Fiber Optics Or Optical Waveguides Patents (Class 358/484)
  • Patent number: 11943413
    Abstract: A document platen on which a document is placed; and a reading sensor having a light source for irradiating the document with light, are provided, and the reading sensor performs first scanning for irradiating the document with light at a first light quantity, and then performs second scanning for irradiating the document with light at a second light quantity greater than the first light quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuneo Kasai, Ryo Yamaguchi, Sho Arai
  • Patent number: 11803050
    Abstract: An optical scanning device and an electronic imaging apparatus are provided. The optical scanning device includes a light source, a first optical unit, an optical deflector, and an imaging optical system for guiding a light beam deflected by the optical deflector to a scanned surface for imaging. The imaging optical system includes an F-? lens satisfying fc/fs?0.6, X1?X1c>0, and X2?X2c>0, where fs is a focal length of the F-? lens, fc is an f? coefficient of the F-? lens; X1 is a distance between a projection of one incident point on the main optical axis and the scanning origin, X2 is a distance between a projection of one exit point on the main optical axis and the scanning origin, X1c is a distance between the central incident point and the scanning origin, and X2c is a distance between the central exit point and the scanning origin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: ZHUHAI PANTUM ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongchao Nie, Chao Wang
  • Patent number: 11683450
    Abstract: Techniques for facilitating shutter and light signal synchronization systems and methods are provided. In one example, a system includes a vehicle. The vehicle includes a light emitting device configured to emit a light signal. The vehicle further includes a logic device configured to transmit data associated with the light signal. The system further includes a wearable apparatus. The wearable apparatus includes a shutter device configured to synchronize with the light signal based on the data and process the light signal according to the synchronization. Related methods and devices are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: FLIR Unmanned Aerial Systems AS
    Inventor: Jon Elvira Andres Lund
  • Patent number: 11418673
    Abstract: An illumination device and an image reading device are characterized by including: a rod-shaped light guide extending in a longitudinal direction and configured to guide light entering from an exterior and emit the light as linear light from a lateral surface; a light guide holding portion having a hole into which an end surface of the light guide is inserted; a supporter supporting the light guide holding portion slidably along the longitudinal direction; and a housing supporting or housing the light guide, the light guide holding portion and the supporter, at least the supporter being fixed to the housing, a direction of sliding of the light guide holding portion being restricted to the longitudinal direction by a supporter-side concave-convex portion that is a supporter-side groove portion or a supporter-side protruding portion at least one of which is formed on the supporter along the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideki Matsui, Koki Takasaki
  • Patent number: 10972625
    Abstract: To provide an optical scanning device including a lower housing including an opened upper part, an upper housing that covers the upper part of the lower housing, and an f? lens on which a beam reflected by a rotating polygon mirror is incident. The lower housing includes a raised area being raised upward from a lower housing bottom surface. The f? lens is mounted to face a bottom side of the raised area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Atsuo Nakao, Reishi Aoki, Takaharu Motoyama, Hiroshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 10830415
    Abstract: A light emitting panel assembly is provided. The light emitting panel assembly includes: a housing; a light guide within the housing, the light guide having a first major surface with a plurality of extraction elements, a second major surface, a lower surface, an upper surface, a light source adjacent to the lower surface of the light guide; and an upper guide reflector having a diffuse reflective surface adjacent to and facing the upper surface of the light guide, whereby light from the light source traveling through the light guide toward the upper guide reflector spreads within the light guide, and whereby the upper guide reflector homogenizes the light before the light is redirected to the light guide. A luminaire comprising such a light emitting panel assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Lumenpulse Group Inc./Group Lumenpulse Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Santoro
  • Patent number: 10466402
    Abstract: An illumination device according to the present invention includes: a light source row in which a plurality of light sources are aligned in a row; a light guide plate that includes a plate-shaped main body with an end thereof facing the light source row, a light-receiving portion that is arranged on the end of the main body and into which light from the light sources enters, plate-shaped side extensions that are arranged on the sides of the main body and that extend outwards further than the light-receiving portion, and a light-exiting portion that is arranged on front surfaces of the main body and the side extensions and that allows light that enters via the light-receiving portion to exit; and a supply unit that supplies light to the side extensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Yasunaga, Takeshi Ishida, Mitsuhiro Murata, Ryuzo Yuki
  • Patent number: 10321113
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a luminance information obtainer that obtains luminance information for each color in each of a plurality of images, each of which is imaged respectively when a light source arranged at mutually different positions sequentially irradiates an object with light, and a color setter that sets a color to use in obtaining surface normal information for each region of an image on the basis of the luminance information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Kusumi, Chiaki Inoue, Yoshiaki Ida
