JP5974609B2 - Image reading control device, image reading device, and program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading control device, an image reading device, and a program.

  A drive pulse signal generated by the drive pulse signal generating means in an image reading apparatus for reading a document image by a solid-state image pickup device, and having a drive pulse signal generating means for generating a drive pulse signal of the solid-state image pickup element. There is known an image reading apparatus characterized in that driving speed switching means is provided for switching the frequency between the reading operation period and the reading standby period (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-268821

  The present invention provides an image reading control device, an image reading device, and a program capable of suppressing heat generation, power consumption, and unnecessary radiation noise not only during standby but also during normal operation when driving the image reading means. For the purpose.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading control apparatus comprising: a power supply means capable of switching the magnitude of the power supply voltage supplied to at least two stages by switching a plurality of power supply circuits having different power supply voltages to be supplied. Can be switched between the setting means for setting the operation mode of the image reading means driven by the driving means supplied with the power, the storage means for storing the voltage of the power source required for driving in each of the operation modes, and the power supply means. Among the power supply circuits, the power supply circuit having the lowest voltage is selected from the power supply circuits that supply a voltage equal to or higher than the power supply voltage necessary for driving in the operation mode set by the setting means, and the selected power supply circuit is selected. Control means for controlling the power supply means so that the power supply voltage of the power supply circuit is supplied to the drive means.

An image reading apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes an image reading unit that reads an image, a driving unit that drives the image reading unit, and a plurality of power supplies that supply power to the driving unit and that have different power supply voltages. By switching the supply circuit, the power supply means capable of switching the magnitude of the voltage of the power supply to be supplied in at least two stages, the setting means for setting the operation mode of the image reading means, and the driving in each of the operation modes Among the voltages that can be switched by the power supply means , the storage means that stores the power supply voltage necessary for the power supply supplies a voltage that is equal to or higher than the power supply voltage required for driving in the operation mode set by the setting means. from the power supply circuit, so as to select the power supply circuit of the lowest voltage, the power supply voltage of the power supply circuit selected is supplied to the drive means And a control means for controlling the serial power supply means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, power is supplied by a power supply means capable of switching the magnitude of the voltage of the supplied power in at least two stages by switching a plurality of power supply circuits having different voltages of the supplied power. A setting means for setting the operation mode of the image reading means driven by the driving means, a storage means for storing a power supply voltage necessary for driving in each of the operation modes, and a voltage switchable by the power supply means. Among them, the power supply circuit having the lowest voltage is selected from the power supply circuit that supplies a voltage higher than the voltage of the power supply necessary for driving in the operation mode set by the setting means, and the selected power supply circuit program for the power supply of voltage to function as a control means, for controlling said power supply means to supply to said driving means It is.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, compared to the case where the present configuration is not provided, when the image reading unit is driven, heat generation, power consumption, and unnecessary radiation noise are suppressed not only during standby but also during normal operation. can do.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, among the power sources that can be supplied by the power supply means, it is possible to supply a power source that minimizes heat generation, power consumption, and unnecessary radiation noise.

According to the invention described in claim 2, compared with the case not having the present structure, when the driving of the image reading unit, not only during standby, heat generation in the normal operation, suppress power consumption, and the unwanted radiation noise can do.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, compared to the case where the present configuration is not provided, when the image reading unit is driven, heat generation, power consumption, and unnecessary radiation noise are suppressed not only during standby but also during normal operation. can do.

1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of an image reading part. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a power supply process routine.

  Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of an image reading apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. The image reading apparatus 10 includes a control unit 12 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 14, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 16, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 18, an image reading unit 20, and a UI (User Interface) 22. And a communication IF (Interface) 24. The CPU 14, the ROM 16, the RAM 18, the image reading unit 20, the UI 22, and the communication IF 24 are connected via a bus 26.

  The CPU 14 executes programs stored in the ROM 16 (including a power supply processing routine program described later). The ROM 16 stores programs executed by the CPU 14, data necessary for the processing of the CPU 14, and the like. The RAM 16 is used as a work memory or the like. Note that the storage medium for storing the program executed by the CPU 14 is not limited to the ROM 16. For example, it may be an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), a flexible disk, a DVD disk, a magneto-optical disk, a USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory or the like (not shown), or a memory of another device connected via the communication IF 24. It may be a medium.

