US20090284810A1 - Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device - Google Patents
Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device Download PDFInfo
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- US20090284810A1 US20090284810A1 US12/508,085 US50808509A US2009284810A1 US 20090284810 A1 US20090284810 A1 US 20090284810A1 US 50808509 A US50808509 A US 50808509A US 2009284810 A1 US2009284810 A1 US 2009284810A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- light
- translucent member
- light source
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- face
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0013—Means for improving the coupling-in of light from the light source into the light guide
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
- G03G15/04—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for exposing, i.e. imagewise exposure by optically projecting the original image on a photoconductive recording material
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
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- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
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- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0013—Means for improving the coupling-in of light from the light source into the light guide
- G02B6/0023—Means for improving the coupling-in of light from the light source into the light guide provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed between the light guide and the light source, or around the light source
- G02B6/0031—Reflecting element, sheet or layer
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
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- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
- G02B6/0035—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
- G02B6/0038—Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
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- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
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- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
- G02B6/0035—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
- G02B6/0045—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it by shaping at least a portion of the light guide
- G02B6/0046—Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
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- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
- G02B6/005—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
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- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
- G02B6/0058—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide varying in density, size, shape or depth along the light guide
- G02B6/0061—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide varying in density, size, shape or depth along the light guide to provide homogeneous light output intensity
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- H04N1/0315—Details of scanning heads ; Means for illuminating the original for picture information pick-up with photodetectors arranged in a substantially linear array the photodetectors having a one-to-one and optically positive correspondence with the scanned picture elements, e.g. linear contact sensors using photodetectors and illumination means mounted on separate supports or substrates or mounted in different planes
- H04N1/0316—Details of scanning heads ; Means for illuminating the original for picture information pick-up with photodetectors arranged in a substantially linear array the photodetectors having a one-to-one and optically positive correspondence with the scanned picture elements, e.g. linear contact sensors using photodetectors and illumination means mounted on separate supports or substrates or mounted in different planes illuminating the scanned image elements through the plane of the photodetector, e.g. back-light illumination
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- H04N1/0318—Integral pick-up heads, i.e. self-contained heads whose basic elements are a light-source, a lens array and a photodetector array which are supported by a single-piece frame
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- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
- G02B6/0035—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
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- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
- G02B6/0035—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
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Definitions
- a discharge tube such as a florescent lamp or an LED array consisting of an array of a plurality of LED's.
- the LED arrays are being used more widely, because compact and inexpensive products are requested for home-use equipment such as the facsimile apparatus.
- FIG. 1A shows the schematic structure of the illumination device employing an LED array, together with the original to be illuminated
- FIG. 1B shows an example of the illumination intensity distribution of the surface of the original when it is illuminated with the illumination device shown in FIG. 1A .
- a substantially uniform and high illumination intensity can be obtained by increasing the number of the LED chips, namely by densely arranging the LED chips.
- a reduced number of the LED chips, or a less dense arrangement of the LED chips, for the purpose of cost reduction, will result in an uneven illumination intensity distribution on the illuminated surface, due to the increased gap between the LED chips, as will be explained in the following with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B , wherein the same components as those in FIGS. 1A and 1B are represented by the same numbers.
- FIG. 2A shows the schematic structure of the illumination device utilizing an LED array, together with the illuminated original, as in FIG. 1A
- FIG. 2B shows an example of the illumination intensity distribution when the original is illuminated with the illumination device shown in FIG. 2A . If the number of LED's in the array is decreased, there results, as shown in FIG. 2B , an extremely uneven illumination state in which the illumination intensity on the original surface is high in positions corresponding to the LED chips but is low in positions corresponding to the gaps between the LED chips. The precise original reading becomes difficult under such an illumination intensity distribution, and a circuit is required to compensate for the unevenness in the illumination intensity distribution, eventually leading to a higher cost.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the details of a linear light source similar to that explained above.
- such a linear light source is composed of LED chips 43 , individually constituting a point light source, mounted linearly on a substrate 45 bearing electric wirings 49 , and a voltage is applied between input terminals 48 of the wirings 49 to cause light emission from the LED chips 43 , thereby constituting a linear light source.
- FIG. 4 shows an elevation view of the light source, seen from a direction C shown in FIG. 3 , and the light amount distribution on an illuminated surface (not shown), schematically illustrating the variation of the light amount corresponding to the positions of the LED chips 43 .
- a curve 44 indicating the distribution of the light amount becomes higher in positions directly above the LED chips 43 but lower in positions corresponding to the gaps between the LED chips 43 , because of the linear arrangement thereof.
- the reflected light from the illuminated surface also involves unevenness in the light amount similar to that shown in FIG. 4 , so that a large burden is required in the post-process such as image processing for improving the tonal rendition.
- a linear light source of the configuration as shown in FIG. 5 , in which a light bulb, such as a tungsten lamp or a halogen lamp, is employed as the light source and the light emitted from the light source is developed into a linear form.
- a light bulb such as a tungsten lamp or a halogen lamp
- an electric light bulb 1 such as a halogen lamp
- a mirror 2 of a light condensing form such as spherical or elliptical form
- a translucent member 3 with a circular cross section such as a quartz rod
- an entrance face 4 where the light beam emitted from the light bulb 1 enters the translucent member 3
- a reflective face 6 provided at an end of the translucent member 3 opposite to the bulb 1 and formed either by evaporating a metal such as aluminum or applying light diffusing/reflecting paint on the end face of the translucent member 3 itself, or as a separate member.
- the translucent member 3 may also have a square or rectangular cross section.
- the light beam L emitted from the light bulb 1 and entering the translucent member 3 through the entrance face 4 thereof propagates in the member 3 by repeated reflections on the internal walls thereof, then is reflected by the end face opposite to the entrance face 4 , and propagates again in the interior of the translucent member 3 .
- the light beam is scattered therein and a part 1 1 of the light beam is released to the exterior through an exit face opposite to the area 5 .
- the remaining part 1 2 of the diffused light beam, entering the exit face diagonally, is totally reflected thereon and propagates in the translucent member.
- the light reaching the entrance face 4 after repeated propagations is released therethrough to the exterior.
- the light bulb 1 When the light bulb 1 is used as the light source, as the amount of light emission can be increased by the use of a larger electric power, there can be obtained a considerably high illumination intensity despite the light loss by the light emission to the exterior through the entrance face 4 .
- the use of the light bulb is associated with the drawbacks of a large electric power consumption in return for a high illumination intensity, difficulty in compactization of the device because of the large heat generation, and lack of maintenance-free character as in the case of LED's, since the electric light bulb has a service life considerably shorter than even that of the fluorescent lamp and has to be replaced when the light amount becomes low or when the filament is broken.
- the illumination device to be employed as the image reading light source for an information processing apparatus preferably employs LED's as the light source and is adapted to emit the light beam from the LED's in a linear form.
- FIGS. 6A and 6B which respectively are a schematic view of the illumination device together with an original to be illuminated, and a chart showing an example of the illumination intensity distribution on the illuminated surface 42 when the original is illuminated with the device shown in FIG. 6A .
- the illumination device shown in FIG. 6A is similar to that shown in FIG. 5 except that the light source is replaced by an LED light source 71 .
- the components equivalent to those in FIG. 5 are represented by the same numbers.
- FIG. 7 illustrates such a surface mounting LED light source, wherein shown are an LED chip 81 ; a substrate 82 ; a reflecting frame 83 ; translucent resin 84 ; and electrodes 85 , 86 formed on the substrate 82 .
- Such an LED light source is already available in a compact form, with the size of the light source itself of 2-3 mm and the height of 2 mm or less.
- the electrodes 85 , 86 are extended to the rear side of the substrate 82 through the lateral faces thereof, the light source can be efficiently mounted on the mounting substrate, merely by placing on the mounting substrate printed with cream solder and heating in a reflow oven. Consequently, the use of such an LED light source is more desirable for constructing a linear light source.
- FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of another example of the conventional linear light source, in which light sources are provided on both ends of an oblong translucent member constituting a light guide 3 .
- the light is emitted in a direction 1 1 .
- the oblong translucent member 3 has a constant cross section, and the faces thereof are formed as mirrors except for the light-emitting face.
- the light is introduced from LED chips 71 provided on substrates 45 into the oblong translucent member 3 through the end faces thereof, and is released to the exterior either directly or after reflection by the mirror faces of the translucent member 3 .
- FIG. 9 shows an elevation view, seen from a direction D shown in FIG. 8 , and the illumination intensity distribution on the illuminated surface (not shown). As shown in FIG.
- 10 a, 10 b and 10 c are cross sections at the positions a, b and c of the oblong translucent member 3 , and 44 a, 44 b and 44 c indicate the illumination intensity distributions at the corresponding positions. Also hatched portions represent mirror faces (except for the light emitting face and light entering faces of the oblong translucent member 3 ).
- An object of the present invention is to resolve the drawbacks associated with the conventional illumination means utilizing the linear array of LED chips and with the information processing apparatus employing such an illumination means, such as the difficulty in achieving a sufficiently low cost due to the large number of LED chips to be used, the limit in reducing the electric power consumption even though the electric power consumption in an individual LED chip is relatively low, the uneven illumination state where the illumination intensity on the illuminated original is high in positions corresponding to the LED chips but is low in positions corresponding to the gaps between the LED chips, encountered when the number of the LED chips is reduced in the array, the uneven illumination intensity on the illuminated original encountered when the LED chips are positioned at the end faces of the translucent member, and the cost increase resulting from the necessity for a circuit to compensate for the unevenness in the illumination intensity.
- Another object of the present invention is to resolve the drawbacks associated with the conventional illumination means utilizing the electric light bulb and with the information processing apparatus employing such an illumination means, such as the large electric power consumption, the difficulty in compactization of the device because of the large heat generation, and the difficulty in attaining a maintenance-free configuration.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device with high uniformity in the illumination intensity, a low electric power consumption and easy compactization, a light guide adapted for use in the illumination device, and an information processing apparatus utilizing the illumination device.
- Still another object of the present invention is to resolve the drawbacks of the unevenness in the illumination intensity and of the significant difference in the illumination intensity between a side close to the LED light source and the opposite side, when the LED is employed as the light source for a linear illumination device.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide a light guide having a light entrance face at an end thereof and a light exit face for emitting the introduced light, along the longitudinal direction, different from the end face, comprising an area provided along the longitudinal direction in a part of the side opposite to the light exit face and adapted to reflect and/or diffuse the light beam introduced into the translucent member.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device provided with a translucent member having a light entrance face at an end thereof and a light exit face for emitting the introduced light on a face, along the longitudinal direction, different from the end face, and a light source for emitting the light beam to be introduced through the light entrance face, wherein the translucent member comprises an area provided along the longitudinal direction on a part of the side opposite to the light exit face and adapted to reflect and/or diffuse the light introduced into the translucent member, and the center of the light source is aberrated from the direction of a normal line to the area.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus provided with:
- the illumination means includes an illumination device provided with a translucent member having a light entrance face at an end thereof and a light exit face for emitting the introduced light, along the longitudinal direction, different from the end face, and a light source for emitting the light beam to be introduced through the light entrance face, wherein the translucent member comprises an area provided along the longitudinal direction on a part of the side opposite to the light exit face and adapted to reflect and/or diffuse the light introduced into the translucent member, and the center of the light source is aberrated from the direction of a normal line to the area.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device including an illumination device provided with a translucent member having a light entrance face at an end thereof and a light exit face for emitting the introduced light, along the longitudinal direction, different from the end face, and a light source for emitting the light beam to be introduced through the light entrance face, and also including a photoelectric converting device for receiving the light emitting from the light exit face and reflected by an illuminated area, wherein the translucent member comprises an area provided along the longitudinal direction on a part of the side opposite to the light exit face and adapted to reflect and/or diffuse the light introduced into the translucent member, and the center of the light source is aberrated from the direction of a normal line to the area.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide a light guide for use in an illumination device, composed of a translucent member adapted to receive the light from a light source through a face of the translucent member and to emit the light through a lateral face thereof, wherein the translucent member has uneven light emission characteristics in the longitudinal direction thereof.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device including a light source positioned on a face of a translucent member and adapted to emit the light from a lateral face of the translucent member, wherein the translucent member has uneven light emission characteristics along the longitudinal direction thereof.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device provided with an illumination device including a light source positioned on a face of a translucent member and adapted to emit the light from a lateral face of the translucent member, and a photoelectric converting device adapted to receive the light emitted by the illumination device and reflected by an illuminated area, wherein the translucent member has uneven light emission characteristics along the longitudinal direction thereof.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus provided with:
- an illumination device for illuminating the original sheet, the device including a light source positioned on a face of a translucent member and adapted to emit the light from a lateral face thereof;
- the translucent member of the illumination means has uneven light emission characteristics along the longitudinal direction thereof.
- FIGS. 1A , 1 B, 2 A, 2 B, 3 and 4 are views showing examples of the illumination device utilizing an LED array
- FIGS. 5 , 6 A and 6 B are views showing examples of the illumination device utilizing a translucent member
- FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the LED light source
- FIG. 8 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIG. 9 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIG. 10 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIG. 11 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIG. 12 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIG. 13 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIG. 14 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIG. 15 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 17A to 17C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIG. 18 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 19A to 19C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 20A to 20C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 21A to 21C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 22A to 22C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 23A and 23B are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 24A to 24C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIG. 28 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIG. 33 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 34A to 34C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 36A and 36B are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 37A to 37C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIG. 40 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIG. 41 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 43A to 43C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 44A and 44B are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 45A to 45C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 46A to 46C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 47A to 47C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 48A and 48B are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIG. 49 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 50A to 50C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 51A to 51C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIGS. 52 and 53 are schematic cross-sectional views showing preferred mounting methods of the light source
- FIG. 54 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIG. 55 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an information processing apparatus in which the illumination device of the present invention is applicable;
- FIGS. 56 to 58 are schematic partial cross-sectional views showing information processing apparatus employing the illumination device of the present invention.
- FIG. 59 is a schematic perspective view of an ink jet recording head applicable to the information processing apparatus of the present invention.
- FIGS. 60 and 62 are schematic perspective views showing examples of the ink jet recording unit applicable to the information processing apparatus of the present invention.
- FIG. 61 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing apparatus of the present invention.
- the total light amount is low and the light intensity distribution is uneven as explained before. This is because the light from the light source consisting of the LED chip is not emitted, in a uniform and sufficient manner, from the oblong translucent member (light guide) 3 to the exterior.
- the oblong translucent member (light guide) is given uneven light emission characteristics along the longitudinal direction thereof, thereby attaining almost uniform light emission characteristics along the longitudinal direction over the entire linear light source.
- the difference in the light amount between an area close to the light source and an area far from the light source can be reduced, and there can thus be realized a linear light source showing reduced unevenness in the light amount on the illuminated surface.
- an illumination device with reduced unevenness in the light amount, by providing the translucent member with an area for reflecting and/or diffusing the light introduced into the member and specifying the position of the area.
- FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an embodiment 1 of the linear light source of the present invention, wherein shown are an oblong transparent (translucent) member 3 , substrates 45 ; LED chips 71 mounted on the substrates 45 , and a light emitting direction 1 1 .
