC 5 as described in KB101 Plus and Eurotech brochures in 1992.
There are 339, FC3001, etc. The de facto standard keyboard outlines and dimensions commonly used and accepted for such related keyboards include the IBM PC and 101-key 101 keyboards, such as the 102-key layout and the Apple 105-key layout. Inevitably, a wedge shape having a height dimension of about 1 inch forward to about 3 inches rear, a length of less than 21 inches, and a depth of less than 9 inches is always accompanied. In this specification, such a thing is called a standard keyboard. However, in the daily work of any computing environment, much of the data captured from external resources or old files is in the form of printed documents (text, figures, photos and images). Therefore, scanning documents into electronic form is also an integral part of a personal computer workstation.

Accordingly, other independent scanners are also widely used and there are generally two basic types. that is,
They are flat bed scanners and hand-held scanners. Such flatbed scanners include electro-mechanical systems for document transport and handling, electro-optical units for converting scanned optical data into electronic signals, operator control panels, electronic controls and processes for controlling various system operations. , User input and display, filter and compress scan data, generally communicate with a host computer, and provide a power supply unit for electrical and electronic components. This type of scanner provides accurate scanning of full areas of high resolution and standard document size. Such examples include AVR 3000 / GS Plus, Microtek MSF-300G, The Compl
ete flatbed scanner, umax ug80, abatonscan ix-30
F, Dest PC Scan3000, Xerox Data-copy GS Plus.

The hand scanner has similar components, an electro-mechanical unit for the scanning speed direction, an electro-optical unit for converting the scanned optical data into electronic signals, control switches and indicators, controlling the scanning process, It includes an electronic control unit for communicating with the host computer. However, this type of scanner is much less accurate than flatbed scanners because it is manually moved along the document being scanned, such as low resolution, and ultimately high levels of accuracy. Limited to applications that do not require This type is also limited to a narrow scan path with an upper limit of only about 4.5 inches. An example of this is the Nisca Inc. N shown below.
iscan / GS, Logitech Inc. Scanman 256 / GS, The Comple
te Half-Page Scanner / GS, DFI Inc. DFI CHS-4000, Ma
rstek Inc. Mars M-6000, Mirgraph Inc. Mirgraph CS-4
096, KYE International Corp. PCpageBrrush / Color, N
CL America Clearscan Model 400, Prolab Technology
Co.Proscan PS-4000C and PS-4200C.

[0009]

Recently, keyboards have been mounted in close proximity to any computer workstation, but scanners have not. A typical flatbed scanner is much too large to fit on a large number of user tables in addition to a workstation CRT monitor and keyboard. Moreover, due to their size and cost, the scanner is typically located in a central common location within the company and is in fact a shared common asset.

Although hand scanners introduced to provide answers to "personal scanning" are small enough to be placed near or at workstations, such devices do not It has a limited (4.5 inches) scan width, much smaller than the width (8.5 x 11 inches), and is at best an imprecise, low resolution device. Furthermore, it should be pointed out that hand scanner operation is neither easy nor simple.

The keyboard and scanner data acquisition methods for computer systems have required different and different equipment, making routine tasks cumbersome and often inefficient. This means that the shelves take up valuable floor space,
Wrong organization creates confusion and creates myriad problems such as paper being easily damaged. Moreover, each separate device used for data entry has its own direct and indirect costs, and requires its own valuable floor space.

The guiding principle of the invention in the main measure is an improvement of the above need for a data acquisition keyboard and scanner device in different and usually different positions, the invention being novel, efficient and of relatively low cost. Method integration of devices.

Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is a new and improved mechanical and electrical integration of a keyboard and scanner data capture device into a single keyboard device for interfacing with a computer or otherwise. A method and station apparatus are provided.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a new and integrated device for distributing the electronic functions of a keyboard and scanner.

Other and further objects of the invention are set forth below and are particularly set forth in the claims of the invention.

[0016]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION However, in summary, in one of its broader aspects, the present invention provides an integrated keystroke data consisting of a standard keyboard used as a common package including an optical scanner for computer interfaces and others. And an optical scanning data acquisition station. Preferably, the keyboard control of the scanner is possible, sharing the keyboard and scanner electronic functions including one or all of the CPU, memory and computer communication functions.

