Abstract: Illumination device, image apparatus using the device and information processing system using the apparatus for illuminating a light beam emitted from at least two light emitting elements of different light emission wavelength ranges to an original through a light conductor prevent irregularity of illumination on the original without providing compensation means to attain improvement in color discrimination ability of a color document sheet read signal without increasing a cost. A light beam applied from an illumination device 30 arranged at an end of a light conductor 3 is scattered and reflected by a scatter and reflection area 5 of the light conductor to illuminate the original 100. The illumination device 30 has at least two light emitting elements 81G and 81R of different light emission wavelength ranges and centers of the light emitting elements are arranged at positions spaced from a normal line passing through a center of the scatter and reflection area 5.

Abstract: A charge-coupled device (CCD) scanning apparatus which consists of a plurality of nonsquare crystals is disclosured. By modulating a radio of vertical width to lateral width in the nonsquare crystal, the improved CCD scanning, apparatus can decrease the sample width, increase the sample frequency, therefore, it can reduce distortion and improve the quality of the image.

Abstract: Colored optical sensing module comprising a color adjustment device positioned in front of a colored charge coupler device array. The color adjustment device purifies the color component of the image data input into the charge coupler device array. The present invention also discloses a image scanner comprising said color adjustment device.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for processing color images wherein a black ink having a low infiltrate rate and color inks having a high infiltration rate are used for color printing are described. In the method and apparatus, part of black image data is converted into image data for other colors so that part of a portion to be printed with black ink droplets is printed with color ink droplets. Alternatively, part of the portion may be printed with black ink dots and other color dots being superposed. By this, bleeding between black and other color inks can be suppressed with the resultant image being a black density and sharp edge when printed on ordinary paper.

Abstract: There is disclosed an image pickup device comprising plural picture elements, each including plural pixels arranged in the longitudinal direction of the image sensor, wherein the picture elements are so arranged that the separating area between the picture elements has a width larger than the distance between the centers of the pixels mutually adjacent within the picture element. Such arrangement enables high-quality image taking without generation of colored moiree fringes or false colors.

Abstract: A polarizing plate, two phase plates having predetermined phase differences, two birefringence plates are disposed on a common optical axis, thereby effecting color separation of three color light components of R, G, and B as well as positional separation of their optical paths in a simple configuration without using color filters. A first phase plate (7) and a first birefringence plate (8) are used to separate, in terms of color and position, linearly polarized light carrying color image information into a cyan color component (CL) and a yellow color component (YL). Then, a second phase plate (9) and a second birefringence plate (10) are used to separate, in terms of color and position, the cyan color component (CL) and yellow color component (YL) into a blue color component (BL), a green color component (GL), and a red color component (RL), so as make them incident on their corresponding line sensors (11A, 11B, 11C) on a light receiving means (11).

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for producing series of high resolution color composite images. The digital camera has an optical assembly that directs visual images to a high resolution monochrome sensor and a lower resolution color sensor. These two sensors, which produce a succession of frames at the same rate, are encrypted with a frame number and time code and are stored in a frame buffer. The contents of the frame buffer can be transferred to a mass storage device, or a color rendering processor that produces a composite image from the monochrome frames and color frames. During the processing of the composite image, the monochrome grayscale value becomes the composite frame grayscale value, the color frame hue value becomes the composite frame hue value, and the color frame saturation value becomes the composite frame saturation value.

Abstract: An optical scanning device is disclosed that generates data representative of a color image of an object using only one linear photosensor array. Image data corresponding to two or more color components is collected by making multiple incremental, reciprocal displacements of a scanning head with a different filter or other color selection mechanism in place during different incremental displacements. By traversing the scanned object in a series of reciprocal movements, color component data corresponding to relatively small portions of the scanned object is sequentially collected in and then removed from dynamic memory. As this data from each path segment is removed from dynamic memory, it is processed to place it in a correlated form representative of a polychromatic image of that path segment and is then stored in an ordered array in another, typically longer term, memory device such as a hard disk.

Abstract: A color image reading apparatus improves the reproducibility of colors at the black level end of the brightness scale of each of component color images of an original medium. The color image reading apparatus includes an illuminating unit that illuminates the original medium such as a film original, an imaging device that forms images of the original medium based on three component colors of red, green and blue and outputs a red color signal, a green color signal and a blue color signal, a gain controlled amplifying device that amplifies each of the component color signals output from the imaging device and a gain setting device that sets a common, adjustable gain for each of the component color signals using the single amplifying device.

