KR102000939B1 - Scanner Scanning Carved Pattern of Stamp - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed is a pattern image scanner, capable of obtaining a pattern image of an object such as a seal or a stamp. The pattern image scanner of the present invention can generate a digital image by scanning a shape (pattern) of an uneven surface of an object such as a seal. The pattern image scanner of the present invention has a scheme that a camera directly photographs an elastic pad, thereby having a simple optical structure and being manufactured to be thinner.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a pattern image scanner,

The present invention relates to a pattern image scanner capable of acquiring a pattern image by scanning an irregular pattern of an object such as a paint or a stamp.

Various documents are being digitized. For example, most of the documents submitted to banks are scanned and stored as digital images, or they are initially written as digital documents. Some countries, including Korea, use a seal (or seal) as one of the means of personal authentication. A stamp or a stamp is stamped with a concavo-convex shape, and a concave / Conventionally, the first method of acquiring a stamped or stamped document as a digital image was a method of scanning a paper document with a stamp using a separate scanning device.

Then, like a fingerprint reader that generates a fingerprint image using a prism, a seal scanner that scans the seal was developed. The factors to be solved are (1) difficulty in stamping the coating because the prism face is hard, and (2) ink or ink is buried in the coating, so that the ink or ink leaves marks on the prism. The applicant developed a patent which improved the inconvenience of this method and completed the patent registration (Korean Patent No. 1542818 and No. 1594114).

In the patented pattern image acquisition device, an elastic pad of a transparent material is attached to a surface of a light refractor, and an elastic film of a transparent or opaque material is disposed on an upper surface of the elastic pad with a certain distance from the elastic pad. The user presses the paint on the elastic film and inputs the paint image to the acquiring device. When the elastic film is pressed by the coating, the elastic pad is pressed in the shape of the uneven surface of the coating, and a pattern image acquiring device including a light refractor generates a pattern image.

The method of using a light refractor is still a very superior technology in that it can obtain a clean and high resolution image, but it is difficult to miniaturize because it has a certain thickness basically.

[Related Technical Literature]

1. Pattern Image Scanner with Double Elastic Input Structure and Method Thereof (Korean Patent No. 1542818)

An object of the present invention is to provide a pattern image scanner capable of acquiring a pattern image by scanning an uneven pattern of an object such as a paint or stamp.

In order to achieve the above object, a pattern image scanner according to the present invention can generate a pattern image of an uneven surface of an object such as a paint. The scanner of the present invention includes an elastic film of an opaque material and elasticity of a transparent material which is disposed at a predetermined distance below the elastic film and is pressed into the shape of the uneven surface by the elastic film when the elastic film is press- A light source for irradiating light toward a lower surface of the elastic pad; a camera unit for photographing an uneven surface imprinted on the elastic pad under the elastic pad to obtain the pattern image; And a housing in which the elastic pad covers an open upper surface.

According to an embodiment, the scanner of the present invention may further comprise an upper support of a transparent material disposed on an open top surface of the housing to support all or a portion of the elastic pad. For example, the upper support may be made of a flat panel of transparent material.

Elastic membrane

According to another embodiment, the elastic membrane can be manufactured in a replaceable state.

For example, the elastic film has a central film portion of an elastic opaque material with which the uneven surface of the object comes into contact, and a supporting portion which holds the central film portion with a certain amount of tension so that the central film portion has elasticity of a certain size range And an edge portion. In this case, the scanner of the present invention may further include a cover for covering the upper portion of the elastic membrane and fixing the elastic membrane. The cover has a through hole corresponding to the central film portion.

In order to support the edge portion of the elastic membrane, a lower groove may be formed on the upper surface of the housing, or an upper groove may be formed on the cover.

In order to allow the elastic membrane to have a certain elasticity and come close to the elastic pad, it is preferable that: (1) a portion of the upper surface of the housing that surrounds the elastic pad is entirely or partially formed as a first inclined surface; The whole or a part of the enclosing portion may be formed as the second inclined surface, or (3) the protrusion may be formed on the upper surface or the cover of the housing.

The pattern image scanner of the present invention can generate a digital image by scanning the shape (pattern) of the uneven surface of an object such as a painting.

