JPH0758911A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image reader in which the cost and the time and labor of a serviceman can be reduced. CONSTITUTION:This image reader equipped with an optical system to receive by reading an image, an image sensor 2 provided with a large number of photoelectric conversion elements for the photoelectric conversion of a received image, electric circuits (7-8, 10, 11) to process and correct an image signal read by the image sensor 2, and a density reference plate provided outside the image reader, and which outputs the image signal via them is constituted in such a way that output can be issued to the outside the device by performing wiring (17, 18) on the route of the image signal from one or plural input/output parts for processing and correction separately from the route of the signal.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus such as an image scanner, a digital copying machine, a facsimile or the like, which is provided with an operation section outside.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a digital full-color copying machine is equipped with various processing and correction circuits such as amplification, dark output correction, shading correction, analog and digital exchange for an image read by a CCD image sensor in a scanner section. Therefore, three analog printed boards (for example, CCD driving board, CCD preamplifier board, video processing board) and one digital processing board are provided for that purpose.

Alternatively, in a digital full-color copying machine,
CC with CCD image sensor mounted on the scanner body
The D board, the analog processing board for sample-holding or amplifying and analog-digital exchange, and the digital processing board for shading correction and gamma exchange of the digitized image signal are provided. It is one set.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, three substrates are set in one set, and each substrate cannot be independently replaced by a serviceman call on the market. Therefore, conventionally, even if any one of the three substrates is damaged, all three substrates must be replaced. One of the reasons why each board cannot be replaced independently is that it is difficult for a serviceman to know the location of the failure, or even if the serviceman can determine the location of the failure. ,
Since there is no measuring instrument such as an oscilloscope, it cannot be adjusted. Needless to say, such replacement of three sets of substrates for each set requires a large cost burden, and also requires the labor and time of a service person.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus which can reduce the cost, labor and time of service personnel.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems The above-mentioned objects are read by an image sensor having an optical system for reading and receiving an image, an image sensor having a large number of photoelectric conversion elements for photoelectrically exchanging the received image. In an image reading apparatus that includes an electric circuit that processes and corrects an image signal and a density reference plate provided outside the image reading, and outputs the image signal via these, one or a plurality of locations on the path of the image signal. It is achieved by the first means which is wired from the input / output location for the processing and correction of the image signal and is provided separately from the path of the image signal and is output to the outside of the apparatus.

The object is to provide, in the first means, detection means for detecting whether or not the output value of the signal output to the outside of the apparatus when the density reference plate is read is within a preset range. It is achieved by the second means. The above-mentioned object is achieved by the third means, in the first and second means, which comprises a selecting means for selecting one of the outputs in the case of a plurality of outputs and which sequentially detects the circuit output. It In the first, second, and third means, the above-mentioned object is to install an operation part for operating the device outside the device, and display the detection result on the display of the operation part. Achieved by The purpose is the first and second
In the fifth means, the display of the operation unit is also used as the display of the oscilloscope, and the detection result and the output are displayed on the oscilloscope. The purpose is the first, second, third, fourth
In the above means, the result of the detection and the output are displayed at a constant cycle by the sixth means.

[0008]

In the first and second means, the middle of the path of the image signal is output to the outside by wiring, and the output value when the density reference plate provided outside the image reading is read is output to the outside. The service person can judge the failure. In the third means, the failure point can be specified by selecting one from a plurality of intermediate signals and sequentially detecting each signal. In the fourth and fifth means, adjustment is performed while further measuring the signal on the way. In the sixth means, the failure location can be automatically specified by performing the failure detection mode at regular intervals.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a function table of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is an embodiment according to the present invention. It is an explanatory view showing a function table of the display of the image reading apparatus. First, as shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a scanner main body, and a CCD image sensor 2 is mounted on the scanner main body 1, and a CCD plate 5 provided with a follower circuit 3 and a drive circuit 4, a sample hold and an amplifier. Sample and hold circuit 6 for performing analog / digital exchange by performing the operation, amplifier circuit (Amp) 7, and analog / digital (A /
D) An analog processing plate 9 provided with an exchange section 8, a shading correction circuit 10 for performing shading correction and gamma exchange on a digitized image signal, and a gamma exchange section 1
1 is provided, and the output from the digital processing plate 12 is output as a scanner output to an image processing unit (not shown). Reference numeral 13 denotes an operation unit for setting a mode and the like, and the operation unit 13 includes a display 14, a touch panel 15, and a CPU 16.

