US6700684B1 — Image inputting apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 204 words

An image inputting apparatus to be used in combination with an information processing system comprising an image reading unit operatively connected to the image reading unit and the information processing system, said image reading unit comprising an image reading section for optically reading out an image on a medium to be read and converting a read-out image into an analog electric signal, and a movement measuring section for measuring a moving amount of the image reading section moving on the medium, comprising an image signal processing section for processing the analog image signal from the image reading section, a read-out control section for performing a driving control of the image reading section in accordance with the moving amount from the movement measuring section, and a PC card interface section operatively connected to the read-out control section and the external information processing system so as to perform interruption and access to the information processing system, and said PC card unit having a structure in shape of card capable of being inserted into a pre-determined portion of the information processing system in a manner such that, when the PC card unit is inserted there into the image reading unit is positioned outside the information processing system.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 204 words

An image inputting apparatus to be used in combination with an information processing system comprising an image reading unit operatively connected to the image reading unit and the information processing system, said image reading unit comprising an image reading section for optically reading out an image on a medium to be read and converting a read-out image into an analog electric signal, and a movement measuring section for measuring a moving amount of the image reading section moving on the medium, comprising an image signal processing section for processing the analog image signal from the image reading section, a read-out control section for performing a driving control of the image reading section in accordance with the moving amount from the movement measuring section, and a PC card interface section operatively connected to the read-out control section and the external information processing system so as to perform interruption and access to the information processing system, and said PC card unit having a structure in shape of card capable of being inserted into a pre-determined portion of the information processing system in a manner such that, when the PC card unit is inserted there into the image reading unit is positioned outside the information processing system.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 63 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said PC card unit and said image reading unit are integrated together so that the image reading unit project outward the information processing system so as to be rotatable about an axis extending at least one of an extending direction of the PC card unit and a direction perpendicular to the extending direction.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 35 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said PC card unit and said image reading unit are composed of independent structures from each other, which are operatively connected through a connection means.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said connection means comprises a flexible cable and a connector.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 30 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said image reading unit has a box-shaped structure and said connection means is accommodated in the box-shaped image reading unit.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 35 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said image reading unit further comprises an image signal amplifying section operatively connected to the image reading section for amplifying an analog image signal therefrom.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said PC card unit further comprises a driving condition setting section operatively connected to the read-out control section for setting driving conditions for the image reading section.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 35 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said image reading unit is further provided with means for giving image read-out start/finish instruction to the read-out control section of the PC card unit.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 59 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said box-shaped image reading unit is further provided detachably with a reading assisting means at a surface portion thereof to read out an image on the medium by moving the medium in front of the surface of the image reading unit on which the reading assisting means is mounted.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 39 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein said reading assisting means is composed of a pair of rollers disposed with a gap, which are rolled by passing through the medium between the with substantially no load.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 42 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said PC card unit further comprises means for changing an order to image data to be read out in accordance with an image reading direction preliminarily set to the read-out control section.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said read-out control section performs image read-out control in accordance with an image read-out start/finish instruction from the information processing system.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 207 words

An image inputting apparatus comprising an image reading unit and an image processing unit operatively connected to the image reading unit, said image reading unit comprising a sensor means for optically reading out an image on a medium to be read and an A/D conversion means for converting a read-out image into a digital electric signal, and said image processing unit comprising an image processing section operatively connected with said image reading unit for performing a binarization processing of the image signal, a data storing section for storing input data representing white and black portions of a medium to be read, and a threshold value producing section for producing a threshold value in accordance with data from said data storing section and transferring the threshold value to the image processing section, said threshold value producing section including a white bottom value detecting means for detecting a white bottom value as a minimum data in the input data of the white portion as a read-out reference and a threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold value (S) by using the white bottom value (WB) detected by the white bottom value detecting means in accordance with the following equation: S=α×WB (0<α<1) (α: coefficient for determining a threshold value).

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 207 words

An image inputting apparatus comprising an image reading unit and an image processing unit operatively connected to the image reading unit, said image reading unit comprising a sensor means for optically reading out an image on a medium to be read and an A/D conversion means for converting a read-out image into a digital electric signal, and said image processing unit comprising an image processing section operatively connected with said image reading unit for performing a binarization processing of the image signal, a data storing section for storing input data representing white and black portions of a medium to be read, and a threshold value producing section for producing a threshold value in accordance with data from said data storing section and transferring the threshold value to the image processing section, said threshold value producing section including a white bottom value detecting means for detecting a white bottom value as a minimum data in the input data of the white portion as a read-out reference and a threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold value (S) by using the white bottom value (WB) detected by the white bottom value detecting means in accordance with the following equation: S=α×WB (0<α<1) (α: coefficient for determining a threshold value).

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 104 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said threshold value producing means further includes a black peak value detecting means for detecting a black peak value as a maximum value in the input data of the black portion as a read-out reference and said threshold value calculating means calculates the threshold value (S) by using the white bottom value (WB) detected by the white bottom value detecting means and the black peak value (BP) detected by the black peak value detecting means in accordance with the following equation: S =α×( WB−BP )+ BP (0<α<1) (α: coefficient for determining a threshold value).

