Abstract: An image scanning device including an image sensor, an operation unit, and circuitry. The circuitry acquires reference-image data and comparative-image data output from the image sensor when a predetermined time elapses after acquiring the reference-image data. The circuitry further divides each of the reference-image data and the comparative-image data into a plurality of image areas, extracts a feature point of a given pixel for each of the plurality of image areas of each of the reference-image data and the comparative-image data, compares pixel values of feature points in the same coordinate to determine a difference in pixel value, identifies an image area including at least one feature point having a difference in pixel value, and identifies a direction of flip of pages of the document based on the image area including the at least one feature point having the difference in pixel value.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device having plural photoelectric conversion pixels includes an imaging unit, a position identifying unit, an interpolation determining unit, and an interpolation processing unit. The imaging unit generates image data for each of plural colors based on light received in the photoelectric conversion pixels. The position identifying unit detects in the photoelectric conversion pixels a defective pixel outputting an electrical signal at an abnormal level, and stores position information of the defective pixel. The interpolation deter mining unit determines, based on respective pixel values of peripheral pixels peripheral to the defective pixel, whether to perform an interpolation process on the defective pixel. The interpolation processing unit performs the interpolation process on the defective pixel when the interpolation determining unit determines to perform the interpolation process on the defective pixel.

Abstract: An image scanning device including an image sensor, an operation unit, and circuitry. The circuitry acquires reference-image data and comparative-image data output from the image sensor when a predetermined time elapses after acquiring the reference-image data. The circuitry further divides each of the reference-image data and the comparative-image data into a plurality of image areas, extracts a feature point of a given pixel for each of the plurality of image areas of each of the reference-image data and the comparative-image data, compares pixel values of feature points in the same coordinate to determine a difference in pixel value, identifies an image area including at least one feature point having a difference in pixel value, and identifies a direction of flip of pages of the document based on the image area including the at least one feature point having the difference in pixel value.

Abstract: An image reading device includes an imaging device to capture an image of a document placed below the imaging device to generate a document image and output an image signal based on the document image, circuitry to determine a size of a fed-sheet based on information on the fed-sheet, the fed-sheet being a sheet to be formed with the document image, generate a frame image for the document image, the frame image having a size equal to the size of the fed-sheet, and synthesize the frame image with the image signal output from the imaging device to generate a synthesized image, and a display to display the synthesized image.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a plurality of light sources to emit light to a target to be read from a plurality of different irradiation positions; an illumination controller to sequentially and alternately turn on or off the plurality of light sources with a blinking cycle not perceptible to the human eye; an image capturing device to photoelectrically convert, pixel by pixel, reflected light of the light emitted to the target from the plurality of light sources to capture a plurality of read images; a memory to store one or more read images of the plurality of read images being captured; and a synthesizer to synthesize preset regions of the plurality of read images using the one or more read images stored in the memory to generate a synthesized read image representing the target, the preset region of each of the plurality of read images having an image level change caused by reflected light that is smaller than a threshold.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device having plural photoelectric conversion pixels includes an imaging unit, a position identifying unit, an interpolation determining unit, and an interpolation processing unit. The imaging unit generates image data for each of plural colors based on light received in the photoelectric conversion pixels. The position identifying unit detects in the photoelectric conversion pixels a defective pixel outputting an electrical signal at an abnormal level, and stores position information of the defective pixel. The interpolation deter mining unit determines, based on respective pixel values of peripheral pixels peripheral to the defective pixel, whether to perform an interpolation process on the defective pixel. The interpolation processing unit performs the interpolation process on the defective pixel when the interpolation determining unit determines to perform the interpolation process on the defective pixel.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a plurality of light sources to emit light to a target to be read from a plurality of different irradiation positions; an illumination controller to sequentially and alternately turn on or off the plurality of light sources with a blinking cycle not perceptible to the human eye; an image capturing device to photoelectrically convert, pixel by pixel, reflected light of the light emitted to the target from the plurality of light sources to capture a plurality of read images; a memory to store one or more read images of the plurality of read images being captured; and a synthesizer to synthesize preset regions of the plurality of read images using the one or more read images stored in the memory to generate a synthesized read image representing the target, the preset region of each of the plurality of read images having an image level change caused by reflected light that is smaller than a threshold.

Abstract: An image reading device includes an imaging device to capture an image of a document placed below the imaging device to generate a document image and output an image signal based on the document image, circuitry to determine a size of a fed-sheet based on information on the fed-sheet, the fed-sheet being a sheet to be formed with the document image, generate a frame image for the document image, the frame image having a size equal to the size of the fed-sheet, and synthesize the frame image with the image signal output from the imaging device to generate a synthesized image, and a display to display the synthesized image.

Abstract: A fixing control apparatus which controls a fixing apparatus which includes multiple heating elements to fix, to a recording material, an unfixed toner image formed based on image data is disclosed. The fixing control apparatus includes an image presence/absence determining unit which determines presence/absence of an image for each of multiple areas into which the image data are divided; a heating element selecting unit which selects a heating element located at a position corresponding to an area in which the image is present from the multiple heating elements; and a heating element driving unit which causes the heating element selected by the heating element selecting unit to be heated.

