JP5212157B2 - Image reading apparatus, failure detection method, program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, a failure detection method, a program, and a recording medium, and more particularly, to an image reading apparatus, a failure detection method, a program, and a recording medium that detect a failure of a light emitting element.

  2. Description of the Related Art A reading device that reads an image on a document surface based on reflected light from the document surface imaged by an imaging unit such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Devices) or a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) is known. In a stationary document type image reading apparatus, light is emitted while moving a carriage on a document which is an image reading object placed on a contact glass.

  A xenon lamp or a cold cathode tube is used as a light source for the scanner, and the original reading surface is irradiated as a linear light source in the main scanning direction. However, a xenon lamp or the like consumes a large amount of power, has a slow light source start-up speed, and generates a large amount of heat. Therefore, it cannot sufficiently meet the recent demands for energy saving, long life of the image reading apparatus, and the like. Therefore, there is a demand for a light source that consumes less power than a xenon lamp or the like, has a fast light source start-up speed, and generates a small amount of heat. As such a light source, for example, a white LED (Light Emitting Diode) capable of outputting white light can be used. An LED generally has a lower irradiation intensity than a xenon lamp and is a point light source. Therefore, it can be adopted as a line light source by arranging a plurality of LEDs in an array in the main scanning direction (see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  However, even if one of the individual LEDs that make up the array fails, the entire white LED array must be replaced, increasing the cost of manufacturing and maintaining and maintaining the device. There was a drawback of end.

  Therefore, for the purpose of reducing the influence on the image by detecting the failure of the LED itself and increasing the light quantity of the LED adjacent to the failure location, the LED light sources arranged in a row as the reading light source are sequentially turned on. From the result of detecting reflected light from a target with a reading device, an image reading apparatus provided with LED failure detection means has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

  However, the above-described failure detection means has problems that it takes time to detect the failure in order to sequentially turn on the LEDs, that the control is complicated, and that additional hardware is required to detect individual defects. there were. Furthermore, since it cannot be detected at an arbitrary timing, it is difficult to detect a failure in the course of the scanning operation.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object thereof is to detect a failure of a light emitting element.

  The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an image is based on a light source unit in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in one or a plurality of rows, and reflected light reflected from an image reading object by light emitted from the light source unit. An image reading device including an image pickup unit that picks up an image of a reading object, the halation generation unit including a read surface having a structure that generates halation when the light emitted from the light source unit is reflected, and Of the halation data, which is the data output from the imaging means as an electric signal, the reflected light reflected from the read surface provided in the halation generating means is reflected by the light emitted from the light source unit, and the image signal level is the data output from the imaging means. And a failure detecting means for detecting a failure of the light emitting element by determining whether or not there is a portion that does not satisfy a predetermined value.

  The failure detection method according to the present invention includes a light source unit in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in one or a plurality of columns, and image reading based on reflected light reflected from an image reading object by light emitted from the light source unit. A failure detection method in an image reading apparatus including an imaging unit that images an object, the step of irradiating light from the light source unit, and halation when light emitted from the light source unit is reflected A step of outputting data from the imaging means as an electrical signal by converting the reflected light reflected on the read surface provided in the halation generation means into a charge, which is irradiated to the halation generation section provided with the read surface of the structure; and Of the halation data, which is the data output from the imaging means as an electric signal by converting the reflected light reflected on the surface to be read provided in the halation generating means into electric charges By image signal level to determine whether there is a portion less than a predetermined specified value, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: detecting a failure of the light emitting element.

  The failure detection program according to the present invention reads an image based on a light source unit in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in one or a plurality of rows, and reflected light reflected from an image reading object by light emitted from the light source unit. A failure detection program for an image reading apparatus including an imaging unit that images an object, wherein a process of irradiating light from the light source unit and halation is generated when light emitted from the light source unit is reflected A process of outputting data from the imaging means as an electrical signal by converting the reflected light reflected on the read surface provided in the halation generation means into an electric charge, which is irradiated to the halation generation section provided with the read surface of the structure; The reflected light reflected from the surface to be read provided in the halation generating means is converted into electric charges, and the halation data, which is data output from the imaging means as an electrical signal, is output. Chi, that image signal level to determine whether there is a portion less than a predetermined specified value, characterized in that to execute a process of detecting a failure of the light emitting device, to the computer.

