Capacitance detection device and image reading device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10282932-B2
Application number	US-201816196297-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2018
Priority date	Sep 26, 2016
Publication date	May 7, 2019
Grant date	May 7, 2019

Abstract

A capacitance detection device includes a first electrode and a second electrode that at least partially face each other on opposite sides of a transfer path. An oscillator circuit forms an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode. A detection circuit detects a change in capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode. At least one of the oscillator circuit and the detection circuit is included in each of a first board and a second board. The first board is disposed such that a side surface of the first board faces the first electrode in an electric field direction, and the second board is disposed such that a side surface of the second board faces the second electrode in the electric field direction.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A capacitance detection device for use in an image reading device including a light source, the capacitance detection device comprising:
a first electrode and a second electrode that at least partially face each other on opposite sides of a transfer path extending along a transfer direction in which a sheet-like detection target is transferred;
a first plate that is insulating and includes the first electrode;
a second plate that is insulating and includes the second electrode;
an oscillator circuit to form an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode; and
a detection circuit to detect a change in capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode,
wherein at least one of the first plate and the second plate has a transmittance of light that is equal to or greater than a first threshold, the light being emitted from the light source.

2. The capacitance detection device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of a set including the first plate and the first electrode and a set including the second plate and the second electrode has a transmittance of light that is equal to or greater than a second threshold, the light being emitted from the light source.

3. An image reading device, comprising:
the capacitance detection device according to claim 2 ;
the light source to irradiate a detection target with light; and
an image reader to read an image of the detection target,
wherein the image reader is included inside a housing sealed with at least one of the first plate and the second plate.

4. The image reading device according to claim 3 , wherein at least one of the oscillator circuit and the detection circuit is included inside the housing.

5. An image reading device, comprising:
the capacitance detection device according to claim 1 ;
the light source to irradiate a detection target with light; and
an image reader to read an image of the detection target,
wherein the image reader is included inside a housing sealed with at least one of the first plate and the second plate.

6. The image reading device according to claim 5 , wherein at least one of the oscillator circuit and the detection circuit is included inside the housing.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Electric Corp

Inventors

• Kagano Miki
• Araki Hiroshi
• Shoji Toshiaki
• Matsui Hideki
• Makabe Kazuya
• Miyata Tomoyuki
• Ogomi Tomokazu

Classifications

• G07D7/164

  Thickness · CPC title

• H04N1/02815

  Means for illuminating the original, not specific to a particular type of pick-up head · CPC title

• G07D7/121

  Apparatus characterised by sensor details · CPC title

• G07D7/026 Primary

  using capacitive sensors · CPC title

• H04N1/00795

  Reading arrangements (details of scanning heads H04N1/024; scanning arrangements therefor H04N1/04) · CPC title