Preferred and best mode embodiments and design features are described in detail below.

Before proceeding to the description of the preferred constructions of FIGS. 1-5, it is believed that an overview of the principles and features underlying such constructions is useful in recognizing the background of the invention and the importance of its technology. .

As mentioned above, the keyboard / scanner station apparatus of the present invention integrates two basic techniques of data capture: keystroke data using a standard keyboard and document scanning using a scanner. As a result, the integrated keyboard scanner resembles a standard keyboard in shape and size, but unlike conventional keyboards, the keyboard scanner also integrates high quality capabilities.

The integration of the scanner into the standard keyboard structure makes it possible to provide high quality scanning to each personal computer and workstation without losing more table space for additional devices. The mechanical structure is designed to support a precise transport system for an integrated scanner, resulting in high quality scanning without the special space normally required for flatbed scanners.

Furthermore, having a scanner that is keyboard integrated and closely related to the computer allows for significant cost savings and efficiency. The idea of such cost reduction is to use a host computer to display power supply requirements and scan status and modes, use keyboard keys to control the operation of the scanner, one external package for both devices, machine This is accomplished by using an internal keyboard frame to support the intelligent transport system, and sharing the same electronics, cpu, memory, and communication with the computer by both the keyboard and the scanner.

Of course, the main advantage of the keyboard scanner of the present invention is that both keystroke information and high quality scanned documents can be captured at each user station using a single, common and compact device. That is.

The basic keyboard / scanner station of the present invention comprises the following basic components. a) an external package (shown at A and D in FIG. 8, as will be more fully described below), b) an internal mechanical frame (shown at 9, 10 and 11) for incorporating a standard keyboard and scanner. , C) Document and paper transport system (3-4-6-
It is shown by 7-8-17. ), D) Document transport route (14-1
It is shown by 5-16-30. ), E) Electronic control unit (1
2 shows. ), And f) communication devices (12, 25 and 26)
Indicated by )

[0024]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, the integrated keyboard of the present invention
Scanner is indicated by H3, monitor H2, main cpuH
4, an internal bus H5, a communication controller H6, and a host computer main unit H1 having a port H7 to a keyboard / scanner H3, the interconnection cable being indicated by H8. A fax modem controller is provided with the H9, as will be described in more detail below, to enable the use of a facsimile. The connection to the telephone line is provided by a cable H11 from the communication port H10 and is illustrated.

Returning to the keyboard scanner assembly of the present invention, in the plan and vertical cross-sectional views of FIGS.
Side walls 9, 1 which also support the scanner assembly on the inner panel 11 which serves as mechanical support and also below the keyboard.
0, a document guide path 16, 30 below the keyboard, a document transport inlet 14 located outside the top edge of the keyboard, and a document outlet 15 located outside the bottom edge close to the keyboard user. Keyboard keys to be attached are shown.

Further, in particular, as shown in the exploded view of FIG. 8, there are preferably four main layers for the integrated keyboard and scanner arrangement of the present invention, labeled A, and having a key top. Keyboard / scanner package plate, internal mechanical support and document transport system B, main keyboard / scanner printed circuit board C, and base or bottom guide plate D.

In the preferred form, as stated at the outset, the entire keyboard scanner outer package is shown with a wedge shape and dimensions similar to a standard keyboard package. In the internal common mechanical frame system of the keyboard and the scanner, as described above, the left and right support frame walls 9 and 10 mount the keyboard support panel 11,
Furthermore, a laterally extending biased transport roller 4, a non-biased bottom idler roller 17, an electronic drive motor 3, suitable gear drives 8A, 8B, and a bias roller 6A for the integrated scanner.
An accurate scanner document transport system, including ~ 6C, is also supported at least in part under and coextensive with the keyboard panel, and as will be described more fully below, such an arrangement ensures high quality scanning. The same structure is also used to support the electronic printed circuit boards 12,13. In the modified mechanical drive system of FIG. 9, the modified mechanical transport system is shown with some drive wheels removed.

