JP3522124B2 - Image data acquisition device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image data acquisition device having a cordless type hand scanner for acquiring image data using a built-in rechargeable battery as a power source and a data receiving device for transferring the image data from the hand scanner. In particular, it relates to improvement of electrical and mechanical connection between the hand scanner and the data receiving device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In this type of image data acquisition device,
The data receiving device to which the image data is transferred from the hand scanner includes a facsimile device, a word processor, a personal computer, an image reading device and the like.

Conventionally, in this type of image data acquisition device,
To transfer image data from the hand scanner to the data receiving device, there was a method of connecting both devices with a dedicated connection cable with a connector. In this method, it is possible to supply the power for charging the rechargeable battery of the hand scanner from the data receiving device.

There is also a technique in which a hand scanner wirelessly transfers image data to a data receiving device (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-70094 (invention name: hand scanner device), Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 7-42587). Publication (device name: hand scanner)).

[0005]

When the latter image data transfer technique is used, the distance between the hand scanner, which was a drawback of the former technique, and the data receiving device, which is generally fixed, is limited by the length of the connecting cable. There is an advantage that it is not done. However, this technique has a drawback in that it is necessary to separately prepare a device for charging the rechargeable battery of the hand scanner.

Further, neither of them considers the accommodation place when the hand scanner is not in use.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the above disadvantages to the maximum extent, and to provide an image data acquisition device which can be manufactured at low cost and which can accommodate a hand scanner in a data receiving device when not in use. To do.

[0008]

An image data acquisition device according to the present invention includes a hand scanner that acquires image data by using a built-in rechargeable battery as a power source, and a data reception device to which the image data is transferred from the hand scanner. In the image data acquiring device having, the hand scanner receives from the data receiving device a conductive first terminal exposed on the outer surface of the housing for transferring the image data, and power for charging the rechargeable battery. For the purpose of providing a conductive second terminal exposed on the outer surface of the housing, the data receiving device,
When the image data is transferred from the hand scanner or when the rechargeable battery is charged, the hand scanner insertion part for installing the hand scanner, and the image data transferred and arranged in the hand scanner insertion part A third terminal that is received from the first terminal; and a fourth terminal that is arranged in the hand scanner insertion part and that supplies power for charging the rechargeable battery to the second terminal. The fourth terminal also serves as a holder for the hand scanner.

In one of the image data acquisition devices, the third terminal and the fourth terminal are composed of a conductive metal spring partially protruding from the hand scanner insertion portion, When the scanner is installed in the hand scanner insertion portion, the first terminal and the second terminal may be pressed by the spring pressure of the protruding portion of the metal spring to hold the hand scanner.

Another one of the image data acquisition devices is a reading device for the hand scanner to read the image data, a memory for storing the read image data, and a power supply for the reading device and the memory. And a rechargeable battery for supplying

Yet another one of the image data acquisition devices is a data detection circuit, wherein the data reception device detects whether the image data is stored in the memory when the hand scanner is installed, When the image data is stored, a data processing unit that decodes the image data and a power supply circuit that generates electric power for charging the rechargeable battery and supplies the electric power to the fourth terminal are adopted. be able to.

In the image data acquisition device according to the present invention, a cordless type hand scanner is inserted into the scanner insertion portion of the data receiving device to connect both terminals, and the data receiving device charges the rechargeable battery of the hand scanner through these terminals. Power is supplied to the device and the image data read from the hand scanner is transferred to the data receiving device. The terminal of the data receiving device can be formed of a conductive metal spring, and the hand scanner is held in the data receiving device, that is, the scanner insertion portion by the spring pressure of the protruding portion of the terminal. Therefore, the terminal of the data receiving device serves both as a contact for the terminal for power supply and data transfer and as a holder for the hand scanner.
In other words, in this image data acquisition device, the terminals of the hand scanner and the data receiving device also serve as terminals for power supply and data transfer, and a holder for the hand scanner, and
Since the hand scanner can be housed in the data receiving device, there is no need to prepare a special housing space for the hand scanner, and there is an advantage that the hand scanner can be manufactured easily and at low cost.

[0013]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an image data acquisition device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the embodiment of FIG. Further, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the structure of the main part in the embodiment of FIG.
2A is a part of the view seen from the direction A of FIG. 1, and FIG. 1B is a partial perspective view showing a part where the hand scanner 20 of FIG. 1 is inserted / connected to the data receiving device.

Referring to FIG. 1, the image data acquisition device includes a hand scanner 20 and a data receiving device 10. The hand scanner 20 scans an object such as paper that contacts the lower surface of FIG. 1 and draws (displays) on the object.
The image is read as image data of a digital signal. The hand scanner 20 is a cordless type, and operates using a built-in rechargeable battery 9 as a power source without using a commercial power source.

