Specific Signal Processing Circuitry Patents (Class 358/443)
  • Patent number: 11949834
    Abstract: An image reading device includes linear image sensors that are arranged so that adjacent image sensors include an overlapping region in which portions of reading regions of the adjacent image sensors overlap in a main scanning direction, and a buffer unit for read image data. Image data of each overlapping region are generated by synthesizing first image data obtained by a first linear image sensor and second image data obtained by a second linear sensor, the first linear image sensor and the second linear sensor being adjacent in the main scanning direction. Image data of the predetermined line is generated based on image data in which the image data of each overlapping region are excluded from the image data stored in the buffer unit and the image data of each overlapping region. The processing is repeatedly executed in a sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomoya Teraji, Katsutoshi Miyahara, Takehiko Kasamatsu, Shota Nonaka
  • Patent number: 11870958
    Abstract: In a reading device, a light transmissive member has a front surface on which an original is placed. A peripheral member is adjacent to the light transmissive member, and includes a back surface in which a reference hole is formed. The reference hole includes a first edge and a second edge intersecting with each other. A reading sensor faces the back surface of the light transmissive member and the back surface of the peripheral member. The controller controls the reading sensor to read a reading range including the reference hole to obtain a read image, and determines a reference position in the reading range based on the read image. The reference position is determined to an intersection between the first edge and the second edge. The controller sets a reading start position based on the reference position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshiki Motoyama, Yoshihiro Oyama, Yoshihiro Okamoto, Kazushi Shumiya, Kentaro Aoyama
  • Patent number: 11539850
    Abstract: Copy and scan printing may include scanning, by scanner disposed along a paper path between a paper delivery roller and a paper pickup roller, content of documents (302). Further, copy and scan printing may include determining whether the documents are to be copied (304), in response to a determination that the documents are to be copied, determining whether a page count of the documents to be copied is available (306), and generating copies of the documents (310).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Ren-San Wang, Zhao-Yang Xu, Shun-Wen Li
  • Patent number: 10827086
    Abstract: A document reading device that is capable of selectively designating a document reading process includes a sound output unit that gives notification of information needed for a document reading process that has been selected and a notification control unit that controls output from the sound output unit. When a specific document reading process has been selected, the notification control unit exercises control so that in a case where a device state of the document reading device is not the specific device state, notification information that prompts for the specific device state is outputted by the sound output unit after a predetermined period of time has elapsed since the specific document reading process was selected and so that in a case where the device state of the document reading device is the specific device state, notification information whose content prompts for the specific device state is not outputted by the sound output unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirohito Morioka
  • Patent number: 10744652
    Abstract: An adaptive control method includes steps of: storing N number of different speed setting values; assigning an i-th one of the speed setting values to serve as a target speed value; sampling, when the gripping module is performing a first action in a steady state period, a feedback voltage signal resulting from the gripping module to obtain Stall Guard Values (SGVs); averaging the SGVs to obtain an average SGV; and calculating, based on the average SGV and a predetermined SGV deviation, a Stall Guard Threshold (SGT) for subsequent control of the electric gripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: HIWIN TECHNOLOGIES CORP.
