JP2004193714A - Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reading apparatus of a board shape with a low profile and a light weight without a mechanical drive part, and to provide an image forming apparatus employing the same, and an image processing system. <P>SOLUTION: An original 500 is placed on a transparent original platen board 130. Each small region of a light emitting layer 200 has two states; a light emission state and a transparent state, and a scanning processing control section 121 controls the small region 210 to be set to the light emitting state and produce a scanning ray. Each small region of a liquid crystal slit layer 300 is provided under the light emitting layer 200, has two states; a light shield state and a transparent state, and a slit processing control section 122 controls formation of a slit 310. A light receiving region 410 of a light receiving element layer 400 selected by a light receiving processing control section 123 placed under the liquid crystal slit layer 300 performs the light receiving processing. The scanning processing control section 121 selects the small regions in the light emission state in prescribed orders to move the scanning ray, and the slit control section 122 selects the small regions in the transparent state in prescribed orders to move the slit. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image reading device, an image forming device, and an image processing device. The image reading device includes, for example, a flatbed scanner, a handy scanner, a document reader, and an OCR device that output image reading data to a computer. The image forming apparatus and the image processing apparatus include, for example, an analog copying apparatus and a digital copying apparatus having an image reading apparatus, a facsimile apparatus having an image reading apparatus, and a computer system having a printer and a display apparatus in addition to the image reading apparatus. And so on.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, scanners have been used as image reading devices such as monochrome image scanners and color image scanners, and as input devices for image forming devices and image processing devices such as monochrome digital copying machines, color digital copying machines, monochrome facsimile machines, and color facsimile machines. Used. In these devices, miniaturization and weight reduction are strongly desired.
[0003]
FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a conventional scanner. The flatbed scanner 1001 includes a platen glass 1004 on which a document is placed and a platen cover 1003 on the upper surface of a casing 1002.
[0004]
A white reference plate 1005 for shading correction is provided at one end of the platen glass 1004.
[0005]
Below the platen glass 1004, a first carriage 1008 on which a halogen lamp 1006 and a first reflecting mirror 1007, which are light sources for exposing a document, are mounted, and a second reflecting mirror 1009, and a third reflecting mirror 1010 are mounted. The second carriage 1011 is provided to be reciprocally movable in the illustrated scanning direction by driving a stepping motor (not shown).
[0006]
The halogen lamp 1006 is provided so as to emit light at a predetermined angle to the reading surface of the white reference plate 1005 and the document glass 1004 (the upper surface of the document glass 1004 in FIG. 16).
[0007]
A CCD linear image sensor (hereinafter simply referred to as a CCD) 1012, which is a photoelectric conversion element, and a lens unit 1013 for forming an image on the CCD 1012 are provided on a light path reflected from the third reflection mirror 1010. . The CCD 1012 is mounted on a sensor board 1015 as a substrate.
[0008]
Light reflected by the white reference plate 1005 or the document enters the CCD 1012 via the first, second, and third reflecting mirrors 1007, 1009, and 1010 and the lens unit 1013. The CCD 1012 outputs a voltage corresponding to the amount of incident light as analog image data.
[0009]
The image reading apparatus 1001 scans an original by exposing and scanning the first and second carriages 1008 and 1011 by driving a stepping motor (not shown).
[0010]
Note that the first carriage 1008 and the second carriage 1011 are simultaneously moved through a power transmission mechanism (not shown). This power transmission mechanism (not shown) is set such that the moving distance of the second carriage 1011 is half the moving distance of the first carriage 1008, and wherever the first and second carriages 1008, 1011 move. The optical path length of the reflected light from the document to the CCD 1012 is always constant.
[0011]
Note that, here, the direction in which the CCDs 1012 are arranged is the main scanning direction, and the direction in which the first carriage 1008 and the second carriage 1011 move is the sub-scanning direction.
[0012]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The configuration of the above-described conventional image reading apparatus has the following problems.
[0013]
First, the conventional image reading apparatus has a large casing and a large weight. Usually, since the image reading device is installed on the desk of the user, it is preferable to make the image reading device as small as possible. In recent years, with the mobile computing environment being prepared, there is an increasing demand for executing image reading processing at a destination. The conventional image reading apparatus requires a first carriage including a light source for scanning, and the conventional image reading apparatus uses a second carriage for selecting a light beam to be received by the CCD 1012 from among reflected light beams from a document. A large number of mirrors included in one carriage and the second carriage are required. Since there are mechanical driving parts such as the first carriage 1008 and the second carriage 1011, the apparatus housing is large and heavy, which is inconvenient to carry.
[0014]
Second, in the conventional image reading apparatus, there is a problem that a mechanical vibration sound and a mechanical friction sound are generated due to the mechanical driving part of the carriage at the time of scanning. In the conventional image reading apparatus, it is necessary to mechanically move the first carriage 1008 and the second carriage 1011 in the scanning process and irradiate the scanning light beam to the document reading surface. There are various methods for mechanically driving the first carriage 1008 and the second carriage 1011. For example, the first carriage 1008 and the second carriage 1011 are driven by applying a torque by a wheel and a belt and sliding on a rail. At that time, a mechanical vibration sound and a mechanical friction sound are generated.
[0015]
Third, in the conventional image reading apparatus, there is a problem of durability and accuracy of a mechanical driving part. Failure to affect durability and accuracy, such as abrasion and breakage of mechanical parts such as belts and wheels, and irregular driving due to distortion or looseness, may occur.
[0016]
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a thin and lightweight image reading apparatus without a mechanical driving part, an image forming apparatus including the image reading apparatus, and an image processing apparatus including the image reading apparatus. I do.
[0017]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention includes a platen transparent plate having a document reading surface on which a document is placed, and a light emitting layer provided below the document reading surface. There is a plurality of small regions, each small region has at least two states of a light emitting state and a transparent state, a light emitting layer for generating a scanning light beam for irradiating the original, and provided below the light emitting layer A liquid crystal slit layer having a plurality of liquid crystal sub-regions, each sub-region having at least two states of a light-shielding state and a transparent state, and forming a slit for reflected light from the original; A light receiving element layer provided below a liquid crystal slit layer, the light receiving element including: a light receiving element; and an optical system that forms an image of a reflected light beam from the original passing through the slit on the light receiving element. Element layer Those were example.
[0018]
Further, in the image reading device according to claim 2 of the present invention, in the image reading device according to claim 1, the small area of the light emitting layer is set to a light emitting state, and the other small area is set to a transparent state. A scanning process for generating a scanning light beam for irradiating a document is controlled, and in the liquid crystal slit layer, a slit is formed in a state where some of the small regions are in a transparent state and other small regions are in a light-shielding state. Is controlled to selectively pass a part of the slit.
