Facsimile Illumination Control Patents (Class 358/475)
  • Infrared heat source tied to image scanner for transitional document erasing
    Patent number: 8164803
    Abstract: A device which can be used to handle documents which can be written to and erased can include a scan head which can output a first light source for scanning a document and a second light source for erasing an image from a printed document. In one embodiment, the device can further include a third light source for writing or imaging a pattern onto a page.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Bryan J. Roof
  • DOCUMENT DETECTING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND DOCUMENT DETECTING METHOD
    Publication number: 20120092733
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a document detecting apparatus includes a light-emitting element, a photoelectric conversion element, a light-emission controller and a detection processor. The light-emitting element projects light onto a detection position of a document. The photoelectric conversion element outputs an electric signal obtained by converting the light from the detection position of the document. The light-emission controller changes the light quantity of the light emitted by the light-emitting element. The detection processor detects the presence or absence of the document at the detection position of the document based on the presence or absence of a change of an output value corresponding to the change of the light quantity caused by the light-emission controller in an output value from the photoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Sueo UENO, Mitsuru HATANO, Katsuya NAGAMOCHI, Hiroyuki SHIRAISHI, Yusuke HASHIZUME
  • Image reading apparatus, image reading method, and sheet processing apparatus
    Patent number: 8159728
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus, in which sheets being transported are illuminated by an illuminating unit, one after another, and a sensor having an imaging elements arranged in a line photographs the sheets, one after another. A white-reference part is provided in a part of the photographing region of the sensor. A black-reference part guides the light reflected by the illuminating unit to the sensor when a sheet lies in the photographing region of the sensor, and to restrict application of the light reflected by the illuminating unit to the sensor when no sheets lie in the photographing region of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Junji Miura, Seiji Ikari
  • Controlling operations in an image formation process in confocal microscope
    Patent number: 8159531
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided which allow the rapid collection of image data in situations where ancillary equipment must be controlled and co-ordinated as part of an image formation process, such as confocal microscopy for example. The apparatus includes control means (20?) for co-ordinating the operation of the apparatus, and operable to receive a first trigger signal (33, 33?, 37) indicating the completion of an operation from one component and transmit a second trigger signal (27, 27?) to start an operation by another component in response to the first trigger signal. Such a configuration is operate to reduce delays encountered in operation of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: PerkinElmer Singapore Pte Ltd.
    Inventor: Shab Ladha
  • Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus including the same
    Patent number: 8149477
    Abstract: In an optical scanning apparatus, the shape of a sub-scanning section of a transmissive imaging optical element on which a light beam subjected to scanning and deflected by a deflecting surface of an optical deflector is incident twice, the tilt angle of a reflective optical element disposed in an optical path between the optical deflector and a surface to be scanned, and the relationship between the transmissive imaging optical element and the reflective optical element are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Genichiro Kudo
  • Lensless imaging with controllable apertures
    Patent number: 8144376
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a lensless optical device for acquiring an image. The device can include a light attenuating layer having a plurality of elements, where transmittance of each of the plurality of elements is controllable, and an image detector disposed at a distance from the light attenuating layer, the image detector configured to acquire an image with light that passes through the light attenuating layer. The device also can include a light attenuating layer controller configured to simultaneously control transmittance of each of the plurality of elements independent of each other. Methods of detecting and tracking an object in a scene are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Asaf Zomet, Shree K. Nayar
  • Method and apparatus for capturing the image of bound documents such as books using digital camera
    Patent number: 8134759
    Abstract: There is disclosed an image capture apparatus that facilitates fast, easy and convenient image capture of the two apposing pages of hard to scan bound documents such as thick books. The image capture apparatus has special design features that conveniently and properly positions bound documents to enable capturing distortion-free images without damage to the binding. In one preferred embodiment the invention facilitates the use of a digital image capture module such as a digital camera or digital video camera in performing an equivalent function to a flatbed scanner in recording digital images. In another preferred embodiment the invention facilitates the use of a regular camera in recording photographic images of the bound document. In yet another preferred embodiment the invention facilitates the use of a flatbed scanner in recording digital images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Kuwait University