A structure (indicated by reference numeral 17) for wiring from the input / output portion between the CCD plate 5, the analog processing plate 9 and the digital processing plate 12 to the outside of the apparatus is provided, or one substrate 5,
A structure (indicated by reference numeral 18) is provided outside the apparatus in addition to the original input / output section, from a point to be checked particularly among 9 or 12. That is, in the present embodiment, the signal is output from between the CCD plate 5 and the analog processing plate 9 (CCDOUT), is output from between the analog processing plate 9 and the digital processing plate 12 (A / DOUT0 to 7), and is the digital processing output ( SCOUT0-7) and analog processing board 9
(A / DIN) from between the amplifier circuit 7 and the analog / digital exchange unit 8. As a method of outputting, specifically, a pattern may be wired on each of the substrates 5, 9 and 12 or a harness between the substrates 5, 9 and 12 may be branched. Here, it is assumed that the output impedance is sufficiently low and the external impedance is sufficiently high, so that the image signal is not affected even when output to the outside. In this device, in the failure detection mode, the density reference plate described above is read.

Although it is conceivable that a test terminal is provided as the external output destination and the test terminal is checked, the case of outputting to the select circuit 19 will be described below. The select circuit 19 uses the four external outputs (CC
DOUT, A / DIN, A / DOUT0-7, SCOU
(T0-7) and select one of them to select the operation unit 13
Output to. These terminals are selected by selecting signals A and B.
The selection terminals are selected signals A and B, for example, as shown in FIG.
The function table is shown in. Select signal A is SEL
A is input to A, select signal B is input to SELB,
The enable signal is input to EN. Also CCD
OUT is input to the analog input 1, A / DIN is input to the analog input 2, A / DOUT0 to 7 are input to the digital input 1, and SCOUT0 to 7 are digital input 2
Has been entered in. Further, the output destination of the select circuit 19 may be a measuring instrument separately prepared by a service person, but here, the operation unit 13 which has already been extended is used, and the case of a copying machine will be described below. Recently, the operation unit 13 of the copying machine has a liquid crystal display provided on the front of the machine and a CR provided on the upper side of the machine.
Although there is one equipped with a T display, in the present embodiment, an external output from the select circuit 19 is input to the display 14 of the operation unit 13 for display. Whether the output of the select circuit 19 is made conductive as shown in the function tables of FIGS. 2 and 3 by the enable signal input to the select circuit 19 and the operation unit 13 shown in FIG. It is selected whether to display or to display the external output (inspection mode) from the selection circuit 19 on the display 14 of the operation unit 13. When the external output is turned on and the external output is selected to be displayed, the inspection mode is entered, and the external output signal is displayed on the display 14 of the operation unit 13 in a preset manner. The output value may be displayed as a numerical value, but it is easier to see if the external output signal is displayed as a waveform on the oscilloscope screen that the display 14 of the operation unit 13 also serves.

By doing so, the service person can see the display 14 of the operation unit 13 to determine the location of failure, and can also replace the defective printed board and adjust a new board. Further, the failure location can be determined by switching the location of the external output with the select signals A and B described above. For example,
If the sample and hold circuit 6 of the analog processing plate 9 shown in FIG. K
However, in A / DIN, it is N. Since it becomes G, it can be understood that the failure point is the damage of the sample & hold circuit 6.

Next, the function of automatically detecting a failure by performing the inspection mode at regular intervals will be described. When counting the counter in the device and entering the detection mode when the set count value is reached, if the detection mode is executed and it is judged that there is a failure, the failure point is indicated, and if it is judged to be normal, the counter is displayed. After clearing, the counter is counted until the next detection mode (the set count value is reached). Here, the counter does not have to be separately provided, and may be, for example, a counter in the CPU.

In the above description of the embodiment, the serviceman checks the output value. However, the range is set in advance and it is determined whether the output value is within the range and the result is determined. It may be displayed only.

Although the CCD plate 5, the analog processing plate 9 and the digital processing plate 12 have been described in the above embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this, and other substrates and circuits may of course be used. Absent.

