JPH05316283A - Image sensor, contact type image sensor, and information processor with built-in contact type image sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To correct the difference in level of output signals without increasing the production cost. CONSTITUTION:In an image sensor 11, a plurarity of picture elements are arranged to regulate the aperture of the picture elements as a light shielding layer and draw out the electrode wiring being the electrodes of the picture element from edge picture element. The reading width in the sub scanning direction is shortened (the width (a) is taken as a') with reading width (b) in the main scanning direction of edge picture element A2 of the image sensor made the same as the other picture element A1. The aperture area of the edge picture element A2 is made the same as the aperture area of the other edge picture element A2.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image sensor, a contact-type image sensor, and an information processing apparatus equipped with the contact-type image sensor. The present invention relates to an image sensor that defines an opening and draws out an electrode wiring that serves as an electrode of the pixel from an end pixel, a contact image sensor using the image sensor, and an information processing device including the contact image sensor.

The present invention also relates to a contact-type image sensor mainly used in a document reading information processing apparatus such as a facsimile or a copying machine.

[0003]

2. Description of the Related Art First, a first prior art of the present invention will be described.

A linear image sensor constructed by arranging pixels in a straight line is often used in an image reading apparatus such as a facsimile and a scanner. Since this type of linear image sensor is formed on a silicon wafer, the sensor length is limited by the wafer size, and it is difficult to form a linear image sensor chip having the same length as the original read by the image reading device. is there. For this reason, conventionally, an image is read by reducing the reflected light from the original using an optical system and performing reduction projection on a linear image sensor. However, in an image reading apparatus using such a reduction optical system, a large space for disposing the optical system must be taken, and the resolution is not good. In order to solve this problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 12760/1985 proposes a multi-chip type image sensor (contact type image sensor) in which a plurality of linear image sensor chips are arranged in a straight line.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion including one pixel in a sensor chip used in such an image sensor. In the figure, an n-type buried layer 4 and an n-type epitaxial layer 2 are formed on a p-type substrate 1, and a p-type isolation region 5 is formed so as to surround the pixel 9.
Further, an annular collector collar 6 is formed inside the outer peripheral portion of the epitaxial layer 2. 7 is an oxide film.

3B is a p-type base region which serves as a control electrode for accumulating carriers by receiving light energy, and 3E.
Is an n-type emitter region, and these and the inner portion 3C of the collector collar 6 of the epitaxial layer 2 forming the n-type collector region form a bipolar transistor 3 functioning as a photoelectric conversion portion. Reference numeral 8 denotes a PMOS type transistor having a function of refreshing (resetting) the base region 3B, which includes a source electrode region 8S connected to the base region 3B, a drain electrode region 8D, and a gate electrode 8G. Then, one pixel 9 is composed of the PMOS type transistor 8 and the bipolar type transistor 3 described above.
Is configured.

By the way, the pixel portion 9 in the collector color 6
At least four electrodes are required therein. In such a case, from the viewpoint of cost, there is a wiring method in which a multilayer AL (aluminum) structure is not used and only one AL layer that also serves as a light-shielding layer is used, and it is drawn together with a conductor such as polycrystalline silicon.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a wiring for supplying power and signal lines to the electrodes of the pixel shown in FIG. Here, the voltages V _BB and V _CC are given by electrically separated wirings LS ₁ and LS _{2 formed from one} layer of AL,
The polycrystalline silicon P _1, supplies a reset pulse phi _RES, also are fetched output by polycrystalline silicon P _2. Reference numeral 10 is an interlayer insulating film.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of the routing of the AL wiring at the end of the sensor, which is conceivable in this case. The cross section taken along the line XX 'in the figure corresponds to FIG. In FIG. 8, 11 is a line sensor chip in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in the main scanning direction, A ₁ is a pixel on the line sensor chip 11, A ₂ is an end pixel on the line sensor chip 11, LS ₁ and LS. Reference numeral ₂ is a wiring that electrically separates the same AL layer to serve as two power supply lines and serves as a light shielding layer. The reading width in the main scanning direction of the light receiving portion of each pixel is b, and the reading width in the sub scanning direction is a. Further, 6 is a collector color as shown in FIG. 6, whereby pixel separation of each pixel is performed. S is an opening whose opening area is defined by the wirings LS ₁ and LS ₂ . H is a non-light-shielding portion generated in the end pixel A ₂ .