- a lateral face 3 a of the transparent member 3 constitutes the light emitting face, while other lateral faces 3 b, 3 c and 3 d are formed as mirror faces to constitute light reflecting faces.
- the oblong transparent member 3 is provided at both ends thereof with the LED chips 71 constituting the light sources, and the light therefrom enters the transparent member 3 from the end faces thereof and is emitted from the lateral face 3 a in the direction 1 1 either directly or after reflection on the lateral faces 3 b, 3 c, 3 d.
- the lateral face 3 d is tapered so that the transparent member 3 has a smaller cross section at the center, whereby the light can be efficiently reflected in the direction 1 1 .
- the lateral face 3 d is inclined by a constant angle, but such a constant angle is not essential.
- FIG. 11 shows the elevation view of the light source seen from a direction A in FIG. 10 and the light intensity distribution on an illuminated surface (not shown), wherein a curve 44 shows the illumination intensity distribution, while 10 a, 10 b , 10 c show the cross sections of the transparent member 3 at positions a, b, c, and 44 a, 44 b, 44 c indicate the illumination intensity distributions at the positions.
- the present embodiment can provide a uniform light amount distribution with an increased amount of light in the area a-c.
- FIG. 12 shows the elevation view of an embodiment 2 of the linear light source of the present invention, seen from the direction A shown in FIG. 10 , and the light amount distribution on an illuminated surface (not shown).
- Components that are the same as those shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 are represented by the same numbers and will not be explained further.
- the lateral face 3 d of the oblong transparent member 3 is tapered so as to reduce the cross section thereof at the center as in Embodiment 1, and the transparent member 3 is formed so as to have a trapezoidal cross section having the shorter side at the light emitting face and the longer side at the opposite face.
- a trapezoidal cross section as shown in FIG. 12 , allows the light to be emitted in the transparent member 3 , in a more condensed state, into the direction 1 1 , thereby increasing the illumination intensity on the illuminated surface, in comparison with Embodiment 1, within the area a-c.
- the cross section of the oblong transparent member 3 is not limited to the trapezoidal form but may also be formed as a partially cut-off circle, as shown in FIG. 13 .
- FIG. 14 is a plan view of an embodiment 3 of the linear light source of the present invention, seen from a direction B shown in FIG. 10
- FIG. 16 shows the elevation view of the embodiment seen from a direction B shown in FIG. 10 and the light amount distribution.
- Components that are the same as those shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 are represented by the same numbers and will not be explained further.
- the oblong transparent member 3 of this embodiment is provided, in the vicinities of the light sources on the light emitting lateral face 3 a, with light attenuating films 306 , which attenuate the light emitted from the vicinity of the light sources, thereby providing a light amount distribution, as shown in FIG. 16 , on the illuminated surface.
- the attenuating films 306 may be replaced by light shielding films 307 for reducing the light amount in the vicinity of the light source.
- FIG. 15 is a plan view showing an example in which the light shielding films are provided in the vicinities of the light sources, on the light emitting lateral face 3 a of the oblong transparent member 3 .
- the light amount distribution, as shown in FIG. 16 may also be obtained on the illuminated surface by intercepting the light in the vicinity of the light source by means of the light shielding films 307 as shown in FIG. 15 .
- FIGS. 17A to 17C are schematic views of an embodiment 4 of the illumination device of the present invention, wherein FIG. 17A is a schematic lateral view of the device, illustrated together with an original constituting the illuminated surface, FIG. 17B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the translucent member 3 and an area 5 , cut in a plane perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 17A , and FIG. 17C is a schematic lateral view of the device, seen from a direction A shown in FIG. 17A .
- the illumination device of this embodiment is provided with an LED light source 8 at an end face in the longitudinal direction of a translucent member 3 of a rectangular cross section, and with an area 5 for reflecting (or diffusing) the light beam, provided in a part of the translucent member 3 on a face opposed to the light emitting area thereof and formed by a coarse surface or by a coating with light diffusing-reflecting paint.
- a reflecting portion 6 adapted to reflect the light propagating in the translucent member 3 and formed by evaporation of a metal such as aluminum or by coating of light diffusing-reflecting paint on the end face itself of the translucent member 3 or by forming such means as a separate member.
- the center of the LED light source is aberrated (with an offset) from the normal line passing through the center of the shorter width of the area 5 .
- the light beam emitted from the LED light source 8 normally propagates inside the translucent member by repeated reflections therein, and returns toward the LED light source 8 after reaching the reflecting portion 6 . Also, the light entering the area 5 in the course of propagation is diffused or reflected therein and emitted through the exit portion toward the original constituting the illuminated surface ( 1 1 ) or propagates again within the translucent member by reflections therein ( 1 2 ).
- the LED light source 8 is aberrated from the normal line passing through the center of the width of the area 5 , the light directly entering the area 5 from the LED light source 8 is reduced, so that there can be sufficiently resolved the unevenness that the illumination intensity is higher only at the side of the LED light source 8 in the longitudinal direction of the translucent member 3 . Also since the light entering the area 5 is principally the indirect light reflected inside the translucent member 3 after being emitted from the LED light source 8 , the light beam emitted from the exit portion is made uniform over the longitudinal direction of the translucent member 3 .
- FIG. 18 shows a lateral face that is the same as that shown in FIG. 17C , wherein a part of the light emitted from the LED light source 8 is indicated by arrows 1 3 , 1 4 , which respectively indicate direct and indirect lights from the light source 8 .
- the LED light source 8 is aberrated from the normal line passing through the center of the area 5 , the proportion of the direct light 1 3 decreases while that of the indirect light 1 4 increases, so that the light beam emitted from the exit portion can be made uniform over the entire translucent member 3 .
- the amount of the aberration of the LED light source 8 is defined as at least out of the normal line passing through the center of the area 5 , but it should be suitably determined in practice, because in case of an excessively large amount of aberration, the light coming from the LED light source 8 is mostly composed of the indirect light and there will also result in a loss of the light beam in the translucent member 3 . In particular, an extremely large aberration should he avoided since the illumination intensity becomes lower at the side of the LED light source 8 .
- FIG. 19A shows an example employing a translucent member of circular cross section, which is positioned so that the center thereof coincides with the center of the LED light source and the center lies on the normal line passing through the center of the area 5 .
- FIG. 19B shows an example employing a translucent member of rectangular cross section, which is positioned so that the crossing point of the diagonals of the rectangular cross section coincides with the center of the LED light source and the center lies on the normal line passing through the center of the area 5 .
- FIG. 19C shows an example of the illumination device of the present embodiment, employing a translucent member of rectangular cross section, wherein the center of the LED light source 8 is aberrated by a distance “a” from the normal line passing through the center of the width of the area 5 .
- the light emitted from the LED light source 8 and introduced into the translucent member can be divided into direct incident light entering the area 5 directly without any reflection on the internal walls of the translucent member, and indirect incident light entering the area 5 after at least a reflection on the internal walls of the translucent member.
- the amount of the direct incident light depends on the angle ⁇ of the area 5 seen from the LED light source 8 , and increases with an increase in the angle.
- the amount of the direct incident light becomes lower in the present embodiment than in the conventional configurations.
- the amount of indirect incident light increases correspondingly.
- the entire illumination intensity distribution is improved, because of the relaxation of the peak in the vicinity of the LED light source.
- the direct incident light has a peak and shows a high light amount at the side of the light source, so that the total light amount, consisting of the direct and indirect incident lights, is uneven, having a peak at the side of the light source.
- the present embodiment shown in FIG. 19C provides a uniform light amount over the entire device, though the light amount at the light source side is lowered. Consequently, the illumination device of the present embodiment is more convenient for use.
- FIGS. 20A to 20C show a variation of the illumination device of the present invention shown in FIGS. 17A to 17C .
- the variation is different from the latter in that the translucent member 3 is provided with a protruding portion 35 , and the area 5 is formed on an end face of the protruding portion 35 , in order to further reduce the direct incident light from the LED light source.
- the amount of direct incident light from the LED light source to the area 5 becomes smaller in comparison with the case shown in FIGS. 17A to 17C . Stated differently, most of the light emitted from the LED light source does not enter the area 5 directly but after at least a reflection within the translucent member 3 .
- the amount of direct incident light decreases and the proportion of the indirect incident light becomes even higher.
- the illumination intensity at the light source side is lower due to the decreased proportion of the direct incident light, and the illumination intensity of the indirect incident light increases, though slightly, due to the increased proportion of the indirect incident light.
- FIGS. 21A to 21C show another variation of the device shown in FIGS. 17A to 17C .
- the translucent member 3 is extended to a side opposite to the LED light source, with respect to the area 5 .
- Such a configuration achieves more uniform illumination intensity for the indirect incident light, so that, though the illumination intensity is higher at the light source side, the illumination intensity becomes more uniform in the remaining portion excluding a part at the light source side.
- FIGS. 22A to 22C show an illumination device in which the configurations shown in FIGS. 20A to 20C and FIGS. 21A to 21C are combined. More specifically, the translucent member is provided, on a face opposite to the light exit face, with a protruding portion 35 , and the area 5 is formed on the end face of the protruding portion 35 , and the translucent member 3 is extended to a side opposite to the light source 8 with respect to the area 5 .
- the area 5 principally receives the indirect incident light more reflected within the translucent member 3 , so that the illumination intensity distribution becomes more uniform for the indirect incident light.
- the situation for the direct incident light is similar to the configuration shown in FIGS. 20A to 20C .
- the light amount of the LED light source is less than that of the incandescent electric bulb.
- the number of the LED chips can be increased.
- the end face of the translucent member, where the LED light sources are to be positioned can be made larger.
- an increase in the light amount can be achieved by positioning an LED light source 8 also on the extended side of the translucent member 3 .
- both the direct and indirect incident lights to the area 5 increase, but the illumination intensity can be made more uniform over the entire area, without local increase at the side of the LED light source 8 , by suitably balancing the amounts of the direct and indirect incident lights from the LED light source 8 to the area 5 (for example, by suitably separating the position of the LED light source 8 from the protruding portion 35 (area 5 )).
- the configuration as shown in FIG. 23A or 23 B enables an additional increase in the illumination intensity.
- FIGS. 24A to 24C An example of such an arrangement is shown in FIGS. 24A to 24C , wherein FIG. 24A is a schematic lateral view of the illumination device of the present embodiment, illustrated together with an original constituting the illuminated surface, while FIG. 24B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the translucent member 3 and the area 5 along a plane perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 24A , and FIG. 24C is a schematic lateral view of the illumination device seen from a direction A shown in FIG. 24A .
- the illumination device of the present embodiment is provided with the LED light sources 8 on both end faces of the translucent member 3 , so that the illumination intensity can be increased further and the distribution of the illumination intensity can be made symmetrical along the longitudinal direction of the translucent member 3 .
- the LED light sources 8 may naturally be provided the LED light sources 8 on both end faces of the translucent member 3 .
- Such LED light sources 8 are preferably provided in the same number and arranged in a similar manner on both end faces, but such conditions are not essential.
- the area read by the line sensor in a scanning period, in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, namely in the direction of relative movement between the original and the sensor, is not so large. Also, among the light scattered and/or reflected in the area 5 , only a portion emitted from the exit portion opposite to the illuminated surface contributes to the illumination thereof, as illustrated in FIG. 41 , and, since the admitted light is diffuse, the illumination intensity on the illuminated surface declines rapidly with an increase in distance from the light exit portion of the translucent member 3 to the illuminated surface.
- FIGS. 25A to 25C show an example of such an arrangement, in which a cylindrical lens 9 is provided, facing the illuminated surface and along the translucent member 3 of the illumination device shown in FIGS. 24A to 24C .
- the cylindrical lens 9 is effectively positioned so that the center thereof corresponds to the area 5 , but such positioning is not essential as long as the necessary illumination intensity can be obtained.
- Such a lens arrangement being capable of illumination of the illuminated surface by condensation of the light emitted from the translucent member 3 , allows increasing the average illumination intensity, though the distribution thereof is substantially not affected.
- Such an arrangement enables the use of a sensor of a lower sensitivity, or image reading with higher speed if the sensitivity of the sensor is not changed. It can also resolve the loss in the light amount resulting from the color filters used in color image reading, while maintaining a sufficiently high image reading speed.
- the above-explained area 5 formed by a coarse surface or by coating with the light diffusing paint can uniformly diffuse the incident light, but it is not satisfactory in terms of the efficiency of utilization of the light emitted from the LED light source 8 , since a proportion of the light returns to the end face of the translucent member 3 .
- the above-mentioned area 5 may be replaced by a reflecting face of sawtooth shape.
- FIGS. 26A to 26C show an embodiment in which the area 5 of the illumination device, shown in FIGS. 17A to 17C , is formed as a reflecting face of sawtooth shape.
- the sawtooth-shaped reflecting face of the area 5 can be formed, in a part of the lateral face of the translucent member 3 , by integral molding with the translucent member 3 , or by cutting work thereon, or by adhesion of a separate sawtooth-shaped member onto the lateral face of the translucent member 3 with adhesive material or by ultrasonic adhesion.
- the integral molding with the translucent member 3 is preferable in consideration of the cost and the decrease of the manufacturing steps.
- the surface of the area 5 constituting the sawtooth-shaped reflecting face is preferably subjected to the evaporation of a bright metal such as aluminum or silver.
- FIGS. 27 and 28 for further explaining the sawtooth-shaped reflecting face constituting the area 5 .
- FIG. 27 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the translucent member 3
- FIG. 28 is a partial magnified view of FIG. 27 .
- the light L emitted from the LED light source 8 enters the translucent member 3 through the entrance end face 4 , and propagates in the translucent member 3 , repeating reflections therein. A part of the light L reaches the sawtooth-shaped reflecting face 7 of the area 5 after being reflected in the translucent member 3 , then is reflected in the area 5 and emerges from the translucent member 3 .
- the light from the LED light source 8 enters the reflecting faces 7 , arranged along the X-direction, of the area 5 , then is reflected by the reflecting faces and is taken out to the exterior.
- the angle ⁇ of the incident light from the LED light source 8 to the X-axis in the translucent member satisfies a relation ⁇ c ⁇ c , wherein ⁇ c is the critical angle determined by the refractive indexes of the translucent member and of the external medium (normally air).
- the angle ⁇ of such propagating light satisfies a condition -(90- ⁇ ) ⁇ (90- ⁇ c ), because the light has to have an angle exceeding the critical angle ⁇ c with respect to the normal line to the lateral face.
- the angle ⁇ of the light beam with respect to the X-axis has to satisfy the narrower one of the above-mentioned two conditions.
- ⁇ lim ⁇ c ⁇ 42°.
- the diameter of the translucent member 3 is sufficiently smaller than the length thereof, the light propagating therein is almost uniformly distributed within a range from + ⁇ lim to ⁇ lim . It is therefore preferable to select the angle ⁇ as close as possible to 90+( ⁇ lim/2) because the principal ray of the emerging light beam becomes perpendicular to the exit area.
- FIGS. 29A to 29C and 30 A to 30 C respectively show variations of the illumination devices shown in FIGS. 20A to 20C and 21 A to 21 C, wherein the area 5 is modified to the sawtooth-shaped reflecting faces 7 .