    Inventors: Jonus Liu, Chia-Yu Hu
  • Patent number: 10419697
    Abstract: A system and method is provided for performing high dynamic range digital double sampling. More particularly, a CMOS image sensor is provided that includes a pixel array with each pixel sampling both dark and bright values for digital double sampling. After the sampled signals are digitized, a mean dark value is determined and each dark value is further fed to a lookup table that generates an output value taking into account whether the pixel has been saturated. In over exposed conditions, the lookup table will generate a negative value output to eliminate image artifacts. All three values are fed to adder logic circuit that subtracts the mean dark value and the lookup table output from the bright value. This resulting output is fed to a video viewer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: GVBB HOLDINGS S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: Jeroen Rotte, Rik Visser, Juul Josephus Johannes Van Den Heijkant
  • Patent number: 10200163
    Abstract: In a carrier detector, the simple latch is replaced with a pulse timer and reference control module which outputs logic high (H) when more than two consecutive toggled signals come within 1.5 baud periods and keeps logic high (H) until it misses a toggled signal for two baud periods. This carrier detector has a tolerance for a false detection which happens when the frequency shifts from lower to higher and the input amplitude level does not reach a detectable level. With this transition, the amplitude level at filter output becomes higher due to the transient response of the filter and eventually this would trigger the comparator for only one baud period. The deglitch circuit, however, ignores this clock edge in the carrier detector as provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Masahiro Yoshioka, Michael Snedeker
  • Patent number: 10177885
    Abstract: In a carrier detector, the simple latch is replaced with a pulse timer and reference control module which outputs logic high (H) when more than two consecutive toggled signals come within 1.5 baud periods and keeps logic high (H) until it misses a toggled signal for two baud periods. This carrier detector has a tolerance for a false detection which happens when the frequency shifts from lower to higher and the input amplitude level does not reach a detectable level. With this transition, the amplitude level at filter output becomes higher due to the transient response of the filter and eventually this would trigger the comparator for only one baud period. The deglitch circuit, however, ignores this clock edge in the carrier detector as provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Masahiro Yoshioka, Michael Snedeker
  • Patent number: 10163188
    Abstract: A buffer write method for a buffer, including a plurality of M-bit storage units, has following steps: obtaining pixel data of a plurality of first N-bit pixels of a picture; calculating a corresponding start address of the buffer for the pixel data of the first N-bit pixels; and storing the first N-bit pixels of the picture according to the calculated start address of the buffer in the M-bit storage units by a buffer controller. The storing step includes fully storing at least one of the first N-bit pixels in one of the M-bit storage units storage units, wherein M and N are positive integers, and M is not divisible by N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chun-Chia Chen, Chi-Cheng Ju, Yung-Chang Chang
  • Patent number: 10140682
    Abstract: A method for distorting a digital image comprising receiving the coordinates of one or more than one image reference point defined by a user within the digital image, receiving one or more than one spatial offset assigned by the user and associated with the coordinates of the one or more than one defined image reference point, providing a mixing function algorithm embodied on a computer-readable medium for distorting the digital image, calculating an offset matrix by applying the mixing function algorithm based on the one or more than one spatial offset and the coordinates of the one or more than one defined image reference point; and distorting the digital image by application of the offset matrix. A graphic tag may be associated with each of the defined image reference points and displayed over the digital image, and the assignment of the spatial offset may be accomplished by movement of the graphic tag with the pointing device. Abstract image reference points may be used to limit distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Nils Kokemohr
  • Patent number: 10044889
    Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus according to an embodiment includes an image reading unit that reads an image of a sheet. A sheet discharge tray receives a sheet read by the image reading unit. A measurement unit measures a total weight of sheets on the sheet discharge tray. A read counter counts a number of all sheets read by the image reading unit. The read counter stores the number of the currently read sheet in association with the measured total weight of the sheets on the sheet discharge tray. A measured value comparison unit compares the current measured weight of the sheets and a stored measured weight stored in association with the number of the read sheet immediately preceding the currently read sheet. A dropped page identification unit identifies, by page number, one or more sheets dropped from the sheet discharge unit based on the comparison result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yayoi Doi
  • Patent number: 10009494
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus capable of recognizing edge portions of an original image with precision is provided. The image reading apparatus uses an image reading unit to scan an original being conveyed and read an image of the original. The image reading apparatus includes an edge information obtaining unit and an edge determining unit. The edge information obtaining unit detects an image of an edge portion of the original image and obtains, for each point in a main scanning direction, edge information, which indicates whether or not an edge portion image is detected at the point in a sub-scanning direction. The edge determining unit conducts detection from at least one of two directions of the main scanning direction to detect a point where a given number of successive edge portion images are detected, and obtains an edge portion based on the detected point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hirotaka Seki
