Method and apparatus for scanning colors using multiple arrays of photodetectors
US6596979B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignees
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 22, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N25/711
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An image sensor employing multiple arrays of photodetectors is disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, every two of three arrays are shielded with a non-transparent material. When charge signals are generated in the non-shielded array in response to light reflected from a scanning document illuminated by one of three colored lights, the charge signals are shifted to a next adjacent shielded array so that another set of charge signals can be generated under another one of the three colored lights. Essentially, the shielded arrays are used as buffers to separate the charge signals independently generated under three different colored lights. Subsequently, the charge signals corresponding to the same colored light can be accumulated to produce a much stronger scanning signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.