Abstract: An information input device includes a plurality of sensors arranged for an operation surface at predetermined intervals, each sensor detecting contact of an operation object with the operation surface in a vicinity of the sensor and outputting a detection signal. An input sensing judgment unit determines whether an input of the operation object is sensed based on an integrated detection signal of the plurality of sensors. A sensor group selection unit selects a sensor group including sensors having sensed the operation object from among the plurality of sensors based on detection signals of the sensors. A sensor specifying unit specifies the sensors having sensed the operation object from the selected sensor group based on the detection signals of the sensors. A position detecting unit detects a position of the operation object on the operation surface based on the detection signals of the specified sensors.

Abstract: A fixing control apparatus which controls a fixing apparatus which includes multiple heating elements to fix, to a recording material, an unfixed toner image formed based on image data is disclosed. The fixing control apparatus includes an image presence/absence determining unit which determines presence/absence of an image for each of multiple areas into which the image data are divided; a heating element selecting unit which selects a heating element located at a position corresponding to an area in which the image is present from the multiple heating elements; and a heating element driving unit which causes the heating element selected by the heating element selecting unit to be heated.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information input device including a touch panel in which a display screen for displaying operations information is integrated with a sensor unit and to which the operations information is input when the display screen is touched with a predetermined unit, the sensor unit having plural sensors, which are capable of measuring a capacitance at a front surface of the display screen, arranged in a staggered manner such that three of the plural sensors adjacent to each other are arranged at positions corresponding to apices of a regular triangle; and a position determination unit that determines a position touched with the predetermined unit on the display screen in accordance with levels of the capacitances detected with the three adjacent sensors in a region of the regular triangle formed by the three adjacent sensors among the plural sensors constituting the sensor unit.

Abstract: In an image forming device, a plurality of objects are detachably disposed, each of the objects having a storage area to store object-related information of the object, and configured to return, in response to an acquisition request, a signal with a voltage in a predetermined range which is distinctly different among the objects, the signal carrying the object-related information of the object. The image forming device includes a transmitting unit that transmits acquisition requests of object-related information to the objects respectively, a receiving unit that receives signals from the objects respectively, a voltage detection unit that detects a range of voltage of each of the signals received, and an identifying unit that identifies each of the objects respectively based on the ranges of voltage detected.

Abstract: A determination unit detects a change of a configuration of an image forming apparatus and determines whether an operation screen needs to be updated based on a content of detected change. When it is determined that an update of the operation screen is needed, a screen-configuration-data acquisition unit acquires screen configuration data corresponding to an operation screen after the update from a storage unit. A generation unit generates operation screen data that is screen configuration data for an updated operation screen based on received screen configuration data and configuration information related to the display unit.

Abstract: In an image forming device, a plurality of objects are detachably disposed, each of the objects having a storage area to store object-related information of the object, and configured to return, in response to an acquisition request, a signal with a voltage in a predetermined range which is distinctly different among the objects, the signal carrying the object-related information of the object. The image forming device includes a transmitting unit that transmits acquisition requests of object-related information to the objects respectively, a receiving unit that receives signals from the objects respectively, a voltage detection unit that detects a range of voltage of each of the signals received, and an identifying unit that identifies each of the objects respectively based on the ranges of voltage detected.

Abstract: An information input device includes a plurality of sensors arranged for an operation surface at predetermined intervals, each sensor detecting contact of an operation object with the operation surface in a vicinity of the sensor and outputting a detection signal. An input sensing judgment unit determines whether an input of the operation object is sensed based on an integrated detection signal of the plurality of sensors. A sensor group selection unit selects a sensor group including sensors having sensed the operation object from among the plurality of sensors based on detection signals of the sensors. A sensor specifying unit specifies the sensors having sensed the operation object from the selected sensor group based on the detection signals of the sensors. A position detecting unit detects a position of the operation object on the operation surface based on the detection signals of the specified sensors.

Abstract: Disclosed is an information input device including a touch panel in which a display screen for displaying operations information is integrated with a sensor unit and to which the operations information is input when the display screen is touched with a predetermined unit, the sensor unit having plural sensors, which are capable of measuring a capacitance at a front surface of the display screen, arranged in a staggered manner such that three of the plural sensors adjacent to each other are arranged at positions corresponding to apices of a regular triangle; and a position determination unit that determines a position touched with the predetermined unit on the display screen in accordance with levels of the capacitances detected with the three adjacent sensors in a region of the regular triangle formed by the three adjacent sensors among the plural sensors constituting the sensor unit.

Abstract: A determination unit detects a change of a configuration of an image forming apparatus and determines whether an operation screen needs to be updated based on a content of detected change. When it is determined that an update of the operation screen is needed, a screen-configuration-data acquisition unit acquires screen configuration data corresponding to an operation screen after the update from a storage unit. A generation unit generates operation screen data that is screen configuration data for an updated operation screen based on received screen configuration data and configuration information related to the display unit.