news@daver.bungi.com (06/05/90)
Document Scanner Idea/Proposal (ds532) --------------------------------------- First let me make clear that I personally do not have the time to assume responsibility for the design and implementation of this proposal ! Therefore, even if there is a strong interest, the realization will require a hardware type to step forward and volunteer to do the electronic design. The idea is to use an existing fully functional surplus document scanner module and add to it the necessary control electronics and SCSI interface. This is a high-end scanner module which is self-contained and housed in attractive plastic casework. The scanner module contains an automatic document feeder, 400 dpi optical section, liquid crystal display (LCD) assembly, keyboard assembly, and a 3.5 inch floppy disk. The electrical connections to the module are through three interface connectors. It's size is 23" wide by 22' deep by 5.75" height, exclusive of a document receiver tray which can be attached to the left hand side of the module. Let me emphasize again, this is a very high-end scanner which is a self contained module and wrapped in attractive casework. The resolution is 400 dpi and the throughput is 18 pages per minute for 8.5 x 11 inch pages. Scanner Module: -------------- The keyboard has 46 keys arranged like an ordinary typewriter. Four keys control a cursor and five keys are used for special functions. The five keys are "enter", "yes", "no", "stop", and "blank". The keyboard assembly is located along the front top surface and also includes three LED indicators (on, autoprint, alarm), and a screen contrast control slide lever. The keyboard matrix is converted to scan codes by a 8042 processor. The LCD has a resolution of 128 x 380 pixels. Using 10x8 pixel characters this corresponds to a 12 line by 60 character display. The display is located on the rear top surface. The contrast can be adjusted by changing the tilt of the LCD assembly or varying the contract control level mention previously. The LCD has a backlight. The document hopper can hold up to 50 documents. Oversize documents up to 11x14 inches may be scanned by opening up the paper guides. This actuates a microswitch which in turn causes a 25 percent reduction of the image in order to fit an 8.5 inch width. Carrier sheets are used to scan documents smaller than 8.5 x 11 inches. The optical assembly is cast aluminum fixture containing a mirror, and lens. The lens focuses the image onto a 4096 element charged couple device (CCD) mounted on a pixel processing circuit board. This pixel processing board is quite sophisticated and includes an automatic shading equalizer, dither signal processor for half tone documents, and skewing depending on 'light', 'normal', 'dark' and 'half tone' modes input from the keyboard. The CCD is shifted out to a 256 level A/D converted and stored in a 4089 x 8 bit line buffer. The line buffer is then processed applying various corrections and then converted to analog via a 16 level D/A converter. The unit also contains a mechanical interface circuit board which routes signals, provides stepper motor control, and drive buffering to the LED's and speaker. Also a power unit contains a DC-DC converter to provide +5VDC and +12VDC power. The power unit also inverts the +24VDC to supply high-frequency high-voltage power to light the scanner fluorescent lamp. CODEC board: ----------- As you may have noted the image signal out of the scanner module is analog. It just so happens that a matching CODEC (coder-decoder) board is also available. In other words a complete SCSI interface scanner system would include the scanner module, a CODEC board, a custom design glue board and a power supply. The codec board contains the following: frame memory (2 Megabyte), memory interface, printer interface, coder/decoder, and buffer. The scanner image signal is converted to a digital voltage of 8 bits per byte, buffered into 2 bytes, and written 16 bits at time into the frame memory. The memory interface can also on read convert the 16 bit data to 8-bit parallel output, or serial output. In addition the coder/decoder can optionally compress/decompress the image using CCITT run-length encoding (ie GROUP IV, 400 x 400 dpi or GROUP III, 200 x 200 dpi). The coder/decoder is implemented in hardware using an AMD 2900 processor. As I envision it, the CODEC, glue circuit board and power supply would be located under the scanner module, adding perhaps 1.5 to 2.0 inches to the overall height of the scanner. It just so happens that the scanner module was design to sit on top of a open top cabinet. Almost forgot, the CODEC board frame memory (64 - 256K x 1 DRAM) was removed during the period of high memory prices. Otherwise, the boards are complete. Cost of Scanner module and CODEC board: -------------------------------------- Would you believe: Qty Approximate Cost (excluding shipping) --- ------------------------------------ 1 $200 