JP2007180921A - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus 1 which allows a thumb to be easily put on a finger prints reading sensor 93. <P>SOLUTION: In order that a thumb can be easily put on a finger prints reading sensor 93, the position of the finger prints reading sensor 93 is required to satisfy at least the first or second condition. A first condition: the finger prints reading sensor 93 is so positioned that the outer periphery of the chip 931 of the finger prints reading sensor 93 comes to the same position with an outer wall surface 90A on the front side of an operation stage 90 or comes to the inside of the outer wall surface 90A while the shortest distance X between a central part 931A of the finger prints reading sensor 93 and the outer wall surface 90A is 50 mm or less. A second condition: the shortest distance Y between an upper surface 931B of the finger prints reading sensor 93 and an upper surface 90B of the operation stage 90 is 10 mm or longer while the shortest distance Z between an upper surface 931B of the finger prints reading sensor 93 and an installation surface 1A of the image forming apparatus 1 is 900-1,000 mm. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that recognizes a user by collating fingerprint information read by a fingerprint reading sensor with previously registered fingerprint information.

  Recently, image forming apparatuses (copiers, printers, etc.) equipped with a storage medium such as a hard disk (HDD) have been introduced in general offices. Such an image forming apparatus can store image information read by a reading unit such as a scanner in a storage medium. If the stored image information is to be output again, the stored image information can be read and output to a sheet. That is, since it is not necessary to read the same document again with a scanner or the like, it is convenient for the user to save time. On the other hand, the image information stored in the storage medium may include confidential information such as personal information handled by hospitals and government offices. If the stored confidential information can be accessed by any number of people and can be output on paper at any time, the confidential information is leaked and there is a problem in terms of safety. Therefore, a fingerprint reading sensor that reads the user's fingerprint information is installed, and if the fingerprint information read by the sensor matches the user's registered fingerprint information, the user is given access rights to the image forming device. There has been proposed an image forming apparatus that employs a fingerprint authentication technique (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

  This fingerprint authentication technology recognizes a skin pattern (for example, a spiral pattern, a bow pattern, etc.) of a user's fingertip using a fingerprint verification algorithm such as a minutia system. However, the reading accuracy of the fingerprint reading sensor differs depending on the finger to be recognized. This point will be described below.

  The present inventor conducted a fingerprint reading operation on four fingers per person (the index finger and middle finger of the right hand, the index finger and middle finger of the left hand) per person, and Mr. A, Mr. B, and Mr. C who had poor reading accuracy. The fingerprint reading operation was performed 10 times for each of the five fingers of the thumb, index finger, middle finger, ring finger, and little finger. The results are shown in Table 1.

The human finger may be rough depending on the environment, and if the fingerprint reading operation is performed in such a state, the reading accuracy is deteriorated. The three persons shown in Table 1 are also considered to have poor reading accuracy because their fingers are rough. However, since the finger area is large for the thumb, a certain degree of reading accuracy tends to be ensured as shown in Table 1.
JP 2003-195704 A JP 2004-297259 A

  As shown in Table 1, the thumb has better reading accuracy than the index finger and middle finger. Therefore, it can be said that it is preferable to perform the fingerprint reading operation with the thumb. However, the fingerprint reading sensor is conveniently installed to read a finger different from the thumb such as the index finger and the middle finger. Even if an attempt is made to place the thumb on the fingerprint reading sensor under such installation conditions, the fingerprint reading sensor is installed because the thumb is at the end of the human hand and its belly faces in a different direction from the other fingers. This is a problem because it is difficult to use because other fingers hit the operation console.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus that can be easily placed on a fingerprint reading sensor even with a thumb.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention devised the arrangement of the fingerprint reading sensor in the image forming apparatus.

