JP3908481B2 - Portable image reader - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable image reading apparatus, and in a portable image input device of a type in which a main body platen portion is turned over and placed on a document, a transparent window is provided on the back of the main body, and the original is observed directly from the transparent window with the naked eye The present invention relates to the structure of the main body platen portion of the portable image reading apparatus that facilitates the setting of the scanning area.
[0002]
[Prior art]
With the rapid improvement of information processing capability of computers and the rise of new media such as the Internet, there is an increasing need to capture photos, illustrations, characters and other images on paper media as image data. An apparatus for capturing such an image on a computer is called an image reading apparatus or an image scanner.
[0003]
There are two types of image reading devices. One is a type that has a box-shaped housing with a flat sheet setting surface on which a document can be placed, and scans a built-in image sensor with respect to the document placed here. Called a flatbed scanner. The other is a type in which an original is drawn from a slit-shaped paper feed opening and an image is taken in as the original moves. This is generally called a document scanner.
[0004]
As described above, the flatbed scanner is a device that scans a built-in image sensor and reads an image of a document placed on a document table. However, when reading a document larger than the size of the document table, etc. A portable image reading apparatus has been put into practical use, in which the original bed surface of the flat bed is turned upside down, the original table is placed on the original, and the reading area is divided into several areas and sequentially read.
[0005]
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a conventional example of this portable image reading apparatus, where (a) is a perspective view and (b) is a plan view. As shown in FIG. 9A, the conventional portable image reading apparatus 100 is provided with a document reading window 102 on the lower surface of a box-shaped casing 101, and the lower surface of the document reading window on the upper surface. A see-through window 103 is provided through which the image of the original can be directly observed with the naked eye through 102. In the housing 101, image reading means (not shown) for reading an image of a document through a document reading window 102 is provided. In the figure, reference numeral 104 denotes a reading area that can be read by the image reading means.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The portable image reading apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 9 is installed on a document, and the reading area is divided into several places and sequentially moved by hand to read an image. The read image is synthesized by computer processing. In this case, it is necessary to read so that the edges of the sections overlap.
[0007]
In the conventional portable image reading apparatus 100, the amount of overlap greatly varies when reading the document divided areas so as to overlap each other, and the problem of reading without overlapping is likely to occur.
[0008]
In the conventional portable image reading apparatus 100, when reading an area of a predetermined size of a document so as to be trimmed, it is difficult to align the areas. In addition, this apparatus has a problem that when the main body is placed on the document surface, the document surface becomes dark and it is difficult to align with the eyes.
[0009]
A technique for solving this problem is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-93781. In this technique, a scale is provided on the see-through window to align the document. However, in this technique, since the scale is provided in the see-through window, there is a problem in that there is a distance from the document reading window to the scale, and if the line of sight is slightly shifted, the alignment accuracy of the document is lowered. In addition, this prior art also has a problem that when the main body is placed on the document surface, the document surface becomes dark and it is difficult to align with the eyes.
[0010]
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable image reading apparatus that solves the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The portable image reading apparatus of the present invention includes a transparent document reading window on one surface of a housing, a transparent window through which the document surface can be observed with the naked eye through the document reading window on the other surface of the housing, An image reading unit that scans an image of the document through a document reading window, an image storage unit that stores image data read by the image reading unit, and the image data stored in the image storage unit to an external device An image output unit for outputting, and a scale is provided on a peripheral surface of the document reading window inside the casing or on a surface of the casing adjacent to the periphery of the document reading window, and the scale In the document reading window, the reading area of the document having a reading area larger than the size of the image readable area of the document reading window is divided, and the peripheral portions of the reading areas are overlapped. Reading Wherein the indicator indicating the overlap size when sequentially reading taken up region is provided.
[0012]
The scale may be provided at the peripheral edge of the document reading window adjacent to or close to the image readable area of the document reading window. The scale can be provided on the surface of the casing adjacent to the periphery of the document reading window, and the scale forming area can be made of a transparent or opaque material.
[0013]
In the present invention, the provision of the scale facilitates the alignment of the image reading device with the document.
[0014]
In the present invention, it can reduce the size of the variation in the overlap of the reading area by matching the end of the previous reading area of the document to a label which indicates an overlapping of the scale. In addition, the scale can be provided with a mark indicating the specific size when reading a document of a specific size smaller than the size of the image readable area of the document reading window. It becomes easy to align.
[0015]
The scale on the peripheral edge of the document reading window adjacent to or close to the image readable area of the document reading window can be formed by paint printing. Further, the scale on the surface of the casing adjacent to the periphery of the document reading window can be formed by paint printing, laser processing, or mold molding.
[0016]
Illuminating means for illuminating the inside of the case when setting the reading range of the document can be provided in the case of the portable image reading apparatus of the present invention. By this illumination means, it is possible to prevent the document surface from becoming dark when the portable image reading apparatus is placed on the document surface.