As can be schematically inferred in FIG. 5, a document (not shown) inserted into the downwardly curved transport inlet outside the upper edge of the keyboard is bounded by the upper plate 30 and the lower outer panel 16. Downwardly into the flat document guide path provided therein and from there between the top rollers 6B, 6C and 6A supported by the frame and the bottom idler roller 17 supported by the outer bottom panel 16 directly beneath the keyboard area. The drive roller 6A and the idler roller 17 on the right-most side assist in ejecting or removing the scanned document to the user at exit 15 which is carried coextensively and rises slightly therefrom.

During such document transport, the document is conventionally passed through an optical scanner head 5 having a lamp 19 and a sensor 20, shown in FIG. 2, in any known type for converting scanned image data into electrical signals. For example, a scanner head adapted for this purpose is the one used in the reference scanner device described above.

The electronic circuit boards 12, 13 are mounted above the upper cover plate 24 in the document guide path, the circuit of which controls all keyboard and scanner operations in a known manner. Scanning, handling of key data, and transfer to the host computer are controlled by the internal main board 12 which itself has a cpu memory. The same substrate is used to mount the conventional keyboard key joint 13. The display 2 installed on the keyboard in FIGS. 1 and 2 is like a conventional LED device and displays both the keyboard and scanner status. As previously stated, the keyboard scanner can use the power source of the host computer. Thus, the internal mechanical frame of the keyboard and scanner consists of left and right support frames 9 and 10 mounted on a standard keyboard support panel 11, with two frames used to support the precise transport system. A high quality scan is obtained. The same structure has a keyboard key and an electronic printed circuit board 12,
It is also used to support 13.

The electronic motor 3 holds the first transmission system of the driving bevel gears 8 and 8C of FIGS. 5 and 8 described above.
This system transfers power from the motor to the biasing rollers 6B and 6C. The second transmission system is provided at 7A for transferring power from the bias roller 6B to the bias roller 6A. The third transmission system 7C, 7D, 7E comprises a roller 6 installed laterally along the side of the device from the roller 6C.
Transfer power to D, 6E and 6F. In the variant of FIG. 6, the mechanical system is simplified and the biasing roller wheel 8 connected from the motor drive wheel to 6A and 8B.
Used to transfer power to A. Therefore, the component parts 6C to 6F and 7C to 7E of FIG. 5 are deleted by this simplification. Similarly, in the variation of FIG. 9, some drive wheels are also shown omitted, each having front and rear biasing rollers. Upper guide cover plate 24
The paper or document guide path defined by the non-biasing or idle rollers 17 is provided for smooth paper transport.

Communication with the host computer by either a parallel or serial interface port for outputting keyboard keystroke data and / or document scan data is shown schematically at control circuit 22 and connector 26.

The document guide bottom plate is shown hinged at 18 to allow its opening for easy maintenance and other access.

In the operation of the integrated station of the present invention, in the case of a normal keyboard, the user first inputs a key by using the keyboard. The user initiates the scanning process either by a scanning command from the host computer (slave mode) or simply inserting a document into the scanner transport (master mode). Once the document is scanned, it emerges from exit 15 for retrieval by the user. The scanning parameters can be set off line using keyboard keys or on line on one application command from the host computer system H1.

Further, in connection with communicating with a host computer, such is shown schematically, with a special driver software / hardware interface for communicating with a keyboard scanner. This driver enables the normal functionality of the keyboard and the two previously mentioned scanner operating modes, which are described below.

A) Master mode: the scanner automatically initiates the scan, executes the communication protocol with the host computer, and the host receives the scan data in a "spool" directory stored for its retrieval use. To do.

B) Slave mode: The host computer uses system commands (eg, SCAN [additional parameters] file name) or special purpose computers to perform the scanning process.

An example of a useful operation made possible by the present invention is:
Retrieval confirmation of medical patient records followed by scanning doctor's diagnosis and laboratory test results.
As another example, a document received by mail could be filed in a computer along with its scanned image instead of using a paper storage system.

