Image reading apparatus, image reading method, and non-transitory recording medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12099896-B2
Application number	US-202318119313-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2023
Priority date	Mar 17, 2022
Publication date	Sep 24, 2024
Grant date	Sep 24, 2024

Abstract

An image reading apparatus includes a first light source, a second light source, a visible imaging sensor, an invisible imaging sensor, and a reduction unit. The first light source irradiates an object with visible light. The second light source irradiates the object with invisible light. The visible imaging sensor reads a visible image of the object. The invisible imaging sensor reads an invisible image of the object. The reduction unit reduces a visible wavelength component of light received by the invisible imaging sensor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An image reading apparatus comprising:
a first light source configured to irradiate an object with visible light;
a second light source configured to irradiate the object with invisible light;
a visible imaging sensor configured to read a visible image of the object;
an invisible imaging sensor configured to read an invisible image of the object; and
a reducer configured to reduce a visible wavelength component of light received by the invisible imaging sensor,
wherein the reducer is a plurality of filters included in the invisible imaging sensor, the plurality of filters having a thickness adjusted to reduce the visible wavelength component of the light received by the invisible imaging sensor.

2. The image reading apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reducer is circuitry configured to adjust a light amount of the visible light of the first light source to reduce the visible wavelength component of the light received by the invisible imaging sensor.

3. The image reading apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the reducer adjusts the light amount of the visible light of the first light source based on a light amount of the invisible light of the second light source.

4. The image reading apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the reducer adjusts the light amount of the visible light of the first light source in accordance with an operation performed on an operation device.

5. The image reading apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the reducer adjusts the light amount of the visible light of the first light source in accordance with a read image quality mode set via an operation device.

6. The image reading apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the read image quality mode includes at least
a first read image quality mode for adjusting the light amount of the visible light of the first light source to be suitable for reading a two-dimensional code as the invisible image, and
a second read image quality mode for adjusting the light amount of the visible light of the first light source to be suitable for reading an embedded character as the invisible image.

7. The image reading apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reducer reduces the visible wavelength component of the light received by the invisible imaging sensor to adjust a proportion of a visible wavelength component included in the invisible image to equal to or less than 50% of the invisible image.

8. An image reading method comprising:
irradiating an object with visible light of a first light source;
irradiating the object with invisible light of a second light source;
reading a visible image of the object with a visible imaging sensor;
reading an invisible image of the object with an invisible imaging sensor; and
adjusting a light amount of the visible light of the first light source to reduce a visible wavelength component of light received with the invisible imaging sensor,
wherein the adjusting includes adjusting the light amount of the visible light of the first light source in accordance with a read image quality mode set via an operation device, and
wherein the read image quality mode includes at least:
a first read image quality mode for adjusting the light amount of the visible light of the first light source to be suitable for reading a two-dimensional code as the invisible image, and
a second read image quality mode for adjusting the light amount of the visible light of the first light source to be suitable for reading an embedded character as the invisible image.

9. The image reading method of claim 8 , wherein the adjusting includes adjusting the light amount of the visible light of the first light source based on a light amount of the invisible light of the second light source.

10. A non-transitory recording medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the processors to perform an image reading method, the image reading method comprising:
irradiating an object with visible light of a first light source;
irradiating the object with invisible light of a second light source;
reading a visible image of the object with a visible imaging sensor;
reading an invisible image of the object with an invisible imaging sensor; and
adjusting a light amount of the visible light of the first light source to reduce a visible wavelength component of light received with the invisible imaging sensor,
wherein the adjusting includes adjusting the light amount of the visible light of the first light source in accordance with a read image quality mode set via an operation device, and
wherein the read image quality mode includes at least:
a first read image quality mode for adjusting the light amount of the visible light of the first light source to be suitable for reading a two-dimensional code as the invisible image, and
a second read image quality mode for adjusting the light amount of the visible light of the first light source to be suitable for reading an embedded character as the invisible image.

11. An image reading apparatus comprising:
a first light source configured to irradiate an object with visible light;
a second light source configured to irradiate the object with invisible light;
a visible imaging sensor configured to read a visible image of the object;
an invisible imaging sensor configured to read an invisible image of the object; and
a reducer configured to reduce a visible wavelength component of light received by the invisible imaging sensor,
wherein the reducer reduces the visible wavelength component of the light received by the invisible imaging sensor to adjust a proportion of a visible wavelength component included in the invisible image to equal to or less than 50% of the invisible image.

Assignees

• Ono Hirofumi
• Sakaguchi Shinji
• Hashimoto Ayumu
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Ono Hirofumi
• Sakaguchi Shinji
• Hashimoto Ayumu

Classifications

• G06K19/06037

  multi-dimensional coding · CPC title

• G06K19/06103

  the marking being embedded in a human recognizable image, e.g. a company logo with an embedded two-dimensional code · CPC title

• G06K7/12

  using a selected wavelength, e.g. to sense red marks and ignore blue marks · CPC title

• G06K7/10732

  Light sources · CPC title

• G06K19/0614

  the marking being selective to wavelength, e.g. color barcode or barcodes only visible under UV or IR (methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers using a selected wavelength, see G06K7/12) · CPC title