GB2325580A

GB2325580A - Optical document scanner including light shutter

Info

Publication number: GB2325580A
Application number: GB9710379A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henry Peng; Kevin Yang; Ming-Tsan Lin
Original assignee: Umax Data System Inc
Current assignee: Veutron Corp
Priority date: 1997-05-19
Filing date: 1997-05-20
Publication date: 1998-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 2017-05-20
Also published as: GB2325580B; AU686980B3; GB9710379D0

Abstract

An optical scanner with a light shutter apparatus 20 is disclosed. The light shutter apparatus includes a plate member 22 located adjacent to the light transmitting slot 15 of the scanner and a driving device 24 connected with the plate member. The plate member can be driven by the driving device to cover the slot wholly so as to prevent light from entering the optic path of scanner when the light source 3 of the scanner is on. Therefore the brightness/darkness adjusting process of the scanner can be proceeded without switching off the light source, and thus make it more convenient and time saving to use the optical scanner. The scanner includes a document window glass 5, reflection means 7, lens set 9 and CCD 11.

Description

LIGHT SHUTTER APPRATUS FOR AN OPTICAL SCANNER This invention relates to a light shutter apparatus for an optical scanner, and more particularly to a light shutter apparatus which can prevent light from entering the optic path of scanner without turning off the light source while proceeding the brightness/darkness adjusting process of the optical scanner.

Nowadays the office automation (OA) is becoming more and more popular in our society with such vastly-expanding information. In addition to the use of computer to deal with daily information, optical scanner is also considered as a powerfiil tool since it provides a fast and convenient way to input and manage data such like documents, drawings, photographs, and so on. It has become a trend to take the optical scanner as an inevitable associate equipment of computer.

When the power of an optical scanner is switched on, the optical scanner will firstly proceed necessary inspections over the elements inside the scanner before normal scanning operation is started. One of the inspections is the brightness/darkness adjusting process. Conventional optical scanner always wait till the light source functions fully stabilized (which usually takes about one to two minutes) before the brightness adjustment is proceeded. When proceeding the darkness adjusting process, it is necessary for the conventional optical scanner to turn off the light source, which results in repeatedly switching of the light source before normal scanning operation can be proceeded. It is not only a waste of time but also troublesome, and therefore leaves a room for further improvement.

In view of the aforesaid limitations of conventional optical scanners, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a light shutter apparatus which is equipped within an optical scanner and can prevent light from entering the optic path of optical scanner when the light source is on.

Therefore the brightness/darkness adjusting process can be proceeded without switching off the light, and thus makes it more convenient and time saving to use the optical scanner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a light shutter apparatus for an optical scanner. The optical scanner comprises a light source, a reflection means, and an elongated light transmitting slot furnished between the light source and the reflection means. The light shutter apparatus comprises a plate means and a drive means. The plate means is located adjacent to the elongated light transmitting slot and has a size sufficient to cover the slot wholly. The drive means is connected with the plate means and can switch the plate means between a position adjacent to the slot and a position covering the slot. When there is a need to proceed brightness/darkness adjusting process of the scanner, the drive means switches the plate means to cover the slot so as to prevent light from passing through the slot without turning off the light source.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a light shutter apparatus for an optical scanner. The light shutter apparatus comprises a elongated thin plate for covering the light transmitting slot of the scanner and a drive means for switching the plate means. The drive means is an electromagnetic valve defining a shaft thereon. The shaft is fixedly connected with one end of the elongated thin plate such that the electromagnetic valve can drive the plate to switch between a position beside the slot and a position covering the slot. A guiding rail is connected at the other end of the plate so as to keep the balance and stability when the plate is driven by the electromagnetic valve.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a light shutter apparatus for an optical scanner. The light shutter apparatus comprises a plate means for covering the light transmitting slot of the scanner and a drive means for switching the plate means. The drive means comprises a motor defining a rotary axle thereon, and the plate means comprises an elongated curvilinear blade and a rotate wheel. The rotate wheel is fixedly connected with one end of the elongated curvilinear blade.

The rotate wheel is connected with the axle such that the elongated curvilinear blade can be driven by the motor to rotate and switch between a position beside the slot and a position covering the slot.

The foregoing features of the present invention may be more fully understood from the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of an optical scanner with a light shutter apparatus in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a top view of FIG. 1 (without the light source and the document window glass).

FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 (without the light source and the document window glass).

FIG. 3 is a partial segment view of another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG, 4A is a partial segment view of FIG. 3 wherein the rotate wheel is at a position beside the slot (i.e., opening position).

FIG. 4B is a partial segment view of FIG. 3 wherein the rotate wheel is at a position covering the slot (i.e., covering position).

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the optical scanner 1 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises: a light source 3 for emitting light, a document window glass 5 for carrying an object being scanned (not shown in figures), a reflection means 7, a lens set 9, a charge coupled device (CCD) 11 and a main body 13 for carrying all aforesaid elements. The light emitted by the light source 3 passes through (or is reflected by) the object on the document window glass 5, and then enters the reflection means 7 through an elongated light transmitting slot 15 formed between the document window glass 5 and the reflection means 7. By the reflection and re-direction of the reflection means 7, the light passes through the lens set 9 and images on the CCD 11. The CCD 11 then transforms the image into digital signal and sends the digital signal to a remote computer (not shown in figures) for further processes.