  • Patent number: 9946198
    Abstract: A developing cartridge includes a casing to accommodate toner; an agitator to agitate the toner and rotatable about a first axis extending in a predetermined direction, the agitator including one end portion and another end portion in the predetermined direction, the agitator being movable in the predetermined direction between a first position and a second position; a first gear mounted to the one end portion and rotatable along with the agitator; an input gear engaging with the first gear; a second gear mounted to the another end portion and rotatable along with the agitator; a third gear; and a protrusion. The second gear is mounted to the another end portion while the first gear engages with the input gear in the first position. And the second gear is separated from the another end portion while the first gear engages with the input gear in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Nao Itabashi
  • Patent number: 9946009
    Abstract: A light guide includes a first exit portion emitting first exiting light, a second exit portion emitting second exiting light in a different direction than the first exiting light, and a reflecting portion reflecting light entering the light guide to each of the first and second exit portions. The first and second exit portions respectively have first and second curved surfaces each having a convex cross section perpendicular to the long axis direction. The second exit portion is connected to the first exit portion in the direction perpendicular to the long axis direction. The reflecting portion is provided, in a plane facing the first exit portion and the second exit portion, at a position shifted in the direction perpendicular to the long axis direction from a position where a normal to the plane passes through a connection portion between the first and second exit portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akiko Fujiuchi, Hironobu Arimoto, Taku Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 9841549
    Abstract: A light guide includes a first exit portion emitting first exiting light, a second exit portion emitting second exiting light in a different direction than the first exiting light, and a reflecting portion reflecting light entering the light guide to each of the first and second exit portions. The first and second exit portions respectively have first and second curved surfaces each having a convex cross section perpendicular to the long axis direction. The second exit portion is connected to the first exit portion in the direction perpendicular to the long axis direction. The reflecting portion is provided, in a plane facing the first exit portion and the second exit portion, at a position shifted in the direction perpendicular to the long axis direction from a position where a normal to the plane passes through a connection portion between the first and second exit portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akiko Fujiuchi, Hironobu Arimoto, Taku Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 9630434
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transmission-type photosensor including a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part, disposed on opposite sides of a media conveyance path; a sensor retainer to retain the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part; a suspended needle indicator including one end portion freely rotatably disposed on the sensor retainer at a position higher than the photosensor, and an indicator disposed on another end thereof; and an angle viewer with scale marks that mark an angle of an optical axis of the photosensor from a vertical direction. The photosensor is disposed with the optical axis thereof is angled within a predetermined adjusted angle relative to the media conveyance path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Morinaga, Masayuki Sunaoshi
  • Patent number: 9632227
    Abstract: A light guide body includes: a light incident portion on which light is incident; a light guiding portion which is adapted to guide the light incident on the light incident portion; and a light emitting portion which is adapted to emit the light guided by the light guiding portion. One of the light incident portion and the light guiding portion is extended in a first direction, and the light emitting portion is extended in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Yamaha Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Kawaida, Masaki Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9341841
    Abstract: An optical scanner includes: a base portion; a light reflecting portion that reflects light; a connection portion that connects the base portion and the light reflecting portion; and a shaft portion that supports the base portion in a swingable manner about a swing axis, wherein the light reflecting portion is disposed so that a geometrical center of the light reflecting portion is separated from the swing axis in a plan view seen in a direction in which the light reflecting portion and the base portion are lined up, and wherein a geometrical center of at least one of the base portion and the connection portion is positioned on an opposite side of the geometrical center of the light reflecting portion with respect to the swing axis in the plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yukihide Yamano
  • Patent number: 9298960
