Integrated scan-to-store apparatus

Abstract

A stand alone flat bed scanner including a CPU, a removable storage medium, a control system displaying digital image and controls for controlling the mode of operation, degree of resolution, related parameters associated with generating, storing and displaying digital data. Ports for printers, accessories and other peripherals, an internal hard drive, and software adapted to display images directly on a television screen, including battery, and a pivotal handle for portable use in environments not having an external power supply.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A flatbed scanner adapted for creating digital data representative of an object image comprising: 
 a housing having a reflective scanning surface thereon;    a transmissive scanning surface positioned within said housing;    a carriage adapted for reciprocal movement within said housing;    a digital camera positioned on said carriage;    a control system adapted to control scanning of objects placed on one of said transmissive scanning surface or said reflective scanning surface; and    a removable data storage medium positioned within said housing.    
     
     
         2 . The scanner of  claim 1  wherein said removable data storage medium is a 3.5 inch floppy diskette.  
     
     
         3 . The scanner of  claim 1  wherein said removable data storage medium is a Zip-Drive.  
     
     
         4 . The scanner of  claim 1  wherein said removable data storage medium is a flash memory card.  
     
     
         5 . The scanner of  claim 1  wherein said removable data storage medium is a 120 MB diskette.  
     
     
         6 . The scanner of  claim 1  wherein said removable data storage medium is a compact disk (CD) with write capability.  
     
     
         7 . The scanner of  claim 1  wherein said control system includes a display of said digital data and a control to determine the degree of resolution of the digital data obtained from said object image.  
     
     
         8 . The scanner of  claim 1  wherein said control system includes a display of said digital data and a multi-function switch.  
     
     
         9 . The scanner of  claim 1  wherein said scanner includes a hinged cover adapted to overlie said reflective scanning surface.  
     
     
         10 . In a scanner adapted for creating digital data representative of an object image from a reflective scanning platform and/or a transmissive scanning platform, and including a housing, a digital camera positioned on a carriage adapted for reciprocation within the housing and a control system, the improvement comprising: 
 a disk drive positioned within said housing and a portable digital data memory adapted to be inserted into said disk drive.    
     
     
         11 . The scanner of  claim 7  wherein said portable digital data memory is a 3.5 inch floppy diskette.  
     
     
         12 . A flat bed scanner comprising: 
 a housing having a bottom surface, four walls, a top surface and a cover, the top surface including a platen and said cover adapted to overlie an object to be scanned;    a contact image sensor module in sliding contact with the platen and adapted to generate digital signals and having a plurality of sensors, and adapted to provide a 1:1 scanning ratio of the object to be scanned to the plurality of sensors;    said image sensor module adapted to be supported and transported by a monorail extending from a first end of the housing to a second end of the scanner housing; and    a removable data storage medium positioned within said housing.    
     
     
         13 . The scanner of  claim 12  wherein the removable data storage medium is selected from the group consisting essentially of: a 3.5 inch floppy diskette, a Zip-rive, a flash memory card, a 120 MB diskette, a compact disk with write capability.  
     
     
         14 . The scanner of  claim 12  wherein the control system includes a multifunction switch.  
     
     
         15 . The scanner of  claim 12  further including a display of said digital data.  
     
     
         16 . A method of scanning comprising: 
 providing a flatbed scanner having a housing, a scanning surface, a carriage positioned within the housing and adapted to reciprocate within the housing, and a digital camera positioned on the carriage;    selecting an object to be scanned;    selecting a scanning resolution;    moving the carriage within the housing;    scanning the object with the digital camera while moving the carriage;    converting visual information received by the digital camera from the object to digital signals representative of the visual information; and    storing said digital signals on a removable storage media positioned within said scanner housing.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further including: 
 providing a visual display of said digital signals.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further including: 
 compressing said digital signals prior to storing said signals on said storage medium.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said scanning is performed by a contact image sensor.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said scanning is performed by a charge coupled device.  
     
     
         21 . A flatbed scanner adapted for creating digital data representative of an object image comprising: 
 a housing having a reflective scanning surface thereon;    a carriage adapted for reciprocal movement within said housing;    a digital camera positioned on said carriage;    a control system adapted to control scanning of objects placed on said scanning surface; and a removable data storage medium positioned within said housing.    
     
     
         22 . The scanner of  claim 21  wherein said scanner includes a hinged cover adapted to overlie said reflective scanning surface.  
     
     
         23 . In a scanner adapted for creating digital data representative of an object image from a reflective scanning platform and including a housing, a digital camera positioned on a carriage adapted for reciprocation within the housing and a control system, the improvement comprising: 
 a disk drive positioned within said housing and a portable digital data memory adapted to be inserted into said disk drive.    
     
     
         24 . A flat bed scanner adapted for creating digital data representative of an object image comprising: 
 a housing having a scanner surface thereon;    a carriage adapted for reciprocal movement within said housing;    a digital camera positioned on said carriage;    a central processing unit positioned within said housing, beneath said surface and adapted to control scanning, editing, and input output functions for scanned images;    a control system adapted to control scanning of objects placed on said scanning surface;    a parallel printer port whereby said scanner may output to a conventional printer for printing of said scanned image directly from said scanner.    
     
     
         25 . The scanner of  claim 24  further including an autodocument feeder positioned on top of said scanning bed and operantly connected to an accessory port positioned in the housing of said scanner.  
     
     
         26 . The scanner of  claim 24  further including two holes positioned on the housing of said scanner and adapted to receive positioning posts of an automatic document feeder thereon; 
 and further including an accessory port positioned in the housing of said scanner and adapted to be connected to an automatic document feeder.  
 
     
     
         27 . The scanner of  claim 24  further including the handle pivotally retained by said housing.  
     
     
         28 . The scanner of  claim 24  further including computer firmware adapted to process scanned image signals for display on a television screen.  
     
     
         29 . The scanner of  claim 24  further including a memory module operatively connected to said CPU  
     
     
         30 . A flat bed scanner adapted for creating digital data representative of an object image comprising: 
 a housing having a scanner surface thereon;    a carriage adapted for reciprocal movement within said housing;    a digital camera positioned on said carriage;    a central processing unit positioned within said housing, beneath said surface and adapted to control scanning, editing, and input output functions for scanned images;    a control system adapted to control scanning of objects placed on said scanning surface;    a parallel printer port whereby said scanner may output to a conventional printer for printing of said scanned image directly from said scanner;    a liquid crystal display LCD positioned on said housing and adapted to display control and scanning processing information.    
     
     
         31 . The scanner of  claim 30  further including a keyboard connection port.  
     
     
         32 . The scanner of  claim 30  wherein said CPU is of the Pentium type of CPU and further including Windows  98  type software for controlling said scanner.  
     
     
         33 . The scanner of  claim 30  wherein the LCD screen is placed on the inside of the cover and is of the size approximately equal to the size of the maximum image to be scanned on the scanner.  
     
     
         34 . The scanner of  claim 30  further including an internal hard drive having a capacity of at least 4 GB.