TW436742B - Image reader and optical elements array as light source - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, the metallic wiring patterns (wiring electrodes) act like a light reflection part reflecting the light that is spread laterally from light emitting elements and does not directly illuminate the document. Thus, the light emitted from the light emitting elements to the document includes not only the light x from the light emitting elements, but also the light y that is spread laterally from light emitting element not directly illuminating the document and is reflected in the light reflection part. Furthermore, the metallic wiring patterns can reflect the light y effectively.

Description

V. Description of the invention (1) The present invention relates to an image reader device, such as a hand-held scanner or a contact image sensor (CIS). ), Which can read text, images, or other data formats, and more particularly, it relates to an image reader having an array of optical devices for emitting light and, for example, a light-sensitive section, and This image reader can correctly read multiple forms of information. A hand-held scanner is a type of image reader. It can be used to hold the case ’to move on a document printed with text, images, and other forms of information. At the bottom of the casing, there is a view that a transparent plate is provided, and there are many components in the casing, for example: a light-emitting part that passes through the transparent plate to illuminate the document, and is used to sense the reflection from the document. The light, such as a light-sensitive section of a CCD and a lens, are used to converge the reflection from a document with a width of a reading strip onto the light-sensing portion Light to form an image. Such a handheld scanner is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,708,136. For example, a 'typical optical device array' is composed of a light emitting diode (LED) or a semiconductor laser device 'as a light emitting part of an image reader, and takes up less space. Next, reference will be made to FIGS. 1 and 2 to explain the main parts of a conventional optical device array. The optical device array shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes a transparent

4367 4 2 V. Description of the invention (2) '' 'The plate 1' is, for example, a glass sheet ', which is oriented toward the file 1 (see Figure 2) that we want to read, and a substrate 2', and its direction and transparent plate 1 is parallel, and a predetermined width is reserved between the transparent plate 1 and the substrate 2. This substrate 2 is provided with light-emitting devices 3 ', such as LEDs, which are aligned in the same direction, and its width is the width of a read bar. In the following description, the light-emitting device 3 will be collectively referred to as "light source 1". As shown in FIG. 1, the light-emitting device 3 connected to the M light source L " includes a common wiring pattern 4a (common wiring pattern 4a), which is connected to one electrode of each light-emitting device 3; The other electrode of the device 3; and a wiring pattern 4c, which connects one light-emitting device to its next light-emitting device. Among them, each wiring pattern is made of copper thread 'and a layer of insulation resist 5 is formed on its surface to prevent corrosion. In the optical device, the light emitted by the light-emitting device 3 has three components as shown in FIG. 2: a penetrating component light X that passes through the transparent plate 1 and shines on the document, and is emitted by the light-emitting device 3 to the side The scattered light y and the reflected component light 2 reflected by the transparent plate j. The penetrating component light χ shines on the document and reflects on the document 10. The reflected light is collected on the photosensitive part through a lens (not shown in the figure) of an image reader (such as a CCD). To form an image so that the file [〇] can be read. The side scattered light y emitted from the light emitting device 3 and the light z 'reflected from the transparent plate 1 are absorbed by the resist 5 on the wiring pattern 4. In a suitable structure, a light emitting device must be added to increase the amount of light that can be sensed by the photosensitive portion.

4367 4 2 V. Description of the invention (3) — In addition, as shown in Figure 2, the lens placed on the light-sensitive part to collect the light reflected by the document 10 may cause an image in the visual range near the edge area. It is darker than the central area and thus produces shadows. That is, since the intensity of light sensed in the central area of the photosensitive portion is greater than the intensity of light sensed in the edge area, the intensity of light that can be sensed by the photosensitive portion is uneven. Furthermore, the 'hand-held scanner includes many components', and these components can limit the arrangement of the optical device array substrate. If the internal part of the scanner is to be arranged tightly, the path provided by the light-emitting device 3 and the light-sensitive part for the light to walk must be shortened, but the shorter light path will cause the lens on the light-sensitive part to collect the reflected light from the document. The characteristics are worsened, and the light transmittance of the upper edge region of the lens is reduced. This will reduce the light in the photosensitive area such as the edge area of the CCD, so the information on the file 10 cannot be read correctly. The published patent Sho 63-1 1 5285 was published on May 19, 1998. 'It discloses an image reader. When the lens on the photosensitive part condenses the light reflected from the document, it can make the light sensitive. Partially sensed light of the same intensity. This image reader has a light emitting section near the edge and contains a plurality of light emitting devices (the distance between the devices is close), so the intensity of reflected light can be increased in the area near the edge. However, adding light-emitting devices will increase the cost. Conversely, if the number of light-emitting devices is reduced, the arrangement between the light-emitting devices will be loose, the amount of light emitted by the light source will be reduced, and the distribution of light will increase. In order to solve this problem, we introduce another technology ’

