Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source for illuminating an image reading region extending in the primary scanning direction, and a plurality of lenses for focusing light reflected on the image reading region and for producing reduced images. Each of the lenses has an optical axis which intersects a predetermined portion of the image reading region. The image reading apparatus further includes a plurality of light receiving elements for output of image signals based on the light focused by the lenses and a light conductor for leading the light emitted by the light source toward the image reading region. The light conductor leads the emitted light so that the predetermined portion of the image reading region is illuminated more brightly than the adjacent portions.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus including a chassis having a panel, the panel having an opening defined therethrough. The apparatus has a scanner carriage which is moveably supported within the chassis. A carriage locking device includes an elongated locking member which is moveably disposed within the opening in the panel and, when the locking member is moved in a downward direction within the opening, the locking device secures the scanner carriage in a relatively fixed position with respect to the chassis.

Abstract: An optical carriage of scanner has a mirror assembly and a device assembly, the mirror assembly has a mirror mount, some mirror holder, and some supporters, and the device assembly has a chassis. In this invention, the mirror assembly and the device assembly are mechanically connected after separately formation. Further, to ensure correct shape of these mirror holders and these supporters, they could be formed by metal punch, plastic ejection, or plastic process.

Abstract: A display and scanning assembly wherein light reflected from an image being scanned is transmitted to an optical sensor through an optical shutter assembly via a light guide assembly is disclosed. The optical shutter assembly is made substantially opaque except for one or more selected optical shutter elements that are made substantially transparent or opened. Light is then reflected from the medium containing the image to be scanned through substantially transparent shutter element or elements and transmitted to the optical sensor via a light guide assembly. The image may then be scanned by advancing selection of shutter element or elements that are opened across the medium. The optical scanning assembly may further be capable of functioning as a display assembly wherein color components for each display element or pixel of the display assembly are premixed so that the display elements provide a true color instead of separate red, green and blue components of that color.

Abstract: Since amounts of illuminated light of each color are well-balanced by using a light source generating a small amount of heat and emitting light of a high color temperature during light emission, images can be read at high speed and with high accuracy. LED chips are applied for a light source, and are arranged by color so as to form substantially straight lines on an aluminum substrate, at a high density. Emitted light is made to be incident on a photographic film via an acrylic block. Since light emitted from the LED chips 64 has a high color temperature and includes a large amount of light of short wavelengths, an SN ratio of a read image is excellent and the image can be read at high speed. A heat pipe is piped at the rear surface side of the aluminum substrate and a coolant is circulated inside the pipe.

Abstract: A light source mechanism for an imaging apparatus comprises at least a point light source and a light shield. The point light source located at one end of the light shield is used for providing illumination to the imaging apparatus during a scanning process. The light shield is a hollow pipe structure and further includes a long slot lying along an axial longitudinal direction thereof for allowing lights to leave the light shield. An inner surface of the light shield is made as a diffusion surface for evenly diffusing lights inside the light shield, by which a homogeneous line light source for the scanning process is formed at the long slot of the light shield.

Abstract: The lighting apparatus includes an airspace arranged between the light source and the optical waveguide, having a thickness corresponding to one wavelength or more of the light outputted from the light source unit and to ½ or less of a thickness of the optical waveguide. The light outputted at an angle larger than that of the total reflection is totally reflected by an output surface of the light source unit, is returned into the light source unit, and is outputted from the output surface. The light outputted at an angle smaller than that of the total reflection is widened in an area ranging −90° to +90° of the airspace and reaches the entire end surface of the optical waveguide. The light entering the optical waveguide is totally reflected by a side surface of the optical waveguide and is propagated in the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A scanner system and method are described, wherein two lenses are mounted on a slider positioned in the optical light path between two moving mirrors and the optical sensor. Each mirror is mounted on a moving carriage. The slider is bistable in two alignment positions, one for each lens. The slider is moved by the motion of one of the carriages. As the carriage moves toward the lens slider, a linkage causes the slider to move from the position it is currently in to the other position. This system allows the slider to be shuttled from one position to the other, thereby changing resolutions, using energy provided by the same motor that moves the mirrors.

