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US4891711A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Document reader for a digital copier

Assignee: Ricoh Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1988-10-28
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Granted: 1990-01-02
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Expires: 2008-10-28
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Abstract

Abstract A document reader applicable to a digital copier or similar image recording apparatus capable of reading any of a reflective and a transmissive document as desired. An effective image area smaller than an effective image area assigned to a reflective document is defined on a glass platen for a transmissive document. When a transmissive document is read, light transmitted through a differential area defined by the difference between the two effective image areas is sensed in the form of a reference voltage for the output voltages of an image sensor. The output of the image sensor is normalized for each main scanning on the basis of the reference voltage.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kan Tomita

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 22:46
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/40; H04N1/401; H04N1/00795; H04N1/04; H04N1/10; H04N1/1013; H04N2201/00; H04N2201/04; H04N2201/0402; H04N2201/0418; H04N2201/0422

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 143 words
In a document reader capable of reading at least transmissive documents and for sensing, when reading a transmissive document, a reflection from a reference member of a predetermined color and having predetermined density and located outside an effective image area assigned to a reflective document on a glass platen as a reference voltage for output voltages of an image sensor and, based on the reference voltage, normalizing an output assoicated with each scanning, the improvement wherein an effective image area narrower than the effective area assigned to a reflective document is defined for a transmissive document so that, when a transmissive document is read with light passing therethrough, light transmitted through a differential area defined by a difference between the two effective image areas is sensed in the form of a reference voltage, and a timing for sensing the reference voltage is changed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 143 words
In a document reader capable of reading at least transmissive documents and for sensing, when reading a transmissive document, a reflection from a reference member of a predetermined color and having predetermined density and located outside an effective image area assigned to a reflective document on a glass platen as a reference voltage for output voltages of an image sensor and, based on the reference voltage, normalizing an output assoicated with each scanning, the improvement wherein an effective image area narrower than the effective area assigned to a reflective document is defined for a transmissive document so that, when a transmissive document is read with light passing therethrough, light transmitted through a differential area defined by a difference between the two effective image areas is sensed in the form of a reference voltage, and a timing for sensing the reference voltage is changed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 14 words
A document reader as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined color is white.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
A document reader as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image sensor comprises an array of charge coupled devices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
A document reader as claimed in claim 1, wherein means is provided for preventing a document from being laid in the differential area on said glass platen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 30 words
A document reader as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means comprises two diffusion plates which have no directivity and are adhered to each other in the differential area only.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4486786A Cited
US4538185A Cited
US4675741A Cited
US4763200A Cited
JPS63246965A Cited
JPS63252063A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-01-01 1993-07-03 1994-01-02 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-01-01 1997-07-03 1998-01-02 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-01-01 2001-07-03 2002-01-02 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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