Scanning Patents (Class 358/474)
  • Patent number: 9465159
    Abstract: A light source unit includes light source substrates to emit light, a pair of first members arranged separately from each other, each provided with one light source substrates, a pair of light guide members having an outer circumferential surfaces where the light introduced therein is emitted therethrough, and a pair of second members to hold the pair of respective light guide members. Each of the pair of second members is made of a metal material and includes two projecting portions and an opening formed between the projecting portions where the light emitted from the light guide member passes, and end portions attached to the pair of first members respectively, to receive heat generated from the light source substrate through the first members. The pair of second members are arranged separately from each other forming a void portion therebetween to pass an optical axis of an image capturing device therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Masaya Takamori, Haruka Fukushima
  • Patent number: 9462151
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a contact image sensor that extends in a main scanning direction at a rear surface side of a document table glass and optically reads an image of a document placed on the document table glass, a carriage that holds the contact image sensor, a rail member that extends in a sub-scanning direction and supports the carriage so as to be movable in the sub-scanning direction, and a driving unit that drives the carriage along the rail member. The image reading device includes a shaft arranged at the rear surface side of the document table glass, having a shaft line vertical to the document table glass, and being rotatable around the shaft line, and an eccentric cam eccentrically connected to the shaft and having a peripheral surface abutting an intermediate part of the rail member in the sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Shunsuke Yamasaki, Yoshiyuki Asakawa
  • Patent number: 9462146
    Abstract: A sheet conveying device includes: a conveying unit; a nonvolatile memory; and a controller. The conveying unit is configured to convey a sheet along a conveying path. The controller is configured to control the conveying unit to convey the sheet, store position data in the nonvolatile memory during conveyance of the sheet, determine whether or not the sheet conveying device is started, and drive the conveying unit for an amount determined by the position data if the sheet conveying device is started. The conveying path is divided into a plurality of segments. The position data identifies a segment in which the sheet stays. The more downstream the segment identified by the position data is in the conveying path, the smaller the amount determined by the position data is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Takashi Maeda
  • Patent number: 9451125
    Abstract: Based on attachment position information of each of a plurality of sensor units, which reads an image in each area obtained by dividing the area of an original in a sub-scanning direction, image data output from the sensor unit undergoes attachment error correction of correcting the attachment error of the sensor unit. Image data output from the plurality of sensor units then undergo joint processing. Based on the placement information of the original, tilt correction of correcting the tilt of the original is performed for the image data having undergone the joint processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Hagiwara, Takayuki Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 9451115
    Abstract: Methods, devices, and computer-readable storage media are provided. Some embodiments of the invention include an image processing device displaying on a display of the image processing device a machine-readable code, wherein information encoded in the machine-readable code is usable by a mobile computing device to establish a communication session between the mobile computing device and the image processing device. In some embodiments, the mobile computing device reads the machine-readable code, obtains the information by decoding the machine-readable code, and establishes the communication session using the information. In some embodiments, during the communication session, the image processing device receives a scan command, scans a physical document in response to the scan command, and sends an electronic document representing the scanned physical document to the mobile computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Canon U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Gregory Grabkowitz, Nicholas Joseph Candreva
  • Patent number: 9449531
    Abstract: Vision assistive device and user interface are disclosed. In some embodiments, a vision assistive device includes a housing having a base for positioning the housing on a surface; one or more imaging units disposed along a top portion of the housing, each imaging unit being angled downward so a central axis of the imaging unit forms an acute angle with the surface so the imaging unit captures a target image from a target object; and a control system accommodated within the housing, the control system being connected to the one or more imaging units to process the target image captured by each imaging unit and to output the target image to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Freedom Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Leon Reznik, Lev Lvovsky, Helen Reznik, Levy Ulanovsky
  • Patent number: 9451168
