Image inputting apparatus

• US 5,767,989 A
• Filed: 10/03/1996
• Issued: 06/16/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fuji Photo Film Co Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Sakaguchi, Yasunobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HASKINS, TWYLER LAMB
• Application Number:
  US08/720,871
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 348/96, 348/97, 348/98, 348/345, 348/357, 358/298, 358/474, 358/486, 250/201.2, 250/201.3, 250/201.4, 250/208.1, 250/559.02, 250/204
• US Class Current: 358/474
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/195 the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0406 Scanning slides
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0408 Scanning film strips or rolls

Abstract

The improved image inputting apparatus for reading the image recorded on a transmission original comprises: a light source; an image sensor for photoelectrically reading the light that has issued from the light source and which has been transmitted through the original; an imaging lens for permitting the transmitted light to be focused on the image sensor; a focusing device for automatically adjusting a focus of the imaging lens; and a control device for controlling the focusing device before starting the reading of a new image group such that only the first frame of the image group is subjected to one-step automatic focusing or two-step automatic focusing consisting of coarse and fine adjustments whereas the other frames are not subjected to focusing but image reading is performed adopting the focus state of the first frame or are subjected to automatic focusing comprising only fine adjustment. The apparatus can allow projecting light that bears the image recorded on strips or slides to form a satisfactorily and accurately focused image on an image sensor such as CCD sensor, and also permit rapid and efficient image reading and thereby contribute to an improvement in the efficiency with which output images can be produced.

Claims

1. An image inputting apparatus for reading an image recorded on a transmission original, which comprises:

a light source for illuminating the transmission original with reading light;

an image sensor for photoelectrically reading the reading light that has issued from said light source and which has been transmitted through the transmission original;

an imaging lens for permitting said transmitted light to be focused on said image sensor;

focusing means for automatically adjusting a focus of said imaging lens; and

control means for controlling said focusing means before starting the reading of a new image group such that only a first frame of said image group is subjected to automatic focusing whereas the other frames of the same image group are not subjected to focusing but image reading is performed adopting a focus state of said first frame.

2. An image inputting apparatus according to claim 1, which further includes setting means for setting a frame or frames which, in addition to the first frame of the image group, are to be subjected to automatic focusing.

3. An image inputting apparatus for reading an image recorded on a transmission original, which comprises:

a light source for illuminating the transmission original with reading light;

an image sensor for photoelectrically reading the reading light that has issued from said light source and which has been transmitted through the transmission original;

an imaging lens for permitting said transmitted light to be focused on said image sensor;

focusing means for automatically adjusting a focus of said imaging lens; and

control means for controlling said focusing means before starting the reading of a new image group such that only a first frame of said image group is subjected to automatic focusing consisting of coarse adjustment combined with fine adjustment whereas the other frames of the same image group are subjected to automatic focusing comprising only fine adjustment.

4. An image inputting apparatus according to claim 3, which further includes setting means for setting a frame or frames which, in addition to the first frame of the image group, are subjected to automatic focusing consisting of coarse adjustment and fine adjustment and/or a frame or frames which are not subjected to automatic focusing.

5. An image inputting apparatus for reading an image recorded on a transmission original, which comprises:

a light source for illuminating the transmission original with reading light;

an image sensor for photoelectrically reading the reading light that has issued from said light source and which has been transmitted through the transmission original;

an imaging lens for permitting said transmitted light to be focused on said image sensor;

focusing means for automatically adjusting a focus of said imaging lens;

selection means for setting an automatic focusing mode independently for both a first frame of a new image group and the other frames of the same image group; and

control means for controlling said focusing means such as to perform automatic focusing in the automatic focusing mode selected by said selection means.

6. An image inputting apparatus according to claim 5, which further includes detection means for detecting a type of said transmission original and automatic focusing mode switching means for switching one automatic focusing mode to another for the frames other than the first of the image group in accordance with a result of detection by said detection means.

7. An image inputting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the automatic focusing mode is either a mode for performing automatic focusing consisting of coarse adjustment combined with fine adjustment, or a mode for performing automatic focusing comprising only fine adjustment, or a review mode for checking an amount of fine adjustment and in which, if said amount exceeds a specified level, both coarse and fine adjustments are performed, or a mode in which, upon reading of a specified number of frames, either automatic focusing consisting of coarse adjustment combined with fine adjustment or automatic focusing comprising only fine adjustment is performed.