Illumination Patents (Class 358/509)
  • Patent number: 8405885
    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: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: IMRA America, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence Shah, Martin E. Fermann
  • Patent number: 8400689
    Abstract: This invention provides an image reading apparatus which can start image processing on a joint portion between divided first and second half portions without waiting for image reading and shorten throughput time of image processing by outputting data from the joint portion as first data to an output unit. This apparatus includes a CCD sensor or CMOS sensor in which a plurality of pixel sensors to receive reflected light from a document are arranged in the main scanning direction and a transfer circuit configured to output, to an output unit, optical image information read at the first and second half portions of the pixel sensors in the main scanning direction. The transfer circuit outputs, to the output unit, data from the joint portion between the first and second half portions of the pixel sensors in the main scanning direction as the first data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Mitsuo Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8395809
    Abstract: A device for positioning a measuring head above a print substrate includes a display device and a motor-driven positioning device for the measuring head. The motor-driven positioning device for the measuring head is controllable by a computer connected to the display device. Measurement locations are selectable on the display device and the measuring head is positioned by the positioning device depending on the selected measurement locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG
    Inventors: Hans Engler, Werner Huber, Manfred Schneider, Volker Becker
  • Patent number: 8395829
    Abstract: An aspect of the present invention provides an illuminating device including point-light-sources arranged in a line, that emit light; an optical guide member formed by injection molding and one end face of the optical guide member facing the point-light-sources, that guides light emitted from the point-light-sources to a surface to be illuminated such that the light emitted from the point-light-sources is incident on the one end face and the light incident on the one end face exits from the other end face; and first pin marks formed by projection pins used when removing the optical guide member when injection molding, the first pin marks being formed on one of faces of the optical guide member facing in a thickness direction of the optical guide member at the one end face side, and being formed in positions offset from the point-light-sources in a direction along which the point-light-sources are arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Takahashi, Hironori Shimada, Shusaku Yokota
  • Patent number: 8395825
    Abstract: An image scanner and a method for compensating image data are provided. By using both the X-axis calibration gain and the Y-axis calibration gain, the processing time period for compensating image data is reduced. In addition, no initial calibration and no warm-up calibration are required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Ping Chen, Chiung-Sheng Wang, Yu-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 8390640
    Abstract: A television device structured to automatically adjust the color temperature on the display screen in accordance with the viewing environment includes an external light detection unit or an optical sensor for detecting the illuminance and the tint of the ambient light, and an image quality control unit or a microcomputer for adjusting quality of the video image to be displayed on the display panel. The image quality control unit adjusts the color temperature of the video image to be displayed in accordance with the illuminance value and the tint value detected by the external light detection unit. The optical sensor includes an illuminance sensor for mainly detecting the visible light, and an infrared sensor for mainly detecting the infrared light. The illuminance value and the tint value are obtained based on the output values of those two sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aoki, Akira Kitazume, Daisuke Honda, Naoya Oka, Yuki Nagano, Hiroyuki Kurabayashi, Akihiro Shiraishi, Toshiaki Ohyama
  • Publication number: 20130044338
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus include a light source; an image sensor configured to output an image signal of an object illuminated by the light source; a first calculating unit configured to calculate a third light amount based on a difference between a first image signal output from the image sensor when the light source illuminates a reference member as the object at a first light quantity and a second image signal output from the image sensor when the light source illuminates the reference member at a second light quantity and a difference between the first light quantity and the second light quantity; and a light quantity setting unit configured to set a light quantity at which the light source illuminates a document as the object to the third light quantity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventor: Daisuke NIKAKU
  • Patent number: 8379275
    Abstract: A scanner module and an image scanning apparatus includes an illuminator that includes a light source, a light guide extending in a main scanning direction to change a direction of the light from the light source, a guide holder recessed with a light guide mounting portion in which the light guide is mounted, and at least one supporting protrusion protruding from an entrance of the light guide mounting portion into the light guide mounting portion to support the light guide received in the light guide mounting portion. As the light guide is supported by the supporting protrusion formed at the entrance of the light guide mounting portion, it is possible to reduce deformation of the light guide and/or to prevent the light guide from being falling out of the light guide mounting portion when subjected to, e.g., a shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gyung Mo Tahk, Hyun Surk Kim, Kyung Rok Kim, Dong Hun Lee
