Solid-state Patents (Class 358/513)
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Patent number: 8363294Abstract: Disclosed is an image processing apparatus and a method of controlling the same. A color contact image sensor (CIS) module employing a single channel line sensor can be used to produce substantially the same performance as a color CIS module employing a three-channel line sensor and having color filters to, for example, reduce manufacturing costs. Moreover, a blurring phenomenon that can occur in a scanned image can be reduced and the quality of the scanned image can be improved.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2009Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Young Mi Kim, Jong Hyon Yi
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Patent number: 8363291Abstract: In a method of scanning an image on an original, an optical sensor including sensor elements for each of a number of basic colors is used to generate pixel values of rows of pixels of the scanned image. The sensor elements are used to generate grey scale pixel values representing different parts of the image. A first sensor element for each of the basic colors is used to generate pixel values of odd pixels of rows on the original, and a second sensor element for each of the basic colors is used to generate pixel values of even pixels of rows of the original. Each grey scale pixel value is generated mainly on the basis of a pixel value of at least one of the first sensor elements and a pixel value of at least one of the second sensor elements for adjacent pixels.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2011Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: OCE Technologies B.V.Inventor: Johannes H. M. Janssen
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Patent number: 8339684Abstract: An image reading device 1 includes an output acquiring unit 21 acquiring outputs from a plurality of light receiving elements 17 arranged to form an image reading surface for reading an image of an original, a difference detecting unit 22 detecting edges in the original or an end portion of the original on the basis of the outputs from at least some of the light receiving elements 17 in the outputs acquired by the output acquiring unit 21, and an image information generating unit 23 generating the image information of the original by use of the outputs from the plurality of light receiving elements 17 when the difference detecting unit 22 detects the edges or the end portion of the original.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2009Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: PFU LimitedInventor: Masahiko Kobako
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Patent number: 8335025Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 9, 2009Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.Inventors: Anthony Michael King, Mark Eric Miller
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Patent number: 8310724Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 13, 2011Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: Youliza, Gehts B.V. Limited Liability CompanyInventor: Taner Dosluoglu
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Patent number: 8305663Abstract: A clock-signal generating unit generates temporally-continuous clock signals. A spread-spectrum clock-signal generating unit generates a spread-spectrum clock signal by modulating a frequency spectrum of a clock signal generated by the clock-signal generating unit. A signal delaying unit generates a fixed delay unaffected by a spread spectrum from the spread-spectrum clock signal generated by the spread-spectrum clock-signal generating unit, and delays a phase of the spread-spectrum clock signal based on an amount of the fixed delay.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2008Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: Ricoh Company, LimitedInventors: Masaki Nagase, Tohru Kanno
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Patent number: 8300286Abstract: A photosensitive chip, including first and second sets of photosensors aligned in a Y direction and separated in a perpendicular X direction and third and fourth sets of photosensors aligned in the Y direction and separated in the X direction. The first and third sets are aligned in the X direction. The second and fourth sets are aligned in the X direction. The first and third sets are offset in the Y direction from the second and fourth sets by a distance about equal to a length of a photosensor divided by the number of sets. A time interval between activation of two sequential photosensors from the first through fourth sets of photosensors is substantially equal to the time period of a scan line for the first through fourth sets of photosensors divided by the number of photosensors in the first through fourth sets of photosensors.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2009Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Scott L. TeWinkle
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Patent number: 8300288Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 8, 2007Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: Transpacific Plasma, LLCInventor: Pi-Chen Chen
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Patent number: 8274715Abstract: A method for forming a final digital color image includes capturing an image using an image sensor having panchromatic pixels and color pixels corresponding to at least two color photoresponses; providing from the captured image a digital panchromatic image and an intermediate digital color image; and using the digital panchromatic image and the intermediate digital color image to provide the final digital color image.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2005Date of Patent: September 25, 2012Assignee: OmniVision Technologies, Inc.Inventors: John F. Hamilton, Jr., John T. Compton
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Patent number: 8228566Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 31, 2008Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Kawano, Tatsuki Okamoto, Tadashi Minobe, Tatsuya Kunieda, Akiko Fujiuchi
