GB2415313A

GB2415313A - Image scanner with integral document display screen

Info

Publication number: GB2415313A
Application number: GB0518975A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Angelica Quintana
Original assignee: Hewlett Packard Co
Current assignee: HP Inc
Priority date: 2002-05-31
Filing date: 2003-05-21
Publication date: 2005-12-21
Also published as: GB0518975D0

Abstract

A document imaging device 60 comprises a housing to support an object to be imaged, and a document display screen 62 integrated into the housing, operable to display a digitally scanned image of a document generated by the device scanning mechanism. As shown, the document display screen is integrated into an automatic document feeder mechanism 72. Figure 2 shows the display 42 integral with the general body of the scanning device, which may also have facsimile functionality. The screen may display substantially the whole scanned document but controls 64, 66 may be providing to scroll document on the screen, in the event it is larger than the display, e.g. if half of the image is displayed. Other control buttons may allow a user to zoom or crop the image, before printing or transmitting the scanned document.

Description

DOCUMENT IMAGE CAPTURE DEVICE

WITtI INTEGRATED DOCUMENT DISPLAY SCREEN

TECHNICAL FIELD OF rHE INVISNTION

100011 The present mvent.'on relates generally to the field of imaging devices, and more part cularly lo a document nnage capture device with an mteg'-ated document display screen

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

100021 Document image capture devices such as scanners, multi-function devices, copiers, network senders and the like have long been equipped with a small LCD (liquid crystal display) screen generally used to display the operating status of the device These l ('D screens are typ catty capable of dsplayulg one or two character hues such as the "ready" operas onal status or a facsimile number destination for sending the captured document image h1 some handheld pen-shaped models designed for capturing text, the Integrated LCI) screen Is capable of displaying an Con-based operating menu or several (heretofore StX to seven) hnes of scatmed text These text-capturing portable devices generally use optical character recognition software to "read" the text, which is then stored and transferred as editable text to a computer Some devices are operable to display a final seen of an Image or a thumbnail of an Image stored on portable storage media In all of these above-described devices, the captured text or images are transferred to a computer for viewing Otl the computer monitor screen prior to performtug a final scan, prints g, sending, or storing the scared document

SUMMARY ()E 11 114; INVI:N I ION

100031 In accordance wttl1 an embod,ttlent ot the present nivcntt-,n, a a document uliagulg device ( 10, 40, 60), comprising a 1lolsng ( 14), and a docittiletit display screen (12, 42, 62) disposed h1 the holisulg and operable to, display digitally scanned miage (84) of a document generated by a docent magulg ulecila, nsnl (82) 10004] In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a determent imaging device (40), comprising: a housing adapted to support an object to be imaged; and a document display screen (42) integrated into the housing and operable to display a digitally scanned image of a document generated by a doc..ir,ent imaging mechanism of the document imaging device (40).

[00051 In ar e..;nee with yet another embodiment ofthe present invention, a document Imaging device (60), comprising: a housing adapted to support an object to be imaged, an automatic documcut feeder unit (63) adapted to feed a document to be imaged, and a document display screen (62) integrated ditto tile automatic document feeder.nht (63) and operable to display a digitally scanned image of a document generated by a document hnaging mechanism of the document Imaging device (60).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

100061 For a more complete understanding of the present invention, the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying drawings m which 100071 FIGURE I Is an Isometric view of an embodiment of an exemplary flat bed scanner with an Integrated document display screen according to the teachings of the present Inventions 100081 I IGURE 2 is an sometnc view of an embodiment of an exemplary combination function image capture device with an integrated document display screen according to the teachings of the present mventon, 1 91 FIGURE 3 Is an Isometric view of another embodiment of an exemplary multifunction device with an Integrated document display screen according to the teachings of the present Invention; and 100101 FIGURE 4 Is a flowchart of an exemplary operation process of the nnagc capture device with ultegratecl document display screen according to the teachings of the present Invention DETAILED DE SCRTPT1 ON OF THE. DRAWING S 10011] The preferred embodiment of the present Invention and its advantages are best understood by referring to FIGURES 1 through 4 of the drawings, like numerals being used for like and corresponding parts of the various drawings.

100121 FIGURE 1 Is an rsometnc view of an embodiment of an exemplary flatbed scanner]0 with an integrated document display screen 12 according to the teachings of the present invention. Flat bed scanner 10 also comprises a base 14 that houses the image caphurng electronics and rnechamsm now known or later developed (not shown) and a hinged document lid]6 over a glass platen or irnagmg plate 18 disposed in base 14.