    Inventor: Tareq Abduljalil Albahri
  • Image reading apparatus
    Patent number: 8134755
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus according to an aspect of the invention includes a first reading unit which reads a surface of a document and a second reading unit which reads the other surface of the document. The first and second reading units include off-axial imaging units respectively. The off-axial imaging unit includes plural imaging mirrors in which off-axial reflecting surfaces having curvatures are formed. In the off-axial imaging unit, an incident direction and an outgoing direction of a reference axis light beam are different from each other. The off-axial imaging units are provided such that vertical directions of the first and second reading units become identical while an incident side of the light beam is located below an outgoing side with respect to the imaging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Suga
  • Original size detecting apparatus, original size detecting method, and program for original size detection
    Patent number: 8134753
    Abstract: An original size detecting apparatus is capable of carrying out accurate original size detection without erroneous detection of the size of an original due to the influence of external scattered light. A CCD reads reflected light of light irradiated from a light source onto an original placed on an original platen glass. Optical sensors detect two open states of the original presser plate, and a scanner controller performs predetermined control corresponding to each of the open states of the original presser plate detected by the optical sensors, to determine the size of the original based on the result of the reading by the CCD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiro Ishido, Takashi Soya
  • IMAGE READING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE READING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20120057211
    Abstract: A controller controls a scanner unit of an image reading device to read a section of an original document that corresponds to an image reading area specified by a user, when a user instruction for setting the image reading area is received. The controller causes the scanner unit to move to an image reading start position in a sub-scanning direction as specified by a user instruction. When a user instruction for starting image reading is received, the controller causes the scanner unit to start reading the section of the original document from the image reading start position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventor: Hiroki SHIRADO
  • IMAGE SCANNER AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20120057208
    Abstract: An image scanner includes: a light source that irradiates, with light, a recording medium on which an image is formed; a light receiving portion that receives light reflected by the recording medium; and a reflecting portion that has a reflecting surface for measuring the amount of specular reflection light coming from the light source, the specular reflection light being included in the light received by the light receiving portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masao ITO
  • Image scanning device and method for detecting type of document
    Patent number: 8130423
    Abstract: An image scanning device for scanning an image on a document comprises a document table on which a document to be scanned is placed, a scanning unit which is installed in the document table for scanning an image on a document by projecting light from a light source onto the document in a time-sharing manner and detecting reflected light from the document, a moving unit which moves at least one of the document and the scanning unit to let them move relatively with each other, and a document type judgment unit which judges the type of the document in regard to transmission of light through the document based on a non-lighting period image signal which is outputted by the scanning unit by scanning the document for one line in a main scanning direction in a non-lighting period of the light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Nakano, Takahiro Ikeno
  • Image reader, light guide used for the same, and method of making light guide
    Patent number: 8130426
    Abstract: An elongate light guide includes a light incident portion provided at an end in the longitudinal direction of the guide, a light reflecting portion extending in the longitudinal direction, a light emitting portion extending in the longitudinal direction for emitting linear light, and a scatterer for scattering the light entering through the light incident portion. For instance, the scatterer is provided as a grained portion formed at least part of the reflecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Sawada, Yasuhiro Nagao
  • Image reading apparatus and method
    Patent number: 8130421
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus for reading a document by causing an image sensor having a plurality of light receiving pixels to scan the document including an encoder configured to output pulses according to rotation of a motor, a generating unit configured to generate a read synchronizing signal for the image sensor based on the pulses, an obtaining unit configured to obtain first shading data corresponding to at least two data accumulation time points from the image sensor, and a storage unit configured to store the first shading data, wherein a function is generated with second shading data corresponding to a read data accumulation time point and is corrected on the basis of the first shading data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akitoshi Kikuchi
