US20170374223A1 - Image reading optical system and image reading apparatus - Google Patents
Image reading optical system and image reading apparatus Download PDFInfo
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- US20170374223A1 US20170374223A1 US15/374,157 US201615374157A US2017374223A1 US 20170374223 A1 US20170374223 A1 US 20170374223A1 US 201615374157 A US201615374157 A US 201615374157A US 2017374223 A1 US2017374223 A1 US 2017374223A1
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- optical system
- image reading
- light
- plate shaped
- aperture stop
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/024—Details of scanning heads ; Means for illuminating the original
- H04N1/028—Details of scanning heads ; Means for illuminating the original for picture information pick-up
- H04N1/02815—Means for illuminating the original, not specific to a particular type of pick-up head
- H04N1/02885—Means for compensating spatially uneven illumination, e.g. an aperture arrangement
- H04N1/0289—Light diffusing elements, e.g. plates or filters
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/024—Details of scanning heads ; Means for illuminating the original
- H04N1/028—Details of scanning heads ; Means for illuminating the original for picture information pick-up
- H04N1/02815—Means for illuminating the original, not specific to a particular type of pick-up head
- H04N1/0282—Using a single or a few point light sources, e.g. a laser diode
- H04N1/02825—Using a single or a few point light sources, e.g. a laser diode in combination with at least one reflector which is fixed in relation to the light source
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N1/00—Scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, e.g. facsimile transmission; Details thereof
- H04N1/04—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa
- H04N1/10—Scanning arrangements, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa using flat picture-bearing surfaces
- H04N1/1061—Details relating to flat picture-bearing surfaces, e.g. transparent platen
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- H04N2201/00—Indexing scheme relating to scanning, transmission or reproduction of documents or the like, and to details thereof
- H04N2201/0077—Types of the still picture apparatus
- H04N2201/0081—Image reader
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an image reading optical system and an image reading apparatus.
- an image reading optical system includes an image reading unit including plural reading elements that are arranged in a first direction, a first reflective optical system configured to reflect reflection light which is irradiation light emitted from a light source and reflected on an object to be read, a second reflective optical system configured to condense the reflection light reflected on the first reflective optical system to the image reading unit, and an aperture stop including a plate shaped member formed with an aperture configured to regulate the reflection light reflected on the first reflective optical system in the first direction, the plate shaped member including at least one plate shaped piece bent at a preset angle with respect to the aperture along a tangent line of the aperture in the first direction.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view illustrating an exemplary configuration of an image reading apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view illustrating an exemplary configuration of an image reading optical system according to an exemplary embodiment
- FIGS. 3A and 3B are views for explaining a shape of an aperture stop according to an exemplary embodiment
- FIGS. 4A and 4B are a side view and a plan view each illustrating the exemplary configuration of the image reading optical system according to an exemplary embodiment
- FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a modification example of the image reading optical system according to an exemplary embodiment.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image reading optical system according to a comparative example.
- FIG. 1 illustrates an outline configuration of the image reading apparatus 12 .
- the image reading apparatus 12 is incidentally installed in, for example, an image forming apparatus and used to read a document or the like (an object to be read).
- the image reading apparatus 12 includes an automatic document feeder 50 and an image reading processor 52 that reads an image formed on a surface of a document.
- the automatic document feeder 50 includes a document loading stand 60 on which a document is loaded, a document transport path 61 that transports a document, and a discharge stand 62 to which a document is discharged after an image is read.
- the document transport path 61 is formed in a U shape, and a sheet delivery roller 63 , delivery rollers 64 , pre-registration rollers 65 , registration rollers 66 , a platen roller 67 , out rollers 68 , and discharge rollers 69 are provided around the document transport path 61 .
- the sheet delivery roller 63 moves down during the transport of a document to pick up the document placed on the document loading stand 60 .
- the delivery rollers 64 supply the uppermost document among the documents sent from the sheet delivery roller 63 to the inside of the automatic document feeder.
- the pre-registration rollers 65 temporarily stop the document sent from the delivery rollers 64 and correct the skew of the document.
- the registration rollers 66 temporarily stop the document sent from the pre-registration rollers 65 and adjust a reading timing.
- the platen roller 67 causes the document passing the document transport path 61 to face a platen glass 70 to be described later.
- the out rollers 68 and the discharge rollers 69 discharge the read document to the discharge stand 62 .
- the image reading apparatus 12 has a function to skim the surface of the document sent by the automatic document feeder 50 from the document loading stand 60 , and a function to read the surface of the document placed on the platen glass 70 as described later.
- the platen glass 70 is provided on the surface of a housing 75 of the image reading processor 52 which faces the automatic document feeder 50 .
- a document of which an image is to be read may be placed on the platen glass 70 .
- the platen glass 70 serve as an aperture through which the document is irradiated with light when the automatic document feeder 50 reads the document being transported.
- a reading unit (carriage) 76 is provided that is movable in the transport direction (the Y axis direction of FIG. 1 ) of the document and reads an image by being stopped at a reading position M of the platen glass 70 or reads an image while scanning throughout the entire platen glass 70 .
