Illumination Patents (Class 358/509)
  • Patent number: 11956393
    Abstract: A reading device includes a reading sensor, a platen on which a first original and a second original being longer in a first direction can be placed, and a controller. the controller moves the reading sensor from an initial position to a standby position, causes the reading sensor to detect edges of the original while moving by a predetermined distance in the first direction, detect edges of the original while moving toward the initial position when a first edge in the first direction and a second edge in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction are detected or when neither of the edges are detected, detect edges while moving in a direction away from the initial position when the first edge is not detected and the second edge is detected, and acquire a content of the original while moving toward the initial position when the first edge is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Maeda
  • Patent number: 11852464
    Abstract: A chromatic confocal sensor configured for calibrating an orientation of an equipment about the optical axis of the chromatic confocal sensor, wherein the equipment is disposed at a first orientation about the optical axis of the chromatic confocal sensor, the chromatic confocal sensor including a light source, a collimator, a lens and a reticle, wherein the light source, the collimator and the lens are coaxially disposed along the optical axis, the reticle is configured to be interposable between the collimator and the lens along the optical axis, an image is configured to be cast by the light source through the collimator, the reticle and the lens on the equipment, the image is disposed at a second orientation about the optical axis and the equipment is calibratable by aligning the equipment with the image such that the first orientation approaches the second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: MLOptic Corp.
    Inventors: Wei Zhou, Jiang He, Siyuan Liang
  • Patent number: 11838481
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light emitter to irradiate a document with light, a first light guide to guide the light reflected by the document, an output device to output a readout signal obtained from the light reflected and guided by the first light guide, a base to correct shading in the readout signal, and circuitry to output a scanned image in which the shading of the document in the readout signal is corrected, based on correction data obtained from the readout signal of the base output from the output device, control a timing at which the light emitter emits the light and a timing at which the output device outputs a signal, and heat the first light guide with the light emitted from the light emitter before the output device outputs the readout signal of each of the document and the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Kurakata, Yuuki Nakada
  • Patent number: 11780220
    Abstract: In some examples, photographic mapping of an object takes place during transport at a fixed position by means of a line camera in a sequence of recording periods. An exposure device is exposed for an exposure time that is dependent on the duration of the on-time of the line camera. Each strip-shaped portion of the object to be photographically mapped is exposed, within a recording period, asynchronously for the duration of a first exposure time to white light and for the duration of a second exposure time either to ultraviolet light or to IR light. Each strip-shaped portion of the print image to be photographically mapped is alternately exposed by the exposure device, within the recording period photographically mapping the portion, to white light and either to UV light or to IR light during the duration of the on-time of the line camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: KOENIG & BAUER AG
    Inventors: Carsten Diederichs, Ingmar Hohmann, Christian Lüder
  • Patent number: 11738572
    Abstract: There is provided an image recording apparatus including: head configured to discharge a photo-curing liquid to a medium; irradiator configured to irradiate a curing light to cure the photo-curing liquid; distance measurer including first light emitter configured to emit a ranging light to measure a distance to the medium, and first light receiver configured to receive the ranging light; and casing housing the head, the irradiator and the distance measurer, and having a window through which an inside of the casing is visually perceptible. First filter is provided on the window, the first filter having a function of restraining transmission of the curing light more compared to transmission of a visible light. Second filter is provided on the first light receiver, the second filter having a function of restraining transmission of the visible light more compared to transmission of the ranging light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinya Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 11706516
    Abstract: A camera module and array camera module with circuit board unit and photosensitive unit and manufacturing method thereof is provided. The array camera module includes two or more camera lenses and a circuit unit. The circuit unit includes a circuit board portion for electrically connecting two or more photosensitive sensors of the array camera module, and a conjoined encapsulation portion integrally encapsulated on the circuit board portion. The camera lenses are respectively arranged along the photosensitive paths of the photosensitive sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: NINGBO SUNNY OPOTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mingzhu Wang, Bojie Zhao, Takehiko Tanaka, Feifan Chen, Qimin Mei, Liang Ding, Heng Jiang