  • Patent number: 8370739
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes a first display unit which displays a material image and an original image in fast and second areas on a display device, respectively; a detection unit which detects a position on the display device designated from an outside; a relationship determining unit which determines a designated position in the first area and a designated position in the second area, and which determines a correspondence relationship between the first area and the second area based on the designated positions; an allocation region determining unit which determines an allocation region in the second area; a cut region determining unit which determines a cut region in the first area to correspond to the allocation region based on the correspondence relationship; and a second display unit which displays a partial image corresponding to the cut region in the allocation region to display a combined image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuro Matsutani, Tetsuya Kato
  • Patent number: 8363270
    Abstract: An image processing method displays a simulation image of an image formed on a print medium under a first light-source color on a display under a second light-source color. The method includes an acquisition step of acquiring image data to be simulated in a format according to the second light-source color, a step of calculating a reflective color obtained when the acquired image data is processed to represent an image corresponding to the image data illuminated by an achromatic light-source color, a step of converting the first light-source color into the format according to the second light-source color, and calculating a glossy color of the image data based on the converted first light-source color, and a generation step of generating an image to be displayed by adding the reflective color calculated in the reflective color calculation step and the glossy color calculated in the glossy color calculation step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Hanamoto
  • Patent number: 8358450
    Abstract: Disclosed are an illuminator and an image forming apparatus employing an illuminator. The illuminator includes a light guide to guide light generated from a light source to an object to be illuminated. The light guide includes at least one incidence face facing the light source and an emission face configured to emit the light to the target object. A diffusion pattern may be formed on the emission face to extend from one longitudinal end to the other longitudinal end of the emission face. The emission face may have a constant cross section or a varying cross section along a longitudinal direction thereof. The illuminator may be part of an image reading device to uniformly or near uniformly irradiate light to a document. The illuminator may also be incorporated in an image forming apparatus to irradiate light to a photosensitive body for elimination or reduction of electric potential from the photosensitive body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Inventor: Kyung Rok Kim
  • Patent number: 8358446
    Abstract: The reading apparatus is provided with: an optical image forming unit that forms an optical image on a recording medium by irradiating, with light, the recording medium on which an image is formed and which is transported in a slow scan direction; a reading unit that reads a position in a fast scan direction of the image formed on the recording medium transported in the slow scan direction and a position in a fast scan direction of the optical image, by using a minification optical system; and a registration correction unit that corrects a registration error in the fast scan direction of the image read by the reading unit, by using the position in the fast scan direction of the optical image read by the reading unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Tanaka, Akira Ishii, Masao Ito, Yoshiya Imoto, Kenji Hyoki, Yoshifumi Takebe
  • Patent number: 8358447
    Abstract: A scanner module and an image scanning apparatus employing the same. The scanner module comprises an illuminator for illuminating light on an object to be scanned. The illuminator includes a light emitting diode, a light guide extending in a main scanning direction to change a direction of the light received from the light emitting diode, and at least one elastic member to elastically support at least one longitudinal end of the light guide. As the light guide is elastically supported by the elastic member, convex deformation or bowing of an emission face of the light guide due to thermal expansion can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung Kwon Kim, Dong Hun Lee, Hyun Surk Kim, Kyung Rok Kim
  • Patent number: 8351090
    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: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichiro Makino
  • Patent number: 8345326
    Abstract: A bill processing machine according to the present invention includes an element array portion and a light guiding member. The element array portion is arranged so as to face one side of a conveyance path of a bill, and includes a light receiving element group, a light emitting element and an other side light receiving element. The light receiving element group includes a plurality of light receiving elements, and an arrangement direction of the light receiving elements is perpendicular to a conveyance direction of a bill. The light emitting element is arranged on one side of the arrangement direction of the light receiving elements. The other side light receiving element is arranged on an other side of the arrangement direction of the light receiving elements. The light guiding member is arranged opposite to the element array portion with respect to the conveyance path so that the light guiding member and the element array portion sandwiches the conveyance path therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Laurel Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Noriaki Kitagaki, Akio Funato