    Abstract: In a photographing apparatus and a photographing control system which drive an image sensor (moving member) to obtain an optical low-pass filter effect, an exposure time setter sets an exposure time; a drive cycle setter sets the drive cycle of the moving member so that the exposure time, which is set by the exposure time setter, becomes an integer multiple of the drive cycle; a moving member drive controller drives the moving member and controls the operation thereof via the moving member driver so that the moving member traces a predetermined path an integer number of times in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis within the exposure time, which is set by the exposure time setter, based on the drive cycle, which is set by the drive cycle setter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH IMAGING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9435509
    Abstract: A linear light source apparatus is provided, being configured to convert light emitted from one light emitting element to light extended linearly, and output thus converted light. There is a lens that diffuses light flux within a predetermined region including the optical axis of the light emitting element, out of the light incident from the light emitting element, at a predetermined diffusion angle in the second direction (x-direction). The light is made to converge with respect to the first direction (y-direction). This converts the light from one light emitting element to light extended linearly and outputs the converted light. As for the second direction (x-direction), it is possible to make the light flux sparse in the predetermined region, and in the region outside thereof, the light flux is rendered to be dense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignees: STANLEY ELECTRIC CO., LTD., PFU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yosuke Mizuki, Keisuke Kimura, Masanari Takabatake, Sousuke Aono
  • Patent number: 9420142
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an image scanning unit that is provided with a holding portion holding a flexible flat cable. The holding portion is protruded toward an upstream side in a sub scanning direction, and provided with a second wall part. The flexible flat cable that is extended from a connector is brought into contact with the second wall part. As for the flexible flat cable, a downward movement is regulated by a lower holding portion and an upward movement is regulated by an upper holding portion. Accordingly, the flexible flat cable does not rise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masahiro Imoto, Yasuhiro Suto, Hisashi Yamanaka, Kenji Nakanishi, Shohichi Fukutome, Kazuhiro Iguchi
  • Patent number: 9395807
    Abstract: A sleep mode in which power consumption is reduced to a prescribed value or smaller is achieved, while convenience for a user is maintained by shortening the time taken to recover from the sleep mode. The temperature of an LSI is measured or estimated when shifting to the sleep mode, and an apparatus enters a power supply shutoff sleep mode using power supply separation or a clock-gating sleep mode in accordance with the measured or estimated value of the temperature. In the case where power supply shutoff is selected, after entering the sleep mode, power supply is resumed and then the apparatus enters the clock-gating sleep mode in accordance with the measured temperature or the estimated temperature of the LSI.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toshio Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 9392263
    Abstract: A 3D scanner includes a stage on which a target object, which is targeted for scan, is to be located, a location object that is to be placed on the stage during scan and on which the target object is to be located during scan, a display unit configured to display an image on the stage, an imaging unit configured to perform image capturing on the stage, and a control unit configured to generate 3D model data of the target object based on a video image of the target object captured by the imaging unit, and to cause the display unit to display, on the stage, an image indicating a direction in which to move the target object, based on video images of the target object and the location object captured by the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hitoshi Imai
  • Patent number: 9385150
    Abstract: An image sensor and image sensor device include: a lighting portion extending in a main scanning direction and emitting light to the object-to-be-read; a rod lens array for imaging light from the object-to-be-read; and a light receiving portion for converting the light imaged by the rod lens array to an electric signal. The lighting portion emits a normally directed light from the normal direction of the object-to-be-read to irradiate a first irradiation region of the object-to-be-read, and an inclined light inclined by a predetermined angle from the normal direction of the object-to-be-read to irradiate a second irradiation region being apart from the first irradiation region in a sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Ota, Taku Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 9386176
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus includes a housing formed with an insertion hole, a transfer unit configured to transfer an object inserted through the insertion hole, a reading unit configured to read an image of the object, a platen located opposite the reading unit, and a cutting unit. The reading unit includes a light-transmitting plate. The housing encloses the reading unit, the transfer unit, the platen and the cutting unit. The platen includes a part openable and closable so that a surface of the light-transmitting plate is externally exposed. The platen includes a first platen having a flat surface and a second platen which has a flat surface and is opposed to the surface of the light-transmitting plate and is openable and closable. The second platen is engaged with the first platen so that the flat surface of the second platen is flush with the flat surface of the first platen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuhiro Iida, Tomoyasu Niizeki, Katsuhisa Hasegawa, Junnosuke Matsuda
