JPH01274105A - Image input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stably execute reading by using optical fibers for the members forming the route from a light source to an original surface and the route from the original surface to an image sensor. CONSTITUTION:An optical fiber bundle 1 consists of the optical fiber bundle connected to the light source 6 and an optical fiber bundle connected to the image sensor 7 and is divided to two in the position indicated by 10. The optical fibers 8 connected to, for example, the light source 6 and the optical fibers 9 connected to the image sensor are distributed approximately equally by each piece to the section of a reading part 5 forming the surface of the optical fiber bundle which comes into contact with the original. The working of the reading part to a slender shape is thereby enabled and the operation of the image input device while visually recognizing the character or image to be read is enabled. The registration to the character or image to be read is thus facilitated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image input device that reads an image on a document surface and converts the image into an electrical signal.

[Prior Art] Conventional handheld optical reading devices for character recognition have been used by reusing general image input reading devices or by forming them into a pen shape.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Among these, general image input reading devices have a problem in that they are large in size. Furthermore, it was difficult to align the optical parts of the image sensor and the like with the characters or images that were to be recognized. For this reason, auxiliary equipment, such as transparent plastic scales, was required. In addition, because of its large size, it was difficult to slide it in accordance with the scanned image on the document surface, necessitating the provision of rollers or the like.

On the other hand, pen-type reading devices are for reading special codes such as barcodes, and are not suitable for reading objects with high definition such as characters and images on the surface of a document.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems and provides a device that can stably read characters or images without increasing the size of the device, and that can easily align the character or image to be recognized. An object of the present invention is to provide an image input device.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides an image-powered device that is equipped with a light source and an image sensor and converts an image on a document surface into an electrical signal. The above-mentioned problem is solved by providing an image input device in which an optical fiber is used as a member forming a path, and the portion of the optical fiber that contacts the surface of the document is used as a guide for the document to be read.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIGS. 1(a), (b), and (c) are diagrams showing the structure of the image input device of the present invention. FIG. 1(a) is a front view, and FIG.
FIG. 1B is a side view, and FIG. 1C is a plan view seen from the image input unit side. In the figure, broken lines represent components formed inside the cover, case, etc. In the same figure, a light source that supplies light to the document surface and an image sensor that detects the intensity of reflected light from the document surface are formed in the part indicated by 3 inside the case 4, and l indicates the light source and the document surface. and an optical fiber bundle forming a path for optically connecting the image sensor and the document surface; 2 is a cover for the optical fiber bundle; and 5 is a reading section forming a contact surface with the document. Here, the cross-sectional dimensions of the optical fiber bundle 1 are determined from the dimensions of the light emitting surface of the light source, the dimensions of the light receiving surface of the image sensor, and the dimensions of the characters or images to be read. Further, the thickness of the cover 2 can also be processed to be 1 mm or less. An important point in the present invention is to make the part consisting of the cover 2 and the optical fiber bundle l as thin as possible so that it can be used as a guide for the object (characters or image) on the document surface during reading.
It is to compose. The optical fiber bundle l is a collection of thin fibers with a constant diameter, and the thickness (diameter) of the fibers can be processed to any size from 10 μm to 50 μm. Therefore, the thickness D of the optical fiber bundle 1 is also at least 1 m.
The thickness including the cover 2 and the optical fiber bundle 1 can be reduced to at least about 3 mm.

FIG. 2(a) is a diagram showing how the optical fiber bundle 1 is connected to the light source 6 and the image sensor 7. The optical fiber bundle 1 consists of an optical fiber bundle connected to the light source 6 and an optical fiber bundle connected to the image sensor 7, and is divided into two at a position indicated by 10. The cross section of the reading section 5, which forms the surface of the optical fiber bundle that comes into contact with the document, has a structure as shown in FIGS. 2(b), 2(c), and 2(d), for example. In the figures (b) and (c), 17.19 is an optical fiber bundle connected to the light source 6, and 18.20 is an optical fiber bundle connected to the image sensor 7. Further, arrows 21 and 22 indicate the sub-scanning direction of the image manpower device. FIG. 2(d) shows an example in which the optical fibers 8 connected to the light source 6 and the optical fibers 9 connected to the image sensor are distributed substantially evenly one by one.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation of reading characters on the surface of a document using the image processing apparatus of the present invention. In the same figure, 1
6 is a main body of the device equipped with the image input device; 11 is a portion serving as an optical path and positioning guide of the image input device; 12
13, 14, 15 are characters on the original surface, and arrows 23 and 24 are the sub-scanning direction of the image input device.

The present invention is based on patent applications No. 62-196607 and No. 62-631.
Great effects are expected when applied to pocket electronic dictionaries and the like described in 313.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, an optical fiber bundle is used as a member for forming a path from a light source to a reading unit in contact with the document surface and a path from the reading unit to an image sensor in an image input device. can be processed into a thin shape. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, the image input device can be operated while visually recognizing the characters or images to be read. Furthermore, it is easy to align the character or image to be read, and at the same time it is also easy to slide the character string in parallel with the character string to be read.

As described above, according to the present invention, an image input device is realized which is much easier to use than the conventional one.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1(a), (b), and (c) are diagrams for explaining the present invention in detail. FIGS. 2(a), (b), (c), and (d) are diagrams explaining the structure of an optical fiber in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the present invention in detail. Applicant Seiko Epson Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney Masatoshi Kamiyanagi (and 1 other person) (C) Figure 1 cl,) Cc,) Figure 2 Figure 3

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an image input device that includes a light source, an image sensor, and a reading section facing the document surface and converts an image on the document surface into an electrical signal, a path optically connects the light source and the reading section, and the image sensor and the reading section. An image input device characterized in that an optical fiber bundle is used as a member forming a path for optically connecting the optical fiber bundle, and the reading part that contacts the document surface of the optical fiber bundle is used as a guide for the document to be read. .