Abstract: This invention discloses a method of producing a light source compensating element for adjusting the brightness distribution of light projected from a light source of a scanner onto a scanned object. The light source compensating element produced in accordance with this invention can be arranged between the scanner light source and the scanned object, thereby obtaining an even (or uniform) brightness distribution on the scanned object. In addition, compensating element with specific transmittance distribution can also be produced and placed between the light source of the scanner and the scanned object, whereby the light emitted from the light source through the compensating element has a specific brightness distribution on the scanned object.

Abstract: A light distribution system which enables the scanning of radiographic images to provide an electrical signal representation of the radiographic image which can be processed, stored and retrieved and transmitted for viewing at a remote site. In particular, the light distribution system relies upon a laser light source which distributes light to a rotating single optical fiber and which then successively distributes light to individual optical fibers which are located initially in a circular array. The light carried by these individual optical fibers is delivered to a linearizing member where the light is then arranged in a linear array so that each of the optical fibers delivers the light in this linear array. A detector located on an opposite side of a substrate with respect to the linear array of light can then be scanned on a line by line basis and with the light information generated thereby digitized and stored.

Abstract: The present invention includes a first plate (14) and a second plate (15) which perform a coarse adjustment of a cylinder mirror (245) by moving the cylinder mirror (245) linearly in the substantially vertical and parallel directions with respect to an appropriate plane surface of a reflective surface (RS) of the cylinder mirror (245), and the second plate (15), a second plate opening section (15b), a setscrew (24), and a hexagon shaft (25) which perform a fine adjustment in the position of the cylinder mirror (245) by moving linearly only in the substantially parallel direction after the coarse adjustment has been completed.

Abstract: In an apparatus for point-by-point and line-by-line, opto-electronic scanning of masters chucked on a scanner drum, an illumination unit is provided for generating an illumination spot on the master. A scanner objective, a scanner element and a feed support is provided at which the illumination unit, the scanner objective and the scanner element are arranged. The illumination unit comprises a light conductor that is aligned in the direction of the rotational axis of the scanner drum and has a light exit face for generating a light spot and has optical elements for imaging the light spot onto the master as an illumination spot. At least a sub-section of the light conductor in the region of the light exit face can be inclined by small angles relative to the rotational axis with a Cardanic bearing for fine adjustment of optical beam paths, as a result whereof the illumination spot is displaced on the scanner drum. The slope of the light conductor that has been found to be optimum is then fixed.

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for point-by-point and line-by-line scanning of a master chucked on a scanner drum, for pixel-by-pixel illumination of the master, a light spot is generated in a light conductor and is imaged onto the master as illumination spot. The light conductor is arranged displaceable with an actuating drive for the purpose of modifying the imaging scale of the illumination spot. For setting the illumination, the luminance of the illumination spot is measured with the opto-electronic scanner element. In a computer, control signals for the actuating drive are generated dependent on the measured luminance. For setting the optimum illumination of the master, the imaging scale of the illumination spot is modified such by displacing the light conductor that the measured luminance of the illumination spot is maximum.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for point-by-point and line-by-line scanning of masters chucked on a scanner drum, for pixel-by-pixel illumination of the master, a light spot is generated with a light conductor, the light spot being imaged by a matching objective onto the master as an illumination spot. The scan light is focused with a scanner objective and is converted into an image signal in an opto-electronic scanner element. The illumination spot, scanner objective, and scanner element implement a feed motion in the direction of the rotational axis of the scanner drum for planar scanning of the master. Given employment of scanner drums having different diameters, the size of the illumination spot is corrected by a modification of the imaging scale of the light spot. The modification of the imaging scale occurs by displacing the light conductor with an actuating drive relative to the stationary matching objective. A corresponding focus correction occurs with a radial displacement of the scanner objective.

Abstract: A sensor frame has a first frame portion and a second frame portion, and a rod lens array extending in a longitudinal direction is arranged and fixed between the first and second frame portions. An L-shaped plate having a first plate-shaped portion and a second plate-shaped portion is arranged below the rod lens array. A sensor substrate is placed on the first plate-shaped portion, and a sensor IC is held on the sensor substrate so as to receive rays of light reflected on a manuscript and passing through the rod lens array. The second plate-shaped portion is fixed on an end surface of the first frame portion by a plurality of screws arranged along the longitudinal direction. A diameter of each screw hole formed in the second plate-shaped portion is larger than that of the corresponding screw so as to allow that the height of the sensor IC is adjusted by moving up and down the second plate-shaped portion before the fixing of the second plate-shaped portion.

