Facsimile Illumination Control Patents (Class 358/475)
  • Patent number: 8873114
    Abstract: A lens array including: a plurality of imaging portions arrayed in a first direction; wherein each of the plurality of imaging portions includes a first optical system configured to form an intermediate image of an object and a second optical system configured to re-form the intermediate image of the object in a first cross section parallel to the first direction and a direction of optical axes of the imaging portions, and wherein in each of the plurality of imaging portions, an optical flux from an object height at which a light available efficiency becomes 90% is restricted by at least one of a first aperture surface of the first optical system and a second aperture surface of the second optical system, and the optical flux from an object height at which the light available efficiency becomes 10% is restricted by the aperture surface which restricts the optical flux from the object height at which the light available efficiency becomes 90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yu Miyajima
  • Patent number: 8867107
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a transporting member that transports a document, a light source that irradiates the document at a reading position with light, a light receiving unit that receives light reflected at the reading position, a background member that is inclined with respect to the document at the reading position such that, upon reflecting the light emitted from the light source toward the light receiving unit when the document is not present at the reading position, a difference between an incident angle and a reflection angle thereon is less than a difference between an incident angle and a reflection angle on the document at the reading position, and an adjusting unit that adjusts a position or attitude of an acting member such that the light reflected from the background member is received with a greater intensity than light reflected from white paper at the reading position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kosuke Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8866870
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for controlling from a first location a laser at a second location are disclosed. Laser orientation data is determined at a first location. The laser orientation data is communicated to the second location. Video data is received from the second location that includes imagery of a laser beam emitted by a laser, and the imagery is presented on a display at the first location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: David A. Smith
  • Patent number: 8867108
    Abstract: An image reading device, includes an illumination optical system which has a light source unit configured to emit light being illuminating light to an illuminated object; an optical member configured to have a plurality of reflecting plates and collect the light emitted from the light source unit; and a plurality of reflecting members, the light emitted from the light source unit being collected by the optical member, and the collected light being reflected by the plurality of reflecting members to illuminate a reading target area on the illuminated object, and at least one reflecting surface of the optical member or the plurality of reflecting members having a relief structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hibiki Tatsuno
  • Patent number: 8867109
    Abstract: Provided is a light guide, in which: at least one of a reflecting part or a light exit part has a light condensing action in a direction intersecting a predetermined direction; the at least one of the reflecting part or the light exit part includes diffusing parts arranged in the predetermined direction; the diffusing parts include: a first curved surface having a first degree of diffusion in the predetermined direction for a sparse region of light sources; and a second curved surface having a second degree of diffusion, which is lower than the first degree of diffusion, in the predetermined direction for a dense region of the light sources; and each of the first curved surface and the second curved surface has a shape corresponding to a part of a cylinder extending in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction in which the light sources are arrayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ikutaro Mitsutake, Takeyoshi Saiga
  • Patent number: 8861044
    Abstract: A scanner module and an image scanning apparatus employing the same. The scanner module comprises an illuminator for illuminating light on an object to be scanned. The illuminator includes a light emitting diode, a light guide extending in a main scanning direction to change a direction of the light received from the light emitting diode, and at least one elastic member to elastically support at least one longitudinal end of the light guide. As the light guide is elastically supported by the elastic member, convex deformation or bowing of an emission face of the light guide due to thermal expansion can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Kwon Kim, Dong Hua Lee, Hyun Surk Kim, Kyung Rok Kim
  • Patent number: 8861046
    Abstract: A multi-functional device comprising an image forming apparatus to form a printing image and a scanner module to scan an image. The scanner module includes an illuminator to illuminate a light to a document mount, a sensor unit to read an image information of an object placed on the document mount, and an imaging lens to focus the light reflected from the object onto the sensor unit. The illuminator includes a light source to emit light, a light guiding unit and changes a traveling path of the light emitted from the light source to illuminate the document mount, and a guide holder which comprises an installation part where the light guiding unit is installed, and a mounting part where the light source holder is mounted to provide the light source at least one side of the light guiding unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaname Nagatani, Dong-hun Lee
