Apparatus for reducing exposing time of an image processing system

Abstract

Apparatus for reducing exposing time of an image processing system is disclosed herein. The image processing system including a shift register coupled to a photo-sensing means, the photo-sensing device is used to convert an optical image from a lens to a plurality groups of charge to form an electrical signal. The apparatus includes control device (counter) and a reset gate. The control device generates the first reset signal and the second reset signal depending on whether the image processing system is in a first resolution mode or a second resolution mode. A first number of cells of the photo-sensing device are exposed to the light of the optical image during the first resolution mode, and a second number of cells of the photo-sensing device being exposed to the optical image during the second resolution mode. The first number of cells is greater than the second number of cells. The reset device is used to eliminate the residual charges in the shift register responding to the first reset signal and the second reset signal. The reset device is coupled to the shift register, and throwaway charges generated by the cells of the photo-sensing device, which are not exposed to the light of the optical image.

1. Apparatus  An apparatus for reducing exposing time of an image processing system, said image processing system comprising a shift register coupled to a photo-sensing means, said photo-sensing means being used to convert an optical image from a lens to a plurality of groups of charge to form an electrical signal, said apparatus comprising:
 control means for generating a first reset signal and a second reset signal during a first resolution mode and a second resolution mode of said image processing system respectively, a first number of cells of said photo-sensing means being exposed to said optical image during said first resolution mode, a second number of cells of said photo-sensing means being exposed to said optical image during said second resolution mode, said first number of cells of said photo-sensing means being greater than said second number of cells of said photo-sensing means, a period of said first reset signal being-  proportional to said first number of cells of said photo-sensing means, a period of said second reset signal being proportional to said second number of cells of said photo-sensing mans  means, said plurality of groups of charge being transmitted to said shift register, and then being output from said shift register;  
 positioning means for driving the lens or the photo- sensing means to a first image - capturing position during the first resolution mode to focus the optical image on the first number of cells of the photo - sensing means during the first resolution mode, the positioning means driving the lens to a second image - capturing position during the second resolution mode to focus the optical image on the second number of cells of the photo - sensing means during the second resolution mode;  and  
 reset means for leading charges in said shift register to ground responding to said first reset signal and said second reset signal, said reset means coupled to said shift register generating potential-energy well at end of each period of said first reset signal and said second reset signal, said potential-energy well eliminating residual charges left in said shift register, said photo-sensing means converting said optical image to said plurality groups of charge responding to a exposing timing signal, period of said exposing timing signal being no less than period of said first reset signal when said image processing system being in said first resolution mode, period of said exposing timing signal being no less than period of said second reset signal when said image processing system being in said second resolution mode .  
 
     
     
       2. Apparatus as  The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said image processing system is  comprises an image scanner. 
     
     
       3. Apparatus as  The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said reset means is included in a charge coupled device (CCD). 
     
     
       4. Apparatus  An apparatus for converting an optical image through a lens to an electrical signal, said apparatus comprising:
 photo-sensing means for exposing to light of said optical image to convert said optical image to a plurality of groups of charge responding to an exposing timing signal from a  an exposing timing signal means;  
 a shift register for parallel receiving said plurality of groups of charge and serially transmitting said plurality of groups of charge responding to a shift control signal from a shift control signal source, said serially transmitted plurality of groups of charges forming said electrical signal;  
 control means for respectively generating a first reset signal and a second reset signal during a first resolution mode and a second resolution mode of said apparatus, a first number of cells of said photo-sensing means being exposed to light of said optical image during said first resolution mode, a second number of cells of said photo-sensing means being exposed to light of said optical image during said second resolution mode, said first number of cells of said photo-sensing means being greater than said second number of cells of said photo-sensing means, a period of said first reset signal being proportional to said first number of cells of said photo-sensing means, a period of said second reset signal being proportional to said second number of cells of said photo-sensing means, the period of said first reset signal being greater than the period of said second reset signal;  
 positioning means for driving the lens or the first number of cells to a first image- capturing position during the first resolution mode to focus the optical image on the first number of cells of the photo - sensing means during the first resolution mode, the positioning means for driving the lens or the second number of cells to a second image - capturing position during the second resolution mode to focus the optical image on the second number of cells of the photo - sensing means during the second resolution mode;  and  
 reset means for leading charges in said shift register to ground responding to said first reset signal and said second reset signal, said reset means coupled to said shift register being used to generating potential-energy well at end of each period of said first reset signal and said second reset signal, said potential-energy well eliminating residual charges left in said shift register, said photo-sensing means converting said optical image to said plurality groups of charge responding to said exposing timing signal, period of said exposing timing signal being no less than period of said first reset signal when said image processing system being in said first resolution mode, period of said exposing timing signal being no less than period of said second reset signal when said image processing system being in said second resolution mode .  
 
