With Plural Sensors Patents (Class 358/514)
  • Patent number: 8705135
    Abstract: A display control apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a grayscale converting circuit for converting input image data to output image data using a look-up table showing a correspondence between input image data of i bits and output image data of k bits larger than the i bits; and an LUT creating circuit for creating the look-up table based on ? data of 2k bits. The apparatus further includes a ? data storage circuit capable of storing the plural ? data in the LUT creating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Hirobumi Furihata, Takashi Nose
  • Patent number: 8687250
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a first reading unit, a second reading unit, and a determination unit. The first reading unit reads an image on a first side of a document conveyed through a document conveyance path. The second reading unit is disposed in the document conveyance path at a reading position that is different from a reading position of the first reading unit and reads an image on a second side that is different from the first side on the document. The determination unit determines whether the document is a color document, according to whether a color image is included in an image in a predetermined region of the first side read by the first reading unit, and in an image in a region that is different from the predetermined region in the first side and read by the second reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8649075
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a contact image sensor (CIS) configured to parallelly output image signals of a plurality of pixels via a plurality of signal lines, an analog frontend (AFE) configured to serially output the image signals of the plurality of pixels output from the CIS by converting the image signal into a plurality pieces of pixel data, an input/output control circuit configured to add reading position information and reading color information to each of the plurality pieces of pixel data, and a direct memory access controller (DMAC) configured to transfer each of the plurality pieces of pixel data to a storage position corresponding to the reading position information and the reading color information such that the plurality pieces of pixel data is stored in consecutive storage positions in an external memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masami Kurimoto, Yasuyuki Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8610805
    Abstract: An electronic device includes an array of daisy chained image sensors, with each image sensor including a pixel array. A host is coupled to an image sensor at an end of the array and is configured to insert identification codes. The identification codes include embedded data values to thereby indicate specific parts of the image data, and a set of identification codes comprising a first identification code to identify a start of a data stream and a second identification code to identify an end of the data stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey Raynor, Patrick Baxter
  • Patent number: 8610978
    Abstract: A document reading apparatus includes a white LED including an LED and a fluorescent material and configured to illuminate a document reading position with light, a reading unit having a color line sensor and a monochrome line sensor and configured to read an image of a document illuminated with the light emitted from the white LED, and a filter arranged on an optical path between the monochrome line sensor and the document, and wherein the filter is configured to suppress transmission of light at a peak wavelength of the LED so that, regarding an intensity of light to be received on the monochrome line sensor, the intensity of the light at the peak wavelength of the LED is smaller than the intensity of the light at the peak wavelength of the fluorescent material when the light emitted from the LED is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Ishido
  • Patent number: 8610979
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes a pixel area including an arrangement of a plurality of pixels each having a photoelectric conversion portion and a common output portion for sequentially amplifying and outputting signals from the plurality of pixels included in the pixel area. The pixel area is formed on a single semiconductor substrate and includes a power supply unit for effecting power supply control of the common output portion independently of control of the power supply to the pixel area, and a control circuit for effecting control to supply no power to the common output portion in a predetermined period after starting photo charge accumulation in the photoelectric conversion portion and to supply the power to the common output portion before the end of a photo charge accumulation period in the photoelectric conversion portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichi Sato
  • Publication number: 20130321887
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for image processing using multiple imaging devices are provided. A first imaging device is configured to acquire a first image of a portion of a printed substrate and the second imaging device is configured to acquire a second image of a portion of the printed substrate. At least a portion of the first image and the second image are acquired from the same portion of the printed substrate at the same time. The first imaging device is configured to process color data from the first image using a first processing circuit of the first imaging device and the second imaging device is configured to process spatial information from the second image using a separate second processing circuit of the second imaging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Quad/Tech, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick James Noffke
  • Patent number: 8593699
