WO2017054171A1

WO2017054171A1 - Imaging devices

Info

Publication number: WO2017054171A1
Application number: PCT/CN2015/091217
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hai-Long Wang; Pan-Mi WU; Yi Xin Wang; Zhi Yuan ZHAO
Original assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
Priority date: 2015-09-30
Filing date: 2015-09-30
Publication date: 2017-04-06

Abstract

An imaging device is disclosed. The imaging device includes a scanning unit to scan an interface area of the imaging device; a notifying unit to notify an operator of information indicating a presence or absence of an object on the interface area; and a controller, coupled to the scanning unit and the notifying unit, to control the scanning unit to scan the interface area after a completion of an operation task with respect to the object on the interface area, determine, for each scanned block in the interface area, whether a total number of consecutive non-white areas within the scanned block has reached a predetermined value, mark the scanned block as a target block if the predetermined value is reached, determine whether a number of the target blocks has reached a predetermined threshold, and control the notifying unit to notify the operator of information indicative of the object remaining on the interface area if the predetermined threshold is reached.

Description

Imaging devices

BACKGROUND

An imaging device, for example a scanner or a copier, is a device used to create a digital image from a document or from a 3-dimensional object. There are many types of scanners, for example sheet feed scanners, flatbed scanners with/without automatic document feeder (ADF) , stand-alone scanners and scanners integrated into multifunctional printers. A copier may be a multifunction peripheral that includes an integrated scanner and printer.

In use of a scanner or copier, an operator who makes a scanning or copying task may pick up the scanned or copied document but leave behind on the scanner or copier the original document after finishing the scanning or copying task, which may, for example, result in the loss of the original document and cause a security risk. For example, an unauthorized operator may place the left-behind original document on the platen of the scanner or copier to perform unauthorized scanning or copying tasks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a flatbed scanner according to an example；

FIG. 2 shows a structure of a device for notifying an operator of an object left behind according to an example；

FIG. 3 shows scanned blocks according to an example；

FIG. 4 shows a structure of a device for notifying an operator of an object left behind according to another example；

FIG. 5 shows a structure of a device for notifying an operator of an object left behind according to still another example；

FIG. 6 shows a structure of a device for notifying an operator of an object left behind according to still another example；

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of a method for notifying an operator of an object left behind according to an example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An imaging device is used to create digital images of objects. The objects may be the substances, the digital images of which are to be created by the imaging device. For example, the objects may be paper documents, photos, labels, books, cards, posters, transparencies, 3D structures, etc. The imaging device may be, for example, a scanner, a copier, a multi-functional printer (MFP) that is integrated with scanning function, and the like.

Hereinafter, for illustrative purposes only, various aspects of the disclosure will be described using a flatbed scanner as an example of the imaging device.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a flatbed scanner 100 according to an example. The example flatbed scanner 100 includes, without limitation, a housing110, a scan platen 120, a scanning unit130 and a cover 140. The housing 110 has an opening 112 formed on its top surface to receive and fit the scan platen 120 thereby holding the scan platen 120 in place. The scan platen 120 is fabricated from a material that allows light to pass through. For example, a transparent material such as glass may be used as the scan platen 120. The top surface of the scan platen 120 forms a flatbed scanning area 122. The housing 110 may be formed in a hollow box shape, in which the scanning unit130 is arranged below the scan platen 120. The example flatbed scanner 100 also includes a controlling unit (not shown in FIG. 1 for clarity) that may control the scanning unit 130 to move from the start position to the end position along the underside of the scan platen 120, as shown by arrow 150, to scan an original document D placed on the flatbed scanning area 122 and generate image data representing the scanned document. The image data may subsequently be used to create an image of the original document D. After the completion of the scanning, the controlling unit may then control the scanning unit 130 to move from the end position to the start position. The example flatbed scanner 100 may also include, for example, a speaker (not shown in FIG. 1 for clarity) to provide operation-related information to the operator.

When the scanning task is performed, the scan platen 120 is covered with the cover 140. Thus there may exist the situation that after the scanning job is finished, an operator who makes the scanning job may leave the flatbed scanner 100 but forget to take the original document D away. In view of these concerns, it would be desirable to achieve a device for notifying the operator of the original document left behind.

FIG. 2 shows a structure of a device 200 for notifying an operator of an object left behind according to an example. For example, the device 200 may be integrated into a scanner to notify the operator of the original document left behind after the scanning task with respect to the original document is finished. In other examples, the device 200 may be integrated into a copier, which is used to notify the operator of the original document left behind after the completion of the copying task with respect to the original document.

