Image reading apparatus with imaging means imaging separate and distinct

Abstract

An image reading apparatus and method which does not require that two optical elements be focused on one line of a document. A single optical element is provided for simultaneously guiding light reflected from two lines of the document onto light receiving elements arranged in two staggered rows, respectively. The optical element is a glass fiber lens array having a plurality of light focusing glass fibers arranged in linear fashion. The light receiving elements include a photoelectric alloy and are arranged in an effective field of view of the fiber lens array. Since the document is scanned, each line of the document is read by each row of light receiving elements, one row at a time. To form a complete image of the line, the output signals of each of the rows must be synchronized. This is accomplished in a signal processing circuit where the output signal of one row is delayed by a period of time equal to the distance between the two rows divided by the scanning velocity. The synchronized signals can be output to provide a complete and accurate image of the document line even where the document was not lying flat when it was read.