Charge Coupled Device Patents (Class 358/483)
  • Patent number: 8493638
    Abstract: Disclosed are a scanner capable of adjusting the focus distance and an image forming apparatus having the same. The scanner may include a focus adjustment structure that comes into an interfering contact with a scanning unit as the scanning unit moves along a scanning path so as to cause a movement of the scanning unit in the direction perpendicular to the scanning path toward and away from the document to be scanned. With such configuration the focus adjustment can be realized using the scanning movement of the scanning unit along the scanning path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-Gyoo Lee
  • Patent number: 8488210
    Abstract: Disclosed are embodiments of methods, systems, and apparatus for providing multiple image fields or regions on an imaging array. In certain preferred embodiments, a high density imaging array may be partitioned into two or more regions, each of which may be used to render a separate view of the scan volume. This arrangement may provide an increase in the effective scan volume beyond the volume available with a single imager having a single point of view and may allow for reading of encoded symbols at a variety of orientations that would otherwise preclude accurate imaging with a single imager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Datalogic ADC, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry J. Smith
  • Patent number: 8488214
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a light irradiating means for irradiating light to a subject having images to be read; an image forming means for making the light from the subject incident on an image plane so as to form images as erected images; and a photoelectric conversion means for converting the incident light of the erected images into image signals, wherein the image forming means is constituted of a plurality of lens arrays that have a mutually identical shape and property and are sequentially disposed, sharing common light axes, between the subject and the photoelectric conversion means, and the respective lens arrays are formed by integral molding of a plurality of lenses, and an aperture provided with light passing holes with the light axes as the center is interposed at least between the plurality of lens arrays, and areas other than the light passing holes in the aperture form light shielding areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kikuo Kaise
  • Patent number: 8482813
    Abstract: An image-scanning device wherein plural images of an object are picked up inverted and reduced in size by image-forming optical systems arranged to be adjacent to each other, and then restored by an image processing system. Each optical system includes a first optical element having a first focal length; an aperture member located at a focus position in a rear side of the first optical element; and a second optical element provided in a rear side of the aperture member and having a second focal length shorter than the first focal length, respectively disposed from a side of the object being picked up to a side of the image pickup device. In between optical systems, corresponding image pick up devices thereof are arranged to be adjacent to each other, the image pickup devices including a region in which the images picked up by the image pickup devices are overlapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawano, Tatsuki Okamoto, Tomotaka Katsura, Junichi Nishimae
  • Patent number: 8462393
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a scanner part reading an original on a contact glass, and a projector part projecting image information onto the contact glass as first image displaying. The projector part projects thumbnails or an image to have an image processing operation carried out or be printed. The display part carries out second image displaying obtained from reducing the first image displaying in size. At a time of the scanner part being operated, transmittance of the contact glass is increased and the projector part stops projecting the image information, and at a time of the scanner part not being operated, the transmittance of the contact glass is decreased and the projector part carries out the first image displaying. Setting of the image processing operation for the image data is reflected on the first image displaying and the second image displaying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tasuku Kohara, Kazuo Koike, Kenichi Yamada, Taisuke Omi, Tsuyoshi Endoh, Hiroshi Takeda, Hiroki Tsuruoka
  • Patent number: 8451516
    Abstract: An apparatus for scanning a bound document is provided. The apparatus comprises a casing, an image-capturing assembly, at least a sensor and a controller. The casing has a first platen and a second platen disposed adjacent to each other, wherein the first platen having a scanning region is provided to support the bound document. The image-capturing assembly is disposed under the first platen for capturing an image of the bound document within the scanning region and generating an image signal. At least a sensor is disposed on the second platen for detecting the presence of the bound document. The sensor transmits a detection signal responsive to detection of the document presence. The controller is electrically connected to the image-capturing assembly and the sensor for executing a book-scanning mode responsive to the detection signal received from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Yen-Cheng Chen
  • Patent number: 8446645