Documents to be unaged such as paper documents, transparencies, photographs, and photographic negatives are generally positioned face down on imaging plate 18. Integrated document display screen 12 Is sized to be capable of displaying most if not all of a captured Image of a standard letter-szed document, for example. Scrolhug control devices such as up and down buttons 20 and 22 may be provided to enable a user to scroll up and down the captured image so that the entire document Image may be viewed using integrated document display screen 12 Scanner 10 may also display the captured document image so that its displayed size enables the entire document Image to be displayed on integrated document screen 12 without scrolling. This feature may require a captured document image to be reduced to smaller-than-actual size for a large document as well as enlarged to bigger-than- actual size for a small document. For example, if scanner 10 is a photographic scanner, integrated document display screen] 2 may show an enlarged scanned image of the photograph or negative for easier viewing by the user. Document display screen]2 may use one of severa] display technologies now known or later developed, such as liquid crystal display (LCD), thin film transistor (TFT), light emitting diodes (LED), organic polymers, touch screens, etc. Although not shown explicitly, circuitry and other hardware as well as software and firmware enabling and supporting the communication of the preview scan image to the integrated document display screen and storage media for storing the preview scan images are incorporated in scanner 10 and other embodiments of the present invention.

For example, scanner 10 and other embodiments of the present invention may comprise one or more drives (not shown) for reading and writing portable storage media such as a disk, compact flash card, USB (universal serial bus) storage media, memory stick, and other forms of storage media now known or later developed.

100131 A control panel 24 is disposed on scanner 10 to allow the user to issue operational commands such as send as facsimile, send as email, send to a storage media, and other commands An additional and optional button 26 may be provided to enable the user to approve the scanned image, if desired A plurality of Indicator lights or LEDs 28 may be provided as further visual indication of device status 100141 For a flatbed-style scanner such as shown m Fl(JURE 1, integrated document display screen 12 is incorporated In an upper surface of lid 16. The size of lid 16 makes it possible to provide a screen size that Is capable of displaying a document Image in its actual size or close to it. Up and down buttons 20 and 22, instead ot or m addition to providing a scrolling function, may provide a zoom function. Further, buttons 20 and 22 may be used to crop the scanned image A user may therellre manipulate the display size (zoom function) and display area (scroll function) of the captured document image to obtain a clear view of the entire document Image either simultaneously or with manor manipulation Because the user is given the opportunity to check the quality of the scanned image, the sending, storing or prutrng of a rnis-ahgned or blurry captured image Is avoided.

10015J Preterably, the processing capabilities of the on-board microprocessor (not shown) is operable to process the user's commands to zoom, scroll and crop the preview image. Further, the memory capacity ol on-board memory (not shown) is appropriately sized to temporarily store the preview scan image as well as support these user functions. If desired, the resolution of the integrated document display screen 12 may be set by the user.

100161 Fl(]URE 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of an exemplary combination function Image capture device 40 with an integrated document display screen 42 according to the teachings of the present invention. Device 40 comprises image capturing, transmission and printing electronics and mechanism now known or later developed (not shown). Device 40 is operable to scan a document, print the document, send the captured document image via facsimile, store the image in a storage media, and/or other functions.

Device 40 comprises an integrated document display screen 42 disposed on its control panel 52 along with scroll/zoom buttons 44 and 46, and one or more control buttons 54. Integrated document display screen 42 is sized to be capable of displaying a large portion of a captured image of a standard letter- sized document. For example, the size of integrated document i/ display screen 42 may enable the simultaneous display of at least half of the document image without scrolling. Scrolling control devices such as up and down buttons 44 and 46 may be provided to enable a user to scroll up and down the captured image so that the entire document image may be viewed using screen 42. Scanner 40 may also display the captured document image so that its displayed size enables the entire document image to be displayed on integrated document screen 12 without scrolling. This feature may require a captured document image to be reduced to smaller-than-actual size as well as enlarged to bigger-than- actual size, depending on the original document dimensions.

