Patents Examined by Rury Grisham
  • Patent number: 8902470
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes: a multi-level unit that applies a multi-level process on binary halftone dot image data indicating a binary halftone dot image, to form multi-level image data; an acquiring unit that acquires a number of screen lines of the binary halftone dot image data; a tone correcting unit that determines a tone correction amount corresponding to the number of screen lines of the binary halftone dot image data acquired by the acquiring unit, and that applies tone correction on the multi-level image data produced by the multi-level unit, by using the determined tone correction amount; and a re-binarizing unit that binarizes the multi-level image data in which the tone is corrected by the tone correcting unit, without changing a halftone dot shape of the binary halftone dot image data, to produce re-binarized halftone dot image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toru Misaizu, Kenji Hara, Shigeru Arai, Kota Matsuo
  • Patent number: 8896892
    Abstract: A method allows an end user to calibrate a color reproduction device with recording media brightness compensation. A color reproduction device includes a device for converting the native color values of the scanner into a device independent color space, a test target, the desired values of each patch of the test target and a printing device. The method includes printing the test target and scanning it with a scanner that forms a part of the color reproduction device. The device compares the desired values with the values obtained from scanning the printed test target to obtain a set of adjustment values to compensate for drift in the output of the color reproduction device. The compensation includes compensation for utilizing a recording media that does not have the same white characteristics as the recording media that was used to generate the scanner profile used in converting the scanner dependent color space values to a device independent color space values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Zhenhuan Wen, Robert E. Nuuja
  • Patent number: 8885229
    Abstract: A method includes invoking an image capture interface via a mobile device; and analyzing video data captured via the capture interface. The analysis includes determining whether an object exhibiting one or more defining characteristics is depicted within the viewfinder; and if so, whether that object satisfies one or more predetermined quality control criteria. The method further includes displaying an indication of success or failure to satisfy the predetermined control criteria on the mobile device display. Where the object depicted within the viewfinder satisfies the one or more predetermined quality control criteria, the method also includes: displaying an indication that the object depicted in the viewfinder exhibits the one or more defining characteristics; automatically capturing an image of the object; and/or automatically storing to memory one or more of the frames in which the object is depicted in the viewfinder. Systems and computer program products are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kofax, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan W. Amtrup, Jiyong Ma, Anthony Macciola
  • Patent number: 8885232
    Abstract: A scanner lens includes a first lens group with a positive refractive power, having a first positive lens and a second negative lens which are cemented, second to fifth lens groups having a third negative lens, a fourth positive lens, a fifth negative lens, and a sixth negative lens, respectively, arranged in order from an object side to an image side, and an aperture stop disposed between the first and second lens groups. The scanner lens satisfies the following three conditions: 0.01<BF/L<0.10 0.50<f1/f<9.5 0.20<d10/f<0.90 where BF is a back focus of the scanner lens, L is a total lens length, f1 is a focal length of e-line of the first lens group, f is a focal length of e-line of the entire lens system and d10 is an air space between the fifth and six lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Nakayama, Masahiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 8885231
    Abstract: Provided are: a light source that emits light; a light guide including: a curved portion including a light incident surface from which the light from the light source enters; and a linear portion including a light emission surface from which the light is emitted to an original, the linear portion coupled to the curved portion and extended in a main-scan direction, the curved portion reflecting the light entered from the light incident surface to the linear portion; and a frame that houses the light source, and the light guide, wherein the light guide includes an inclined portion inclined in a direction that increases an incident angle ? of the light, the inclined portion formed in a range of the linear portion where the light reflected by the curved portion enters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Tsumekawa
  • Patent number: 8879130
    Abstract: A system for capturing an image of a document includes an input tray (30) for holding documents (20); an input imaging device (40) that captures an image of a first document in the input tray; wherein the input tray image of the first document is captured as an area image; transmitting the captured input tray image of the first document to an image processor (100); and transporting the first document to an output tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Schaertel, Nelson A. Blish, Daniel P. Phinney
  • Patent number: 8879129
    Abstract: A document scanner (10) includes an input tray (30) for holding documents (20) and an input image capture device (40) for capturing images of the documents (20)in the input tray (30) prior to transporting the document for imaging; an output tray (150) for holding documents (20) after the documents (20) exit the scanner; an output image capture device (140) for capturing images of the output tray; an image processor for determining characteristics of the output tray or characteristic of the documents (20) before imaging and after the documents (20) exit the scanner; and scanner functions are modified based on the output tray characteristics or the document characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Schaertel, Nelson A. Blish, Daniel P. Phinney