Next, the second prior art of the present invention will be described.

Further, a contact type multi-chip image sensor is adopted in a conventional document reading information processing apparatus using a short-focus image forming element array.

A conventional document reading apparatus will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 11 is an external view of a conventional contact image sensor, and FIG. 12 is a sectional view thereof.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, a transparent glass plate 201, which is in contact with a document surface (not shown), is provided on the upper surface of the box body 200.
Is attached, and the light emitted from the LED light source 211 is 2
12 is reflected by the original surface in contact with the upper surface of the transparent glass plate 201, passes through the optical system (short-focus image forming element array) 209, and forms an image on the line sensor 21. LED light source 211
Are arranged on the substrate 210 so as to irradiate the original surface on the transparent glass 201 at a predetermined angle, and are fixed in the box 200.

For the optical system, for example, a short-focus image forming element array represented by the trade name "SELHOC LENS ARRAY" (manufactured by Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.) is adopted.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the internal structure, FIG.
4 is an external perspective view (a) of the line sensor section and a sectional view (b) thereof.

The line sensor 21 is covered with a protective film 206 on the substrate 26 and electrically connected to a desired circuit on the substrate 26 by a thin metal wire 208, and the substrate 6 is connected to the box 200. The combined bottom plate 205 is supported via a rubber plate 207. In addition, the box 200
End plates 203 are attached to both ends of the with screws 204.
Further, the box 200 is provided with a connector 202 for inputting and outputting an external power source such as a facsimile main body and control signals.

Further, 214 on the substrate 26 is an electrode for electrically connecting a desired circuit on the substrate 26 and the connector 202.

FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view of the line sensor 21, and FIG. 16 is a partially enlarged view of each line sensor 21.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the line sensor 21 is provided with input / output pads 24 and 25 at both ends, and is arranged on the substrate 26 in a straight line from the first to the N-th, respectively, and is arranged from the outside. The start signal is input from the start signal input line S via the input pad 24 of the first line sensor, and the end signal is output via the output pad 25, whereby the start signals are sequentially operated in the order of arrangement. , Optical information is read.

In this case, when the end signal is output through the output pad 25, the end signal can be input to the input pad 24 as the start signal of the next line sensor through the wiring 27. As shown in FIG. 16, each line sensor 21 has a light receiving window 22 of 127 μm.
(For 200 DPI) or 63.5 μm (400
(In the case of DPI) (herein, DPI is an abbreviation for Dot per inch), and in parallel with this, a drive circuit of the line sensor, a shift register, a power input pad, a sensor output are arranged on the substrate 21. An area 23 in which pads and the like are arranged is prepared.

FIG. 17 shows L as a light source for illuminating the original.
It is a perspective view showing ED211 and its substrate 210.

[0023]

However, in the above-mentioned first prior art of the present invention, different power supply voltages of V _CC and V _BB are applied by using the wirings LS ₁ and LS _{2 formed} from the same AL layer. Therefore, each pixel is in communication with each other, and in the end pixel A ₂ , a slit-shaped non-light-shielding portion H is formed in addition to the opening S of the original pixel. The light incident from the non-light-shielding portion H generates carriers as in the original light from the opening S in the end pixel, so that the end pixel A ₂ has an apparent sensitivity higher than that of the other pixels A _1. Was getting bigger.

Here, sensitivity can be corrected by reducing the gain of the signal of the end pixel in the signal processing circuit, but it is necessary to change the signal processing circuit between the end pixel and other pixels. The circuit becomes complicated.

The second prior art of the present invention has the following problems.

Originally, the purpose of the contact image sensor is to reduce the size of an information processing apparatus such as a facsimile or a copying machine incorporating the contact image sensor.

For example, an optical system (short-focus image forming element array) 209 shown in FIG. 12 is used as an SLA-9 series TC under the trade name of "SELHOC lens array" (Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.).
40 (Company catalog Cat.SLA Vol3 19
Assuming using 87 October printing), consider the refractive index of the resin 206 covering the glass 201 and the line sensor 21, in contact with the original surface shown in FIG. 12, L ₀ is 12
As shown in, the contact type image sensor has a thickness L ₁ of about 43.0 mm.

