Xerox Corporation

Ronald G Matteson

Jagdish C Tandon

James C Stoffel

William Kingsley

Douglas G Wiggins

Robert F Allis

John F Moreland

A scanner system for detecting images on a surface and generating an electronic representation thereof for transmission to an image processing system, including at least first, second and third rows of n sensors generating charges representative of detected light of preselected wavelengths during an integration period of a selected duration. Each row of sensors is comprised of substantially similar construction, and suitable for detection of a preselected wavelength, Sensors may be chosen from a sensor type which facilitates transfer of charges through the sensor. The sensor rows are provided with discharge paths interconnecting each sensor in a row in charge passing relationship with a sensor in a successive row, and a storage device, whereby sensors in a first row are discharged to a storage device through sensors in the second and third rows; sensors in a second row are discharged to a storage device through corresponding sensors in a third row; and sensors in a third row are discharged into a storage device prior to transmission of charges as output information. The charges are passed to the storage device between integration periods. A new integration period may be started as soon as data from the first row sensors reaches a storage device.

Charge transfer in multiple sensor row arrays

An image input terminal (IIT) with automatic document handler for feeding documents to be scanned into registered position on the IIT platen. The IIT includes a pair of multi-element scanning arrays with cooperating scan lamp and optics on a movable carriage disposed in scanning relationship with the platen. Analog image signals generated by the scanning arrays are initially processed in separate channels and then combined into a serial stream. The stream of analog image signals may optionally be thresholded or screened to provide binary level image signals or converted to multi-bit gray scale. A control system including microprocessor provides timing and control signals for synchronizing operation of the scanning carriage, document handler, and image signal reading and processing together with electronic crossover between arrays to avoid loss of data, automatic signal gain and deletion of bad image signals or pixels. On board array alignment apparatus permits adjustment of array focus, skew, height, position and overlap.

Multiple mode raster scanner

A raster scanner with linear scanning array, a scanning slit permitting the array to view a document image one line at a time, and document transport for transporting documents past the scanning slit. To accommodate the disparity between scanning rates and user data rates, a relatively small buffer stores lines of pixels output by the array pending user demand. Intermittent operation of the scanner in response to buffer pixel demands is effected through starting and stopping of the document transport. A control is provided to prevent uneven spacing of scan lines resulting from scanning stopped documents or documents in the process of being accelerated or decelerated to and from scanning speed by the document transport.

Growing community of inventors

Walworth, NY, United States of America

Ronald G Matteson