Patent ID: 7139105
Filing Date: 2006-11-21
Classification: G06K,H04N

Abstract:
1. An image reading apparatus for optically reading an image, comprising: lighting means for lighting a predetermined region including an object to be read; image pickup means for receiving reflected light from the predetermined region lit by the lighting means and for outputting a corresponding image pickup signal; lighting control means for controlling an amount of light emitted by the lighting means in a predetermined range so as to control the image pickup signal output from the image pickup means to a proper level; and determining means for determining a dark image pickup state based on the image pickup signal output from the image pickup means; wherein the lighting control means controls the amount of light emitted by the lighting means to be low when the determining means determines the dark image pickup state; and wherein the lighting means is configured to repeatedly generate pulsed light in units of image pickup frames, the determining means determines the dark image pickup state in units of the image pickup frames, and the lighting control means controls the amount of light emitted by the lighting means in units of the image pickup frames.