Scan Rate Or Document Movement Variation In Accordance With Data Presence Patents (Class 358/486)
  • Patent number: 8368942
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus has a multi-cropping function that automatically crops the scanned images of a plurality of original sheets placed on a platen of an image reading apparatus all at one pass. The desired number of cropped images is input by the user, and the number of cropped images detected when cropping the image of the original sheets placed on the platen, are compared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Hattori
  • Patent number: 8363287
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus having a memory to store therein image data acquired by reading an original is provided. In a regular reading mode, the memory is divided into a first buffer that stores therein first image data of an image of a first side of the original and a second buffer that stores therein second image data of an image of a second side of the original. In a ring buffer mode, only the first image data is stored in the first buffer and the second buffer in a seamless manner, and the first image data stored in the buffers is output from the buffers to an image processing unit through an output path in a parallel manner. When a size of an original to be read is larger than a predetermined size, reading is performed in the ring buffer mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Umezawa
  • Patent number: 8358448
    Abstract: A scanning device includes a transparent platen, a scanning module, a document transporting mechanism and a flexible pressing member. The scanning module is located in a scan zone and acquires through the transparent platen an image of a document. The document transporting mechanism transports the document along a passageway and across the scan zone. The flexible pressing member is disposed in the passageway, upstream of the scan zone or within the scan zone and located apart from the transparent platen by a gap. The flexible pressing member is deformed in a direction away from the transparent platen due to a force applied by the document transported across the scan zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Sheng
  • Patent number: 8358449
    Abstract: A device for, and a method of, detecting a document size are disclosed. The disclosed device and method can detect the speed at which the document plate cover is being closed, and can adjusting the timing of the document size detection based in part on the detected speed of the cover closure. When the cover is being closed at a relatively low speed, the document size detection can be delayed. When the cover is being closed at a relatively high speed, the document size detection can be performed sooner. The document size detection can thus be performed with the cover being in a suitable position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: In Chang Seo
  • Patent number: 8355183
    Abstract: A control device and a method for controlling scanning speed of a scanner. The control device includes a decision device and a driving device. The decision device further includes an image buffer, an up-down counter and a comparator. The decision device receives the input image data and utilizes the up-down counter to compute data access volume inside the image buffer. The comparator decides whether to increase or decrease the scanning speed according to the data access volume and also outputs decision data to the driving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Transpacific Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Kuo-Jeng Wang
  • Patent number: 8355080
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus having an image reading table includes a document glass installed on an upper side of the image reading table, to support a document; an image reading sensor installed under the document glass, to perform an image reading operation; a cover to selectively cover the document glass; an automatic document feeder (ADF) to feed a document along an image reading path, past the image reading sensor; a document discharging plate to support a document discharged from the ADF; a first guide member; a guide film attached to the first guide member; and an image forming part to form the image on a printable medium. The guide film includes a first guide film portion and a second guide film portion, the first guide film portion is in planar contact with the document glass and the second guide film portion guides the document toward the ADF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-cheol Park, Young-min Kim
  • Patent number: 8351094
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a transparent plate for mounting a sheet, a sheet cover having a light reflecting plate for reflecting light passing through the transparent plate, a storage unit for storing first profile information involving plural darkness data of reflection light from the light reflecting plate detected by an image sensor in advance when a speed of closing the sheet cover is changed variously without the sheet mounted on the transparent plate, and for storing second profile information involving plural darkness data of reflection light detected by the image sensor when the sheet is mounted on the transparent plate and the sheet cover is closed, and a control unit for comparing the first profile information with the second profile information stored in the storage unit, and for determining that a sheet is mounted on the transparent plate when there is a predetermined difference therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Access Technica, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiko Iwaki
  • Patent number: 8345322
    Abstract: A scanning apparatus having dual power mode is described. The scanning apparatus includes a detection module, a switch unit, and a power controller. The detection module detects a first voltage signal and a second voltage signal for generating a detecting signal. The switch unit receives the commands from the power controller for outputting the first voltage signal and/or the second voltage signal to the image acquiring device of the scanning apparatus. The power controller determines whether the first voltage signal is detected according to the detecting signal. While the first voltage signal is detected, the power controller controls the switch unit to output the first voltage signal and/or the second voltage signal to the image acquiring device. While the first voltage signal is not exist, the power controller controls the switch unit to output the second voltage signal to the image acquiring device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Genesys Logic, Inc.
