Scanning Patents (Class 358/505)
  • Publication number: 20140078565
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing device includes a scanning unit configured to scan an image formed on a medium and create image data corresponding to the image, an analyzing unit configured to analyze the image data, a determination unit configured to determine whether or not a portion of the scanned image meets a predetermined condition based on the analyzed image data, and an image correction unit configured to correct the image data so that a portion of the scanned image based on which the determination unit determines meets the predetermined condition is removed from the scanned image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventor: Akihiko FUJIWARA
  • Patent number: 8675246
    Abstract: An image processing device for determining whether to carry out color printing or monochrome printing to achieve a printing operation on a print sheet based on an original document, the device including: a determination area obtaining unit configured to automatically obtain a partial area of the original document estimated to be printed on the print sheet; and a color/monochrome determination unit configured to carry out the determination with using image data of the obtained partial area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Riso Kagaku Corporation
    Inventors: Aya Okada, Shoji Kurita
  • Patent number: 8675058
    Abstract: An electronic endoscope apparatus includes a connection unit for selectively connecting a plurality of machine types of electronic endoscopes which use different color information obtainment methods and a plurality of replacement tables which are provided for the plurality of machine types of electronic endoscopes respectively, and each of which stores a correspondence between values representing colors which can be obtained by each of the electronic endoscopes by photographing an observation object and values representing the true colors of the observation object. The electronic endoscope apparatus distinguishes the machine type of the electronic endoscope and replaces the values of obtained colors by using the replacement table for the distinguished machine type. Further, the electronic endoscope apparatus stores setting information for each purpose of examination, and further performs image processing, based on selected setting information, on the image of which the values of the colors have been replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignees: Fujinon Corporation, FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshifumi Donomae, Kazunori Abe
  • Patent number: 8675267
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a conversion unit and a setting unit. The conversion unit converts first image information into second image information by using a predetermined color conversion factor group. The setting unit (i) obtains the second image information of a color sample of a plurality of colors converted by the conversion unit from the first image information, the first image information generated by reading the color sample, the color sample used to correct a color level difference according to a light source, (ii) selects a color conversion factor group corresponding to the obtained second image information of the color sample based on the correspondence relationship between a color conversion factor group and a color level of the second image information of the color sample, and (iii) sets the selected color conversion factor group instead of the predetermined color conversion factor group of the conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Yamada, Kosuke Shimizu, Kensuke Ohara
  • Publication number: 20140071504
    Abstract: A control device performs: acquiring an optical measured scan value; setting a measured offset using the measured scan value by reference to predetermined correlations; and determining a control value using the measured offset amount. The control value is used for controlling an amount of colorant to be ejected during printing. In the predetermined correlations, a first pair of scan values is associated with a first pair of offsets. A second pair of scan values is associated with a second pair of offsets. The first and second pair has a first and second scan difference between the scan values, respectively. The first and second pair of offsets has a first and second offset difference between the offsets, respectively. The first scan difference is different from the second scan difference. The first offset difference is same as the second offset difference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masashi KUNO
  • Patent number: 8670166
    Abstract: A method of automatic white balance adjustment for a scanner is described hereinafter. First, a light source provides a white light to make the scanner scan a document and get an initial image of the document. Secondly, red, green and blue chromatic values of a background color are obtained in the initial image. Next, a factor is calculated based on the chromatic values and a calibration value which is stored in a calibration sheet. Lastly, the scanner automatically adjusts a brightness ratio of the red, green and blue lights of the light source according to the factor, and then rescans the document to get a final image which has a processed background color. Therefore, the final image having the background color close to white is in favor of identification. Furthermore, the adjustment is executed in the process of the scanner rescanning the document so that the step of executing adjustment by software can be eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Foxlink Image Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chang-Hsien Sung, Chien-Shen Chien
  • Patent number: 8670151
