Patent ID: 6738164
Filing Date: 2004-05-18
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
A color image reading apparatus comprising:at least three line sensors arranged at regular intervals along the sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, each having a plurality of light receiving pixels arranged along the main scanning direction; an imaging optical system including at least one lens for focusing a light beam coming from a color image located at the reading position of the apparatus on said line sensors; and a diffraction grating for separating the light beam coming from said color image into a plurality of light beams having respective wavelengths different from each other in the sub-scanning direction, the optical axis of the at least one lens of said imaging optical system being eccentrically disposed within a cross section along the sub-scanning direction so as for said plurality of light beams produced by said diffraction grating to be focused on the respective line sensors at regular intervals.