Author: claimsbot

1-13. (canceled)
14. A solid oxide fuel cell system comprising:
a reformer configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by using a raw material and water;
a solid oxide fuel cell including an anode and a cathode, and configured to generate electric power by using the hydrogen-containing gas supplied from the reformer to the anode and air supplied to the cathode;
a heat radiator configured to radiate heat from at least one of an anode off-gas discharged from the anode and a combustion exhaust gas generated by combusting the anode off-gas to generate condensed water;
a condensed water circulating passage configured to circulate the condensed water supplied from the heat radiator;
a condensed water tank provided on the condensed water circulating passage and configured to store the condensed water therein;
a condensed water pump provided on the condensed water circulating passage and configured to circulate the condensed water; and
a condensed wateroff-gas heat exchanger provided on the condensed water circulating passage and configured to exchange heat between the condensed water and an off-gas discharged from the solid oxide fuel cell to heat the condensed water by the off-gas;
wherein at least a part of the water supplied to the reformer is the condensed water.
15. The solid oxide fuel cell system according to claim 14,
wherein in the solid oxide fuel cell, a temperature of the anode and a temperature of the cathode during power generation are equal to or higher than 600 degrees C. and equal to or lower than 1000 degrees C.
16. A solid oxide fuel cell system comprising:
a reformer configured to generate a hydrogen-containing gas by using humidified air and a raw material;
a solid oxide fuel cell including an anode and a cathode, and configured to generate electric power by using the hydrogen-containing gas supplied from the reformer to the anode and air supplied to the cathode;
an anode off-gas heat radiator configured to radiate heat from an anode off-gas discharged from the anode to generate condensed water;
a condensed water circulating passage configured to circulate the condensed water supplied from the anode off-gas heat radiator;
a condensed water tank provided on the condensed water circulating passage and configured to store the condensed water therein;
a condensed water pump provided on the condensed water circulating passage and configured to circulate the condensed water;
a condensed wateroff-gas heat exchanger provided on the condensed water circulating passage and configured to exchange heat between the condensed water and an off-gas discharged from the solid oxide fuel cell to heat the condensed water by the off-gas; and
a humidifier provided on the condensed water circulating passage and configured to humidify the air by using the condensed water to generate the humidified air to be supplied to the reformer.
17. The solid oxide fuel cell system according to claim 16,
wherein in the solid oxide fuel cell, a temperature of the anode and a temperature of the cathode during power generation are equal to or higher than 600 degrees C. and equal to or lower than 1000 degrees C.
18. The solid oxide fuel cell system according to claim 16,
wherein a minimum discharge amount of the condensed water pump is equal to or more than 50 gminute.
19. The solid oxide fuel cell system according to claim 16,
wherein the off-gas used for heat exchange in the condensed wateroff-gas heat exchanger is a cathode off-gas discharged from the cathode.
20. The solid oxide fuel cell system according to claim 16,
wherein the off-gas used for heat exchange in the condensed wateroff-gas heat exchanger is the anode off-gas discharged from the anode.
21. The solid oxide fuel cell system according to claim 16, further comprising:
a condensed water heat radiator provided on the condensed water circulating passage in a location which is downstream of the humidifier and upstream of the condensed water tank and configured to radiate heat from the condensed water.
22. The solid oxide fuel cell system according to claim 16, further comprising:
a bypass air passage configured to bypass the humidifier such that unhumidified air is supplied to the reformer; and
a first switch configured to perform switching between a state in which the air is supplied to the reformer through the humidifier and a state in which the air is supplied to the reformer through the bypass air passage.
23. The solid oxide fuel cell system according to claim 16, further comprising:
a control unit configured to deactivate the condensed water pump during start-up.
24. The solid oxide fuel cell system according to claim 16, comprising:
a combustor configured to combust the anode off-gas and a cathode off-gas to generate a combustion gas,
wherein the off-gas used for heat exchange in the condensed wateroff-gas heat exchanger is the combustion gas discharged from the combustor.
25. The solid oxide fuel cell system according to claim 16,
wherein the anode off-gas heat radiator is configured to exchange heat between a liquid cooling medium and the anode off-gas to radiate heat from the anode off-gas,
the solid oxide fuel cell system further comprising:
a water storage amount detector configured to detect an amount of water stored in the condensed water tank;
a cooling medium circulating passage configured to circulate the cooling medium;
a cooling medium pump provided on the cooling medium circulating passage and configured to circulate the cooling medium;
a cooling medium heat radiator provided on the cooling medium circulating passage and configured to exchange heat between the cooling medium and atmospheric air to radiate heat from the cooling medium; and
a control unit configured to control a discharge amount of the cooling medium pump based on a result of detection of the water storage amount detector.