  • KEICHAIN SCANNER
    Publication number: 20120050825
    Abstract: The present invention discloses imaging technology. More particularly, it relates to portable devices for providing scanned images. In one aspect, the invention provides a scanner that is able to scan a 3 to 4 inch wide area such as for scanning business cards, sales receipts, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Raja Singh Tuli
  • Device, apparatus, and method of controlling optical scanning device
    Patent number: 8120825
    Abstract: A device, apparatus, and method of controlling operation of scanning performed by an optical scanning device are disclosed such that the color images are not shifted in the sub-scanning direction even when thinning processing is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventor: Hidenori Akamatsu
  • Optical device of scanner
    Patent number: 8111434
    Abstract: The invention relates to a scanner's optical device, receive the light coming from the image of an object to be scanned, comprising: several reflective mirrors, a light-focusing module, and a charge coupled device. The reflective mirrors provide reflection and directional change for the light and, by appropriately arranging several reflective mirrors, the light of the object to be scanned directionally changed to a predetermined route. With at least one curving mirror, the light-focusing module focus the light of the predetermined route and then directionally change it, and a raster is then provided in the light route of the curving mirror for filtering out unnecessary light. The charge coupled device may receive the light coming from the light-focusing module and convert it into electronic signals. The said light-focusing module replaces the prior lens set for executing a scanning job.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Transpacific Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Yin-Chun Huang, Po-Hua Fang
  • Image reading device capably scanning an image formed on a document in consideration of deterioration of the reference member
    Patent number: 8111433
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a reference member, a reading unit, a first reference value setting unit, a detecting unit, a second reference value setting unit, a determining unit, and a pixel value setting unit. The reading unit obtains image data and reference data. The first reference value setting unit sets a first reference value based on the reference data. The detecting unit detects a usage state of the reading unit. The second reference value setting unit sets a second reference value in accordance with the usage state. If the determining unit determines that the first reference value is in a predetermined condition, the pixel value setting unit sets a pixel value based on the image data and the first reference value; otherwise, the pixel value setting unit sets the pixel value based on the image data and the second reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Nagasaka
  • IMAGE READING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20120026550
    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: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: Hajime TSUKAHARA
  • DOCUMENT READING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20120026559
    Abstract: Provided is a document reading apparatus capable of surely detecting the document cover open/closed state and the open/close operation, without being affected by the external environment. This document reading apparatus includes a light source, a linier reading device and a document cover. In this document reading apparatus, the light amount value of the light received by the linear reading section while the light source is turned on, and the light amount value of the light received by the linear reading section when the light source is turned off are used to detect the open/closed state and the open/close operation of the document cover, wherein the preparation for printing starts when the document cover has shifted from the open state to the closed state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventor: Takeo KATSUDA
  • Image sensing apparatus
    Patent number: 8107138
    Abstract: An image sensing apparatus having a large depth of focus (DOF) and being compact in size is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tadashi Minobe, Hiroyuki Kawano, Izumi Mikami, Takafumi Endo
  • Color adjusting apparatus and method for light source
    Patent number: 8107139
    Abstract: Color adjusting apparatus and method for a light source. A reflector of a required color is added to a light source of a scan module, a plating film of the required color is formed on a lens, or the lens is dyed with the required color. Or alternatively, the color of the light source is directly changed into the required color. As a result, the inconsistent intensities for the light in the primary color, red, green and blue output from the charge-coupled device caused by different brightness of the light source, different wavelength transmission of the lens, and different light sensitivity of the charge-coupled device is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Transpacific Plasma, LLC
    Inventor: Pi-Chen Chen
  • Image reading apparatus, image forming apparatus, image reading method, and image forming method
    Patent number: 8098410
