Integrated automatic document feeder and active transparency adapter

摘要

A transparency adaptor is described that includes a flat panel illuminator integral with an automatic document feeder accessory for a flat bed scanner. The flat panel illuminator provides backlighting for scanning transparencies, such that light passes through the transparency only once and into the scanner optics within the scanner base. When the flat panel illuminator is lit during a scanning process, the light source within the scanner is not lit. The flat panel illuminator transparency adapter unit is controlled by the same control cable used by the automatic document feeder unit. The automatic document feeder and the flat panel illuminator transparency adapter may be simultaneously operated in order to scan more than one transparent document automatically.