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image sensor module including a plurality of image sensors and a common signal line. The common signal line is commonly electrically connected to the plurality of image sensors. To the common signal line, image signals are output sequentially from the plurality of image sensors. The image sensor module feeds back a feedback signal from a first image sensor to a predetermined image sensor. The first image sensor is an image sensor which lastly outputs the image signal among the plurality of image sensors. The predetermined image sensor is an image sensor which outputs an offset signal to the common signal among the plurality of image sensors. The feedback signal indicates a completion of an output of image signal to the common signal line. The predetermined image sensor outputs the offset signal to the common signal line in response to the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Tomotake Hasuo, Masayuki Ohki
  • Patent number: 8593652
    Abstract: An image reader includes a path switching part, located at a branch point that switches between a double-sided path and a single-sided path. The double-sided path defines a conveyance route that passes through a reading position from the branch point to enter a conveyance path that causes a document to make a U-turn, and then again passes through the reading position to be discharged to a paper discharge tray. The single-sided path defines a conveyance route that, without passing through the reading position, merges into the conveyance path from the branch point. Along the double-sided path, document detecting sensors provide detection results so that a collision determination part determines a possibility of a collision between documents, and if such a possibility is determined, the path switching part switches the double-sided path to the single-sided path to prevent the documents from colliding head-on with each other in the vicinity of the reading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Osamu Oshima
  • Patent number: 8593700
    Abstract: An erecting equal-magnification lens array plate includes a stack of a first lens array plate provided with a plurality of first lenses arranged on a first surface and a plurality of second lenses arranged on a second surface, and a second lens array plate provided with a plurality of third lenses arranged on a third surface and a plurality of fourth lenses arranged on a fourth surface. The erecting equal-magnification lens array plate is provided with a first light shielding wall provided upright to surround the first lens, and a second light shielding wall provided upright to surround the fourth lens. An area on the first surface of the first lens array plate outside the effective region of the first lenses is roughened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruhiko Mamada, Katsuhide Shimmo, Teruhide Inoue
  • Patent number: 8582179
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises: an image forming section that forms an image on a sheet; a density sensor that measures the image formed on the sheet and outputs a measured value corresponding to a density of the image; a conversion data storing section that stores plural conversion data showing relationship between the measured value outputted from the density sensor and the image density, for each sheet type and each screen for an image; a conversion data selection section that selects at least one conversion data from the plural conversion data stored in the conversion data storing section; and a density adjustment section that adjusts a density for an image formed by the image forming section based on a measured value acquired by measuring a prescribed image formed on a sheet and on the conversion data selected by the conversion data selection section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Takashi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 8547465
    Abstract: An imaging device module includes an imaging device including a light incident plane on which light is incident, and a reverse face disposed on an opposite side of the light incident plane; and a thermal conductive sheet provided on the reverse face for dissipating heat generated from the imaging device. The thermal conductive sheet contains a plate-like boron nitride particle, and the thermal conductive sheet has a thermal conductivity in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of 4 W/m·K or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Izutani, Hisae Uchiyama, Takahiro Fukuoka, Kazutaka Hara
  • Publication number: 20130250332
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a plurality of light-receiving units configured to perform photoelectric conversion for different colors, respectively, each light light-receiving unit including a plurality of pixels; a plurality of output units provided for the light-receiving units, each output unit sequentially converting charges of the respective pixels produced by the photoelectric conversion into voltages and sequentially outputting the voltages; a switching unit configured to switch between signal paths so as to alternate output of the voltage between the output units in accordance with a switching signal input from an external device; and an electric-potential applying unit configured to apply an offset potential to the voltages output by the output units until a predetermined time has elapsed since switching between the signal paths by the switching unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: Ricoh Comapny, Limited
    Inventor: Masahiro HIRANUMA
  • Patent number: 8537434
    Abstract: An image reading device includes: a plurality of light sources that are arranged in a row and emit light; a light guide body that guides the light emitted from the plurality of light sources to a reading portion and transmits light reflected from the reading portion; a carriage having the plurality of light sources and the light guide body; and a reading unit that receives the light reflected from the reading portion and reads an image on the reading portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Takahashi, Shusaku Yokota
  • Patent number: 8537432