    Abstract: During a sheet-through operation, for a first original, a shading operation is performed to acquire white data and a light-quantity measuring operation is performed to acquire a reference value. For subsequent originals, only the light-quantity measuring operation is performed to acquire a subsequent light quantity. If the reference value and the subsequent light quantity differ greatly, the shading operation is performed at this time point to acquire new white data. The sheet-through operation is not stopped when the shading operation is not performed and the sheet-through operation is stopped when the shading operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ryu Hasegawa
  • IMAGE READING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME
    Publication number: 20120008155
    Abstract: A transparent sheet is attached onto an inclined surface of an original guide plate of an image reading apparatus, and similarly, a transparent sheet is attached onto an inclined surface at an edge portion of a reading guide plate, thereby preventing an original from being chipped by the ground glass-like inclined surfaces and illumination light from being diffused by the ground glass-like inclined surfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Kenji NAKANISHI, Hiroshi NAKATANI, Hisashi YAMANAKA, Shohichi FUKUTOME, Yoshihisa YAMADA, Masahiro IMOTO, Yasuhiro SUTO
  • LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE AND IMAGE SCANNING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20120002248
    Abstract: There is a light emitting device including a light source which generates light and of which the quantity of light emission changes according to a driving current, a driving circuit which runs the driving current to the light source to drive the light source, and a controller which controls the driving circuit and raises the driving current of the light source as the quantity of light emission from the light source decreases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Koji SHIMOKAWA, Yusuke Hashizume, Hiroyuki Shiraishi, Naoya Koseki, Katsuya Nagamochi, Mitsuru Hatano, Sueo Ueno
  • IMAGE SCANNING APPARATUS TO ALTERNATE SCANNING AND METHOD THEREOF
    Publication number: 20120002249
    Abstract: An image scanning apparatus including a plurality of scanning units which are disposed in positions which correspond to each other across the moving path of the scanning object, a user interface to receive input of a scanning command, a supply unit to make a scanning object to pass the scanning units, a controlling unit to control the plurality of scanning units to scan the scanning object alternately when the scanning object passes the plurality of scanning units, and a storage unit to store each image scanned in the plurality of scanning units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Cheoul-young KIM
  • IMAGE READING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND SIZE DETECTING METHOD
    Publication number: 20120002246
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image reading apparatus includes: a light emitting body configured to emit light at illuminance lower than illuminance in reading an original document; a sensor configured to detect opening and closing of a cover; an image pickup element configured to pick up an image of the original document, on which the light from the light emitting body is irradiated, if the cover is open; and a control and determining section configured to turn on the light emitting body if the cover is opened and specify a pixel having a value exceeding a threshold from the picked-up image to determine the size of the original document.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroyuki SHIRAISHI, Naoya Koseki, Sueo Ueno, Katsuya Nagamochi, Yusuke Hashizume, Koji Shimokawa, Mitsuru Hatano
  • IMAGE SCANNING APPARATUS AND CONTROL METHOD OF DOCUMENT SIZE DETECTION LIGHT SOURCE
    Publication number: 20120002247
    Abstract: A first LED that is one of a plurality of LEDs arranged in the main scanning direction is turned on, and the presence of a document on a document table glass is determined by detection of reflected light from the document using a CCD sensor, and a second LED other than the first LED in addition to the first LED among the plurality of LEDs is turned on when it is determined that a document is placed on the document table glass, and the size of the document on the document table glass is determined based on a scanning result of the CCD sensor on the reflected light from the document caused by illumination from the first and the second LEDs and a detection result of a reflective photosensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yusuke HASHIZUME, Sueo UENO, Katsuya NAGAMOCHI, Hiroyuki SHIRAISHI, Koji SHIMOKAWA, Naoya KOSEKI, Mitsuru HATANO
  • FULL SPECTRUM RECOGNITION IMAGE SENSOR
    Publication number: 20120002250
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an image sensor, specifically a full spectrum recognition image sensor capable of reading and recognition image information for all of ultraviolet light, visible light and infrared light, which comprises a sensor substrate, photosensitive parts set on the sensor substrate and arranged in a straight line, a lens set on an upper portion of the sensor substrate, a light source set beside the lens, and a framework capable of accommodating said sensor substrate, said lens and said light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: WEIHAI HUALING OPTO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Wuchang Qi
  • Optical scanning device moving gravity center of pixel in sub-scanning direction, image forming apparatus having light sources, and method
    Patent number: 8089665
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes n-odd (n?2) light sources disposed at different positions at least in a sub-scanning direction, a pixel forming part in which one pixel is depicted by light beams emitted from m-odd (n?m?2) light sources of the n-odd light sources and a distance of adjacent light sources for emitting the light beams in the sub-scanning direction is less than 5 ?m, and a light source driving control part configured to control an emitting state of the light sources for depicting the one pixel and conduct an emission driving control for moving a gravity center of the one pixel in the sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsufumi Omori, Masaaki Ishida, Yasuhiro Nihei, Jun Tanabe
