JPH06205160A - Picture reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a compact picture reader in which an optical signal over a wide wavelength region from a nonvisual light to a visible light is detected and no much load is imposed on the design of the optical system. CONSTITUTION:A light receiving face of a 1st sensor 100 converting an optical signal of a visible light region into a 1st electric signal and a light receiving face 101 of a 2nd sensor converting an optical signal of an non-visible light region into a 2nd electric signal are arranged to different positions from a light incident direction. Thus, the optical signal over a wide wavelength region is detected with high accuracy by devising the reader such that filters having a selective wavelength transmittivity are combined.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus used in an image information processing apparatus such as a facsimile, an image scanner, a copying machine, etc., and particularly to an optical signal in the invisible light region as well as the visible light. It relates to an image reading device for conversion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional image reading apparatus, a charge coupled device (CCD) type, a MOS type, or U.S. Pat. No. 4,791,469 assigned to the inventors Tadahiro Omi and Nobuyoshi Tanaka
An amplifier type device is known in which a capacitive load is connected to the emitter of the phototransistor described in the specification of the publication.

Recently, the applications have been diversified, and an image reading apparatus having a new function is required.

For example, in addition to high image quality and colorization of a copying machine, it is required to recognize an invisible image, reproduce it, and record it.

Examples of such an image, that is, an invisible light image, include an image formed of ink having a characteristic of absorbing infrared rays.

[0006]

Generally, a sensor for detecting invisible light is an individual device, and some new design concept is required to use the detection of an image or the like together with the sensor for detecting visible light.

As a basic design concept, the inventor first
We have found a technique of monolithically incorporating a sensor for detecting visible light and a sensor for detecting invisible light in one semiconductor chip. However, there is room for further improvement in the above technology.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to detect an optical signal in a wide wavelength range from invisible light to visible light, and to reduce the load on the design of the optical system. To provide.

The above object is to provide a light receiving surface of the first sensor for converting an optical signal in the visible light region into a first electric signal and a second light signal for converting an optical signal in the invisible light region into a second electric signal. The light receiving surface of the sensor and the light receiving surface of the sensor are disposed at different positions with respect to the light incident direction.

Further, the above object is to provide an optical signal in the visible light region as a first signal.
The light receiving surface of the first sensor for converting to the electric signal of the second sensor and the light receiving surface of the second sensor for converting the optical signal of the invisible light region to the second electric signal are at different positions with respect to the incident direction of light. A reading means disposed in the image forming means, an image forming means for forming an image based on the first electric signal, a judging means for judging based on the second electric signal and a reference signal, and an output of the judging means. And an image processing unit for controlling the operation of the image forming unit based on the above.

[0011]

According to the present invention, since the light-receiving surface of the visible light sensor and the light-receiving surface of the invisible light sensor can be independently arranged under optimum conditions, highly accurate image reading can be performed in a wide wavelength range. It can be done over.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the light-receiving surfaces of the visible light sensor and the invisible light sensor are made different from each other with respect to the incident direction of the light, and are planar. The position (in-plane position with the incident direction as the normal line) is not particularly limited. However, when configuring a line sensor, it is desirable to configure the array of visible light sensors and the array of invisible light sensors as separate lines. Also, the array of visible light sensors may be one in which red (R), green (G) and blue (B) sensor elements are arranged in-line, or three in-line sensors may be provided.
It may be arranged to form two parallel lines.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view showing an image reading apparatus according to the present invention, in which a light receiving surface 2'of a visible light sensor 2 and a light receiving surface 3'of an invisible light sensor 3 are different.

As the photoelectric conversion element (sensor element) constituting the light receiving surface of the present invention, a photovoltaic element such as a photodiode or a phototransistor or a photoconductive element is preferably used. Then, as the photoelectric conversion element for converting the optical signal in the visible light region into an electric signal, an element made of a material capable of selectively absorbing only the optical signal in the visible light region, or
An element provided with a filter that transmits a visible light region and blocks light in a wavelength region used for photoelectric conversion in another photoelectric conversion element in the invisible light region is used.