  • Patent number: 9380183
    Abstract: An image sensing device includes N red light sensing units, N green light sensing units, N blue light sensing units and a control circuit. The control circuit accumulates an exposure capacity Qi generated by the ith red light sensing unit, green light sensing unit, and blue light sensing unit in an exposure time Ti and an exposure capacity Qi+1 generated by the (i+1)th red light sensing unit, green light sensing unit, and blue light sensing unit in next exposure time Ti+1 until an exposure capacity QN generated in the TNth exposure time is accumulated, wherein i is an integer ranging from 1 to N. The exposure capacities Qi to QN are sequentially stored in a register and outputted from the control circuit, so that the image of each scan line can be sequentially transferred to an analog signal with the sum of the exposure capacities Qi to QN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Yen-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 9374493
    Abstract: An image scanner includes: a lid or a backing sheet as a cover unit on which a pattern is depicted; a sensor unit configured to scan a document between a platen and the cover unit; and an image processing unit configured to set a threshold value using information on a first transmitted pattern of the pattern, obtained through the document, and perform image processing based on the threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: FUNAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinichi Kamisoyama, Yoshimi Morita
  • Patent number: 9374482
    Abstract: When an input unit receives a predetermined operation on a preview image during execution of a real-time preview, an image processing apparatus stores information that specifies the preview image for which the predetermined operation has been received, in a specific information storage unit. The image processing apparatus executes a first preview display of displaying a preview image for which the predetermined operation has been received or a preview image for which the predetermined operation has not been received among preview images of a job after completion of the real-time preview, based on the information stored in the specific information storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventor: Daiki Nishioka
  • Patent number: 9367721
    Abstract: An imaging optical code scanner is presented that includes improved vertical optics for capturing images of items being presented for scanning. The improvements include multiple image capture devices, multiple illumination modules and viewing of items being scanning from four different directions. This allows for high pass-by scanning of items.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Oliver Detwiler
  • Patent number: 9344593
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a base, a supporter supporting a reading object, a reader provided on a mover and disposed between the base and the supporter. The image reading apparatus further includes a flexible flat cable. A first holder provided on the mover and holds a portion of the flat cable in a state in which the first holder is held in contact with a surface of the flat cable. A second holder holds the portion of the flat cable together with the first holder in a state in which the second holder is held in contact with a surface of the flat cable. The flat cable is interposed between the first holder and the second holder and held by the first holder and the second holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Shiomi
  • Patent number: 9325860
    Abstract: A device and method for use with an image recording device. The device having a background target and a first surface including the background target recessed therein. The device further including a substrate stabilizer configured to move a substrate having an image printed therein in closer proximity to the background target and below the first surface when activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: QuadTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve J. Lachajewski, Stephen J. Daily
  • Patent number: 9313342
    Abstract: To read a plurality of pages, it is necessary to notify a server of completion of transfer from an image reading apparatus and transmit a next page reading input instruction from an operation terminal to the image reading apparatus again via the server. In the above reading operation, time from completion of original reading to the start of reading of the next original is prolonged, and user operability lowers. According to an embodiment of this invention, when reading images of a plurality of pages, the first image reading instruction is input from a user terminal. After that, original placement, reading start instruction, and the like for the next page are performed from an input unit provided in the image reading apparatus. This can reduce the network communication amount and improve the throughput and user operability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Isao Migishima, Yusuke Hattori
  • Patent number: 9311688
    Abstract: A plurality of different procedures are used to improve a quality of an RGBW color mosaic image displayed on an electronic paper display, such as an electrophoretic display of an electronic device. By processing lines of an input color image within a pipeline, less memory is required, since intermediate images need not be stored between each successive procedures. The different procedures can include contrast enhancement, color downsampling, saturation boosting, fringe reduction, and dithering to reduce color banding. Fringe reduction is implemented by computing desired and perceived values for each color component of a pixel currently being processed, and desired and perceived values for the luma of an input pixel, and then convolving these values using convolution filters having values selected so that a total color component weight is the same for all of the color filters, thereby preserving color balance in the color image that is to be rendered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ilya D. Rosenberg, Tomer Moscovich
