Abstract: An image scanning device has a platen, an openable cover, a cover sensor, a scanning unit, a condition setting unit enabling a user to set a first condition, and a controller. The controller is configured to detect an opening state of the cover based on a detection signal output by the cover sensor and obtain the image data representing a partial image which is an image of a first end portion of a scannable area of the scanning unit. When the cover is in the closed state, the controller applies an image processing based on the first condition set through the condition setting unit, and when the cover is in the opened state, the controller applies the image processing based on a second condition which is a particular condition set in advance and different from the first condition.

Abstract: An image scanner is configured to perform: controlling the sheet feed roller to feed the document supported on the sheet feed tray, controlling the conveyor to convey the fed document to the reading position, controlling the image sensor to read the image of the document at the reading position, and controlling the sheet discharge unit to discharge the read document to the sheet discharge tray; in response to detecting, by the sheet feed sensor, a state change from the first state to the second state, moving the movable plate upward until the sheet feed roller changes from the second state to the first state; after moving the movable plate, controlling the distance sensor to detect the document distance; and moving the sheet discharge unit vertically based on the detected document distance.

Abstract: An image scanning device has a platen, an openable cover, a cover sensor, a scanning unit, a condition setting unit enabling a user to set a first condition, and a controller. The controller is configured to detect an opening state of the cover based on a detection signal output by the cover sensor and obtain the image data representing a partial image which is an image of a first end portion of a scannable area of the scanning unit. When the cover is in the closed state, the controller applies an image processing based on the first condition set through the condition setting unit, and when the cover is in the opened state, the controller applies the image processing based on a second condition which is a particular condition set in advance and different from the first condition.

Abstract: An image scanner includes a document detector configured to, each time line scanning is repeated a predetermined number of times, perform an edge detecting process to detect a position of a lateral side extending in a sub scanning direction from a non-reference corner of a sheet, in the edge detecting process performed for a first time, set a position of the non-reference corner in a main scanning direction as a detection reference position, in the edge detecting process performed for a second or later time, set a previously-detected position of the lateral side in the main scanning direction as the detection reference position, and in each edge detecting process, set a detection range in the main scanning direction on the basis of the detection reference position, and detect a specific pixel corresponding to the lateral side in the main scanning direction within the detection range in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: An image scanner is configured to perform: controlling the sheet feed roller to feed the document supported on the sheet feed tray, controlling the conveyor to convey the fed document to the reading position, controlling the image sensor to read the image of the document at the reading position, and controlling the sheet discharge unit to discharge the read document to the sheet discharge tray; in response to detecting, by the sheet feed sensor, a state change from the first state to the second state, moving the movable plate upward until the sheet feed roller changes from the second state to the first state; after moving the movable plate, controlling the distance sensor to detect the document distance; and moving the sheet discharge unit vertically based on the detected document distance.

Abstract: An image scanner includes a document detector configured to define a detection range on the basis of a reference position, select a target area from among a plurality of areas within the detection range, in ascending order of distance between an area to be selected as the target area and the reference position, determine whether the target area is a document outside area, a document inside area, or a document edge area, by comparing a black pixel density of the target area with a plurality of thresholds, when that the target area is the document outside area or the document inside area, select one or more new target areas from among the plurality of areas within the detection range, and when the target area is the document edge area, detect a specific position in the target area as a position of the lateral side.

Abstract: An image scanner includes a document detector configured to define a detection range on the basis of a reference position, select a target area from among a plurality of areas within the detection range, in ascending order of distance between an area to be selected as the target area and the reference position, determine whether the target area is a document outside area, a document inside area, or a document edge area, by comparing a black pixel density of the target area with a plurality of thresholds, when that the target area is the document outside area or the document inside area, select one or more new target areas from among the plurality of areas within the detection range, and when the target area is the document edge area, detect a specific position in the target area as a position of the lateral side.

Abstract: An image scanner includes a document detector configured to, each time line scanning is repeated a predetermined number of times, perform an edge detecting process to detect a position of a lateral side extending in a sub scanning direction from a non-reference corner of a sheet, in the edge detecting process performed for a first time, set a position of the non-reference corner in a main scanning direction as a detection reference position, in the edge detecting process performed for a second or later time, set a previously-detected position of the lateral side in the main scanning direction as the detection reference position, and in each edge detecting process, set a detection range in the main scanning direction on the basis of the detection reference position, and detect a specific pixel corresponding to the lateral side in the main scanning direction within the detection range in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: Provided is a proximity sensor using a photosensor, which is easy to use and reduced in power consumption. In the proximity sensor, a first photosensor is used to detect a change in amount of ambient light entering the first photosensor, which is caused when a finger is coming close thereto, and a detection signal is output based on a result of the detection. The photosensor includes, for example, one or a plurality of PN junction elements connected in parallel.

