Phase Or Speed Regulation Patents (Class 358/412)
  • Patent number: 7672027
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, a control unit and a reference color region. The control unit includes a preliminary read processing unit, a first image acquisition unit, a second image acquisition unit and a reprocessing instruction unit. The reprocessing instruction unit specifies a schematic position of a reference region in the sub-scanning direction and instructs the preliminary read processing unit to perform preliminary reading again at the schematic position of the reference region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Yosuke Nakayama, Kensuke Tamai
  • Patent number: 7663786
    Abstract: An image-forming apparatus having an Automatic Background Removal (ABR) function in an automatic document feeder mode and an operation control method thereof. The image-forming apparatus includes a first movement unit to move a document loaded in a document tray from a first position to a second position; a second movement unit to move a carriage containing a light source from the first position to the second position; an image processing part to process an image of the document into predetermined image data; and a control part to control the image processing part to process an image of a specific portion of the document read out by the carriage fixed at the first position and to process an entire image of the document read out by the carriage fixed at the second position in use of a predetermined contrast equalization pattern selected based on a image processing result of the specific portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seok-ho Kim, Koo-won Park, Jin-sik Won
  • Patent number: 7649984
    Abstract: There is provided a communication device, which is provided with a target time setting system that sets a determination target time to a time at which a predetermined setting operation is performed, and a determining system that determines whether the determination target time is within a certain transmittable time period. The communication device is further provided with a transmission time setting system that sets a transmission start time to the determination target time when the determination target time is within the certain transmittable time period, and shifts the determination target time so that the determination target time is within the certain transmittable time period when the determination target time is not within the certain transmittable time period, and a transmitting system that starts to communicate with a external device through a network at the transmission start time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Wataru Tomida
  • Patent number: 7639408
    Abstract: An image forming device includes a scanner, a first setting portion configured to set a reading scale factor for an image from a document, a second setting portion configured to set the size of an image formed medium, a determining portion configured to determine to which of divided ranges the reading scale factor set by the first setting portion belongs, a moving section configured to move the scanner at a specified moving speed corresponding to the range determined by the determining portion, a calculating section configured to calculate a distance the scanner moves based on the reading scale factor and the size of the image formed medium, and a storing portion configured to store the image read by a photoelectric converting device while the moving section is moving the scanner at the moving speed corresponding to the reading scale factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7619788
    Abstract: A document feeding and reading unit and an image forming apparatus capable of reducing errors in magnification copying when the change in the diameter of drive motors results from heating. The document feeding and reading unit reads a document image while transporting a document sheet. At least one transport mechanism, including at least one drive roller and driven roller brought into slidable contact with a drive roller, transports the document sheet while holding the document between the drive roller and the driven roller. A detector measures the temperature at a location of the document feeding and reading unit. A controller controls the rotation speed of the drive roller based on temperature information acquired by the temperature detector. The document feeding and reading unit can be suitably incorporated into an image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Minoru Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7616350
    Abstract: A data communication apparatus is provided with an image reader which reads a document image, a storage which stores image data of the document image read by the image reader and registers one or a plurality of transmitting destinations, a data communication unit having a plurality of communication lines, and a communication control unit which controls a transmission start timing of the image data to the transmitting destinations. The communication control unit controls the data communication unit to start transmitting the image data to a first transmitting destination at a timing when reading of the document image by the image reader starts, when a plurality of transmitting destinations are registered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Satoh, Tetsuya Kagawa
  • Patent number: 7605953
    Abstract: A method to compensate for imperfect scanner motion in a scanning apparatus having a moveable scanner includes generating an error array by measuring errors in a scanner position at each of a plurality of spaced positions along a direction of travel of the scanner; generating an error compensation array from the error array based on a low frequency component of the error array; and using the error compensation array to adjust at least one parameter associated with the scanning apparatus during a document scanning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Ray Crooker, Noah Jonathon Gawlik, Marc Alan Herwald, Michael Anthony Marra, III, Donald Norman Spitz