Abstract: Because the dynamic range of a solid-state image sensor is relatively narrow, it is necessary to reduce the amount of light using an aperture so that the amount of light incident on the solid-state image sensor is within the range of the dynamic range. However, the amount of control at this time may exceed a controllable range which is the maximum limit of an amount in which diffraction is not generated. As a result, the amount of control by the aperture is determined so that the amount of control by the aperture does not exceed the controllable range, and an ND filter, which corresponds to or is approximate to the amount of control of reduced light which was obtained by subtracting the amount of control by the aperture from the total amount of control, is placed on an optical path.

Abstract: A contact image sensor (CIS) for scanning a document is disclosed. The CIS includes a housing having an opening, a first slide and a second slide, a light guide installed on the housing through the opening and the first slide for scanning the document and generating a reflective image, a rod lens installed on the housing through the opening and the second slide for receiving the reflective image and generating a focused image, a PCB installed on the housing and having a sensing array for transforming the focused image into an image signal, and a spring cover fixed on the opening for fixing the light guide and the rod lens in the housing to form the CIS.

Abstract: There is disclosed an illumination device in which a light guide is adapted to emil the light from a face thereof and is provided with an area, on a face opposite to the light emitting face, for diffusing and/or reflecting the light introduced into the light guide from an end face thereof or is provided with uneven light emitting characteristics along the longitudinal direction of the light guide, and the center of the light source positioned at the end of the light guide is placed at a position aberrated from the normal line to said area, whereby attained are compactnces, a low cost, a low eleotric power consumption, a high efficiency of utilization of the light emitted by the light source, and excellent and uniform illumination characteristics. There are also disclosed an image reading device and an information processing apparatus, equipped with the above-mentioned illumination device.

Abstract: A contact image sensor includes a light sensitive optical detector and a light source mounted on a mounting surface. A light guide is located under the light source and is oriented to direct a light path from the light source to a scan line region under the light sensitive optical detector.

Abstract: A device has a visible light emitting element for emitting visible light, an infrared light emitting element for emitting infrared light, a board including a first mounting portion on which elements including at least the visible light emitting element are mounted in array and a second mounting portion on which elements including at least the infrared light emitting element are mounted in array, and a dichroic mirror which is configured and disposed to reflect light emitted by the visible light emitting element mounted on the first mounting portion by its first surface, reflect light emitted by the infrared light emitting element mounted on the second mounting portion by its second surface, and send light beams coming from the first and second surfaces onto a common optical path.

Abstract: In a device for point-by-point and line-by-line scanning of masters chucked on scanner drums having different diameters with an optoelectronic scanner element, which converts the scan light modulated with the content of the master and focused with the scanner objective into an image signal, a scanner element comprising a reflected light illumination is provided for generating an illumination spot on an opaque original. The scanner objective for correction of the focusing of the scan light onto the scanner element given employment of scanner drums having different diameters—is seated displaceable on the optical axis of the scanner element into radial working positions determined by the diameter of the respective scanner drums. The reflected light illumination can be displaced in the direction of the optical axis by the focal intercept change of the scanner objective for the purpose of optimizing the illumination spot given employment of scanner drums of different sizes.

Abstract: There is disclosed an illumination device in which a light guide is adapted to emit the light from a face thereof and is provided with an area, on a face opposite to the light emitting face, for diffusing and/or reflecting the light introduced into the light guide from an end face thereof or is provided with uneven light emitting characteristics along the longitudinal direction of the light guide, and the center of the light source positioned at the end of the light guide is placed at a position aberrated from the normal line to the area, whereby attained are compactness, a low cost, a low electric power consumption, a high efficiency of utilization of the light emitted by the light source, and excellent and uniform illumination characteristics. There are also disclosed an image reading device and an information processing apparatus, equipped with the above-mentioned illumination device.

