Facsimile Illumination Control Patents (Class 358/475)
  • Patent number: 8310742
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a reading unit performing a reading operation whenever a line start signal is input thereto; a transport unit transporting anyone of the reading unit and the reading target document; an encoder outputting an encoder signal whenever a transport target is moved by a predetermined distance; a control unit transmitting the line start signal to the reading unit; a time measuring unit measuring a time elapsed from a time point when the line start signal was last transmitted; a cycle measuring unit measuring an output time interval of the encoder signal, as an encoder cycle; and a storage unit storing the latest encoder cycle, wherein the control unit transmits the line start signal to the reading unit whenever the elapsed time is equal to or greater than a time obtained by multiplying a value of the encoder cycle by a correction coefficient determined by a ratio R2/R1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuhiro Nozaki
  • Patent number: 8310741
    Abstract: An embodiment of an image reading device may include a light source, an image reading unit, a drive control unit, a white reference member, a chromaticity detecting unit, a reference value storage unit, a chromaticity change calculating unit, and/or a control unit. An embodiment may include a photoelectric conversion element that reads an image illuminated by the light source. In some embodiments, may measure the chromaticity of a white reference member. In some embodiments, a reference value storage unit may store a reference value representing the chromaticity of an image. In an embodiment, a control unit may control an operation of the device according to the calculated amount of chromaticity change. An embodiment may include measuring the luminous intensity of a light source and storing a reference value representing the luminous intensity of the light source. Some embodiments may include making adjustments to images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masaya Tashiro, Yoshiaki Tabata, Kei Tanaka, Masayuki Sago
  • Patent number: 8310734
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a forming unit configured to form a mark on a carrier; a light emitting unit configured to emit light toward a surface of the carrier; a light receiving unit configured to receive reflected light from the surface of the carrier and from the mark and configured to output a light reception signal corresponding to a amount of the received reflected light; a detecting unit configured to detect a position of the mark on the carrier on a basis of a signal wave contained in the light reception signal; and a modification unit configured to modify the detected position of the mark by a modification amount corresponding to a difference in a waveform of the signal wave corresponding to the mark so as to reduce an error between the detected position and an actual position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kentaro Murayama
  • Patent number: 8310737
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus of the present invention includes a first light source, a first light guide, a second light source, a second light guide, light receiving elements and a lens unit. The first light source emits first light. The first light guide directs the first light from the first light source toward an image-carrying object as first linear light extending in a primary scanning direction. The second light source emits second light of a wavelength different from that of the first light. The second light guide directs the second light from the second light source toward the image-carrying object as second linear light extending in the primary scanning direction. The light receiving elements are arranged in the primary scanning direction. The first and second linear lights are reflected by the image-carrying object, and the reflected lights are guided by the lens unit toward the light receiving elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nagao, Hideki Sawada, Hiromi Ogata, Yasuyuki Aritaki, Hiroyuki Tajiri, Hiroki Kawai
  • Patent number: 8310739
    Abstract: An optical scanner includes an optical housing, which houses a light source, an aperture stop, a condensing lens and a rotary deflector, light from the light source entering into the rotary deflector via the aperture stop and the condensing lens, and the light deflected by the rotary deflector scanning a target to be irradiated, a fastener, which fastens the condensing lens to the optical housing, and a fastener attachment portion to which the fastener is attached, the fastener attachment portion being disposed in a downstream side of the condensing lens in a traveling direction of the light in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Murakami, Hisayoshi Imai, Daisuke Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20120281261
    Abstract: A scanning system having a brightness compensation apparatus and method thereof are described. The brightness compensation apparatus includes a statistics window control unit, a brightness statistics logic unit, and a comparing logic unit. The statistics window control unit sets a statistics window setting area. The brightness statistics logic unit generates the current brightness statistics data corresponding to the current page. The comparing logic unit compares the current brightness statistics data with brightness target value to determine whether the brightness compensation apparatus compensates the brightness of next page based on the comparison result and/or image gain of the current page for adjusting the brightness of the scanning system according to the compared result between the brightness statistic data and the brightness target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: GENESYS LOGIC, INC.
