Document Position Detection Patents (Class 358/488)
  • Patent number: 8780421
    Abstract: A transparent sheet is attached onto an inclined surface of an original guide plate of an image reading apparatus, and similarly, a transparent sheet is attached onto an inclined surface at an edge portion of a reading guide plate, thereby preventing an original from being chipped by the ground glass-like inclined surfaces and illumination light from being diffused by the ground glass-like inclined surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Nakanishi, Hiroshi Nakatani, Hisashi Yamanaka, Shohichi Fukutome, Yoshihisa Yamada, Masahiro Imoto, Yasuhiro Suto
  • Patent number: 8773739
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a conveying unit, reading unit, detecting unit, and control unit. The conveying unit conveys two sheets of the original one by one. The reading unit reads a sheet passing past a reading position. The detecting unit detects a sheet passing past a detection position upstream of the reading position in a conveying direction. The control unit controls the reading unit to start a reading process when a leading edge of sheet reaching a position upstream of the reading position by a first distance, controls the reading unit to stop the reading process when a trailing edge of sheet reaching a position downstream of the reading position by a second distance, determines an interspace between the trailing edge of sheet and a leading edge of a subsequently-conveyed sheet, and updates the first distance and the second distance based on the interspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshiki Motoyama
  • Patent number: 8773738
    Abstract: A paper processing apparatus equipped with a paper transferor for sequentially transferring paper sheets while maintaining a predetermined interval between a certain paper sheet and the next paper sheet; a paper position detector for detecting the position of a paper sheet; a plurality of processors for performing processing for the paper sheet; an information reader for reading information relating to processing to be performed for the paper sheet; and a controller for controlling operations relating to the paper transferor, the paper position detector, the plurality of processors, and the information reader, wherein upon judging that the certain paper sheet has passed through a certain processor, the controller carries out control to adjust the widthwise position of the certain processor so as to be adapted for the processing for the next paper sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Duplo Seiko Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiko Toki, Masasuke Funase, Hideki Oiwa
  • Patent number: 8767269
    Abstract: A portable document scanner that records both image and voice information, comprises a digital camera module configured to capture document images, and a laser frame generator configured to project a visible beam of light forming a laser frame to indicate the corresponding field of view of the optical lens for framing a document to be captured. A light source generated by a laser diode is shaped by passing through a collimating optical element and a diffractive optical element which is configured to produce a visible laser frame for framing a document to be captured. The captured data is then stored in an internal memory of the scanner. A data connector is permanently attached to the scanner body, which is used to connect the scanner directly into a receptacle on an external device for accessing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Sunwell Concept Limited
    Inventors: Chih Hoh Suen, Watson Li
  • Patent number: 8767221
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus includes: a size detecting unit that detects a size of each page of a document to be printed; an orientation detecting unit that detects orientation of each page of the document; a receiving unit that receives a setting of post processing that is to be performed on a printed sheet on which the document is printed; a determining unit that determines whether pages of different sizes, both having one side of the same length and other sides of different lengths, are detected in the document; a rotation control unit that, when the determining unit determines that the pages of the different sizes have been detected, rotates pages so that sides of the same length are aligned on the basis of the setting of the post processing; and an output unit that outputs the document with the pages rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Mochizuki, Shizhong Zhu
  • Patent number: 8749804
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an original conveying unit that conveys an original; an original scanning unit that scans the original conveyed by the original conveying unit so as to generate an image of the original; a plotter unit that draws the image on a recording medium; an abnormality detecting unit that detects an abnormality in the plotter unit; and a control unit that, when the abnormality detecting unit detects the abnormality in the plotter unit, shuts off first power supply to the original scanning unit, and sets a first conveying speed of the original by the original conveying unit to be higher than a second conveying speed when the original is scanned by the original scanning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yusuke Harasawa
  • Publication number: 20140153067
    Abstract: A scanner for automatically detecting a scan target includes a transparent scan region configured to support the target, an image sensor including a light source for irradiating light toward the scan region and a light receiving element array for sensing the incident light through the scan region, a drive unit configured to linearly move the sensor across the scan region, and a control unit that controls the sensor and the drive unit. The control unit controls the light source of the sensor and the drive unit such that the sensor moves to a detection position and then the array senses the incident light through the scan region with the light source turned on and off. The control unit compares output signals of the array obtained by turning on and off the light source and automatically determines, based on the comparison, whether the target is placed in the scan region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: WISECUBE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jong Kook Lah