- the reading unit 76 includes an illumination unit 80 (light source), an image formation unit 87 , and a sensor 88 (image reader).
- the image reading optical system. 86 according to the present exemplary embodiment is configured including the image formation unit 87 and the sensor 88 .
- the illumination unit 80 is configured with, for example, plural white light emitting diodes (LEDs) which are arranged and serve as a light source.
- a diffusion/reflection member diffuses and reflects the light emitted from the illumination unit 80 toward the document surface.
- Mirrors 83 , 84 , and 85 are members that guide the reflection light L which is obtained from the document surface to the image reading optical system 86 .
- the image formation unit 87 has a function to shape the light flux of the reflection light L which is obtained from the document surface (optical image) into a shape suitable for the light reception in the sensor 88 .
- the image formation unit 87 may include an image formation lens (not illustrated) that optically reduces the optical image obtained from the document surface. Details of the image formation unit 87 will be described later.
- the sensor 88 has a function to photoelectrically convert the optical image obtained from the image formation unit 87 to generate signals of a red (R) color, a green (G) color, and a blue (B) color (image signals).
- R red
- G green
- B blue
- the sensor 88 for example, one-dimensional line sensors extending in the X axis direction and dedicated for the colors R, G, and B, respectively, are arranged in three rows in the Z axis direction.
- a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor is used.
- the sensor 88 is configured such that image capturing elements (reading elements) are arranged in parallel with each other in the X axis direction.
- a controller causes the reading unit 76 to move in the scanning direction (the direction of the arrow C in FIG. 1 ). Further, the controller causes the illumination unit 80 of the reading unit 76 to emit light and the document surface is irradiated with the light. By this irradiation, the reflection light L from the document is guided to the image reading optical system 86 through the mirrors 83 , 84 , and 85 . The light guided to the image reading optical system. 86 forms an image on the light receiving surface of the sensor 88 . The sensor 88 reads each of the colors R, G, and B by one line substantially at the same time. When the reading in the direction of the line is carried out by the scanning throughout the entire size of the document, the document is read for one page.
- the controller (not illustrated) causes the document placed on the document loading stand 60 to be transported to the reading position M of the platen glass 70 along the document transport path 61 .
- the reading unit 76 is positioned in a state of being stopped at the position represented by the solid line in FIG. 1 .
- the controller causes the illumination unit 80 to emit light and the document surface is irradiated with the light. Accordingly, the reflection light L from the document closely contacted with the platen glass 70 by the platen roller 67 is guided to the image reading optical system 86 through the mirrors 83 , 84 , and 85 . The light guided to the image reading optical system.
- the 86 forms an image on the light receiving surface of the sensor 88 .
- the sensor 88 reads each of the colors R, G, and B by one line substantially at the same time. Then, when the entire document is caused to pass the reading position M of the platen glass 70 , the document is read for one page.
- an image reading optical system in which plural reflective optical systems each having a power (strength to bend light) in a predetermined direction are combined with each other may be used.
- a turn-back optical path is necessarily generated.
- the aperture stop is used in order to adjust the light amount, adjust a modulated transfer function (MTF; a transfer function of an optical system), increase the focal depth and for other reasons.
- MTF modulated transfer function
- This aperture stop is required to regulate light in both the long length direction of the sensor (the direction in which the image capturing elements are arranged, that is, the X axis direction of FIG. 1 ), and the short length direction of the sensor (the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the image capturing elements are arranged in parallel with each other; the Z axis direction of FIG. 1 ).
- the aperture stop is generally positioned between the two reflective optical systems.
- a reflective optical systems may be referred to as an “image formation mirror.”
- FIG. 6 illustrates an image reading optical system 200 according to a comparative example as an example of the above-described image reading optical system.
- the image reading optical system 200 includes an image formation mirror 100 , an image formation mirror 102 , an aperture stop 104 , and a sensor 106 .
- the aperture stop 104 is generally manufactured by forming an aperture such as a circle in a plate shaped member, which requires a certain size both in the long length direction and in the short length direction.
- a plate shaped member having an aperture adapted to regulate the light flux in the long length direction is provided with a plate shaped piece bent at a predetermined angle at a tangent line position of the aperture in the long length direction.
- the light flux is regulated in the short length direction by the plate shaped piece and an end portion (edge) thereof.
- the aperture stop in the short length direction is disposed so as not to interfere light upstream or downstream of the position of the plate shaped member, in a turn-back optical system such as the image reading optical system 200 .
- the image reading optical system is reduced in the short length direction so that the bending angle of the optical path becomes small.
- the terms “regulate the light flux in the long length direction” indicate regulating the light flux not to spread in the long length direction.
- FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic sectional view of the image reading optical system according to the present exemplary embodiment.
- the image reading optical system 86 includes the image formation unit 87 and the sensor 88 .
- the image formation unit 87 includes an image formation mirror 90 , an image formation mirror 92 , and an aperture stop 94 .