26. The solid oxide fuel cell system according to claim 16,
wherein the condensed water circulating passage includes:
a heat exchanger bypass passage configured to circulate the condensed water such that the condensed water does not flow through the condensed wateroff-gas heat exchanger; and
a second switch configured to perform switching between circulation of the condensed water through the condensed wateroff-gas heat exchanger and circulation of the condensed water through the heat exchanger bypass passage.
27. The solid oxide fuel cell system according to claim 16,
wherein the condensed water circulating passage includes:
a humidifier bypass passage configured to circulate the condensed water such that the condensed water does not flow through the humidifier; and
a third switch configured to perform switching between circulation of the condensed water through the humidifier and circulation of the condensed water through the humidifier bypass passage.
28. The solid oxide fuel cell system according to claim 14, further comprising:
an ion concentration detector configured to detect an ion concentration of the condensed water stored in the condensed water tank;
a notification unit; and
a control unit configured to cause the notification unit to output an alarm based on a result of detection of the ion concentration detector.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A binding update method for updating binding information for enabling route optimization between a first mobile terminal and a second mobile terminal as a correspondent terminal of the first mobile terminal, and
when the first mobile terminal has the binding information on the second mobile terminal, the method comprising the steps of:
causing the first mobile terminal to send the second mobile terminal a first pair of messages as messages including predetermined information on the first mobile terminal to acquire predetermined information on the second mobile terminal from the second mobile terminal;
causing the second mobile terminal to send the first mobile terminal a second pair of messages including the predetermined information on the second mobile terminal;
causing the first mobile terminal to send the second mobile terminal a third message to which authentication information is added, the authentication information generated based on the predetermined information on the second mobile terminal included in the second pair of messages;
causing the second mobile terminal to send the first mobile terminal a fourth message as a message including response information to the third message and to which authentication information is added, the authentication information generated based on the predetermined information on the first mobile terminal, and to update the binding information when the authentication information from the first mobile terminal is valid; and
causing the first mobile terminal to update the binding information when the authentication information added to the fourth message from the second mobile terminal is valid.
2. The binding update method according to claim 1, wherein
the second mobile terminal sends the first mobile terminal the predetermined information on the first mobile terminal by including the predetermined information in the second pair of messages, and
the first mobile terminal sends the second mobile terminal the predetermined information on the first mobile terminal included in the second pair of messages by including the predetermined information on the first mobile terminal in the third message.
3. The binding update method according to claim 2, wherein the second mobile terminal sends the predetermined information on the first mobile terminal by including the predetermined information on the first mobile terminal in the second pair of messages in such a format that the predetermined information on the first mobile terminal can be decoded by only the second mobile terminal.
4. The binding update method according to claim 1, wherein
the predetermined information on the first mobile terminal is a token (Token) generated based on a home address and a care-of address (CoA) of the second mobile terminal,
the predetermined information on the second mobile terminal is a token (Token) generated based on a home address and a care-of address (CoA) of the first mobile terminal,
the first pair of messages are messages for requesting the second mobile terminal to start a home address test (Home Test Init) and a care-of address test (Care-Of Test Init),
the second pair of messages are a HoT message and a CoT message to respond to the first pair of messages,
the third message is a binding update message to the second mobile terminal, and
the fourth message is a binding update message to the first mobile terminal.
5. A mobile terminal used by a binding update method for updating binding information for enabling route optimization between the mobile terminal and a correspondent terminal as a communication partner of the mobile terminal, and
when the mobile terminal has the binding information on the correspondent terminal, the mobile terminal comprising:
message creation means for creating a first pair of messages as messages including predetermined information on the mobile terminal to acquire predetermined information on the correspondent terminal from the correspondent terminal;
transmitting means for sending the generated first pair of messages to the correspondent terminal;
receiving means for receiving, from the correspondent terminal, a second pair of messages including the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal;
authentication information generating means for generating authentication information based on the received predetermined information on the correspondent terminal; and
updating means for updating the binding information, wherein
the message creation means creates a third message to which the authentication information generated by the authentication information generating means is added,
the transmitting means sends the generated third message to the correspondent terminal, and
the updating means determines whether authentication information as information received through the receiving means and generated by the correspondent terminal based on the predetermined information on the mobile terminal is valid, and if valid, the updating means updates the binding information.