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 96 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said threshold value producing means further includes a black peak value storing means for storing data preliminarily set with a black peak value being a read-out reference and said threshold value calculating means calculates the threshold value (S) by using the white bottom value (WB) detected by the white bottom value detecting means and the black peak value (BP) stored in the black peak value storing means in accordance with the following equation: S =α×( WB−BP )+ BP (0<α<1) (α: coefficient for determining a threshold value).

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 42 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein said image processing unit further includes a level correction means for correcting a level of the input data from the image reading unit before transferring the data to the image processing section.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 21 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said level correction means is composed of a shading compensation section.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 49 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 13 , further comprising an area indication means for defining a usable area of the input data and transferring only data on a preliminarily designated area of the medium to be read as an input data to the threshold value producing section.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 182 words

An image inputting apparatus comprising an image reading unit and an image processing unit operatively connected to the image reading unit, said image reading unit comprising a sensor means for optically reading out an image on a medium to be read and an A/D conversion means for converting a read-out image into a digital electric signal, and said image processing unit comprising an image processing section for performing a binarization processing of the image signal, a data storing section for storing input data from the image reading unit, a pixel value histogram distributing section for producing a pixel value histogram distribution in accordance with the input data, and a threshold value producing section for producing a threshold value in accordance with data from said pixel value histogram distribution producing section and transferring the threshold value to the image processing section for the binarization processing therein; wherein said input data storing section stores a specified one line data of the medium to be read and said threshold value producing section produces a threshold value in accordance with the thus stored one line data.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 182 words

An image inputting apparatus comprising an image reading unit and an image processing unit operatively connected to the image reading unit, said image reading unit comprising a sensor means for optically reading out an image on a medium to be read and an A/D conversion means for converting a read-out image into a digital electric signal, and said image processing unit comprising an image processing section for performing a binarization processing of the image signal, a data storing section for storing input data from the image reading unit, a pixel value histogram distributing section for producing a pixel value histogram distribution in accordance with the input data, and a threshold value producing section for producing a threshold value in accordance with data from said pixel value histogram distribution producing section and transferring the threshold value to the image processing section for the binarization processing therein; wherein said input data storing section stores a specified one line data of the medium to be read and said threshold value producing section produces a threshold value in accordance with the thus stored one line data.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 125 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein said threshold value producing section includes a white peak value detecting means for detecting a white peak value in the input data of the white portion of the medium to be read, a black peak value detecting means for detecting a black peak value in the input data of the black portion of the medium and a threshold value calculating means for calculating the threshold value (S) by using the white peak value (WP) detected by the white peak value detecting means and the black peak value (BP) detected by the black peak value detecting means in accordance with the following equation: S =α×( WP−BP )+ BP (0<α<1) (α: coefficient for determining a threshold value).

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 41 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein said pixel value histogram distribution producing section produces the pixel value histogram distribution only on the basis of the input data with a defined range on a preliminarily designated one line.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 176 words

An image inputting apparatus comprising an image reading unit and an image processing unit operatively connected to the image reading unit, said image reading unit comprising a sensor means for optically reading out an image on a medium to be read and an A/D conversion means for converting a read-out image into a digital electric signal, and said image processing unit comprising an image processing section for performing a binarization processing of the image signal, a data storing section for storing input data from the image reading unit, a pixel value histogram distributing section for producing a pixel value histogram distribution in accordance with the input data, and a threshold value producing section for producing a threshold value in accordance with data from said pixel value histogram distribution producing section and transferring the threshold value to the image processing section for the binarization processing therein; said pixel value histogram distribution producing section produces the pixel value histogram distribution only on the basis of the input data with a defined range on a preliminarily designated one line.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 176 words

An image inputting apparatus comprising an image reading unit and an image processing unit operatively connected to the image reading unit, said image reading unit comprising a sensor means for optically reading out an image on a medium to be read and an A/D conversion means for converting a read-out image into a digital electric signal, and said image processing unit comprising an image processing section for performing a binarization processing of the image signal, a data storing section for storing input data from the image reading unit, a pixel value histogram distributing section for producing a pixel value histogram distribution in accordance with the input data, and a threshold value producing section for producing a threshold value in accordance with data from said pixel value histogram distribution producing section and transferring the threshold value to the image processing section for the binarization processing therein; said pixel value histogram distribution producing section produces the pixel value histogram distribution only on the basis of the input data with a defined range on a preliminarily designated one line.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 45 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein said image processing unit further comprises a shading compensation section for performing a shading compensation to the input data from the image reading unit and said data storing section stores the thus compensated input data.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 56 words

An image inputting apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein said input data storing section stores one line data per N lines (N: integer not less than 1) of the input data of the medium to be read and said threshold value producing section produces a threshold value in accordance with the thus stored line data.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-03-02	2007-09-01	2008-03-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-03-02	2011-09-01	2012-03-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-03-02	2015-09-01	2016-03-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Image inputting apparatus

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