  • Patent number: 9818185
    Abstract: Disclosed is an ultrasonic imaging method. The method includes: on a basis of performing fuzzy segmentation of a membership function on an echo signal, sequentially dividing an input image into a plurality of fuzzy segments according to a strength of an echo; dividing the image into a plurality of layers accordingly; and performing a spatial neighborhood operation on a membership degree value in the plurality of layers, so as to obtain a space fuzzy segmentation array; in another aspect, determining a manipulated variable vector of the image according to image content-based self-adaptive calculation or user-based input, flexibly weighting and stretching space fuzzy segmentation arrays at the layers according to the manipulated variable vector finally, and adjusting and compounding the input image by using obtained echo increment and brightness compensation, so as to obtain a final output image. Also disclosed is a corresponding ultrasonic imaging apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: SHENZHEN MINDRAY BIO-MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhiwei Shi, Yongqiang Dong
  • Patent number: 9786031
    Abstract: A method for distorting a digital image comprising receiving the coordinates of one or more than one image reference point defined by a user within the digital image, receiving one or more than one spatial offset assigned by the user and associated with the coordinates of the one or more than one defined image reference point, providing a mixing function algorithm embodied on a computer-readable medium for distorting the digital image, calculating an offset matrix by applying the mixing function algorithm based on the one or more than one spatial offset and the coordinates of the one or more than one defined image reference point; and distorting the digital image by application of the offset matrix. A graphic tag may be associated with each of the defined image reference points and displayed over the digital image, and the assignment of the spatial offset may be accomplished by movement of the graphic tag with the pointing device. Abstract image reference points may be used to limit distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Nils Kokemohr
  • Patent number: 9767386
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to training a classifier algorithm that can be used for automatically selecting tags to be applied to a received image. For example, a computing device can group training images together based on the training images having similar tags. The computing device trains a classifier algorithm to identify the training images as semantically similar to one another based on the training images being grouped together. The trained classifier algorithm is used to determine that an input image is semantically similar to an example tagged image. A tag is generated for the input image using tag content from the example tagged image based on determining that the input image is semantically similar to the tagged image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventors: Zhe Lin, Stefan Guggisberg, Jonathan Brandt, Michael Marth
  • Patent number: 9706161
    Abstract: The present invention provides a resolution conversion method and device, and UHDTV. The resolution conversion method includes the following steps: acquiring a diagonal interpolation parameter matrix in the vertical direction and a diagonal interpolation parameter matrix in the horizontal direction; performing a diagonal interpolation processing to the input signal that the resolution thereof is to be conversed to acquire a target resolution signal on basis of the diagonal interpolation parameter matrix in the vertical direction and the diagonal interpolation parameter matrix in the horizontal direction. By performing a diagonal interpolation processing to the input signal that the resolution thereof is to be conversed according to the diagonal interpolation parameter matrix in the horizontal and vertical directions, on one hand, image distortion is reduced, and on the other hand, image blur and image aliasing can be effectively avoid, and clarity of the image is thus improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: SHENZHEN SKYWORTH-RGB ELECTRONIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yaoling Xu, Zhilong Hou
  • Patent number: 9638643
    Abstract: A particulate contamination measurement method and apparatus are discussed. The method, for example, comprises pressing a measurement surface (5) of a polyurethane elastomer (2) against a surface (7) to be measured, removing the polyurethane elastomer from the surface without leaving residues, then using an optical apparatus (11) to detect particles (8) which have been removed by the polyurethane elastomer from the surface and which have become attached to the polyurethane elastomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Antonius Martinus Cornelis Petrus De Jong, Jacques Cor Johan Van Der Donck
  • Patent number: 9514510
    Abstract: An exemplary data arrangement method for a picture includes at least the following steps: obtaining pixel data of a plurality of first N-bit pixels of the picture; and storing the obtained pixel data of the first N-bit pixels in a plurality of M-bit storage units of a first buffer based on a raster-scan order of the picture, wherein M and N are positive integers, and M is not divisible by N. Besides, at least one of the M-bit storage units is filled with part of the obtained pixel data of the first N-bit pixels, and the first N-bit pixels include at least one pixel divided into a first part stored in one of the M-bit storage units in the first buffer and a second part stored in another of the M-bit storage units in the first buffer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: MEDIATEK INC.