  • Image reading apparatus and image reading method
    Patent number: 8085447
    Abstract: This invention solves the problem of color misalignment upon reading a color image. An image reading apparatus according to this invention reads an image by scanning a scanning unit which mounts a reading sensor which reads light beams which are emitted by three light sources, which emit light beams of three primary colors, and reflected by an original document. The image reading apparatus conveys the original document by ? of the reading width of the reading sensor in the conveyance direction of the original document every time the image is read. The image is read by switching between the three light sources so that each pixel of the image is read with the light beams from them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Ono
  • Image sensor and image forming apparatus
    Patent number: 8085449
    Abstract: An image sensor includes a housing which receives heat of a circuit board, and a light source which is supported in the housing and radiates light toward a document. The light source is an EL light-emitting element including a light emission section which emits light by organic electroluminescence. The EL light-emitting element extends in a line shape along a scanning direction. A thermal diffusion layer is interposed between the EL light-emitting element and the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Toshiba Design & Manufacturing Service Corporation
    Inventor: Miyoshi Yoshimura
  • Illumination unit, image read apparatus, image formation apparatus
    Patent number: 8081355
    Abstract: An illumination unit for use in an image read apparatus is provided which illuminates a surface of an original document with illumination light, reads an image of the original document by a light receiving element, and adjusts an amount of specular light reflection from the surface of the original document on a light receiving plane of the light receiving element by adjusting at least one of an incident angle of the illumination light and a divergence thereof. It includes a plurality of light source units emitting the illumination light and arranged in a direction so that a direction in which intensity of light emitted from at least one of the light source units closest to a center of the arrangement thereof is to be highest makes a non-perpendicular angle with the direction of arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiichiro Nishina, Yasuo Sakurai, Masahiro Itoh, Hibiki Tatsuno, Yoshifumi Sudoh
  • Structure supporting distribution cable of document reading apparatus
    Patent number: 8081354
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention involves a document reading apparatus that includes an optical scanning unit that moves back and forth in a document reading direction so as to read information of a document placed on a document placement table arranged in a top face of a frame by irradiating the document with light emitted from a light source lamp, and a distribution cable connected to the light source lamp. The optical scanning unit includes a support member that leads out and supports the distribution cable connected to the light source lamp in the document reading direction, and the support member includes a regulating member that regulates inclination of the lead-out distribution cable with respect to the document reading direction to support the distribution cable so as to be substantially parallel to the document reading direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiko Okada, Yasuhiro Suto, Mitsuharu Yoshimoto, Kenji Tanaka
  • Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus using same
    Patent number: 8077361
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus is detachably mountable in an image forming apparatus. The optical scanning apparatus includes a light source unit to simultaneously emit a plurality of light beams; an optical element unit including an optical element to focus light beams deflected by the optical element onto a surface to be scanned, and hold the light source unit in a rotatively adjustable manner; and a rotation adjustment unit to adjust a position of the light source unit relative to the optical element unit in a rotation direction when an external force acts on the rotation adjustment unit. The rotation adjustment unit is disposed at a rear end of the optical scanning apparatus in an inserting direction to the image forming apparatus or at an adjustable position when the optical scanning apparatus is installed in the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Watanabe
  • OPERATION DEVICE AND IMAGE READING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20110299142
    Abstract: A graphic that indicates a switch is formed on a panel at a location corresponding to a first light guide element. A character to be displayed via the panel is formed on a second light guide element. The first light guide element is supported on a substrate, in close contact with an electrode, via a sheet-like shaped attaching member, and the second light guide element is supported by a base material without being supported on the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: December 8, 2011
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Noboru Shimoyama, Hiroshi Ogushi, Yasushi Ishida, Yasuhito Tsubakimoto
  • Image forming apparatus and optical controller
    Patent number: 8072656
