Flatbed scanner with top and bottom light sources and a moveable light shield

Abstract

The present invention relates to a flatbed scanner with both a top light source and a bottom light source which can be easily switched by using a top light shield to scan transparent documents and opaque documents. The scanner comprises a housing, a scanning module, a top cover, a top light source, and light shield. The housing comprises a transparent platform for placing a document. The scanning module is slidably installed inside the housing for scanning the document placed on the transparent platform. The scanning module comprises a bottom light source for emitting light upward toward the document and an image converter for converting an image of the document into a digital image. The top cover is movably installed on the housing. The top light source is installed under the top cover for emitting light downward toward the document when the top cover is placed on the transparent platform. The light shield is movably installed under the top cover for shielding the top light source. When the top light source is covered by the light shield, the document image received by the image converter is generated by the light emitted from the bottom light source. When the top light source is not covered by the light shield, the bottom light source will be switched off and the document image received by the image converter is generated by the light emitted from the top light source.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.