Pocket scanners
View Patent ↗A method and system is disclosed for facilitating the input of information into a computing device by a scanning means. A pocket scanner that has only the minimum components/parts therein and will not operate without being connected to the computing device that subsequently receives scanning signals therefrom. In particular, the disclosed scanner does not have a separate power supply to energize the components/parts to work.
1. A scanner comprising:
a case housing an image sensing module, a motion mechanism and electronics circuit, all electronically coupled to a connection mechanism, the case including a passage having a receiving end and an exit end, the image sensing module, the motion mechanism and the electronics circuit operating only when the connection mechanism is electronically and removably connected to a computing device, wherein the scanner is calibrated in accordance with the computing device, and
when a scanning object is received in the receiving end, the motion mechanism advancing the scanning object towards the exit end and, at the same time, the image sensing module extending to cover an entire scanning width of the scanning object, sensing the scanning object and generating scanning signals thereof and the electronics circuit processing the scanning signals and transporting the processed scanning signals to the computing device through the connection mechanism.
2. The scanner of claim 1 , wherein the connection mechanism draws power from the computing device to energize the Image sensing module, the motion mechanism and the electronics circuit to operate.
3. The scanner of claim 2 , wherein the computing device is selected from a group consisting of a palm-sized computer, a mobile computing device, a laptop computer and a desktop computer.
4. The scanner of claim 2 , wherein the image sensing module includes a first illumination source to illuminate the scanning object for scanning by an image sensor in the image sensing module when the scanning object passes by.
5. The scanner of claim 4 , wherein the scanning object is opaque.
6. The scanner of claim 5 , wherein the image sensing module includes a second illumination source to illuminate the scanning object for scanning by an image sensor in the image sensing module when the scanning object passes by.
7. The scanner of claim 6 , wherein the scanning object is transparent.
8. The scanner of claim 7 , wherein one of the first illumination source and the second illumination source is turned on when the scanning object is received.
9. The scanner of claim 2 , wherein the electronic circuit generates one or more control signals to synchronize operations of the image sensing module and the motion mechanism.
10. The scanner of claim 2 , wherein the electronic circuit receives one or more control signals from the computing device to synchronize operations of the image sensing module and the motion mechanism.
11. The scanner of claim 10 , wherein the connection mechanism draws power from the computing device to energize the image sensing module, the motion mechanism and the electronics circuit to operate like a single device.
12. The scanner of claim 1 being configured in such a way that the scanner can be removably integrated with a computing device.
13. The scanner of claim 1 , wherein the connection mechanism is a type of cable connection that has at least 2 pins to draw power from the computing device to energize to energize the image sensing module, the motion mechanism and the electronics circuit to operate.
14. A method for using a scanner, the method comprising:
providing the scanner that comprises an image sensing module, a motion mechanism and an electronics circuit that support operations of the image sensing module and the motion mechanism, wherein the scanner can not function without being connected to a computing device;
causing the scanner to be removably connected to the computing device by an electronic connection means that in turn draws power from the computing device to energize the image sensing module, the motion mechanism and the electronics circuit to operate, wherein the image sensing module includes an image sensor, a lens and an illumination source, all extending to cover an entire scanning width of a scanning sheet, and
wherein scanning signals are generated and transported back to the computing device when the scanning sheet is inserted into the scanner.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the scanner further includes a passage having a receiving end and an exit end, the receiving end receiving the scanning sheet that is advanced by the motion mechanism towards to the exit end, during which the image sensing module generates the scanning signals from the scanning sheet.
16. A method for using a scanner, the method comprising:
providing the scanner that comprises an image sensing module, a motion mechanism and an electronics circuit that support operations of the image sensing module and the motion mechanism, wherein the scanner can not function without being connected to a computing device, and the scanner is calibrated in accordance with the computing device as soon as the electronics circuit is connected to the computing device;
causing the scanner to be removably integrated with the computing device so that both the scanner and the computing device look like a single device, as such the computing device is equipped with a scanning capability; and wherein, when a scanning sheet is inserted into the scanner, scanning signals are generated by the image sensing module including an image sensor, a lens and an illumination source, all extending to cover an entire scanning width of the scanning sheet, and the scanning signals are transported to the computing device.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the scanner is energized by power supplied by the computing device.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the scanner and the computing device are electrically connected.