Abstract: An illumination device using an innovative design to provide a uniform, highly concentrated and substantially longitudinal illumination. The device includes, a compound light guide and a light-extracting section with a built-in light-extracting feature. The compound light guide comprises two optically coupled sub-guides. A first sub-guide has a constant cross-section area with a profile optimized for an integral light-concentrating optics, and a second sub-guide has a varying cross-section area for controlling local light flux density inside the light guide and providing assembly means. A light-homogenizing section provided at an input of the light guide improves illumination uniformity at an area close to a light input end of the light guide without displacing a light source from the central normal line of a light-extracting feature.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source, an elongate light guide member for guiding light emitted from the light source toward an image read line, and a plurality of light receiving elements for receiving light reflected at the image read line. The light guide member includes a first portion, a second portion, and a connecting portion for connecting the first portion and the second portion. The first portion includes a light incidence surface facing the light source for entry of light emitted from the light source, and the light incidence surface is convexly curved widthwise of the light guide member. The second portion includes a light exit surface oriented toward the image read line for emitting light toward the image read line. The connecting portion is narrower than the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hand-held scanner that comprises contact image scanning technology. A waveguide formed in a substrate is comprised of an elongate light pipe. The light pipe includes a reflective layer, preferably having an elliptical shape, deposited on an inside lateral surface. Light sources disposed at each end of the light pipe emit rays of light through the light pipe. The rays of light propagate in the light pipe until striking an area of a reflective surface. The reflective surface directs the ray of light away from the lateral surface and onto the scan line of a document to be scanned. The light of the illuminated scan line is reflected back through the waveguide array, through a slit not covered by the reflective layer, and onto an optical lens array. The optical lens array focuses the light onto an optical sensor array that converts the image into a digital image, to be saved in an internal memory.

Abstract: There is disclosed an illumination device in which a light guide is adapted to emit the light from a face thereof and is provided with an area, on a face opposite to the light emitting face, for diffusing and/or reflecting the light introduced into the light guide from an end face thereof or is provided with uneven light emitting characteristics along the longitudinal direction of the light guide, and the center of the light source positioned at the end of the light guide is placed at a position aberrated from the normal line to the area, whereby attained are compactness, a low cost, a low electric power consumption, a high efficiency of utilization of the light emitted by the light source, and excellent and uniform illumination characteristics. There are also disclosed an image reading device and an information processing apparatus, equipped with the above-mentioned illumination device.

Abstract: An optical waveguide and a shutter are used to guide light from multiple illuminated pixels on a document being scanned onto a single photosensor element. Various methods are disclosed for selecting one pixel at a time for projection onto a single sensor element. Multiple scans are required to capture all the image pixels. The data from multiple scans are then combined to form a single scanned image that has a higher optical sampling rate than the native optical sampling rate of the sensor array. Superresolution image analysis techniques developed for reconstruction of one image from a set of lower resolution images may be applied to provide a diffraction-limited high-resolution image. The waveguide as described also provides an ability to reduce scanning time for lower resolution images. In a first example embodiment, a rotating rod lens with a pattern of black and white areas is used to block/unblock optical waveguide array elements.

Abstract: In an image reading apparatus, a sensor box to which a lens and an image sensor are fixed is moved with respect to a film original, so that focus adjustment can be reliably performed in reading an image recorded on any of film originals of different formats such as a sleeve-shaped film, a slide-mount film, a roll-shaped long film, etc.

Abstract: An optical path adjusting device comprises a hollow cylindrical mount having a center axis in alignment with an optical path of a light beam and an optical parallel mounted on the hollow cylindrical barrel so as to intersect the optical path of the light beam at a specified angle of intersection. The hollow cylindrical barrel is supported so as to rotate about an original optical path of the light beam, thereby causing a displacement of an optical path of said light beam coming out of the optical parallel close to or away from the original optical path of the light beam.

Abstract: A scan head that comprises an elongate light source, an elongate light sensor array and a planar waveguide array The light source is disposed perpendicular to the scan direction. The light sensor array is disposed parallel to the light source. The planar waveguide array includes an input end and an output end, and is curved about an axis parallel to the light source. The input end is located to receive light from the light source reflected by the object. The output end is located adjacent the light sensor array. The waveguide array includes tapered waveguides linearly arrayed in an array direction parallel to the light source. Each of the waveguides has a width in the array direction that decreases towards the output end of the waveguide array.

