The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 24, 2004
Filed:
Aug. 27, 2001
Hayato Hokoi, Sakura, JP;
Nikon Corporation, Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
The invention provides an image scanning apparatus capable of obtaining an image signal in high quality even with existence of a non-effective picture in a scanning area. The apparatus comprises: an radiation unit for radiating scanning light onto a scanning area where an original is arranged; a photodetector for detecting an optical image formed by the scanning light which is reflected in the scanning area or transmits therethrough; a test drive unit for driving the radiation unit and the photodetector under predetermined drive condition; and an adjusting unit for adjusting the drive condition for the radiation unit and the photodetector in accordance with an output signal outputted from the photodetector by the driving. The photodetector has an overflow drain mechanism, and the adjusting unit adjusts an exposure of the photodetector at a brightest point of an effective picture of the optical image to approach its quantization exposure limit.