Abstract: A color correction device for applying a correction to an image read from an original image so as to correct color deviations caused by spectral characteristics of a color image reader, including:a data conversion device for converting the image of the color components into image data of color components based on three attributes,a color deviation detection device for detecting a color deviation of a reference color by comparing with a predetermined hue data of the reference color,a storage device for storing correction coefficients set in advance for the respective colors,a correction data setting device for setting correction data used to correct the color deviations of the respective colors, anda data correction device for correcting the hue data of the respective colors by the correction data setting device.

Abstract: A digital scanning system for scanning a document includes a full width array having two sets of color sensitive photosites, each set of photosites being sensitive to a different color of light and a backdrop portion. The backdrop portion is colored such that the backdrop portion appears nearly black to one set of color sensitive photosites and appears nearly white to a different set of color sensitive photosites. the scanning system further includes a light source, a document edge detection circuit operatively connected to the set of color sensitive photosites which perceive the backdrop portion as being nearly black, and an image processing circuit operatively connected to the set of color sensitive photosites which perceive the backdrop portion as being nearly white.

Abstract: A color image is by an optical scanner for conversion into three primary color data corresponding to the respective densities of the three primary colors. An edge detector detects a pixel of an edge based on the three primary color data. A pixel color judging device judges a color of a target pixel based on the three primary color data of the target pixel and its adjacent pixels. Based on edge detection results of the edge detector and pixel color judgment results of the pixel color judging device, detected is a pixel of a black edge. Judgement conditions for the pixel color judgement are established based upon characteristics that depend upon the order of arrangement of color filters in a scanner.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus for reading documents disposed face upward on a document platen by optical scanning. The image reading apparatus comprises a color correction filter which has characteristics for shielding light of visible light range and is inserted into said imaging system on prescanning to detect the height of the document.

Abstract: An achromatic color judging region is determined in a red-green-blue (RGB) color system, and it is judged in an achromatic color judging unit whether or not a color picture at a remarked pixel designated by a R multi-valued digital input signal, a G multi-valued digital input signal and a B multi-valued digital input signal is placed within the achromatic color judging region. Also, the RGB multi-valued digital input signals are converted into pieces of RGB binary data in an error dispersion processing unit while dispersing errors occurring in the RGB binary data. In case where it is judged that the color picture is an achromatic color because the color picture is placed within the achromatic color judging region, a piece of achromatic color data is generated from the RGB binary data in an achromatic color reproducing and color transforming unit and is output to reproduce the color picture at the remarked pixel.

Abstract: A color filter system for an optical system, applicable to optical systems in color image scanners, copiers, video cameras and digital cameras. The optical system includes a photosensor army, transmissive color filters on the photosensor array and a corrective reflective filter adjacent to the photosensor array. The transmissive color filters on the photosensor array are imperfect, transmitting too much visible red as well as infrared. The adjacent reflective filter compensates by suppressing longer visible red wavelengths and infrared wavelengths. The combination provides color precision with cost and manufacturing advantages relative to attempting to provide precise transmissive filters on the photosensor array or relative to providing compensation filters elsewhere in the system.

Abstract: A full color digital scanning system includes a lamp carriage having a light source and a mirror. A mirror carriage is also included with a rotatable corner mirror assembly. The rotatable corner mirror assembly has a first color corner mirror subassembly, a second color corner mirror subassembly, and a third color corner mirror subassembly. The scanning system positions a first color corner mirror on a mirror carriage to provide a 180.degree. cornering function and scans the image to produce image data representing a first color component. The scanning system then positions a second color corner mirror on the mirror carriage to provide a 180.degree. cornering function and scans the image to produce image data representing a second color component. The scanning system further positions a third color corner mirror on the mirror carriage to provide a 180.degree. cornering function and scans the image to produce image data representing a third color component.

Abstract: A wedge shaped platen scanner sequentially records opposing pages of a bound document positioned thereon. A dichroic mirror is positioned between the surfaces of the wedge shaped platen. The two sides of the opposing pages of the bound document are exposed by light having different wavelengths. One side is exposed by a flash lamp that emits light with a wavelength that forms an optical path through the dichroic mirror and onto an imaging station. The other side is exposed by a flash lamp emits light with a wavelength that forms a reflective path off of the dichroic mirror and onto the imaging station. A controller insures that the opposing pages of the bound document are sequentially illuminated by the two flash lamps. Images of opposing pages of the bound document are focused through optics onto the imaging station. In one arrangement, the imaging station is a two-dimensional array of detectors which sense an image of a page of the bound document projected thereon.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing on to a photosensitive material. The apparatus includes a light source for producing light composed of at least two colors, a collimator for collimating the light produced by the light source so as form a beam of light, a modulator for modulating the beam of light in accordance with one of the predetermined color components, a filter for filtering out the color component which has been modulated, and a beam directing device for directing the modulated colored filter beam of light, onto a photosensitive material.