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus including a sheet conveyance unit that conveys the sheet via a conveyance path; a reading unit, which is movable within a reading area; an image data generation control unit that is configured to control: the reading unit to read the sheet at the reading position while conveying the sheet through the reading position so as to generate an entire image data of the sheet; and generate an entire image data of the sheet; a determination data generation control unit that is configured to: control the reading unit to read the sheet by the image data generation control unit; and generate a partial image data of the sheet including the leading end portion as a determination data; and a determination unit that determines whether or not a state of conveyance of the sheet is normal based on the determination data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidekazu Okada
  • Patent number: 8446644
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a scanner apparatus. The scanner apparatus includes a light source, a reflecting means and an imaging means. The light source is located under an object, and radiates light so that the light is reflected from the object. The reflecting means is placed under the light source at a specific angle of inclination with respect to a surface of the object, and folds the path of the light when the light radiated by the light source is reflected from the object. The imaging means is placed along the path of the light reflected from the reflecting means, and condenses light reflected from the reflecting means and then acquires an image of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yong Joo Jo
  • Publication number: 20130107332
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an LED light source, a CCD sensor receiving light reflected from a document irradiated with light from the LED light source, a fan, and a frame housing the LED light source, the CCD sensor and the fan. The fan circulates air in a substantially sealed space formed by the frame. Thus, temperature difference in the image reading apparatus can be reduced while not degrading dust-proof property of the apparatus, and efficient heat radiation to the outside becomes possible. Thus, variation of sensitivity of CCD sensor, deviation of point of focus of image forming system and deviation of reading position caused by temperature increase can be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventor: Ming TANG
  • Patent number: 8432586
    Abstract: Prior to reading an original image, whether to read the original image in a monochrome image mode in which the image reading apparatus reads the original image in use of the monochrome line sensor or a multi color image mode in which the image reading apparatus reads the original image in use of the multi color line sensor is predicted. Preparation of reading an original image based on parameters corresponding to the predicted mode is completed before the start of reading the original image. This arrangement reduces a time loss arising from switching of a color mode associated with a user color setting at the start of a job, and thus shortens the FCOT. This arrangement can shorten the time until the first copy is output after designating the start of copying when reading an original image based on different parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shigemichi Hamano, Nobuo Sekiguchi, Akiko Kanno, Kenji Morita, Satoshi Seki
  • Patent number: 8422092
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention provides an illuminating device that is disposed in an image-reading apparatus and image-forming equipment, including a light-source portion on one side; a light-source portion on the other side; and a long translucent light-guiding member having a light-discharging face long in a longitudinal direction thereof, and guiding light derived from the one light-source portion from one end face in the longitudinal direction, and light derived from the other light-source portion from the other end face in the longitudinal direction so that the guided light is irradiated to an object through the long light-discharging face; wherein the one and the other light-source portions are arranged such that positions of optical axes thereof differ from each other in a direction that is parallel to a light-irradiated face of the object and in a direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the light-guiding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Suto, Mitsuharu Yoshimoto, Tomohiko Okada, Shohichi Fukutome, Hisashi Yamanaka, Kenji Nakanishi, Yoshihisa Yamada
  • Patent number: 8416474
    Abstract: In a paper feed port configured to feed a sheet-like medium to a conveyance path, an inclined surface is provided at both ends of an opening into which the medium to be fed is inserted, with respect to a width direction crossing a paper feed direction of the medium, such that an abutting angle between the inclined surface and a leading end of the medium on a downstream side in the paper feed direction is an acute angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: PFU Limited
    Inventors: Shogo Miyano, Keisuke Kimura
  • Patent number: 8416469
    Abstract: Conventionally, in the case where multiple readings of a document are carried out in order to generate an output image, image processing to a super-resolution image has been started after waiting for completion of the multiple readings necessary for giving a target resolution to the image after super-resolution processing. Therefore, a lot of time has been required for processing. In an image processing apparatus including a document reading component configured to read a plurality of image data each having a different phase from a document by a single scanning, a super-resolution processing component is configured to generate super-resolution image data by using the plurality sheets of image data each having a different phase, so as to have a resolution higher than those of the plurality of image data, and an image processing component is configured to carry out multiple image processing to the super-resolution image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeshi Matsumura
  • Patent number: 8416468
