JP3567042B2 - Image scanner - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image scanner for reading an image by irradiating a desired original with light and reading the reflected light with a CCD sensor, and more particularly to an image scanner capable of obtaining a good resolution.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image scanner that reads an image by irradiating a desired document with light and reading reflected light thereof has been widely used.
[0003]
A conventional image scanner has a main body case having a rectangular box shape, and an opening is formed at one longitudinal end surface of the main body case so as to face a predetermined original for reading an image. .
[0004]
Further, a holding plate extending along the side surface of the main body case is integrally formed with both inner side portions of the opening of the main body case so as to protrude inward, and the inner edge thereof is formed as the inner edge. It has an inner wall formed to extend in the direction of the opening.
[0005]
Further, a concave lamp housing portion opened toward the opening is formed between the inner wall of the holding plate and the inner side surface of the main body case, and an inner rear portion of the lamp housing portion is formed. The part is provided with a cylindrical lamp. A light source lens is provided in an opening of the lamp housing.
[0006]
The holding plate is provided with a slit extending along a side surface of the main body case. Further, a surface of the holding plate opposite to the surface facing the opening is provided with the slit. A substrate having a power supply conductor pattern (a so-called flexible printed circuit) is provided.
[0007]
FIG. 3 shows a conventional substrate 31 and a conductor pattern 32. The substrate 31 is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view by a glass epoxy of a translucent material. The conductor pattern 32 is provided only on a part necessary for wiring on the inner surface.
[0008]
More specifically, the conductor pattern 32 includes a conductor pattern 32a for connecting either the plus or minus terminal of each lamp and a conductor pattern 32b for connecting the other terminal. The conductor patterns 32a and 32b are provided only on a part of the surface of the board 31 on the inner side of the main body case so that electrical insulation is provided, and the conductor pattern 32 is not provided. In the portion, the substrate 31 made of the light-transmitting material is exposed. Terminals connected to both ends of the lamp are drawn out of the slit into the main body case, and the terminals are electrically connected to the conductor patterns 32 provided on the substrate 31, respectively. Being connected.
[0009]
Then, by energizing the lamps and turning on the lamps, irradiation light from the lamps is radiated to the outside through an opening of the main body case through a light source lens, and is installed near the openings. The desired original is not irradiated.
[0010]
A CCD sensor is disposed inside the main body case at an end opposite to the opening, and a cylindrical shape is provided between the opening and the CCD sensor inside the main body case. Lens units are provided. The lens unit has a light-entering section for receiving light emitted from the lens and reflected by the document, and a light-emitting section for emitting the light to the CCD sensor, and inside the lens unit, A plurality of imaging lenses for focusing so that the light incident from the light incident portion is imaged on the CCD sensor are arranged at predetermined intervals.
[0011]
In the above-described conventional image scanner, first, a desired document is placed near the opening of the image scanner, and in this state, each lamp is turned on while relatively moving the image scanner or the document. Thereby, the irradiation light from the lamp is irradiated on the document from the opening through the light source lens, and the light reflected by the document is again incident on the inside of the case main body from the opening, and The light enters the light entrance of the lens unit through the space between the plates.
[0012]
The light incident on the lens unit is imaged by the imaging lens of the lens unit, emitted from the light emitting section and irradiated on the CCD sensor, and the CCD sensor reads image information of the original. I have.
[0013]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the image scanner, when reading the image information of the original, the irradiation light of the lamp is transmitted from the slit formed in the holding plate to the conductive pattern 32 through the substrate 31 made of a transparent material. There was a case where the resin did not form and leaked into the body case.
[0014]
As described above, when light emitted from the lamp leaks into the main body case, the reflected light from the document incident on the light incident portion of the lens unit is affected, and the image contrast is significantly deteriorated. For example, when a black image is read, light leaked from the slit is added to the reflected light from the document, and the light is incident on the light entrance of the lens unit. , And had a whitish black image.
[0015]
In particular, in the past, a read original often had monochrome character information. In this case, the light emitted from the lamp was used as described above in order to binarize the obtained read data for printing. Even if it leaks into the case, there is not much effect, but recently, there are many read originals and color images, and in that case, the read data is read in multi-valued gradations such as 256 gradations. Must be performed with high precision, and the effect of leakage of the irradiation light of the lamp into the main body case is great.
[0016]
The use of a non-translucent material as the substrate 31 overcomes the above-mentioned problems. However, if a material other than inexpensive glass epoxy is used, it becomes expensive. However, if coloring or the like is performed in order to make the light-impermeable material, there is a problem in that the number of work steps increases and the cost increases.
[0017]
The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and prevents an irradiation light of a lamp from leaking into a main body case, and allows only a reflected light from a document to enter a light incident portion of a lens unit, thereby improving image quality. An object of the present invention is to provide an image scanner capable of remarkably improving contrast, reading an image with high accuracy, and improving the quality of a read image.
