# US 10,873,678 B2 · Image input apparatus and control method of image input apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,678 B2 - Document ID: US10873678B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/517,040 - Filed: 2019-07-19 - Published: 2020-02-06 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2018-08-01 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Kuniaki Kurokawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873678B2 ## CPC - H04N 1/04: Scanning arrangements {, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa}(H04N1/387 takes precedence) - H04N 1/00888: {Control thereof} - H04N 1/00899: {Detection of supply level or supply failure} - H04N 2201/0081: Image reader (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence) - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract In the image input apparatus of the present invention, a control unit included therein performs control so as to stop an image reading unit in a case where an amount of power stored in a power storage unit becomes less than or equal to a first threshold value, performs control so as to charge the power storage unit with a predetermined amount of power, performs control so as to return the reading unit up to a predetermined return position in a direction opposite to an image reading direction, and after returning the image reading unit up to the predetermined return position, performs control so as to move the image reading unit in the reading direction in a case where an amount of power is larger than a second threshold value and otherwise move the image reading unit in the reading direction after charging the power storage unit with the power. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An image input apparatus comprising: an image reading unit configured to read an image formed on a document: a power storage unit configured to store power for moving the image reading unit; and a control unit configured to control movement and stop of the image reading unit and an amount of power with which the power storage unit is charged, wherein the control unit performs control so as to: stop the image reading unit in a case where an amount of power stored in the power storage unit becomes less than or equal to a first threshold value in the image reading; charge the power storage unit with a predetermined amount of power after the stop; return the image reading unit up to a predetermined return position in a direction opposite to the image reading direction after the charge; and move, after returning the image reading unit up to the predetermined return position, the image reading unit from the predetermined return position in the reading direction in a case where an amount of power stored in the power storage unit is larger than a second threshold value and move the image reading unit from the predetermined return position in the reading direction after charging the power storage unit with the power in a case where an amount of power stored in the power storage unit is less than or equal to the second threshold value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The image input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit moves the image reading unit in the reading direction and performs, in a case where an amount of power stored in the power storage unit is less than or equal to the first threshold value at a position immediately before a reading resumption position, control so as to charge the power storage unit with the power. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The image input apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a buffer temporarily storing image data output from the image reading unit, wherein the control unit performs control so as to: stop the image reading unit in a case where a capacity of image data stored in the buffer is full and an amount of power stored in the power storage unit is larger than a third threshold value in the image reading; and move the image reading unit in the reading direction after returning the image reading unit up to the predetermined return position and resume the image reading from the reading resumption position in a case where an empty capacity of the buffer becomes more than or equal to a predetermined capacity after the stop. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The image input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a speed at which the image reading unit is returned up to the predetermined return position and a speed at which the image reading unit is moved from the predetermined return position in the reading direction is different from a speed at which the image reading unit is moved in the image reading. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The image input apparatus according to claim 4, wherein at least one of a speed at which the image reading unit is returned up to the predetermined return position and a speed at which the image reading unit is moved from the predetermined return position in the reading direction is set to a speed at which power efficiency is high. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The image input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the power storage unit is an EDLC (Electric Double-Layer Capacitor). ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The image input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs control so as to charge the power storage unit with power supplied from bus power supplied from a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The image input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading unit has a motor for moving the image reading unit and at the predetermined return position, a backlash of a gear driving the motor is taken into consideration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The image input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image input apparatus is a flat bed scanner. ### Claim 10 A control method of an image input apparatus comprising an image reading unit configured to read an image formed on a document and a power storage unit configured to store power for moving the image reading unit, the control method comprising: a stop control step of performing control so as to stop the image reading unit in a case where an amount of power stored in the power storage unit becomes less than or equal to a first threshold value in the image reading; a charge control step of performing control so as to charge the power storage unit with a predetermined amount of power after the stop; a return control step of performing control so as to return the image reading unit up to a predetermined return position in a direction opposite to the image reading direction after the charge; and a movement control step of performing control so as to move, after returning the image reading unit up to the predetermined return position, the image reading unit from the predetermined return position in the reading direction in a case where an amount of power stored in the power storage unit is larger than a second threshold value and move the image reading unit from the predetermined return position in the reading direction after charging the power storage unit with the power in a case where an amount of power stored in the power storage unit is less than or equal to the second threshold value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The control method of an image input apparatus according to claim 10, wherein at the movement control step, the image reading unit is moved in the reading direction and in a case where an amount of power stored in the power storage unit is less than or equal to the first threshold value at a position immediately before a reading resumption position, control is performed so as to charge the power storage unit with the power. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The control method of an image input apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the image input apparatus further comprises a buffer temporarily storing image data output from the image reading unit and the control method further comprises: a stop control step of performing control so as to stop the image reading unit in a case where a capacity of image data stored in the buffer is full and an amount of power stored in the power storage unit is larger than a third threshold value in the image reading; and a resumption control step of performing control so as to move the image reading unit in the reading direction after returning the image reading unit up to the predetermined return position and resume the image reading from the reading resumption position in a case where an empty capacity of the buffer becomes more than or equal to a predetermined capacity after the stop. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The control method of an image input apparatus according to claim 10, wherein at least one of a speed at which the image reading unit is returned up to the predetermined return position at the return control step and a speed at which the image reading unit is moved from the predetermined return position in the reading direction at the movement control step is different from a speed at which the image reading unit is moved in the image reading. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The control method of an image input apparatus according to claim 13, wherein at least one of a speed at which the image reading unit is returned up to the predetermined return position at the return control step and a speed at which the image reading unit is moved from the predetermined return position in the reading direction at the movement control step is set to a speed at which power efficiency is high. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The control method of an image input apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the power storage unit is an EDLC (Electric Double-Layer Capacitor). ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The control method of an image input apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the power storage unit is charged with power supplied from bus power supplied from a USB (Universal Serial Bus) connector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The control method of an image input apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image reading unit has a motor for moving the image reading unit and at the predetermined return position, a backlash of a gear driving the motor is taken into consideration. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The control method of an image input apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image input apparatus is a flat bed scanner.