    Inventor: Mi-lai Tsai
  • Patent number: 8305656
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus which improved the development efficiency and is capable of reducing the development cost. The image reading apparatus comprises a specific unit 1001 and an alignment unit 1002. The specific unit 1001 has an CPU 1501 that informs the alignment unit 1002 of identification information for identifying an apparatus specification of the specific unit 1001.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Hayashi, Koji Doi, Yoshihiro Funamizu, Kunio Tsuruno, Satoru Kanno, Akihito Mori, Mitsushige Murata
  • Patent number: 8305661
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a reading speed changing unit to change a reading resolution of a manuscript in a vertical direction by changing a carrier linear speed of the manuscript or a moving speed of a reading carriage; a resolution changing unit to change a resolution in the vertical direction of image data of which reading resolution is changed; and a resolution instruction unit to calculate a threshold of a required resolution of an image to determine instruction contents for the reading speed changing unit and the resolution changing unit, based on a data size drawn from a maximum readout size of the manuscript in a main scanning direction and information to specify a pixel and data transfer capability of a data bus, and to provide a resolution for the reading speed changing unit and the resolution changing unit according to the calculated threshold of the required resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Baba
  • Patent number: 8305649
    Abstract: A reading device comprises: an irradiating unit that irradiates light onto a medium; an image forming unit that forms an image from irradiated light reflected from the medium; and an adjusting unit that causes an optical axis of irradiated light to be adjusted, under influence of weight of the irradiating unit, with respect to an optical axis of reflected light that occurs when the image forming unit forms an image of the reflected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirokazu Ichikawa, Shin Takeuchi, Eisuke Osakabe
  • Patent number: 8305651
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a sheet conveyance path on which a sheet of a document from which an image is to be read is conveyable; a light source that emits light to be irradiated on the sheet; a conductive unit through which heat generated at the light source is transferable; and a heat radiating unit that forms a part of the sheet conveyance path, through which the heat transferred from the light source to the conductive unit is propagable, and that radiates the heat propagated from the conductive unit to air flowing in the sheet conveyance path when the sheet is being conveyed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Akira Iwayama, Hiroyuki Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8305655
    Abstract: An image reading device includes: a foreign-matter image position detection unit that detects a predetermined foreign-matter image from the image read by a document reading unit when the document conveyed by a document conveying unit comes off from a document reading position and detects a main scanning direction position of the foreign-matter image in the main scanning direction; and a lighting control unit that lights up the light-emitting element group arranged in the main scanning direction and lights up the light-emitting elements within a predetermined range from the main scanning direction position of the foreign-matter image in a light emission mode that is different from a light emission mode of other light-emitting elements when the foreign-matter image is detected by the foreign-matter image position detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Harada
  • Patent number: 8300283
    Abstract: A scanning system having a brightness compensation apparatus and method thereof are described. The brightness compensation apparatus includes a statistics window control unit, a brightness statistics logic unit, and a comparing logic unit. The statistics window control unit sets a statistics window setting area. The brightness statistics logic unit generates the current brightness statistics data corresponding to the current page. The comparing logic unit compares the current brightness statistics data with brightness target value to determine whether the brightness compensation apparatus compensates the brightness of next page based on the comparison result and/or image gain of the current page for adjusting the brightness of the scanning system according to the compared result between the brightness statistic data and the brightness target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Genesys Logic, Inc.