  • Patent number: 8736927
    Abstract: A scanning device includes a scanning platform, a feed roller mounted above the scanning platform and rotatable to bring a sheet-like medium across the scanning platform, first and second elastic elements located under two ends of the scanning platform to press the scanning platform against the feed roller. One end of the scanning device near to the first elastic element is defined as a datum end for guiding the mediums to enter the scanning device. The first elastic element acts a greater force on the scanning platform than the second elastic element, or the distance from the first elastic element to the datum end is smaller than that from the second elastic element to the other end of the scanning device and the force from the first elastic element is equal to that from the second elastic element, so as to make the medium levelly transmitted during being scanned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yueh-Shing Lee, Shao-Yang Wu
  • Patent number: 8736854
    Abstract: One aspect of the invention provides an image reading apparatus including: a document placement portion on which a document is allowed to be placed; a display portion, at least a part of which is transmissive of light; an image reading unit movable along a first direction below the document placement portion and comprising an light emitting unit configured to emit light; and a control unit operable to control the image reading unit in a plurality of operation modes. The plurality of operation modes include a first operation mode that allows the image reading unit to be positioned at a first position corresponding to the display portion and cause the light emitting unit to emit the light, and the display portion is transmissive of the light emitted from the light emitting unit at the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinori Osakabe
  • Patent number: 8730529
    Abstract: A document scanner (10) includes an input tray (20) for holding documents; a transport system (45) for moving documents through the scanner; at least one document detection sensor (135A-135E) for detecting documents; an image capture device for capturing image data for a document; an image processor for determining characteristics of the document based on the image data; and wherein the processor compares characteristics of the document to ultrasonic data and excludes ultrasonic data which conflicts with image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Link, George E. Lathrop
  • Patent number: 8730536
    Abstract: A scanning apparatus includes a scanning module and a sheet size detecting mechanism. The scanning module is used for acquiring an image of a paper sheet. The sheet size detecting mechanism includes a first sheet guide part, a second sheet guide part, and a controlling unit. The first sheet guide part and the second sheet guide part are contacted with two parallel edges of the paper sheet, respectively. A light-emitting unit is disposed on the second sheet guide part. The light-emitting unit is used for projecting a light beam onto an optical sensing element of the scanning module. According to the light beam, the optical sensing element generates a sensing signal. According to the sensing signal, a distance between the two parallel edges of the paper sheet is acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventor: Shang-Hsien Tsai
  • Patent number: 8730535
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus determines a direction of document placement relative to a scanning direction based on a direction of a shadow region in an input image when a line sensor having a light receiving element performs a scan and an image read from a book document by a reading apparatus is input. When the direction of the binding portion of the document is determined to be along a longitudinal direction of the line sensor, an image of a region read by the light receiving element of the line sensor from reflected light undergoing specular reflection from the document is detected based on the amount of variation in luminance between adjacent pixels in the read image of the book document. Luminance of the image corresponding to the region is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichiro Makino
  • Patent number: 8727333
    Abstract: There is provided a printing apparatus including a sheet accommodation device including at least one sheet accommodation section which accommodates a sheet before printing, a printing unit which prints an image on a sheet based on print data stored in a storage area, a discharged sheet accommodation device including at least one discharged sheet accommodation section which accommodates the printed sheet, a control device which selects a combination of a sheet accommodation section and a discharged sheet accommodation section such that a storage device completes storing print data into the storage area by a conveyance starting time of a sheet to be printed based on the print data, and which control a conveyance device to feed the sheet to be printed based on the print data from the sheet accommodation section to discharge the sheet to the discharged sheet accommodation section of the selected combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Ohmiya
  • Patent number: 8730543
    Abstract: Methods perform at least two different segments of a scan job by sequentially scanning the different segments using an optical scanner. Each of the different segments is scanned with the optical scanner manually set to different settings. The methods automatically combine the different settings to produce a recurring scan workflow. The recurring scan workflow includes such different settings of the different segments and information of the number of pages scanned in each of the different segments. Further, such methods perform at least one later scan job having later segments corresponding to the different segments of the original scan job after creating the recurring scan workflow. During the later scan job the computerized device automatically changes settings of the optical scanner between the later segments, without requiring the user to manually change the different settings between the later segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Kari K. Poysa, Thomas W. Nash
