Abstract: This invention has as its object to reduce the apparatus scale by simplifying the arrangement of an image reading apparatus for radiating light including both visible and non-visible components, and detecting light obtained from a predetermined image, and provides an image reading apparatus which has illumination means for simultaneously radiating both light including a visible component and light including a non-visible component, and detection means for detecting light obtained from a predetermined image in accordance with the light radiated from the illumination means, including filter means which can be switched in accordance with whether the visible or non-visible component is radiated from the illumination means onto the predetermined image, and control means for controlling a switching operation of the filter means.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide an invisible information recorded medium having an identification mark. In order to achieve the object, an invisible information recorded medium is provided having an identification mark recorded thereon, the identification mark being composed of a region having a high reflectance and a region having a low reflectance as compared with the reflectance of the medium in the same near infrared ray region.

Abstract: A specified original that is not supposed to be copied is marked with a pattern that is formed by infrared reflected light. A copying apparatus includes a detecting unit for detecting the pattern and determines that an original is the specified original in accordance with the detection by the detecting unit. A copying operation is controlled in accordance with the determination of whether the original is the specified original that is not supposed to be copied.

Abstract: This invention has as its object to reduce the apparatus scale by simplifying the arrangement of an image reading apparatus for radiating light including both visible and non-visible components, and detecting light obtained from a predetermined image, and provides an image reading apparatus which has illumination means for simultaneously radiating both light including a visible component and light including a non-visible component, and detection means for detecting light obtained from a predetermined image in accordance with the light radiated from the illumination means, including filter means which can be switched in accordance with whether the visible or non-visible component is radiated from the illumination means onto the predetermined image, and control means for controlling a switching operation of the filter means.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is provided with a light-receiving device, an imaging optical system and a blazed diffraction grating. In the light-receiving device, a plurality of line sensors are arranged on the same substrate. An image of an object to be imaged is formed on the light-receiving device by the imaging optical system. The blazed diffraction grating is arranged in an optical path between the imaging optical system and the light-receiving device. The blazed diffraction grating color-separates a light beam from the object to be imaged into a plurality of light components. The diffraction grating is so constructed to have grating lines with at least two different grating heights.

Abstract: A scanning optical apparatus has a light source for emitting a light beam, and a deflector such as rotatable polygonal mirror having a plurality of mirror surfaces for deflecting the light beam emitted from the light source. Each mirror surface of the rotatable polygonal mirror has a pair of reflecting surfaces inclined toward the center axis of rotation of the polygonal mirror and orthogonal to each other. A fixed reflecting mirror is arranged in opposed relationship with one of the pair of reflecting surfaces so that the light beam deflected by the deflector is reflected to be returned to the deflector again.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprises a multiline sensor on which a plurality of linear sensor arrays are arranged on and a single substrate, a focusing optical system for focusing an object image on the multiline sensor. A blazed diffraction grating is disposed in an optical path between the focusing optical system and the multiline sensor, for color-separating light from the object into a plurality of light components, and for guiding the color-separated light components to the corresponding sensor arrays. The grating thickness of the blazed diffraction grating varies in correspondence with an angle of light incident on the blazed diffraction grating.