  The recording medium according to the present invention is a computer-readable recording medium for recording the process of the failure detection program of the present invention.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to detect a failure of a light emitting element from halation data acquired by forcibly generating halation.

It is an example of the image which the halation phenomenon produced. It is a figure for demonstrating the reason for the occurrence of the halation phenomenon. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The reading carriage 15 in the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the ADF original glass 23 which is the original reading position in the ADF, the halation generator 24, the reference white plate 25, and the original reading position at the time of flat bed scanning. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the positional relationship of document glass 14. FIG. 1 is an optical positional relationship diagram of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the output distribution for 1 line of CCD output at the time of the reference | standard white board reading which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the output distribution for 1 line of CCD output when a halation generate | occur | produces at the time of the halation generation part reading which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an operation process for detecting LED failure in the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an example of a structure of the halation generating part which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which shows an example of a structure of the halation generating part which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention, and thus various technically preferable limitations are given. However, the scope of the present invention is particularly limited in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  In this specification, an LED is used as an example of a light emitting element, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) is used as an example of an imaging unit, a halation generation unit 24 is used as an example of a halation generation unit, and a failure detection unit 10 is used as an example of a failure detection unit. I will explain.

  The image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention originally has the same number of bright regions as the number of LEDs that are generated when a plurality of point light sources such as LED light sources are arranged in an array and used as a line light source. The so-called halation phenomenon that appears in the form of dots is a demerit, but in order to use this phenomenon, it is necessary to detect a failure of a light emitting element from halation data (image data in which halation has occurred) acquired by forcibly generating halation. Features.

<Halation phenomenon>
Here, the halation phenomenon will be described in detail. FIG. 1 is an example of an image in which a halation phenomenon has occurred. In FIG. 1, an image with locally increased light intensity can be confirmed at a position corresponding to the arrangement pitch of the LEDs. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the reason why the halation phenomenon occurs. As shown in FIG. 2B, a book or the like (three-dimensional original 33) having a certain number of pages is placed on the contact glass 32 in an open state, and floats from the glass surface like a binding white portion. In many cases, the halation phenomenon is confirmed when reading a scanned image. In addition, it seems that the phenomenon becomes more remarkable with glossy documents.

  The reason why the halation phenomenon occurs is that light reflected by the curved portion of the binding white portion is incident on the optical axis of reading (this is called a regular reflection component). As shown in FIG. 2 (a), when reading a flat original, a component (regular reflection component X) that reflects the light applied to the original in accordance with the irradiation angle and a component A on the reading optical axis are generated. On the other hand, at the time of reading a three-dimensional original shown in FIG. 2B, the light applied to the original is input as it is as a regular reflection component X on the optical axis. This causes a halation phenomenon.

  In order to reduce the occurrence of halation, it is ideal that the point light source is diffused by the optimum design of the optical system and the original is irradiated in the same manner as the line light source. Conversely, halation itself can be generated. In the case of an ideally diffused light source, it is difficult to detect when an LED has failed (not lit), but when the above-mentioned halation is forcibly generated, the same number of bright areas as the number of LEDs appear as dots. As a matter of course, if the image signal level of such an area does not exceed a predetermined specified value, it means that the LED at the position corresponding to that portion does not emit enough light, that is, a failure occurs. Can be detected.

<Configuration>
First, the configuration of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. An image reading apparatus according to this embodiment includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 1, a drive control unit 5, a motor 6, a light source unit 7, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 8, an AFE (Analog Front End) 9, and a failure detection unit 10. The image processing unit 11 is configured.

  The CPU 1 controls the entire image reading apparatus.

  The drive controller 5 is an electric module having a CCD / AFE controller 2, a motor controller 3, and a light source controller 4. The CCD / AFE control unit 2 has a function of outputting a control signal for driving the CCD and the AFE. The motor control unit 3 has a function of outputting a control signal for driving the motor 6. The LED control unit 4 has a function of outputting a control signal for driving the LED 7. Each control unit is controlled by the CPU 1 and outputs a drive signal based on the setting.

  The motor 6 is a motor that drives the reading carriage 15 to scan a document.