     
     
       5. Apparatus as  The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 selection means for determining said apparatus operating in said first resolution mode or in said second resolution mode according to a user's selection, wherein the user click on  chooses a first position of a surface of said selection means to generate a first selection signal, and wherein the user click on  chooses a second position of the surface of said selection means to generate a second selection signal, said apparatus being operated in said first resolution mode according to said first selection signal, said apparatus being operated in said second resolution mode according to said second selection signal; and  
 positioning means for driving said lend to a first image-capturing position responding to said first selection signal to focus said optical image on said first number of cells of said photo-sensing device during said first resolution mode, said positioning means driving said lend to a second image-capturing position responding to said second selection signal to focus said optical image on said second number of cells of said photo-sensing device during said second resolution mode;  
 pre-processing means for adjusting dc voltage of said electrical signal from said shift register as well as converting said electrical signal from analog format to digital format; and  
 post processing means for adjusting contrast of said electrical signal of digital format.  
 
     
     
       6. Apparatus as  The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said selection means is  comprises a software interface. 
     
     
       7. Apparatus as  The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein said positioning means is  comprises a driving motor. 
     
     
       8. Apparatus as  The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said reset gate is included in a charge coupled device (CCD). 
     
     
       9. Apparatus  An apparatus for converting an optical image through a lens to an electrical signal, said apparatus comprising:
 a photo-sensing meansdevice for exposing to light of said optical image to convert said optical image to a plurality of groups of charge responding to an exposing timing signal from aan exposing timing signal source;  
 a shift register for parallel receiving said plurality of groups of charge and serially transmitting said plurality of groups of charge responding to a shift control signal from a shift control signal source, said serially transmitted plurality of groups of charges forming said electrical signal;  
 control means for respectively generating a first reset signal and a second reset signal during a first resolution mode and a second resolution mode of said apparatus, a first number of cells of said photo-sensing means  device being exposed to light of said optical image during said first resolution mode, a second number of cells of said photo-sensing means  device being exposed to light of said optical image during said second resolution mode, said first number of cells of said photo-sensing means  device being greater than said second number of cells of said photo-sensing means  device, a period of said first reset signal being proportional to said first number of cells of said photo-sensing means  device, a period of said second reset signal being proportional to said second number of cells of said photo-sensing means  device, the period of said first reset signal being greater than the period of said second reset signal;  
 reset means for leading charges in said shift register to ground responding to said first reset signal and said second reset signal, said reset means coupled to said shift register being used to generating  generate a potential-energy well at an end of each period of said first reset signal and said second reset signal, said potential-energy well eliminating residual charges left in said shift register, said photo-sensing means  device converting said optical image to said plurality of groups of charge responding to said exposing timing signal, the period of said exposing timing signal being no less than the period of said first reset signal when said image processing system being in said first resolution mode, the period of said exposing timing signal being no less than the period of said second reset signal when said image processing system being in said second resolution mode;  
 selection means for determining said apparatus operating in said first resolution mode or in said second resolution mode according to a user's selection, wherein the user click on  chooses a first position of a surface of said selection means to generate a first selection signal, and wherein the user click on  chooses a second position of the surface of said selection means to generate a second selection signal, said apparatus being operated in said second  first resolution mode according to said second  first selection signal, said apparatus being operated in said second resolution mode according to said second selection signal;  
 positioning means for driving said lend  lens to a first image-capturing position responding to said first selection signal to focus said optical image on said first number of cells of said photo-sensing device during said first resolution mode, said positioning means driving said lens to a second image-capturing position responding to said second selection signal to focus said optical image on said second number of cells of said photo-sensing device during said second resolution mode.  
 
     
     
       10. Apparatus as  The apparatus of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 pre-processing means for adjusting dc voltage of said electrical signal from said shift register as well as converting said electrical signal from analog format to digital format; and  
 post processing means for adjusting contrast of said electrical signal of  having the digital format.  
 
     
     
       11. Apparatus as  The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said selection means is  comprises a software interface. 
     
     
       12. Apparatus as  The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said positioning means is  comprises a driving motor. 
     
     
       13. Apparatus as  The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein said  further comprising a reset gate is  included in a charge coupled device (CCD). 
     