  • Patent number: 11652927
    Abstract: Provided is an image reading device including: a reading unit reading an image on a document; a carriage moving with the reading unit; a detector included in the carriage and having a predetermined width in a movement direction of the carriage; a detection sensor being in a detection state when the detector is located at a position where the detector faces the detection sensor and being in a non-detection state when the detector is located at a position where the detector does not face the detection sensor; and a control portion configured to perform a positional shift determination operation of determining a positional shift of the carriage, in which, as the positional shift determination operation, the control portion starts to move the carriage when the detection sensor is in the detection state and determines the positional shift of the carriage, based on a moving amount of the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Kawabata, Kazunori Mori, Yutaro Kajitani, Masato Ogawa
  • Patent number: 11553108
    Abstract: A reading device includes a first light source, a second light source, a first reading unit, a second reading unit, a comparison unit, and a correction unit. The first source irradiates an object to be read, with first light having a first transmittance to the object. The second source irradiates the object with second light having a second transmittance to the object. The first reading unit reads the first light from the object to output first image data. The second reading unit reads the second light from the object to output second image data. The comparison unit compares a data difference between the first and second image data. In a case where the data difference is equal to or larger than a threshold, the correction unit corrects data of an image area having the data difference equal to or larger than the threshold in the first or second image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kohsuke Nambara, Tadaaki Oyama, Ayumu Hashimoto, Masamoto Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 11546483
    Abstract: A document scanning device is disclosed. For example, the document scanning device includes a platen glass, an optical scanner located below the platen glass, a plurality of light arrays located around a perimeter of the platen glass, and a processor communicatively coupled to the optical scanner and the plurality of light arrays, wherein the processor is to control a portion of the plurality of light arrays to define an origin and an orientation of a document for a scan job and control the optical scanner to scan the document on the platen glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Srinivasarao Bindana, John Allott Moore
  • Patent number: 11467478
    Abstract: Various embodiments described herein provide multi-projector (i.e., two or more) imaging apparatuses utilizing integrated illumination-aimer optics. Embodiments of the present disclosure minimize irreparable component offset to improve overall accuracy associated with the functioning of the apparatuses. Additionally, the integrated illumination-aimer optics enables embodiments disclosed herein to be provided in a significantly smaller form factor than conventional multi-projector imaging apparatuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: HAND HELD PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Chen Feng, Tao Xian, Gregory Mark Rueblinger
  • Patent number: 11374507
    Abstract: The present invention enables frequency response in a wide band without lowering the Q value. This vibrational energy harvester device is provided with: a movable part capable of vibration in a vibration direction as a result of mechanical vibrational energy applied from the exterior, said movable part being provided with a first surface along the vibration direction; and a fixed part provided with a second surface facing the first surface of the movable part with an interval therebetween, said fixed part being configured so as to be positionally fixed even against vibrational energy. A plurality of projections protruding in a direction orthogonal to the vibration direction are formed so as to be arranged like comb teeth in the vibration direction on each of the first surface of the movable part and the second surface of the fixed part. An electret film is formed on at least the first surface of the fixed part or on at least the second surface of the movable part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignees: The University of Tokyo, National University Corporation Shizuoka University, Saginomiva Seisakusho, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Toshiyoshi, Gen Hashiguchi, Hiroyuki Mitsuya, Hiroshi Imamoto
  • Patent number: 11347446
    Abstract: A printing unit configured to apply a color material to a printing medium to perform printing, a colorimetric unit configured to perform colorimetry, a storage unit configured to store patch data defining a color of a color patch for a plurality of the color patches, and a control unit are included, wherein the control unit uses patch data for one color patch of the plurality of color patches stored in the storage unit, to cause the printing unit to print the color patch on the printing medium, and determines whether a type of the printing medium on which the printing unit printed the color patch is a predetermined type, based on a colorimetric value obtained by the colorimetry performed by the colorimetric unit on the color patch printed by the printing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Nagahara
