Abstract: An image forming apparatus has a calibration mode in which a calibration image is formed on a print medium to correct image forming conditions. The image forming apparatus detects print medium information to determine, on the basis of the print medium information, whether the print medium is a sheet recommended as a print medium for use in the calibration mode. The image forming apparatus sets calibration conditions corresponding to the determined recommended sheet. The image forming apparatus corrects the image forming conditions on the basis of the set calibration conditions.

Abstract: Sensor image encoding and/or decoding systems, media, and methods. The sensor image encoding system may include a first color component interpolation unit transforming a sensor image into a first format image by interpolating a first color component of at least two color components in the sensor image including the at least two color components, in which one pixel has one color component, and an encoding unit generating a bitstream by encoding the first format image. The sensor image decoding system may include a decoding unit receiving a bitstream obtained by encoding a sensor image including the at least two color components, where one pixel has one color component, and restoring a first format image by using at least two color components obtained by decoding the bitstream, and a first color component interpolation unit interpolating at least one color component in the first format image provided from the decoding unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method relating to a least one wheel rotatable about a first axis while movably supporting a reflected light gathering unit extending along a second axis are disclosed.

Abstract: A system controls multiple digital printers, each printer including a processor, which processes incoming image data to be printed, and an engine, which places marks on a print sheet. A system-wide database includes a software portion, which contains data relating to the processors in the various printers, and a hardware portion, which contains data relating to the various engines. A central control system can recognize, for each printer, whether a condition within the printer is primarily hardware- or software-related, and influence the printer accordingly.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus reads an image on an original and generates lines of data by causing a carriage to perform scanning, then by referring to the data, detects chromatic color pixels that exist between two achromatic color pixels, being first and second achromatic color pixels, from among pixels in the image that has been read in the scanning direction of the carriage, and determines one of the detected chromatic color pixels as a pixel of interest and corrects the pixel of interest to an achromatic color pixel while shifting the position of the pixel of interest pixel-by-pixel N times from a pixel position adjacent to the first achromatic color pixel in a direction toward the second achromatic color pixel.

Abstract: To prevent such a situation that a signal from a pixel in a dark state is output at a level shifted from an originally set level to deteriorate an image quality, and to improve the image quality.

Abstract: An image sensing apparatus having a large depth of focus (DOF) and being compact in size is provided.

Abstract: An imaging lens comprises a first, a second, a third, and a fourth lens group from an object toward an image. The first lens group includes a first lens that is a convex meniscus lens with a convex surface on the object side. The second lens group includes a second lens having a positive refractive power, and a third lens bonded to the second lens and having a negative refractive power. The third lens group includes a fourth lens having a negative refractive power, and a fifth lens bonded to the fourth lens and having a positive refractive power. The fourth lens group includes a sixth lens having a positive refractive power. The imaging lens satisfies the condition 0.10<D/f<0.19 where D denotes a sum of an air gap between the first lens and the second lens and an air gap between the fifth lens and the sixth lens, and f denotes a focal length of the entirety of the imaging lens with respect to an e-ray.

Abstract: The image processing device is provided with an area process portion for generating objects indicating specific areas included in original image data of an scanned original and for discriminating whether each of the objects is a character object or a non-character object, an integration process portion for performing a process of integrating character objects that satisfy a first condition so as to make one character object and a process of integrating character objects that have remained after integration and satisfy a second condition if the number of the remaining character objects is larger than a preset value, a lossless compression portion for performing a lossless compression process on a character object, and a lossy compression portion for performing a lossy compression process on a non-character object.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus including: a storage unit including a plurality of memory modules, the storage unit storing image data having been subjected to a main scanning shift processing into the memory modules; and a control unit dividing a first memory area at a center position of main scanning, the first memory area set to increase a total storage capacity as a shift amount in a sub scanning direction becomes larger, the control unit superposing the divided first memory areas so as to counteract memory un-use areas to set a second memory area, the control unit selecting the memory modules corresponding to the second memory area to read and write the image data, the control unit thereby performing sub scanning shift processing of the image data.

