Method of sequencing image data inside memory of optical scanning device
View Patent ↗An image data sequencing method for a memory unit inside an optical scanning device. The image data sequencing method is particularly suitable for scanning a line of pixels with each pixel comprising a plurality of primary colors. The image data sequencing method involves scanning a line of pixels to obtain the data for a primary or secondary color. The pixels within the scan line are subdivided into groups. A storage space is reserved both before and after the address space inside the memory unit for holding the scanned primary or secondary color data so that all the primary or secondary color data constituting a pixel are in a fixed sequence next to each other inside the memory unit. When all the primary or secondary color data of pixels within a group are secured, the group of data is released from the memory unit.
1. A method comprising:
sending a group of pixel data to a memory unit;
reserving a storage space in front of and behind an address space for one or more portions of the sent pixel data, wherein the pixel data comprises color data derived from at least a portion of a scanned document; and
arranging the color data in a fixed sequence next to each other inside said memory unit.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said color data comprises primary color data corresponding to red, green, and blue.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transferring said group of pixel data from said memory unit after said memory unit has accumulated said pixel data.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said color data comprises secondary color data corresponding to magenta, yellow, and cyan.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said group of pixel data comprises data derived from alternately sensed pixels.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said alternately sensed pixels comprise even-numbered pixels.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein said alternately sensed pixels comprise odd-numbered pixels.
8. A system comprising:
an image sensor configured to generate a group of pixel data corresponding to one or more portions of a scanned document; and
a scanner configured to store said generated pixel data corresponding to a pixel of said group of pixel data in a memory unit at a first address space, wherein an address space before and after said first address space is reserved so that a plurality of pixel data corresponding to said pixel is arranged in a sequence inside said memory unit, and wherein said plurality of pixel data comprises color data associated with said pixel.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein said image sensor comprises a red sensor, a green sensor, and a blue sensor.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein said image sensor comprises a row of red sensors, a row of green sensors, and a row of blue sensors.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein said color data comprises magenta, yellow and cyan.
12. The system of claim 8 , wherein said group of pixel data further comprises data corresponding to even-numbered pixels.
13. The system of claim 8 , wherein said group of pixel data further comprises data corresponding to odd-numbered pixels.
14. The system of claim 8 , wherein said color data comprises red, blue, and green.
15. The system of claim 8 , wherein said scanner is further configured to transmit said plurality of pixel data to a host system when said plurality of pixel data is stored in said memory unit.
16. The scanner of claim 8 , wherein said pixel data comprises color data corresponding to red, green, and blue.
17. A scanner comprising:
means for scanning a portion of an image, wherein said portion is scanned by a plurality of sensors;
means for storing pixel data associated with scanning said portion, wherein said pixel data is stored as two or more groups of pixel data; and
means for transferring one or more of said groups of pixel data, wherein said one or more groups are transferred after said portion is scanned by each of said plurality of sensors.
18. The scanner of claim 17 , wherein said plurality of sensors sequentially scans said portion to generate said one or more groups.
19. The scanner of claim 17 , wherein said one or more groups comprise pixel data associated with alternately scanned pixels of said portion.
20. The scanner of claim 17 , wherein said plurality of sensors are spaced apart from each other by two or more scan lines.
21. The scanner of claim 17 , wherein said plurality of sensors comprises staggered optical sensors.