- Such sawtooth-shaped reflecting faces formed on the end face of the protruding portion 35 allow not only to reduce the unevenness in the illumination intensity but also to increase the average illumination intensity.
- the light entering the translucent member 3 may be released to the exterior upon reaching the end face thereof, and such phenomenon results in a lowered efficiency of light utilization.
- Such loss is mostly represented by a proportion of the light that has never entered the area 5 during repeated reflections within the translucent member 3 .
- an angular component perpendicular to the lateral faces of the translucent member 3 or close thereto repeats the reflections between the lateral faces, as shown in FIG. 33 , and does not easily enter the area 5 . It is therefore possible to further improve the illumination efficiency by causing a reflection so as to facilitate the entry of the light into the area 5 in the course of propagation within the translucent member 3 , as will be explained in the following.
- FIGS. 31A to 31C schematically show another embodiment of the illumination device of the present invention, wherein FIG. 31A is a schematic lateral view of the illumination device, illustrated together with an original constituting the illuminated surface, while FIG. 31B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the translucent member 3 and the area 5 , along a plane perpendicular to that of FIG. 31A , and FIG. 31C is a schematic lateral view of the device, seen from a direction A shown in FIG. 31A .
- the basic configuration of the illumination device of the present embodiment is the same as that shown in FIGS.
- a lateral face of the translucent member 3 positioned opposite to the area 5 , is made non-parallel to another lateral face at the side of the area 5 , and that the transversal length of a face, bearing the area 5 thereon, of the translucent member 3 is made shorter than that of the opposite face at the illuminated surface side.
- a lateral face of the translucent member 3 positioned farther from the area 5 , is formed as an inclined face 201 , spread toward the illuminated surface.
- a part of the light emitted from the LED light source 8 repeats reflections within the translucent member 3 as mentioned above and as illustrated in FIG. 32 , but, in this embodiment, the inclined lateral face modifies the angle of reflection, thereby increasing the probability of entry into the area 5 . As a result, the efficiency of utilization of the light emitted from the LED light source is improved, whereby the illumination intensity can be increased.
- FIGS. 34A to 34C show a variation, having such an inclined lateral face 201 in the translucent member 3 , in the illumination device shown in FIGS. 20A to 20C
- FIGS. 35A to 38C show variations, having similar inclined lateral faces 201 on both lateral faces of the translucent member 3 , in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 22A to 25C .
- the inclined face may be formed on at least either of the lateral faces. Also, the area 5 in these cases may naturally be either of the diffusing type and the reflecting type explained before.
- Such a reflection loss can be substantially avoided by applying an antireflective treatment to the lens surface.
- an antireflective treatment raises the cost, because of the steps required for such an antireflective treatment.
- the antireflective treatment can resolve the problem of reflection on the lens surface, but is unable to resolve the above-mentioned problems associated with the precision of assembling or the number of steps required therefor.
- the translucent member and the lens can be integrally formed, for example, by molding.
- FIGS. 39A to 39C schematically show another embodiment of the illumination device of the present invention, wherein FIG. 39A is a schematic lateral view of the device, illustrated together with an original constituting the illuminated surface, FIG. 39B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the translucent member 3 and the area 5 along a plane perpendicular to that of FIG. 39A , and FIG. 39C is a schematic lateral view of the device, seen from a direction A shown in FIG. 39A .
- the basic structure of this embodiment is the same as that shown in FIG. 17A to 17C , except that a face of the translucent member 3 , opposite to the face bearing the area 5 thereon, is formed as a convex lens 36 .
- the light beam diffused and reflected in the area 5 is condensed by the function of the lens portion 36 .
- the light diffused and reflected in the area 5 emerges from the lens portion 36 of the translucent member 3 in a state of a substantially parallel light beam, as will be explained in the following with reference to FIG. 40 .
- a part of the light emitted from the LED light source 8 enters the area 5 after at least a reflection in the translucent member 3 .
- the incident light to the area 5 is diffusely reflected therein, and a part of the light is reflected again in the translucent member 3 , while the remaining part proceeds toward the lens portion 36 , and, upon emerging therefrom, it is condensed by the lens effect thereof and is emitted, in a state of a substantially parallel light beam, toward the illuminated surface.
- the illuminated surface can be illuminated with a sufficiently high illumination intensity even when the illumination device is distanced from the surface, there can be achieved extremely efficient illumination. Also, for the same reason, the information processing apparatus employing the illumination device has a larger freedom in designing.
- FIGS. 39A to 39C can achieve more uniform illumination, in comparison with the structure shown in FIGS. 17A to 17C , because the translucent member 3 is extended laterally by the lens portion 36 .
- the lens is not required to completely condense (or focus) the light, which is diffused or reflected in the area 5 , onto the illuminated surface.
- the above-explained translucent member 3 with lens function can not only achieve compactization and cost reduction, but can also provide an illumination device with more uniform illumination intensity.
- Such translucent member 3 with lens function is not limited to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 39A to 39C , but, as illustrated in FIGS. 42A to 46C , the lens function may naturally be given to the translucent members 3 of the illumination devices shown in FIGS. 20A to 20C , 31 A to 31 C, 36 A to 36 C and 37 A to 37 C.
- FIG. 48A shows the relative illumination intensity along the longitudinal direction of the translucent member 3 , in the illumination device shown in FIGS. 45A to 45C .
- the distribution of the illumination intensity is significantly uniform in comparison with that in the conventional devices. Nevertheless, the relative illumination intensity is lower in the central portion in the longitudinal direction, and it is desirable to rectify such unevenness, as will be explained in the following.
- FIGS. 46A to 46C schematically illustrate another embodiment of the illumination device of the present invention, wherein FIG. 46A is a schematic lateral view of the device, illustrated together with an original constituting the illuminated surface, FIG. 46B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the translucent member 3 and the area 5 along a plane perpendicular to that of FIG. 46A , and FIG. 46C is a schematic lateral view of the device, seen from a direction A shown in FIG. 46A .
- the illumination device of the present embodiment is provided with the LED light sources 8 on both end faces of the translucent member 3 having a lens portion (light condensing portion).
- the translucent member 3 is further provided, in a position opposite to the lens portion, with a protruding portion 35 , and the area 5 is formed on the end face of the protruding portion 35 .
- the cross section of the translucent member 3 is trapezoidal, with the shorter side closer to the area 5 , bearing a convex lens portion thereon.
- On each end face there are provided three LED light sources 8 , one being at a position corresponding to the area 5 and the remaining two being positioned on both sides thereof.
- the translucent member 3 is made thinner in the central portion in the longitudinal direction, than in the end portions thereof.
- FIGS. 47A and 47B are respectively a schematic plan view and a schematic lateral view of the device of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 47B and 47C respectively correspond to FIGS. 46A and 46C .
- the outstretched portions of the translucent member decrease toward the center in the longitudinal direction, so that the cross sectional area of the member decreases from both ends thereof toward the center.
- FIG. 48B shows the illumination intensity distribution of the above-explained illumination device, along the longitudinal direction of the translucent member 3 .
- the illumination intensity in the central portion increases because the light emitted by the LED light source 8 at an end has a higher probability of entering the area 5 (namely becoming the indirect incident light) before reaching the other end. More specifically, the light proceeding from an end to the other by repeated reflections is eventually reflected by the inclined face 201 to constitute the indirect incident light, due to the decrease of the out-stretched portions. Consequently, in comparison with the case without such constriction, the amount of the incident light to the area 5 increases, whereby the illumination intensity over the entire area, particularly that in an area distant from the LED light source, can be increased.
- the amount of the constriction is preferably determined in consideration of the length, thickness and cross sectional area of the translucent member, the width of the area 5 , arrangement of the LED light source, etc.
- the translucent member has the lens portion, it is desirable that the constriction does not affect the characteristic, for example the shape, of the lens portion, and it is also desirable to maintain a constant distance between the area 5 and the lens face.
- the shape of the constriction may be linear as shown in the foregoing drawings, or may be curved or a combination of these shapes.
- the translucent member 3 may be formed as shown in FIG. 49 .
- the translucent member 3 excluding the lens portion, has a rectangular entrance end face for the light from the LED light source, and a trapezoidal cross section with the shorter side at the bottom, at the central portion in the longitudinal direction.
- the cross section In a position closer to the center from the entrance end face, the cross section is rectangular with cut-off lower comers, and the cut-off areas are progressively enlarged to develop into the inclined lateral faces of the trapezoidal cross section.
- Such illustrated form can provide an illumination device having more uniform illumination intensity characteristics in the longitudinal direction.
- FIGS. 50A to 50C show a variation in which the area 5 of the illumination device shown in FIGS. 46A to 46C is changed from the diffusing surface to the sawtooth-shaped reflecting faces explained before. If the angle of the light condensing part, seen from the area 5 , is sufficiently large (for example 60° or larger, though it depends on the depth and shape of the protruding portion), the incident angle to the area 5 becomes close to the perpendicular entry, but the sawtooth-shaped reflecting faces employed in the present embodiment reflect the incident light principally to the light condensing part, whereby the light emerges therefrom in a parallel or substantially parallel light beam. Consequently, the configuration of the present embodiment provides an illumination device with a higher illumination intensity which is more uniform in the longitudinal direction.
- FIGS. 51A to 51C show a variation in which a cylindrical lens 9 as the light condensing part is added to the illumination device shown in FIGS. 50A to 50C .
- Such a configuration being capable of further condensing the emerging parallel light beam, can illuminate the object surface with a further increased intensity.
- the translucent member 3 has a protruding portion 3 a on the end face thereof, and the LED light source 8 is provided with a reflecting frame 83 extended so as to fit on the protruding portion 3 a.
- the precision of positioning of the LED light source 8 can be improved by fitting the light source 8 onto the protruding portion 3 a formed on the translucent member 3 , and the mounting process can be simplified if the mount is conducted by mere fitting only.
- FIG. 53 shows a variation of the mounting method for the LED light source shown in FIG. 52 .
- the LED chip is surface mounted on a mounting board 11 , and is surrounded by a reflecting frame 10 , which is made of white resin or a metal integrated with the board 11 and is fitted on the protruding portion 3 a.
- An additional reflecting portion may be formed in at least a part of the area, other than the mounting area for the LED light source. The presence of such reflecting portion causes the light, returning from the other end face of the translucent member, to continue the internal reflections without being released from the entrance end face, thereby improving the efficiency of light utilization.
- the presence of the above-mentioned protruding portion 3 a is not essential, but is preferable in consideration of the aforementioned improvement in the positioning accuracy.
- the protruding portion 3 a can be molded simultaneously with the formation of the translucent member 3 , but it may also be formed, if necessary, by cutting and/or grinding.
- the LED light source may also be mounted by fitting into a recess formed on the entrance end face of the translucent member. Such a mounting method causes a loss in a part of the light emitted from the LED chip, but is effective in the positioning precision and in a smaller protruding distance in the mounting portion.
- FIG. 54 is a schematic perspective view of an example of the photoelectric converting device, utilizing the illumination device of the present invention shown in FIG. 53 and constituting an image reading device.
- a sensor substrate 14 There are shown a sensor substrate 14 , a protecting glass 15 , and a casing 16 of the photoelectric converting device.
- On the sensor substrate 14 there is provided a one-dimensional array (or plural arrays) of a plurality of photoelectric converting elements, which are formed utilizing a thin semiconductor layer for example of amorphous silicon or polysilicon.
- the protective glass 15 is provided on the plural photoelectric converting elements (not illustrated), for protecting the elements from eventual breakage caused by the contact with the moving original.
- the casing 16 is provided therein with a space for fitting with the illumination device and the cylindrical lens 9 , which are set in a predetermined position by insertion from an end face of the casing 16 .
- the LED light sources 8 are mounted on a mounting board 11 and mounted on the protruding portion 3 a of the translucent member 3 by fitting the reflecting frame 10 thereon, and the mounting board 11 is fixed by a screw 162 fitted into a threaded hole 161 formed on the casing.
- FIG. 55 illustrates an example of the information processing apparatus (for example, a facsimile apparatus) utilizing the photoelectric converting device of the present invention.
- a recording medium W in the form of rolled paper, is subjected to formation of an image read by the photoelectric converting device 100 , or, in the case of a facsimile, an image transmitted from the outside.
- a recording head 110 for the image formation, can be of various types such as a thermal head or an ink jet recording head. Also, the recording head can be of serial type or of line type.
- a platen roller 112 is provided for transporting the recording medium W to the recording position by the recording head 110 and for defining the recording plane of the recording medium.
- An operation panel 120 is provided with switches for entering commands for operations, and with a display unit for displaying messages and a status of the apparatus.
- a system control board 130 provided thereon with a control unit for controlling various units of the apparatus, a driving circuit for the photoelectric converting elements, a processing unit for the image information, a transmission-reception unit, etc., and a power source 140 for the apparatus.
- FIGS. 56 and 57 are schematic magnified views of the photoelectric converting device, employable in the information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 55 .
- FIG. 56 shows the case of a contact sensor, utilizing the photoelectric converting device (image reading device) shown in FIG. 54 .
- FIG. 57 shows the case of a system employing an imaging optical system 19 , wherein the original 17 is illuminated by the light emitted by illumination means of the embodiment 14 shown in FIGS. 46A to 46C , and the reflected light, corresponding to the image information, is focused on the photoelectric converting device 20 through the imaging optical system 19 .
- the illumination device of the present invention being capable of providing a sufficiently high light amount, is also suitable for color image reading.
- a filter may be provided between the LED light source and the end face of the translucent member 3 , or the translucent member itself may be dyed.
- the entrance end face is preferably dyed, but, if surficial dyeing is enough for the purpose, the light exit face of the translucent member is preferably dyed. This is because, if the entire translucent member is dyed or colored, the light is attenuated significantly in the course of internal reflections, whereby the light intensity becomes lower in the central portion or in a position distant from the LED light source.
- the present invention brings about a particular effect when applied to a recording head of a system utilizing thermal energy for ink discharge, because the entire information processing apparatus can fully enjoy the effect of compactization of the illumination device, as the recording head itself can be made compact.
- an electrothermal converting member positioned corresponding to a liquid channel or a sheet containing liquid therein is given at least a drive signal, corresponding to the recording information and capable of causing a rapid temperature increase exceeding nucleate boiling, to generate thermal energy in the electrothermal converting member, thereby inducing film boiling on a heat action surface of the recording head and forming a bubble in the ink in one-to-one correspondence to the recording signal.
- the ink is discharged from a discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, thereby forming at least an ink droplet.
- the signal is preferably formed as a pulse, as it realizes instantaneous growth and contraction of the bubble, thereby attaining highly responsive discharge of the ink.
- Such a pulse-shaped drive signal is preferably as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262. Also, the conditions described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,124 relative to the temperature increase rate of the heat action surface allows one to obtain a further improved recording.
- the configuration of the recording head is given by the combinations of the ink discharge openings, liquid channels and electrothermal converter elements with linear or rectangular liquid channels, as disclosed in the above-mentioned patents, but a configuration disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 in which the heat action part is positioned in a flexed area, and a configuration disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600 also belong to the present invention.