6. A mobile terminal used by a binding update method for updating binding information for enabling route optimization between the mobile terminal and a correspondent terminal as a communication partner of the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal comprising:
receiving means for receiving a first pair of messages as messages including predetermined information on the correspondent terminal to acquire predetermined information on the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal;
message creation means for creating a second pair of messages including the predetermined information on the mobile terminal;
transmitting means for sending the correspondent terminal the generated second pair of messages;
authentication information generating means for generating authentication information based on the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal received through the receiving means; and
updating means for updating the binding information when authentication information as information received through the receiving means and generated by the correspondent terminal based on the predetermined information on the mobile terminal is valid, wherein
the message creation means creates a third message to which the authentication information generated by the authentication information generating means is added, and
the transmitting means sends the generated third message to the correspondent terminal.
7. The mobile terminal according to claim 5, wherein the message creation means creates the third message including the predetermined information on the mobile terminal included in the second pair of messages.
8. The mobile terminal according to claim 6, wherein the message creation means creates the second pair of messages including the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal included in the first pair of messages.
9. The mobile terminal according to claim 7, wherein the message creation means includes the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal in the third message in such a format that the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal can be decoded by only the mobile terminal.
10. The mobile terminal according to claim 8, wherein the message creation means includes the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal in the second pair of messages in such a format that the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal can be decoded by only the mobile terminal.
11. The mobile terminal according to claim 5, wherein
the predetermined information on the mobile terminal is a token (Token) generated based on a home address and a care-of address (CoA) of the correspondent terminal,
the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal is a token (Token) generated based on a home address and a care-of address (CoA) of the mobile terminal,
the first pair of messages are messages for requesting the correspondent terminal to start a home address test (Home Test Init) and a care-of address test (Care-Of Test Init),
the second pair of messages are a HoT message and a CoT message to respond to the first pair of messages, and
the third message is a binding update message to the correspondent terminal.
12. The mobile terminal according to claim 6, wherein
the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal is a token (Token) generated based on a home address and a care-of address (CoA) of the mobile terminal,
the predetermined information on the mobile terminal is a token (Token) generated based on a home address and a care-of address (CoA) of the correspondent terminal,
the first pair of messages are messages for requesting the mobile terminal to start a home address test (Home Test Init) and a care-of address test (Care-Of Test Init),
the second pair of messages are a HoT message and a CoT message to respond to the first pair of messages, and
the third message is a binding update message to the correspondent terminal.
13. A binding update method for updating binding information for enabling route optimization between a first mobile terminal and a second mobile terminal as a correspondent terminal of the first mobile terminal, and
when the first mobile terminal has the binding information on the second mobile terminal, the method comprising the steps of:
causing the first mobile terminal to send the second mobile terminal a first pair of messages as messages including predetermined information on the first mobile terminal to acquire predetermined information on the second mobile terminal from the second mobile terminal;
causing the second mobile terminal to send the first mobile terminal a second pair of messages including the predetermined information on the first mobile terminal and the predetermined information on the second mobile terminal;
causing the first mobile terminal to send the second mobile terminal a third message to which authentication information is added, the predetermined information on the first mobile terminal and the authentication information generated based on the predetermined information on the second mobile terminal included in the second pair of messages;
causing the second mobile terminal to send the first mobile terminal a fourth message as a message including response information to the third message and to which authentication information is added, the authentication information generated based on the predetermined information on the first mobile terminal, and to update the binding information when the authentication information from the first mobile terminal is valid; and
causing the first mobile terminal to update the binding information when the authentication information added to the fourth message from the second mobile terminal is valid, wherein
the predetermined information on the first mobile terminal is a token (Token) generated based on a home address and a care-of address (CoA) of the second mobile terminal,
the predetermined information on the second mobile terminal is a token (Token) generated based on a home address and a care-of address (CoA) of the first mobile terminal,
the first pair of messages are messages for requesting the second mobile terminal to start a home address test (Home Test Init) and a care-of address test (Care-Of Test Init),
the second pair of messages are a HoT message and a CoT message to respond to the first pair of messages,
the third message is a binding update message to the second mobile terminal, and
the fourth message is a binding update message to the first mobile terminal.