Specifically, in order to obtain a black-and-white signal, the constituent materials of the elements are selected so as to have a selective sensitivity in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 700 nm as the visible light range, or the above-mentioned wavelength range is selected. The element is provided with a filter that selectively transmits light. Further, in order to obtain an optical signal in a specific region in the visible light region, an element is made of a material having a selective sensitivity in the specific region, or light in the specific region is selectively transmitted. The element is equipped with a filter.

Then, for example, red (R), green (G),
In order to obtain a color signal such as blue (B), an element (R element) having a selective sensitivity in the R region (for example, a wavelength region of 580 nm to 700 nm) and a G region (for example, 480 nm).
nm element (G element) and B area (for example, 400 nm to 48 nm) with selective sensitivity in the wavelength range of 580 nm to 580 nm.
A plurality of types of elements (element B) having selective sensitivity in the wavelength region of 0 nm) are used.

Of course, also in this case, the material itself is R, G,
Each element may be configured by one that selectively absorbs light in each region of B, that is, one that has selective sensitivity, or each element having sensitivity in all regions of R, G, and B may have R, G, Each element is configured by including a filter that selectively transmits light in the B region.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing typical spectral characteristics of transmitted light of a filter, and the relative sensitivity on the vertical axis corresponds to the transmittance of visible light. When each element is given a selective sensitivity by selecting the material, for example, each element is formed by using a material having a light absorption characteristic corresponding to the relative sensitivity as shown in FIG.

In the present invention, the visible light region, the non-visible light region, and the R, G, and B wavelength regions are not clearly distinguished by the value of the wavelength, and the photoelectric conversion element used in the present invention is used. Need only be configured so as to photoelectrically convert each of the ultraviolet, blue, green, red, and infrared light by a necessary amount in order to obtain each necessary signal, and substantially not photoelectrically convert unnecessary light.

On the other hand, as a photoelectric conversion element for converting an optical signal in the invisible light region into an electric signal, for example, an element having a selective sensitivity to ultraviolet rays or infrared rays is used. In this case as well, the material itself constitutes an element with selective sensitivity to light in the invisible light region, or a material having sensitivity in a wide wavelength range including the invisible light region is used in the invisible light region. It is desirable to combine filters having a selective transmittance with respect to the above light.

For example, FIG. 3 is a graph showing typical spectral characteristics of transmitted light of the above filter, in which the relative sensitivity on the vertical axis corresponds to the transmittance of invisible light. Here, an example of a filter having selective sensitivity in the infrared region (for example, a wavelength region of 750 nm or more) is given, but the present invention is not limited to this.

In the solid-state image pickup device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, a pixel for visible light and an element for invisible light are periodically arranged in separate lines to form a color image. A line sensor can be constructed. Preferably, one pixel in the resolution as a color signal has an element having a selective sensitivity in the R area (R element), an element having a selective sensitivity in the G area (G element), and an element having a selective sensitivity in the B area. And an element (IR element) having a selective sensitivity in the non-visible light region.

A three-dimensional image or a two-dimensional image is generated as the optical signal to be detected, and a typical example of the two-dimensional image is a plane image of a document or the like. Therefore, when used in a system for reading an image of a document, it is desirable to provide an illumination means for illuminating the document surface. As such an illumination means, a light emitting diode or a xenon lamp,
There are light sources such as halogen lamps. FIG. 4 shows typical light emission distribution characteristics of the light source. The light source is not limited to the one having the characteristics shown in FIG. 4 as long as it can generate the light in the required wavelength region according to the optical signal to be detected. If at least a light source that emits light having the characteristics shown in FIG. 4 is used, infrared light in the R, G, B and invisible light regions can be obtained.

[0024]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below.
The present invention is not limited to these examples, as long as the object of the present invention is achieved.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 5A shows a view seen from above the CCD 1 as an image reading device, and FIG. 5B shows a sectional view.

The CCD 1 is composed of a first element array 100 and a second element array 101.