  Although not shown, the image reading unit 20 includes a light emitting unit that irradiates light on a document and a light receiving unit that receives the reflected light. The light receiving unit outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the received light amount. The electrical signal is converted into a digital signal and transmitted to the CPU 14 of the control unit 12. Here, the light receiving unit may be configured using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor, or may be configured using a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) sensor. In the present embodiment, a case where the light receiving unit is configured by a CCD sensor will be described as an example.

  Note that the CCD sensor may be a line sensor in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements are arranged in a line and a charge transfer circuit is arranged corresponding to the photoelectric conversion elements. The photoelectric conversion element converts light into an electrical signal and stores the charge. The charge converted by the photoelectric conversion element is output to a CCD shift register as a charge transfer circuit. The CCD shift register converts the charge for each pixel. In turn, they are transferred and output like a bucket relay. The electric charge output from the CCD shift register is converted into a voltage by an amplifier unit, and further converted into a digital signal by an analog-to-digital conversion circuit.

  As described above, when the light receiving unit is configured as a line sensor (line sensor), a two-dimensional image is read by relatively moving the document and the line sensor.

  The image reading unit 20 may be configured to be able to read both a color image and a single color (monochrome) image, or may be configured to be able to read only a single color image. When a color image can be read, the light receiving unit may be provided with, for example, three CCD line sensors corresponding to R (red), G (green), and B (blue) colors. In addition to the three line sensors of RGB, the light receiving unit may be configured by four line sensors including a line sensor for monochrome images. Further, in the case of the image reading unit 20 that reads only a black and white image, the light receiving unit may be configured by a single line sensor. Here, a line sensor is taken as an example, but a sensor in which CCDs and CMOS elements are two-dimensionally arranged may be used.

  The UI 22 is composed of, for example, a liquid crystal display, and is composed of a display unit that displays various images, messages, and the like under the control of the CPU 14 and, for example, a keyboard and a mouse. Various information is designated by user operation. And an operation unit. The UI 22 may be configured with a touch panel display.

  The communication IF 24 is an interface for transmitting / receiving data to / from other devices via communication means such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or a public line.

  The image reading apparatus 10 may be an apparatus provided with a facsimile function for transmitting and receiving an image read via a communication line in addition to the reading function of the image reading unit 20. Further, an image forming unit for forming an image may be further provided, and the image reading apparatus 10 may be configured as a copying machine.

  FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the image reading unit 20 focusing on the light receiving unit. Here, the illustration of the light emitting unit is omitted.

  The image reading unit 20 includes the CCD sensor 30 described above and a drive unit 42 that drives the CCD sensor 30. The drive unit 42 includes a first driver (Integrated Circuit) 32 for color and a second driver 34 for black and white. Here, the drive unit 42 having the first driver IC 32 and the second driver IC 34 has been described as an example of the drive unit for driving the CCD sensor 30, but one driver IC is included in the drive unit 42. Or three or more.

  The image reading unit 20 includes a power supply unit 44. The power supply unit 44 includes a switching circuit 36, a first power supply circuit 38, and a second power supply circuit 40. The first power supply circuit 38 and the second power supply circuit 40 supply power to the drive unit 42 (first driver IC 32 and second driver IC 34) via the switching circuit 36. In the present embodiment, the first power supply circuit 38 supplies power with a high voltage (for example, 5 V), and the second power supply circuit 40 supplies power with a lower voltage (for example, 3.3 V) than the first power supply circuit 38. Supply.

  In response to a switching signal from the CCD drive control circuit 31, the switching circuit 36 has a first state in which the power of the first power supply circuit 38 is supplied to the drive unit 42 and a power supply of the second power supply circuit 40 in the drive unit. It switches to the 2nd state supplied to 42.

  The CCD drive control circuit 31 inputs a switching signal for switching the switching circuit 36 to the first state or the second state in accordance with a control signal from the control unit 12 (CPU 14). The CCD drive control circuit 31 has a function as a timing generator, and sends a control pulse for performing a reading operation in an operation mode (details will be described later) according to a control signal from the control unit 12 to the first driver IC 32 and Input to the second driver IC 34. The first driver IC 32 and the second driver IC 34 operate according to the control pulse input from the CCD drive control circuit 31.