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for selectively controlling the illumination, and particularly dark field illumination, applied to a symbol to be decoded, and for determining a suitable or optimized level of lighting for decoding the symbol. A method includes providing a light source comprising a plurality of individually-controllable lighting elements for providing low angle dark field illumination; activating an image sensor for detecting image data reflected from an encoded data symbol when the encoded data symbol is illuminated by the light source; and providing a controller connected to each of the individually-controllable lighting elements, the controller being programmed for: selectively activating the individually-controllable lighting elements to vary the direction of the low angle dark field illumination provided by the light source; and processing the image data detected by the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: COGNEX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Carl W. Gerst, III, William H. Equitz, Justin Testa, Sateesha Nadabar
  • Patent number: 9253359
    Abstract: A contact image sensor unit includes: a light source (10) illuminating an original; a rod-like light guide (11) guiding light from the light source to the original; an imaging element (12) forming reflected light from the original on a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; a sensor substrate (14) on which the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are mounted; a frame (15) to which they are attached and which has a positioning part (200) for attaching the light guide (11) thereto; and a supporting member (16) which attachably/detachably supports the light guide (11) and is attachably/detachably attached to the positioning part (200). Since the light guide (11) can be attached to the frame (15) without using an adhesive, the deformation of the light guide (11), the warpage of the contact image sensor unit and so on can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: CANON COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventor: Hidehisa Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9207376
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes: a light guide that is formed in a rod shape and includes a positioning portion that is formed at one end in a longitudinal direction, and light incident surfaces that are formed at two end faces in the longitudinal direction; and light sources that are arranged in the vicinity of the light incident surfaces, respectively, and that emit light that is incident on the incident surfaces. The light guide is formed by injection molding. A gate portion for supplying a resin material during injection molding opens at a position that corresponds to a tip face of the positioning portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: CANON COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventor: Hidemasa Yoshida
  • Patent number: 9188734
    Abstract: A light guide includes: an incident surface, an exit surface and two reflective surfaces. The incident surface allows light emitted from a light source to be incident thereon. The exit surface extends in a main scanning direction and allows the incident light to exit the light guide therethrough. Two reflective surfaces are located opposite to the exit surface to extend in the main scanning direction and are configured to reflect the incident light toward the exit surface. One of the reflective surfaces includes a plurality of light reflecting patterns formed integrally therewith and having an oval hemispherical prism shape. The other reflective surface is a separate surface from the one reflective surface and is formed in a planar shape that enables attachment of a reflective member allowing the incident light to be reflected thereon toward the exit surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Okamoto
  • Patent number: 9086518
    Abstract: A linear light source module comprises a holder, a first light guide, a second light guide, a first light-emitting element and a second light-emitting element. The first and second light guides are mounted on the holder and arranged in series, where the first light guide has a first emitting surface and the second light guide has a second emitting surface. The holder partially surrounds the first and second light guides. The first light-emitting element is disposed close to a first end of the first light guide, and a light beam emitted by the first light-emitting element is reflected and converted by the first light guide into first linear light emitted from the first emitting surface. The second light-emitting element is disposed close to a first end of the second light guide, and a light beam emitted by the second light-emitting element is reflected and converted by the second light guide into second linear light emitted from the second emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventors: Sung-Po Cheng, Thomas Sheng
  • Patent number: 9001394
    Abstract: An image scanning apparatus and method are provided. The image scanning apparatus scans an image of a document and converts the scanned image into digital data, and includes light sources that emit light. The apparatus includes a light guide unit that diffuses the light emitted by the light sources and a sensor unit that senses image data from the document by recognizing light reflected from the document by being diffused by the light guide unit. The apparatus includes a control unit that controls the turning on of the light sources. The control unit alternately turns on or off the light sources such that at least one of the light sources is turned on when at least one other light source is turned off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-je Joh, Sun-hee Lee
  • Patent number: 8982431
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes a light source, a light guide, and a holding member configured to hold the light source and to hold the light guide via a fixing member. Within a cross section including a plane normal direction of an exit surface of the light source and a plane normal direction of an entrance surface of the light guide, the plane normal direction of the entrance surface of the light guide or a direction within a surface of the light guide contacting the fixing member and the plane normal direction of the exit surface of the light source or a maximum intensity direction in light emission of the light source are inclined relative to each other such that a ray of light from the light source in the maximum intensity direction is refracted at the entrance surface of the light guide in a direction away from the fixing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ikutaro Mitsutake