The first element row is an R filter 10 for each element.
2, G filter 103, B filter 104 is R,
G, B, R, G, B ,. ． ． As described above, the pixels are sequentially vapor-deposited, and one pixel 105 having one set of three RGB elements as a minimum reading area constitutes a reading system.

The spectral characteristics of the filter deposited for each element are as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, the second element row 101 is arranged at an element pitch three times as large as the element pitch of the first element row 100.

That is, the second element pitch is the first element row 1
Elements are arranged at the same pitch as the element pitch of 00.

Since a visible light cut filter having the characteristics shown in FIG. 3 is vapor-deposited on the second element array 101, components of 700 nm or less are cut off in the element array 101.
The infrared component is read.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the second element array 101 is 300 μm thicker than the first element array 100.
The step d is provided to increase the optical path length.

This is because the focal length of the optical system differs depending on the wavelength difference, and the infrared light must have a long optical path length.
This is because the image may be blurred.

First element sequence 100 and second element sequence 101
FIG. 6 shows the dimensions of the elements in FIG. Here, it is assumed that the reading unit has a resolution of 400 dpi, and for the sake of simplicity of explanation, the optical system will be described as a unit magnification optical system.

In order to realize a resolution of 400 dpi, the minimum reading area is 63.5 μm × 63.5 μm. Therefore, in FIG. 8, the R element 102, the G element 103, and the B element 104 are 21.1 μm × 63. 5 μm,
The size of the 1R element is 63.5 μm × 63.5 μm. Element sequence 1
The distance between 00 and the element array 101 is set to 127 μm.

That is, the element array 100 or the element array 101 is separated by a distance of exactly two lines.

The read signals of the element array 100 and the element array 101 are controlled to be sent to the signal processing section 211, respectively.

(Embodiment 2) According to this embodiment, the element sequence 1
The wavelength range that can be read by 01 is 700 nm or more, but the spectral distribution of the infrared absorbing paint has a characteristic of having an extremely narrow band width having a peak at 800 nm as shown in FIG.

However, depending on the illumination source used, 10
It is possible to have energy even in the region exceeding 00 nm.

When such a light source is used, 800 nm
Since it is difficult to determine the absorption due to the above unnecessary energy, it is desirable to insert a far infrared cut filter having the characteristics shown in FIG. 8 in the element array 101.

With respect to the element array 100, the far-infrared light is already cut by the filter vapor-deposited on the element surface, so this far-infrared cut filter may be located at any position in the optical path.

For example, it is extremely convenient to dispose the lens before and after the lens 209 because the filter can be easily replaced even if the fluorescent characteristic of the fluorescent paint to be printed on the original changes.

(Third Embodiment) According to the above embodiments, the structure of the color sensor has been described with reference to the structure shown in FIG.
In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 9, the CCD base is formed so as to be slanted so that the difference d in the optical path length between the first line 100 and the second line 101 is 300 μm.

According to this method, an image signal in which both the visible light signal and the infrared signal are in focus can be obtained, and the determination accuracy is improved.

Further, by applying this embodiment, the same effect can be obtained even if the CCD sensor group formed in a plane is tilted and installed on the main body side.

(Embodiment 4) In this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, a column 171 having sensitivity to blue, a column 172 having sensitivity to green, a column 173 having sensitivity to red, and a column 173 having sensitivity to infrared are provided. In the color sensor including the row 174, a step is formed according to the focus position of each color.

The step difference d1 between B and G is 20 μm, the step difference d2 between G and R is 50 μm, and the step difference d3 between R and IR is 280 μm.
Is desirable.

Since these values depend on the optical system, they are preferably optimized by the optical system.

By providing a 4-line CCD group, it is essential to match the phases of all color signals in the FIFO memory.

Further, in the application of this embodiment, the base may be slanted so that a flat sensor group may be slanted and installed on the main body side.

According to this method, an image signal in which both the visible light signal and the infrared signal are in focus can be obtained, and the determination accuracy can be improved.