The data receiving apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a facsimile machine with a telephone. Data receiving device 10
On an upper part 14 (upper surface) of the case 12 of the above, an operation section 16 for operating this apparatus, a transmission / reception section 17 for transmitting and receiving by a telephone, and the like are arranged. Lower part 1 of case 12
In FIG. 5, a scanner insertion portion 11 which is a place for inserting and holding the hand scanner 20 from the front side surface (direction A in the drawing) is arranged. In order to hold the hand scanner 20, metal springs 6a to 6d (not shown in FIG. 1) that are conductive and have a spring property are arranged in the scanner insertion portion 11 as described later in detail. The metal springs 6a to 6d hold the both ends of the hand scanner 20 by the spring pressure of the projecting portions of the hand scanner 2 and
Holds 0. The metal springs 6a and 6b are connected to the terminals for receiving the image data from the hand scanner 20.
c and 6d also serve as terminals for supplying electric power for charging the rechargeable battery 9 of the hand scanner 20.

The hand scanner 20 reads an image drawn on an object as image data from the lower surface of FIG. 1, and stores the read image data in the memory 7. When the image data is transferred to the data receiving device 10 or the power for charging the rechargeable battery 9 is supplied from the data receiving device 10, the hand scanner 20 is set to the data receiving device 10.
The scanner is inserted into the scanner insertion portion 11 in the direction A shown in the figure. That is, in the hand scanner 20, terminals 5a and 5c made of conductive metal are exposed on the outer surface of the casing on the side surface on the front side of the drawing, and similar terminals 5b and 5d (not shown) on the side surface on the opposite side. Is exposed on the outer surface of the housing. Hand scanner 2
When 0 is inserted in the scanner insertion part 11 of the data receiving device 10 in the normal direction, the terminal 5a of the hand scanner 20
5b, 5c and 5d contact the metal springs 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d of the data receiving device 10 in the same suffix order. Then, the hand scanner 20 and the data receiving device 10
And are normally electrically connected. Note that, in FIG. 1, the height of the hand scanner 20 is drawn relatively higher than the height of the scanner insertion portion 11 of the data receiving device 10 for easy understanding of the description.

Referring to the block diagram of the image data acquisition circuit of FIG. 2, the hand scanner 20 alone reads an image drawn on the object as image data by the reading device 8. The reading device 8 is, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2785.
As described in detail in No. 73, in addition to a linear light source that linearly emits a linear light to an object while scanning the light and a linear image sensor in which photoelectric conversion elements are one-dimensionally arranged, the output of the linear image sensor is logical. It may be composed of a digital signal generating circuit for converting the digital signal into a level digital signal. Further, by manually scanning the object with the hand scanner 20, it is possible to read the image data of the object with linear light. The read image data is stored in the memory 7. The image data stored in the memory 7 is the signal terminal 6
It can be supplied between a and the terminal 6b which is a ground terminal. Rechargeable battery 9 using a secondary battery such as a nickel-cadmonium battery
Powers the reading device 8 and the memory 7.
Further, the rechargeable battery 9 can be charged from the power supply terminal 6c and the ground terminal 6d.

The hand scanner 20 is used as the data receiving device 10.
When attached (connected) to, that is, terminals 5a, 5b, 5c
And 5d are connected to the metal springs 6a, 6b, 6c and 6d in the same suffix order. Then, the data receiving device 10
Of the data detection circuit 2 of the metal springs 5a, 5b and the terminal 6
Through a and 6b, it is detected whether image data is stored in the memory 7 of the hand scanner 10. When the image data is stored in the memory 7, the data detection circuit 2 transfers the stored image data to the data processing unit 1. The data processing unit 1 decodes the transferred image data and sends the decoded image data to the recording unit 3. The recording unit 3 reproduces an image on paper or the like from the received image data and prints or records it. On the other hand, the data receiving device 10 includes a metal spring 5c,
The rechargeable battery 9 is charged with the DC power generated by the power supply circuit 4 through 5d and the terminals 6c and 6d.

The transfer of the image data and the charging of the rechargeable battery 9 between the hand scanner 20 and the data receiving device 10 may be performed at the same time. It is preferable to charge the rechargeable battery 9 after the data transfer. This mode switching is performed by the data detection circuit 2 activating the power supply circuit 4 after confirming that the image data is not stored in the memory 2. It should be noted that the hand scanner 20 and the data receiving device in FIG. 2 only describe the circuits related to the present invention, not the telephone circuit of the data receiving device 10 and the power supply of each circuit.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown a diagram emphasizing a portion of the hand scanner 20 that is inserted into, connected to and held in the scanner insertion portion 11 of the data receiving device 10. The scanner insertion section 11 also serves as an electrical connection section between the data receiving device 10 and the hand scanner 20, a holding section for the hand scanner 20, and a storage section. The illustrated scanner insertion section 11
Assumes that a substantially rectangular parallelepiped portion of the hand scanner 20 is inserted. The scanner insertion portion 11 is a portion having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped volume partitioned by a partition plate 13 made of an insulating material such as plastic, and is provided on the lower portion 15 of the housing as shown in FIG.