  • Patent number: 11336787
    Abstract: An image scanning device according to aspects of the present disclosures includes a transparent plate member on which an original document can be placed, a line sensor configured to receive a light emitted from a light source and reflected by the original document, and output an electrical signal according to the reflected light, a holding member configured to cover an upper surface of the plate member, and a controller. The controller is configured to obtain a first electrical signal corresponding to a first reflected light when the light source emits light having a first light amount, obtain a second electrical signal corresponding to a second reflected light when the light source emits light having a second light amount, and determine a particular scanning mode for scanning the original document placed on the plate member based on an image difference value calculated from the first and second electrical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shuichi Sunako
  • Patent number: 11146703
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus in which tilt is suppressed when inserting a flexible flat cable into a connector mounted on a circuit board on which an image sensor is also mounted. The flexible flat cable transmits an image signal output from the image sensor to a controller, and is inserted into the connector for electrically connecting the image sensor with the controller. The circuit board is fixed by adhesive to a carriage. The connector is mounted at an end portion of the circuit board in a first direction which is a main scanning direction. A thickness direction of the circuit board is a second direction, and a third direction is orthogonal to the first and second directions. The flexible flat cable is inserted into the connector along the third direction, and the adhesive is filled between a surface at the end portion of the circuit board and an opposing wall portion of the carriage, wherein the surface extends in the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomofumi Sakuma
  • Patent number: 11092719
    Abstract: A dot array illuminator includes an illumination source that includes one or more source arrays and a microlens array (MLA). A source array is an array of light emitting components. The source arrays are positioned on a substrate according to a geometric configuration. The MLA includes lens arrays that are arranged in a similar geometric configuration. The microlens array are separated from the source arrays by a distance and are substantially parallel to the source arrays. The microlens array overlaps with the source arrays and is of a dimension such that it can receive substantially all light emitted by the illumination source. The illumination source emits light towards the MLA. The MLA receives the light and outputs structured pattern light by interpolating received light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: Facebook Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Zhaoming Zhu
  • Patent number: 11044446
    Abstract: The present technology relates to an imaging device capable of selectively taking out only a specific electromagnetic wavelength and generating a signal with an enhanced wavelength resolution, and an electronic apparatus. There are provided a first pixel including a metallic thin film filter configured to transmit a light in a first frequency band and a second pixel including a color filter configured to transmit a light in a second frequency band wider than the first frequency band. A signal in a third frequency band is generated from the respective signals of a plurality of first pixels each including a metallic thin film filter configured to transmit a light in the different first frequency bands. The present technology can be applied to a CMOS image sensor of backside irradiation type or surface irradiation type, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Taro Sugizaki
  • Patent number: 10908387
    Abstract: Provided are an optical lens assembly and an electronic apparatus having the same. The optical lens assembly having a plurality of lenses arranged from an object side toward an image side where an image sensor is disposed, includes a bending unit configured to reflect light input from the object side in a first direction toward a second direction; and a first lens group having negative refractive power, a second lens group having positive refractive power, and a third lens group having negative refractive power, which are arranged in the second direction in order from the bending unit toward the image side. The first lens group includes a first lens having negative refractive power and disposed adjacent to the bending unit and a second lens having positive refractive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki-woo Lee
  • Patent number: 10877648
    Abstract: The invention proposes a client device (2) having a screen (5), having a display device (6) for displaying a first image representation on said screen (5), wherein said first image representation shows an actual image section (9) in an actual selected range (10) from an image coordinate system Px, Py. The client device also has a selection device (7) which is designed to select a desired selected range (11) from the image coordinate system Px, Py, and a communications device (8) which is designed to request and receive a desired image section (12) of the desired selected range (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Daniel Gottschlag, Stephan Heigl