    Abstract: In an image reader, the first reading unit outputs first image data corresponding to the image of the first surface of the original document. The second image reading unit outputs second image data corresponding to the image of the second surface of the original document. The image process circuit acquires at least one of a part of the first image data and a part of the second image data from the storing unit, and performs an image process on the image data acquired from the storing unit. When the image process circuit finishes performing the image process on either the first image data or the second image data, the initialization instruction unit instructs initializing either the first setting or the second setting corresponding to the either the first image data or the second image data and the image process circuit initializes the either the first setting or the second setting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsushi Yokochi
  • Patent number: 8514423
    Abstract: A device for imaging a flat object, for example a paper sheet in a printing machine, includes a light source, preferably an LED row, a lens and an image sensor. An observation angle between the object plane and lens axis is flat, that is to say less than 45°. The light source illuminates the flat object in a first, near region with light of a first wavelength and illuminates the flat object in a second, far region with light of a second wavelength. The first wavelength is shorter than the second wavelength, preferably being blue and red spectral regions. The first region is disposed nearer the image sensor than the second region. The device permits the so-called chromatic aberration of the lens to be utilized to advantageously reduce the tilt angle of the image sensor required by the so-called Scheimpflug condition. A printing machine having the device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Tobias Müller, Andreas Rupprecht
  • Patent number: 8508814
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus for reading an image of a document optically by illuminating a document with light emitted from a plurality of light emitting elements arranged linearly and by reading light reflected from the document. The image reading apparatus has a first light emitting element for emitting light in a first direction, a second light emitting element for emitting light in a second direction and one substrate for supporting the first light emitting element and the second light emitting element thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Masahiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8503050
    Abstract: An optical filter is provided on photoelectric conversion elements for monochrome reading. Each of a reflecting optical system and the optical filter has an end portion and a central portion in a predetermined direction. The optical filter suppresses light at a peak wavelength of a light source such that a difference between a sensitivity of optical path via the end portion of the reflecting optical system and the optical filter and a sensitivity of optical path via the central portion of the reflecting optical system and the optical filter fall within a range of 5% at the peak wavelength of light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daisuke Morikawa
  • Patent number: 8482813
    Abstract: An image-scanning device wherein plural images of an object are picked up inverted and reduced in size by image-forming optical systems arranged to be adjacent to each other, and then restored by an image processing system. Each optical system includes a first optical element having a first focal length; an aperture member located at a focus position in a rear side of the first optical element; and a second optical element provided in a rear side of the aperture member and having a second focal length shorter than the first focal length, respectively disposed from a side of the object being picked up to a side of the image pickup device. In between optical systems, corresponding image pick up devices thereof are arranged to be adjacent to each other, the image pickup devices including a region in which the images picked up by the image pickup devices are overlapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawano, Tatsuki Okamoto, Tomotaka Katsura, Junichi Nishimae
  • Patent number: 8462405
    Abstract: An image-reading apparatus includes a light dividing unit that divides irradiated light so that a part of the light having a first wavelength is diffracted, and a part of the light having a second wavelength is transmitted; a first light measuring unit that measures an intensity of light entering into a first measuring area, and outputs first measurement information indicating the measured intensity; a second light measuring unit that measures an intensity of light entering into a second measuring area, and outputs second measurement information indicating the measured intensity; an image-forming unit that forms an image of a subject for reading in the first measurement area, and that forms a virtual image in the second measurement area using light diffracted by the light dividing unit; and a generation unit that corrects the first measurement information on the basis of the second measurement information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunori Kawano, Shin Yasuda, Akihiko Naya, Kazuo Baba
  • Patent number: 8432586
    Abstract: Prior to reading an original image, whether to read the original image in a monochrome image mode in which the image reading apparatus reads the original image in use of the monochrome line sensor or a multi color image mode in which the image reading apparatus reads the original image in use of the multi color line sensor is predicted. Preparation of reading an original image based on parameters corresponding to the predicted mode is completed before the start of reading the original image. This arrangement reduces a time loss arising from switching of a color mode associated with a user color setting at the start of a job, and thus shortens the FCOT. This arrangement can shorten the time until the first copy is output after designating the start of copying when reading an original image based on different parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigemichi Hamano, Nobuo Sekiguchi, Akiko Kanno, Kenji Morita, Satoshi Seki
  • Patent number: 8427723