Abstract: The invention relates to the automatic creation of an atmosphere, particularly a lighting atmosphere, based on a keyword input such as a keyword typed or spoken by a user. A basic idea of the invention is to enable a user of an atmosphere creation system such as a lighting system to automatically create a specific atmosphere by simply using a keyword which is input to the system. The keyword, for example “eat”, “read”, “relax”, “sunny”, “cool”, “party”, “Christmas”, “beach”, may be spoken or typed by the user and may enable the user to find and explore numerous atmospheres in an interactive and playful way in embodiments of the invention. Finding atmosphere elements related to the keyword may be done in various ways according to embodiments of the invention. The invention allows also a non expert in designing or creating atmosphere scenes to control the creation of a desired atmosphere in an atmosphere creation system.

Abstract: Printing systems and methods are presented for image background and neutral adjustment of luminance-chrominance pixel values corresponding to a scanned image, in which white and black pixels are identified which have luminance values close to whitepoint and blackpoint values for the image, and which have chrominance values close to the chrominance neutral point. The chrominance values of these identified white and black pixels are selectively reduced based at least partially on proximity to the chrominance neutral point and chrominance of one or more neighboring pixels.

Abstract: An image forming method that forms an image by using inks of secondary chromatic colors based on an input image, the method including: forming a test pattern that uses a color chart with the entire secondary chromatic colors of the used inks by using a normal color conversion table for converting a first color space of the input image into a second color space of the formed image; comparing data obtained by scanning the formed test pattern with second color space data of the test pattern, and identifying a non-matching color portion as a non-ejection color and a line position containing a non-ejection nozzle thereof; preparing a special color conversion table, the special color conversion table being provided for each omission ink; and setting and using the special color conversion table for an omission ink corresponding to the non-ejection color at the line position containing the identified non-ejection nozzle.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which, upon receipt of an instruction to perform proof copying in a proof copy mode, stores a numeral value showing the number of times the instruction is made. The performing of the proof copying is restricted based on the numeral value showing the number of times stored and a numeral value showing a pre-set value for allowing the performing of the proof copying.

Abstract: A scanner device includes a function for generating image data by rotating an image scanned from an original document according to necessity. The scanner device includes a display processing unit and a confirmation accepting unit. The display processing unit displays a first image pattern indicating a set status of a scanned original document, and a second image pattern indicating a direction of image data when the original document under the set status in the first image pattern is scanned and rotated by a prescribed rotation condition. The confirmation accepting unit accepts a confirmation for executing an image data generation processing under a prescribed rotation condition.

Abstract: Confirmation sheets would be more useful if they provided status information for each service, for each destination or recipient and/or images of each page of a multi-service and/or multi-destination job. A confirmation sheet provides the status of multi-destination and/or multi-service document distribution jobs. The services that can be included in a multi-service document distribution job include sending the documents as a facsimile, scanning the documents to a file or to a file repository, e-mailing the documents to an individual or other address, and/or printing the documents. Thumbnail images of one or more pages of the multi-destination and/or multi-service job can also be included on the confirmation sheet. In various exemplary embodiments, when elements of a multi-destination or multi-service job are not completed at the time the confirmation sheet is requested, the confirmation sheet can include various structures or information usable to obtain job status at a later time.

Abstract: Disclosed are a scanner module and an image scanning apparatus employing the same. The scanner module includes a light source generating light to be irradiated onto an object and a light guide member extending in correspondence with a width of the object. The light guide member has a reflective surface defined by a plurality of reflective grooves, some of which arranged to be non-parallel with other ones. Light is effectively diffused and/or scattered in the width direction of the light guide member by the reflective grooves, allowing a uniform light distribution across the scanning width.