In the above embodiment, an optical system for reading and receiving an image, an image sensor 2 having a large number of photoelectric exchange elements for photoelectrically exchanging the received image,
An image that includes an electric circuit (7, 6, 8, 10, 11) that processes and corrects the image signal read by the image sensor 2 and a density reference plate provided outside the image reading, and outputs the image signal via these In the reading device, on the path of the image signal,
Since the wiring (17, 18) is provided separately from the signal path from the input / output location for processing and correction at one location or multiple locations to output to the outside of the device, the middle of the image signal path can be wired. Output to the outside and the output value when the density reference plate provided outside the image reading is read to the outside, so that the service person can judge the failure, reducing the cost and the labor and time of the service person. You can

In the above embodiment, the detection means (16) for detecting whether the output value when the density reference plate is read by the signal output to the outside of the apparatus is within the preset range.
Since it is possible to easily know whether or not the output value is within the set range, the service person can judge the failure, and it is possible to reduce the cost and the labor and time of the service person.

In the above embodiment, in the case of a plurality of outputs, selecting means (19) for selecting one from the outputs.
Since the circuit output is sequentially detected, one of the signals in the middle can be selected and sequentially detected to specify the failure point.

In the above-described embodiment, since the operation unit 13 for operating this is installed outside the apparatus, and the detection result is displayed on the display 14 of the operation unit 13,
You can also adjust while measuring the signal in the middle,
It is possible to reduce costs and labor and time of service personnel.

In the above embodiment, the display 14 of the operation unit 13 is also used as the display of the oscilloscope and the detection result and the output are displayed on the oscilloscope. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the cost and the labor and time of the service person.

In the above-described embodiment, by performing the failure detection mode at regular intervals, it is possible to automatically identify the failure location, reduce the cost, and save the labor and time of the service person. .

[0022]

According to the first and second aspects of the present invention, the middle of the image signal path is output to the outside by wiring, and the output value when the density reference plate provided outside the image reading is read to the outside. The output enables the service person to judge the failure, which can reduce the cost and the labor and time of the service person.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the failure point can be specified by selecting one from a plurality of midway signals and sequentially detecting it, thereby reducing the cost and the labor and time of the service person. can do.

According to the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to perform adjustment while measuring the signal on the way, and it is possible to reduce the cost and the labor and time of the service person.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the failure detection mode can be automatically specified by the device at a fixed cycle, so that the failure point can be automatically specified, and the cost can be reduced and the labor and time and time of the service person can be reduced. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a function table of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a display display function table of the image reading apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Scanner Main Body 2 CCD Image Sensor 3 Follower Circuit 4 Driving Circuit 5 CCD Board 6 Sample & Hold Circuit 7 Amplifying Circuit 8 Analog / Digital Exchange Section 9 Analog Processing Board 10 Shading Correction Circuit 11 Gamma Exchange Section 12 Digital Processing Board 13 Operation Section 14 Display 15 Touch panel 16 CPU 17, 18 Wiring 19 Select circuit

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An optical system for reading and receiving an image, an image sensor having a large number of photoelectric conversion elements for photoelectrically converting the received image, and an electric device for processing and correcting an image signal read by the image sensor. In an image reading apparatus including a circuit and a density reference plate provided outside the image reading, and outputting an image signal via these circuits, there are provided one or a plurality of points for the processing and correction on the path of the image signal. An image reading apparatus, wherein wiring is provided separately from the path of the image signal from the input / output location and output outside the apparatus. 2. The detection device according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit that detects whether an output value of the signal output to the outside of the apparatus when the density reference plate is read is within a preset range. An image reading device characterized by. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
In the case of a plurality of outputs, the image reading apparatus is provided with a selecting means for selecting one of the outputs so that the circuit outputs are sequentially detected. 4. Claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3.
In the description, the image reading apparatus is characterized in that an operation section for operating the operation section is installed outside the apparatus, and a result of the detection is displayed on a display of the operation section. 5. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
An image reading apparatus, wherein the display of the operation unit is also used as a display of an oscilloscope, and the detection result and output are displayed on the oscilloscope. 6. Claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3.
5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the detection result and the output are displayed at regular intervals.