[0019]
An image reading apparatus according to a third aspect of the present invention is the image reading apparatus according to the first or second aspect, wherein the light emitting layer in the light emitting layer is switched to another light emitting area in a predetermined order. The irradiation position of the scanning light beam is moved, and in the liquid crystal slit layer, the small area to be made transparent is switched to another small area in a predetermined order to move the slit formation position.
[0020]
With the above-described configuration, the mechanical drive portion that has been required conventionally can be eliminated. That is, the image reading apparatus of the present invention generates and scans a scanning light beam by the light emitting layer, so that the first carriage including the scanning light source required in the conventional image reading apparatus is unnecessary, and the liquid crystal slit layer allows By forming the slit, the reflected light from the document can be selected and passed with high accuracy, so that the first carriage and the first carriage for selecting a part of the reflected light required by the conventional image reading apparatus are provided. Many mirrors included in the second carriage are not required.
Since each of the light emitting layer, the liquid crystal slit layer, and the light receiving element layer of the image reading device of the present invention can be thin, a thin and lightweight board-shaped image reading device can be obtained.
[0021]
Next, in the image reading apparatus according to claim 4 of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the document area covered by the document placed on the platen transparent plate is removed. A document area sensor for detecting the document area information; receiving a notification of the document area information from the document area sensor; and limiting a range of generating the scanning light beam in the light emitting layer to a range of the document area.
With the above configuration, the size of the document placed on the platen transparent plate and the document area according to its position are dynamically detected, so that the operator does not need to specify the document area and directly input the document table transparent. It is only necessary to place the original on the plate surface.
[0022]
Next, in the image reading apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, size information of a document placed on the platen transparent plate is input. A document size information input unit, receiving notification of document size information from the document size information input unit, and limiting a range of generating a scanning light beam in the light emitting layer to a range corresponding to the size information of the document. is there.
With the above configuration, the operator only has to specify and input a document size and place the document at a predetermined position on the surface of the platen transparent plate.
[0023]
Next, in the image reading device according to claim 6 of the present invention, in the image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, each small region of the light emitting layer is formed at a predetermined angle, A slit of the liquid crystal slit layer is formed at a position where the reflected light beam is received.
With the above configuration, the scanning light beam can be irradiated to the original reading surface at a predetermined angle, and by adjusting the irradiation angle, the amount of reflected light reflected at the predetermined angle is increased, and the light receiving element passes through the slit of the liquid crystal slit layer. The level of reflected light received by the layer can be increased.
[0024]
Next, an image reading apparatus according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the image reading apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the original reading is performed in accordance with an original area where the original is placed. A parallel processing control unit that divides a surface into a plurality of image reading small ranges, each of which generates the scanning light beam in the light emitting layer, forms the slit in the liquid crystal slit layer, and reads the image in the light receiving element layer. By independently executing the image reading small range, the image reading processing for the image reading small range is performed in parallel.
According to the above configuration, since the original reading surface is automatically divided into a plurality of image reading small ranges and the image reading processing is executed independently, the image reading processing of the entire apparatus is speeded up by the parallel processing of the image reading processing. You.
[0025]
Next, in the image reading apparatus according to claim 8 of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to claim 7, each of the partial image data read from each of the small image reading ranges is collected to form the entire image data. An image synthesizing unit for performing an image synthesizing process for synthesizing is provided.
According to the above configuration, in the image reading device, the partial images read by the parallel processing can be combined as one whole image.
[0026]
Next, in the image reading apparatus according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the eighth aspect, the parallel processing control unit is configured to control both of the image reading small ranges at a boundary where the small image reading ranges are adjacent to each other. The same area near the boundary is added to the small image reading area as an overhead area, and in the image reading processing of the small image reading area, the image reading processing is performed including the overhead area. In the image synthesizing process between adjacent partial images, the image synthesizing process is executed while matching image data corresponding to the overhead area.
With the above configuration, the entire image can be obtained while checking whether the synthesis of the partial images is performed correctly.
[0027]
Next, an image reading apparatus according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the image reading apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, wherein the image reading start mode includes at least two modes: an auto start mode and a manual start mode. A document set detection unit for detecting that a document has been set on the document reading surface, and in the auto start mode, receiving a notification of document set detection information from the document set detection unit, This automatically starts the generation of the scanning light beam in the light emitting layer, the formation of the slit in the liquid crystal slit layer, and the reading of the original image in the light receiving element layer.
With the above configuration, the operator need only place the original directly on the platen transparent plate surface, eliminating the need for the operator to manually press the start button by manually inputting the start button, and automatically performing the image reading process. Will start.
[0028]
An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes an image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and an image forming unit that forms an image based on image data read by the image reading apparatus. is there.
[0029]
Further, an image processing system according to the present invention includes the image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and an image processing unit that performs image processing based on image data read by the image reading device. is there.
[0030]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of an image reading apparatus, an image forming apparatus, and an image processing system of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the following specific examples.
[0031]
(Embodiment 1)
1 shows an image reading device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The image reading device according to the first embodiment of the present invention has a three-layer structure of a light emitting layer, a liquid crystal slit layer, and a light receiving element layer, and does not have a mechanical driving part required in a conventional image reading device. . Each layer is formed as a thin film to provide a board-shaped image reading device.
[0032]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating the basic concept of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 1A is a top view, and FIG. 1B is a longitudinal sectional view.
FIG. 2A is a diagram schematically illustrating a state of a scanning process in a light emitting layer as a first layer, and FIG. 2B is a longitudinal sectional view schematically illustrating a structure of a small region of the light emitting layer.
FIG. 3A is a view schematically showing a state of slit processing in a liquid crystal slit layer as a second layer, FIG. 3B is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a structure of a small region of the liquid crystal slit layer, FIG. 3C is a diagram schematically showing another structure of the small region of the liquid crystal slit layer.
FIG. 4A is a diagram schematically illustrating a state of light receiving processing in a third light receiving element layer, and FIG. 4B is a diagram schematically illustrating a structure of a small region of the light receiving element layer.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 1A, an image reading apparatus 100 of the present invention includes a casing 110, includes a control unit 120 inside the casing 110, and an outer surface of the casing 110 has a document reading surface on which a document is placed. The original table has a transparent plate 130. It should be noted that a platen cover, which has conventionally been required, is not provided. The operator places the document directly on the platen transparent plate 130.
The control unit 120 includes a scanning processing control unit 121, a slit processing control unit 122, and a light receiving processing control unit 123.
[0034]
As shown in FIG. 1B, the image reading device 100 has a three-layer structure of a light emitting layer 200, a liquid crystal slit layer 300, and a light receiving element layer 400 inside a casing 110.
