Changeable resolution apparatus and method for optical scanner

Abstract

A changeable resolution apparatus and method for scanner includes two rotational disks which have respectively a plurality of lenses of different focuses and a plurality of charge-coupled devices (CCD) of different resolutions located therein. A motor is provided to drive a transmission shaft to rotate in a positive or a reverse direction. Two one-way shaft bearings are engaged with the transmission shaft to drive the rotational disks one-way in opposite directions for changing lens and CCD combination to reach different resolutions. The apparatus is located in the scanner for users to adjust scanner resolution based on scanning requirements to get optimum resolution result.

1. A changeable resolution apparatus for optical scanner, comprising:
 a first rotational disk having a first outer rim and a plurality of lenses of different focuses located therein, 
 a second rotational disk having a second outer rim and a plurality of charge-coupled devices (CCD) of different resolutions located therein, 
 a spindle running through centers of the first and second rotational disk for the first and second rotation disk to rotate thereon, 
 a transmission shaft having two one-way shaft bearings mounted thereon to engage respectively with the first outer rim and second outer rim for turning the first and second rotational disk, and one shaft gear fixedly mounted thereon, and 
 a motor attached with a transmission gear engageable with the shaft gear for driving the transmission shaft to rotate in clockwise or counter clockwise direction. 
 
     
     
       2. The changeable resolution apparatus for optical scanner according to  claim 1 , wherein first and second outer rim have respectively a plurality of gear teeth formed thereon for engaging with the shaft bearings. 
     
     
       3. The changeable resolution apparatus for optical scanner according to  claim 1 , wherein the spindle has one end fixedly engaged with an inner wall of the scanner. 
     
     
       4. The changeable resolution apparatus for optical scanner according to  claim 1 , wherein the two one-way shaft bearings have opposite rotation directions. 
     
     
       5. The changeable resolution apparatus for optical scanner according to  claim 4 , wherein the one-way shaft bearing is a one-way transmission means and is firmly engaged with the transmission shaft for transmitting transmission shaft rotation when the transmission shaft rotates in a positive direction, and disengaged with the transmission shaft to form a loose relationship when the transmission shaft rotates in a reverse direction. 
     
     
       6. The changeable resolution apparatus for optical scanner according to  claim 1 , wherein each one-way shaft bearing includes:
 an outer tube having an outer rim which has a plurality of bearing teeth formed thereon for engaging with gear teeth formed on the outer rim of the rotational disk, and a plurality of spaced wedge members located on an inner perimeter surface thereof, 
 an inner tube housed within the outer tube and spaced from the inner perimeter surface having an inner bore engaged with the transmission shaft, and 
 a plurality of rollers located between the outer tube and inner tube, each roller is movably held between a pair of adjacent wedge members such that the inner tube may drive the outer tube to rotate when the rollers being engaged between the inner tube and outer tube. 
 
     
     
       7. The changeable resolution apparatus for optical scanner according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is normal to scanning surface for saving scanner internal space. 
     
     
       8. The changeable resolution apparatus for optical scanner according to  claim 7  further having a slant mirror to change optical path from horizontal direction to vertical direction. 
     
     
       9. The changeable resolution apparatus for optical scanner according to  claim 1 , wherein the center of the first rotational disk has a one-way bearing located therein, the first rotational disk is rotationable in only one direction. 
     
     
       10. The changeable resolution apparatus for optical scanner according to  claim 1 , wherein the center of the second rotational disk has a one-way bearing located therein, the second rotational disk is rotationable in only one direction. 
     
     
       11. A changeable resolution method for optical scanner, comprising the following steps:
 a. providing a scanner equipped with a changeable resolution apparatus that has two rotational disks which have respectively a plurality of lenses of different focuses and a plurality of charge-coupled devices (CCD) of different resolutions located therein, a motor for turning the two rotational disks, and a control unit for controlling the motor, 
 b. entering a selected resolution value, 
 c. calculating by the control unit to determine combination of the lens and CCD, 
 d. driving the rotational disks to positions desired based on calculation value, 
 e. completing adjustment. 
 
     
     
       12. The changeable resolution method for optical scanner according to  claim 11 , wherein the step c is performed again when the step d outcome does not reach an optimum resolution desired. 
     
     
       13. The changeable resolution method for optical scanner according to  claim 11 , wherein the step d is performed repeatedly until reaching an optimum resolution desired before going to the step e. 
     
     
       14. A method, comprising:
 receiving a selected resolution value;   calculating to determine a combination of one or more lenses and two or more charge-coupled devices of different resolutions, and   driving the two or more charge-coupled devices to a position based at least in part on said calculating.   
     
     
       15. The method of claim 14, wherein said calculating is performed again when said driving does not reach an approximate resolution desired. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim 14, wherein said driving is performed repeatedly until reaching an approximate resolution desired before completing adjustment. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim 14, wherein said calculating comprises determining a combination of two or more lenses of different focuses and two or more charge-coupled devices of different resolutions. 
     
     
       18. An apparatus, comprising:
 a first substrate including one or more lenses located therein,   a second substrate including two or more charge-coupled devices of different resolutions located therein, and   a motor operatively associated at least with the second substrate and capable of driving at least the second substrate to optically couple an identified lens to an identified charge-coupled device.   
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said one or more lenses comprises two or more lenses of different focuses, and wherein said motor is operatively associated with the first substrate and capable of driving the first substrate. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said first substrate comprises a first rotational disk and wherein said second substrate comprises a second rotational disk. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a spindle running through said first and second rotational disks, the spindle capable of rotating said first and second rotation disks thereon. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a transmission shaft having two one-way shaft bearings mounted thereon capable of engaging respectively with said first rotational disk and a said second rotational disk, wherein said transmission shaft is capable of turning the first and second rotational disk. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said motor is operatively associated at least with said first rotational disk and said second rotational disk at least via said transmission shaft. 
     
     
       24. A method, comprising:
 determining, in view of a selected resolution value, a combination of a lens from among a plurality of lenses of different respective focuses and a charge-coupled device from a plurality of charge-coupled devices of different respective resolutions to effect a scanning operation corresponding to the selected resolution value, and   positioning at least one of the lens that is determined and the charge-coupled device that is determined to effect the scanning operation.   
     
     
       25. The method of claim 24, wherein said determining is performed again when said positioning does not reach an approximate selected resolution value. 
     
     
       26. The method of claim 24, wherein said positioning is performed repeatedly until reaching an approximate selected resolution value before completing adjustment.