    Inventors: Tsu-hsun Yi, Mi-lai Tsai
  • Patent number: 8331000
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided that is capable of accurately outputting images of both sides of a card type document to the same side of a sheet of paper with a simple operation. On a card size input screen, a first scale for measuring a long-side size of a card type document and a second scale for measuring a short-side size of the card type document are displayed on a same screen such that they intersect at an origin. By operating a long-side size-decreasing instruction portion and a long-side size-increasing instruction portion, the long-side size of the card type document is decreased or increased and inputted. By operating a short-side size-decreasing instruction portion and a short-side size-increasing instruction portion, the short-side size of the card type document is decreased or increased and inputted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Michiko Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8325390
    Abstract: A document scanner and associated feedback mechanism are disclosed. The document scanner includes a document bed including a document positioning surface, and a scanning module slidably connected to the document bed, the scanning module manually movable across the document positioning surface. The document scanner further includes a feedback mechanism arranged to receive information about a speed of movement of the scanning module, and output a feedback signal to a user of the document scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Burroughs, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Moore, John Gudenburr, Sammy C. Hutson, William L. Kozlowski
  • 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: 8310733
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus that, in a case where the light amount of light illuminated from an image reading lamp has decreased, maintains the quality of a read image without decreasing productivity, and a method for controlling that image reading apparatus, are provided. To accomplish this, this image reading apparatus is provided with RGB line sensors that read a color image, and a monochrome line sensor that reads a monochrome image and has a faster horizontal transfer speed than the RGB line sensors. Further, this image reading apparatus reads a monochrome image using the RGB line sensors even in a monochrome mode in a case where the light amount of the lamp for illuminating an original decreases and so an output level for reading an image with good quality cannot be obtained from the monochrome line sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Sekiguchi, Shigemichi Hamano, Kenji Morita, Akiko Kanno, Satoshi Seki
  • Patent number: 8310741
    Abstract: An embodiment of an image reading device may include a light source, an image reading unit, a drive control unit, a white reference member, a chromaticity detecting unit, a reference value storage unit, a chromaticity change calculating unit, and/or a control unit. An embodiment may include a photoelectric conversion element that reads an image illuminated by the light source. In some embodiments, may measure the chromaticity of a white reference member. In some embodiments, a reference value storage unit may store a reference value representing the chromaticity of an image. In an embodiment, a control unit may control an operation of the device according to the calculated amount of chromaticity change. An embodiment may include measuring the luminous intensity of a light source and storing a reference value representing the luminous intensity of the light source. Some embodiments may include making adjustments to images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masaya Tashiro, Yoshiaki Tabata, Kei Tanaka, Masayuki Sago
  • Patent number: 8305655
    Abstract: An image reading device includes: a foreign-matter image position detection unit that detects a predetermined foreign-matter image from the image read by a document reading unit when the document conveyed by a document conveying unit comes off from a document reading position and detects a main scanning direction position of the foreign-matter image in the main scanning direction; and a lighting control unit that lights up the light-emitting element group arranged in the main scanning direction and lights up the light-emitting elements within a predetermined range from the main scanning direction position of the foreign-matter image in a light emission mode that is different from a light emission mode of other light-emitting elements when the foreign-matter image is detected by the foreign-matter image position detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Harada
  • Patent number: 8305656
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus which improved the development efficiency and is capable of reducing the development cost. The image reading apparatus comprises a specific unit 1001 and an alignment unit 1002. The specific unit 1001 has an CPU 1501 that informs the alignment unit 1002 of identification information for identifying an apparatus specification of the specific unit 1001.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Hayashi, Koji Doi, Yoshihiro Funamizu, Kunio Tsuruno, Satoru Kanno, Akihito Mori, Mitsushige Murata
  • Patent number: 8300287
    Abstract: A device, system and method for incorporating a multipage feeder into a keyboard scanner to allow continuous and sequential feeding of more than one page into a scanner housed in a computer keyboard. A multipage feeder may be for example integrated into or attachable to and detachable from a single page feeder also included in the keyboard housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventor: Dov Aharonson
  • Patent number: 8289585
    Abstract: A disclosed image scanning device includes a document table; a document pressing unit configured to press a document placed on the document table; a scanning unit including a light source for illuminating the document and configured to optically scan the document; a photoelectric conversion element; an open/close detection unit configured to detect opening and closing of the document pressing unit; and a control unit configured to turn on the light source of the scanning unit and thereby to cause the photoelectric conversion element to detect a size of the document if the closing of the document pressing unit is detected by the open/close detection unit or if a scanning start signal is detected. The control unit is configured to turn on the light source after a lighting delay period from a time when the closing of the document pressing unit is detected. The lighting delay period is changeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shohei Shinkawa