[0035]
The light emitting layer 200 is provided below the original reading surface of the original plate transparent plate 130, has a plurality of small areas, and each small area has at least two states of a light emitting state and a transparent state. It is not particularly limited as long as it is thin and has two states of a light emitting state and a transparent state. For example, each small region is formed of an organic EL element (organic electroluminescent element) having two states of a light emitting state and a transparent state. A light-emitting layer; For example, as shown in FIG. 2B, each organic EL element includes an organic EL layer 201 sandwiched between transparent electrodes 202 and 203, and emits light when a voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes 202 and 203. Thus, when no voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes 202 and 203, the transparent electrodes become transparent. By controlling the voltage applied to the transparent electrode as described above, the light emitting state and the transparent state of each small region of the light emitting layer can be controlled.
[0036]
The example of FIG. 2A is an example in which the segment display method of the static drive is adopted. The light emitting layer 200 has vertically long linear small areas, and the light emitting state and the transparent state of each small area are different. It can be switched. The light emitting layer 200 generates a scanning light beam by controlling switching between the light emitting state and the transparent state of the small area.
[0037]
In the configuration of FIG. 2A, the scanning processing control unit 121 sets a part of the light emitting layer 200 to a light emitting state 210 and sets the other small areas to a transparent state 220 to generate a scanning light beam for irradiating the original. Perform processing. The small area in the light emitting state 210 forms a bright line as shown by a thick line. This bright line becomes a scanning light beam. All other small areas are in the transparent state 220.
[0038]
In the scanning process, the scanning process control unit 121 shifts the irradiation position of the scanning light beam by switching a small region of the light emitting layer 200 to be in the light emitting state 210 to another small region in a predetermined order. In FIG. 2A, the small areas in the light emitting state 210 are successively switched to adjacent small areas in the direction of the arrow, and the other small areas are made transparent, so that the bright line in the light emitting state 210 is changed. The same effect can be obtained as if the scanning light beam were moving in the direction of the arrow.
The irradiated scanning light beam is applied to the original placed on the original reading surface of the original plate transparent plate 130.
[0039]
Next, the liquid crystal slit layer 300 is provided below the light-emitting layer 200, has a plurality of small regions of liquid crystal, and each small region has at least two states of a light shielding state and a transparent state. The liquid crystal slit layer 300 forms a slit for reflected light with some small areas in a transparent state and other small areas in a light-shielded state. A part of the reflected light from the original of the scanning light irradiated by the slit is selectively transmitted.
In the case of a conventional image reading apparatus, all the reflected light from the document enters the inside of the image reading apparatus.Therefore, the mirror is indispensable in order to select a part of the mirror by the mirror included in the carriage. In the image reading apparatus of the present invention, a part of the reflected light beam is selectively passed by the slit formed in the liquid crystal slit layer, so that the carriage, which is conventionally required, becomes unnecessary.
[0040]
In the present invention, the liquid crystal slit layer 300 is not particularly limited as long as it is thin and has two states of a light shielding state and a transparent state. Here, a liquid crystal element is used. The driving method and type of the liquid crystal element are not particularly limited and can be widely applied.For example, when the liquid crystal element is a segment-type liquid crystal element by static driving, each of the liquid crystal slit layers is formed as a linear vertically long segment. It is a small area. In the case of a liquid crystal element of a simple matrix type by dynamic driving, a row (horizontal direction in FIG. 3) and a column (vertical direction in FIG. 3) are provided, and one linear vertical column is formed in a small area of the liquid crystal slit layer. And
[0041]
Each liquid crystal element of the liquid crystal slit layer 300 includes, for example, a polarizing film 301, a glass substrate 302, a transparent electrode 303 serving as a pixel electrode, an alignment film 304, a liquid crystal 305, and an alignment film 306 as shown in FIG. , A transparent electrode 307 as a counter electrode, a glass substrate 308, and an analysis film 309.
As shown in FIG. 3B, the reflected light from the document enters the liquid crystal elements constituting each small area of the liquid crystal slit layer 300 from above.
[0042]
The polarizing film 301 is a film that creates polarized light by transmitting only light that vibrates in a specific direction in reflected light.
The transparent electrodes 303 and 307 are electrodes made of a transparent and highly conductive substance such as ITO (indium tin oxide).
The alignment films 304 and 306 are films for aligning liquid crystal molecules, and are, for example, heat-resistant resins such as polyimide.
[0043]
The liquid crystal 305 having the configuration of FIG. 3B according to the first embodiment is, for example, a field effect birefringent liquid crystal (ECB liquid crystal), a twisted nematic liquid crystal (TN liquid crystal), or a super twisted nematic liquid crystal ( STN type liquid crystal), ferroelectric type liquid crystal (FLC type liquid crystal) and the like.
[0044]
Like the polarizing film 301, the analyzing film 309 is a film that transmits only light that vibrates in a specific direction among transmitted light.
[0045]
The liquid crystal element constituting each small area of the liquid crystal slit layer 300 shown in FIG. 3B selectively blocks reflected light from a document by a combination of the polarizing film 301, the state of the liquid crystal 305, and the analyzing film 309. Or let through. The state of the liquid crystal 305 can be controlled by switching whether or not to apply a voltage to the upper and lower transparent electrodes 303 and 307. By controlling the state of the liquid crystal 305 in this manner, the light shielding state 320 and the transparent state 310 of each small area of the liquid crystal slit layer 300 are controlled.
[0046]
For example, in the case of an ECB type liquid crystal, when no voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes 303 and 307, the ECB type liquid crystal is oriented in a certain direction, and when a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules are tilted at a certain angle, and polarization is caused by a birefringence effect. The state changes. When no voltage is applied, the light beam that has passed through the liquid crystal 305 cannot pass through the light analysis film 301 because the birefringence effect cannot be obtained, and the light beam that has passed through the liquid crystal 305 is birefringent when a voltage is applied. Since the effect is obtained, the light can pass through the light analysis film 309 and becomes transparent.
[0047]
In the case of TN-type liquid crystal and STN-type liquid crystal, the liquid crystal molecules are twisted and aligned, and when a voltage is not applied to the transparent electrodes 303 and 307, the polarization plane of light passing therethrough with the liquid crystal molecules being twisted is rotated. The arrangement angle of the analysis film 309 is adjusted so that the light beam after the rotation of the polarization plane can be transmitted as it is. When a voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes 303 and 307, the liquid crystal molecules are untwisted so that the rotation of the polarization plane of the light passing therethrough is eliminated, and the light is analyzed so that the light beam whose polarization plane does not rotate is shielded. The arrangement angle of the film 309 is adjusted.
[0048]
In the case of the FLC type liquid crystal, a state where a constant voltage is applied in a state where the original helical structure is unwound by forming a thin film is set as an initial state, and when a voltage is applied in the opposite direction, the liquid crystal molecules are inclined to obtain a birefringence effect. . When no voltage is applied, the light passing through the liquid crystal 305 cannot have a birefringence effect and cannot pass through the light analyzing film 309, so that the liquid crystal element is in a light-shielding state. When a voltage is applied, the light passing through the liquid crystal 305 is birefringent. Since the effect can be obtained, the light can pass through the light analysis film 309, and the liquid crystal element becomes a transparent state.