    Inventor: Mi-lai Tsai
  • Patent number: 8300284
    Abstract: According to a method and apparatus taught herein, an optical sensor uses pattern recognition in its optical detection processing to “see” detection patterns that correspond to predefined configuration settings. In one embodiment, for example, an optical sensing system selects an operational configuration by detecting a pattern embodied in received light data and comparing the detected pattern to one or more internally stored patterns. Each stored pattern represents a different operational configuration of the optical sensing system. If the detected pattern matches one of the stored patterns, the optical sensing system adopts the operational configuration corresponding to the matched stored pattern. Further, in one or more embodiments, the optical sensing system enters a configuration mode by an external stimulus, e.g., responsive to a configuration mode input, and the aforementioned pattern detection-based configuration selection is enabled only while in the configuration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Omron Scientific Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Sowul, Alejandro Ruiz Sanchez
  • Patent number: 8294960
    Abstract: An image processing device determines whether a total number of ancillary images based on input data is equal to a total number of document images extracted from acquired image data. When determining that the total number of the ancillary images is different from the total number of the document images, the image processing device makes an adjustment such that the total number of the ancillary images is equal to the total number of the document images. Based on the document images and the ancillary images after the adjustment, the image processing device generates set data each piece of which has a set of a document image and an ancillary image based on ancillary data identified as being associated with the document image. The image processing device outputs the set data generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masahiro Fujishita
  • Publication number: 20120257261
    Abstract: An actuator includes a movable portion which can swing around a swing axis, a connecting portion which extends from the movable portion, and a support portion which supports the connecting portion, wherein the movable portion is formed in a cross shape which includes a pair of first protrusions protruding along a direction perpendicular to the swing axis and a pair of second protrusions protruding along a direction parallel to the swing axis, and when a length of the movable portion in the direction perpendicular to the swing axis is A, a length of the movable portion in the direction parallel to the swing axis is B, a length of the first protrusion in the direction perpendicular to the swing axis is a, and a length of the second protrusion in the direction parallel to the swing axis is b, the following equations (A) and (B) are satisfied. 0.8 × { 1 2 ? ( A - 1 3 A 2 + 1 B 2 ) } ? a ? 20 × { 1 2 ? ( A - 1 1 3 ? A 2 + 1 B 2 ) } ( A ) 0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Makiko HINO, Yasushi MIZOGUCHI
  • Publication number: 20120257262
    Abstract: A light scanning device includes: a movable section which has a light reflection section reflecting light and oscillates around an oscillating axis and in which a maximum deflection angle thereof is variable; and a detection section which detects the maximum deflection angle of the movable section, wherein the detection section includes a light source which irradiates light toward the light reflection section, a light-receiving section which receives reflected light of the light from the light source, reflected by the light reflection section, and a displacement drive section which changes a position of the light-receiving section in accordance with the maximum deflection angle of the movable section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takeshi SHIMIZU, Shuichi WAKABAYASHI
  • Patent number: 8284430
    Abstract: A facsimile apparatus, including: a receiving device which receives facsimile information; an identifying information providing portion which provides identifying information for identifying the facsimile information received by the receiving portion; a facsimile information storing device which stores the facsimile information and the identifying information provided by the identifying information providing portion in a state in which the identifying information is corresponded to the facsimile information; an outputting controlling section which controls at least one of a display device and an outputting device to output the facsimile information corresponded to the identifying information; an outputted information storing device which stores outputted information indicating that the facsimile information has already been outputted by the outputting controlling section; and an informing section which informs the outputted information stored in the outputted information storing device, in a state in which th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akikazu Murata
  • Patent number: 8284461
    Abstract: A scanner for scanning items marked with tags is disclosed. The scanner has a laser for producing a beam, a mirror assembly to re-direct the beam, a deflecting arrangement to receive the re-directed beam, the deflecting arrangement including a horizontal deflector, a vertical deflector and a pair of synchronized drivers to drive the deflectors, a steering mirror to steer the deflected beam, a scanning mirror to direct the beam onto the tag to be scanned, and a light collection system to collect light reflected by the tags.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Jan Rusman, Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun
  • Publication number: 20120250110
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an image reading device, including: a light emitting portion; a light guiding member; a holding member that holds the light emitting portion and the light guiding member; and a case member that holds the holding member. In the image reading device, the light guiding member is shaped like a stick, of which end portion is disposed to face the light emitting portion. The holding member holds the light emitting portion and the light guiding member. In addition, the holding member has: and a holding portion that disposes the light guiding member along a main scanning direction, and positions and holds an end portion on the light emitting portion side in the main scanning direction. The case member holds the holding member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Fukuma, Daisuke Fujiwara