  • Patent number: 8873117
    Abstract: A sheet transport device includes a shaft member that extends in an axial direction orthogonal to a sheet transport direction, and a roller that includes plural components which are assembled together so as to surround the shaft member. The components have a shape such that a joint between the components is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the roller which is formed by assembling the components together. The joint extends from one end to another end of the outer peripheral surface in the axial direction while bending or curving at least at a portion in the middle thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiichirou Arikawa, Hiroko Furukata
  • Patent number: 8873114
    Abstract: A lens array including: a plurality of imaging portions arrayed in a first direction; wherein each of the plurality of imaging portions includes a first optical system configured to form an intermediate image of an object and a second optical system configured to re-form the intermediate image of the object in a first cross section parallel to the first direction and a direction of optical axes of the imaging portions, and wherein in each of the plurality of imaging portions, an optical flux from an object height at which a light available efficiency becomes 90% is restricted by at least one of a first aperture surface of the first optical system and a second aperture surface of the second optical system, and the optical flux from an object height at which the light available efficiency becomes 10% is restricted by the aperture surface which restricts the optical flux from the object height at which the light available efficiency becomes 90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yu Miyajima
  • Patent number: 8873112
    Abstract: A signal value representing at least one of a plurality of types of optical characteristics are calculated for each pixel from the read signal obtained and output by reading light reflected by a document placed on a document table and a document table cover while the document is covered with the cover. It is determined, based on the signal value calculated, whether or not a target pixel is a pixel in a document region. A document region is detected from the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Suwa, Minako Kato, Yugo Mochizuki, Takashi Nakamura, Masao Kato
  • Patent number: 8861048
    Abstract: An image scanner includes a stationary original plate on which a stationary original is placed and a moving original plate, over which a moving original is conveyed, aligned with the stationary original plate in a sub-scanning direction and tilted relative to the stationary original plate by a given angle. A reader is movable in the sub-scanning direction between a stationary original reading span disposed opposite the stationary original via the stationary original plate to read an image on the stationary original and a moving original reading position disposed opposite the moving original via the moving original plate to read an image on the moving original. The reader pressingly contacts the stationary original plate and the moving original plate as the reader moves in the sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Narai, Yasunobu Youda, Taku Kudoh, Takayuki Andoh, Koji Hatayama, Yohei Osanai
  • Patent number: 8861050
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, a feeding unit, a carriage holding the reading unit, a motor, a motor-side transmission gear, a feeding unit-side transmission gear, a carriage-side transmission gear, a switching gear which switches between a meshing state of meshing with the feeding unit-side transmission gear at a feeding unit-side position and a meshing state of meshing with the carriage-side transmission gear at a carriage-side position, a restraint member which applies a restraint force for restraining the switching of the switching gear, and a motor control unit which when switching the switching gear between the carriage-side position and the feeding unit-side position, executes a large torque control of controlling the motor to generate a switching torque which is larger than a moving reading torque to be generated by the motor at a time of document reading when executing a moving reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinya Sahara
  • Patent number: 8854675
    Abstract: In the method and device, electronic documents are created from a batch of physical documents of varying lengths. The batch comprises sub-batches of groups of multiple multi-page physical documents with separator sheets on each group. Each separator sheet is marked with a page count for any physical documents in its group. The batch is scanned-in and the resulting image pages are used to form the electronic documents. Specifically, the image pages are analyzed in sequence to identify document sheet image pages and separator sheet image pages. When a separator sheet image page is identified, the page count on that separator sheet image page is read and electronic document(s) is/are created from sequential set(s) of document sheet image pages, which follow the separator sheet image page and have the specific page count, until the next separator sheet image page is identified. This is repeated for all separator sheet image pages identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert St. Jacques, Jr., Steven R. Moore
  • Patent number: 8854704
