WO2000041387A2

WO2000041387A2 - Scanning device having integral storage device

Info

Publication number: WO2000041387A2
Application number: PCT/US1999/029501
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fred C. Thomas, Iii; Jeffrey B. Stephenson; David L. Jolley; Fred C. Thomas, Jr.
Original assignee: Iomega Corporation
Priority date: 1998-12-31
Filing date: 1999-12-14
Publication date: 2000-07-13
Also published as: EP1147657A2; WO2000041387A3

Abstract

A scanning device has a scanning portion and an integral storage device. The scanning portion optically scans an image and converts the scanned image into a digital image, and provides the digital image at an output. The integral storage device has an input for receiving the digital image and a bay for receiving a removably insertable storage cartridge inserted thereinto. The received storage cartridge stores the received digital image therein.

Description

Title of the Invention

Scanning Device Having Integral Storage Device

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a scanning device having an integral storage device. More particularly, the present invention relates to such a scanning device that may be employed as a personal electronic copier that scans an image and stores the image in a removably insertable storage cartridge inserted into the integral storage device.

Background of the Invention Undeniably, one useful computer peripheral is a writeable removable data storage device, such as a low density magnetic storage disk drive (about 1-2 megabytes of storage per associated disk), a high density magnetic storage disk drive (about 50-250 megabytes of storage per associated disk), an even higher density magnetic storage tape drive (about 5 gigabytes of storage per associated tape), or a still higher density optical storage disk drive (about 10 gigabytes of storage per associated disk), among other storage devices. Also undeniably, another useful computer peripheral is a digital image scanner. Such storage device and such digital image scanner may each be purchased individually and then attached to a host computer or the like for operation in conjunction with such computer and under the control of such computer. However, because of their dependency on the host computer, such storage device and such digital image scanner are for all practical purposes useless when not attached to such host computer.

Oftentimes, an individual is perusing a book, magazine, journal, or the like, and such individual desires to copy one or more pages and/or images from such book, magazine, journal, or the like. For example, the individual may be reading or viewing documents or images or the like at a location such as a residence, an office, a library, a research facility, or the like, and may want to copy one or more pages of the documents or images or the like. Typically, the individual must find a photocopier nearby, and then pay to copy each desired page or image onto a sheet of paper, oftentimes at an exorbitant price, and with marginal copy quality. This assumes that the individual is even allowed by the owner of the book, magazine, journal, or the like, to remove such book, magazine, journal, or the like to the photocopier for such copying (and of course that the individual has the legal right to copy).

As a relatively recent matter, the individual also has another option in that such individual may transport an appropriate digital image scanner, an appropriate storage device, and an appropriate host computer to the aforementioned location, thereby obviating the need for a nearby photocopier. However, unless the host computer is relatively small, transportation thereof is cumbersome and unrealistic. Even when the host computer is relatively small, such as a portable computer, the library patron must tote the portable computer, tote the digital image scanner, tote the storage device (assuming it is not already integral to the host computer), tote the appropriate interconnecting cables, tote one or more appropriate power supplies or power cables, and then appropriately assemble and interconnect the aforementioned elements to form a functioning copy system. As should be understood, such an endeavor is daunting, to say the least. Moreover, and at any rate, once the copy system is assembled, especially in a relatively public place such as a library or the like, the individual is likely justified in feeling uncomfortable when faced with the prospect of leaving the assembled copy system to obtain another document, to make a phone call, to visit a rest room, etc. As should be evident, suck lack of comfort arises from the fact that the system elements can be spirited away relatively easily by an unscrupulous interloper, and also from the fact that the value of all the system elements can easily reach several thousand dollars. As may be understood, since most of the aforementioned value usually resides in the portable computer, it would be useful if such portable computer were not necessary. That is, it would be useful if a storage device and a digital image scanner were functionally operable to copy and store images despite the absence of the host computer. Moreover, realizing that digital image scanners are not normally meant to be portable, it would be useful to provide a digital image scanner that is portable. Finally, owing to the fact that it is easier to tote one integrated device rather than multiple components, it would be useful if a digital image scanner included an appropriate storage device such that all necessary functionality is integral to one unit. Accordingly, a need exists for a scanning device which includes a digital image scanner and an integral storage device for receiving and storing scanned images.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention satisfies the aforementioned need by providing a scanning device that has a scanning portion and an integral storage device. The scanning portion optically scans an image and converts the scanned image into a digital image, and provides the digital image at an output. The integral storage device has an input for receiving the digital image and a bay for receiving a removably insertable storage cartridge inserted thereinto. The received storage cartridge stores the received digital image therein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The foregoing summary as well as the following detailed description of the present invention will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a scanning device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a flow diagram showing steps performed by the scanning device of Fig. 1 when such scanning device is in a hosted mode and in a stand-alone mode; Figs. 3 A and 3B are perspective views of one physical embodiment of the scanning device of Fig. 1 , and show the cover of the scanning device in a closed position (Fig. 3A), and in a opened position (Fig. 3B);