  • Patent number: 7593128
    Abstract: There is provided a printer control apparatus which can be applied to an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of types of readers and a plurality of types of printers can be connected to a single controller, and which enable efficient transfer of image data from the reader to the printer via an image memory of the controller. The controller receives image data from a reader and temporarily stores the same in an image memory, and transmits the stored image data to a printer. The controller acquires a reader processing speed from the reader and a printer processing speed from the printer, and determines, while the image data is being written to the image memory, timing for transmitting the image data written in the memory to the printer according to a difference between the reader processing speed and the printer processing speed and a sub-scan size of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Sekiguchi, Masahiro Serizawa, Yoshihito Osari, Akinobu Nishikata
  • Patent number: 7511861
    Abstract: A method of faxing a multi-page job via a facsimile device. Accordingly, the method includes scanning a page of the multi-page job with the facsimile device, encoding the scanned page as a fax signal, and loading the fax signal into a buffer memory. Each page of the multi-page job is scanned, encoded, and loaded. The method further includes transmitting the fax signals encoded from each page of the multi-page job from the buffer memory to a recipient fax device in a single transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Greg Hulan, Scott Imoto
  • Patent number: 7499193
    Abstract: There is described an apparatus, which includes an image-forming section to form a multicolor image on a recording medium by recording the unicolor images in such a manner that the unicolor images overlap each other, based on printing image data sets of them, and a controlling section that determines at least a sub-scanning velocity in a sub-scanning direction relative to the recording medium, corresponding to a printing magnification factor, so as to adjust an output-start timing in the sub-scanning direction for every printing image data set, in response to the sub-scanning velocity determined in advance. Further, the controlling section also determines a main-scanning velocity in a main-scanning direction, corresponding to the printing magnification factor, so as to adjust output-start timings in both the main-scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction for every printing image data set, in response to the main-scanning velocity and the sub-scanning velocity, both determined in advance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Eiji Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7463270
    Abstract: A display system and method for use in controlling movement of a virtual image version of a physical object is described. A physical object may be placed on or near a display surface, which may sense the presence of the object and display a virtual image version of the object. In response to movement of the physical object, the virtual image may move as well. Movement speed of the virtual image may be capped at a maximum speed, so that if the physical object is moved too quickly, the image will remain moving at a constant maximum speed. Movement effects, such as blurring, fading, animation, etc. may be applied to the image during the movement. The movement may change direction as the physical object is detected in different positions, and the movement effects may be applied to smooth the change in direction (e.g., curving trajectory).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Peter O. Vale, Duncan
  • Patent number: 7420715
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method and a system for promoting scanning speed are provided. The method comprises steps of determining a transmission rate of a transit interface, adjusting system clock responsive to the transmission rate of the transit interface to change a data generated rate, and scanning an original to generate data at the rate controlled by the system clock. The key aspect of the present invention is by adjusting system clock to change the data generated rate corresponding to the transmission rate of the transit interface. Therefore, in response to the transmission rate of the transit interface, the system clock is adjusted to produce the data at a rate that can reduce the possibility of memory buffer full leading to the reduction in the time wasting on start-stop processes and therefore promote the scanning speed without requiring the increase in size of a memory buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Transpacific IP, Ltd.
    Inventors: Chun-Jen Chen, Kuo-Jeng Wang
  • Patent number: 7394575
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a carriage on which an image sensor is mounted, a motor that drives the carriage, and servo-control-containing printed matter provided in one or more detection areas of the image sensor or one or more independently provided optical sensors. The servo control information is used for speed control and initial position detection of the carriage. A servo controller performs the servo control on the motor via a motor driver based on the read servo control information. The printed matter is provided on a rear or underside surface of a support structure in areas irradiated by a light source for the image sensor. Printed matter for speed control may be provided in one area and printed matter for initial position detection in another. Servo control information on the printed matter may be read using a dummy pixel region of the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Eiji Satake
  • Publication number: 20080074709
