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US4558357A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Color image reading method and apparatus

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1983-06-17
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Granted: 1985-12-10
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Expires: 2003-06-17
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Abstract

Abstract A color image reading method and apparatus in which the image of an object is formed by a single imaging optical system and a plurality of image pickup elements corresponding to lights of different wavelength ranges are disposed at imaging positions whereat the resolution of the imaging optical system is maximum in the respective corresponding wavelength ranges, whereby the image is read.

Inventors

  • 👤 Katsumi Nakagawa
  • 👤 Noritaka Mochizuki
  • 👤 Toshiyuki Komatsu
  • 👤 Masaki Fukaya
  • 👤 Mitsutoshi Kuno

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 05:44
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/46; H04N1/48; H04N1/486

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 153 words
A color image reading apparatus comprising: illuminating means for illuminating an object on a plurality of major scanning lines; an imaging optical system for forming images of the object on the major scanning lines; a plurality of image sensors for respectively sensing light in different wavelength ranges of the images of the object on the major scanning lines, said sensors extending in the direction of the major scanning line at different positions with respect to a minor scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the major scanning direction and being disposed at respective imaging positions of said imaging optical system with respect to the respective sensing wavelength ranges which imaging positions are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the optical axis of said imaging optical system; and means for moving, in the minor scanning direction, the position of the object to be sensed by said image sensors relatively to said image sensors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 153 words
A color image reading apparatus comprising: illuminating means for illuminating an object on a plurality of major scanning lines; an imaging optical system for forming images of the object on the major scanning lines; a plurality of image sensors for respectively sensing light in different wavelength ranges of the images of the object on the major scanning lines, said sensors extending in the direction of the major scanning line at different positions with respect to a minor scanning direction substantially orthogonal to the major scanning direction and being disposed at respective imaging positions of said imaging optical system with respect to the respective sensing wavelength ranges which imaging positions are spaced apart from each other in the direction of the optical axis of said imaging optical system; and means for moving, in the minor scanning direction, the position of the object to be sensed by said image sensors relatively to said image sensors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
A color image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said illuminating means comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes for illuminating the object by light of wavelength ranges respectively corresponding to the sensing wavelength ranges of said image sensors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 25 words
A color image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said imaging optical system comprises a light-converging fiber array arranged in the major scanning direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 50 words
A color image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image sensors are disposed on a plane non-parallel to the plane of the object and the optical axis of said imaging optical system is inclined a predetermined angle with respect to a normal of the plane of the object.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 25 words
A color image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said imaging optical system further comprises a lens array arranged in the major scanning direction.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

JPS52102614A Cited
US4366500A Cited
JPS57170666A Cited
US4375647A Cited
US4413276A Cited
JPS58137361A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-12-09 1989-06-10 1989-12-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-12-09 1993-06-10 1993-12-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-12-09 1997-06-10 1997-12-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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