That is, the image forming apparatus according to the present invention is
A chip-type fingerprint reading sensor for reading fingerprint information;
An operation console on which the fingerprint reading sensor is installed;
An image forming apparatus for recognizing a user by comparing fingerprint information read by the fingerprint reading sensor with pre-registered fingerprint information,
The position of the fingerprint reading sensor satisfies at least one of a first condition and a second condition described below.
First condition:
The fingerprint reading sensor is positioned such that the outer peripheral portion of the chip of the fingerprint reading sensor is the same as the outer wall surface on the front side of the operation table or inside the outer wall surface, and the central portion of the fingerprint reading sensor and the center The shortest distance X to the outer wall surface is 50 mm or less.
Second condition:
The shortest distance Y between the upper surface of the fingerprint reading sensor and the upper surface of the operation table is 10 mm or more, and the shortest distance Z between the upper surface of the fingerprint reading sensor and the installation surface of the image forming apparatus is 900 mm or more and 1000 mm or less. thing.

  According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, even the thumb can be easily placed on the fingerprint reading sensor.

  FIG. 1 is a central sectional view showing the internal configuration of the image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus 1 has a plurality of recording material storage units 20 at the bottom. An image forming unit 40 and an intermediate transfer belt 50 are installed above the recording material storage unit 20, and a document reading unit 30 is installed at the upper part of the apparatus main body.

  The recording material storage unit 20 can be pulled out to the front side of the apparatus (the front side in FIG. 1).

  The image forming unit 40 includes four sets of image forming units 400Y, 400M, 400C, and 400K for forming toner images for each color of Y, M, C, and K. The image forming units 400Y, 400M, 400C, and 400K are linearly arranged from top to bottom in this order, and have the same configuration. The configuration of the image forming unit 400Y will be described as an example. The image forming unit 400Y includes a photoreceptor 410 that rotates counterclockwise, a scorotron charging unit 420, an exposure unit 430, and a developing unit 440.

  The cleaning unit 450 is disposed to include a region facing the lowermost part of the photoconductor 410.

  The intermediate transfer belt 50 located at the center of the apparatus main body is endless and has an appropriate volume resistivity. Further, the intermediate transfer belt 50 is, for example, on the outside of a semiconductive film substrate in which a conductive material is dispersed in engineering plastics such as modified polyimide, thermosetting polyimide, ethylene tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, polyvinylidene fluoride, nylon alloy, It consists of two layers with fluorine coating. Further, there may be a conductive material dispersed in silicon rubber or urethane rubber.

  The primary transfer electrode 510 is installed at a position facing the photoconductor 410 with the intermediate transfer belt 50 interposed therebetween.

  Next, a process for forming a color image will be described.

  The photoconductor 410 is driven by a main motor (not shown), the surface of the photoconductor 410 is supplied with a voltage by a power source (not shown), and is charged to a negative polarity by the discharge of the scorotron charging means 420 (in this embodiment). -800V). Next, optical writing according to image information is performed by the exposure unit 430, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor 410. When the formed electrostatic latent image passes through the developing unit 440, the negatively charged toner in the developing unit adheres to the portion of the latent image by application of the negative developing bias, and the toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 410. Is formed. The formed toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 50 that is pressure-bonded to the photoreceptor 410. The toner on the photoreceptor 410 remaining after the transfer is cleaned by the cleaning means 450. A toner image formed by each of the image forming units 400Y, 400M, 400C, and 400K is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 50 so that a color image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 50. The recording material P is discharged one by one by the recording material storage unit 20 and conveyed to the position of the registration roller 60. After the leading edges of the recording material P are aligned by the registration roller 60, the recording material P is fed from the registration roller 60 at a timing when the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 50 matches the image position. The recording material P fed by the registration roller 60 is guided by a guide plate and fed to a transfer nip portion formed by the intermediate transfer belt 50 and the transfer portion 70. The transfer unit 70 composed of rollers presses the recording material P toward the intermediate transfer belt 50 side. By applying a bias (+500 V) having a polarity opposite to that of the toner to the transfer unit 70, the toner image on the intermediate transfer belt 50 is transferred to the recording material P by the action of electrostatic force. The recording material P is neutralized by a separating means (not shown) composed of a neutralizing needle, separated from the intermediate transfer belt 50, and sent to a fixing unit 80 composed of a roller pair of a heating roller and a pressure roller. As a result, the toner image is fixed on the recording material P, and the recording material P on which the image has been formed is discharged out of the apparatus.

