Abstract: A solid state imaging device comprising: a plurality of photosensitive pixels for scanning an optical image signal falling thereon and converting the same photoelectrically which are arranged in parallel to one another in a main scan direction, wherein the photosensitive pixels are respectively formed in a triangle or in a trapezoid, the two mutually adjoining ones of the photosensitive pixels are positioned in point symmetry in which the two mutually adjoining photosensitive pixels are rotated in 180° about a point from each other, and the oblique sides of the two mutually adjoining photosensitive pixels are opposed to and in contact with each other.

Abstract: The present invention provides a scanner with an object distance adjusting device that allows effective scanning of documents placed at varying heights over its transparent platform. The scanner comprises a movable scanning module with an optical sensing device for converting light into image signals, a lens set for focusing light onto the optical sensing device, and an object distance adjusting device for adjusting the object distance from the lens set to the document. The object adjusting device allows accurate object distances regardless of whether a transmitted document or a reflective document is scanned leading to exact resolution and high scanning quality.

Abstract: A contact-type image sensor (20) comprises a case (21), a glass cover (22) provided on an upper surface of the case (21), a bottom substrate (23) mounted in a bottom surface of the case (21), light receiving elements (24) mounted on the bottom substrate, light emitting elements (25) for irradiating an object (D) on the glass cover (22) with light, and a rod lens array (27) for collecting the light reflected by the object (D) on the glass cover (22) onto the light receiving elements (24). The light emitting elements (25) are mounted on the bottom substrate (23). The contact-type image sensor further comprises a light guide (26) provided in the case (21) for efficiently directing the light from the light emitting elements (25) to a predetermined region (L) of the glass cover (22).

Abstract: Spatially offset, row interpolated image sensor includes a linear array sensor having a first row of longitudinally extending pixels with a first spatial periodicity and a second row of longitudinally extending pixels having a second spatial periodicity laterally adjacent the first row and longitudinally staggered with respect to the first row; and a read circuit for individually, selectively sampling pixels of the rows for producing a composite output which has a combined spatial periodicity which is shorter than either of the first and second spatial periodicities and has a number of samples equal to the combined samples of both the rows.

Abstract: When a selecting unit selects a second mode for sensing a document or the like, image signals obtained by exposing an exposing unit enters a second mode unit through a clamping unit and the selecting unit. High resolution image signals are generated in the second mode unit. Meanwhile, levels of the electrical image signals are detected by a detecting unit, and a control unit performs either exposure control by the exposing unit and gain control by a gain control unit or both in accordance with a peak level of the detected levels of the electrical image signals. At the same time, a correction unit sets a target value for the levels of the electrical image signals in accordance with a selected mode. The electrical image signals are controlled so that the detected levels approach the target value, thereby a document, an illustration, and the like can be sensed in high resolution and an image of high quality can be obtained regardless of character density in the document.

Abstract: A device for holding a Charge Couple Device (CCD) in an optical scanner where optical alignment of the CCD to the position of scanned image of document can be easily made. The device includes a holder for holding a lens and providing a focused image taken from the scanned document; a positioning element mounted on the holder for adapting a CCD to be slightly rotated in a plane around a pivot point fixed on the holder and aligned with the focused image. The positioning element is furnished with a matching hole for precisely carrying a bottom portion of the CCD. The positioning element mounting to the holder needs only one dimensional adjustment which is easier and more effective.

Abstract: An apparatus for scanning a document, including scanning a photograph, the apparatus including a contact image sensor (CIS), the apparatus designed to reduce the friction between the contact image sensor and the document being scanned. The reduction is achieved by reducing the friction by use of a non-stick material or by reducing the static electricity forces or both. The preferred embodiment is a CIS whose housing is made of a non-stick material which also is static electricity dissipative.

Abstract: A scanning device which will take samples from different positions to increase its resolution. The scanning device comprises a housing, a scanning module, and a driving device. The housing comprises a transparent platform installed on its top for placing a document. The scanning module is installed inside the housing and is slidable along a front-and-rear direction for scanning the document. The scanning module comprises a carrier, a sensor, and a positioning device for fixing the sensor inside the carrier. The sensor is installed within the carrier, is slidable along a left-right direction and comprises a plurality of linearly arranged sensing units for taking samples from the scanned document. A driving device is used for driving the scanning module forward and backward to scan the document.