- a recording head of an interchangeable chip type which can receive an ink supply from the main apparatus and can be electrically connected therewith upon mounting on the main apparatus, or a recording head of cartridge type in which an ink cartridge is integrally constructed with the recording head.
- the information processing apparatus of the present invention is preferably provided with the discharge recovery means and other auxiliary means for the recording head, in order to realize a further advanced maintenance-free system.
- FIG. 59 is a schematic view of such an ink jet recording head, composed of electrothermal converter elements 1103 , electrodes 1104 , liquid channels 1105 and a ceiling plate 1106 , formed on a substrate 1102 through a semiconductor process involving the steps of etching, evaporation, sputtering, etc.
- the recording ink 1112 is supplied from an unrepresented ink reservoir to a common ink chamber 1108 of the recording head 1101 through a supply pipe 1107 , provided with a connector 1109 therefor.
- the ink 1112 in the common ink chamber 1108 is supplied into the liquid channel 1110 by capillary action, and is stably held therein, by forming a meniscus at the discharge opening (orifice) at the end thereof.
- Electric power supply to the electrothermal converter element 1103 rapidly heats the liquid thereon, thus forming a bubble in the liquid chamber, and the liquid is discharged from the opening 1111 by the expansion and contraction of the bubble, thereby forming a liquid droplet.
- FIG. 60 is a schematic perspective view of the external structure of an output unit utilizing the ink jet recording method.
- FIG. 60 there are shown an ink jet recording head 1801 for discharging ink according to the recording signals, thereby recording a desired image; and a carriage 1802 for moving the recording head 1801 in the recording (main scanning) direction.
- the carriage 1802 is slidably supported by guide shafts 1803 , 1804 , and reciprocates in the main scanning direction by means of a timing belt 1808 , which is supported by pulleys 1806 , 1807 and driven by a carriage motor 1805 through the pulley 1807 .
- a recording sheet 1809 is guided by a paper pan 1810 , and is pressed, by pinch rollers, to an unrepresented transport roller for transporting the sheet.
- a recovery unit 1815 is provided for maintaining the proper ink discharge state of the recording head 1801 , by removing the dusts and highly viscous ink, deposited on the discharge openings (not illustrated) of the recording head 1801 .
- a cap member 1818 a constituting a part of the recovery unit 1815 , is provided to cap the discharge openings of the recording head 1801 , thereby preventing the clogging of the openings. Inside the cap 1818 a, there is preferably provided an ink absorbent member 1818 .
- a blade 1817 for coming into contact with a face, having the discharge openings, of the recording head 1801 , thereby eliminating the dust and ink sticking to the face.
- the original transported by original transmission means 2007 to the image reading part of an image reading device 2000 is read by photoelectric converter elements 2001 thereof, then thus obtained electrical signals bearing image information are converted by image processing means (not shown) into electrical signals for recording, and the recording operation is conducted by a controller such as a CPU 2000 controlling the carriage motor 2003 , recording head 2004 , sheet feeding motor 2005 , recovery unit 2006 , etc.
- a controller such as a CPU 2000 controlling the carriage motor 2003 , recording head 2004 , sheet feeding motor 2005 , recovery unit 2006 , etc.
- the electrical signals bearing image information may be transmitted through communication means 2008 to another image processing apparatus for image output therein, or may be received from another information processing apparatus through the communication means 2008 and recorded by the above-mentioned recording head 2004 .
- FIG. 62 schematically shows the output unit provided with a recording head 1932 of full-line type.
- a conveyor belt 1965 transports an unrepresented recording medium, by the rotation of a transport roller 1932 .
- the bottom face 1931 of the recording head 1932 is provided with a plurality of discharge openings, corresponding to the recording area of the recording medium.
- the recording operation can be conducted in a similar manner as in the recording head of serial type explained above.
- the above-explained ink discharge system utilizing thermal energy being capable not only of compactization but also of more highly precise recording, can exhibit the effect of the present invention more conspicuously, and can therefore provide an information processing apparatus excellent in overall performance.
- the present invention can provide a compact illumination device capable of uniform illumination with a high intensity.
- the present invention can provide an illumination device which is simple in structure and can simplify also the manufacturing process.
- the present invention can provide a photoelectric converting device and an information processing apparatus capable of stable image reading.
- the present invention can provide a secure mounting method for the light source, which is simplified in the mounting steps.
- the present invention can realize a linear light source with reduced unevenness in the amount of illuminating light on the illuminated surface, thereby achieving improved tonal rendition without increasing the burden of image processing.
Abstract
In an illumination device, a light guide is adapted to emit the light from a face thereof and is provided with an area, on a face opposite to the light emitting face, for diffusing and/or reflecting the light introduced into the light guide from an end face thereof or is provided with uneven light emitting characteristics along the longitudinal direction of the light guide, and the center of the light source positioned at the end of the light guide is placed at a position aberrated from the normal line to the area, whereby attained are compactness, a low cost, a low electric power consumption, a high efficiency of utilization of the light emitted by the light source, and excellent and uniform illumination characteristics. An image reading device and an information processing apparatus can also be equipped with the above-mentioned illumination device.
Description
- This application is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 11/336,982, filed Jan. 23, 2006, which is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 10/295,925, filed Nov. 18, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,057,778, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/948,661, filed Oct. 10, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,512,600, which is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 08/471,756, filed Jun. 6, 1995, now abandoned, which is a divisional application of application Ser. No. 08/183,367, filed Jan. 19, 1994, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,112, the entire contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a light guide, an illuminating device having the light guide, and an image reading device and an information processing apparatus having the illuminating device, and more particularly an information processing apparatus (such as a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, a scanner or an electronic blackboard), an image reading device adapted for use in such an information processing apparatus, an illumination device adapted for use in such an image reading device, and a light guide adapted for use in such an illumination device.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- For illuminating the image reading device of the information processing apparatus such as the facsimile apparatus, electronic copying machine or the like, there has conventionally been employed a discharge tube such as a florescent lamp or an LED array consisting of an array of a plurality of LED's. Particularly in recent years, the LED arrays are being used more widely, because compact and inexpensive products are requested for home-use equipment such as the facsimile apparatus.
- An example of the illumination device utilizing such LED array will be explained with reference to
FIGS. 1A and 1B , wherein shown are anLED array 41, aplane 42 to be illuminated, such as the surface of an original document, andLED chips 43.FIG. 1A shows the schematic structure of the illumination device employing an LED array, together with the original to be illuminated, whileFIG. 1B shows an example of the illumination intensity distribution of the surface of the original when it is illuminated with the illumination device shown inFIG. 1A . As shown inFIG. 1B , a substantially uniform and high illumination intensity can be obtained by increasing the number of the LED chips, namely by densely arranging the LED chips. However, because of the increased number of the LED chips, it is difficult to achieve a sufficiently low cost, and to reduce the power consumption beyond a certain limit even though the power required for an individual LED is quite low. - A reduced number of the LED chips, or a less dense arrangement of the LED chips, for the purpose of cost reduction, will result in an uneven illumination intensity distribution on the illuminated surface, due to the increased gap between the LED chips, as will be explained in the following with reference to
FIGS. 2A and 2B , wherein the same components as those inFIGS. 1A and 1B are represented by the same numbers. -
FIG. 2A shows the schematic structure of the illumination device utilizing an LED array, together with the illuminated original, as inFIG. 1A , whileFIG. 2B shows an example of the illumination intensity distribution when the original is illuminated with the illumination device shown inFIG. 2A . If the number of LED's in the array is decreased, there results, as shown inFIG. 2B , an extremely uneven illumination state in which the illumination intensity on the original surface is high in positions corresponding to the LED chips but is low in positions corresponding to the gaps between the LED chips. The precise original reading becomes difficult under such an illumination intensity distribution, and a circuit is required to compensate for the unevenness in the illumination intensity distribution, eventually leading to a higher cost. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the details of a linear light source similar to that explained above. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , such a linear light source is composed ofLED chips 43, individually constituting a point light source, mounted linearly on asubstrate 45 bearingelectric wirings 49, and a voltage is applied betweeninput terminals 48 of thewirings 49 to cause light emission from theLED chips 43, thereby constituting a linear light source. -
FIG. 4 shows an elevation view of the light source, seen from a direction C shown inFIG. 3 , and the light amount distribution on an illuminated surface (not shown), schematically illustrating the variation of the light amount corresponding to the positions of theLED chips 43. Acurve 44 indicating the distribution of the light amount becomes higher in positions directly above theLED chips 43 but lower in positions corresponding to the gaps between theLED chips 43, because of the linear arrangement thereof. As a result, there is formed unevenness in the light amount corresponding to the arrangement of theLED chips 43. In reading image information with such a linear light source, the reflected light from the illuminated surface also involves unevenness in the light amount similar to that shown inFIG. 4 , so that a large burden is required in the post-process such as image processing for improving the tonal rendition. - On the other hand, there is conceived a linear light source of the configuration as shown in
FIG. 5 , in which a light bulb, such as a tungsten lamp or a halogen lamp, is employed as the light source and the light emitted from the light source is developed into a linear form. InFIG. 5 there are shown anelectric light bulb 1, such as a halogen lamp; amirror 2 of a light condensing form, such as spherical or elliptical form; atranslucent member 3 with a circular cross section, such as a quartz rod; anentrance face 4 where the light beam emitted from thelight bulb 1 enters thetranslucent member 3; anarea 5 for taking out the light beam, propagating in thetranslucent member 3, from the member by reflection or scattering, thearea 5 being formed on a part of thetranslucent member 3 by forming a coarse surface or coating the surface thereof with light diffusing/reflecting paint; and areflective face 6 provided at an end of thetranslucent member 3 opposite to thebulb 1 and formed either by evaporating a metal such as aluminum or applying light diffusing/reflecting paint on the end face of thetranslucent member 3 itself, or as a separate member. Thetranslucent member 3 may also have a square or rectangular cross section. - The light beam L, emitted from the
light bulb 1 and entering thetranslucent member 3 through theentrance face 4 thereof propagates in themember 3 by repeated reflections on the internal walls thereof, then is reflected by the end face opposite to theentrance face 4, and propagates again in the interior of thetranslucent member 3. In the course of repeated reflections, upon entering the above-mentionedarea 5, the light beam is scattered therein and apart 1 1 of the light beam is released to the exterior through an exit face opposite to thearea 5. Theremaining part 1 2 of the diffused light beam, entering the exit face diagonally, is totally reflected thereon and propagates in the translucent member. The light reaching theentrance face 4 after repeated propagations is released therethrough to the exterior. - When the
light bulb 1 is used as the light source, as the amount of light emission can be increased by the use of a larger electric power, there can be obtained a considerably high illumination intensity despite the light loss by the light emission to the exterior through theentrance face 4. - However, the use of the light bulb is associated with the drawbacks of a large electric power consumption in return for a high illumination intensity, difficulty in compactization of the device because of the large heat generation, and lack of maintenance-free character as in the case of LED's, since the electric light bulb has a service life considerably shorter than even that of the fluorescent lamp and has to be replaced when the light amount becomes low or when the filament is broken.
- Consequently, the illumination device to be employed as the image reading light source for an information processing apparatus, such as a facsimile apparatus, preferably employs LED's as the light source and is adapted to emit the light beam from the LED's in a linear form. As another example of the illumination device employing the LED chips as the light source, there has been conceived a configuration shown in
FIGS. 6A and 6B , which respectively are a schematic view of the illumination device together with an original to be illuminated, and a chart showing an example of the illumination intensity distribution on theilluminated surface 42 when the original is illuminated with the device shown inFIG. 6A . More specifically, the illumination device shown inFIG. 6A is similar to that shown inFIG. 5 except that the light source is replaced by anLED light source 71. InFIG. 6A , the components equivalent to those inFIG. 5 are represented by the same numbers. - The LED light source is available in various types, among which there is known so-called surface mounting LED chips convenient for compactization and actual mounting.
FIG. 7 illustrates such a surface mounting LED light source, wherein shown are anLED chip 81; asubstrate 82; a reflectingframe 83;translucent resin 84; andelectrodes substrate 82. Such an LED light source is already available in a compact form, with the size of the light source itself of 2-3 mm and the height of 2 mm or less. As theelectrodes substrate 82 through the lateral faces thereof, the light source can be efficiently mounted on the mounting substrate, merely by placing on the mounting substrate printed with cream solder and heating in a reflow oven. Consequently, the use of such an LED light source is more desirable for constructing a linear light source. - However, since such an LED light source has a directionality in the light emission as shown in
FIG. 7 , in illuminating the original in combination with thetranslucent member 3 as shown inFIG. 6A , an unevenness will result in the illumination intensity distribution, which is higher at the side of theLED light source 71 and is lower in the remaining part, as shown inFIG. 6B . - This is because the lights diagonally emitted from the LED
light source 71 directly enter thearea 5 of thetranslucent member 3, are scattered in thearea 5 and released from thetranslucent member 3. -
FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of another example of the conventional linear light source, in which light sources are provided on both ends of an oblong translucent member constituting alight guide 3. InFIG. 8 , the light is emitted in adirection 1 1. The oblongtranslucent member 3 has a constant cross section, and the faces thereof are formed as mirrors except for the light-emitting face. The light is introduced fromLED chips 71 provided onsubstrates 45 into the oblongtranslucent member 3 through the end faces thereof, and is released to the exterior either directly or after reflection by the mirror faces of thetranslucent member 3.FIG. 9 shows an elevation view, seen from a direction D shown inFIG. 8 , and the illumination intensity distribution on the illuminated surface (not shown). As shown inFIG. 9 , there is obtained a uniform light amount within an area a-c, but the level of light amount is low and is considerably different from that in the vicinity of the light source. 10 a, 10 b and 10 c are cross sections at the positions a, b and c of the oblongtranslucent member - An object of the present invention is to resolve the drawbacks associated with the conventional illumination means utilizing the linear array of LED chips and with the information processing apparatus employing such an illumination means, such as the difficulty in achieving a sufficiently low cost due to the large number of LED chips to be used, the limit in reducing the electric power consumption even though the electric power consumption in an individual LED chip is relatively low, the uneven illumination state where the illumination intensity on the illuminated original is high in positions corresponding to the LED chips but is low in positions corresponding to the gaps between the LED chips, encountered when the number of the LED chips is reduced in the array, the uneven illumination intensity on the illuminated original encountered when the LED chips are positioned at the end faces of the translucent member, and the cost increase resulting from the necessity for a circuit to compensate for the unevenness in the illumination intensity.
- Another object of the present invention is to resolve the drawbacks associated with the conventional illumination means utilizing the electric light bulb and with the information processing apparatus employing such an illumination means, such as the large electric power consumption, the difficulty in compactization of the device because of the large heat generation, and the difficulty in attaining a maintenance-free configuration.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device with high uniformity in the illumination intensity, a low electric power consumption and easy compactization, a light guide adapted for use in the illumination device, and an information processing apparatus utilizing the illumination device.
