Image reading apparatus, composite apparatus using the image reading apparatus, and control apparatus and method for the image reading apparatus

A hybrid apparatus comprising:

• a light source for illuminating a document;
• an image sensing element for outputting an electrical signal in accordance with an input light quantity;
• a first reference member;
• a second reference member;
• a timer for measuring a time since said light source is turned on;
• control means for determining whether the time measured by said timer reaches a predetermined time, in a case that the predetermined time has not elapsed, acquiring shading correction data by a first method using said first reference member, and in a case that the predetermined time has elapsed, acquiring shading correction data by a second method using said second reference member;
• correction means for correcting the electrical signal output from said image sensing element, and outputting an image signal;
• and
• print means for printing an image of the document on a print medium on the basis of the image signal corrected by said correction means,
• wherein said correction means performs shading correction using at least the shading correction data.

A facsimile apparatus comprising:

• a light source for illuminating a document;
• an image sensing element for outputting an electrical signal in accordance with an input light quantity;
• a first reference member;
• a second reference member;
• a timer for measuring a time since said light source is turned on;
• control means for determining whether the time measured by said timer reaches a predetermined time, in a case that the predetermined time has not elapsed, acquiring shading correction data by a first method using said first reference member, and in a case that the predetermined time has elapsed, acquiring shading correction data by a second method using said second reference member;
• correction means for correcting the electrical signal output from said image sensing element, and outputting an image signal;
• output means for outputting the electrical signal corrected by said correction means to an external device via a communication line;
• input means for inputting an image signal from the external device via the communication line;
• and
• print means for printing an image on a print medium on the basis of the image signal input via said input means,
• wherein said correction means performs shading correction using at least the shading correction data.

A control method for an image reading unit having a light source for illuminating a document, an image sensing element for outputting an electrical signal in accordance with an input light quantity, a first reference member, and a second reference member, comprising:

• a measurement step of measuring a time since the light source is turned on;
• a determination step of determining whether the time measured in said measurement step reaches a predetermined time;
• a first acquisition step of acquiring shading correction data using the first reference member in a case that the predetermined time has not elapsed;
• and
• a second acquisition step of acquiring shading correction data using the second reference member in a case that the predetermined time has elapsed.

A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium for a control method for an image reading unit having a light source for illuminating a document, an image sensing element for outputting an electrical signal in accordance with an input light quantity, a first reference member, and a second reference member, said product including:

• first computer readable program code means for measuring a time since the light source is turned on;
• second computer readable program code means for determining whether the time measured in the measurement step reaches a predetermined time;
• third computer readable program code means for acquiring shading correction data using the first reference member in a case that the predetermined time has not elapsed;
• and
• fourth computer readable program code means for acquiring shading correction data using the second reference member in a case that the predetermined time has elapsed.