IMAGE PROCESSOR, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, AND IMAGE PROCESSING METHOD

An image processor includes a storage unit (231, 232; 233); a signal processing unit (211) to perform signal processing on a first visible light component including an invisible light component and a first invisible light component received from an image sensor (9a, 9b), to generate a second first visible light component and a second first invisible light component, respectively; a signal setting unit (211) to set a first operation enable signal to a valid level in a first period based on execution of the signal processing by the signal processing unit (211), and set a second operation enable signal to a valid level after an elapse of the first period; and an offset component removal unit (212) to perform an offset component removal operation in a period in which the first operation enable signal indicates the valid level while storing data in process in the storage unit (231, 232; 233). The offset component removal operation is for removing an offset component from each of the second visible light component and the second invisible light component, to generate a third invisible light component and a third visible light component, respectively. The image processor further includes an invisible component removal unit (213; 213A) to perform an invisible component removal operation in a period in which the second operation enable signal indicates the valid level while storing data in process in the storage unit (231, 232; 233). The invisible component removal operation is for removing the third invisible light component from the third visible light component, to generate image data of a fourth visible light component from which the invisible light component has been removed.