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing laser texturing of solid substrates are disclosed. The texturing may be used to provide grayscale images obtainable from substrates, which may include steel, aluminum, glass, and silicon. In some embodiments, images may be obtainable from the substrate by modifying the reflective, diffractive, and/or absorptive features of the substrate or the substrate surface by forming random, periodic, and/or semi-periodic micro-structure features on the substrate (or substrate surface) by an ultrafast laser pulse train. The ultrafast pulse train may be modulated in order to vary, for example, optical exposure time, pulse train intensity, laser polarization, laser wavelength, or a combination of the aforementioned. The ultrafast pulse train and the substrate may be scanned with respect to each other to provide different optical energies to different regions of the substrate (or substrate surface).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: IMRA America, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Shah, Martin E. Fermann
  • Patent number: 8665481
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus acquires communication setting information for communicating with an image processing apparatus by a second communication unit via a first communication unit. In accordance with the acquired communication setting information, communication by the second communication unit is established to execute, via the second communication unit, an image processing service provided by the image processing apparatus. When establishment of communication is detected, an operation window display request for executing the image processing service is transmitted via the second communication unit. The image processing apparatus receives the operation window display request from the information processing apparatus via the second communication unit. In accordance with the received operation window display request, an operation window for executing the image processing service is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20140055828
    Abstract: There is provided an image processing system including an image acquisition mechanism configured to acquire an image data; a first generator configured to generate, according to one image based on the image data acquired by the image acquisition mechanism, a first data in a first format in which there are arranged a plurality of elements generated based on the image data and which is different from the image data; a second generator configured to generate a second data in a second format in which there is arranged the one image based on the image data as one element and which is different from the image data; and a storage control section configured to associate the first data generated by the first generator with the second data generated by the second generator, and to store the associated first data and second data into a storage section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yui KAMMA
  • 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: 8659796
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a ground image producing unit which produces a ground image that determines a print position of an information image; a ground image printing unit which prints the ground image produced by the ground image producing unit, with a printing color material which does not have a sensitivity in a reading wavelength of a reading apparatus that reads the information image; and an information image printing unit which prints the information image at a print position that is determined by the ground image printed by the ground image printing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keiichi Okada, Mitsuru Iioka, Noribumi Sato, Jun Koyatsu, Kaoru Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 8654410
    Abstract: A document scanner is disclosed. The document scanner includes a document bed having a document positioning surface. The document scanner further includes a scanner module slidably attached to the document bed. The scanner module includes an optical movement sensor configured to detect movement of the scanner module relative to the document positioning surface. A method of operation of the scanner module is disclosed as well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Burroughs, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Moore, John C. Gudenburr, Sammy C. Hutson
  • Patent number: 8654416
    Abstract: A control unit 6 causes a vertical scanning circuit 3 to cyclically select any one-dimensional pixel line from among pixel lines 21 to 23 each time a prescribed H period elapses, and controls a read circuit 5 and a horizontal scanning circuit 4 so as to read out pixel signals of an object which has been exposed by the selected pixel line. The control unit 6 further controls a vertical movement unit 8 in such a manner that the scanning speed S satisfies S=P/4H, where P is the arrangement pitch in the vertical direction of the pixel lines 21 to 23 and H is the H period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Satoshi Masuda
  • Patent number: 8654414
    Abstract: An illumination system for a scanner according to one example embodiment includes an array of visible light emitting diodes including a red, a blue and a green light emitting diode and an ultraviolet light emitting device configured to emit light predominantly in the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum. During a scan sequence of the red, blue and green light emitting diodes, at least one of the visible light emitting diodes and the ultraviolet light emitting device are positioned to simultaneously illuminate an object being scanned. In one form, during the sequence, the blue light emitting diode and the ultraviolet light emitting device are simultaneously illuminated while in another the red light emitting diode and the ultraviolet light emitting device are simultaneously illuminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Yao Han, Richard Lee Reel, Rebecca Beth Silveston-Keith, Steven Frank Weed
  • Patent number: 8654402
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for reducing the pitch-to-pitch variation of color using pitch-based linearization of halftone screens are presented. A selection of images is printed at different pitches, and each image is measured and tracked with its pitch. Pitch-based TRCs are constructed using patches, which may be scheduled during print run or during machine diagnostic process and halftone dots are constructed and uploaded in the image path for each pitch. The updated dots are then used to produce a linearized halftone image for transfer to a print surface which results in improved color balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Lalit Keshav Mestha, Richard Leighton Howe, Raja Bala