  • Patent number: 8345327
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus, which reads an image on an original, including: a light source extending along a main scanning direction to illuminate the original; a plurality of line sensors configured to receive light reflected from the original and to output light intensity signals; a storage unit configured to store reference data; and a determination unit configured to obtain determination data regarding hue based on a light intensity signal output from one of the plurality of line sensors that receive light reflected from a reflective reference member illuminated by the light source and a light intensity signal output from another of the plurality of line sensors that receive light reflected from the reflective reference member illuminated by the light source and to determine a hue balance of the light source based on the determination data and the reference data stored in the storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryo Mikami
  • Patent number: 8339682
    Abstract: In a lighting device, a light source emits light. A second sandwiching member includes a second opposed surface opposing a first opposed surface of a first sandwiching member. The first sandwiching member and the second sandwiching member sandwich the light source in such a manner that the light source is detachably attached to the first sandwiching member and the second sandwiching member. A reflection member is provided on the first opposed surface of the first sandwiching member and the second opposed surface of the second sandwiching member to reflect the light emitted by the light source toward an irradiation region on an original document sheet. A positioning member is provided in the first opposed surface of the first sandwiching member and the second opposed surface of the second sandwiching member to position the light source with respect to the reflection member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazushige Kawamura, Tetsuya Fujioka, Yasuo Sakurai, Yasunobu Youda
  • Patent number: 8335025
    Abstract: A contact image scanner comprises a light source, pixel sensors generating a signal, a lens focusing reflected light onto the pixel sensors, a color matrix filter filtering the reflected light, and a signal processing circuit generating a digital image. The method provides pixel sensors for generating a signal in response to incident light, projects light from a light source onto a document in a sequential fashion, reflects the light onto the pixel sensors, filters the reflected light with a color matrix filter, and processes the signal to generate the digital image. With the method and apparatus, each scan line of the document is illuminated with white light only once. The pixel sensors corresponding to red, green, and blue colors of each pixel of the scan line read the pixel of the scan line substantially at the same time in a substantially overlapping manner in a scan line direction without overlapping in an orthogonal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Michael King, Mark Eric Miller
  • Patent number: 8330999
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus to read an image and generate pixel data representing the image is provided. The image reading apparatus includes an image sensor having a plurality of sensor units, each of which includes a plurality of light receiving elements, a data storage store shading correction data, which is used to correct unevenness caused in the pixel data, including first shading correction data, and a data corrector to correct the pixel data output from the light receiving elements based on the shading correction data. The data corrector corrects the pixel data based on the first shading correction data when a number of light receiving elements used to read the image in each sensor unit is greater than a number of pieces of correcting information in the first shading correction data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideaki Nagasaka
  • Patent number: 8314977
    Abstract: A turning-on control unit causes a turning-on unit to apply to a light source an initial voltage when turning on the light source and to apply a rated voltage after the light source has been turned on. The initial voltage is higher than the rated voltage. An image-signal control unit controls analog signals to be input to an analog signal processing unit from a turn-on time point that is a time point at which the light source is turned on until a stabilization time point that is a time point at which output of the light source is stabilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Inadome, Noriaki Orikasa
  • Patent number: 8310741
    Abstract: An embodiment of an image reading device may include a light source, an image reading unit, a drive control unit, a white reference member, a chromaticity detecting unit, a reference value storage unit, a chromaticity change calculating unit, and/or a control unit. An embodiment may include a photoelectric conversion element that reads an image illuminated by the light source. In some embodiments, may measure the chromaticity of a white reference member. In some embodiments, a reference value storage unit may store a reference value representing the chromaticity of an image. In an embodiment, a control unit may control an operation of the device according to the calculated amount of chromaticity change. An embodiment may include measuring the luminous intensity of a light source and storing a reference value representing the luminous intensity of the light source. Some embodiments may include making adjustments to images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Masaya Tashiro, Yoshiaki Tabata, Kei Tanaka, Masayuki Sago
  • Patent number: 8310733
