Canon Kabushiki Kaisha

Noriyoshi Chizawa

Kiyoshi Okamoto

Yoshihito Osari

Michio Kawase

Shigeo Hata

Masafumi Kamei

Masashi Oyumi

Takashi Sugiura

Kazuhito Ohashi

Tadashi Takahashi

Akinobu Nishikata

Yoshihiko Suzuki

Shokyo Koh

Akio Ito

Tsutomu Takayama

Masaki Higashihara

Katsuhiro Ishido

Hirohiko Tashiro

Shizuo Hasegawa

Kunio Tsuruno

Hisatsugu Tahara

Yasuhiro Takiyama

Isamu Sato

Tomobumi Nakayama

Hiroyoshi Misumi

Tomoichirou Ohta

Seiichirou Satomura

A plurality of subsystems having diverse individual functions can be connected to an image forming apparatus. Each of the subsystems is made up of, for example, plural kinds of units which are different in performance from each other. Each of the units has inherent information related to the performance, and decides the operation specification of the entire image forming apparatus according to the combination of those units.

Image forming apparatus

An image forming apparatus has a configuration in which a plurality of subsystems, each having a specific function, are interchangeably connected to a base platform. Each of the subsystems includes a plurality of units having a variety of different performances. A control unit is capable of control each of the subsystems so that the image forming apparatus flexibly provides functions that are tailored to individual users' requirements.

Image forming apparatus including an interchangeable engine and an interchangeable paper feeding and outputting system

An image forming apparatus includes a position detection circuit which detects the registration error amount between a recording medium conveyance unit and an image forming unit positioned by a positioning mechanism, on the basis of reading of a reference pattern arranged on either unit, and a controller which calculates a correction amount on the basis of the detected registration error amount and controls the operation timings of the image forming unit and recording medium conveyance unit in accordance with the correction amount.

Image forming apparatus and control method therefor

There is provided an image reading apparatus that is capable increasing the detection accuracy for dust, scratches, dirt, and the like. Sixty-four lines of sampling points on a reference standard white plate are read, shading correction and averaging are carried out the read image data to suppress random noise components in the image data, the data is then stored in a sampling memory, and dust detection is carried out on the data stored in the sampling memory. Alternatively, shading correction and dust detection are carried out on image data that has been subjected to linear interpolation. It is thus possible to increase the accuracy of detection of dust, scratches, dirt, and the like while ensuring that shading correction is performed at high speed.

Image reading apparatus and control program therefor

In an image scanning system which includes an image scanning apparatus for scanning an image using a solid-state image sensing element, and an image processing apparatus, the scanned image undergoes image correction. The image scanning apparatus informs the image processing apparatus of image scan characteristic data such as linearity characteristic data unique to itself. The image processing apparatus executes a correction process of an image scanned by the image scanning apparatus using the received image scan characteristic data.

Image correction in image sensing system including image sensing apparatus and image processing apparatus

A power control circuit () is driven by electric power supplied from a controller () as an external device via a cable (), and controls opening/closure of a switch () in accordance with instructions from the controller (). A DC power supply () converts an AC voltage supplied via the switchinto a DC voltage and provides it to individual units such as a reader ().

Image processing apparatus capable of reducing power consumption while connected to an external device

An image reading apparatus employing a white fluorescent lamp, such as a xenon lamp, as an illuminating unit reduces variations in RGB output level caused by differences in persistence characteristics of phosphors, and also reduces color blurs at document edges in a vertical scanning direction. The lamp is turned on a plurality of times within one storage time of a CCD line sensor, and a lamp-on phase is shifted 180 or 90 degrees for each storage cycle or for each reading line. The lamp is not turned on at a timing when charges are transferred from a photoelectric converting element of the line sensor. Furthermore, a time from the moment when the lamp turns on last within the storage time to the timing at which the charges are transferred is set to be longer than a shortest afterglow time (B or blue) of the fluorescent lamp.

Image reading apparatus and illumination driving method therefor

This invention provides an image reading method and apparatus which can prevent a large difference from being produced between the color tones of the read image and the original image. A plurality of signals output from an image sensor (,) are A/D-converted into a plurality of digital signals by A/D conversion circuits (,), a predetermined one of the A/D-converted digital signals is compared with a predetermined reference level by a comparator (,), a low-pass filter (,) removes any high-frequency component from the comparison result, and the output from the low-pass filter (,) is controlled to be input to the A/D conversion circuits (,) as a reference voltage for determining the input range of each A/D conversion circuit (,).

Image reading apparatus for reducing color differences

A camera includes an exposure part arranged to cause a film loaded on the camera to be exposed to light, an image sensor arranged to convert an object image into an electrical signal, a signal processing circuit arranged to carry out predetermined processes on the signal outputted from the image sensor, the signal processing circuit being arranged to perform the processes for obtaining an object image which is nearly equivalent to an image of a picture to be obtained when a specific film is exposed to light under set exposure conditions, and a display device arranged to display the object image by using the signal processed by the signal processing circuit.

Camera having adaptive object image display facility

An erasing apparatus in which an erase standby mode is set before executing an erase operation. Circuitry is provided for measuring an elapsed time of the erase standby mode during which the erasing operation is not executed. Circuitry is provided for automatically releasing the erase standby node in accordance with a measuring result of the measuring circuitry.

Erasing apparatus having a timer to release the erase standby mode

A linear image sensor includes N arrays of photoelectric converting pixels, wherein N is an even integer at least equal to 2. Each array is formed by arranging, with a predetermined pixel pitch in a first direction of the array, a plurality of pixels, and each of the pixels is so shaped that the area per unit length of the pixel decreases progressively from the center of the pixel both in the first direction of the array and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The N arrays themselves are provided with a mutual distance from each other of M/2 times the pixel pitch in the second direction and are mutually displaced by 1/N of the pixel pitch in the first direction so as to form a mutually interpolating arrangement, wherein M is a positive integer equal to at least 1 and wherein M and N are independent of each other.

Linear image sensor

There is disclosed an image reading apparatus comprising plural line sensors for converting light from an object into image signals, charge transfer unit for transferring the image signals, converted by the line sensors, mutually among the line sensors, correction unit for correcting signal levels of the image signals and control unit for effecting control so as to vary a manner of correction by the correction unit, according to a direction of transfer of the image signals by the charge transfer means among the line sensors.

Image reading apparatus

A memory management control device and a memory management control method capable of preventing run away of an image processing apparatus caused by a rewrite to a memory, are provided. In rewriting a program stored in a flash memory 402 of a controller 400 included in an image processing apparatus, an operating state detector 500 detects the operating state of the image processing apparatus and transmits the detection result to an external apparatus 9. On the basis of this detected operating state, the external apparatus 9 performs rewrite control for the flash memory 402. If the image processing apparatus is in operation, or is in an intermediate state, an abnormal state, or a wait state, a rewrite action is executed after the state is canceled.

Growing community of inventors

Moriya, Japan

Noriyoshi Chizawa