  • Patent number: 8861045
    Abstract: An illuminator, a scanner module and an image scanning apparatus are provided. The scanner module includes an illuminator that includes a light source, a light guide extending in a main scanning direction to change a direction of the light from the light source, a guide holder recessed with a light guide mounting portion in which the light guide is mounted, and at least one supporting protrusion protruding from an entrance of the light guide mounting portion into the light guide mounting portion to support the light guide received in the light guide mounting portion. As the light guide is supported by the supporting protrusion formed at the entrance of the light guide mounting portion, it is possible to reduce deformation of the light guide and/or to prevent the light guide from being falling out of the light guide mounting portion when subjected to, e.g., a shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gyung Mo Tahk, Hyun Surk Kim, Kyung Rok Kim, Dong Hun Lee
  • Publication number: 20140300936
    Abstract: A scanning module structure includes an optical reflective casing, a light-emitting element, and an optical sensing module. The optical reflective casing includes plural fixed tilting structures and plural reflective aluminum sheets. The plural fixed tilting structures are integrally formed with the optical reflective casing. The plural reflective aluminum sheets are disposed on corresponding fixed tilting structures. The light-emitting element is used for emitting a light beam. The light beam is reflected by the plural reflective aluminum sheets. When the scanning module structure is enabled, the light beam emitted by the light-emitting element is projected onto a document. After the light beam is reflected by the document, the light beam is introduced into the optical sensing module. The light beam is sequentially reflected by the plural reflective aluminum sheets, and then projected onto the optical sensing module. Consequently, a document image corresponding to the document is generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2013
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Chao-Min Yang, Wen-An Huang
  • Patent number: 8854704
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source unit, an image sensor, an attenuator, an analog processor and an A/D converter. The attenuator generates a second analog signal by voltage-dividing a first analog signal by two resistors. The analog processor generates a third analog signal by amplifying the second analog signal with a predetermined gain. The A/D converter converts the third analog signal into a digital signal. A voltage-dividing ratio of the attenuator is not higher than a ratio of a maximum value of the amplitude of a signal inputtable to the analog processor to a maximum value of the amplitude of a signal having a possibility of being output from the image sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Masayoshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8854703
    Abstract: A document reading device for reading a page of a passport includes a mounting surface, a camera, an illumination light source for radiating illumination light that is, and an ultraviolet light source for radiating ultraviolet light to activate a fluorescent material on the page. The illumination light source is at a first edge perpendicular to a binding edge on the page and radiates illumination light in the direction intersecting with the first edge. The ultraviolet light source is at a second edge parallel to the binding edge and radiates ultraviolet light in the direction intersecting with the second edge. The illumination light source includes an infrared light source and a white light source. The document reading device has both an illumination light source and an ultraviolet light source, and can avoid image capturing in the specular reflection condition when the document is deformed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Mukawa, Kazuki Saitou
  • Patent number: 8854701
    Abstract: An image-forming lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first group having a negative power as a whole, the first group consisting of a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface on the object side and a negative meniscus lens having a convex surface on the object side, the positive meniscus lens and the negative meniscus lens being cemented, an aperture stop, a second group consisting of a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface on the image side, a third group consisting of a positive meniscus lens having a convex surface on the image side, a fourth group consisting of a lens having a negative power, and a fifth group consisting of a biconcave lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotoshi Nakayama, Kiichiro Nishina, Masahiro Itoh
  • Publication number: 20140293372
    Abstract: A lighting unit is provided with: LED arrays in which light-emitting elements are positioned in an array in a main scanning direction; cylindrical parabolic mirrors that project light emitted from the LED arrays on an illumination region of an illuminated item; and a housing that houses or holds the LED arrays and the cylindrical parabolic mirrors. Each cylindrical parabolic mirror forms a shape in which a cylindrical paraboloid having curvature with respect to a sub-scanning direction has been clipped by an axial plane that is perpendicular to the vertex of the cylindrical paraboloid in the main scanning direction. The LED arrays are positioned so as to include the focal position of the cylindrical paraboloid in the light-emitting region, the central axis in the light-emitting direction being perpendicular to the axial plane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuki Okamoto, Taku Matsuzawa, Tadashi Minobe, Takahito Nakanishi
  • Publication number: 20140293370