  • Patent number: 8649073
    Abstract: A scanner assembly includes an automatic document feeder and a first scanner. The automatic document feeder defines a media pathway that includes an input portion and an output portion having an exit roller. The first scanner is positioned along the media pathway upstream from the exit roller. In a first assembled configuration, the assembly is configured to scan both a first side and a second side of the media via the first scanner. In a second assembled configuration, the assembly additionally includes a second scanner positioned along the output portion and interposed between the first scanner and the exit roller. In the second configuration, the assembly is configured to scan the first side of media via the first scanner and to scan the second side of media via the second scanner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Thaddie Natalaray, Kyi Thu Maung, U Kyaw Thu Ra, Tok Wee Hien, Yeo Meng Hui, Lam Siew Hong, Jeoffrey Goh Choon Kiat, Thong Wei Leong, Chiam Ter Wei, Long C. Doan, Jeffrey C. Madsen, Curtis J. Behrend, James C Albritton-Mcdonald, Keng-Leong Ng
  • Patent number: 8649075
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masami Kurimoto, Yasuyuki Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20140036325
    Abstract: Conventionally, it is not possible to evenly correct a color conversion table of a reading device in the entire color region even with a limited number of patches. In order to correct a color conversion table, a color conversion table from a device-independent color space into a device-independent color space is newly stored. A shift in read data between devices is reflected in a correction 3D-LUT and a color conversion table is corrected using the correction 3D-LUT. Thereby, it is possible to correct the entire color region with a smaller number of pieces of data and with less time and effort than when a color conversion table is newly recreated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Asako Hashizume
  • Patent number: 8643917
    Abstract: A light projection unit includes a substrate, a plurality of light emitting elements arrayed on the substrate in a main scanning direction and including light emitting surfaces, a light guide facing the light emitting surfaces to direct light projected from the light emitting elements onto an illumination target and including a first positioning portion, and a holder including a second positioning portion that engages the first positioning portion of the light guide to position the light guide on the holder. The first positioning portion of the light guide is positioned between centers of light emission of adjacent light emitting elements in the main scanning direction of the substrate when the first positioning portion engages the second positioning portion of the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masatoshi Ishida
  • Patent number: 8643921
    Abstract: An image reader is provided, which includes a light-emitting-timing setting unit configured to divide a non-light-emitting time during which none of light sources emits light in a predetermined reading period into a plurality of segmental non-light-emitting times and set a light-emitting moment separately for each light source as a moment to emit the light in the predetermined reading period, such that the segmental non-light-emitting times are arranged in a dispersed manner in the predetermined reading period, and a controller configured to control each light source to emit the light during a light-emitting time determined separately for each light source at the light-emitting moment set by the light-emitting-timing setting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kentaro Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20140022614
    Abstract: The precision of phase difference AF control is raised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi ENDO, Yoichi IWASAKI, Takashi AOKI, Kazuki INOUE, Kenkichi HAYASHI, Seiji TANAKA, Noriko KAWAMURA
  • Patent number: 8634115
    Abstract: To provide an image processing device and an image processing method capable of analyzing a code image on a document regardless whether it is a black-and-white document or a color one even when a mode is set in which “scanning is performed in a black-and-white scan mode and black-and-white image information acquired by the scanning is transmitted to a printing device”. Based on an instruction from a controller part, the scanner part acquires black-and-white image data and color image data for the detection of a color code image and transmits them to the controller part. The black-and-white image data is transmitted using bits 7 to 0 of an image data bus and the above-mentioned color image data is transmitted using bits 23 to 16 of the image data bus. The controller part analyzes a code image in the document based on the image data transmitted from the scanner part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minoru Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8634114
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus including: a determining unit that performs determination so as to determine a color mode of a target image in a color mode order, in a page unit; and a subtracting unit that calculates a subtraction total number of pixels, wherein, the determining unit performs the determination of a first color mode in the color mode order based on a pixel ratio of a number of pixels of the first color mode in the color mode order to a total number of pixels, and the determining unit performs the determination of the second or subsequent color mode in the color mode order based on a pixel ratio of a number of pixels of the second or subsequent color mode in the color mode order to the subtraction total number of pixels calculated by the subtracting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kosuke Mori
  • Patent number: 8630031
    Abstract: The color of a pixel in a scanned image is represented by two color components and is adjustable by interpolating between color component values obtained from elements in a bidimensional color remap look-up table. The table is sparsely populated and may be readily implemented in most scanner circuits without adding memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Marvell International Ltd.