[0017]
The portable image reading apparatus of the present invention provides a transparent window on the back side of the main body for observing the original document surface with the naked eye in a system in which the main body is turned over and a document table portion is placed on the original document when reading a large document. By providing a scale on the inner peripheral edge of the transparent document reading window, the position of the document can be confirmed, and it becomes easy to trim and read a region of a predetermined size. In addition, by providing a mark for setting the reading overlap on the scale, the setting of the overlapping range in the case of divided reading is facilitated.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a portable image reading apparatus according to the present invention, where (a) is a perspective view and (b) is a plan view. As shown in FIG. 1A, the portable image reading apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes a transparent document reading window 2 on one surface of the housing 1 and a document reading on the other surface of the housing 1. A transparent window 3 through which the document surface can be observed with the naked eye through the window 2 is provided. Further, the portable image reading apparatus of the present embodiment includes an image reading unit (not shown) that scans an image of a document in the housing 1 through a document reading window 2, and the image reading unit reads the image. An image storage unit for storing the image data (not displayed) and an image output unit (not displayed) for outputting the image data to an external device. A scale 5 is provided on the surface of the casing 1 adjacent to the peripheral surface or the periphery of the document reading window 2. Referring to FIG. 1B, the size of the see-through window 3 is larger than the size of the document reading window 2. The size of the see-through window 3 is at least the size of the document reading window 2 so that the scale 5 provided on the peripheral edge of the document reading window 2 can be easily observed with the naked eye. A conventional CCD (Charge Coupled Device) or CIS (Contact Image Sensor) can be used as the image sensor of the image reading unit.
[0020]
As the material of the housing 1, a plastic material such as ABS resin or a metal material such as an aluminum alloy can be used.
[0021]
The scale 5 can be formed by laser processing, a method of printing a resin paint, a method of simultaneously forming with a mold when the casing 1 is molded, or the like. It is preferable to use an ultraviolet curable resin for the resin coating.
[0022]
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the portable image reading apparatus of FIG. Reference numeral 6 denotes an image linear sensor such as a CCD or CIS, which reads the image of the document by moving the track of the guide rail 8 at a constant speed by a belt. The image linear sensor 6 is connected by a flexible wiring 7 to a control board 9 on which electronic parts such as a semiconductor device are mounted. In addition, although the power supply apparatus etc. are also installed in the housing | casing 1, it abbreviate | omits.
[0023]
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a state in which the portable image reading apparatus of FIG. In FIG. 3, the size of the document is larger than the size of the document reading window 2, but in such a case, the entire document is read several times by shifting the portable image reading device 10. The read image is synthesized by a known technique. When a predetermined area of the document 20 is trimmed and read, the trimming area can be aligned by the scale 5.
[0024]
FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of the scale formed on the document reading window of the portable image reading apparatus of FIG.
[0025]
In FIG. 4A, a scale 5 is provided on the surface of the casing 1 adjacent to the periphery of the document reading window 2. In FIG. 4B, the position where the scale of FIG. 4A is provided is made of a transparent material such as transparent plastic (indicated by the transparent casing 11) so that the position of the scale 5a on the original surface can be easily observed with the naked eye. This is the case. FIG. 4C shows a case where the scale 5b is provided in an area adjacent to or close to the document readable area of the document reading window 2 (indicated by the reading area 4), as in FIG. 4B. The position on the document surface can be easily observed with the naked eye. The document reading window 2 is usually a transparent glass plate. When a scale is provided in an area adjacent to or adjacent to the document readable area of the document reading window 2 (indicated by the reading area 4), it is formed by paint printing. The
[0026]
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing another first example of the scale provided on the document reading window of the portable image reading apparatus of FIG.
[0027]
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another second example of the scale provided in the document reading window of the portable image reading apparatus of FIG. 1, and a large document reading area is divided and read several times. In this case, the reading overlap setting scale is provided so that the variation in the overlap of each region can be reduced.
[0028]
FIG. 5A shows a case where a scale 5c is provided on the surface of the casing 1 adjacent to the periphery of the document reading window 2, and a reading overlap setting scale 30a is provided on a part of the scale. In FIG. 5B, the portion provided with the scale of FIG. 5A is made of a transparent material such as transparent plastic (transparent housing portion 11) so that the position of the scale 5d on the original surface can be easily observed with the naked eye. At the same time, a reading overlap setting scale 30b is provided on a part of the scale 5d. In FIG. 5C, the scale 5e is provided in an area adjacent to or close to the document readable area (indicated by the reading area 4) of the document reading window 2, and a reading overlap setting scale 30c is formed on a part of the scale 5e. Is provided.
[0029]
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another second example of forming the scale provided in the document reading window of the portable image reading apparatus of FIG. This embodiment is a case in which designated size display scales 50, 50a and 50b are further provided in part of the scales in each case of FIGS. 5A to 5C, and these designated size display scales are provided. By providing, it becomes easy to align a document smaller than the size of the document reading window, for example, a business card size document.
