Freehand image scanning device which compensates for non-linear movement

A scanning device comprising:

• sensor means for forming image signals upon relative movement between said sensor means and an original having an image, said relative movement being a scanning process, said image signals being responsive to said image;
• navigation means, in fixed position relative to said sensor means, including a first two-dimensional array of optical sensor elements, for forming at least one position signal responsive to detection of inherent structure related properties of said original during said scanning process;
• and
• processor means, responsive to said position signal, for manipulating said image signals based upon relative movement between said navigation means and said original as determined by variations of said inherent structure-related properties and for generating manipulated output image signals, said manipulating being conducted to cause an output image created from said manipulated output image signals to more accurately reproduce said image of said original.

A scanning device for forming a scanned electronic image of an original comprising:

• a housing having a forward side;
• an image sensor having an array of optoelectronic elements, said image sensor being connected to said forward side of said housing, said image sensor having a length greater than a width and having first and second lengthwise ends;
• a first navigation sensor having an array of optoelectronic elements, said first navigation sensor being connected to said forward side and being at said first lengthwise end of said image sensor;
• a second navigation sensor having an array of optoelectronic elements, said second navigation sensor being connected to said forward side and being at said second lengthwise end of said image sensor;
• illumination means for illuminating an original to be scanned in a manner to contrast inherent structural features of said original, said illumination means including first and second light sources positioned proximate to said first and second navigation sensors, respectively;
• means connected to receive signals from said first and second navigation sensors for tracking movement of said image sensor relative to said original and generating position signals corresponding to said movement;
• and
• means for mapping signals generated by said image sensor in accordance with said movement of said image sensor relative to said original, said means for mapping signals receiving said position signals and mapping said signals generated by said image sensor based on said position signals to remove image distortion artifacts arising from curvilinear or rotational movement of said image sensor relative to said original.

A method of forming a scanned electronic image comprising the steps of:

• forming an image signal representative of an image on an original, including moving a scanning device relative to said original;
• detecting relative movement between said scanning device and inherent structural features of said original, including forming at least one navigation signal representative of said relative movement;
• manipulating said image signal based upon said navigation signal to create manipulated image signals, such that distortion artifacts generated upon curvilinear travel of said scanning device along said original are removed;
• and
• processing said manipulated image signals to construct a scanned electronic image similar to said image on said original.