    Inventor: Douglas G. Keithley
  • Patent number: 8630024
    Abstract: A sheet feeding apparatus includes: a sheet loading unit configured to load a plurality of sheets; a sheet feeding unit configured to feed the sheets loaded on the sheet loading unit; a light emitting unit configured to irradiate a sheet loaded on the sheet loading unit; an image sensor disposed at a position opposing the sheet loaded on the sheet loading unit and configured to sense an image reflected with light irradiated by the light emitting unit; and a trailing edge detection unit configured to cause the image sensor to repetitively perform sensing during sheet conveyance by the sheet feeding unit, compare images sensed by the image sensor, and detect a trailing edge of the sheet currently being conveyed from the sheet feeding unit based on a determination of an area where a pattern remains unchanged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuo Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8625140
    Abstract: A hybrid device that can perform plural operations can switch quickly between operating modes. The hybrid device can perform plural processes on a processed medium based on commands sent from a host computer 200. If a scan command instructing a optical reader 110, which is another process unit, to scan the processed medium is received while executing a print command for a printing process on the medium, the control unit 70 sets the scan command to a command execution standby state, finishes executing the print command, and after the print command is completed executes the scan command queued in the command execution standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Motohiro Nakamaki
  • Patent number: 8625168
    Abstract: Provided is a device that prevents unauthorized copying of a document to which copy inhibition information is added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Naoya Kakutani
  • Patent number: 8625121
    Abstract: The image reading device includes a light emitting portion, stick-like light guiding member, holding member and case member. An end portion the light guiding member is disposed to face the light emitting portion. The holding member holds the light emitting portion and the light guiding member. The holding member has first and second positioned portions. The first and second positioned portions are formed at one end part and another end part of the holding member in a main scanning direction, respectively. The holding member is attached to the case member. The case member has first and second positioning portions. The first and second positioning portions are formed integrally with the case member. The first and second positioning portions are configured to restrict the inserted first and second positioned portions from moving in a direction transverse to the main scanning direction, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Nobuhiro Fukuma
  • Patent number: 8625172
    Abstract: An image reading device has a light emitting unit. The light emitting unit has a light emitting portion, a light guiding member, a holding member and a case member. The light guiding member is disposed along a main scanning direction, and an end portion of the light guiding member faces the light emitting portion. The light guiding member has a light irradiating portion which emits light to an outside. The holding member holds the light emitting portion and the light guiding member. In addition, the holding member has a first holding portion that directly or indirectly positions and holds the light emitting portion, and a second holding portion that positions and holds one end or both ends of the light guiding member. The case member houses the holding member that is in a state of being positioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Tomohide Hozono
  • Patent number: 8619325
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an image reading unit, a pixel color determining unit, an isolated point determining unit, and a document discriminating unit. The image reading unit scans a document to detect pixel values of color components of each pixel. The pixel color determining unit determines whether a color of each pixel is a specific color based on the detected pixel values. The isolated point determining unit determines whether each pixel is an isolated point based on the detected pixel values. The document discriminating unit discriminates whether the document is a color document or a black-and-white document based on the detected pixel values while treating the pixels, of which the color has been determined to be the specific color by the pixel color determining unit and which have been determined to be isolated points by the isolated point determining unit, as black-and-white pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Kunihiko Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8619311
    Abstract: An apparatus continues, before a number of pages where image data started to be input reaches N pages, inputting of the image data until an amount of the image data stored in a storage unit reaches a first amount, and thereafter, continue the inputting of the image data until the amount of the stored image data reaches a second amount, which is smaller than the first amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Utsumi
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130335793
    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: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: XEROX Corporation
    Inventors: Kari K. Poysa, Timothy L. Dioguardi, Paul R. Conlon
  • Patent number: 8610973