  • Patent number: 10868052
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an imaging element, a manufacturing method, and an electronic apparatus which enable an image having higher image quality to be captured. In a valid pixel region in which a plurality of pixels is arranged in a matrix, a plurality of microlenses for condensing light is formed in a corresponding relation with the pixels, and in a valid pixel peripheral region which is provided so as to surround an outside of the valid pixel region, a plurality of slit type light diffraction gratings is formed such that a longitudinal direction thereof extends in a direction orthogonal to a side direction of the valid pixel region. Then, an anti-reflection film is deposited on the microlenses and the slit type light diffraction gratings. The present technology, for example, can be applied to a CMOS image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation
    Inventor: Yoichi Ootsuka
  • Patent number: 10834343
    Abstract: An image sensor including a color splitting element and a method of operating the image sensor are provided. The image sensor may include a plurality of unit pixels, and each pixel of the plurality of unit pixels may include a plurality of color sub-pixels. At least one color sub-pixel of the plurality of color sub-pixels may include a color splitting element that has a first refractive index greater than a second refractive index of a material that surrounds the first color splitting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sunghyun Nam, Sookyoung Roh, Seokho Yun
  • Patent number: 10756448
    Abstract: A camera module for facilitating industrialized water assembly includes a lens driver, a holder, a printed circuit board, and at least two conductive adhesives. The lens driver includes at least one pin. The lens driver is mounted on the holder. The pin extends from the lens driver to the holder. The holder includes at least one conductive layer corresponding to the pin. The conductive layer includes a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The holder is mounted on the printed circuit board. One conductive adhesive connects the pin to the first end of the conductive layer, the other one conductive adhesive connects the second end of the conductive layer to the printed circuit board, that makes the conductive layer electrically connect to the printed circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: TRIPLE WIN TECHNOLOGY(SHENZHEN) CO. LTD.
    Inventors: Cheng-An Lin, Chun-Yao Huang
  • Patent number: 10634812
    Abstract: A method for operating a light curtain arrangement for monitoring a safety area is provided. The light curtain arrangement includes a plurality of first light emitter elements placed at an emitter side of the safety area, and a plurality of second light receiver elements placed at a receiver side of the safety area. The method includes the steps of: assigning a plurality of dedicated light emitter elements to a respective one light receiver element, wherein the assigned light emitter elements form an array; and activating the dedicated light emitter elements of a respective array to contemporaneously emit light, and at the same time, receiving the emitted light from the activated light emitter elements by the respective light receiver element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Enzo Romano, Paolo Viviani, Maurizio Cambursano, Pasqualino Brunetti, Gianmarco Grange, Keisaku Kikuchi, Satoru Shimokawa, Kazuhiro Kudo, Kazunori Osako
  • Patent number: 10630861
    Abstract: An image reading device has a document placement stage, a light source unit, and a sensor unit. The light source unit has a first light source part having a first light source at one end in the main scanning direction and a first light guide, a second light source part having a second light source at the other end in the main scanning direction and a second light guide, a first board where the first light source is mounted, and a second board where the second light source is mounted. The first and second boards each have a board base, a mounting part where the first or second light source is mounted, and a reflection face formed next to the first or second light source. The reflection faces of the first and second board faces face, to overlap the facing faces of the second and first light guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Kenichiro Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 10499020
    Abstract: A hyperspectral camera system includes an input optical assembly, a lenslet array, a dispersion element, and an image sensor. The input optical assembly magnifies an image of a sample onto an image plane. The lenslet array is positioned approximately at the image plane and includes a 2D array of microlenses that concentrate the image into an array of image portions. Each of the image portions has a smaller area than a corresponding one of the microlenses and the image portions are at least partially separated from each other by interstitial regions. The dispersion element is disposed in the optical path of the image to spatially disperse spectral components in each of the image portions to generate spectrum stripes that spatially spread different spectral components of the image sourced from a single sample location within the sample. The image sensor captures a snapshot image of the spectrum stripes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Verily Life Sciences LLC
    Inventors: Charles M. Santori, Seung Ah Lee
  • Patent number: 10445626