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Patent number: 8213710Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 28, 2007Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Youliza, Gehts B.V. Limited Liability CompanyInventor: Taner Dosluoglu
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Patent number: 8208171Abstract: The present invention aims to prevent a problem that an image on a document sheet is erased due to misdetection of a line-shaped noise. A copy machine 1 compares RGB values of a target pixel with averaged RGB values (Step S103). If only one of the RGB values has a difference that is greater than a prescribed value Ref2 (Step S103: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to a line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in a line-shaped noise address storing area 49b. If two of the RGB values have differences (Step S103: NO, Step S104: YES) and a difference between these two of the RGB values is no greater than a prescribed value Ref3 (Step S105: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to the line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in the line-shaped noise address storing area 49b.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2008Date of Patent: June 26, 2012Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hiroaki Kubo, Nobuhiro Mishima
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Patent number: 8199380Abstract: An image reading device having an image sensor formed by a plurality of sensor chips is provided. The image reading device includes an AFE circuit, a clock provider and a digital data processor. The AFE circuit is configured to process analog data provided by the image sensor so as to convert the analog data into digital data and to output the digital data. The clock provider is configured to provide the image sensor with a driving clock, the clock provider configured to stop providing the driving clock for a certain period of time before the AFE circuit reads initial data provided by each of the sensor chips. The digital data processor configured to remove the digital data provided by the AFE circuit while the clock provider has stopped providing the driving clock.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2009Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: Seiko Epson CorporationInventor: Motoki Yoshizawa
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Patent number: 8174738Abstract: The image read-out device comprises an integrally formed scanning optical unit in which a light source which emits light toward a document, a plurality of reflective mirrors reflecting the light which is emitted from the light source to the document and then reflected, an image forming lens converging the light reflected by a final reflective mirror which finally reflects the light, among the plurality of mirrors, and a light receiving sensor for receiving the light converged by the image forming lens are integrally mounted on a housing, the integrally formed scanning optical unit moving in a scanning direction and reading out an image of the document, wherein an opening is provided on each of top and bottom surfaces of the housing, and wherein the area of the opening provided on the bottom surface is equal or more than that of the opening provided on the top surface.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2009Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Nobuaki Ono, Yasuo Sakurai, Kiichiro Nishina, Masahiro Itoh
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Publication number: 20120086992Abstract: In a method of scanning an image on an original, an optical sensor including sensor elements for each of a number of basic colors is used to generate pixel values of rows of pixels of the scanned image. The sensor elements are used to generate grey scale pixel values representing different parts of the image. A first sensor element for each of the basic colors is used to generate pixel values of odd pixels of rows on the original, and a second sensor element for each of the basic colors is used to generate pixel values of even pixels of rows of the original. Each grey scale pixel value is generated mainly on the basis of a pixel value of at least one of the first sensor elements and a pixel value of at least one of the second sensor elements for adjacent pixels.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 7, 2011Publication date: April 12, 2012Inventor: Johannes H. M. JANSSEN
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Patent number: 8149481Abstract: The invention relates to a sheet-fed scanner (300) comprising: an illumination device for emitting a luminous flux covering several spectral bands which is intended to illuminate a sheet (204) to be scanned, a focussing device (150), and a detection module (360) comprising a sensor (164) which comprises a plurality of rows (166, 168, 170) of sensitive elements, each sensitive element being provided to deliver an electrical energy that is proportional to the intensity of the luminous flux received, and each row being provided to have its sensitivity peak for one of said spectral bands, the focussing device being provided to focus, onto each of the rows, part of the luminous flux reflected by said sheet, the sheet-fed scanner (300) being characterised in that the detection module (360) comprises a non-prismatic spectral shift device (305) for shifting each part of the luminous flux thus focussed, parallel to said rows (166, 168, 170), the shift being different for each row (166, 168, 170).Type: GrantFiled: October 4, 2007Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Sagem ScuriteInventor: Francois Dufresne du Virel
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Patent number: 8149469Abstract: An image reading apparatus has an image sensor in which a plurality of sensor arrays for reading a document image are connected into a line, and parallel-output image data. In the image reading apparatus, of image data output from each sensor array, image data of a pixel at one end and image data of the remaining pixels are compressed by different compression methods. The compressed data of one line are decompressed by a set method at the timing when the number of pixels reaches a preset number of pixels.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2008Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Satoshi Tada
