Handheld scanner and system comprising same

US 20100123907A1
Filed: 11/13/2009
Published: 05/20/2010
Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2008
Status: Active Grant

First Claim

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1. A sensor data generating apparatus, comprising:

a position indicating system configured for generating position indicating data instances, wherein said position indicating data instances each includes data derived from translational movement of the scanner within a reference plane and from rotational movement of the scanner about a rotational axis extending through the reference plane;

an imaging system configured for capturing an image of visual content of a scannable object on which the scanner is being moved; and

a data processing arrangement configured for deriving from at least one of said position indicating data instances a position of the scanner at a point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.

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Abstract

A handheld scanner system and method is disclosed. The depicted embodiment is a mouse scanner system operable to scan a document. In this embodiment, the mouse scanner system includes a scanner built into a computer mouse and a scanner software application operating on a computer. The scanner includes a positioning system operable to output position indicating data and an imaging system operable to output captured image data. The data is sent to the scanner software application where a feedback image is constructed and displayed on a display in real-time or near real-time to allow the user to view what areas have been scanned. The scanner software application also constructs an output image that can be printed, saved or communicated.

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41 Claims

1. A sensor data generating apparatus, comprising:
- a position indicating system configured for generating position indicating data instances, wherein said position indicating data instances each includes data derived from translational movement of the scanner within a reference plane and from rotational movement of the scanner about a rotational axis extending through the reference plane;
  
  an imaging system configured for capturing an image of visual content of a scannable object on which the scanner is being moved; and
  
  a data processing arrangement configured for deriving from at least one of said position indicating data instances a position of the scanner at a point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- - 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the position indicating system includes at least one of:
    - a plurality of spaced apart sensors each configured for sensing translational velocity of the scanner;
      
      a sensor configured for sensing rotational movement of the scanner about a rotational axis; and
      
      a sensor configured for sensing translational acceleration of the scanner.
  - 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the imaging system includes an array sensor configured for digitizing an area of said visual content on a surface on which the scanner is being moved.
  - 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the position indicating system includes at least one of:
    - a plurality of spaced apart sensors each configured for sensing translational velocity of the scanner;
      
      a sensor configured for sensing rotational movement of the scanner about a rotational axis; and
      
      a sensor configured for sensing translational acceleration of the scanner.
  - 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the imaging system includes an image capturing sensor and a lens arrangement positioned between the image capturing sensor and a support surface of the scanner.
  - 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the image capturing sensor is configured for digitizing at least a portion of an area encompassed by the support surface.
  - 7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the lens arrangement includes a field lens.
  - 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein deriving the position of the scanner includes interpolating the position of the scanner from at least one of said position indicating data instances generated prior to the point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed and at least one of said position indicating data instances generated after the point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.
  - 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein interpolating the position of the scanner includes determining a timeline offset dependent upon creation time information of said position indicating data instances and creation time information corresponding to the point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed of the captured image data instance.
  - 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein deriving the position of the scanner includes using a plurality of said position indicating data instances to determine momentum of the scanner and using said momentum to determine the position of the scanner at a point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.

11. A scanner, comprising:
- a housing having a first surface configured for being engaged by a hand of a user and a second surface configured for slideably supporting the housing on a surface of a scannable object;
  
  means coupled to the housing for sensing translational movement of the housing;
  
  means coupled to the housing for sensing rotational movement of the housing; and
  
  means coupled to the housing for capturing an image of visual content on the surface of the scannable object.
- View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- - 12. The scanner of claim 11 wherein:
    - said means for sensing translational movement includes at least one of a plurality of spaced apart sensors each configured for sensing translational velocity of the scanner and a sensor configured for sensing translational acceleration of the scanner; and
      
      said means for sensing rotational movement includes at least one of a plurality of spaced apart sensors each configured for sensing translational velocity of the scanner and a sensor configured for sensing rotational movement of the scanner about a rotational axis.
  - 13. The scanner of claim 11, further comprising;
    - means coupled to the housing for deriving from at least one of said translational movement and said rotational movement a position of the scanner at a point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.
  - 14. The scanner of claim 13 wherein said means for deriving the position of the scanner includes determining momentum of the scanner and using said momentum to determine the position of the scanner at a point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.
  - 15. The scanner of claim 13 wherein said means for capturing the image of said visual content includes an array sensor configured for digitizing an area of said visual content.
  - 16. The scanner of claim 13 wherein:
    - said means for sensing translational movement includes at least one of a plurality of spaced apart sensors each configured for sensing translational velocity of the scanner and a sensor configured for sensing translational acceleration of the scanner; and
      