    Abstract: A scanning method and apparatus. The method comprising the steps of: measuring an ambient video level using an area sensor under the control of a processor means; and calculating a gain and/or a exposure time and/or light source power for an actual flash video level using a stored reference flash video level and the measured ambient video level such that a summation of the actual flash video level and the ambient video level yields a desired video level in a scan image of the document using the calculated gain and/or exposure time and/or light source power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: PIQX IMAGING PTE LTD
    Inventors: Yew Kien Loi, Ling Chuing Goh, Swee Heng Yeo, Boon Chen Lee, Gunawan Sutono
  • Publication number: 20140293371
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a red light source, a green light source, a blue light source, a white reference plate, a light-amount adjusting section, a photo-detecting section, and a signal processing section. The light-amount adjusting section sets lighting periods of the red, green, and blue light sources for reading in a monochrome mode, based on: lighting periods of the red, green, and blue light sources set for reading in a color mode; and a result of detection performed by the photo-detecting section when the white reference plate is illuminated with the red light, the green light, and the blue light respectively emitted by the red, green, and blue light sources for the respective lighting periods set for reading in the color mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Yuichiro KUROKAWA
  • Patent number: 8848262
    Abstract: An optical radiation device includes a long light source unit in which light emitting elements are arranged in array, a long substrate on which the light source unit is mounted, a long optical guide to guide the light beams from the light emitting elements to a predetermined plane, and an optical collector to collect the light beams reflected by the predetermined plane. The length of an effective read area from a reading center of the optical collector to one end of the predetermined plane is different from that of an effective read area from the reading center to the other end thereof. The optical guide formed by injection molding includes a gate at one end in a length direction and a surface at the other end to exert total reflection, and is disposed so that the gate is positioned on the a same side as a shorter effective read area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Iwamatsu, Tsuyoshi Fujimoto, Mitsuru Nakajima, Tokiko Inoue, Chihiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8842343
    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; a reflecting portion that has plural reflecting surfaces respectively disposed at positions having different distances in an optical axis direction from the light receiving portion; and a processing portion that generates information on the image formed on the recording medium and information for measuring illumination depth of the light source, by use of the light received by the light receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Ito
  • Publication number: 20140268254
    Abstract: A light irradiation system for irradiating light to an irradiation area extending in a main scanning direction of a document face when placed on an image scanning apparatus includes a light source; a light guiding member to guide light emitted from the light source; and a reflector to reflect a part of light exiting from the light guiding member to the document face. The irradiation area is irradiated by the reflection light reflected by the reflector and a direct light exiting from the light guiding member without reflection at the reflector. The light guiding member includes an incidence surface where the light from the light source enters; and an exit surface where the light entered from the incidence surface exits. The reflector is disposed at a position in a direction that light intensity of light emitting from the light source becomes the strongest.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro IWAMATSU, Tsuyoshi FUJIMOTO
  • Publication number: 20140268255
    Abstract: The number of encoder pulses of a linear encoder when an optical head is moved from a scanning start position to a scanning end position during image readout is obtained as a comparative pulse number. An image processing section corrects pixel positions in a direction corresponding to a main scanning direction X of an image based on the difference between a reference pulse number which is determined in advance and the comparative pulse number.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Masaki TAKAMATSU
  • Patent number: 8837015
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus employing an illuminator configured to irradiate light to a photosensitive body to change a level of electrical potential of the photosensitive body. The illuminator includes at least one light source configured to generate light and a light guide configured to guide the light received from the light source toward the photosensitive body. The light guide includes at least one incidence face and an emission face. The at least one incidence face faces the light source in a main scanning direction to receive the light from the light source into the light guide. The light exits from the light guide through the emission face toward the photosensitive body. The emission face includes a diffusion pattern having a plurality of semi-cylindrical structures along a width direction of the light guide. A radius of curvature of the semi-cylindrical structures increases away from the at least one light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung Rok Kim
  • Patent number: 8837014
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques and apparatuses for reducing color fringes. In some embodiments, inaccuracies from color-insensitive sensors are corrected. Inaccuracies can be corrected in part by shortening a first illumination made temporally proximate a second illumination. By so doing, a center of the image captured for a first illumination is moved toward the image captured for a second illumination, which reduces a color fringe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas G. Keithley