  The reading carriage 15 includes a light source unit 7 and a CCD 8. The light source unit 7 is a scanner light source for irradiating a document, and is configured by arranging a plurality of LEDs, which are point light sources, in an array in the main scanning direction, and is employed as a line light source. The CCD 8 is a reading device as imaging means. The light emitted from the light source unit 7 is reflected by the original, and the reflected light is collected by a lens and imaged on the CCD 8. The configuration of the reading carriage 15 shown in FIG. 3 is schematic and will be described later in detail.

  The AFE 9 converts the analog image signal output from the CCD 8 into digital image data and outputs it. Further, it may have a dark offset level adjustment and a light output adjustment function of the digital image data to be output.

  The failure detection unit 10 detects a LED failure from digital image data converted by the AFE 9 when reflected light from a halation generation unit 24 described later is incident on the CCD 8. Specifically, the LED failure is detected based on the relationship between the position of the plurality of LEDs arranged in the light source unit 7 and the pixel position at which the output level is locally increased due to halation. In other words, if the halation is forcibly generated, the pixel position where the output level is locally increased can be confirmed, but if the output level does not exceed a predetermined specified value, it corresponds to that portion. This means that the LED at the position does not emit enough light, that is, it can be detected that a failure has occurred.

  The image processing unit 10 performs image processing on the digital image data output from the AFE 9. For example, processing such as dark output correction, shading correction, and gamma correction is performed.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment. A scanner unit 16, an ADF (Auto Document Feeder) 12, an original pressure plate 13, an original glass 14, a reading carriage 15, an ADF original glass 23, a halation generator 24, and a reference white plate 25. .

  Here, the original is placed on the original glass 14, and the original 15 is read by irradiating light while moving the carriage 15. The original is passed through the ADF 12 and the original passing through the ADF original glass 23 is irradiated with light. A description will be given using a scanner unit 16 having both functions of the ADF type and reading. This embodiment is an embodiment for explaining that LED failure detection using the halation generator 24 can be applied to both the stationary document type and the ADF type, and either the stationary document type or the ADF type. Of course, it is also possible to apply the present invention to an image reading apparatus having at least the above functions.

  The scanner unit 16 reads a document (also referred to as scanning). In the figure, the scan area and the scan direction are indicated by arrows.

  The ADF 12 automatically detects the presence / absence of a document and automatically conveys the document. The document conveyed to the ADF 12 passes through the ADF document glass 23 and is read by the reading carriage 15 at this time.

  The document pressure plate 13 is a pressure plate for pressing the document set on the document glass 14. The document glass 14 is glass for placing a document.

  The reading carriage 15 is a module on which a CCD 8 that is a reading device, the light source unit 7 and the like are mounted.

  The reference white plate 25 is used when acquiring white level reference data serving as various correction data.

  The halation generator 24 forcibly generates halation, which is a phenomenon that appears prominently when the light from the light source unit 7 is irradiated on the document and is incident on the CCD 8 with a strong light intensity due to the effect of regular reflection at that time. Let An embodiment of the halation generator 24 will be described below.

Example 1
FIG. 10 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the halation generator. The halation is a phenomenon that appears prominently when the light from the light source unit 7 is irradiated onto the original and is incident on the CCD 8 with a strong light intensity due to the effect of regular reflection at that time. Therefore, the halation generator 34 according to the first embodiment has a physical shape curved in the sub-scanning direction. By scanning the halation generator 34 with the reading carriage 15, the specularly reflected light is incident on the optical axis at any location in the sub-scanning direction, and it becomes possible to forcibly generate halation. The member used in the halation generator 34 may be a glossy black member or the like in order to make the halation more prominent.

(Example 2)
FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the halation generator. The halation generator 44 according to the second embodiment assumes a member having a wide opening angle that is curved upside down from the first embodiment. As the member having a wide opening angle, one having an optical characteristic capable of condensing light from any angle can be considered. These include rear-view mirrors installed in the car and FF (Fantastic Flat) mirrors such as mirrors installed to prevent collisions at the corners of roads in recent years. By scanning under the member having such optical characteristics with the reading carriage 15, the specularly reflected light is incident on the optical axis at any location, and it becomes possible to forcibly generate halation.

  Note that the configuration of the halation generator 24 according to the present embodiment is not limited to the above example, and when the halation generator 24 is scanned by the reading carriage 15, the specularly reflected light is on the optical axis at any location. Any structure may be used as long as it is possible to enter the light and forcibly generate halation.