Further, by setting the distance between the reading element array of the infrared component and the reading element array of the visible component to be an integral multiple of the resolution of the reading system, the distance can be electrically corrected by a line buffer or the like. Therefore, it is possible to easily compare the signals of the two pixel columns that read the same area. Further, by sharing the FIFO such as the edge emphasis circuit, it is possible to reduce the above line buffer.

(Image Information Processing Device) An image information processing device having the image reading device according to each of the embodiments of the present invention described above will be described with a representative example.

(Structure of Image Scanner Section) In FIG. 11, 201 is an image scanner section, which is a section for reading a document and performing digital signal processing. Also, 202
The printer unit is a unit that prints out an image corresponding to the original image read by the image scanner 201 on paper in full color.

In the image scanner unit 201, 20
Reference numeral 0 is a mirror-thick plate, and a platen glass (hereinafter, platen)
The original 204 on 03 is illuminated by the light of the halogen lamp 205, and the reflected light from the original forms an image on the color sensor 1 as the image reading device described above by the lens 209, and full-color information red (R), green The (G), blue (B) component, and infrared component (IR) are sent to the signal processing unit 211.

The reading unit 207 mechanically moves at a speed v in a direction (hereinafter, sub-scanning direction) perpendicular to the electrical scanning direction (hereinafter, main scanning direction) of the color sensor to scan the entire surface of the document. To scan.

The signal processing unit 211 electrically processes the read signal, decomposes it into magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (BK) components, and sends them to the printer unit 202. To do.

(Structure of Printer Unit) The image signals of M, C, Y and BK sent from the image scanner unit 210 are sent to the laser driver 212. The laser driver 212 modulates and drives the semiconductor laser 213 according to the signal. The laser light is the polygon mirror 214 and the f-θ lens 2
15, the photosensitive drum 217 is scanned via the mirror 216.

Reference numeral 218 denotes a rotary developing device, which includes a magenta developing device 219, a cyan developing device 220, and a yellow developing device 22.
1, four black developing devices 222 alternately contact the photosensitive drums, and develop the electrostatic latent images of M, C, Y, and BK formed on the photosensitive drums 217 with corresponding toners. .

Reference numeral 223 is a transfer drum, which is a paper set 224.
Alternatively, the paper fed from 225 is transferred to the transfer drum 22.
3 and the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 217 is transferred onto a sheet.

After the four colors of M, C, Y, and BK have been sequentially transferred in this manner, the paper passes through the fixing unit 226 and is discharged.

This completes the description of the scanner section and printer section, which are the general components of the apparatus.

Next, a detailed description of the image scanner section 201 will be made.

(Original) FIG. 12 shows an original 63 on which a pattern 631 registered in advance with infrared absorbing paint is printed.
It is 0.

On the original 630, in addition to the pattern 631, characters and images 632 are printed with general ink.

The infrared absorbing paint to be printed is infrared light whose absorption by the paint is 700 nm or more, and is 400 to 700 n.
It appears almost colorless and transparent to the human eye, which has sensitivity in the m band, and is extremely difficult to recognize.

The spectral distribution characteristics of the infrared absorbing paint are the same as those shown in FIG.

The infrared absorption amount can be detected by cutting the visible light component and extracting only the infrared component by the element array 101 in the sensor 1.

(Prescan) Image Scanner Section 20
In No. 1, a prescan is performed as a preprocessing for copying the document 630. The prescan will be described.

First, as shown in FIG. 13, the lamp 205 irradiates a white shading plate 640 attached to a part of the platen 203.

The reflection image of the white shading plate 640 is formed on the CCD 210 via the lens 209.

Element array 100 and element array 101 of the sensor 1
The image of the white shading plate 640 read by the signal processing unit 211 is subjected to signal processing,
Illumination unevenness 5 and sensitivity unevenness correction data of the element array 100 and the element array 101 on the sensor 1 are created and stored for each element array.

After that, the reading unit 207 displays the arrow m in the figure.
The entire surface of the original is scanned by mechanically moving in the direction of at a speed v by a drive system (not shown). At this time, the original 63 read by the element array 100 in the sensor 1
For the image of 0, the maximum value and the minimum value of the document density are sampled by the signal processing unit 211, and the print density set value at the time of copying is calculated.

