Imaging apparatus with selectable subsets of photosensors
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorScott L. TeWinkle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image input scanner includes a linear array of photosensors to record images, such as in a digital copier or facsimile. A subset of the photosensors can be selected, depending on a particular situation, for recording images, while other photosensors are deselected. In this way, recording of “blank” image data, such as would be caused when photosensors in the array are not exposed to a sheet passing relative to the array, is avoided. In one embodiment, the array includes a plurality of local clock drivers, each clock driver controlling image data readout from a subset of photosensors. When a subset of photosensors are selected for a given situation, only the clock drivers associated with the selected photosensors are activated.
Claims15
A photosensitive apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of photosensors forming a linear array, the photosensors being organized in a set of groups of photosensors, each group forming a contiguous block of photosensors along the linear array;
- a video output line, for accepting image-related video signals from the photosensors;
- and
- selection means for activating a subset of groups of photosensors so that only the activated subset of groups of photosensors outputs image signals onto the video output line to record an image, thereby activating photosensors along only a contiguous portion of the linear array.
An apparatus for recording images from a sheet, comprising:
- a linear array of photosensors arranged in a linear array, each photosensor being selectable to output a video signal;
- means for moving a sheet relative to the linear array of photosensors;
- and
- selection means for selecting a subset of photosensors in the linear array for recording an image on the sheet, each subset of photosensors forming a contiguous block along the linear array, so that only photosensors forming a contiguous portion of the linear array output video signals.
A photosensitive apparatus, comprising:
- a plurality of photosensors, the photosensors being organized in a set of groups of photosensors;
- a video output line, for accepting image-related video signals from the photosensors;
- selection means for activating a subset of groups of photosensors so that only the activated subset of groups of photosensors outputs image signals onto the video output line to record an image;
- a plurality of local clock drivers, each local clock driver activating a group of photosensors;
- a plurality of shift register stages, each shift register stage being associated with at least one photosensor;
- and
- sequencing means for causing a second local clock driver to begin sequentially activating a plurality of shift register stages within its group of photosensors, as a result of a first local clock driver finishing activating a plurality of shift register stages within its group of photosensors,
- the sequencing means comprising a flip-flop associated with the first local clock driver, the flip-flop having a set input associated with a first shift register stage in the group of photosensors, and a reset input associated with a last shift register stage in the group of photosensors.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.