  FIG. 5 shows a reading carriage 15 in the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment, an ADF original glass 23 that is an original reading position in the ADF, a halation generator 24, a reference white plate 25, and an original reading position at the time of flat bed scanning. It is a schematic sectional drawing for demonstrating the positional relationship of the original glass 14 which is. However, the positional relationship shown in FIG. 5 is merely an example, and the halation generator 24 may be provided at a location where the reading carriage 15 can pass. As shown in FIG. 5, if the halation generator 24 is provided at a location that passes at least when reading a normal image reading object, the operational time burden due to the LED failure detection is eliminated. Can be done.

  The reading carriage 15 includes a light source unit 7 mounted on a light source unit substrate 20, a mirror 21, a lens 22, and a CCD 8 mounted on an SBU (Sensor Board Unit; reading substrate) 19. The reading carriage 15 is moved by driving the motor 6 based on pulse information output from the motor control unit 3 (see FIG. 3).

  A plurality of LEDs are mounted on the light source unit substrate 20 in the main scanning direction. The LED drive signal is input to the light source unit substrate 20 from the light source unit control unit 4 (see FIG. 3).

  The mirror 21 is a mirror for reflecting the light irradiated from the light source unit 7 to the original and turning back the reflected light. Although only one sheet is shown in FIG. 5, it is actually composed of a plurality of mirrors.

  The lens 22 is a lens for collecting the reflected light from the document.

  The CCD 8 is a reading device mounted on the SBU 23. The reflected light from the original collected by the lens 22 forms an image on the CCD.

  The ADF original glass 23 is glass used when the original is conveyed by the ADF and read. When reading with the ADF, the reading carriage 15 is moved to the lower part of the ADF original glass 23 and reading is performed by moving the original on the glass. Prior to reading the original, the lower part of the halation generator 24, which will be described later, is moved to detect the LED failure, and further moved to the lower part of the reference white plate 25 to obtain white level reference data as various correction data. To do.

  The halation generator 24 is a portion that forcibly generates halation when this portion is read with the light source turned on. The specific configuration of the halation generator will be described later.

  The reference white plate 25 is a member that serves as a reference for the white level. By reading the reference white plate 25, it is used as data for white level adjustment and shading correction in AFE.

  The original glass 14 is a flat bed reading glass. When the original is placed on the original glass 14, the reading carriage 15 moves to the lower part of the original glass 14 to scan the original. In addition, when moving to the lower part of the original glass 14, the configuration passes through the lower part of the halation generation unit 24 and the reference white plate 25. At this time, white level reference data serving as data for LED failure detection and various corrections is obtained. You can get it.

  The ADF original glass 23, the halation generator 24, the reference white plate 25, and the original glass 14 are placed in the positional relationship as shown in FIG. 5 and are moved to the reference white plate in order to generate shading data before reading the original. By disposing the halation generator 24, it is possible to detect the LED failure without reducing the reading productivity.

<LED failure detection>
Details of LED failure detection by the failure detection unit 10 will be described. First, the positional relationship between the LED of the light source unit 7 and the CCD 8 as a reading device will be described. FIG. 6 is an optical positional diagram of the image reading apparatus. A plurality of LEDs mounted on the light source unit substrate 20 emit light, and is condensed by the lens 22 and imaged on the CCD 18 mounted on the SBU 23.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an output distribution for one line of the CCD output at the time of reading the reference white plate. That is, the reflected light that is emitted from the LED and irradiates the reference white plate 25 enters the CCD 8, and the distribution in the main scanning direction for one line when the analog image data output from the CCD 8 is converted into digital data by the AFE 9. It is. A plurality of LEDs as point light sources are arranged and the original is irradiated in a state where the light is optically diffused inside the reading carriage 15, so almost uniform light is irradiated on one line of the original surface, and the image data Distribution is also uniform.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an output distribution for one line of CCD output when halation occurs when reading the halation generator. As in FIG. 7, that is, the reflected light that is emitted from the LED and irradiates the halation generator 24 is incident on the CCD 8, and the analog image data output from the CCD 8 is converted into digital data by the AFE 9. In the main scanning direction. When the halation generator 24 is scanned, the uniform light does not enter the CCD 8 as in the case of reading the reference white plate, and strong light is incident at intervals of the number of pixels corresponding to the pitch of a plurality of LEDs arranged. . Therefore, the analog image data output from the CCD 8 has a high output periodically. Since the halation is forcibly generated by the halation generator 24, such a distribution is obtained.

