Thermal variations on an optical scanning device can affect measurements made by that device. Various ways are presented here to control the temperature of a device and compensate for temperature variations of the device.

A scanning path of light includes a synchronization detection area A where a synchronization detection sensor 47 detects scanning light and an image writing area B where writing of the image data to a photosensitive drum 11 is performed by the scanning light, and a light amount change unit 100 is configured to reduce a change amount of a light amount in the synchronization detection area A as compared with the image writing area B.

An image reading apparatus includes: a conveyance portion configured to convey a first medium; a first imaging portion; a first reading processing portion configured to cause the first imaging portion to read a first image of a first reading surface of the first medium conveyed by the conveyance portion; a second imaging portion; a second reading processing portion configured to cause the second imaging portion to read a second image of the second reading surface of the second medium by scanning while the second imaging portion is being moved along a second reading surface of a second medium placed on a medium placement surface; a reading control portion configured to control the first reading processing portion and the second reading processing portion to operate in parallel with each other; and a synthesis processing portion configured to generate a synthesized image by synthesizing the first image and the second image.

An exposure device includes a plate member, a plurality of light-emitting elements, and an optical system. The plate member extends in both a first direction and a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The light-emitting elements are disposed on the plate member side by side in the first direction. The light-emitting elements emit respective light beams in the second direction. The optical system is disposed on the plate member and faces the light-emitting elements in the second direction. The optical system performs imaging of the light beams emitted by the respective light-emitting elements.

A scanner has a first mirror having a plurality of concavities configured to reflect light from a document; and a sensor configured to detect light reflected by the concavity; the concavity having an optical characteristic that differs according to position.

Image scanning apparatus and method of operating an image scanning apparatus, the image scanning apparatus including a line scan detector and being configured to image a surface of an object mounted in the image scanning apparatus in a plurality of swathes, wherein each swathe is formed by a group of scan lines, each scan line being acquired using the scan line detector from a respective elongate region of the surface of the object extending in a scan width direction, wherein each group of scan lines is acquired whilst the object is moved relative to the scan line detector in a scan length direction.

A digital microform imaging apparatus includes a bracket movably coupled to a chassis. A microform media support is coupled to the bracket and includes a frame and a window supported by the frame. An illumination source is provided to direct light through the window of the microform media support along an optical axis. An optical sensor is positioned along the optical axis. A motor is operatively engaged with the microform media support to move the bracket and frame relative to the chassis along an axis perpendicular to the optical axis.

A controller 70 of an image reading device 1 acquires first black reference data at a first time point with a light source 31 off, and stores the first black reference data in a reference data storage 41, and at a second time point after the first time point, acquires with the light source 31 off and stores second black reference data in the reference data storage 41. The controller 70 stores in a scanning data storage 42, without applying shading correction, scanning data read from a document between the first time point and second time point with the light source 31 on. A shading corrector 51 applies shading correction using the first black reference data and second black reference data to the scanning data stored in the scanning data storage 42.

A controller 70 of an image reading device 1 acquires first black reference data at a first time point with a light source 31 off, and stores the first black reference data in a reference data storage 41, and at a second time point after the first time point, acquires with the light source 31 off and stores second black reference data in the reference data storage 41. The controller 70 stores in a scanning data storage 42, without applying shading correction, scanning data read from a document between the first time point and second time point with the light source 31 on. A shading corrector 51 applies shading correction using the first black reference data and second black reference data to the scanning data stored in the scanning data storage 42.

A flatbed scanner includes a flatbed document scanner body accommodating a transparent plate for supporting a physical document and a document cover, which includes a sheet member with an expanse covering at least a substantial area of the transparent plate. The rectangular document cover has an underside and a movable carriage extending across the rectangular transparent plate in a transverse direction. The movable carriage carries a camera or an optical system for a camera. The sheet member of the rectangular document cover is magnetic or carries one or more magnetic plates, so as to be magnetically attracted towards the movable carriage and exert a pressing force on the physical document when supported on the rectangular transparent plate. A compressing force is thereby applied to an original document resting at an area at which the movable carriage currently is located while scanning a line of the original document.