[0049]
A large number of small regions having this structure are prepared to form the liquid crystal slit layer 300, and the transparent state 310 and the light shielding state 320 can be controlled in units of the small regions.
[0050]
In addition, each of the small regions of the liquid crystal slit layer 300 according to the first embodiment can have a configuration other than the configuration illustrated in FIG. FIG. 3C is a diagram schematically showing a vertical cross section of a small region of the liquid crystal slit layer 300 according to another configuration of the present invention.
From the top, a glass substrate 302, a transparent electrode 303, an alignment film 304, a liquid crystal 305, an alignment film 306, a transparent electrode 307, and a glass substrate 308 are provided. The structure of the small area shown in FIG. 3C is different from the structure of the small area shown in FIG. 3B in that the polarizing film 301 and the light analyzing film 309 are not provided.
[0051]
As an example of the liquid crystal 305 having the structure in FIG. 3C, a guest-host liquid crystal (GH liquid crystal) or the like can be given.
The GH type liquid crystal is a mixture of liquid crystal molecules (host) and dye molecules (guest). In the GH type liquid crystal according to the first embodiment of the present invention, a black or a dark dye close to black is mixed as dye molecules. When no voltage is applied to the transparent electrodes 303 and 307, in the GH type liquid crystal, the dye molecules are aligned horizontally with the liquid crystal molecules (state vertically aligned with the light), and the light is absorbed by the dye molecules. State. If black or dark and dark shades close to black are selected as the dye molecules, the light is substantially shielded. When a voltage is applied, the liquid crystal molecules rise vertically, and the dye molecules also rise vertically (parallel to the light rays), so that absorption of the light rays disappears. That is, it becomes transparent.
[0052]
A large number of small regions having these structures are prepared to form a liquid crystal layer, and the transparent state 310 and the light-shielded state 320 are controlled for each small region.
[0053]
The above-described ECB type liquid crystal, TN type liquid crystal, STN type liquid crystal, FLC type liquid crystal, and GH type liquid crystal are merely examples, and various types of liquid crystal and various operation methods can be used. The present invention may be applied to any liquid crystal layer as long as the transparent state and the light-shielded state of each small area can be controlled by switching the applied voltage on and off, and the type and operation method are not particularly limited. It is.
[0054]
As shown in FIG. 3A, the liquid crystal slit layer 300 has vertically long linear small areas, and the transparent state 310 and the light blocking state 320 of each small area are switched. The liquid crystal slit layer 300 forms a slit by controlling switching between the transparent state 310 and the light blocking state 320 of the small area.
[0055]
The slit processing control unit 122 controls switching between two states of the light shielding state 320 and the transparent state 310 of each small area of the liquid crystal slit layer 300. As shown in FIG. 3A, the slit processing control unit 122 forms a slit in the liquid crystal slit layer 300 by setting a part of the small area to a transparent state 310 and setting the other small area to a light-shielding state 320. Is performed to selectively pass a part of the reflected light beam.
In the configuration of FIG. 3A, the small area in the transparent state 310 forms a linear slit. All other small areas are in the light-shielded state 320.
[0056]
In the slit processing, the slit processing control unit 122 moves the slit forming position by switching the small area of the liquid crystal slit layer 300 to be in the transparent state 310 to another small area in a predetermined order. In FIG. 3A, the small area in the transparent state 310 is switched to an adjacent small area in the direction of the arrow, and the other small areas are in a light-shielding state, so that the slit in the transparent state 310 is as if by an arrow. The same effect as when moving in the direction is obtained.
[0057]
Next, the light receiving element layer 400 is provided below the liquid crystal slit layer 300, and the light receiving element 401 and an optical system 402 that forms an image on the light receiving element 401 of light reflected from a document passing through the slit of the liquid crystal slit layer 300. And
[0058]
The light receiving element 401 is not particularly limited as long as it can convert a received optical signal into an electric signal, and can be widely applied. For example, a CCD or a contact image sensor as a photoelectric conversion element may be used. As shown in FIG. 4A, the light receiving elements 401 are formed in a matrix on the entire surface of the document reading surface.
[0059]
The optical system 402 is not particularly limited and may be widely applied as long as it forms an image on the light receiving element 401 of a reflected light beam from a document passing through the slit of the liquid crystal slit layer 300. For example, there is a rod lens array. As shown in FIG. 4A, the optical system 402 is mounted above all the light receiving elements 401, and is formed in a matrix on the entire surface of the document reading surface.
[0060]
The reflected light passing through the slit of the liquid crystal slit layer 300 enters the light receiving element layer 400 and is received by the light receiving element 401 via the optical system 402. The received reflected light beam is converted into an electric signal by the light receiving element 401 and becomes image data.
[0061]
FIGS. 5A and 5B schematically show a state in which the scanning light beam generated in the light emitting layer 200 is reflected by the original, passes through the liquid crystal slit layer 300, and is received by the light receiving element layer 400. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view shown in FIG.
[0062]
The document 500 is placed on the document reading surface of the platen transparent plate 130.
In the light emitting layer 200, a small area 210 selected by the scanning processing control unit 121 emits light and emits a scanning light beam. A part of the scanning light beam passes through the platen transparent plate 130 and is irradiated on the document 500 on the document reading surface at a predetermined angle. The scanning light beam is reflected on the original 500, and here, the intensity of the reflected light varies depending on the density of the image of the original 500. That is, the dark part of the image has a small reflectance because the light absorption is large and the scattering is small, and the reflectance is small in the thin part of the image because the light absorption is small and the scattering is large and the reflected light is large and weak.
[0063]
The scanning light beam applied to the original 500 is reflected at a predetermined angle on the original 500.
The reflected light again passes through the platen transparent plate 130 and reaches the light emitting layer 200. Here, since the light emitting layer 200 is in a transparent state except for the small region 210 in the light emitting state, the reflected light passes through the light emitting layer 200 in the transparent state.
[0064]
The reflected light transmitted through the light emitting layer 200 reaches the liquid crystal slit layer 300. A slit is formed in the liquid crystal slit layer 300 such that the small area 310 selected by the slit processing control unit 122 is in a transparent state and the other small areas are in a light-shielding state. 5A and 5B, the slit processing control unit 122 forms a slit at a position for receiving a reflected light beam reflected at a predetermined angle from the document.
[0065]
Of the reflected light that has reached the liquid crystal slit layer 300, the reflected light (shown by the thick arrow) incident on the small area 310 where the slit is formed is transmitted because the small area 310 is in a transparent state. Reflected light rays (indicated by thin arrows) incident on other small areas cannot pass through the liquid crystal slit layer 300 because the small areas are in a light-shielded state. As described above, the slit processing is performed such that only a selected part of the reflected light beams is transmitted.