  FIG. 2 is a top view of the operation table on which the fingerprint reading sensor is installed.

  An operation console 90 shown in FIG. 2 is installed on the front side of the image forming apparatus 1, and a touch panel 91, a copy button 92, and an operation reading sensor 93 are installed on the operation console 90. On the touch panel 91, the user can select printing conditions (double-sided / single-sided selection, copy density, copy magnification, paper selection, etc.). When the user presses the copy button 92, image formation starts. A fingerprint reading sensor 93 is installed at the end of the operation console 90, and the fingerprint reading sensor 93 includes a chip 931 and a chip support 932 as a fingerprint reading surface. When a finger is placed on the upper surface of the fingerprint reading sensor 93, a fingerprint reading operation starts and fingerprint authentication is performed. As the fingerprint reading sensor 93, there are an optical type and an electrostatic type as well as an ultrasonic type, and a skin pattern (for example, a spiral pattern, a bow pattern, etc.) of a user's fingertip is recognized by detecting the unevenness of the fingerprint. To do. The size of the chip 931 is, for example, 20 mm long, 15 mm wide, and 20 mm high. A chip support portion 932 is provided on the outer periphery of the chip 9311, and the upper surface of the chip 931 and the upper surface of the chip support portion 932 have the same height. Incidentally, it is desirable that the operation console 90 has a variable angle so that the user can easily press the touch panel 91 or the like. The shape of the chip 931 is not limited to the area type having an area covering the belly of the finger, but may be a line type that reads the skin pattern by tracing (sweeping) the finger belly.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a control system of the image forming apparatus.

  The CPU 10 controls the overall operation of the image forming apparatus 1, and the RAM 11, the storage unit 12, the touch panel 91, the fingerprint recognition sensor 93, the image reading unit 13, the image processing unit 14, and the image forming unit 40 are connected via the bus 20. It is connected.

  A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 10 reads various control programs stored in the storage unit 12 and develops them in a RAM (Random Access Memory) 11 to control the operation of each unit. In addition, the CPU 10 executes various processes according to the program expanded in the RAM 11, stores the processing results in the RAM 11, and causes the touch panel 91 to display them. Then, the processing result stored in the RAM 17 is stored in a predetermined storage destination of the storage unit 18.

  The RAM 11 forms a work area for temporarily storing data processed by various control programs executed by the CPU 10.

  The storage unit 12 stores programs, data, and the like in advance, and this recording medium is constituted by a magnetic or optical recording medium or a semiconductor memory. This recording medium is fixedly attached to the storage unit 12 or is detachably mounted. The recording medium stores various control programs, data processed by the various control programs, and the like. . Note that the program sequentially executes operations in accordance with a program code readable by the computer.

  The CPU 11 reads the user's fingerprint information by the fingerprint recognition sensor 93 when executing the user registration process relating to the fingerprint. Next, a message asking whether or not to customize the operation screen is displayed on the touch panel 91, and the user is registered in the storage unit 12 based on the fingerprint information read according to the type of response input.

  The touch panel 91 includes a display screen configured by an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) or the like, and displays display information such as an operation screen instructed to be displayed by the CPU 10.

  The image reading unit 13 includes a scanner below the transparent contact glass on which the document is placed. The image reading unit 13 reads the document with the scanner, acquires the image data, and outputs the image data to the image processing unit 14. The scanner is composed of a light source, a lens, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor, and the like. The reflected light of light illuminated and scanned from the light source to the original is imaged by the lens and photoelectrically converted by the CCD image sensor to obtain image data. . At this time, the image data to be read is not limited to image data such as graphics and photographs, but also includes text data such as characters and symbols.

  The image processing unit 14 performs rotation, position change, enlargement / reduction processing, and various image processing such as gradation, hue, and saturation on the input image data in accordance with instructions from the CPU 11.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the fingerprint authentication operation.

  The fingerprint authentication is executed based on the fingerprint recognition sensor 93 and the fingerprint information stored in the storage unit 12 described above.