[0030]
Next, a case where a large original is read using the portable image reading apparatus provided with the scale 5c in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows a case where an image of a document is read by dividing the reading range in the vertical direction. First, as shown in FIG. 7A, the portable image reading device 10 is set so that the upper end of the image of the document enters the first reading range 4a. Next, the image linear sensor 6 is scanned to read an image in the first reading range 4a. Next, as shown in FIG. 7B, the portable image reading device 10 is moved to the next reading range by hand. In this case, after the reading overlap setting scale 30a is aligned with the naked eye at the position of the original surface located at the lower end of the first reading range 4a, the second reading scanning is performed. The next reading scan can be performed with a predetermined overlap by the overlap setting scale 30a. Further, when reading a document, the same operation is repeated. The read image data in each reading range is output from the portable image reading device 10 to an external device such as a personal computer and synthesized. Reference numeral 4b in FIG. 7B indicates a second reading range.
[0031]
Next, a second embodiment of the portable image reading apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a second embodiment of the portable image reading apparatus of the present invention. In the present embodiment, when the portable image reading apparatus 10 of the first embodiment is aligned on a document, an illumination 60 is provided in the housing, and a scale is provided on the periphery of the document reading window 2. The signs and manuscript surface were made easier to observe. The installation location of the illumination is a location that does not disturb the scanning of the linear image sensor 6 and may be anywhere in the housing 1 as long as the scale portion can be illuminated. When the illumination 60 scans the linear image sensor 6, the power is automatically or manually turned off.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the portable image reading apparatus of the present invention can provide the following effects.
(1) In a method in which a main body is turned over when a document is read and a document table portion is placed on the document, a transparent window for viewing the original surface with the naked eye is provided on the back surface of the main body, and a transparent document reading window housing on the surface of the main body By providing a scale on the inner peripheral edge, it is easy to set the document reading range.
(2) In addition, by providing a mark that can be set for reading overlap on the scale provided on the inner peripheral edge of the document reading window, it is easy to set the overlapping range in the case of divided reading.
(3) By providing the illumination means in the housing, it is possible to prevent the original surface from being darkened by placing the main body when aligning the main body with the original surface, and it is easy to set the reading range of the original.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1A and 1B are views showing a first embodiment of a portable image reading apparatus according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a perspective view and FIG. 1B is a plan view;
2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the portable image reading apparatus of FIG.
3 is a plan view showing a state where the portable image reading apparatus of FIG. 1 is installed on a document surface. FIG.
4 is a plan view showing an example of a scale formed on a document reading window portion of the portable image reading apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.
5 is a plan view showing another first example of the scale provided on the document reading window of the portable image reading apparatus of FIG. 1; FIG.
6 is a plan view showing another second example of forming the scale provided on the document reading window of the portable image reading apparatus of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the main part of the apparatus for explaining how to use the portable image reading apparatus of the present invention.
8 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the portable image reading apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a view showing a conventional portable image reading apparatus, (a) is a perspective view, b) is a plan view.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101 Case 2,102 Document reading window 3,103 Perspective window 4,104 Reading area 4a First reading range 4b Second reading range 5,5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e Scale 6 Image linear sensor 7 Flexible Wiring 8 Guide Rail 9 Control Board 10, 100 Portable Image Reading Device 11 Transparent Case 20 Original 30a, 30b, 30c Reading Overlap Setting Scale 50, 50a, 50b Specified Size Display Scale 60 Illumination

Claims (8)

A transparent document reading window on one surface of the housing, a transparent window through which the document surface can be observed with the naked eye through the document reading window on the other surface of the housing, and the document through the document reading window An image reading unit that scans an image, an image storage unit that stores image data read by the image reading unit, and an image output unit that outputs the image data stored in the image storage unit to an external device, A scale is provided on a peripheral surface of the document reading window inside the casing or a surface of the casing adjacent to the periphery of the document reading window, and the scale includes the scale of the document reading window. Before reading the divided reading areas sequentially so that the reading area of the document having a reading area larger than the size of the image readable area is divided and the peripheral portions of the respective reading areas can be overlapped. Portable image reading apparatus characterized by label indicating the size of the overlap is provided.   2. The portable image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the scale is provided on the peripheral edge of the document reading window adjacent to or close to an image readable area of the document reading window.   2. The portable image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a region of the surface of the casing adjacent to the periphery of the document reading window is formed of a transparent or opaque material.   4. The scale is provided with a mark indicating the specific size when a document having a specific size smaller than the size of the image readable area of the document reading window is read. The portable image reading apparatus according to any one of the above. Portable image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the predetermined value is provided in the scale.   3. The portable image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the scale provided on the peripheral edge portion is formed by paint printing.   4. The portable image reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the scale on the surface of the casing adjacent to the periphery of the document reading window is formed by paint printing, laser processing, or die molding. . Wherein the housing, a portable image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, it is characterized in that an illumination means for illuminating said housing for setting the reading range of the document.

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