Figs. 4A and 4B are perspective views of another physical embodiment of the scanning device of Fig. 1, and show the upper portion of the scanning device in an expanded position (Fig. 4A), and in a collapsed position (Fig. 4B);

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another physical embodiment of the scanning device of Fig. 1, where the scanning device is a hand-held wand-type scanning device; and Fig. 6 is a block schematic diagram showing the interrelationship of the major elements of the scanning device of Fig. 1.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Certain terminology may be used in the following description for convenience only and is not considered to be limiting. The words "left", "right", "upper", and "lower" designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words "inwardly" and "outwardly" are further directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the referenced object. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals are used to indicate like elements throughout, there is shown in Fig. 1 a scanning device 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As seen, the scanning device 10 includes both a scanner or scanning portion 12, and an integral storage device 14. Preferably, the scanner or scanning portion 12 is an optical scanner that scans an image and converts the scanned image into a digital image, and that provides the digital image at an output thereof. As will be noted below, the scanner 12 can be any optical scanner without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. However, it is preferable that the scanner 12 has a relatively small size, shape, weight, etc. such that the scanning device 10 having the scanner 12 is reasonably portable. The integral storage device 14 has an input for receiving the digital image from the scanner 12, and a bay 16 for receiving a removably insertable storage cartridge 18 that is inserted into such bay 16. As with the scanner 12, the integral storage device 14 can be most any storage device without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. However, and again, to enhance the aforementioned portability of the scanning device 10, the integral storage device 14 is also of a relatively small size, shape, weight, etc.

Although the integral storage device 14 may in fact be a common magnetic disk drive of the type that accepts a typical 3.5 inch magnetic disk with 1.44 megabytes of storage, it will be recognized that each scanned image from the scanner 12 will typically comprise about 1 megabyte of information (8.5 inch by 11 inch image, uncompressed, at 300 dpi). Accordingly, such 1.44 megabyte magnetic disk would not hold very many scanned images, compressed or un-compressed. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, then, the integral storage device 14 is a higher density storage device than the aforementioned 3.5 inch 1.44 megabyte disk drive. For example, the integral storage device 14 may be a magnetic disk drive that stores data on a storage cartridge 18 such as a high capacity magnetic disk, a magnetic tape drive that stores data on a storage cartridge 18 such as a magnetic tape cartridge, an optical disk drive that stores data on a storage cartridge 18 such as a writeable or re-writeable optical disk, or the like. In one preferred embodiment, the storage cartridge 18 may be a "ZIP" 100 megabyte or "CLIK!" 250 megabyte cartridge, and the integral storage device 14 may be a "ZIP" or "CLIK!" storage device, all of which are marketed and sold by IOMEGA Corporation of Roy, Utah.