  • Patent number: 9310725
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image formed on a sheet includes an endless belt; a roller contactable with the endless belt to form a nip for nipping and feeding the sheet; a heater provided inside the endless belt; a guiding member, provided inside the endless belt, for guiding rotation of the endless belt; a reinforcing member, provided between the endless belt and the heater in a radial direction of the heater, for reinforcing the guiding member, the reinforcing member being provided with an opening to permit radiant light from the heater to reach the endless belt; a protecting member, provided between the heater and the reinforcing member in the radial direction so as to oppose the endless belt through the opening, thus preventing contact between the endless belt and the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Sahara
  • Patent number: 9307110
    Abstract: A document conveying portion is configured to convey a document sheet along a conveyance path extending sequentially through a turn-around portion at which a conveyance direction is reversed and a predetermined reading position. A reading unit is movable in a predetermined moving direction below the document conveying portion and a document table and includes a unit housing in which a light source, an optical element, and an image sensor are mounted. The reading unit is formed such that, between the turn-around portion and a first end portion of the document conveying portion which is close to the turn-around portion in the moving direction, a second end portion of the unit housing at a side of the first end portion in the moving direction is located in a state where light is applied from the light source to the reading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tomohide Hozono
  • Patent number: 9300922
    Abstract: An anti-counterfeit banknote recorder, an automatic teller machine and a system are provided. The recorder includes a microprocessor, a memory, a communication module and a first photographic device. The first photographic device includes a camera and a flasher with different types of rays. The microprocessor is able to regulate the flashlight automatically so as to provide different types of rays according to the optical characteristics on the surface of the banknote under monitoring, and control the camera so as to take photos of the banknote under monitoring, thus, photo information of the banknote is obtained. The microprocessor is able to receive commands from the external equipments via the communication module, thus, the first photographic device is controlled accordingly so as to take photos. Moreover, via the communication module, the microprocessor is able to receive transaction information in relation to the banknotes under monitoring from the external equipments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Shenzhen Zhengton Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hong Huang, Xiling Li, Zhenggang Dai
  • Patent number: 9280638
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a deleted differential image generator and a region specifying unit. The deleted differential image generator generates, from first image data generated by reading an image of an unfilled or filled-in sheet and second image data generated by reading an image of a sheet being in a format identical to the unfilled or filled-in sheet and having a superimposed sheet superimposed thereon, deleted differential image data representing an image that is not represented in the second image data but is represented in the first image data. The region specifying unit specifies a region where the superimposed sheet is represented in the second image data, based on a region where the deleted differential image data is.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kunihiko Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9277195
    Abstract: This disclosure provides pixel arrays made up of a clear pixel and a color pixel. The color pixel includes a first photo-detecting element and a color pixel access transistor to selectively couple the first photo-detecting element to a first charge-storage node. The clear pixel includes a second photo-detecting element and a clear pixel access transistor to selectively couple the second photo-detecting element to a second charge-storage node. The color pixel access transistor transfers a first charge per unit time between the first photo-detecting element and the first charge-storage node. The clear pixel access transistor transfers a second charge per unit time between the clear pixel access transistor and the second charge-storage node. The first charge per unit time is less than the second charge per unit time to mitigate blooming. In other embodiments, the clear pixel includes an excess-charge transfer path that couples the clear pixel to a DC supply node to mitigate blooming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kai-Ling Chiu, Masayuki Uchiyama, Po-Chun Chiu, Tse-Hua Lu, Yuichiro Yamashita
  • Patent number: 9272863
    Abstract: A sheet feeding device having; a mounting portion capable of accommodating a stack of sheets; a blowing device that blows air onto the stack placed in the mounting portion, thereby floating at least a top sheet from the stack; a suction/transportation mechanism that includes a suction belt provided above the mounting portion and attracting the top sheet floated by the blowing device to transport the attracted sheet toward a transportation path; an image pickup device disposed so as to capture an image of the floated top sheet and the next sheet therebelow; and an illuminating device that emits light toward an area to be captured by the image pickup device. The light emitted by the illuminating device illuminates a plane in a direction approximately normal thereto, the plane including the closest end surface of the stack of sheets to the image pickup device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Atsuhiko Shimoyama, Noboru Oomoto, Hiroaki Umemoto, Hiroshi Mizuno, Ryo Oshima
