Scanner, and scanned image generating method

A method of producing a scanned image using a scanner having a first sensor array including:

• multiple first sensors arrayed in a main scanning direction,
• a second sensor array, including multiple second sensors arrayed in the main scanning direction, disposed offset in a sub-scanning direction from the first sensor array, the second sensor array being disposed between, in the sub-scanning direction, two sensor arrays associated with the first sensor array,
• a timing controller,
• a light source, and
• a calculator comprising an image processor,
• the scanned image production method comprising:
• multiple first sensors reading a document according to a first drive signal applied cyclically by the timing controller;
• multiple second sensors reading a document according to a second drive signal applied cyclically by the timing controller;
• emitting and illuminating the document during periods between the first drive signal and the second drive signal output next after the first drive signal, and periods between the second drive signal and the first drive signal output next after the second drive signal;
• interrupting processing of read results of the multiple second sensors if an available memory capacity falls below a threshold level, and
• generating a scanned image based on the read result of the multiple first sensors and the read result of the multiple second sensors.

A scanner comprising:

• a first sensor array, including multiple first sensors arrayed in a main scanning direction;
• a second sensor array, including multiple second sensors arrayed in the main scanning direction, disposed offset in a sub-scanning direction from the first sensor array;
• a third sensor array, including multiple third sensors arrayed in the main scanning direction, disposed offset in the sub-scanning direction from the first sensor array and the second sensor array;
• a timing controller configured to output a first drive signal to the first sensor array and the third sensor array in a first cycle and configured to output a second drive signal to the second sensor array in a second cycle at a timing different from the first cycle, the first drive signal drives the multiple first sensors of the first sensor array and the multiple third sensors of the third sensor array, and the second drive signal drives the multiple second sensors of the second sensor array;
• and
• a light source configured to emit and illuminate a document during periods between the first drive signal and the second drive signal output after the first drive signal, and periods between the second drive signal and the first drive signal output after the second drive signal.