WO2002039370A1

WO2002039370A1 - Apparatus and method for reading a document

Info

Publication number: WO2002039370A1
Application number: PCT/US2000/042042
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raja Tuli
Original assignee: Docuport, Inc.
Priority date: 2000-11-10
Filing date: 2000-11-10
Publication date: 2002-05-16
Also published as: AU2001229235A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a light pen (1) that reads data on a document. The light pen (1) is substantially round, compact and lightweight, and comprises a clip (2) such that it may be readily and securely carried in a pocket. Solid state devices (5) are arranged along the length of the light pen (1) and as it is manually traversed across a document the reading elements read each line of data. The light pen (1) is equipped with rubber rollers (6) that functions as an image alignment feature to prevent the image from skewing. In other embodiments, the light pen (1) may be equipped with spring-loaded rubber rollers that function in collaboration with the user traversing the pen (1) across a document in order to activate or de-activate the reading mechanisms.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR READING A DOCUMENT

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The field of the present invention generally relates to a data reading apparatus. Prior art includes portable, sheet-fed scanners that require the user to feed pages one at a time. These devices are impractical to transport because the user must carry them in a briefcase or in another apparatus. The weight of these devices can further encumber the user. The present invention remedies these situations. The light pen is lightweight and readily portable, and the user must only traverse the device across a document such that the reading devices may be activated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reading media such as a document bearing text or images. The heart of the invention is a readily portable device for reading documents that the user places across a document and traverses downwards.

In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of reading mechanisms are assembled in a module resembling a pen where the module is substantially round. The length of the module is approximately the width of a standard sheet of paper. The reading mechanisms are the long length of the module such that the reading method comprises pressing the module across a document to be read and manually moving the module in the direction desired. A clip that is closed at a superior end and open at an opposite end is attached to the module such that the clip may straddle a pocket attached to clothing. The utility of the clip mechanism is to render the module portable. The scanner is equipped with an internal memory mechanism such that all information may be downloaded into a computer at a later time.

In certain embodiments, the scanner may be equipped with multiple rubber rollers. The rubber rollers provide an image alignment feature to prevent skewing of the image. The surface of the document to be read adheres to the rubber rollers, thereby ensuring that the image will be properly focused.

In a further embodiment, the scanner may be equipped with multiple spring-loaded rubber rollers that retract into the body of the pen when the pen is manually pressed against a document. The retraction of the spring- loaded rubber rollers and the simultaneous action of traversing the pen across the document act as a power switch for the reading mechanisms. The reading mechanisms are de-activated when the spring-loaded rollers return to their rest position and the user terminates the traversing.

In another embodiment, the pen may be rigged with accelerometers. Located at either end of the pen, the accelerometers measure the rate of acceleration. Therefore, the speed of reading at each end of the pen may be calculated, and any skewing may be corrected.

In a further embodiment, two areas of the pen contact the surface of the document. One area comprises rubber rollers aligned along the length of the pen. Another area of the pen also contacts the document. The two points of contact hold the document at the proper angle required for focussing.

In another embodiment, the pen is equipped with a battery. The battery is shaped to conform to the module of the pen such that one side is substantially round, or D-shaped. Another side is flat such that the battery it may sit evenly against the lens.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is described in more detail below with respect to an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 depicts the light pen.

Figure 2 illustrates the rubber rollers.

Figure 3 displays a cross-section of the light pen depicting the LEDs, the solid state devices and the optic fiber lens array.

Figure 4 illustrates the light pen contacting the surface of a document in two areas.

Figure 5 depicts the accelerometers attached to either end of the light pen.

Figure 6 displays the spring-loaded rollers.

Figure 7 illustrates the D-shaped battery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiments will now be described with respect to the drawings. To facilitate description, any numeral identifying an element in 90 one figure will represent the same element in any other figure.

In a first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 1 illustrates a light pen 1. The light pen is substantially round, compact and lightweight so as to be easily manipulated by the user, and houses a plurality of scanning 95 mechanisms necessary for a contact image sensor type scanner. A clip 2 is displayed which is closed at a superior end 3, and open at an opposite end 4. The open end enables the user to straddle the light pen onto a pocket attached to clothing. Thus, the light pen is easily portable and may be securely carried anywhere.

100

The length of the light pen is approximately the width of a standard sheet of paper. A standard sheet of paper is defined as having dimensions of 8 1/2 x 11 inches, thus the light pen is approximately 8 1/2 inches long. The length is the largest dimension of the pen and the clip lies parallel to the 105 length. Referring to Figure 2, solid state devices 5 are arranged along the length of the pen such that the entire length of a line of a page may be read and converted to a digital image.

Multiple rubber rollers 6 are arranged along a single shaft 7 and are no separated. The surface of the document to be read adheres to the rollers' rubber segments, thereby preventing skewing of the image, providing an image alignment feature. The rubber rollers rotate against the document as the pen is manually traversed, by pressing the pen against the surface of a document. 115

Figure 3 illustrates a cross-section of the light pen. A linear array of light- emitting diodes (LEDs) 8 serve as an illumination source which send rays of light through a light guide 9 that focuses the light onto the surface 10 of the document to be read. The LEDs and the light guide span the entire

120 reading length of the light pen. The illuminated portion of the document is reflected and focussed by an optic fiber lens array 11 onto an optical sensor array 12. The optical sensor array consists of one or more solid state devices comprising multiple individual photo cells in a linear array, which convert the image focussed onto them into electrical signals,

125 producing a digital image which can be stored in an internal memory for future use. The stored data may be downloaded into a computer or laptop at a later time. The LEDs and the lens array must be arranged with the illuminated surface of the document to ensure proper focussing of the image on the solid state reading devices. The solid state devices are

130 capable of reading one line of information at a time restricted by the size, spacing and width spanned by the individual photocells in the linear array. Each line of information is read multiple times with 200 or 400 dpi but sent only once to a microprocessor which assembles the image received in lines, and also performs image enhancement techniques to produce a true

135 representation of the image or text being read. The solid state devices read the lines of information continuously, to form a 2-D image.

