Illuminated media position indicator and method of use
View Patent ↗An illuminated media position indicator for an imaging device comprises a scanner having a scanner top cover including an inner edge portion which defines an opening for a scanning platen disposed adjacent the opening. The inner edge portion defines at least one corner corresponding to a scan origin. An illuminated registration corner is positioned in said at least one corner corresponding to the scan origin and comprises at least one LED in optical communication with the illuminated registration corner. The illuminated registration corner communicates light from the at least one LED throughout the illuminated registration corner using substantially total internal reflection to indicate media position and orientation at said scan origin.
1. An illuminated media position indicator for an imaging device, comprising:
a scanner comprising:
a scanner top cover comprising an inner edge portion defining an opening;
a scanning platen adjacent said opening;
said inner edge portion having at least one corner corresponding to a scan origin;
an illuminated registration corner, said illuminated registration corner positioned in said at least one corner corresponding to said scan origin; and
at least one LED in optical communication with said illuminated registration corner;
said illuminated registration corner communicating light from said at least one LED throughout said illuminated registration corner using internal reflection to indicate media position and orientation at said scan origin.
2. The media position indicator of claim 1 , wherein said illuminated registration corner further comprises a first light bar and a second light bar.
3. The media position indicator of claim 2 further comprising said first and second light bars positioned in a substantially L-shaped arrangement wherein one of said first light bar and said second light bar is shorter than the other of said first light bar and said second light bar.
4. The media position indicator of claim 1 wherein said illuminated registration corner partially defines an inner edge portion of said scanner top cover.
5. The media position indicator of claim 1 , further comprising at least one light pipe in optical communication with said at least one LED and said illuminated registration corner.
6. The media position indicator of claim 4 , wherein said at least one LED is deactivated during a scanning operation.
7. The media position indicator of claim 1 , further comprising a first light pipe and a second light pipe utilizing substantially total internal reflection to pipe light from said at least one LED to said illuminated registration corner.
8. The media position indicator of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of spaced apart prismatic surfaces extending from a lower surface of said illuminated registration corner.
9. The media position indicator of claim 6 , said plurality of prismatic surfaces interrupting a light path within said illuminated registration corner and directing a portion of said light path upward through said illuminated registration corner.
10. The illuminated registration corner of claim 1 , said scanner further comprising a scanner lid sized to cover said opening.
11. An illuminated registration corner, comprising:
a first light bar; and
a second light bar substantially orthogonally positioned with respect to said first light bar with one of said first light bar, said second light bar in optical communication with at least one light emitting diode and being disposed adjacent a scan origin on a flatbed scanner to indicate media position and orientation at said scan origin.
12. The illuminated registration corner of claim 11 further comprising a first light pipe in optical communication between said at least one light emitting diode and said first light bar.
13. The illuminated registration corner of claim 11 further comprising a second light pipe in optical communication between said at least one light emitting diode and said second light bar.
14. The illuminated registration corner of claim 11 , said first and second light pipes comprising total internal reflection to pipe light from said at least one LED to said first and second light bars.
15. The illuminated registration corner of claim 11 wherein said at least one light emitting diode comprises a first light emitting diode and a second light emitting diode.
16. The illuminated registration corner of claim 11 said first light bar and said second light bar formed of polymethyl methacrylate.
17. The illuminated registration corner of claim 11 further comprising a plurality of spaced apart facets within said first and second light bars to direct light upwardly through upper surfaces of said first and second light bars.
18. The illuminated registration corner of claim 17 , wherein said facets interrupt a light path extending through said first and second light bars and directing light upward through said first and second light bars.
19. The illuminated registration corner of claim 17 wherein said facets have a mirror finish.
20. The illuminated registration corner of claim 11 wherein one of said first and second light bars is shorter than the other of said first and second light bars.
21. A media position indicator, comprising:
a flatbed scanner comprising a platen and a scanner top cover adjacent said platen; and
an illuminated registration corner aligned with an inner portion of said scanner top cover and adjacent said platen at a scan origin, indicating said scan origin and an orientation for a target media, and in optical communication with at least one light pipe and at least one light emitting diode.
22. The media position indicator of claim 21 further comprising a plurality of spaced apart facets within said illuminated registration corner to interrupt light path therein and render said light path visible to a user.
23. The media position indicator of claim 21 wherein said illuminated registration corner further comprises a first light bar and a second light bar positioned substantially orthogonal to one another wherein light from said at least one light emitting diode is directed longitudinally through light bars defining said illuminated registration corner.
24. A method of using an illuminated registration corner, comprising the steps of:
illuminating a registration corner during start-up of a peripheral device comprising a flatbed scanner;
deactivating said illuminated registration corner a predetermined period of time before a scanning operation starts; and reactivating said illuminated registration corner when said scanning operation is finished.
25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of activating and deactivating said illuminated registration corner with a processor.
26. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of piping light from a light emitting diode through said illuminated registration corner.
27. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of bending light from a light emitting diode into longitudinal alignment with at least one light bar.
28. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of utilizing total internal reflection to pipe light from a light emitting diode to said illuminated registration corner.
29. A media position indicator, comprising:
an illuminated registration corner directing light upwardly from adjacent a registration corner of a flatbed scanner for indicating to a user both location and orientation for target media on said flatbed scanner; and
a light pipe for transferring light to said illuminated registration corner using total internal reflection from at least one light emitting diode.