Abstract: A method is provided for analyzing the colour quality of a press pull as compared to a contract proof. The contract proof is scanned to create image data including colour data representing a scanned proof image. The press pull is also scanned to create image data including colour data representing a scanned press pull image. The scanned images are simultaneously displayed on a video monitor, and, the displayed images are searched for any significant differences in colour. A method is also provided for printing colour products on a colour printing press in a print run associated with a contract proof. The contract proof is scanned to create image data including colour data representing a scanned proof image. A sample printed colour product from the press is also scanned to create image data including colour data representing a scanned press pull image. The scanned images are simultaneously displayed on a video monitor. The scanned images are aligned and linked.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a visible light source; an infrared light source; at least three one-dimensional photoelectric conversion elements extending in a main scanning direction and having respective different spectral sensitivity characteristics; an imaging optical system configured to form an image of image information of an original placed on an original holder and irradiated by the visible light source and the infrared light source on the one-dimensional photoelectric conversion elements; a driving unit configured to change relative optical positions of the imaging optical system and the original in a sub-scanning direction; and a control unit configured to obtain visible-light image information and infrared-light image information of the original by controlling turning-on operations of the visible light source and the infrared light source at every reading in the main scanning direction and by performing relative movement of the image optical system and the original in the sub-scanning direct

Abstract: A method is disclosed as including scanning a first pixel of an image with a primary scanning line of a sensor, and scanning a second pixel of the image with a secondary scanning line of the sensor, wherein the first pixel is separated from the second pixel by a pitch of one or more scan lines. A compensation value is determined for one or more pixels of the image, wherein the compensation value is determined based, at least in part, on a mathematical operation comprising pixel values associated with the first and second pixels and the pitch. The method further includes compensating the one or more pixel values based, at least in part, on the compensation value, wherein the compensation value compensates for a reflection of light between the first and second scanning lines when the first and second pixels are scanned.

Abstract: A method for forming a color image that allows a color image forming device to detect print chromaticity by an actually used print medium and automatically perform an optimal color balance adjustment in consideration of the chromaticity of the print medium. At a first step of the method, it is determined whether a feeder is selected for a subsequent printing operation. If selected, the process proceeds to a second step. If not selected, it is determined that the printing operation is not performed for some time and the process is completed without color balance adjustment. At the second step, a print medium for printing a test pattern is fed from the feeder selected for a subsequent printing operation, which is determined at the first step. A color sensor detects the chromaticity of the test pattern transferred and fused on the print medium, and the color balance is then adjusted.

Abstract: A computer peripheral that may operate as a scanner. The scanner captures image frames as it is moved across an object. The image frames are formed into a composite image based on computations in two processes. In a first process, fast track processing determines a coarse position of each of the image frames based on a relative position between each successive image frame and a respective preceding image determine by matching overlapping portions of the image frames. In a second process, fine position adjustments are computed to reduce inconsistencies from determining positions of image frames based on relative positions to multiple prior image frames. When the determined position of multiple image frames overlap, pixels in the composite image may be formed by combing values of pixels in the image frames, which improves image quality of the composite image.

Abstract: An imaging device is configured to operable in a normal print mode and in an economical print mode. The imaging device includes an image storage, a cost calculating system that calculates a normal print cost representing a cost when the image is printed in the normal print mode, an upper limit setting system that sets an upper limit of the print cost. Further provided is an adjustment parameter determining system that determines an adjustment parameter representative of reduced quantity of consumable substances when the image data is printed. The adjustment parameter is calculated based on the upper limit and the normal print cost such that a print cost is suppressed below the upper limit if the image data stored in the image storage is printed in accordance with the adjustment parameter. A printing system is provided to print the image in accordance with the adjustment parameter.

Abstract: Scanning devices and method of use that accommodate a longer imaging distance while minimizing the size of the device. The scanning device may include an imaging unit having a sensor and optics. The scanning device may further include a target bed for placement of the targeted documents. An imaging distance extends between the imaging unit and the target bed. In one embodiment, the housing may be collapsed after the scanning procedure to reduce the overall device size. Reflective members may also be positioned within the interior of the device to lengthen the imaging distance. Still further embodiments may include a movable imaging unit.

Abstract: An image processing device detects a candidate area of a background color in a chromaticity plane with respect to an original scanned document. A background color area is determined based on the candidate area of the detected background color. Boundary lines extending from the determined background color area to an achromatic-color area are generated. The background color area and an area surrounded by the background color area and the boundary lines are set as a mask, and the background color of the original document is deleted.