Abstract: In a color photoelectric conversion apparatus in which a plurality of semiconductor image sensors each having a plurality of light-receiving windows are arrayed, and a plurality of light-receiving windows in a main scanning direction constitute one color light-receiving element, the last light-receiving window or at least two light-receiving windows including the last light-receiving window of a first semiconductor image sensor of adjacent semiconductor image sensors, and the first light-receiving window or at least two light-receiving windows including the first light-receiving window of the next semiconductor image sensor constitute one color light-receiving element.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus comprises a plurality of line sensors for reading images at different positions of a document sheet, a drive unit for relatively driving the line sensors to said document sheet, and a control unit for controlling the drive unit to intermittently effect the relative drive to read the document sheet image in a plurality of steps. The control unit controls the drive unit such that a drive distance by the relative drive is equal to an integer multiple of a read line width of the line sensors.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for digitizing color images on photographic and other media insures accurate registration between color planes and provides a digitization capability substantially equivalent to the dynamic range of photographic film.

Abstract: In a color photographic printer of the type having a film scanner having a 50% green spectral response between 522.+-.5 nm and 570.+-.2.5 nm and peaking at 550 nm, a lowpass cutoff filter for lowering the upper cutoff wavelength of the green channel response is added to the green channel to improve the color correction of the printer for all color films presently in use.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of processing a color video signal in which printing color separation data is formed from a color video signal and a printing original plate is made by using the printing color separation data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a digital image analysis method for automatically identifying an object in a background, characterizing the object by color by determining at least one interior point of the object, and displaying the object on a monitor in color corresponding to the natural color of the object and a digital image analysis method for displaying an object on a monitor in color. The methods are adaptive in that they create a new pallette for each image being processed. The system used to implement the methods is cost effective in that a black-and-white image processing board can be used in conjunction with a color filter and a color monitor.

Abstract: A portable apparatus for printing an image on a film or monitoring the image on a display screen. An image generator, such as a CRT, generates a viewable image. The display screen is in optical communication with the image generator and defines a first optical path. A first reflector is selectively movable into the first optical path to intercept the generated image in order to reflect the image over a second folded optical path, defined by second and third reflectors, to the film. Along the second folded optical path is an optical filter for filtering predetermined frequency components of the generated image. In a print mode, the first reflector is driven into the first optical path, such that the film is in optical communication with the image generator, for exposing the film to the generated image. In a monitor mode, the first reflector is driven out of the first optical path, such that the display screen is in optical communication with the image generator for displaying the generated image.

Abstract: A color image reading system in which an input color image signal is converted into color data signals. The color data signals are indicative of a combination of data of reference stimuli represented by vertices of a triangle of which one side circumscribes a pure purple locus, and of which the remaining two sides circumscribes two points of a spectral locus of a color degree diagram, the two points representing substantially middle colors between a color represented by one vertex of the triangle at which the remaining two sides intersect and each of two colors represented by the remaining two sides of the triangle, respectively. The input color image signal is reproduced on a color image output device in response to the provision of the color data signals.

Abstract: A scanning apparatus having a linear photosensor, an imaging assembly, and a scanning displacement assembly adapted for producing relatively constant rate linear displacement between an imaged object and the imaging assembly to cause scan line portions of the object to be sequentially imaged on the linear photosensor device and an image registration holding assembly associated with the scanning displacement device to cause an image from each different scan line portion on the object to be temporarily held in registration with the linear photosensor.

Abstract: In a raster input scanner adapted to perform multiple scans of a document through a series of color filters, a mechanism exploits the reciprocating motion of the scanner relative to the document platen to effect the changing of filters between scans without the addition of a separate motor.

Abstract: A system and a method in which channel independent linear transfer functions or calibration curves for color devices such as printers, scanners and displays are individually created. The calibration curves are created using a low cost light intensity sensor. Scaling constants are determined and desired linear aim response curves are scaled together to maintain a desired color balance. The color saturation effects are also removed by scaling or normalizing to some maximum input drive level that does not saturate any of the colors. The characterization curves are rotated about the desired linear aim response curves to create compensation curves for each the characterization curves adapted to the particular device response characteristics. The dynamic range maximized, linearized, color balanced and saturation compensation curves are loaded into conversion tables which convert input values into the appropriate output values.