  • Patent number: 9262004
    Abstract: An overlay for covering the writing surface of an electronic writing tablet includes (a) an LCD touch screen adapted to (i) initially display an image drawn or written upon the upper surface by application of pressure on the upper surface without requiring a transfer of matter to the upper surface and (ii) continue display of the image without the consumption of electrical power; (b) a source of electrical power; and (c) a reversible attaching mechanism for reversibly attaching the LCD touch screen over the writing surface of the writing tablet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Topaz Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony E. Zank
  • Patent number: 9261730
    Abstract: Display devices and composites for making display devices are disclosed. Some embodiments include a display device having an inorganic electroluminescent layer, an active matrix layer; an inorganic polarizing layer, a liquid crystal layer, and a color filtering layer. Some embodiments include a composite having an inorganic polarizing layer and inorganic electroluminescent layer. Methods of making and using the display device and composite are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Takahisa Kusuura
  • Patent number: 9261944
    Abstract: A novel information processing apparatus includes an energy-saving mode controller that controls the information processing apparatus in an energy-saving mode, and a restart controller that restarts the energy-saving mode controller each time a predetermined value is counted using a counter. The energy-saving mode controller resets a counter in the restart controller based on information output in a shorter cycle than counting of the predetermined value by the counter in accordance with an operating mode of the information processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Hisanori Kawaura
  • Patent number: 9258448
    Abstract: An overhead scanner successively obtains a plurality of images by controlling an area sensor, calculates a movement pattern by image difference extraction by using the obtained images, detects a page turning movement on the basis of the movement pattern, and determines that a read operation be started when the page turning movement is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Masayuki Sakai
  • Patent number: 9245045
    Abstract: Techniques are provided which aggregate user selected content using a browser extension. A user may select content displayed in a web browser. The selected content may be captured, and the corresponding bibliographic information may be extracted by the browser extension. The user may input notes relating to the selected content. The selected content, bibliographic information and notes may be transmitted by the browser extension to one or more servers for storage, and may be associated with a user project entry. A subset of the bibliographic information may be presented to the user in accordance with a user selected bibliographic format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Citelighter, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Lee Jokl, III, Mohammad Saad Alam, Jacob D. Kustanowitz
  • Patent number: 9241089
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an acquiring unit; a resolution converting unit; a receiving unit; a position determining unit; a correcting unit; and a scaling unit. The acquiring unit acquires image data composed of a plurality of pixels; the scaling-factor determining unit determines a scaling factor of the acquired image data; the resolution converting unit converts a resolution of the acquired image data into a higher resolution than the resolution of the image data; the receiving unit receives a designation of a sub-scanning directional shift amount of a correction pixel to be corrected; a position determining unit performs a position determining process; and the scaling unit scales the image data at the determined scaling factor by causing the position determining unit and the correcting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Kaima
  • Patent number: 9231506
    Abstract: A The present invention provides a semiconductor device, an electrical device, and a control signal generation method that enable easy generation of a given control signal even by a comparatively low cost and low processing power microcontroller, whereby a microcontroller of a motor control system includes a PWM device equipped with a PWM setting register. The PWM setting register includes a duty update cycle register, a duty update value register and a duty update-times number register. A PWM generator generates and outputs a PWM signal according to values set in each register of the PWM setting register. The PWM device is capable of generating and outputting a PWM signal automatically with the PWM generator according to setting values set in the PWM setting register, even without an interruption by the software (CPU).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: LAPIS SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Koji Hiraki, Toshiharu Okada
  • Patent number: 9232114
    Abstract: An inspection system includes a CMOS integrated circuit having integrally formed thereon an at least two dimensional array of photosensors and providing an inspection output representing an object to be inspected. A defect analyzer is operative to receive the inspection output and to provide a defect report.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Orbotech Ltd.