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source that irradiates a document with light, the light source including a multilayer substrate and light emitting elements linearly arranged on a first surface of the multilayer substrate; and a light receiver that receives reflected light reflected from the document. The multilayer substrate has at least a pair of through holes each having an inner surface on which a reinforcement member is formed, the at least a pair of through holes being formed so that one of the light emitting elements is interposed therebetween. The reinforcement members contact wiring formed on the first surface of the multilayer substrate and wiring formed on a second surface of the multilayer substrate opposite the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8610961
    Abstract: A comparison is made between image data and a predetermined image pattern and data on a specific area is extracted from the image data based on the comparison result, and dot data is added at a position away from an end of the specific area subjected to the signal-level reduction by as much as a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Jun Nagai
  • Patent number: 8610913
    Abstract: A driver management unit of a management server develops non-[1:1] type association information generated in a batch association creation mode into [1:1] type association information. On the other hand, the driver management unit stores association information created in an ordinary association creation mode in a data storage unit without performing the development. Further, the driver management unit transmits a list of the association information stored in the data storage unit to a client in response to a request, and distributes a driver selected from the list to the client in such a way as to create a logical printer of a device that corresponds to the association information selected from the list for the client.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takeyuki Nagashima
  • Patent number: 8610924
    Abstract: A mechanism for scanning and capturing digital images using document layer detection. Upon detecting a document placed on a scanning surface of a scanning device, the illustrative embodiments identify one or more layers within the document. The illustrative embodiments then scan the one or more layers within the document on a layer by layer basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lydia M. Do, Pamela A. Nesbitt, Lisa S. DeLuca
  • Patent number: 8610977
    Abstract: A color target is disclosed. The color target comprises a plurality of marks or features. Each of the plurality of marks can be one of a plurality of colors. Each of the plurality of colors has a corresponding grayscale value that is spaced apart by a predetermined amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jason S. Aronoff, Steven J. Simske
  • Patent number: 8605345
    Abstract: A color determination unit divides an original image input from an image scanning unit into blocks, and determines whether or not each block is a color image area. The color determination unit determines whether the original is in color or monochrome in each of a plurality of set areas on the basis of the result of determination on the blocks included in that area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventor: Satoshi Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 8605310
    Abstract: The image processing apparatus is provided with a preview image generating portion for generating a preview image of image data to be output in the unit of an output job, and an image display portion such as a touch panel for displaying the generated preview image. The image display portion displays a generation stop key for stopping generation of the preview image during the generation of the preview image so as to be selectable by a user, and displays a different screen in accordance with a generation state of the preview image when the generation stop key is selected by a user operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yukari Ebi
  • Patent number: 8605342
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus may include a main unit, a cover unit, an openable unit, and a conductive member. The cover unit is pivotable relative to the main unit, and includes a metal frame and a reading device configured to read an image of a document conveyed through an upper path of a U-shaped conveying path. The openable unit is pivotable relative to the cover unit, and includes a document pressing member configured to face the reading device when the openable unit is closed relative to the cover unit. The conductive member is configured to electrically connect the metal frame and the document pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Akimatsu
  • Patent number: 8605344
    Abstract: A rectangular plate optical reflecting mirror is provided in an optical scanner. The optical reflecting mirror reflects an optical beam onto a surface to be scanned. The optical reflecting mirror includes a center portion and end portions in a longitudinal direction. The center portion has a greater thickness than that of the end portions. Accordingly, rigidity of the optical reflecting mirror can be increased, and its characteristic frequency can be set at a high value. Thus, resonance of the optical reflecting mirror can be prevented from occurring as a result of vibration of a housing which vibrates with a plurality of vibration modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Hideto Miyanagi, Kousuke Uchida
  • Patent number: 8605346