436742 Technology ’s optical device array that sells Is is similar to the first figure, but the anti-corrosion 5 is changed from black to white to increase the reflected light as much as possible and improve the reflection efficiency. That is, the white anti-contact object 5 can reflect more light y scattered sideways by the light-emitting device 3 and the reflected light Z reflected by the transparent plate 1 ^ But the above-mentioned white resist cannot Effectively reflects light. In addition, except for the light source, the other parts have a white resist, so the shadow problem caused can only be solved by adding a light emitting device, as disclosed in Japanese Published Patent No. Sho 63-115285. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an optical device array and an image reader, which can provide sufficient light to the photosensitive portion without adding a light emitting device. Another object of the present invention is to provide an array of optical devices and an image reader, which can reduce the phenomenon of shadows, and can provide sufficient and even light to the entire photosensitive portion. The image reader according to the present invention fully utilizes the light scattered laterally by the light emitting device and the light reflected by the transparent plate, so that the light intensity can be increased 'without increasing the number of light emitting devices. Therefore, the photosensitive part (such as CCD) can correctly read the information on the file to be read. The optical device array of the image reader according to the present invention provides a substrate: a plurality of light emitting devices formed on the substrate, which can be used to illuminate an object 'like a document to be read; and a wiring pattern formed on the substrate. And connected to each of the plurality of light emitting devices, wherein some of the light reflecting portions in the wiring pattern are wider than other wiring patterns, and can be determined by the

Page 7 436742 V. Description of the invention ¢ 5) A plurality of light emitting devices are scattered side by side without directly illuminating the document. The diagram is briefly explained: Figure 1 is a plan view of an optical device array of a conventional image reader. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line X-X in Fig. 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of an image reader in an embodiment according to the present invention. Figure 4 is a side view of the image reader in Figure 3. Fig. 5 is a plan view of an optical device array according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in Fig. 5. FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of the optical device array in FIG. 5. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the line B-B section in Fig. 5 as an illustration of light tracking. Fig. 9 is a plan view of an optical device array according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a ray trace of the optical device array in FIG. 9. Fig. 11 is a plan view of an optical device array according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 12 is a plan view of an optical device array according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the relationship between the structure of the optical device array and the light amount distribution in Fig. 12. Symbol Description:

Z13 67 4 2 V. Description of the invention (6) ---- Transparent board; 2 ~ substrate; 3 ~ light-emitting device; 4 ~ wiring pattern; 5 ~ resist; 10 ~ read object; 2 ~~ CCD 30 ~ lens. Embodiment FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an image reader according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a side view of the image reader as shown in FIG. In these illustrations, the image reader has an optical device array 10, which is a feature of the present invention; a CCD 20 for sensing the light reflected from the document 40; and a lens 30 for focusing the light from The light reflected on the file 40 makes the width of the reflected light-the width of the read bar. The light emitted from the optical device array 10 illuminates the read area 'on the document 40 and the read area is provided in the scanning direction. At this time, the light reflected on the file 40 according to the image format of the reading area enters the lens 30. The lens 30 condenses the reflected light including the image form and forms an image on the CCD 20, which causes the CCD 20 to generate an image signal according to the image form. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the optical device array 10 (first embodiment), and FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 5. The optical device array 10 has a substrate 12; wiring patterns 14a, 14b, and 14c formed on the substrate 12; and a plurality of LEDs 1 3 'are located in the substrate at a predetermined interval. The LE D1 3 are arranged along the direction of the reading area on the file 40, and the interval between each two LEDs 1 3 is preferably between 5mm and 10mm, but it is not limited to this length range. In addition, The shape and structure of the LED 13 are also not limited. As shown in FIG. 5, the wiring pattern on the substrate has a common wiring pattern 14 a connected to one electrode terminal of led 1 3 and another connected to LED 13.