The present invention also has an important impact on office operations using copiers. Today, due to the high cost and space requirements, such copiers are a resource shared in the office. With the integrated device of the present invention, such device is often omitted and replaced by an integrated keyboard scanner with a personal computer or any other workstation. In addition, copiers are often used to duplicate documents for distribution or filing. Such copiers are books equipped with a personal computer (PC) or any other host, using an office or external line for the distribution of information, and using a laser printer for making hard copies. It can be replaced by the inventive keyboard scanner.

The facsimile of the FAX machine is really a computer H1 equipped with the internal FAX modem board H9 of FIG.
And can be completely replaced with the personal integrated scanner of the present invention. The compatible fax boards are: Intel 7782 StatiFAXion, The Complete PC Inc.
Communicator 5828, Cardinal NM0510, NM0770, HayesJ
T fax 9600B INT., PowerUser Sendfax 24 / 48,24 / 96, A
TI 2400ETC internal, Zoom 9624 Send / Receive Int. F
ax modem, AFTECH Datafax 2400modem / 9600FAX. Actually,
This configuration has several major advantages over regular fax machines. This is described below.

Security: The fax received by the computer is
It is possible to protect against unauthorized reading by ordinary security measures such as passwords, magnetic cards, etc.

Quality: For both receive and transmit modes,
Additional inexpensive software means can be used to improve the image.

Cost: Using the device of the present invention, the additional fax / modem board required is significantly lower than the cost of a fax machine.

The system described above completely incorporates the scanner within a standard keyboard frame. Although keyboard capabilities do not change over the life of the computer, scanning requirements evolve over time and can change dramatically even in everyday tasks with different applications (document scanning, OCR applications, high resolution color image processing, etc.). sell.

Therefore, in some applications it is desirable to have the flexibility and selectivity to add or remove a scanning module to a standard keyboard structure so that it can be replaced.

Therefore, the scanner photoelectric converter 20 and the light source 1
The lens 9 and the lens 21 are configured as a removable unit as shown in FIG. The user can then have a unit without a removable scanner module for use as a standard keyboard, and later add a removable scanner unit as shown in FIG. 4 to enhance scanning capability, if desired. be able to. In the office environment, significant cost savings can actually be achieved by allocating the scanning units in some such keyboards.

As mentioned above, the separation has important advantages. Since the keyboard can be upgraded with the scanning module needed for a given function,
There may be several removable scanning units with different resolution, color or black and white capabilities. In the office environment, just as old typewriters switched their typing heads for multilingual, multifont operation, various removable units could then be assigned by multiple keyboard systems.

In FIGS. 3 and 4, the light source of the optoelectronic module is designated by 19, and the photoelectric converter of the optoelectronic module (linear CC
(Such as D element) is shown at 20. The lens of the optoelectronic module is 21, and the removable (or fixed) optoelectronic module 22 is shown with an optoelectronic module compartment 23 and a cover 24. In FIG. 4, the optoelectronic module is shown removed from its compartment.

As mentioned above, keyboards and scanners are used as input devices for computer software applications. In such a case, the keyboard and scanner operate in "slave" mode. The user chooses to use the scanner for data entry by selecting a scan operation from a menu or typing a special command. The application (software) sets up the scanner in scan mode and the user inserts the paper into the paper transport. The sensor detects the document, scans it, and returns the data to the computer. The application (software) switches the scanner back to the waiting state. This is the usual way keyboard scanners and other external I / O devices work with computers.

However, the main drawback of "slave" mode operation is that the user needs to know how the computer and its application software operate.
The user is unfamiliar with the computer, but in daily work F
You may actually operate the AX or copier. It functionally resides in the computer but is not available to such users.

According to a further extension of the invention, the "master mode" operation described above can be obtained. In this mode of operation, the master device is the keyboard scanner of the present invention and the computer is used as a slave output device for display, communication and printing. When operating in the "master" mode, the keyboard scanner device functions as three different devices overall. Although it helps the computer as a normal keyboard,
When the user inserts a document into the document feed port, the sensors 4, 4
a detects the document and translates the operation of the device from a normal keyboard (slave input device) to an independent fax or copier. Here, the keyboard scanner is the master device and the computer is used (transparently to the user) as the slave output device.

