Image reader apparatus

An image reader device comprising:

• an image pickup device which is controllably exposed to an object to produce an image signal of the object;
• a mover which moves the object and the image pickup device relative to each other;
• a storage operable to store an image signal;
• a writing device which is operable to write an image signal in the storage;
• a reading device which is operable to read an image signal from the storage;
• a detector which detects the operation state of the reading device;
• and
• a controller which allows an exposure of the image pickup device when the reading device is detected to be in the reading operation in accordance with a result of the detector, and allows the writing device to write an image signal produced in the exposure in the storage after the reading device is detected to complete the reading operation.

A method for reading an image of an object by use of an image reader apparatus including an image pickup device, a storage, a writing device, and a reading device, comprising the steps of:

• exposing the image pickup device to the object to produce an image signal of the object;
• writing an image signal in the storage;
• reading an image signal from the storage;
• moving the object and the image pickup device relative to each other;
• detecting the operation state of the writing and reading devices after the relative movement is completed;
• and
• controlling the operation state of the image pickup device in accordance with the operation state of the reading or writing device.

An image reader apparatus comprising:

• an image pickup device which is controllably exposed to an object to produce an image signal of the object;
• a mover which moves the object and the image pickup device relative to each other;
• a storage operable to store an image signal;
• a writing device which is operable to write an image signal in the storage;
• a reading device which is operable to read an image signal from the storage;
• a discriminator which discriminates whether a relative movement is executed between the object and the image pickup device;
• and
• a controller which controls at least one of the writing and reading devices to perform at least one of writing and reading of image signal during a relative movement, wherein the image pickup device is exposed after a relative movement is completed, and wherein the controller allows the image pickup device to be exposed after a relative movement is completed or after one the writing and the reading is completed, whichever transpires later in time.

An image reader device comprising:

• an image pickup device which is controllably exposed to an object to produce an image signal of the object;
• a mover which moves the object and the image pickup device relative to each other;
• a storage operable to store an image signal;
• a writing device which is operable to write an image signal in the storage;
• a reading device which is operable to read an image signal from the storage;
• a discriminator which discriminates whether a relative movement is executed between the object and the image pickup device;
• and
• a detector which detects the operation state of the reading device;
• a first controller which controls at least one of the writing and reading devices to perform at least one of writing and reading of an image signal during a relative movement;
• and
• a second controller which controls the image pickup device to be exposed to the object when the reading device is detected to be in the reading operation.

A method for reading an image of an object by use of an image reader apparatus including an image pickup device, a storage, a writing device, and a reading device, comprising the steps of:

• exposing the image pickup device to the object to produce an image signal of the object;
• moving the object and the image pickup device relative to each other;
• and
• performing writing or reading of an image signal in or from the storage during a relative movement, wherein the exposing of the image pickup device is performed after a relative movement is completed, and wherein the exposing step comprises allowing the image pickup device to be exposed after an intermittent relative movement between the object and the image pickup device is completed or after one of the writing and the reading is completed, whichever transpires later in time.

An image reader apparatus comprising:

• an image pickup device which is controllably exposed to an object to produce an image signal of the object;
• a memory which stores an image signal transferred from the image pickup device;
• a discriminator which discriminates whether transfer of an image signal from the image pickup device to the memory is in operation;
• and
• a controller which controls the timing of next exposure of the image pickup device in accordance with a result of the discriminator.