JPH11146137A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader in which an image processing speed is simply enhanced or a color image read function is added in accordance with users' need. SOLUTION: The image reader is provided with an attachment insert port 11 at a side of a lens block 4, and with attachment insert pots 12, 13 at a side of an SCU 6. A high speed image processing circuit board 22 is inserted to the attachment insert pots 12, 13 at the side of the SCU 6 and a high speed read attachment 20 is added to the main body to attain high speed reading. Furthermore, a prism light guide section and a color CCD board are inserted to the attachment insert port 11 at the side of the lens block 4 and a connector of a printed circuit board having provision for color processing is inserted to the attachment insert pots 12, 13 at the side of the SCU 6 so that a color read function is provided to this monochromatic image reader.

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 (image processing function) which forms reflected light of a document image on a CCD, performs photoelectric conversion, and further performs image processing by various processing circuits on an image processing board. Image reading device).

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an image reading apparatus showing a conventional example. The image reading device includes a light source 1 for irradiating a document placed on a contact glass, a mirror 2 for guiding light reflected from the document, a lens 3 for image formation, a lens block 4 for fixing the lens 3, and an image thereon. A CCD substrate 5, an SCU (scanner control substrate) 6, which is imaged and fixed to the lens block 4, an interface line 7 drawn from the SCU 6, and the like are provided. Reference numeral 8 indicates an optical path.

In such a configuration, the reflected light from the original is guided by the mirror 2, condensed by the lens 3 fixed to the lens block 4, and set on the CCD substrate 5 also fixed to the lens block 4. An image is formed on a CCD element. Then, the optical image is converted into an electric signal by photoelectric conversion, the electric signal is processed by a circuit on the SCU 6, and transmitted to the host system through the interface line 7.

[0004]

The functions and performances of the conventional image reading apparatus are already fixed at the time of manufacture. Therefore, for example, the host system connected to the image reading device is upgraded (upgraded).
And the host can now process information faster,
In response to this, when the processing speed of the image reading apparatus is increased to improve the overall performance, it is necessary to replace the image reading apparatus itself.

[0005] Also, since the host system has been upgraded and the host can now handle colors,
To colorize the entire system, a new color image reader must be purchased.

This is due to the limitation that the main functions and performances of the image reading apparatus, that is, basic reading speed and monochrome / color reading cannot be changed by the user. Therefore, when the host system is upgraded, there is a problem that a cost burden of replacement of the image reading device is imposed.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an image reading apparatus in which a user can easily improve the image processing speed or add a color image reading function as needed.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising:
An image reading apparatus which forms an image thereon, performs photoelectric conversion, and further performs image processing by various processing circuits on an image processing substrate, further comprising an attachment mounting section. In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, the attachment mounting portion is formed on both the lens block side and the image processing substrate side. Things. In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, wherein an attachment including an image processing substrate for high-speed image processing is mounted on the attachment mounting portion on the image processing substrate side. It is characterized by that. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect, an attachment including a prism light guide and a color CCD substrate is mounted on the attachment mounting portion on the lens block side. It is characterized by the following.

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the attachment mounting portions are provided on the lens block side and the image processing board side. Therefore, when upgrading the entire system, only the attachments are obtained and mounted. Thus, the function and performance at the time of image reading can be easily improved.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since an attachment having an image processing substrate for high-speed image processing is mounted on the attachment mounting portion on the image processing substrate side, high-speed image processing is performed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since an attachment including a prism light guide and a color CCD substrate is mounted on the attachment mounting portion on the lens block side, a color reading function is added to the monochrome image reading device. Is done.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image reading device is
A light source 1 for irradiating an original placed on a contact glass,
A mirror 2 for guiding the reflected light from the document, an imaging lens 3,
A lens block 4 for fixing the lens 3, an image is formed thereon, and a CCD substrate 5, an SCU (scanner control substrate) 6, an SCU 6 fixed to the lens block 4
And an interface line 7 and the like drawn out of the control unit.
Reference numeral 8 indicates an optical path.

In such a configuration, the reflected light from the original is guided by the mirror 2, condensed by the lens 3 fixed to the lens block 4, and set on the CCD substrate 5 also fixed to the lens block 4. An image is formed on a CCD element. Then, the optical image is converted into an electric signal by photoelectric conversion, the electric signal is processed by a circuit on the SCU 6, and transmitted to the host system through the interface line 7.

Further, at the bottom of the image reading device main body,
Three attachment slots (attachment mounting part)
11, 12, and 13 are provided. The attachment slot 11 is below the lens block 4, and the attachment slots 12 and 13 are below the SCU 6.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a state in which a high-speed reading attachment is added to the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. Attachment 20 for high-speed reading includes a pair of connectors 21 inserted into attachment slots 12 and 13.
And a high-speed image processing circuit board 22 (one or more) having a When the high-speed reading attachment 20 is attached to the bottom of the main body of the image reading apparatus, the SCU 6 in the main body and the circuit board 22 in the high-speed reading attachment 20 are electrically connected through two connectors 21.