  • Patent number: 8717639
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus for making a position deviation correction, a position deviation amount can be accurately calculated by stabilizing the detection result at position deviation detecting and considering an ideal correction amount and an actual correction amount to make the position deviation correction accurately. A forming unit forms a pattern for position deviation detection without making the position correction for less than one pixel by an image position correcting unit, to a pattern formed in the vicinity of a detection region of a detecting unit, and the position deviation amount is calculated by using a value of a position correction which is not made to the pattern for position deviation detection to be formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Junya Arakawa
  • Patent number: 8717637
    Abstract: A method for scanning documents in a document scanner (10) includes transporting (45) documents from an input tray (20) to an document detection sensor (135A-135E); detecting documents with the document detection sensor; capturing image data for a document with an image capture device; determining characteristics of the document based on the image data with an image processor; comparing characteristics of the document to document detection sensor data; and excluding document detection sensor data which conflicts with the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Kodak Alaris Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce A. Link, George E. Lathrop
  • Patent number: 8717632
    Abstract: An image processing method generally includes: obtaining a vanishing point on a curved surface in a two-dimension image; extracting all the straight line segments between a top contour line and a bottom contour line of the curved surface by the vanishing point; removing a perspective distortion to get parallel straight line segments; obtaining the lengths of the straight line segments, obtaining the true width of each of the straight line segments in a three-dimension space and the depth increment of the straight line segments according to the lengths; obtaining the expanded width of each straight line segment according to the true width and the depth increment; obtaining the total expanded width of the curved surface to transform it into a flat surface; transforming image contents on the curved surface onto the flat surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Danian Zheng, Jun Sun, Satoshi Naoi
  • Patent number: 8718403
    Abstract: The position of a feature within an image is determined by determining an initial estimate of the feature position to within a fraction of a pixel, translating the feature by an amount equal to that fraction of a pixel, determining a further estimate of the translated feature position to within a fraction of a pixel and summing the pixel fraction of the previous estimate with the further estimate of the position to arrive at a refined estimate of the feature position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Imetrum Limited
    Inventors: Kevin David Potter, Christopher Setchell
  • Publication number: 20140118796
    Abstract: Methods and devices are described for detecting boundaries of documents on flatbed and multi-function scanners on a first pass of a carriage assembly, and then performing a high resolution scan on a second pass. High resolution images of documents can then be obtained with little or no interaction normally necessary to identify areas of interest on the scanner bed. Patterns on the scanner cover or lid facilitate not only edge determination, but orientation of text and other objects, and straightening of images in preparation for OCR and related functions. Electronic images and files derived from paper documents may be automatically cropped, deskewed, subjected to OCR, and named consistent with content or other information derived from them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: ABBYY Software Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrey Isaev
  • Patent number: 8711440
    Abstract: A method of identifying a printed page from a scan of the printed page is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of generating a page key of the printed page on the basis of the scan (710), searching a database (199) for a similar page key (730). For each found similar page key (740), the method further comprises; retrieving from the database an instance key location (750), generating an instance key for the printed page (530), based on the retrieved instance key location of the referenced page instance; and comparing the generated instance key for the printed page with the retrieved instance key of the referenced page instance (770). A match between the instance keys indicates that the printed page is the referenced page instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Stephen James Hardy
  • Patent number: 8711421
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus or an image output system includes a main image forming section for imposing a plurality of jobs and thereby generating at least one piece of main image data, and an interleaf image forming section for generating an interleaf image depending on the jobs of the main image data and generating interleaf image data including the interleaf image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Katayama
  • Patent number: 8699100
    Abstract: Battery-powered portable sheet-fed scanner, comprising: a scanning unit (21-23) for scanning documents and forming digital representations thereof; a sheet feeder (28) for feeding a document past the scanning unit; a processor (20), communicatively connected to the scanning unit and provided for controlling the scanning operation; a plurality of embedded storage capabilities, each of which is communicatively connected to the processor and each of which comprises either an internal memory (26) for internally storing the digital representations or a communication link (24; 25) to an external storage medium for externally storing the digital representations. The processor is provided with an embedded routing application which is provided for routing the digital representations to a predetermined selection among the embedded storage capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: I.R.I.S.