It is preferable that the pattern image scanner of the present invention use an elastic film of low hue. Even though opaque, white elastic films with high brightness can not acquire pattern images. Elastic membranes of low lightness color have the effect of not being exposed to contamination, so that relatively thinner membranes can be used.

Since the pattern image scanner of the present invention is structurally simple in optical system, the pattern image scanner can be made thinner.

1 is a sectional view showing the structure of a pattern image scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the pattern image scanner of Figure 1,
3 is an exploded perspective view of a pattern image scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention,
Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the pattern image scanner of Figure 3, and
Figure 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the pattern image scanner of Figure 3;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, the pattern image scanner 100 of the present invention generates a pattern image of an uneven surface 10a of an object 10. Here, the object 10 can be any object as long as the object 10 has an uneven surface 10a on which unevenness of a specific pattern is formed at one end. For example, a paint or a stamp may correspond to the object 10 of the present invention.

The pattern image scanner 100 of the present invention includes a housing 101, an elastic pad 111 provided on the upper surface of the housing 101 and an elastic membrane 113 disposed on the upper surface of the elastic pad 111. The housing 101 and the elastic pad 111 form a main body.

The housing 101 forms an enclosed inner space 101a and supports the elastic pad 111 located on the upper surface to constitute a main body. The upper surface of the housing 101 is opened to the elastic pad 111 so that an image (light) emitted from the elastic pad 111 can enter into the inner space 101a of the housing 101. [ The elastic pad 111 covers the inner space 101a and allows the housing 101 to operate as one camera unit.

However, according to the embodiment, the open upper surface of the housing 101 may further include an upper support portion of a transparent material for supporting all or a portion of the elastic pad 111. [ The upper support part may be a panel of thin and transparent material so that the image inputted through the elastic pad 111 is not distorted. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the upper support may be a flat panel 103 of transparent material disposed on the open upper surface of the housing 101 to support the entire elastic pad 111. Further, as another embodiment, the flat panel may be disposed only on a part of the open upper surface of the housing 101 to support only a part of the elastic pad 111. [ The flat panel panel 103 can be made of thin and transparent acrylic or synthetic resin. Hereinafter, an example using the flat panel 103 of FIG. 1 as the upper support will be described.

A light source 121 for illuminating light with the elastic pad 111 and a camera unit 123 for photographing the elastic pad 111 are incorporated in the inner space 101a of the housing 101, Lt; / RTI >

The light source 121 may be an LED for emitting light toward the elastic pad 111 or other illumination device as shown in the figure. In addition to the positions shown in FIG. 1, the light source 121 may be positioned at any inner space of the housing 101 that can irradiate light toward the upper elastic pad 111. However, it is necessary to adjust so that the light emitted from the light source 121 is not directly incident on the camera unit 123. The light irradiated to the elastic pad 111 from the light source 121 is reflected, refracted or scattered between the elastic pad 111 and the elastic film 113 or between the elastic pad 111 and the space portion 115, And is incident on the inner space 101a through the elastic pad 111 and is imaged on the camera unit 123. [

The camera unit 123 is disposed below the elastic pad 111 and a center line passing through the center of the elastic pad 111 is provided to be an incident axis of an image incident on the camera unit 123. In other words, the camera section 123 directly faces the elastic pad 111 and takes a picture. However, according to the embodiment, a reflector, a lens, or the like may be disposed between the elastic pad 111 and the camera unit 123, and may be manufactured without facing each other.

The camera unit 123 basically includes the image sensor 125 and may include at least one lens 127 as needed. The image sensor 125 generates a digital pattern image using an image (light) reflected or refracted by the elastic pad 111. [ The image sensor 125 may generate a color image and may generate a gray level or a monochrome image. The lens 127 is provided between the image sensor 125 and the elastic pad 111 to image an image outputted from the elastic pad 111 to the image sensor 125 to focus the incident image.

The elastic pad 111 and the elastic film 113 are configured to receive the pattern of the object 10. The elastic pad 111 and the elastic film 113 are arranged in parallel vertically spaced apart from each other. The object 10 is depressed by the elastic film 113 and the elastic pad 111 receives the concavo-convex pattern through the elastic film 113 without receiving the concave-convex pattern directly from the object 10. [

The elastic pad 111 is a pattern input surface which finally inputs the concavo-convex pattern of the object 10 while facilitating pattern input of the rigid object 10. The elastic pad 111 can easily receive the concavo-convex pattern of the rigid object 10 such as a paint or a stamp. For example, even if the object 10 is not tilted in the vertical direction but tilted within a certain range, there is no problem in that the elastic pad 111 is depressed into the concavo-convex pattern of the object. On a hard and flat pattern input surface, such as a normal seal scanner or a fingerprint reader, a portion that is not in contact with the pattern input surface can be compared with an image that can not be generated even if the paint is slightly tilted.