Preferably, the scanning device 10 also includes a compression portion 20 that has an input for receiving the digital image from the scanning portion or scanner 12. As should be understood, the compression portion 20 compresses the digital image received from the scanner 12 into a compressed digital image and provides the compressed digital image at an output thereof. Accordingly, the input of the integral storage device 14 receives the compressed digital image from the compression portion 20 (either directly or indirectly), and stores the received compressed digital image on a storage cartridge 18 which has been received in the bay 16 of such integral storage device 14. As should be understood, by compressing the digital image prior to storing such digital image on the storage cartridge 18, such digital image uses less storage space in the storage cartridge 18, and more digital images may therefore be stored in such storage cartridge 18. The compression portion 20 may compress each digital image according to any appropriate compression algorithm without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the compression portion may employ .GIF (graphic interchange format) compression, .PNG (portable network graphics) compression, JPG (joint photographic experts group) compression, and/or the like. Since it is intended that the digital image as stored on the storage cartridge 18 will eventually be retrieved from such storage cartridge 18 by another processor (not shown), such as the processor of a personal computer or the like, it is preferable that the compression algorithm employed be recognizable by such another processor. It will be recognized that the compression portion 20 need not necessarily be employed in the present invention, and correspondingly that the stored digital images need not necessarily be compressed in the present invention. However, the increase in storage capacity obtained by the use of such compression portion 20 and such compression algorithm is considerable and cannot be ignored.

Although the scanning device 10 of the present invention need not be coupled to a host processor in order to be operable, and although it is preferable that the scanning device 10 not require the use of such a host processor, it can still be the case that a coupling of the scanning device 10 to a host processor is desirable. For example, if an appropriate host processor is available and if the available host processor has sufficient storage capabilities, it may be preferable to store data from a scanned digital image in the memory associated with such host processor. Accordingly, and as seen in Fig. 1, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scanning device 10 includes an appropriate interface 22 for coupling the scanning device 10 to a host processor 24 having memory 26. As may be appreciated, the memory 26 may be any appropriate memory, including an optical or magnetic hard drive, or an optical or magnetic storage drive that receives an appropriate removable storage cartridge (not shown). As should be understood, the interface 22 may be any appropriate interface without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Likewise, the host processor 24 and memory 26 may be any appropriate host processor and memory without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. However, the host processor 24 should be selected so as to be compatible with the interface 22 of the scanning device 10. For example, if the interface 22 includes a parallel port and a USB port, then the host processor 24 is preferably a personal computer or the like having the capability to be connected to one or more of such ports by way of appropriate cabling. Of course, other types of interfaces can be employed, including IEEE- 1394, SCSI, IDE, and Atapi, among others, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

With the scanning device 10 being removably couple-able to the external host processor 24 by way of the interface 22, the scanning device 10 is preferably operable in either a stand-alone mode or a hosted mode. Preferably, the mode of operation of the scanning device 10 is automatically selected based on a detection of whether the scanning device 10 is coupled to the host processor 22 by way of the interface 22. Preferably, the scanning device includes appropriate hardware and or software that performs such detecting function. Detecting a coupling is generally known or should be apparent from the present disclosure and therefore need not be further described here.

In the stand-alone mode, the scanning device 10 is not coupled to the external host processor 24 and does not provide the digital image from the scanner 12 to the external host processor 24. In the stand-alone mode, the scannin device 10 acts in the manner already described above. Specifically, and referring now to Fig. 2, once the image is scanned and converted into a digital image by the scanner 12 (step 201), the integral storage device 14 receives the aforementioned digital image (step 205) and stores such digital image on a storage cartridge 18 received in the bay 16 of such integral storage device 14 (step 207).