    Inventors: Pierre De Muelenaere, Michel Dauw, Olivier Dupont, Patrick Verleysen
  • Patent number: 8699098
    Abstract: A scanner comprises a first gear assembly on a frame, a stationary scan surface having a first width, and a scan module having a length substantially less than the first width. The scan module includes a second gear assembly configured to move the scan module, in a first orientation generally perpendicular to the first width, in a first scanning path relative to a first width portion of the scan surface and in a second, non-duplicative scanning path relative to a second width portion of the scan surface. The second gear assembly is releasably engageable to the first gear assembly to selectively shift the scan module, in a second orientation generally perpendicular to the first orientation, between the respective first and second scanning paths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Phey Hong Soh, Kuek Peow Lai, Shyh Chije Leong, Lian Chye Simon Tan, Choon Hwee Yap, Boo Siong Lim
  • Patent number: 8699091
    Abstract: A system for previewing and imaging a document includes an imaging unit having an imaging surface configured to carry the document thereon. The imaging unit also includes an image sensing member configured to capture an image corresponding to the document and an image processing member communicably coupled to the image sensing member to receive the captured image. The image processing member is further configured to convert the captured image to a digital data format. The system further includes a display unit communicably coupled to the image processing member. The display unit includes a user interface configured to exhibit a placement-guiding display object over converted captured image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Rumford, Rebecca Silveston-Keith, Mark Edwards
  • Patent number: 8693808
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for an automatic alignment of digital image layers, implemented in specific software on a computing device (e.g. a personal computer (1)) which drives an image scanner (3) and aligns the multiple scanned image layers (25) in such a way, that of these layers (25) one resulting image (10) will be created, which has—by a statistical calculus based on multiple sampling and averaging of these multiple scanned image layers (25)—a decreased random distributed noise spectrum compared to single scanned images (25) and by the automatic alignment avoids a decrease in sharpness using statistical comparison of the multiple layers (25), especially deviation and cost functions, aiming to compensate a misalignment (6), e.g. mechanical mismatches of the scanner's (3) scanning carriage, between multiple scans (25).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: LaserSoft Imaging AG
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Zahorsky
  • Patent number: 8693068
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading unit, an extraction unit and a generation unit. The reading unit outputs reference plate reading information. The extraction unit sets a pixel of the reference plate reading information as a notice pixel and repeatedly extracts one of the notice pixel as a target pixel until the number of the target pixels is more than a predetermined value when a ratio of a pixel value of the notice pixel to an initial value is more than a predetermined range. The generation unit generates correction information by substituting a pixel value of the target pixel with a correction value using the initial value when the extraction unit extracts all pixels of the reference plate reading information, and generates correction information by setting the pixel values of all the pixels as the initial value when the extraction unit does not extract all the pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norikazu Sakai, Mitsuo Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8693071
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an acceptance unit that accepts an image of an original from an image reader having a conveying unit that conveys an original in sequence along a conveying path passing through a read position and an image read unit that reads the image of the original at the read position at read speed responsive to conveying speed of the original; an acquisition unit that acquires information concerning a stable read range in which the read speed in the conveying direction in the original becomes a stable state from storage in which the information is previously stored; and a registration unit that extracts feature information concerning a microscopic pattern that a surface of the original has from a registration area in the image of the original accepted by the acceptance unit and registers the feature information in association with position information concerning a position of the registration area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Ito, Tetsuya Kimura, Junichi Matsunoshita, Sei Amagai, Masashi Okano
  • Patent number: 8687244
    Abstract: In a case where it is determined after reading an original that an abnormal pixel is included in image data generated by reading the original, after the original is reversed by a reversing unit for re-reading of the original by a reading unit, the original is conveyed to a reading position of the reading unit and image data generated by the re-reading of the reading unit is corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kota Kato
  • Publication number: 20140085689
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a resolution converting unit, an address generating unit, a density determining unit, and an image path selector. The resolution converting unit converts a resolution of image data into a higher resolution. The address generating unit performs a position determining process of determining a position of an additional pixel on the basis of main-scanning directional positions of pixels composing the converted image data and respective shift amounts of the pixels shifted to a sub-scanning direction. The density determining unit determines a density of the additional pixel on the basis of a density of a pixel located at a position corresponding to the determined position in the image data. The image path selector scales the image data up or down by controlling the address generating unit while adding the additional pixel having the determined density to the determined position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: Nobuyoshi Kaima
  • Patent number: 8675218
