Document scanner

1. A document scanner comprising a first image sensor unit and a second image sensor unit and a scanning mechanism for causing relative movement between a document and the image sensor units so that the image sensor units scan the document in a scanning direction, the first image sensor unit being situated ahead of the second image sensor unit in the scanning direction and partially overlapping the second image sensor unit, each image sensor unit having a respective linear array of electromagnetic radiation detectors and one or more light guides for directing light from a respective one of two imaging lines on to the linear array of electromagnetic radiation detectors, wherein, in use, the imaging lines scan the document to capture data representative of two respective sets of scan line portions for combination to obtain a succession of scan lines for the document, the one or more light guides of the first image sensor unit being angled rearwardly with respect to the scanning direction, whilst the one or more light guides of the second image sensor unit are angled forwardly with respect to the scanning direction, wherein the one or more light guides for each image sensor unit comprises a respective linear array of light guides, each light guide directing light from a respective imaging point to a respective electromagnetic radiation detector, the imaging points defining the imaging lines, and wherein the linear arrays of electromagnetic radiation detectors and the linear arrays of light guides of each image sensor unit are offset towards a closer edge of that image sensor unit, the image sensor units being arranged with the closer edges adjacent to each other.

2. The document scanner according to claim 1 in which the imaging lines are colinear with a common line which is flanked by the linear arrays of electromagnetic radiation detectors and which are perpendicular to the scanning direction, the common line constituting a continuous, composite imaging line.

3. The document scanner according to claim 1 , in which each linear array of light guides is angled relative to its respective linear array of electromagnetic radiation detectors.

4. The document scanner according to claim 1 , in which an angle between the two linear arrays of light guides is no more than 10 degrees.

5. The document scanner according to claim 1 , in which the first and second image sensor units are two of three or more such image sensor units arranged in a staggered configuration with alternating orientations, so that the closer edge of each electromagnetic radiation detector is adjacent to the closer edge of the or each neighbouring image sensor unit.

6. The document scanner according to claim 1 , in which each of the image sensor units comprises a respective contact image sensor.

7. The document scanner according to claim 1 , in which the document scanner has a common light source for providing illumination for the images detected by the first and second image sensor units.

8. The document scanner according to claim 1 , in which the scanning mechanism is operable to move the document past the linear arrays of electromagnetic radiation detectors in an opposite direction to the scanning direction.

9. The document scanner according to claim 1 , in which scan line portions partially overlap in the scanning direction.

10. The document scanner according to claim 9 , in which the one or more light guides of the first image sensor unit partially overlap, in the scanning direction, the one or more light guides of the second image sensor unit.

11. The document scanner according to claim 9 , in which the linear arrays of electromagnetic radiation detectors partially overlap, in the scanning direction.

12. The document scanner according to claim 9 , in which the linear array of electromagnetic radiation detectors and the one or more light guides of the first image sensor unit overlap, in the scanning direction, the linear array of electromagnetic radiation detectors and the one or more light guides of the second image sensor unit.

13. A document scanner, comprising:

a first image sensor unit including a first linear array of electromagnetic radiation detectors and a first linear array of light guides for directing light from a first imaging line on to the first linear array of electromagnetic radiation detectors;

a second image sensor unit including a second linear array of electromagnetic radiation detectors and a second linear array of light guides for directing light from a second imaging line on to the second linear array of electromagnetic radiation detectors, wherein the second image sensor unit is situated behind the first image sensor unit in a scanning direction and partially overlaps the first image sensor unit; and

a scanning mechanism for causing relative movement between a document and the first and second image sensor units so that the first and second image sensor units scan the document in the scanning direction;

wherein the first linear array of electromagnetic radiation detectors partially overlaps the second linear array of electromagnetic radiation detectors in the scanning direction;

wherein the first linear array of light guides is angled rearwardly with respect to the scanning direction, and wherein the second linear array of light guides is angled forwardly with respect to the scanning direction and partially overlaps, in the scanning direction, the first linear array of light guides; and

wherein, in use, the first and second imaging lines scan the document to capture data representative of two respective sets of scan line portions for combination to obtain a succession of scan lines for the document, and wherein the scan line portions partially overlap in the scanning direction, and wherein the linear arrays of electromagnetic radiation detectors and the linear arrays of light guides of each image sensor unit are offset towards a closer edge of that image sensor unit, the image sensor units being arranged with the closer edges adjacent to each other.

14. The document scanner according to claim 13 , wherein the first and second imaging lines are colinear with a common line which is flanked by the first and second linear arrays of electromagnetic radiation detectors and which is perpendicular to the scanning direction, the common line constituting a continuous, composite imaging line.

15. The document scanner according to claim 13 , wherein the first linear array of light guides comprises a linear array of first rod lenses, wherein each first rod lens is configured to direct light from a respective first imaging point to a respective electromagnetic radiation detector of the first linear array of electromagnetic radiation detectors, wherein the second linear array of light guides comprise a linear array of second rod lenses, wherein each second rod lens is configured to direct light from a respective second imaging point to a respective electromagnetic radiation detector of the second linear array of electromagnetic radiation detectors, and wherein the first imaging points define the first imaging line and the second imaging points define the second imaging line.

16. The document scanner according to claim 15 , wherein the linear array of first rod lenses is angled relative to the linear array of second rod lenses by no more than 10 degrees.

17. The document scanner according to claim 13 , wherein the document scanner has a common light source for providing illumination for the images detected by the first and second image sensor units.

18. A document scanner kit, comprising:

the document scanner of claim 13 ; and

non-transitory computer readable storage media including computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computer to:

identify portions of the scan lines captured by both the first linear array of electromagnetic radiation detectors and the second linear array of electromagnetic radiation detectors; and

create a composite scan line for the document.