Method of and apparatus for detecting error in laser scanning device by determining whether a light source requires exchange or a contaminant is present in an optical path

A method in an image scanning device, comprising:

• emitting a light beam from a light source along an optical path;
• generating a data signal from the light beam, the light beam being received by a single sensor portion;
• and
• generating one of a first indication of the replacement of the light source and a second indication of the existence of a contaminant in the optical path in response to the data signal.

A method in an image scanning device, comprising:

• emitting a light beam from a light source along an optical path;
• receiving the light beam reflected from a reference panel and generating a data signal from the received light beam;
• generating one of a first indication of the replacement of the light source and a second indication of the existence of a contaminant in the optical path in response to the data signal;
• generating a plurality of divisional signals in response to the data signal, the divisional signals corresponding to respective divisional portions of the reference panel;
• and
• making a comparison of whether one of the divisional signals is less than a reference value, wherein one of the first indication and the second indication is generated in response to the comparison.

A method of an image scanning device having a reference panel having a plurality of divisions, comprising:

• scanning a reference panel using a first light beam emitted from a light source along an optical path toward the reference panel;
• generating a reference value in response to the first light beam reflected from the reference panel;
• scanning the reference panel using a second light beam emitted from the light source along the optical path toward the reference panel;
• generating a plurality of divisional data signals corresponding to the respective divisions of the reference panel in response to the second light beam reflected from the reference panel;
• making a determination of whether one of the divisional data signals is less than the reference value;
• and
• generating one of a first indication signal indicating that the light source is replaced and a second signal indicating that the optical path contains a contaminant in response to the determination.

A method in an image scanning device, comprising:

• scanning a reference panel having a plurality of divisions using a light beam emitted from a light source along an optical path toward the reference panel;
• generating a plurality of divisional data signals corresponding to the respective divisions of the reference panel in response to the light beam reflected from the reference panel;
• making a determination of whether one of the divisional data signals is less than a reference value;
• and
• generating, in response to the determination, an indication signal that represents the replacement of the light source or the existence of a contaminant disposed in the optical path in response to the determination.

A method in an image scanning device, comprising:

• storing a reference value representing light intensity of a reference panel;
• scanning the reference panel using light of a light source;
• extracting the light intensity from the light reflected from the reference panel along an optical path;
• generating a plurality of divisional signals representing respective divisions of the reference panel from the light intensity;
• generating an average value and a minimum value from the divisional signals;
• and
• generating an indication signal indicating one of the replacement of the lamp and the existence of a contaminant in the optical path in response to at least one of the reference value, the divisional signals, the average value, and the minimum value.

An apparatus in an image scanning device, comprising:

• a memory storing an average reference value;
• a reference panel having a plurality of divisions;
• a lamp emitting a light beam toward the reference panel along an optical path;
• a detector receiving the light beam reflected from the reference panel and generating a detection signal;
• a controller generating an average signal and a plurality of divisional signals corresponding to respective divisions of the reference panel in response to the detection signal, and generating an indication signal when one of the divisional signals is less than the reference average by a predetermined value.