    Abstract: An image data sequencing method for a memory unit inside an optical scanning device. The image data sequencing method is particularly suitable for scanning a line of pixels with each pixel comprising a plurality of primary colors. The image data sequencing method involves scanning a line of pixels to obtain the data for a primary or secondary color. The pixels within the scan line are subdivided into groups. A storage space is reserved both before and after the address space inside the memory unit for holding the scanned primary or secondary color data so that all the primary or secondary color data constituting a pixel are in a fixed sequence next to each other inside the memory unit. When all the primary or secondary color data of pixels within a group are secured, the group of data is released from the memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Transpacific Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Tom-Chin Chang, Kuo-Jeng Wang
  • Patent number: 8427719
    Abstract: An image reader includes a loading unit including a first transparent member that has a loading surface on which a document sheet is placed, a reading unit that includes light receiving elements arranged in a first direction under the first transparent member and is configured to move in a second direction parallel to the loading surface and perpendicular to the first direction and to read an image from the document sheet placed on the loading surface by repeating an operation of scanning the document sheet in the first direction with the light receiving elements while moving in the second direction, and a black reference member including a black area that is disposed in a position lower than the loading surface of the first transparent member and higher than the light receiving elements and configured to be read in acquiring black reference data for black level correction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8427699
    Abstract: An image formation controller judges whether or not a tint block has been detected by a tint block processor upon judging that an automatic color determination mode is set in a multi functional peripheral. The image formation controller causes an image forming section to perform a monochromatic image forming operation if the tint block is a chromatic tint block when the tint block was detected by the tint block processor. On the other hand, the image formation controller causes the image forming section to perform an image forming operation corresponding to a determination result by an ACS processor when no tint block was detected and when the tint block was determined to be a monochromatic tint block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8411336
    Abstract: An image reader is provided, which includes a feeder feeding a document sheet, a first reading sensor, a first reference member, a moving mechanism moving the first reading sensor to a document reading position to read an image of the document sheet and a reference reading position to read an image of the first reference member, and a controller that controls the moving mechanism to move the first reading sensor to the reference reading position, controls the first reading sensor to read the image of the first reference member, and controls the moving mechanism to move the first reading sensor to the document reading position after the first reading sensor reads the image of the first reference member. The controller controls the feeder to start feeding the document sheet to the document reading position before the first reading sensor reaches the document reading position from the reference reading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroko Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8405880
    Abstract: Methods, algorithms, software, apparatuses and systems for processing image data for imaging devices having irregular scan paths (e.g., scan paths that deviate from a conventional horizontal and/or straight line). The irregular scan paths generally correspond to actual locations of a line of output from an image output device (e.g., a printer). The method generally includes steps of selecting one or more of the input pixels, correlating a location of the selected pixel with a location on an irregular scan path, and producing an adjusted pixel based on a value of the selected pixel, the location on the irregular scan path, and/or values of one or more pixels near the selected pixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas Keithley
  • Patent number: 8395830
    Abstract: An image reading signal processing IC includes three circuits which independently process input analog image signals of three primary colors. Each circuit includes an ADC which converts amplified analog image signals into digital image data. Each circuit also includes an LVDS processing circuit which outputs the digital image data in a low voltage differential signaling level. Each circuit further includes a test pattern generating circuit connected between the ADC and the LVDS processing circuit for generating digital data of a test pattern. The image reading signal processing IC additionally includes an operational mode determination information input unit which inputs operational mode determination information to the test pattern generating circuit. Further, the image reading signal processing IC includes a switching unit which switches one of the digital data of the test patterns to any one or more of main scanning direction gradation pattern data and sub scanning direction gradation pattern data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hajime Tsukahara, Tohru Kanno
  • Patent number: 8373910
    Abstract: An image scanning device includes a base part; and multiple image sensors each including a substrate, a line sensor including scanning elements arranged on the substrate, and a holder for holding the substrate. The base part holds the image sensors such that the scanning elements of an image sensor partly overlap the scanning elements of an adjacent image sensor in the main-scanning direction. The coefficients of linear expansion of the substrate and the base part are substantially the same; the holder and the base part are fixed together at a first fixing point; the holder and the substrate are fixed together at a second fixing point; and the distance in the main-scanning direction between the first fixing point and the second fixing point and the direction of the second fixing point with respect to the first fixing point are the same for all the image sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Iwasaki, Hiroshi Takahashi, Kazushi Takei, Norikazu Taki, Hideaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8368942