- the image formation mirror 90 is a reflection mirror (a concave mirror in the present exemplary embodiment) that condenses the reflection light L obtained from the document surface, and reflects the light toward the image formation mirror 92 .
- the image formation mirror 92 according to the present exemplary embodiment is a reflecting mirror (a concave mirror in the present exemplary embodiment) that reflects the light reflected by the image formation mirror 90 toward the sensor 88 .
- the aperture stop 94 disposed between the image formation mirror 90 and the image formation mirror 92 regulates the light flux of the light L reflected by the image formation mirror 90 in the long length direction and the short length direction.
- the aperture stop 94 according to the present exemplary embodiment is provided with an aperture 96 to be described later and aperture stop pieces 94 a and 94 b (plate shaped pieces) so that the single aperture stop regulates the light flux of the reflection light L in both the long length direction and the short length direction.
- the aperture stop regulating the light flux of the reflection light L in the long length direction may be referred to as a “first aperture stop,” and the aperture stop regulating the light flux of the reflection light L in the short length direction may be referred to as a “second aperture stop.”
- each of the light from the light source to the image formation mirror 90 , the light from the image formation mirror 90 to the image formation mirror 92 , and the light from the image formation mirror 92 to the sensor 88 may be referred to as “turning-back light.”
- FIG. 3A includes three views of the aperture stop 94 when viewed in three directions.
- the aperture stop 94 includes an aperture stop plate 94 c having the aperture 96 opened therein, and aperture stop pieces 94 a and 94 b formed to be bent in opposite directions with respect to bending lines S 1 and S 2 passing the end portions of the aperture 96 .
- FIG. 3B is a view for explaining positions for regulating the light flux of the reflection light L in the long length direction and the short length direction, in the aperture stop 94 having the configuration of FIG. 3A .
- the light flux of the reflection light L in the long length direction is regulated by end portions E 1 and E 2 of the aperture 96
- the light flux of the reflection light L in the short length direction is regulated by end portions E 3 and E 4 of the aperture 96 .
- the first aperture stop is formed by the end portions E 1 and E 2 of the aperture 96
- the second aperture stop is formed by the aperture stop piece 94 a and the end portion E 3 of the aperture stop piece 94 a , and the aperture stop piece 94 b and the end portion E 4 of the aperture stop piece 94 b.
- the aperture stop piece 94 a is disposed substantially in parallel with the light beam Ld of the light incident on and turning back from the image formation mirror 90
- the aperture stop piece 94 b is disposed substantially in parallel with the light beam Lu of the turning-back light between the image formation mirror 92 and the sensor 88 .
- the aperture stop 94 disposed as described above regulates the light flux of the turning-back light between the image formation mirror 90 and the image formation mirror 92 in the long length direction by the end portions E 1 and E 2 illustrated in FIG. 3B , and regulates the light flux in the short length direction by the end portions E 3 and E 4 .
- the regulation in the short length direction is carried out by regulating a predetermined range of light flux from the light beam Lu (hereinafter, “upper light flux”) at a position P 1 illustrated in FIG. 2 , and regulating a predetermined range of light flux from the light beam Ld (hereinafter, “lower light flux”) at a position P 2 illustrated in FIG. 2 .
- FIG. 4A is a side view of the image reading optical system 86 illustrated in FIG. 2 when viewed in the +Y direction
- FIG. 4B is a plan view of the image reading optical system 86 illustrated in FIG. 2 when viewed in the ⁇ Z direction.
- the reflection light L is reflected on the image formation mirror 90 , and the light flux of the reflected turning-back light is regulated in the long length direction (the X axis direction) by the end portions E 1 and E 2 in the aperture 96 of the aperture stop 94 . That is, the first aperture stop is formed by the end portions E 1 and E 2 . Meanwhile, the turning-back light reflected on the image formation mirror 90 is regulated in the short length direction (the Z axis direction) by the aperture stop piece 94 a of the aperture stop 94 and the end portion E 3 thereof, and the aperture stop piece 94 b of the aperture stop 94 and the end portion E 4 thereof. That is, the second aperture stop is formed by the end portions E 3 and E 4 .
- the aperture stop piece 94 a is disposed substantially in parallel with the light beam Ld, and the aperture stop piece 94 b is disposed substantially in parallel with the light beam Lu.
- the aperture stop piece 94 a does not interfere the light flux of the turning-back light which is incident on the image formation mirror 90 (hereinafter, “upstream light flux”)
- the aperture stop piece 94 b does not interfere the light flux of the turning-back light between the image formation mirror 92 and the sensor 88 (hereinafter, “downstream light flux”).
- the end portions E 3 and E 4 of the aperture stop in the short length direction are formed as ends (edges) of the aperture stop pieces 94 a and 94 b disposed not to interfere the upstream light flux and the downstream light flux.
- the aperture stop piece 94 a is disposed between the light flux between the image formation mirrors 90 and 92 (hereinafter, “regulation target light flux”) and the upstream light flux
- the aperture stop piece 94 b is disposed between the regulation target light flux and the downstream light flux.