Referring to FIG. 2, the example device 200 includes, without limitation, a scanning unit 210, a notifying unit 220 and a controller 230. The scanning unit 210 scans an interface area of an imaging device. The interface area may be an area where the object is placed. When the device 200 is for use with the flatbed scanner 100 of FIG. 1, the image device may be the flatbed scanner 100 and the interface area may be the flatbed scanning area 122 of the flatbed scanner 100. The scanning unit 210 may be a scanner device, such as a scanner device including a light source and a sensor and circuitry capable of performing a scanning operation using the sensor to sense light reflecting from an object. To be specific, the light source of the scanning unit may irradiate light to the original document D arranged on the flatbed scanning area 122, and the sensor of the scanning unit may convert the reflected light reflected from the original document D and converged by an optical system such as a lens (not shown for clarity) into an electric signal to thereby obtain image data of the original document D. Various kinds of light emitting devices, for example a light emitting diode (LED) , may be used as the light source 212. Likewise, various kinds of image sensors, for example a charge-coupled device (CCD) sensor, may be used as the sensor 214.

The notifying unit 220 notifies the operator of information indicating the presence or absence of the original document D on the scan platen 120. The notifying unit 220 may be a notifier device capable of performing a notifying operation, such as a speaker, a light source indicator, a display, etc. In one example, the notifying unit 220 may be a speaker that generates audible information indicative of the presence or absence of the original document D on the scan platen 120. In another example, the notifying unit 220 may be a light source indicator such as a light emitting diode that notifies the operator of the presence or absence of the original document D on the scan platen 120 by generating light. In still another example, the notifying unit 220 may be a display that generates visible information of the presence or absence of the original document D on the scan platen 120.

The controller 230 is coupled to the scanning unit 210 and the notifying unit 220 to control or activate the actions of the scanning unit 210 and the notifying unit 220. During operation, the operator places the original document D on the flatbed scanning area 122 and presses the ‘START’ button to activate the scanning task. In response to the activation signal, the flatbed scanner 100 begins to scan the original document D. After the scanning task with respect to the original document D is completed, the controller 230 may control the scanning unit 210 to scan the flatbed scanning area 122 of the flatbed scanner 100. To be specific, the scanning unit 210 scans lines of the flatbed scanning area 122 to collect scan data and provide the scan data to the controller 230. A plurality of scanned lines may be divided into several blocks, BK1, BK2, BK3, …, BKN, as shown in FIG. 3. For each block, such as the block BK1, the controller 230 determines whether the total number of consecutive non-white areas within the block BK1 has reached a predetermined value based on the scan data. In an example, one non-white area may correspond to one non-white pixel in the block BK1, and one consecutive non-white pixel may refer to a pixel that is non-white and non-isolated； in other words, the pixel is within an area where all of the pixels are non-white.

The size of each block BK1, BK2, BK3, …, BKN may be, for example, 64×64 pixels, and the predetermined value may be, for example, 100. In such an example, as to the block BK1, the area NWP1 has two consecutive non-white pixels, the area NWP2 has three consecutive non-white pixels, the area NWP3 has two consecutive non-white pixels, and the area NWP4 has four consecutive non-white pixels, as shown in FIG. 3 where a grid in the block BK1 represents one pixel. Thus, the total number of consecutive non-white pixels within the block BK1 is 2+3+2+4＝11, which is lower than the predetermined value of 100. Then the controller 230 continues to determine whether the total number of consecutive non-white pixels within the block BK2 has reached the predetermined value. If the total number of consecutive non-white pixels within the block BK2 has reached the predetermined value, then the controller 230 marks the block BK2 as a target block. The target block may refer to a block, in which the total number of consecutive non-white pixels has reached the predetermined value, in the flatbed scanning area. The similar operations are also applied to the remaining blocks BK3, …, BKN until the controller 230 determines the number of the target blocks has reached a predetermined threshold. The predetermined threshold may refer to the minimum number of target blocks which need to be satisfied. The predetermined threshold may be 10 blocks, for example. In other words, the minimum number of the target blocks may be 10, for example. It is to be noted that the foresaid values of the predetermined value and predetermined threshold are just examples, however these two values can be set based on the accuracy requirements for the scanning and may be adjustable during operation. The predetermined threshold and value can be maximums, minimums, or a range of values.

If it is determined that the number of the target blocks has reached the predetermined threshold, the controller 230 controls the notifying unit 220 to notify the operator of information indicative of the original document D remaining on the scan platen 120. As such, the operator could be alarmed when he/she forgets to take away the original document D after the scanning task is finished, which may reduce the possibility of the loss of original document.