    Abstract: A scanner unit of a multifunction printer (MFP) increases the speed of the movement of the scanner head, lowers the scanning resolution and uses only a single scanning channel during the scanning of a blank area, and decreases the speed of the movement of the scanner head, increases the scanning resolution and uses the three scanning channels of RGB during the scanning of a graphic area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Che Chen, Yu-Chu Huang, King-Lung Huang
  • 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: 8599452
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes an automatic document feeder, a first reading unit to read a first side of a document fed by the automatic document feeder and to function as a main reading unit, a second reading unit to read a second side of the document fed by the automatic document feeder; and a control unit to operate the first and second reading units in order to perform an ADF two-sided reading mode. The control unit determines a point in time when the main reading unit is changed, based on a frequency in use of the ADF two-sided reading mode, and changes the main reading unit to the second reading unit at the determined point in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: SAMSUNG Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Min Kim
  • Patent number: 8593679
    Abstract: A scanning apparatus which scans a document, includes: a scanning section which includes a scanning area and which scans the document in the scanning area; a control device which includes a position information capturing section which captures a position information indicating a position of the document on the scanning area when the document is scanned by the scanning section and a processing section which performs a plurality of processes with respect to an image data of the document scanned by the scanning section based on the position information captured by the position information capturing section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Miyata
  • Patent number: 8587613
    Abstract: A document processing system for accurately and efficiently analyzing documents and methods for making and using same. Each incoming document includes at least one section of textual content and is provided in an electronic form or as a paper-based document that is converted into an electronic form. Since many categories of documents, such as legal and accounting documents, often include one or more common text sections with similar textual content, the document processing system compares the documents to identify and classify the common text sections. The document comparison can be further enhanced by dividing the document into document segments and comparing the document segments; whereas, the conversion of paper-based documents likewise can be improved by comparing the resultant electronic document with a library of standard phrases, sentences, and paragraphs. The document processing system thereby enables an image of the document to be manipulated, as desired, to facilitate its review.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Pricewaterhousecoopers LLP
    Inventors: Lever Wang, Glenn Ricart, Cynthia Ann Thompson, Keith Wishon, Sheldon Laube
  • Patent number: 8587850
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus including: a determining unit that determines whether a background color area of an image data is adjacent to a non-background color area of an image data outside of the background color area, the non-background color area including a pixel having color data of a first color; and a converting unit that converts color data of a pixel in the background color area into the first color when the determining unit determines that the background color area is not adjacent to the non-background color area, and converts the color data of the pixel in the background color area into a second color which is different from the first color when the determining unit determines that the background color area is adjacent to the non-background color area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yusuke Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 8587843
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for controlling a light source used for image reading according to a user activity are provided. The light source controller being coupled to a light source and configured to change the power of the light source from an OFF state to an ON state when a user activity signal having a first state is output, the user activity signal having the first state being assumed to be output when a user activity, other than an instruction to begin scanning, that is assumed to ultimately cause output of the image reading start signal has been performed on the image reading apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Enami, Toyonori Shiho, Hiroaki Umezawa
  • Patent number: 8587833
    Abstract: A printing system is provided for enabling a consistent color job re-print comprising a plurality of image marking engines. The system includes printing a master test image document printed by at least a first image marking engine. The master test image can have a data glyph and a plurality of reference patches. The data glyph can record distinct job attributes and the plurality of reference patches can record color parameters of a desired output. The system further provides a scanner for scanning the master test image document. The data glyph can provide the job attributes of the master test image document and can generate set-up data therefrom. The reference patches can provide the color parameters of the master test image document and can generate set-up data therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Bray, Aaron M. Burry