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Patent number: 8125695Abstract: Imaging systems and methods for actuating image sensors based on alignment are disclosed. An example method includes determining by a controller an alignment of a plurality of sensors, the sensors adapted to capture an image of an object. The method also includes actuating the sensors with the controller based on the alignment.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2003Date of Patent: February 28, 2012Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: Kurt E. Spears
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Publication number: 20120002254Abstract: Certain embodiments provide an image reading apparatus including: a monochrome CCD sensor including a first photo-diode array; plural color CCD sensors each including a second photodiode array; an AD converter configured to apply analog-to-digital conversion to each of analog outputs from the second photodiode array and the first photodiode array; a delay processing unit configured to delay at least one of color image data of plural colors from the AD converter and interpolate, with delayed any one or more of the color image data, a blank of image data that is to be read on a line in a sub-scanning direction; and an inter-line correction unit configured to correct, by the intervals and a set reduction magnification, a positional deviation in the sub-scanning direction between the monochrome image data and the color image data, respective timings of which are aligned on the line by the delay processing unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2011Publication date: January 5, 2012Applicants: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha, Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Shogo Ogawa, Yoshio Yoshimura, Tadashi Mokudai
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Patent number: 8089669Abstract: It is made possible to determine image characteristics in a reading image while the image of an original is being read. A first line sensor (9R2, 9G2, 9B2) is arranged on a board and reads the original image. A second line sensor (9K1) has a larger number of pixels than the first line sensor and is arranged on the board to read the original image earlier than the first line sensor. An image signal processing characteristic control unit (46) uses an output of the second line sensor as a control signal to control the processing characteristic of the image signal read by the first line sensor.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2007Date of Patent: January 3, 2012Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Jun Sakakibara, Koji Tanimoto
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Publication number: 20110304893Abstract: This invention is directed to correcting a smear by a line-sequential reading scanner. To accomplish this, in a line-sequential reading type image reading apparatus (scanner), the first memory stores reference smear amount data of a smear occurred for each color component. The correction amount for the brightness value of each color component obtained by reading an original by an image sensor is calculated based on the reference smear amount data stored in the first memory and the brightness value level of a pixel on a preceding line. The brightness value is corrected based on the correction amount.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2011Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Takashi Sakai
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Patent number: 8059319Abstract: A solid-state imaging apparatus, of lower power consumption and a smaller area with maintaining sufficient performance, includes a plurality of pixels for reading a plurality of color components, a plurality of holding units holding a signal from each pixel, a plurality of common output lines to which the plurality of respective holding units corresponding to respective color components are connected, and a plurality of output circuits connected to the plurality of common output lines. Then, at least two of the plurality of common output lines are connected to one of the plurality of output circuits through a selecting unit. In addition, outputs of a holding unit to which pixels of at least two different color components among the plurality of pixels in the unit cell are connected are connected to one of the plurality of common output lines through a selecting unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2008Date of Patent: November 15, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Hirofumi Totsuka
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Patent number: 8040558Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: November 28, 2007Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: Youliza, Gehts B.V. Limited Liability CompanyInventor: Taner Dosluoglu
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Publication number: 20110205605Abstract: An image reading apparatus which performs shading correction using black reference data, wherein in the process of obtaining the black reference data, the image reading apparatus includes a reading control section that outputs a shift pulse which is the start timing of charge accumulation corresponding to each RGB color and controls the process of lighting of the light source of a predetermined color for a predetermined period after a predetermined period having elapsed since the output of each shift pulse, and a data processing section that does not obtain the data output from the image sensor as the black reference data according to the shift pulse and obtains the data output from the image sensor as the black reference data during a period that at least overlaps with the lighting period.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2011Publication date: August 25, 2011Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATIONInventor: Junya Suga