Abstract: Identifying the substrate type of a target substrate before patterning by a marking engine produces an opportunity to adjust the marking engine. The adjustments can enable the marking engine to produce higher quality work. The target substrate's substrate type can be automatically identified by obtaining its characteristics and submitting them to a classifier. A spectrophotometer can measure a substrates reflectance spectrum, which is a good characteristic for use in classifying. Classifiers can be based on known distance or correlation measures.

Abstract: The image processing method and device photograph a subject or transparent image to acquire calorimetric values of a subject image, acquire chromaticity information and illuminance information of a light source illuminating the subject and the transparent image, perform on the calorimetric values of the subject image chromatic adaptation correction based on the chromaticity information and the acquired illuminance information and contrast correction based on the illuminance, and correct the corrected calorimetric values to be output by an amount of flare in outputting the subject image, thereby enabling faithful reproduction of appearance.

Abstract: An information processing device may include a first frame provided with a scanner for reading information recorded on a medium, a second frame which faces the first frame across a traveling path and is provided with a pressing member for pressing the medium toward a reading face of the scanner, a support plate which supports the pressing member and whose one end is axially supported with the second frame to be movable between a locked position where the pressing member is protruded in the traveling path and an open position where a reading face of the scanner is exposed, a locking part for locking the support plate to the second frame at the locked position, and a half lock preventing mechanism for preventing a half-lock state when the support plate is locked to the second frame.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a reading speed changing unit to change a reading resolution of a manuscript in a vertical direction by changing a carrier linear speed of the manuscript or a moving speed of a reading carriage; a resolution changing unit to change a resolution in the vertical direction of image data of which reading resolution is changed; and a resolution instruction unit to calculate a threshold of a required resolution of an image to determine instruction contents for the reading speed changing unit and the resolution changing unit, based on a data size drawn from a maximum readout size of the manuscript in a main scanning direction and information to specify a pixel and data transfer capability of a data bus, and to provide a resolution for the reading speed changing unit and the resolution changing unit according to the calculated threshold of the required resolution.

Abstract: In a document management method and apparatus of the invention, data of a paper document to which revision data are added are acquired, and data of a document file corresponding to the paper document are acquired based on document-file identification information that identifies the document file. Difference data indicating differences between the data of the paper document and the data of the document file are extracted. The revision data contained in the difference data, revision attribute information concerning the revision data, and the document file are associated so that the document file is managed with the association.

Abstract: An original document is scanned, an arbitrary color area in a chromaticity plane is extracted with respect to the scanned original document, coordinate conversion is performed on the extracted color area in the chromaticity plane, and a mask area is determined to be masked, in accordance with the converted color area on which the coordinate conversion has been performed.

Abstract: An image formation device is provided with an image formation section which forms an image on a recording medium, a frame which accommodates the image formation section and is supported at a base surface, an image acquisition section which is disposed at an upper side relative to the image formation section, and a support body which supports the image acquisition section at the base surface and to which a side portion of the frame is attached.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a contact image sensor (CIS) configured to parallelly output image signals of a plurality of pixels via a plurality of signal lines, an analog frontend (AFE) configured to serially output the image signals of the plurality of pixels output from the CIS by converting the image signal into a plurality pieces of pixel data, an input/output control circuit configured to add reading position information and reading color information to each of the plurality pieces of pixel data, and a direct memory access controller (DMAC) configured to transfer each of the plurality pieces of pixel data to a storage position corresponding to the reading position information and the reading color information such that the plurality pieces of pixel data is stored in consecutive storage positions in an external memory.

