JPS6266758A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it unnecessary to arrange close linear sensors linearly by condensing light which is reflected on an area corresponding to the same scanning line of an original surface, by a condensing means and receiving this light by each image pickup means. CONSTITUTION:Since inclined mirrors 6a-6d are so arranged that adjacent mirror faces are directed to directions different from each other, the luminous flux from a rod lens array 3 is divided into the number of inclined mirrors, and divided rays of the luminous flux reach linear sensors 1a-1d arranged to face mirror faces and are focused. Since linear sensors 1a-1d are wired in series, signals from light receiving parts 7a-7d of linear sensors are read out in serial successively from the linear sensor 1a to the linear sensor 1d.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to an image reading device for reading images and the like.

[Conventional technology] As a conventional example, a contact type image reading device will be described.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an example of a conventional contact type image reading device that reads an image with a one-to-one size relative to an image on a document. In FIG. 4, the conventional contact type image reading device is composed of a linear sensor 1, a substrate 2, a rod lens array 3, and a light source 5, and an original [4] is sent in six directions shown by the arrows in FIG. The linear sensor 1 has light receiving sections that receive optical signals arranged in a row. The substrate 2 supports the linear sensor 1. The rod lens array 3 condenses the reflected light from the document surface 4 and forms an erect 1-magnification image on the linear sensor 1. The light source 5 illuminates the document surface 4.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the linear sensors 1. In FIG. 5, a plurality of linear sensors 1 are connected in one row so that the length is the same as the width of the document, as will be explained later.

Next, the operation of the conventional contact type image reading device will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

From the document surface 4 irradiated by the light source 5, light containing document information for one scanning period enters the rod lens array 3 as reflected light. The rod lens array 3 forms an image of the same size as the image on the original onto the linear sensor 1 provided at a position facing the original surface 4. The linear sensor 1 converts this optical information into an electrical signal.

Two-dimensional information on the document is obtained by sweeping the document 4 or the entire reading device.

The document 4 is, for example, A3 or B4 size (25611
Although it is necessary to read at least 11), the chip size of the linear sensor 1 is limited to 1251I1m even if a wafer with a diameter of 5 inches is used. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of linear sensors 1 are arranged in a line to read the original 4 of the above-mentioned size.

In addition to this, there are other ways to arrange the linear sensors 1. # Kosho 59
There is a method of arranging them in a staggered manner, as shown in Japanese Patent No. 42511. In this case, two rod lens arrays, for example, are used to divide and provide the reflected light from the document surface to each of the linear sensors arranged in a staggered manner. In addition, with the linear array of linear sensors shown in Figure 5, it is difficult to read signals continuously in the sensor connection areas, so linear sensors for signal interpolation are provided close to each connection area. There is a way.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In a conventional contact type image reading device, chips are arranged in one row, but it is necessary to maintain continuity of pixels at each connection portion of the chips. For this reason, each chip must be cut from the wafer several microns close to the pixel, but this cutting is extremely difficult because chips and cracks occur during cutting.

Further, although such cutting is not necessary in the case where the chips are arranged in a staggered manner, two rod lens arrays are required in order to form an image on each of the plurality of chip arrays.

Furthermore, if a separate linear sensor for interpolation is provided,
A signal processing circuit was required to correct the shift in scanning timing.

Therefore, this invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and it does not require cutting the wafer near the pixels, and it does not require signal processing to correct timing deviations. An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device that can read image information from a document.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The image reading device according to the present invention uses a condenser to condense light reflected from an area corresponding to at least one scanning line on a document surface irradiated from a light source, and The reflected light from the same scanning line is divided into a plurality of parts by a light splitting means whose mirror surfaces are arranged in different directions, and each of the divided lights is received by an imaging means provided opposite to each mirror surface. This is what I did.

[Operation] Since the light splitting means in the present invention alternately splits the reflected light of the scanning line focused by the condensing means into different directions, it is not necessary to closely arrange the imaging means in a row. Since each imaging means only needs to have a length that can receive at least one divided reflected light, there is no need to cut each chip near the pixel. Further, since the image information is corrected based on the information of the same scanning line on the document, a correction circuit for correcting the timing deviation is not necessary.

[Fruit 1L Hereinafter, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an image reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the image reading HIM is
It is composed of linear sensors 1a to 1d, a substrate 2, an Otsudo lens array, a light source 5, and inclined mirrors 68 to 6d.
The extra volume 4 is moved in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the near sensors 1a to 1d and inclined mirrors 68 to 6d provided on the substrate 2 shown in FIG. 1. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a portion of the image reading device shown in FIG. 1, excluding the light source 5. As shown in FIG.

The rod lens array 3 and light source 5 shown in FIG. 1 have the same configuration as the conventional example, so a description thereof will be omitted.

First, the tilt mirrors 68 to 6d will be explained.

Each of the inclined mirrors 68 to 6d has a triangular prism shape, for example, with a right triangular cross section and a mirror surface on the slope. As shown in FIG. 3, the tilted mirrors are arranged in, for example, a 4g straight line such that adjacent mirror surfaces face different directions and the gap between the tilted mirrors is several microns or less.