    Abstract: A data processor includes a communication unit, a customized data acquiring unit, a storing unit, a status data acquiring unit, and a display unit. The communication unit performs data communication with an electrical equipment. The customized data acquiring unit acquires customized data. The storing unit stores fixed data and the customized data acquired by the customized data acquiring unit. The customized data is correlated with the fixed data. The status data acquiring unit acquires status data from the electrical equipment via the communication unit. The display unit displays the fixed data and the customized data. The fixed data and the customized data are in association with the status data acquired by the status data acquiring unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takafumi Yamada
  • Patent number: 8675265
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus, including: a placement portion on which an original is to be placed; an openable and closable pressure portion which presses, the original, which is placed on the placement portion, against the placement portion; a reading unit which moves in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to a main scanning direction to read image information of the original, which is pressed against the placement portion by the openable and closable pressure portion, and a step portion, which is provided in a pressure surface of the openable and closable pressure portion which presses the original against the placement stand, and in a state in which the openable and closable pressure portion is closed, forms a space portion extending in the sub-scanning direction so as to communicate to at least one end in the sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shoko Magata
  • Patent number: 8670164
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a scanner with a real-time image auto-cutting function. The scanner includes a positioning element, a scanning scope determining unit and a scanning unit. The scanning scope determining unit is configured on the positioning element, has a specific pattern and is provided to determine a scanning scope. The scanning unit scans the specific pattern to determine the scanning scope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mustek Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Po-Ching Lu, Hui-Wen Wen, Ming-Zhou Wang
  • Patent number: 8670163
    Abstract: An image reader includes an original transport device to transport an original, and an image reading device including multiple image sensor arrays having image reading areas staggered relative to the transport direction of the original in such a manner that the multiple image sensor arrays are offset at least partially, in the main scanning direction of the original with a predetermined gap therebetween in the transport direction. There is at least one original transport speed detector to detect the transport speed of the original transported by the original transport device, a storing device to store a reference delay time period which is between when the image sensor arrays on the upstream side read a predetermined position relative to the transport direction and when the image sensor arrays on the downstream side read the predetermined position. Further, there is a misalignment amount calculator, and an image synthesizer to synthesize an image read by the image sensor arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140063570
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for identifying the width and position of documents (4) in a large-format scanner system (1) using recorded image information, wherein the scanner system (1) has image capture elements (2) for recording the image information, an optical system (3) arranged upstream thereof and a reflector (5) arranged opposite the image capture elements (2), having the following steps: 51 the recorded image information is preprocessed in order to reduce faults as a result of soiling of the optical system (3) and the reflector (5), 52 horizontal and/or vertical transition regions (12, 13) from the reflector (5) to the document (4) are subjected to coarse identification, and 53 horizontal and/or vertical document edges (10, 11) within the transition regions (12, 13) detected by the coarse identification as per step S2 are subjected to fine identification.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Simon Kaempflein
  • Patent number: 8665502
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a transporter transporting a document to a reading position, a first corrector correcting a skew of the document by coming into contact with a leading edge thereof, a radiating unit radiating light to the document, an image-information acquiring unit acquiring image information of the document based on information of light reflected therefrom, a reflector reflecting the radiated light, a leading-edge detector comparing a quantity of light reflected by the reflector with a quantity of light reflected by the document so as to detect the leading edge, a skew-amount calculator calculating a skew amount of the leading edge, and a second corrector correcting a skew of the image information based on the skew amount. The device switches between the skew correction by the first corrector and the skew correction by the second corrector based on document information, the skew amount, or user's selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Masaki, Atsushi Kaneko, Hiromi Kita, Kenji Yamada, Nobutoshi Hamasaki, Nobuyuki Maruno
  • Patent number: 8659808
    Abstract: A duplex scanning apparatus capable of switching a scanning background includes a pair of glass plates, a pair of background boards pivoted to the glass plates and a driving mechanism. The glass plates are disposed in a frame and overlapped with each other. The two glass plates define two scanning areas face to face. A portion of the frame adjacent to an outer surface of the glass plate defines a first color area of the scanning background corresponding to the scanning area. One background board is positioned above one glass plate, and the other background board is positioned under the other glass plate and away from the one background board. Each background board defines a second color area of the scanning background corresponding to the scanning area. The driving mechanism mounted in the frame drives the background boards to turn over with respect to the corresponding glass plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kuan-Cheng Huang, Yung-Kai Chen
