JP2000121936A - Image forming element and reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming element which is capable of eliminating ghosts and flares. SOLUTION: Respective elements 10 are provided with object side convex lenses 4 on their one-side flanks and image side convex lenses 5 on the flanks on the opposite side. The lower parts of these elements 10 are provided with roof members 6 each consisting of a pair of roof faces approximately perpendicular to each other. V-grooves 3 are formed atop the elements 10. Both slopes of these V-grooves 3 exist on the rear surfaces of the respective object side convex lenses 4 and image side convex lenses 5, constituting first reflection surfaces 1 and second reflection surfaces 2. The elements 10 are combined in such a manner that the directions of the reflection surfaces of the elements adjacent to each other are reversed in directions, by which the optical paths of the adjacent elements 10 are separated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming element applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile and the like, and a reading apparatus using the image forming element.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus, image reading,
Alternatively, a so-called selfoc lens array (SLA) in which rod lenses having a refractive index distribution are arranged in an array, and a lens array and a roof mirror are used as an imaging element for forming an erect real-size real image used for image formation. A combined roof mirror lens array (RMLA) and the like are known.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-37326 discloses a multi-lens array in which a large number of lenses are arranged in a row and formed in a plate shape, and a multi-lens array in which a large number of roof mirrors are arranged in a row and formed in a plate shape. An imaging apparatus including a roof mirror array, which is a roof mirror array, and a multi roof mirror array arranged behind the lens array so that each roof mirror corresponds to each lens is shown. In this type of imaging element, it is integrally formed by molding due to manufacturing convenience and cost problems. Therefore, in order to eliminate ghosts and flares due to light entering the adjacent element, the next element is used. (See FIG. 10 of the above publication).

In general, a molded product is also used for the light shielding member from the viewpoints of manufacturing and cost. However, the lens array, the roof mirror array, and the light shielding member, which are optical elements, are extremely accurate to maintain performance. It is necessary to match the arrangement pitch, and this is a factor that increases parts cost and assembly cost. To solve this problem, a type as shown in FIG. 10 has been proposed.

[0005] The imaging device shown in FIG.
No. 6924, a plurality of object-side convex lenses 4 are provided on one side surface of an array body 7 in parallel in a line. A plurality of image-side convex lenses 5 are provided on the opposite side surface of the array main body 7 in correspondence with each object-side convex lens 4.
At the lower part of the array body 7, a roof member 6 composed of a pair of roof surfaces substantially perpendicular to each other is provided. A plurality of roof members 6 are provided in parallel to each pair of the object-side convex lens 4 and the image-side convex lens 5.

A V groove 3 is formed on the upper surface of the array body 7. The V-groove 3 is formed along the longitudinal direction of the array body 7, that is, along each of the lens rows 4 and 5. Both inclined side surfaces of the V-groove 3 are located on the back of the object-side convex lens 4 and the image-side convex lens 5, respectively. , The first reflection surface 1 and the second reflection surface 2. The object-side convex lens 4, the image-side convex lens 5, and the roof member 6
Together with the array body 7 having the groove 3, it is integrally formed using a mold at the same time with a plastic material.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 62-62
The equal-magnification imaging element proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 96924 discloses an array-side body in which an object-side convex lens array, an image-side convex lens array, and an image inverting roof member are integrally formed of a plastic material together with a total reflection surface corresponding to each lens. Since it is formed, the reflective film coating is not required, and the labor for assembling the array is not required. However, in practice, practical use is difficult due to ghost, flare and the like. In addition, the same-magnification imaging element including SLA is a sensor (or LED array)
The main application is to use it as a scanner (or printer) in combination with the above, but a high-precision frame is required to maintain the positional relationship between the imaging element and the sensor (or printer) with high accuracy. This is a factor that raises costs.

The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and provides an imaging element capable of eliminating ghosts and flares, and a reading apparatus capable of eliminating a frame by using the imaging element. It is intended to provide a device.

