Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

Keiji Nobuhara

Katsumi Nakanishi

Shinsaku Tohki

Koji Oku

Masako Yoshinaga

Masanobu Deguchi

Toshihiro Yamanaka

Hirokazu Izumi

Katsutoshi Ishikawa

Harumi Katayama

Image information input through an image information input device (e.g., image reader) is stored into an image information storage device (e.g., hard disk) and erased by an image information erasing device. A manager device (e.g., device controller) manages the status of an image processing apparatus and actuates the image information erasing device in accordance with the status of the image processing apparatus and erases the image information stored in the image information storage.

Image processing apparatus

An electronic device stores a plurality of user's fingerprints in such a manner that each of a plurality of functions is stored in correspondence to any one of the fingerprints. Every time before using a function, the electronic device recognizes a user using a fingerprint corresponding to the function. For example, when the right thumb, right index finger and right middle finger are respectively stored in correspondence to an individual recognition function, imaging execution function and copy quantity setting function, at least three fingerprints are checked while the user is recognized by the electronic device, the copy quantity is set and imaging is accomplished. In such a manner that a user is multiply identified by a plurality of fingerprints during using the electronic device, the accuracy in recognizing a user and security can be enhanced with the structure as simple as the conventional one.

Electronic device with user authentication and instruction for function settings with fingertip manipulation of user

An image-reading device is provided with a case having an empty section, a scanner for scanning an original so as to output image data derived from the original by reciprocally moving inside the empty section, a transparent reading-use window that faces the reading region of the original with respect to the scanner, and a transparent confirming-use window that is formed in the case so as to face the reading-use window, with the empty section located in between. This device enables visual confirmation of the original through the reading-use window, the empty section and the confirming-use window. Therefore, the device allows the operator to confirm a positional relationship between the reading-use window that forms the image-reading surface for the scanner and the original to be read through visual observation, readily as well as accurately. Thus, the device makes it possible to readily output the image data accurately.

Image-reading device

Growing community of inventors

Yamatokoriyama, Japan

Keiji Nobuhara