Abstract: An optical scanner with adjustable resolution includes a casing, an optical path means, a driving means and a movable motor. The casing has a scanning path for the optical path means reciprocally moving therein for scanning. The driving means includes a belt-pulley means and a first friction wheel. The motor has an output shaft upon which a second friction wheel is mounted. The second friction wheel makes contact with the first friction wheel for driving the belt-pulley means to move the optical path means to perform scanning. The movable motor may change contact position between the first and second friction wheel and consequently change moving speed of the optical path means. As a result, the resolution of the scanner may be changed and adjusted.

Abstract: A contact image sensor module having a plurality of spring mountings is provided to allow the CIS module contact tightly with the bottom surface side of the sheet table. The spring mountings are made of spring steel so that they are soft and elastic enough to support the CIS module. The spring mountings are engaged to the CIS module in a manner that ear-shaped spring steel plates are formed to rest on the side walls of the carriage for absorbing the shock of the CIS module. When conveyed by a carriage, the present invention can be adapted to any flatbed scanner having either a single guiding device or a pair of guiding device.

Abstract: Active pixel sensor with separated pixel areas, each sensing a different primary color, red, green or blue. Each of the colors is sensed using a different size color filter element to allow receiving an amount of light dependent on the responses of the image sensor to the specific color.

Abstract: A sheet with a thickness .DELTA.x is attached on a surface of a plate glass in an image reading area, against which a subject-sheet is pressed, so that an air layer of thickness .DELTA.x can be formed between the surface of the plate glass and a surface of the subject-sheet at the opposite side. The thickness .DELTA.x is determined to reduce the effects of an optical interference of the illumination light from a light emitting diode. The sheet has an uneven surface in order to decrease an area where the sheet is in contact with the subject-sheet, thus reducing the adhesion between the sheet and the subject-sheet. A member with a low coefficient of friction is used as the sheet.

Abstract: The fingerprint sensor device comprises a thin flat transparent support (10) having an outside face for receiving the end of a finger and carrying on an inside face a two-dimensional matrix of photosensitive elements separated by strip-shaped gaps, and a substrate (14) carrying on an inside face light sources for directing light through the support via the strip-shaped gaps and substantially orthogonally to said outside face. The photosensitive elements are protected from the light coming from the sources so as to deliver an output signal only in response to light that has been back-scattered towards the outside face of the support.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a cabinet cover unit having a control panel; an optical system-incorporating unit incorporating a scanner portion for optically reading the information of originals and having a separation roller for feeding originals to a cover glass of the scanner. This optical system-incorporating unit is provided in an openable and closable manner so that the interior of the apparatus body can be exposed when it is opened with respect to the apparatus body. The cabinet cover unit can be opened and closed with respect to the optical system-incorporating unit so that the optical system-incorporating unit will be exposed when it is opened.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus has line sensors for optically reading an image carried on an image placed on a subject table and producing an image signal. The line sensors are displaceable by a piezoelectric device which is mounted on a support base by an attachment unit. The attachment unit has an attachment member including a bottom wall having two threaded holes defined therein that are spaced from each other by a given distance Ld. The attachment unit also has an adjustment member which has a screw insertion hole defined therein and extending from rear to front surfaces thereof for insertion therethrough of a screw for horizontally holding the piezoelectric device, and two positioning oblong holes defined vertically therein for passage therein of bolts threaded respectively in the threaded holes in the bottom wall of the attachment member.

Abstract: The invention is a system for scanning a document. A light source illuminates the document; an imager receives light from the document and directs it toward a detector array which produces a corresponding array of electrical signals. The imager has several optical properties that are useful either individually or in combination. The imager is telecentric and thereby ensures that image size and magnification are insensitive to object displacement along the optical axis and image brightness is uniform independent of object off-axis distance. An aspheric element within the imager balances focus variation within the depth of field with spherical aberration and thereby provides nearly uniform image resolution. A diffraction pattern, carried by the imager, corrects for spectral dispersion which occurs when light passes from air into a refractive material. An imager with a reflecting surface provides a system that is subject to little or no chromatic aberration.

Abstract: A device for holding a charge couple device (CCD) in an optical scanner where optical alignment of the CCD to the position of scanned image of document can be easily made. The device includes a holder for holding a lens and providing a focused image taken from the scanned document; and a positioning element mounted on the holder for adapting a CCD to be slightly moved in a line along a longitudinal direction of the CCD and aligned with the focused image. The positioning element is furnished with a matching hole for carrying a bottom portion of the CCD. The positioning element mounted to the holder only needs one-dimensional adjustment in shifting which is easier and more effective.

