Image pickup apparatus for focusing an object image based on mirror reflected height of the object

Claim 2

An image pickup apparatus comprising: a sensor; a table on which an object is placed; an optical system for forming an object image on the sensor, wherein the object image concerns only a top view of the object a mirror member disposed on the side of the object; measuring means for measuring a height of the object based on a side view image of the object reflected in the mirror member; and focusing means for focusing the optical system based on a measurement result by the measuring means so that the top view image is in focus on the sensor.

Claim 3

An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical system varies a focal length.

Claim 4

An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising rectifying means for rectifying image data outputted from the sensor with digital variable magnification.

Claim 5

An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rectifying means rectifies the image data based on the variation of the focal length.

Claim 6

An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rectifying means rectifies the image data based on the variation of the focal length and distance from the sensor to the object.

Claim 7

An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the distance from the sensor to the table is constant.

Claim 8

An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the optical system includes a zoom lens.

Claim 9

An image pickup apparatus comprising: a sensor; an optical system for forming a top view image of an object on the sensor; taking means for taking an object edge information from an object image projected to a side direction; measuring means for measuring a height of the object based on the object edge information; and focusing means for focusing of the top view image based on the measuring result which is the object edge information.

Claim 10

An image pickup apparatus comprising: a sensor; an optical system for forming a top view image of an object on the sensor; taking means for taking an object edge information from an object image projected to a side direction; measuring means for measuring a height of the object based on the object edge information; and focusing means for focusing of the top view image based on the measuring result which is the object edge information.

Claim 11

An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the optical system varies a focal length.

Claim 12

An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 9, further comprising rectifying means for rectifying image date outputted from the sensor with digital variable magnification.

Claim 13

An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rectifying means rectifies the image data based on the variation of the focal length.

Claim 14

An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the rectifying means rectifies the image data based on the variation of the focal length and distance from the sensor to the object.

Claim 15

An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the optical system includes a zoom lens.

Claim 16

An image pickup apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising rectifying means for rectifying image data outputted from the sensor with digital variable magnification.

Claim 17

An image pickup apparatus comprising; a line sensor; an optical system for forming an object image on the line sensor; scanning means for scanning the object by moving the line sensor relatively to the object; distance measuring means for measuring a distance to the object at plural points along a scanning direction of the scanning means by judging a position on the line sensor on which an image of the object edge is formed based on the difference in brightness between the object image and a background image thereof formed on the line sensor; and focusing means for focusing the optical system based on the measurement result of the distance measuring means so that the object image is in focus on the line sensor.

Claim 18

An image pickup apparatus comprising; a line sensor; an optical system for forming an object image on the line sensor; scanning means for scanning the object by moving the line sensor relatively to the object; distance measuring means for measuring a distance to the object at plural points along a scanning direction of the scanning means by judging a position on the line sensor on which an image of the object edge is formed based on the difference in brightness between the object image and a background image thereof formed on the line sensor; and focusing means for focusing the optical system based on the measurement result of the distance measuring means so that the object image is in focus on the line sensor.

Claim 19

An image pickup apparatus for enabling a reproduction of an image of an object on a curved surface, such as an open book, comprising: a line sensor having a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices disposed linearly; a support surface on which the object is placed; an optical system for forming an image of the object placed on the support surface to the line sensor; scanning means for scanning the object by moving the line sensor relative to the object; measuring means for measuring a height of the object placed on the support surface at plural points along a scanning direction of the scanning means by judging a position on the line sensor on which an image of the object edge is formed based on a difference in brightness between the object image and the support surface image formed on the line sensor; and control means, effective for changing a relative positional relationship among the line sensor, the optical system and the object based on the measurement result of the measuring means so that the object image is in focus on the line sensor during scanning by the scanning means.

Claim 20

An image pickup apparatus for enabling a reproduction of an image of an object on a curved surface, such as an open book, comprising: a line sensor having a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices disposed linearly; a support surface on which the object is placed; an optical system for forming an image of the object placed on the support surface to the line sensor; scanning means for scanning the object by moving the line sensor relative to the object; measuring means for measuring a height of the object placed on the support surface at plural points along a scanning direction of the scanning means by judging a position on the line sensor on which an image of the object edge is formed based on a difference in brightness between the object image and the support surface image formed on the line sensor; and control means, effective for changing a relative positional relationship among the line sensor, the optical system and the object based on the measurement result of the measuring means so that the object image is in focus on the line sensor during scanning by the scanning means.