    Abstract: A sensing device is provided with an image sensor for capturing images of coded data disposed on a surface, a framestore for storing frames of the captured image as image data, subsampling means for subsampling the stored image date to generate subsampled image data, and an image processor for processing the subsampled image data to generate interaction data based on the sensed coded data and indicative of interaction of the sensing device with the surface. The image processor is integrated on a monolithic integrated circuit, the monolithic integrated circuit including a first subsampled framestore for storing the subsampled image data based on image data from the framestore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Matthew John Underwood, Nicholas Damon Ridley, Paul Lapstun, Peter Charles Boyd Henderson, Zhenya Alexander Yourlo, Alireza Moini, Jan Rusman, Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8411334
    Abstract: A paper-sheet recognition apparatus includes a base plate; and one or a plurality of line sensors engaged in the base plate. An engaging portion between the line sensor and the base plate has a concave-convex engaging structure in which a concave-convex portion provided in the line sensor and a concave-convex portion provided in the base plate are engaged with each other, a convex portion of the concave-convex portion provided in the line sensor has the same size as a convex portion of the concave-convex portion provided in the base plate in the direction perpendicular to the paper-sheet transport direction, each of the concave-convex portions is formed having an inclined surface that extends downwardly from a horizontal plane, and edges of end faces of the concave-convex portions and boundaries between a horizontal plane of the base plate and the inclined surfaces of the concave-convex portions are round chamfered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Glory Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhito Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8405889
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes an automatic document feeder having a media feeding section, a media collecting section and a media conveying path extending from the media feeding section to the media collecting section. The imaging apparatus includes a scan head adjacent to the automatic document feeder. The scan head is moveable to a raised position aligned with a portion of the media conveying path for scanning a media sheet in the portion of the media conveying path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Chengwu Cui, Charles Brandon Langrel
  • Patent number: 8400689
    Abstract: This invention provides an image reading apparatus which can start image processing on a joint portion between divided first and second half portions without waiting for image reading and shorten throughput time of image processing by outputting data from the joint portion as first data to an output unit. This apparatus includes a CCD sensor or CMOS sensor in which a plurality of pixel sensors to receive reflected light from a document are arranged in the main scanning direction and a transfer circuit configured to output, to an output unit, optical image information read at the first and second half portions of the pixel sensors in the main scanning direction. The transfer circuit outputs, to the output unit, data from the joint portion between the first and second half portions of the pixel sensors in the main scanning direction as the first data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuo Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8395821
    Abstract: When a light source is in off state, a gray level of image data on a pixel-by-pixel basis is generated as a first black level and an average of gray levels of a portion of the image data corresponding to optical black image portions of sensor chips is generated as a second black level. After that, when an image of an original is read, an average of gray levels of the black image data on a line-by-line basis is generated as a third black level. The first black level is subtracted from a gray level of the image data on a line-by-line basis (an offset correction), and a difference between the third black level and the second black level is added to a gray level of the image data after being subjected to the subtraction on a line-by-line basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hajime Tsukahara, Tohru Kanno
  • Patent number: 8373910
    Abstract: An image scanning device includes a base part; and multiple image sensors each including a substrate, a line sensor including scanning elements arranged on the substrate, and a holder for holding the substrate. The base part holds the image sensors such that the scanning elements of an image sensor partly overlap the scanning elements of an adjacent image sensor in the main-scanning direction. The coefficients of linear expansion of the substrate and the base part are substantially the same; the holder and the base part are fixed together at a first fixing point; the holder and the substrate are fixed together at a second fixing point; and the distance in the main-scanning direction between the first fixing point and the second fixing point and the direction of the second fixing point with respect to the first fixing point are the same for all the image sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Iwasaki, Hiroshi Takahashi, Kazushi Takei, Norikazu Taki, Hideaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8355185
    Abstract: Disclosed is an exposure head including a light emitting element array including light emitting elements disposed in a first direction, a light blocking member including an aperture stop through which lights emitted from the light emitting elements pass, and an image forming optical system that makes an image by using the lights having passed through the light blocking member. An absolute value of a magnification in the first direction of the image forming optical system is equal to or more than 0.7 times and is equal to or less than 0.8 times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Sowa, Ken Ikuma, Ryuta Koizumi, Nozomu Inoue