  The failure detection unit 10 that has received the digital data (referred to as halation data) output from the AFE 9 when the halation generation unit 24 is scanned by the reading carriage 15 preliminarily calculates a peak value at a position corresponding to the LED pitch in the halation data. Compared with the set threshold (specified value), the presence or absence of LED failure is detected. That is, when the threshold level is not reached, it can be determined that the LED has failed.

<Operation processing>
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an operation process of LED failure detection in the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  When scan activation is executed (step S1 / Yes), the reading carriage 15 moves to the lower part of the halation generator 24 (step S2). In the scan activation, for example, the CPU 1 detects that the user activates copying from an operation unit mounted on the image reading apparatus, or that a scan is executed as a scanner application from a device outside the reading apparatus (for example, a PC (Personal Computer)). To do. The CPU 1 inputs a control signal to the motor control unit 3, and the motor control unit 3 drives the motor 6 to move the reading carriage 15 to the lower part of the halation generation unit 24.

  When the reading carriage 15 reaches the halation generator 24, the image signal level at the pixel position in one line corresponding to the LED mounting position is peak-held. This is repeated until the scanning of the halation generator 24 is completed (steps S3 to S6). For example, if the position where the LED is mounted corresponds to 1000 pixels on the CCD, the peak-hold pixel is calculated suddenly by calculating the average value of its peripheral pixels (100 pixels, etc.) and setting it as the peak value of the line. Remove noise components.

  After the scanning of the halation generator 24 is completed, the failure detection unit 10 determines whether the peak value of the image signal level at each LED mounting position is equal to or higher than a reference value (steps S7 and S8).

  If it is equal to or less than the specified value (step S8 / No), it is determined that the LED is not lit (LED failure detection), and a warning message is displayed on the operation unit when a copy is started from the operation unit. When scanning is performed from an external device, a warning message is displayed on the display unit of the external device.

  If it is equal to or greater than the prescribed value (step S8 / Yes), the reading carriage 15 is moved to the lower part of the reference white plate 25 (step S10), and after obtaining shading correction data (step S11), it is placed on the original glass. The scanning operation is completed to complete the reading operation (step S12).

  In the case of the above-described operation processing, when the failure detection unit 10 detects an LED failure, the CPU 1 sends a control signal to the motor control unit 3 to end the reading operation. However, even when the value is below the reference value (step S8 / No), a warning (step S9) may be displayed after the document is scanned (steps S10 to S12).

  The above operation process is the same whether the original is placed on the flat bed glass (original glass 14) or the original is set on the ADF. That is, when an original is placed on the flat bed glass (original glass 14) and a scanning operation is started, LED failure is first detected by the halation generator 24, and then moved to the reference white plate 25 to be used for shading correction data. Is generated. Further, it moves to the lower part of the original glass 14 to read the original. In FIG. 4, the reading carriage moves once in the scanning direction indicated by the arrow, so that an LED failure detection operation can be performed along with the reading operation.

  On the other hand, when the document is set on the ADF and the scanning operation is started, the LED failure is first detected by the halation generation unit 24, and then moved to the reference white plate 25 to generate the shading correction data and then the ADF. Returning to the lower part of the original glass 23, the original reading operation is performed. When the original is set on the ADF and the reading operation is performed, at least the movement to the reference white plate 25 is performed. Therefore, by providing the halation generation unit 24 between the reference white plate 25 and the ADF original glass 23, the reading operation is performed. Accordingly, an LED failure detection operation can be performed.

  According to the above-described embodiment, a mechanism for forcibly generating halation is provided by utilizing the halation phenomenon, which is a disadvantage when using an LED light source, and the halation is generated by scanning the halation generation unit in the course of the document reading operation. By acquiring the data and detecting the LED failure from the halation data, it is possible to detect the LED failure while reading the document even when all the LED light sources are turned on. In addition, failure can be detected at every reading operation. The user can start a reading operation from an operation unit or the like at an arbitrary timing to detect a failure.