In other words, although the size of the image sensor is smaller than that of the image sensor using the reduction optical system, the size of the short-focus image forming element array (selfoc lens array) 209 is smaller than the size and focal length thereof. Is difficult

That is, this is an obstacle to the miniaturization design of the information processing apparatus incorporating the contact image sensor. In particular, the size of the contact image sensor in the thickness direction (that is, L _{1 in} FIG. 12) is an obstacle to making the information processing apparatus thinner.

An object of the present invention is to reduce the thickness of a contact image sensor, thereby realizing a thinner information processing device incorporating the contact image sensor.

[0031]

In the image sensor of the present invention, a plurality of pixels are arranged to form a light-shielding layer to define an opening portion of the pixel and an electrode wiring to be an electrode of the pixel is formed from an end pixel. In the extraction image sensor, the reading width in the sub-scanning direction is shortened while keeping the reading width in the main scanning direction of the end pixel equal to that of the other pixels, and the opening area of the end pixel is set to the opening area of the other pixel. The feature is that they are the same.

The first contact type image sensor of the present invention is
A plurality of the image sensors are arranged.

The first information processing apparatus of the present invention is the first information processing apparatus described above.
It is characterized by mounting the contact image sensor of.

The second contact type image sensor of the present invention is a contact type image sensor using a short focus image forming element array as an optical system, wherein the optical axis of the short focus image forming element array is to be read. And a light reflection plate disposed so as to be substantially parallel to the surface and changing the direction of reflected light from the document surface to make it incident along the optical axis of the short focus image forming element array. And

A third contact type image sensor of the present invention is characterized in that, in the second contact type image sensor, a light reflection plate for arranging the optical axis of the short focus image forming element array toward the sensor is arranged. And

Further, in a fourth contact image sensor of the present invention, in the second contact image sensor, the light reflection plate is arranged so as to change the direction of reflected light from the original surface by 90 °. Is characterized by.

A second information processing apparatus of the present invention is characterized by comprising the above-mentioned second or third contact type image sensor, and means for supporting a document at a document reading position of the image sensor. To do.

[0038]

According to the image sensor of the present invention, the non-light-shielding portion of the end pixel (for example, FIG. 8) is formed by the structure in which the electrode wiring serving as the light-shielding layer and serving as the pixel electrode is drawn out from the end pixel.
H), the reading width of the end pixels in the sub-scanning direction is shortened to make the opening areas of the end pixels of the image sensor the same as the opening areas of the other pixels, and equivalently the sensitivity of all the pixels. Are corrected to be equal. In the present invention, since the gain adjustment of the signal of the end pixel is unnecessary, the circuit does not become complicated.

The first contact image sensor of the present invention is
By using the above image sensor, the sensitivity of all pixels is made equal. If all of the pixels are arranged at the same pitch, it is possible to prevent the loss of image information.

The first information processing apparatus of the present invention is to improve the image quality by mounting the above contact type image sensor.

The adjustment of the opening area of the end pixel is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 3-247661. However, in the publication, in order to prevent leakage of edge pixels and chipping or cracking during dicing, the area of an edge pixel is made smaller than the area of other pixels, and The decrease is corrected by making the gain for the end pixel larger than the gains of the other pixels to make the sensitivity uniform. Therefore, the increase in the sensitivity of the end pixel due to the non-light-shielding portion of the end pixel caused by the lead-out of the wiring reduces the reading width in the sub-scanning direction to make the opening area of the end pixel equal to the opening area of other pixels. The present invention is different from the present invention in its purpose and configuration.

Here, in the present invention, the reason why the reading width in the sub-scanning direction is shortened while keeping the reading width in the main scanning direction of the end pixel of the image sensor equal to that of the other pixels is that the MTF in the main scanning direction is set. Is to prevent moire from occurring due to the difference in only the end pixels.

The second contact image sensor of the present invention is
A short-focus imaging element array for the original surface to be read,
Arrange them so that their optical axes are substantially parallel, and change the direction of the reflected light from the document surface by a light reflecting plate such as a mirror.
By making the light incident along the optical axis of the short-focus imaging element array, as in the conventional contact-type image sensor,
A short-focus imaging element array for the original surface to be read,
Compared to the structure in which the optical axis is vertical,
It can be made thinner and smaller.