    Inventors: Chun-Chia Chen, Chi-Cheng Ju, Yung-Chang Chang
  • Patent number: 9471998
    Abstract: A method for distorting a digital image comprising receiving the coordinates of one or more than one image reference point defined by a user within the digital image, receiving one or more than one spatial offset assigned by the user and associated with the coordinates of the one or more than one defined image reference point, providing a mixing function algorithm embodied on a computer-readable medium for distorting the digital image, calculating an offset matrix by applying the mixing function algorithm based on the one or more than one spatial offset and the coordinates of the one or more than one defined image reference point; and distorting the digital image by application of the offset matrix. A graphic tag may be associated with each of the defined image reference points and displayed over the digital image, and the assignment of the spatial offset may be accomplished by movement of the graphic tag with the pointing device. Abstract image reference points may be used to limit distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Nils Kokemohr
  • Patent number: 9467646
    Abstract: An image signal processing apparatus includes a down-converter unit configured to down-convert an image signal having a first resolution into an image signal having a second resolution lower than the first resolution, a high-frequency-band-edge detection unit configured to perform filtering on the image signal having the first resolution to extract components in a higher frequency band than a frequency corresponding to the second resolution and to perform down-conversion on an edge detection signal obtained through the filtering to obtain an edge detection signal having the second resolution, and a combination unit configured to combine the edge detection signal obtained by the high-frequency-band-edge detection unit with the image signal having the second resolution generated by the down-converter unit so as to obtain an image signal having the second resolution and being to be displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Gomita, Koji Kamiya
  • Patent number: 9380241
    Abstract: A method for matching one or more channels to a reference channel in a multiple-channel detector having a digital output, the method including: receiving an analog-to-digital unit (ADU) input value from the multiple-channel detector for each channel; and replacing the ADU input value by an output value corresponding to each channel from a look up table (LUT); wherein the LUT is created by taking a relative intensity ratio of signals from each channel compared to the reference channel over a range of voltage values; calculating a signal value on the detector that generates a specific ADU value across the entire ADU range of the detector; interpolating the relative intensity ratios to obtain ratios corresponding to the calculated signal values for each channel; and dividing the each of the specific ADU value by the corresponding interpolated ratio to obtain the corresponding output value for each channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk Gossage
  • Patent number: 9332280
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments disclose an image processing method which includes obtaining a binary value by quantizing a value obtained by summing at least one pixel value of an input image and a quantization error value of a neighboring pixel; determining a pixel in which a detail intensity is to be inserted according to the binary value of each pixel; determining the detail intensity to be inserted in the determined pixel; and inserting the determined detail intensity in the determined pixel, wherein the quantization error value of the neighboring pixel is a difference value between an original pixel value of the neighboring pixel and a pixel value quantized with respect to a predetermined constant value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seong-wook Han, Hyung-jun Park
  • Patent number: 9107613
    Abstract: A handheld, cordless scanning device for the three-dimensional image capture of patient anatomy without the use of potentially hazardous lasers, optical reference targets for frame alignment, magnetic reference receivers, or the requirement that the scanning device be plugged in while scanning. The device generally includes a housing having a front end and a rear end. The rear end includes a handle and trigger. The front end includes a pattern projector for projecting a unique pattern onto a target object and a camera for capturing live video of the projected pattern as it is deformed around the object. The front end of the housing also includes a pair of focus beam generators and an indexing beam generator. By utilizing data collected with the present invention, patient anatomy such as anatomical features and residual limbs may be digitized to create accurate three-dimensional representations which may be utilized in combination with computer-aided-drafting programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Provel, Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Firth, Brendan O. Beardsley, John P. Pella
  • Patent number: 9080950
    Abstract: A method of capturing and processing a multi-spectral image of an object comprises placing the object on a flat-bed scanner (1), using the flat-bed scanner (1) to illuminate the object successively with monochromatic light at a series of wave-lengths to produce a plurality of images together forming a composite multi-spectral image, determining a spectral profile of at least a portion of the multi-spectral image and comparing the spectral profile to a stored spectral profile (22, 24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: ISIS INNOVATION LIMITED
    Inventor: Alexander Kovalchuk
  • Patent number: 9077941
    Abstract: A bad pixel correction method for an image is provided. The bad pixel correction method includes the steps of determining whether each of pixels of a predetermined block in the image is a bad pixel sequentially; when a current pixel of the block is determined to be bad and a temperature value is higher than a threshold, re-determining that at least one previously determined pixel in the predetermined block to be bad; and correcting the current pixel and the previously determined pixel, wherein the previously determined pixel is adjacent to the current pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: HIMAX IMAGING LIMITED