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus which can reduce a shading distortion generated by luminous characteristics of a light source, vignetting of a lens, etc. adopts color filters having a geometrical structure which enables to counterbalance a shading distortion and is characterized in that a line sensor is vertically arranged for the radial direction of the rotary filter. The image scanning apparatus can accomplish a simple shading calibration by arranging color filters and the line sensor so that a shading distortion is calibrated geometrically.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for color stimulus specification-correction, i.e. sensation-correction pickup for scanning of chromatic image originals, referred to in short as a multispectral scanner. A color image pickup system is provided, based on the multispectral principle, the plurality of I>>3 narrow-band spectral filters and one black filter being introduced into the optical beam path of the image scanner, and thus I narrow-band spectral separations of a color image original and of a white image original are registered and digitized. Spectral pixel samples individually calibrated for all pixels are formed with an electronic evaluation unit in pickup real time. These are either stored in I parallel image storage levels or are multiplied by specific coefficients from a table in pickup real time of the signals in three parallel channels and are accumulated in three parallel image storage levels.

Abstract: In a color photoelectric conversion apparatus in which a plurality of semiconductor image sensors each having a plurality of light-receiving windows are arrayed, and a plurality of light-receiving windows in a main scanning direction constitute one color light-receiving element, the last light-receiving window or at least two light-receiving windows including the last light-receiving window of a first semiconductor image sensor of adjacent semiconductor image sensors, and the first light-receiving window or at least two light-receiving windows including the first light-receiving window of the next semiconductor image sensor constitute one color light-receiving element.

Abstract: A color image reading and compensating device comprises an image reader including a color image sensor for forming a number of dots arranged in a line, each of the dots being composed of a plurality of pixels corresponding to a plurality of colors, respectively, for outputting a color image signal having a plurality of color signal components for each dot, and a compensating circuit for compensating phase and resolution characteristics of the color image signal, by use of not only one color signal component selected from the color signal components of the color image signal but also the other color signal components, the one color signal component and the other signal components corresponding to a dot of interest and dot in close proximity thereto.

Abstract: In a color scanner wherein a plurality of filters are selectably disposed in a light path to a sensor array, a target area of a preselected test color is provided adjacent the platen for the image to be scanned. The target area is used to determine which of the plurality of filters is disposed along the light path at a given time.

Abstract: A calibrated scanner is disclosed. The calibrated scanner includes a sensor board with a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) having two output signals. The sensor board also includes two offset devices, a coarse offset and a fine offset, the coarse offset being connected to the two output signals, the fine offset being connected to one of the output signals. The offsets are adjusted to provide a nonclipping DC bias for the two output signals. The sensor board also includes two gain devices, one gain device being attached to each output signal. The gain devices are adjusted to balance the two output signals. After these adjustments, the saturation level of the CCD is determined. The saturation level information is then used in readjusting the gain and offset devices. After this calibration, a linear correction may be applied to the output signal of the sensor board. The linear correction is accomplished by determining dark and light values of the sensor board.

Abstract: An optical scanning device for generating a data signal representative of an object which is scanned comprising a light source for illuminating the object; an imaging assembly for projecting imaging light from the object onto an image plane; a plurality of linear photosensor arrays positioned at the image plane for generating light sensing signals indicative of the intensity of light in different spectral regions impinged thereon; a transparent plate positioned in adjacent overlying relationship with the photosensor arrays; a plurality of filter coatings disposed on different regions of the transparent plate in alignment the plurality of photosensor arrays for filteringly transmitting imaging light in the predetermined different spectral regions to the different photosensor arrays.

Abstract: A scanner useful as an input device for a computer is operable in two scanning modes: a prescanning mode in which subsampled images are rapidly output to the computer for substantially real-time display, and an input scanning mode in which three successive high resolution color scans are obtained. A fixed image is supported on a movable, hand-manipulated stage that interactively controls the conjugate distances of the optical system so that zooming and cropping is obtained without losing focus. By situating the control buttons for the scanning modes on the movable stage, a single hand can control zooming, cropping, and prescanning without having to interact with a keyboard or like input device to the computer.

Abstract: A color conversion system for optically scanning a target document or the like utilizing a monochromatic scanner connected to a computer is disclosed. The target is illuminated with a light source. The light is filtered from the light source to direct either red, green or blue frequency light to the scanner. The target is scanned three times, the scanner receiving red frequency light in a first scan, green frequency light in a second scan and blue frequency light in a third scan. The foregoing scans may occur in any order. In each of the scans, the light reflected from the target to the scanner is processed to generate corresponding red image data, green image data and blue image data. The red, green and blue image data is combined to generate multiple color image data. The multiple color image data may be displayed or printed to produce a multiple color image representative of the image on the target.

Abstract: According to this invention, an image processing apparatus separates a color original into a plurality of color signal components and sequentially reads the color signal components by read means so as to sequentially form images corresponding to the color signal components on a photosensitive body. In this apparatus, at least two color signal components of a color image to be synthesized with the color original are simultaneously read and are stored in an image memory by the read means, and upon image synthesis, the color signal components are read out from the image memory in synchronism with color signal components read by the read means.