The light shutter apparatus 20 in accordance with the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1 comprises a plate means 22 located adjacent to the slot 15 and a drive means 24 fixedly connected with one end of the plate means 22. The drive means 24 can switch the plate means 22 to cover the slot 15 so as to prevent light from passing through the slot 15 even when the light source 3 is on. Therefore, the light source 3 needs not to be turned off during the brightness/darkness adjusting process so as to save time from avoiding repeatedly switching of the light source 3. Thus, the optical scanner of the present invention can be operated in a more convenient and time saving manner in comparison with the ones of prior art.

As shown in FIG. 1, the plate means 22 is substantially an elongated thin plate having a size sufficient to cover the slot 15 wholly in order to prevent light from passing through the slot 15. The drive means 24 comprises an electromagnetic valve 242 and a valve shaft 244. The shaft 244 is fixedly connected with one end of the plate means 22 such that the electromagnetic valve 242 can drive the shaft 244 together with the plate means 22 to switch between a position beside the slot 15 and a position covering the slot 15. When the scanner 1 is under normal operating state, the plate means 22 is positioned besides the slot 15 letting the light passing through the slot 15 for scanning purpose. When there is a need to proceed the darkness adjusting process, the electromagnetic valve 242 switches the plate means 22 to cover the slot 15 wholly without turning off the light source 3.

As shown in FIGs. 2A and 2B, at the other end of the plate means 22, which is opposite to the electromagnetic valve 242, is furnished with a guiding rail 26. The plate means 22 is movably connected with the guiding rail 26 in such a manner that it provides better guidance, balance and stability when the plate means 22 is driven by the electromagnetic valve 242.

It is noted that following illustrated embodiments have in general similar structure like the one shown in FIG. 1. Therefore same numerals are used for similar type of components.

Please refer to FIG. 3, which illustrates another preferred embodiment according to the present invention. The light shutter apparatus 20a comprises a drive means 24a which is preferably a rotary motor 36 and a plate means 22a. The plate means 22a comprises an elongated curvilinear blade 32 having a size sufficient to cover the slot 15 wholly and a rotate wheel 34.

The motor 36 is rotatable about an axle 38 which is parallel with the elongated dimension of the slot 15. One end of the elongated curvilinear blade 32 is fixedly coupled with the rotate wheel 34 which, in turn, is fixedly connected with the axle 38 of the motor 36. Therefore, the elongated curvilinear blade 32 together with the rotate wheel 34 can be driven by the motor 36 to rotate and switch between a position beside the slot 15 and a position covering the slot 15.

Referring to FIGs. 4A and 4B, when the optical scanner is under normal operation, the elongated curvilinear blade 32 is positioned perpendicularly beside the slot 15 (as shown in FIG. 4A), which leaves the slot 15 open for light to pass through. When there is a need to proceed the darkness adjusting process, the motor 36 drives the blade 32 to rotate and switch to a position totally covering the slot 15 (as shown in FIG. 4B). Thus there is no need to turn off the light source during the darkness adjusting process.

Please refer to FIG. 5, which illustrates yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The plate means 22b is substantially an elongated thin plate and is located adjacent to the slot 15. The electromagnetic valve 242a has a "V" shaped shaft 244a which is fixedly connected at the middle of the plate means 22b. Both end sides of the plate means 22b are movably connected with a guiding rail 26a respectively so as to provide better stability and balance when the plate means 22b is driven by the electromagnetic valve 242a.

Although certain specific embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described above, it is to be understood that many modification thereof are possible. The present invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A light shutter apparatus for an optical scanner having a light source, a document window glass, a reflection means, an elongated light transmitting slot formed between said document window glass and reflection means, a lens set, a charge coupled device (CCD) and a main body for carrying all aforesaid elements therein; said light shutter apparatus comprising: a plate means located adjacent to said elongated light transmitting slot, said plate means having a size sufficient to cover said slot wholly; and a drive means connected with said plate means for switching said plate means between a position adjacent to the slot and a position covering the slot; when there is a need to proceed brightness/darkness adjusting process of the scanner, the drive means switches the plate means to cover the slot preventing light from passing through the slot without turning off the light source.

2 A light shutter apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plate means is movably connected with a guiding rail at one end thereof.

3. A light shutter apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plate means is an elongated thin plate.

4. A light shutter apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive means is a motor defining a rotary axle thereon and said plate means comprises an elongated curvilinear blade and a rotate wheel; said elongated curvilinear blade being fixedly connected with said rotate wheel at one end thereof; said rotate wheel being connected with said axle such that said elongated curvilinear blade can be driven by said motor to rotate and switch between the position beside the slot and the position covering the slot.

5. A light shutter apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive means is an electromagnetic valve defining a shaft thereon; said shaft being fixedly connected with one end of the plate means such that the electromagnetic valve can drive the plate means to switch between the position beside the slot and the position covering the slot.

6. A light shutter apparatus of claim 1 wherein said drive means is an electromagnetic valve defining a "V" shaped shaft thereon; said "V" shaped shaft being fixedly connected at middle of the plate means; both two end sides of the plate means being movably connected with a guiding rail respectively so as to provide better stability and balance when the plate means is driven by the electromagnetic valve.