This operation is illustrated in the flow charts of FIGS. 11-16 using the refill key control of FIG. Initially, the keyboard operates in the initial default "slave" mode, as shown in FIGS. The user inserts the document into the scanner input port 14. The inserted document moves the mechanical arm 4A of the document sensor 4. The sensor sets the flag to "master" on, which causes the keyboard operation to switch to "FAX / COPY" machine "master" mode in FIG. 12 and to switch its keyboard driver to "keyboard master" mode. Initiate a communication protocol with a computer. In this mode, the special function keys on the keyboard work as FAX or C
It is automatically converted to the function of the “FAX / COPY” machine of FIG. 10 that has the predetermined functions such as SEND FAX, START COPY, FAST DIAL, etc. found on OPY.

For "FAX machine" operation, the user dials a number or presses one of the autodial number function keys and then selects the "SEND FAX" key. The keyboard scanner initiates a protocol with the computer that activates the fax send driver to send the fax. It can also use a computer display in FIGS. 13, 14, 15, 16 to display dialed numbers, fax status information sent, and operating instructions. For the "COPY machine" operation, the user simply
Pressing the "T" function key, the keyboard scanner initiates a protocol with the computer to activate the special application and, in FIGS. 13, 14 and 17, receives operational data from the scanner and places it on the printer. Print the data.

Furthermore, the master mode of operation allows the computer to be operated as a familiar fax machine or copier even by an unskilled person. In summary, more generally, the advantages provided by the present invention include the following.

1. The space required for various data acquisition devices is reduced. Keyboard scanners actually provide a scanned copy of documents for efficient desktop computer operation without losing any desk space.

2. The ability to combine data entry operations, data entry of keyed alphanumeric information with high quality scanning of drawings and documents is improved.

3. The price / performance of the hardware is improved and the direct cost required for the data acquisition device is reduced.
Instead of a keyboard, scanner, and fax machine, you only need the keyboard scanner of the invention.
For that purpose only one port of the computer system is sufficient.

4. Indirect costs such as maintenance costs, downtime costs, depreciation costs, etc. are reduced.

5. Office and desk publishing, technology, education,
And in many computer applications such as medical applications, etc., a dramatic improvement is made.

In addition, the present invention is also useful in flat bed scanners, as shown in FIGS. 18-21, which provide the same features as improvements in prior art systems. In the embodiment of FIGS. 18-21, the keyboard structure holding the scanning head and the drive below it is hinged at the rear and lifted in the direction of the arrow at 20 ', 21' in FIG. It is opened and scanned, i.e. on the bottom flat plate 11 'which serves as a document table. Once the document is so inserted, the integrated keyboard scanner is then rotated downwards, as at 22 'in FIG. 21, to allow scanning.

18 and 19, the portion 4'of the printed circuit board 3'is used to mount the keyboard keys 1'and, as previously mentioned, for separate and common keyboard scanner electronic control. With the part 5'of the substrate used. The upper cover 2'is provided while inputting a keystroke or control command on the device and keyboard,
Supplied for an ergonomic pad for hand support at 6 '. The front end 7'is shown suitably bent to facilitate the above-described lifting opening of the keyboard-scanner structure for insertion of the document D, as just described with reference to FIG. The structure is provided for the integrated scanner with a bottom cover 8'comprising the transparent window 15 'of FIG. 19 and the aforementioned document base plate 11' which also serves as a protective bottom cover for the scanner transparent window 15 '. . The pivot knob 9'has an end 7'for inserting documents.
Supplied to support the keyboard scanner when lifted from above and installed in an open housing 10 '.

A scanner photoelectric head of the type described above is shown at 12 'and is supplied with a mounting handle 13'. The nut handle 14 'and screw 18' translate electromechanical rotation into longitudinal movement of the scanner along the support rail 19 '. An electric drive motor controlled in response to a keyboard command (or, if desired, automatic operation based on closing the keyboard scanner after receiving a document) is shown at 16 'and the reduction gear system of FIG. 17 '. The particular electromechanical system implemented and shown in FIG. 20 is, of course, only by way of example with screw systems 18 ′, 14 ′,
The screw system converts rotation into longitudinal motion and can be replaced with other known conforming structures such as timing belts and others.