Before or during the scanning unit 210 scans the flatbed scanning area 122, the operator may choose to terminate the scanning of the flatbed scanning area 122 manually. In this regard, a button may be provided to generate a trigger signal based on the operator’s selection. In response to the trigger signal, the controller 230 may control the scanning unit 210 to terminate the scanning of the flatbed scanning area 122. Under the circumstance that the operator has a plurality of documents to be scanned and he/she replaces the previous original document with the current original document in such a short time that the scanning unit 210 has not yet been activated to scan the flatbed scanning area 122 to determine whether the previous original document remains on the flatbed scanning area 122, the operator may press such a button to terminate the scanning of the flatbed scanning area 122. In an example, the button may share the ‘START’ button as mentioned above. In such an example, if the previous original document is replaced with the current original document and the scanning unit 210 is not activated to scan the flatbed scanning area 122, then the operator may press the ‘START’ button, which may, on one hand, activate the scanning task for the current original document and, on the other hand, trigger the termination of the scanning of the flatbed scanning area 122.

In some examples, the scanning of the flatbed scanning area 122 to determine whether the original document D remains on the scan platen 120 may be activated some time after the scanning task is finished. To be specific, the controller 230 may further determine whether a predetermined time interval has lapsed since the completion of the scanning task, and control the scanning unit 210 to scan the flatbed scanning area 122 of the flatbed scanner 100 if the predetermined time interval has lapsed. For example, an external timer (not show in FIG. 2 for clarity) may be used to clock the predetermined time interval. Other examples are that the calculation of the predetermined time interval may be carried out by an internal clock of the controller 230 or BIOS clock. The predetermined time interval can be set based on the statistical results of the operators’ habits and may be adjustable during operation. The predetermined time interval may be, for example, in a range from 0 to 5s.

It is to be noted that, in other examples, the device 200 may share the hardware modules of the flatbed scanner 100. For example, the scanning unit 130 of FIG. 1 may be used to implement the functions of the scanning unit 220. For example, the speaker of FIG. 1 may be used as the notifying unit 220. For example, the functions of the controller 230 may be integrated into the controlling unit of FIG. 1.

In other examples, the device for notifying an operator of an object left behind may further include a sensing unit to sense whether the operator is within a predetermined distance from the flatbed scanner 100 after the completion of the scanning task. If the operator is out of the predetermined range, for example, beyond a distance set by the sensing unit, the scanning unit begins to scan the flatbed scanning area 122 of the flatbed scanner 100. With such an arrangement, the alarm will only be triggered when the operator starts to leave the flatbed scanner 100. The sensing unit may be a sensor capable of detecting the distance between the operator and the flatbed scanner. For example, the sensing unit may be an infrared sensor, which may detect the reflected infrared light with a range of up to 0.5m. In such an example, when the operator moves beyond the 0.5m, the infrared light is not reflected by the operator past 0.5m, and thus the infrared sensor does not receive the infrared light. In response to not receiving the infrared light, the sensing unit in the above example activates the scanning operation and subsequent threshold block determination operation.

FIG. 4 shows a structure of a device 40 for notifying an operator of an object left behind according to another example. Referring to FIG. 4, the example device 400 includes, without limitation, a scanning unit 410, a notifying unit 420, a controller 430 and a sensing unit 440. The configurations and functions of the scanning unit 410 and the notifying unit 420 of FIG. 4 may be similar to those of the scanning unit 210 and the notifying unit 220 of FIG. 2. When the scanning task with respect to the original document D is completed, the controller 430 may control the sensing unit 440 to sense whether the operator is within a predetermined distance from the flatbed scanner 100. Any suitable sensors may be used as the sensing unit 440 to sense whether the operator is within the predetermined distance, for example, an infrared sensor describe above. The predetermined distance may be, for example, in a range from 0.5m to 1m, and may be adjustable during operation. If the sensing unit 440 senses that the operator is out of the predetermined distance, then it provides an indication signal to the controller 430. In response to the indication signal, the controller 430 controls the scanning unit 410 to scan the flatbed scanning area 122 to determine whether the original document D remains on the scan platen 120, which are similar to those described with respect to FIG. 2.

The

controller

230, 430 may be a general-purpose micro-controller, a general-purpose microprocessor, a dedicated microprocessor or controller, a signal processor, an application-specific-integrated circuit (ASIC) , or the like. In some examples, the

controller

230, 430 and its functions described herein are implemented in hardware or a combination of executable instructions and hardware, such as firmware programmed to control particular hardware.