[0044]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First, the first contact type image sensor of the present invention using the image sensor of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is an enlarged schematic plan view of a part of the contact image sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the entire contact image sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in FIG. 8 are designated by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 1, 11 is a line sensor chip (image sensor) in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in the main scanning direction, A ₁ is a pixel on the line sensor chip 11 other than the end portion, and A ₂ is an end pixel. Indicates. LS ₁ and LS ₂ are wirings which are electrically separated and serve as a light shielding layer. Also, 6
Is a collector color that separates each pixel. Although only two line sensor chips are shown here,
The overall structure is 5 in the main scanning direction as shown in FIG.
One line sensor chip 11 is arranged linearly. Reference numeral 12 is a module substrate made of ceramic or the like for disposing the line sensor chip 11.

In FIG. 1, each line sensor chip 11
A plurality of pixels A ₁ and A ₂ as a reading unit of the array are arranged in the main scanning direction, and the line sensor chip is further arranged in a linear shape as shown in FIG. 2 so that all the pixels are arranged in a linear shape. I'm out. In order to electrically separate the wirings LS ₁ and LS ₂ to be the light-shielding layer, the openings of the respective pixels are in communication with each other, and the end pixel A ₂ is defined by the collector collar 6 because of the wiring. A non-light-shielding portion H different from other pixels is provided in each pixel. The non-light-shielding portion H increases the amount of incident light, but in this embodiment, the original area of the opening S is reduced by the increase. That is, the effective reading width b in the main scanning direction of all the pixels in each line sensor chip 11 is the same, but the reading width a ′ in the sub-scanning direction of the end pixel A ₂ of each line sensor chip 11 is another pixel. It is shorter than the reading width a of A _{1 in} the sub-scanning direction, and the opening area of the end pixel is the same as the opening area of other pixels.

In the contact image sensor composed of a plurality of line sensor chips 11, the output signal is sequentially read out in the main scanning direction from the leftmost pixel of the leftmost sensor shown in FIG. As in the embodiment, by making the reading width of the end pixel in the sub-scanning direction shorter than the width of other pixels, conventionally, the opening area is large because of the non-light-shielding portion H as compared with other pixels. Lower the output level of the pixel at the end,
The sensitivity can be made constant for all pixels.

Next, the photoelectric conversion operation according to this embodiment will be described taking one pixel.

FIG. 4 is a circuit configuration diagram of one pixel of the image sensor of this embodiment.

In FIG. 4, PS is a bipolar transistor forming a pixel, SW ₁ is an emitter of a reference voltage source V
N as switch means for connecting to _ES and performing reset
The base of the MOS transistor SW ₂ is a reference voltage source V _BB
PM as switch means for connecting to and resetting
OS transistor, SW ₃ is an NMOS transistor as a switch means for transferring signal charge, and CT is a capacitive load for generating a signal voltage.

The operation will be briefly described. <Reset Operation> First, a negative pulse voltage is applied to the gate of the PMOS transistor SW ₂ so that the base has the voltage V _BB.
Clamped to.

Next, a positive pulse voltage is applied to the gate of the NMOS transistor SW ₁ so that the emitter becomes the voltage source V _ES.
, A current flows between the base and the emitter, and photogenerated carriers remaining in the base disappear. <Storage Operation> Both the NMOS transistors SW ₁ and SW ₃ are turned off, and both the emitter and the base are in a floating state and the storage operation is started. <Read Operation> Next, a positive pulse voltage is applied to the gate of the NMOS transistor SW ₃ to turn it on, the emitter and the capacitive load CT are connected, and the signal voltage is read to the capacitive load CT.

The basic configuration of such an image sensor is US Pat. No. 4,684 assigned to the inventors Omi and Tanaka.
No. 6,554 describes a charge storage type high sensitivity, low noise photoelectric conversion device in which an emitter of a bipolar transistor is connected to an output circuit including a capacitive load.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic plan view of a part of the contact image sensor according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, a plurality of pixels A ₁ and A ₂ of each line sensor chip are linearly arranged at an equal pitch p in the main scanning direction. Further, the line sensor chips 11 are arranged such that the end portions of the line sensor chips 11 have a pitch equal to the pitch p between the other pixels A ₁ . The basic structure is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the pitch of all pixels is constant. That is, the pixel A at the end
The reading width a'in the sub-scanning direction ₂ is shorter than the reading width a in the sub-scanning direction of other pixels, and the reading widths of the pixels in the main scanning direction are all the same width b. Is the same as. As a result, similarly to the first embodiment, in addition to the output signals of the end pixels and other pixels being even, the distance between the line sensor chips is shortened, so that image information is lost. This can be prevented and a good output signal can be obtained.