Abstract: The invention discloses a universal Contact Image Sensor (CIS) carriage for a flatbed scanner which can be adapted to various guiding and supporting structures, thereby to simplify the structure of the scanner and reduce the manufacture cost and maintenance fee. The CIS carriage consists of a bar-shaped carriage for holding a CIS module, a plurality of elastic elements, and a CIS module. The CIS carriage is lifted up to contact tightly with the bottom surface side of the sheet table to assure the sheet in focus, thereby to generate stable picture quality of images.

Abstract: A stray light baffle for reducing an amount of stray light incident on a detector may comprise a main body portion and a mounting pad portion. The mounting pad portion is affixed to a mounting surface with a light curable adhesive. The stray light baffle substantially blocks stray light and substantially transmits curing light. The mounting surface is located adjacent the detector so that the main body portion of the stray light baffle is interposed between the detector and a source of stray light when the stray light baffle is mounted to the mounting surface.

Abstract: An image scanner includes a base, a glass plate disposed on the base for receiving a document to be scanned, a transmitting stand disposed in the base and being capable of moving laterally therein, a top shell disposed above the base and engaged with the transmitting stand and an optical sensing unit disposed in the top shell, so that the image scanner can directly scan the document and effectively obviate the optical error problem which occurs when a glass plate is located between a document to be scanned and an image sensor as in the prior art.

Abstract: A device and method of doubling a vertical line speed for a camera for domestic use, the method including the steps of a) writing G1 channel data output from a G1 CCD of a 4CCD for a period of 0.5H, where H is a horizontal sync period, and then reading the written G1 channel data at a speed twice a first writing speed, b) writing G2 channel data output from a G2 CCD of the 4CCD for a period of 0.5H, and then reading the written G2 channel data at a speed twice a second writing speed, and c) alternately selecting data read out by the steps a) and b), thereby outputting G signals of a broad-band. As a result, the line memory of 4H used in a device of doubling a line speed of a G channel signal can be reduced to 1H.

Abstract: A document scanner includes: a document support for supporting a document in position to be scanned; an illumination system located adjacent to the document support for illuminating at least a portion of a supported document; a photosensitive medium for capturing an image of the document and generating image information; and a retroreflective imaging lens having an F-number between F/3 and F/8. The retroreflective lens comprises at least one lens element with optical power and a reflective surface, and is positioned to (i) receive light emanating from the document and propagated it in a first direction, through the retroreflective lens, (ii) reflect the light off said reflective surface in a second direction, and (iii) propagate the light through the retroreflective lens in the second direction, towards the photosensitive medium. The document support, the photosensitive medium, and the retroreflective lens are in a fixed spatial relationship relative to one another.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of compensating for the offset present in image signals produced by an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to accurately characterizing the offset, gain and higher order responses of image sensing elements to enable correction thereof in an image sensing device or scanner. The method utilizes intermediate (grey) reflectance targets to measure the response of each sensor element and then, using the measured responses, fits a characteristic curve to the responses to calculate the response of the sensor element, including a zero reflectance situation, to characterize an accurate offset level, gain, and higher order response for the sensor. Moreover, additional reflectance targets and response may be employed so as to enable the characterization of image sensing elements exhibiting non-linear responses to linearly increasing light intensities.

Abstract: A linear image sensor device with at least two lines including linear sensors 10, 20, which device is capable of showing a wide dynamic range. In the linear image sensor device, one linear sensor 10 is made to have a high sensitivity, while the other linear sensor 20 is made to have a low sensitivity. The linear sensors are respectively equipped with readout gates 13, 23 for reading out charges from sensor arrays 12, 22 comprising a number of pixels and CCD analog shift registers 14, 24 for transferring the charges read out. In the other linear sensor 20, analog memories 29a, 29b are provided between the readout gate 23 and the CCD analog shift register 24. Owing to the provision of the analog memories 29a, 29b, the signal outputs OUT1, OUT2 simultaneously occur, which can eliminate a problem coming from the difference in position between the lines.

Abstract: A Contact Image Sensor (CIS) system utilizing a phototransistor sensing element that consists of a mechanism to pre-charge or inject a "background charge" into the storage node and allow the charge to reset through the same output base-to-emitter junction. This pre-charge and reset process removes the residual image and replenishes the charge lost by the base-to-emitter sub-threshold leakage current. Furthermore, the reset of the injected charge through the same output base-to-emitter junction automatically sets the phototransistor to an initial dark level, which is at the start of a linear region of the response versus illumination curve, and thus substantially improves the photo-response linearity.