For example, the

controller

230, 430 may include a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory includes executable program instructions representing a scanning unit control program, a consecutive non-white area determination program, a target block threshold program, and a notifying unit control program, that when executed by the processor of the controller cause the controller to control the scanning unit to scan the interface area after a completion of an operation task with respect to the object on the interface area； determine, for each scanned block in the interface area, whether a total number of consecutive non-white areas within the scanned block has reached a predetermined value； mark the scanned block as a target block if the predetermined value is reached determine whether a number of the target blocks has reached a predetermined threshold； and control the notifying unit to notify the operator of information indicative of the object remaining on the interface area if the predetermined threshold is reached

For another example, a memory of the controller 430 may also include executable program instruction representing a sensing unit control program that, when executed by the processor resource, causes the controller to receiving an indication signal from the sensing unit when an operator is out of a predetermine distance and scan the interface area in response to the indication signal.

FIG. 5 shows a structure of a device 500 for notifying an operator of an object left behind according to still another example. The example device 500 includes, without limitation, a scanning unit 510, a notifying unit 520 and a determining unit 530. The scanning unit 510 may scan the flatbed scanning area 122 of the flatbed scanner 100 after the completion of the scanning task with respect to the original document D on the flatbed scanning area 122.

For each scanned block, the determining unit 530 may determine whether the number of target blocks, each target block having the total number of consecutive non-white areas exceeding the predetermined value, in the flatbed scanning area has reached a predetermined threshold. To be specific, for each scanned block in the flatbed scanning area 122, the determining unit 530 may first determine whether the total number of consecutive non-white areas within the scanned block has reached a predetermined value. If the predetermined value is reached, then the determining unit 530 may mark the scanned block as a target block. Then, the determining unit 530 may determine whether the number of the target blocks has reached a predetermined threshold. If the predetermined threshold is reached, it is determined that the original document D remains on the scan platen 120.

In an example, the determining unit 530 may be implemented as an ASIC, where each functional module in the ASIC may be implemented or understood as a circuit.

The notifying unit 520 may notify the operator of information indicative of the original document D remaining on the scan platen 120 if the predetermined threshold is reached.

The predetermined value and the predetermined threshold can be set based on the accuracy requirements for scanning and may be adjustable during operation.

In an example, the scanning unit 510 may start to scan the flatbed scanning area 122 when a predetermined time interval has lapsed since the completion of the scanning task for the original document D.

In other examples, referring to FIG, 6, in addition to a scanning unit 610, a notifying unit 620 and a determining unit 630, the example device 600 may further include a sensing unit 640 to sense whether the operator is within a predetermined distance from the flatbed scanner 100 after the completion of the scanning task. If the operator is out of the predetermined distance, the scanning unit 610 may start to scan the flatbed scanning area 122, and then the determining unit 630 may determine whether a number of target blocks in the flatbed scanning area 122 has reached a predetermined threshold, each target block having a total number of consecutive non-white areas exceeding a predetermined value. If the predetermined threshold is reached, the notifying unit 620 may notify the operator of information indicative of the original document D remaining on the scan platen 120. The predetermined distance may be, for example, in a range from 0.5m to 1m, and may be adjustable during operation.

The

scanning unit

510, 610 may be a scanner device, such as a scanner device including a light source and a sensor and circuitry capable of performing a scanning operation using the sensor to sense light reflecting from an object. The notifying

unit

520, 620 may be a notifier device capable of performing a notifying operation, such as a speaker, a light source indicator, a display, etc. The sensing unit 640 may be a sensor capable of detecting the distance between the operator and the flatbed scanner, for example, an infrared sensor.

The determining

unit

530, 630 may be a device capable of performing the scanning unit control operation, target block determination process and notifying unit control operation, etc. The determining

unit

530, 630 and its functions described herein may be implemented in hardware or a combination of executable instructions and hardware.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of a method for notifying an operator of an object left behind according to an example. Such a method may be implemented in a scanner, a copier, a MFP and the like.

Referring to FIG. 7, at block 710, it is determined whether an operation task with respect to an object on an interface area of an imaging device is completed. The operation task may refer to an operation conducted by the imaging device to the object. An operation task may be a plurality of actions to perform and the operation task may be determined as completed when the final action of the plurality of actions is executed.

The objects may be, for example, paper documents, photos, labels, books, cards, posters, transparencies, 3D structures, etc. The imaging device may be, for example, a scanner, a copier, a multi-functional printer (MFP) that is integrated with scanning function, and the like.