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus that, in a case where the light amount of light illuminated from an image reading lamp has decreased, maintains the quality of a read image without decreasing productivity, and a method for controlling that image reading apparatus, are provided. To accomplish this, this image reading apparatus is provided with RGB line sensors that read a color image, and a monochrome line sensor that reads a monochrome image and has a faster horizontal transfer speed than the RGB line sensors. Further, this image reading apparatus reads a monochrome image using the RGB line sensors even in a monochrome mode in a case where the light amount of the lamp for illuminating an original decreases and so an output level for reading an image with good quality cannot be obtained from the monochrome line sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Nobuo Sekiguchi, Shigemichi Hamano, Kenji Morita, Akiko Kanno, Satoshi Seki
  • Patent number: 8310737
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus of the present invention includes a first light source, a first light guide, a second light source, a second light guide, light receiving elements and a lens unit. The first light source emits first light. The first light guide directs the first light from the first light source toward an image-carrying object as first linear light extending in a primary scanning direction. The second light source emits second light of a wavelength different from that of the first light. The second light guide directs the second light from the second light source toward the image-carrying object as second linear light extending in the primary scanning direction. The light receiving elements are arranged in the primary scanning direction. The first and second linear lights are reflected by the image-carrying object, and the reflected lights are guided by the lens unit toward the light receiving elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nagao, Hideki Sawada, Hiromi Ogata, Yasuyuki Aritaki, Hiroyuki Tajiri, Hiroki Kawai
  • Patent number: 8310724
    Abstract: An image processing system for interpolating image data is comprised of a shift invariant point determining device, an illumination averager, a second order differentiator, and color data calculator. The shift invariant point determining device ascertains shift invariant points within the mosaic color element array pattern. The illumination averager determines average illumination values of clusters of a plurality of pixels. The second order differentiator determines a second order derivative of the average illumination values of the clusters of the plurality of pixels. The color data calculator determines color data for each of the plurality of pixels from the image data and second order derivative. A second order derivative scaler multiplies the second order derivative by a scaling factor for selectively smoothing and sharpening the second order derivative. A color data averager averages color data values of adjacent pixels to a resolution of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Youliza, Gehts B.V. Limited Liability Company
    Inventor: Taner Dosluoglu
  • Patent number: 8305662
    Abstract: An image reading device comprising: a carrying unit; a reading unit; a first obtaining unit to obtain a first value representing a ground color of a first face of the document; a first judgment unit to judge whether to execute correction for the ground color of the first face; a first correction unit to correct the ground color of the first face; a second obtaining unit to obtain a second value representing a ground color of a second face of the document; a second judgment unit to judge whether the second value falls within a predetermined range including the first value; a third judgment unit to judge whether to execute correction for the second face of the document in accordance with a judgment result by the first judgment unit if the second judgment unit judges that the second value falls within the predetermined range; and a second correction unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayoshi Oosaki
  • Patent number: 8300284
    Abstract: According to a method and apparatus taught herein, an optical sensor uses pattern recognition in its optical detection processing to “see” detection patterns that correspond to predefined configuration settings. In one embodiment, for example, an optical sensing system selects an operational configuration by detecting a pattern embodied in received light data and comparing the detected pattern to one or more internally stored patterns. Each stored pattern represents a different operational configuration of the optical sensing system. If the detected pattern matches one of the stored patterns, the optical sensing system adopts the operational configuration corresponding to the matched stored pattern. Further, in one or more embodiments, the optical sensing system enters a configuration mode by an external stimulus, e.g., responsive to a configuration mode input, and the aforementioned pattern detection-based configuration selection is enabled only while in the configuration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Omron Scientific Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Adam Sowul, Alejandro Ruiz Sanchez
  • Patent number: 8300288
    Abstract: Color adjusting apparatus and method for a light source. A reflector of a required color is added to a light source of a scan module, a plating film of the required color is formed on a lens, or the lens is dyed with the required color. Or alternatively, the color of the light source is directly changed into the required color. As a result, the inconsistent intensities for the light in the primary color, red, green and blue output from the charge-coupled device caused by different brightness of the light source, different wavelength transmission of the lens, and different light sensitivity of the charge-coupled device is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Transpacific Plasma, LLC
    Inventor: Pi-Chen Chen
  • Patent number: 8300278