Abstract: A line type illuminator comprising a plurality of light sources at a side of one end of a rod-like transparent light guide, wherein an auxiliary light scattering pattern is formed with two (2) spot-like patterns, which are provided at positions being shifted from a center line of a main light scattering pattern in the longitudinal direction and are separate in a width direction, for maintaining evenness or uniformity of illumination intensity in a longitudinal direction. Normal lines of those two (2) spot-like patterns and the center line of any one of the plurality of light sources, extending in the longitudinal direction, intersect each other. Specifically, the longitudinal center lines of the red-color light sources and the green-color light source intersect the respective normal lines of the spot-like patterns 21a and 21a.

Abstract: The form of a light condensing part of an illuminating device is of a freer form such as expressed by a general polynomial, rather than a round cross-sectional form.

Abstract: Illumination device, image apparatus using the device and information processing system using the apparatus for illuminating a light beam emitted from at least two light emitting elements of different light emission wavelength ranges to an original through a light conductor prevent irregularity of illumination on the original without providing compensation means to attain improvement in color discrimination ability of a color document sheet read signal without increasing a cost. A light beam applied from an illumination device 30 arranged at an end of a light conductor 3 is scattered and reflected by a scatter and reflection area 5 of the light conductor to illuminate the original 100. The illumination device 30 has at least two light emitting elements 81G and 81R of different light emission wavelength ranges and centers of the light emitting elements are arranged at positions spaced from a normal line passing through a center of the scatter and reflection area 5.

Abstract: An apparatus and light conduit for scanning a media which uses a low light illumination system for providing an exposure light for illuminating a media on to a sensor for capturing images on the media. A gate assembly slidably is mounted to the apparatus. A light conduit is mounted to the clamp member and has an outwardly extending lip about one opening at one end which mates with a channel provided in the illumination system. The conduit is provided with a reflective surface to improve the efficient use of the available light.

Abstract: A device has a visible light emitting element for emitting visible light, an infrared light emitting element for emitting infrared light, a board including a first mounting portion on which elements including at least the visible light emitting element are mounted in array and a second mounting portion on which elements including at least the infrared light emitting element are mounted in array, and a dichroic mirror which is configured and disposed to reflect light emitted by the visible light emitting element mounted on the first mounting portion by its first surface, reflect light emitted by the infrared light emitting element mounted on the second mounting portion by its second surface, and send light beams coming from the first and second surfaces onto a common optical path.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus having a light guide unit with a light source for applying light to an image reading surface, and a board provided with a photoelectrical conversion element for photoelectrically converting light reflected from the image reading surface into an electrical signal, wherein the light guide unit is supported by the board by making the light guide unit in contact with the board.

Abstract: An apparatus for scanning a media which uses a low light illumination system for providing an exposure light for illuminating a media on to a sensor for capturing images on the media. A gate assembly slidably mounted to the apparatus which includes a clamp member moveably mounted to the film gate between an exposure position and a non-exposure position, and a light conduit mounted to the clamp member. The light conduit has an outwardly extending lip about one opening at one end which mates with a channel provided in the illumination system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for transmitting binary data at a rate of R bits per second via an optical conductor of length d. A transmitter produces pulses of duration &tgr;, which is considerably shorter than the bit period 1/R associated with the rate R. Owing to the dispersive characteristics of the optical conductor, these pulses are broadened on their path to the receiver to a value which is approximately equal to the bit period 1/R. One advantage is that there is no a priori need to use a laser with a narrow spectral width to achieve a long transmission distance d.

Abstract: A lensless optical system comprises identical tubes that can be made and molded out of a plastic material. Each of the tubes includes an opening at the end that faces a scanning object. When the scanning object is illuminated and passes through the image sensing module, openings of all the tubes capture incident light reflected from the scanning object and the captured light passes the tubes and subsequently impinges onto the image sensor. An image of the scanning object is produced when the image sensor is activated.

Abstract: A linear illumination device, includes: a light conducting body; a light diffusion portion formed at least on one side surface in a longitudinal direction of the light conducting body; a light output portion formed in a portion of the light conducting body opposing the light diffusion portion; a light source portion disposed at a first end of the light conducting body; and a light reflecting layer provided at a second end opposing the first end of the light conducting body.