  The program for the CPU 1 to execute the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 9 constitutes a program according to the present invention. As a recording medium for recording the program, a semiconductor storage unit, an optical and / or magnetic storage unit, or the like can be used. By using such a program and a recording medium in a system having a configuration different from that of each of the above-described embodiments and causing the CPU to execute the program, substantially the same effect as the present invention can be obtained.

  Although the present invention has been specifically described above based on the preferred embodiments, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the above-described ones and can be variously modified without departing from the gist thereof.

1 CPU
2 CCD / AFE
3 Motor control unit 4 Light source control unit 5 Drive control unit 6 Motor 7 Light source unit 8 CCD
9 AFE
10 Failure detection unit 11 Image processing unit 12 ADF
13 Document pressure plate 14 Document glass 15 Reading carriage 16 Scanner unit 19 SBU
23 ADF original glass 24, 34, 44 Halation generating section 25 Reference white plate 30 Flat original 31 Three-dimensional original

JP 2008-124881 A JP 2007-212949 A JP 2002-320070 A

Claims (11)

A light source unit in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in one or a plurality of columns, and an imaging unit that images the image reading object based on reflected light reflected by the image reading object by light emitted from the light source unit; An image reading apparatus comprising:
A halation generating means provided with a read surface having a structure for generating halation when the light emitted from the light source part is reflected;
The image signal level of the halation data, which is data output from the imaging unit as an electric signal, is converted from the reflected light reflected from the read surface provided in the halation generation unit to the light irradiated from the light source unit. Is a failure detection means for detecting a failure of the light emitting element by determining whether or not there is a location that does not meet a predetermined specified value;
An image reading apparatus comprising:   2. The structure of a surface to be read provided in the halation generation unit has a physical shape capable of generating halation regardless of the state of the angle of light emitted from the light source unit. Image reading device.   2. The structure of the surface to be read provided in the halation generation means has an optical characteristic capable of generating halation regardless of the state of the angle of light emitted from the light source unit. Image reading device.   The failure detection means detects failure of the light emitting element by peak-holding image data around the mounting position of the light emitting element in the halation data. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the failure detection unit detects that the light emitting element is defective when the peak value is equal to or less than a predetermined value as a result of the peak hold.   6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a warning unit that warns that a light emitting element has failed when the failure detection unit detects a failure.   Irradiation to the surface to be read provided in the halation generation means is performed prior to imaging of the image reading object when receiving an imaging command of the image reading object, and the failure detection means detects a failure. 7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that performs control so as to end the reading operation without imaging the image reading object. The halation generation means is provided at a location where a carriage passes when imaging the image reading object .
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the light source unit is provided in the carriage . A light source unit in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in one or a plurality of columns, and an imaging unit that images the image reading object based on reflected light reflected by the image reading object by light emitted from the light source unit; A failure detection method in an image reading apparatus comprising:
Irradiating light from the light source unit;
Charge the reflected light reflected on the read surface provided on the read surface provided on the halation generating means, and provided on the read surface provided with the structure to generate halation when the light emitted from the light source is reflected. Instead of outputting data from the imaging means as an electrical signal;
Of the halation data, which is data output from the imaging means as an electric signal, by changing the reflected light reflected on the surface to be read provided in the halation generating means into electric charges, the image signal level does not reach a predetermined specified value. Determining whether there is a location, detecting a failure of the light emitting element;
A failure detection method comprising: A light source unit in which a plurality of light emitting elements are arranged in one or a plurality of columns, and an imaging unit that images the image reading object based on reflected light reflected by the image reading object by light emitted from the light source unit; A failure detection program in an image reading apparatus comprising:
A process of irradiating light from the light source unit;
Charge the reflected light reflected on the read surface provided on the read surface provided on the halation generating means, and provided on the read surface provided with the structure to generate halation when the light emitted from the light source is reflected. Processing to output data from the imaging means as an electrical signal instead of,
Of the halation data, which is data output from the imaging means as an electric signal, by changing the reflected light reflected on the surface to be read provided in the halation generating means into electric charges, the image signal level does not reach a predetermined specified value. By determining whether there is a place, processing to detect a failure of the light emitting element,
A failure detection program for causing a computer to execute.   The computer-readable recording medium which records the process of the failure detection program of Claim 10.

Images