Image scanning apparatus, storage medium for storing controlling procedure of image scanning apparatus, and control program for image scanning apparatus

A computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for performing a controlling procedure of an image scanning apparatus, the image scanning apparatus comprising:

• an illuminating device for illuminating an original document;
• an original document transferring device for transferring said original document to an image scanning position;
• and
• an imaging device having at least two line sensors with equal line intervals on the surface of the imaging device, for outputting a plurality of image data from each of the line sensors, the line sensors receiving light from said original document in a plurality of pixels, the image data representing received light intensity by each of the plurality of pixels, and wherein
• said controlling procedure includes:
• assuming a plurality of areas where the transfer is to be performed at a long pitch, in said original document, and a plurality of areas where the transfer is to be performed at a short pitch, included in each of the areas where the transfer is to be performed at a long pitch;
• sub-scanning said original document at least once in said areas where the transfer is to be performed at a short pitch, by performing a small step transferring, and then sub-scanning said original document by performing a large step transferring, the small step transferring being the transfer performed at a short pitch, the large step transferring being the transfer performed at a long pitch;
• and
• repeating the sub-scanning by performing the large step transferring and the small step transferring.

A control program product embodied in a computer-readable data signal for performing a scanning control procedure of an image scanning apparatus comprising:

• an illuminating device for illuminating an original document;
• an original document transferring device for transferring said original document to an image scanning position;
• and
• an imaging device having at least two line sensors with equal line intervals on the surface of the imaging device, for outputting a plurality of image data from each of the line sensors, the line sensors receiving light from said original document in a plurality of pixels, the image data representing received light intensity by each of the plurality of pixels, and wherein
• the program product comprises the scanning control procedure of:
• assuming a plurality of areas where the transfer is to be performed at a long pitch, in said original document, and a plurality of areas where the transfer is to be performed at a short pitch, included in each of the areas where the transfer is to be performed at a long pitch;
• sub-scanning said original document at least once in said areas where the transfer is to be performed at a short pitch, by performing a small step transferring, and then sub-scanning said original document by performing a large step transferring, the small step transferring being the transfer performed at a short pitch, the large step transferring being the transfer performed at a long pitch;
• and
• repeating the sub-scanning by alternately performing the large step transferring and the small step transferring.

An image scanning apparatus comprising:

• an illuminating device for illuminating an original document;
• a sub-scan stage for mounting an original document and transferring in a sub-scan direction;
• an imaging device having two or more line sensors on the surface of the imaging device, for outputting a plurality of analog image data by the line sensor, the line sensors receiving light from said original document in a plurality of pixels, the image data being in a main-scan direction and representing received light intensity by each of the plurality of pixels;
• a driving device for driving said sub-scan stage in a sub-scan direction;
• and
• a maximum image data detecting device for obtaining image data by converting analog image data of two or more lines with an A/D converter and obtaining a maximum value of the obtained image data of the two or more lines, the analog image data being output in sequence from the two or more line sensors provided on said image device.

A computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for performing a controlling procedure of an image scanning apparatus, the image scanning apparatus comprising:

• an illuminating device for illuminating an original document;
• a sub-scan stage for mounting an original document and transferring in a sub-scan direction;
• an imaging device having two or more line sensors on the surface of the imaging device, for outputting a plurality of analog image data by the line sensor, the line sensors receiving light from said original document in a plurality of pixels, the image data being in a main-scan direction and representing received light intensity by each of the plurality of pixels;
• a driving device for driving said sub-scan stage in a sub-scan direction;
• and
• a maximum image data detecting device for obtaining image data by converting analog image data of two or more lines with an A/D converter and obtaining a maximum value of the obtained image data of the two or more lines, the analog image data being output in sequence from the two or more line sensors provided on said image device;
• and
• a white balance detecting device for determining white balance, and wherein
• said controlling procedure includes:
• sequentially emitting light in one or more color(s) during an initial exposure time which is determined in advance;
• receiving reflective light from a reference white plate or light passing through a transparent window and outputting image data representing received light intensity by each pixel of said two or more line sensors, the reference white plate and the transparent window being provided on said sub-scan stage;
• and
• determining white balance according to maximum outputs for each color in the image data.

A control program product embodied in a computer-readable data signal for performing control procedures of an image scanning apparatus comprising:

• an illuminating device for illuminating an original document;
• a sub-scan stage for mounting an original document and transferring in a sub-scan direction;
• an imaging device having two or more line sensors on the surface of the imaging device, for outputting a plurality of analog image data by the line sensor, the line sensors receiving light from said original document in a plurality of pixels, the image data being in a main-scan direction and representing received light intensity by each of the plurality of pixels;
• a driving device for driving said sub-scan stage in a sub-scan direction;
• and
• a maximum image data detecting device for obtaining image data by converting analog image data of two or more lines with an A/D converter and obtaining a maximum output of the obtained image data, the analog image data being output in sequence from the two or more line sensors provided on said image device;
• and
• a white balance detecting device for determining white balance, and wherein
• said procedures comprise:
• sequentially emitting light in one or more color(s) during an initial exposure time which is determined in advance;
• receiving reflective light from a reference white plate or light passing through a transparent window, and outputting image data representing received light intensity by each pixel of said two or more line sensors, the reference white plate and the transparent window being provided on said sub-scan stage;
• and
• determining white balance according to maximum outputs for each color in the image data.