[0009]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imaging device according to the first aspect, wherein a pair of spherical surfaces having the same optical axis and a light passing through the first spherical surface are directed obliquely downward. A first reflecting plane for escape and a light for reflecting the light,
A roof-like reflecting surface whose ridge line is parallel to the lens optical axis and symmetrical with respect to a surface including the optical path of the optical axis, and a second reflecting surface which returns the reflected light to the original lens optical axis and guides the reflected light to the second spherical surface. And an element which converts light rays from the document surface into substantially parallel light on a first spherical surface and obtains an equal-magnification image on a second spherical surface. In this case, the images are arranged in an array in a direction perpendicular to the plane including the optical path at the center of the light beam, and the required width is imaged at the same size.

[0010] In order to achieve the above object, a second aspect is provided.
The image forming element described in claim 1 is characterized in that each element is integrally formed by molding.

[0011] In order to achieve the above object, a third aspect of the present invention is provided.
The image forming element according to claim 1 is characterized in that one other element having the same reflection surface and roof surface is integrally formed to form an element unit, and the element units are combined in the opposite direction. It is assumed that.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the above object is achieved.
According to the present invention, the imaging device and the holder are integrally formed to form an imaging device unit, and a step portion serving as a sensor mounting reference is formed in the holder. The sensor substrate is fitted into the device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a semiconductor device comprising:
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, the holder is provided with a light guide unit for guiding the light of the light source to the document surface.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 1A and 1B are configuration diagrams of an imaging element according to a first embodiment, in which FIG. 1A is a front view and FIG. 1B is a side view. Each element 10 has an object-side convex lens (first spherical surface) on one side surface, as in the conventional example shown in FIG.
4 are provided. An image-side convex lens (second spherical surface) 5 is provided on the opposite side surface. At the lower part of the element 10, a roof member 6 composed of a pair of roof surfaces (roof-like reflection surface) that are substantially perpendicular to each other is provided. Element 10
A V-groove 3 is formed on the upper surface. Both inclined surfaces of the V groove 3
They are located on the back of the object-side convex lens 4 and the image-side convex lens 5, respectively, and form a first reflecting surface 1 and a second reflecting surface 2.

In such a configuration, the light from the original surface is converted into parallel light by the object-side convex lens 4, passes through the first reflecting surface 1, the roof surface (roof-like reflecting surface), and the second reflecting surface 2, and passes through the image-side convex lens. 5 forms an image at the same magnification.

In the present embodiment, the elements 10 configured as described above are combined so that the directions of the reflecting surfaces of the adjacent elements 10 are opposite to each other, and the optical paths of the adjacent elements 10 are separated. Conventionally, unnecessary light that has deteriorated the imaging performance by entering the adjacent element is cut off without using a light blocking member, and a desired imaging performance can be obtained with a simple configuration.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are configuration diagrams of an imaging element showing a second embodiment, wherein FIG. 2A is a front view and FIG. 2B is a side view. Similar to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the roof members 6 are alternately provided on the opposite sides of the lenses 4 and 5, but are integrally formed by molding as a whole. By doing so, the imaging element can be configured at lower cost.

FIG. 3 is a structural view of an imaging element showing a modification of the second embodiment. In this modification, the roof member (loop portion) 6 is cut obliquely to improve mold separation during molding.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are configuration diagrams of an imaging device showing a third embodiment, wherein FIG. 4A is an exploded front view, FIG. 4B is an exploded side view, FIG. 4C is an assembled front view, and FIG. Is an assembly side view.
As shown in FIG. 4A, every other element (FIG.
Is used in combination with a pair of element units 11 and 11 integrally configured with each other. The integrally configured element unit 11 includes a reflecting surface,
Since the roof surfaces are in the same direction, molding is easy. Note that the two element units 11 to be combined may have exactly the same shape and are combined in opposite directions.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the reading apparatus according to the first embodiment (the lens arrangement direction is vertical to the paper surface), and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the imaging element unit. The imaging element body 21 of the present invention and its holder 22
It is formed integrally. Imaging element unit 23
A sensor board 25 on which a sensor 24 is mounted is attached to the lower part of the sensor, and the sensor 24 faces the lens 5. A sensor attachment reference (step portion) 22 a is formed in the imaging element unit 23. The corners of the sensor board 25 are positioned on the sensor mounting reference 22a. As described above, by integrally configuring the imaging element main body 21 and the sensor mounting reference 22a, highly accurate positioning of the imaging element main body 21 and the sensor 24 can be performed extremely inexpensively and easily. .

