JPH0537719A - Original reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability of a hand scanner at the time of a read scanning by employing a transmission system by an optical signal as a transmission means for picture information or the like between the hand scanner and a reader main body. CONSTITUTION:In the process of moving a hand scanner 1 in a subscanning direction, an original 4 is irradiated with a light from a light source 11 and the image of the reflected light is formed to a light receiving face of a line image sensor 13. Thus, the sensor 13 converts a formed optical signal into an electric signal and the signal is outputted. The read picture signal is sent from an optical transmission element 17a as an optical signal via a modem section 16. The optical signal is received by a light receiving element 21b of the reader main body 2. The element 21b converts the received optical signal into an electric signal and it is outputted to a modem section 22. The modem section 22 demodulates the electric signal and transfers it to a picture processing section 24 as a read picture signal corresponding to the read scanning.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document reading device in which a hand scanner is separated from a reading device main body, and more particularly, to improvement of a device structure for improving the operability of the hand scanner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, as a type of a document reading apparatus used in a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, etc., there is known a type in which a reading unit is a hand scanner and is independent from a reading apparatus main body.

FIG. 5 shows an example of the external structure of this type of document reading apparatus, in which the hand scanner 1 is separated from the reading apparatus main body 2 and connected by a curl cord 3.

In the document reading device having such a structure, the document 4 is read and scanned while operating the hand scanner 1 within a movable range determined by the length of the curl code 3.

The image signal obtained by this scanning for reading is transmitted to the reading device main body 2 using the curl code 3 as a medium.

As a result, the reading apparatus main body 2 can read the original 4 in exactly the same manner as a normal type in which the reading unit is incorporated in the apparatus itself.

The structure in which the hand scanner 1 is independent of the reading device main body 2 was originally developed for the purpose of improving the operability of the hand scanner 1 for reading and scanning.

However, in this type of conventional document reading apparatus, the hand scanner 1 and the reading apparatus main body 2 which are separated and independent are connected by the curl cord 3, and this curl code 3 prevents the movement of the hand scanner 1. Therefore, it is difficult to say that the operability of the hand scanner 1 at the time of reading and scanning has been sufficiently improved.

[0009]

As described above, in the above-mentioned conventional document reading apparatus, since the reading apparatus main body and the hand scanner are connected by the cord, the movement of the hand scanner is liable to be obstructed during reading and scanning, which is difficult to handle. There was a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to eliminate this problem, and to provide a document reading apparatus which can move a hand scanner without being hindered by a connection cord and can maintain high operability during reading and scanning.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a document reading unit that obtains an image signal by converting reflected light from a document into an electric signal by a line image sensor is a hand scanner which is separated from a reading unit main unit. In the reading device, optical transmitting / receiving means for transmitting or receiving an optical signal is provided in both the hand scanner and the reading device main body, and a signal including at least the image signal is transmitted and received between the hand scanner and the reading device main body. It is characterized by being performed by an optical signal.

[0012]

In the present invention, the curl code between the hand scanner and the reading device main body is eliminated, and the optical information transmission means is adopted as the information transmission medium between them.

According to the structure of the present invention, the hand scanner can be moved with a great degree of freedom as long as the posture of the hand scanner with respect to the reading apparatus main body is maintained so that the optical transmission line is not blocked. Therefore, the operability can be significantly improved as compared with the case where the cord is connected.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an original reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a hand scanner 1 and a reading apparatus main body 2 are separated from each other.

This device is different from the conventional device in that the connection between the hand scanner 1 and the reading device main body 2 by a cord is abolished, and an optical transmission system is adopted as an information transmission medium replacing this cord.

As a component related to this optical transmission system, the hand scanner 1 includes a modulator / demodulator 16 and an optical transmitter element 17.
An optical transmitter / receiver including a and the optical receiving element 17b is provided.

Similarly, the optical transmitter element 2 is also provided in the reading device main body 2.
An optical transmitter / receiver including the optical receiver 1a, the optical receiver 21b, and the modulator / demodulator 22 is provided.

Here, for example, LEDs can be used as the light transmitting elements 17a and 21a, and the light receiving element 1 can be used.
Photodiodes can be used as 7b and 21b.

The other components of the hand scanner 1, that is, the light source 11, the imaging lens 12, the line image sensor 13, the sensor driving unit 14, and the control unit 15 are the same as those of the conventional one.

Similarly, the control unit 23 and the image processing unit 24 in the main body 2 of the reading apparatus are completely the same as the conventional ones.

In FIG. 1, 101 is an optical transmission / reception window on the side of the hand scanner 1, and 201 is the reading device main body 2.
It is a window for transmitting and receiving light on the side.

When reading a manuscript using this apparatus, as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
Place it on one end of.

At this time, the optical transmission / reception window 101 of the hand scanner 1 and the optical transmission / reception window 201 of the reading apparatus main body 2 are opposed to each other, and the optical information can be transmitted and received to the respective counterparts. The posture needs to be maintained so that it is within the area of the effective transmission / reception effective directivity angle. Of course, there should be no light blockers in between.

Next, when the actual scanning for reading is started, the user operates the hand scanner 1 while keeping the optical transmission / reception windows 101 and 201 facing each other so as not to deviate from the area of the directivity angle. Gently move the document 4 in the direction of the secondary difference.

The manner of movement at this time and the processing for obtaining an image signal read by the hand scanner 1 in accordance with the movement are the same as usual.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view schematically showing a side view of the hand scanner 1 at the time of the above reading scanning, and the reading scanning will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and the block diagram of FIG.

That is, as described above, the hand scanner 1
In the process of moving in the sub-scanning difference direction, the light source 11 illuminates the original 4 and the reflected light is imaged on the light receiving surface of the line image sensor 13 via the imaging lens 12.

