Image Reading Apparatus Dust Detection Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image reading apparatuses with staggered color filter arrangements face increased detection and correction times due to foreign matter on the reference white plate, leading to inefficient shading correction and image processing delays.
Innovation Solution
An image reading apparatus with line sensors arranged in a staggered configuration, where each line sensor includes light receiving elements for different colors, and an image processor that interpolates correction data for abnormal pixels based on adjacent pixels, reducing the number of detected dust flags and processing time through logical OR operations across colors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If dust detection and correction processing is performed for each color channel separately in a staggered color filter arrangement, then measurement precision of dust position is improved, but processing time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines dust detection and correction processing across multiple color channels by performing logical OR operations on dust flags from different colors (R, G, B). This merging approach consolidates multiple separate processing tasks into a unified operation, reducing total processing time while maintaining accurate dust position identification through the staggered color filter arrangement.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a staggered arrangement of color filters is used in line sensors, then image reading capability is improved, but the number of detected dust flags increases leading to longer processing time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and processes dust flag information from multiple color channels simultaneously using logical OR operations. By taking out the essential dust position information from each color channel and combining them, the system avoids processing every individual color flag separately, thus reducing processing overhead while maintaining the benefits of staggered color filter arrangement for comprehensive image reading.
3Measurement precision
If dust flags from multiple colors are processed separately, then detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges dust detection results from multiple color channels into a unified dust flag through logical OR operations. This combining approach maintains detection accuracy by considering all color channels while simplifying the processing system architecture, avoiding the need for separate complex processing pipelines for each color channel.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration reduces the time required for dust detection and interpolation processing, minimizing delays in image reading by consolidating multiple dust flags into a single abnormal pixel, thereby enhancing processing efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of line sensors, each line sensor including a plurality of light receiving elements aligned in a first direction, the plurality of line sensors being arranged at given intervals in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction, and the light receiving elements including a first light receiving element configured to receive light of a first color and a second light receiving element configured to receive light of a second color different from the first color
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading apparatus includes a line sensor configured to read an image of a target object. The line sensor includes light receiving element arrays arranged at given intervals in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction for a plurality of lines, the plurality of light receiving element arrays each including a first light receiving element configured to receive light of a first color and a second light receiving element configured to receive light of a second color different from the first color, which are arranged in the first direction to form one line. The image reading apparatus is configured to derive a shading correction coefficient for shading correction based on output from the light receiving element arrays that have read a reference white plate, and to identify, as an abnormal pixel, a pixel obtained by reading a foreign matter existing on the reference white plate.