JP3622919B2 - Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus having the same - Google Patents

Description

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

Claims (12)

An original platen transparent plate having an original reading surface on which an original is placed;
A light-emitting layer provided below the document reading surface, having a plurality of small areas, the small region has two states of the light emitting state and a transparent state, among the plurality of small regions, some A light emitting layer for generating a scanning light beam for irradiating the original by setting a small region to a light emitting state and other small regions to a transparent state ;
A liquid crystal slit layer provided under the light emitting layer, has a small area of a plurality of liquid crystal, the has two states of small areas shielding state and a transparent state of the liquid crystal, a small region of the plurality of liquid crystal Among them, a liquid crystal slit layer that forms a slit for reflected light from the document by setting a small area of some liquid crystals to a transparent state and a small area of other liquid crystals to a light shielding state ;
A light-receiving element layer provided below the liquid crystal slit layer, a light receiving element, of the original and an optical system for forming a reflection light from the document having passed through the slit on the light-receiving element An image reading apparatus including a light receiving element layer for reading an image. In the light emitting layer, controlling a scanning process for generating a scanning light beam that irradiates the original with a part of the plurality of small regions being in a light emitting state and another small region being in a transparent state,
In the liquid crystal slit layer, a slit is formed with a small area of some of the plurality of liquid crystal small areas being in a transparent state and a small area of the other liquid crystal being in a light-shielding state. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus controls a slit process for selectively passing the part. In the light emitting layer, the irradiation position of the scanning light beam is moved by switching the small region to be in the light emitting state to another small region of the plurality of small regions in a predetermined order,
In the liquid crystal slit layer, claim 1 for moving the forming position of the slit by changing to other small areas of the liquid crystal of said plurality of liquid crystal sub-region by a predetermined sequence a small region of the liquid crystal to the transparent state Or the image reading apparatus of 2. A document area sensor for detecting a document area covered by a document placed on the document table transparent plate;
Range of the original from the area sensor notified of the document area information is a detection result of the document area, the range the original area of forming the slits in the scope and the liquid crystal slit layer generates the scanning beam in the light-emitting layer The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device is limited to within. A document size information input unit for inputting size information of a document placed on the platen transparent plate;
Range the notified size information of the document from the document size information input unit, the range of forming the slits in the scope and the liquid crystal slit layer generates the scanning beam in the light emitting layer according to the size information of the original The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device is limited to within. 6. The liquid crystal slit layer according to claim 1, wherein each small region of the light emitting layer is formed at a predetermined angle with respect to the document reading surface, and a slit of the liquid crystal slit layer is formed at a position for receiving the reflected light beam. Image reading device. A parallel processing control unit that divides the document reading surface into a plurality of image reading sub-ranges according to a document area on which the document is placed;
The image reading is performed by independently generating the scanning light beam in the light emitting layer, forming the slit in the liquid crystal slit layer, and reading the image in the light receiving element layer for each of the image reading small ranges. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading processing for the small range is parallel processing. The image reading apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising an image composition unit that performs an image composition process for collecting each partial image data read from each of the image reading subranges and combining the partial image data with the entire image data. The parallel-processing control unit, the boundary of the image reading small range to each other adjacent, added to each of the same region near the boundary as an overhead area for each of the image reading subranges mutually the adjacent,
In the image reading process of the image reading small range, the image reading process including the overhead area is executed,
The image synthesizing unit, in the image synthesizing processing, the image reading apparatus according to claim 7 to perform the image combining process while matching the image data corresponding to the overhead area. As an image reading start mode, it has at least two modes of auto start mode and manual start mode.
A document set detection unit for detecting that a document is set on the document reading surface;
When in the auto start mode, upon receiving notification of document set detection information that is a detection result of the document set from the document set detection unit, generation of scanning light rays in the light emitting layer, formation of slits in the liquid crystal slit layer, The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein reading of a document image on the light receiving element layer is automatically started. An image forming apparatus comprising: the image reading apparatus according to claim 1; and an image forming unit that forms an image based on image data read by the image reading apparatus. 11. An image processing system comprising: the image reading device according to claim 1; and an image processing unit that performs image processing based on image data read by the image reading device.

Images