  The fingerprint authentication operation will be described. First, it is determined whether there is a fingerprint authentication request (S1). When there is a request for fingerprint authentication, fingerprint information is read by the fingerprint recognition sensor 93 (S2), and the read fingerprint information is collated with the fingerprint information stored in the storage unit (S3). Then, it is determined whether or not the fingerprint information matches (S4). If the fingerprint information matches, the fact that the fingerprint information matches is displayed on the touch panel 91 in order to notify the user to that effect (S5). Access is permitted (S6), and the image information stored in the storage medium can be accessed. On the other hand, if the fingerprint information does not match, the fact that the fingerprint information does not match is displayed on the touch panel in order to notify the user to that effect (S7), and the user's access is prohibited (S8). As a result, even if the user tries to access the storage medium, the user is rejected and the image information stored in the storage medium cannot be output.

  FIG. 5 is a right side view of the operation console 90.

  As described above, generally, the reading accuracy of the thumb is better than that of the index finger or the middle finger. Therefore, it can be said that it is preferable to perform the fingerprint reading operation with the thumb. As shown in FIG. 5A, when the fingerprint reading sensor 93 is close to the front outer wall surface 90A of the operation table 90, fingers other than the thumb do not interfere with the operation table 90, and the thumb can be easily placed on the fingerprint reading sensor 93. Can be put in. However, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the fingerprint reading sensor 93 is far from the outer wall surface 90A, fingers other than the thumb interfere with the upper surface 90B of the operation table 90, and the thumb can be easily placed on the fingerprint reading sensor 93. I can not. However, even in such a case, if the fingerprint reading sensor 93 is at a higher position than the operation console 90, the thumb can be placed more easily than at a lower position. Further, it can be said that the distance between the upper surface of the fingerprint reading sensor 90 and the installation surface 1A of the image forming apparatus 1 also has an influence when the user presses the thumb on the fingerprint reading sensor 93 while standing.

  From the above consideration, it can be seen that the distance between the fingerprint reading sensor 93 and the outer wall surface 90A affects the ease of placing the thumb. In consideration of this point, the present inventor decided to grasp an appropriate position of the fingerprint reading sensor 93.

  6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating the positional relationship between the fingerprint reading sensor 93 and the operation console 90. FIG. 6A is a top view of the operation console 90, and FIG. 6B is a front view of the operation console 90. FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the positional relationship between the fingerprint reading sensor 93 and the installation surface of the image forming apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 6A, the shortest distance between the central portion 931 </ b> A of the fingerprint reading sensor 93 and the outer wall surface 90 </ b> A on the front side of the operation console 90 is X (mm). As shown in FIG. 6B, the shortest distance between the upper surface 931B of the fingerprint reading sensor 93 and the upper surface 90B of the operation console 90 is Y (mm). Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the shortest distance between the upper surface 931B of the fingerprint reading sensor 93 and the installation surface 1A of the image forming apparatus 1 is Z (mm). Various values were set for X, Y, and Z, and a survey was conducted on 100 people. The results are shown in Tables 2 to 4 below.

  The evaluation results are divided into four stages, ◎, ○, Δ, and ×. “◎” indicates that 95% or more of the survey subjects determined that it is easy to place the thumb on the fingerprint recognition sensor 93, and “○” indicates that 80% or more of the survey subjects place the thumb on the fingerprint recognition sensor 93. It was decided that it was easy. “△” indicates that 50% or more of the survey subjects determined that it is difficult to place the thumb on the fingerprint recognition sensor 93, and “×” indicates that 80% or more of the survey subjects have the thumb on the fingerprint recognition sensor 93. It is judged that it is difficult to put on.