  • Patent number: 8279497
    Abstract: An image-reading device includes a document-supporting base, a document-pressing member, a reading unit, a controlling unit, and a determining unit. The document-supporting base has a transparent member on which a document is placed. The document-pressing member is disposed on the document-supporting base so as to cover the transparent member. The document-pressing member is capable of opening and closing on the document-supporting base. The reading unit has a light source and capable of reading an image from the document placed on the transparent member while the light source irradiates light on the document. The controlling unit is configured to control the reading unit to execute a first scanning operation to output image signals for the image on the document while the light source is lit, and a second scanning operation to output image signals for the image on the document while the light source is not lit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Keiichi Nakano, Takahiro Ikeno
  • 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: 8264748
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus executes stop processing to stop scanning of the carriage during the scan operation, acquires information on the stop processing executed by the control unit, corrects a restart position of the carriage for a document image reading after the stop processing based on the information acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayuki Hongo
  • Patent number: 8259366
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a drive source, a speed change mechanism provided in a transmission unit that transmits a driving force from the drive source to a scanning drive unit. The speed change mechanism is configured to change a transmission ratio of the transmission unit by selectively bringing one of first and second couplings into a connected state. The image reading apparatus further includes a selector configured to selectively bring one of the first and second couplings into the connected state, a detector configured to detect the connected state of the second coupling, and a controller configured to control a scanning position of the reading unit based on the transmission ratio changed via the second coupling after the detector detects the connected state of the second coupling after the selector changes selection from the first coupling to the second coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mizuki Hayakawa, Atsushi Miyahara
  • Patent number: 8248671
    Abstract: Service information provided by a user is notified to a central processing unit (CPU), and the CPU executes a computer program for an operation process of the service, to determine a path (channel) through which image data should pass and a process content of image processes according to the service. Depending on the service information, image process is performed only by a first image data processor, image processes are performed by a combination of both the first image data processor and a second image data processor, or image process is performed only by the second image data processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Shuji Kimura
  • 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: 8213050
    Abstract: An image processing device, which includes: an original reception unit that receives an original image; a dot image generation unit that generates, on the basis of additive information to be added to the original image, a dot image in which a plurality of dots each formed by one or more pixels are arranged; a state alteration unit that, when any of the dots in the dot image is determined to be not extractable, alters a state of the non-extractable dot on the basis of a relationship between a position on the dot image generated by the dot image generation unit and a corresponding position on the original image; and a composite image generation unit that generates a composite image by superimposing, on the original image, the dot image having the state of the non-extractable dot altered by the state alteration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 8213060
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a document positioning plate configured to position a document thereon, a document pressing unit which is attached to the document positioning plate to be openable and closable, a reading sensor which is movably arranged in a main body of the apparatus and configured to read an image of the document positioned on the document positioning plate, and a restricting unit configured to engage with the reading sensor to restrict a movement of the reading sensor, wherein the restricting unit has a lever which is provided in the document pressing unit in a rotatable and storable manner and urged in a direction in which the lever is stored and restricts the movement of the reading sensor in a state that the document pressing unit is closed and the lever is inserted into the main body of the apparatus, and when the document pressing unit is opened from the restricting state, the lever is pulled out from the main body of the apparatus to release the restriction and urged to be stored
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuyuki Fujibayashi
  • Patent number: 8208171
    Abstract: The present invention aims to prevent a problem that an image on a document sheet is erased due to misdetection of a line-shaped noise. A copy machine 1 compares RGB values of a target pixel with averaged RGB values (Step S103). If only one of the RGB values has a difference that is greater than a prescribed value Ref2 (Step S103: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to a line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in a line-shaped noise address storing area 49b. If two of the RGB values have differences (Step S103: NO, Step S104: YES) and a difference between these two of the RGB values is no greater than a prescribed value Ref3 (Step S105: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to the line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in the line-shaped noise address storing area 49b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kubo, Nobuhiro Mishima