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus which reads an image of a document and prints the read image on a sheet includes a detecting unit, an obtaining unit, and a controller. The detecting unit detects a size of the document. The obtaining unit obtains a size of the sheet. The controller performs control such that, in a case where the size of the sheet obtained by the obtaining unit is not a predetermined size, an image in a reading region based on the size of the document detected by the detecting unit is read, and in a case where the size of the sheet obtained by the obtaining unit is the predetermined size, an image in a reading region based on the size of the sheet is read.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoto Akimoto
  • Patent number: 10382643
    Abstract: An image processing device includes a reception unit that receives an input image signal, and a synchronization signal used to generate an output image signal on a basis of the input image signal. In a case in which, after receiving the synchronization signal, the reception unit does not receive a next synchronization signal within a predetermined reception period, the reception unit conducts an automatic reception process that treats the next synchronization signal as being received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kosuke Shimizu, Kazunori Sato, Eisuke Nozawa, Motohiro Asano
  • Patent number: 9955030
    Abstract: A printing system includes a printing apparatus that prints an image on a sheet, a sheet processer that executes sheet processing, and a sheet detection sensor that detects a sheet on which the sheet processing is performed not in association with the printing of an image, where the printing of an image is restricted in response to detection of a sheet by the sheet detection sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Mutsuno, Masaki Kashiwagi, Akinori Takeo, Satoshi Totsuka
  • Patent number: 9535637
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a conveyance unit, a reading unit, a carriage, a motor, a motor gear, a conveyance gear, a carriage gear, and a control device. The conveyance unit is configured to convey a document. The reading unit is configured to read an image on the document. The carriage is configured to support the reading unit and to be movable in a prescribed direction. The reading unit is selectively operable in a first mode in which the image on the document is read while conveying the document by the conveyance unit, and a second mode in which the image on the document is read by moving the reading unit in the prescribed direction. The switching gear is configured to be placed in a first position and a second position. The control device is configured to control the switching gear to move between the first position and the second position, acquire initialization data initializing the reading unit, and control the reading unit to read the image on the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinya Sahara
  • Patent number: 9264568
    Abstract: Provided is an image reading apparatus, including a reading portion which reads an image and generates gradation values of each pixel, a calculation portion which calculates a coefficient group that allows the gradation values of each pixel generated as the reading portion reads a reference image, to be close to the gradation values of the pixels which correspond to image data forming the reference image, divides plural regions including an overlapped part in which the reference images are overlapped with each other, and calculates the coefficient group in each region, and a correction portion which corrects the gradation values of each pixel generated as the reading portion reads a correction target image, and corrects the gradation values of the correction target which correspond to the gradation values of the pixels of the overlapped part using the coefficient group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyofumi Aikawa, Michio Kikuchi, Hideki Moriya, Masaki Hachisuga, Takashi Hiramatsu, Kazuya Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 9250561
    Abstract: A printer forms a first adjustment mark and a second adjustment mark on a belt when execution conditions of inter-light source adjustment or inter-color adjustment processing are established. In the first adjustment mark, a first toner line is positioned at a leading end in the moving direction of the belt, and a second toner line is positioned at a trailing end. In the second adjustment mark, a second toner line is positioned at a leading end, and a first toner line is positioned at a trailing end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Goto, Kentaro Murayama
  • Patent number: 9197787
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a light source, a photoelectric conversion portion, a first radiation control portion, and a first image generating portion. The light source radiates lights of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). The photoelectric conversion portion receives light reflected from a document and outputs an electric signal corresponding to a light reception amount. The first radiation control portion sequentially radiates two color lights of G and R or B from the light source to each line along a main scanning direction on the document while alternately switching the lights of R and B on a line-by-line basis. The first image generating portion generates color image data for one line, based on at least three electric signals corresponding to lights of R, G, and B among the electric signals corresponding to respective color lights radiated to at least adjacent two lines by the first radiation control portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9183619