  • Patent number: 8982432
    Abstract: A light guide includes a plurality of boss portions. A round hole portion is provided near the center of a base member for fixing the light guide, and slit portions are provided on both ends thereof. The round hole portion supports one boss portion in both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction of the light guide. The slit portions support boss portions in the lateral direction of the light guide, but are free in the longitudinal direction of the light guide. That is, the center of the light guide is fixed from both directions, and thus both ends of the light guides can expand away in the longitudinal direction. This cuts the influence of expansion by half.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ayumu Murakami
  • Patent number: 8970924
    Abstract: Provided is an image reading device including: a light source member including light source portions emitting light; a light guide member including: an input section to which the light emitted from the light source portions is input; and an output section from which the input light is output; a support member supporting the light source member and the light guide member and having higher rigidity than the light source member and the light guide member; a retaining member configured to press the light guide member toward the support member and configured to retain the light guide member in a supported state by the support member; and a protrusion-shaped contact section provided on the light guide member and contacting the retaining member, the contact section protruding in a direction perpendicular from the predetermined main scanning direction from the light guide member toward the retaining member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsuhiko Nakaie
  • Patent number: 8964265
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus includes: a light guide that is formed in a rod shape and includes a positioning portion that is formed at one end in a longitudinal direction, and light incident surfaces that are formed at two end faces in the longitudinal direction; and light sources that are arranged in the vicinity of the light incident surfaces, respectively, and that emit light that is incident on the incident surfaces. The light guide is formed by injection molding. A gate portion for supplying a resin material during injection molding opens at a position that corresponds to a tip face of the positioning portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Hidemasa Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8941895
    Abstract: A scanning device is capable of scanning both sides of a medium and includes a lens module, an optical-electric coupling unit, and a processor. The lens module faces the medium to be scanned. The optical-electric coupling unit is optically connected to the lens module. The processor is optically connected to the optical-electric coupling unit, and includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. The light beams emitted from the light emitting unit are directed into the lens module through the optical-electric coupling unit, and illuminate the medium to be scanned. The light beams reflected by the medium enter into the optical-electric coupling unit through the optical-electric coupling unit, and then to the light receiving unit. The processor processes the reflected light beams into electrical signals to obtain scanning signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yung-Lun Huang
  • Patent number: 8941746
    Abstract: Adapter (3, 5) for processing electrical signals in an installation comprising a video camera equipment (1) and a remote equipment (7). A first aim of the present invention is to provide an adapter system which allows automatically providing an output video signal that is co-timed to the master timing reference of the remote equipment. A second aim of the invention is to provide an adapter system which improves the security of the installation when power for the camera is transmitted by the remote equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Interlemo Holding S.A.
    Inventors: Keith Jenkins, Gary Wordsworth, David Pether, Philip Longhurst, Christopher Hamblin, Gareth Foster
  • Patent number: 8934153
    Abstract: An image reader is provided, which includes a housing including a base, and a reading unit including a holder, the base including a bottom wall, a first guide disposed at a first-side portion of the bottom wall in a first direction, and a second guide disposed at a second-side portion of the bottom wall in the first direction, and the reading unit further including a third guide disposed at a first-side portion of the holder in the first direction, the third guide configured to come into sliding contact with the first guide when the reading unit moves, and a fourth guide disposed at a second-side portion of the holder in the first direction, the fourth guide configured to come into sliding contact with the second guide when the reading unit moves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Shiomi
  • Patent number: 8929688
    Abstract: The present invention provides software, methods, and systems for characterizing an actual scan pattern of a scanning beam device. The characterization of the actual scan pattern may be used in an image remapping method and/or a drive signal remapping method to reduce distortions in an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventor: Richard S. Johnston
  • Patent number: 8928957
    Abstract: A light guide has first and second light guide parts (S, T) in front and rear of a constricted part (2). The first light guide has first and second side parts (1a, 1b). The second light guide part has a reflection condensing part (4) and third and fourth side parts extending from the constricted part to divert the first and second side parts more outward than imaginary surfaces (1c, 1d) as extensions of the first and second side parts beyond the constricted part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeyoshi Saiga
