L9 - T9A - S8 - Scanner Configuration

Multi-function devices (MFDs)

Typically performs the functions of a printer, scanner/copier, and fax machine

Scanner

Type of copier that can convert the image of a physical object into an electronic data file

• 2 main components:

  • Lamp — Illuminates the object

  • Recording device — An array of charge coupled devices (CCDs)

• Typically handles flat objects

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software

Software that can identify the shapes of characters and digits to convert them from printed images to electronic data files that can be modified in a word-processing program

• Often used to convert scanned text into digital documents, ready for editing

• Flatbed Scanner

• Automatic document feeder (ADF)

The 2 types/formats of scanners

Flatbed Scanner

Type of scanner that works by shining a bright light at the object, which is placed on a protective glass surface. The scan head moves underneath the object

• A system of mirrors reflects the illuminated image of the object onto a lens which either:

  • Uses a prism to split the image into its component RGB colours

  • Focuses it onto imaging sensors coated with different colour filters

  • This information is used to create a bitmap file of the object

Automatic Document Feeder (ADF)

Device that feeds media automatically into a scanner or printer (A+)

• Passes paper over a fixed scan head

• More efficient means of scanning multi-page documents

False

True or False: An MFD or standalone scanner cannot be configured as a network device in the same way as a basic print device

• Scan to e-mail

• Server Message Block (SMB) or scan to folder

• Scan to cloud

The 3 types of services used to direct the scan output to a particular media

Scan to e-mail

Using an SMTP server (and possibly an LDAP server to look up recipients) to send a scanned job to a mail recipient directly — (A+)

• Means that the scan is created as a file attachment to an email message

• The MFD must be configured with the IP address of an SMTP server

• The SMTP server would typically authenticate the user account before accepting the message for delivery

Server Message Block (SMB) or scan to folder

Feature of scanners and multifunction devices that directs output to a networked file location – (A+) 

• Means that the scan is created as a file on a shared network folder

• The MFD must be configured with the path to a suitably configured file server and shared folder

• Each user must have permission to write to the share

Scan to cloud

Feature of scanners and multifunction devices that directs output to a cloud storage account 

• Means that the scan is uploaded as a file to a document storage and sharing account in the cloud

• Services such as OneDrive or Dropbox will generally be available as options on the MFD, or there may be the ability to configure a custom service via a template

• The scan dialogs will allow the user to authenticate to a given cloud account