  • 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: 8199379
    Abstract: An optical detection apparatus includes a detector configured to detect image data in a predetermined reading area on a conveying path to convey the sheet, a first illuminator configured to intermittently emit an excitation light to a first illumination area including the reading area of the detector, a second illuminator configured to continuously emit an excitation light to a second illumination area which is continued with the first illumination area on the upstream of the first illumination area on the conveying path and which does not include the reading area of the detector, and a control unit configured to control the detector to detect image data of the sheet according to the emitting operation of the first illuminator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Seiji Ikari, Junji Miura
  • Patent number: 8199373
    Abstract: An image scanning apparatus including an open-close detector configured to detect an open-close state of a document cover, a first document-detector, a scanning unit configured to scan a document placed on a platen or a document fed from a document tray, a control unit, and a commanding unit configured to input a start command to start scanning. When the start command is inputted, when the document placed on the document tray is detected by the first document-detector, the control unit controls the scanning unit to scan the document fed from the document tray, and when the document placed on the document tray is not detected, the control unit determines whether to execute scanning of the document placed on the platen. The determination is performed based on a result of detection performed by the open-close detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomoya Ito
  • Patent number: 8184336
    Abstract: An image processing device comprises an image processing unit capable of executing multiple types of image processing (differing in the amount of pixel loss caused to an image edge) to an image as a processing target, a specifying unit which specifies image processing that should be executed by the image processing unit from the multiple types of image processing, and a target image extending unit which extends the area of the image as the processing target depending on the amount of pixel loss to be caused by the image processing specified by the specifying unit. The image processing unit executes the image processing specified by the specifying unit to the image whose area has been extended by the target image extending unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8179541
    Abstract: In continuous printing of plural sheets of recording paper, a controlling section of an image forming apparatus corrects a writing position for a first sheet of recording paper in accordance with an off-center amount detected by a carrying position sensor with respect to the first sheet of recording paper. As for an nth sheet of recording paper, the controlling section corrects the writing position for the nth sheet of recording paper in accordance with an off-center amount ?(n?1) detected by the carrying position sensor with respect to an (n?1)th sheet of recording paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Nakazawa
  • Patent number: 8174738
    Abstract: The image read-out device comprises an integrally formed scanning optical unit in which a light source which emits light toward a document, a plurality of reflective mirrors reflecting the light which is emitted from the light source to the document and then reflected, an image forming lens converging the light reflected by a final reflective mirror which finally reflects the light, among the plurality of mirrors, and a light receiving sensor for receiving the light converged by the image forming lens are integrally mounted on a housing, the integrally formed scanning optical unit moving in a scanning direction and reading out an image of the document, wherein an opening is provided on each of top and bottom surfaces of the housing, and wherein the area of the opening provided on the bottom surface is equal or more than that of the opening provided on the top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Ono, Yasuo Sakurai, Kiichiro Nishina, Masahiro Itoh
  • Patent number: 8169672
    Abstract: A disclosed image scanning device illuminates a document with a light source, focuses light reflected from the document on an image sensor to obtain one-dimensional images of the document, and obtains a two-dimensional image of the document from the one-dimensional images. The device includes an illumination lens for dividing a light beam emitted from the light source into multiple light beams and a combining unit for combining the multiple light beams on the document. A disclosed image scanning method includes the steps of illuminating a document with a light source; focusing light reflected from the document on an image sensor to obtain one-dimensional images of the document; and obtaining a two-dimensional image of the document from the one-dimensional images. In this method, a light beam from the light source is divided into multiple light beams and the multiple light beams are combined on the document. A disclosed image forming apparatus includes the image scanning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Yamauchi, Fumihiro Nakashige
  • Patent number: 8164806
    Abstract: When a cover portion covers a document table, a document transporting unit is positioned relative to a reinforcing member in the horizontal direction so that the document transporting unit is movable in the vertical direction, and a first vertical positioning member comes into contact with the document table of a reading unit or the periphery thereof to position the document transporting unit in the vertical direction based on the position of the document table. A document height regulating member is positioned relative to the reinforcing member in the horizontal direction so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and a second vertical positioning member comes into contact with the document table to position a regulating member in the vertical direction based on the position of the document table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: MunSeok Yang, KiWoo Sok