  • Patent number: 8643889
    Abstract: An image reader is provided, which includes a controller that when a PC-scan mode is set as an output mode, the controller controls an image output unit to output second read data of a second side of a document sheet at each time when a storage unit stores the second read data output from a second image reading unit on a line-by-line basis, controls the storage device to store first read data of a first side of the document sheet during a time period from a time when a leading end of the document sheet reaches a reading position of a first image reading unit to a time when a trailing end of the document sheet passes through a reading position of the second image reading unit, and controls the image output unit to sequentially output the first read data stored on the storage unit, after completely outputting the second read data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masayoshi Oosaki, Hiroshi Morisaki, Hiroko Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8638477
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a storage unit, a conveyance unit configured to convey a document, a reading unit configured to read an image of the document line by line in a main scanning direction, a check unit configured to check a free space of the storage unit, a detection unit configured to generate detection processing data for determining a position of a portion of the image in the main scanning direction of the reading unit where the image cannot be read correctly and to detect the position using the detection processing data, both in response to the free space of the storage unit being sufficient to store the detection processing data, and a correction unit configured to correct a pixel value of the portion corresponding to the position detected by the detection unit in the image read by the reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Daiki Ikari
  • Publication number: 20140022609
    Abstract: There is provided a document, wherein a measurement image for measuring a position of an image relative to a document is formed on a first surface thereof, a designation image for designating a document position, at which the document is placed on an image reading apparatus that reads an image, is formed on a second surface thereof, and wherein the document is spaced from an end portion of a reading region of the image reading apparatus by placing the document in accordance with the designation of the designation image, and the designation image is formed such that the measurement image is placed in the reading region of the image reading apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: FUJI XEROX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohiro TANIGAWA, Kousuke KUBOTA, Osamu GOTO, Ryuji FUJIKI, Takeshi KATO
  • Patent number: 8630026
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing method which determines the area of a document from an image read on a transparent platen, the image processing method also determines a single object area or a plurality of object areas from the image on the transparent platen, and when the luminance of the area in which the object area is removed from the image on the transparent platen is detected to determine the document area, the image processing method detects whether or not an image of a shadow exists around the periphery of the object area on the image of the transparent platen, and the threshold value used for determining the document area is different depending on whether a shadow is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mizuki Hayakawa, Kan Kitagawa, Yusuke Hattori
  • Patent number: 8625170
    Abstract: The present invention provides an illuminating device including a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged in a line, the illuminating device illuminates an irradiation target by irradiating the irradiation target with light that is emitted from the light-emitting elements via a first and a second optical paths. In the illuminating device, a light diffusing portion for diffusing light is provided in one of the first optical path and the second optical path, and an irradiation light amount of said one of the first optical path and the second optical path in which the light diffusing portion is provided is larger than an irradiation light amount of the other optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Imoto, Mitsuharu Yoshimoto, Yasuhiro Suto, Shohichi Fukutome, Kenji Nakanishi, Hisashi Yamanaka, Yoshihisa Yamada
  • Patent number: 8619340
    Abstract: What is disclosed is a novel system and method for augmenting present methods used for determining the orientation direction automatically being detected of digital pages of a plurality of scanned documents in a digital document processing environment. The present method takes advantage of the observation that pages scanned in data processing centers are often highly correlated. The present method contains five primary steps. 1) Page orientation (i.e., up/down) is detected using a traditional method. 2) Each page is classified as either directional or non-directional. 3) The pages classified as directional are clustered into groups. 4) The direction for each group is determined. 5) The directional group's direction is used to revise the orientation for pages contained in the group. Through the implementation of the teachings hereof, performance, in terms of both speed and accuracy, are very high relative to current methods and detection error rates can be reduced significantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Zhigang Fan, Michael R. Campanelli
  • Patent number: 8614840
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an image reading member disposed in one of two regions that face each other with a transport path of a document therebetween, the image reading member being used for reading an image on the document, the image reading member including a light-receiving portion, a light-collecting member that collects reflected light reflected from the document onto the light-receiving portion, and a protruding portion that protrudes toward the transport path; and an opposing member disposed in the other of the two regions, the opposing member having a recess formed therein, the recess allowing the protruding portion of the image reading member to enter thereinto, the opposing member being disposed opposite the image reading member with the transport path therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Kobayashi, Yuichi Mikuni, Mitsuo Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20130329264