  • Publication number: 20120250063
    Abstract: Methods and raster output scanner (ROS) systems are presented in which beam delay values are set for an array of ROS light sources based on wiper error and jitter error with column alignment achieved at an alignment location spaced from a center of scan (COS) location toward an end of scan location (EOS) along a fast scan range of operation of the ROS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Paul Herloski, Robert Kleckner, Moritz P. Wagner, Jack Lestrange, Thomas R. Race, Timothy J. Clark, Jess R. Gentner, Roger L. Triplett
  • Publication number: 20120250057
    Abstract: An optical reading device includes a housing, a document platen member, a scanning unit, a cable and an insulating sheet. The cable includes a first end which is fixed to the scanning unit, a second end which is fixed to the bottom plate and an intermediate portion which is held in surface contact with the bottom plate and curved and deformed according to a reciprocal movement of the scanning unit. The insulating sheet is interposed between the bottom plate and the intermediate portion of the cable. The housing includes a recess formed in the bottom plate. The insulating sheet covers an opening of the recess, the upper surface thereof is in contact with the intermediate portion of the cable and a space is formed between the lower surface of the insulating sheet and the bottom surface of the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideto Miyanagi, Akizou Ohtani
  • Publication number: 20120250118
    Abstract: Improved scanner designs are provided to improve imaging and reduce errors during the scanning process. Embodiments disclosed include, for example, the use of dual cameras to improve imagery and reduce the scanner enclosure size, synchronized lighting techniques during the scanning sequence, shielded lens for the camera scanner, a scanner enclosed on at least three sides, adjustments to scanner lighting based on the levels of ambient lighting, a combined branding and scanner apparatus, a gimbaled scanner mount, and a tilted platen with stop for document alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Scientific Games International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Irwin, JR., Sten Mejenborg, Jonathan Holbrook, Burbank Herndon, William F. Behm, Gary R. Streeter
  • Publication number: 20120250108
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of document scanner, a method and a program storage device wherein the scan mode is automatically adjusted to fall within standards established to prevent vision damage and/or discomfort and to still allow for high-resolution scanning. Specifically, the platen cover of the document scanner can be operatively connected to the scan carriage such that the mode at which the scan carriage operates depends upon the detected position of the platen cover. When the platen cover is closed, the scan carriage can automatically illuminate the document being scanned at a relatively high light intensity level and can move at a relatively fast speed. When the platen cover is opened, the scan carriage can automatically illuminate the document being scanned at a lower light intensity level and, optionally, can move at a slower speed to compensate for the lower light intensity level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilsher, Christopher D. Olliffe, David W. Thorne, Paul S. Golding
  • Publication number: 20120250111
    Abstract: An image reading device has a light emitting unit. The light emitting unit has a light emitting portion, a light guiding member, a holding member and a case member. The light guiding member is disposed along a main scanning direction, and an end portion of the light guiding member faces the light emitting portion. The light guiding member has a light irradiating portion which emits light to an outside. The holding member holds the light emitting portion and the light guiding member. In addition, the holding member has a first holding portion that directly or indirectly positions and holds the light emitting portion, and a second holding portion that positions and holds one end or both ends of the light guiding member. The case member houses the holding member that is in a state of being positioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: KYOCERA MITA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomohide Hozono
  • Publication number: 20120250109
    Abstract: A first light intensity curve is defined as a relationship between a first light intensity and a distance from a first reading unit. The first light intensity represents intensity of light that is part of a reflected light reflected off a first irradiated subject positioned at a distance from the first reading unit and is received by a first light-receiving unit. The first light intensity curve has a first intensity value at a first distance and a second intensity value at a second distance. The first intensity value is equivalent to the second intensity value. The first distance is different from the second distance. A distance between the first reading unit and a first read position is set to the first distance. A distance between the first reading unit and a first reference member is set to the second distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuya HARADA
  • Patent number: 8279501
    Abstract: A scanning apparatus includes a scanning module. The scanning module includes plural light emitting diodes, a porous reflective plate with plural openings, and a reflective element. When the scanning apparatus starts scanning a document, the light beams emitted by the light emitting diodes are directed to the porous reflective plate. A portion of light beams reflected by the porous reflective plate are defined as reflected light beams. The light beams penetrating through the openings are diffracted to be diffractive penetrated light beams. The reflected light beams reflected by the reflective element and the diffractive penetrated light beams are projected on the document, so that enhanced uniform illumination efficacy is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Ching-Chung Wang, Chien-Kuo Kuan
  • Patent number: 8279496