Although the present invention has been described in a preferred construction mode, it will be appreciated that other known keyboard scanners that integrate construction and detail can be used or substituted.
It is considered to be within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0064]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the keyboard / scanner station apparatus of the present invention integrates two basic methods of data capture: keystroke data using a standard keyboard and document scanning using a scanner. To do. As a result, the integrated keyboard scanner resembles a standard keyboard in shape and size, but unlike conventional keyboards, the keyboard scanner also integrates high quality capabilities. The integration of the scanner into the standard keyboard structure allows for high quality scanning to each personal computer and workstation without losing more table space for additional devices. The mechanical structure is designed to support an accurate transport system for an integrated scanner,
High quality scans are obtained without the special space normally required for flatbed scanners.

Furthermore, by having a scanner that is integrated with the keyboard and is closely related to the computer, there is an effect that it is possible to greatly reduce costs and improve efficiency.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of an integrated device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section and a side view showing a detailed configuration of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cut and side view showing a simplified mechanical transport configuration on a roughly 1: 1 scale of a real keyboard.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section and a partial side view showing a modification of the insertable and removable photoelectric module compartment.

FIG. 5 is a vertical section and side view showing a document conveying power train of the scanner.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section and side view showing a simplified mechanical transmission variant.

FIG. 7 is an outline or plan view of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an exploded isometric view showing the various layers of the device prior to integrated assembly.

9 illustrates a modified mechanical transport system incorporated into the structure of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a key with special controls for facsimile and other variant features of the invention.

FIG. 11

FIG. 17 is a flowchart for executing such a deforming operation.

18 is a side view similar to FIG. 2 of a modified structure adapted for integrating a flatbed scanner into a standard type keyboard in accordance with the present invention.

19 is an isometric view of the system of FIG. 18 similar to FIG.

20 is a structural cross-sectional view implementing an electromechanical system for controlling movement of a photoelectric head of a scanner in the system of FIGS. 18 and 19. FIG.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing successive positions of document insertion under the keyboard for scanning in the modification of FIGS. 18 to 20.

[Explanation of symbols]

 H1 Host computer H2 Monitor H3 Integrated keyboard / scanner H4 Main CPU H5 Internal bus H6 Communication controller H9 FAX modem controller 1 Keyboard key 3 Electronic drive motor 4 Energized transport roller 6 Energized roller 8 Gear drive 9, 10 Support frame side wall 11 Keyboard support panel 12, 13 Electronic printed circuit board 14 Document feeding inlet 15 Document discharging outlet 16 Document guide bottom plate 17 Non-biased bottom idle roller 18 Hinge 19 Light source 20 Photoelectric converter 21 Lens 22 Photoelectric module 23 Photoelectric module compartment 24 Cover 30 Document guide top plate

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H03M 11/20

Claims (20)