    Abstract: A module 1 movable over the original surface 110 of the original reader 100 has a metal sheet frame 4 disposed in the vicinity of its gravitational center and having a substantially channel-like shape. A first and a second optical systems 2 and 3 and a drive source 6 assembled to be integral with a flat part 40 of the metal sheet frame 4. Thus, a reduced-size, improved quality and improved-accuracy original reader to be used for facsimile devices and image scanners is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Uchida, Kazuya Shouji
  • Patent number: 8284466
    Abstract: An acquiring unit acquires image data and ambient light data indicating a first color for a first ambient light and a second color for a second ambient light. A third color of a first pixel data is closer to the first color than the second color. A fourth color of a second pixel data is closer to the second color than the first color. A correcting unit corrects the first pixel data such that a third color-appearance of a pixel according to the corrected first pixel data under the second ambient light is perceived as a color-appearance that is the same as a fourth color-appearance of a pixel according to the first pixel data under the first ambient light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhide Sawada
  • Patent number: 8285036
    Abstract: A method is provided for extracting an edge included in a color image formed of first pixels expressed by color component values of three colors. The method includes: calculating a lightness value of the first pixel based on the color component values; determining which one of the low, medium, and high lightness regions, the calculate lightness value belongs to; generating an extraction image formed of second pixels corresponding to the first pixels; and extracting an edge based on the pixel value of the extraction image thus generated. For a first pixel whose lightness value belongs to the medium lightness region and the low or high lightness region, a pixel value is calculated from the color component values of three colors, and from the color component values excluding at least one color, respectively. Then, the edge is extracted based on the calculated pixel value of the extraction image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Naoko Hiramatsu
  • Patent number: 8284243
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image display apparatus includes a display panel and an image conversion sheet. The display panel includes a plurality of pixel units. Each pixel unit has a zigzag shape that extends in a first direction. The image conversion sheet includes a plurality of lens units. Each lens unit extends in the first direction and is disposed in a second direction different from the first direction. A plurality of the lens units is disposed in parallel with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung-Hoon Lee, Kyoung-Ju Shin, Hae-Young Yun, Sung-Woon Kim, Lu Jian Gang
  • Publication number: 20120250118
    Abstract: Improved scanner designs are provided to improve imaging and reduce errors during the scanning process. Embodiments disclosed include, for example, the use of dual cameras to improve imagery and reduce the scanner enclosure size, synchronized lighting techniques during the scanning sequence, shielded lens for the camera scanner, a scanner enclosed on at least three sides, adjustments to scanner lighting based on the levels of ambient lighting, a combined branding and scanner apparatus, a gimbaled scanner mount, and a tilted platen with stop for document alignment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Scientific Games International, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Irwin, JR., Sten Mejenborg, Jonathan Holbrook, Burbank Herndon, William F. Behm, Gary R. Streeter
  • Patent number: 8278846
    Abstract: Methods of calibrating a lighting panel including a plurality of segments, each of said segments configured to emit a first color light and a second color light in response to pulse width modulation control signals having respective duty cycles include determining an average segment luminance for the lighting panel, determining a luminance variation of each segment to the average segment luminance, comparing the luminance variation of each segment to a threshold, and adjusting the duty cycle of at least one color of at least one segment to reduce the luminance variation in response to the luminance variation of a segment exceeding the threshold. Calibration systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: John K. Roberts, Keith J. Vadas, Chenhua You
  • Patent number: 8274718
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide methods and apparatuses for creating color conversion definition to make the same output result appear without any uncomfortable feeling when a same output result is observed under different illumination lights. To achieve this, the method comprising the successive steps of: (a) assuming an observational environment under an illumination light in which a difference in color appearance of an output result of the image output device in a plurality of observational environments with different illumination lights to observe the output result is made less; (b) determining measured color values of a device color of the image output device in the observational environment under the illumination light in which a difference in each color appearance is made less; and (c) creating a color conversion definition on the basis of the measured color values of the device color of the image output device determined at step (b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshinori Kawai
  • Patent number: 8274716