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Patent number: 7982906Abstract: An optical scanning device is constituted without using any arc sin .theta. correction lens, while maintaining quality of an image. The optical scanning device comprises an optical flux generator, a resonance-type deflection element, a drive signal generator and a dot clock generator that is configured to sequentially generate dot clocks which satisfy a first, second and third condition, wherein the optical flux generator radiates the optical fluxes having brightnesses corresponding to the clock cycles of the dot clocks generated by the dot clock generator.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2008Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Osamu Sakaue
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Patent number: 7974466Abstract: A method for obtaining a target color measurement using an electronic image capturing device comprising the steps of: (1) determining one or more of a field correction array, level correction vectors, a color correction matrix, and a calibration correction and; (2) adjusting a target color measurement based upon one or more of a field correction array, level correction vector, a color correction matrix, and a calibration correction to obtain a corrected color target measurement.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2005Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Color Savvy Systems LimitedInventors: Christopher H. Pearson, Gary N. Bodnar, Karl F. Seibert
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Patent number: 7961365Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes: a light source which irradiates illumination light to a document; an imaging element which images reflected light of the illumination light from the document; a color separator which performs color separation of the illumination light or the reflected light into at least three wavelength ranges including a first wavelength range, a second wavelength ranges and a third wavelength range; a light-receiving element which converts the reflected light imaged by the imaging element into an electrical signal as a document image of the document, for each of the at least three wavelength ranges; and an image processor which classifies the document image on the basis of the electrical signal in the first wavelength range and in the second wavelength range.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2008Date of Patent: June 14, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventors: Kiichiro Nishina, Yoshifumi Sudoh, Masahiro Itoh
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Patent number: 7924483Abstract: The invention, in various exemplary embodiments, incorporates multiple image sensor arrays, with separate respective color filters, on the same imager die. One exemplary embodiment is an image sensor comprising a plurality of arrays of pixel cells at a surface of a substrate, wherein each pixel cell comprises a photo-conversion device. The arrays are configured to commonly capture an image. An image processor circuit is connected to said plurality of arrays and configured to combine the captured images, captured by the plurality of arrays, and output a color image.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2006Date of Patent: April 12, 2011Inventors: Scott T. Smith, Dmitry Bakin
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Patent number: 7920302Abstract: A discrimination machine optically senses an object having a surface with a planar structure while scanning the planar structure along the surface. The machine includes a discrimination sensor including optical devices detecting light generated from the planar structure. The optical devices are disposed at an interval in a transverse direction, perpendicular to a scanning direction, to ensure a sufficiently wide sensing area for the object. A deviation detector detects deviation of the planar structure from a plane based on electrical signals output from the respective optical devices detecting the light generated by the object while the discrimination sensor is scanning the object. An optical device selector selects an optical device, from among the optical devices, based on the deviation detected. A determination is made as to whether the electrical signal output from the optical device selected is within an allowable margin.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2009Date of Patent: April 5, 2011Assignees: Aruze Corp., Seta Corp.Inventors: Kazuei Yoshioka, Jun Fujimoto
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Patent number: 7916362Abstract: An image sensor for capturing a color image is disclosed having a two-dimensional array having first and second groups of pixels wherein pixels from the first group of pixels have narrower spectral photoresponses than pixels from the second group of pixels and wherein the first group of pixels has individual pixels that have spectral photoresponses that correspond to a set of at least two colors, with the placement of the first and second groups of pixels defining a pattern that has a minimal repeating unit including at least six pixels with at least some rows or columns of the minimal repeating unit composed only of pixels from the second group of pixels, and including ways to combine similarly positioned pixels from at least two adjacent minimal repeating units.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2006Date of Patent: March 29, 2011Assignee: Eastman Kodak CompanyInventors: Takayuki Kijima, Hideo Nakamura, John T. Compton, John F. Hamilton, Jr., Thomas E. DeWeese