    Abstract: A transmission including: a sun gear forwardly and reversely rotatable by a driving force; a rotary member being forwardly and reversely rotatable, and having a projecting portion; a clutch causing the rotary member to be forwardly rotated and reversely rotated, and not causing the rotary member to be reversely rotated when a predetermined torque is applied; a planetary gear rotatably supported by the rotary member, meshed with and revolved around the sun gear, and rotated by a rotation of the sun gear; a transmission gear meshed with the planetary gear and rotated when the planetary gear is positioned at a predetermined revolution position; a stopper inhibiting the rotary member from being reversely rotated at a rotation position; a switch including a switch lever which the projecting portion contacts when the rotary member is rotated, and detecting a rotational position of the rotary member, the switch permitting the swinging of the switch lever caused by the projecting portion when the rotary member is for
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Publication date: March 27, 2008
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7345797
    Abstract: Stopping and starting the movement of media in a scanner before completion of scanning can generate artifacts in the display of the scanned image. These artifacts arise from measurements made during the deceleration of the media before stopping and the acceleration of the media after starting. By scanning the regions that pass the optical sensor during deceleration and acceleration of the media while the media is moving relative to the optical sensor at a substantially constant speed, the degree to which artifacts are produced is reduced. The scanning of the sections of the media corresponding to the deceleration and acceleration distances of the media can be done by moving the optical sensor while the media is stationary, or, by moving the media while the optical sensor is stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Arlin R. Jones
  • Patent number: 7307754
    Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus which is capable of quickly performing measurements required for obtaining a proper image density. The image forming apparatus having a plurality of image forming apparatuses performs an image density adjustment control process by carrying out a maximum density control process at a reference image forming speed, and carrying out a density gradation control process at each of the plurality of image forming speeds. Image forming conditions for carrying out the density gradation control process at speeds other than the reference image forming speed are determined by performing operation on image forming conditions determined by the maximum density control process carried out at the reference image forming speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiichi Motoyama, Mitsuhiko Sato, Yoshihito Osari, Takashi Fujimori
  • Patent number: 7301680
    Abstract: Stopping and starting the movement of media in a scanner before completion of scanning can generate artifacts in the display of the scanned image. These artifacts arise from measurements made during the deceleration of the media before stopping and the acceleration of the media after starting. By scanning the regions that pass the optical sensor during deceleration and acceleration of the media while the media is moving relative to the optical sensor at a substantially constant speed, the degree to which artifacts are produced is reduced. The scanning of the sections of the media corresponding to the deceleration and acceleration distances of the media can be done by moving the optical sensor while the media is stationary, or, by moving the media while the optical sensor is stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Arlin R. Jones
  • Patent number: 7277207
    Abstract: A recording device includes an image retrieval unit, a memory, an image forming unit, and a control unit. The image retrieval unit retrieves images of the document pages as document image data. The control unit begins retrieving document image data from the memory as the image retrieval unit is retrieving document image data and sends the document image data to the image forming unit. The image forming unit uses document image data to form images on recording sheets faster than the image data is retrieved. The control unit checks the memory to confirm whether document image data for a next document page is stored in the memory. The timing of the memory check is both after completion of forming an image of a present document page at the recording sheet transport speed and when storage of image data for the next document page is anticipated to start in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshinari Okamoto, Makoto Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7274493
    Abstract: Where a magnification (enlargement/reduction of image) has been set through operation keys of an operation panel, a main CPU sends information on read magnification to a scanner CPU of a scanner section. In this case, where the magnification is not set in particular, information of 100% magnification is sent to the scanner CPU. Based on a microstep division number of a step angle corresponding to the received information on read magnification, the scanner CPU controls the driving of a scan motor via a scan motor driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Hashizume
  • Patent number: 7248387
    Abstract: A control device and a method for controlling scanning speed of a scanner. The control device includes a decision device and a driving device. The decision device further includes an image buffer, an up-down counter and a comparator. The decision device receives the input image data and utilizes the up-down counter to compute data access volume inside the image buffer. The comparator decides whether to increase or decrease the scanning speed according to the data access volume and also outputs decision data to the driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Umax Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kuo-Jeng Wang