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a reading system having a plurality of line sensors extending in a main-scan direction, an imaging optical system for imaging, on the line sensors, imagewise information of an original surface, the imaging optical system including at least one anamorphic optical surface having different powers in the main-scan direction and the sub-scan direction, a scanning system for relatively scanning the original surface and the reading means in a sub-scan direction to read the imagewise information of the original surface, and an image correcting system for correcting imagewise information of the original surface read by each line sensor, on the basis of an imaging-position-deviation correction amount of an image in the sub-scan direction corresponding to a reading position in the main-scan direction, calculated based on an imaging position deviation amount of an image in the sub-scan direction corresponding to the reading position in the main-scan direction upon the line sensors, as
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takayuki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8274712
    Abstract: A scanning apparatus for scanning a bound document includes a scanning flatbed, a lighting device, and a scanning head assembly. The scanning flatbed includes a platen and an inclined plane, wherein the platen is adjoined with the inclined plane, and the platen supports a document to be scanned. The lighting device, facing the scanning flatbed, projects light onto the document, wherein the lighting device includes a first portion and a second portion, and the first portion and the second portion respectively comprise a plurality of LEDs arranged in an array. The scanning head assembly, coupled to the lighting device, scans the document. The first portion is located closer to the inclined plane than the second portion, and intervals between the LEDs of the first portion are smaller than intervals between the LEDs of the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Avision Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Sheng, Su-Wei Ho, Shang-Hsien Tsai
  • Publication number: 20120229821
    Abstract: An integrated contact image sensor module (CISM) is provided. A light switch circuit turns on a light source according to a light control signal. A contact image sensor captures an image when the light source is turned on and generates an analog signal corresponding to the image. An analog to digital converter coupled to the contact image sensor converts the analog signal into scan data. A controller coupled to the light switch circuit provides the light control signal to the light switch circuit according to a motion signal and provides a clock signal to the analog to digital converter, so as to convert the analog signal into the scan data. The controller further provides an interface signal corresponding to the scan data, to an interface module according to the motion signal, and the interface signal conforms to a specific transmission protocol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventor: Shih-Huang CHEN
  • Patent number: 8259370
    Abstract: An image reading device includes a reading unit for reading a document. The reading unit includes red color green color and blue color light sources and a plurality of light receiving elements aligned in a main scanning direction. In a pre-scan performed precedent to a main-scan, the reading unit reads a part of the document with a lower reading resolution than the reading resolution in the main-scan in order to gather information about the document placed on a document reading table. An optimum light amount to be emanated from the light source at the time of main-scan is set while changing the light amount from the light source and checking the outputs from the light receiving elements. An optimum light amount to be emanated from the light source at the time of pre-scan is calculated based on the optimum light amount set for the main-scan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kentaro Iwatsuka
  • Patent number: 8253987
    Abstract: In an image reader, an optical scanning unit reads an original image on an original document sheet. In the optical scanning unit, a lighting device is detachably attached to a housing to emit light toward the original document sheet. The housing houses a reading device to read the light reflected by the original document sheet. A shield member is detachably attached to the housing to shield the reading device from the lighting device to form a space for the reading device inside the housing. A slit is provided in the shield member to guide the light reflected by the original document sheet to the space for the reading device. A second positioner is provided on the shield member to engage a first positioner provided in the housing to position the reading device with respect to the lighting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tetsuya Fujioka, Kazushige Kawamura, Yasunobu Youda, Yasuo Sakurai
  • Patent number: 8253999
    Abstract: A scanning apparatus and a reference light quantity determining method includes scanning a patch that does not overlap previously established reference colors but displays each of the previously established reference colors in a plurality of regions that are spaced a portion from each other, and determining reference light quantities based on the scanning result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung-rok Kim
  • Patent number: 8243350
    Abstract: In a color reading apparatus for successively reading respective red, green, and blue colors in each line while a document is continuously conveyed to a plurality of line sensor units arranged in a zigzag manner, the line sensor units are arranged with a distance equal to or shorter than a unit of line to prevent a color shift. When read data of the plurality of line sensor units in a conveying direction are to be combined, image data shifted by the number of lines corresponding to distances between the line sensor units in the conveying direction are set as first combination candidates. A color code and a line code are added to each of the data. Image data having the same color code and the same line code are combined. According to the image reading apparatus structured as described above, it is possible to obtain data capable of reproducing read data for each color on the same line without errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko I Infotech Inc.