- Still another object of the present invention is to resolve the drawbacks of the unevenness in the illumination intensity and of the significant difference in the illumination intensity between a side close to the LED light source and the opposite side, when the LED is employed as the light source for a linear illumination device.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide a light guide having a light entrance face at an end thereof and a light exit face for emitting the introduced light, along the longitudinal direction, different from the end face, comprising an area provided along the longitudinal direction in a part of the side opposite to the light exit face and adapted to reflect and/or diffuse the light beam introduced into the translucent member.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device provided with a translucent member having a light entrance face at an end thereof and a light exit face for emitting the introduced light on a face, along the longitudinal direction, different from the end face, and a light source for emitting the light beam to be introduced through the light entrance face, wherein the translucent member comprises an area provided along the longitudinal direction on a part of the side opposite to the light exit face and adapted to reflect and/or diffuse the light introduced into the translucent member, and the center of the light source is aberrated from the direction of a normal line to the area.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus provided with:
- (a) a photoelectric converting device having a plurality of photoelectric converting elements positioned opposite to the image of an original sheet to be read;
- (b) an illumination device for illuminating the original sheet;
- (c) transport means for transporting the original sheet;
- (d) an output unit for recording an image on a sheet by electrical signals corresponding to image information; and
- (e) a controller for controlling the photoelectric converting device, the light source, the transport means and the output unit;
- wherein the illumination means includes an illumination device provided with a translucent member having a light entrance face at an end thereof and a light exit face for emitting the introduced light, along the longitudinal direction, different from the end face, and a light source for emitting the light beam to be introduced through the light entrance face, wherein the translucent member comprises an area provided along the longitudinal direction on a part of the side opposite to the light exit face and adapted to reflect and/or diffuse the light introduced into the translucent member, and the center of the light source is aberrated from the direction of a normal line to the area.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device including an illumination device provided with a translucent member having a light entrance face at an end thereof and a light exit face for emitting the introduced light, along the longitudinal direction, different from the end face, and a light source for emitting the light beam to be introduced through the light entrance face, and also including a photoelectric converting device for receiving the light emitting from the light exit face and reflected by an illuminated area, wherein the translucent member comprises an area provided along the longitudinal direction on a part of the side opposite to the light exit face and adapted to reflect and/or diffuse the light introduced into the translucent member, and the center of the light source is aberrated from the direction of a normal line to the area.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide a light guide for use in an illumination device, composed of a translucent member adapted to receive the light from a light source through a face of the translucent member and to emit the light through a lateral face thereof, wherein the translucent member has uneven light emission characteristics in the longitudinal direction thereof.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device including a light source positioned on a face of a translucent member and adapted to emit the light from a lateral face of the translucent member, wherein the translucent member has uneven light emission characteristics along the longitudinal direction thereof.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device provided with an illumination device including a light source positioned on a face of a translucent member and adapted to emit the light from a lateral face of the translucent member, and a photoelectric converting device adapted to receive the light emitted by the illumination device and reflected by an illuminated area, wherein the translucent member has uneven light emission characteristics along the longitudinal direction thereof.
- Still another object of the present invention is to provide an information processing apparatus provided with:
- (a) a photoelectric converting device including a plurality of photoelectric converting elements positioned opposite to the image of an original sheet to be read;
- (b) an illumination device for illuminating the original sheet, the device including a light source positioned on a face of a translucent member and adapted to emit the light from a lateral face thereof;
- (c) transport means for transporting the original sheet;
- (d) an output unit for recording an image on a sheet by electrical signals corresponding to the image information; and
- (e) a controller for controlling the photoelectric converting device, the light source, the transport means and the output unit;
- wherein the translucent member of the illumination means has uneven light emission characteristics along the longitudinal direction thereof.
-
FIGS. 1A , 1B, 2A, 2B, 3 and 4 are views showing examples of the illumination device utilizing an LED array; -
FIGS. 5 , 6A and 6B are views showing examples of the illumination device utilizing a translucent member; -
FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the LED light source; -
FIG. 8 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 9 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 10 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 11 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 12 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 13 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 14 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 15 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 16 is a view showing preferred embodiment of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 17A to 17C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 18 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 19A to 19C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 20A to 20C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 21A to 21C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 22A to 22C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 23A and 23B are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 24A to 24C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 25A to 25C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 26A to 26C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 27 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 28 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 29A to 29C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 30A to 30C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 31A to 31C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 32 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 33 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 34A to 34C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 35A to 35C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 36A and 36B are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 37A to 37C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 38A to 38C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 39A to 39C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 40 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 41 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 42A to 42C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 43A to 43C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 44A and 44B are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 45A to 45C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 46A to 46C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 47A to 47C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 48A and 48B are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 49 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 50A to 50C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 51A to 51C are views showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIGS. 52 and 53 are schematic cross-sectional views showing preferred mounting methods of the light source; -
FIG. 54 is a view showing preferred embodiments of the light guide and the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 55 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an information processing apparatus in which the illumination device of the present invention is applicable; -
FIGS. 56 to 58 are schematic partial cross-sectional views showing information processing apparatus employing the illumination device of the present invention; -
FIG. 59 is a schematic perspective view of an ink jet recording head applicable to the information processing apparatus of the present invention; -
FIGS. 60 and 62 are schematic perspective views showing examples of the ink jet recording unit applicable to the information processing apparatus of the present invention; and -
FIG. 61 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the information processing apparatus of the present invention. - In the illumination device consisting of the aforementioned linear light source, the total light amount is low and the light intensity distribution is uneven as explained before. This is because the light from the light source consisting of the LED chip is not emitted, in a uniform and sufficient manner, from the oblong translucent member (light guide) 3 to the exterior.
- According to the present invention, the oblong translucent member (light guide) is given uneven light emission characteristics along the longitudinal direction thereof, thereby attaining almost uniform light emission characteristics along the longitudinal direction over the entire linear light source. Thus the difference in the light amount between an area close to the light source and an area far from the light source can be reduced, and there can thus be realized a linear light source showing reduced unevenness in the light amount on the illuminated surface.
- Also there can be realized an illumination device with reduced unevenness in the light amount, by providing the translucent member with an area for reflecting and/or diffusing the light introduced into the member and specifying the position of the area.
- Now the present invention will be clarified in detail by preferred embodiments thereof, shown in the attached drawings.
-
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing anembodiment 1 of the linear light source of the present invention, wherein shown are an oblong transparent (translucent)member 3,substrates 45;LED chips 71 mounted on thesubstrates 45, and alight emitting direction 1 1. Alateral face 3 a of thetransparent member 3 constitutes the light emitting face, while other lateral faces 3 b, 3 c and 3 d are formed as mirror faces to constitute light reflecting faces. - The oblong
transparent member 3 is provided at both ends thereof with the LED chips 71 constituting the light sources, and the light therefrom enters thetransparent member 3 from the end faces thereof and is emitted from thelateral face 3 a in thedirection 1 1 either directly or after reflection on the lateral faces 3 b, 3 c, 3 d. In this embodiment, thelateral face 3 d is tapered so that thetransparent member 3 has a smaller cross section at the center, whereby the light can be efficiently reflected in thedirection 1 1. In this embodiment, thelateral face 3 d is inclined by a constant angle, but such a constant angle is not essential. -
FIG. 11 shows the elevation view of the light source seen from a direction A inFIG. 10 and the light intensity distribution on an illuminated surface (not shown), wherein acurve 44 shows the illumination intensity distribution, while 10 a, 10 b, 10 c show the cross sections of thetransparent member 3 at positions a, b, c, and 44 a, 44 b, 44 c indicate the illumination intensity distributions at the positions. The present embodiment can provide a uniform light amount distribution with an increased amount of light in the area a-c. -
FIG. 12 shows the elevation view of anembodiment 2 of the linear light source of the present invention, seen from the direction A shown inFIG. 10 , and the light amount distribution on an illuminated surface (not shown). Components that are the same as those shown inFIGS. 10 and 11 are represented by the same numbers and will not be explained further. - In the present embodiment, the
lateral face 3 d of the oblongtransparent member 3 is tapered so as to reduce the cross section thereof at the center as inEmbodiment 1, and thetransparent member 3 is formed so as to have a trapezoidal cross section having the shorter side at the light emitting face and the longer side at the opposite face. Such a trapezoidal cross section, as shown inFIG. 12 , allows the light to be emitted in thetransparent member 3, in a more condensed state, into thedirection 1 1, thereby increasing the illumination intensity on the illuminated surface, in comparison withEmbodiment 1, within the area a-c. The cross section of the oblongtransparent member 3 is not limited to the trapezoidal form but may also be formed as a partially cut-off circle, as shown inFIG. 13 . -
FIG. 14 is a plan view of anembodiment 3 of the linear light source of the present invention, seen from a direction B shown inFIG. 10 , andFIG. 16 shows the elevation view of the embodiment seen from a direction B shown inFIG. 10 and the light amount distribution. Components that are the same as those shown inFIGS. 10 and 11 are represented by the same numbers and will not be explained further. - As shown in
FIG. 14 , the oblongtransparent member 3 of this embodiment is provided, in the vicinities of the light sources on the light emittinglateral face 3 a, with light attenuatingfilms 306, which attenuate the light emitted from the vicinity of the light sources, thereby providing a light amount distribution, as shown inFIG. 16 , on the illuminated surface. - The attenuating
films 306 may be replaced by light shieldingfilms 307 for reducing the light amount in the vicinity of the light source.FIG. 15 is a plan view showing an example in which the light shielding films are provided in the vicinities of the light sources, on the light emittinglateral face 3 a of the oblongtransparent member 3. The light amount distribution, as shown inFIG. 16 , may also be obtained on the illuminated surface by intercepting the light in the vicinity of the light source by means of thelight shielding films 307 as shown inFIG. 15 . -
FIGS. 17A to 17C are schematic views of anembodiment 4 of the illumination device of the present invention, whereinFIG. 17A is a schematic lateral view of the device, illustrated together with an original constituting the illuminated surface,FIG. 17B is a schematic cross-sectional view of thetranslucent member 3 and anarea 5, cut in a plane perpendicular to the plane ofFIG. 17A , andFIG. 17C is a schematic lateral view of the device, seen from a direction A shown inFIG. 17A . As shown in these drawings, the illumination device of this embodiment is provided with anLED light source 8 at an end face in the longitudinal direction of atranslucent member 3 of a rectangular cross section, and with anarea 5 for reflecting (or diffusing) the light beam, provided in a part of thetranslucent member 3 on a face opposed to the light emitting area thereof and formed by a coarse surface or by a coating with light diffusing-reflecting paint. On the end face opposite to the LEDlight source 8, there is formed a reflectingportion 6 adapted to reflect the light propagating in thetranslucent member 3 and formed by evaporation of a metal such as aluminum or by coating of light diffusing-reflecting paint on the end face itself of thetranslucent member 3 or by forming such means as a separate member. - In this embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 17C , the center of the LED light source is aberrated (with an offset) from the normal line passing through the center of the shorter width of thearea 5. - The light beam emitted from the LED
light source 8 normally propagates inside the translucent member by repeated reflections therein, and returns toward theLED light source 8 after reaching the reflectingportion 6. Also, the light entering thearea 5 in the course of propagation is diffused or reflected therein and emitted through the exit portion toward the original constituting the illuminated surface (1 1) or propagates again within the translucent member by reflections therein (1 2). - In this embodiment, since the LED
light source 8 is aberrated from the normal line passing through the center of the width of thearea 5, the light directly entering thearea 5 from the LEDlight source 8 is reduced, so that there can be sufficiently resolved the unevenness that the illumination intensity is higher only at the side of the LEDlight source 8 in the longitudinal direction of thetranslucent member 3. Also since the light entering thearea 5 is principally the indirect light reflected inside thetranslucent member 3 after being emitted from the LEDlight source 8, the light beam emitted from the exit portion is made uniform over the longitudinal direction of thetranslucent member 3. - These situations will be explained further in the following, with reference to the attached drawings.
-
FIG. 18 shows a lateral face that is the same as that shown inFIG. 17C , wherein a part of the light emitted from the LEDlight source 8 is indicated byarrows light source 8. - In the present embodiment, since the LED
light source 8 is aberrated from the normal line passing through the center of thearea 5, the proportion of thedirect light 1 3 decreases while that of theindirect light 1 4 increases, so that the light beam emitted from the exit portion can be made uniform over the entiretranslucent member 3. - The amount of the aberration of the LED
light source 8 is defined as at least out of the normal line passing through the center of thearea 5, but it should be suitably determined in practice, because in case of an excessively large amount of aberration, the light coming from the LEDlight source 8 is mostly composed of the indirect light and there will also result in a loss of the light beam in thetranslucent member 3. In particular, an extremely large aberration should he avoided since the illumination intensity becomes lower at the side of the LEDlight source 8. -
FIGS. 19A to 19C are given for explaining the difference between the illumination device of the present embodiment and other illumination devices. In these drawings there are shown schematic lateral views of the translucent member and the LED light source, seen from a direction similar to the direction A inFIG. 17A and corresponding illumination intensity distributions along the longitudinal direction of the translucent member.FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate reference examples to be compared with the device of the present embodiment, whileFIG. 19C illustrates the device of the present embodiment. -
FIG. 19A shows an example employing a translucent member of circular cross section, which is positioned so that the center thereof coincides with the center of the LED light source and the center lies on the normal line passing through the center of thearea 5. AlsoFIG. 19B shows an example employing a translucent member of rectangular cross section, which is positioned so that the crossing point of the diagonals of the rectangular cross section coincides with the center of the LED light source and the center lies on the normal line passing through the center of thearea 5. - On the other hand
FIG. 19C shows an example of the illumination device of the present embodiment, employing a translucent member of rectangular cross section, wherein the center of the LEDlight source 8 is aberrated by a distance “a” from the normal line passing through the center of the width of thearea 5. - In all the cases, the center of the light source is separated by a same distance “a” from a face of the translucent member on which the
area 5 is formed. - The light emitted from the LED
light source 8 and introduced into the translucent member can be divided into direct incident light entering thearea 5 directly without any reflection on the internal walls of the translucent member, and indirect incident light entering thearea 5 after at least a reflection on the internal walls of the translucent member. - The amount of the direct incident light depends on the angle Δθ of the
area 5 seen from the LEDlight source 8, and increases with an increase in the angle. In the arrangements shown inFIGS. 19A and 19B , where the LED light source is positioned directly above thearea 5, the angle can be represented as Δθ={2tan−1(w/2)/2}≅w/a, wherein “w” is the width of thearea 5 and “a” is the distance along the normal line from the LED light source to the light exit face. - On the other hand, in the present embodiment shown in
FIG. 19C , wherein the LED light source is not positioned directly above thearea 5 but is aberrated laterally by a distance “a”, the angle can be represented as Δθ=2tan−1{(w/2×21/2)/21/2×a }≅w/2a, and is therefore about a half of the angle that is depicted in the arrangements shown inFIGS. 19A and 19B . - For this reason, the amount of the direct incident light becomes lower in the present embodiment than in the conventional configurations. On the other hand, the amount of indirect incident light increases correspondingly. As a result, the entire illumination intensity distribution is improved, because of the relaxation of the peak in the vicinity of the LED light source.