  • Publication number: 20140253982
    Abstract: An illumination device and an image reading apparatus having improved heat resistance and spectral characteristics are provided. An illumination device used in an image reading apparatus that moves relative to a read area of a document includes: a light source; a light guide including an incident surface on which light from the light source is incident and an exit surface from which light from the light source exits; and a spectroscopic unit that is provided between the light source and the light guide and includes, on a surface of a glass substrate facing the light source, a multi-layer film for reflecting infrared light toward the light source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ikutaro MITSUTAKE, Tadao HAYASHIDE, Narumasa ITO
  • Publication number: 20140253981
    Abstract: A document camera includes an imaging device, a focus lens to form an image of a subject on the imaging device, an illumination part to illuminate the subject, a focusing adjustment part to focus the image of the subject on the imaging device by moving the focus lens, and a brightness adjustment part to adjust brightness of illumination light of the illumination part based on a movement amount of the focus lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yasunori YOSHINO
  • Publication number: 20140253983
    Abstract: An image reading lens which reads an original image includes a front group lens system on an object side, and a back group lens system on an image side, the front group lens system including three lenses having two positive lenses and a negative lens, and the back group lens system including a plastic negative lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Publication date: September 11, 2014
    Inventor: Takuya NAGANO
  • Patent number: 8830540
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Fukuma, Daisuke Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8830541
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided capable of guiding regular reflected light from a reading surface to a reflecting mirror when light is irradiated from two directions from light sources to the reading surface, and is suitable to read a gloss image. The light sources for irradiating light to the reading surface from the two directions of different angles are configured of a first light emitter and a second light emitter, a mirror reflecting surface for specularly reflecting light and a translucent surface for passing light therethrough being formed on the surface of a reflecting member for deflecting light from the reading surface to a predetermined reading light path direction, the first light emitter being arranged between the platen and the platen side surface of the reflecting member, the second light emitter being arranged at the back surface of the reflecting member so as to irradiate light on the reading surface through the translucent surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Junya Ozawa, Satoshi Tanaka, Fumimasa Amemiya, Shinnosuke Enomoto
  • Patent number: 8830542
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus for use in an image reading apparatus that forms a reduction image of a read area of an original on an image pickup element by an imaging optical system, includes: a light source illuminating the original; and a light guide guiding light to the original; wherein the light guide has a first surface on which light is incident or that diffuses light, a second surface from which light exits toward the read area, and a third and fourth surfaces arranged between the first and second surfaces in a sub-scanning section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the light guide, the third surface arranged on a side closer to an optical axis of the imaging optical system, and the fourth surface arranged on a side farther from the optical axis, wherein the third and fourth surfaces are reflective surfaces having the same paraxial power which is appropriately set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takayuki Sugiyama, Narumasa Ito
  • Patent number: 8823992
    Abstract: An image handling apparatus is disclosed, including an operation panel, hardware resources, a transferring part, and an image generation controlling part. The transferring part transfers image handle information input at the input screen to an external apparatus. The image generation controlling part receives and parses image generation information for at least one of the hardware resources to execute an image generation based on the image handle information, from the external apparatus in response to an instruction of the image generation, so that at least one of the hardware resources executes the image generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shohhei Moroi
  • Patent number: 8824026
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus having light emitting unit for irradiating light onto a original, reflected light detector light reflected by the original after the original is irradiated by the light emitting unit, outside light detector disposed in an area outside the area in which light reflected by the original enters the reflected light detector and reflected light correcting unit for correcting detection result data detected the reflected light detector based on outside light detected by the outside light detector. An image reading head having light emitting unit, which irradiates, a original with light, and a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in a row having a length longer than a length of the light emitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8823994
