Multi-resolution color contact-type image sensing apparatus

Abstract

A multi-resolution color contact-type image sensing apparatus whereby a color image of an original can be obtained with a particular resolution, depending upon the size of the original image. A first array of photosensor segments with a base resolution is arranged with at least one other array of photosensor segments having a greater-than-base resolution. All such photosensor segments might be aligned in a single linear array, with at least one portion of segments having a greater-than-base resolution. A resulting image with at least the base resolution could be created depending upon the size of the original in relation to the placement and width of the greater-than-base resolution segments. A plurality of linear arrays might also be used, with each successive array having a greater resolution than the previous array. Moreover, the arrays might be arranged in parallel with each successive array being narrower in width than the previous. Each linear array could be operated independently or in conjunction with the other linear arrays to produce multi-resolution resulting images. The resolution could be manually or automatically selected.

1. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus, comprising:
 a first photosensor segment having a first plurality of photosensitive elements; and,  
 a second photosensor segment, adjacent to the first photosensor segment, the second photosensor segment having a second plurality of photosensitive elements, wherein density of photosensitive elements within the second photosensor segment is greater than density of photosensitive elements in the first photosensor segment;  
 wherein when scanning at a first resolution, both the first photosensor segment and the second photosensor segment are used;  
 wherein when scanning at a second resolution, the second photosensor segment is used and the first photosensor segment is not used; wherein the second resolution is greater than the first resolution; and  
 wherein a maximum image size for a scanned image is smaller when scanning at the second resolution than when scanning at the first resolution.  
 
     
     
       2. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 1  additionally comprising:
 a third photosensor segment, adjacent to the second photosensor segment, the third photosensor segment having a third plurality of photosensitive elements, wherein density of photosensitive elements within the third photosensor segment is greater than density of photosensitive elements in the second photosensor segment;  
 wherein when scanning at the first resolution and at the second resolution, the third photosensor segment is also used;  
 wherein when scanning at a third resolution, the third photosensor segment is used while the first photosensor segment and the second photosensor segment are not used;  
 wherein the third resolution is greater than the second resolution; and  
 wherein a maximum image size for a scanned image is smaller when scanning at the third resolution than when scanning at the second resolution.  
 
     
     
       3. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the first photosensor segment and the second photosensor segment are arranged in a linear array. 
     
     
       4. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 3 , wherein the linear array has a central region and peripheral regions, the second photosensor segment is in the central region and the first photosensor segment is in one of the peripheral regions. 
     
     
       5. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 1 :
 wherein photosensitive elements in the first photosensor segment have a larger element size than photosensitive elements in the second photosensor segment; and  
 wherein the photosensitive elements produce electrical signals corresponding to the element size;  
 the multiple resolution sensing apparatus additionally comprising a compensation means for processing the electrical signals.  
 
     
     
       6. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein the compensation means substantially equalizes the electrical signals produced by different groupings of photosensitive elements. 
     
     
       7. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein resulting image resolution is manually selectable. 
     
     
       8. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein resulting image resolution is automatically selected based upon an original image. 
     
     
       9. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 1 , additionally comprising:
 a third photosensor segment, adjacent to the first photosensor segment opposite the second photosensor segment, having a third plurality of photosensitive elements, wherein density of photosensitive elements within the third photosensor segment is equal to density of photosensitive elements in the first photosensor segment;  
 wherein when scanning at the first resolution, the third photosensor segment is also used; and  
 wherein when scanning at the second resolution, the third photosensor segment is not used.  
 
     
     
       10. A method for scanning at multiple resolutions, the method comprising the following steps:
 (a) when scanning at a first resolution, performing the following substeps: 
 (a.1) scanning a first portion of an original image using a first plurality of photosensitive elements within a first photosensor segment, and  
 (a.2) scanning a second portion of the original image using a second plurality of photosensitive elements within a second photosensor segment, wherein the second photosensor segment is adjacent to the first photosensor segment and density of photosensitive elements within the second photosensor segment is greater than density of photosensitive elements in the first photosensor segment; and,  
 
 (b) when scanning at a second resolution, scanning using the second plurality of photosensitive elements within the second photosensor segment but not using the first plurality of photosensitive elements within the first photosensor segment, wherein the second resolution is greater than the first resolution.  
 