  • Patent number: 8159727
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus is disclosed that includes a contact glass on which a document is placed; an imaging device configured to image a document image based on light reflected from the document through the contact glass; plural line image sensors arranged along a main scanning direction at positions where the document image is imaged and configured so that end portions of the line image sensors adjacent to each other similarly read same image data imaged at an overlapping area; a transmitted light quantity reduction unit disposed in the overlapping area on the contact glass and configured to reduce transmitted light quantity of a light transmitted through the contact glass; and a signal correction device configured to correct the signal intensity of the image data similarly read by the line image sensors adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akito Yoshimaru, Nobuyuki Satoh, Yasuo Sakurai, Hiroshi Takahashi, Masato Kobayashi, Yuichi Sakurada
  • Patent number: 8159731
    Abstract: An image reading device according to one aspect of the invention comprises: a conveying unit configured to convey a recording medium; a first transmissive portion having a first surface that allows the recording medium to pass through the first surface; a second transmissive portion having a second surface on which a recording medium is allowed to be placed; an image reading unit comprising a line sensor extending in a first direction and movable on a second path, the second path continuously extending below the first transmissive portion and the second transmissive portion; and a driver configured to move the image reading unit on the second path. A relative distance of a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions between the line sensor and the first surface changes in the second path below the first transmissive portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yuji Sato, Atsushi Yokochi
  • Patent number: 8159728
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus, in which sheets being transported are illuminated by an illuminating unit, one after another, and a sensor having an imaging elements arranged in a line photographs the sheets, one after another. A white-reference part is provided in a part of the photographing region of the sensor. A black-reference part guides the light reflected by the illuminating unit to the sensor when a sheet lies in the photographing region of the sensor, and to restrict application of the light reflected by the illuminating unit to the sensor when no sheets lie in the photographing region of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Junji Miura, Seiji Ikari
  • Patent number: 8149476
    Abstract: Provided is a document reading apparatus in which an original document fed by feeding means to contact glass having a predetermined reading position is read by reading means. Then, the document reading apparatus is provided with a guide unit having a guide member for guiding the original document to be fed to the contact glass, and a backup unit to back up the original document to be read, and the guide unit is configured to be able to travel between a close position to near the contact glass and an open position to distance from the contact glass. In the guide unit is formed a concave portion for removably accommodating the backup unit, and the backup unit is configured so that an original document guide face of the guide member and an original document guide face in the backup unit form a continuous guide face when the guide unit travels to the close position. Then, the guide unit is moved to the open position to perform cleaning of the backup unit and contact glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Nisca Corporation
    Inventors: Masataka Hamada, Fumihito Endo, Junya Nakajima, Koji Kanda
  • Patent number: 8149472
    Abstract: An image-processing system and a method for controlling the same, including an image-scanning device obtaining image data by scanning data written on a document, an image-processing device processing the image-data item and outputting as an output-image data, and a user interface including setting conditions of the scanning and the image processing, setting an item having a limit value, so as to determine whether or not, at least one of (1) the size of the processed image data, and (2) a time period from when the scanning processing is started to the output, should be limited based on an input from the user interface, changing at least one of the conditions based on the item, performing scanning for the document based on the conditions and the changed condition, and processing image data obtained through the scanning based on the conditions and the changed condition, and outputting the output-image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Atsuko Ono
  • Patent number: 8149478
    Abstract: In order to extract a plurality of items of image data corresponding to respective ones of a plurality of documents from scan data more accurately, an image processing apparatus is provided with a detection unit adapted to detect a plurality of image areas corresponding to the plurality of documents; a setting unit adapted to set a reference area size from sizes of the plurality of image areas; a comparison unit adapted to compare the sizes of the plurality of image areas and the reference area size; and a decision unit adapted to decide that an image area detected by the detection unit has not been detected correctly if result of the comparison by the comparison unit exceeds a preset threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akiko Onishi
  • Publication number: 20120075680
    Abstract: A control device and a method for controlling scanning speed of a scanner. The control device includes a decision device and a driving device. The decision device further includes an image buffer, an up-down counter and a comparator. The decision device receives the input image data and utilizes the up-down counter to compute data access volume inside the image buffer. The comparator decides whether to increase or decrease the scanning speed according to the data access volume and also outputs decision data to the driving device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Transpacific Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Kuo-Jeng Wang