14. The binding update method according to claim 13, wherein the second mobile terminal sends the predetermined information on the first mobile terminal by including the predetermined information on the first mobile terminal in the second pair of messages in such a format that the predetermined information on the first mobile terminal can be decoded by only the second mobile terminal.
15. A mobile terminal used by a binding update method for updating binding information for enabling route optimization between the mobile terminal and a correspondent terminal as a communication partner of the mobile terminal, and
when the mobile terminal has the binding information on the correspondent terminal, the mobile terminal comprising:
message creation means for creating a first pair of messages as messages including predetermined information on the mobile terminal to acquire predetermined information on the correspondent terminal from the correspondent terminal;
transmitting means for sending the generated first pair of messages to the correspondent terminal;
receiving means for receiving, from the correspondent terminal, a second pair of messages including the predetermined information on the mobile terminal and the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal;
authentication information generating means for generating authentication information based on the received predetermined information on the correspondent terminal; and
updating means for updating the binding information, wherein
the message creation means creates a third message to which the authentication information generated by the authentication information generating means and the predetermined information on the mobile terminal are added,
the transmitting means sends the generated third message to the correspondent terminal, and
the updating means determines whether authentication information as information received through the receiving means and generated by the correspondent terminal based on the predetermined information on the mobile terminal is valid, and if valid, the updating means updates the binding information, wherein
the predetermined information on the mobile terminal is a token (Token) generated based on a home address and a care-of address (CoA) of the correspondent terminal,
the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal is a token (Token) generated based on a home address and a care-of address (CoA) of the mobile terminal,
the first pair of messages are messages for requesting the correspondent terminal to start a home address test (Home Test Init) and a care-of address test (Care-Of Test Init),
the second pair of messages are a HoT message and a CoT message to respond to the first pair of messages, and
the third message is a binding update message to the correspondent terminal.
16. The mobile terminal according to claim 15, wherein the message creation means includes the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal in the third message in such a format that the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal can be decoded by only the mobile terminal.
17. A mobile terminal used by a binding update method for updating binding information for enabling route optimization between the mobile terminal and a correspondent terminal as a communication partner of the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal comprising:
receiving means for receiving a first pair of messages as messages including predetermined information on the correspondent terminal to acquire predetermined information on the mobile terminal from the mobile terminal;
message creation means for creating a second pair of messages including the predetermined information on the mobile terminal and the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal;
transmitting means for sending the correspondent terminal the generated second pair of messages;
authentication information generating means for generating authentication information based on the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal received through the receiving means; and
updating means for updating the binding information when authentication information as information received through the receiving means and generated by the correspondent terminal based on the predetermined information on the mobile terminal is valid, wherein
the message creation means creates a third message to which the authentication information generated by the authentication information generating means is added, and
the transmitting means sends the generated third message to the correspondent terminal, wherein
the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal is a token (Token) generated based on a home address and a care-of address (CoA) of the mobile terminal,
the predetermined information on the mobile terminal is a token (Token) generated based on a home address and a care-of address (CoA) of the correspondent terminal,
the first pair of messages are messages for requesting the mobile terminal to start a home address test (Home Test Init) and a care-of address test (Care-Of Test Init),
the second pair of messages are a HoT message and a CoT message to respond to the first pair of messages, and
the third message is a binding update message to the correspondent terminal.
18. The mobile terminal according to claim 17, wherein the message creation means includes the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal in the second pair of messages in such a format that the predetermined information on the correspondent terminal can be decoded by only the mobile terminal.

1. A computer-implemented method for performing optimized backups of multiple independent volumes, at least a portion of the method being performed by a computing system comprising at least one processor, the method comprising:
identifying a plurality of independent volumes to be backed up to a backup server over a network, wherein:
each volume within the plurality of independent volumes corresponds to a different machine;
a deduplication subsystem that is external to the backup server creates and stores deduplicated versions of the plurality of independent volumes by identifying and storing shared regions of memory among the plurality of independent volumes a single time;

prior to transferring any data within, or any hashes of, the plurality of independent volumes to the backup server, obtaining information from the deduplication subsystem that indicates that at least one volume within the plurality of independent volumes comprises at least one shared region of memory that is identical to a region of memory on at least one other volume within the plurality of independent volumes;
when creating backups of the plurality of independent volumes, using the obtained information to:
transfer only a single copy of each shared region of memory to the backup server;
back up each shared region of memory a single time so that the backups of the plurality of independent volumes share a single copy of each shared region of memory.
