Patent ID: 6333795
Filing Date: 2001-12-25
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An image scanner connected to a host computer to transfer data to said host computer in accordance with a predetermined interface, the scanner comprising:a first read unit in a double-side read mode to read image data on a right side of a first document;a second read unit in the double-side read mode to read image data on a reverse side of said first document;a third read unit in a one-side read mode to read image data on a right side of a second document at a location different from said first read unit;a read control unit to control, in the double-side read mode, said first and second read units so that the image data on the right and reverse sides of said first document can be read simultaneously, and to control, in the one-side read mode, said third read unit so that the image data on the right side of said second document can be read;a signal processing unit to produce the image data on the right and reverse sides of said first document or the right side of said second document by subjecting the image data read by said first through third read units to predetermined operations; anda data transfer unit to transfer the image data on the right and reverse sides of said first document or the right side of said second document formed by said signal processing unit at a predetermined speed in accordance with said interface,wherein, in the double-side read mode, said first and second read units read the image data on the right and reverse sides of said first document under the control of said read control unit, and said data transfer unit transfers the image data on the right and reverse sides of said first document at a first data transfer rate in accordance with said interface, andwherein, in the one-side read mode, said third read unit reads the image data on the right side of said second document under the control of said read control unit, and said data transfer unit transferring the image data on the right side of said second document at a second data transfer rate in accordance with said interface.