Two metal springs 6a to 6d are provided in the vertical direction on both side surfaces of the partition plate 13. Metal spring 6a ~
Each of 6d is composed of a convex spring portion and contact portions with the partition plates 13 at both ends thereof, and a contact portion, a spring portion (that is, a protruding portion), and a contact portion from the entrance direction of the hand scanner 20 in the scanner insertion portion 11. They are arranged in order of section. The contact portion in the entrance direction is fixed to the partition plate 13 by a stopper 18. The inside of the housing 12 of the stopper 18 serves as a contact point with each circuit such as the data detection circuit 2. Metal springs 6a and 6c
Between and and between the metal springs 6b and 6d, bar-shaped guides 19a and 19b having steps are provided. These guides 19a and 19b are used as insertion guides into the scanner insertion portion 11 of the hand scanner 20.

That is, guides 21a and 21b (21b are not shown) in the form of protruding rods on both the hand scanner 20 and the side surface.
Is provided, and the hand scanner 20 has guides 21a and 21b along guides 19a and 19b,
It will be inserted into the scanner insertion section 11. Further, the guides 21a and 21b are also provided with steps, which are stoppers 22a and 22 for defining the insertion limit of the hand scanner 20.
b (22b is not shown). Further, on the upper and lower surfaces of the hand scanner 20 that sandwich the guides 21a and 21b,
Terminal 5 exposed on a slightly concave surface on the side of the housing
a to 5d are provided.

Now, when the hand scanner 20 is inserted into the scanner insertion portion 11, it stops at the step line between the guides 19a and 19b due to the stoppers 21a and 21b. At this time, each of the terminals 5a to 5d is in a position overlapping with each of the convex spring portions of the metal springs 6a to 6d of the scanner insertion portion 11. The terminals 5a to 5d are slightly recessed from the side surface in order to improve the stopping of the metal springs 6a to 6b.
Then, each of the metal springs 6a to 6d is slightly crushed when the convex spring portion is pushed by the side surface (terminals 5a to 5d) of the hand scanner 20. As a result, each of the metal springs 6a to 6d is
Spring pressure is generated at the protrusion to hold the hand scanner 20 on its side surface. The unfixed contact portions of the metal springs 6a to 6d are pushed by the side surface of the hand scanner 20 and slide toward the back of the scanner insertion portion 11. In order to ensure that this non-fixed contact portion slides parallel to the insertion direction of the hand scanner 20, a recess may be provided in the partition plate 13 to serve as a slide guide for the metal springs 6a to 6d. Further, at the time of this insertion, the terminals 5a to 5d exposed on the outer surface of the housing of the hand scanner 20 are connected to the metal spring 6a of the data receiving device 10.
As described above, the suffixes 6d and 6d are contacted or connected in the same order.

As described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, in the image data acquisition apparatus according to one of the embodiments of the present invention, the cordless hand scanner 20 is installed in the scanner insertion section 11 of the data receiving apparatus 10. The terminals 5a to 5d and the metal springs 6a to 6d, which are inserted and fixed to each other, are connected to the metal spring 6a.
Electrically and mechanically connected using spring pressure of ~ 6d. Then, the data receiving device 10 is connected through these terminals.
Supplies power for charging to the rechargeable battery 9 of the hand scanner 20, and transfers the image data read by the hand scanner 20 to the data receiving device 10. The metal springs 6a to 6d, which are terminals (connection terminals) of the data receiving device 10,
The hand scanner 20 is held in the scanner insertion portion 11 of the data receiving device 10 by the spring pressure of the protruding portion. Therefore,
The metal springs 6a to 6d of the data receiving device 10 also serve as contacts of terminals for power supply and data transfer and a holder for the hand scanner 20. In other words, in this image data acquisition device, the connection terminals of the hand scanner 20 and the data reception device 10 also function as terminals for power supply and data transfer and a holder for the hand scanner.
Since it can be stored in the data receiving device 10, there is no need to prepare a special storage space for the hand scanner 20, and there is an advantage that it can be manufactured easily and at low cost.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the image data acquisition device according to the present invention.

In this image data acquisition apparatus, the apparatus shown in FIG.
5 (mounted), hand scanner 20A
Is held by the upper part of the housing 12A of the data receiving device 10A (upper part of the housing 14A). In other words, the data receiving device 10A has a shape in which a part of the upper housing 14 of the data receiving device 10 is recessed, and the scanner receiving portion 11A has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The hand scanner 20A has a scanner insertion portion 1 from the bottom (reading device 8) side.
It is inserted in 1A.