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus has a multi-cropping function that automatically crops the scanned images of a plurality of original sheets placed on a platen of an image reading apparatus all at one pass. The desired number of cropped images is input by the user, and the number of cropped images detected when cropping the image of the original sheets placed on the platen, are compared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Hattori
  • Patent number: 8363291
    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 grey scale pixel value is generated mainly on the basis of a pixel value of at least one of the first sensor elements and a pixel value of at least one of the second sensor elements for adjacent pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: OCE Technologies B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes H. M. Janssen
  • Patent number: 8363294
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. A color contact image sensor (CIS) module employing a single channel line sensor can be used to produce substantially the same performance as a color CIS module employing a three-channel line sensor and having color filters to, for example, reduce manufacturing costs. Moreover, a blurring phenomenon that can occur in a scanned image can be reduced and the quality of the scanned image can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Young Mi Kim, Jong Hyon Yi
  • Patent number: 8345325
    Abstract: An optical system, used for scanning, forms an image using reflective optical surfaces. The system may be telecentric, and may form an image that is reduced in size as compared with the scanned original. Several image-forming optical channels may be combined to form a page-wide scanning array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jack H Schmidt, John Herman Arterberry, Dennis J Schissler, Mark W. Majette
  • Patent number: 8339685
    Abstract: The image reading apparatus is provided with: a manuscript table on which a manuscript is placed; a reflection mirror that moves relative to the manuscript table, and that reflects light which is emitted to and then reflected by the manuscript placed on the manuscript table; an image data generating unit that includes plural light receiving pixels receiving the light reflected by the reflection mirror, and that generates image data on the basis of the light received by the plural light receiving pixels; and a positional information acquiring unit that acquires the image data generated by the image data generating unit with movement of the reflection mirror, and that acquires, on the basis of a density value of each pixel in the image data, information on a position of a pixel affected by an adhesion substance adhering to the reflection mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiko Shiraishi, Kosuke Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8339684
    Abstract: An image reading device 1 includes an output acquiring unit 21 acquiring outputs from a plurality of light receiving elements 17 arranged to form an image reading surface for reading an image of an original, a difference detecting unit 22 detecting edges in the original or an end portion of the original on the basis of the outputs from at least some of the light receiving elements 17 in the outputs acquired by the output acquiring unit 21, and an image information generating unit 23 generating the image information of the original by use of the outputs from the plurality of light receiving elements 17 when the difference detecting unit 22 detects the edges or the end portion of the original.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventor: Masahiko Kobako
  • Patent number: 8335025
    Abstract: A contact image scanner comprises a light source, pixel sensors generating a signal, a lens focusing reflected light onto the pixel sensors, a color matrix filter filtering the reflected light, and a signal processing circuit generating a digital image. The method provides pixel sensors for generating a signal in response to incident light, projects light from a light source onto a document in a sequential fashion, reflects the light onto the pixel sensors, filters the reflected light with a color matrix filter, and processes the signal to generate the digital image. With the method and apparatus, each scan line of the document is illuminated with white light only once. The pixel sensors corresponding to red, green, and blue colors of each pixel of the scan line read the pixel of the scan line substantially at the same time in a substantially overlapping manner in a scan line direction without overlapping in an orthogonal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Michael King, Mark Eric Miller
  • Patent number: 8330990
    Abstract: A method and system modify a rasterized digital image to reduce registration artifacts, the image having a black plane and a color plane by determining if a pixel is part of a connected black region and if the pixel is part of a connected color region. It is determined if the pixel is part of a connected black region and a connected color region that are contiguous. A dilation operation is performed on the color plane value of the pixel if the pixel is part of a connected black region and a connected color region that are contiguous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Xing Li, Yingjun Bai
  • Patent number: 8310742