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a light source, an image sensor, a transport unit, and a control unit. While, during reading of a target to be read by the image sensor, the control unit causes the transport unit to accelerate the read rate of the image sensor to a reference read rate or to decelerate the read rate thereof from the reference read rate, the control unit causes the light source to light up, within the read time, with timing brought close to a read section from a lighting start point to a lighting end point in the case of reading one line in the reference read time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Akira Shimatani
  • Patent number: 8824024
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a reading unit having a light-receiving unit and a light-emitting unit emitting a plurality of lights of different colors toward a reading position. An opposing member is disposed opposite the reading unit with the reading position interposed therebetween. The controller controls the light-emitting unit to emit the lights and the light-receiving unit to receive the lights thereby acquiring an intensity of each light. The controller determines that a sheet is not present when relationships among intensities of the plurality of lights are same as the first intensity relationships. The first intensity relationships are defined by intensities of the plurality of lights reflected by the opposing member and received by the light-receiving unit. The first intensity relationships are different from intensity relationships of the plurality of lights reflected by a sheet present at the reading position and received by the light-receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Kuno
  • Publication number: 20140240796
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light emitting diode (LED), a carriage, light receiving elements, a clamp circuit, an A/D convertor, and an image correction unit. The image correction unit is configured to: detect a document area where the reflected light is abnormal by comparing first image data with second image data; and replace the first image data corresponding to the abnormal document area with third image data. The first image data is generated by movement of the carriage in a sub-scanning direction of a first direction. The second image data is generated by movement of the carriage in the sub-scanning direction of a second direction at a reduced luminescence level of the capturing light illuminated on the document compared with a luminescence level in the movement of the carriage in the first direction. The third image data is the second image data where at least brightness is adjusted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Haruki SAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140240797
    Abstract: An illuminating device capable of stably illuminating an irradiated object such as a document while suppressing light loss with a simply structure is provided. An LED array (71) and a reflective plate (73) are disposed sandwiching a slit (St) through which light reflected by a document MS passes and a light-guiding member (72) is disposed on the side of the LED array (71). The light-guiding member (72) includes a direct emission unit (77) disposed between an illumination range y centered on a document reading position and the LED array (71) and an indirect emission unit (78) disposed between the reflective plate (73) and the LED array (71), a light incidence face of the direct emission unit (77) and a light incidence face of the indirect emission unit (78) are disposed at mutually different position around the LED array (71), and the LED array (71) is disposed on a side of an interior angle formed by the light incidence faces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yasuhiro SUTO, Mitsuharu YOSHIMOTO, Tomohiko OKADA, Hisashi YAMANAKA, Shohichi FUKUTOME, Kenji NAKANISHI
  • Publication number: 20140240795
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a light scanning apparatus of a simple arrangement which can reduce print misregistration of respective beams in a main scanning direction in an image region even when an inexpensive imaging optical unit which forms a spot image on the image region of a surface to be scanned, and can form a high-resolution image, and an image forming apparatus using the same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Genichiro Kudo
  • Patent number: 8817342
    Abstract: Provided is a light guide, in which: at least one of a reflecting part or a light exit part has a light condensing action in a direction intersecting a predetermined direction; the at least one of the reflecting part or the light exit part includes diffusing parts arranged in the predetermined direction; the diffusing parts include: a first curved surface having a first degree of diffusion in the predetermined direction for a sparse region of light sources; and a second curved surface having a second degree of diffusion, which is lower than the first degree of diffusion, in the predetermined direction for a dense region of the light sources; and each of the first curved surface and the second curved surface has a shape corresponding to a part of a cylinder extending in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction in which the light sources are arrayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ikutaro Mitsutake, Takeyoshi Saiga
  • Patent number: 8817343
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus capable of reading documents includes a reading unit including a light emitting element, a mechanism configured to move the reading unit, and a control unit configured to control the reading unit and the mechanism both to carry out reading by turning on the light emitting element and moving the reading unit and to temporarily stop moving the reading unit upon occurrence of a predetermined factor. The control unit sets a first current value which is caused to flow through the light emitting element when reading is carried out and sets a second current value which is less than the first current value and which is caused to flow through the light emitting element when the reading unit is temporarily stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Kubozono, Yasuyuki Shinada
