Seiko Epson Corporation

Noriyuki Nouda

Yoshihisa Motominami

Kenichi Nagaharu

When an image reading apparatus ( ) shifts from a standby condition to a power economizing state, a buffer ( ) electrically disconnects a connection path . Subsequently, a switch electrically disconnects a power supply path . When the image reading apparatus shifts from a power economizing state to a standby condition, the switch electrically connects the power supply path , thereby commencing the supply of power to an image pickup section . Subsequently, the buffer electrically connects the connection path . Consequently, even in a case where the supply of power to the image pickup section is stopped, an electric current will not flow from the image processing section to an analog-to-digital converter . Thus, breakage of elements included in the analog-to-digital converter can be prevented. Further, when the image reading apparatus is in a power economizing state, the supply of power to the image pickup section and the fan as well as to a light source is stopped. Therefore, the image reading apparatus can reduce power consumption by a greater amount than does a related image reading apparatus which extinguishes only a light source.

Image reading apparatus

A focus adjusting plate,serving as a reference for focus adjustment is attached to a glass plane of a document stand,, and a lens carriage,in a reading unit,is made movable minutely in a sub-scanning direction. The lens carriage is moved one pitch by one pitch within a minute movement range to read black stripes and white areas of the focus adjusting plate,. The position of the lens carriage providing a maximum contrast is obtained, and the lens carriage,is fixed at the position. Thus, the optical path length L from the upper face of the glass plane of the document stand,to the lens,via mirrors,and,is focus-adjusted. Accordingly, errors such as variations in accuracy in fabrication can be canceled to provide an image data in focus.

Growing community of inventors

Suwa, Japan

Noriyuki Nouda