    Inventors: Yigal Katzir, Itay Gur-Arie, Yacov Malinovich
  • Patent number: 9232094
    Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes a position detection portion for detecting a position designated on a display, a data select portion for selecting data identified by a first image displayed on the display as target data, a clone image display portion for arranging a clone image corresponding to the first image at the detected position, a clone image moving portion for moving the clone image, a second image display portion for arranging one or more second images for identifying one or more kinds of processes executable on the target data at positions based on the position of the first image, a candidate process decision portion for deciding a process identified by the second image having a predetermined relative positional relation to the clone image as a candidate process, and an execution process decision portion for deciding the candidate process as an execution process when the position is no longer detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventor: Minako Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9232104
    Abstract: An image processing device is capable of executing a plurality of functions. The image processing device includes a preliminary operation execution section, a determination section, and an operation control section. The operation control section allows, where a determination result by the determination section is that preliminary operation is executable, the preliminary operation execution section to execute the preliminary operation when an instruction not being specified to be followed by execution of the main operation is input, and inhibits, where a determination result by the determination section is that preliminary operation is non-executable, the preliminary operation execution section from executing the preliminary operation when an instruction having a possibility of not being followed by execution of the main operation is input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Nobuyuki Fuchimoto
  • Patent number: 9225865
    Abstract: An image reader includes a platen, a carriage, a light shielding unit, a positioning mark, an ambient light detecting unit, and a control unit. The positioning mark is arranged in an area in which the light shielding unit is disposed or in an area adjacent in a main scanning direction to the area in which the light shielding unit is disposed, at a position falling within the range that can be read by the carriage. When the ambient light detecting unit detects the presence of ambient light, the control unit causes the carriage to move with the exposure lamp turned off to detect a position of the positioning mark. When the ambient light detecting unit detects the absence of ambient light, the control unit causes the carriage to move with the exposure lamp turned on to detect the position of the positioning mark.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Shinya Matsui
  • Patent number: 9225881
    Abstract: The present invention relates to digital cameras and in particular to positioning of image sensors in digital cameras. By providing a digital camera comprising a lens system, at least one image sensor which is attached to a sensor disc and an axle to which the sensor disc is attached and wherein the axle is configured to allow manipulation thereof for adjusting the tilt of the at least one image sensor, a simple solution is provided, enabling adjustment of the image sensor position in the digital camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Axis AB
    Inventors: Jonas Hjelmstrom, Daniel Persson, Jan Sonnvik
  • Patent number: 9225863
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming apparatus body, a document reading unit, a document cover, an image reading unit, an image forming unit, a reading-unit-supporting shaft, and a cover-supporting shaft. The document reading unit is configured to turn to openably/closably cover an upper portion of the image forming apparatus body. The document cover is configured to turn to openably/closably cover a document loading surface at a top surface of the document reading unit. The image forming unit is housed in the image forming apparatus body, the image forming unit being configured to form an image on a paper sheet based on the image data. The reading-unit-supporting shaft is configured to pivotably support the document reading unit. The cover-supporting shaft is configured to pivotably support the document cover. Both the reading-unit-supporting shaft and the cover-supporting shaft are mounted to the image forming apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Teruyuki Miyamoto, Yasuyuki Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 9219838
    Abstract: An overhead scanner 1 includes an imaging unit 22 that images a medium S placed on a mount surface 2 to be read from above and a light source 21 that is arranged to be able to irradiate the medium S with light during imaging by the imaging unit 22. A control device 40 of the overhead scanner 1 performs anti-glare control when detecting that the medium S is glossy. This prevents glare from occurring to the user during operation of the overhead scanner 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: PFU LIMITED
    Inventor: Kengo Kawata
  • Patent number: 9210283
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: an operation unit; a setting unit configured to set one of a plurality of operation modes, in which different processing is executed for a document, in accordance with an operation content of the operation unit; a reading unit configured to read the document in response to a reading execution request from the operation unit; and a control unit configured to control the reading unit whether or not to execute a reading preparation operation before the reading execution request is made depending on the set operation modes set by the setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi Kato
  • Patent number: 9210289
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an image reading section and a management section. The image reading section has a transport portion configured and arranged to transport a document by driving a motor, a reading portion configured and arranged to read each line of the document which is transported up to a predetermined position by the transport portion, and a holding portion configured and arranged to temporarily hold image data of the document read by the reading portion. The management section is configured and arranged to acquire and store the image data held in the holding portion and to manage the stored image data. The management section is configured and arranged to sequentially acquire and store the data held in the holding portion until driving is finished in a case where the motor starts the driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Tatsui