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source unit, an image sensor, an attenuator, an analog processor and an A/D converter. The attenuator generates a second analog signal by voltage-dividing a first analog signal by two resistors. The analog processor generates a third analog signal by amplifying the second analog signal with a predetermined gain. The A/D converter converts the third analog signal into a digital signal. A voltage-dividing ratio of the attenuator is not higher than a ratio of a maximum value of the amplitude of a signal inputtable to the analog processor to a maximum value of the amplitude of a signal having a possibility of being output from the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8854703
    Abstract: A document reading device for reading a page of a passport includes a mounting surface, a camera, an illumination light source for radiating illumination light that is, and an ultraviolet light source for radiating ultraviolet light to activate a fluorescent material on the page. The illumination light source is at a first edge perpendicular to a binding edge on the page and radiates illumination light in the direction intersecting with the first edge. The ultraviolet light source is at a second edge parallel to the binding edge and radiates ultraviolet light in the direction intersecting with the second edge. The illumination light source includes an infrared light source and a white light source. The document reading device has both an illumination light source and an ultraviolet light source, and can avoid image capturing in the specular reflection condition when the document is deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Mukawa, Kazuki Saitou
  • Patent number: 8837012
    Abstract: An image-reading apparatus and method for controlling the image-reading apparatus including a document plate where an original document is placed, a line image sensor that reads an image on the document plate by scanning to obtain image data, a reference-setting image that is placed outside a region of the document plate at a position where the line image sensor is able to read the reference-setting image, and a control unit configured to set a reference position when the image sensor reads the image, wherein the control unit detects the reference-setting image from the image data and, depending on a power-on state of the image-reading apparatus, selects the manner in which the reference position is set based on the reference-setting image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Koji Yasuzaki
  • Patent number: 8837009
    Abstract: A light guiding member includes an input surface, an output surface, a counter surface, a reflective portion, and a diffusing portion. The light guiding member is a rod-shaped member that guides light in a longitudinal direction thereof. The input surface is one end face of the light guiding member and allows light to be input thereon. The output surface has a belt-like shape, extends in the longitudinal direction, and allows light to be emitted therefrom. The counter surface is located opposite the output surface. The reflective portion is a belt-like portion extending in the longitudinal direction and reflects light toward the output surface. The diffusing portion is a belt-like portion extending in the longitudinal direction and diffuses light emitted from the output surface. The diffusing portion is smaller than the reflective portion in width in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kenichiro Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 8837011
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: detection means for detecting position information indicating a scanning position; interval prediction means for predicting a first scanning line interval indicating a distance in the sub-scanning direction between the scanning line of interest and a succeeding scanning line to be scanned after the scanning line of interest; interval calculation means for calculating, by using the position information held by the holding means, a second scanning line interval indicating a distance in the sub-scanning direction between the scanning line of interest and the scanned scanning line; and rate calculation means for calculating a correction rate on an exposure amount for the scanning line of interest so that a predicted density calculated using the first scanning line interval and the second scanning line interval matches with a predicted density calculated using a predetermined reference scanning line interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoichi Takikawa, Hideki Kubo, Takashi Ochiai
  • Patent number: 8830539
    Abstract: A signal value representing at least one of a plurality of types of optical characteristics are calculated for each pixel from the read signal obtained and output by reading light reflected by a document placed on a document table and a document table cover while the document is covered with the cover. It is determined, based on the signal value calculated, whether or not a target pixel is a pixel in a document region. A document region is detected from the determination result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Suwa, Minako Kato, Yugo Mochizuki, Takashi Nakamura, Masao Kato
  • Patent number: 8824024
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a reading unit having a light-receiving unit and a light-emitting unit emitting a plurality of lights of different colors toward a reading position. An opposing member is disposed opposite the reading unit with the reading position interposed therebetween. The controller controls the light-emitting unit to emit the lights and the light-receiving unit to receive the lights thereby acquiring an intensity of each light. The controller determines that a sheet is not present when relationships among intensities of the plurality of lights are same as the first intensity relationships. The first intensity relationships are defined by intensities of the plurality of lights reflected by the opposing member and received by the light-receiving unit. The first intensity relationships are different from intensity relationships of the plurality of lights reflected by a sheet present at the reading position and received by the light-receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Kuno