A disk 13 comprising alternate dark and light elements serves to adjust for speed variations of the traversing light pen. The disk is located at one end 140 of the rubber rollers' shaft, beyond the reading width of the document. As the rollers rotate against the document, the disk rotates and the sensor recognizes light and dark elements and uses the transition to adjust the image. This feature rectifies any skewing that occurs if the user moves the light pen unmethodically. Hence, the rate at which the user traverses the 145 light pen can vary, without affecting the image quality, as compression or expansion of the assembled image will not occur.

Reading occurs upon the user placing the light pen flat across the width of the surface of the document to be read and manually moving it in the

150 direction desired. The solid state elements read the full width of each line as the pen is traversed. The surface of the document will have sufficient friction with the rubber rollers such that skewing of the image is prevented as the light pen is traversed. The user must hold the pen flat against the surface of the document such that the document is pressed against the

155 glass.

In a further embodiment of the present invention the light pen contacts the surface of the document in two areas. Referring to Figure 4, multiple rubber rollers 6 arranged along a single shaft, along the length of the pen, 160 and are separated. To also hold the document in place, another area 14 of the pen contacts the surface of the paper. The two points of contact with the surface of the document hold the document in place at the proper angles, necessary for focussing.

165 In another embodiment of the present invention the light pen is equipped with two accelerometers. Figure 5 displays the two accelerometers 15 located at either end of the light pen. The accelerometer housings are solidly attached to the light pen. The accelerometers measure the rate at which the velocity of the light pen is changing. The accelerometers

170 measure the force exerted by restraints that are placed on the light pen to hold its position fixed. The accelerometers calculate the acceleration as the light pen is manually moved across the surface of the document. From the rate of acceleration of reading, the speed may be calculated. The calculation of the speed of reading at each end of the light pen is 175 necessary in order that any skewing of the image may be corrected. The position and attitude of the light pen can be detected throughout the scanning process, and these parameters can be applied by the correcting means to correct the image.

180 In a further embodiment of the present invention, the light pen is equipped with multiple spring-loaded rubber rollers. Referring to Figure 6, the spring-loaded rubber rollers 16 are aligned along the entire length of the light pen. When the user presses the light pen against the document, the spring-loaded rubber rollers contact the surface of said document. The

185 rollers retract into the body of the light pen as it is pressed against the document. The retraction of the rollers functions in collaboration with the user traversing the pen across the document in order to activate the reading mechanisms. To de-activate the reading mechanisms, the traversing must be terminated and the spring-loaded rollers must be

190 returned to their rest position.

One of the main advantages of the spring-loaded rubber rollers is that the document adheres to the spring-loaded rubber rollers therefore said paper is. held in place. The user is constrained to perpetually hold the light pen

195 flat against the surface of the paper in order for the scanning mechanisms to function for the duration of the entire scan. This action of holding the light pen flat against the paper will also guarantee that the image will be focussed properly. Furthermore, the reading mechanisms will not function unless the spring-loaded rubber rollers are retracted and the user is

2oo traversing the pen across the document. Thus, the user may carry the light pen in a pocket with no apprehension that it will be inadvertently activated.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the light pen is equipped with a battery. In that the light pen is a hand-held unit, an internally disposed electrical power source, such as a battery, is required for desired operation. As illustrated in Figure 7, the external shape of the battery module 17 conforms to the shape of the light pen such that the battery module is substantially round, or D-shaped. One side 18 of the battery is rounded, similar to the round part of the light pen. Another side 19 of the battery is flat such that it may sit flat against the lens 11.

Claims

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to 215 the preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim: 220 1. An apparatus and method for reading a document comprising; a scan line along the length of a pen, such that the length is the largest dimension of said pen; a clip that lies parallel to the scan line, comprising an open end and a closed end such that the clip may straddle a pocket; 225 a user placing the pen across a document and dragging the pen across the document such that an array of reading elements reads one line at a time, focussed by a fiber optic array.

230 2. An apparatus and method for reading a document, as claimed in Claim 1 , comprising; multiple spring-loaded rubber rollers arranged along the length of the pen; the user placing the pen across the document and pressing 235 the pen against the document such that the spring-loaded rubber rollers retract into the pen; the retraction of the spring-loaded rubber rollers functions in collaboration with the user dragging the pen across the document, in order to activate the reading mechanisms; 240 the removal of the pressure and termination of the dragging motion de-activate the reading mechanisms.

3. An apparatus and method for reading a document, as claimed in Claim 1 , comprising;

245 two points of contact of the pen upon the surface of the document; one point of contact being multiple rubber rollers arranged along a shaft for the entire length of the pen; another point of contact being an area of the housing of the 250 pen; the document to be read is held flat at the correct angle necessary for focusing.

4. An apparatus and method for reading a document, as claimed in Claim 255 1 , comprising; accelerometers located at either end of the pen; the accelerometers measure the rate at which the velocity of the pen is changing, as it is dragged across the document, such that the speed of the reading at either end of the pen 260 may be calculated; the position and attitude of light pen can be detected and can be applied to correct the skew of the image.

5. An apparatus and method for reading a document, as claimed in Claim 265 1 , comprising; an internally disposed power source, such as a battery, conforming to the external shape of the pen such that said battery is substantially round, or D-shaped, and the internal shape of the housing for the battery conforms to the external shape of the pen.