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a reading unit performing a reading operation whenever a line start signal is input thereto; a transport unit transporting anyone of the reading unit and the reading target document; an encoder outputting an encoder signal whenever a transport target is moved by a predetermined distance; a control unit transmitting the line start signal to the reading unit; a time measuring unit measuring a time elapsed from a time point when the line start signal was last transmitted; a cycle measuring unit measuring an output time interval of the encoder signal, as an encoder cycle; and a storage unit storing the latest encoder cycle, wherein the control unit transmits the line start signal to the reading unit whenever the elapsed time is equal to or greater than a time obtained by multiplying a value of the encoder cycle by a correction coefficient determined by a ratio R2/R1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8310724
    Abstract: An image processing system for interpolating image data is comprised of a shift invariant point determining device, an illumination averager, a second order differentiator, and color data calculator. The shift invariant point determining device ascertains shift invariant points within the mosaic color element array pattern. The illumination averager determines average illumination values of clusters of a plurality of pixels. The second order differentiator determines a second order derivative of the average illumination values of the clusters of the plurality of pixels. The color data calculator determines color data for each of the plurality of pixels from the image data and second order derivative. A second order derivative scaler multiplies the second order derivative by a scaling factor for selectively smoothing and sharpening the second order derivative. A color data averager averages color data values of adjacent pixels to a resolution of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Youliza, Gehts B.V. Limited Liability Company
    Inventor: Taner Dosluoglu
  • Patent number: 8305663
    Abstract: A clock-signal generating unit generates temporally-continuous clock signals. A spread-spectrum clock-signal generating unit generates a spread-spectrum clock signal by modulating a frequency spectrum of a clock signal generated by the clock-signal generating unit. A signal delaying unit generates a fixed delay unaffected by a spread spectrum from the spread-spectrum clock signal generated by the spread-spectrum clock-signal generating unit, and delays a phase of the spread-spectrum clock signal based on an amount of the fixed delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masaki Nagase, Tohru Kanno
  • Patent number: 8300288
    Abstract: Color adjusting apparatus and method for a light source. A reflector of a required color is added to a light source of a scan module, a plating film of the required color is formed on a lens, or the lens is dyed with the required color. Or alternatively, the color of the light source is directly changed into the required color. As a result, the inconsistent intensities for the light in the primary color, red, green and blue output from the charge-coupled device caused by different brightness of the light source, different wavelength transmission of the lens, and different light sensitivity of the charge-coupled device is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Transpacific Plasma, LLC
    Inventor: Pi-Chen Chen
  • Patent number: 8300286
    Abstract: A photosensitive chip, including first and second sets of photosensors aligned in a Y direction and separated in a perpendicular X direction and third and fourth sets of photosensors aligned in the Y direction and separated in the X direction. The first and third sets are aligned in the X direction. The second and fourth sets are aligned in the X direction. The first and third sets are offset in the Y direction from the second and fourth sets by a distance about equal to a length of a photosensor divided by the number of sets. A time interval between activation of two sequential photosensors from the first through fourth sets of photosensors is substantially equal to the time period of a scan line for the first through fourth sets of photosensors divided by the number of photosensors in the first through fourth sets of photosensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Scott L. TeWinkle
  • Patent number: 8289573
    Abstract: A method and system modify a rasterized digital image to reduce registration artifacts, the image having a black plane and a color plane by determining if a pixel is part of a connected black region and if the pixel is part of a connected color region. It is determined if the pixel is part of a connected black region and a connected color region that are contiguous. A dilation operation is performed on the color plane value of the pixel if the pixel is part of a connected black region and a connected color region that are contiguous.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Xing Li, Yingjun Bai
  • Patent number: 8274716
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading system having a plurality of line sensors extending in a main-scan direction, an imaging optical system for imaging, on the line sensors, imagewise information of an original surface, the imaging optical system including at least one anamorphic optical surface having different powers in the main-scan direction and the sub-scan direction, a scanning system for relatively scanning the original surface and the reading means in a sub-scan direction to read the imagewise information of the original surface, and an image correcting system for correcting imagewise information of the original surface read by each line sensor, on the basis of an imaging-position-deviation correction amount of an image in the sub-scan direction corresponding to a reading position in the main-scan direction, calculated based on an imaging position deviation amount of an image in the sub-scan direction corresponding to the reading position in the main-scan direction upon the line sensors, as
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8274665
    Abstract: A digital camera device includes a housing defining a slot for receiving a printed instruction card having printed thereon an array of dots representing a programming script, the housing stores therein a roll of print media; an area image sensor for sensing an image and generating pixel data representing the image; a linear image sensor for scanning the array of dots and converting the array of dots into a data signal; a microcontroller provided in the housing, the microcontroller for decoding the data signal into the programming script and applying the programming script on the pixel data; a printing mechanism for printing the pixel data, having applied thereto the programming script, on the roll of print media; a guillotine for cutting the roll of print media; and a print manager for activating the guillotine upon receiving a signal indicating a manual attempt to pull the print media from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8270047