  • Patent number: 8928958
    Abstract: An image reading device has an optical unit and a rail portion formed of sheet metal. The optical unit is scanned in the sub scanning direction to read an image on a document on a contact glass. The rail portion slidably supports the optical unit. The optical unit has a sliding portion which slides on the rail portion while making contact therewith, and at least one pair of gripping portions which grip the rail portion. The surface of the sliding portion has a substantially arc-shaped cross section. The rail portion has two inclined surfaces that make contact with the substantially arc-shaped surface at two points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Shunsuke Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 8928956
    Abstract: An illumination system includes a light source unit including light emitting elements arranged in array in a main scan direction to project light beams radially, and an optical guide of a long length made from a translucent material to guide incident beams from an exit surface of the light source unit in a certain direction for output, and including at least one surface with a diffuse structure to diffuse a transmitted beam or a reflected beam among the incident beams, wherein the diffuse structure is configured to diffuse the beam at a center at a larger divergence angle than at ends in the main scan direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Iwamatsu, Mitsuru Nakajima, Tetsuya Ogata, Tsuyoshi Fujimoto, Tokiko Inoue, Chihiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8928955
    Abstract: A linear light source device illuminates a document properly, and an image reading device includes such a light source device. The light source device includes a light source and a light-guiding member. The light-guiding member introduces the light emitted from the light source from one end portion in x-direction, cause the light to travel in x-direction, and emits the light from a light exit portion at one end in z-direction, which is orthogonal to x-direction. The light-guiding member includes, at the other end in z-direction, a light-reflecting portion that reflects light to the light exit portion. One end face of the light-guiding member in y-direction, which is orthogonal to x- and z-directions, is inclined so as to become closer to the other end face in y-direction with decreasing distance from the light exit portion in z-direction. This allows light to easily travel to the light-reflecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Minamikawa, Tomoharu Horio, Okimoto Kondo
  • Patent number: 8928953
    Abstract: An image reading device has an optical unit, a pair of rail portions, and a driving device. The optical unit reads an image on the document. The pair of rail portions support the optical unit such that this is slidable in the sub scanning direction. The driving device enables the optical unit to move in the sub scanning direction. The driving device engages with the optical unit substantially at the position of its center of gravity in the main scanning direction, and the pair of rail portions are arranged one on each of one and the other sides in the main scanning direction so as to be equidistant from the position of the center of gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Naoki Shibata
  • Publication number: 20150002914
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a screw shaft, a holing member, a cleaning member, and a drive mechanism. The screw shaft is arranged along a covering. The screw shaft includes a main body portion and two rotary shaft portions provided on opposite ends of the main body portion integrally with the main body portion. A screw groove is formed in the main body portion. A protrusion engaging with the screw groove is formed on the holding member. Rotation of the screw shaft moves the holding member along the screw shaft. The cleaning member is held by the holding member. The drive mechanism drives and rotates the screw shaft, while moving the screw shaft in a direction reverse to a movement direction of the holding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroki TAKAHASHI
  • Patent number: 8922849
    Abstract: A document scanner comprises a first image sensor unit (32) and a second image sensor unit (30) and a scanning mechanism (70, 72, 76, 80) for causing relative movement between a document and the units so that the units scan the document in a scanning direction. The first unit (32) is situated ahead of the second unit (30) in the scanning direction and partially overlaps the second unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Colortrac Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Roy Cullum, Graham James Ohn Tinn, Jianjun Zuo, Feng Li, Peng Jiang, David Badger, Jun Wang
  • Publication number: 20140368892
    Abstract: An optical device includes: a movable section capable of swinging about a first axis; a frame body section capable of swinging about a second axis crossing the first axis; a first shaft section configured to connect the movable section and the frame body section; and a light reflection plate fixed to the movable section and provided with a light reflecting section having light reflectivity, wherein in plan view from a thickness direction of the light reflection plate, a center of gravity of the light reflection plate is shifted from the first axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Yasushi MIZOGUCHI
  • Patent number: 8913308
    Abstract: A light collecting member includes a lens to make incident light be collected on a light receiving member, a lens barrel to house the lens, an end portion into which a light enters of the lens barrel being arranged near the light receiving member and a fence member to cover the end portion into which a light enters of the lens barrel and the light receiving member, the fence member having an exhaust port formed in a manner extending in a vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignees: NEC AccessTechnica, Ltd., NEC Engineering, Ltd.