  Here, the operation mode will be described. In the present embodiment, the operation mode of the image reading unit 20 can be set. The operation modes include, for example, a monochrome mode for reading an image in black and white, a color mode for reading an image in color, a high speed mode for reading an image at a high speed, a low speed mode for reading an image at a low speed, a high resolution mode for reading an image at a high resolution, and an image Low-resolution mode for reading images at low resolution, high-quality mode for reading images with high image quality, low-image quality mode for reading images with low image quality, standby mode in which power consumption is lower than power consumption during image reading operation, consumption more than standby mode There are sleep modes with low power.

  In the present embodiment, when the user operates the UI 22 to input an operation mode setting instruction, the control unit 12 receives the input setting instruction and sets the operation mode according to the setting instruction. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a setting instruction may be received from an external device via the communication IF 24, and an operation mode may be set according to the received setting instruction. For example, a control unit may indicate that a predetermined state has occurred. When 12 is detected, a predetermined operation mode may be set according to the generated state.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described by focusing on the power supply operation.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of a power supply processing routine executed by the CPU 14 of the control unit 12. This processing routine is started when an operation mode setting instruction input from the UI 22 by the user is received.

  In step 100, an operation mode is set according to the received setting instruction. Here, for example, the setting is performed by storing identification data indicating the operation mode in a register provided in the image reading apparatus 10.

  In step 102, control is performed so that power of a voltage corresponding to the set operation mode is supplied to the drive unit 42. Specifically, a control signal for causing the reading operation in the operation mode is generated and input to the CCD drive control circuit 31. The CCD drive control circuit 31 inputs a switching signal corresponding to the control signal to the switching circuit 36. The switching circuit 36 switches to the first state or the second state according to the input switching signal.

  For example, when an operation mode in which the CCD sensor 30 is operated at high speed or an operation mode in which the load on the CCD sensor 30 is heavy is set, a control signal is supplied so that the power having the higher voltage is supplied to the drive unit 42. It is generated and input to the CCD drive control circuit 31. Accordingly, the switching circuit 36 is switched to the first state, so that the power of the first power supply circuit 38 is supplied to the drive unit 42. When an operation mode in which the CCD sensor 30 is operated at a lower speed than the operation mode in which the CCD sensor 30 is operated at a higher speed or an operation mode in which the load on the CCD sensor 30 is lighter than the operation mode in which the load is heavy is set. A control signal is generated and input to the CCD drive control circuit 31 so that the power having the lower voltage is supplied to 42. As a result, the switching circuit 36 switches to the second state, so that the power of the second power supply circuit 40 is supplied to the drive unit 42.

  More specifically, for example, since black and white moves at a higher speed than color, an apparatus that requires a large drive amplitude (voltage) is set to a high voltage (for example, from the first power supply circuit 38 when the monochrome mode is set). Control to supply 5V power. Conversely, color uses a larger number of line sensors, and the transfer load of the CCD shift register is heavier than that for black and white. For devices that require a large drive amplitude (voltage), the color mode is used. When set, the first power supply circuit 38 may be controlled to supply a high voltage (for example, 5V) power.

  Further, when the low-speed mode that operates at low speed is set regardless of the color, control is performed so that power is supplied from the second power supply circuit 40, and when the low-speed mode that operates at high speed is set. May be controlled so that power is supplied from the first power supply circuit 38.

  Needless to say, the voltage of the power supplied from the power supply unit 44 to the drive unit 42 needs to be larger than the voltage capable of driving the CCD sensor 30 in the set operation mode. That is, even if the set operation mode is the low speed mode, if a voltage exceeding the voltage of the power supplied by the second power supply circuit 40 is required, the power of the first power supply circuit 38 needs to be supplied. There is.

  By the way, in the above embodiment, two power supply circuits having different power supply voltages are provided in the power supply unit 44, and the power supply voltage to be supplied to the drive unit 42 is switched by switching the power supply circuit to be used. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, three or more power supply circuits having different power supply voltages to be supplied are provided in the power supply unit 44, and the power supply circuit to be used is switched to the optimum one to switch the power supply voltage supplied to the drive unit 42. May be.