Abstract: An image reading device for photographic printing comprising an optical lens mechanism, a monochrome CCD image device arranged at a focal position on an optical axis of the optical lens mechanism, a filter rotation plate having a plurality of color filters rotatably arranged on the optical axis, and a cut filter for blocking unnecessary light arranged on the optical axis, wherein a light quantity correction means for obtaining stepwise spectral characteristics is arranged on the optical axis. The reflected light due to the conventional ND coating and the influences of the boundary plane and the parallel degree between the cut filter and the color filter are disappeared, whereby the occurrence of flare, ghost and color divergence can be prevented.

Abstract: A vertical line multiplication method and circuit multiplies the number of vertical lines of a video signal which is imaged by use of 4 CCDs to transform the video signal into another video signal having a higher resolution by controlling writing and reading of signals to and from memories. A first memory receives G1 channel data of a 0.5H period from a G1 CCD and outputs the written data at twice a speed of a writing speed. A second memory receives G2 channel data of a 1H period from a G2 CCD and outputs the written data at twice the speed of the writing speed. A selection device selects the data from the first and second memories alternately and outputs the selected signals sequentially as a wide bandwidth G signal.

Abstract: A contact image sensor for use in a fax machine or scanner, including a driver, at least one sensor chip, an analog switch, a capacitor, an operational amplifier, a uni-power supply, a voltage converter, and a voltage converter. In an alternate form of the present invention, the operational amplifier and the voltage converter are omitted.

Abstract: An image sensor array includes a plurality of photosensor chips, which are butted end-to-end to form a single linear array of photosensors. Each individual chip in the array is provided with an independently-addressable output enable line and video output line. This configuration allows individual chips to be addressed to output image data at specific times and in a specific manner suitable for any kind of downstream circuitry.

Abstract: The system achieves high-resolution imaging with low-resolution two-dimensional imagers whose sensors are only a fraction of a selected pixel area. Sensors are stepped across an image with an optical or mechanical stepper to acquire an image at each sensor position. Thereby, resolution is defined by a step size which is comparable to the sensor size, rather than by pixel resolution. The system thus uses multiple image, obtained from individual sensors, which have a sensed area substantially less than the area of the pixels of the sensor array. Such rescanning is accomplished by movable mirrors or lenses that are disposed between an illuminated specimen and a sensor area.

Abstract: An image is optically scanned by projecting the image onto an optical sensor through an optical shutter. In an exemplary embodiment, the image is projected through the optical shutter while the shutter is made substantially opaque except for a selected substantially transparent group of contiguous pixels. Then, the contents of the document are scanned by advancing this group of pixels across the shutter in a predetermined pattern. The shutter, for example, may comprise an LCD screen. To scan a document, the document is first placed against the shutter. As a light source directs light through the document and the shutter, the shutter is made substantially opaque except for a selected substantially transparent group of contiguous pixels. Then, the contents of the document are scanned by advancing this group of pixels across the shutter in a predetermined pattern. The document may be placed against either side of the shutter--near the light source or near the optical sensor.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a sensor IC having a group of photoelectric conversion devices which are linearly aligned, a sensor board on which the sensor IC is mounted, a lens for forming light information into an image on the sensor IC, a light source having electrical connection lines, an illumination unit consisting of a light guide for guiding light from the light source and outputting the light in a desired direction, and a frame for holding the respective members. The electrical connection lines of the light source are directly connected to the sensor board. Connector cables for the light source can be omitted, and the image sensor and the external system can be electrically connected through one connector. By simplifying the electrical connection, the influence of noise can be minimized.

Abstract: An optical scanner with the scanning and transmission control circuit board removed out of the scanning casing and formed in an interface card connectable to an interface connector located on a computer motherboard. The interface card has an interface socket connectable with a cable which wires respectively to an optical scanning means and a transmission means of the scanner. Computer power supply provides power needed in the scanner through the cable. Scanning signals are transmitted through the cable between the scanning means and the interface card. The interface socket may be a high speed one (such as an IDE) without sharing with a printer on a low speed parallel port like a conventional scanner. Since the control circuit board is located outside the scanner, the scanner may be made thin and smaller size, thus saving packaging, warehousing and transportation costs. Without sharing a parallel port with a printer, the scanning and printing processes may be performed concurrently at high speed.