In the hosted mode, the scanning device 10 is coupled to the external host processor 24 by way of the interface 22, and the digital image from the scanner 12 of the scanning device 10 is provided to the external host processor 24 by way of the interface 22 (step 203). Accordingly, in the hosted mode, the integral storage device 14 does not receive the digital image. Once the digital image is received by the host processor 24, such host processor may save the digital image in the memory 26, may forward the digital image to a printer (not shown) perhaps after additional processing, may transmit the digital image remotely, etc. As should now be understood, the detection of whether the scanning device 10 is coupled to the host processor 22 by way of the interface 22 and the automatic selection of the mode of operation of the scanning device 10 results in the automatic routing of the digital image from the scanner 12 to the integral storage device 14 (stand-alone mode) or the host processor 24 (hosted mode). Referring now to Figs. 3 A and 3B, one physical embodiment of the present invention is shown as a portable flatbed-type scanning device 10a. As should be understood, the flatbed-type scanning device 10a is characterized by a base 32 having a generally flat scan bed 28 (Fig. 3B) upon which an article, newspaper, book, paper, magazine, journal, drawing, or the like is place in order that an image thereon may be digitally scanned by the scanner 12 in the scanning device 10a. A cover 30 is attached to the scanning device 10a, and is employed to cover the item being digitally scanned so that external sources of light do not affect the scan operation. As shown, the cover 30 is a relatively inflexible member that is hinged to the base 32 of the scanning device 10a. However, it will be recognized that the cover 30 may be flexible, and may be attached to the base 32 by means other than a hinge, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, if the cover is indeed flexible, one side edge thereof could simply be affixed to the base 32 such that a portion of the flexible cover adjacent the affixed side edge flexes during opening and closing operations.

Still referring to Figs. 3 A and 3B, several features are provided to enhance and/or facilitate portability of the scanning device 10a. For example, the cover 30 of the scanning device 10a includes a cover securing device 34 for securing the cover 30 to the base 32. With the cover 30 secured by the cover securing device 34, the scanning device 10a may be carried about without fear that such cover 30 will fly open at an inopportune moment. As shown, the cover securing device 34 comprises a latch on the cover 30 that securely releasably interfaces with a latch keeper 36 on the base 32. However, any appropriate cover securing device 34 may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In addition, to facilitate portability, the scanning device 10a includes a carry handle 38 in an appropriate location. As shown in Figs. 3A and 3B, the carry handle 38 is on one of the longer sides of the base 32 of the scanning device 10a, although such carry handle 38 could also be provided at other locations. Preferably, the carry handle 38 is positioned substantially directly above the center of gravity of the scanning device 10a, such that carrying by such carry handle 38 is not awkward. The carry handle 38 also could comprise a carry strap (not shown). Whether embodied as an actual handle or a strap, the carry handle 38 allows a user of the scanning device 10A to transport such scanning device 10A much as if the scanning device 10A was a briefcase or carry bag.

Another item which facilitates portability of the scanning device 10a is a retractable power cord 40 that can be pulled out from the base 32 of the scanning device 10A and plugged into an appropriate power outlet. When use of the scanning device 10A is complete, the retractable power cord 40 may then be removed from the power outlet and be allowed to retract into the base 32 of the scanning device 10a. Accordingly, a user of the scanning device 10a need not be concerned with storing the power cord 40, and such power cord 40 is always with the scanning device 10a. The retractable power cord 40 may comprise any appropriate assembly for providing the retraction function without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the retractable power cord 40 may include a spring-loaded take-up reel (not shown).

To address the case where the scanning device 10a is transported to a location where no external power source is available, the scanning device 10a may include a removable battery power source 64 (not shown in Figs. 3 A or 3B, shown in Fig. 5). As should be understood, the removable battery power source 64 can be most any type battery without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. However, the battery 64 should have sufficient stored energy to provide power to operate the scanning device 10a for a reasonable period of time and scanning operations. At the same time, the battery 64 should have a relatively small size, shape, weight, etc. such that the scanning device 10a having the battery 64 is reasonably portable.

