# US 2014/0043661 A1 · Apparatus and method for reading id documents in an open environment > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0043661 A1 - Document ID: US20140043661A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/571,385 - Filed: 2012-08-10 - Published: 2014-02-13 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-10 - Assignees: Cssn Inc. - Inventors: IUVAL HATZAV; DANIEL HATZAV; ILAN BEN-SHAHAR; GIYORA SHARABY - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140043661A1 ## CPC - H04N 1/19594: {using a television camera or a still video camera} - H04N 2201/0081: Image reader (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An imaging apparatus for imaging a document in an open environment or a closed environment including processor, memory, an imaging device having at least one image sensor and a direct light-source, a bench having an upper surface and a document holding mechanism having at least one paperweight. The paperweights are disposed in respective fitted hollow columns formed in the document holding mechanism, extending generally perpendicular, upwardly from the upper surface of the bench, wherein the respective fitted hollow column facilitates free up and down motion of the paperweight inside, and wherein the document may be pushed underneath said paperweight to thereby flatten the document. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An imaging apparatus for imaging a document having an imaged side and a back side, the apparatus is facilitated to operate in an open environment or a closed environment, the apparatus comprising: (a) a processor (150); (b) memory coupled to operate with said processor; (c) an imaging device (110) comprising: i. at least one image sensor (112); and ii. a light-source-configuration (114) facilitated to directly illuminate the document from at least two illuminating angles; (d) a bench (120) having an upper surface; and (e) a document holding mechanism (130 or 180) including at least one paperweight (132 or 182), wherein said light source configuration includes at least one cluster of light sources, and wherein said clusters of light sources are operated in a preconfigured sequence; wherein said imaging device is preconfigured to acquire an image frame of at least a portion of the document being imaged and to store said acquired image frame in said memory, and wherein said image acquisition is operatively coupled with the activation of each of said light sources of said light-source-configuration at each of said at least two illuminating angles; wherein a space is formed between said bench and said image sensor, facilitating placing the document on top of said upper surface of said bench, and wherein said image side of the document faces said image sensor; wherein said at least one paperweight is disposed in a respective fitted hollow space (134 or 184) formed in said document holding mechanism, extending generally perpendicular upwardly from said upper surface of said bench; wherein said respective fitted hollow space facilitates free up and down motion of said paperweight inside said respective fitted hollow space; and wherein the document may be pushed underneath said paperweight to thereby flatten the document. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the document is a booklet type document, such as a passport. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus as in claim 1, wherein at least the lower portion of said at least one paperweight is rounded. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said hollow space is a hollow column (134), and wherein each of said paperweights (132) is disposed a respective hollow column. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus as in claim 1, wherein each individual light source of said light source configuration is selected from the group of light sources type, including infra red (IR), ultra violate (UV) and visible light (VL). ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus as in claim 1, wherein each individual light source of said light source configuration is selected from the group including LED, halogen light sources and fluorescence image. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The imaging apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said processor is in communication flow with a remote processing unit. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The imaging apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said remote processing unit is a remote server. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The imaging apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said remote processing unit is a mobile device. ### Claim 10 A method for imaging a document having an imaged side and a back side, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an imaging apparatus, facilitated to operate in an open environment or a closed environment, including: i. a processor (150); ii. memory coupled to operate with said processor; iii. an imaging device (110) including: A) at least one image sensor (112); and B) an light-source-configuration (114) facilitated to directly illuminate the document from at least two illuminating angles; iv. a bench (120) having an upper surface; and v. a document holding mechanism (130 or 180) including at least one paperweight (132 or 182), wherein said clusters of light sources are operated in a preconfigured sequence to directly illuminating the portions of the document being imaged; and wherein each of said at least one image sensors are preconfigured to acquire an image frame of said portions of the document being imaged, in operative synchronization with the activation of respective clusters of light sources; (b) placing the document on said upper surface of said bench, wherein said image side of the document faces said image sensor; (c) determining the type of the document, the type selected from the group consisting of booklet-type document, large form and small form; and (d) pushing the document underneath said paperweight, when said document is a booklet-type document, to thereby flatten the document. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method as in claim 10, wherein when said document is a not a booklet-type document, pushing the document underneath said paperweight.