Abstract: An information detecting device detects information from a target. The information detecting device includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform a first information acquisition operation of acquiring first information from a target criterion, a second information acquisition operation of acquiring second information from the target, and an information conversion operation of converting the second information acquired by the second information acquisition operation, into third information, with the first information acquired by the first information acquisition operation, the third information having a dimension different from respective dimensions of the first information and the second information; and perform control such that an information-acquisition condition in the first information acquisition operation is identical to an information-acquisition condition in the second information acquisition operation.

Abstract: A color inspection device includes a reading device and circuitry. The reading device images a reference object and a color detection object to obtain readings of each of the reference object and the color detection object. The circuitry corrects the readings of the color detection object by using a correction coefficient that is generated from the readings of the reference object and color information measured for each arbitrary region of the reference object.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a plurality of light receiving elements, a plurality of A/D conversion units, and an offset giving unit. The light receiving elements are arrayed in one direction and each convert a light signal into an electrical signal. The A/D conversion units perform A/D conversion on the electrical signals output from the light receiving elements. The offset giving unit gives an offset voltage of a certain level to the electrical signals output from the light receiving elements without flowing a steady current before the electrical signals are input into the A/D conversion units.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes a plurality of pixels to receive light; and a signal processor to process a signal of the pixels. The signal processor includes: a first element, being a transistor, having a first effective channel width through which a current can effectively pass through in the first element; and a second element, being a transistor, having a second effective channel width through which a current can effectively pass through in the second element. The first effective channel width of the first element is larger than the second effective channel width of the second element.

Abstract: A signal processing device includes a first adjuster, a second adjuster, and a digitizer. The first adjuster coarsely adjusts an output range of a signal input to the first adjuster to output a first signal. The second adjuster adjusts an output range of a signal more finely than the first adjuster adjusts to output a second signal. The digitizer digitizes the first signal or the second signal to output a digital signal. The digital signal has an output range of a signal that is finely adjusted with the second adjuster after being coarsely adjusted with the first adjuster.

Abstract: A position detecting device includes circuitry. The circuitry is configured to control a reading device to detect, as a first detection result, an outer shape of a processing subject and a position of an image pattern on the processing subject; control the reading device to detect, as a second detection result, a mark arranged on a position reference member, the mark corresponding to a predetermined position in the reading device; and detect a first correction value of the reading device and a second correction value of the reading device corrected by the first correction value on basis of the second detection result and reflect the first correction value and the second correction value to the first detection result to correct a processing position in the processing subject.

Abstract: A position detecting device includes an image sensor and circuitry. The image sensor is configured to read reflected light of light emitted from a light source onto a medium to be read. The circuitry is configured to perform black correction processing on an output signal of the image sensor using black correction data of the image sensor and detect a position of the medium from the output signal after the black correction processing.

Abstract: An image reader includes a reading device to read an image on a recording medium, a first conveying roller pair upstream of the reading device in a conveyance direction of the recording medium, a second conveying roller pair downstream of the reading device in the conveyance direction, to hold the recording medium together with the first conveying roller pair to convey the recording medium, and a driver to drive the first conveying roller pair and the second conveying roller pair so that a relative relation between a reading position of the reading device and the recording medium held by the first conveying roller pair and the second conveying roller pair is constant. The reading device determines that the image read from the recording medium is effective in a period in which the relative relation is constant.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a plurality of light receiving elements, a plurality of A/D conversion units, and an offset giving unit. The light receiving elements are arrayed in one direction and each convert a light signal into an electrical signal. The A/D conversion units perform A/D conversion on the electrical signals output from the light receiving elements. The offset giving unit gives an offset voltage of a certain level to the electrical signals output from the light receiving elements without flowing a steady current before the electrical signals are input into the A/D conversion units.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element comprises: a plurality of pixels, each of which performs photoelectric conversion and outputs an analog signal; an analog processing unit that sequentially processes, on a pixel-to-pixel basis, the analog signals output from a pixel group including the pixels; and a signal supply unit that supplies a signal needed for preliminary operation to the analog processing unit so as to enable the analog processing unit to perform the preliminary operation before the analog processing unit starts to process the analog signals output from the pixel group.

Abstract: A reading device includes a position reference member and a reader. The position reference member has a reference pattern that includes a line extending in a prescribed direction. The position reference member is configured to relatively move in a direction orthogonal to the prescribed direction. The reader includes a plurality of sensor chips, each of the sensor chips including a plurality of pixels. The reference pattern corresponds to each of the sensor chips of the reader.

