JPH01285930A - Original illuminator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize the life of an illuminating light source earlier and correctly and to illuminate at an appropriate light quantity level by detecting the light quantity of the illuminating light source by a light quantity detecting means and permitting a display means to display the life of the light source based on a detecting signal. CONSTITUTION:The title device is provided with the light quantity detecting means 43 which detects the light quantity level 41 of the illuminating light source 24, and the display means 4 displaying the life of the light source based on the detecting signal from the light quantity detecting means 43. As the illuminating light source becomes deteriorated to reach its service life, the light quantity level 42 drops. It is detected by the light quantity detecting means 43, and when the level drops to a prescribed level, the display means 4 displays that the service life comes to the end. Thus, the life of the illuminating light source 24 can be correctly judged to secure an appropriate illuminating light quantity constantly.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention is applicable to, for example, computer input devices, facsimile machines, digital copying machines that digitally record images using light beams based on image data, and the like. The present invention relates to a document illumination device.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, this type of document illumination device is used in, for example, a document reading device. The document reading device is, for example, a CCU.
The optical image of the document is photoelectrically converted and read by a reading element such as +, and an illumination light source is required to illuminate the reading surface of the document during reading. As a lighting source,
Fluorescent lamps and xenon tubes are commonly used, but if used for a long time, their lifespans will reach their limits. For example, in the case of fluorescent lamps, they turn black and the amount of illumination light decreases, making it impossible to obtain a sufficient amount of illumination light, so they are replaced at an appropriate time.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in conventional lighting devices, it has not been possible to accurately know the lifespan of the light source. In other words, in the case of the above-mentioned fluorescent lamps, although it is possible to determine to some extent based on the degree of blackening, etc., it is difficult to accurately judge whether the lamp has reached the end of its service life or not, and the light source must always be carefully monitored. I can't judge.

Therefore, during use, deterioration of the light source is often only noticed when a read image is defective. Therefore, when it is noticed that the life of the illumination light source has expired, the image cannot be read accurately, and there is a problem in that work is delayed due to unexpected vehicle conditions. In particular, many of the lighting sources are built into the device and cannot be easily replaced by general users, requiring a service person from the market to be called in to replace them, which slows down layer operations.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the problems of the prior art described above, and its purpose is to accurately determine the end of the life of the illumination light source and to always ensure an appropriate amount of illumination light. An object of the present invention is to provide a document illuminating device that can be used.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a light amount detection device that detects the light amount level of the illumination light source in a document illumination device that includes an illumination light source that illuminates the surface of the document. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a display means for displaying the life of the light source based on a detection signal from the light amount detection means.

(Function) As the illumination light source deteriorates and approaches the end of its lifespan, the light intensity level decreases. This light amount level is detected by the light amount detection means, and when it falls to a predetermined level, the display means displays that the light source is nearing the end of its life. This display allows the operator to know when to replace the illumination light source.

(Example) The present invention will be explained below based on the illustrated example. Third
FIG. 4 shows a document reading device to which a document illuminating device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. In the figure, 1 is a document image reading device (hereinafter abbreviated as reader)
, 2 is a reader main body, in which a document on a platen glass 27 (image facing downward) is illuminated by a document illumination unit 24 as an illumination light source, and is arranged in the main scanning direction by a lens 26 via a reflection mirror 25. A CC consisting of a plurality of light receiving elements
D (charge coupled device) 22 is configured to form an original image.

The original illumination unit 24 and the mirror 25 are movable in the sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the main-scanning direction by a drive system (not shown). Reference numeral 3 denotes an automatic document feeder (hereinafter abbreviated as ADF), in which the sheet-like original (image facing upward) on the document placement table 31 is conveyed in the direction of arrow B shown by the broken line in Figure @4, and transferred to the document ejection table 32. It is discharged to the top. In addition, in the figure, 21 is a control unit, 23 is a CCD driver, and the circuit configuration of both is shown in the fifth section.
As shown in the figure. Here, the operation of the reader 1 will be explained based on FIGS. 4 and 5.

The reader 1 of this embodiment includes a sheet (sheet) that reads an image while conveying a sheet original in the sub-scanning direction by an ADF 3.
In the through) mode, a bound original such as a book is placed on the platen glass 27 and the image is read by moving the original illumination unit 24 and mirror 25 in the sub-scanning direction. It has two modes, a "book mode" and a "sheet mode", and the sheet mode will be briefly explained here.

The reader 1 of this embodiment is always connected to an external device (for example, a digital printer, a personal computer, etc.), and communication of control signals with these external devices and output of image information signals to the external device are performed using an interface. circuit 20
This is done via 7.

With a document placed at a predetermined position on the document table 31 of the ADF 3 (with the image facing upward), instructions for various modes such as pixel density are input from an external device. In this state, when a document reading start command is input from the outside, the CPU 208 outputs a lamp control signal to turn on the lamp of the illumination unit 24, and outputs a document feeding start command to the ADF 3. As a result, the original placed on the original placing table 31 of the ADF 3 is conveyed in the direction of arrow B along the path indicated by the broken line in FIG.

Until the original reaches the original illumination position, the CCD 22
As will be described later, the image formed is converted into a digital value and input to the interface circuit 207, but since this is not the original image, the CPU 208 inputs the digital value to the interface circuit 207 so as not to output an image signal. Give a control signal indicating that output is not possible.