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided. The image forming apparatus includes a light emitter which emits light; a drive section which drives the light emitter according to a control signal; a light amount detection section which detects an amount of light which is emitted from the light emitter; an analog to digital converter which converts the amount of light into a digital value; a feedback controller which controls the control signal based on the digital value and a reference value, and outputs the control signal to the drive section; and a setting change section which sets a change unit used by the feedback controller to control the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Isao Kubo
  • Optical Scanner
    Publication number: 20110292471
    Abstract: An optical scanner includes: a light source; a light deflector configured to deflect a light beam from the light source in a main scanning direction; a scanning lens through which the light beam having been deflected by the light deflector passes; a beam detector configured to detect the light beam; a mirror disposed between the light deflector and the scanning lens in an optical axis direction of the scanning lens and configured to reflect the light beam having been deflected by the light deflector toward the beam detector; and a wall portion configured to cover one end face of the mirror that faces the scanning lens, wherein the surface of the wall portion facing the scanning lens is tilted with respect to a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Taizo MATSUURA, Jun MIHARA
  • IMAGE SCANNING DEVICE, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING IMAGE QUALITY OF IMAGE SCANNING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20110292470
    Abstract: An image scanning device, an image forming apparatus including the image scanning device, and a method of controlling image quality in the image scanning device are provided. The image scanning device includes a document board on which documents to be scanned are placed, a scanning unit which is installed on a lower portion of the document board to be linearly reciprocated, and comprises a scanner including a light guide for irradiating light to the documents, and light emitting devices that are separated from both ends of the light guide and irradiate light, and an image sensor for receiving the light emitted from the scanning unit, wherein, loss of the light emitted from the light emitting devices is compensated for by increasing intensity of electric current supplied to the light emitting devices as a distance between the light emitting devices and the light guide increases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Jee-hoon Chun, Hye-young Min
  • IMAGE SCANNING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20110286053
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image scanning apparatus includes: a document table on which an original document is stacked; a substrate; plural first light emitting elements located on one surface of the substrate, the first light emitting elements each emitting light for irradiating the original document on the document table; and plural second light emitting elements located on the other surface of the substrate, the second light emitting elements each emitting light for irradiating the original document on the document table.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shiraishi, Naoaki Ide, Mitsuru Hatano, Sueo Ueno, Katsuya Nagamochi, Yusuke Hashizume, Naoya Koseki, Koji Shimokawa, Jun Sakakibara, Kenji Itagaki, Sasuke Endo
  • IMAGE READING UNIT AND OVERHEAD IMAGE READING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20110286052
    Abstract: An image reading unit includes an image reading section that reads an image of a document in a one-dimensional direction by one-dimensionally aligned imaging elements, a light source that irradiates an image reading region by the image reading section with light, and a rotation head that holds the image reading section and the light source in a manner that the image reading section and the light source are rotatable relative to the document about a rotation axis which is parallel to an alignment direction of the imaging elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventor: Masanari TAKABATAKE
  • READING HEAD
    Publication number: 20110286054
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a reading head includes: a carriage configured to move in a sub-scanning direction with respect to a document table glass; a first light source provided to be movable integrally with the carriage and configured to illuminate a reading target position on the document table glass from an angle tilting to one side in the sub-scanning direction with respect to a reading optical axis extending in a normal direction in the reading target position on the document table glass; and a second light source provided to be movable integrally with the carriage and configured to illuminate the reading target position from a tilting angle larger than the angle of the first light source to the other side in the sub-scanning direction with respect to the reading optical axis and from a position further apart from the reading target position than the first light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicants: TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Sueo Ueno, Naoaki Ide, Jun Sakakibara, Katsuya Nagamochi, Hiroyuki Shiraishi, Yusuke Hashizume, Kenji Itagaki, Sasuke Endo, Koji Shimokawa, Naoya Koseki, Mitsuru Hatano
  • SINGLE LED DUAL LIGHT GUIDE
    Publication number: 20110273751
    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: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael John WILSHER
  • LED LIGHT GUIDE WITH INTEGRAL IR FILTER
    Publication number: 20110273750