- the aperture stop pieces 94 a and 94 b are disposed on different planes. Accordingly, the end portions E 3 and E 4 are disposed to be almost vertical to the regulation target light flux so that the focal depth becomes larger.
- the image reading optical system 86 according to the present exemplary embodiment is further miniaturized in the short length direction, as compared to the image reading optical system 200 according to the comparative example.
- the aperture stop piece 94 a since the aperture stop piece 94 a is configured as a plate shaped piece extending in the X axis direction, the aperture stop piece 94 a suppresses stray light caused from the upstream light flux from being incident on the regulation target light flux. That is, the aperture stop piece 94 a has a function of a blocking wall to block the stray light. Likewise, since the aperture stop piece 94 b suppresses stray light caused from the downstream light flux from being incident on the regulation target light flux, the aperture stop piece 94 b also has the function of the blocking wall to block the stray light.
- the form of forming both the aperture stop pieces 94 a and 94 b of the aperture stop 94 has been described as an example. Without being limited thereto, however, the form of forming one of the aperture stop pieces 94 a and 94 b may be adopted depending on, for example, a state of the light flux to be regulated.
- the form of forming the aperture stop pieces 94 a and 94 b by bending the plate shaped member along the bending lines S 1 and S 2 consistent with the end portions of the aperture 96 has been described as an example. Without being limited thereto, however, the aperture stop pieces 94 a and 94 b may be formed by bending the plate shaped member along bending lines positioned in further inner portions of the aperture 96 , that is, the bending lines S 3 and S 4 illustrated in FIG. 3A .
- FIG. 2 the form of disposing the aperture stop 94 to make the aperture stop plate 94 c substantially vertical to the optical axis of the regulation target light flux has been described as an example. Without being limited thereto, however, the aperture stop 94 may be disposed to make the aperture stop plate 94 c inclined with respect to the optical axis of the regulation target light flux.
- FIG. 5 represents an example of an image reading optical system 86 A and an image formation unit 87 A in which the aperture stop 94 illustrated in FIG. 2 is disposed to be inclined at an angle ⁇ .
- FIG. 5 represents an example of an image reading optical system 86 A and an image formation unit 87 A in which the aperture stop 94 illustrated in FIG. 2 is disposed to be inclined at an angle ⁇ .
- the aperture stop piece 94 a is not in parallel with the upstream light flux, and the aperture stop piece 94 b is not in parallel with the downstream light flux.
- the angles of the aperture stop pieces 94 a and 94 b with respect to the aperture stop plate 94 c may be changed.
- the aperture stop 94 having the substantially rectangular aperture 96 has been described as an example.
- the shape of the aperture may be a circle, an ellipse, a triangle or others in consideration of, for example, the sectional shape of the light flux to be regulated.
- the positions of the bending lines S 1 and S 2 may be positions of tangent lines with respect to the aperture in the long length direction (the X axis direction).
- the form of using the image formation mirrors 90 and 92 (the concave mirrors in the present exemplary embodiment) each having a power in a predetermined direction as the reflection mirrors constituting the image reading optical system has been described as an example.
- a plane mirror may be used.
- the optical path is turned back so that the length of the image reading optical system 86 in the Y axis direction is reduced, and the image reading optical system 86 is further miniaturized.
- the direction of the power of each of the image formation mirrors 90 and 92 may be the long length direction or the short length direction.
- both of the image formation mirrors 90 and 92 may have the power, or only one thereof may have the power.
- the form of using two image formation mirrors has been described as an example. Without being limited thereto, however, three or more image formation mirrors may be used.
- one or more image formation mirrors may be additionally disposed between the mirror 85 and the image formation mirror 90 or between the image formation mirror 92 and the sensor 88 to cause the traveling light to be turned back.
- Mirrors each having a positive power are required before and behind the aperture stop, respectively, and a negative power (a magnifying optical system) may exist therebetween. It is obvious to a person understanding the existing aperture stop technology in the art that what is required is merely that an optical system or an optical system group having a total positive power is positioned in front of the aperture stop (the upstream side on the optical path), and an optical system or an optical system group having a total positive power is disposed behind the aperture stop (the downstream side on the optical path). Accordingly, in implementing exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the order of arrangement of the mirrors is arbitrary and whether the power of each of the plural mirrors is positive or negative is also arbitrary. It is easily understood by a person skilled in the art that the present invention may be smoothly implemented, for example, even when a mirror having a negative power exists immediately before the aperture stop.
Abstract
Description
- This application is based on and claims priority under 35 USC 119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-126397 filed Jun. 27, 2016.
- The present invention relates to an image reading optical system and an image reading apparatus.
- According to an aspect of the invention, an image reading optical system includes an image reading unit including plural reading elements that are arranged in a first direction, a first reflective optical system configured to reflect reflection light which is irradiation light emitted from a light source and reflected on an object to be read, a second reflective optical system configured to condense the reflection light reflected on the first reflective optical system to the image reading unit, and an aperture stop including a plate shaped member formed with an aperture configured to regulate the reflection light reflected on the first reflective optical system in the first direction, the plate shaped member including at least one plate shaped piece bent at a preset angle with respect to the aperture along a tangent line of the aperture in the first direction.
- Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the following figures, wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view illustrating an exemplary configuration of an image reading apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view illustrating an exemplary configuration of an image reading optical system according to an exemplary embodiment; -
FIGS. 3A and 3B are views for explaining a shape of an aperture stop according to an exemplary embodiment; -
FIGS. 4A and 4B are a side view and a plan view each illustrating the exemplary configuration of the image reading optical system according to an exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a modification example of the image reading optical system according to an exemplary embodiment; and -
FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image reading optical system according to a comparative example. - Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
- An
image reading apparatus 12 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 1 .FIG. 1 illustrates an outline configuration of theimage reading apparatus 12. Theimage reading apparatus 12 is incidentally installed in, for example, an image forming apparatus and used to read a document or the like (an object to be read). As illustrated inFIG. 1 , theimage reading apparatus 12 includes anautomatic document feeder 50 and animage reading processor 52 that reads an image formed on a surface of a document. - The
automatic document feeder 50 according to the present exemplary embodiment includes adocument loading stand 60 on which a document is loaded, adocument transport path 61 that transports a document, and a discharge stand 62 to which a document is discharged after an image is read. - The
document transport path 61 is formed in a U shape, and asheet delivery roller 63,delivery rollers 64, pre-registrationrollers 65,registration rollers 66, aplaten roller 67, outrollers 68, anddischarge rollers 69 are provided around thedocument transport path 61. Thesheet delivery roller 63 moves down during the transport of a document to pick up the document placed on thedocument loading stand 60. Thedelivery rollers 64 supply the uppermost document among the documents sent from thesheet delivery roller 63 to the inside of the automatic document feeder. Thepre-registration rollers 65 temporarily stop the document sent from thedelivery rollers 64 and correct the skew of the document. Theregistration rollers 66 temporarily stop the document sent from thepre-registration rollers 65 and adjust a reading timing. Theplaten roller 67 causes the document passing thedocument transport path 61 to face aplaten glass 70 to be described later. The outrollers 68 and thedischarge rollers 69 discharge the read document to thedischarge stand 62. - The
image reading apparatus 12 has a function to skim the surface of the document sent by theautomatic document feeder 50 from thedocument loading stand 60, and a function to read the surface of the document placed on theplaten glass 70 as described later. - The
platen glass 70 is provided on the surface of ahousing 75 of theimage reading processor 52 which faces theautomatic document feeder 50. A document of which an image is to be read may be placed on theplaten glass 70. Theplaten glass 70 serve as an aperture through which the document is irradiated with light when theautomatic document feeder 50 reads the document being transported. Further, within thehousing 75, a reading unit (carriage) 76 is provided that is movable in the transport direction (the Y axis direction ofFIG. 1 ) of the document and reads an image by being stopped at a reading position M of theplaten glass 70 or reads an image while scanning throughout theentire platen glass 70. - The
reading unit 76 includes an illumination unit 80 (light source), animage formation unit 87, and a sensor 88 (image reader). The image reading optical system. 86 according to the present exemplary embodiment is configured including theimage formation unit 87 and thesensor 88. - The
illumination unit 80 is configured with, for example, plural white light emitting diodes (LEDs) which are arranged and serve as a light source. A diffusion/reflection member diffuses and reflects the light emitted from theillumination unit 80 toward the document surface.Mirrors optical system 86. - The
image formation unit 87 has a function to shape the light flux of the reflection light L which is obtained from the document surface (optical image) into a shape suitable for the light reception in thesensor 88. Theimage formation unit 87 may include an image formation lens (not illustrated) that optically reduces the optical image obtained from the document surface. Details of theimage formation unit 87 will be described later. - The
sensor 88 has a function to photoelectrically convert the optical image obtained from theimage formation unit 87 to generate signals of a red (R) color, a green (G) color, and a blue (B) color (image signals). As for thesensor 88, for example, one-dimensional line sensors extending in the X axis direction and dedicated for the colors R, G, and B, respectively, are arranged in three rows in the Z axis direction. As an example, a charge coupled device (CCD) image sensor is used. In other words, thesensor 88 is configured such that image capturing elements (reading elements) are arranged in parallel with each other in the X axis direction. - Subsequently, in the
image reading apparatus 12 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the sequence of reading an image will be described. - In the
image reading apparatus 12, when the document placed on theplaten glass 70 is to be read, a controller (not illustrated) causes thereading unit 76 to move in the scanning direction (the direction of the arrow C inFIG. 1 ). Further, the controller causes theillumination unit 80 of thereading unit 76 to emit light and the document surface is irradiated with the light. By this irradiation, the reflection light L from the document is guided to the image readingoptical system 86 through themirrors sensor 88. Thesensor 88 reads each of the colors R, G, and B by one line substantially at the same time. When the reading in the direction of the line is carried out by the scanning throughout the entire size of the document, the document is read for one page. - Meanwhile, in the