After that, the reading unit 207 mechanically moves by the drive system (not shown) in the direction of arrow n in FIG. 13 by the speed v, and shifts to the reading start position, that is, the home position.

(Original Copying and Pattern Detection) After the shading correction data creation process described above is completed, the reading unit 207 returns to the home position and starts reading the original 630, and at the same time, the pattern 6 on the original 630 is read.
Presence / absence detection of 31 is performed.

Whether or not there is a pattern is determined by the element array 10 in the sensor 1.
This is performed by comparing the read information of 0 and the read information of the element sequence 101.

Image reading for reproducing an image is performed by the element array 100, and image reading for detecting the pattern 631 is performed by the element array 101.

The signal processing unit 211, which processes the read signal, will be described.

FIG. 14 shows a block diagram of the signal processing section 211.

First, the signal processing system of the element array 100 will be described.

The analog signals output from the element array 100 are image signals input in the order of RGB in synchronization with the drive signal of the sensor 1. The image signal is simultaneously input to the three sample hold circuits 121a to 121c. In the sample hold circuit 121a, a sample signal is generated at the timing when the R signal is input, and until the next R signal is input,
It has the function of holding the analog level of the sampled signal.

Similarly, in the sample hold circuit 121b, a sample signal is generated at the timing when the G signal is input, and in the sample hold circuit 121c, the sample signal is generated at the timing when the B signal is input.

As a result, the sample hold circuit 121a
The R signal, the G signal, and the B signal are output from ~ 121c, respectively. As shown in the figure, the respective signals are input to A / D converters 122a to 122c, and the analog image signals are converted into 8-bit digital image signals. These digital signals are output to the shading correction circuits 124a to 124a.
The data is input to 124c, and shading correction is performed.

The shading correction is the correction processing described in the above (prescan) section, and the generated correction data is RGB data held in the RAM 123.

When an image is being read,
Correction data for each element is sequentially input from the RAM 123 to the shading correction circuits 124a to 124c, and the data is corrected.

Shading correction circuits 124a to 124
The image signal output from c is the 5 × 5 edge enhancement circuit 12
Enter in 5.

The 5 × 5 edge enhancing circuit (hereinafter, edge enhancing circuit) 125 is a circuit for enhancing the contour of the read image, and is realized by the following image processing.

FIG. 15 shows a block diagram of the edge enhancement circuit 125.

The edge emphasizing circuit is performed for each of the colors of RGB, but here, the circuit for one color is shown.

Of course, it goes without saying that the other two circuits have exactly the same configuration.

In FIG. 15, reference numerals 131 to 134 denote CCD 210.
It is a FIFO having a capacity capable of holding the data of one line of the element row 100 in the inside.

The connection of the four FIFOs is as shown in the figure. Therefore, when the pixel line data of the nth line is input to the FIFO 131, the (n-1) th line from the FIFO 131.
The line n, the (n-2) th line from the FIFO 132, the (n-3) th line from the FIFO 133, and FI
The data of the (n-4) th line is output from the FO 134.

Input signal and FIFO 131-FIFO 1
The output signal of 34 is input to the delay circuit 135.

The delay circuit 135 has several stages of pixel delay circuits for the input m-th pixel signal.
The (m-1) th, (m-2) th, (m-3) th, and (m-4) th pixel data are input to the arithmetic circuit 136 together with the mth pixel data. Therefore, data of 25 pixels is input to the arithmetic circuit 136 for convenience.

FIG. 16 shows a map of input data.

With respect to the hatched target pixel, the data of the surrounding 24 pixels is input to the arithmetic circuit 136.

The arithmetic circuit 136 outputs the data of the pixel of interest to 2
The data multiplied by 5 is calculated, and the data obtained by subtracting the data of other surrounding pixels from the value is output.

That is, when the data of the target pixel is larger than the data of the peripheral pixels, the data of the target pixel becomes larger, and when the data of the target pixel is smaller than the data of the peripheral pixels, the data of the target pixel becomes smaller. .

