An imager is provided. The imager has an imaging platen which presents an imaging surface against which an object to be imaged can be placed. The imaging platen has a photodetector layer and a light guiding layer operable to guide light towards the object. The imager includes a light source operable to emit light into the light guiding layer. The light source is located at an edge of the light guiding layer, to guide light into the light guiding layer of the imaging platen.

An image scanner includes a controller configured to perform black data acquiring process for each color that includes, in a particular period of time, while controlling a light source to be turned off, controlling each of a plurality of light receiving elements to read an image of an object and transmit read data of the object to a shift register, and in a specific period of time next to the particular period of time, controlling the light source to emit light of a color different from the particular color, and controlling the shift register to output a plurality of pieces of image data of the object as a plurality of pieces of black data for the particular color, the plurality of pieces of image data corresponding to the plurality of pieces of read data of the object transmitted by the plurality of light receiving elements, respectively.

An image reading apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a platen glass, an image reader, and an output interface. An original is placed on the platen glass. The image reader is configured to read an image of the original on the platen glass. The image reader includes at least one sensor configured to detect a quantity of light for each of a plurality of regions on the platen glass. The output interface is configured to output information which identifies one or more regions of the plurality of regions in which the quantity of light detected therefrom exceeds a given value.

A signal processing device includes a signal output circuit, a controller, and a corrector. The signal output circuit outputs a signal according to a physical quantity being input. The controller controls the signal output circuit. The corrector corrects a signal to be corrected. The signal to be corrected is output from the signal output circuit. The signal output circuit selectively performs one of first operation of outputting a characteristic signal that indicates characteristics of the signal output circuit and second operation of outputting a pseudo signal that is generated spuriously, according to control of the controller. The corrector corrects the signal to be corrected based on one of the characteristic signal and the pseudo signal output from the signal output circuit.

An image scanning system for scanning an object is disclosed. The image scanning system includes a light source, an optical lens, an image capturing unit and a light barrier element. The light source irradiates an object to produce an image light, and the optical lens converges the image light. The image capturing unit is disposed at a light leaving side of the optical lens, and the image capturing unit captures the image light to form an image. The light barrier element is disposed at a light entering side of the optical lens or disposed between the optical lens and the image capturing unit, and the light barrier element selectively allows the image light within a predetermined range of an incident angle to pass through.

An image processing device includes a modulation clock generator, a line synchronization signal generator, a line image sensor, and an image processor. The modulation clock generator is configured to generate the modulation clock by modulating a frequency of a reference clock at a predetermined modulation cycle. The line synchronization signal generator is configured to generate, on the basis of the modulation clock, a line synchronization signal whose line cycle varies from line to line. The line image sensor is configured to sequentially read an image of one line of a document at a timing corresponding to the line synchronization signal and to output image data. The image processor is configured to process the image data on the basis of the modulation clock.

An image processing device that acquires an image from an object includes an illuminator having a plurality of light sources, a sensor unit, and a controller. The plurality of light sources irradiates light of respectively different colors onto an object. The sensor unit outputs luminance data for one line obtained by photoelectrically converting light is reflected from the object of that was irradiated by the illuminator onto the object. The controller acquires a random number, and acquires luminance data for one line output by the sensor unit, while causing one light source selected from the plurality of light sources based on the acquired random number to emit light.

Signal detection and recognition employees coordinated illumination and capture of images under to facilitate extraction of a signal of interest. Pulsed illumination of different colors facilitates extraction of signals from color channels, as well as improved signal to noise ratio by combining signals of different color channels. The successive pulsing of different color illumination appears white to the user, yet facilitates signal detection, even for lower cost monochrome sensors, as in barcode scanning and other automatic identification equipment.

An image reading apparatus includes an image reading chip for reading an image. The image reading chip includes a plurality of pixel units which include a light receiving element which receives light from the image so as to perform photoelectric conversion, an analog circuit, a logic circuit, and a power source pad to which a power source voltage is supplied. The image reading chip has a shape which includes a first side and a second side shorter than the first side. A distance between the analog circuit and a median point of the first side is shorter than a distance between the logic circuit and the median point of the first side, and a distance between the analog circuit and the power source pad is shorter than a distance between the logic circuit and the power source pad.

An image reader device includes: an original placement part; a holder supporting the original placement part and forming, with the original placement part, a first boundary extending in a first direction; an image reading part movable in a vertical scan direction parallel to the first direction; and an open-close unit closable relative to the original placement part and including a press member which presses an original on the original placement part. The press member includes a first zone and a second zone arranged in the first direction. The first zone includes an extended portion extending beyond the first boundary from the original placement part to the holder when the open-close unit is located at a closed position.