Abstract: A document reading apparatus includes a table on which a document is set, a sensor which includes a light receiving plane for receiving an image of the document set on the table, and a lens disposed between the table and the light receiving plane which forms an image of the document on the light receiving plane of the sensor. A first extended line of the table extends from the table in a plane of the table, a second extended line of the light receiving plane extends in a plane of the light receiving plane, and a third extended line of the lens which extends in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens extend so as to intersect at one point.

Abstract: There are provided a tape printing apparatus that is capable of enhancing the operability thereof in inputting text data by providing an edit area aside from a text data input area where text data can be input, on a display screen, and a data input processing method therefor. The inputted data is recognized in a manner distinguishing between data within the maximum printable number of lines and data in excess of the maximum printable number of lines. Of the inputted data, there are displayed not only the data recognized to be within the maximum printable number of lines but also data of a predetermined number of lines in excess of the maximum printable number of lines.

Abstract: A distance measuring technology capable of stably and accurately performing distance measurement of an object without any highly accurate focus control mechanism is provided. A distance measuring apparatus has a mask for restricting light so as to pass through two or more different light passing positions; a lens system for focusing the light passed through the mask; an image taking-in means for taking in images from the light focused by the lens system; and a distance calculating means for calculating a distance from an imaging element to an object using the taken-in images. The mask restricts the light so as to pass through only specified positions.

Abstract: A character image layout method lays out n lines (2≦n≦m) out of m lines of character string images (m≧2) through any of uniform layout processing, left end alignment processing, right end alignment processing, center alignment processing, scale-up processing and scale-down processing. The character image layout method includes a reference line-selecting process for selecting a desired one of n lines of character string images as a reference line and an other line layout process for determining the range of the length of a character string image on the reference line as a layout range to lay out each character string image on each of other lines, within the layout range. In the other line layout process, when the length of a character string image on any of the n lines to be laid out is longer than that of the layout range, the any of the n lines to be laid out is reduced in size through the scale-down processing and laid out in the layout range.

Abstract: An image processing method of easily obtaining an image photographed from the front side even if an operation to read an image on the surface in a 3-dimensional shape such as folded slip or thick book is performed. An outline is obtained from original information read by a camera. Vertex information is detected from the outline information. A distance between the camera and the original is measured from the vertex information and known original shape information. A correction to develop the original information of the folded original into a plane on the basis of the distance information and the vertex information is made.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus capable of shortening the reading processing time in image reading of high definition. In an image reading apparatus having a plurality of reading definition values, the state of a reading subject is monitored with first definition. On the basis of a result of the monitoring, image reading is conducted with second definition higher in definition than the first definition. A function of giving a stillness determination on an image of low definition is added. Switchover of the image to the high definition and read processing start are automatically carried out.

Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus and method which is capable of printing based on internal data stored within the apparatus or external data inputted from an external storage device, and at the same time capable of setting the enabling/disabling of an automatic power-off function. A tape printing apparatus has a keyboard for entering data indicative of characters and various commands. A RAM stores the data entered via the keyboard, as the internal data. The external data stored in a personal computer is inputted into the tape printing apparatus via a cable. The printing mode is sets to either an internal printing mode in which printing is performed based on the internal data stored in the RAM or an external printing mode in which printing is performed based on the external data inputted from the personal computer via the cable. A printer block performs printing on a tape in the set printing mode. A CPU determines ON/OFF setting of an automatic power-off function of automatically turning off power.

Abstract: There is provided an image printing method and device which is capable of maintaining quality of a print image printed on a printing object by using ink even when the penetration rate of ink into the printing object varies. Factors are detected which cause a change in the penetration rate of at least one kind of ink into the printing object. Printing control conditions are set in dependence on results of detection of the factors causing the change in the penetration rate. The print image is printed on the printing object by using the at least one kind of ink based on print image data representative of the print image and the printing control conditions.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus for acquiring a monochromatic image of high resolution within a short time by using the pixel shift method for a color imaging device. The apparatus comprises an imaging optical system, a color imaging device including a plurality of sets of four filters two of which are used for a single color selected from the three primary colors for generating pixel data for each color, a shift drive unit for shifting the imaging optical system and the color imaging device relatively to each other by a length corresponding to a predetermined number of pixels in the imaging surface, and an image synthesizing unit, the color imaging device being arranged on the imaging surface of the imaging optical system. The image synthesizing unit generates one monochromatic image only from the pixel data of the same color in different relative positions before and after the shift.

Abstract: The invention provides a tape printing apparatus and control method therefor. One of a blank image without any image to be printed, and a ground image providing at least one of a ground color of the tape and a background pattern is selectively set. A leading end-cutting operation for cutting the tape at a leading edge of the print image ting is carried out. The print image is printed by a main printing operation. A trailing end-cutting operation for cutting the tape at a trailing edge of the print image is carried out.

Abstract: The printing apparatus comprises: an image display part for displaying an image to be printed on a display screen; a screen switching part being capable of switching the display screen of the image display part to any one of a plurality of editing screens for editing the image to be printed; a storage part for storing a printed information of the image to be printed, the printed information being based on an edited content set by each of the editing screens; and a printed information display part for displaying the printed information, which is stored in the storage part, on the display screen by hierarchical printed information screens.

Abstract: There is provided an image printing method and device which is capable of easily printing a bar code image having colors conforming to a bar code print quality standard. A bar code pattern defining the arrangement of bars of two kinds in a bar code is set. The bars of two kinds include at least one bar of a first kind and at least one bar of a second kind. The at least one bar of the first kind are different in optical reflectance from the at least one bar of the second kind. A first bar color is set which defines a printing color of the at least one bar of the first kind. A second bar color is set which defines a printing color of the at least one bar of the second kind, based on a predetermined bar code print quality standard which defines conditions concerning the optical reflectance of the bars of two kinds, such that a combination of the first bar color and the second bar color conforms to the predetermined bar code print quality standard.

Abstract: A magnetic detector for detecting a magnetism present in the vicinity of or close to a magnetic wire circumferentially magnetized therein and an electromagnet for generating an A.C. magnetic field on the basis of the magnitude of a Matteucci-effect voltage developed across the magnetic wire when the electromagnet approaches the magnetic wire. A coordinate input device for detecting proximity between the electromagnet and an array of a plurality of such magnetic wires arranged in X and Y directions when the electromagnet approaches the array. A magnetic image sensor for detecting an intensity distribution of a static magnetic field to be detected and present along a longitudinal direction of the wire on the basis of a detection voltage of the wire when a plurality of such electromagnets arranged along the longitudinal direction of the wire are sequentially excited one after another.

Abstract: A magnetic detector for detecting a magnetism present in the vicinity of or close to a magnetic wire circumferentially magnetized therein and an electromagnet for generating an A.C. magnetic field on the basis of the magnitude of a Matteucci-effect voltage developed across the magnetic wire when the electromagnet approaches the magnetic wire. A coordinate input device for detecting proximity between the electromagnet and an array of a plurality of such magnetic wires arranged in X and Y directions when the electromagnet approaches the array. A magnetic image sensor for detecting an intensity distribution of a static magnetic field to be detected and present along a longitudinal direction of the wire on the basis of a detection voltage of the wire when a plurality of such electromagnets arranged along the longitudinal direction of the wire are sequentially excited one after another.

Abstract: A coordinate input apparatus which comprises a display unit having a display layer, and a protecting layer disposed on said display layer and having two-dimensionally arranged light guides for transmitting light from the display layer in the direction substantially perpendicular to the display layer, wherein a user designates a coordinate position on the display layer through the protecting layer.