    Inventors: Namie Sugiyama, Koushi Takano, Hiroyuki Okada
  • Patent number: 8913307
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus configured to illuminate a target surface from a first side and a second side different from the first side, including: a guide; and a reflector, the guide including: incident surface; a surface for totally reflecting beam from the incident surface; a reflecting surface arranged on an opposite side of the incident surface relative to the surface; a first exit for causing the reflected beam to exit as converging beam from the first side, the first exit having condensing action in plane orthogonal to the one-dimensional direction; and a second exit, adjacent to the first exit, having condensing action in the orthogonal plane for causing beam not reflected by the reflecting surface to exit as converging beam, and the reflector reflecting the beam from the second exit to the target surface as beam from the second side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20140362424
    Abstract: In a device for optically scanning and measuring an environment, where the device is a laser scanner having a light emitter which, by a rotary mirror, emits an emission light beam, with a light receiver which receives a reception light beam, which, after passing the rotary mirror and a receiver lens which has an optical axis, is reflected from an object in the environment of the laser scanner. The laser scanner also includes a color camera which takes colored pictures of the environment of the laser scanner, and a control and evaluation unit which, for a multitude of measuring points, determines the distance to the object and links it with the colored pictures, the color camera being arranged on the optical axis of the receiver lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: FARO Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Bridges, Reinhard Becker
  • Patent number: 8885231
    Abstract: Provided are: a light source that emits light; a light guide including: a curved portion including a light incident surface from which the light from the light source enters; and a linear portion including a light emission surface from which the light is emitted to an original, the linear portion coupled to the curved portion and extended in a main-scan direction, the curved portion reflecting the light entered from the light incident surface to the linear portion; and a frame that houses the light source, and the light guide, wherein the light guide includes an inclined portion inclined in a direction that increases an incident angle ? of the light, the inclined portion formed in a range of the linear portion where the light reflected by the curved portion enters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Components, Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Tsumekawa
  • Patent number: 8885230
    Abstract: A configuration is adopted in which an image sensor unit includes: a sensor substrate on which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are mounted; a light source that includes light-emitting elements and is for illuminating a document; a light guide that guides light from the light source from one end face in a longitudinal direction and linearly illuminates the document; a rod lens array imaging reflected light from the document on the sensor substrate; and a frame attaching each of these, and in which the frame detachably includes a spacer provided in proximity to the light source, and the spacer includes a light shielding roof elongated so as to cover the light source and the end of the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Hideo Kiyota, Hidemasa Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8873114
    Abstract: A lens array including: a plurality of imaging portions arrayed in a first direction; wherein each of the plurality of imaging portions includes a first optical system configured to form an intermediate image of an object and a second optical system configured to re-form the intermediate image of the object in a first cross section parallel to the first direction and a direction of optical axes of the imaging portions, and wherein in each of the plurality of imaging portions, an optical flux from an object height at which a light available efficiency becomes 90% is restricted by at least one of a first aperture surface of the first optical system and a second aperture surface of the second optical system, and the optical flux from an object height at which the light available efficiency becomes 10% is restricted by the aperture surface which restricts the optical flux from the object height at which the light available efficiency becomes 90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yu Miyajima
  • Patent number: 8867109
    Abstract: Provided is a light guide, in which: at least one of a reflecting part or a light exit part has a light condensing action in a direction intersecting a predetermined direction; the at least one of the reflecting part or the light exit part includes diffusing parts arranged in the predetermined direction; the diffusing parts include: a first curved surface having a first degree of diffusion in the predetermined direction for a sparse region of light sources; and a second curved surface having a second degree of diffusion, which is lower than the first degree of diffusion, in the predetermined direction for a dense region of the light sources; and each of the first curved surface and the second curved surface has a shape corresponding to a part of a cylinder extending in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction in which the light sources are arrayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ikutaro Mitsutake, Takeyoshi Saiga
  • Publication number: 20140307297