In prior art scanning devices that are controlled by a host computer, the host computer issues all operating commands to and receives all functioning information from such prior art scanning device. Accordingly, few integral input switches / buttons or output displays are necessary in such prior art scanning devices. In the present invention, however, the scanning device 10 can function independently from a host computer. As a result, integral input switches / buttons and output displays are preferable in the scanning device 10. In particular, in any embodiment of the present invention, the scanning device 10 preferably includes a scan activation button 42 for activating a scanning operation, and an input panel 44 for selecting from among a plurality of scanning options. With such scan activation button 42 and input panel 44, the operation of the scanning device 10 may be directly controlled without any host computer. Preferably, input panel 44 is menu-driven, and includes a display 46 where menu items are displayed, and scroll/select buttons 48 for scrolling through choices displayed on the display 46 and selecting desired options. The choices and options available are generally known or should be apparent from the present disclosure and therefore need not be described here in any detail. Moreover, the hardware and software for implementing the choices and options are also generally known or should be apparent from the present disclosure and therefore also need not be described here in any detail. Once the operating parameters of the scanning device 10 are set by way of the input panel 44, and once an article to be scanned is place on the scan bed 28 of the scanning device 10, the scan activation button 42 may then be activated. As should be understood, such activation causes the scanner 12 within the scanning device 10 to scan an image of the article and convert the scanned image into a digital image, and then to store the digital image in a storage cartridge 18 inserted within the bay 16 of the integral storage device 14 of the scanning device 10.

In any embodiment of the present invention, the scanning device 10 also preferably includes a display panel for displaying a preview image corresponding to the scanned image. As should be understood, with such a built-in preview scan and display function, a scanned image may be evaluated, and adjustment of various scanned parameters may be performed prior to performing another scanning operation. In the scanning device 10a shown in Figs. 3 A and 3B, the aforementioned display panel may in fact be the display 46 that is part of the input panel 44, although a separate display (not shown) may alternately be employed as the preview display panel without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

In the scanning device 10a shown in Figs. 3 A and 3B, a product name or product marking logo 50 is positioned on the base 32, in this case adjacent the scan activation button 42. The logo 50 may be electro-luminescently lit to act as a light on the external surface of the base 32. In such a case, the lit logo 50 may be employed as a night light. As should be understood, such an electro-luminescent product name or product marking logo 50 may be employed as a night light on any other electronic device, including a computer, a fax machine, an answering machine, a telephone, a copier, a calculator, a clock, a radio, a television, or the like. It will be observed that in the scanning device 10a shown in Figs. 3A and

3B, the bay 16 of the integral storage device 14 is accessed by way of an opening on the external surface of the base 32, in this case just below the scan activation button 42. Adjacent bay 16, a cartridge eject button 53 is positioned. As should be understood, the eject button 53 when actuated causes an inserted storage cartridge 18 (not shown) to be ejected from the bay 16 of the integral storage device 14.

Referring now to Figs. 4 A and 4B, another physical embodiment of the present invention is shown as a portable flatbed-type scanning device 10b that is similar to the scanning device 10a shown in Figs. 3 A and 3B, except that the scanning device 10b includes a base 32 having an upper portion 52 and a lower portion 54. As seen, the upper portion 52 includes the scan bed 28 of the scanner 12 of the scanning device 10b, and is movable between an expanded position (Fig. 4 A) where the upper portion 52 is moved away from the lower portion 54, and a collapsed position (Fig. 4B) where the upper portion 52 is moved toward the lower portion 54. As should be understood, in the collapsed position of Fig. 4B, the scanning device 10b is more compact and therefore more convenient to transport. As should be understood, when the upper portion 52 of the base 32 is in the expanded position of Fig. 4A, a scanning operation may take place. After scanning has ceased, the upper portion may then be moved to the collapsed position of Fig. 4B.