As described above, in the first and second embodiments, the charge storage / amplification type image sensor using the bipolar transistor has been mainly described, but the present invention uses the photodiode as the light receiving portion and the MOS switch and the charge. Coupling element (CC
It is also preferably applicable to a sensor of the type which transfers signal charges in D) or the like or a photoconductive photosensor.

The contact-type image sensor as shown in FIG. 2 is integrally assembled in a housing formed of AL or the like with a light source such as an LED array and an image forming optical system such as a short focus image forming element array. The contact type image sensor unit is constructed.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a facsimile having a communication function as an image information processing apparatus constructed by using the contact image sensor unit according to this embodiment.

Here, 100 is a mounted image sensor unit. Reference numeral 102 denotes a feeding roller as a feeding unit for feeding the document Q toward the reading position.
Reference numeral 104 denotes a separating piece for surely separating and feeding the documents Q one by one. Reference numeral 106 denotes a platen roller which is provided at the reading position with respect to the sensor unit 100, regulates the surface to be read of the document Q, and serves as a conveying unit that conveys the document Q.

In the illustrated example, P is a recording medium in the form of roll paper, and the image information read by the sensor unit 100 or the image information transmitted from the outside in the case of a facsimile machine or the like is reproduced here. Reference numeral 110 denotes a recording head as recording means for performing the image formation, and various types such as a thermal head and an inkjet recording head can be used. The recording head may be a serial type or a line type. Reference numeral 112 denotes a platen roller as a conveying unit that conveys the recording medium P to the recording position of the recording head 110 and regulates the recording surface thereof.

Reference numeral 120 denotes an operation panel provided with a switch for accepting an operation input as an input / output means, a message, and a display section for notifying the state of the apparatus.

Reference numeral 130 denotes a system control board as a control means, such as a control section (controller) for controlling each section, a drive circuit (driver) for the photoelectric conversion element, an image information processing section (processor), a transmission / reception section, etc. Is provided. 140 is a power supply for the apparatus.

As the recording means used in the information processing apparatus of the present invention, those whose typical constitutions and principles are disclosed in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796 are preferable. According to this method, at least one of the electrothermal converters arranged corresponding to the sheet or the liquid path holding the liquid (ink) is subjected to the recorded information and rapidly increases in temperature over the nucleate boiling. By applying a drive signal, heat energy is generated in the electrothermal converter to cause film boiling on the heat-acting surface of the recording head 110, and as a result, one-to-one correspondence with this drive signal occurs in the liquid (ink). This is effective because bubbles can be formed. Liquid (ink) is ejected through the ejection openings by the growth and contraction of the bubbles to form at least one droplet.

Further, as the full line type recording head 110 having a length corresponding to the width of the maximum recording medium which can be recorded by the recording apparatus, a combination of a plurality of recording heads as disclosed in the above-mentioned specification is used. Either a structure satisfying the length or a structure as one recording head integrally formed may be used.

In addition, the ink can be attached to the replaceable chip type recording head or the recording head itself, which can be electrically connected to the apparatus main body and can supply ink from the apparatus main body by being attached to the apparatus main body. The present invention is also effective when a cartridge type recording head in which a tank is integrally provided is used.

Next, the second contact type image sensor of the present invention will be described.

[First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a view of the contact image sensor of the present invention as seen from a cross section in the same direction as the conventional example shown in FIG.

In FIG. 9, 28 is a short-focus image forming element array (here, as an example, the above-mentioned SLA-9 series TC is used.
40 is used. ), 21 is a line sensor light receiving part, 30
Is a light reflection plate, 211 is a light source LED, 213 is an optical axis center line, 32 is a document to be read, and 34 is an optical axis center line of light emitted from the light source 211.