Abstract: A fast scan error measuring system of a raster output scanner (ROS) is provided in order to determine whether the laser beam position in the fast scan direction is within acceptable operational parameters. A detector, for example, a linescan or area array camera, is used to acquire multiple successive images from each facet of the ROS as the unit is operating. For each rotating facet the position of a beam spot (centroid) at the end of scan line is measured. A sufficient number of centroids are collected so that a Fourier transform of the centroids will produce an accurate spatial frequency spectrum measured in cycles per millimeter. This spectrum can be easily compared to the product's fast scan error specification limits.

Abstract: In a three-line linear sensor, a first linear sensor (10) without electronic shutter structure and second and third linear sensors (20), (30) with electronic shutter structures (28), (38) being disposed in an axial symmetry fashion are combined and a line spacing (D1) between the first and second linear sensors (10), (20) can be reduced by an amount corresponding to the omitted electronic shutter structure. Also, since the second and third linear sensors (20), (30) are disposed in an axial symmetry fashion, a line spacing (D2) between the second and third linear sensors (20), (30) can be reduced and set to be substantially equal to the above-mentioned line spacing (D1).

Abstract: A method of input scanning an image using a detector comprising an array of radiation sensors, the method comprising1) exposing the radiation sensors to radiation from the image over a plurality of sampling periods, and for each respective sampling period:2) obtaining a single data value from each radiation sensor;3) summing the data values obtained during the sampling period;4) determining a peripheral response value in accordance with the sum obtained in step 3), wherein the peripheral response value for each sampling period is determined independently of the peripheral response values for the other sampling periods; and5) modifying the data values in accordance with the peripheral response value obtained in step 4).

Abstract: A defect compensator for a solid-state image pickup device includes a vertical charge coupled device (VCCD) region for transferring signal charges produced by a plurality of optical detectors which detects an image signal of incident light, in the vertical direction, a buffer for storing a pixel data in the VCCD region by means of a plurality of scanning lines unit sequentially, a defect detecting and compensating part having a plurality of matrix shaped sub-windows which calculate sum value of peripheral pixels except a central pixel upon receipt of the pixel data of the buffer, a plurality of sum-windows which divide sum value calculated by the corresponding sub-windows into a plurality of blocks to calculate their average value, a defect determining part which determines the presence of the defect upon comparing the average value with the central pixel value, and a compensation pixel value determining part which determines a defect compensation value upon comparing an arbitrary peripheral pixel value from

Abstract: A document feeder for a facsimile machine includes: a reading roller for a document reading unit, a shaft about which the roller rotates, a hollow rubber roller through which the shaft is located, an elastic rubber cylinder of a predetermined length mounted inside the rubber tube at the center, and a pair of levers each having a bushing to support the shaft and an eccentric cam inserted into each hole of the frames to separate the reading roller from the document reading section thereby connecting the reading roller to the frames. Brackets are attached to both ends of the document reading section to connect the document reading section to the frames. Elastic members are mounted under a center of the document reading section and support the document reading section, thereby keeping the reading roller's right and left sides in proper contact with a document reading section.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to reduce the line distance between light receiving elements for three colors of RGB of a color linear image sensor to reduce the required storage capacity for an external memory. The color linear image sensor is constructed such that a charge transfer element is disposed between each two adjacent light receiving elements of three rows and a charge read-out element is disposed between each charge transfer element and each of the light receiving elements on the opposite sides of the charge transfer element such that, when signal charges from the light receiving elements for different colors are to be transferred, each of the character transfer elements is used commonly and time divisionally by the centrally located light receiving elements and the light receiving elements on each of the opposite sides of the centrally located light receiving elements.

Abstract: A digitizing CCD array system calibrates the CCD array precisely, masks a data medium automatically, and recovers data from the data medium accurately. The system uses a substantially opaque film mask to eliminate the effects of diffused light and flare during a digitization process when the data medium is smaller than an illumination source. A multiple optical density filters are used in calibrating the CCD array to provide a precise optical density reference for digitization of the data medium. In addition, the invention increases contrast sensitivity in data recovery by selectively switching the CCD array on and off to control the duration of multiple exposure times, i.e., integration periods, during a single line scan.