    Abstract: A reading apparatus includes a first generation unit, a determination unit, a second generation unit, and an association unit. The first generation unit generates data of a first target object obtained by using an image capture unit attached above a reading platen to read the first target object placed in a reading area of the reading platen. The determination unit determines, in a state where the first target object is placed in the reading area, whether a second target object has been placed in the reading area. The second generation unit generates data of a second target object obtained by using the image capture unit to read the second target object. The association unit associates, in response to determining that the second target object has been placed in the reading area, the data of the first target object with the data of the second target object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventor: Yasuo Okutani
  • Patent number: 8605319
    Abstract: Provided is an image reading apparatus communicatable with an image processing apparatus, including: a first reader that reads an image of a first side of a document; a first storage that stores the image read by the first reader; a second reader that reads an image of a second side of the document; a second storage that stores the image read by the second reader; a transmitter that transmits the images stored in the first storage and the second storage to the image processing apparatus; and a controller that, with respect to a first document whose length in a conveyance direction is longer than a predetermined length, causes the transmitter to transmit the image read by the first reader to the image processing apparatus, and causes the first storage and the second storage to store the image read by the second reader.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Morisawa
  • Patent number: 8599454
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a reading device; and a control unit, wherein the control unit configured to perform: an image reading process of controlling the reading device; a line ground-color-density detection process of detecting a ground-color-density of respective lines; a line count process of counting the number of adjacent lines, which is the number of lines that are adjacent to each other and a difference of the ground-color-densities of the lines falls within a reference range; a document ground-color-density extraction process of extracting a ground-color-density of a line in an area having the largest number of adjacent lines from a read image of the document image; and a density determination process of determining whether the ground-color-density of the document image is a reference density or lower, and a ground color correction process of performing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayoshi Oosaki
  • Patent number: 8599430
    Abstract: An image processing device creates reduced image data based on original image data indicative of an original image. The original image is divided into original grids each corresponding to a set of original pixel data. The reduced image is divided into reduced grids each corresponding to a set of reduced pixel data. The image processing device acquires, for each set of reduced pixel data, original pixel data corresponding to the original grid whose part is superposed on the reduced grid corresponding to the each set of reduced pixel data when the reduced image is partially superposed on the original image such that the reduced image is shifted. The reduced pixel data is produced by calculating a weighted average of the original pixel data based on size ratio of the part of original grid superposed on the reduced grid to a size of the reduced grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masashi Kuno
  • Patent number: 8599449
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for capturing technical documents and reading and commentating captured documents thereof. The system may comprise a capturing system and a reading with commentating system. The capturing system selects related drawings from a group of technical documents. It then provides important information and the related drawings onto an image for the readers' review. The reading with commentating system allows the readers to process technical classification, management and export/import for the group of technical documents. Readers may make comments on an information sharing platform after reviewing the technical documents. Besides, other materials collected or generated from the technical analysis on the technical documents may be attached to the information sharing platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignees: Industrial Technology Research Institute, Chao-Chin Chang
    Inventors: Chen-Kun Chen, Yu-Chen Yu, Mu-Tao Chu, Kuan-Chieh Tu, Chao-Chin Chang, Hsiao-Wen Chang, Chen-Peng Hsu
  • Patent number: 8582185
    Abstract: According to an embodiment of the present invention, an image reader comprises a plurality of light receiving elements configured to receive light from an object to be read and to convert the light into image signals. The image reader further comprises means for determining a distance between the object and the plurality of light receiving elements at a plurality of different positions of the object. Moreover the image reader comprises means for selecting at least one correction process portion based at least on the distance between the object and the plurality of light receiving elements. The image reader comprises means for applying the at least one selected correction process to the image signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Ikeno
  • Patent number: 8571350
    Abstract: A method of operation of an image processing system includes: identifying a feature point on a first image; determining a matching point on a second image with the matching point corresponding to the feature point; calculating an offset component between the feature point and the matching point with the offset component having a vertical offset; identifying a correction field for updating the first image and the second image, with the correction field having a vertical adjustment, a zoom adjustment, a rotational adjustment, and a keystone adjustment; and updating the first image and the second image using the correction field for minimizing the offset component for displaying an aligned image on a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis Adams, Dale Emmons