4367 4 2 V. Description of the invention (7) Wide common wiring pattern 14b for electrode terminals and wiring pattern 1 4c for connecting one LED to another LED. Each wiring pattern is made of copper foil. Except for the LED 13 and the common wiring pattern 14b, the substrate is covered with a layer of resist 15 to prevent the copper foils of the common wiring pattern 14a and the wiring pattern 14c from being rotten. Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram showing circuits and wiring patterns 14a, 14b, and 14c of a plurality of LEDs on a substrate. As shown in Fig. 7, a plurality of LEDs are connected in a group of four LEDs' between the common wiring pattern 14a and the common wiring pattern 14b. Provide driving signals to the common wiring pattern, so that all the LEDI 3 emits light. As shown in FIG. 5, the 'common wiring pattern 14b has linear electrodes 14b-1 each extending in the LED array direction and a plurality of rectangular electrodes 14b-2 each adjacent to two LEDs 13. And like a comb, the puppet can minimize or reduce the area of the anti-money 15. There is no resist 15 on the common wiring pattern 14b, but a metal surface layer can function as the light reflecting portion A. Solder may be applied to the common wiring pattern 14b without a coating. Solder is more reflective than copper foil, which increases the ability to reflect light while preventing corrosion. Each wiring pattern may be made of solder, in addition, it may be made of silver or gold 'instead of copper foil or solder. A protective film (not shown in the figure) that does not affect light reflection can be placed on the light, and the reflection part A 'prevents the surface of the uncoated layer from being corroded and the metal surface layer being short-circuited. As shown in FIG. 8 (cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 5), the light emitted from the LED 13 of the optical device array thus configured has two components: the light X directly illuminating the file 40 and the light scattered from the LEDI 3 to the side. Text not directly illuminated

Page 10 43674 2___ V. Description of the invention (8) The light y of piece 40. The light y scattered from the LED1 3 to the side illuminates the light reflecting portion of the common wiring pattern 1 4b. Because the light reflecting portion a has no resist 5 on it but has a metal surface with a coating layer, the light y is reflected again, and this reflected light illuminates the document 40. Therefore, 'the light X directly emitted from the LED 13 together with the reflected light y reflected back at the light reflection part A' illuminate the file 40. As shown in FIG. 3, the light X and the light y illuminated and reflected on the document 40 enter the CCD 20. The amount of light is therefore increased and the file 40 is read correctly. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the optical device array shown in Fig. 6. The optical device array 10 shown in FIG. 9 has a transparent material 16 such as a glass sheet on the document side of the optical device array 10. The operation of the optical device array described in FIG. 9 will be described. As shown in Figure 10, 'the light from the LED has three components, that is, the light X (the penetration component) passing through the transparent material, the light y scattered from the LE D1 3 to the side but not directly illuminating the document 40, and The light ray z (reflection component) reflected on the transparent material 16. Transmitted light X illumination file 4 〇. The light rays y scattered sideways and the light rays z reflected back on the transparent material 16 illuminate the light reflecting portion A of the common wiring pattern. Because the light reflecting portion A is not covered with a layer of resist 15 'but has a metal surface layer, the light y and the light z are reflected again, and the reflected light passes through the transparent material 16 to illuminate the document 40. This increases the amount of light entering the photosensitive portion (such as the CCD), and the file 40 can be read correctly. Fig. 11 is a plan view of a third embodiment of the optical device array 10 according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 11, the common wiring pattern 14a is close to one edge 10a of the base and the common distribution pattern

43674 2 V. Description of the invention (9) The line pattern 14b is close to the other edge 10b. The wiring pattern 14c is used to connect the LEDs 13 '. The wiring pattern 14c is provided on a substrate where the common wiring patterns 14a, 14b and the LEDs 13 are not provided, so that the area of the resist 15 can be minimized. The wiring pattern 14c located between every two leDs has the same shape. The circuit of the optical device array 10 of Fig. 11 is the same as that shown in Fig. 7. The connection between the LED 13 and the common wiring patterns 14a and 14b is provided with electrodes 141 and 142 'which are similar in shape to the wiring pattern 14c. It should be noted that the electrodes 141 and 142 are not directly connected to each other on the substrate. The wiring pattern 14c and the electrodes 141 and 142 are not covered with a layer of resist 15 (in the shaded portion of FIG. 11), but have an exposed metal surface. Therefore, it functions like the light reflection part A. In the third embodiment, the area of the resist 15 is smaller than that of the first embodiment, and the light reflecting portion A is larger than that of the first embodiment. This means increased reflection of light. The optical device arrays 10 used in the first to third embodiments increase the amount of light entering the CCD serving as a photosensitive portion on average. The size of the light reflecting portion a can be changed according to the mounting position of each LED 1 3. This makes it possible to adjust the light amount distribution of the document 40 as shown in FIG. Especially when the lens 30 is used as shown in Fig. 3, the amount of light from the LEDs near the edge of the substrate 12 of the optical device array 10 tends to be attenuated, but it must be increased. Fig. 12 is a plan view of the embodiment (fourth embodiment). In the fourth embodiment, the amount of light from LEDs near the edge of the substrate of the optical device array is increased.