    Abstract: Various embodiments provide illuminators and related scanner illuminating systems, wherein the illuminators can include one or more light guides with each including an IR filter and/or an IR-absorbing coating for removing an IR component from the light introduced in the light guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael John WILSHER
  • Method and apparatus for inspecting image, image forming apparatus, and computer-readable recording medium storing image inspecting program
    Publication number: 20110273732
    Abstract: An image inspecting apparatus includes a first light illuminating unit that irradiates a measured object on which an image is formed with illuminating light from a diagonal direction; an imaging unit that receives specular light of the illuminating light with which the measured object is irradiated by the first light illuminating unit; and an image inspecting unit that inspects the image. The image inspecting unit generates gloss reference data from density distribution data included in print data used for forming the image by using a converting unit. The image inspecting unit inspects a gloss distribution of the image by using the gloss reference data and a gloss distribution of the image that is generated based on an amount of the specular light received by the imaging unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiji Kojima, Fumihiro Nakashige, Hitoshi Itoh
  • ILLUMINATING APPARATUS, IMAGE READING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS
    Publication number: 20110273752
    Abstract: In a light source unit (210) serving as an embodiment of an illuminating apparatus, when P is a light-emitting element pitch [mm], and H is an optical axis distance [mm] between light-emitting elements (212) and an original (G), and when, in an illuminance cycle (T) representing repetition of bright and dark areas in a main scanning direction (X) on a light-irradiated face (Gs) of the original (G) caused by the light-emitting elements (212), the light-emitting element pitch (P) and the optical axis distance (H) are set such that unevenness [%] (M) (=(L1?L2)/L3 [%]) obtained by dividing a value obtained by subtracting a minimum illuminance value (L2) from a maximum illuminance value (L1) by an average illuminance value (L3) and an inter-unevenness distance [mm] (N) which is a half cycle of the illuminance cycle (T) satisfy the relation M?N/2?5.5, and more preferably, M?N/2?7.5.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Suto, Tomohiko Okada, Shohichi Fukutome, Hisashi Yamanaka, Kenji Nakanishi, Yoshihisa Yamada, Mitsuharu Yoshimoto, Eiji Kurimoto, Keiji Sakai
  • Image data luminance compensating method and sheet-feeding scanning apparatus using such method
    Patent number: 8054507
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image data luminance compensating method and a sheet-feeding scanning apparatus using such an image data luminance compensating method. According to the reference luminance value change of the reference background strip before and after the current document passes through the scan operating region, the luminance gain associated with compensation of the image data of the next document is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Sheng-Ping Wang, Chang-Yung Feng
  • Acquiring three-dimensional structure using two-dimensional scanner
    Patent number: 8054500
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to a method of acquiring three-dimensional structure of an object using a flatbed scanner. The object is placed with a surface to be scanned facing down on a scanner platen. At least three images are obtained under differing lighting directions. The images are processed to generate the three-dimensional structure. Other features and embodiments are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Thomas Malzbender
  • Scanning optical apparatus, image forming apparatus and image clock correction method
    Patent number: 8054502
    Abstract: A scanning optical apparatus includes, for example, a determination unit, a correction unit, a creating unit, and a drive control unit. The determination unit determines an amount of correction of an image clock for controlling an output timing of a beam for each pixel constituting one line in a main scanning direction of the beam. The correction unit corrects the image clock in accordance with the amount of correction that is determined. The creating unit creates an image signal that is utilized for driving a light source in accordance with the image clock that is corrected. The drive control unit controls driving of the light source in accordance with the image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuhide Koga
  • Portable computer system and operating method thereof
    Patent number: 8049936
    Abstract: The invention provides a portable computer system for capturing a target image related to an item. The portable computer system comprises a base, a cover, an image capturing module, and a lightness adjusting module. The cover is pivotally connected to the base, and comprises a panel. According to the size of the item, the cover rotates with respect to the base to project the light radiated from the panel onto the base. The image capturing module is used for rotating with respect to the cover to capture a reference image according to the size of the item. The lightness adjusting module is used for adjusting the lightness of the panel according to the reference image. After the lightness of the panel is adjusted, the item is deposed on the base, and the image capturing module captures the target image related to the item.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Quanta Computer Inc.
    Inventors: Hsu-Hung Chen, Tung-Lin Hsieh, Hsin-Hung Lee, Yao-Shun Tseng