  • Patent number: 9201857
    Abstract: A method is provided for parsing a semi-structured document having a plurality of document lines on which a series of items are listed, the listing of each item spanning one or more document lines. The method includes: obtaining a plurality of candidate records, each candidate record spanning one or more lines of the document; defining a term representing an optimal cost of selecting a number n of candidate records to span the document lines up to a given ending document line i; efficiently evaluating the term over a first range of values for n and a second range of values for i; and selecting a subset of the plurality of candidate records as a global optimal parse of the document, wherein the subset selected is based on the evaluation of the defined term.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventor: Christina Pavlopoulou
  • Patent number: 9197776
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a first contact glass on which a document is conveyed from a document conveying part, a second contact glass on which the document is placed, a document separation member provided between the first contact glass and the second contact glass and separating the document from the first contact glass, a reading unit provided on rear-surface sides of the first contact glass and the second contact glass so as to be movable in a sub-scanning direction, and a guide member provided across both of the first contact glass and the document separation member on the rear-surface side of the first contact glass and guiding the movement of the reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 9164874
    Abstract: Some examples include testing of software able to render a content item on a display of an electronic device. The testing may include capturing images of rendered portions of a content item and comparing the captured images with previously obtained reference images that have been verified to be correctly rendered. The testing techniques can be applied to conversion software that converts digital content items from one format to another and/or testing of the converted content items themselves. Additionally, content presentation software that displays digital content items on an electronic device, such as by interacting with rendering software, may also be tested using a similar technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Beryl Tomay, Thomas Grant Fraser, Lokesh Joshi, Daniel Alexander Lutker
  • Patent number: 9154656
    Abstract: An image reading device comprising: a document placing portion; a conveyor; a reading unit configured to read an image of the document, wherein the reading unit includes: an image sensor; a support which supports the image sensor, wherein in the case of reading the image of the document conveyed by the conveyor, the support is to be stopped at a predetermined reading position; a guide; and a driving unit, wherein the reading unit further includes: a release unit configured to release the contact with the guide by separating the support from the guide when the support is moved toward the predetermined reading position; and a contact portion configured to contact with the support separated from the guide by the release unit when the support is moved toward the predetermined reading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuo Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 9145276
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a transport roller; a reading mechanism; a manuscript sensor configured to detect the manuscript; a transport controller which controls the transport roller; a display unit; and a display controller. The display controller is configured such that the display unit is allowed to display a first screen in a case that the manuscript is not detected by the manuscript sensor; and the display unit is allowed to display a second screen indicating a discharge designator to discharge the manuscript from the image forming apparatus in place of the first screen indicating no discharge designator in a case that the manuscript is detected by the manuscript sensor. The transport controller is configured such that the manuscript interposed by the transport roller is discharged without reading the manuscript by the reading mechanism in a case that an input with respect to the discharge designator is accepted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Daisuke Kasamatsu
  • Patent number: 9142105
    Abstract: A haptic device operated alone or interacts with other physical or virtual devices of similar design that enable users to remotely image, analyze, or manipulate objects, either manually and or with the assistance of computer programs. The device extends and retracts “pins” in reaction to messages from a processor, and to external pressure applied to the pins' topical surface. A support structure provides a constant geometric plane. An operating system is provided that is capable of interaction for any one of a collection of devices of varying size and function. Multiple devices that are paired or otherwise positioned relative to one another, or scaled in size relative to one another, can be controlled to operate in cooperation with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventor: Jonathan M. Crofford
  • Patent number: 9129385
    Abstract: The present invention provides an image processing device, an image processing method and an apparatus so as to improve at least the precision of extracting document corners in image processing performed on an image captured for a document. The image processing device includes: an extracting unit for extracting boundaries of a document in a first direction and roughly-detected document corners, where the first direction is a horizontal direction or a vertical direction of the document image; a determining unit for determining candidate page corners on the boundaries in the first direction around the roughly-detected document corners; and a selecting unit for determining document corners of the document among the candidate page corners. With the foregoing technology of the invention, more precise document corners can be extracted, a better effect of image processing can be obtained, and applications in the field of image processing are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Shufu Xie, Yuan He, Jun Sun, Hao Yu, Satoshi Naoi