The elastic pad 111 may be made of a transparent material having a low level of elasticity so that the whole uneven portion of the uneven surface 10a can be completely bonded to the elastic pad 111. Therefore, It is possible. Therefore, 'elasticity' here may be interpreted as the possibility of deformation. For example, silicon or a synthetic resin may be used as the material of the elastic pad 111. [ The elastic pad 111 may be formed of a material capable of supporting the object 10 in the process of depressing the object 10 even if the upper portion is not supported by having a predetermined hardness.

The elastic pad 111 is preferably supported by the upper support. The elastic pad 111 is adhered to the flat panel 103. It is sufficient that the elastic pad 111 is attached to the flat panel 103 and forming the adhesive layer by the adhesive between the flat panel 103 and the elastic pad 111 is not preferable because the optical path may be distorted .

The elastic membrane 113 is disposed to be spaced apart from the elastic pad 111 by a predetermined distance so that a space 115 having a predetermined gap (height) is formed between the elastic membrane 113 and the elastic pad 111.

The elastic membrane 113 is a surface on which the uneven surface 10a of the object 10 directly contacts. The elastic membrane 113 is liable to be contaminated when it is repetitively pressed with the concave and convex surface 10a contaminated by the ink or the like. However, in the present invention, the elastic pad 111 is not affected by the contamination of the elastic membrane 113 Do not. Even if the elastic membrane 113 is already contaminated, the following can occur: (1) since the elastic membrane 113 is opaque material, the contamination does not become beneath the elastic membrane 113, (2) the elastic membrane 113 This is because the elastic pad 111 is pressed into the concavo-convex shape of the object 10. Therefore, even if the elastic membrane 113 is contaminated by the object 10 during the repeated use of the pattern image scanner 100 of the present invention, a clean pattern image in which the contaminated portion is not displayed can be obtained.

The elastic membrane 113 may be a thin film of an opaque elastic material, for example, a thin film such as silicon, natural rubber, or synthetic resin may be used. For the pattern input, the elastic membrane 1130 must be capable of pressing the elastic pad 111 in the shape of the uneven surface 10a by being pulled at a constant tension at least during the stamping process.

The elastic film 113 is preferably a color that maximizes the contrast of an image generated by the camera unit 123 as described below. For example, the elastic film 113 of the white series is an opaque film, but the distinction between the indented portion and the indented portion is unclear. When the elastic film 113 having a low lightness is used, the brightness of the unprinted portion is increased, and the marked portion and the uncollated portion are relatively clearly distinguished. Therefore, it is preferable to recognize the pattern in the final pattern image when the elastic film 113 of the black series having a low brightness is used.

Pattern image creation process

When the uneven surface 10a of the object 10 is pressed on the elastic film 113 to generate the pattern image of the uneven surface 10a of the object 10, the elastic film 113 is pulled with a constant tension The elastic pad 111 is pressed. At this time, the elastic film 113 stretched over the uneven surface 10a of the object 10 is pulled with a tensile force such that the shape of the uneven surface 10a is revealed. Therefore, the elastic membrane 113 presses the elastic pad 111 in the shape of the uneven surface 10a. The space portion 115 disappears at the portion depressed by the object 10, and the space portion 115 still exists at the portion that is not depressed.

The light irradiated from the light source 121 passes through the transparent elastic pad 111 and then passes through the elastic pad 113 in the pattern of the uneven surface 10a of the object 10 And is incident on the inner space 101a of the main body through the elastic pad 111 again. The image entered into the internal space 101a is image-formed by the camera unit 123 and becomes a pattern image. The camera unit 123 directly captures the elastic pad 111 and the elastic film 113 to generate a pattern image.