[0066]
Next, the reflected light transmitted through the liquid crystal slit layer 300 reaches the light receiving element layer 400. The reflected light beam enters a certain light receiving element region 410 in the light receiving element layer 400 and forms an image on the light receiving element 401 via the optical system 402. The light receiving processing control unit 123 selects a light receiving element in the light receiving element area 410 and controls the light receiving processing, and the reflected light is converted into an electric signal according to the intensity. The converted electric signal is processed as image data.
[0067]
From the scanning process to the light receiving process as described above, the small region 210 in the light emitting layer 200 in the light emitting state and the small region 310 in the liquid crystal slit layer 300 in the transparent state are shown in FIGS. As shown in (B), scanning is performed in the direction of the arrow, and image reading processing of the entire surface of the original 500 placed on the original reading surface is performed.
As described above, the image reading apparatus of the present invention can form a thin, light-weight board by forming thin layers of the light-emitting layer, the liquid crystal slit layer, and the light-receiving element layer and eliminating the need for a mechanical driving part. Image reading device. Further, the document plate cover which has been conventionally required becomes unnecessary, and the scanning process can be performed by directly placing the document on the document reading surface on the platen transparent plate.
[0068]
(Embodiment 2)
2 shows an image reading apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. The image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment forms each small area of the light emitting layer at a predetermined angle, and forms a slit of the liquid crystal slit layer at a position where the reflected light is received. By adjusting the irradiation angle of the scanning light beam, the amount of the reflected light beam reflected at a predetermined angle is increased, and the level of the reflected light beam that passes through the slit of the liquid crystal slit layer and is received by the light receiving element layer is increased.
[0069]
FIGS. 6A and 6B are longitudinal sectional views schematically showing an image reading apparatus in which the mounting angle of the small area of the light emitting layer is adjusted, and the generated scanning light is reflected by the original. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a state from passing through a liquid crystal slit layer 300 to being received by a light receiving element layer 400.
[0070]
In the image reading device according to the second embodiment, the surface of the light emitting layer 200 is processed, and the mounting angle of the small region is adjusted. For example, embossing, cutting, or the like is performed on the base material of the light-emitting layer 200 to form a predetermined angle, a transparent electrode is formed on the predetermined surface, and a light-emitting material such as an organic EL is applied. A transparent electrode is further formed thereon, and a light emitting material is sealed to form a thin film.
[0071]
As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the small area of the light emitting layer 200 has a predetermined angle, and the small area in the light emitting state 210 is the amount of the scanning light beam irradiated at the illustrated angle. Is larger than the light amount of the scanning light beam emitted by the light emitting layer 200 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B.
[0072]
In the image reading device of the second embodiment, the mounting angle of the small area of the light emitting layer 200 is different, but the flow from the scanning process to the light receiving process may be the same as that described in the first embodiment.
In the light emitting layer 200, a small area 210 selected by the scanning processing control unit 121 emits light and emits a scanning light beam. A part of the scanning light beam passes through the platen transparent plate 130 and is irradiated on the document 500 on the document reading surface at a predetermined angle. The scanning light beam is reflected on the original 500, and here, the intensity of the reflected light varies depending on the density of the image of the original 500.
[0073]
The reflected light again passes through the platen transparent plate 130 and reaches the light emitting layer 200. Since the light emitting layer 200 is in a transparent state except for the small region 210 in the light emitting state, the reflected light passes through the light emitting layer 200 in the transparent state.
Here, if the angle of the right slope in FIG. 6 is adjusted so that the angle of the right slope in FIG. 6 is orthogonal to the reflected light, the reflectance of the reflected light at the intervals of the light emitting layer 200 becomes small and the efficiency is improved. It becomes transparent.
[0074]
The reflected light transmitted through the light emitting layer 200 reaches the liquid crystal slit layer 300. A slit is formed in the liquid crystal slit layer 300 so that the small region 310 selected by the slit processing control unit 122 is in a transparent state and the other small regions are in a light-shielding state. 6A and 6B, the slit processing control unit 122 forms a slit at a position to receive a reflected light beam reflected at a predetermined angle from the document.
Of the reflected light that has reached the liquid crystal slit layer 300, the reflected light (shown by the thick arrow) incident on the small area 310 where the slit is formed is transmitted because the small area 310 is in a transparent state. Reflected light rays (indicated by thin arrows) incident on other small areas cannot pass through the liquid crystal slit layer 300 because the small areas are in a light-shielded state. As described above, the slit processing is performed such that only a selected part of the reflected light beams is transmitted.
[0075]
Next, the reflected light transmitted through the liquid crystal slit layer 300 reaches the light receiving element layer 400. The reflected light beam enters a certain light receiving element region 410 in the light receiving element layer 400 and forms an image on the light receiving element 401 via the optical system 402. The light receiving processing control unit 123 selects a light receiving element in the light receiving element area 410 and controls the light receiving processing, and the reflected light is converted into an electric signal according to the intensity. The converted electric signal is processed as image data.
[0076]
From the scanning process to the light receiving process as described above, the small region 210 in the light emitting layer 200 in the light emitting state and the small region 310 in the liquid crystal slit layer 300 in the transparent state are shown in FIGS. As shown in (B), scanning is performed in the direction of the arrow, and image reading processing of the entire surface of the original 500 placed on the original reading surface is performed.
[0077]
As described above, the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is configured such that the reflected light reflected at a predetermined angle is formed by forming each small area of the light emitting layer at a predetermined angle and adjusting the irradiation angle of the scanning light. And the level of the reflected light beam received by the light receiving element layer through the slit of the liquid crystal slit layer can be increased.
[0078]
(Embodiment 3)
9 shows an image reading apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. The image reading apparatus according to the third embodiment limits a scanning range and a slit forming range according to a document area covered by a document placed on a platen transparent plate.
[0079]
The first configuration according to the third embodiment includes a document area sensor for detecting a document area, receives notification of document area information from the document area sensor, and generates a scan light beam in the light emitting layer in a range of the document area. Within.
[0080]
FIG. 7A is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration including a document area sensor. The document area sensor 600 is not particularly limited as long as it can detect the area where the document is placed. For example, the document area sensor 600 scans the document reading surface with infrared rays or the like, and detects the presence of the document. An infrared sensor for detecting the range can be used. The document area sensor 600 dynamically detects a document area covered by a document placed on the document table transparent plate 130 and generates document area information. The scanning processing control unit 121 receives the notification of the document area information from the document area sensor 600, and provides the scanning processing control information to the light emitting layer 200. Is limited within the range of the document area.
[0081]
In the second configuration of the third embodiment, the operator of the image reading apparatus directly specifies and inputs a document size. A document size information input unit for inputting size information of a document placed on the platen transparent plate 104 is provided to limit a range of generating a scanning light beam in the light emitting layer to a range of the document area.