  • Patent number: 7239433
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus which includes a timing adjusting circuit for adjusting a generation timing of a drive signal for driving at least an image pickup element which reads an object image and outputs an image signal of the object image, a memory circuit for storing an adjustment value of the generation timing of the drive signal adjusted by the timing adjusting circuit, and a drive signal generating circuit for generating the drive signal in accordance with the adjustment value stored in the memory circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaki Otake
  • Patent number: 7233410
    Abstract: There is provided a printer control apparatus which can be applied to an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of types of readers and a plurality of types of printers can be connected to a single controller, and which enable efficient transfer of image data from the reader to the printer via an image memory of the controller. The controller receives image data from a reader and temporarily stores the same in an image memory, and transmits the stored image data to a printer. The controller acquires a reader processing speed from the reader and a printer processing speed from the printer, and determines, while the image data is being written to the image memory, timing for transmitting the image data written in the memory to the printer according to a difference between the reader processing speed and the printer processing speed and a sub-scan size of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Sekiguchi, Masahiro Serizawa, Yoshihito Osari, Akinobu Nishikata
  • Patent number: 7202981
    Abstract: A method and a system for increasing scanning speed are provided. The method may include determining a transmission rate of a transit interface, scanning an original to generate an image data, and adjusting a cycle time of the image data to change a data generating rate responsive to the transmission rate of the transit interface. One aspect of the present disclosure may be by adjusting the cycle time of a state machine to change the data generating rate corresponding to the transmission rate of the transit interface. Therefore, in response to the transmission rate of the transit interface, the cycle time of the state machine may be adjusted to produce the data at a rate that prevents the smearing process. Thus, the possibility of memory buffer full may be reduced, which may lead to the reduction in start-stop processes and therefore the overall scanning speed may be increased without necessarily requiring the increase in size of a memory buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Inventor: Kuo-Jeng Wang
  • Patent number: 7187477
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image scanning apparatus having a scanning module, a transmission belt, a speed-change gear module, and a driving device. The driving device drives the transmission belt by using the speed-change gear module so as to drive the scanning module positioned on the transmission belt to scan an image. The speed-change gear module provides various speed-change ratios so that the driving device may drive the transmission belt at different speeds under the same speed of the driving device. In the embodiment, the speed-change gear module has a switching platform for accommodating the speed-change gear module. The stepping motor serving as the driving device is connected with the speed-change gear module by the motor gear. The transmission belt is connected with the speed-change gear module by the belt wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: BenQ Corporation
    Inventor: Sheng-Kao Chen
  • Patent number: 7154640
    Abstract: This invention is to obtain a multi-beam scanning apparatus which always executes synchronization detection at the same timing to prevent any jitter, and an image forming apparatus using the apparatus. In a multi-beam scanning apparatus which guides a plurality of light beams emitted from a light source to an optical deflector, guides the plurality of light beams deflected by the optical deflector onto a target scanning surface through a scanning lens system, and guides some of the plurality of light beams deflected by the optical deflector to a synchronization detecting unit to execute synchronization using a sync signal obtained by the synchronization detecting unit, the synchronization detecting unit includes a BD slit which determines the synchronization detecting timing, and the BD slit has a smooth member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Keiichiro Ishihara
  • Patent number: 7136200
    Abstract: A method for position restoration. By comparing the graphic data and the restored graphic data, the graphic data closest to the restored graphic data is selected. Therefore, the graphic data scanned subsequently is correctly connected to the restored graphic data to avoid the missing line or repetition of graphic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Inventors: Cheng-Kuei Chen, Chu-Hui Yu
  • Patent number: 7133163
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device applied to scaling factor of horizontal scan of a scanner and a method thereof. The present invention lets signals be processed by a multiplexer, a shifter, and an adder to achieve the above function, or lets signals be processed by a plurality of shifters and a plurality of adders to achieve the above function. Because a divider or a ROM occupying a too large area in the prior art is not required, the present invention can effectively reduce the occupied area, increase the scanning speed, and enhance the image quality of a scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Winbond Electronics Corp.