     
     
       11. A method as in  claim 10  wherein a maximum image size is smaller when scanning at the second resolution than when scanning at the first resolution. 
     
     
       12. A method as in  claim 10  additionally comprising the following step:
 (c) when scanning at a third resolution, scanning using a third plurality of photosensitive elements within a third photosensor segment but not using the first plurality of photosensitive elements within the first photosensor segment or the second plurality of photosensitive elements within the second photosensor segment, wherein the third resolution is greater than the second resolution.  
 
     
     
       13. A method as in  claim 12 , wherein step (a) additionally comprises the following substep:
 (a.3) scanning a third portion of the original image using the third plurality of photosensitive elements within the photosensor segment, wherein the third photosensor segment is adjacent to the second photosensor segment and density of photosensitive elements within the third photosensor segment is greater than density of photosensitive elements in the second photosensor segment.  
 
     
     
       14. A method as in  claim 10 , wherein the first photosensor segment and the second photosensor segment are arranged in a linear array. 
     
     
       15. A method as in  claim 14 , wherein the linear array has a central region and peripheral regions, the second photosensor segment is in the central region and the first photosensor segment is in one of the peripheral regions. 
     
     
       16. A method as in  claim 10  wherein in step (a) photosensitive elements in the first photosensor segment have a larger element size than photosensitive elements in the second photosensor segment, the photosensitive elements producing electrical signals corresponding to the element size. 
     
     
       17. A method as in  claim 16 , wherein step (a) additionally comprises the following substep:
 (a.3) substantially equalizing electrical signals produced by different groupings of photosensitive elements.  
 
     
     
       18. A method as in  claim 10 , additionally comprising the following step:
 manually selecting resulting image resolution.  
 
     
     
       19. A method as in  claim 10 , additionally comprising the following step:
 automatically selecting image resolution based upon an original image.  
 
     
     
       20. A method for scanning at multiple resolutions, the method comprising the following steps:
 (a) automatically selecting resulting image resolution based on an original image, including the following substeps: 
 (a.1) when an original image has a width within a first predetermined range, selecting a first resolution, and  
 (a.2) when the original image has a width within a second predetermined range, selecting a second resolution;  
 
 (b) when in step (a) the first resolution is selected, scanning the original image at the first resolution; and, (c) when in step (a) the first  second resolution is selected, scanning the original image at the first  second resolution.  
 
     
     
       21. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 3 , further comprising:
   a plurality of first photosensor segments coupled together to form a first portion of the linear array and having a first length; and        a plurality of second photosensor segments coupled together to form a second portion of the linear array and having a second length,        such that the sum of the first length and the second length corresponds to a first maximum image size when sensed with the first resolution, and such that the second length corresponds to a second maximum image size when sensed with the second resolution.     
     
     
       22. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 21 , further comprising:
   a plurality of third photosensor segments coupled together to form a third portion of the linear array and having a third length, wherein density of photosensitive elements within the third photosensor segment is greater than density of photosensitive elements in the second photosensor segments such that when scanning at a third resolution the third photosensor segments are used,        such that the sum of the first length, the second length, and the third length corresponds to a first maximum image size when sensed with the first resolution,        such that the second length plus the third length corresponds to a second maximum image size when sensed with the second resolution,        such that the third length corresponds to a third maximum image size when sensed with the third resolution, and        wherein when scanning at the first resolution the first photosensor segment and the second photosensor segment and the third photosensor segment are used, when scanning at the second resolution the second photosensor segment and the third photosensor segment are used, when scanning at the third resolution the third photosensor segment is used.     
     
     
       23. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 22 , wherein the first resolution, the second resolution, and the third resolution are manually selectable. 
     
     
       24. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 22 , wherein the first resolution, the second resolution, and the third resolution are automatically selected based upon an original image. 
     
     
       25. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 22 , wherein density of photosensitive elements within the second photosensor segment is greater than density of photosensitive elements in the first photosensor segment by a factor of four so that the second resolution is twice the first resolution. 
     
     
       26. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 25 , wherein density of photosensitive elements within the third photosensor segment is greater than density of photosensitive elements in the second photosensor segment by a factor of four so that the third resolution is twice the second resolution and four times the first resolution. 
     
     
       27. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 4 , wherein the peripheral regions are a first peripheral region and a second peripheral region such that the central region is disposed between the first peripheral region and the second peripheral region, and such that the first photosensor segment is in the first peripheral region, and further comprising a third photosensor segment in the second peripheral region. 
     