- These situations will be readily understood from the curves of the relative illumination intensity as a function of the distance from the light source. In the case of
FIGS. 19A and 19B , the direct incident light has a peak and shows a high light amount at the side of the light source, so that the total light amount, consisting of the direct and indirect incident lights, is uneven, having a peak at the side of the light source. On the other hand, the present embodiment shown inFIG. 19C provides a uniform light amount over the entire device, though the light amount at the light source side is lowered. Consequently, the illumination device of the present embodiment is more convenient for use. -
FIGS. 20A to 20C show a variation of the illumination device of the present invention shown inFIGS. 17A to 17C . The variation is different from the latter in that thetranslucent member 3 is provided with a protrudingportion 35, and thearea 5 is formed on an end face of the protrudingportion 35, in order to further reduce the direct incident light from the LED light source. - As the
area 5 is formed on the lower face of the protrudingportion 35, extended from aface 31 of thetranslucent member 3, as shown inFIGS. 19A to 19C , the amount of direct incident light from the LED light source to thearea 5 becomes smaller in comparison with the case shown inFIGS. 17A to 17C . Stated differently, most of the light emitted from the LED light source does not enter thearea 5 directly but after at least a reflection within thetranslucent member 3. - Thus, in the illumination device shown in
FIGS. 20A to 20C , the amount of direct incident light decreases and the proportion of the indirect incident light becomes even higher. In comparison with the case shown inFIG. 19C , the illumination intensity at the light source side is lower due to the decreased proportion of the direct incident light, and the illumination intensity of the indirect incident light increases, though slightly, due to the increased proportion of the indirect incident light. - Consequently, in the configuration shown in
FIGS. 20A to 20C , providing thetranslucent member 3 with a protruding portion and forming thearea 5 on the end face thereof allows obtaining a higher illumination intensity with improved uniformity. -
FIGS. 21A to 21C show another variation of the device shown inFIGS. 17A to 17C . In this variation, thetranslucent member 3 is extended to a side opposite to the LED light source, with respect to thearea 5. - Such a configuration achieves more uniform illumination intensity for the indirect incident light, so that, though the illumination intensity is higher at the light source side, the illumination intensity becomes more uniform in the remaining portion excluding a part at the light source side.
-
FIGS. 22A to 22C show an illumination device in which the configurations shown inFIGS. 20A to 20C andFIGS. 21A to 21C are combined. More specifically, the translucent member is provided, on a face opposite to the light exit face, with a protrudingportion 35, and thearea 5 is formed on the end face of the protrudingportion 35, and thetranslucent member 3 is extended to a side opposite to thelight source 8 with respect to thearea 5. - In such a combined structure, the
area 5 principally receives the indirect incident light more reflected within thetranslucent member 3, so that the illumination intensity distribution becomes more uniform for the indirect incident light. The situation for the direct incident light is similar to the configuration shown inFIGS. 20A to 20C . - Consequently, the total illumination intensity becomes more uniform in comparison with the case shown in
FIGS. 20A to 20C , since the contribution of the indirect incident light is made more uniform. - The light amount of the LED light source is less than that of the incandescent electric bulb. For increasing the light amount, the number of the LED chips can be increased.
- For positioning a larger number of the LED light sources while satisfying the principle of the present invention, the end face of the translucent member, where the LED light sources are to be positioned, can be made larger.
- For example, as shown in
FIG. 23A , an increase in the light amount can be achieved by positioning anLED light source 8 also on the extended side of thetranslucent member 3. In such a case, both the direct and indirect incident lights to thearea 5 increase, but the illumination intensity can be made more uniform over the entire area, without local increase at the side of the LEDlight source 8, by suitably balancing the amounts of the direct and indirect incident lights from the LEDlight source 8 to the area 5 (for example, by suitably separating the position of the LEDlight source 8 from the protruding portion 35 (area 5)). - On the other hand, if the
LED light sources 8 on both sides of the area 5 (protruding portion 35) are separated from thearea 5, the illumination intensity may decrease at the side of theLED light sources 8 due to the decrease of the direct incident light into thearea 5 and may increase at the side far from theLED light sources 8 due to the increased proportion of the indirect incident light into thearea 5. In such a case, there may be provided an additionalLED light source 8, as shown inFIG. 23B , in a position corresponding to the area 5 (protruding portion 35) of the translucent member. Such an arrangement increases the illumination intensity both at the side of theLED light sources 8 and at the side far therefrom. Naturally, such an arrangement of theLED light sources 8 is to be designed in consideration of the balance of the direct and indirect incident lights into thearea 5. - Since the illumination intensity of the illumination device is approximately proportional to the number of the LED chips, the configuration as shown in
FIG. 23A or 23B enables an additional increase in the illumination intensity. - The arrangement of the LED light sources as shown in
FIG. 23A or 23B, which has little effect on the size of the illumination device in comparison with those shown inFIGS. 21A to 21C and 22A to 22C, is desirable in case a higher illumination intensity is required. - For achieving a more uniform and higher illumination intensity, it is desirable, instead of providing the
LED light source 8 only at an end face of thetranslucent member 3 as in the foregoing embodiments, to provide theLED light sources 8 on both end faces of thetranslucent member 3. - An example of such an arrangement is shown in
FIGS. 24A to 24C , whereinFIG. 24A is a schematic lateral view of the illumination device of the present embodiment, illustrated together with an original constituting the illuminated surface, whileFIG. 24B is a schematic cross-sectional view of thetranslucent member 3 and thearea 5 along a plane perpendicular to the plane ofFIG. 24A , andFIG. 24C is a schematic lateral view of the illumination device seen from a direction A shown inFIG. 24A . - As shown in these drawings, the illumination device of the present embodiment is provided with the
LED light sources 8 on both end faces of thetranslucent member 3, so that the illumination intensity can be increased further and the distribution of the illumination intensity can be made symmetrical along the longitudinal direction of thetranslucent member 3. Also in the foregoingembodiments 4 to 8, there may naturally be provided theLED light sources 8 on both end faces of thetranslucent member 3. SuchLED light sources 8 are preferably provided in the same number and arranged in a similar manner on both end faces, but such conditions are not essential. - In an information processing apparatus, such as a facsimile apparatus, the area read by the line sensor in a scanning period, in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction, namely in the direction of relative movement between the original and the sensor, is not so large. Also, among the light scattered and/or reflected in the
area 5, only a portion emitted from the exit portion opposite to the illuminated surface contributes to the illumination thereof, as illustrated inFIG. 41 , and, since the admitted light is diffuse, the illumination intensity on the illuminated surface declines rapidly with an increase in distance from the light exit portion of thetranslucent member 3 to the illuminated surface. - Therefore, if a higher illumination intensity is desired, it is effective to condense the light, emitted from the
translucent member 3, by means of a lens. -
FIGS. 25A to 25C show an example of such an arrangement, in which acylindrical lens 9 is provided, facing the illuminated surface and along thetranslucent member 3 of the illumination device shown inFIGS. 24A to 24C . As shown inFIGS. 25A to 25C , thecylindrical lens 9 is effectively positioned so that the center thereof corresponds to thearea 5, but such positioning is not essential as long as the necessary illumination intensity can be obtained. - Such a lens arrangement, being capable of illumination of the illuminated surface by condensation of the light emitted from the
translucent member 3, allows increasing the average illumination intensity, though the distribution thereof is substantially not affected. - Such an arrangement enables the use of a sensor of a lower sensitivity, or image reading with higher speed if the sensitivity of the sensor is not changed. It can also resolve the loss in the light amount resulting from the color filters used in color image reading, while maintaining a sufficiently high image reading speed.
- The above-explained
area 5, formed by a coarse surface or by coating with the light diffusing paint can uniformly diffuse the incident light, but it is not satisfactory in terms of the efficiency of utilization of the light emitted from the LEDlight source 8, since a proportion of the light returns to the end face of thetranslucent member 3. To further increase the average illumination intensity, therefore, the above-mentionedarea 5 may be replaced by a reflecting face of sawtooth shape. -
FIGS. 26A to 26C show an embodiment in which thearea 5 of the illumination device, shown inFIGS. 17A to 17C , is formed as a reflecting face of sawtooth shape. The sawtooth-shaped reflecting face of thearea 5 can be formed, in a part of the lateral face of thetranslucent member 3, by integral molding with thetranslucent member 3, or by cutting work thereon, or by adhesion of a separate sawtooth-shaped member onto the lateral face of thetranslucent member 3 with adhesive material or by ultrasonic adhesion. Among these, the integral molding with thetranslucent member 3 is preferable in consideration of the cost and the decrease of the manufacturing steps. The surface of thearea 5 constituting the sawtooth-shaped reflecting face is preferably subjected to the evaporation of a bright metal such as aluminum or silver. - As shown in
FIG. 26A , a part of the light emitted from the LED light-source 8 enters thearea 5, is reflected by the reflecting face of thearea 5 and illuminates the illuminated surface. Since thearea 5 in this case is not composed of a coarse surface or a coating of the light diffusing paint, the light entering thearea 5 is substantially not subjected to diffuse reflection. Consequently, the incident light is efficiently reflected toward the illuminated surface. - Now reference is made to
FIGS. 27 and 28 for further explaining the sawtooth-shaped reflecting face constituting thearea 5. -
FIG. 27 is a schematic cross-sectional view of thetranslucent member 3, andFIG. 28 is a partial magnified view ofFIG. 27 . The light L emitted from the LEDlight source 8 enters thetranslucent member 3 through theentrance end face 4, and propagates in thetranslucent member 3, repeating reflections therein. A part of the light L reaches the sawtooth-shaped reflectingface 7 of thearea 5 after being reflected in thetranslucent member 3, then is reflected in thearea 5 and emerges from thetranslucent member 3. - In this manner, the light from the LED
light source 8 enters the reflecting faces 7, arranged along the X-direction, of thearea 5, then is reflected by the reflecting faces and is taken out to the exterior. - The angle θ of the incident light from the LED
light source 8 to the X-axis in the translucent member satisfies a relation −θc<θ<θc, wherein θc is the critical angle determined by the refractive indexes of the translucent member and of the external medium (normally air). - Also, when the light propagates by repeating total reflections on the lateral face of the translucent member, the angle θ of such propagating light satisfies a condition -(90-θ)<θ<(90-θc), because the light has to have an angle exceeding the critical angle θc with respect to the normal line to the lateral face.
- Consequently, in order that the light beam emitted from the LED
light source 8 and entering the translucent member through the end face thereof can propagate in the member by repeated reflections, the angle θ of the light beam with respect to the X-axis has to satisfy the narrower one of the above-mentioned two conditions. - If θlim is taken as the smaller one of θc and (90-θc), there should be satisfied a condition −θlim<θ<θlim.
- In order that the light beam can enter and be reflected by the sawtooth-shaped reflecting faces 7, the angle θ of the light beam has to be in the negative range, or a range from 0 to θlim, as shown in
FIG. 28 . If the angle α of each reflectingface 7, with respect to the X-axis, is selected as α={90+(−θlim/2)}/2, the light beam is reflected within an angular range of 90° ±(θlim/2) with respect to the X-axis and is released to the exterior through an exit area positioned opposite to thearea 5. If the exit area and the X-axis are substantially parallel, the incident angle of the light beam to the exit area does not exceed (θlim/2). Since θlim is defined as the smaller one of θc and (90-θc), there stands a relation θlim≦θc, indicating that the incident angle to the exit area is smaller than the critical angle. - Consequently, there is reduced the proportion of the light which is totally reflected on the exit area, then proceeds inversely in the translucent member and is released from the entrance end face thereof, and there is obtained an illumination device of a higher illumination intensity, with a higher efficiency of utilization of the light.
- Even if the above-mentioned angle α does not completely coincide with the foregoing definition {90+(−θlim/2)}/2, a similar effect can be obtained as long as a condition: (90-θc)<α<(90 +θc-θlim) is satisfied, because the incident angle of the light beam reflected by the sawtooth-shaped reflecting faces 7 and entering the exit area exceeds the critical angle θc.
- For example, if the
translucent member 3 is composed of acrylic resin, there is obtained a condition θlim=θc≅42°. Thus, by selecting the angle α as {90+(−42/2)}/2=34.5≅35°, it is possible to efficiently take out the light beam, entering from the LEDlight source 8, from thetranslucent member 3. In terms of the angle α mentioned above, this corresponds to acondition 24°<α<47°. - If the diameter of the
translucent member 3 is sufficiently smaller than the length thereof, the light propagating therein is almost uniformly distributed within a range from +θlim to −θlim. It is therefore preferable to select the angle α as close as possible to 90+(−θlim/2) because the principal ray of the emerging light beam becomes perpendicular to the exit area. -
FIGS. 29A to 29C and 30A to 30C respectively show variations of the illumination devices shown inFIGS. 20A to 20C and 21A to 21C, wherein thearea 5 is modified to the sawtooth-shaped reflecting faces 7. - Such sawtooth-shaped reflecting faces formed on the end face of the protruding
portion 35 allow not only to reduce the unevenness in the illumination intensity but also to increase the average illumination intensity. - As explained in the foregoing, the light entering the
translucent member 3 may be released to the exterior upon reaching the end face thereof, and such phenomenon results in a lowered efficiency of light utilization. Such loss is mostly represented by a proportion of the light that has never entered thearea 5 during repeated reflections within thetranslucent member 3. Also, among the light emitted from the LEDlight source 8, an angular component perpendicular to the lateral faces of thetranslucent member 3 or close thereto repeats the reflections between the lateral faces, as shown inFIG. 33 , and does not easily enter thearea 5. It is therefore possible to further improve the illumination efficiency by causing a reflection so as to facilitate the entry of the light into thearea 5 in the course of propagation within thetranslucent member 3, as will be explained in the following. -
FIGS. 31A to 31C schematically show another embodiment of the illumination device of the present invention, whereinFIG. 31A is a schematic lateral view of the illumination device, illustrated together with an original constituting the illuminated surface, whileFIG. 31B is a schematic cross-sectional view of thetranslucent member 3 and thearea 5, along a plane perpendicular to that ofFIG. 31A , andFIG. 31C is a schematic lateral view of the device, seen from a direction A shown inFIG. 31A . The basic configuration of the illumination device of the present embodiment is the same as that shown inFIGS. 17A to 17C , except that a lateral face of thetranslucent member 3, positioned opposite to thearea 5, is made non-parallel to another lateral face at the side of thearea 5, and that the transversal length of a face, bearing thearea 5 thereon, of thetranslucent member 3 is made shorter than that of the opposite face at the illuminated surface side. Stated differently, a lateral face of thetranslucent member 3, positioned farther from thearea 5, is formed as aninclined face 201, spread toward the illuminated surface. - A part of the light emitted from the LED
light source 8 repeats reflections within thetranslucent member 3 as mentioned above and as illustrated inFIG. 32 , but, in this embodiment, the inclined lateral face modifies the angle of reflection, thereby increasing the probability of entry into thearea 5. As a result, the efficiency of utilization of the light emitted from the LED light source is improved, whereby the illumination intensity can be increased. - Such an inclined lateral wall is also applicable to the foregoing translucent members of other shapes. In any case, the presence of such an inclined lateral face increases the probability of light entry, thereby attaining a further increase in the illumination intensity. As examples,
FIGS. 34A to 34C show a variation, having such an inclinedlateral face 201 in thetranslucent member 3, in the illumination device shown inFIGS. 20A to 20C , andFIGS. 35A to 38C show variations, having similar inclined lateral faces 201 on both lateral faces of thetranslucent member 3, in the embodiments shown inFIGS. 22A to 25C . In the translucent member including the extended portion, as shown inFIGS. 35A to 38C , the inclined face may be formed on at least either of the lateral faces. Also, thearea 5 in these cases may naturally be either of the diffusing type and the reflecting type explained before. - For further increasing the illumination intensity, as explained in the foregoing, it is effective to condense the light beam, emerging from the translucent member, with a lens. However, if such lens is incorporated as a separate component into the illumination device, there will result an increase in the cost, because of the high precision required for alignment of the lens, and of an increased number of assembling steps. Also, since the lens is formed as a separate component, there will result a loss of the light, at the entry of the emerging light into the lens, by reflection on the lens surface. Although such a loss by reflection is about 4% at maximum, such a loss should naturally be prevented in order to increase the illumination intensity.