    Inventor: Yi-Lin Tsai
  • Publication number: 20150062663
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus reads an original to acquire image information, processes the acquired image information, and determines whether or not to form the processing result on the original. Upon determining to form the processing result on the original, the image forming apparatus forms the processing result on the original, and upon determining to not form the processing result on the original, the image forming apparatus forms the processing result on a sheet other than the original.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventor: Naoya Kakutani
  • Patent number: 8953196
    Abstract: In an image forming device adapted to acquire image data and distribute the image data, a storage unit stores respective plug-in modules of an input process, an image transforming process, and an output process with respect to the image data. A combining information acquisition unit acquires combining information including plug-in identifiers which respectively indicate the plug-in modules. A combining unit combines two or more of the plug-in modules to generate a virtual plug-in based on the combining information. A flow setting unit sets up a workflow in which the plug-in modules including the virtual plug-in are combined arbitrarily. A workflow control unit controls processes included in the workflow when a message distribution process based on the workflow is requested.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kiichi Matsuura
  • Patent number: 8947682
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which includes a plurality of operating modes, the apparatus including a main body, a scanning unit to move along the main body and obtains an image data from an object to be scanned, an operation state display unit to display a position of the scanning unit, and a controller to set a display mode corresponding to an operating state that includes at least one operating mode of the plurality of operating modes and controls the operation state display unit to display the display mode set corresponding to the operating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-yoon Lee
  • Patent number: 8947734
    Abstract: A pulse width modulation technique is disclosed for use in an image forming device such as a laser printer or a photocopier. The technique implements a pacer to synthesize the frequency of a serializer circuit by stretching (or shrinking) pixel pulse train data. The pacer stretches the pixel pulse train data in accord with increment data that is based upon information about the image forming device, such as the number of bits in the pixel pulse train data, the number of bits in print engine pulse train, the target print engine frequency, and the serializer frequency. The technique can be implemented with digital circuits that provide digital test data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventors: John D. Marshall, Douglas G. Keithley, Richard D. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8897432
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for the virtualization, aggregation, and distributed processing of facsimile communications. The Remote FAX Interconnect known as etherFAX® is a system and method that allows for the reception and delivery of information based on cloud computing infrastructure to or from one or more facsimile systems using Internet/web based communication protocols such as HTTP(S) as the transport between a facsimile capable application or hardware and the remotely accessible etherFAX® services.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Etherfax, LLC
    Inventors: Robert N. Cichielo, Paul J. Banco
  • 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: 8879127
    Abstract: A first light source and a second light source are arranged so that a protrusion direction of a first terminal from a first supporting body and a protrusion direction of a second terminal from a second supporting body are different when viewed in the longitudinal direction of a light guide. The first light source and the second light source are arranged so as to reduce a protrusion direction of the first supporting body and the second supporting body in a predetermined direction from an area where the first light source and the second light source overlap when viewed in the longitudinal direction of the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Murakami, Kenji Nagata, Junya Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8879128
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus is disclosed. The image reading apparatus includes an automatic document feeding unit that transports a document in a predetermined direction while the document floats above a platen glass member and a light source disposed below the platen glass member that irradiates a portion on the document at a predetermined reading location such that reflected light from the portion on the document is converted into image data and a floating distance between the document and the platen glass member is detected to set a value of an image parameter for correcting the image data for the document, based on the detected floating distance between the document and the platen glass member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Higashi, Masahiro Nonoyama
  • 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: 8861041
    Abstract: An image reading device is provided with a waveform memory that stores correction waveform data generated based on a digital image signal output from an image signal processing circuit when a light source of the image reading device is turned off, and an image signal correcting circuit that corrects an image signal of an original image using the correction waveform data stored in the waveform memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Nagase
  • Patent number: 8860971
