JPH0569339B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application The present invention relates to an image input device for reading images (including characters) of a document or the like.

Prior Art Conventional image input devices, such as image scanners and facsimiles, are large-scale devices that require beam scanning mechanisms and document feeding mechanisms, and it is difficult to adopt a portable configuration. . On the other hand, with the development of an information society, there is a need for a simple means of collecting information, and a portable handy copy machine can be cited as an example of a device that has achieved this.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, although the image input device in this type of portable copy machine is compact and can be manually scanned over a document, the image information read is not immediately available for copying. Not only is it not possible to input image information and copy it at different times, but the image input information is only used for copying, and it is not possible to input image information and copy it at different times. It cannot be used for projection purposes.

The present invention has been developed in view of these points, and is not only small and lightweight and easy to handle, but also allows input image information to be retained and output whenever necessary. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a portable image input device that provides a portable image input device.

Means for Solving the Problems An image input device of the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned object includes a light source, a photoelectric conversion element, and a light source that focuses light emitted from the light source onto an information medium and collects the reflected light. an image input device comprising: an imaging optical system for forming an image on the photoelectric conversion element; a storage function section having a solid-state memory element for storing the output of the photoelectric conversion element; an output port for external connection; and an operation key. In the imaging optical system, the imaging optical system is provided with a removably replaceable lens portion and a diffraction grating means for guiding reflected light from the information medium to the photoelectric conversion element.

Function For example, when an input operation key is pressed, the light source lights up and the device enters the document reading state. At this time, the light emitted from the light source is given to the information medium (original) in a condensed form through the diffraction grating means and the imaging lens, and the reflected light is guided to the photoelectric conversion element through the imaging lens and the diffraction grating means. He is imaged. When the information medium is scanned by manually moving the input device, image information is output from the photoelectric conversion element and stored one after another in the solid-state storage element. In this way, image information is retained.

The imaging optical system is designed so that the lenses can be attached and detached, so by setting a lens with the desired focal length, the size of the condensed light on the information medium and the magnification of the image on the photoelectric conversion element can be changed. As a result, the input image can be enlarged or reduced.

Next, if you want to output the stored information, connect a device such as a printer, CRT display, or facsimile to the output port and press the output operation key, the image information will be transmitted to these external devices and each It is used for various purposes.

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which numeral 1 is a pen-shaped housing made of, for example, synthetic resin, and the opening at the tapered tip is used for image input. 2 to the information medium 3 and slide it.

The housing 1 consists of a main body portion 1a and a tip portion 1b, and a fitting structure 4 allows the tip portion 1b to be attached to and removed from the main body portion 1a.
At the other end of the casing 1, a detachable and replaceable spare tip portion 1c is held. One end of a locking means 5 having a spring property is attached to the upper outer surface of the housing 1, and this locking means is suitable for locking when carrying the image input device in a pocket of clothes or the like. Helpful. 6 is an output port having an external connection pin 7, and is provided in a recess 8 of the housing 1. A connection socket for connecting to an external device fits into this recess 8, thereby realizing a stable electrical connection. Reference numerals 9 and 10 denote an input operation key and an output operation key, respectively, which are provided in a second recess 11 formed in the housing 1.

Inside the housing 1, a power source 12, a storage function section 13, a photoelectric conversion element 14, a light source 15, a diffraction grating 16, a first condensing lens 17, and a second condensing lens 18 are arranged in order from the top. . The memory function section 13
It consists of solid-state storage elements such as RAM (random access memory) and CPU (central processing unit). The photoelectric conversion element 14 is composed of a CCD, a photodiode array, or the like having a plurality of independent light-receiving areas. The light source 15 is composed of, for example, a semiconductor laser.

The diffraction grating 16, the first condensing lens 17, and the second condensing lens 18 convert the light emitted from the light source 15 into the information medium 3.
An imaging optical system 19 is formed which condenses the light upward and guides the reflected light to the photoelectric conversion element 14 to form an image.The second condenser lens 18 of the system is attached to the tip portion 1b of the casing mentioned above. ing. Therefore, by replacing this tip portion 1b with a spare tip portion 1c, a second condenser lens 18' having a different focal length can be used in place of the second condenser lens 18.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the relationship between the electrical parts of the configuration shown in FIG. 1, and 20 is a CPU;
21 represents a solid state memory element.