- Such a reflection loss can be substantially avoided by applying an antireflective treatment to the lens surface. However, such a treatment raises the cost, because of the steps required for such an antireflective treatment. Also, the antireflective treatment can resolve the problem of reflection on the lens surface, but is unable to resolve the above-mentioned problems associated with the precision of assembling or the number of steps required therefor.
- It is therefore desirable, in the formation of the translucent member with a plastic material such as acrylic resin or with glass, to integrally form the lens at the same time. With either material, the translucent member and the lens can be integrally formed, for example, by molding.
-
FIGS. 39A to 39C schematically show another embodiment of the illumination device of the present invention, whereinFIG. 39A is a schematic lateral view of the device, illustrated together with an original constituting the illuminated surface,FIG. 39B is a schematic cross-sectional view of thetranslucent member 3 and thearea 5 along a plane perpendicular to that ofFIG. 39A , andFIG. 39C is a schematic lateral view of the device, seen from a direction A shown inFIG. 39A . The basic structure of this embodiment is the same as that shown inFIG. 17A to 17C , except that a face of thetranslucent member 3, opposite to the face bearing thearea 5 thereon, is formed as aconvex lens 36. - With such a configuration, the light beam diffused and reflected in the
area 5 is condensed by the function of thelens portion 36. In the device shown inFIGS. 39A to 39C , the light diffused and reflected in thearea 5 emerges from thelens portion 36 of thetranslucent member 3 in a state of a substantially parallel light beam, as will be explained in the following with reference toFIG. 40 . - As shown in
FIG. 40 , a part of the light emitted from the LEDlight source 8 enters thearea 5 after at least a reflection in thetranslucent member 3. The incident light to thearea 5 is diffusely reflected therein, and a part of the light is reflected again in thetranslucent member 3, while the remaining part proceeds toward thelens portion 36, and, upon emerging therefrom, it is condensed by the lens effect thereof and is emitted, in a state of a substantially parallel light beam, toward the illuminated surface. - Therefore, since the illuminated surface can be illuminated with a sufficiently high illumination intensity even when the illumination device is distanced from the surface, there can be achieved extremely efficient illumination. Also, for the same reason, the information processing apparatus employing the illumination device has a larger freedom in designing.
- Furthermore, the structure shown in
FIGS. 39A to 39C can achieve more uniform illumination, in comparison with the structure shown inFIGS. 17A to 17C , because thetranslucent member 3 is extended laterally by thelens portion 36. - In the present invention, the lens is not required to completely condense (or focus) the light, which is diffused or reflected in the
area 5, onto the illuminated surface. - The above-explained
translucent member 3 with lens function can not only achieve compactization and cost reduction, but can also provide an illumination device with more uniform illumination intensity. Suchtranslucent member 3 with lens function is not limited to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 39A to 39C , but, as illustrated inFIGS. 42A to 46C , the lens function may naturally be given to thetranslucent members 3 of the illumination devices shown inFIGS. 20A to 20C , 31A to 31C, 36A to 36C and 37A to 37C. - The intensity of the indirect incident light emitted from the LED light source and entering the
area 5 decreases as the light propagates inside the translucent member 3 (or as the distance from the LED light source increases). Also, the intensity of the direct incident light entering thearea 5 decreases as the distance from the LED light source increases. Consequently, the illumination intensity at the center of the translucent member tends to become lower if it is extended longitudinally, even when it is provided with the LED light sources at both ends.FIG. 48A shows the relative illumination intensity along the longitudinal direction of thetranslucent member 3, in the illumination device shown inFIGS. 45A to 45C . As will be apparent from these charts, the distribution of the illumination intensity is significantly uniform in comparison with that in the conventional devices. Nevertheless, the relative illumination intensity is lower in the central portion in the longitudinal direction, and it is desirable to rectify such unevenness, as will be explained in the following. -
FIGS. 46A to 46C schematically illustrate another embodiment of the illumination device of the present invention, whereinFIG. 46A is a schematic lateral view of the device, illustrated together with an original constituting the illuminated surface,FIG. 46B is a schematic cross-sectional view of thetranslucent member 3 and thearea 5 along a plane perpendicular to that ofFIG. 46A , andFIG. 46C is a schematic lateral view of the device, seen from a direction A shown inFIG. 46A . - As shown in these drawings, the illumination device of the present embodiment is provided with the
LED light sources 8 on both end faces of thetranslucent member 3 having a lens portion (light condensing portion). Thetranslucent member 3 is further provided, in a position opposite to the lens portion, with a protrudingportion 35, and thearea 5 is formed on the end face of the protrudingportion 35. The cross section of thetranslucent member 3 is trapezoidal, with the shorter side closer to thearea 5, bearing a convex lens portion thereon. On each end face, there are provided threeLED light sources 8, one being at a position corresponding to thearea 5 and the remaining two being positioned on both sides thereof. Also, in the illustrated device, thetranslucent member 3 is made thinner in the central portion in the longitudinal direction, than in the end portions thereof. -
FIGS. 47A and 47B are respectively a schematic plan view and a schematic lateral view of the device of the present embodiment, andFIGS. 47B and 47C respectively correspond toFIGS. 46A and 46C . In the present embodiment, as shown in these drawings, the outstretched portions of the translucent member decrease toward the center in the longitudinal direction, so that the cross sectional area of the member decreases from both ends thereof toward the center. -
FIG. 48B shows the illumination intensity distribution of the above-explained illumination device, along the longitudinal direction of thetranslucent member 3. When thetranslucent member 3 is constricted in shape at the central portion as in the present embodiment, the illumination intensity in the central portion increases because the light emitted by the LEDlight source 8 at an end has a higher probability of entering the area 5 (namely becoming the indirect incident light) before reaching the other end. More specifically, the light proceeding from an end to the other by repeated reflections is eventually reflected by theinclined face 201 to constitute the indirect incident light, due to the decrease of the out-stretched portions. Consequently, in comparison with the case without such constriction, the amount of the incident light to thearea 5 increases, whereby the illumination intensity over the entire area, particularly that in an area distant from the LED light source, can be increased. - The amount of the constriction is preferably determined in consideration of the length, thickness and cross sectional area of the translucent member, the width of the
area 5, arrangement of the LED light source, etc. - When the translucent member has the lens portion, it is desirable that the constriction does not affect the characteristic, for example the shape, of the lens portion, and it is also desirable to maintain a constant distance between the
area 5 and the lens face. - Also, the shape of the constriction may be linear as shown in the foregoing drawings, or may be curved or a combination of these shapes.
- Furthermore, the
translucent member 3 may be formed as shown inFIG. 49 . Thetranslucent member 3, excluding the lens portion, has a rectangular entrance end face for the light from the LED light source, and a trapezoidal cross section with the shorter side at the bottom, at the central portion in the longitudinal direction. In a position closer to the center from the entrance end face, the cross section is rectangular with cut-off lower comers, and the cut-off areas are progressively enlarged to develop into the inclined lateral faces of the trapezoidal cross section. - Such illustrated form can provide an illumination device having more uniform illumination intensity characteristics in the longitudinal direction.
-
FIGS. 50A to 50C show a variation in which thearea 5 of the illumination device shown inFIGS. 46A to 46C is changed from the diffusing surface to the sawtooth-shaped reflecting faces explained before. If the angle of the light condensing part, seen from thearea 5, is sufficiently large (for example 60° or larger, though it depends on the depth and shape of the protruding portion), the incident angle to thearea 5 becomes close to the perpendicular entry, but the sawtooth-shaped reflecting faces employed in the present embodiment reflect the incident light principally to the light condensing part, whereby the light emerges therefrom in a parallel or substantially parallel light beam. Consequently, the configuration of the present embodiment provides an illumination device with a higher illumination intensity which is more uniform in the longitudinal direction. -
FIGS. 51A to 51C show a variation in which acylindrical lens 9 as the light condensing part is added to the illumination device shown inFIGS. 50A to 50C . Such a configuration, being capable of further condensing the emerging parallel light beam, can illuminate the object surface with a further increased intensity. - In the following there will be explained the method of mounting the LED light source. In the foregoing embodiments there have been explained the arrangements of the LED light sources, but the specific mounting method therefor has not been explained. In the following there will be given a detailed explanation of such a mounting method. Such a mounting method is applicable to any of the aforementioned illumination devices, or to any variation or combination thereof.
- In the mounting of the LED light source, there are required the mounting precisely at the designed position, a simple mounting process including the maintenance of precision, and the possibility of introduction of the light from the LED light source into the translucent member with minimum loss. The mounting method for the LED light source has no particular limitation, as long as these requirements are met.
- A simplest example of the mounting method is to adhere the LED chip onto the end face of the translucent member. However, such an adhesion method does not allow easy replacement of the LED light source, and may lead to certain drawbacks, such as peeling of adhesive or breakage of the LED due to the expansion and contraction resulting from variations in temperature and humidity, particularly when the translucent member is composed of a resinous material such as acrylic resin.
- Also, if the LED light source is positioned separate from the translucent member, there may result a light loss due to a variation in the distance between the LED light source and the end face of the translucent member, resulting from expansion and contraction thereof.
-
FIG. 52 shows a mounting method capable of avoiding these drawbacks. - In this embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 52 , thetranslucent member 3 has a protrudingportion 3 a on the end face thereof, and the LEDlight source 8 is provided with a reflectingframe 83 extended so as to fit on the protrudingportion 3 a. - Such a structure can avoid the light leakage to the exterior due to the presence of the reflecting
frame 83, despite the eventual presence of a gap between the external surface of transparent sealingresin 84 and theentrance end face 4 of thetranslucent member 3. Also, since a part of the light reflected by the reflectingframe 83 enters thetranslucent member 3 through theentrance end face 4, the efficiency of utilizing the light, emitted from theLED chip 81, can be improved. The reflectingframe 83 may be adhered to the protrudingportion 3 a of thetranslucent member 3, but it is preferably fitted merely on the protruding portion, in order to relax the stress resulting from the expansion or contraction of thetranslucent member 3 and the reflectingframe 83. - Also, the precision of positioning of the LED
light source 8 can be improved by fitting thelight source 8 onto the protrudingportion 3 a formed on thetranslucent member 3, and the mounting process can be simplified if the mount is conducted by mere fitting only. -
FIG. 53 shows a variation of the mounting method for the LED light source shown inFIG. 52 . In this variation, the LED chip is surface mounted on a mountingboard 11, and is surrounded by a reflectingframe 10, which is made of white resin or a metal integrated with theboard 11 and is fitted on the protrudingportion 3 a. - Such a configuration allows one to obtain illuminating characteristics matching the requested performance in an easier manner, since the protruding
portion 3 a can be formed with a desired shape and size and the LED light source can be mounted on such a protruding portion. - An additional reflecting portion may be formed in at least a part of the area, other than the mounting area for the LED light source. The presence of such reflecting portion causes the light, returning from the other end face of the translucent member, to continue the internal reflections without being released from the entrance end face, thereby improving the efficiency of light utilization.
- The presence of the above-mentioned
protruding portion 3 a is not essential, but is preferable in consideration of the aforementioned improvement in the positioning accuracy. The protrudingportion 3 a can be molded simultaneously with the formation of thetranslucent member 3, but it may also be formed, if necessary, by cutting and/or grinding. - The LED light source may also be mounted by fitting into a recess formed on the entrance end face of the translucent member. Such a mounting method causes a loss in a part of the light emitted from the LED chip, but is effective in the positioning precision and in a smaller protruding distance in the mounting portion.
-
FIG. 54 is a schematic perspective view of an example of the photoelectric converting device, utilizing the illumination device of the present invention shown inFIG. 53 and constituting an image reading device. There are shown asensor substrate 14, a protectingglass 15, and acasing 16 of the photoelectric converting device. On thesensor substrate 14, there is provided a one-dimensional array (or plural arrays) of a plurality of photoelectric converting elements, which are formed utilizing a thin semiconductor layer for example of amorphous silicon or polysilicon. Theprotective glass 15 is provided on the plural photoelectric converting elements (not illustrated), for protecting the elements from eventual breakage caused by the contact with the moving original. Thecasing 16 is provided therein with a space for fitting with the illumination device and thecylindrical lens 9, which are set in a predetermined position by insertion from an end face of thecasing 16. TheLED light sources 8 are mounted on a mountingboard 11 and mounted on the protrudingportion 3 a of thetranslucent member 3 by fitting the reflectingframe 10 thereon, and the mountingboard 11 is fixed by ascrew 162 fitted into a threadedhole 161 formed on the casing. - The
translucent member 3 is provided with mountingportions 37, engaging with thecasing 16. Naturally, the mountingportions 37 are not essential, nor are they limited to the illustrated shape. Such mountingportions 37 may naturally be provided also in thetranslucent members 3 in the foregoingembodiments 1 to 14 - In the following, there will be explained application of the illumination device of the present invention to an information processing apparatus.
-
FIG. 55 illustrates an example of the information processing apparatus (for example, a facsimile apparatus) utilizing the photoelectric converting device of the present invention. - There are shown a
feed roller 102 for feeding an original 17 to a reading position; a separating member 104 for securely separating the originals P one by one; and atransport roller 18 provided at the image reading position of a photoelectric convertingdevice 100, for defining the image reading plane of the original 17 and also serving to transport the original 17. - A recording medium W, in the form of rolled paper, is subjected to formation of an image read by the photoelectric converting
device 100, or, in the case of a facsimile, an image transmitted from the outside. Arecording head 110, for the image formation, can be of various types such as a thermal head or an ink jet recording head. Also, the recording head can be of serial type or of line type. Aplaten roller 112 is provided for transporting the recording medium W to the recording position by therecording head 110 and for defining the recording plane of the recording medium. - An
operation panel 120 is provided with switches for entering commands for operations, and with a display unit for displaying messages and a status of the apparatus. - There are further provided a
system control board 130, provided thereon with a control unit for controlling various units of the apparatus, a driving circuit for the photoelectric converting elements, a processing unit for the image information, a transmission-reception unit, etc., and apower source 140 for the apparatus. -
FIGS. 56 and 57 are schematic magnified views of the photoelectric converting device, employable in the information processing apparatus shown inFIG. 55 .FIG. 56 shows the case of a contact sensor, utilizing the photoelectric converting device (image reading device) shown inFIG. 54 .FIG. 57 shows the case of a system employing an imagingoptical system 19, wherein the original 17 is illuminated by the light emitted by illumination means of theembodiment 14 shown inFIGS. 46A to 46C , and the reflected light, corresponding to the image information, is focused on the photoelectric convertingdevice 20 through the imagingoptical system 19. - It is also possible, as shown in
FIG. 58 , to form an imagingoptical system 25 at the original side, and to read the image by focusing, through a protective layer (protective glass) 23, on a photoelectric convertingdevice 22 formed on asensor substrate 21, utilizing a thin semiconductor layer. - In both cases, the original surface was illuminated with extremely uniform distribution of illumination intensity, so that the image could be read in an extremely excellent state.