Abstract: Provided is a light receiving circuit for detecting a change in amount of light, in which an input circuit at a subsequent stage is compact and inexpensive and current consumption is low. The light receiving circuit includes: a photoelectric conversion element for supplying a current corresponding to an amount of incident light; an N-channel MOS transistor including a drain supplied with the current from the photoelectric conversion element; and a control circuit for controlling a gate voltage of the NMOS transistor via a low pass filter so that a drain voltage of the N-channel MOS transistor becomes a desired voltage.

Abstract: An electric charge storage method is used in which a photoelectric current generated in a photodiode is stored for a predetermined time period and the stored electric charge is amplified by an amplifier to obtain an output. Further, the storage time period is switched so that an output from the circuit has a characteristic of a piecewise linear approximation of a logarithm of an illuminance, permitting a sufficient resolution even in darkness.

Abstract: Provided is a photodetection device which is small in size and has excellent sensitivity. A photodetection device puts cathode terminals of photodiodes having different spectral characteristics into an open end state, and detects light intensity of a desired wavelength region according to a difference in electric charges that have been stored in those photodiodes in a given period of time. The photodiodes employ a system of storing electric charges, and hence even if a photocurrent is small, the photocurrent may be stored to obtain the electric charges required for detection, and the downsizing and high detection performance of a semiconductor device that forms the photodiodes may be achieved.

Abstract: Provided is a light receiving circuit for detecting a change in amount of light, in which an input circuit at a subsequent stage is compact and inexpensive and current consumption is low. The light receiving circuit includes: a photoelectric conversion element for supplying a current corresponding to an amount of incident light; an N-channel MOS transistor including a drain supplied with the current from the photoelectric conversion element; and a control circuit for controlling a gate voltage of the NMOS transistor via a low pass filter so that a drain voltage of the N-channel MOS transistor becomes a desired voltage.

Abstract: Provided is a proximity sensor using a photosensor, which is easy to use and reduced in power consumption. In the proximity sensor, a first photosensor is used to detect a change in amount of ambient light entering the first photosensor, which is caused when a finger is coming close thereto, and a detection signal is output based on a result of the detection. The photosensor includes, for example, one or a plurality of PN junction elements connected in parallel.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of signal lines which are arranged at a predetermined pitch; first and second MOS transistors which are connected to the signal lines, and also serially connected to each other; and a connection device which functions as a connection node between the serially-connected first and second MOS transistors, and connects a source area of one of the first and second MOS transistors to a drain area of the other of the first and second MOS transistors via contact holes, which are formed through an insulating layer, and a conduction layer connected to the contact holes.

Abstract: An electric charge storage method is used in which a photoelectric current generated in a photodiode is stored for a predetermined time period and the stored electric charge is amplified by an amplifier to obtain an output. Further, the storage time period is switched so that an output from the circuit has a characteristic of a piecewise linear approximation of a logarithm of an illuminance, permitting a sufficient resolution even in darkness.

Abstract: Provided is a photodetection device which is small in size and has excellent sensitivity. A photodetection device puts cathode terminals of photodiodes having different spectral characteristics into an open end state, and detects light intensity of a desired wavelength region according to a difference in electric charges that have been stored in those photodiodes in a given period of time. The photodiodes employ a system of storing electric charges, and hence even if a photocurrent is small, the photocurrent may be stored to obtain the electric charges required for detection, and the downsizing and high detection performance of a semiconductor device that forms the photodiodes may be achieved.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a plurality of signal lines which are arranged at a predetermined pitch; first and second MOS transistors which are connected to the signal lines, and also serially connected to each other; and a connection device which functions as a connection node between the serially-connected first and second MOS transistors, and connects a source area of one of the first and second MOS transistors to a drain area of the other of the first and second MOS transistors via contact holes, which are formed through an insulating layer, and a conduction layer connected to the contact holes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor memory device comprising a memory cell array block, and a circuit region arranged with the memory cell array block along a first direction. The circuit region comprises a first region and a second region arranged with the first region along the first direction. The first region is provided with a first circuit and a second circuit which are aligned in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second region is provided with a plurality of third circuits which are aligned in the second direction.

Abstract: Disclosed is a semiconductor memory device comprising a memory cell array block, and a circuit region arranged with the memory cell array block along a first direction. The circuit region comprises a first region and a second region arranged with the first region along the first direction. The first region is provided with a first circuit and a second circuit which are aligned in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second region is provided with a plurality of third circuits which are aligned in the second direction.