  • Publication number: 20130003144
    Abstract: A hand-held, portable, contact scanner using CCD scanning technology in conjunction with power regulation, noise reduction and image stitching. The scanner uses various movement tracking technologies to determine when the scanner is in contact with a document to be scanned. A dual roller system is used to effectively track motion of a contact scanner 100 across a target document. Alternatively, movement detection is performed by a reflected laser or infra-red (IR) output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Dean Finnegan, Jerry Chung-Hung Chen
  • Patent number: 8320029
    Abstract: When an original conveying unit that rotates about a rotation center 901 reaches an opening angle 906, an image is read using a line sensor, and a detected object is determined as being white dust on a platen glass. When it further reaches an opening angle 908, an image is again read using the line sensor, and a detected object is determined as being black dust on the platen glass. When it further reaches an opening angle 910, an image is again read using the line sensor, and a detected object is determined as being dust on a reference white plate with which the original conveying unit is provided in a state of facing a reading position where the line sensor performs reading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masafumi Kamei
  • Patent number: 8310740
    Abstract: An image scanning device includes a CCD pair provided with two rows of photodiode arrays for scanning an image on a paper, a motor drive circuit for causing the CCD pair to sub-scan the image on the paper, and an adder for superimposedly combining two outputs of the CCD pair with a predetermined time lag therebetween. A control unit controls the adder to add the two outputs of the CCD pair without the time lag when received an instruction of a low resolution that corresponds to ½ of a high resolution by a resolution switch and thereby doubles a speed of the sub-scan by the motor drive circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tomohiko Okada, Takao Horiuchi, Yoshitaka Okahashi, Takeshi Murakami, Yukihito Nishio
  • Patent number: 8300285
    Abstract: A scanning circuit having rearranged circuit modules at each end of a flat cable. After the rearrangement, the flat cable carries scanning control signals produced by a conventional IC communication interface instead of timing signals and carries digital image data instead of easily distorted and interfered analog image signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Transpacific Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Kuan-Yu Lee, Chen-Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8294954
    Abstract: An image processing controlling unit calculates an image processing parameter to reduce an image quality difference between image data read by a first reading unit and a second reading unit depending on a reading characteristic of a reading unit indicated by attached information (reading-unit information) received together with the calculating request and a writing characteristic of a printer. The calculated image processing parameter is stored in a memory. Next, when printing the image data, a middleware unit causes a printer to print the image data based on the image processing parameter held in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Akira Murakata
  • Patent number: 8289587
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus for reading a document placed on a document positioning plate using a reading sensor unit mounted on a carriage includes a rack member provided in an apparatus body and having rack teeth provided along the moving direction of the carriage, a pinion gear rotatably disposed on the carriage and meshed with the rack teeth, a motor mounted on the carriage and driving the pinion gear, an urging member disposed between the carriage and the reading sensor unit and urging the reading sensor unit toward the document positioning plate, a guide rail provided in the apparatus body and guiding movement of the carriage, and a guide portion provided on the carriage and engaged with the guide rail, wherein the guide portion is pressed toward the guide rail by receiving a reaction force of the urging member at the carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 8279310
    Abstract: A solid-state imaging device includes: a pixel array including pixel circuits arranged in a matrix; and a pixel drive unit configured to drive the pixel array to perform a reset of the pixel array, a signal storage, and an output operation. The pixel drive unit includes a pixel reset control portion to supply a signal for resetting a pixel to the pixel circuits of a plurality of rows. The pixel reset control portion performs a reset control so that a row in which the reset signal is cancelled and a row in which the reset signal is continued always exist in one reset row change operation, and a row in which the reset signal continues to be supplied exists during two or more reset row change operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Ui
  • Patent number: 8279496
    Abstract: A method of optimal focusing for a document scanner is disclosed. The scanner includes an optic module movable in a given scanning direction to perform scanning operation over an area of a document in a scan line by scan line manner by being driven by an optic module moving mechanism under control of a control unit. The control unit includes a best focus value memory for storage of the best focus value for each scan line. The method includes the steps of moving the optic module to one of scan lines of the document and retrieving the best focus value corresponding to the selected scan line. A focus adjusting mechanism is controlled by the control unit to move the optic module in a second direction to adjust the focus position of the optic module in accordance with the best focus value of the scan line. Once the optic module reaches the scan line, the operation of the optic module is temporarily suspended in order to have the vibration of the optic module damped out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Transpacific Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Rong-Ji Liu