    Inventor: Chung-Chih Chang
  • Patent number: 7126711
    Abstract: A method of discriminating voice, data, and facsimile calls communicated through a voice-over-packet network. The gateway is provided with software which can identify the existence of an answer signal (ANS) or a modified answer signal (ANSam) communicated between an answering modem and an originating modem over a packet network during a voice state call. The originating gateway can generate an ANS tone according to the protocols of the originating modem, using an originating-side gateway, when the existence of the ANS signal is identified by the receiving-side gateway. The originating gateway also generates an ANSam tone according to the protocols of the originating modem, using the originating-side gateway, when the existence of the ANSam signal is identified by the receiving-side gateway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Frank E. Fruth
  • Patent number: 7099020
    Abstract: In an image processing apparatus for processing image data in either operation mode of a full color mode or a monochromatic mode having processing speed higher than the full color mode, at least a part of an image processing circuit comprises a rewritable device such as a field gate programmable array. A controller rewrites an internal circuit in the rewritable device according as the operation mode is the full color mode or the monochromatic mode. The internal circuit in the rewritable device rewritten in the monochromatic mode performs processing based on pixel clock faster than in the full color mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Toriyama, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Hideaki Mizuno, Nobuo Kamei, Tsuyoshi Yoneyama
  • Patent number: 7068397
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which forms an image on a recording material, which has: a writing section to write according to the image data; an oscillator to generate a synchronized synchronizing clock signal; a spreading clock generator to spread the band of a synchronized reference clock and generate spreading clock signals; and a plurality of control circuits to control the image forming apparatus and each section of the image forming apparatus including a writing control circuit to control the writing section. More than one control circuits in the control circuits other than the writing control circuit are driven by the spreading clock signals, and the writing control circuit is driven by the synchronizing clock signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Konica Corporation
    Inventors: Masashi Sugano, Kouichi Sawada, Takayuki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7002711
    Abstract: An image reading device is operable in a manually placed document reading mode offered by a manually placed document reading section and an ADF document reading mode offered by an ADF document reading section. Reading mode detecting section detects in which mode a document to be read is in. First reading-speed setting section sets a reading speed of the ADF document reading section to a predetermined reading speed, upon detection by the reading mode detecting means that the document to be read is in the ADF document reading mode. Second reading-speed setting section sets a reading speed of the manually placed document reading section to a predetermined reading speed sufficient to reduce image vibration caused by reading by the manually placed document reading section, upon detection by the reading mode detecting section that the document to be read is in the manually placed document reading mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 6985266
    Abstract: A printer comprises, from upstream to downstream, a loader for articles to be printed, a printing device and transfer elements to direct sequentially the articles from the outlet of the loader to the printing device and from the printing device toward collection elements for the printed articles. The outlet drive element for the articles from the loader, has a cylinder in contact with the articles to be printed by an opening provided in a wall of the loader, and is moved by a motor common to the transfer elements. The contact between the cylinder and the articles is sequentially interrupted by an isolating device moved by a mechanical connection with the motor of the printing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: ZIH Corp.
    Inventors: Gaëtan Heno, Michaël Hinry
  • Patent number: 6972876
    Abstract: The invention provides an image reading apparatus that produces a precise image of an original document to prevent the read image from having distortion or irregular density, by driving a DC motor, which drives an image reading unit in a scanning direction, at a constant speed suitable for a document to be read. In addition, the image reading apparatus prevents position errors or misalignment at the start of the image reading, or at a restart of the image reading after the image reading is paused. A speed control circuit provides feedback to a DC motor to synchronize a time interval detected by a pulse interval detecting circuit with a time interval set by an interval setting register, so that the DC motor is operated at a constant speed. A counter counts the number of signals output from an encoder. After the speed of the DC motor is stabilized, a timing of signals output from a CCD drive unit to the image reading unit is synchronized with a timing of the signals generated by the encoder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Yokochi
  • Patent number: 6927880
    Abstract: An image reading device reads an image of an original mounted on an original mounting base by using an optical scanning unit which is subjected to acceleration drive along the original mounting base until a velocity according to a reading magnification is obtained and then scanned by uniform velocity drive. A stepping motor moves the optical scanning unit. A reading magnification acceptance portion accepts a reading magnification of an image of the original mounted on the original mounting base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Hashizume
  • Patent number: 6914702
    Abstract: Where a magnification (enlargement/reduction of image) has been set through operation keys of an operation panel, a main CPU sends information on read magnification to a scanner CPU of a scanner section. In this case, where the magnification is not set in particular, information of 100% magnification is sent to the scanner CPU. Based on a microstep division number of a step angle corresponding to the received information on read magnification, the scanner CPU controls the driving of a scan motor via a scan motor driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Hashizume