    Abstract: When restoring a scanned halftone image of a damaged document, parameters of the halftone structure (geometry) are estimated, as is an intended contone gray level for damaged portions of the image. Locations of halftone cell tiles in the scanned image are determined based on the halftone structure, and a halftone profile model is generated using the estimated halftone parameters and contone information. Image segments are aligned using global features for coarse alignment and halftone structure for fine alignment, such as in cases where the scanned halftone image contains unconnected fragments. Missing parts of the damaged document image are filled in using the halftone profile model and estimated contone values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shen-ge Wang, Edgar A. Bernal, Robert P. Loce
  • Patent number: 9172847
    Abstract: In a method of scanning an image on an original, an optical sensor including sensor elements for each of a number of basic colors is used to generate pixel values of rows of pixels of the scanned image. The sensor elements are used to generate grey scale pixel values representing different parts of the image. A first sensor element for each of the basic colors is used to generate pixel values of odd pixels of rows on the original, and a second sensor element for each of the basic colors is used to generate pixel values of even pixels of rows of the original. Each color pixel value is generated mainly on the basis of a pixel value of at least one of the first sensor elements and pixel values of at least two of the second sensor elements for adjacent pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Oce-Technologies B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes H. M. Janssen
  • Patent number: 9083841
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus for reading an image of an original document includes a document placement surface, an illumination unit, a light-receiving unit, and an illumination control unit. The illumination unit includes: a first light guiding body in a bar shape extended in a first direction configured to irradiate a light to the original document along a second direction, a second light guiding body arranged at a distance from the first light guiding body configured to irradiate a light to the original document along a third direction, a pair of first light sources emits illuminating lights to be injected into the first incident surfaces, a pair of second light sources emits illuminating lights to be injected into the second incident surface. The illumination control unit is configured to control light-emitting operations of the first light source and the second light source corresponding to the reading mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Yoshihiko Kurotsu
  • Patent number: 9041987
    Abstract: An image evaluation apparatus includes a reading unit that includes a monochrome detection unit reading, in a focused state, an image formed on a recording material by an image forming apparatus that represents grayscale of the image by forming dots on the recording material, and a color detection unit reading the image in a defocused state; an image information obtaining unit that obtains image information for the image forming apparatus to form the image; a computing unit that computes a luminance and a chroma of an image supposed to be formed on the recording material by the image forming apparatus from the obtained image information; a comparing unit that compares a derived luminance with the computed luminance, and compares a derived chroma with the computed chroma; and an image evaluation unit that evaluates the image formed by the image forming apparatus, on the basis of results of comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kiyofumi Aikawa, Michio Kikuchi, Takashi Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 9041986
    Abstract: A sheetfed film scanning correction method includes: using a film holding member as a film feeding carrier, wherein the film holding member is fixed and does not move during film feeding, and wherein after the film holding member is inserted into a work position in a scanner, a scanning module of the scanner collects a first correction information under a filmless scanning state and corrects a subsequent scan result according to the first correction information; and setting sheet-feeding rollers of the scanner in idle running as if under a real film scanning state during or prior to collection of the first correction information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: QISDA (SUZHOU) Co., LTD
    Inventors: Yong-Xiang Yi, Shan-Shan Tang
  • Patent number: 9041984
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a light source, an imaging section, and a controller. The light source includes a plurality of light emitting elements. The light source irradiates light to an original document, while moving relative to the original document. The imaging section obtains scan data read from the original document by light irradiated to the original document from the light source. The controller controls the light source and the imaging section. The controller determines a read target region and a non-read target region in the original document, turns on a light emitting element out of the plurality of light emitting elements, which corresponds to the read target region, and turns off a light emitting element out of the plurality of light emitting elements, which corresponds to the non-read target region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Haruki Sayama