[0082]
FIG. 7B is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration including a document size input unit 610. An operator inputs the size of a document from which an image is to be read from the document size input unit 610. For example, a standard size such as A4 or B5 is designated. The scanning process control unit 121 receives the notification of the document size information from the document size input unit 610, and provides the scanning process control information to the light emitting layer 200. In the scanning process, the light emitting layer 200 outputs the scanning light beam according to the document region information. The generation range is limited to the range of the document area.
[0083]
When the scanning process control unit 121 has a document area sensor, the operator can place a document at a free position within the document reading surface.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of control in a case where the operator freely places a document on the document reading surface and the scanning processing control unit 121 dynamically detects the document area by the document area sensor. FIG. 8A shows a document area covered with a document placed on the document table transparent plate 104 and other areas. FIGS. 8B and 8C are diagrams showing the scanning range of the light emitting layer 200 controlled by the scanning processing control unit 121 with respect to the document area shown in FIG. 8A.
[0084]
FIG. 8B shows a case where the light-emitting layer 200 is a small region in the static drive segment system and each segment is a vertically long linear shape, or a small region is a column in the dynamic drive simple matrix system. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a scanning processing range in the case.
[0085]
FIG. 8C is a diagram showing a scanning range in the case where control of a small area is performed for one cell of the matrix, that is, for each liquid crystal cell by the dynamic drive simple matrix method.
[0086]
When the scanning processing control unit 121 has the document size input unit 610, the operator can place a document at a predetermined position on the document reading surface.
[0087]
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of control when an operator places a document at a predetermined position in accordance with the size of the document and the scan processing control unit 121 receives document size information input via the document size input unit. It is. FIG. 9A shows a document area covered by a document placed on the document table transparent plate 104 and other areas. FIGS. 9B and 9C are diagrams illustrating a scanning processing range of the light emitting layer 200 controlled by the scanning processing control unit 121 with respect to the document area illustrated in FIG. 9A.
[0088]
FIG. 9B shows a case where the light-emitting layer 200 is a small area in the segment mode of the static drive and each segment is a vertically long linear shape, or the small area is a column in the simple matrix method of the light-emitting layer 200 in the dynamic drive. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a scanning processing range in the case.
[0089]
FIG. 9C is a diagram showing a scanning processing range when a small area is controlled for one cell of the matrix, that is, for each cell by the dynamic drive simple matrix method.
[0090]
Note that the slit formation range in the liquid crystal slit layer 300 is also limited to the document area according to the scanning range of the light emitting layer 200.
[0091]
By limiting the scanning range and the slit forming range to the document area as described above, the scanning process can be efficiently completed without irradiating a scanning beam to an area other than the document area.
[0092]
(Embodiment 4)
9 shows an image reading apparatus and an image reading method according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The image reading device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention includes a parallel processing control unit that divides a document reading surface into a plurality of image reading small ranges according to a document area, performs a scanning process in a light emitting layer and a slit in a liquid crystal slit layer. The process and the image reading process in the light receiving element layer are executed independently for each image reading small range, so that the image reading process for the image reading small range is made a parallel process.
Further, the image processing apparatus further includes an image synthesizing unit that performs an image synthesizing process of collecting the respective partial images read from the respective image reading small ranges and synthesizing them into one entire image.
[0093]
FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams schematically illustrating components that are related to parallel processing of the image reading apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 10A illustrates a configuration including a parallel processing control unit 700, and FIG. 10B illustrates a configuration including an image combining unit 710 in addition to the parallel processing control unit 700.
[0094]
The parallel processing control unit 700 divides the document reading surface into a plurality of small image reading ranges according to the document area. Although the number of divisions is not particularly limited, here, for simplicity of description, for example, the description will be made on the assumption that the image is divided into two.
[0095]
The parallel processing control unit 700 converts the divided document area information of each divided image reading area into the scanning processing control unit 121 of the light emitting layer 200, the slit processing control unit 122 of the liquid crystal slit layer 300, and the light receiving processing control of the light receiving element layer 400. Notify section 123.
[0096]
The scanning processing control unit 121, the slit processing control unit 122, and the light receiving processing control unit 123 perform the scanning processing, the slit processing, and the light receiving processing independently for each of the divided small image reading ranges. The scanning process control unit 121 supplies the scanning process control information to the light emitting layer 200 for each image reading small range, and generates one scanning light beam for each image reading small range. Further, the slit processing control unit 122 supplies slit processing control information to the liquid crystal slit layer 300 for each image reading small range, and generates slits corresponding to scanning light beams in parallel. Further, the light receiving processing control unit 123 provides light receiving processing control information to the light receiving element layer 400 for each image reading small range, and performs light receiving processing of reflected light beams passing through each slit in parallel.
[0097]
FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating how image reading processing, image data processing, and image data output processing are performed in parallel in the image reading apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. The following shows an example in which two systems of parallel processing are performed.
As shown in FIG. 11, the document reading surface is divided into two small image reading ranges 1 and two small image reading ranges.
[0098]
FIG. 11A is a diagram illustrating a state in which scanning processing in the light emitting layer 200 is performed by parallel processing. The scanning light beam 210a scans from left to right with respect to the image reading small range 1, and the scanning light beam 210b scans from left to right with respect to the image reading small range 2. As described above, since the image reading range is divided into two and the scanning light beam is irradiated in parallel for each of the small image reading regions, it takes only half the time as compared with the case where the entire surface is scanned by one scanning light beam.
[0099]
FIG. 11B is a diagram showing a state where the slit processing in the liquid crystal slit layer 300 is performed by parallel processing. The slit 310a moves from left to right in accordance with the scanning movement of the scanning light beam 210a for the image reading small range 1, and the slit 310b scans from left to right in accordance with the scanning light beam 210b for the image reading small range 2. Moving.
The light receiving process in the light receiving element layer 400 is performed in accordance with the scanning process and the slit process.
[0100]
Next, a case of a configuration including the image combining unit 710 illustrated in FIG.
[0101]
The parallel processing of the scanning processing, the slit processing, and the light receiving processing by the scanning processing control unit 121, the slit processing control unit 122, and the light receiving processing control unit 123 is the same as the case of the configuration in FIG.
[0102]
The image data of the partial image for each image reading small range obtained as a result of the light receiving process is input to the image combining unit 710. The image synthesizing unit 710 performs an image synthesizing process of collecting the respective partial images read from the respective image reading small ranges and synthesizing them into one whole image.
[0103]
In order to surely combine images using the image combining unit 710, it is possible to add an overhead area to the small image reading range.