The operation of FIG. 9 will be described.
11 emitted light is emitted, and the reflected light from the original 32 is
The light is reflected by the light reflecting plate 30 to change its direction, and is incident along the optical axis of the short focus image forming element array 28. Further, this reflected light is imaged on the light receiving section line sensor 21 by the short focus imaging element array 28.

Here, the short focus image forming element array 28 (selfoc lens array SLA-9TC4) used in this embodiment is used.
0) will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 18A is an external view of the imaging element array 28, and FIG. 18B is a sectional view taken along line EE 'of FIG. 18A.

In the figure, 41 is a lens element, and 1
One diameter is 1.045 mm. Z _O is the height (thickness) of the imaging element array 28, and Z _O = 21.71 mm ± 1.6
mm.

In FIG. 18B, reference numeral 42 is a virtual original surface, and 43 is a virtual light receiving surface, and a complete image is formed at l = 9.15 mm.

As shown in FIG. 9, in this embodiment, l ₀ =
l ₁ + l ₂ = l.

Now, if l ₁ = 5.0 mm, then l ₂ = l
The -l ₁ = 9.15-5.0 = 4.15mm. However, l ₂ is slightly deviated due to the refractive index of the glass 37 in contact with the original. l _{0 is} also slightly deviated from l ₀ = l = 9.15 mm by the resin 206 covering the line sensor shown in FIG.

When l ₁ = 5.0 mm, L ₂ is about 12 m
m, which is 1 / L ₁ = 43.0 mm of the conventional example of FIG.
It is 3 or less.

[Second Embodiment] FIG. 10 shows a second embodiment of the present invention.
An example of is shown. In the first embodiment, the light from the document surface to the short-focus imaging element array 28 is incident after being reflected by the light reflecting plate 30, but in the present embodiment, the light from the imaging element array 28 to the line sensor 21. Incident light is also reflected by the light reflection plate 38. Here, l ₃ + l ₄ = l ₀ , and l ₃ =
Assuming 5.0 mm, l ₄ = l ₀ −l ₃ = 4.15 mm
However, the presence of the resin 206 shown in FIG. 14 causes a slight deviation. In the first embodiment, L ₃ is about 46 mm, but when L _{4 of} this embodiment is l ₃ = 5.0 mm, it is about 34 mm.
mm, further downsizing.

Next, FIG. 19 is an external view showing a facsimile apparatus as an information processing apparatus using such a contact type image sensor, and FIG. 20 is a sectional view thereof.

Such a contact type multi-chip image sensor (indicated by reference numeral 310 in this case) is arranged, for example, at a document reading position of a facsimile via a fixing member 309. Here, a document insertion port 303 is provided at the front edge of the facsimile main body 300, a slit 305 is formed in parallel with the guide stage 304 of the document insertion port 303, and an insertion position of the document is determined in the slit 305. The guide piece 306 is slidably mounted. Also, a key board panel 301 and an operation message display unit 30 are provided on the front upper surface of the facsimile main body 300.
7 is arranged, and the document take-out port 302 is provided immediately after that.

Then, the original 318 inserted through the original insertion port 303 is fed through the separating piece 317 to the feeding roller 308.
From there, the sheet passes between the platen roller 316 and the image sensor 310, and is discharged to the document outlet 302.

Roll-shaped recording paper 314 is housed in the rear portion of the facsimile main body 300, and the end portion of the recording paper 314 is taken out through the platen roller 315 to the outside, and at the position of the platen roller 315. Information is recorded by the recording head 311. In the figure, reference numeral 312 is a facsimile system control board, and 313 is a power supply unit.

With such a configuration, the line sensor 21 sequentially performs the reading operation from the 1st to the Nth at the time of reading the original, while the reading data outside the original divided by the guide piece 306 is read by the facsimile. It is processed and truncated by the system controller.

In the embodiments described above, the present invention may use either a multi-chip contact type image sensor or an amorphous type for the sensor unit. Also, the SLA-9 series of "SELFOC lens array" was used as an example of the array of short-focus imaging elements, but other series of the same company, "Plastic rod lens array", which is currently in practical use. (Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.) may be used.