The length of one tilted mirror is determined by the length of a chip that can be taken from a crystalline silicon wafer, which is the raw material for manufacturing the linear sensors 1a to 1d. For example, when scanning a B4 size with four linear sensors, For example, a diameter of about 65n+m to 80mm is used.

Although four tilting mirrors are used in this embodiment, there is no limitation to this, and any number may be used. However, the entire length of the tilted mirror should be longer than the short side of the document.

The linear sensors 1-a to 1d are provided on the vertical surfaces 21 and 22 on both sides of the substrate 2 so as to face the respective mirror surfaces of the tilted mirrors 68 to 6d.

At this time, the light receiving parts 78 to 7d of the linear sensors 1a to 1d shown in FIG. Place it like this.

Since the rod lens array 3 projects a same-magnification image, the length of the optical path of light from the document surface that enters the rod lens is equal to the length of the optical path from the rod lens 3 to the position where the image is formed. Therefore, the rod lens array 3 and the inclined mirror 68
6d and the distance between the inclined mirrors 6a to 6d and the near sensors 1a to 1d is equal to the distance between the document 4 and the rod lens array 3.
Arrange a to 1d.

The operation of this image reading device is almost the same as that of the conventional example. Information on the document 4 is reflected by the light from the light source 5 and enters the rod lens array 3 as reflected light, and the light emitted from there is focused. However, since the six tilted mirrors 6a to 6d reaching the tilted mirrors 68 to 6d are arranged so that their 11 adjacent surfaces face different directions, the light flux from the rod lens array 3 is divided by the number of tilted mirrors l. , and reach the linear sensors 1a to 1d arranged opposite to the mirror surface to form an image.

Since the linear sensors 1a to 1d are wired in parallel, the signals from the light receiving sections 78 to 7d of the linear sensors 1a to 1d are serially read out from the linear sensor 1a to the linear sensor 1d, for example. Ru.

In the first embodiment, the tilted mirror has a triangular shape, but any shape may be used as long as each mirror surface has the function of changing the direction of the focused light, and the Ut surface can be fixed at an angle.

Further, the angle between the incident light and the reflected light on the mirror surface does not need to be 906 as in the above embodiment, and the light focused on the light receiving parts 78 to 7d of the linear sensors 1a to 1d provided on the substrate 2 Any angle is sufficient as long as it reaches the angle.

Since the light receiving portions 78 to 7d of the linear sensors 1a to 1d need only be irradiated with light from the tilted mirrors 68 to 6d, the length of each of the light receiving portions 78 to 7d is longer than the length of the tilted mirrors 6a to 6d. Good too. However, in that case, it is necessary to electrically detect the light-receiving portion that is not irradiated with light and ignore the signal from that portion.

Furthermore, the signals from the plurality of linear sensors do not need to be read out serially, but may be read out simultaneously in parallel. In this case, a signal storage circuit is required to combine the signals of each linear sensor into subsequent signals.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, the light reflected from the area corresponding to the same scanning line on the document surface is focused by the focusing means, and the reflected light from the focused same scanning line is collected. The adjacent mirror surfaces are separated by light splitting means arranged in different directions.
Since the divided reflected light is received by each image carrier provided opposite to each mirror surface of the light splitting means, it is not necessary to arrange the linear sensors in a straight line. There is no. Since each imaging means only needs to have a length that can receive at least one divided reflected light, there is no need to cut the chip near the pixel. Furthermore, since the signals from each helmet image means are from the same scanning line of the original, they can be read out serially as they are.

Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the optical path beyond the O2 drain is bent by the tilted mirror, the height of the entire device can be reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a straight sectional view showing an image reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the linear sensor and the tilt mirror of the image reading 2i support shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a portion of the image reading device shown in FIG. 1, excluding the light source. FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view showing a conventional image reading device. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the arrangement of a linear sensor mounted on a substrate of a conventional image reading device. In the figure, 1-a to 1d are linear sensors, 2 is a substrate,
3 is a rod lens array, 4 is a document, 5 is a light source, 5a~
6di is a tilted mirror, and 78 to 7d are light receiving sections. In addition, in the figures, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. Agent Masuo Oiwa 81 Figure 7 (1; Shiiyani)] j de;,! No direction 1A1 (1~
1d: Linear sensor 2: Base) 2; [, 3: Rod ray]・Sw' array 4: Original! ; Two light sources 6q~6: AtR plan ten mirror figure 2

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An image reading device that reads image information by scanning the surface of a document, comprising a light source and a region of the document surface illuminated by the light source that collects light reflected from an area corresponding to at least one scanning line. a light-splitting means for dividing the reflected light from the same scanning line focused by the light-collecting means into a plurality of parts, each of which has adjacent mirror surfaces arranged in different directions; An image reading device comprising: an imaging means provided facing each mirror surface of the dividing means and receiving each of the divided reflected lights. (2) Claim 1, wherein each of the imaging means is a device using a charge coupled device, a metal oxide semiconductor, a plasma coupled device, a bipolar sensor, or a capacitive effect transistor. The image reading device described.