  • Patent number: 8274033
    Abstract: Disclosed is a photoelectric converter. 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isao Kobayashi, Noriyuki Kaifu, Shinichi Takeda, Kazuaki Tashiro, Tadao Endo, Toshio Kameshima
  • Patent number: 8274665
    Abstract: A digital camera device includes a housing defining a slot for receiving a printed instruction card having printed thereon an array of dots representing a programming script, the housing stores therein a roll of print media; an area image sensor for sensing an image and generating pixel data representing the image; a linear image sensor for scanning the array of dots and converting the array of dots into a data signal; a microcontroller provided in the housing, the microcontroller for decoding the data signal into the programming script and applying the programming script on the pixel data; a printing mechanism for printing the pixel data, having applied thereto the programming script, on the roll of print media; a guillotine for cutting the roll of print media; and a print manager for activating the guillotine upon receiving a signal indicating a manual attempt to pull the print media from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Kia Silverbrook
  • Patent number: 8274716
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading system having a plurality of line sensors extending in a main-scan direction, an imaging optical system for imaging, on the line sensors, imagewise information of an original surface, the imaging optical system including at least one anamorphic optical surface having different powers in the main-scan direction and the sub-scan direction, a scanning system for relatively scanning the original surface and the reading means in a sub-scan direction to read the imagewise information of the original surface, and an image correcting system for correcting imagewise information of the original surface read by each line sensor, on the basis of an imaging-position-deviation correction amount of an image in the sub-scan direction corresponding to a reading position in the main-scan direction, calculated based on an imaging position deviation amount of an image in the sub-scan direction corresponding to the reading position in the main-scan direction upon the line sensors, as
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8275216
    Abstract: Methods and systems for equalizing a holographic image page and for compensating nonlinearity of a holographic data storage channel are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method for equalizing a holographic image page includes receiving the holographic image page and dividing the holographic image page into a plurality of local image regions. The method further includes generating a local alignment error vector for each local image region, computing a local finite impulse response kernel for each local image region according to the corresponding local alignment error vector, and adjusting misaligned pixels of each local image region using the corresponding local finite impulse response kernel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: InPhase Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark R. Ayres, Adrian J. Hill
  • Patent number: 8264750
    Abstract: There is provided an image reading apparatus including: a light source with arrayed light emitting elements; a light guide unit that scatters light emitted from the light source such that the light intensity is greater at end portions than at the central portion in the array direction of the light emitting elements, and guides the light to a reading position of a medium to be read; and an optical system that guides the light reflected at the reading position to a light detection unit that detects the light intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8253993
    Abstract: A scanner comprising a platen positioned along a first plane and configured to support an article to be scanned; one or more illuminators positioned below the platen along a second plane parallel to the first plane, and configured to emit light beams; one or more mirrors positioned between the platen and the one or more illuminators, each of the mirrors being configured to direct a light beam having a directional component parallel to the first and second planes emitted by the illuminators onto the article on the platen at the imaging point; one or more sensors configured to detect the light reflecting off the article at the imaging point along a sensor optical path; and a carriage mechanism constructed to affect relative movement parallel to the first and second planes between platen, and the one or more illuminators and the one or more mirrors in a scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Michael John Wilsher
  • Patent number: 8243344
    Abstract: Various embodiments and methods relating to a media drive are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Kevin L. Bokelman, Ryan M. Smith, Gustaf L. Belt
  • Patent number: 8237996
    Abstract: The image reading apparatus includes: an original placing unit on which an original is to be placed, and the original placing unit transmitting light applied onto an original surface of the original and light reflected by the original surface; a lighting unit having plural light-emitting elements arrayed in a line and lighting the original surface of the original placed on the original placing unit; an image signal generating unit receiving the light reflected by the original surface lit by the lighting unit and generating an image signal; a detecting unit detecting a position of the original surface; and a lighting-unit setting unit setting, by using a result of the detection by the detecting unit, the lighting unit at an angular position so that the image signal generating unit does not receive light emitted from an optical axis of the light-emitting elements and then reflected by the original surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8233168