image reading apparatus 12, when the document placed on thedocument loading stand 60 is read, the controller (not illustrated) causes the document placed on thedocument loading stand 60 to be transported to the reading position M of theplaten glass 70 along thedocument transport path 61. In this case, thereading unit 76 is positioned in a state of being stopped at the position represented by the solid line inFIG. 1 . The controller causes theillumination unit 80 to emit light and the document surface is irradiated with the light. Accordingly, the reflection light L from the document closely contacted with theplaten glass 70 by theplaten roller 67 is guided to the image readingoptical system 86 through themirrors sensor 88. Thesensor 88 reads each of the colors R, G, and B by one line substantially at the same time. Then, when the entire document is caused to pass the reading position M of theplaten glass 70, the document is read for one page. - As the optical system in which the reflection light L as obtained from the document surface is shaped into a shape suitable for the light reception in the
sensor 88, an image reading optical system in which plural reflective optical systems each having a power (strength to bend light) in a predetermined direction are combined with each other may be used. In the image reading optical system in which plural reflective optical systems are combined with each other, a turn-back optical path is necessarily generated. Meanwhile, in the image reading optical system, the aperture stop is used in order to adjust the light amount, adjust a modulated transfer function (MTF; a transfer function of an optical system), increase the focal depth and for other reasons. This aperture stop is required to regulate light in both the long length direction of the sensor (the direction in which the image capturing elements are arranged, that is, the X axis direction ofFIG. 1 ), and the short length direction of the sensor (the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the image capturing elements are arranged in parallel with each other; the Z axis direction ofFIG. 1 ). When two reflective optical systems are provided, the aperture stop is generally positioned between the two reflective optical systems. In addition, a reflective optical systems may be referred to as an “image formation mirror.” -
FIG. 6 illustrates an image readingoptical system 200 according to a comparative example as an example of the above-described image reading optical system. As illustrated inFIG. 6 , the image readingoptical system 200 includes animage formation mirror 100, animage formation mirror 102, anaperture stop 104, and asensor 106. - Here, when it is intended to miniaturize the image reading
optical system 200 by reducing the image readingoptical system 200 especially in the short length direction or to improve the accuracy, that is, when it is intended to reduce the angle θ1 or θ2 inFIG. 6 , the light incident on theimage formation mirror 100, that is, the reflection light L obtained from the document surface may be blocked by theaperture stop 104 in the short length direction (see the dashed circle inFIG. 6 ). This is caused because theaperture stop 104 is generally manufactured by forming an aperture such as a circle in a plate shaped member, which requires a certain size both in the long length direction and in the short length direction. - Thus, in this exemplary embodiment, a plate shaped member having an aperture adapted to regulate the light flux in the long length direction is provided with a plate shaped piece bent at a predetermined angle at a tangent line position of the aperture in the long length direction. Further, suitably, the light flux is regulated in the short length direction by the plate shaped piece and an end portion (edge) thereof. Accordingly, since the angle of the plate shaped piece is set arbitrarily, the aperture stop in the short length direction is disposed so as not to interfere light upstream or downstream of the position of the plate shaped member, in a turn-back optical system such as the image reading
optical system 200. Hence, the image reading optical system is reduced in the short length direction so that the bending angle of the optical path becomes small. In the descriptions herein, the terms “regulate the light flux in the long length direction” indicate regulating the light flux not to spread in the long length direction. - The image reading optical system according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to
FIGS. 2 to 4B .FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic sectional view of the image reading optical system according to the present exemplary embodiment. As illustrated inFIG. 2 , the image readingoptical system 86 includes theimage formation unit 87 and thesensor 88. Theimage formation unit 87 includes animage formation mirror 90, animage formation mirror 92, and anaperture stop 94. - The
image formation mirror 90 according to the present exemplary embodiment is a reflection mirror (a concave mirror in the present exemplary embodiment) that condenses the reflection light L obtained from the document surface, and reflects the light toward theimage formation mirror 92. Theimage formation mirror 92 according to the present exemplary embodiment is a reflecting mirror (a concave mirror in the present exemplary embodiment) that reflects the light reflected by theimage formation mirror 90 toward thesensor 88. Theaperture stop 94 disposed between theimage formation mirror 90 and theimage formation mirror 92 regulates the light flux of the light L reflected by theimage formation mirror 90 in the long length direction and the short length direction. - That is, the
aperture stop 94 according to the present exemplary embodiment is provided with anaperture 96 to be described later andaperture stop pieces image formation mirror 90, the light from theimage formation mirror 90 to theimage formation mirror 92, and the light from theimage formation mirror 92 to thesensor 88 may be referred to as “turning-back light.” - The