When the imaging device is a scanner, the operation task may be a scanning task with respect to the object. In such an example, the determination in block 710 may be achieved by determining whether all the scanned image data has been stored. If all the scanned image data has been stored, then it is determined the scanning task is finished.

When the imaging device is a copier, the operation task may be a copying task with respect to the object. In such an example, the determination in block 710 may be achieved by determining whether all the copies have been discharged. If all the copies have been discharged, then it is determined the copying task is finished.

If the operation task is not completed, the method goes to block 710 to continue to determine whether the operation task is completed. If the operation task is completed, at block 720, the interface area is scanned to determine whether the number of target blocks, each target block having the total number of consecutive non-white areas exceeding a predetermined value, in the interface area has reached a predetermined threshold.

If the predetermined threshold is reached, at block 730, the operator is notified of information indicative of the object remaining on the interface area. If the predetermined threshold is not reached, the method ends.

The foregoing disclosure describes a number of examples for notifying an operator of an object left behind. It should be appreciated the described examples intend to illustrate rather than limit the subject matter defined by the following claims. Thus the claims are not intended to be limited to the illustrated details of the examples, but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims.

Claims

A method, comprising:

determining whether an operation task with respect to an object on an interface area of an imaging device is completed；

if the operation task is completed, scanning the interface area to determine whether a number of target blocks in the interface area has reached a predetermined threshold, each target block having a total number of consecutive non-white areas exceeding a predetermined value；

if the predetermined threshold is reached, notifying an operator of information indicative of the object remaining on the interface area.
The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining whether the operator is within a predetermined distance from the imaging device after completion of the operation task；

wherein the scanning comprises: if the operator is out of the predetermined range, scanning the interface area.
The method of claim 1, comprising:

determining whether a predetermined time interval has lapsed since the completion of the operation task；

wherein the scanning comprises: if the predetermined time interval has lapsed, scanning the interface area.
The method of claim 1, comprising:

receiving a trigger signal indicative of terminating the scanning of the interface area；

terminating the scanning in response to the trigger signal.
The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold is 10, and the predetermined value is 100.
The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined distance is in a range from 0.5m to 1m.
The method of claim 3, wherein the predetermined time interval is in a range from 0 to 5s.
The method of claim 1, wherein the imaging device comprises any one of a scanner or a copier, the interface area is a flatbed scanning area of the scanner or the copier, and the operation task comprises any one of a scanning task or a copying task.
An imaging device, comprising:

a scanning unit to scan an interface area of the imaging device；

a notifying unit to notify an operator of information indicating a presence or absence of an object on the interface area；

a controller, coupled to the scanning unit and the notifying unit, to:

control the scanning unit to scan the interface area after a completion of an operation task with respect to the object on the interface area；

determine, for each scanned block in the interface area, whether a total number of consecutive non-white areas within the scanned block has reached a predetermined value；

mark the scanned block as a target block if the predetermined value is reached；

determine whether a number of the target blocks has reached a predetermined threshold； and

control the notifying unit to notify the operator of information indicative of the object remaining on the interface area if the predetermined threshold is reached.
The imaging device of claim 9, comprising:

a sensing unit to:

sense whether the operator is within a predetermined distance from the imaging device； and

provide an indication signal to the controller if the operator is out of the predetermined distance；

wherein the controller is to control the scanning unit to scan the interface area in response to the indication signal.
The imaging device of claim 9, wherein the controller is to:

determine whether a predetermined time interval has lapsed since the completion of the operation task； and

control the scanning unit to scan the interface area if the predetermined time interval has lapsed.
The imaging device of claim 9, wherein the controller is to:

receive a trigger signal indicative of terminating the scanning of the interface area； and

control the scanning unit to terminate the scanning in response to the trigger signal.
A device, comprising:

a scanning unit to scan an interface area of an imaging device after a completion of an operation task with respect to an object on the interface area；

a determining unit to determine whether a number of target blocks in the interface area has reached a predetermined threshold, each target block having a total number of consecutive non-white areas exceeding a predetermined value；

a notifying unit to notify an operator of information indicative of the object remaining on the interface area if the predetermined threshold is reached.
The device of claim 13, comprising:

a sensing unit to sense whether the operator is within a predetermined distance from the imaging device after the completion of the operation task；

wherein the scanning unit is to scan the interface area if the operator is out of the predetermined distance.
The device of claim 13, wherein the scanning unit is to scan the interface area when a predetermined time interval has lapsed since the completion of the operation task.