  • Publication number: 20150124300
    Abstract: A scanner is disclosed. The scanner has three lights with three different colors. The scanner uses only two of the three lights when capturing each scan line. The scanner does this by alternating the use of two of the three colors every other scan line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: May 7, 2015
    Inventors: Dejan Depalov, Craig T Johnson, Kenneth K Smith, Baris Efe, Jerry Wagner
  • Patent number: 9025212
    Abstract: A scanner device according to one aspect of the present disclosure has a first mode for reading a normal object placed on a document table, and a second mode for reading a self-luminous object placed on the document table. The scanner device has a light detecting portion and a control portion. The light detecting portion detects light of an object placed on the document table. The control portion switches the reading mode between the first mode and the second mode on the basis of a detection result of the light detecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Koichi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20150116797
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a light source, a photoelectric conversion portion, a first radiation control portion, and a first image generating portion. The light source radiates lights of R (red), G (green), and B (blue). The photoelectric conversion portion receives light reflected from a document and outputs an electric signal corresponding to a light reception amount. The first radiation control portion sequentially radiates two color lights of G and R or B from the light source to each line along a main scanning direction on the document while alternately switching the lights of R and B on a line-by-line basis. The first image generating portion generates color image data for one line, based on at least three electric signals corresponding to lights of R, G, and B among the electric signals corresponding to respective color lights radiated to at least adjacent two lines by the first radiation control portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Masayoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 9013759
    Abstract: A document reading unit included in an image forming apparatus and operated with a method of detecting an original document, includes an original document table, a moving irradiation unit having multiple block light sources moving in a sub scanning direction while irradiating the original document, an image sensor receiving reflected light, and a controller that starts a length specifying operation with the moving irradiation unit located at a position facing the original document, sequentially turns on the block light sources, obtains an amount of reflected light under lighting conditions of each block light sources, and determines the length of the original document in the main scanning direction. While the moving irradiation unit is moving in the sub scanning direction, the image sensor receives the reflected light on a region of the original document in the sub scanning direction under each lighting condition during the length specifying operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Ishida
  • Patent number: 9001396
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a contact glass having a document placing surface, an index part to be an index for aligning a corner of a document to a reference point within the document placing surface, a reading portion configured to read the document, and a light emitting portion configured to emit linear light extending in a main scanning direction. When a predetermined point apart from the index part within the document placing surface is set as the reference point, the light emitting portion moves in a sub-scanning direction so that a region of the contact glass irradiated with the linear light coincides with the predetermined point, and emits the linear light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hidehiko Kojo
  • Patent number: 8988746
    Abstract: In the aforementioned image scanning apparatus of this embodiment, a condensation detection patch includes pluralities of patch areas with different reflectances arranged adjacently. A data acquiring unit acquires measurement values of the condensation detection patch by an image sensor as condensation detection patch data. A condensation determining unit determines whether condensation occurs or not on the basis of the condensation detection patch data corresponding to one with a low reflectance of two patch areas arranged adjacently in the patch areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Hironori Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 8988740
    Abstract: A scanning method and apparatus. The method comprising the steps of: measuring an ambient video level using an area sensor under the control of a processor means; and calculating a gain and/or a exposure time and/or light source power for an actual flash video level using a stored reference flash video level and the measured ambient video level such that a summation of the actual flash video level and the ambient video level yields a desired video level in a scan image of the document using the calculated gain and/or exposure time and/or light source power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Piqx Imaging Pte Ltd
    Inventors: Yew Kien Loi, Ling Chuing Goh, Swee Heng Yeo, Boon Chen Lee, Gunawan Sutono
  • Patent number: 8982430
