scan head

(electronics) A sensing device that is moved across the image being scanned.

An optical sensing device in a scanner or fax machine that is moved across the image to be scanned.

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Device on a scanner that receives the scannable images. It is analogous to the human eye, which receives light images, subsequently translated by the brain into a recognizable object. The brain performs the same function for the eye that a computer processor performs for the scan head. A scan head may be fixed in place, requiring that the scan document be placed in front of it or it may be on a hand-held device called a wand, which is placed in front of the scannable image. The scan head embedded in some supermarket checkout counters is a fixed head. Wand scanners are frequently used in department stores to read item and price information printed on the price tag.