Patents by Inventor Soichi OTOMARU

Soichi OTOMARU has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11240383
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus acquires first image data of a background portion stored in advance and read by a reading unit, acquires second image data by reading the background portion, generates third image data by increasing resolution of the first image data and fourth image data by increasing resolution of the second image data, detects an amount of shift of an image sensor relative to a lens array in a predetermined direction by shifting a specific pixel range of the fourth image data relative to the third image data and comparing the specific pixel range with the third image data, and compares fifth image data obtained by shifting the fourth image data in accordance with the shift amount with the third image data, so as to determine whether each of pixels included in the fifth image data is a defective pixel having an abnormal value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Soichi Otomaru
  • Publication number: 20210258433
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus acquires first image data of a background portion stored in advance and read by a reading unit, acquires second image data by reading the background portion, generates third image data by increasing resolution of the first image data and fourth image data by increasing resolution of the second image data, detects an amount of shift of an image sensor relative to a lens array in a predetermined direction by shifting a specific pixel range of the fourth image data relative to the third image data and comparing the specific pixel range with the third image data, and compares fifth image data obtained by shifting the fourth image data in accordance with the shift amount with the third image data, so as to determine whether each of pixels included in the fifth image data is a defective pixel having an abnormal value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventor: Soichi OTOMARU
  • Patent number: 10911640
    Abstract: The controller of the image reading apparatus acquires second reference data indicating a reading value of a background plate by causing the reading unit to read the background plate during a non-document-reading period between a document-reading period and a document-reading period, calculates a first difference indicating a difference between a value in a first pixel range corresponding to an element group, among the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, in a range under temperature influence by a given heat generation source and a value in a second pixel range, that is, part of a pixel range which does not fall under the first pixel range with respect to the second reference data, and updates, when the first difference exceeds a first allowable value, the first reference data by correcting a value in the first pixel range of the first reference data based on the first difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Soichi Otomaru
  • Publication number: 20200213474
    Abstract: The controller of the image reading apparatus acquires second reference data indicating a reading value of a background plate by causing the reading unit to read the background plate during a non-document-reading period between a document-reading period and a document-reading period, calculates a first difference indicating a difference between a value in a first pixel range corresponding to an element group, among the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, in a range under temperature influence by a given heat generation source and a value in a second pixel range, that is, part of a pixel range which does not fall under the first pixel range with respect to the second reference data, and updates, when the first difference exceeds a first allowable value, the first reference data by correcting a value in the first pixel range of the first reference data based on the first difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventor: Soichi OTOMARU