Multi-mode scanning camera system and method
AssigneeImaging Business Machines LLC
InventorsPeter Rudak, Robert L. Babanats
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-mode document scanning system includes a scanning bed configured to transport a plurality of documents through a scanning area. A scanning camera is configured to image the documents. At least one illumination bank includes a plurality of illumination elements of at least two different light wavelengths interspersed on at least one illumination bank. An illumination source switching assembly controls at last some elements of one wavelength. A selection process selects a wavelength appropriate to a document to be scanned, and instructs a processor operatively coupled to the illumination source switching assembly to illuminate elements of that wavelength. A multi-mode scanning method of document scanning is also described.
Claims7
A multi-mode document scanning system comprising:
- a scanning bed configured to transport a plurality of documents through a scanning area;
- a scanning camera configured to image the documents;
- at least one illumination bank comprising a plurality of illumination elements of at least two different light wavelengths interspersed on at least one illumination bank;
- an illumination source switching assembly to control at least some elements of one wavelength;
- a white light source and an IR light source, or comprising a R light source, a G light source, a B light source, and said IR light source;
- a UV light source, wherein a corresponding UV illumination of the documents causes a visible light detectable by said scanning camera;
- and
- a selection process to select a wavelength appropriate to a document to be scanned, and instruct a processor operatively coupled to said illumination source switching assembly to illuminate elements of that wavelength;
- wherein said selection process to select the wavelength appropriate to the documents to be scanned comprises a graphical user interface allowing the user to manually select the wavelength;
- and
- wherein the illumination source switching assembly is configured to switch between the light sources to allow the document to be illuminated and scanned by multiple wavelengths in one pass by the scanning camera.
A multi-mode scanning method of document scanning comprising:
- positioning a document on a scanning bed, positioning a scanning camera above the scanning bed;
- configuring the scanning camera to detect visible or infrared illumination from the document to be scanned;
- alternatively illuminating the document from a light bank containing illuminating elements of an IR wavelength or a visible light wavelength;
- controlling a UV light source wherein a scanning camera detects a visible light from the document as detected by said scanning camera;
- and
- controlling elements of each wavelength corresponding to a type of document being scanned as set by a selection process to select a wavelength appropriate to the document to be scanned;
- wherein said selection process to select the wavelength appropriate to the documents to be scanned comprises a graphical user interface allowing the user to manually select the wavelength;
- and
- wherein the illumination source switching assembly is configured to switch between the light sources to allow the document to be illuminated and scanned by multiple wavelengths in one pass by the scanning camera.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.