  • Patent number: 6897980
    Abstract: An image reading system prescans and/or scans a film with magnetic recording and image data to be stored in a film cartridge after the film is developed. The image reading system employs a one-dimensional CCD and is capable of recording/reading retrievable ID numbers on a magnetic recording part. A thumbnail display simultaneously displays all image and magnetic information of all frames of a film, and selected frames to be scanned can be easily identified and compared after obtaining the image data of such film through prescanning. Magnetic recording information and image information are rapidly read during prescanning and selected frames are then scanned with more refinement as compared to the coarse scanning of the film during prescanning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiya Aikawa, Toru Ochiai, Eisaku Maeda, Maki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6850343
    Abstract: The present invention provides a scanner control method capable of being shared even by a printer which is relatively low in write speed as compared with the read speed. In the case where a printer having a relatively lower write speed than the read speed is connected, an original image reading operation is performed at a high read speed, but the original image on the same main scan line is read by a number of times, m, (e.g., m=2) corresponding to a magnification ratio between the read speed and the write speed while decreasing the read speed in a sub scan direction, and only the image data obtained from a single read of the main scan line out of the m times of read is outputted by a thinning-out processing. By so doing, there is performed a read operation substantially matching the low write speed without any change in the actual read speed of a read unit. In this way it becomes possible for a scanner to be shared even by a printer whose write speed is relatively low in comparison with the read speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Saito
  • Patent number: 6816288
    Abstract: Where a magnification (enlargement/reduction of image) has been set through operation keys of an operation panel, a main CPU sends information on read magnification to a scanner CPU of a scanner section. In this case, where the magnification is not set in particular, information of 100% magnification is sent to the scanner CPU. Based on a microstep division number of a step angle corresponding to the received information on read magnification, the scanner CPU controls the driving of a scan motor via a scan motor driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Hashizume
  • Patent number: 6809844
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical scanner that adjusts the image-induced voltage by controlling the exposure time of the sensors. The optical scanner comprises a scanning module comprising a plurality of color detectors for detecting light of different colors when scanning a document to generate corresponding electric charge, a cathode-ray tube for providing light to the document, a power supply for supplying power to the cathode-ray tube, and a control circuit for controlling operations of the optical scanner and the power supply. The control circuit controls an exposure time of each of the color detectors according to the sensitivity of the color detector to its corresponding color of light so that the amount of electric charge generated by each of the color detectors during each exposure is controlled and properly scaled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Chen
  • Patent number: 6750991
    Abstract: A control system and method for an optical scanner of the type having a document feeding device for transporting documents to an optical scanning station is provided. The control system includes a plurality of buffer memories for temporarily storing optical data from documents processed through the scanning station, and a control circuit connected to the buffer memories and the document feeding device. The delivery rate of the document-feeding device is maximized to a level consistent with an estimated mode value of optical data present on the documents being scanned. When documents having higher than normal optical data cause the buffer memories to fill up faster then than they empty, the control circuit transmits a command to pause or slow down the delivery rate of the document feeding device upon a determination that a threshold capacity of any of the buffer memories has been exceeded or is about to be exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Timothy R. Cardot, Thomas W. Ebert
  • Patent number: 6744538
    Abstract: An optical scanner of variable scanning speeds is provided. The scanner includes a scanning module, a power transmission device, a gear module and a driving device. The scanning module is connected to the power transmission device. The gear module includes at least a first gear and a second gear, and the gear module switches between a first position and a second position. The driving device drives the gear module upward or downward. The driving device forces the scanning module and a scanned object to move relatively at a first speed through the first gear and the power transmission device when the gear module is at the first position, and the driving device forces the scanning module and the scanned object to move relatively at a second speed through the second gear and the power transmission device when the gear module is at the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Benq Corporation
    Inventor: Chih-Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 6707582
    Abstract: A scanner includes a housing, a transparent platform, a scanning module, a motor and a calibration paper. The transparent platform is installed on the housing for a document to be placed on. The scanning module is moveably installed inside the housing for scanning the document. The motor is installed inside the housing for driving the scanning module. The calibration paper is installed at a front end of the housing and has a graph for calibrating step angle errors of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Chen
  • Patent number: 6615115