[0018]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the image scanner according to the first aspect of the present invention is configured such that a holding plate for fixing a lamp and a light source lens is provided inside the main body case having an opening at one end surface inside the opening. A CCD sensor is disposed in a rear part of the main body case opposite to the opening, and a lens unit is disposed between the holding plate and the CCD sensor in the main body case. The light of the lamp is radiated through the light source lens to a document placed near the outside of the opening, and the light reflected by the document is received by the CCD sensor through the lens unit, and the light of the document is An image scanner for reading an image, wherein the holding plate projects from an inner portion of the opening of the main body case so as to be able to block light of the lamp irradiated on the lens unit. The holding plate is formed with a slit for drawing out the terminal of the lamp into the inside of the main body case, and the inner edge of the holding plate extends in the opening direction. An inner wall of the holding plate is formed, and a space surrounded by the holding plate having the inner wall and an inner surface of the main body case is configured such that the lamp and the light source lens are directed to the opening. A substrate made of a light-shielding material having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view is disposed on a surface of the holding plate opposite to a surface facing the opening, and the substrate is provided. The power supply conductor pattern electrically connected to the terminal of the lamp is formed so as to cover the entire surface of the substrate opposite to the surface facing the holding plate. .
[0019]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image scanner according to the first aspect, the conductor pattern is formed such that a plus side and a minus side thereof are opposed to each other with a small gap. It is assumed that.
[0020]
According to the image scanner of the present invention, by forming the inner wall 5 of the holding plate 4 extending in the direction of the opening of the main body case, a space between the holding plate having the inner wall and the inner surface of the main body case 2 is formed. The lamp 10 is fixed in the concave lamp housing 6, and the direction of irradiation of the lamp light is regulated, and the conductor pattern covers the entire surface of the substrate. Therefore, even if the substrate is formed of a translucent material such as glass epoxy, it is possible to reliably prevent light emitted from the lamp from leaking from the slit portion into the body case through the substrate. Can be.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
[0022]
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an image scanner 1 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the image scanner 1 has a main body case 2 having a rectangular box shape. An opening 3 is formed on one end face in the longitudinal direction of 2 so as to face a predetermined document from which an image is read. In addition, holding plates 4 extending along both side surfaces of the main body case 2 are integrally formed on both inner side portions of the opening 3 of the main body case 2 so as to protrude inward. the inner side edge of the holding plate 4 is an inner wall 5 that out extending to the opening 3 directions are formed. A concave lamp housing 6 opened toward the opening 3 is formed in a space surrounded on three sides by the holding plate 4 having the inner wall 5 and the inner side surface of the main body case 2. The inner surface of the inner wall 5 of the holding plate 4 and the inner surface of the main body case 2 have a lamp locking recess 7 and a lens located closer to the opening side of the lamp housing 6 than the lamp locking recess 7. Each of the locking recesses 8 is formed. Further, a slit 9 extending along the side surface of the main body case 2 is formed on the lower surface of the holding plate 4.
[0023]
A cylindrical lamp 10 is provided in the inner part of the lamp housing 6. The lamp 10 is fixed on the outer peripheral surface of the lamp 10 to the inside of the lamp housing 6. A fixing plate 11 having an arc-shaped cross section is mounted. Locking projections 12 are formed on both sides of the outer peripheral surface of the fixing plate 11. The locking projections 12 are engaged with the lamp locking recesses 7 so that the lamp 10 is housed in the lamp housing. It is adapted to be fixed to the part 6.
[0024]
Further, a substrate 13 having a conductor pattern 14 for supplying power to the lamp 10 is disposed on a surface of the holding plate 4 opposite to a surface facing the opening .
[0025]
FIG. 2 shows a substrate 13 of the present embodiment. The substrate 13 is made of glass epoxy, which is a translucent material, and is formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. As shown in FIG. 2, two conductive patterns 14a and 14b are provided on the substrate 13 so as to cover the entire inner surface of the main body case. More specifically, the conductor pattern 14 includes a conductor pattern 14a for connecting one terminal 15 on the plus side or the minus side of each lamp 10 and a conductor pattern 14b for connecting the other terminal 15. The two conductor patterns 14a and 14b are arranged to face each other with a minute gap 16 for preventing a short circuit. Terminals 15 connected to both ends of the lamp 10 are drawn out of the slit 9 to the inside of the main body case 2. The terminals 15 are connected to the conductor pattern provided on the substrate 13. 14 a, respectively are adapted to be electrically connected to 14b.
[0026]
A part of the conductor patterns 14a and 14b is led out of the main body case 2 and is connected to a power source (not shown) of the lamp 10.
[0027]
Further, wherein the opening third portion of the lamp accommodating portion 6, arranged so that the light source lens 17 whose arcuate portion having a cross section arcuate protruding from the opening third portion of the source lens 17 Locking claws 18 are formed on both side edges. The light source lens 17 is fixed by engaging each of the locking claws 18 with the lens locking recess 8.
[0028]
By energizing each of the lamps 10 to turn on the lamps 10, irradiation light from the lamps 10 is radiated to the outside through the opening 3 of the main body case 2 through the light source lens 17. Is irradiated on a desired document (not shown) placed near the document.
