Apparatus and a method for controlling a light source used for image reading

An image reading apparatus, comprising:

• a light source configured to irradiate a light to an original document when the power of the light source is in an on state;
• an imaging device configured to convert a light reflected from the original document to an image signal when an image reading start signal is output;
• an operation controller coupled to the imaging device and configured to change the power of the light source from an off state to the on state when the image reading start signal is output;
• a light source controller coupled to the light source and configured to change the power of the light source from the off state to the on state when a user activity signal having a first state is output, the user activity signal having the first state being assumed to be output when a user activity, other than an instruction to begin scanning, that is assumed to ultimately cause output of the image reading start signal has been performed on the image reading apparatus;
• an operation input device coupled to the operation controller and configured to receive a first user input providing information related to image reading, and output a first user input signal having the information related to image reading provided by the first user input;
• a document table configured to place the original document thereon;
• an original document feeder attached to a portion of the document table so as to cover the document table when closed and expose the document table when opened and configured to feed the original document to the document table,
• the original document feeder comprising:
• a document set detector configured to output, when the original document is set to the original document feeder, a first document set detection signal indicating that the original document is set to the original document feeder;
• and
• a cover status detector configured to output, when the original document feeder is closed, a first cover status detection signal indicating that the original document feeder is closed,
• wherein the light source controller is further configured to interpret the first user input signal as the user activity signal having the first state, and
• wherein the light source controller is configured to interpret at least one or any combination of the first user input signal, the first document set detection signal, and the first cover status detection signal as the user activity signal having the first state.

An image reading apparatus, comprising:

• a light source configured to irradiate a light to an original document when the power of the light source is in an on state;
• an imaging device configured to convert a light reflected from the original document to an image signal when an image reading start signal is output;
• an operation controller coupled to the imaging device and configured to change the power of the light source from an off state to the on state when the image reading start signal is output;
• a light source controller coupled to the light source and configured to change the power of the light source from the off state to the on state when a user activity signal having a first state is output, the user activity signal having the first state being assumed to be output when a user activity, other than an instruction to begin scanning, that is assumed to ultimately cause output of the image reading start signal has been performed on the image reading apparatus;
• an operation input device coupled to the operation controller and configured to receive a first user input providing information related to image reading, and output a first user input signal having the information related to image reading provided by the first user input;
• a document table configured to place the original document thereon;
• a document cover attached to a portion of the document table and configured to cover the document table when closed and expose the document table when opened;
• and
• a cover status detector configured to output, when the document cover is closed, a first cover status detection signal indicating that the document cover is closed,
• wherein the light source controller is configured to interpret the first user input signal as the user activity signal having the first state, and
• wherein the light source controller is configured to interpret at least one or any combination of the first user input signal and the first cover status detection signal as the user activity signal having the first state.

A method of controlling a light source of an image reading apparatus, the method comprising:

• irradiating a light to an original document when the power of the light source is in an on state;
• converting a light reflected from the original document to an image signal when an image reading start signal is output;
• changing the power of the light source from an off state to the on state when the image reading start signal is output;
• changing the power of the light source from the off state to the on state when a user activity signal having a first state is output, the user activity signal having the first state being assumed to be output when a user activity, other than an instruction to begin scanning, that is assumed to ultimately cause output of the image reading start signal has been performed on the image reading apparatus;
• providing an operation input device to receive a first user input providing information related to image reading, and to output a first user input signal having the information related to image reading provided by the first user input;
• providing a document table to place the original document thereon;
• providing an original document feeder to cover the document table when closed and expose the document table when opened and to feed the original document to the document table;
• providing a document set detector to output a first document set detection signal indicating that the original document is set to the original document feeder;
• providing a cover status detector to output a first cover status detection signal indicating that the original document feeder is closed;
• providing a document detector to output a first document detection signal indicating that the original document is provided on the document table;
• wherein the user activity signal having the first state is at least one or any combination of:
• the first user input signal;
• the first document set detection signal;
• the first cover status detection signal;
• and
• the first document detection signal;
• determining whether a user activity signal having a second state is output, the user activity signal having the second state being assumed to be output when a user activity that is assumed to ultimately cause cancellation of the image reading start signal has been performed on the image reading apparatus;
• and
• changing the power of the light source from the on state to the off state when the user activity signal having the second state is output.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a light source configured to irradiate a light to an original document when the power of the light source is in an on state;
• an imaging device configured to convert a light reflected from the original document to an image signal when an image reading start signal is output;
• a printing device coupled to the imaging device and configured to form an image on a recording sheet according to the image signal;
• an operation controller coupled to the light source and configured to change the power of the light source from an off state to the on state when the image reading start signal is output;
• a light source controller coupled to the light source and configured to change the power of the light source from the off state to the on state when a user activity signal having a first state is output, the user activity signal having the first state being assumed to be output when a user activity, other than an instruction to begin scanning, that is assumed to ultimately cause output of the image reading start signal has been performed on the image reading apparatus;
• an operation input device coupled to the operation controller and configured to receive a first user input providing information related to image reading, and output a first user input signal having the information related to image reading provided by the first user input, wherein
• the light source controller is configured to interpret the first user input signal as the user activity signal having the first state,
• the operation input device is further configured to receive a user input instructing the image reading apparatus to start image reading, and output the image reading start signal, and
• the power of the light source is changed from the off state to the on state when the light source controller determines that the first user input signal is output before the image reading start signal is output.