Image reading apparatus

U.S. Patent Number: 5394205

Abstract: An apparatus comprises an image sensing optical system including an image pickup element for converting an image to an electrical signal and a projection lens for projecting an image onto a photo-sensing plane of the image pickup element. The image sensing optical system is driven along an optical axis thereof while maintaining a relative positional relationship between the projection lens and the image pickup element to adjust the focal position. An apparatus may also comprise an image sensing optical system including an image pickup element for scanning an image to convert it to an electrical signal and a projection lens for projecting an image onto a photo-sensing plane of the image pickup element, a focus adjusting device for adjusting a focal position of the image sensing optical system and a detector for detecting an in-focus position of the image sensing optical system to the object. The focus adjusting device is controlled in accordance with the output of the detector so that the object is always within a depth of focus of the image sensing optical system.

Inventors: Ochiai; Toru (Tokyo, JP), Mochizuki; Masahiro (Kawasaki, JP), Ikeda; Soichi (Yaita, JP), Sato; Katsuhiro (Kuroiso, JP)

Assignee: Nikon Corporation (Tokyo, JP)

Application Number: 08/222,724

Issued: 1995-02-28

Expired: 2007-02-28

Classes: 353/101 ; 352/140

Field of search: 353/101,100,122,69 354/402,404 355/44,55,56 352/139,140

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