In the hand scanner 20A, two terminals 5a1 to 5d1 exposed on the outer surface of the housing are arranged on the front surface and the rear surface of FIG. 2 (that is, the positions corresponding to the front surface and the rear surface of the scanner insertion portion 11A). Similarly, the data receiving device 10
On the front surface and the rear surface of the scanner insertion portion 11A, at the positions of the terminals 5a1 to 5d1 when the hand scanner 20A is normally inserted, a metal spring 6a similar to that of the data receiving device 10 is provided.
1 to 6d1 are provided. Therefore, also in the image data acquisition device of the embodiment of FIG. 4, the metal springs 6a1 to 6d1 are the contact points of the terminals for power supply and data transfer and the hand scanner as in the image data acquisition device shown in FIGS. 20
The scanner insertion section 11A also serves as a holder for A and the storage area for the hand scanner 20A. Further, in the image data acquisition apparatus of FIG. 4, since the scanner insertion section 11A is provided on the upper part 14A of the housing, both of the above 10A and 20A are provided.
There is also an advantage that the contact connection of A and the holding of the hand scanner 20A are stable.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention, image data acquisition having a hand scanner that acquires image data by using a built-in rechargeable battery as a power source and a data receiving device that transfers the image data from the hand scanner. In the device, the hand scanner has a conductive first terminal exposed on an outer surface of the housing for transferring the image data, and a housing for receiving electric power for charging the rechargeable battery from the data receiving device. A hand provided with the conductive second terminal exposed on the outer surface, wherein the data transmission device installs the hand scanner when the image data is transferred from the hand scanner or when the rechargeable battery is charged. A scanner insertion part; a third terminal arranged in the hand scanner insertion part to receive the transferred image data from the first terminal; Disposed in the scanner insertion portion, and a said fourth supplying power to charge the rechargeable battery to the second terminal terminal, the third terminal and the fourth terminal,
Since it also serves as a holder for the hand scanner, the terminals of the hand scanner and the data receiving device also serve as terminals for power supply and data transfer, and a holder for the hand scanner. Since it can be accommodated in the data receiving device, there is no need to prepare a special accommodation place for the hand scanner, and there is an advantage that it can be manufactured simply and at low cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an image data acquisition device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG.

3 is a diagram showing the structure of the main part in the embodiment of FIG. 1, (a) is a part of the diagram seen from the direction A in FIG.
(B) is a partial perspective view showing the part where the hand scanner 20 of FIG. 1 is inserted, connected and held in a data receiving device in an emphasized manner.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the image data acquisition device according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Data processing unit 2 Data detection circuit 3 recording section 4 power supply circuit 5a-5d, 5a1-5d1 terminals 6a to 6d, 6a1 to 6d1 metal spring 7 memory 8 reading device 9 rechargeable battery 10,10A data receiver 11,11A Scanner insertion part 12,12A housing 13 partition boards 14,14A Upper part of housing 15 Lower case 16 Operation part 17 Handset 18 stopper 19a guide 20,20A hand scanner 21a guide 22a stopper

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-8-102809 (JP, A) JP-A-63-244966 (JP, A) JP-A-7-193663 (JP, A) 11347 (JP, U) Japanese Patent Publication 7-87503 (JP, B2) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108 H04N 1/04-1/207 H01R 13/40-13/533

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image data acquisition device, comprising: a hand scanner that acquires image data by using a built-in rechargeable battery as a power source; and a data receiving device that transfers the image data from the hand scanner, wherein the hand scanner comprises: A conductive first terminal exposed on the outer surface of the housing for transferring image data, and a conductive first terminal exposed on the outer surface of the housing for receiving electric power for charging the rechargeable battery from the data receiving device. And a second terminal, wherein the data receiving device installs the hand scanner when the image data is transferred from the hand scanner or when charging the rechargeable battery, and the hand scanner insertion part. A third terminal arranged to receive the image data transferred from the first terminal, and arranged to the hand scanner insertion section. An image data acquisition device having a fourth terminal for supplying electric power for charging a rechargeable battery to the second terminal, wherein the third terminal and the fourth terminal also serve as holding the hand scanner. In the data receiving device, when the hand scanner is installed, a data detection circuit that detects whether or not the image data is stored in the memory, and if the image data is stored, An image data acquisition device, comprising: a data processing unit that decodes image data; and a power supply circuit that generates power for charging the rechargeable battery and supplies the power to the fourth terminal. 2. The image data acquisition device according to claim 1, wherein the image data acquisition device is a facsimile device.