Preferably, the scanning device 10b includes a biasing device 56 that biases the upper portion 52 to one of the expanded position and collapsed position. Likewise, it is preferable that the scanning device 10b includes an upper portion securing device 58 for securing the upper portion 52 in the other of the expanded position and the collapsed position. More preferable, the biasing device 56 biases the upper portion 52 to the expanded position, and the upper portion securing device 58 secures the upper portion 52 in the collapsed position. The biasing device 56 and the upper portion securing device 58 may be any appropriate respective structures for performing the respective functions without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the biasing device 56 may comprise one or more springs. As seen in Figs. 4 A and 4B, the springs 56 may be located at each corner of the scanning device 10b for high effectiveness. With regard to the upper portion securing device 58, it is noted that in the scanning device 10b shown in Figs. 4A and 4B, the latch 34 on the cover 30 latches to the latch keeper 36 on the lower portion 54 of the base 32, and that the latch 34 engages the latch keeper 36 when the upper portion 52 of the base 32 is moved to the collapsed position. Accordingly, the latch 34 and latch keeper 36 may act as the upper portion securing device 58. Preferably, in addition to the latch 34 and latch keeper 36, latch release buttons 58 are provided on either side of the scanning device 10b (shown on the one side underneath the carry handle 38) to also perform the securing function. Such buttons 58 may comprise any appropriate buttons without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and may be operated in a generally known manner. Referring now to Fig. 5, another physical embodiment of the present invention is shown as a hand-held wand-type scanning device 10c that has a scanning head 60 and a hand-hold section 62 attached to the scanning head 60. As is generally known, a hand-held wand-type scanning device such as scanning device 10c is operated by facing the scanning head 60 at one edge of an article to be scanned, pushing the scan activation button 42, and then drawing the scanning head 60 across such article to scan the image on the article and convert the scanned image into a digital image. Preferably, the scanning head 60 is wide enough to accommodate the width of a typical page (i.e., about 8.5 inches) in a single pass. Alternatively, the scanning head 60 can be narrower and the image would be scanned with multiple passes. In such a situation, the scanning device 10c would preferably include appropriate software and/or hardware to digitally piece together the multiple scan passes to form a final digital image.

Preferably, in the scanning device 10c shown in Fig. 5, the integral storage device 14 generally resides within the hand-hold section 62. Accordingly, the digital image obtained from the scanning head 60 is stored in a storage cartridge 18 (not shown in Fig. 5) inserted into the bay 16 of the integral storage device 14 in the hand- hold 62. In the scanning device 10c shown in Fig. 5, the bay 16 of the integral storage device 14 is accessed by way of an opening on the distal end of the hand-hold 62. As may be expected, to satisfy the dimensional restrictions incumbent in such hand-hold 62, the integral storage device 14 must be especially compact as must be the storage cartridge 18 that is received within such integral storage device 14. For example, the storage cartridge 18 may be a "CLIK!" cartridge, and the integral storage device 14 may be a "CLEK!" storage device, both of which are marketed and sold by IOMEGA Corporation of Roy, Utah.

Especially with regard to the hand-held wand-type scanning device 10c shown in Fig. 5, it is preferable that a removable battery power source 64 be employed, for the same reasons as was discussed above. Here, the battery is shown as being positioned within the hand-hold 62. As before, the battery 64 of the scanning device 10c may be any type of battery without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, so long as the battery 64 has sufficient energy to provide enough power to operate the scanning device 10c for a reasonable length of time and reasonable amount of scans. As before, too, but even more importantly here, the battery 64 of the scanning device 10c should have a relatively small size, shape, weight, etc. such that the scanning device 10a having the battery 64 is reasonably sized, weighted, and balanced. Turning now to Fig. 6, it is seen that in any embodiment of the present invention, the elements of the scanning device 10, including the integral storage device 14, the display 46, the scroll/select buttons 48, the scan activation button 42, and the scanner 12 all are logically connected to a processor 66 within the scanning device 10. Accordingly, all inputs to the scanning device 10 are received by the processor 66, and the processor 66 outputs signals to relevant ones of the elements in response thereto. As a result, once the mode of operation has been set by the input panel 44 (including the display 46 and the scroll/select buttons 48), and once the scan button 42 has been activated, the processor 66 controls the operation of the scanner 12, receives the digital image from such scanner 12, and then forwards the digital image either to the storage device 14 for storage on a storage cartridge 18 inserted into the bay 16 of such integral storage device 14 (stand-alone mode), or to a host processor 24 by way of interface 22 (hosted mode). If so desired, the processor 66 may forward the digital image to the compression portion 20 (and its associated RAM 26) for compression prior to forwarding same to the storage device 14 or to the host processor 26.