[0104]
The overhead area is an overlapping area at an adjacent boundary between the small image reading range 1 and the small image reading range 2. The image reading small range 1 includes the overhead area, and the image reading small range 2 includes the same overhead area. The reason for providing the overhead area in this way is that the overhead area is not provided and the original reading surface is simply divided, and the light emitting layer 200, the liquid crystal slit layer 300, and the light receiving element layer 400 are warped, bent, and displaced in the mounting position. There is a possibility that a slight shift may occur at the boundary between partial images due to a problem of physical accuracy caused by the above. If the two partial images are simply synthesized at the boundary, there is a possibility that this slight shift remains. Therefore, an image combining process is performed while providing an overhead area and matching the image data of the overhead portion, and a seamless and accurate image combining process is performed.
[0105]
FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically illustrating a state in which an image combining process is performed with the overhead area 800 provided. Both the small image reading range 1 and the small image reading range 2 include the overhead area 800. The image data of the two partial images obtained as a result of the scanning processing, the slit processing, and the light receiving processing for both the image reading small area 1 and the image reading small area 2 both include the partial image of the overhead area 800.
[0106]
When synthesizing the partial image data obtained from the small image reading range 1 and the partial image data obtained from the small image reading range 2, the image synthesizing unit 710 generates a partial image corresponding to the overhead area 800 included in both of them. The data is combined into one whole image data while matching.
[0107]
By the image synthesizing process, it is possible to obtain the entire image while confirming that the synthesizing of the partial images is correctly performed.
[0108]
(Embodiment 5)
9 shows an image reading apparatus and an image reading method according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. The image reading apparatus according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention has at least two modes of an image reading start mode, an auto start mode and a manual start mode, and detects that a document is set on a document reading surface, A document set detection unit for generating detection information is provided. In the automatic start mode, when generation of document set detection information is detected, scanning processing, slit processing, and image reading processing are automatically started.
[0109]
The image forming apparatus according to the fifth embodiment eliminates the need for opening and closing the platen cover, which is conventionally required, and also does not require pressing the start button under certain conditions.
[0110]
The image reading apparatus according to the present invention, when there is no designation of an option related to an operation such as an image rotation designation or an image reading density adjustment, or when continuously maintaining an option designation once set, a document Is set, it can be said that the image reading process may be automatically started without the operator pressing the start button.
[0111]
Therefore, at least two modes, an auto start mode and a manual start mode, are set as the start mode. When the auto start mode is designated, when it is detected that the setting of the original on the original reading surface is completed, the operator is prompted. Starts automatically even if the start button is not pressed. The image reading apparatus according to the fifth embodiment includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, a document set detection unit 900 for detecting completion of setting of a document on a document reading surface. The document set detection unit 900 detects that a document has been set on the document reading surface, and generates document set detection information. The document set detection unit 900 notifies the generated document set detection information to the scanning processing control unit 121, the slit processing control unit 122, and the light receiving processing control unit 123. Upon receiving the document set detection information, the scanning processing control unit 121, the slit processing control unit 122, and the light receiving processing control unit 123 generate a scanning light beam in the light emitting layer 200, form a slit in the liquid crystal slit layer 300, and light receiving element layer 400, respectively. Starts the image reading process.
[0112]
As described above, when the auto-start mode is designated, the image reading process is started only by the operator placing the document on the document reading surface of the platen transparent plate.
In particular, in the case of a bound document, the operator may hold the bound document with both hands against the document reading surface and maintain the posture.In this case, the operator automatically presses the start button without pressing the start button each time. It would be useful if there was a function to launch Start. In the case of the present invention, the completion of the setting of the original on the original reading surface is a condition of the automatic start. Therefore, the original set detecting unit 900 detects the completion of the setting of the original on the original reading surface and generates the original set detection information. It is to be done. If the generation of the document set detection information is detected, a series of processes from a process of generating a scanning light beam in the light emitting layer 200, a process of forming a slit in the liquid crystal slit layer 300, and a process of reading an image in the light receiving element layer 400 are executed.
[0113]
As described above, according to the image reading apparatus of the fifth embodiment, the operator only needs to directly place the document on the platen transparent plate surface, and the operation of pressing the start button by the manual input of the operator, which is conventionally required. Is unnecessary, and the image reading process can be automatically started.
[0114]
(Embodiment 6)
1 shows a configuration example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention.
The image forming apparatus of the present invention includes, in addition to the image reading apparatus of the present invention, an image forming unit that forms an image based on image data read by the image reading apparatus.
The form of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is not particularly limited as long as an image is formed on a sheet. For example, various forms are possible, such as an analog copying machine or digital copying machine having an image reading device, a facsimile machine having an image reading device, and a computer system having a printer in addition to the image reading device. The image forming system is not particularly limited, and various systems such as an electrophotographic system, a thermal system, and an inkjet system can be applied.
[0115]
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the image forming apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 14 shows an example of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus 10 includes an image reading device 100 on an upper surface of a casing 11, and an image memory 16 for storing image data output from the image reading device 100 inside the casing 11, based on image data in the image memory 16. A laser 17 for irradiating laser light, and a photosensitive drum 18 on which an electrostatic latent image is drawn by the laser light irradiated by the laser 17 and a developed image is formed by toner.
[0116]
For example, image data read by the image reading device 100 is temporarily stored in the image memory 16, and a laser beam is irradiated on the photosensitive drum 18 by the laser 17 based on the image data stored in the image memory 16, A latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 18 by static electricity, and is further developed to form image data by toner on the photosensitive drum 18. After that, the toner on the photosensitive drum 18 is transferred to the supplied paper 19, and an image is printed on the paper 19. Note that this image forming process is schematically described for convenience of description.
[0117]
(Embodiment 7)
1 shows a configuration example of an image processing system of the present invention.
The image processing system of the present invention includes, in addition to the image reading device of the present invention, an image processing unit that performs image processing based on image data read by the image reading device.
The image forming process of the image forming apparatus of the present invention is not limited as long as the image processing is executed. For example, various forms are possible, such as a computer system that displays an image read by an image reading device on a monitor, and a bank teller system that registers and collates a seal imprint read by the image reading device.
[0118]
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration example of the image processing system of the present invention. In the example illustrated in FIG. 15, the image processing system 20 receives image data in the image memory 26, which stores digital image data output from the image reading device 100, in addition to the image reading device 100, and performs image processing. An image processing unit 27 for performing the operation, a recording device 28 provided as necessary, and an operation interface 29 such as a monitor and a keyboard are provided.
[0119]
For example, image data read by the image reading device 100 is temporarily stored in the image memory 26, and based on the image data stored in the image memory 26, the image processing unit 27 performs image matching processing, image compression processing, and image registration. Perform image processing according to the application such as processing. At this time, an image display or printout to the operator is received through the operation interface 29, and an input from the operator through a keyboard or a pointing device is received. Note that this image forming process is schematically described for convenience of description.
