Patent Application
20190098171
This application relates generally to simultaneous photocopying of multiple documents. This application relates more particularly to automatically aligning or de-skewing images of individual documents within a single scan image.
Document processing devices include printers, copiers, scanners and e-mail gateways. More recently, devices employing two or more of these functions are found in office environments. These devices are referred to as multifunction peripherals (MFPs) or multifunction devices (MFDs). As used herein, MFPs are understood to comprise printers, alone or in combination with other of the afore-noted functions. It is further understood that any suitable document processing device can be used.
Tangible documents can be scanned one at a time by lifting a scanner cover, placing a document on a platen, closing the cover and issuing a “scan,” “fax” or “copy” instruction. In these instances, each scan or copy operation will typically result in one printed page or one electronic file per operation. A user may choose to have multiple pages, corresponding to multiple operations, combined in one electronic file. This is a typical operation when a scan is associated with a multiple page facsimile transmission. Scanners may also scan multiple document pages serially by use of an automated document feeder (ADF) on more capable devices.
In accordance with an example embodiment of the subject application, a system and method for aligning concurrently scanned documents, such as receipts, is accomplished on a suitable digital computing device such as a multifunction peripheral. An intelligent controller having a processor and memory operates a scan engine. One or more documents are placed, character side down, on a scanner platen. Axis data is stored and corresponds with a defined orientation of the platen, and thus a defined orientation of a scan image. The controller isolates two or more image portions from the scan image with each image portion defined by a boundary corresponding to a document. The controller detects a linearly oriented image component associated with each document image portion and reorients each image portion to generally align in accordance with each linearly oriented image component and the axis data.
Various embodiments will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings wherein:
The systems and methods disclosed herein are described in detail by way of examples and with reference to the figures. It will be appreciated that modifications to disclosed and described examples, arrangements, configurations, components, elements, apparatuses, devices methods, systems, etc. can suitably be made and may be desired for a specific application. In this disclosure, any identification of specific techniques, arrangements, etc. are either related to a specific example presented or are merely a general description of such a technique, arrangement, etc. Identifications of specific details or examples are not intended to be, and should not be, construed as mandatory or limiting unless specifically designated as such.
In some copying, faxing or scanning operations, a user may wish to copy multiple documents with a single scan. This may be done in instances where multiple, smaller documents are related, such as scanning multiple receipts from a business trip for reimbursement.
When paper receipts are accumulated, it is advantageous to scan them into electronic form. Image files can be archived, such as by saving to a server. An electronic image may be faxed or converted into a facsimile transmission. Electronic images can also be sent to a network destination, such as by attaching them to an e-mail for electronic delivery. It is possible to sequentially scan each of a plurality of documents. This may be done by aligning them on an MFP platen, closing a device cover, and selecting a scan option on the device. Documents, particularly smaller documents such as receipts or pictures, are often flimsy, and may shift on a platen or even fall off entirely when a cover is lowered for copying. A scan image of a document inclusive of characters, such as text, may be placed through an optical recognition (OCR) algorithm to extract character data, such as cost reflected by the receipt. OCR programs may be adversely affected by character information on a scan image that is oriented incorrectly.
Documents come in an expansive number of sizes and shapes. It can be extremely problematic to align them on a platen for simultaneous copying. And, if this is attempted, a user must further position them as best possible so that all character information is in the same, or extremely close orientation. This is particularly important if an OCR operation is to be performed on an image embodying multiple documents.
In an example embodiment, a MFP scanner platen may have a size of approximately 12×18 inches. Much of that space may be unusable when multiple documents are co-aligned as best possible on a platen. Example embodiments described herein facilitate a user placing multiple documents on a platen for simultaneous scanning. There is no particular alignment requirement when the user simply places the documents at a slight distance from the other documents. Some documents can be vertical, some can be horizontal, and some may be placed at an angle. Thus, many more documents may be able to fit on a platen at once for simultaneous scanning, and a more efficient composite document scan results.
In accordance with the forgoing application,
MFP 104 is suitably connected to one or more digital devices by a network 132, suitably comprised of a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN) which may comprise the Internet, or any suitable combination thereof. Network 132 suitably provides for data communication between MFP 104 and one or more devices, such as server 136.
Turning now to
Processor 202 is also in data communication with a storage interface 208 for reading or writing to a storage 216, suitably comprised of a hard disk, optical disk, solid-state disk, cloud-based storage, or any other suitable data storage as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.
Processor 202 is also in data communication with a network interface 210 which provides an interface to a network interface controller (NIC) 214, which in turn provides a data path to any suitable wired or physical network connection 220, or to a wireless data connection via wireless network interface 218. Example wireless connections include cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, wireless universal serial bus (wireless USB), satellite, and the like. Example wired interfaces include Ethernet, USB, IEEE 1394 (FireWire), Lightning, telephone line, or the like. Processor 202 is also in data communication with BLUETOOTH Interface 221 which may be programmed to function as a device beacon as noted above.
Processor 202 can also be in data communication with any suitable user input/output (I/O) interface 219 which provides data communication with user peripherals, such as displays, keyboards, mice, track balls, touch screens, or the like.
Also in data communication with data bus 212 is a document processor interface 222 suitable for data communication with MFP functional units 250. In the illustrated example, these units include copy hardware 240, scan hardware 242, print hardware 244 and fax hardware 246 which together comprise MFP functional hardware 250.
Referring next to
In the example embodiment of
In the example of image 404, edges of a rectangular picture area 432 are suitably used to generate lines 436 and 438 to facilitate de-skewing in accordance with angles c and d relative to axes 424 and 428. Image portion 412 is rectangular and an edge is used to define line 442 which intersects y axis 428 at a right or 90 degree angle e. In this example, no de-skewing may be needed. However, any detectable image portion may be used to verify whether the image is rotated 90 degrees or 180 degrees, and if so, appropriate rotation is suitably accomplished.
While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodiments described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the spirit and scope of the inventions.