aperture stop 94 according to the present exemplary embodiment will be described in more detail with reference toFIGS. 3A and 3B .FIG. 3A includes three views of theaperture stop 94 when viewed in three directions. As illustrated inFIG. 3A , theaperture stop 94 includes anaperture stop plate 94 c having theaperture 96 opened therein, andaperture stop pieces aperture 96. -
FIG. 3B is a view for explaining positions for regulating the light flux of the reflection light L in the long length direction and the short length direction, in theaperture stop 94 having the configuration ofFIG. 3A . As illustrated inFIG. 3B , the light flux of the reflection light L in the long length direction is regulated by end portions E1 and E2 of theaperture 96, and the light flux of the reflection light L in the short length direction is regulated by end portions E3 and E4 of theaperture 96. That is, in theaperture stop 94 according to the present exemplary embodiment, the first aperture stop is formed by the end portions E1 and E2 of theaperture 96, and the second aperture stop is formed by theaperture stop piece 94 a and the end portion E3 of theaperture stop piece 94 a, and theaperture stop piece 94 b and the end portion E4 of theaperture stop piece 94 b. - Returning to
FIG. 2 , the regulation by theaperture stop 94 in the short length direction will be described in more detail. InFIG. 2 , the uppermost light beam of the light flux of the reflection light L in the Z axis direction is represented as a light beam Lu, and the lowermost light beam thereof is represented as a light beam Ld. As illustrated inFIG. 2 , in the image readingoptical system 86 according to the present exemplary embodiment, theaperture stop piece 94 a is disposed substantially in parallel with the light beam Ld of the light incident on and turning back from theimage formation mirror 90, and theaperture stop piece 94 b is disposed substantially in parallel with the light beam Lu of the turning-back light between theimage formation mirror 92 and thesensor 88. - The
aperture stop 94 disposed as described above regulates the light flux of the turning-back light between theimage formation mirror 90 and theimage formation mirror 92 in the long length direction by the end portions E1 and E2 illustrated inFIG. 3B , and regulates the light flux in the short length direction by the end portions E3 and E4. The regulation in the short length direction is carried out by regulating a predetermined range of light flux from the light beam Lu (hereinafter, “upper light flux”) at a position P1 illustrated inFIG. 2 , and regulating a predetermined range of light flux from the light beam Ld (hereinafter, “lower light flux”) at a position P2 illustrated inFIG. 2 . - The image reading
optical system 86 will be described in more detail with reference toFIGS. 4A and 4B .FIG. 4A is a side view of the image readingoptical system 86 illustrated inFIG. 2 when viewed in the +Y direction, andFIG. 4B is a plan view of the image readingoptical system 86 illustrated inFIG. 2 when viewed in the −Z direction. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 4A and 4B , the reflection light L is reflected on theimage formation mirror 90, and the light flux of the reflected turning-back light is regulated in the long length direction (the X axis direction) by the end portions E1 and E2 in theaperture 96 of theaperture stop 94. That is, the first aperture stop is formed by the end portions E1 and E2. Meanwhile, the turning-back light reflected on theimage formation mirror 90 is regulated in the short length direction (the Z axis direction) by theaperture stop piece 94 a of theaperture stop 94 and the end portion E3 thereof, and theaperture stop piece 94 b of theaperture stop 94 and the end portion E4 thereof. That is, the second aperture stop is formed by the end portions E3 and E4. - In the
aperture stop 94 according to the present exemplary embodiment, theaperture stop piece 94 a is disposed substantially in parallel with the light beam Ld, and theaperture stop piece 94 b is disposed substantially in parallel with the light beam Lu. Hence, as illustrated inFIGS. 4A and 4B , theaperture stop piece 94 a does not interfere the light flux of the turning-back light which is incident on the image formation mirror 90 (hereinafter, “upstream light flux”), and theaperture stop piece 94 b does not interfere the light flux of the turning-back light between theimage formation mirror 92 and the sensor 88 (hereinafter, “downstream light flux”). - In other words, the end portions E3 and E4 of the aperture stop in the short length direction are formed as ends (edges) of the
aperture stop pieces aperture stop piece 94 a is disposed between the light flux between the image formation mirrors 90 and 92 (hereinafter, “regulation target light flux”) and the upstream light flux, and theaperture stop piece 94 b is disposed between the regulation target light flux and the downstream light flux. In this case, theaperture stop pieces - Since the
aperture stop 94 having the above-described configuration is largely reduced in the short length direction, the image readingoptical system 86 according to the present exemplary embodiment is further miniaturized in the short length direction, as compared to the image readingoptical system 200 according to the comparative example. - Further, since the
aperture stop piece 94 a is configured as a plate shaped piece extending in the X axis direction, theaperture stop piece 94 a suppresses stray light caused from the upstream light flux from being incident on the regulation target light flux. That is, theaperture stop piece 94 a has a function of a blocking wall to block the stray light. Likewise, since theaperture stop piece 94 b suppresses stray light caused from the downstream light flux from being incident on the regulation target light flux, theaperture stop piece 94 b also has the function of the blocking wall to block the stray light. - In the present exemplary embodiment, the form of forming both the
aperture stop pieces aperture stop 94 has been described as an example. Without being limited thereto, however, the form of forming one of theaperture stop pieces - In the present exemplary embodiment, the form of forming the
aperture stop pieces aperture 96 has been described as an example. Without being limited thereto, however, theaperture stop pieces aperture 96, that is, the bending lines S3 and S4 illustrated inFIG. 3A . - In the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated in