Other elements may be necessary to effectuate the operation of the scanning device 10. For example, depending on the integral storage device 14, a conversion element (not shown) may be necessary to convert information sent out from the processor 60 into a form receivable by the integral storage device 14. Likewise, a conversion element (not shown) may be necessary for converting digital image data sent out by the scanner 12 for receipt by the processor 66. In addition, if the scanning device 10 is to include an interface 22 for coupling the scanning device 10 to a host processor 24, a conversion element (not shown) may be necessary to convert information data sent out by the processor 66 for receipt by the host processor 24.

Typically, the processor 66 requires attached RAM 68 and ROM 70 to store the digital image as it is received from the scanner 12, to store an operating system for operating the processor 66, and for other memory storage and retrieval needs. The processor 66 is provided with all the software and/or hardware necessary for providing all the functionality incumbent in the scanning device 10. Such software and/or hardware is known or should be apparent based on the present disclosure, and therefore it is not necessary to provide any additional discussion of such hardware and/or software in the present disclosure.

In the present invention, a scanning device 10 has a scanner 12 and an integral storage device 14, and a digital image scanned by the scanner is stored in a storage cartridge 18 received in the integral storage device 14. The details and mechanics of the operation of the scanner 12 and the integral storage device 14, as well as all other elements, have not been provided in any great specificity, owing to the fact that such details are already generally known or should now be apparent and should therefore be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art. Those skilled in the art should also appreciate that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the inventive concepts thereof. For one example, multiple integral storage devices 14 could be provided in a scanning device 10. For another example, the stand-alone functionality of the scanning device 10 may be provided in a scanner alone and/or a storage device alone, wherein simple attachment of the functionality-providing element to a non-functionality providing element realizes such functionality of such stand-alone scanning device 10, albeit in a non-integral form. For a further example, the stand-alone functionality of the scanning device 10 may be provided in part in a scanner alone and in part in a storage device alone, wherein simple attachment of such scanner to such storage device realizes such functionality of such stand-alone scanning device 10, again albeit in a non-integral form. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but instead it encompasses modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAEVIS

1. A scanning device comprising a scanning portion for optically scanning an image and converting the scanned image into a digital image and for providing the digital image at an output thereof, the scanning device also comprising an integral storage device having an input for receiving the digital image and a bay for receiving a removably insertable storage cartridge inserted thereinto, the received storage cartridge for storing the received digital image therein.

2. The scanning device of claim 1 wherein the scanning device further comprises a compression portion having an input for receiving the digital image from the scanning portion, the compression portion for compressing the digital image into a compressed digital image and providing the compressed digital image at an output thereof, the input of the integral storage device for receiving the compressed digital image, the received storage cartridge for storing the received compressed digital image therein.

3. The scanning device of claim 1 wherein the scanning device further comprises an input panel for selecting from among a plurality of scanning options.

4. The scanning device of claim 1 wherein the scanning device further comprises a display panel for displaying a preview image corresponding to the scanned image.

5. The scanning device of claim 1 wherein the scanning device further comprises a scan activation button for activating a scanning operation.

6. The scanning device of claim 1 wherein the scanning device further comprises a removable battery power source to facilitate portability.

7. The scanning device of claim 1 wherein the scanning device further comprises an electro-luminescent light mounted adjacent an external surface thereof, the light being employable as a night light.

8. The scanning device of claim 1 wherein the scanning device is a hand-held wand-type scanning device having a scanning head and a hand-hold section attached thereto.