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Patent number: 7911662Abstract: A linear image sensor which has an enhanced image resolution, and requires reduced processing time, and is low in cost. A first line sensor has a plurality of light receiving elements linearly arranged at a predetermined pitch in a main scanning direction. A second line sensor has a plurality of light receiving elements linearly arranged at the predetermined pitch in the main scanning direction. The light receiving elements of the second line sensor are shifted from the light receiving elements of the first line sensor by half the predetermined pitch in the main scanning direction. The second line sensor has a length in the main scanning direction shorter than that of the first line sensor, and is arranged in parallel to the first line sensor and spaced from the first line sensor by a predetermined distance in a sub scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2005Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Masakazu Inada
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Patent number: 7911664Abstract: If the user specifies a color mode, an image reader previously moves a read head to a position where a first read target position r and a read start position on an original are identical with each other. If the user specifies a monochrome mode, the image reader previously moves the read head to a position where a second read target position and the read start position on an original are identical with each other. After this, an image can be read from the same range without increasing the time required for image read processing.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2004Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Yoichi Horaguchi, Takashi Ohama
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Patent number: 7903302Abstract: There is provide a technique which can contribute to reduction of data capacity of image data read from an original document in an image reading apparatus, and can contribute to realization of a flexible image processing to meet user's requests.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2007Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Jun Sakakibara
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Patent number: 7889254Abstract: To prevent such a situation that a signal from a pixel in a dark state is output at a level shifted from an originally set level to deteriorate an image quality, and to improve the image quality.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2008Date of Patent: February 15, 2011Assignee: Canon Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Tetsunobu Kochi, Kazuo Yamazaki, Hiraku Kozuka
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Patent number: 7884979Abstract: An imaging lens comprises a first, a second, a third, and a fourth lens group from an object toward an image. The first lens group includes a first lens that is a convex meniscus lens with a convex surface on the object side. The second lens group includes a second lens having a positive refractive power, and a third lens bonded to the second lens and having a negative refractive power. The third lens group includes a fourth lens having a negative refractive power, and a fifth lens bonded to the fourth lens and having a positive refractive power. The fourth lens group includes a sixth lens having a positive refractive power. The imaging lens satisfies the condition 0.10<D/f<0.19 where D denotes a sum of an air gap between the first lens and the second lens and an air gap between the fifth lens and the sixth lens, and f denotes a focal length of the entirety of the imaging lens with respect to an e-ray.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2006Date of Patent: February 8, 2011Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.Inventor: Naoki Miyatake
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Patent number: 7847987Abstract: A method is disclosed as including scanning a first pixel of an image with a primary scanning line of a sensor, and scanning a second pixel of the image with a secondary scanning line of the sensor, wherein the first pixel is separated from the second pixel by a pitch of one or more scan lines. A compensation value is determined for one or more pixels of the image, wherein the compensation value is determined based, at least in part, on a mathematical operation comprising pixel values associated with the first and second pixels and the pitch. The method further includes compensating the one or more pixel values based, at least in part, on the compensation value, wherein the compensation value compensates for a reflection of light between the first and second scanning lines when the first and second pixels are scanned.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2006Date of Patent: December 7, 2010Inventor: Chen-Hsiang Shih
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Patent number: 7800790Abstract: A document reading unit has an image sensor mounted in a box-like support base so that a document can be read by the image sensor through an opening in the support base. A contact glass disposed in the opening covers the image sensor and supports the document while it is being read by the image sensor. Support members coupled to the contact glass are detachably fixed to the support base by fixing screws. The image sensor has two rows of spaced-apart line sensors with the line sensors in one row staggered relative to those in the other row, and the support members are arranged between adjacent pairs of line sensors in each row of line sensors. The contact glass and support members are removable as a unit from the support base.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2006Date of Patent: September 21, 2010Assignee: Seiko I Infotech Inc.Inventors: Masayuki Kageyama, Shinobu Hirayama
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Publication number: 20100231979Abstract: A reference-signal generating unit generates a reference signal for generating a driving signal to drive each unit of the image reading device. A frequency modulating unit modulates frequency of the reference signal, thereby generating a frequency-modulated reference signal. A driving-signal generating unit generates the driving signal from the frequency-modulated reference signal. A photoelectric converting unit converts an incident light into an analog image signal using the driving signal. An AD converting unit converts the analog image signal into a digital image signal. A correcting unit corrects the digital image signal by generating a correction signal for eliminating a noise superimposed on the digital image signal using the frequency-modulated reference signal and adding the correction signal to the digital image signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Inventors: Masaki Nagase, Tohru Kanno