On the circuit board 22 of the attachment 20 for high-speed reading, the same circuit as the image signal processing circuit of the SCU 6 of the image reading apparatus main body, a clock signal generating circuit for image signal processing faster than the SCU 6 side, and the SCU 6 A circuit for synchronizing the timing of the substrate 22 is mounted.

The SCU 6 of the main body of the image reading apparatus automatically detects that the circuit board 22 of the attachment 20 for high-speed reading is mounted, and sets the clock used for image processing to the clock of the attachment 20 for high-speed reading. It has a function of selectively switching. At the same time, only one of the even-side output and the odd-side output of the CCD output from the CCD substrate 5 is transmitted to the S of the image reading apparatus main body side.
It has a signal branching function that distributes the output of the CCD to the two substrates 6 and 22 so that the signal is processed by the CU 6 and the other is processed by the circuit board 22 of the attachment 20 for high-speed reading.

The signal distributed to the high-speed reading attachment 20 side is introduced into the circuit board 22 of the high-speed reading attachment 20 side through a connector in the attachment insertion slot 12. Then, as image processing,
The same processing is performed on both the main body side and the high-speed reading attachment 20 side.
The image on the 0 side is input again to the SCU 6 on the main body side through the connector of the attachment insertion slot 13, is synthesized with the image processed on the main body side, and is transmitted to the interface line 7. As described above, the speed can be increased by performing the image processing in parallel.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a state in which a color attachment is added to the image reading apparatus shown in FIG.
The color attachment 30 is composed of a circuit board 31, a prism light guide 32, a color CCD board 33, and a protective casing 34 for them. Circuit board 31
Are inserted into the attachment insertion ports 12 and 13. The prism light guide 32 and the color CCD substrate 33 are inserted from the attachment insertion opening 11.

In this embodiment, the prism light guide section 32 is inserted between the lens 3 of the main body and the CCD substrate 5, and a part of the reflected light from the original is incident on the CCD substrate 5 of the main body, and a part of the light is reflected. The light is refracted by the prism of the prism light guide section 32 and is guided to the color CCD substrate 33 on the color attachment 30 side.

In this embodiment, the light guided toward the color attachment 30 by the prism is read by a 3-line color CCD. In addition, a color filter is provided in the prism light guide section 32, a plurality of monochrome CCDs are installed in the color attachment 30, and the light separated by the color filter is converted into each monochrome CCD.
It can also be configured as a CD reading method.

In this embodiment, the output from the color CCD substrate 33 in the color attachment 30 is processed by the circuit board 31 in the color attachment 30.
The input is made to the interface control unit of the main body through the connector of the attachment insertion slot 13 and output to the external interface line 7 by the operation of the control unit.

The image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment has an attachment insertion port 11 on the lens block 4 side and attachment attachment ports 12 and 13 on the SCU 6 side. Attachment insertion holes 12, 13 on SCU6 side
The high-speed image processing circuit board 22 is inserted into the
If the attachment 20 for high-speed reading is added to the main body, high-speed reading becomes possible. Further, a prism light guide portion 32 is attached to the attachment insertion opening 11 on the lens block 4 side.
If the color CCD substrate 33 is inserted, and the connector of the circuit board 31 for color processing is inserted into the attachment insertion ports 12 and 13 on the SCU 6 side, the monochrome image reader can have a color reading function.

[0024]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, since the attachment mounting portions are provided on the lens block side and the image processing board side, the attachments are obtained when the whole system is upgraded. The function and performance at the time of reading an image can be easily improved simply by mounting.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the attachment including the image processing substrate for high-speed image processing is mounted on the attachment mounting portion on the image processing substrate side,
High-speed image processing can be performed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the attachment having the prism light guide and the color CCD substrate is attached to the attachment attachment portion on the lens block side, so that the monochrome image reader has a color reading function. Can be added.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a state where an attachment for high-speed reading is added to the image reading apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a state in which a color attachment is added to the image reading apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of an image reading apparatus showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light source 2 Mirror 3 Lens 4 Lens block 5 CCD board 6 SCU 7 Interface wire 11, 12, 13 Attachment insertion port 20 High-speed reading attachment 21 Connector 22 Circuit board 23 Housing 30 Coloring attachment 31 Circuit board 32 Prism light guide Section 33 Color CCD board 34 Housing

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image reading apparatus for forming reflected light of a document image on a CCD, photoelectrically converting the reflected light into an image on a CCD, and further performing image processing by various processing circuits on an image processing substrate, comprising an attachment mounting portion. Image reading device. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attachment mounting section is formed on both the lens block side and the image processing board side. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an attachment including an image processing substrate for high-speed image processing is mounted on the attachment mounting portion on the image processing substrate side. 4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an attachment including a prism light guide and a color CCD substrate is mounted on the attachment mounting portion on the lens block side.