Page 12 43674 2 V. Description of the invention (" In Fig. 12, the 'optical device array 100' is a modified example of the first embodiment shown in the second embodiment. The common wiring patterns 14a and 14b and the wiring patterns 4c are similar in shape to those of the first embodiment shown in FIG. In any case, the closer the rectangular electrode 14b-2 is to the P direction of the substrate 12, the larger the size. The area of the rectangular electrode 14b-2 gradually increases in the P direction and the direction opposite to p. As a result, the amount of light from the light reflecting portions A at both ends near the reading direction is larger than that of the light reflecting portions A at the center of the substrate. This compensates for the shading caused by the characteristics of the lens 30 in FIG. That is, the transmission rate near the light is slow and the strong light from which the edge portion of the lens 30 which enters the photosensitive portion increases the illumination intensity, so that the document can be read correctly. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the distribution of the amount of light emitted on the document 40 by the structure of the optical device display 丨 〇 〇 shown in FIG. 12. The size of the resist 15 on the common wiring pattern Hb of the optical device array 100 shown in FIG. 12 is larger at the center. The closer the common wiring pattern 1 4b is to the edge ', the smaller its size. Instead of using a resist, more solder can be used in the area near the edge, so that the common wiring pattern near the edge becomes larger. Although the present invention has been disclosed as above with preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make changes and retouches without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of protection shall be determined by the scope of the attached patent application. For example, LEDs do not necessarily need to be lined up; they can be lined up in two lines. The light-emitting device is not limited to LED13, but may be any light-emitting device

Page 13 43674 2 V. Description of Invention (Η). In addition, although the image reader has optical device arrays 10 and CCD20 'shown in Figs. 3 and 4, respectively, the image reader can be integrated into the housing, which includes an optical device array, a photosensitive portion, and a lens 'For example a contact image sensor. According to the present invention, the metal wiring pattern (wiring electrode) functions as a light reflecting portion, on which light is reflected, and the light is scattered from the light emitting device to the side without directly illuminating the document. Therefore, the light rays from the light emitting device of the illumination document include not only the light rays X directly from the light emitting device but also the reflected light rays y. This reflected light y is a light that is scattered to the side and does not directly illuminate the document, but it reflects back from the light reflecting portion to illuminate the document. In addition, this light y is effectively reflected at the light reflecting portion of the metal wiring pattern. As a result, there is sufficient light to illuminate the reading area of the document. Moreover, if it is set on the document side of the optical device array, the transparent material will reflect light to the light reflecting portion. This also reflects the light onto the document once again 'thus increasing the amount of light that illuminates the document. In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the area acting as the alignment pattern of the light reflecting portion is larger than the central portion near the edge of the substrate. As a result, the amount of light from the light reflecting portion near the edge of the substrate is larger than the amount of light from the center of the light reflecting portion. Therefore, even if the optical path between the light emitting device and the document is short, a small image reader 'can correctly read information (text, pictures, etc.) from the document without adding a light emitting device.

4367 4 2 V. Description of the invention ¢ 12) Since no light-emitting device is needed in the image reader according to the present invention, a low-cost, space-saving reader can be obtained. The light reflection part is completed at the same time as the wiring pattern without additional cost. 1 circle_ p. 15

Claims (1)

4367 4 2 VI. Scope of patent application 1. An optical device array including: a substrate; a plurality of light emitting devices arranged on the substrate to illuminate a reading object; and-a wiring pattern connected to the plurality of light emitting devices, respectively, and provided in On the substrate; wherein the wiring pattern has a light reflection portion, and the width of the light reflection portion is wider than other wiring patterns, and is used to reflect the light emitted by the plurality of light emitting devices to the side without being directly irradiated on the reading member Light. 2. The optical device array according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the light reflecting portion is not covered with anti-synthetic objects, but is composed of uncovered lines in the wiring pattern. 3. The optical device array according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the light reflecting portion is coated with a light reflecting layer. 4. The optical device array according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the light reflecting portion is coated with solder. 5. According to the optical device array described in the first patent application, the size of the light reflecting portion in the basin changes with the position of the substrate. 6. The optical dress array according to item 5 of the patent application, wherein the area of the light reflecting portion in the substrate near the edge portion is larger than the center portion. S 7 · The optical device array according to item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the light emitting device and the light reflecting portion are staggered on the substrate. 8 · An image reader comprising: an optical device array 'comprising: a substrate; a plurality of light emitting devices; Page 16 4367 4 2 6. The scope of the patent application is placed on the substrate and used to illuminate the object to be read; a wiring pattern is connected to each light-emitting device and is placed on the substrate; a photosensitive device; and an optical system , Condensing the light reflected by the reading object, and forming an image on the photosensitive device; wherein the wiring pattern has a light reflecting portion for reflecting the light scattered from the plurality of light emitting devices to the side without directly illuminating a Light of the file. Page 17