US 7,612,354 B2Granted

Image reading apparatus and drive control method thereof

AssigneeCasio Computer Co., Ltd.

InventorYasushi Mizutani

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Abstract

There is provided an image reading apparatus which reads an image pattern of a medium placed on a detection surface of a sensor array (100). In a waiting state, electrical connection between the sensor array (100) and a drive controller (110, 120) is cut off, and whether a medium is placed on the detection surface or not is detected. When a medium is placed on the detection surface, the sensor array (100) and the drive controller (110, 120) are electrically connected and an image reading operation is started. In a case where the medium is separated from the detection surface during the image reading operation, the image reading operation is suspended and the image reading apparatus is set to the waiting state.

Claims31

Dependent claims

An image reading apparatus comprising:

a sensor array which is formed by arranging a plurality of sensors, and which comprises a detection surface on which a medium is placeable;
a drive controller for performing an image reading operation of supplying a predetermined drive control signal to each of the sensors of the sensor array, and reading an image pattern of the medium placed on the detection surface;
a detection circuit comprising a medium detector and a connection switching controller,
wherein the medium detector detects a placement state where the medium is placed on the detection surface,
wherein at least when the medium detector detects that the medium is placed on the detection surface, the connection switching controller establishes an electrical connection between one end of each of the sensors and the drive controller as well as an electrical connection between another end of each of the sensors and a ground potential, and
wherein at least when the medium detector detects that the medium is separated from the detection surface, the connection switching controller cuts off the electrical connection between the one end of each of the sensors and the drive controller as well as the electrical connection between said another end of each of the sensors and the ground potential;
and
an operation controller which controls an operational state of the drive controller, at least in accordance with a detection result of the placement state of the medium by the medium detector.

5 more elements

A drive control method for an image reading apparatus which comprises a sensor array that is formed by arranging a plurality of sensors, and that comprises a detection surface on which a medium is placeable, and a drive controller for supplying a predetermined drive control signal to the sensor array and reading an image pattern of the medium placed on the detection surface, the method comprising:

detecting a placement state where the medium is placed on the detection surface of the sensor array;
at least when it is detected that the medium is placed on the detection surface, electrically connecting one end of each of the sensors of the sensor array and the drive controller as well as electrically connecting another end of each of the sensors of the sensor array and a ground potential;
and
at least when it is detected that the medium is separated from the detection surface, cutting off the electrical connection between the one end of each of the sensors of the sensor array and the drive controller as well as the electrical connection between said another end of each of the sensors of the sensor array and the ground potential, and setting the image reading apparatus to a waiting state.

1 more element

detecting a placement state where the medium is placed on the detection surface of the sensor array;
at least when it is detected that the medium is placed on the detection surface, electrically connecting one end of each of the sensors of the sensor array and the drive controller as well as electrically connecting another end of each of the sensors of the sensor array and a ground potential;
and
at least when it is detected that the medium is separated from the detection surface, cutting off the electrical connection between the one end of each of the sensors of the sensor array and the drive controller as well as the electrical connection between said another end of each of the sensors of the sensor array and the ground potential, and setting the image reading apparatus to a waiting state.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.