     
       28. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 27 , wherein density of the third photosensor segment equals density of the first photosensor segment. 
     
     
       29. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 27 , wherein density of the third photosensor segment is greater than density of the second photosensor segment. 
     
     
       30. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 27 , further comprising a middle section disposed within the central section, the middle section having a fourth photosensor segment wherein density of the fourth photosensor segment is greater than density of the second photosensor segment. 
     
     
       31. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein the compensation means substantially equalizes the electrical signal of the higher resolution segments with the electrical signal of the lower resolution segments by summing and doubling the signals from the smaller sized photosensitive elements to yield a signal substantially equivalent to the signal produced by the larger sized photosensitive elements. 
     
     
       32. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein the compensation means substantially equalizes the electrical signal of the higher resolution segments with the electrical signal of the lower resolution segments by additional amplification of the signals from the smaller sized photosensitive elements to yield a signal substantially equivalent to the signal produced by the larger sized photosensitive elements. 
     
     
       33. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein the compensation means substantially equalizes the electrical signal of the higher resolution segments with the electrical signal of the lower resolution segments by increasing the light integration time of the signals from the smaller sized photosensitive elements to yield a signal substantially equivalent to the signal produced by the larger sized photosensitive elements. 
     
     
       34. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus as in  claim 5 , wherein the compensation means substantially equalizes the electrical signal of the higher resolution segments with the electrical signal of the lower resolution segments by increasing the illumination level which generate the signals from the larger sized photosensitive elements to yield a signal substantially equivalent to the signal produced by the smaller sized photosensitive elements. 
     
     
       35. A method as in  claim 15 , wherein a duplicate segment of the first photosensor segment is disposed such that the duplicate segment and the first photosensor segment are in the peripheral regions. 
     
     
       36. A method as in  claim 35 , wherein a third photosensor segment is disposed within the central region such that the third photosensor segment enables the following substep:
 ( a. 3   )  scanning a third portion of the original image using the third photosensor segment, wherein density of photosensitive elements within the third photosensor segment is greater than density of photosensitive elements within the second photosensor segment, such that the third portion of the original image is scanned with a third resolution.     
     
     
       37. A method as in  claim 16 , wherein the step of substantially equalizing the electrical signal of the higher resolution segments with the electrical signal of the lower resolution segments is implemented by summing and doubling the signals from the smaller sized photosensitive elements to yield a signal substantially equivalent to the signal produced by the larger sized photosensitive elements. 
     
     
       38. A method as in  claim 16 , wherein the step of substantially equalizing the electrical signal of the higher resolution segments with the electrical signal of the lower resolution segments is implemented by additional amplification of the signals from the smaller sized photosensitive elements to yield a signal substantially equivalent to the signal produced by the larger sized photosensitive elements. 
     
     
       39. A method as in  claim 16 , wherein the step of substantially equalizing the electrical signal of the higher resolution segments with the electrical signal of the lower resolution segments is implemented by increasing the light integration time of the signals from the smaller sized photosensitive elements to yield a signal substantially equivalent to the signal produced by the larger sized photosensitive elements. 
     
     
       40. A method as in  claim 16 , wherein the step of substantially equalizing the electrical signal of the higher resolution segments with the electrical signal of the lower resolution segments is implemented by increasing the illumination level which generates the signals from the larger sized photosensitive elements to yield a signal substantially equivalent to the signal produced by the smaller sized photosensitive elements. 
     
     
       41. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus, comprising:
   at least one first photosensor segment having a plurality of first photosensitive elements for scanning at a first resolution;        at least one second photosensor segment having a plurality of rows, each one of the plurality of rows having a plurality of second photosensitive elements for scanning at a second resolution, the at least one second photosensor segment adjacent to the at least one first photosensor segment, wherein the plurality of second photosensitive elements has a higher density than the plurality of first photosensitive elements so that an image is scanned at a higher resolution with the plurality of second photosensitive elements than with the plurality of first photosensitive elements; and        at least one third photosensor segment having a plurality of third photosensitive elements for scanning at a third resolution, the at least one third photosensor segment adjacent to the at least one second photosensor segment, wherein the plurality of third photosensitive elements has a higher density than the plurality of second photosensitive elements so that the image is scanned at the higher resolution with the plurality of third photosensitive elements than with the plurality of second photosensitive element.     
     