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus, an energy converting unit receives light from an optical source and converts the light into electric power, and an electrical storage unit stores therein the electric power. The energy converting unit is arranged in such a manner that a relative position of the energy converting unit to the optical source is always constant when a reading unit is reading an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Ozaki, Eiji Nemoto, Hiroki Ohkubo, Yuji Matsuda, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8233201
    Abstract: A copying machine includes a document skew detection section. The document skew detection section includes an angle calculation section and a judgment section. The angle calculation section specifies an angle ?1 formed between a reference direction and an edge of a document placed on a platen glass, in accordance with first input image data obtained by scanning the document the document being started to be scanned when an angle formed between the platen glass and a platen cover is ?°. Further, the angle calculation section specifies an angle ?2 formed between the reference direction and the edge of the document, in accordance with second input image data obtained by scanning the document, the document being started to be scanned when the angle formed between the platen glass and the platen cover is 0° Also, the judgment section generates an angular difference ? obtained by carrying out an operation of ?1??2. This makes it possible that the document which is unintentionally skewed be identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masanori Toyoda
  • Patent number: 8233200
    Abstract: A system and process for reading forms using a curvature distortion correction scheme is disclosed. A model image of a known form is partitioned into sectors defined by at least three alignment marks, and a transfer or correction function for each sector is generated by comparing the locations of alignment marks on a captured unread image of a form to those on a model image. The transfer function is then applied to the other marks within the sector to calculate a correct location of the marks. Each sector is sized to reasonably ensure curvature distortions are handled such that all the marks on a form are properly found and interpreted. Errors may be checked and, if they persist, smaller sectors may be defined and employed, if available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: GTech Corporation
    Inventors: Frank J. Metayer, Carlos Cervantes Toral, Duncan D. Xue
  • Patent number: 8228567
    Abstract: A scanner module comprises an illuminator configured to illuminate a document by emitting light onto the document. The illuminator comprises a light source configured to emit the light and a light guide unit configured to guide the light emitted from the light source to illuminate at least two areas on the document, the center positions of the at least two areas on the document being spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung-rok Kim
  • Patent number: 8228566
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source, an imaging optics system, an image pickup device unit, a memory, and a processor. The imaging optics system condenses scattered light reflected on an object to be imaged to form condensed light as an image. The imaging optics system includes plural cells arranged in a main scanning direction and each of which is an independent imaging optics system. Each of the cells includes a telecentric optics system at the document side. Two rows of cells are arranged in a sub-scanning direction. The cells in the rows are arranged zigzag in the main scanning direction to complement a formed image by the cells in the sub-scanning direction. The image pickup device unit is arranged to correspond to each cell. The processor can form a document image by reconstructing and combining image information stored in the memory into an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawano, Tatsuki Okamoto, Tadashi Minobe, Tatsuya Kunieda, Akiko Fujiuchi
  • Patent number: 8218205
    Abstract: A multi-functional device comprising an image forming apparatus to form a printing image and a scanner module to scan an image in a first scanning direction. 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 which is disposed between the document mount and the sensor unit and focuses the light reflected from the object onto the sensor unit. The illuminator includes a light source to emit light, a light guiding unit which is lengthened in a second scanning direction, faces the document mount 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: May 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaname Nagatani, Dong-hun Lee
  • Patent number: 8213061
    Abstract: A detection device that includes a setting component, a measuring component, an accumulating component, a determining component, and an increasing/decreasing component is provided. The joint quantity measuring component measures joint quantities between the photoelectric conversion elements that are dependent on precision when arraying the plural photoelectric conversion elements. The joint error quantity accumulating component accumulates error quantities of the joints that are obtained from the joint quantities that have been measured and a reference quantity. The determining component determines whether or not the accumulated error quantity has exceeded an allowable range. The interpolation pixel increasing/decreasing component increases/decreases, on the basis of direction of error, interpolation pixels between specific photoelectric conversion elements when it has been determined that the accumulated error quantity has exceeded the allowable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiji Hamada