    Abstract: An illuminator, a scanner module and an apparatus are provided. The scanner module includes an illuminator that includes a light source, a light guide extending in a main scanning direction to change a direction of the light from the light source, a guide holder recessed with a light guide mounting portion in which the light guide is mounted, and at least one supporting protrusion protruding from an entrance of the light guide mounting portion into the light guide mounting portion to support the light guide received in the light guide mounting portion. As the light guide is supported by the supporting protrusion formed at the entrance of the light guide mounting portion, it is possible to reduce deformation of the light guide and/or to prevent the light guide from being falling out of the light guide mounting portion when subjected to, e.g., a shock.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gyung Mo Tahk, Hyun Surk Kim, Kyung Rok Kim, Dong Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 8861046
    Abstract: A multi-functional device comprising an image forming apparatus to form a printing image and a scanner module to scan an image. The scanner module includes an illuminator to illuminate a light to a document mount, a sensor unit to read an image information of an object placed on the document mount, and an imaging lens to focus the light reflected from the object onto the sensor unit. The illuminator includes a light source to emit light, a light guiding unit and changes a traveling path of the light emitted from the light source to illuminate the document mount, and a guide holder which comprises an installation part where the light guiding unit is installed, and a mounting part where the light source holder is mounted to provide the light source at least one side of the light guiding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaname Nagatani, Dong-hun Lee
  • Patent number: 8848262
    Abstract: An optical radiation device includes a long light source unit in which light emitting elements are arranged in array, a long substrate on which the light source unit is mounted, a long optical guide to guide the light beams from the light emitting elements to a predetermined plane, and an optical collector to collect the light beams reflected by the predetermined plane. The length of an effective read area from a reading center of the optical collector to one end of the predetermined plane is different from that of an effective read area from the reading center to the other end thereof. The optical guide formed by injection molding includes a gate at one end in a length direction and a surface at the other end to exert total reflection, and is disposed so that the gate is positioned on the a same side as a shorter effective read area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Iwamatsu, Tsuyoshi Fujimoto, Mitsuru Nakajima, Tokiko Inoue, Chihiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8842347
    Abstract: An image scanning apparatus includes a scanning unit which scans paper, a paper transfer unit which transfers the paper to the scanning unit using a BLDC (Brushless DC) motor, a sensor unit which senses driving information of the BLDC motor, a scan controlling unit which controls operations of the scanning unit, and generates a control command including information regarding a driving direction of the BLDC motor, a driving signal unit which generates a driving signal for controlling the BLDC motor, and a digital controlling unit which controls operations of the driving signal unit in a digital method based on a generated control command, sensed driving information and a digital gain value according to a driving direction of the BLDC motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ji-Young Byun, Ho-bin Hwang
  • Patent number: 8837009
    Abstract: A light guiding member includes an input surface, an output surface, a counter surface, a reflective portion, and a diffusing portion. The light guiding member is a rod-shaped member that guides light in a longitudinal direction thereof. The input surface is one end face of the light guiding member and allows light to be input thereon. The output surface has a belt-like shape, extends in the longitudinal direction, and allows light to be emitted therefrom. The counter surface is located opposite the output surface. The reflective portion is a belt-like portion extending in the longitudinal direction and reflects light toward the output surface. The diffusing portion is a belt-like portion extending in the longitudinal direction and diffuses light emitted from the output surface. The diffusing portion is smaller than the reflective portion in width in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Kenichiro Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 8830542
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus for use in an image reading apparatus that forms a reduction image of a read area of an original on an image pickup element by an imaging optical system, includes: a light source illuminating the original; and a light guide guiding light to the original; wherein the light guide has a first surface on which light is incident or that diffuses light, a second surface from which light exits toward the read area, and a third and fourth surfaces arranged between the first and second surfaces in a sub-scanning section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the light guide, the third surface arranged on a side closer to an optical axis of the imaging optical system, and the fourth surface arranged on a side farther from the optical axis, wherein the third and fourth surfaces are reflective surfaces having the same paraxial power which is appropriately set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Sugiyama, Narumasa Ito
  • Patent number: 8820508
    Abstract: A bill handling apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention has a frame provided with a bill feeding path in which a bill is fed and with side wall portions provided in the width direction of the bill feeding path, a bill reading section installed in the frame to read a fed bill, and a bill identifying section for identifying authentication of the bill read by the bill reading section. The bill reading section is provided with a light guide member to which light is input from a light-emitting device as a light-emitting portion that applies the light to the fed bill, and the light guide member is installed to enter inside the side wall portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Universal Entertainment Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Nireki