50 $125 Of course this does not include the cost of the glue board which we must design and a power power supply. It just occurred to me that the original switching power supply module may also be available for a nominal amount. I will check out this possibility if sufficient interest is expressed for the overall proposal. BTW: approximately 125 scanner modules and CODEC boards are available. Proposal: -------- I hope the above clearly articulates the idea. If there is sufficient interest AND someone volunteers to design the glue board, then I propose that we organize a group purchase BEFORE the board is designed. Reason, the scanner modules may not be available when the board design is complete. Of course the down-side to this proposal is that the glue board may never materialize. But I submit the exposure of say $125 plus shipping is a reasonable risk considering the possible up-side benefits. Background: ----------- The scanner is from a Federal Express IPS-3 fax station. The fax station comprised the scanner, laser printer, electronics module and floor standing cabinet. Unfortunately, the complete fax station is no longer available. I have a complete IPS-3 fax station excluding modem, but including maintence level documentation. The documentation includes schematics, parts list, and theory of operation. So far I have only been using it as a copier, and I might add the copy quality is excellent. As a copier, copies can be made in either the collate or non-collate mode. In the collate mode page images are first scanned to an internal harddisk (40Mb), and then printed from disk. I have no association with the surplus house. Its your turn: -------------- What do you all think ?? Any hardware types want to volunteer ?? Is there sufficient interest to move forward ?? Best regards, johnc email: tarpit!manatee!johnc --
ian@sibyl.eleceng.ua.oz.au (06/13/90)
John Connin writes: > > Document Scanner Idea/Proposal (ds532) > --------------------------------------- > > First let me make clear that I personally do not have the time to assume > responsibility for the design and implementation of this proposal ! > Therefore, even if there is a strong interest, the realization will require > a hardware type to step forward and volunteer to do the electronic design. > > The idea is to use an existing fully functional surplus document scanner > module and add to it the necessary control electronics and SCSI interface. > This is a high-end scanner module which is self-contained and housed in > attractive plastic casework. I like the idea, but I have no time to spend on development for the forseeable future. Ian Dall
john@starfire.UUCP (John Lind) (06/14/90)
Note! To avoid the line-counter, I am quoting with # instead of >.
In article <9006050845.AA01208@manatee.UUCP>, writes:
# Document Scanner Idea/Proposal (ds532)
# ---------------------------------------
...
# Let me emphasize again, this is a very high-end scanner which is
# a self contained module and wrapped in attractive casework. The resolution
# is 400 dpi and the throughput is 18 pages per minute for 8.5 x 11
# inch pages.
...
# Almost forgot, the CODEC board frame memory (64 - 256K x 1 DRAM)
# was removed during the period of high memory prices. Otherwise,
# the boards are complete.
#
# Cost of Scanner module and CODEC board:
# --------------------------------------
# Would you believe:
# Qty Approximate Cost (excluding shipping)
# --- ------------------------------------
# 1 $200
# 50 $125
#
# Of course this does not include the cost of the glue board which we
# must design and a power power supply.
...
# What do you all think ??
# Any hardware types want to volunteer ??
# Is there sufficient interest to move forward ??
At that price, I don't CARE about a glue board -- give me parallel
input data, no problem. I'd LOVE to have a scanner like that, and
see no particular reason that it should have to have a SCSI interface.
Of course, you fellows with PC532s are a little short of bi-directional
or input parallel ports -- too bad (small smirk).
Let me make this clear: I WANT ONE, and I intend to interface it to
my archaic Multibus I ns32016 system using one of my $7.50 i517
parallel IO boards. That amount of hardware bashing I can handle.
If anyone wants help with the glue to do that amount of interfacing,
I can help. But, whether or not a SCSI interface is designed, I have
no use for it, but I want one of these scanners at $200 if I have to,
or for $125 if I can. Then, it's off to the library to learn about
document scanning software...
Well, I hope I have provided enough "original" text to make the line
counter happy, or I'm gonna be mad when it throws this away...
Oops! Didn't make it -- let's try using a different "quote"
character...
--
John Lind, Starfire Consulting Services
E-mail: john@starfire.MN.ORG USnail: PO Box 13001, Mpls MN 55414KENYEE@s49.prime.com (07/24/90)
Where do you get this optical scanner surplus at such a low price?? Ken