Apparatuses, systems and methods for generating color video with a monochrome sensor include the acts of (i) selectively energizing each of a plurality of light sources in a sequence, (ii) capturing a monochrome image of the illuminated sample at a monochrome sensor at each stage of the sequence, and (iii) generating a color video from the monochrome images. The sequence can have a series of stages with each stage of the sequence corresponding to activation of a different wavelength of light from the light sources to illuminate a sample. Generating the monochrome video can include the acts of compiling a plurality of monochrome images captured at the monochrome sensor with a single light source into a series of monochrome video frames comprising the monochrome video.

A sheet detecting apparatus includes: a light emitting unit that emits light emitted toward a detection position; a light receiving unit that is provided to receive the light reflected by a sheet present at the detection position and that outputs an electric signal which corresponds to a received light amount; and an adjustment processing unit that adjusts, within a specified range, a duty ratio of a drive pulse signal used to drive the light emitting unit, so that a detection value of the electric signal output from the light receiving unit is included in a specified standard range; and a decision processing unit that decides the specified range based on a change range which is among a variable range of the duty ratio of the drive pulse signal and in which the detection value of the electric signal changes in response to a change in the duty ratio.

An internal discharge space is defined between an image reading section and an image forming section and the internal discharge space has an opening in a front of the image forming apparatus. Since the internal discharge space has the opening in the front of the image forming apparatus, a border between the internal discharge space and the housing is located in the front of the image forming apparatus. A light emitting section having a predetermined length along the border is provided and emits light along the predetermined length of the border, enabling users to check a light emission state from a distance. Accordingly, a state of the image forming apparatus can be indicated by the light emitting section.

Apparatuses, systems and methods for generating color video with a monochrome sensor include the acts of (i) selectively energizing each of a plurality of light sources in a sequence, (ii) capturing a monochrome image of the illuminated sample at a monochrome sensor at each stage of the sequence, and (iii) generating a color video from the monochrome images. The sequence can have a series of stages with each stage of the sequence corresponding to activation of a different wavelength of light from the light sources to illuminate a sample. Generating the monochrome video can include the acts of compiling a plurality of monochrome images captured at the monochrome sensor with a single light source into a series of monochrome video frames comprising the monochrome video.

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.

A system and method are described for enhancing readability of document images by operating on each document individually. Monochromatic light sources operating at different wavelengths of light can be used to obtain greyscale images. The greyscale images can then be used in any desired image enhancement algorithm. In one example algorithm, an automated method removes image background noise and improves sharpness of the scripts and characters using edge detection and local color contrast computation.

An internal discharge space is defined between an image reading section and an image forming section and the internal discharge space has an opening in a front of the image forming apparatus. Since the internal discharge space has the opening in the front of the image forming apparatus, a border between the internal discharge space and the housing is located in the front of the image forming apparatus. A light emitting section having a predetermined length along the border is provided and emits light along the predetermined length of the border, enabling users to check a light emission state from a distance. Accordingly, a state of the image forming apparatus can be indicated by the light emitting section.

An image reading apparatus is provided with: a reading processing unit which moves a reading unit, causes a light emitting unit to emit a first amount of light, reads an electric charge generated by a photoelectric conversion unit, and reads an image of a document placed on a document placing surface on the basis of the read electric charge; and a detection processing unit which causes a light emitting unit to emit a second amount of light greater than the first amount of light, reads an electric charge generated by the photoelectric conversion unit, and detects the size of the document placed on the document placing surface on the basis of the read electric charge.

An illumination condition, which is used to irradiate a print product with light having illuminance higher than normal illumination, is derived based on exposure condition information at the time of photographing.

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.