Abstract: A method for marking a surface by controlled periodic nanostructures includes: a step (500) of coding an item of information in the form of an image including values representative of the coded information and a step (506 to 514) of marking, dot by dot, an area of the surface with a polarized laser beam to form oriented nanostructures on or in the surface, by modulating the laser beam's polarization for each marking dot according to the value of a dot of the image. In embodiments, during the marking step, a pulsed laser is utilized with a duration of less than 10×10?12 seconds and an element of polarizing the light coming from the laser source and reaching the surface, designed to polarize the light according to a polarization axis that can vary according to a signal received by the polarization element, is utilized.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus which reads an original to generate monochrome image data, comprises a determination unit configured to determine which of a first instruction to read the original using RGB sensors or a second instruction to read the original using a BW sensor is input; a reading unit configured to read the original using the RGB sensors when the determination unit determined that the first instruction is input, and read the original using the BW sensor when the determination unit determined that the second instruction is input; and a generation unit configured to generate monochrome image data by reading the original by the reading unit using the respective sensors.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image reading apparatus including: an original transporting device for transporting an original; an image reader for reading an image of the original in a first reading region or a second reading region while transporting the original by the original transporting device; and a correcting device for correcting image data read in the second reading region by the image reader so as to give the image data the same white level as image data read in the first reading region based on the ratio of the white level of the second reading region to that of the first reading region.

Abstract: A method for generating image information from an object to be scanned by means of a scanning device, wherein the object to be scanned can comprise one or a plurality of surfaces, one or a plurality of bodies and/or a space, wherein the scanning device or at least parts of the scanning device or the object itself is moved during the scanning operation, and wherein the object to be scanned is scanned by the scanning device in the region of a scanning layer, is configured with regard to a simplest possible scanning operation in such a way that the beam path that scans the object is set in a manner oriented at any desired angle with respect to the scanning layer, and/or that the scanning layer is chosen in any desired position with respect to the object to be scanned.

Abstract: A document reading unit has an image sensor mounted in a box-like support base so that a document can be read by the image sensor through an opening in the support base. A contact glass disposed in the opening covers the image sensor and supports the document while it is being read by the image sensor. Support members coupled to the contact glass are detachably fixed to the support base by fixing screws. The image sensor has two rows of spaced-apart line sensors with the line sensors in one row staggered relative to those in the other row, and the support members are arranged between adjacent pairs of line sensors in each row of line sensors. The contact glass and support members are removable as a unit from the support base.

Abstract: A representative color determining step is executed to determine, from image data, a representative color characterizing an image of a print, and positions of the representative color. A gray control color determining step is executed to determine, from the image data, a gray control color expressed in an achromatic color and positions of the gray control color. A reading step is executed to read an image of reference paper and an image of an actual print. Then, a calculating step is executed to carry out a comparative calculation of color data in the positions of the representative color of the image of the reference paper and color data in the positions of the representative color of the image of the print, and a comparative calculation of color data in the positions of the gray control color of the image of the reference paper and color data in the positions of the gray control color of the image of the print, to create control data for controlling ink feeding rates of a printing machine.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a reading unit configured to read image data, a recognition unit configured to recognize a color of a handwritten portion designating a region in the image data and to recognize processing associated with the color of the handwritten portion, a display unit configured to display the recognized color and a content of the processing associated with the color, and a changing unit configured to change an association between the recognized color and the recognized content of the processing.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus including: first reading sensor to read an image of an original document at a first position; a second reading sensor at second position downstream; a circulating transport path; a first switchback provided between the first and second positions; a second switchback provided between the second and first positions; a first gate at a branching point of the first switchback; a second gate at a branching point of the second switchback; a sheet exit; a third gate provided at a branching point of the sheet exit; and a controller, which controls such that: the original document is transported through two switchbacks, both face images are read by the two reading sensors; and in another mode, the original document is transported through one of the two switchback sections, and both face images are read by one of the two reading sensors.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a plurality of color filters arranged in a specific arrangement; a plurality of pixels adjacently arranged in each color filter; an exposure setting section for assigning one of a plurality of exposures to each pixel so as to perform exposure using the plurality of exposures; a readout section for reading out an image signal corresponding to each of the plurality of the exposures from the plurality of the pixels of each color filter; and a synthesizing section for determining an image signal of each color filter, based on the image signals read out by the readout section, and synthesizing the determined image signals of all of the plurality of the color filters, so as to output an image signal for forming an image.

