# US 2006/0279808 A1 · Full-zone optical image addressing apparatus

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- Number: US 2006/0279808 A1
- Document ID: US20060279808A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 11/506,441
- Filed: 2006-08-18
- Published: 2006-12-14
- Earliest claimed: 2002-07-23
- Assignees: Transpacific IP, Ltd.
- Inventors: Chin-Lin Chang; Chen-Ho Lee; Chen-Hsiang Shih
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20060279808A1

## CPC

- H04N 1/00013: {Reading apparatus}
- H04N 1/00002: {Diagnosis, testing or measuring; Detecting, analysing or monitoring not otherwise provided for (error detection, error correction or monitoring in digital computers or digital computer components G06F11/00)}
- H04N 1/00031: {Testing, i.e. determining the result of a trial (H04N1/00029 takes precedence; using test signals for transmission mode changing H04N2201/33371)}
- H04N 1/00045: {using a reference pattern designed for the purpose, e.g. a test chart}
- H04N 1/0005: {in service, i.e. during normal operation}
- H04N 1/00063: {using at least a part of the apparatus itself, e.g. self-testing}
- H04N 1/00068: {Calculating or estimating}
- H04N 1/00087: {Setting or calibrating (picture signal circuits H04N1/40)}
- H04N 1/047: Detection, control or error compensation of scanning velocity or position ({H04N1/0402 and } H04N1/17 take precedence)
- H04N 1/1013: {with sub-scanning by translatory movement of at least a part of the main-scanning components (H04N1/107 takes precedence)}
- H04N 1/1017: {the main-scanning components remaining positionally invariant with respect to one another in the sub-scanning direction}
- H04N 1/193: using electrically scanned linear arrays {, e.g. linear CCD arrays}
- H04N 2201/0081: Image reader (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence)
- H04N 2201/04708: which remain outside the scanned image area
- H04N 2201/0472: on or adjacent the sheet support
- H04N 2201/04727: on a linear encoder
- H04N 2201/04749: Detecting position relative to a gradient, e.g. using triangular-shaped masks, marks or gratings
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

A full-zone optical image addressing apparatus, including an addressing device, an image extraction converter, a comparator, an AND gate and a counter. The addressing device is located at the enclosure of the scanner and includes a plurality of geometric patterns. Each of the geometric patterns includes a plurality of rows of pixels. While receiving an exposure signal, the image extraction converter extracts one row of pixels from the addressing device, such that a series of analog signals is obtained and output to the comparator. The comparator then compares the series of analog signals to an analog critical voltage to output a series of analog comparison signals to the AND gate. The AND gate synchronously processes the series of analog comparison signals and a pixel rate clock to output the pixel data corresponding to the extracted row of pixels to the counter. After receiving the synchronously processed pixel value from the AND gate, the counter calculates and outputs the extracted row of pixels, including the amount of pixels and the geometric patterns in the row of pixels.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

-22. (canceled)

### Claim 23

A scanner, comprising:
an enclosure;
an optical scan module disposed in the enclosure to obtain image data;
a driver mechanism coupled to the optical scan module to move the optical scan module with respect to the enclosure;
an image converter, to covert obtained image data into analog signals;
a comparator, to compare a voltage value with the analog signals;
a counter, to determine the location of the optical scan module with respect to the enclosure based at least in part on the comparing.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The scanner of claim 23, further comprising an AND gate to receive a comparison signal from the comparator and provide a plurality of pixel values to the counter.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The scanner of claim 24, wherein the counter comprises a pixel value counter.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The scanner of claim 23, wherein the optical scan module further comprises a sensor.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The scanner of claim 26, wherein the sensor comprises a charge-coupled device (CCD).

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

The scanner of claim 23, wherein the driver mechanism comprises a stepper motor.

### Claim 29 (depends on 23)

The scanner of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of geometric patterns disposed on the enclosure, wherein the plurality of geometric patterns comprise a plurality of asymmetric patterns.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The scanner of claim 29, wherein the asymmetric patterns include a plurality of pixels rows, wherein each row of asymmetric patterns includes a different number of pixels.

### Claim 31 (depends on 23)

The scanner of claim 23, wherein the voltage value comprises a critical voltage.

