Scanning apparatus with the appearance of pen

Abstract

A scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen for scanning a small-sized document has the casing, the cap, the input slot and the output slot for inputting and outputting the small-sized document on the casing, respectively, the transmission apparatus for driving the small-sized document, the light source for emitting the light, the photoelectric sensing device for receiving a light signal reflected by the small-sized document and then outputting a digital data of captured image to the control processing unit. The scanning apparatus also has 1394 interface connector or USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector to transmit the digital data stored in the control processing unit to the terminal operating system such as the computer, the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), or the cellular phone for editing or printing. The scanning apparatus of the invention is easy to carry and can be operated anywhere and anytime.

1. A scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen for scanning a small-sized document, comprising:
 a casing, comprising: 
 an input slot situated on the casing for inputting the small-sized document;  
 an output slot situated on the casing for outputting the small-sized document;  
 a transmission apparatus for driving the small-sized document;  
 a light source situated inside the casing;  
 a photoelectric sensing device situated close to the light source for receiving a light signal reflected by the small-sized document and then outputting a digital data of captured image;  
 a control processing unit for controlling the photoelectric sensing device and storing the digital data of captured image; and  
 an interface connector for transmitting the digital data of captured image to a terminal operating system; and  
 a cap for covering the input slot and the output slot.  
 
 
     
     
       2. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmission apparatus has a feeding roller to drive the small-sized document into the scanning apparatus. 
     
     
       3. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 2 , wherein the transmission apparatus further has a spring for accumulating energy, and the feeding roller is rotated when the energy is released. 
     
     
       4. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 3 , wherein the transmission apparatus further has a damping connected to the spring for controlling the  a rotation rate of the feeding roller. 
     
     
       5. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to claim  1    2 , wherein the transmission apparatus further has a motor for driving the feeding roller. 
     
     
       6. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 2 , wherein the scanning apparatus further has a battery as a power source. 
     
     
       7. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 1 , wherein the scanning apparatus further has a power terminal connected to the  an external power source to provide the  power of  for the scanning apparatus. 
     
     
       8. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 1 , wherein the light source is a Light Emitting Diode (LED). 
     
     
       9. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 1 , wherein the photoelectric sensing device is a Contact Image Sensor (CIS). 
     
     
       10. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 9 , wherein the CIS is linear. 
     
     
       11. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 1 , wherein the control processing unit has a random-access memory. 
     
     
       12. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 1 , wherein the interface connector is a 1394 connector. 
     
     
       13. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 1 , wherein the interface connector is a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector. 
     
     
       14. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 1 , wherein the terminal operating system is a computer for editing or printing the digital data of captured image. 
     
     
       15. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 1 , wherein the terminal operating system is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) for editing or printing the digital data of captured image. 
     
     
       16. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 1 , wherein the casing is made of an alloy of magnesium (Mg) and aluminum (Al). 
     
     
       17. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 1 , wherein the casing is made of plastic. 
     
     
       18. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 1 , wherein the casing is made of rubber. 
     
     
       19. The scanning apparatus with the appearance of a pen according to  claim 1 , wherein the small-sized document is a business card. 
     
     
       20. A hand- held scanner, comprising:      a casing containing a document input slot;        a light source mounted inside the casing and configured to provide light incident to a document;        a photoelectric sensor mounted inside the casing and configured to receive the incident light that is reflected from the document and output a captured image of the document as digital data; and        a transmission apparatus mounted inside the casing, wherein the transmission apparatus comprises a power source configured to drive the document through the document input slot and past the photoelectric sensor.     
     
     
       21. The hand- held scanner according to    claim 20   , wherein the transmission apparatus further comprises a feed roller powered by the power source.   
     
     
       22. The hand- held scanner according to    claim 21   , wherein the power source comprises a spring configured to store and release energy, and wherein the feed roller is configured to rotate when the energy is released from the spring.   
     
     
       23. The hand- held scanner according to    claim 22   , further comprising a damping mechanism connected to the spring, wherein the damping mechanism is configured to control a rotation rate of the feed roller.   
     
     
       24. The hand- held scanner according to    claim 21   , wherein the power source comprises a battery - powered motor configured to rotate the feed roller.   
     
     
       25. The hand- held scanner according to    claim 20   , wherein the light source comprises a Light Emitting Diode  ( LED ) .   
     
     
       26. The hand- held scanner according to    claim 20   , wherein the photoelectric sensor comprises a Contact Image Sensor  ( CIS )  or a Charge Coupled Device  ( CCD ) .   
     
     
       27. The hand- held scanner according to    claim 20   , wherein the document input slot is approximately as wide as a business card.   
     
     
       28. The hand- held scanner according to    claim 20   , further comprising a cap configured to fit over one end of the casing and to cover the document input slot.   
     
     
       29. The hand- held scanner according to    claim 20   , wherein the transmission apparatus is configured to drive the document completely through the casing.   
     
     
       30. The hand- held scanner according to    claim 20   , wherein the captured image comprises an image of a first side of the document, and wherein the hand - held scanner further comprises a second photoelectric sensor configured to output a second captured image comprising an image of a second side of the document.   
     
     
       31. The hand- held scanner according to    claim 30   , wherein the transmission apparatus is further configured to drive the document past the second photoelectric sensor.   
     
     
       32. The hand- held scanner according to    claim 30   , wherein the image of the first side of the document and the image of the second side of the document are captured substantially simultaneously.   
     
     
       33. The hand- held scanner according to    claim 20   , wherein the hand - held scanner is shaped like a pen.   
     
     
       34. A method for operating a pocket- sized scanner shaped like a pen, comprising:      driving a document through an input slot of the pocket - sized scanner, wherein the document passes a light source and a photoelectric sensor mounted inside the pocket - sized scanner, and wherein the document passes completely through the input slot;        illuminating the document with the light source;        translating light reflected from the document into digital data with the photoelectric sensor; and        storing the digital data in a memory.     
     
     
       35. The method of  claim 34 , further comprising transmitting the digital data to a terminal operating system. 
     
     
       36. The method according to  claim 34 , further comprising:
   accumulating energy in a spring positioned within the pocket - sized scanner; and        releasing the energy to rotate a feeding roller, wherein the feeding roller drives the document through the pocket - sized scanner.     
     
     
       37. The method according to  claim 36 , further comprising damping the energy released from the spring to control a rate of rotation of the feeding roller. 
     
     
       38. The method according to  claim 34 , wherein the memory is located within the pocket- sized scanner.   
     
     
       39. A portable scanner, comprising:
   means for accumulating energy in a spring positioned within a casing of the portable scanner;        means for moving a document through an input slot of the casing, wherein a release of the accumulated energy drives the means for moving the document;        means for illuminating the document with an internal light source mounted in the casing;        means for converting light reflected from the document into digital data, wherein the means for converting is mounted in the casing; and        means for storing the digital data in a memory.     
     
     
       40. The portable scanner according to  claim 39 , wherein the spring is compressed to accumulate the energy, and wherein the portable scanner further comprises means of damping the release of the accumulated energy to move the document through the input slot at a constant rate. 
     
     
       41. The portable scanner according to  claim 39 , further comprising means for covering the input slot, wherein the portable scanner is shaped like a pen, and wherein the means for covering is shaped like a pen cap.