    Abstract: A control method for removing scanning discontinuity in scanners. The relationship between a driving motor and an elastic body such as a leather belt or a steel cable linked to the chassis inside a scanner is investigated so that time constants for achieving system stability are found. Through setting the time constants, the forwarding and reversing motion of the chassis is controlled so that scanning discontinuity due to stopping and restarting is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: UMAX Data Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Yin-Chun Huang
  • Publication number: 20030142366
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device applied to scaling factor of horizontal scan of a scanner and a method thereof. The present invention lets signals be processed by a multiplexer, a shifter, and an adder to achieve the above function, or lets signals be processed by a plurality of shifters and a plurality of adders to achieve the above function. Because a divider or a ROM occupying a too large area in the prior art is not required, the present invention can effectively reduce the occupied area, increase the scanning speed, and enhance the image quality of a scanner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Chung-Chih Chang
  • Patent number: 6580525
    Abstract: A digital image signal is read out at a predetermined picture element density by causing a light beam to repeatedly scan a recording medium bearing thereon an image in a main scanning direction at a predetermined main scanning speed while moving the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction at a predetermined sub-scanning speed, thereby two-dimensionally scanning the recording medium with the light beam, photoelectrically detecting signal light emitted from the recording medium upon exposure to the light beam to obtain an analog image signal, sampling the analog image signal at a predetermined intervals, and quantizing the sampled values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoto Iwakiri, Satoshi Arakawa
  • Patent number: 6559978
    Abstract: An image reader provided with an image pick-up unit which reads an image in a fast scanning direction in accordance with a fast scanning synchronizing signal, a drive unit which causes the image pick-up unit to move in a slow scanning direction in accordance with a drive control signal asynchronous with the fast scanning synchronizing signal, an intermittent read instruction unit which generates a stop instruction and a restart instruction for allowing the image reading to be performed intermittently by the image pick-up unit, a phase holding unit which, upon issuance of a stop instruction, recognizes and holds a phase difference between the fast scanning synchronizing signal and the drive control signal, and a phase control unit which, upon issuance of a restart instruction, corrects a phase difference between the fast scanning synchronizing signal and the drive control signal on the basis of the phase difference recognized and held by the phase holding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidetaka Hama
  • Publication number: 20030081263
    Abstract: A data communication apparatus is provided with an image reader which reads a document image, a storage which stores image data of the document image read by the image reader and registers one or a plurality of transmitting destinations, a data communication unit having a plurality of communication lines, and a communication control unit which controls a transmission start timing of the image data to the transmitting destinations. The communication control unit controls the data communication unit to start transmitting the image data to a first transmitting destination at a timing when reading of the document image by the image reader starts, when a plurality of transmitting destinations are registered.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Publication date: May 1, 2003
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Satoh, Tetsuya Kagawa
  • Publication number: 20030043418
    Abstract: An image reading device is operable in a manually placed document reading mode offered by a manually placed document reading section and an ADF document reading mode offered by an ADF document reading section. Reading mode detecting section detects in which mode of the manually placed document reading mode and the ADF document reading mode a document to be read is in. First reading-speed setting section sets a reading speed of the ADF document reading section to a predetermined reading speed, upon detection by the reading mode detecting means that the document to be read is in the ADF document reading mode. Second reading-speed setting section sets a reading speed of the manually placed document reading section to a predetermined reading speed sufficient to reduce image vibration caused by reading by the manually placed document reading section, upon detection by the reading mode detecting section that the document to be read is in the manually placed document reading mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Publication date: March 6, 2003
    Applicant: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 6525843
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for causing a coinciding of resolutions of facsimile devices having different systems of measurement. The different systems of measurement can be a metric system and an English system of measurements. The method according to the present invention includes the steps of: exchanging protocols between a transmission-side facsimile device and a reception-side facsimile and determining a designed unit and a resolution of the reception-side facsimile device; calculating a rotating velocity of a step motor to be adapted to the designed unit and the resolution; driving the step motor at the rotating velocity to scan a document; and transmitting data obtained from the document to the reception-side facsimile device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Yun Yu
  • Patent number: 6490057
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus and an image processing method, and a storage media thereof which enable an image read-out by a scanner to be enlarged with arbitrary scale factor in a horizontal scanning direction and a vertical scanning direction. An analog signal which corresponds to an enlarged image obtained by changing scanning speed in a vertical scanning direction according to scale factor is inputted to an A/D converter to be converted into digital image data, before to be supplied to a line memory. The image data is read-out synchronized with a thinned-out pulse outputted from a horizontal scanning thinned-out pulse generator to be outputted synchronized with one-pixel pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Sakaguchi