  Table 2 shows the examination result regarding the shortest distance X between the central portion 931 </ b> A of the fingerprint reading sensor 93 and the outer wall surface 90 </ b> A on the front surface side of the operation console 90. In order to see the influence of X, Y = 0 mm and Z = 930 mm were set. As a result of examination, a good result was obtained when X was 50 mm or less, and particularly, 30 mm or less. If X is within this range, it is still easy to place the thumb even if the fingerprint reading sensor 93 has a certain height. However, from the viewpoint of properly installing the fingerprint reading sensor 93 in the operation table 90, the outer peripheral portion of the chip 931 is located at the same position as the front wall surface 90A on the operation table 90 or inside the outer wall surface 90A (FIG. 6). It is necessary to install so as to be on the upper side in (a). Therefore, as a first condition for the position of the fingerprint reading sensor 93, the outer peripheral portion of the chip of the fingerprint reading sensor 93 is located at the same position as the outer wall surface 90A on the front side of the operation table 90 or inside the outer wall surface 90A, and It is conceivable that the shortest distance X between the central portion 931A of the fingerprint reading sensor 93 and the outer wall surface 90A is 50 mm or less.

  Table 3 shows the examination results regarding the shortest distance Y between the upper surface 931B of the fingerprint reading sensor 93 and the upper surface 90B of the operation console 90. When the fingerprint reading sensor 93 is far from the outer wall surface 90A, fingers other than the thumb hit the upper surface 90B of the operation console 90. Therefore, when examining the appropriate value of Y, X = 70 mm and Z = 930 mm were set. As a result of the examination, a good result was obtained for Y of 10 mm or more, and particularly good for 15 mm or more. If Y is in this range, even if the shortest distance X between the central portion 931A of the fingerprint reading sensor 93 and the outer wall surface 90A is short, it is still easy to place the thumb. Table 4 shows the examination results regarding the shortest distance Z between the upper surface 931B of the fingerprint reading sensor 93 and the installation surface 1A of the image forming apparatus 1. In order to see the influence of Z, X = 35 mm and Y = 0 mm were set. From the examination results, it is desirable that Z is 900 mm or more and 1000 mm or less, and particularly good results are obtained when 950 mm or more and 980 mm or less. From the examination results of Table 2 and Table 3, as the second condition of the position of the fingerprint reading sensor 93, the shortest distance Y between the upper surface 931B of the fingerprint reading sensor 93 and the upper surface 90B of the operation table 90 is 10 mm or more, and the fingerprint It is conceivable that the shortest distance Z between the upper surface 931B of the reading sensor 93 and the installation surface 1A of the image forming apparatus 1 is 900 mm or more and 1000 mm or less.

  From the above, it can be said that the thumb can be easily placed on the fingerprint reading sensor 93 if the position of the fingerprint reading sensor 93 satisfies at least one of the first condition and the second condition described above.

FIG. 2 is a central sectional view showing an internal configuration of the image forming apparatus. It is a top view of the operation console in which the fingerprint reading sensor is installed. 2 is a block diagram of a control system of the image forming apparatus. FIG. It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement of fingerprint authentication. 3 is a right side view of an operation console 90. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a fingerprint reading sensor 93 and an operation console 90. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a positional relationship between a fingerprint reading sensor 93 and an installation surface of the image forming apparatus 1. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image forming apparatus 10 CPU
11 RAM
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Memory | storage part 13 Image reading part 14 Image processing part 40 Image formation part 90 Operation board 91 Touch panel 92 Copy button 93 Fingerprint recognition sensor 931 Chip 932 Chip support part

Claims (1)

A chip-type fingerprint reading sensor for reading fingerprint information;
An operation console on which the fingerprint reading sensor is installed;
An image forming apparatus for recognizing a user by comparing fingerprint information read by the fingerprint reading sensor with pre-registered fingerprint information,
An image forming apparatus, wherein the position of the fingerprint reading sensor satisfies at least one of a first condition and a second condition described below.
First condition:
The fingerprint reading sensor is positioned such that the outer peripheral portion of the chip of the fingerprint reading sensor is the same as the outer wall surface on the front side of the operation table or inside the outer wall surface, and the central portion of the fingerprint reading sensor and the center The shortest distance X to the outer wall surface is 50 mm or less.
Second condition:
The shortest distance Y between the upper surface of the fingerprint reading sensor and the upper surface of the operation table is 10 mm or more, and the shortest distance Z between the upper surface of the fingerprint reading sensor and the installation surface of the image forming apparatus is 900 mm or more and 1000 mm or less. thing.

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