    Abstract: A method of optimal focusing for a document scanner is disclosed. The scanner includes an optic module movable in a given scanning direction to perform scanning operation over an area of a document in a scan line by scan line manner by being driven by an optic module moving mechanism under control of a control unit. The control unit includes a best focus value memory for storage of the best focus value for each scan line. The method includes the steps of moving the optic module to one of scan lines of the document and retrieving the best focus value corresponding to the selected scan line. A focus adjusting mechanism is controlled by the control unit to move the optic module in a second direction to adjust the focus position of the optic module in accordance with the best focus value of the scan line. Once the optic module reaches the scan line, the operation of the optic module is temporarily suspended in order to have the vibration of the optic module damped out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Transpacific Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Rong-Ji Liu
  • Patent number: 8279502
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus has a plurality of emitters that emit light onto a manuscript surface in a light quantity that is the synthesized light quantity of light emitted from the plurality of emitters. In the image reading apparatus, determination on the abnormality of a reference white data level value at the time of turning on a power supply is carried out through comparison between the reference white data level value with a predetermined absolute value. A normal reference white data level value is stored in a first storing unit, while a comparison white data level value detected at the time of manuscript reading operation is stored in a second storing unit. Then, a differential between the level values stored in the first and second storing units is calculated, and an abnormality determining unit compares the differential with a predetermined threshold to detect the abnormality of an emitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hajime Tsukahara
  • Patent number: 8279499
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide illuminators and related scanner illuminating systems, wherein the illuminators can include a light source having one or more LEDs coupled to a plurality of light guides through one or more light splitters such that light emitted from the light source can be split into each of the plurality of light guides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Michael John Wilsher
  • Publication number: 20120243023
    Abstract: An optical scanning device controls outputs of laser beams with high accuracy by correcting the nonlinearity of a current-light characteristic. An electric current supply unit supplies a bias current or a driving current to a semiconductor laser. A detection unit detects light amount of the laser beam. A control unit controls the driving current based on the light amount detected. A constant current generation unit generates constant currents. A calculation unit derives an n-th degree approximate expression (n?2) of a current-light characteristic based on the light amount by emitting a specific light emitting section according to the constant currents, and calculates a light emission start current start current for the specific light emitting section using the expression. A bias current generation unit generates the bias current based on electric current values obtained from results of light controls for other light emitting sections and the expression.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi SEKI
  • Publication number: 20120243060
    Abstract: Provided is a reading apparatus that includes a light source that emits a light to a source material and a plurality of image pickup elements that each receive the light reflected by the source material, to thereby read the source material. The plurality of image pickup elements are each located at different positions and each mounted at different angles with respect to a surface to be read of the source material. The reading apparatus compares read values acquired from the image pickup elements, so as to decide the property of the image expressed on the source material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Toshie Imai
  • Patent number: 8274712
    Abstract: A scanning apparatus for scanning a bound document includes a scanning flatbed, a lighting device, and a scanning head assembly. The scanning flatbed includes a platen and an inclined plane, wherein the platen is adjoined with the inclined plane, and the platen supports a document to be scanned. The lighting device, facing the scanning flatbed, projects light onto the document, wherein the lighting device includes a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion and the second portion respectively comprise a plurality of LEDs arranged in an array. The scanning head assembly, coupled to the lighting device, scans the document. The first portion is located closer to the inclined plane than the second portion, and intervals between the LEDs of the first portion are smaller than intervals between the LEDs of the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Sheng, Su-Wei Ho, Shang-Hsien Tsai
  • Publication number: 20120236373
    Abstract: A light-source control device includes a light source including a first light emitter for emitting light and a second light emitter for emitting light due to the light emitted by the first light emitter; a constant current unit configured to maintain a current constant that is input via the light source from a power supply; a switching unit configured to switch the current to be input to the constant current unit at a designated duty ratio and cycle; and a control unit configured to control the current applied to the light source so that a rise transition time and a fall transition time of the current applied to the light source are nearly equal to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Tadaaki Oyama
  • Publication number: 20120236371
    Abstract: A scanner assembly comprising the following components. A scan module having a first surface and configured to receive an image oriented along the first surface. A carriage having a thickness no thicker than a thickness of the scan module perpendicular to the first surface, the carriage configured to receive the scan module and to move the scan module in a direction of travel. A v-bearing coupled to the carriage proximate to one end of the carriage and protruding from the carriage in a direction perpendicular to the first surface. A scan base having a groove and configured to receive the v-bearing. A belt drive configured to move the v-bearing in the groove of the scan base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventors: Edward A. HILL, Stephan W. Emmenegger, David M. Lovelace, Ryan M. Smith
  • Publication number: 20120236372
