Image reading apparatus, control method therefor, and program

• US 20030214680A1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Hiromatsu, Kenji, Sugeta, Mitsuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,327,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/461
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1017 the main-scanning components remaining positionally invariant with respect to one another in the sub-scanning direction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1215 Feeding using one or more cylindrical platens or rollers in the immediate vicinity of the main scanning line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/191 the array comprising a one-dimensional array , or a combination of one-dimensional arrays, or a substantially one-dimensional array, e.g. an array of staggered elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/4076 dependent on references outside the picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/044 Moving a scanning element into cooperation with a calibration element, e.g. a grey-wedge mounted on the document support, or vice versa

Abstract

An object of this invention is to suppress a decrease in reading efficiency while preventing image degradation. To achieve this object, an image reading apparatus includes a light source which illuminates an object, a sensor which photoelectrically converts light reflected by the object and reads information on the object, a first density reference member which serves as a reference for correcting an image signal obtained by reading an original by the sensor, a second density reference member which is different from the first density reference member, a comparison unit which compares the second signal obtained by reading the second density reference member by the sensor and the third signal obtained by reading again the second density reference member by the sensor, and a correction unit which corrects the image signal on the basis of the first signal obtained by reading the first density reference member by the sensor, and the comparison result of the comparison device.

Claims

1. An image reading apparatus comprising:

a light source which illuminates an object;

a reading device which photoelectrically converts light reflected by the object and reads information on the object;

a density reference member which serves as a reference for correcting an image signal obtained by reading an original by said reading device;

a roller member which feeds the original to a reading position;

a comparison device which compares a second signal obtained by reading said roller member by said reading device and a third signal obtained by reading again said roller member by said reading device; and

a correction device which corrects the image signal on the basis of a first signal obtained by reading said density reference member by said reading device, and a comparison result of said comparison device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a member which changes a convey direction of the object between said density reference member and said roller member.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correction device corrects a gain of the image signal.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said correction device corrects a luminous intensity distribution of said light source.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said density reference member and said roller member are different in density.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said reading device has a plurality of photoelectric converters, and the second and third signals are signals output from predetermined photoelectric converters out of the plurality of photoelectric converters of said reading device.

7. An image reading apparatus control method of controlling an image reading apparatus having a light source which illuminates an object, a reading device which photoelectrically converts light reflected by the object and reads information on the object, a density reference member which serves as a reference for correcting an image signal obtained by reading an original by the reading device, and a roller member which feeds the original to a reading position, comprising:

a first reading step of reading the density reference member by the reading device to generate a first signal;

a second reading step of reading the roller member by the reading device to generate a second signal;

a third reading step of reading again the roller member by the reading device to generate a third signal;

a comparison step of comparing the second and third signals; and

a correction step of correcting an image signal obtained by reading the original by the reading device on the basis of the first signal, and a comparison result in the comparison step.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein in the correction step, a gain of the image signal is corrected.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein in the correction step, a luminous intensity distribution of the light source is corrected.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the density reference member and the roller member are different in density.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the reading device has a plurality of photoelectric converters, and the second and third signals are signals output from predetermined photoelectric converters out of the plurality of photoelectric converters of the reading device.

12. A program which causes a computer to execute an image reading apparatus control method of controlling an image reading apparatus having a light source which illuminates an object, a reading device which photoelectrically converts light reflected by the object and reads information on the object, a density reference member which serves as a reference for correcting an image signal obtained by reading an original by the reading device, and a roller member which feeds the original to a reading position, comprising:

a first reading step of reading the density reference member by the reading device to generate a first signal;

a second reading step of reading the roller member by the reading device to generate a second signal;

a third reading step of reading again the roller member by the reading device to generate a third signal;

a comparison step of comparing the second and third signals; and

a correction step of correcting an image signal obtained by reading the original by the reading device on the basis of the first signal, and a comparison result in the comparison step.