[Claims] 1. The step of mounting a keyboard within a standard keyboard frame, the standard keyboard frame also comprising:
Supporting the mobile document scanner underneath it as a single package in a frame, for such functions as CPU, memory, and communication with computer, and keyboard control for both keystroke data and scanner document movement and optical scanning. for,
A keyboard having a common electronic circuit board for the keyboard and scanner installed in the frame and having inputs and outputs at one end of the keyboard frame and outside the other end of the standard keyboard frame.
A method for integrating keystroke data and optical scan data capture for a computer interface configured to support a scanner mechanical transport system with a common internal keyboard frame for holding a document to be scanned beneath the scanner. 2. A keyboard is mounted in and on a standard keyboard frame, and a document photoelectric scanner is inserted and supported in and under the standard keyboard frame for such functions as CPU, memory and communication with a computer. , And a common electronic circuit board for the scanner and keyboard sparsely placed in and between the frames for keyboard control of both print data and optical scanning, and scanning of the lower frame of the scanner for scanning. A method of integrating keystroke data and optical scan data capture for a computer interface within a standard keyboard configured to introduce a document at one end. 3. The document according to claim 2, wherein the document is inserted through one opening of the keyboard frame, conveyed under the scanner in the frame, and output from outside the other end of the frame. the method of. 4. An integrated keyboard scanner is lifted to receive documents under the keyboard scanner,
A method according to claim 2 characterized in that it is then lowered onto the document to enable its scanning. 5. A method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the keyboard scanner is hinged at the rear so as to allow lifting and lowering of the unit. 6. To enable either a keyboard-scanner joining operation or just a keyboard operation,
A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the scanner is optionally mounted in or removed from the frame. 7. A keyboard supported in a standard keyboard, which is installed and supported in the standard keyboard frame.
And an integrated optical scanner, integrated keystroke data and optical scan data acquisition station for computer interfaces and others. 8. A means for inputting a document to be scanned by a scanner provided outside one end of the keyboard, passing the document directly under the same as the keyboard, and outputting the document from the other end. Integrated station. 9. A common electronic circuit board means is provided along the scanner under the keyboard for allocating keyboard and scanner electronic functions including one or more CPUs, memories and computer communication functions and also scanner control functions. The integrated station according to claim 8, wherein the integrated station is installed. 10. Integrated station according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises means for keyboard control of the scanner function. 11. Integrated station according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises means for external computer control of the scanner. 12. A keyboard mounted on an upper panel supported between frame side walls, the frame side wall also being coextensive with the keyboard but below the keyboard and bounded externally by an external panel. An optical scanner that is also used to support the document flat transport guide and drives the document along a flat path through the guide, starting at the transport entrance located outside the top edge of the keyboard and down from there. And then below the keyboard panel laterally to the bottom edge of the keyboard, and finally to a side frame transport means for ejection at its exit, and an optical scanning means supported along the document path. , Controlling electronic data generated by keystrokes on the keyboard and electronic signal data generated by the optical scanning means, To Department computer and interface it is connected to both the keyboard and the optical scanning means,
Integrated keystroke data and optics for computer interface and others, equipped with a combination of electronic control and printed circuit board means containing signal processing circuitry mounted internally below the keyboard panel above the document path. Scan data acquisition station. 13. A document driving means comprising a driving and idler roller installed on the opposite side of the document guide, held by a side frame and another panel, and cooperating with each other. Integrated station described. 14. A transport inlet and document guide are concavely bent downwards to extend horizontally within the frame beneath the scanner, substantially below the keyboard, with the exit area slightly raised, and 13. An integrated station according to claim 12, characterized in that it descends to facilitate document ejection. 15. A keyboard mounted on a standard keyboard housing, a photoelectric scanner mounted below the keyboard in the housing, and at the end of the housing, to an area below the scanner, to be scanned over the area. A means for introducing documents, controlling the electronic data generated by keystrokes on the keyboard and the electronic signal data generated by the optical scanning means, and interfacing such data with an external computer Connected to both
Integrated keystroke and optical scan data for a computer interface and the like, with a combination of electronic control and printed circuit board means including signal processing circuitry mounted internally below the keyboard above the document scanning area. Capture station. 16. A means for inserting a document at one end of the housing, movably moving the document therethrough through the area beneath the scanner, and then ejecting from outside the other end of the housing. The integrated keystroke data and optical scanning data acquisition station according to claim 15, wherein the integrated keystroke data and optical scanning data acquisition station is provided. 17. The scanner is flat-bed and pivotally lifts a housing containing an integrated keyboard scanner to introduce a document into the area and then allows scanning by the flat-bed scanner over the area. An integrated keystroke data and optical scanning data acquisition station according to claim 15 further comprising means for lowering the housing onto the document. 18. A combined keyboard and scanner function,
16. The integrated keystroke data and optics of claim 15, wherein the scanner is configured as a module attachable to and detachable from the housing to allow only normal keyboard functionality. Scan data acquisition station. 19. Computer communication includes means for interfacing a computer with a keyboard scanner for communicating in one of a master and a slave mode,
In master mode, the scanner automatically starts scanning
It comprises means for enabling a communication protocol with a computer, whereby the computer receives scan data and stores the same for retrieval. 16. The integrated station of claim 15, wherein the slave mode comprises means for enabling a computer to command scanning by the scanner. 20. The computer comprises an internal fax modem board to interface with a scanner so that the integrated station can be substituted for facsimile and copy operations.
The integrated station according to item 5.