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image reading apparatus includes a reading unit and an output unit. The reading unit is configured to selectively execute first reading processing for reading an image of a sheet conveyed at first conveying speed at first reading speed corresponding to the first conveying speed and second reading processing for reading the image of the sheet set on an image reading table at second reading speed different from the first reading speed. The output unit is configured to output read image data read by the first reading processing and the second reading processing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Kazuyuki OZAWA
  • Patent number: 8270042
    Abstract: A document reading apparatus includes a document positioning plate configured to set a document to be read thereon, a light source configured to emit light onto an area where the document is set on the document positioning plate, an image sensor configured to photoelectrically convert reflected light of the light emitted from the light source to output color signals, and a document size detection unit configured to select a color signal used for document size detection from among the color signals output from the image sensor based on the color signals output from the image sensor in a state where the light source is turned off, and to detect a size of the document set on the document positioning plate based on the selected color signal output from the image sensor in a state where the light source is turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhiro Ishido
  • Publication number: 20120229821
    Abstract: An integrated contact image sensor module (CISM) is provided. A light switch circuit turns on a light source according to a light control signal. A contact image sensor captures an image when the light source is turned on and generates an analog signal corresponding to the image. An analog to digital converter coupled to the contact image sensor converts the analog signal into scan data. A controller coupled to the light switch circuit provides the light control signal to the light switch circuit according to a motion signal and provides a clock signal to the analog to digital converter, so as to convert the analog signal into the scan data. The controller further provides an interface signal corresponding to the scan data, to an interface module according to the motion signal, and the interface signal conforms to a specific transmission protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventor: Shih-Huang CHEN
  • Patent number: 8264749
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light emitting unit which emits light to a document, a photoelectric conversion unit which converts a quantity of light reflected from the document into an analog signal, an A/D converter which converts the analog signal to a digital signal, a clock unit which clocks elapsed time from start-up of the light emitting unit, a light-quantity calculating unit which calculates the quantity of light emitted to the document from the light emitting unit on the basis of the clocked elapsed time, a correction value calculating unit which calculates a correction value of the digital signal on the basis of the quantity of light calculated by the light-quantity calculating unit and the digital signal, and a ? correction unit which corrects the digital signal by referring to the correction value calculated by the correction value calculating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiki Narukawa
  • Patent number: 8264754
    Abstract: A document feeding device includes: a document tray on which a document is loaded; a discharge tray to which the original document is discharged; a conveyance path which conveys a document on the original document tray to the discharge tray via a document reading position; a detection unit which is disposed in the conveyance path and detects a jam of the original document in the conveyance path; and an illumination device which illuminates the conveyance path in a state visible from the exterior when the detection unit has detected a jam of the original document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Harada
  • Patent number: 8264700
    Abstract: Image forming apparatus that forms an electrostatic latent image on a surface of a photosensitive member with a laser beam, including a generation unit configured to generate a high-speed clock and a low-speed clock mutually different in frequency, a scanning unit configured to perform scanning of the laser beam in a main scanning direction based on the low-speed clock, a detection unit configured to detect the laser beam during a scanning operation performed by the scanning unit, a first shift register unit configured to receive a detection signal from the detection unit according to the high-speed clock, and an output unit configured to receive a parallel output of the first shift register unit in synchronization with the low-speed clock and to output detection timing of the laser beam as a detection signal synchronized with the low-speed clock and a value corresponding to a shift number defined by the high-speed clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoji Takeda
  • Patent number: 8264750
    Abstract: There is provided an image reading apparatus including: a light source with arrayed light emitting elements; a light guide unit that scatters light emitted from the light source such that the light intensity is greater at end portions than at the central portion in the array direction of the light emitting elements, and guides the light to a reading position of a medium to be read; and an optical system that guides the light reflected at the reading position to a light detection unit that detects the light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8259316
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, a first guide member, a second guide member, a light adjusting member and a light adjusting control unit. The reading unit reads an original document. The first guide member places the original document thereon when the reading unit reads the original document. The second guide member is disposed opposite to the first guide member. The light adjusting member is disposed between the first guide member and the second guide member and adjusts permeation of light irradiated from the reading unit. The light adjusting control unit controls in such a manner to adjust the light permeating through the light adjusting member when the reading unit reads the original document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Hidenori Yanagawase
  • Patent number: 8253995