  • Patent number: 8817341
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes: a detecting unit, a storing unit, a threshold determining unit, and a control unit. The detecting unit detects an ambient brightness level at an arbitrary time zone. The storing unit stores information indicating the brightness level detected by the detecting unit. The threshold determining unit determines a threshold serving as a criterion for switching into a low-power-consumption mode according to the information indicating the brightness level stored in the storing unit. The control unit controls switching into the low-power-consumption mode using the threshold determined by the threshold determining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Taichi Yoshioka
  • Publication number: 20140233077
    Abstract: An light irradiation system for irradiating light a document face includes a light source; a light guiding member to guide light emitted from the light source; and a reflector to reflect a part of light exiting from the light guiding member to the document face. A direction that emission light intensity of the light emitted from the light source becomes the strongest is different from a direction extending from the light source to an irradiation area. The irradiation area is irradiated by a reflection light reflected by the reflector, and a direct light exiting from the light guiding member without reflection at the reflector. The light guiding member including an incidence surface, an exit surface, and a light guiding part including a total reflection face. Light quantity irradiated to the document face by reflection light is smaller than light quantity irradiated to the document face by direct light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro IWAMATSU, Tsuyoshi FUJIMOTO
  • Patent number: 8810867
    Abstract: An LED module includes first through third LED chips and two Zener diodes for preventing excessive voltage application to the first and the second LED chips. A first lead includes a mount portion on which the first through third LED chips and the two Zener diodes are mounted. A resin package covers part of the first lead and includes an opening for exposing the three LED chips and two Zener diodes. A single insulating layer bonds the first and second LED chips to the first lead. A single conductive layer bonds the third LED chip and two Zener diodes to the first lead. The Zener diodes are arranged between the first, second LED chips and the third LED chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Sawada
  • Publication number: 20140226190
    Abstract: A laser scanner has a light emitter, a rotary mirror, a light receiver, a first beam splitter to send electromagnetic energy from an electromagnetic energy generator into the environment, a second beam splitter to send reflected electromagnetic energy to a spectroscopic energy detector, and a control and evaluation unit, the spectroscopic energy detector configured to determine wavelengths in the reflected electromagnetic energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert E. Bridges, Reinhard Becker
  • Patent number: 8804208
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus that reads images of document images having different gloss levels with a reproducibility suitable for uses includes a data processor to irradiate a document image with light from a regular reflection light source and a diffuse reflection light source, and to generate image data based on a regular reflection output value and a diffuse reflection output value obtained from a photoelectric converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Satoshi Tanaka, Yoshihiko Minagawa, Hideaki Inoue, Junya Ozawa, Yoshihiro Hanagata, Hotaka Ishimaru
  • Patent number: 8804216
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a first reader member, an optical system, and a second reader member. The first reader member reads an image recorded on a surface of a medium traveling through a predetermined read area by receiving light from the medium. The read area is set on a transport path along which the medium is transported. The optical system guides the light from the medium to the first reader member. The second reader member has a color measurement unit disposed on an optical path of the light guided by the optical system and performing color measurement on the light. The second reader member reads a color of the image recorded on the surface of the medium on the basis of the light. The second reader member reads a color of an image in a predetermined second area included in the read area read by the first reader member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Ito
  • Patent number: 8804209
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus including, an input unit for inputting image data including a document region, a storage for storing the brightness of each pixel on a first main scan line outside the document region, a corrector for correcting the brightness of each pixel on the first main scan line in accordance with the brightness of pixels in a first part and the brightness of pixels in a second part on a second main scan line following the first main scan line, and an edge point detector for detecting an edge point of the document region situated on the second main scan line in accordance with the difference between the brightness of each pixel on the first main scan line corrected and the brightness of each pixel on the second main scan line respectively corresponding to each pixel on the first main scan line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Akira Iwayama, Masayoshi Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8804207