Abstract: A reading device including a position reference member having a reference pattern having a line extending along a first direction of the position reference member, the position reference member movable in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; a reader including a plurality of sensor chips arranged along the first direction, each of the sensor chips having a length defined by a plurality of pixels; and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to detect the reference pattern of the position reference member using the reader; determine coordinates of at least two sensor chips in the second direction, based on the detected reference pattern of the position reference member; and correct a position of a reading target in the second direction based on the coordinates determined for the at least two sensor chips of the reader in the second direction.

Abstract: A position detector includes a reading device, a position reference member having a mark opposite the reading device, and circuitry. The circuitry controls the reading device to detect the contour of the processing target and the position of the image pattern on the processing target and the position of the mark and corrects a processing position for the processing target to offset distortion of the reading device.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes: light receiving elements that convert an optical signal into an electrical signal per pixel; offset fixing units that fix an offset of an output level of each of the light receiving elements to a reference level; analog/digital conversion units that convert signals respectively corresponding to a signal level being converted from an optical signal and output by the light receiving elements and a reset level output independent of an optical signal, into digital signals, according to the reference level; amplifier units that amplify a signal; and correlated double sampling units that perform correlated double sampling per each of the light receiving elements by using a signal based on the reset level and a signal based on the signal level, wherein the amplifier units amplify the signal corresponding to the reset level and the signal corresponding to the signal level before implementing the correlated double sampling.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element comprises: a plurality of pixels, each of which performs photoelectric conversion and outputs an analog signal; an analog processing unit that sequentially processes, on a pixel-to-pixel basis, the analog signals output from a pixel group including the pixels; and a signal supply unit that supplies a signal needed for preliminary operation to the analog processing unit so as to enable the analog processing unit to perform the preliminary operation before the analog processing unit starts to process the analog signals output from the pixel group.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes a plurality of light-receiving elements, a plurality of pixel circuits, and a plurality of storage units. The light-receiving elements are aligned in a predetermined alignment direction for each color of light to be received, to receive and convert the light into electric charge. The pixel circuits are disposed respectively adjacent to the plurality of light-receiving elements, to convert the electric charge generated by the corresponding light-receiving element into a voltage signal. The storage units are disposed respectively corresponding to the plurality of the pixel circuits, to store therein the voltage signal generated by the corresponding pixel circuit. The storage units are disposed in an adjacent region that is adjacent to a photoelectric conversion region in which the light-receiving elements and the pixel circuits are disposed.

Abstract: A signal processing device includes a signal output circuit, a controller, and a corrector. The signal output circuit outputs a signal according to a physical quantity being input. The controller controls the signal output circuit. The corrector corrects a signal to be corrected. The signal to be corrected is output from the signal output circuit. The signal output circuit selectively performs one of first operation of outputting a characteristic signal that indicates characteristics of the signal output circuit and second operation of outputting a pseudo signal that is generated spuriously, according to control of the controller. The corrector corrects the signal to be corrected based on one of the characteristic signal and the pseudo signal output from the signal output circuit.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes a plurality of light-receiving elements, a plurality of pixel circuits, and a plurality of storage units. The light-receiving elements are aligned in a predetermined alignment direction for each color of light to be received, to receive and convert the light into electric charge. The pixel circuits are disposed respectively adjacent to the plurality of light-receiving elements, to convert the electric charge generated by the corresponding light-receiving element into a voltage signal. The storage units are disposed respectively corresponding to the plurality of the pixel circuits, to store therein the voltage signal generated by the corresponding pixel circuit. The storage units are disposed in an adjacent region that is adjacent to a photoelectric conversion region in which the light-receiving elements and the pixel circuits are disposed.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes a plurality of light-receiving elements, a plurality of pixel circuits, and a plurality of storage units. The light-receiving elements are aligned in a predetermined alignment direction for each color of light to be received, to receive and convert the light into electric charge. The pixel circuits are disposed respectively adjacent to the plurality of light-receiving elements, to convert the electric charge generated by the corresponding light-receiving element into a voltage signal. The storage units are disposed respectively corresponding to the plurality of the pixel circuits, to store therein the voltage signal generated by the corresponding pixel circuit. The storage units are disposed in an adjacent region that is adjacent to a photoelectric conversion region in which the light-receiving elements and the pixel circuits are disposed.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes a photoelectric conversion element to generate an image signal according to an intensity of light being input and circuitry. The circuitry obtains pixel values in dark time, respectively, for at least a first time and a second time. The second time is longer than the first time. The pixel values in dark time represent pixel values obtained when no light is input to the photoelectric conversion element. The circuitry obtains a subtraction between the pixel values for the first time and the pixel values for the second time. The circuitry detects a noise amount based on the subtraction. The circuitry determines at least one pixel having the detected noise amount that is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value, as a defective pixel of the photoelectric conversion element.