Next, when the original reaches the original illumination position, the CP
The U208 outputs a control signal "image signal output enabled" to the interface circuit 207, and the read image signals are sent one after another to an external device.

Then, when the trailing edge of the document has finished passing the document illumination position, this is detected by the document leading edge detection sensor, and the
By instructing the interface circuit 207 with a control signal indicating that image signal output is "not possible",
07 stops image signal output and outputs a document reading end signal to an external device. After this, within the specified time,
If the command to start reading the original does not come from the external device, press C.
The PU 208 turns off the lamp of the document illumination unit 24 and ends the series of operations.

On the other hand, on the front side of the league main body 2, a display section 4 is provided as a display means for displaying the number of image readings and the life span of the document illumination lamp according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the display section 4 is divided into two sections, upper and lower, and an error display 42 indicating that the number of times the image has been read is displayed is displayed on the upper section.

The display section 4 is driven and controlled by a display circuit 213 that is controlled by the CPU 208.

This control is performed by detecting the light amount level of the illumination lamp by the light amount detection means 43 and based on this detection signal.

In this embodiment, as the light amount detection means 43, a so-called shading correction circuit 211 is used to correct image reading irregularities caused by uneven light amount of the illumination lamp, uneven sensitivity of the CCD, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 6, the shading correction circuit 211 includes a storage device 212 for storing a reference white signal for image information signal correction, and a storage device 212 for storing a reference white signal for image information signal correction, and a document sent out by a COD driver section in accordance with the reference white signal stored in the storage device 212. 213 for correcting image information.

FIG. 7 shows an operation sequence flowchart for displaying the life of the document illumination lamp using the shading correction circuit 211 as described above.

That is, it waits for a reading start command to be sent from an external device at S1, and when it is sent, shading correction is performed at S2. At this time, the shading correction circuit 21
1 operates as follows.

The signal sent from the COD driver unit 203 is stored in the storage device 212 in synchronization with a synchronization signal for reading one line. Thereafter, the CPU 208 reads the contents of the storage device 212 in synchronization with the synchronization signal.

The ratio between the light intensity level obtained in this way and the preset maximum light intensity level is calculated in S3 using the formula ([readout light intensity level]/[ignition light intensity level])xroom, and is displayed on the display in S4. 1 (a) via the circuit 213.
).

Furthermore, in S5, it is determined whether the ratio is at a sufficient level to be readable (Level ■ in Figure 8), and if it is sufficient, S6
．． The image is read until the reading is completed in S7, and the process returns to the reading start step S1.

If not, the display is made to blink in S8 to clearly indicate that the document illumination lamp is nearing the end of its life. Furthermore, if reading is possible at 59 but the light intensity is considerably reduced (level ■ in FIG. 8), reading is executed. If not, it is determined that the light intensity level is below the reading limit level (Level ■ in Figure 8), and S
10, as shown in FIG. 1(b), the error is blinked and no reading is performed, and the interface circuit 20 is
After outputting the error to the external device via 7, the process returns to Sl.

As explained above, in this embodiment, the image reading device uses an image information correction means such as a built-in shading correction circuit to detect the amount of light, and based on this, the lifespan of the document illumination lamp is displayed on the main body of the device. This simple method allows users to clearly know the light level at all times and replace the document illumination lamp at a convenient time before the light level drops to the point where the image becomes unreadable.

Furthermore, even if the image is distorted, it can be determined whether the cause is a decrease in the amount of light or not.

In this embodiment, the light amount level is displayed as a percentage, but the light amount may be displayed as a numerical value.

Further, in this embodiment, the light intensity level is always displayed, but the life of the document illumination lamp may be indicated by displaying the light intensity level or a message only when the light intensity level decreases.

Furthermore, if the light intensity level obtained at 53 in FIG. , can be determined remotely.

In addition, although this embodiment has been described using a document image reading device as an example, it can also be applied to detect the lifespan of a document illumination lamp in a normal copying machine, and the same can be applied to various other devices equipped with an illumination light source for illuminating a document. It is applicable.

The present invention has the above-described structure and operation, and the light amount of the illumination light source is detected by the light amount detection means, and the lifespan of the light source is displayed by the display means based on the detection signal. By making early detection accurate and replacing the light source at an appropriate time that is convenient for the user, it is possible to always illuminate documents with the appropriate amount of light without disrupting business operations.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIGS. 1(a) and (b) are operation explanatory diagrams of a lamp life display section of a document illumination device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic control block diagram of the display section of FIG. 1. , FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of the document reading device provided with the display section shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is an internal configuration diagram of the device shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a main control block of the device shown in FIG. 4. Figure 6 is a control block diagram of the shading correction circuit in Figure 5, Figure 7 is a flowchart of the life detection and display operation sequence of the document illumination lamp in Figure 4, and Figure 8 is the various control levels of the document illumination lamp. FIG. Explanation of symbols 2...League main body (apparatus main body) 4...Display section (display means) 41...Light intensity level 4
2...Error display 21...Control unit 2
4... Lighting unit (lighting light source) 208... CPU

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A document illuminating device equipped with an illumination light source that illuminates a document surface, further comprising a light amount detection means for detecting a light amount level of the illumination light source, and displays a light source life based on a detection signal from the light amount detection means. What is claimed is: 1. A document illuminating device comprising display means for displaying a document.