In FIG. 1, among the light emitted from the light source 15, the zero-order light (non-diffracted light) by the diffraction grating 16 is transmitted to the information medium 3 by the first and second condensing lenses 17 and 18.
The light is focused upward to a certain size and illuminates the reading area on the information medium 3. After the reflected light is focused by the second and first condensing lenses 18 and 17, it is then collected by the diffraction grating 1.
6 and forms an image on the photoelectric conversion element 14.

Now, with the image input device placed on the information medium 3 as shown in FIG. 1, press the input operation key 9 and slide the image input device in one direction. The image information in the form of light guided to is converted into an electrical signal by the photoelectric conversion element 14, and is provided to the CPU 20 through a signal line (not shown). The CPU 20 converts the output signal of the photoelectric conversion element 14 into a digital value, and stores the converted data in the solid-state storage element 21. Thus, the input image information is stored and retained.

Output port 6 when outputting stored image information
When an external device is connected to and the output operation key 10 is pressed, the image information finally read from the solid-state memory element 21 is transmitted to the external device via the output port 6.
A printer, CRT display, facsimile, etc. can be connected as an external device.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the tip of the main body 1a of the casing is formed to be thin, and the main body alone forms a completed casing of the image input device and can be used as is. Therefore, the second condensing lens 18
is also provided on the main body 1a. However, in order to meet the demand for variable magnification, the condenser lens 22 or 23
Detachable and replaceable first and second units 2 having
4 and 25 can be installed in a stacked manner. The condensing lenses 22, 23 of the first and second units 24, 25 and the second condensing lens 18 housed in the main body 1a have different focal lengths, and can be used in various ways depending on their combination. It is possible to achieve magnification. Of course, the first and second units 2
4 and 25 can be used even when only one of them is attached.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the condenser lens can be replaced, the input image can be enlarged depending on the combination,
You can choose to reduce the size, but expect a change in brightness as a result. However, changes in the brightness of this input image can be controlled by adding an automatic gain adjustment function to the circuit that processes the input signal, or a function to control the slice level when converting the analog value of light intensity into a digital value. I would like to add that this can be easily corrected using a circuit.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, it is possible to carry only the image input device, memorize the image input when necessary, and output the stored information when necessary, which is convenient and compact and lightweight. can do. Also, since it is not specific to a specific application, the output can be directed to a variety of applications.

Furthermore, since the imaging optical system is provided with a detachable and replaceable lens section, image input can be enlarged or reduced.

Incidentally, since the imaging optical system is provided with the diffraction grating means, the light emitted from the light source and reflected by the information medium can be easily and reliably guided to the photoelectric conversion element with a simple configuration.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of its electrical parts. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Housing, 1a... Main body of the housing, 1b, 1c... Tip portion, 3... Information medium, 6... Output port, 9... Input operation key, 10... Output operation key, 13... Storage function section, 14... Photoelectric Conversion element, 15... Light source, 17,
18, 18', 22, 23...condensing lens, 21...
Solid state memory element, 24, 25...unit.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A light source, a photoelectric conversion element, an imaging optical system that focuses light emitted from the light source onto an information medium and forms an image of the reflected light on the photoelectric conversion element, and the photoelectric conversion element. In an image input device comprising a storage function section having a solid-state storage element for storing the output of a conversion element, an output port for external connection, and an operation key, the imaging optical system is provided with a detachable and replaceable part of the lens. Additionally, a diffraction grating means is provided, and the zero-order light produced by the diffraction grating means out of the light emitted from the light source passes through the lens and is focused onto the information medium, and the reflected light passes through the lens and is reflected by the diffraction light. A portable image input device characterized in that the light is diffracted by a grating means and guided to the photoelectric conversion element.