     
       14. An apparatus, comprising:
   control means for generating a first reset signal during a first resolution mode and a second reset signal during a second resolution mode, a first number of cells being exposed during said first resolution mode, a second number of cells being exposed during said second resolution mode, said first number of cells being greater than said second number of cells, a period of said first reset signal being proportional to said first number of cells, and a period of said second reset signal being proportional to said second number of cells;        reset means for leading charges in a shift register to ground responding to said first reset signal and said second reset signal to eliminate residual charges left in said shift register, and a period of an exposing timing signal being no less than one or more of said period of said first reset signal when in said first resolution mode and/or said period of said second reset signal when in said second resolution mode; and        positioning means for driving a lens between a first image - capturing position in said first resolution mode and a second image - capturing position in said second resolution mode.     
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising photo- sensing means for exposing said cells to an optical image.   
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 14 , further comprising:
   photo - sensing means for exposing said cells to an optical image; and        pre - processing means for receiving charges transmitted from said shift register to adjust dc voltage as well as convert from analog format to digital format.     
     
     
       17. An image processing system, comprising:
   a light sensor to receive light processed by a light processing component;        a shift register coupled to the light sensor;        an exposing timing signal to generate exposure timing signals to control transmission of charges from the light sensor to the shift register, wherein the exposure timing signals include a first exposure timing signal corresponding to a high resolution mode and a second exposure timing signal corresponding to a low resolution mode; and        a positioning device to control a distance between the light processing component and the light sensor according to the mode such that image light is directed onto a first portion of the light sensor during the high resolution mode and a second portion of the light sensor during the low resolution mode.     
     
     
       18. The image processing system of  claim 17 , wherein a period of the first exposure timing signal is no less than a period of the first reset signal used to control a transfer of charges from the shift register to ground in the high resolution mode, and wherein a period of the second exposing timing signal is no less than a period of the second reset signal used to control a transfer of charges from the shift register to ground in the low resolution mode. 
     
     
       19. The image processing system of  claim 17 , wherein a period of a first reset signal used to control a transfer of charges from the shift register to ground is proportional to a number of cells of the first light sensor portion illuminated during the high resolution mode, and wherein a period of the second exposing timing signal is proportional to a number of cells of the first light sensor portion illuminated during the low resolution mode. 
     
     
       20. A method, comprising:
   transmitting timing signals to control transfer of charges from a light sensor to a shift register, wherein the timing signals comprise a first exposure timing signal corresponding to a high resolution mode and a second exposing timing signal corresponding to a low resolution mode;        transmitting a control signal to control transfer of charges from the shift register to a processing device; and        changing a distance between a lens and the light sensor to focus image light on a first portion of the light sensor during the first resolution mode, and to focus image light on a second portion of the light sensor during the second resolution mode.     
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein a period of the first exposure timing signal is no less than a period of a first reset signal used to control a transfer of charges from the shift register to ground in the high resolution mode, and wherein a period of the second exposing timing signal is no less than a period of a second reset signal used to control a transfer of charges from the shift register to ground in the low resolution mode. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 20 , wherein a period of a first reset signal used to control a transfer of charges from the shift register to ground is proportional to a number of cells of the first light sensor portion illunimated during the high resolution mode, and wherein a period of the second exposing timing signal is proportional to a number of cells of the first light sensor portion illuminated during the low resolution mode. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 20 , further comprising adjusting the photo- sensing device via a positioning device.   
     
     
       24. An apparatus, comprising:
   means for transmitting timing signals to control transfer of charges from a light sensor to a shift register, wherein the timing signals comprise a first exposure timing signal corresponding to a high resolution mode and a second exposure timing signal corresponding to a low resolution mode;        means for transmitting a control signal to control transfer of charges from the shift register to a processing device; and        means for changing a distance between a lens and the light sensor to focus image light on a first portion of the light sensor during the high resolution mode, and to focus image light on a second portion of the light sensor during the low resolution mode.     
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein a period of the first exposure timing signal is no less than a period of a first reset signal used to control a transfer of charges from the shift register to ground in the high resolution mode, and wherein a period of the second exposing timing signal is no less than a period of a second reset signal used to control a transfer of charges from the shift register to ground in the low resolution mode. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein a period of the first reset signal used to control a transfer of charges from the shift register to ground is proportional to a number of cells of the first light sensor portion illuminated during the high resolution mode, and wherein a period of the second exposing timing signal is proportional to a number of cells of the first light sensor portion illuminated during the low resolution mode. 
     
     
       27. An apparatus, comprising:
   means for sensing light processed by a light processing component;        means for storing charges output by the light sensing means;        an exposing timing signal source to generate exposure timing signals to control transmission of charges from the light sensing means to the storage means, wherein the exposure timing signals include a first exposure timing signal corresponding to a high resolution mode and a second exposure timing signal corresponding to a low resolution mode; and        a positioning device to control a distance between the light processing component and the light sensor according to the mode such that image light is directed onto a first portion of the light sensor during the high resolution mode and a second portion of the light sensor during the low resolution mode.