    Inventor: Masaaki Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8243349
    Abstract: There is provided a method of reading an image by reading reflected light from a document that is illuminated. The method includes illuminating the document with light from a light source, changing a degree of diffusion of the light applied from the light source to the document, and reading reflected light from the document. The degree of diffusion is changed in accordance with a type of the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akimitsu Hoshi, Atsushi Miyahara
  • Patent number: 8243329
    Abstract: A printing control device that specifies to a printing apparatus a coloring material volume set which is a combination of usage amounts of coloring materials when the printing apparatus executes printing by depositing a plurality of coloring materials onto a recording medium, including: a print data acquisition unit that acquires print data of pixels having an information area for storing an index associated with the coloring material volume set; a color conversion unit that acquires the coloring material volume set corresponding to the index stored in the pixel; and a printing control unit that executes printing by specifying to the printing apparatus the coloring material volume set acquired by the color conversion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Hoshii, Takashi Ito, Hisanori Nakajima, Kazuhisa Saka, Masanori Ishida, Fumio Tokutomi
  • Patent number: 8243323
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a scanning unit which scans a light beam on a photosensitive member in accordance with image data, and a smoothing unit which performs a smoothing for a jaggy of a scan line of a light beam scanned on the photosensitive member by the scanning unit. The smoothing unit does not perform the smoothing when the scanning unit scans a light beam in accordance with image data representing a halftone image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidefumi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8238002
    Abstract: There are provided an image reading apparatus capable of turning on the light source of a display such as an LCD during an image reading operation even when the apparatus operates upon power supply from an external apparatus via a USB bus, and a power control method applied to the apparatus. For example, in the apparatus which is driven upon reception of power supply from the external apparatus, and includes a CIS for reading an original image by intermittently emitting light from an LED, and an LCD with a backlight for displaying information on reading, it is controlled to prevent the ON period of the light source and that of the backlight from overlapping each other during an image reading operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakazu Inada, Tsuyoshi Homma
  • Patent number: 8237732
    Abstract: In a color reproduction system for displaying an image subjected to color conversion processing by a server side system on a monitor device of a user side system, the server side system comprises a first storage unit for storing a multi-spectrum image, a second storage unit for storing color reproduction characteristic information, which is information relating to a color reproduction characteristic when the image is displayed on the monitor device, a server side communication unit for receiving the color reproduction requirement information transmitted from the user side communication unit via the network, and a color conversion processing unit for obtaining, from the second storage unit, color reproduction characteristic information corresponding to the color reproduction requirement information, and performing color conversion processing on the multi-spectrum image on the basis of the obtained color reproduction characteristic information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Komiya, Yasuto Ikeda, Akira Matsushita, Takuji Horie
  • Patent number: 8228566
    Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source, an imaging optics system, an image pickup device unit, a memory, and a processor. The imaging optics system condenses scattered light reflected on an object to be imaged to form condensed light as an image. The imaging optics system includes plural cells arranged in a main scanning direction and each of which is an independent imaging optics system. Each of the cells includes a telecentric optics system at the document side. Two rows of cells are arranged in a sub-scanning direction. The cells in the rows are arranged zigzag in the main scanning direction to complement a formed image by the cells in the sub-scanning direction. The image pickup device unit is arranged to correspond to each cell. The processor can form a document image by reconstructing and combining image information stored in the memory into an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kawano, Tatsuki Okamoto, Tadashi Minobe, Tatsuya Kunieda, Akiko Fujiuchi
  • Patent number: 8223407
    Abstract: An imaging system that includes a sheet media stack over a recording unit. Image data is generated in response to radiation received from a field of view encompassing sheet media edges of individual media within the sheet media stack. Edges of individual media are detected within the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Marvell International Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihiro Machida
  • Patent number: 8213710
    Abstract: An image processing system interpolates image data of an image array by ascertaining shift invariant points and non-shift invariant points within the array. The average illumination and the second order derivative are determined for the shift invariant locations. The second order derivative and the intensity at the non-shift invariant locations for each of the non-shift invariant points are estimated. The color data for each color element is determined from the image data and second order derivative. The second order derivative is multiplied by a scaling factor for selectively smoothing and sharpening the second order derivative. The color data values of adjacent color element to enhance a resolution of the image data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Youliza, Gehts B.V. Limited Liability Company
    Inventor: Taner Dosluoglu
  • Patent number: 8203764
    Abstract: Imaging devices and methods that permit the capture of digital images of an original document sequentially illuminated by a plurality of light sources. In one aspect, a first digital image is captured using illumination from a first illumination angle, a second digital image is captured using illumination from a second illumination angle, and the first and second digital images are combined to obtain a composite digital image of the document. The obtained composite digital image is free of reflection artifacts corresponding to the first and second illumination angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Michael King, Mark Eric Miller