      said means for sensing rotational movement includes at least one of a plurality of spaced apart sensors each configured for sensing translational velocity of the scanner and a sensor configured for sensing rotational movement of the scanner about a rotational axis.
  - 17. The scanner of claim 13 wherein said means for capturing the image of said visual content includes an image capturing sensor and a lens arrangement positioned between the image capturing sensor and a support surface of the scanner.
  - 18. The scanner of claim 17 wherein the image capturing sensor is configured for digitizing at least a portion of an area encompassed by the support surface.
  - 19. The scanner of claim 17 wherein the lens arrangement includes a field lens.
  - 20. The scanner of claim 11, further comprising:
    - means coupled to the housing for deriving from at least one of said translational movement and said rotational movement a position of the scanner at a point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed, wherein deriving the position of the scanner includes interpolating the position of the scanner from a first position indicating data instance generated by at least one of said means for sensing translational movement and said means for sensing rotational movement prior to the point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed and a second position indicating data instance generated by at least one of said means for sensing translational movement and said means for sensing rotational movement after the point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.

21. A scanner system, comprising:
- at least one processor;
  
  memory coupled to said at least processor;
  
  instructions accessible from said memory by said at least one processor, wherein said instructions are configured for causing said at least one processor to;
  
  generate a plurality of position indicating data instances along a first timeline interval, wherein said position indicating data instances each corresponds to a position of a scanner at a respective position along a path of movement of the scanner;
  
  generate a captured image data instance along a second timeline interval longer than the first timeline interval, wherein the captured image data is captured from visual content on a surface on which the scanner is supported and moved; and
  
  use at least two of said position indicating data instances for interpolating a position of the scanner when generation of the captured image data instance was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.
- View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- - 22. The scanner system of claim 21, further comprising:
    - at least one of a plurality of spaced apart sensors each configured for sensing translational velocity, a sensor configured for sensing rotational movement, and a sensor configured for sensing translational acceleration, wherein causing said at least one processor to generate the plurality of position indicating data instances along a first timeline interval includes at least one of;
      
      causing said at least one processor to generate position indicating data instances from each one of the plurality of spaced apart sensors configured for sensing translational velocity;
      
      causing said at least one processor to generate position indicating data instances from the sensor configured for sensing rotational movement; and
      
      causing said at least one processor to generate position indicating data instances from the sensor configured for sensing translational acceleration.
  - 23. The scanner system of claim 21 wherein causing said at least one processor to use at least two of said position indicating data instances for interpolating the position of the scanner when generation of the captured image data instance was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed includes causing said at least one processor to interpolate the position of the scanner from at least one position indicating instance generated prior to the point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed and at least one position indicating instance generated after the point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.
  - 24. The scanner system of claim 21 wherein causing said at least one processor to generate the plurality of position indicating data instances along the first timeline interval and to generate the captured image data instance along the second timeline interval longer than the first timeline interval includes causing the second timeline interval to be an even multiple of the first timeline interval.
  - 25. The scanner system of claim 21 wherein causing said at least one processor to use at least two of said position indicating data instances for interpolating the position of the scanner when generation of the captured image data instance was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed includes determining a timeline offset dependent upon creation time information of said position indicating data instances and creation time information of the captured image data instance.
  - 26. The scanner system of claim 25 wherein causing said at least one processor to generate the plurality of position indicating data instances along the first timeline interval and to generate the captured image data instance along the second timeline interval longer than the first timeline interval includes causing the second timeline interval to be an even multiple of the first timeline interval.
  - 27. The scanner system of claim 25 wherein causing said at least one processor to use at least two of said position indicating data instances for interpolating the position of the scanner when generation of the captured image data instance was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed includes causing said at least one processor to interpolate the position of the scanner from at least one position indicating instance generated prior to the point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed and at least one position indicating instance generated after the point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.

28. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions accessible therefrom, said computer-executable instructions configured for controlling at least processor to perform a method of processing sensor data generated by an image scanner, the method comprising the operations of:
- receiving position indicating data instances, wherein each one of said position indicating data instances includes data derived from translational movement of the scanner within a reference plane and from rotational movement of the scanner about a rotational axis extending through the reference plane;
  
  receiving an image of visual content of a scannable object on which the scanner is being moved; and
  
  deriving from at least a portion of said position indicating data instances a position of the scanner at a point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.
- View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
- - 29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28 wherein receiving said position indicating data instances includes at least one of:
    - receiving data from a plurality of spaced apart sensors each configured for sensing translational velocity of the scanner;
      
      receiving data from a sensor configured for sensing rotational movement of the scanner; and
      
      receiving data from a sensor configured for sensing translational acceleration of the.
  - 30. The computer-readable medium of claim 28 wherein receiving the image of visual content includes receiving a digitized image of an area of said visual content.
  - 31. The computer-readable medium of claim 28 wherein deriving the position of the scanner includes interpolating the position of the scanner from at least one position indicating data instance generated prior to the point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed and at least one position indicating data instance generated after the point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.
  - 32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31 wherein interpolating the position of the scanner includes determining a timeline offset dependent upon creation time information of said position indicating data instances and creation time information corresponding to the point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed of the captured image data instance.
  - 33. The computer-readable medium of claim 28 wherein deriving the position of the scanner includes using said position indicating data to determine momentum of the scanner and using said momentum to determine the position of the scanner at a point in time when said image capturing was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.