As a result, the line image sensor 13
Is an optical signal formed on the light receiving surface of the sensor drive unit 1.
It is converted into an electric signal corresponding to one main scanning line and output under the drive control of 4.

This output, that is, the read image signal is then input to the modulation / demodulation unit 16.

Here, the modulation / demodulation unit 16 modulates the read image signal under the control of the control unit 15 and sends it as an optical signal from the optical transmission element 17a.

As described above, the destination of this optical signal is
There is an optical receiving window 201 of the reading device main body 2 facing the optical transmitting / receiving window 101 of the hand scanner 1, and the optical signal is received by the optical receiving element 21b in the window 201.

In the reading apparatus main body 2, the light receiving element 21
b converts the received optical signal into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal to the modulation / demodulation unit 22.

The modulation / demodulation unit 22 demodulates the electric signal from the optical receiving element 21b under the control of the control unit 23,
The read image signal corresponding to the reading scan is transferred to the image processing unit 24.

In this embodiment, both the hand scanner 1 and the reading device main body 2 have an optical transmitting / receiving section.

In the case of this configuration, as described above, the image signal from the hand scanner 1 can be converted into an optical signal and transmitted to the reading device main body 2, and in addition, the reading device main body 2 sends predetermined information to the hand scanner 1 as an optical signal. Can be transmitted.

As an example of the information transmission, for example, the control signal modulated by the modulation / demodulation section 22 is transmitted from the reading device main body 2 to the hand scanner 1 as an optical signal from the optical transmission element 21a. Can be received by the light receiving element 17b and then demodulated into a control signal by the modulator / demodulator 16 and used for various operation control.

As a result, the transmission and reception of the optical signal between the hand scanner 1 and the reading apparatus main body 2 can be made more reliable.

In consideration of the reading operation by this type of apparatus, the image signal may be unilaterally transmitted from the hand scanner 1. In this case, the hand scanner 1 is provided with only an optical transmission section. The reading device main body 2 may be provided with only the light receiving portion.

That is, in the case of this example, the hand scanner 1 does not require the light receiving element 17b and the demodulating section, and the reading apparatus main body 2 does not need the modulating section and the optical transmitting element 21a, so that the circuit is simplified. You can also

As described above, in the present invention, the image signal read by the hand scanner 1 is converted into an optical signal and transmitted to the reading device main body 2. Therefore, the hand scanner 1 is moved from the light receiving optical path of the reading device main body 2. Although there is some annoyance for maintaining the posture so as not to deviate, the operability can be significantly improved as compared with the conventional device that employs a cord-based connection structure.

Further, if the structure shown in FIG. 4 is adopted, it is possible to further reduce the troublesomeness of maintaining the posture described above.

That is, the hand scanner 1A shown in FIG.
Is an optical transmission / reception window 101 of the hand scanner 1 shown in FIG.
First optical transmission / reception window 10 formed on the same surface as the formation surface of
1a and also has a second optical transmission / reception window 101b on one side of the surface intersecting this surface.

Here, these optical transmission / reception windows 101a, 1
It goes without saying that the optical transmission / reception section or the optical transmission section having a certain directional angle with respect to each formation surface is provided inside 01b.

When the hand scanner 1A having such a structure is used, reading and scanning can be performed while moving the hand scanner 2 with respect to the reading device main body 2 in either the vertical or horizontal direction, and the usability thereof is further improved. ..

Although the example of FIG. 4 shows the structure in which two optical transmitting / receiving units are provided, a larger number (for example, the surfaces on the opposite sides of the optical transmitting / receiving windows 101a and 101b in FIG. 4) is provided. Of course, it is possible.

[0047]

As described above, according to the document reading apparatus of the present invention, since the transmission method using the optical signal is adopted as the transmission means for the image information and the like between the hand scanner and the reading apparatus main body, the hand scanner The curl code that restricts movement is not required, and the operability of the hand scanner during reading and scanning is greatly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of a document reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a usage pattern of a document reading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side sectional structure view of a hand scanner for explaining a reading operation of the document reading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an external view showing another embodiment of the hand scanner of the document reading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an external structure of a conventional document reading apparatus of this type.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Hand scanner 11 Light source 12 Imaging lens 13 Line image sensor 14 Sensor drive part 15,23 Control part 16,22 Modulation / demodulation part 17a, 21a Optical transmission element 17b, 21b Optical reception element 2 Reading device main body 24 Image processing part 101, 101a , 101b, 201 Optical transmission / reception window 3 Curl code 4 Original

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A document reading apparatus in which a reading unit that obtains an image signal by converting a reflected light from a document into an electric signal by a line image sensor is a hand scanner and is separated from a reading apparatus main body unit to transmit an optical signal. Alternatively, an optical transmitting / receiving unit for receiving is provided in both the hand scanner and the reading apparatus main body, and transmission and reception of a signal including at least the image signal between the hand scanner and the reading apparatus main body are performed by an optical signal. Document reading device. 2. The document reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hand scanner has at least two optical transmission / reception units, and each optical transmission / reception unit faces a different surface of the hand scanner housing. .. 3. A document reading apparatus in which a reading unit that obtains an image signal by optically reading and scanning a document is separated from a reading apparatus main body as a hand scanner, and the hand scanner is a light source that illuminates the document. And a line image sensor for converting light reflected from the original document into an electric signal, and a light transmitting unit for converting an image signal output from the line image sensor into an optical signal and transmitting the optical signal. The document reading apparatus is characterized in that the section includes an optical receiving unit that receives an optical signal from the optical transmitting unit and converts the optical signal into an image signal, and an image processing unit that processes the image signal. 4. The document reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the hand scanner has at least two light transmitting units, and each of the light transmitting units faces different surfaces of the hand scanner housing. ..