A CCD assembly comprising: a semiconductor chip having a first face surface; an active light sensitive region located on the first face surface; an inactive region located on the first face surface next adjacent the active region; and a nonreflective coating applied over at least a portion of the inactive region.

A simple color separation apparatus includes a light source for radiating light on the document, a movable color filter set arrayed in parallel with the main-scanning direction, the movable color filter set includes filters selectively transmitting colors respectively, which separate into three colors the radiated light reflected from the document, wherein each filter has sufficient length to cover the light in the main-scanning direction and a width that prevents interference between colors of the reflected and separated light; a lens for image-forming the light transmitted by each filter of the color filter set; a three-line CCD sensor for converting the light image formed by the image-forming lens to electrical signals, wherein the three-line CCD sensor includes three lines arrayed in parallel with the main-scanning direction, each of which has a line width that is determined by the magnification of the lens; and a carriage for moving the color filter set in the sub-scanning direction. The color filter is removable to allow the color separation apparatus to perform double duty in a copier and/or scanner in color or black/white mode.

A compact optical scanner is disclosed. The scanner may comprise a platen member having a length and a width; wherein the platen member length is measured along a first axis and the platen member width is measured along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. The length of the platen member may be less than the width of the platen member. An imaging device may be movably mounted relative to the platen member.

An image reading apparatus for reading an original image photoelectrically includes: a light source; a holding device to hold an original having the original image in a predetermined read position, a light quantity control device to control quantity of read light incident on the original image, an image sensor having a row of line sensors with regard to three primary colors or more colors, each line sensor corresponding to each color and having a plurality of photoelectric transducing elements arranged in a direction, a scanning device to relatively move the original and an optical system to an auxiliary scanning direction perpendicular to the element arrangement direction and an adjusting device to adjust read conditions at the image sensor for each line sensor independently. The image reading apparatus according to the present invention is of a digital image reading apparatus by slit scanning and can perform efficiently the appropriate image reading that is adjusted to have a wide dynamic range and a good color balance in accordance with the original image and also output a reproduced image of high quality at constant high productivity by such as a digital photoprinter.

A document scanner carriage housing contains a pair of spaced mirrors whose spacing and parallelism is precisely maintained by floating metal spacer plates which are not affixed to the housing. Spaced springs urge one of the mirrors into engagement with the spacer plates, the other mirror being referenced to the molded plastic housing. The parallel facing image plane sides of the mirrors are substantially unobstructed by the spacer plates which contact them thus allowing the scanner to efficiently use a substantial proportion of the image planes of the mirrors and occupy a comparatively small footprint. The floating spacer plates and mirrors are cushioned against shock and vibration by compressed elastomeric pads on the underside of the housing cover which allows the spacing and parallelism of the mirrors to be maintained without direct affixation of the mirrors or spacer plates to the housing.