At this time, the imaging process of the pattern shape at the portion marked by the object 10 and the portion not marked is different. In the portion depressed by the object 10, the space portion 115 disappears and the air layer disappears. Therefore, light is absorbed or reflected by the elastic film 113 in the portion depressed by the object. The reflected light is determined by the color of the elastic membrane 113. If the elastic membrane 113 is black, all the colors are absorbed and no reflection occurs.

Conversely, since the uncut portion is still present in the space portion 115, the light is reflected, scattered, or refracted while passing through the air layer of the space portion 115. Even in the case of the elastic membrane 113 of the same black color, light which is again incident on the elastic pad 111 in the space portion 115 is generated again, so that the unprinted portion of the pattern image is not photographed in a completely black state.

In summary, it is preferable that the elastic membrane 113 is a hue capable of maximizing the contrast of the image generated by the camera unit 123. For example, the elastic film 113 of the white series is an opaque film, but the elastic film 113 of a low color contrast and a low brightness can produce a pattern image with good contrast.

Through this process, the camera unit 123 generates a pattern image of the uneven surface 10a of the object 10. Thereafter, the process may proceed to recognize the pattern by separating the pattern from the pattern image.

Example 1: Body and cover structure for holding elasticity of elastic membrane

First, the actual shape of the elastic membrane must take into account various factors.

First, when the uneven surface 10a is repeatedly used with the object 10 contaminated with ink or phosphorus, the elastic film needs to be replaced. This is because (1) a stain caused by ink, phosphorus or the like is left on the outer surface of the elastic film, and phosphorus, ink or the like may affect the elastic film. For example, there is a slight difference in the material of the elastic membrane, but oil components such as phosphorus can contaminate the elastic membrane, so that the elastic membrane may lose its elasticity due to its weight. Further, (2) the elastic film should be a thin film sufficiently thin to reflect the shape of the uneven surface 10a of the object 10 as it is, and it may be torn or lost elasticity by repeated use. It is therefore desirable that the elastic membrane be realized in a replaceable state with the need for replacement. In order to achieve this object, the elastic film 330 is manufactured as a replaceable consumable product, such as the pattern image scanner 300 shown in FIG. 3, by making the elastic film into a mountable and detachable structure.

Second, as described above, the narrower the gap between the elastic membrane and the elastic pad, the more easily the user can depress the object 10 without feeling the space between the elastic membrane and the elastic pad.

Third, the elastic film attached to the pattern image scanner should be slightly pulled with a certain range of tension so as to maintain constant elasticity. On the other hand, if the elastic membrane is pulled with excessive tension, it is necessary to set an appropriate tension range experimentally because the elastic membrane can be torn in the process of depressing the object 10.

As a result, it is important that the elastic membrane is deformed into the shape of the uneven surface 10a when it is pressed by the object 10 by being attached to the upper portion of the elastic pad with its edge mechanically fixed. An embodiment thereof will be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 5. Fig.

3, the pattern image scanner 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a housing 310, an elastic pad 111 exposed on an upper surface of the housing, a cover 350 covering the elastic pad 111, And an elastic membrane 330 mounted between the elastic pad 111 and the cover 350. A space for the elastic membrane 330 must be provided between the cover 350 and the elastic pad 111 even when the cover 350 is closed. The elastic membrane 330 can be mounted and dismounted as needed and is expendable, so that it can be replaced when necessary.

On the upper surface of the housing 310, a lower groove 310b surrounding all or a part of the elastic pad 111 is provided to receive the edge portion 331 of the elastic membrane 330 described below. In addition, a first inclined surface 310c is formed on all or a part of the upper surface of the housing 310 in contact with the elastic pad 111. [ For example, a first inclined face 310c may be formed between the lower-groove 310b and the elastic pad 111, and a height difference may be provided between the lower-groove 310b and the elastic pad 111. [

The cover 350 supports the elastic membrane 330 together with the housing 310, and at the same time, the elastic membrane 330 is pulled with a constant force to have a certain elasticity. First, a through hole 351 is formed in the center of the cover 350 so that the elastic film 330 can be exposed. The through hole 351 serves as a window for exposing the elastic film 330 for depressing the object 10. The cover 350 may be formed with a second inclined surface 353 facing the first inclined surface 310c to pull the elastic film 330 with a certain force.