    Abstract: A lighting unit includes LED chips positioned in an array form in a main scanning direction on LED substrates. Cylindrical parabolic mirrors each form a shape in which a cylindrical paraboloid having curvature with respect to an sub-scanning direction has been clipped by an axial plane that is perpendicular to the vertex of the cylindrical paraboloid in the main scanning direction, and project light emitted from the light source on an illumination area of an illuminated item. Each cylindrical parabolic mirror includes an anchoring section that is provided at the vertex of the cylindrical paraboloid, and extends from the vertex in an outside direction of the cylindrical paraboloid. Heat-radiating plates each have a contact section that is in contact with the LED substrate, and a non-contact section. Each LED substrate is interposed between the contact section of the heat-radiating plate and the anchoring section of the cylindrical parabolic mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuki Okamoto, Taku Matsuzawa, Tadashi Minobe, Takahito Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 8982408
    Abstract: An image capturing unit includes: a sensor unit that captures an image of a predetermined area including an image capture object; a reference chart portion that is disposed in the predetermined area and an image of which is captured together with an image of the image capture object by the sensor unit; an illumination light source that illuminates the image capture object and the reference chart portion; and a specular reflection preventing member that prevents that specular reflection light of light emitted from the illumination light source enters the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Suzuki, Nobuyuki Satoh, Mamoru Yorimoto, Suguru Yokozawa, Masato Kobayashi, Yuichi Sakurada, Tatsuhiko Okada, Tomokazu Kanzawa, Daisaku Horikawa, Hiroshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 8982436
    Abstract: A carriage motor which is a heat generating device is arranged next to a CIS in a scanner unit. The carriage motor drives respective transport rollers of an ADF unit via a gear system as well. The scanner unit makes a white reference board be read so as to obtain white reference data, and obtains black reference data more frequently than the white reference data, e.g., in a continuous process for reading a document. As a CIS module continues a reading process, the black reference data changes as being affected by a change in temperature in the CIS module, etc. The scanner unit deals with such a change in the black reference data by obtaining the black reference data more frequently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Aya Washizawa
  • Patent number: 8976425
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image scanning apparatus includes a document table on which an original document is stacked; a substrate; plural first light emitting elements located on one surface of the substrate, the first light emitting elements each emitting light for irradiating the original document on the document table with direct light not reflected by a reflection member; and plural second light emitting elements located on the other surface of the substrate, the second light emitting elements each emitting light for irradiating the original document on the document table with indirect light reflected by the reflection member. The reflection member includes a first reflection member and a second reflection member, and the first reflection member and the second reflection member are located in positions opposed to each other across a reflection optical path of light reflected by the original document on the document table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba TEC Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shiraishi, Naoaki Ide, Mitsuru Hatano, Sueo Ueno, Katsuya Nagamochi, Yusuke Hashizume, Naoya Koseki, Koji Shimokawa, Jun Sakakibara, Kenji Itagaki, Sasuke Endo
  • Patent number: 8976422
    Abstract: A lens array includes a transparent substrate arranged on a plane perpendicular to an optical axis, first lenses, which are arranged in a main scanning direction with respect to an light incident on the transparent substrate, and which condense the light, light shielding portions arranged on the transparent substrate except in areas of the first lenses to shield the light, and second lenses, which are laminated on the first lenses, and which are made of a material with a wettability different from that of a material of the first lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryozo Akiyama, Atsushi Kubota
  • Patent number: RE45496
    Abstract: An apparatus for compensating for pixel distortion while reproducing hologram data includes an extraction unit, a determination and calculation unit, a table, and a compensation unit. The extraction unit extracts a reproduced data image from a reproduced image frame including the reproduced data image and borders. The determination and calculation unit determines position values of edges of the extracted reproduced data image, and calculates average magnification error values of pixels within line data from position values of start and end point pixels thereof, which are based on the determined position values of the edges. The table stores misalignment compensation values for the pixels within the line data, wherein the misalignment compensation values correspond to predetermined references for average magnification error values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Maple Vision Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Pil-Sang Yoon