  • Patent number: 8134761
    Abstract: A document processing apparatus which scans a document is disclosed. The document processing apparatus includes a scanning condition managing unit for managing plural scanning conditions to be applied to the document based on a category of the document, a scanning request obtaining unit for obtaining a scanning request for the document via a network, a document category determining unit, a scanning condition determining unit, and a condition inputting unit. The document is scanned based on the scanning condition determined by the scanning condition determining unit, and the condition inputting unit, based on a result determined by the scanning condition determining unit, replaces a part of the scanning condition to be applied to the document, which is the object of the scanning request, with another scanning condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masuyoshi Yachida
  • Patent number: 8134758
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus reads an image of a document. An image reading section reads an image of a document. A scanning mechanism causes the image reading section to move relative to the document when the document is at rest. When the image reading section is at rest, a document feeding mechanism causes the document to move relative to the image reading section. A shutter moves to a first position where the shutter opens, allowing the image reading section to read the image of the document when the document moves relative to the image reading section at rest. The shutter moves to a second position where the shutter closes, allowing the image reading section to read the image of the document when the image reading section moves relative to the document at rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Nakaishi, Hidenori Ueda
  • Patent number: 8115975
    Abstract: A disclosed image scanning device includes a pressing unit for pressing a document; an operation detection unit for detecting an opening operation and a closing operation of the pressing unit; a movable scanning unit for scanning the document; and a control unit for moving the movable scanning unit from a standby position to a document-size detection start position when the opening operation is detected and moving the movable scanning unit from the document-size detection start position to the standby position to determine a size of the document when the closing operation is detected. The control unit is configured to continue moving the movable scanning unit from the standby position to the document-size detection start position until the arrival of the movable scanning unit at the document-size detection start position is detected even if the pressing unit is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Shohei Shinkawa
  • Patent number: 8115972
    Abstract: Among various embodiments of the present disclosure, image scanning can be performed by scanning an object in a forward direction and capturing a first image of the object, scanning the object in a reverse direction and capturing a second image of the object, and combining the first image and the second image to produce a single image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Chingchu Huang
  • Patent number: 8111433
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a reference member, a reading unit, a first reference value setting unit, a detecting unit, a second reference value setting unit, a determining unit, and a pixel value setting unit. The reading unit obtains image data and reference data. The first reference value setting unit sets a first reference value based on the reference data. The detecting unit detects a usage state of the reading unit. The second reference value setting unit sets a second reference value in accordance with the usage state. If the determining unit determines that the first reference value is in a predetermined condition, the pixel value setting unit sets a pixel value based on the image data and the first reference value; otherwise, the pixel value setting unit sets the pixel value based on the image data and the second reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Nagasaka
  • Patent number: 8111420
    Abstract: A printer control apparatus can be applied to an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of types of readers and a plurality of types of printers can be connected to a single controller, and which enables efficient transfer of image data from the reader to the printer via an image memory of the controller. The controller receives image data from a reader and temporarily stores the same in an image memory, and transmits the stored image data to a printer. The controller acquires a reader processing speed from the reader and a printer processing speed from the printer, and determines, while the image data is being written to the image memory, timing for transmitting the image data written in the memory to the printer according to a difference between the reader processing speed and the printer processing speed and a sub-scan size of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Sekiguchi, Masahiro Serizawa, Yoshihito Osari, Akinobu Nishikata
  • Patent number: 8107139
    Abstract: Color adjusting apparatus and method for a light source. A reflector of a required color is added to a light source of a scan module, a plating film of the required color is formed on a lens, or the lens is dyed with the required color. Or alternatively, the color of the light source is directly changed into the required color. As a result, the inconsistent intensities for the light in the primary color, red, green and blue output from the charge-coupled device caused by different brightness of the light source, different wavelength transmission of the lens, and different light sensitivity of the charge-coupled device is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Transpacific Plasma, LLC
    Inventor: Pi-Chen Chen
  • 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