    Abstract: An image reading device is provided. The image reading device includes: a conveying section which includes a first tray for placing a document before reading and a second tray for placing a document after reading, and which conveys a document from the first tray to the second tray via a reading region; a reading section which reads the document passing through the reading region; a stopping section which stops a trailing end of the document conveyed by the conveying section within the reading region; and a determining section which determines whether the document remains within the reading region based on a signal from the reading section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Satoshi Mizutani
  • Patent number: 8253994
    Abstract: An image forming optical equipment is disposed between a polygon mirror and the surface of a photoreceptor drum to form an image on the surface of the photoreceptor drum with scanning light, while at the same time, keeping its scanning speed nearly-constant, comprises a first scanning light lens, which has a positive power in the main scanning direction and a negative power in the sub-scanning direction, a second scanning light lens, which has a negative power in the main scanning direction and a positive power in the sub-scanning direction and is disposed in the side closer to the photoreceptor drum than the first scanning light lens, and a diffraction optical element, which is provided on the surface of the cylindrical lens in the beam light advancing path between a light source and a polygon mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Hideki Okamura
  • Patent number: 8253987
    Abstract: In an image reader, an optical scanning unit reads an original image on an original document sheet. In the optical scanning unit, a lighting device is detachably attached to a housing to emit light toward the original document sheet. The housing houses a reading device to read the light reflected by the original document sheet. A shield member is detachably attached to the housing to shield the reading device from the lighting device to form a space for the reading device inside the housing. A slit is provided in the shield member to guide the light reflected by the original document sheet to the space for the reading device. A second positioner is provided on the shield member to engage a first positioner provided in the housing to position the reading device with respect to the lighting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tetsuya Fujioka, Kazushige Kawamura, Yasunobu Youda, Yasuo Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8253999
    Abstract: A scanning apparatus and a reference light quantity determining method includes scanning a patch that does not overlap previously established reference colors but displays each of the previously established reference colors in a plurality of regions that are spaced a portion from each other, and determining reference light quantities based on the scanning result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung-rok Kim
  • Patent number: 8253989
    Abstract: An optical reader which reads image information on an original document by moving to the original document includes an illumination unit having at least one light source arranged on a substrate and illuminating the original document, a plurality of mirrors reflecting reflection light from the original document, a focusing lens focusing the reflection light from the original document reflected by the mirrors, and a photoelectric conversion element arranged in a focusing position of the focusing lens, a normal direction of an emission surface of the light source and a normal direction of a light-receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion element are the same direction, an original document reading position is set near an end portion of the optical reader in the normal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiichiro Nishina, Yasuo Sakurai, Nobuaki Ono, Masahiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 8253993
    Abstract: A scanner comprising a platen positioned along a first plane and configured to support an article to be scanned; one or more illuminators positioned below the platen along a second plane parallel to the first plane, and configured to emit light beams; one or more mirrors positioned between the platen and the one or more illuminators, each of the mirrors being configured to direct a light beam having a directional component parallel to the first and second planes emitted by the illuminators onto the article on the platen at the imaging point; one or more sensors configured to detect the light reflecting off the article at the imaging point along a sensor optical path; and a carriage mechanism constructed to affect relative movement parallel to the first and second planes between platen, and the one or more illuminators and the one or more mirrors in a scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Michael John Wilsher
  • Patent number: 8248672
    Abstract: A plurality of the light emitting device array units are arranged along a main scan direction in a staggered manner. In a density transformation mode, a transformation pattern is used to transform image data for each matrix of n by n pixels. A rate of writing an image in a sub-scan direction is multiplied by m, and a pixel density of image data written on a photosensitive body is multiplied by (2B+1)/2 in the main scan direction, and multiplied by m(2B+1)/2 in the sub-scan direction. A transformation pattern which is selected according to a position along the main scan direction at which an image is written with respect to a position of each of the plurality of light emitting device array units is used to transform image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomonori Kimura
  • Patent number: 8248673
    Abstract: In an image reading apparatus capable of separating pages of images, an automatic sheet feeder transports first and second documents along a document passageway and past an opening. A separation reference sheet is disposed in the opening and includes a specific portion. A scanning module scans the first and second documents, transported past the opening, to generate a continuous image. An image processing unit coupled to the scanning module receives the continuous image and processes the continuous image into a first document image corresponding to the first document and a second document image corresponding to the second document according to a specific image including the specific portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Chih-Fang Huang