An image reading unit includes an illumination portion, a reading portion, a casing, and a reflection member including a reflecting surface. The casing is provided with an opening. The reflection member is held outside of the opening of the casing so that at least a part of the reflecting surface is exposed to the inside of the casing through the opening.

An image reading unit includes an illumination portion, a reading portion, a casing, and a reflection member including a reflecting surface. The casing is provided with an opening. The reflection member is held outside of the opening of the casing so that at least a part of the reflecting surface is exposed to the inside of the casing through the opening.

A data acquiring portion acquires a plurality of pieces of second data having different levels depending on amounts of light incident on the light reception portions upon reception of a specific linear light having a specific amount of light. A level acquiring portion acquires a maximum level and a minimum level from among the levels of the plurality of pieces of second data. A characteristic data storage portion preliminarily stores characteristic data that indicates levels of the plurality of pieces of second data. A light amount deriving portion executes a light amount deriving process to derive a set light amount of the linear light based on a threshold, the maximum level, the minimum level, and the characteristic data. A second light emission control portion causes the light emission portion to emit linear light having the set light amount.

An image reading apparatus includes a carriage, a reference plate, a transportation mechanism, and a processor. The carriage acquires an image in a main scanning direction. The transportation mechanism transports the carriage in a sub-scanning direction. The processor causes the carriage to move in a first direction using the transportation mechanism and thereby detects foreign matter that is present on the reference plate, using the carriage. When the carriage is caused to move in the first direction and thus shading data is acquired from the reference plate, the processor reads the shading data from a data acquisition area other than an area where the foreign matter is present. If the carriage is caused to move in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction and thereby shading data is acquired from the reference plate, the processor reads the shading data from the data acquisition area.

A data acquiring portion acquires a plurality of pieces of second data having different levels depending on amounts of light incident on the light reception portions upon reception of a specific linear light having a specific amount of light. A level acquiring portion acquires a maximum level and a minimum level from among the levels of the plurality of pieces of second data. A characteristic data storage portion preliminarily stores characteristic data that indicates levels of the plurality of pieces of second data. A light amount deriving portion executes a light amount deriving process to derive a set light amount of the linear light based on a threshold, the maximum level, the minimum level, and the characteristic data. A second light emission control portion causes the light emission portion to emit linear light having the set light amount.

An apparatus for recording distance profiles respectively having a plurality of distance image points comprises: (i) a plurality of transmitters arranged in an array respectively for the transmission of electromagnetic radiation into a recording region; (ii) at least one reception unit for the detection of radiation reflected from the recording region; (iii) an evaluation unit for determining distances of objects at which transmitted radiation is reflected, with the distances each forming a distance image point; and (iv) a deflection unit which deflects the transmitted radiation within a scanning angle region into a scanning direction in order to consecutively generate, per distance profile, a plurality of scanning patterns of distance image points that are displaced against one another in the scanning direction and that each image the transmitter array, wherein at least a few of the distance image points are spaced apart from one another in the scanning direction.

An image reading device includes an image reading chip that reads an image, and an optical unit that forms a reduced image of the image on the image reading chip. The image reading chip includes: a first pixel and a second pixel that performs photoelectric conversion, and generates a first pixel signal and a second pixel signal, respectively; a first readout circuit and a second read out circuit that is electrically connected to the first pixel and the second pixel, respectively, and outputs a first readout signal and a second readout signal, respectively; and a control circuit that controls operations of the first readout circuit and the second readout circuit. The first pixel and the second pixel are provided side by side along a long side of the image reading chip. The first readout circuit, the second readout circuit, and the control circuit are provided along the long side.

An apparatus for recording distance profiles respectively having a plurality of distance image points comprises: (i) a plurality of transmitters arranged in an array respectively for the transmission of electromagnetic radiation into a recording region; (ii) at least one reception unit for the detection of radiation reflected from the recording region; (iii) an evaluation unit for determining distances of objects at which transmitted radiation is reflected, with the distances each forming a distance image point; and (iv) a deflection unit which deflects the transmitted radiation within a scanning angle region into a scanning direction in order to consecutively generate, per distance profile, a plurality of scanning patterns of distance image points that are displaced against one another in the scanning direction and that each image the transmitter array, wherein at least a few of the distance image points are spaced apart from one another in the scanning direction.