FIG. 2 , the form of disposing theaperture stop 94 to make theaperture stop plate 94 c substantially vertical to the optical axis of the regulation target light flux has been described as an example. Without being limited thereto, however, theaperture stop 94 may be disposed to make theaperture stop plate 94 c inclined with respect to the optical axis of the regulation target light flux.FIG. 5 represents an example of an image readingoptical system 86A and animage formation unit 87A in which theaperture stop 94 illustrated inFIG. 2 is disposed to be inclined at an angle θ. InFIG. 5 , since theaperture stop 94 is inclined, theaperture stop piece 94 a is not in parallel with the upstream light flux, and theaperture stop piece 94 b is not in parallel with the downstream light flux. However, in order to implement the parallel relationship, the angles of theaperture stop pieces aperture stop plate 94 c may be changed. - In the present exemplary embodiment, the
aperture stop 94 having the substantiallyrectangular aperture 96 has been described as an example. Without being limited thereto, however, the shape of the aperture may be a circle, an ellipse, a triangle or others in consideration of, for example, the sectional shape of the light flux to be regulated. In this case, the positions of the bending lines S1 and S2 may be positions of tangent lines with respect to the aperture in the long length direction (the X axis direction). - In the present exemplary embodiment, the form of using the image formation mirrors 90 and 92 (the concave mirrors in the present exemplary embodiment) each having a power in a predetermined direction as the reflection mirrors constituting the image reading optical system has been described as an example. Without being limited thereto however, for example, a plane mirror may be used. For example, when a plane mirror is disposed between the image formation mirrors 90 and 92, the optical path is turned back so that the length of the image reading
optical system 86 in the Y axis direction is reduced, and the image readingoptical system 86 is further miniaturized. - When the image formation mirrors 90 and 92 each having a power in a predetermined direction are used as the reflection mirrors constituting the image reading optical system, the direction of the power of each of the image formation mirrors 90 and 92 may be the long length direction or the short length direction. In addition, both of the image formation mirrors 90 and 92 may have the power, or only one thereof may have the power.
- In the present exemplary embodiment, the form of using two image formation mirrors (the image formation mirrors 90 and 92) has been described as an example. Without being limited thereto, however, three or more image formation mirrors may be used. For example, one or more image formation mirrors may be additionally disposed between the
mirror 85 and theimage formation mirror 90 or between theimage formation mirror 92 and thesensor 88 to cause the traveling light to be turned back. - Mirrors each having a positive power (a condensing optical system) are required before and behind the aperture stop, respectively, and a negative power (a magnifying optical system) may exist therebetween. It is obvious to a person understanding the existing aperture stop technology in the art that what is required is merely that an optical system or an optical system group having a total positive power is positioned in front of the aperture stop (the upstream side on the optical path), and an optical system or an optical system group having a total positive power is disposed behind the aperture stop (the downstream side on the optical path). Accordingly, in implementing exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the order of arrangement of the mirrors is arbitrary and whether the power of each of the plural mirrors is positive or negative is also arbitrary. It is easily understood by a person skilled in the art that the present invention may be smoothly implemented, for example, even when a mirror having a negative power exists immediately before the aperture stop.
- The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with the various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents.
Claims (7)
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JP2016126397A JP6733360B2 (en) | 2016-06-27 | 2016-06-27 | Image reading optical system and image reading apparatus |
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US20200099813A1 (en) * | 2018-09-25 | 2020-03-26 | Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. | Image reading optical system and image reading device |
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US5652665A (en) * | 1995-09-08 | 1997-07-29 | Umax Data System Inc. | Transparency adapter for flatbed scanners |
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JP2006215374A (en) * | 2005-02-04 | 2006-08-17 | Canon Inc | Imaging optical system and image reading device using the same |
JP4453752B2 (en) * | 2007-12-06 | 2010-04-21 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Image reading device |
JP2012054910A (en) | 2010-08-03 | 2012-03-15 | Mitsubishi Electric Corp | Image reader |
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US4398787A (en) * | 1981-06-17 | 1983-08-16 | The United States Of America As Represented By The Secretary Of The Army | Optical leverage telecentric scanning apparatus |
US5652665A (en) * | 1995-09-08 | 1997-07-29 | Umax Data System Inc. | Transparency adapter for flatbed scanners |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US20200099813A1 (en) * | 2018-09-25 | 2020-03-26 | Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. | Image reading optical system and image reading device |
CN110944094A (en) * | 2018-09-25 | 2020-03-31 | 富士施乐株式会社 | Image reading optical system and image reading apparatus |
US10778859B2 (en) * | 2018-09-25 | 2020-09-15 | Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. | Image reading optical system and image reading device |
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CN107544132A (en) | 2018-01-05 |
US9866719B1 (en) | 2018-01-09 |
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JP2018006794A (en) | 2018-01-11 |
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