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Patent number: 7777922Abstract: In an image reader that can adjust a distance between a platen glass and a close-contact-type image sensor (CIS) without disassembly, a CIS unit includes a CIS and a resilient body which biases the CIS toward the platen glass. A CIS roller holder includes a spacer, and a CIS holder which holds the spacer movably in the vertical direction as well as in the sub scanning direction with respect to the platen glass and is fixed to the CIS unit. Irregularities are formed on surfaces of the CIS holder and the spacer which face each other and are engageable by fitting. When the CIS unit is moved in the sub scanning direction and the CIS roller holder is brought into contact with one rib ,the CIS roller holder is brought into contact with the spacer at projections or recesses, thus changing a distance between the platen glass and the CIS.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2006Date of Patent: August 17, 2010Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Akihiro Sakakibara
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Patent number: 7773271Abstract: A filter circuit has: a first and a second current mirror circuit that are each built with a plurality of transistors and that respectively pass a first and a second mirror current according to a constant current; an input terminal via which an input pulse signal is fed in; a first transistor that, in response to the signal fed in via the input terminal and by using a supply voltage, makes the first current mirror circuit operate; a second transistor that, operating in inverted synchronism with the first transistor, in response to the signal fed in via the input terminal and by using a ground voltage, makes the second current mirror circuit operate; a capacitor that is charged by the first mirror current and that is discharged by the second mirror current; and an output terminal via which a voltage at one end of the capacitor is fed out.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2006Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.Inventors: Nobuyuki Yamada, Yoshihiro Ikefuji
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Patent number: 7768677Abstract: A solid-state image sensor produces an image including plural sub-images, which are rapidly read out and outputted via output circuits. The image sensor has its imaging surface divided into corresponding plural sub-areas producing image data, which is transferred by the horizontal transfer path in both left and right directions and outputted from the output circuits, whose amplifier characteristics are determined as follows. Optical black (OB) data from an OB area on the imaging surface is transferred in the left direction by the horizontal transfer path and outputted from one output circuit as total OB data. OB data is transferred by the horizontal transfer path in both left and right direction and outputted from the output circuits as left and right OB data. An output circuit characteristics determiner uses the total, and left and right OB data to determine the amplifier characteristics of the output circuits.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2007Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventor: Tomoyuki Kawai
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Publication number: 20100182658Abstract: An image reading apparatus, a method of controlling the same, and an image forming apparatus including the same are disclosed. The image reading apparatus may pre-recognize performances of even-pixel and odd-pixel groups for each color in an image sensor including an even-pixel group and an odd-pixel group for each color. In case of reading an image using only one of the above pixel groups, the image reading apparatus may read the image using a superior-performance pixel group selected from the above pixel groups, such that a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) may be reduced and image processing may be more quickly carried out.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2010Publication date: July 22, 2010Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hae Chul KIM
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Patent number: 7751097Abstract: A method of changing driving sequence to output a charge coupled device signal, the method is applied to a scanner. The scanner has a pixel processor and a charge coupled device. A plurality of charge signals detected by the charge coupled device is sequentially output to the pixel processor according to the driving sequence. In the method of changing the driving sequence to output the charge coupled device signal, a fast driving sequence is provided. The fast driving sequence has a period equal to 1/N of the original driving sequence. According to the fast driving sequence, the charge signal is sent to the pixel processing circuit. The charge signals are sampled by the processing circuit according to a sampling sequence, and the data obtained by sampling is output.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2008Date of Patent: July 6, 2010Inventor: Chui-Kuei Chiu
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Patent number: 7697048Abstract: A solid state imaging apparatus of which spatial phases of pixels forming a first matrix of adjoining rows and adjoining columns are relatively different from each other is characterized by that an intersection of a line between two pixels to be added in a row direction and a line between two pixels to be added in a column direction approximately agreed with a center of four pixels to be added when the four pixels adjoining in the row and column directions are added, and phases of said centers of four pixels adjoining in the row direction or column direction are relatively different from each other in a second matrix consisted of a plurality of said centers of four pixels.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2006Date of Patent: April 13, 2010Assignee: Fujifilm CorporationInventor: Tetsuo Yamada
