Patent ID: 7508551
Filing Date: 2009-03-24
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
1. An image reading apparatus comprising: an optical unit for reading an image of a document, the optical unit having a home position, which is a position of the optical unit when the optical unit is in a standby state for starting reading of a document, and a low power-consumption position, which is a position of the optical unit when the image reading apparatus is in a low power-consumption mode and is a position at which the optical unit coincides with an edge of a white reference plate and a home position detector can not detect the optical unit; and a mechanism that shifts the optical unit to the low power-consumption position, which is different from the home position, just prior to shifting to the low power-consumption mode, wherein, when the optical unit is returning to the home position from the low power-consumption position, a reading preparation operation is performed, the reading preparation operation including having a light source turned on and having a shading carried out while the optical unit is returning to the home position from the low power-consumption position.