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus which supports a both-side scan mode and a controlling method thereof. The image reading apparatus includes: an automatic paper transfer unit which automatically transfers a papers; a first scanning unit which comprises a first light source and scans a first side of the paper; a second scanning unit which comprises a second light source and scans a second side of the paper; and a controller which controls the first and second light sources to be alternately lit on a plurality of times within a cycle of a preset signal when the paper is transferred to the automatic paper transfer unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung-je Joh
  • Patent number: 8797610
    Abstract: A processing apparatus includes a photosensor, a processing unit and a control unit. The control unit detects a light receiving signal output from the photosensor during a first light emission period and obtains a first detection result, and makes first determination based on the first detection result by determining whether the processing unit can execute a function. The control unit detects the light receiving signal after a waiting period and obtains a second detection result. The control unit makes second determination based on the second detection result by determining whether the processing unit can execute the function. The control unit makes the second determination in a second mode that requires small consumption power, and according to determination in the second determination in the second mode that the processing unit can execute the function, the control unit keeps the second mode and makes the first determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hironori Hirata, Toru Tsuzuki, Shingo Itoh
  • Patent number: 8797611
    Abstract: A lens receives light emitted from an illumination source along an orientation in which a center of the lens is aligned with a central axis of illumination that forms an acute angle of incidence relative to a to-be-imaged surface and the lens directs the light toward the to-be-imaged surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Michael J. Steinle
  • Patent number: 8797609
    Abstract: An image sensor unit includes a reflection reading light guide that emits light from a reflection reading light source toward the bill, a transmission reading light guide that emits light from a transmission reading light source toward the bill, an imaging element that focuses light from the bill, and a light receiving element that receives light that is collected by the imaging element. The transmission reading light source and the transmission reading light guide are disposed on the opposite side of a conveyance path through which the bill can pass, for the reflection reading light source and the reflection reading light guide, and a light blocking member that blocks a part of the light from the reflection reading light guide is disposed between the reflection reading light guide and the transmission reading light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuuichi Shimoda, Tomoyuki Horiguchi, Hidemasa Yoshida, Akifumi Fujiwara, Hidehisa Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140211272
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a light source, an imaging section, and a controller. The light source includes a plurality of light emitting elements. The light source irradiates light to an original document, while moving relative to the original document. The imaging section obtains scan data read from the original document by light irradiated to the original document from the light source. The controller controls the light source and the imaging section. The controller determines a read target region and a non-read target region in the original document, turns on a light emitting element out of the plurality of light emitting elements, which corresponds to the read target region, and turns off a light emitting element out of the plurality of light emitting elements, which corresponds to the non-read target region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventor: Haruki SAYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140204432
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: light-receiving elements arranged in a main-scanning direction to perform photoelectric conversion pixel by pixel; AD converter units that convert each piece of analog data photoelectric-converted by the light-receiving elements into parallel pieces of digital data; a storage unit that stores therein each of the digital data converted by the AD converter units; a converter unit that reads the digital data stored in the storage unit and converts the read digital data into serial data in the main-scanning direction; a readout control unit that changeably controls a readout start pixel and a readout end pixel of the serial data in the main-scanning direction; and a period change unit that changes a period in which the converter unit converts digital data into serial data in the main-scanning direction based on the readout start pixel and the readout end pixel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Hideki HASHIMOTO, Masamoto NAKAZAWA
  • Patent number: 8786915
    Abstract: An image sensor unit includes: a light source including a light emitting element on a light emitting surface; a light guide that causes light from the light source to be incident on a light incident surface facing to the light emitting surface, ejects the light from a light ejecting surface and illuminates a document; a rod lens array that images reflected light from the document; a sensor substrate on which a photoelectric conversion element is mounted, the photoelectric conversion element converting the reflected light imaged by the rod lens array into an electric signal; and a frame that supports the light source, the light guide, the rod lens array and the sensor substrate, wherein positioning sections are provided on an opposite side of the light emitting surface of the light source and at a part of the frame which is disposed at the opposite side of the light emitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitsuyoshi Kisara, Hideo Kiyota, Shuuichi Shimoda, Hidemasa Yoshida, Hidehisa Takahashi