Abstract: A document creation method according to this invention includes an image capturing step of capturing image data of each page, a boundary image specifying step of specifying a boundary image serving as the boundary between sets of pages from image data captured in the image capturing step, and a document creation step of creating, on the basis of the image data captured in the image capturing step, an electronic document divided into different chapters at the position of the boundary image specified in the boundary image specifying step. The electronic document created in the document creation step is divided into a plurality of chapters, and boundary pages are set between the plurality of chapters.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus which performs a shading correction by using white reference data, includes an image sensor which transfers accumulated charge to a shift register by a shift pulse; a motor for moving a carriage; an encoder; and a shift pulse control unit, wherein in a white reference data acquisition process, the shift pulse control unit outputs a shift pulse which is a start timing of the charge accumulation corresponding to a predetermined reference color in a case in which an output result of the encoder is in a predetermined state, outputs a shift pulse which is a start timing of the charge accumulation corresponding to each color other than the predetermined reference color in a case in which a predetermined time for each color other than the predetermined reference color has elapsed from the start timing of the charge accumulation corresponding to the predetermined reference color as a reference.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus with a preview function includes a scanning unit that scans a plurality of documents to obtain scanned images of the plurality of documents; a display unit; and a control unit that controls the display unit to display the scanned images of the plurality of documents as preview images of the plurality of documents.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus determines whether or not a number for executing F-code relay is designated to facsimile data having at least transmitting terminal identification data added thereto, the facsimile data being received from the outside. When it is determined that a number is not designated, the apparatus searches from memory means a transfer box to which a name corresponding to the transmitting terminal identification data has been assigned when a transfer function based on a transfer setting set in a transfer box corresponding to a number denoted by the transmitting terminal identification data is made available. When it is determined that F-code information denoting F-code relay is stored so as to be associated with the searched transfer box, the apparatus performs predetermined processing without performing transfer according to the transfer setting set in the transfer box corresponding to the number denoted by the transmitting terminal identification data.

Abstract: Gains and offsets of the input-output characteristic of a second side reading unit are controlled so as to match input-output characteristic of a first side reading unit on the basis of image data of a gray chart read by the first side reading unit and the second side reading unit. Then, on the basis of image data of a color chart read by the first side reading unit and the second side reading unit, offsets of the input-output characteristic of the second side reading unit are controlled for individual color components such that differences between color read by the first side reading unit and color read by the second side reading unit are reduced.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a plurality of light emitting units, an activation unit, a plurality of light receiving units and a determination unit. The determination unit retrieves at least one output signal from the plurality of light receiving units in accordance with a predetermined retrieving procedure each time each of the plurality of light emitting units is activated, and determines, based on the at least one output signal, whether or not at least one of at least one of the plurality of light emitting units and at least one of the plurality of light receiving units is normal. The predetermined retrieving procedure is configured such that at least one output signal is retrieved from a part of the plurality of light receiving unite in response to an activation of at least one of the plurality of light emitting units.

Abstract: A closed circuit control device for controlling carrier speed of a scanner. An optical meter is attached to the transparent glass panel of a scanner such that an image of the optical meter is formed on an optical sensor such as a charge couple device or a contact image sensor. Image of the optical meter is converted into sense signals by the optical sensor so that speed of the carrier can be accurately computed. Through the acquisition of an accurate carrier speed, scanning speed and direction can be precisely controlled.

Abstract: A single step multi-section exposure scanning method for a scanner. The scanner includes a photo-sensor and a stepper motor. The photo-sensor has N rows of sensor cells that correspond to each primary color. The scanning device is driven forward an exposure distance for each revolution of the stepper motor. The single step multi-section exposure scanning method includes the following steps. First, the photo-sensor moves forward one exposure distance. One row of sensor cells is exposed after moving every 1/Nth of the exposure distance. Thereafter, analogue voltages obtained through the exposed row of sensor cells are transmitted to an analogue/digital converter. The above process is repeated until the entire document is scanned.