### Claim 32

An apparatus, comprising:
a scanner enclosure having a lid; and
a plurality of asymmetric geometric patterns disposed on the lid and arranged along a y-axis of the lid, wherein the plurality of asymmetric geometric patterns are adapted to provide pixel count data to an optical scan module disposed in the scanner enclosure.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the asymmetric geometric patterns include a plurality of pixels rows, wherein each row of a geometric pattern includes a different number of pixels.

### Claim 34 (depends on 32)

The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the asymmetric geometric patterns comprise triangles.

### Claim 35

A scanner, comprising:
a scanner enclosure having a lid;
a plurality of geometric patterns disposed on the lid and arranged along a y-axis of the lid;
an optical scan module disposed in the enclosure to obtain image data of said plurality of geometric patterns; and
circuitry to determine the location of the optical scan module with respect to the enclosure based at least in part on said obtained image data.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The scanner of claim 35, wherein the circuitry comprises circuitry to count pixel rows.

### Claim 37 (depends on 35)

The scanner of claim 35, wherein the optical scan module further comprises a sensor.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The scanner of claim 37, wherein the sensor comprises a charge-coupled device (CCD).

### Claim 39 (depends on 35)

The scanner of claim 35, wherein the plurality of geometric patterns comprise a plurality of asymmetric patterns.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The scanner of claim 39, wherein the asymmetric patterns include a plurality of pixels rows, wherein each row of asymmetric patterns includes a different number of pixels.

### Claim 41

A method, comprising:
obtaining image data of a geometric pattern disposed on a scanner enclosure by use of an optical scan module disposed in the scanner;
producing one or more pixel values based on the image data;
producing a pixel count based on the produced pixel values; and
determining the position of the optical scan module relative to the geometric pattern based at least in part on the pixel count.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The method of claim 41, wherein the pixel count comprises the number of produced pixel values.

### Claim 43 (depends on 41)

The method of claim 41, wherein the obtaining is performed by use of a charge-coupled device (CCD) coupled to the optical scan module.

### Claim 44 (depends on 41)

The method of claim 41, wherein the image data comprises analog data.

### Claim 45 (depends on 41)

The method of claim 41, wherein producing one or more pixel values further comprises:
producing a pixel value based, at least in part, on a comparison between the analog data with a value.

### Claim 46 (depends on 45)

The method of claim 45, wherein the value is expressed as a voltage.

### Claim 47 (depends on 41)

The method of claim 41, wherein the plurality of geometric patterns comprise a plurality of asymmetric patterns.

### Claim 48 (depends on 47)

The method of claim 47, wherein the asymmetric patterns include a plurality of pixels rows, wherein at least one of said of asymmetric patterns includes a different number of pixels.

### Claim 49

An article comprising, a storage medium, having stored thereon instructions that, when executed, result in:
obtaining image data of a geometric pattern disposed on a scanner enclosure by use of an optical scan module disposed in the scanner;
producing one or more pixel values based, at least in part, on the image data;
producing a pixel count based, at least in part, on the produced pixel values; and
determining a position of the optical scan module relative to the geometric pattern based at least in part on the pixel count.

### Claim 50 (depends on 49)

The article of claim 49, wherein the pixel count comprises the number of produced pixel values.

### Claim 50 (depends on 49)

The article of claim 49, wherein the pixel count comprises the number of produced pixel values.

### Claim 51 (depends on 49)

The article of claim 49, wherein the image data comprises analog data.

### Claim 51 (depends on 49)

The article of claim 49, wherein the image data comprises analog data.

### Claim 52 (depends on 49)

The article of claim 49, wherein the instructions, when executed, further result in:
producing a pixel value based, at least in part, on a comparision of the analog data to a value.

### Claim 53 (depends on 52)

The article of claim 52, wherein the value comprises a voltage.

### Claim 54 (depends on 49)

The article of claim 49, wherein the plurality of geometric patterns comprise a plurality of asymmetric patterns.

### Claim 55 (depends on 54)

The article of claim 54, wherein the asymmetric patterns include a plurality of pixels rows, wherein each row of asymmetric patterns includes a different number of pixels.