9. The scanning device of claim 8 wherein the integral storage device generally resides within the hand-hold section.

10. The scanning device of claim 1 wherein the scanning device is a portable flatbed-type scanning device.

11. The scanning device of claim 10 wherein the flatbed-type scanning device comprises a base having a scan bed, an attached cover for selectively covering the scan bed, and a cover securing device for securing the cover to the base to facilitate portability.

12. The scanning device of claim 10 wherein the flatbed-type scanning device comprises a base having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion including a scan bed, the upper portion being movable between an expanded position where the upper portion is moved away from the lower portion, and a collapsed position where the upper portion is moved toward the lower portion, the upper portion being in the expanded position during a scanning operation, the upper portion being movable to the collapsed position to facilitate portability.

13. The scanning device of claim 12 wherein the flatbed-type scanning device further comprises a biasing device biasing the upper portion to one of the expanded position and the collapsed position, and an upper portion securing device for securing the upper portion in the other of the expanded position and the collapsed position.

14. The scanning device of claim 13 wherein the biasing device biases the upper portion to the expanded position, and the upper portion securing device secures the upper portion in the collapsed position.

15. The scanning device of claim 10 wherein the flatbed-type scanning device further comprises a carry handle to facilitate portability.

16. The scanning device of claim 10 wherein the flatbed-type scanning device further comprises a retractable power cord to facilitate portability.

17. The scanning device of claim 1 wherein the scanning device further includes an interface for being removably coupled to an external host processor, the scanning device being operable in a stand-alone mode and a hosted mode, in the stand-alone mode: the scanning device not being coupled to an external host processor and not providing the digital image to an external host processor, the integral storage device receiving the digital image, in the hosted mode: the scanning device being coupled to an external host processor by way of the interface and providing the digital image to the external host processor by way of the interface, the integral storage device not receiving the digital image.

18. A method for operating a scanning device comprising the steps of: optically scanning an image and converting the scanned image into a digital image in a scanning portion of the scanning device; providing the digital image at an output of the scanning portion; receiving the digital image at an input of a storage device integral to the scanning device, the storage device having a bay for receiving a removably insertable storage cartridge inserted thereinto; and storing the received digital image in the received storage cartridge.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the steps of: receiving the digital image from the scanning portion at an input of a compression portion integral to the scanning device; compressing the digital image into a compressed digital image in the compression portion; and providing the compressed digital image at an output of the compression portion, the input of the integral storage device for receiving the compressed digital image, the received storage cartridge for storing the received compressed digital image therein.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of selecting from among a plurality of scanning options at an input panel on the scanning device.

21. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of displaying a preview image corresponding to the scanned image at a display panel on the scanning device.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of activating a scanning operation at a scan activation button on the scanning device.

23. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of employing an electro-luminescent light mounted adjacent an external surface of the scanning device as a night light.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein the scanning device is a portable flatbed-type scanning device comprising a base having a scan bed, an attached cover for selectively covering the scan bed, the method further comprising the step of securing the cover to the base to facilitate portability.

25. The method of claim 18 wherein the scanning device is a portable flatbed-type scanning device comprising a base having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion including a scan bed, the method further comprising the steps of: moving the upper portion to an expanded position where the upper portion is moved away from the lower portion prior to performing a scanning operation; and moving the upper portion to a collapsed position where the upper portion is moved toward the lower portion after performing the scanning operation.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the steps of: biasing the upper portion to one of the expanded position and the collapsed position; and securing the upper portion in the other of the expanded position and the collapsed position.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the steps of: biasing the upper portion to the expanded position; and securing the upper portion in the collapsed position.

28. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of operating the scanning device in one of a stand-alone mode and a hosted mode, in the hosted mode: coupling the scanning device to an external host processor by way of an interface and providing the digital image to the external host processor by way of the interface, the integral storage device not receiving the digital image. in the stand-alone mode: receiving the digital image at the integral storage device , the scanning device not being coupled to an external host processor and not providing the digital image to an external host processor.

29. An electronic device comprising an electro-luminescent product marking mounted adjacent an external surface thereof, the electro-luminescent product marking for being employed as a night light.