    Abstract: First, second, and third image planes are obtained from at least one image sensor. The first image plane is formed from light of a first spectral distribution. The second image plane is formed from light of a second spectral distribution. The third image plane is formed from light of a spectral distribution which substantially covers the visible spectrum. First spatial frequency components are generated from the first, second and third image planes. A second spatial frequency component is generated from the third image plane. A color transform is applied to the first spatial frequency components from the first, second, and third image planes to obtain at least first, second and third transformed first spatial frequency image planes. The at least first, second and third transformed first spatial frequency image planes are combined with the second spatial frequency component from the third image plane to form an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen Pollard, Andrew Hunter, Renato Keshet
  • Patent number: 8259365
    Abstract: An original scanning apparatus is described that scans an original placed on an original placing plane line by line by moving a scanning unit including a plurality of light-receiving elements that are arranged in a prescribed direction in a direction perpendicular to the prescribed direction. The original scanning apparatus includes: a pattern unit that is provided in a vicinity of a side of the rectangular original placing plane extending along a moving direction of the scanning unit; a control unit configured to calculate drive information in the moving direction per line-scanning cycle of the scanning unit based on a result of scanning the pattern unit; and a driving circuit configured to feed back the calculated drive information so as to control the scanning unit to thereby drive the scanning unit in the moving direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 8248674
    Abstract: A pixel interpolation apparatus including an interpolation section for calculating an estimation density value of a missing pixel from densities of peripheral pixels of the missing pixel; and a correction section for calculating a first average value which being an average density value of pixels in a first two-dimensional area containing the missing pixel whose density value is assumed to be the estimation density value calculated by the interpolation section and a second average value which being an average density value of a second two-dimensional area, located in a peripheral of the missing pixel, not containing the missing pixel, and for correcting the estimation density value of the missing pixel in the first two-dimensional area so that a difference between the first average value and the second average value becomes zero or small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yuhei Kurigata
  • Patent number: 8243350
    Abstract: In a color reading apparatus for successively reading respective red, green, and blue colors in each line while a document is continuously conveyed to a plurality of line sensor units arranged in a zigzag manner, the line sensor units are arranged with a distance equal to or shorter than a unit of line to prevent a color shift. When read data of the plurality of line sensor units in a conveying direction are to be combined, image data shifted by the number of lines corresponding to distances between the line sensor units in the conveying direction are set as first combination candidates. A color code and a line code are added to each of the data. Image data having the same color code and the same line code are combined. According to the image reading apparatus structured as described above, it is possible to obtain data capable of reproducing read data for each color on the same line without errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko I Infotech Inc.
    Inventor: Masaaki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8228566
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source, an imaging optics system, an image pickup device unit, a memory, and a processor. The imaging optics system condenses scattered light reflected on an object to be imaged to form condensed light as an image. The imaging optics system includes plural cells arranged in a main scanning direction and each of which is an independent imaging optics system. Each of the cells includes a telecentric optics system at the document side. Two rows of cells are arranged in a sub-scanning direction. The cells in the rows are arranged zigzag in the main scanning direction to complement a formed image by the cells in the sub-scanning direction. The image pickup device unit is arranged to correspond to each cell. The processor can form a document image by reconstructing and combining image information stored in the memory into an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawano, Tatsuki Okamoto, Tadashi Minobe, Tatsuya Kunieda, Akiko Fujiuchi
  • Patent number: RE43892
    Abstract: A four-line CCD sensor is structured by line sensors R, G, B in which color fillers are respectively disposed on surfaces of light receiving elements, and a line sensor BK at which no color filter is disposed. Amplitudes of signals which are outputted from the line sensors R, G, B at a time of reading a color document, and an amplitude of a signal which is outputted from the line sensor BK at a time of reading a monochrome document are adjusted so as to be substantially equal to one another. In a case in which a color document is read, outputs of the line sensors R, G, B are selectively provided, and in a case in which a monochrome document is read, output of the line sensor BK is selectively provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Sakakibara, Koji Tanimoto