34. A scanner system operable to be used by a user to digitize an area of a scannable object, comprising:
- a handheld scanner comprising;
  
  a positioning system configured for detecting a planar position of the handheld scanner and a rotational orientation of the scanner at the planar position and for outputting a plurality of position indicating data instances derived from the planar position of the handheld scanner and the rotational orientation of the handheld scanner; and
  
  an imaging system configured for illuminating a portion of the scannable object and for digitizing at least a portion of the scannable object illuminated thereby to generate a plurality captured image data instances; and
  
  a software application configured for;
  
  receiving, from the handheld scanner, said position indicating data instances and said captured image data instances;
  
  constructing a feedback image using said position indicating data instances and said captured image data instances, wherein the feedback image is constructed in a real-time manner or near real-time manner as the user moves the handheld scanner across the scannable object; and
  
  constructing an output image using said position indicating data instances and said captured image data instances, wherein the output image has a resolution at least equal to a resolution of the feedback image.
- View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
- - 35. The scanner system of claim 34 wherein one of the handheld scanner and the software application is configured for deriving from at least a portion of said position indicating data instances a position of the scanner at a point in time when generation of each one of said captured image data instances was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.
  - 36. The scanner system of claim 35 wherein deriving the position of the scanner includes interpolating the position of the scanner from at least one of said position indicating data instances generated prior to the point in time when generation of a particular one of said captured image data instances was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed and at least one of said position indicating data instances generated after the point in time when generation of the particular one of said captured image data instances was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.
  - 37. The scanner system of claim 36 wherein deriving the position of the scanner includes at least a portion of said position indicating data instances to determine momentum of the scanner and to using said momentum to determine the position of the scanner at a point, in time when generation of each one of said image tiles was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.
  - 38. The scanner system of claim 34 wherein:
    - said position indicating data instances and said captured image data instances are each received in an order in which generated by the handheld scanner;
      
      each one of said captured image data instances includes image data defining an image tile;
      
      constructing the feedback image includes determining a position the image tile of a most currently received one of said captured image data instances with respect to the image tile of at least one previously received captured image data instances; and
      
      in response to determining the position of the most image tile of said most currently received image tile, updating a preview image to include the most currently received image tile in its determined position with respect to previously received image tiles within the preview image.
  - 39. The scanner system of claim 38 wherein determining the position of the most currently received image tile with respect to at least one previously received image tile includes cross correlating an abstract image of the most currently received image tile with an abstract image of at least one previously received image tile.
  - 40. The scanner system of claim 39 wherein the software application is further configured for determining position adjustments of all of said received and cross correlated image tiles in a manner that provides for minimized discrepancy between results of said cross correlation.
  - 41. The scanner system of claim 40 wherein:
    - one of the handheld scanner and the software application is configured for deriving from at least a portion of said position indicating data instances a position of the scanner at a point in time when generation of each one of said captured image data instances was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed; and
      
      deriving the position of the scanner includes interpolating the position of the scanner from at least one of said position indicating data instances generated prior to the point in time when generation of a particular one of said captured image data instances was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed and at least one of said position indicating data instances generated after the point in time when generation of the particular one of said captured image data instances was one of initiated, completed, and partially completed.

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Current Assignee
Visual Content IP, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
Original Assignee
Adilace Holdings, Inc.
Inventors
Parker, Sheppard, Polk, Darryl Ray, Wilkes, Michael David, Edgar, Albert Durr, Potucek, Martin, Wilder, Michael Charles

Granted Patent

US 8,384,947 B2
Time in Patent Office

Days
Field of Search
US Class Current

358/1.500
CPC Class Codes

G06V 30/142   using hand-held instruments...

G06V 30/418   Document matching, e.g. of ...

H04N 1/00408   Display of information to t...

H04N 1/0044   for image preview or review...

H04N 1/04   Scanning arrangements , i.e...

H04N 1/107   with manual scanning

H04N 1/2104   for one or a few pictures

H04N 1/3876   Recombination of partial im...

H04N 1/3877   Image rotation

H04N 1/393   Enlarging or reducing

H04N 2201/0081   Image reader H04N2201/0091 ...

H04N 2201/0084   Digital still camera

H04N 2201/0096   Portable devices

H04N 2201/0414   Scanning an image in a seri...

H04N 2201/043   Viewing the scanned area

H04N 2201/0432   Adjusting the orientation o...

Handheld scanner and system comprising same

First Claim

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41 Claims

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Handheld scanner and system comprising same

First Claim

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Abstract

50 Citations

41 Claims

Specification

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