An image reading apparatus includes a light source to emit at least light in a first wavelength range and light in a second wavelength range, a background member having different light reflectances in the first and second wavelength ranges, an imaging device, and circuitry. The imaging device receives reflected light from the background member irradiated with the light in the first wavelength range, and generates first read information. The imaging device further receives reflected light from the background member irradiated with the light in the second wavelength range, and generates second read information. The circuitry detects presence or absence of a first foreign substance based on a difference in reading level of the first read information generated by the imaging device; and detect presence or absence of a second foreign substance based on a difference in reading level of the second read information generated by the imaging device.

An image reading apparatus includes a light source to emit at least light in a first wavelength range and light in a second wavelength range, a background member having different light reflectances in the first and second wavelength ranges, an imaging device, and circuitry. The imaging device receives reflected light from the background member irradiated with the light in the first wavelength range, and generates first read information. The imaging device further receives reflected light from the background member irradiated with the light in the second wavelength range, and generates second read information. The circuitry detects presence or absence of a first foreign substance based on a difference in reading level of the first read information generated by the imaging device; and detect presence or absence of a second foreign substance based on a difference in reading level of the second read information generated by the imaging device.

An image processing method is an image processing method of a recording device. The image processing method includes inputting the image data having a resolution in a sub scanning direction of X×N dpi, performing data processing on the image data for each N-unit region, performing resolution reduction processing of reducing, to 1/N, a resolution in the sub scanning direction, and generating a recording data based on the reduced image data. In the data processing step, when the N-unit region is formed of a pixel having a black gradation value and a pixel having a gradation value that is equal to or greater than a predetermined value when expressed by RGB, and the pixel having the black gradation value is consecutive from another N-unit region adjacent to the N-unit region, a black dot is generated in a pixel after the resolution reduction processing.

In a line sensor including color filters that are periodically disposed in a light-receiving-element row, a problem called a “mixture of colors” occurs. A “mixture of colors” occurs when light that has been transmitted through a color filter differing from a color filter corresponding to a light receiving element is incident upon the light receiving element. In a CMOS sensor 107 including a light-receiving-element row in which a plurality of photodiodes 1204 are disposed side by side in a main scanning direction and a plurality of color filters 1202 that are disposed in correspondence with the plurality of photodiodes 1204, the center of each color filter 1202 is displaced in a direction of the center of the light-receiving-element row from the center of the photodiode 1204 corresponding to the color filter.

In a line sensor including color filters that are periodically disposed in a light-receiving-element row, a problem called a “mixture of colors” occurs. A “mixture of colors” occurs when light that has been transmitted through a color filter differing from a color filter corresponding to a light receiving element is incident upon the light receiving element. In a CMOS sensor 107 including a light-receiving-element row in which a plurality of photodiodes 1204 are disposed side by side in a main scanning direction and a plurality of color filters 1202 that are disposed in correspondence with the plurality of photodiodes 1204, the center of each color filter 1202 is displaced in a direction of the center of the light-receiving-element row from the center of the photodiode 1204 corresponding to the color filter.

A solid-state imaging device of an embodiment includes plural first transfer gate electrodes, plural second transfer gate electrodes, and plural fixed gate electrodes. The first transfer gate electrodes are such that the respective first transfer gate electrodes are placed in a charge transfer unit to correspond to single light receiving sections, and a control signal ϕ1 is applied. The second transfer gate electrodes are such that the respective second transfer gate electrodes are placed in a charge transfer unit to correspond to the single light receiving sections, and a control signal ϕ2 that differs in phase from the control signal ϕ1 for transferring plural charges is applied. The respective fixed gate electrodes are such that the respective fixed gate electrodes are placed between the first and the second transfer gate electrodes corresponding to the single light receiving sections in the charge transfer unit, and a fixed voltage is applied.

An image-reading apparatus includes a housing having a rectangular-shaped opening on a side of a reading target, a lens portion retained or housed within the housing, and a sensor element to receive light condensed by the lens portion, the light being from the reading target. Long sides of the opening include a first layer that is flat and is disposed on the side of the reading target and a second layer that is continuous with the first layer. The long sides of the opening of the housing of the image-reading apparatus has a flat surface on the side of the reading target and an interface between the first layer and the second layer that is curved.

A photoelectric conversion element includes a first pixel array including first light-receiving sections arranged in a direction and a second pixel array including second light-receiving sections arranged in the direction. Each of the first light-receiving sections includes a first pixel configured to receive at least light having a first wavelength inside a visible spectrum and a first pixel circuit configured to transmit a signal from the first pixel to a subsequent stage. Each of the second light-receiving sections includes a second pixel configured to receive at least light having a second wavelength outside the visible spectrum and a second pixel circuit configured to transmit a signal from the second pixel to the subsequent stage. The second pixel circuit is provided in a vicinity of the second pixel.

An image reading apparatus (1) includes image sensors (20A, 20B). The image sensor (20A) includes light guides (21A, 22A) guiding light to a reading target (M), a lens body (8A) forming an image of reflected light derived from the light guided by the light guides (21A, 22A) and reflected from the reading target (M), light receiving elements (11A) converting the image of reflected light formed by the lens body (8A) into electrical signals, and a controller (14A) controlling exposure times of the light receiving elements (11A). The image sensor (20B) includes a lens body (8B) forming an image of transmitted light derived from the light guided by the light guide (22A) and transmitted through the reading target (M), light receiving elements (11B) converting the image of transmitted light formed by the lens body (8B) into electrical signals, and a controller (14B) controlling exposure times of the light receiving elements (11B).

An image scanning apparatus, and a method and an apparatus for controlling receiving of an image scanning optical signal are provided. The mage scanning apparatus may include an array photosensitive pixel unit configured to receive at least one optical signal, and a control circuit connected with the array photosensitive pixel unit and configured to control the array photosensitive pixel unit to receive the at least one optical signal. With the adoption of the image scanning apparatus, and the method and the apparatus for controlling receiving of the image scanning optical signal, the problem in the related art that an image is easily interfered by external stray lights within a non-exposure time of a scanning period and accordingly quality of a scanned image is reduced may be solved.