Abstract: An imaging device according to the present invention has: a photometric circuit that detects a brightness of a photographic subject based on a light flux from the photographic subject that passes through a photographic lens; an exposure calculation circuit that calculates an aperture value and a shutter speed based on the detected brightness of the photographic subject; an imaging element that converts the light flux from the photographic subject received on each photo-electric element to an electric signal and outputs the electric signal, the imaging element having a plurality of the photo-electric elements and a micro-lens in which each of micro-lens elements is arranged facing to each of the photo-electric elements in order to converge the light flux from the photographic subject to a light receiving surface of each of the photo-electric elements; and a correction circuit that corrects the aperture value calculated by the exposure calculation circuit so that a signal level of the electric signal of the lig

Abstract: In an image sensor apparatus, a light emitting section is composed of a plurality of light emitting elements provided in a longitudinal direction of said image sensor apparatus. An optical section has an uneven structure, and changes the direction of light such that the light emerges from the optical section in a substantially parallel manner and converges to a linear region along the longitudinal direction. Here, the uneven structure includes a plurality of convex or concave portions, and a length of each of the plurality of convex or concave portions of the uneven structure in the longitudinal direction is smaller than a separation between adjacent two of the plurality of light emitting elements. An image sensor section transmits the converged light to a manuscript and for sensing a light reflected from the manuscript.

Abstract: A linear sensor includes first, second, and third linear sensor sections each composed of a linear array of sensor elements, wherein the linear arrays of sensor elements are spaced seven lines apart from each other. In operation, an image is sensed while moving the linear sensor three lines at a time. The output signals of the respective linear sensor sections are adjusted in terms of the timing relative to each other by a timing adjustment circuit. This allows the linear sensor to sense an image at a higher scanning speed and thus for a shorter time period.

Abstract: According to the present invention, a photoelectric converter comprises a plurality of substrates, which are located adjacent to each other and on which a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices are two-dimensionally arranged, either scan circuits or detection circuits, at least, that are arranged on two opposing sides of the photoelectric converter, whereby scanning directions either from the scan circuits or from the detection circuits, which are arranged on the two opposing sides, are capable of being set so as to be performed in like directions.

Abstract: In an electronic imaging apparatus, image information of an image signal photoelectrically converted from an image incident is stored in image information storing means in a format dependent upon a type of the applied storage device. Provided therein are communication means for transmitting and/or receiving image information generated in this apparatus or the other equivalent apparatuses while an operation mode of the apparatus is set for communication and switch means for causing the communication means to start a communication mode operation.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus for scanning an original in different directions is constructed by a light receiving unit to receive a reflection light from the original a transfer unit to transfer charges of the light received by the light receiving unit by using a transfer unit in accordance with the scanning direction a correction unit to correct an image signal outputted from the transfer unit and a control unit to control the correction in the correction unit in accordance with the scanning direction.

Abstract: It is an object of the invention to present an image scanner of high performance, high reliability, and low cost, capable of realizing high image quality of reading image and suited to small size, and an illuminating apparatus of low cost capable of increasing the quantity of light for illuminating an object to be read.

Abstract: A CCD array imager adapted for use as a spatial noise discriminator in confocal scanning microscopy comprises a parallel (vertical) register with a horizontal unmasked imaging row of pixels in tandem with a masked storage array, a serial (horizontal) register for readout, and a means for synchronizing image acquisition in the unmasked row with vertical charge shifting in the storage array such that images are mapped to on-diagonal pixels of the storage array whereas noise is mapped to off-diagonal pixels.

Abstract: A method for color imaging using a photosensor array having multiple rows of charge-coupled-device cells. The exposure times for each color channel are adjusted to provide improved signal-to-noise. The overall cycle time is determined by the channel having the weakest signal. A sufficient number of shift pulses are added to ensure that the weakest signal can still result in a full scale output. Once the total number of shift pulses per cycle is determined, the exposure times for the remaining channels are determined as a fraction of the weakest signal's required exposure (if possible). Each row has a separate transfer gate control input. The timing of the transfer gate pulses is then determined, preferably centering the exposure times to reduce color misregistration.

Abstract: A method of removing columnar streaks from a digital image of the type in which it is assumed that pixels in a predetermined region near a given pixel are strongly related to each other and employing gain and offset values to compute streak removal information, a test is performed for a strong relation between the pixels in a predetermined region near a given pixel and streak removal information is computed only if such a strong relationship exists, whereby image content that does not extend the full length of the image in the column direction will not be interpreted as a streak.