  • Patent number: 8213062
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus has a platen, first and second carriages, a light source supported on the first carriage, a first mirror to deflect reflected light from the original document toward the second carriage, one or more second mirrors supported on the second carriage to guide the light from the first mirror to image reading device, and rail members. The first carriage has first and second mirror support portions for supporting one side edge portion of the first mirror by two points, and a third mirror support portion for supporting the other side edge portion by one point. The first carriage is supported slidably at its opposite side edge portions respectively on the rail members via slide members disposed at four right and left places including two front and back places, and a height position is adjustable for supporting the first mirror by one point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventor: Junya Ozawa
  • Publication number: 20120154878
    Abstract: An image scanning apparatus includes an illuminator to radiate light on an original image; an image sensor to scan image information of the original image from the light reflected from the original image, an image processor to perform image processing with respect to a signal scanned by the image sensor, and a memory to store data which is to be image-processed. The image sensor, the image processor, and the memory may also be disposed on one circuit board in the image scanning apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyung-hyun Son, Ho-Ill Hyun
  • Patent number: 8203766
    Abstract: Motion is introduced into a scanning operation, in addition to the motion that is inherent in any scanning operation. For example, in a flatbed scanner a linear array of scanning devices is positioned across a document in a first or “x” direction and this array is moved across the document in a perpendicular or “y” direction. With embodiments of the present technology a vibratory motion is introduced into the scanning process—not aligned with the basic “y” direction of scan. Such vibratory motion can be controlled in accordance with pre-stored data, or a random process can be employed. In some arrangements, the vibration reduces Moiré patterns. In other arrangements, the vibration causes a hidden pattern to be revealed from the scanned object. A great many other features and arrangements are also detailed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Digimarc Corporation
    Inventor: Geoffrey B. Rhoads
  • Patent number: 8199377
    Abstract: There is provided an image sensor in which an enlargement of a substrate width is not caused even in a case that a rod-shaped light source is provided on both sides of a resin lens plate, respectively, and in which a positional accuracy of component is superior. The image sensor comprises a rod-shaped light source for irradiating light to an original placed on an original glass plate, an imaging optics for focusing light reflected on the original, and a light-receiving element for receiving light passing through the imaging optics, the light-receiving element being positioned at a predetermined location on a substrate which is provided with through holes for terminals of lead frames of the rod-shaped light source. The terminals of lead frames of the rod-shaped light source are bent toward the center of the substrate to be connected with the through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Masahide Wakisaka, Harunobu Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8199382
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a document mounting plate having a mounting surface and a rear surface, and an image reading unit. The image reading unit includes a photoelectric converter facing the rear surface, a case to hold the photoelectric converter, and at least one first rotating member and at least one second rotating member that rotate and receive a pressing force from the rear surface of the document mounting plate as the image reading unit moves. The image reading unit also includes a holder configured to support the case and at least one urging device positioned between the holder and the case. The at least one urging device urges the case toward the rear surface, and exerts an urging force opposite to the pressing force, and balances against the pressing force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 8194295
    Abstract: A duplex scanning apparatus includes an automatic document feeder and a flatbed image scanner. The automatic document feeder includes a document feeder case, a scanning glass plate and a first light source. The flatbed image scanner includes a scanner case, a glass platform, a second light source and a scanning module. The scanning glass plate and the first light source are included in the automatic document feeder of the duplex scanning apparatus, so that the scanning operation is performed in the automatic document feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Chi-Chao Liao
  • Patent number: RE43892
    Abstract: A four-line CCD sensor is structured by line sensors R, G, B in which color fillers are respectively disposed on surfaces of light receiving elements, and a line sensor BK at which no color filter is disposed. Amplitudes of signals which are outputted from the line sensors R, G, B at a time of reading a color document, and an amplitude of a signal which is outputted from the line sensor BK at a time of reading a monochrome document are adjusted so as to be substantially equal to one another. In a case in which a color document is read, outputs of the line sensors R, G, B are selectively provided, and in a case in which a monochrome document is read, output of the line sensor BK is selectively provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Jun Sakakibara, Koji Tanimoto