[0086]

As described above, according to the present invention,
By making the reading width of the end pixel of the image sensor in the sub-scanning direction short, the difference in the effective light receiving (opening) area with other pixels due to the presence or absence of the non-light-shielding area is eliminated, and the output signal There is an effect that the level difference can be corrected without increasing the manufacturing cost.

According to the present invention, the short focus imaging element array is arranged at a position where the optical axis of the short focus imaging element array is parallel to the original surface to be read, and the optical axis is formed by the light reflecting plate. By arranging the light reflection plate so as to face the document surface to be read, (1) the contact image sensor is made small and thin. (2) A degree of freedom is given to a compact and thin design of an information processing device using a contact image sensor. It becomes possible.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged schematic plan view of a part of a contact image sensor according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the entire contact image sensor according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged schematic plan view of a part of the contact image sensor according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a circuit configuration diagram of one pixel of the image sensor of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a facsimile having a communication function as an image information processing apparatus configured by using the contact image sensor unit according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion including one pixel in the sensor chip of the contact image sensor.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a wiring around a power supply and a signal line with respect to an electrode of a pixel.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of wiring distribution in a conventional contact image sensor.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an external view of a conventional contact image sensor.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional contact image sensor.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of a conventional contact image sensor.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view (a) and a cross-sectional view (b) showing the line sensor.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a line sensor.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing the structure of each line sensor.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an LED light source.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the structure of a short-focus imaging element and its optical axis.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a facsimile device.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a facsimile device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 p-type substrate 2 n-epitaxial layer 3 bipolar transistor 3B base region 3E emitter region 3C collector region 4 n-type buried layer 5 p-type isolation region 6 collector collar 7 oxide film 8 PMOS-type transistor 8D drain electrode region 8S source electrode region 8G Gate electrode 9 Pixel 10 Interlayer insulating film 11 Line sensor chip 12 Module substrate A ₁ Pixel A ₂ Edge pixel LS ₁ AL line for power supply and shading LS ₂ Power supply and light-shielding AL line P ₁ Polycrystalline silicon wiring P ₂ Polycrystalline silicon wiring H LS ₁ And LS ₂ Non-light-shielding area that occurs between PS PS Bipolar transistor SW ₁ NMOS transistor SW ₂ PMOS transistor SW ₃ NMOS transistor CT Capacitive load 21 Line sensor 28 Short-focus imaging element array 30, 38 Light reflector 32 Original 211 Light source LED 213 Optical axis center line

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An image sensor in which a plurality of pixels are arranged to serve as a light-shielding layer to define an opening of the pixel and an electrode wiring serving as an electrode of the pixel is drawn out from the end pixel. While keeping the reading width in the scanning direction equal to other pixels, shorten the reading width in the sub-scanning direction,
An image sensor, wherein the opening area of the end pixel is the same as the opening area of other pixels. 2. The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the photoelectric conversion unit of the pixel is an amplification type optical sensor. 3. The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein the photoelectric conversion unit of the pixel is a photo diode, and a charge coupled device for transferring a signal charge from the photo diode is provided. 4. The amplification type optical sensor is a bipolar transistor type optical sensor, and a signal photoelectrically converted from an output circuit including a capacitive load connected to an emitter of the bipolar transistor type optical sensor is used as a voltage at the capacitive load. The image sensor according to claim 2, which is read out. 5. A contact image sensor in which a plurality of the image sensors according to claim 1 are arranged. 6. The contact image sensor according to claim 5, wherein all the pixels are arranged at the same pitch. 7. An information processing apparatus equipped with the contact image sensor according to claim 5 or 6. 8. A contact type image sensor using a short-focus image forming element array as an optical system, wherein the short-focus image forming element array is arranged such that its optical axis is substantially parallel to a document surface to be read. In addition, the contact type image sensor is provided with a light reflecting plate which changes the direction of the reflected light from the document surface and makes the light incident along the optical axis of the short focus image forming element array. 9. The contact-type image sensor according to claim 8, wherein a light reflection plate is arranged so that an optical axis of the short-focus imaging element array is directed toward the sensor. 10. The direction of reflected light from the document surface is set to 90.
9. The contact image sensor according to claim 8, wherein the light reflection plate is arranged so as to be changed. 11. An information processing apparatus comprising: the contact image sensor according to claim 8 or 9, and means for supporting a document at a document reading position of the image sensor.