FIG. 7 is a side view of a reading apparatus according to the second embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the image forming element unit similarly. The reading device according to the second embodiment has the same main configuration as the reading device according to the first embodiment, except that a continuous flange portion 27 is provided at the edge on the object-side convex lens 4 side.
This facilitates the setting when the light shielding sheet 28 is stuck thereon.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a reading apparatus according to the third embodiment. In the present embodiment, a light guide 29 for guiding illumination light to a predetermined position on a document surface is provided on the holder 22 of the imaging element unit 23. Thus, a reading device including illumination can be configured with one touch simply by combining the sensor substrate 25 on which the illumination light source 30 such as an LED is mounted and the imaging element unit 23. In FIG. 9, the illumination light source 30 is provided on the sensor substrate 25, but illumination light can be input from the side in the arrangement direction.

Here, the light shielding member 26 (or the light shielding sheet 2) in the reading apparatus of the first, second, and third embodiments is used.
8) is for cutting the light sneaking from the side of the lens array, and is different from the conventional light-shielding member in which holes are formed in an array shape, which shields between adjacent elements. There is no need to worry about the arrangement pitch with the lens or the like, and the shape is not limited to the illustrated one, and an optimal shape can be designed as necessary.

[0024]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the elements are combined so that the directions of the reflection surfaces of the adjacent elements are opposite to each other, and the optical paths of the adjacent elements are separated from each other. Unnecessary light entering the element and deteriorating the imaging performance can be cut without using a light shielding member, and a desired imaging performance can be obtained with a simple configuration.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by separating the roof member obliquely, the mold separation during molding can be improved.

According to the third aspect of the invention, molding can be facilitated by combining the element units.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the mounting reference of the imaging element and the sensor is integrally formed, high-precision positioning can be performed easily at low cost.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, by providing the holder with the light guide section, a reading device including illumination can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIGS. 1A and 1B are configuration diagrams of an imaging element according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 1A is a front view and FIG. 1B is a side view.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are configuration diagrams of an imaging element according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a front view and FIG. 2B is a side view.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an imaging element showing a modification of the second embodiment.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are configuration diagrams of an imaging element showing a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is an exploded front view, FIG. 4B is an exploded side view, FIG. ) Is an assembly side view.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the reading device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the imaging element unit.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a reading device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the imaging element unit.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a reading device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an imaging element showing a conventional example;
(A) is a front view, (b) is a side view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st reflection surface 2 2nd reflection surface 3 V groove 4 Object side convex lens 5 Image side convex lens 6 Roof member 10 Element 11 Element unit 21 Imaging element main body 22 Holder 22a Sensor mounting reference 23 Imaging element unit 24 Sensor 25 Sensor board

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pair of spherical surfaces having the same optical axis, a first reflecting plane for allowing light passing through the first spherical surface to escape obliquely downward, and a ridge line for reflecting the light is a lens light. A roof-like reflecting surface parallel to the axis and symmetrical with respect to a plane including the optical path of the optical axis, and a second reflecting plane for reflecting the reflected light back to the original lens optical axis and guided to the second spherical surface. And an element that converts light rays from the document surface into substantially parallel light on the first spherical surface and obtains an equal-magnification image on the second spherical surface so that the directions of the reflecting surfaces of the elements adjacent to each other are opposite to each other. An imaging element characterized by being arranged in an array in a direction perpendicular to a plane including an optical path at the center of a light beam to form an image of a required width at an equal size. 2. The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein each element is integrally formed by molding. 3. The element unit according to claim 1, wherein one other element having the same reflection surface and roof surface is integrally formed to form an element unit, and the element units are combined in an opposite direction. Imaging element. 4. An imaging element unit is formed by integrally molding the imaging element according to claim 2 and a holder,
Form a step on this holder to serve as a sensor mounting reference,
A reading device wherein a sensor substrate is fitted into the step. 5. The reading device according to claim 4, wherein the holder is provided with a light guide section for guiding the light of the light source to the document surface.