[0029]
A CCD sensor 19 for reading an image, which is mounted on a substrate (not shown) and has a resolution of, for example, about 1/600 inch, is provided inside the main body case 2 at an end opposite to the opening 3. A cylindrical lens unit 20 is disposed between the opening 3 inside the main body case 2 and the CCD sensor 19. The lens unit 20 has a light input section 21 for receiving light emitted from the light source lens 17 and reflected by the document, and a light output section 22 for outputting the light to the CCD sensor 19. Inside the unit 20, a plurality of image forming lenses 23 for focusing so that the light incident from the light incident section 21 is imaged on the CCD sensor 19 are arranged at predetermined intervals. I have.
[0030]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
[0031]
In the present embodiment, first, a desired document is placed near the opening 3 of the image scanner 1, and in this state, the lamps 10 are turned on while the image scanner 1 or the document is relatively moved. . As a result, the irradiation light from the lamp 10 is applied to the document from the opening 3 via the light source lens 17, and the light reflected by the document again enters the inside of the case body from the opening 3. Then, the light passes between the holding plates 4 and enters the light entrance 21 of the lens unit 20.
[0032]
The light that has entered the lens unit 20 is imaged by the imaging lens 23 of the lens unit 20, emitted from the light emitting unit 22, and irradiates the CCD sensor 19. Is read.
[0033]
The image information read in this way is output to an image control circuit (not shown) including, for example, a CPU, a memory, and the like, and the image control circuit causes the CRT to display the image based on the image information, for example. Image processing or printing based on the image information.
[0034]
Therefore, in the present embodiment , the concave lamp housing 6 is formed in a space surrounded by the holding plate 4 having the inner wall, which is formed to extend in the direction of the opening 3 and having the inner wall, and the inner side surface of the main body case 2. formed, a lamp 10 is fixed to the recessed lamp accommodating portion 6, further, the lower surface of the front Symbol retaining plate 4, so as to dispose the substrate 13 formed so as to cover the almost entire surface conductor patterns 14 since it has to, it is possible to reliably prevent leakage from the slit 9 which light emitted from the lamp 10 is formed in the holding plate 4 inside the main body casing 2.
[0035]
As a result, only the reflected light from the original is incident on the light entrance 21 of the lens unit 20, and the image contrast can be significantly improved. As a result, in reading a color image in recent years, for example, reading at a multi-value gradation such as 256 gradations can be performed with high accuracy, and the quality of a read image can be improved.
[0036]
Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made as necessary.
[0037]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the image scanner according to the present invention can reliably prevent light emitted from the lamp from leaking from the slit formed in the holding plate into the inside of the main body case, and can prevent reflection from the original. Only light enters the lens unit, and image contrast can be significantly improved. As a result, in reading a color image in recent years, it is possible to perform reading with multi-valued gradation with high accuracy, and it is possible to improve the quality of the read image.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the image scanner of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view showing an embodiment of the configuration of a substrate having a conductor pattern for a lamp of the image scanner of FIG. Front view showing the configuration of a substrate having a conductor pattern for a lamp of an image scanner of the present invention.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image scanner 2 body case 3 opening 4 holding plate 5 inner wall 6 lamp housing 7 lamp locking recess 8 lens locking recess 9 slit 10 lamp 11 fixing plate 12 locking projection 13 substrate 14 conductive pattern 15 terminal 16 gap 17 light source Lens 18 Locking claw 19 CCD sensor 20 Lens unit 21 Light input unit 22 Light output unit 23 Imaging lens

Claims (2)

A holding plate for fixing a lamp and a light source lens is formed in an inner portion of the opening inside the main body case having an opening formed on one end surface, and a CCD sensor is provided in a rear portion of the main body case opposite to the opening. Is disposed, a lens unit is disposed between the holding plate in the main body case and the CCD sensor,
The light of the lamp is radiated through the light source lens onto a document placed outside and near the opening, and the light reflected by the document is received by the CCD sensor through the lens unit and the document is received. An image scanner for reading an image of
The holding plate is formed so as to protrude from an inner portion of the opening of the main body case so as to be able to block light of the lamp irradiated to the lens unit,
A slit is formed in the holding plate to draw out the terminal of the lamp into the body case,
At the inner edge of the holding plate, an inner wall of the holding plate extending in the opening direction is formed,
In a space surrounded by the holding plate having the inner wall and the inner side surface of the main body case, the lamp and the light source lens are disposed so as to be directed to the opening,
On the surface of the holding plate opposite to the surface facing the opening, a substrate made of a translucent material having a substantially rectangular shape in plan view is provided,
A power supply conductor pattern electrically connected to the terminal of the lamp is formed on the substrate so as to cover the entire surface of the substrate on the side opposite to the surface facing the holding plate. And an image scanner. 2. The image scanner according to claim 1, wherein the conductor pattern is formed such that a plus side and a minus side thereof are opposed to each other with a minute gap.

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