100171 Control panel 52 Is disposed on an exterior surl'ace on the housing of combination scatter 40 to allow the user to easily view the captured image and Issue operational commands such as print, send as facsimile, send as emai], store the image and other commands. Control buttons 54 comprise numerical buttons to enable the user to enter a facsimile number for sending, the captured image. An additional and optional button 56 may be provided to allow the user to approve the captured Image, if' desired Control panel 52 may additionally comprise a plurality of Indicator lights or LEDs to provide further visual indication of device operating status. (combination scanner 40 also comprises a document feed slot and pathway and one or more document output trays 50 for receiving printed outputs 10018] As described above, up and down buttons 44 and 46, instead of' or m addition to providing a scrolhng function, may provide a zoom function. A user may therefore manipulate the display size (zoom function) and display area (scroll function) of the captured document image to obtain a clear view of the entire document image either simultaneously or with minor manipulation. Because the user is given the opportunity to cheek the quality of the scanned image, the sending, storing or printing of a mix-aligned or blurry captured image is avoided.

1 l91 FlO,l]RE 3 is an isometric view of an embodiment of another exemplary multi-function device 60 with an integrated document display screen 62 according to the teachings of the present invention. Device 60 comprises Image capturing electronics and mechanism now known or later developed (not shown) and an automatic document feeder unit 63 that may be raised to reveal a glass platen or imaging plate (not explicitly shown) . Automatic document feeder unit 63 comprises integrated document display screen 62 aml a number of control buttons 64, 66 and 68 arranged on a control panel 70. Automatic l 1 document feeder unit 63 further comprises a document input tray 73 for feeding a document to he processed and a document output tray 74 for receiving the processed document.

100201 Integrated document display screen 62 is sized to be capable of displaying most if not all of a captured image of a standard letter-sized document, for example. Scrolling control devices such as up and down buttons 64 and 66 may be provided lo allow a user to scroll up and down the captured Image so that the entire document image may be viewed using integrated document display screen 62. Digital sender 60 may also display the captured document image so that its displayed size enables the entire document image to be displayed on integrated document screen 62 without scrolling. This feature may require a captured document image to be reduced to smaller-than-actual size for a large document as well as enlarged to bigger-than-actual size for a small document. Control panel Is disposed on digital sender 60 to allow the user to issue operational commands such as send as l'acsimilc, send as Small, and other commands. An additional and optional button 68 may be provided to allow the user to approve the scanned image, If desired. Up and down buttons 64 and 66, Instead odor in addition to providing a scrolhng function, may provide a zoom function. A user may therefore mampulate the display size (zoom function) and display area (scroll function) of the captured document image to obtain a clear view of the entire document image either simultaneously or with minor manipulation. The user may further use buttons 64 and 66 to crop the captured Image. Because the user Is given the opportunity to check the quality of the scanned image, the sending, storing or printing of a mix-aligned or blurry captured image is avoided.

100211 FIGURE 4 Is a flowchart of an exemplary operation process 80 of the Image capture device with an integrated document display screen according to the teachings of the present Invention. The user first positions or feeds the document so that the image capture device may scan the correct side of the document and generate a captured image, as shown in block 82. The captured document Marc is then displayed on the integrated document display screen, as shown in block 84. The integrated document display screen is capable of simultaneously displaying most if not all of the captured document image. The user may scroll up and down the captured document image if not all of the captured Image is displayed simultaneously on the screen, as shown in block 86. Further, the user may zoom in and out of the captured document image to allow a viewing of most or all of the document image, or focus on a certain portion of the document image. lJser input may further include it/ an indication of approval of the scanned image, send the captured image as a facsimile, send the captured image as an email attachment, store the captured image, print the captured image, etc. In block 88, the image capture device performs as instncted by the user, including scrolling, cropping and/or zooming, and also the sending and printing functions.

The process ends in block 90.

100221 Unhke conventional devices, an Image capture device incorporating an Integrated document display screen does not have the added expense and bulk of a computer that Is typically connected to the image capture device to enable a display of a preview scan Image Embodiment of the Image capture device can then be standalone while still enabling the user to verily that the captured hnage is not skewed, blurry or otherwise undesirable.

Furthermore, unlike the status text screen of conventional devices, the integrated document display screen is capable of displaying the captured image of documents, either in its entirety simultaneously or a substantial portion thereof.

Claims

1. A document imaging device, comprising: a housing adapte<l to support an object to be imaged; and a document display screen integrated into the housing and operable to display a digitally scanned image of a document generated by a document imaging mechanism of the document imaging device.

2. A document imaging device, comprising: a housing adapted to support an object to be imaged; an automatic document feeder unit adapted to feed a document to be imaged; and a document display screen integrated into the automatic document feeder unit and operable to display a digitally scanned image of a document generated by a document imaging mechanism of the document imaging device.