Abstract: An arrangement for illuminating objects wherein a large number of objects are rapidly and continuously transported past one or more stations, each illuminated by a cylindrical, integrating Lambertian reflecting/diffusing cavity having one or more like light sources therein so as to generate and project a highly intense, highly uniform and highly diffuse beam of illumination, while incorporating optical guide means to couple said illumination beam to the face of the objects at said station and to couple the reflected image of the object back to the cavity.

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: A light source illuminates a manuscript, and a light from the manuscript enters a prism block through a slit. The prism block has two pairs of parallel reflective planes which are different in length, and a light from an incident plane is reflected at least once on each reflective plane and exits an outgoing plane. The light from the outgoing plane is conducted to a CCD via a lens so as to read information about an image on the manuscript.

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: A linear illumination device of the present invention includes: a guide made of a light transmitting material extending in a first direction, having a side face and at least one end face; at least one light emitter for allowing light to enter interior of the guide from the at least one end face of the guide; and a light diffusing section formed on part of the side face of the guide, for diffusing the light incident thereon, wherein at least part of the light entering the interior of the guide goes out from part of the side face of the guide facing the light diffusing section, thereby providing substantially linear illumination light along the first direction.

Abstract: A multiple resolution scanner device for scanning an object may comprise a first optical wave guide bundle having a light input end, a light output end, and a first reduction ratio associated therewith. The light input end of the first optical wave guide bundle is arranged to receive image light from the object being scanned. A second optical wave guide bundle having a light input end and a light output end has a second reduction ratio associated therewith that is different than the first reduction ratio associated with the first optical wave guide bundle. The light input end of the second optical wave guide bundle is arranged to receive image light from the object being scanned. A detector positioned adjacent the light output ends of the first and second optical wave guide bundles receives image light from the light output ends and produces an image data signal related to image light received from the light output ends.

Abstract: It is an object to provide an image sensor which can guarantee a good picture quality by reducing an illuminance deviation and can effectively realize a miniaturization of an apparatus. There is an image sensor constructed by, an illuminating apparatus composed of a sensor IC having a group of photoelectric converting elements arranged in a line, a lens for forming an image of light information to the sensor IC, a light source, and an optical guide for guiding a light of a light source and emitting the light in a desired direction, and a frame for holding each of the above component elements. In such an image sensor, there is disclosed an image reading apparatus which uses both of an indirect light that is emitted from a diffusing surface of the optical guide of the illuminating apparatus and a direct light from the light source and in which a diffusing member for diffusing the direct light from the light source is provided between the light source and an original to be directly illuminated.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is realizing an optical fiber amplifier wherein the number of channels actually inputted to the optical fiber amplifier is read by the optical fiber amplifier itself, thereby both allowing, through self-control, optimum operating conditions in accordance with the number of transmission channels and the maintenance of transmission performance.

Abstract: The scanning device comprises a measuring table (T) to which measured object B can be fixed for measurement, measurement carriage (W) with a photoelectric scanning device (100) which can be linearly moved over the surface of the measuring table by means of a drive unit (A), a control unit (S) for the measuring carriage (W), the scanning device (100) and the drive unit (A), and a processing unit (C) for processing and analyzing the measuring signals generated by scanning device (100) from scanned pixels (8) of measured object (B). Scanning device (100) in turn comprises a plurality of measuring heads (120) for pixel-by-pixel measurement of a corresponding plurality of pixels (8) of measured object (B) lying in a row one behind the other and along a corresponding plurality of scanning tracks (5a, 5b) which are parallel to motion direction (X) of measuring carriage (W) such that measured object (B) is sequentially scanned, pixel by pixel, in a grid-like scanning pattern.

Abstract: A dual drum rotary image scanner has a headstock and a tailstock between which may be mounted drums of different diameter. The tailstock has substantially annular surfaces which contact corresponding surfaces on the different diameter drums. The different drums, when held in the scanner, each create a different separation between the headstock and tailstock. These different separations are detected by photodetectors, the outputs of which are received by a system controller. The controller uses the photodetector signals to control motors that position the scanning head and the transmittance illuminator relative to the surface of the particular drum mounted in the scanner. The motors turn pinions which, in turn, move racks to which are attached the scanning head and the transmittance illuminator, respectively. The movement of the scanning head also results in the modification of the optical path within the optics box of the scanner.