Ricoh Company, Ltd.

Naoki Asaba

Masamoto Nakazawa

Hideki Hashimoto

Masaki Nagase

Hiroshi Ishii

Atsushi Yoshida

Osamu Kizaki

Ayumu Hashimoto

Hiroki Shirado

Yoshio Konno

Masayuki Yabuuchi

Masafumi Kishi

Naoki Goh

Satoshi Hatanaka

Shiho Shimosaka

A photoelectric conversion element comprises: a plurality of pixels, each of which performs photoelectric conversion and outputs an analog signal; and analog processing unit that sequentially processes, on a pixel-to-pixel basis, the analog signals output from a pixel group including the pixels; and a signal supply unit that supplies a signal needed fro preliminary operation to the analog processing unit so as to enable the analog processing unit to perform the preliminary operation before the analog processing unit starts to process the analog signals output from the pixel group.

Photoelectric conversion element, image reading device, image forming apparatus, and signal control method

A photoelectric conversion element comprises: a plurality of pixels, each of which performs photoelectric conversion and outputs an analog signal; an analog processing unit that sequentially processes, on a pixel-to-pixel basis, the analog signals output from a pixel group including the pixels; and a signal supply unit that supplies a signal needed for preliminary operation to the analog processing unit so as to enable the analog processing unit to perform the preliminary operation before the analog processing unit starts to process the analog signals output from the pixel group.

A photoelectric conversion element includes a plurality of light-receiving elements, a plurality of pixel circuits, and a plurality of storage units. The light-receiving elements are aligned in a predetermined alignment direction for each color of light to be received, to receive and convert the light into electric charge. The pixel circuits are disposed respectively adjacent to the plurality of light-receiving elements, to convert the electric charge generated by the corresponding light-receiving element into a voltage signal. The storage units are disposed respectively corresponding to the plurality of the pixel circuits, to store therein the voltage signal generated by the corresponding pixel circuit. The storage units are disposed in an adjacent region that is adjacent to a photoelectric conversion region in which the light-receiving elements and the pixel circuits are disposed.

Photoelectric conversion element, image reading device, and image forming apparatus

An image reading device includes an imaging device to capture an image of a document placed below the imaging device to generate a document image and output an image signal based on the document image, circuitry to determine a size of a fed-sheet based on information on the fed-sheet, the fed-sheet being a sheet to be formed with the document image, generate a frame image for the document image, the frame image having a size equal to the size of the fed-sheet, and synthesize the frame image with the image signal output from the imaging device to generate a synthesized image, and a display to display the synthesized image.

Image reading device, image forming apparatus, method of displaying document image, and non-transitory recording medium

An image reading apparatus includes: a plurality of light sources to emit light to a target to be read from a plurality of different irradiation positions; an illumination controller to sequentially and alternately turn on or off the plurality of light sources with a blinking cycle not perceptible to the human eye; an image capturing device to photoelectrically convert, pixel by pixel, reflected light of the light emitted to the target from the plurality of light sources to capture a plurality of read images; a memory to store one or more read images of the plurality of read images being captured; and a synthesizer to synthesize preset regions of the plurality of read images using the one or more read images stored in the memory to generate a synthesized read image representing the target, the preset region of each of the plurality of read images having an image level change caused by reflected light that is smaller than a threshold.

Image reading apparatus, image forming apparatus, image reading method, and recording medium

An image reading device includes a shooting unit, a light source unit, a shooting controller, and a combining unit. The light source unit sequentially irradiates the bound document with light from first and second irradiation positions opposing each other with respect to a first straight line orthogonal to a direction of a binding portion of the document. The shooting controller controls the shooting unit to shoot a first region positioned at the second irradiation position side on the document when the light source unit irradiates the document with light from the first irradiation position, and controls the shooting unit to shoot a second region containing a region other than the first region on the document when the light source unit irradiates the document with light from the second irradiation position. The combining unit combines a shot image of the first region and a shot image of the second region.

Image reading device, image processing apparatus, and image reading method

An imaging sensor includes multiple light-receiving elements, which are for multiple colors, configured to conduct photoelectric conversion and multiple power supply lines configured to supply a power supply voltage from a power supply source to the light-receiving elements. The light-receiving elements of each of the colors are aligned in one direction. Portions extending between the power supply source and the respective light-receiving elements of the multiple power supply lines are substantially identical in shape on at least a per-color basis.

Imaging sensor, image reading device, image forming apparatus, and alignment method of imaging sensor

An image reading device includes a white reference member, a generating unit, a representative-value storage unit, a reproducing unit, and a normalizing unit. The white reference member reflects a light emitted from a light source. The generating unit generates pseudo data on the basis of the light reflected by the white reference member with respect to each pixel area. The representative-value storage unit stores therein a representative value of each pixel area of the pseudo data. The reproducing unit reproduces the pseudo data on the basis of the representative values. The normalizing unit normalizes results of photoelectric conversion of at least any of pixels on the basis of the pseudo data, thereby creating a criterion for determining the presence or absence of an original.

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Naoki Asaba