  Specifically, the control unit 12 supplies the drive unit 42 with the lowest voltage power that can drive the CCD sensor 30 in the set operation mode among the voltages that can be switched by the power supply unit 44. A switching signal is input to the switching circuit 36. As a result, the power supplied from the power supply unit 44 is switched to the lowest voltage power source that can be operated. Note that the operation mode and the voltage of the power source necessary for driving in the operation mode are stored in association with each other, and the power source capable of supplying power exceeding the voltage necessary for driving based on the stored information The power supply circuit having the lowest voltage may be selected from the supply circuit to generate a control signal and input it to the CCD drive control circuit 31. This drive control method can be applied even when the switchable voltage is in two stages (here, there are two power supply circuits).

  Conventionally, the CCD sensor 30 is driven by supplying a constant voltage (5 V) from a single power supply circuit regardless of the operation mode. There is also known a method of switching and controlling the frequency of the drive pulse signal between the reading operation period and the reading standby period, but it is impossible to suppress heat generation, power consumption, and unnecessary radiation noise during the reading operation. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the power supply voltage supplied to the drive unit 42 is switched according to the operation mode. Therefore, heat generation, power consumption, and unnecessary radiation noise are suppressed not only during standby but also during normal reading operations as compared with the conventional case. In addition, although it is possible to perform cooling with a fan for heat generation, cooling using the fan leads to an increase in cost, and an image read by dust or dust is likely to be defective, and power consumption is not suppressed. On the other hand, according to the method described in the above embodiment, it can be realized at low cost, the possibility of a defect in a read image is suppressed, and each of heat generation, power consumption, and unnecessary radiation noise is suppressed.

10 Image Reading Device 12 Control Unit 14 CPU
16 ROM
18 RAM
20 Image reading unit 24 Communication IF
26 Bus 30 CCD sensor 31 Drive control circuit 32 First driver IC
34 Second driver IC
36 switching circuit 38 first power supply circuit 40 second power supply circuit 42 drive unit 44 power supply unit

Claims (3)

Image scanning driven by driving means supplied with power by means of power supply means capable of switching the magnitude of the voltage of the power supply to be supplied in at least two stages by switching a plurality of power supply circuits having different power supply voltages to be supplied Setting means for setting the operation mode of the means;
Storage means for storing a voltage of a power source necessary for driving in each of the operation modes;
Among the voltages that can be switched by the power supply means, the power supply circuit having the lowest voltage from the power supply circuit that supplies a voltage higher than the voltage of the power supply required for driving in the operation mode set by the setting means. Control means for controlling the power supply means so that the power supply of the voltage of the selected power supply circuit is supplied to the drive means;
An image reading control device. Image reading means for reading an image;
Driving means for driving the image reading means;
A power supply means capable of switching the power supply voltage to be supplied in at least two stages by switching between a plurality of power supply circuits having different power supply voltages and supplying power to the driving means;
Setting means for setting an operation mode of the image reading means;
Storage means for storing a voltage of a power source necessary for driving in each of the operation modes;
Among the voltages that can be switched by the power supply means, the power supply circuit having the lowest voltage from the power supply circuit that supplies a voltage higher than the voltage of the power supply required for driving in the operation mode set by the setting means. Control means for controlling the power supply means so that the power supply of the voltage of the selected power supply circuit is supplied to the drive means;
An image reading apparatus comprising: Computer
Image scanning driven by driving means supplied with power by means of power supply means capable of switching the magnitude of the voltage of the power supply to be supplied in at least two stages by switching a plurality of power supply circuits having different power supply voltages to be supplied Setting means for setting the operation mode of the means;
Storage means for storing the voltage of the power source necessary for driving in each of the operation modes, and of the power supply necessary for driving in the operation mode set by the setting means among the voltages switchable by the power supply means The power supply circuit having the lowest voltage is selected from the power supply circuits that supply a voltage equal to or higher than the voltage, and the power supply means is controlled so that the power supply of the voltage of the selected power supply circuit is supplied to the driving means. Control means,
Program to function as.

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