Patent ID: 7362479

Claim:
An image reading apparatus which reads images of original copies comprising: a first sensor including several light receiving elements arranged in a main scanning direction, a second sensor including several light receiving elements arranged in a main scanning direction with predetermined distance away from said first sensor in a sub scanning direction, a first output unit which outputs pixel signals received from each light receiving element of said first sensor in the arrangement order of the light receiving elements, a second output unit which outputs pixel signals received from even-numbered light receiving elements of the light receiving elements constituting said second sensor in the arrangement order of the light receiving elements, a third output unit which outputs pixel signals received from odd-numbered light receiving elements of the light receiving elements constituting said second sensor in the arrangement order of the light receiving elements, a first reading unit which adds up pixel signals sequentially output from said first output unit to be consecutive pixel units, and outputs the added pixel signals, a second reading unit which outputs the pixel signals sequentially output from one of said second and third output unit as pixel signals, and a mode selecting unit which operates said first reading unit when a command for a quality oriented reading mode is externally provided for an operation mode of the image reading apparatus, and operates said second reading unit when a command for a speed oriented reading mode is provided.