    Abstract: The printing device has a data generating section (controller section) which conducts image processing with a plurality of processors to generate dot data for printing from image data; and a printing section that conducts printing to a printing medium based on the dot data sent from the data generating section. The data generating section has a first processing mode that conducts processing to first image data that is a part of image data using N processors, and a second processing mode that conducts processing to second image data that is a part of image data using M processors, with N and M representing the number of the processors. N and M are natural numbers which are different from each other. The first processing mode and the second processing mode are determined depending on complexity of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Kohei Utsunomiya, Shinichi Arazaki, Satoshi Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8797606
    Abstract: The photoelectric conversion device includes a photoelectric conversion element configured to convert light reflected from an original image to electrical signals and a clock generator configured to generate driving signals for driving the photoelectric conversion element from a reference clock. Each of the driving signals is generated using the same logic gate or substantially the same logic gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hideki Hashimoto, Masamoto Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8767272
    Abstract: A system for scanning paper media includes at least one microprocessor and a scanner connected to the microprocessor. The scanner is configured to simultaneously scan two or more printed pages using nuclear magnetic resonance and wherein the scanner is configured to send a three-dimensional data set to the microprocessor representing the printed pages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Inventors: Douglas Pedley, Steve Jackson, J. Eric Churilla
  • Patent number: 8760735
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image combining device includes a read unit and a control unit. The read unit includes a transparent holder and an image read section of flatbed type. The transparent holder holds a flat medium, and plural matching reference points are marked in an edge region. The image read section reads the medium placed on a reading window. A size of the medium is larger than the reading window. Each of the partial images, generated by the image read section, includes an image of a part of the medium and a part of the matching reference points. The matching reference points are arranged along a part of an edge of the image of the medium. The control unit combines the plural partial images based on the matching reference points included in the plural partial images, and generates a combined image including an image of the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: NEC AccessTechnica, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takuma Aoshima
  • Patent number: 8743440
    Abstract: A method for classifying a document (3) to be associated with at least one service (Si), including a step in which a scanner (1) having a processor (6) scans (E1) the document (3). The method also includes steps in which the processor (6): develops (E2) at least one structure (?j) representing the document (3), determines (E3) for each service (Si) at least one similitude value (?ij) between the structure (?j) representing the document and a reference structure (Rij) of the same kind and representing the service (Si), deduces (E4) from the similitude value (?ij) the service (Si) with which the document (3) is to be associated, and processes (E5) the document (3) according to the service (Si) thus associated. The invention also relates to a scanner for implementing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Sagemcom Documents SAS
    Inventor: Stéphane Manac'h
  • Patent number: 8731420
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image carrier, a transferer to apply a constant-current controlled bias to a transfer medium to form a transfer electric field, a constant-current source configured to apply an electrical current to the transferer, an electrical characteristic detector, an environment detector, a first corrector, a second corrector, and a third corrector. The electrical characteristic detector detects an electrical characteristic value corresponding to a resistance in a current path from the constant-current source to the transferer. The environment detector detects an environmental condition inside the image forming apparatus. The first corrector corrects the electrical current based on the electrical characteristic detection and a predetermined threshold. The second corrector corrects the electrical current based on the environment detection. The third corrector sets the threshold based on the environment detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Ken Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8724180
    Abstract: An image reader is provided, which includes a first analog front end unit configured to perform A/D conversion for analog signals that are output via a first group of channels of a number resulting from rounding up, to a closest whole number, an average value between a number of at least one channel for a first image reading unit and a number of channels for a second image reading unit, among analog signals output from the first image reading unit and the second image reading unit, and a second analog front end unit configured to perform A/D conversion for analog signals that are output via a second group of channels other than the channels in the first group, among the analog signals output from the first image reading unit and the second image reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidekazu Okada
  • Patent number: 8717643
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a drive source, a speed change mechanism provided in a transmission unit that transmits a driving force from the drive source to a scanning drive unit. The speed change mechanism is configured to change a transmission ratio of the transmission unit by selectively bringing one of first and second couplings into a connected state. The image reading apparatus further includes a selector configured to selectively bring one of the first and second couplings into the connected state, a detector configured to detect the connected state of the second coupling, and a controller configured to control a scanning position of the reading unit based on the transmission ratio changed via the second coupling after the detector detects the connected state of the second coupling after the selector changes selection from the first coupling to the second coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mizuki Hayakawa, Atsushi Miyahara