- Also, other illumination devices explained in the foregoing
embodiments 1 to 13 enable much superior image reading, in comparison with the case employing the conventional illumination devices. - The illumination device of the present invention, being capable of providing a sufficiently high light amount, is also suitable for color image reading. Also, for modifying the color temperature or the hue of the illuminating light, a filter may be provided between the LED light source and the end face of the
translucent member 3, or the translucent member itself may be dyed. In the case of such a dyeing, the entrance end face is preferably dyed, but, if surficial dyeing is enough for the purpose, the light exit face of the translucent member is preferably dyed. This is because, if the entire translucent member is dyed or colored, the light is attenuated significantly in the course of internal reflections, whereby the light intensity becomes lower in the central portion or in a position distant from the LED light source. - For image output applicable to the information processing apparatus shown in
FIG. 55 , there can be considered, as explained above, the thermal transfer recording method or thermal recording method utilizing the thermal head, and the ink jet recording method utilizing the ink jet recording head. - In the following, there will be explained an embodiment of the information processing apparatus, employing such a recording head as the output means. The following explanation will be limited to the output part only.
- Among various ink jet recording methods, the present invention brings about a particular effect when applied to a recording head of a system utilizing thermal energy for ink discharge, because the entire information processing apparatus can fully enjoy the effect of compactization of the illumination device, as the recording head itself can be made compact.
- The principle and representative configuration of the system are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796. This system is applicable to so-called on-demand recording or continuous recording, but is particularly effective in the on-demand recording because the entire apparatus can be compactized.
- In brief, in this system, an electrothermal converting member positioned corresponding to a liquid channel or a sheet containing liquid therein is given at least a drive signal, corresponding to the recording information and capable of causing a rapid temperature increase exceeding nucleate boiling, to generate thermal energy in the electrothermal converting member, thereby inducing film boiling on a heat action surface of the recording head and forming a bubble in the ink in one-to-one correspondence to the recording signal. The ink is discharged from a discharge opening by the growth and contraction of the bubble, thereby forming at least an ink droplet. The signal is preferably formed as a pulse, as it realizes instantaneous growth and contraction of the bubble, thereby attaining highly responsive discharge of the ink.
- Such a pulse-shaped drive signal is preferably as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,359 and 4,345,262. Also, the conditions described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,313,124 relative to the temperature increase rate of the heat action surface allows one to obtain a further improved recording.
- The configuration of the recording head is given by the combinations of the ink discharge openings, liquid channels and electrothermal converter elements with linear or rectangular liquid channels, as disclosed in the above-mentioned patents, but a configuration disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,333 in which the heat action part is positioned in a flexed area, and a configuration disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,459,600 also belong to the present invention.
- Furthermore, the present invention is effective in a structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 59-123670, having a slit common to plural electrothermal converter elements as a discharge opening therefor, or in a structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 59-138461, having an aperture for absorbing the pressure wave of thermal energy, in correspondence with each discharge opening.
- A full-line type recording head, capable of simultaneously recording over the entire width of the recording sheet, may be obtained by plural recording heads combined so as to provide the required length as disclosed in the above-mentioned patents, or may be constructed as a single integrated recording head.
- Furthermore, there may be employed a recording head of an interchangeable chip type, which can receive an ink supply from the main apparatus and can be electrically connected therewith upon mounting on the main apparatus, or a recording head of cartridge type in which an ink cartridge is integrally constructed with the recording head.
- Also, the information processing apparatus of the present invention is preferably provided with the discharge recovery means and other auxiliary means for the recording head, in order to realize a further advanced maintenance-free system.
- Examples of such means for the recording head include capping means, cleaning means, pressurizing or suction means, heating means composed for example of an electrothermal converter element for heating the recording head, and means for effecting an idle ink discharge independent from the recording operation, all of which are effective for achieving stable recording operation.
- Furthermore, the recording mode is not limited to recording of a single main color, such as black, but also covers recording of plural colors or a full-color image, by means either of an integrally constructed recording head or of a combination of plural recording heads.
- In the foregoing explanation, the ink is assumed to be liquid, but there may also be employed ink which is solid below room temperature but softens at room temperature. In the above-explained ink jet recording system, the ink itself is usually temperature controlled within a range of 30° C.-70° C. for maintaining the ink viscosity within a stable discharge range, so that the ink needs to be liquid only when the recording signal is given. In addition, there may also be employed ink which is intentionally changed from solid to liquid by heating with thermal energy.
- In the following, there will be given a brief explanation of an ink jet recording head, utilized in such an ink discharge recording system utilizing thermal energy.
-
FIG. 59 is a schematic view of such an ink jet recording head, composed ofelectrothermal converter elements 1103, electrodes 1104,liquid channels 1105 and aceiling plate 1106, formed on asubstrate 1102 through a semiconductor process involving the steps of etching, evaporation, sputtering, etc. Therecording ink 1112 is supplied from an unrepresented ink reservoir to acommon ink chamber 1108 of therecording head 1101 through asupply pipe 1107, provided with aconnector 1109 therefor. - The
ink 1112 in thecommon ink chamber 1108 is supplied into theliquid channel 1110 by capillary action, and is stably held therein, by forming a meniscus at the discharge opening (orifice) at the end thereof. Electric power supply to theelectrothermal converter element 1103 rapidly heats the liquid thereon, thus forming a bubble in the liquid chamber, and the liquid is discharged from theopening 1111 by the expansion and contraction of the bubble, thereby forming a liquid droplet. - The above-explained configuration allows to arrange the discharge openings with a high density such as 16 nozzle/mm or even higher, thereby obtaining an ink jet head with 128 or 256 discharge openings, or even a full-line ink jet recording head having an array of the discharge openings over the entire recording width.
-
FIG. 60 is a schematic perspective view of the external structure of an output unit utilizing the ink jet recording method. - In
FIG. 60 there are shown an inkjet recording head 1801 for discharging ink according to the recording signals, thereby recording a desired image; and acarriage 1802 for moving therecording head 1801 in the recording (main scanning) direction. Thecarriage 1802 is slidably supported byguide shafts timing belt 1808, which is supported bypulleys carriage motor 1805 through thepulley 1807. - A
recording sheet 1809 is guided by apaper pan 1810, and is pressed, by pinch rollers, to an unrepresented transport roller for transporting the sheet. - The sheet transportation is achieved by a feeding
motor 1816. The transportedrecording sheet 1809 is given a tension by adischarge roller 1813 and agrooved roller 1814, and is transported in close contact with aheater 1811, by means of anelastic pressure plate 1812. Thus therecording sheet 1809, bearing thereon the ink, discharged from therecording head 1801 and deposited on the sheet, is heated by theheater 1811, whereby the deposited ink is dried and fixed to therecording sheet 1809. - A
recovery unit 1815 is provided for maintaining the proper ink discharge state of therecording head 1801, by removing the dusts and highly viscous ink, deposited on the discharge openings (not illustrated) of therecording head 1801. - A
cap member 1818 a, constituting a part of therecovery unit 1815, is provided to cap the discharge openings of therecording head 1801, thereby preventing the clogging of the openings. Inside thecap 1818 a, there is preferably provided an inkabsorbent member 1818. - At a side of the
recovery unit 1815, closer to the recording area, there is provided ablade 1817 for coming into contact with a face, having the discharge openings, of therecording head 1801, thereby eliminating the dust and ink sticking to the face. - In the present invention, as shown in a block diagram in
FIG. 61 , the original transported by original transmission means 2007 to the image reading part of animage reading device 2000 is read byphotoelectric converter elements 2001 thereof, then thus obtained electrical signals bearing image information are converted by image processing means (not shown) into electrical signals for recording, and the recording operation is conducted by a controller such as aCPU 2000 controlling thecarriage motor 2003,recording head 2004,sheet feeding motor 2005,recovery unit 2006, etc. - The electrical signals bearing image information may be transmitted through communication means 2008 to another image processing apparatus for image output therein, or may be received from another information processing apparatus through the communication means 2008 and recorded by the above-mentioned
recording head 2004. -
FIG. 62 schematically shows the output unit provided with arecording head 1932 of full-line type. - A
conveyor belt 1965 transports an unrepresented recording medium, by the rotation of atransport roller 1932. Thebottom face 1931 of therecording head 1932 is provided with a plurality of discharge openings, corresponding to the recording area of the recording medium. - Also, in this case the recording operation can be conducted in a similar manner as in the recording head of serial type explained above.
- Naturally, the output units explained above are given as examples, and there can be conceived various modifications.
- However, the above-explained ink discharge system utilizing thermal energy, being capable not only of compactization but also of more highly precise recording, can exhibit the effect of the present invention more conspicuously, and can therefore provide an information processing apparatus excellent in overall performance.
- As explained in detail in the foregoing, the present invention can provide a compact illumination device capable of uniform illumination with a high intensity.
- Also, the present invention can provide an illumination device which is simple in structure and can simplify also the manufacturing process.
- Furthermore, the present invention can provide a photoelectric converting device and an information processing apparatus capable of stable image reading.
- Furthermore, the present invention can provide a secure mounting method for the light source, which is simplified in the mounting steps.
- Furthermore, the present invention can realize a linear light source with reduced unevenness in the amount of illuminating light on the illuminated surface, thereby achieving improved tonal rendition without increasing the burden of image processing.
- The present invention is subject to various modifications within the scope and spirit of the appended claims. Also, the embodiments explained before may naturally be combined in suitable manner.
Claims (2)
1. An information processing apparatus comprising:
an illumination device provided with a longitudinal light guide, for guiding light introduced from a light source and for emitting the light along a longitudinal side thereof, having a longitudinal reflection member arranged along said light guide for reflecting the light from said light source;
a photoelectric converting device having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements for reading an image illuminated by said illumination device and for outputting an image signal; and
a processor for processing the image signal output from said photoelectric converting device.
2. An information processing apparatus comprising:
an illumination device provided with a longitudinal light guide, for guiding light introduced from a plurality of light sources and for emitting the light along a longitudinal side thereof, having a longitudinal reflection member arranged along said light guide for reflecting the light from said plurality of light sources;
a photoelectric converting device having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements for reading an image illuminated by said illumination device and for outputting an image signal; and
a processor for processing the image signal output from said photoelectric converting device.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/508,085 US20090284810A1 (en) | 1993-01-19 | 2009-07-23 | Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
Applications Claiming Priority (10)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP5006925A JP2693098B2 (en) | 1993-01-19 | 1993-01-19 | Light guide, illumination device having light guide, reading device having illumination device, and image processing system |
JP5-6925 | 1993-01-19 | ||
JP5-105983 | 1993-04-09 | ||
JP5105983A JPH06295002A (en) | 1993-04-09 | 1993-04-09 | Linear light source |
US08/183,367 US5499112A (en) | 1993-01-19 | 1994-01-19 | Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
US47175695A | 1995-06-06 | 1995-06-06 | |
US08/948,661 US6512600B1 (en) | 1993-01-19 | 1997-10-10 | Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
US10/295,925 US7057778B2 (en) | 1993-01-19 | 2002-11-18 | Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
US11/336,982 US7593139B2 (en) | 1993-01-19 | 2006-01-23 | Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
US12/508,085 US20090284810A1 (en) | 1993-01-19 | 2009-07-23 | Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
Related Parent Applications (1)
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US08/183,367 Expired - Lifetime US5499112A (en) | 1993-01-19 | 1994-01-19 | Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
US08/948,661 Expired - Fee Related US6512600B1 (en) | 1993-01-19 | 1997-10-10 | Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
US08/984,155 Expired - Lifetime US5905583A (en) | 1993-01-19 | 1997-12-03 | Light guide illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
US10/295,925 Expired - Fee Related US7057778B2 (en) | 1993-01-19 | 2002-11-18 | Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
US11/336,982 Expired - Fee Related US7593139B2 (en) | 1993-01-19 | 2006-01-23 | Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
US12/508,085 Abandoned US20090284810A1 (en) | 1993-01-19 | 2009-07-23 | Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
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US08/183,367 Expired - Lifetime US5499112A (en) | 1993-01-19 | 1994-01-19 | Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
US08/948,661 Expired - Fee Related US6512600B1 (en) | 1993-01-19 | 1997-10-10 | Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
US08/984,155 Expired - Lifetime US5905583A (en) | 1993-01-19 | 1997-12-03 | Light guide illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
US10/295,925 Expired - Fee Related US7057778B2 (en) | 1993-01-19 | 2002-11-18 | Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
US11/336,982 Expired - Fee Related US7593139B2 (en) | 1993-01-19 | 2006-01-23 | Light guide, illuminating device having the light guide, and image reading device and information processing apparatus having the illuminating device |
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EP (1) | EP0607930B1 (en) |
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US8333694B2 (en) * | 2010-01-28 | 2012-12-18 | Olympus Medical Systems Corp. | Illumination unit, endoscope having illumination unit and illumination probe having illumination unit which is inserted into endoscopic channel |
US8780419B2 (en) | 2012-01-26 | 2014-07-15 | Kyocera Document Solutions Inc. | Light guide for guiding light of light source, image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus provided with this light guide |
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US20130308331A1 (en) * | 2012-05-21 | 2013-11-21 | Wintek Corporation | Anti-glare light source |
US11703794B2 (en) | 2017-12-13 | 2023-07-18 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Cartridge and image forming apparatus |
US11927910B2 (en) | 2017-12-13 | 2024-03-12 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Cartridge and image forming apparatus |
US11592766B2 (en) | 2020-12-07 | 2023-02-28 | Canon Kabushiki Kaisha | Toner container and image forming system |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US7057778B2 (en) | 2006-06-06 |
US20060119899A1 (en) | 2006-06-08 |
KR0158247B1 (en) | 1999-03-20 |
EP0607930B1 (en) | 2008-11-19 |
EP0607930A2 (en) | 1994-07-27 |
DE69435168D1 (en) | 2009-01-02 |
US5499112A (en) | 1996-03-12 |
TW305035B (en) | 1997-05-11 |
EP0607930A3 (en) | 1998-03-18 |
KR940018706A (en) | 1994-08-18 |
US20030076551A1 (en) | 2003-04-24 |
US5905583A (en) | 1999-05-18 |
US6512600B1 (en) | 2003-01-28 |
US7593139B2 (en) | 2009-09-22 |
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Legal Events
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