3, an upper groove (not shown) is formed around the through hole 351 of the cover 350 to engage with the lower groove 310b of the upper surface of the housing, The edge portion 331 of the base portion 331 may be accommodated together. Conversely, only an upper groove (not shown) is provided around the through hole 351 of the cover 350, and a lower groove 310b may not be formed on the upper surface of the housing 310.

The elastic membrane 330 corresponds to the elastic membrane 113 of Figs. 1 and 2. The elastic film 330 includes an edge portion 331 forming a frame and a center film portion 333 supported by the edge portion 331. The central film portion 333 is a region in which the object 10 is depressed and is formed as a sufficiently thin film that performs the function of the elastic film 113 of Fig.

The edge portion 331 may be implemented in various forms. Even if the central film portion 333 is stretched during the process of depressing the object 10, it may be a material that is strong enough to support the central film portion 333 in a fixed form. The edge portion 331 may be made of synthetic resin having elasticity of the same material as that of the center film portion 333, silicon or the like, but may be formed to have a different thickness.

The edge portion 331 is seated in the lower groove 310b when it is mounted on the housing 310 so that its position is fixed by the upper groove of the lower groove 310b and / And supports the central film portion 333 when the central film portion 333 is stretched during the stamping process.

4 and 5, when the elastic membrane 330 is mounted and the cover 350 is closed, the first inclined surface 310c of the upper surface of the housing 310 and the second inclined surface 353 of the cover 350 are positioned at the center The central film portion 333 is pressed closer to the elastic pad 111 to lower the height of the space portion 115 by forming a path for leading the film portion 333 close to the elastic pad 111. [ At the same time, the first inclined surface 310c and / or the second inclined surface 353 have an effect of pulling the central film portion 333 with a certain force, so that the central film portion 333 exposed in the through- . The central film portion 333 is sufficiently close to the elastic pad 111 to sufficiently lower the height of the space portion 115 as described above so that an erroneous error in the process of depressing the object 10 is prevented.

3 to 5, the first inclined face 310c is lowered by the elastic pad 111 while the elastic pad 111 is positioned lower than the lower-grooves 310b. In contrast, The pad 111 may be positioned higher than the lower groove 310b so that the first inclined surface may be increased toward the elastic pad and a portion of the first inclined surface may adjust the height of the elastic layer, . A protrusion (not shown) for pressing the center film portion 333 close to the elastic pad 111, instead of the first inclined face 310c on the upper surface of the housing 310 or the second inclined surface 353 of the cover 350 May be formed on the upper surface of the housing 310 or on the cover 350.

The edge portion 331 and the center film portion 333 may be formed of different materials so that the edge portion 331 may be formed of a rigid material and the center film portion 333 may be pulled with a predetermined tension to maintain elasticity. . 3 to 5, the edge portion 331 may serve to simply support the center film portion 333, and the edge portion 331 and the center film portion 333 The edge portion 331 may be formed of the same material and extended from the center film portion 333 to the same material.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (6)

A pattern image scanner for generating a pattern image of an uneven surface of an object,
A center film portion of an elastic opaque material to which an uneven surface of the object comes into contact and an edge portion that supports the central film portion to have elasticity of a certain size range by pulling the center film portion with a tension of a predetermined size, An elastic membrane manufactured in the state;
An elastic pad of a transparent material disposed at a predetermined distance below the elastic film and being pressed into the shape of the uneven surface by the elastic film when the elastic film is pressed by the object;
A light source for irradiating light toward a lower surface of the elastic pad;
A camera unit for photographing an uneven surface of the elastic pad under the elastic pad and obtaining the pattern image;
A housing accommodating the light source and the camera unit and having an opened top surface covered with the elastic pad; And
And a cover which covers an upper portion of the elastic film and fixes the position of the elastic film and has a through hole corresponding to the center film portion of the elastic film,
Wherein a lower groove is formed on the upper surface of the housing or an upper groove is formed on the cover to support the edge of the elastic membrane.
The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising an upper support portion of transparent material disposed on an open top surface of the housing to support all or a portion of the elastic pad.
3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the upper support is a flat panel of transparent material.
delete delete The method according to claim 1,
A portion of the upper surface of the housing that surrounds the elastic pad is formed with a first inclined surface or a portion of the cover that surrounds the through hole is formed with a second inclined surface or the upper surface or the cover So that the elastic membrane is pressed close to the elastic pad to have a certain elasticity.

Images