2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the information from the deduplication subsystem comprises:
obtaining the information directly from the deduplication subsystem;
obtaining the information from the deduplication subsystem via at least one volume within the plurality of independent volumes.
3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, further comprising, prior to obtaining the information, transmitting a query requesting the information to at least one of:
the deduplication subsystem;
at least one volume within the plurality of independent volumes.
4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the deduplication subsystem comprises a deduplicated-snapshot subsystem programmed to create deduplicated snapshots of the plurality of independent volumes.
5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the deduplicated snapshots comprise copy-on-write snapshots.
6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the deduplication subsystem further comprises a deduplication engine that deduplicates data blocks received from the plurality of independent volumes.
7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein backing up each shared region of memory a single time comprises, for each shared region of memory, backing up a first volume that contains the shared region of memory to create a backup of the first volume.
8. The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein creating backups of the plurality of independent volumes comprises backing up additional volumes that contain the shared region of memory by:
only backing up regions of memory in the additional volumes that do not correspond to the shared region of memory;
referencing, in backups for the additional volumes, the shared region of memory in the backup of the first volume.
9. The computer-implemented of claim 8, wherein referencing, in the backups for the additional volumes, the shared region of memory in the backup of the first volume comprises storing, in the backups for the additional volumes, metadata that points to the shared region of memory in the backup of the first volume.
10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the shared region of memory comprises at least one data block.
11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of independent volumes comprise at least one of:
virtual-machine volumes;
physical-machine volumes.
12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of independent volumes are substantially identical to each other.
13. A system for performing optimized backups of multiple independent volumes, the system comprising: a volume-management module programmed to identify a plurality of independent volumes to be backed up to a backup server over a network, wherein: each volume within the plurality of independent volumes corresponds to a different machine; a deduplication subsystem that is external to the backup server creates and stores deduplicated versions of the plurality of independent volumes by identifying and storing shared regions of memory among the plurality of independent volumes a single time; a deduplication-information module programmed to obtain, prior to transferring any data within, or any hashes of, the plurality of independent volumes to the backup server, information from the deduplication subsystem that indicates that at least one volume within the plurality of independent volumes comprises at least one shared region of memory that is identical to a region of memory on at least one other volume within the plurality of independent volumes; a backup module programmed to use the obtained information when creating backups of the plurality of independent volumes to: transfer only a single copy of each shared region of memory to the backup server; back up each shared region of memory a single time so that the backups of the plurality of independent volumes share a single copy of each shared region of memory; at least one hardware processor configured to execute at least one of the volume-management module, the deduplication-information module, and the backup module.
14. The system of claim 13, wherein the deduplication-information module obtains the information from the deduplication subsystem by:
obtaining the information directly from the deduplication subsystem;
obtaining the information from the deduplication subsystem via at least one volume within the plurality of independent volumes.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the deduplication-information module is further programmed to transmit, prior to obtaining the information, a query requesting the information to at least one of:
the deduplication subsystem;
at least one volume within the plurality of independent volumes.
16. The system of claim 13, wherein the backup module backs up each shared region of memory a single time by, for each shared region of memory, backing up a first volume that contains the shared region of memory to create a backup of the first volume.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the backup module creates backups of the plurality of independent volumes by backing up additional volumes that contain the shared region of memory by:
only backing up regions of memory in the additional volumes that do not correspond to the shared region of memory;
referencing, in backups for the additional volumes, the shared region of memory in the backup of the first volume.
18. The system of claim 17, wherein the backup module references, in the backups for the additional volumes, the shared region of memory in the backup of the first volume by storing, in the backups for the additional volumes, metadata that points to the shared region of memory in the backup of the first volume.
19. A non-transitory computer-readable-storage medium comprising one or more computer executable instructions that, when executed by a computing device comprising at least one processor, cause the computing device to:
identify a plurality of independent volumes to be backed up to a backup server over a network, wherein:
each volume within the plurality of independent volumes corresponds to a different machine;
a deduplication subsystem that is external to the backup server creates and stores deduplicated versions of the plurality of independent volumes by identifying and storing shared regions of memory among the plurality of independent volumes a single time;

prior to transferring any data within, or any hashes of, the plurality of independent volumes to the backup server, obtain information from the deduplication subsystem that indicates that at least one volume within the plurality of independent volumes comprises at least one shared region of memory that is identical to a region of memory on at least one other volume within the plurality of independent volumes;
when creating backups of the plurality of independent volumes, using the obtained information to:
transfer only a single copy of each shared region of memory to the backup server;
back up each shared region of memory a single time so that the backups of the plurality of independent volumes share a single copy of each shared region of memory.