By performing such processing, the contrast of the contour portion of the image is increased and the sharpness of the reproduced image is emphasized.

The edge-enhanced image data is sent to the printer section through the 1-og conversion section 127 that performs luminance-density conversion and the masking conversion section 128 that performs optimum correlated color correction.

Next, the signal processing system of the element array 101 will be described.

Although the signal processing system is basically the same as the signal processing system of the element array 100, the edge emphasis circuit is omitted because it is not a signal processing system intended for image reproduction.

The data output from the shading correction circuit 124d is input to the signal comparison circuit 126.

The data which is the other input is the output of the edge emphasizing circuit, but the pixel of interest in the edge emphasizing circuit is the data of the (n-2) th line, as is apparent from FIG.

Originally, in order to compare the data in the column 100 with the data in the column 101, there is a gap of two lines as shown in FIG. 6, so a line buffer is required to eliminate this. However, since the line 100 is subjected to edge enhancement, the read data obtained by reading the same portion on the document is input. The signal comparison circuit 126 as a discrimination means compares the image data of the columns 100 and 101 and outputs the comparison result to a CPU (not shown).

Regarding signal comparison, it should be noted that carbon black pigments are often mixed in printing inks with low saturation and high density, and these inks emit infrared light. Since it is absorbed, it is necessary to separate it from the information of the judgment pattern.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the minimum value K of the R signal value, the G signal value, and the B signal value is compared with the IR signal value to determine whether the IR absorption pattern is the judgment pattern. went.

X = IR-const × min (R, G, B)

X is calculated for each pixel, the total of X on the original is taken, and when the value reaches a level set as a reference signal or more, a CPU (not shown) is a control means for image forming operation. And controls the printer to immediately stop copying the original.

The image information processing apparatus described above has some modifications.

For example, the line position correction of the element array 100 and the element array 101 is not limited to using the FIFO of the 5 × 5 edge emphasizing circuit, but an image processing circuit using a FIFO such as error diffusion processing is used. May be.

Further, the pattern determination is not limited to the signal comparison of the signal comparison circuit, but the pattern copying may be performed according to the shape of the image extracted as a result of the signal comparison to control the document copying. In this case, the pattern matching circuit becomes large-scaled and complicated, but since the type of the original depending on the pattern shape can be discriminated, for example, a certain original is allowed to be copied by entering a password, while others are not allowed to be copied at all. Etc. can be controlled.

[0113]

According to the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect an optical signal over a wide wavelength range in a wide dynamic range without complicating the optical system.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of an image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a spectral characteristic of a color filter used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a spectral characteristic of a visible light cut filter used in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a light emission characteristic of a light source used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing one pixel of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the spectral characteristics of the infrared absorbing paint used in the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a spectral characteristic of a far infrared cut filter used in the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of an image reading apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an image reading device according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing an example of an image information processing apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing a document read by the image reading apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram for explaining a reading operation of the image reading apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a signal processing unit of the image reading apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an edge enhancement circuit of the image reading apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing a map of pixel data.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Toshio Hayashi 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Shinobu Arimoto 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Takehiko Nakai 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor ▲ Kazuo Ei 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Incorporated (72) Inventor Hiroshi Tanioka 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A light-receiving surface of a first sensor for converting an optical signal in the visible light region into a first electric signal, and a second sensor for converting an optical signal in the invisible light region into a second electric signal. An image reading device, wherein the light receiving surface and the light receiving surface are arranged at different positions with respect to the incident direction of light. 2. A light-receiving surface of a first sensor for converting an optical signal in the visible light region into a first electric signal, and a second sensor for converting an optical signal in the invisible light region into a second electric signal. A reading unit in which a light-receiving surface is arranged at a different position with respect to a light incident direction, an image forming unit that forms an image based on the first electric signal, the second electric signal, and a reference signal. An image information processing apparatus comprising: a discriminating means for discriminating based on the above, and a control means for controlling the operation of the image forming means based on the output of the discriminating means.