     
       42. An apparatus as in  claim 41 , wherein each of the plurality of second photosensitive elements are substantially a second size and wherein each element of the plurality of third photosensitive elements is substantially a third size, the second size being larger than the third size. 
     
     
       43. An apparatus as in  claim 41 , further comprising a means for scanning an image so that the image is first scanned across the at least one first photosensor segment, and then scanned across the at least one second photosensor segment, and then scanned across the at least one third photosensor segment in succession along a scanning path. 
     
     
       44. An apparatus as in  claim 43 , further comprising a memory so that data corresponding to the image scanned by the at least one first photosensor segment is stored in a first portion of the memory, wherein data corresponding to the image scanned by the at least one second photosensor segment is stored in a second portion of the memory, and wherein data corresponding to the image scanned by the at least one third photosensor segment is stored in a third portion of the memory. 
     
     
       45. An apparatus as in  claim 43 , further comprising a memory so that a user selects between one of the first photosensor segment, the second photosensor segment and the third photosensor segment such that data corresponding to the image scanned by the selected photosensor segment is stored in the memory. 
     
     
       46. A multiple resolution sensing apparatus, comprising:
   at least one first photosensor segment having photosensitive elements for scanning at a first resolution;        at least one second photosensor segment having a plurality of rows, each one of the plurality of rows having photosensitive elements for scanning at a second resolution, the at least one second photosensor segment adjacent to the at least one first photosensor segment; and;        at least one third photosensor segment having photosensitive elements for scanning at a third resolution, the at least one third photosensor segment adjacent to the at least one second photosensor segment,        wherein the photosensitive elements of the second photosensor segment have a higher density than the photosensitive elements of the first photosensor segment so that an image is scanned at a higher resolution with the photosensitive elements of the second photosensor segment than with the photosensitive elements of the first photosensor segment;        wherein, in creating a color image of the first resolution, the photosensitive elements of the first photosensor segment are used;        wherein, in creating a color image of the second resolution, the photosensitive elements of the second photosensor segment are used; and        wherein the photosensitive elements of the third photosensor segment have a higher density than the photosensitive elements of the second photosensor segment so that the image is scanned at the higher resolution with the photosensitive elements of the third photosensor segment than with the photosensitive elements of the second photosensor segment.     
     
     
       47. The apparatus of  claim 46 , wherein, in creating the color image of the first resolution, the photosensitive elements of the second photosensor segment also are used. 
     
     
       48. An apparatus as in  claim 46 , wherein each of the photosensitive elements of the first photosensor segment are substantially a first size and wherein each of the photosensitive elements of the second photosensor segment are substantially a second size, the first size being larger than the second size. 
     
     
       49. An apparatus as in  claim 48 , further comprising a memory so that data corresponding to the image scanned by the at least one first photosensor segment is stored in a first portion of the memory and wherein data corresponding to the image scanned by the at least one second photosensor segment is stored in a second portion of the memory. 
     
     
       50. An apparatus as in  claim 48 , further comprising a memory so that a user selects between the at least one first photosensor segment and the at least one second photosensor segment such that data corresponding to the image scanned by the selected photosensor segment is stored in the memory. 
     
     
       51. An apparatus as in  claim 46 , wherein an image is concurrently scanned across the at least one first photosensor segment and the at least one second photosensor segment along a scanning path such that a pixel area of the apparatus is increased to provide improved image quality. 
     
     
       52. An apparatus as in  claim 46 , wherein each of the photosensitive elements of the second photosensor segment is substantially a second size and wherein each of the photosensitive elements of the third photosensor segment is substantially a third size, the second size being larger than the third size. 
     
     
       53. An apparatus as in  claim 52 , further comprising a memory so that data corresponding to the image scanned by the at least one first photosensor segment is stored in a first portion of the memory, wherein data corresponding to the image scanned by the at least one second photosensor segment is stored in a second portion of the memory, and wherein data corresponding to the image scanned by the at least one third photosensor segment is stored in a third portion of the memory. 
     
     
       54. An apparatus as in  claim 52 , further comprising a memory so that a user selects between one of the first photosensor segment, the second photosensor segment and the third photosensor segment such that data corresponding to the image scanned by the selected photosensor segment is stored in the memory.