20. The non-transitory computer-readable-storage medium of claim 19, wherein the one or more computer executable instructions cause the computing device to obtain the information from the deduplication subsystem by: obtaining the information directly from the deduplication subsystem; obtaining the information from the deduplication subsystem via at least one volume within the plurality of independent volumes.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. An image reading apparatus comprising:
an illumination unit including a lamp to incorporate a change in temperature conditions to the emitting light amount, the lamp extending in a predetermined direction and having a predetermined length, the lamp illuminating a reading object to obtain the reflected light from the reading object;
a first control unit which changes the capacity of the lamp of the illumination unit to illuminate the reading object;
an image signal generation unit which generates an image signal by opto-electrically converting the reflected light;
an optical unit which inputs the reflected light to the image signal generation unit;
a second control unit which operates the image signal generation unit;
a white reference marker which provides a reference for shading correction and illuminance of an illumination light to illuminate the reading object;
an image processing unit which compensates a fluctuation in an image signal caused by any one of or all of the image signal generation unit, the illumination unit and the optical unit, and performs shading correction of the output of the image signal generation unit to set a reference for the output level of the image signal generation unit;
a cooling unit which cools the lamp of the illumination unit;
a third control unit which operates the cooling unit; and
a control amount setting unit which sets the cooling amount when operating the cooling unit by the third control unit, and gives an instruction to the third control unit.
2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cooling unit includes at least two fans, the fans provided at the positions satisfying the predetermined conditions concerning the length direction of the illumination unit; and each of the fans can be changed independently in the distance to the lamp andor the number of revolution.
3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an uniformalizing member which prevents the wind generated by the fan from applying directly to the lamp of the illumination unit.
4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the uniformalizing member is made of metal with high thermal conductivity.
5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising an uniformalizing member which prevents the wind generated by the fan from applying directly to the lamp of the illumination unit and the first control unit.
6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the uniformalizing member is made of metal with high thermal conductivity.
7. An image reading apparatus comprising:
an illumination unit including a lamp to incorporate a change in temperature conditions to the emitting light amount, the lamp extending in a predetermined direction and having the distribution of the emitting light amount in the length direction, the lamp illuminating a reading object to obtain the reflected light from the reading object;
a lamp lighting circuit which changes the capacity of the lamp of the illumination unit to illuminate the reading object;
a line CCD sensor which generates an image signal by opto-electrically changing the reflected light;
an optical unit which transmits the reflected light to the light receiving surface of the line CCD sensor;
a CCD sensor driving unit which operates the line CCD sensor;
a white reference marker which provides a reference for shading correction and illuminance of an illumination light to illuminate the reading object;
an image processing unit which compensates a fluctuation in an image signal caused by any one of or all of the line CCD sensor, the illumination unit and the optical unit, and performs shading correction of the output of the line CCD sensor to set a reference for the output level of the line CCD sensor;
a cooling fan which generates a cooling wind for cooling the lamp of the illumination unit;
an illuminance comparing unit which compares the image signal outputted from both ends in the length direction of the line CCD sensor and the image signal outputted from the part close to the center in the length direction of the line CCD sensor, among the reflected lights obtained when the white reference marker is illuminated by the lamp, and sets the wind amount of the cooling wind to be outputted by the cooling fan;
a motor driving unit which operates the cooling fan; and
a control amount setting unit which sets a value to be instructed to the motor driving unit, to achieve the wind amount of the cooling wind to be outputted by the cooling fan.
8. The image reading apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the cooling fan is provided at least two at predetermined positions in the length direction of the lamp of the illumination unit, operable independently each other.
9. The image reading apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control amount setting unit sets a value to be instructed to the motor driving unit to achieve the wind amount of the cooling wind to be outputted by the cooling fan, until the difference obtained by the illuminance comparing unit by comparing the outputs at the center in the length direction of the line CCD sensor and at both ends in the length direction of the line CCD sensor comes in \xb15%.