[0120]
The image reading apparatus of the present invention shown in the first to seventh embodiments has been described as a structure without a platen cover. However, in order to prevent foreign substances such as dust and dirt from accumulating on the original reading surface during a period in which the original is not used, it is possible to provide an original platen cover for dust prevention.
Further, in order to automatically and continuously form images of continuous single-leaf originals, it is possible to provide a document table cover with an ADF (automatic document feeder) incorporating an ADF.
[0121]
【The invention's effect】
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to the image reading device of this invention, the mechanical drive part conventionally required can be made unnecessary. Since each of the light emitting layer, the liquid crystal slit layer, and the light receiving element layer of the image reading device of the present invention can be thin, a thin and lightweight board-shaped image reading device can be obtained.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a basic concept of an image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2A is a diagram schematically illustrating a state of scanning processing of a light emitting layer as a first layer, and FIG. 2B is a diagram schematically illustrating a structure of a small region of the light emitting layer.
3A is a diagram schematically showing a state of a slit process of a liquid crystal slit layer as a second layer, FIG. 3B is a diagram schematically showing a structure of a small region of the liquid crystal slit layer, and FIG. Is a diagram schematically showing another structure of the small region of the liquid crystal slit layer.
4A is a diagram schematically illustrating a state of light receiving processing of a light receiving element layer as a third layer, and FIG. 4B is a diagram schematically illustrating a structure of a small region of the light receiving element layer;
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a state in which a scanning light beam generated in a light emitting layer 200 is reflected by a document, passes through a liquid crystal slit layer 300, and is received by a light receiving element layer 400.
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing an image reading apparatus in which the mounting angle of a small area of a light emitting layer is adjusted.
7A is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration including a document area sensor, and FIG. 7B is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration including a document size input unit 610.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a scanning light beam generating process and a slit forming process when a document area is dynamically detected by a document area sensor.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a scanning light beam generating process and a slit forming process when a document size is detected by a document size information input unit.
FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically illustrating components extracted for parallel processing of the image reading apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating a state in which image reading processing, image data processing, and image data output processing are performed in parallel in the image reading apparatus according to the fourth embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing a state in which an image synthesis process is performed by providing an overhead area 800;
FIG. 13 is a diagram schematically illustrating a configuration including a document set detection unit according to an image reading apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration example of an image processing system according to the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing a conventional scanner.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Image forming apparatus
11,110 Casing
16, 26 Image memory
17 Laser
18 Photoconductor drum
19 paper
20 Image processing system
27 Image processing unit
28 Storage
29 Operation I / F
100 Image reading device
120 control unit
121 scanning processing control unit
122 slit processing control unit
123 light reception processing control unit
130 Transparency platen
200 light emitting layer
201 Organic EL
202, 203 transparent electrode
210 Light emitting small area
220 Transparent small area
300 Liquid crystal slit layer
301 Polarizing film
302, 308 glass substrate
303,307 Transparent electrode
304, 306 Orientation plate
305 LCD
310 Transparent small area
320 Light-shielded small area
400 light receiving element layer
401 light receiving element
402 Optical system
410 Light receiving element area in light receiving state
500 manuscripts
600 Document Area Sensor
610 Original size input section
700 Parallel processing controller
710 Synthesis processing unit
800 overhead area
900 Original set detector

Claims (12)

An original platen transparent plate having an original reading surface on which an original is placed,
A light emitting layer provided below the document reading surface, the light emitting layer having a plurality of small areas, each of the small areas having at least two states of a light emitting state and a transparent state, and generating a scanning light beam for irradiating the document; A light-emitting layer,
A liquid crystal slit layer provided below the light emitting layer, the liquid crystal slit layer having a plurality of liquid crystal small areas, each small area having at least two states of a light shielding state and a transparent state, and a slit for reflected light from the document. A liquid crystal slit layer forming
A light-receiving element layer provided below the liquid crystal slit layer, the light-receiving element layer comprising: a light-receiving element; and an optical system that forms an image of a reflected light beam from the document passing through the slit on the light-receiving element, and reads an original image. An image reading device provided with a light receiving element layer. In the light emitting layer, a scanning process for generating a scanning light beam for irradiating the original is controlled by setting some small regions to a light emitting state and the other small regions to a transparent state. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a slit is formed by setting a transparent state and a light-shielding state of other small areas, and a slit process for selectively passing a part of a reflected light beam from the document is controlled. In the light emitting layer, the irradiation position of the scanning light beam is moved by switching the small region to be in the light emitting state to another small region in a predetermined order,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, in the liquid crystal slit layer, the position where the slit is formed is moved by switching the small region to be in the transparent state to another small region in a predetermined order. A document area sensor for detecting a document area covered by a document placed on the platen transparent plate,
4. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device receives a notification of document area information from the document area sensor and limits a range of generating a scanning light beam in the light emitting layer to a range of the document area. 5. A document size information input unit for inputting size information of a document placed on the platen transparent plate,
4. The document processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: receiving a notification of document size information from the document size information input unit, and limiting a range of generating a scanning light beam in the light emitting layer to a range corresponding to the document size information. Image reading device. 6. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein each of the small areas of the light emitting layer is formed at a predetermined angle, and a slit of the liquid crystal slit layer is formed at a position where the reflected light beam is received. A parallel processing control unit that divides the document reading surface into a plurality of image reading small ranges according to a document area where the document is placed,
The image reading is performed by independently generating the scanning light beam in the light emitting layer, forming the slit in the liquid crystal slit layer, and reading the image in the light receiving element layer for each of the image reading small ranges. 7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein image reading processing for the small area is performed in parallel. 8. The image reading device according to claim 7, further comprising an image synthesizing unit that performs an image synthesizing process of collecting each of the partial image data read from each of the image reading small ranges and synthesizing them into the entire image data. The parallel processing control unit, at a boundary where the image reading small ranges are adjacent to each other, add the same area near the boundary to both image reading small ranges as an overhead area,
In the image reading process of the image reading small range, performing an image reading process including the overhead area,
The image reading device according to claim 8, wherein the image combining unit performs the image combining process while matching image data corresponding to the overhead area in the image combining process between adjacent partial images. As an image reading start mode, there are at least two modes, an auto start mode and a manual start mode,
A document set detection unit that detects that a document is set on the document reading surface,
When in the auto start mode, upon receiving notification of document set detection information from the document set detection unit, generation of a scanning light beam in the light emitting layer, formation of a slit in the liquid crystal slit layer, and formation of a document image in the light receiving element layer. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein reading is automatically started. An image forming apparatus comprising: the image reading apparatus according to claim 1; and an image forming unit that forms an image based on image data read by the image reading apparatus. An image processing system comprising: the image reading device according to claim 1; and an image processing unit that performs image processing based on image data read by the image reading device.

Images