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Patent number: 7659532Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a light source with a first luminescent portion that outputs light with a first wavelength range and a second luminescent portion that outputs light with a second wavelength range, the wavelength ranges being different from each other; a light-receiving portion that receives light reflected from an original irradiated by the light source; a scanning portion that shifts a reading position of the original in a vertical scanning direction by changing a relative position between the original and the light-receiving portion; a switching portion that alternately turns on the first and second luminescent portions when the scanning portion shifts the reading position, wherein a vertical scanning resolution for a first data obtained when the first luminescent portion is turned on is independently set from a vertical scanning resolution for a second data obtained when the second luminescent portion is turned on.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2008Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.Inventor: Michio Kikuchi
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Patent number: 7605958Abstract: In an imaging apparatus, such as used for recording full-color images from a moving sheet, different rows of photosensors are each filtered to record one primary color. Certain specific spacings of adjacent rows of photosensors are particularly useful in operating the apparatus at different commonly-used output speeds.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2004Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Xerox CorporationInventor: Joseph P. Taillie
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Publication number: 20090244663Abstract: The present invention aims to prevent a problem that an image on a document sheet is erased due to misdetection of a line-shaped noise. A copy machine 1 compares RGB values of a target pixel with averaged RGB values (Step S103). If only one of the RGB values has a difference that is greater than a prescribed value Ref2 (Step S103: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to a line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in a line-shaped noise address storing area 49b. If two of the RGB values have differences (Step S103: NO, Step S104: YES) and a difference between these two of the RGB values is no greater than a prescribed value Ref3 (Step S105: YES), the copy machine 1 extracts the target pixel as a line-shaped noise pixel, and moves to the line-shaped noise correction (Step S108) while holding the address of the target pixel in the line-shaped noise address storing area 49b.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2008Publication date: October 1, 2009Applicant: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Hiroaki KUBO, Nobuhiro MISHIMA
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Publication number: 20090225378Abstract: An image processing apparatus including a data analyzing unit includes an input unit and a color/monochrome determining unit. The input unit inputs image data that is obtained by scanning an original document through a CCD having a plurality of lines that can scan color documents. The color/monochrome determining unit determines whether the original document is color or monochrome based on the input image data. When chromatic pixels and their complementary color pixels are detected in a specified image area of the image data, the color/monochrome determining unit excludes the detected chromatic pixels and their complementary color pixels from information that is used in the determination in which the original document of the image data is determined as color or monochrome.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2009Publication date: September 10, 2009Applicant: MURATA MACHINERY, LTD.Inventor: Katsushi MINAMINO
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Patent number: RE42033Abstract: A single step multi-section exposure scanning method for a scanner. The scanner includes a photo-sensor and a stepper motor. The photo-sensor has N rows of sensor cells that correspond to each primary color. The scanning device is driven forward an exposure distance for each revolution of the stepper motor. The single step multi-section exposure scanning method includes the following steps. First, the photo-sensor moves forward one exposure distance. One row of sensor cells is exposed after moving every 1/Nth of the exposure distance. Thereafter, analogue voltages obtained through the exposed row of sensor cells are transmitted to an analogue/digital converter. The above process is repeated until the entire document is scanned.Type: GrantFiled: August 19, 2005Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Inventors: Rong-Ji Liu, Kuo-Jeng Wang, Tom-Chin Chang
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Patent number: RE42774Abstract: A single step multi-section exposure scanning method for a scanner. The scanner includes a photo-sensor and a stepper motor. The photo-sensor has N rows of sensor cells that correspond to each primary color. The scanning device is driven forward an exposure distance for each revolution of the stepper motor. The single step multi-section exposure scanning method includes the following steps. First, the photo-sensor moves forward one exposure distance. One row of sensor cells is exposed after moving every 1/Nth of the exposure distance. Thereafter, analogue voltages obtained through the exposed row of sensor cells are transmitted to an analogue/digital converter. The above process is repeated until the entire document is scanned.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2009Date of Patent: October 4, 2011Assignee: Transpacific Systems, LLCInventors: Rong-Ji Liu, Kuo-Jeng Wang, Tom-Chin Chang