  • Patent number: 8711394
    Abstract: A multifunctional printer 10 comprises an operation unit 13 making image formation requests, an image forming unit 16 forming an image in response to an image formation request issued from the operation unit 13 or an external device, a determination unit determining whether the image formation request is issued from the operation unit 13 or the external device, a main power source 23 activating the operation unit 13 and image forming unit 16 to bring them into a usable state, and a control unit actuating the image forming unit 16, when the main power source 23 completely activates the image forming unit 16 and the determination unit determines that the image formation request is a request issued from the external device, regardless of whether the operation unit 13 is activated or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Furutani
  • Patent number: 8693063
    Abstract: An image-reading device includes a plurality of image sensors, a starting signal generator and a signal timing regulator. Each image sensor reads images on a pixel basis and generating an image signal indicative of the image. The image signal is an analog signal. The starting signal generator generates starting signals at every predetermined time period. A sampling period for sampling the image signal is set within the predetermined time period. In response to the starting signal sequentially inputted to the image sensors, the image sensors read the image until the predetermined time period is expired. The signal timing regulator delays an input timing at which the starting signal is inputted to the image sensor so that the sampling periods for the plurality of image sensors are different from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Ikeno
  • Patent number: 8693048
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for optimizing the phase lock loop circuitry of sub-pixel clock generators for situations where frequent switching between different system printing speeds, and hence clock frequencies are required. An optimizing circuit is associated with a sub-pixel clock generator for clamping an input voltage to a voltage controlled oscillator controlling clock frequency between a desired range. The clamping circuitry comprises a comparator for detecting when the voltage has moved out of the desired range and then charges or discharges a loop filter circuit controlling the input voltage to the VCO to keep the input voltage within the desired range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Mostafa R. Yazdy
  • Patent number: 8687243
    Abstract: The photoelectric conversion device includes a photoelectric conversion element configured to convert light reflected from an original image to electrical signals and a clock generator configured to generate driving signals for driving the photoelectric conversion element from a reference clock. Each of the driving signals is generated using the same logic gate or substantially the same logic gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hideki Hashimoto, Masamoto Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8677445
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus, includes: a registration unit that refers to a use limit information memory which stores use limit information indicating a policy of a use limit of a document corresponding to a set of a mark image indicating that use of the document is limited and user associated information relating to a user associated to the document, extracts the mark image and person in charge information from document image information obtained by reading a paper document including the mark image and the person in charge information indicating a person in charge with respect to contents of the paper document, acquires the use limit information corresponding to a set of the extracted mark image and the user associated information corresponding to the extracted person in charge information from the use limit information memory, and registers the acquired use limit information associated with a document including the document image information in a document memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikatsu Suzuki, Rumiko Kakehi
  • Patent number: 8659766
    Abstract: This invention is directed to image reading capable of suppressing EMI unwanted radiation while maintaining image quality. To accomplish this, the following processing is executed when reading an original image by a photoelectric transducer. More specifically, a first driving signal where SSCG spread modulation is applied, and a second driving signal where no SSCG spread modulation is applied are generated from a reference signal. Either the first or second driving signal is selected, and a timing signal for reading the original image is generated based on the selected driving signal. The image signal obtained by the photoelectric transducer is latched using the timing signal. The latched image signal is transferred for subsequent image processing. Upon reading a one-line image original, the second driving signal is selected till the completion of the latch operation, and after the latch operation, the first driving signal is selected for an image signal transfer operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Aoyama, Noriko Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8654396
    Abstract: An image processing device includes print processors for different colors, plural first conversion sections provided for each of the print processors, a second conversion section, and a controller. Each of the print processors performs printing of a corresponding color onto a recording medium. Each of the first conversion sections converts print data described in page description language into raster image data, and outputs the converted raster image data to the corresponding print processor. The second conversion section converts the print data into raster image data and outputs the converted raster image data to any of the print processors. The controller selectively performs a first control that causes the first conversion sections to convert the print data that has been input to the device in parallel, or a second control that causes the first conversion sections and the second conversion section to convert the input print data in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuya Yamaguchi, Yusuke Suzuki