Image scanning device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10911632-B2
Application number	US-202016824962-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2020
Priority date	Apr 26, 2019
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

An image scanning device includes a linear light source to illuminate a linear illumination position of a scan target with light, a lens body, and a sensor. The linear light source includes a light guide, a scatterer, an emitter, a stepped portion, and a light-shielding member. The stepped portion is formed, from the end surface of the transparent body along the main scan direction, on a side of the light guide that is opposite to the illumination position side of the light guide. The light-shielding member covers a portion of the emitter of the light guide, the portion including the end surface of the transparent body, and extends beyond the stepped portion in the main scan direction and has an end portion that is located out of a scan range of the sensor in the main scan direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image scanning device comprising:
a linear light source to illuminate a linear illumination position of a scan target with light;
a lens body to focus the light from the scan target; and
a sensor to receive the light focused by the lens body,
the linear light source including
a light guide being a rod-like transparent body extending along a main scan direction of the sensor and configured to guide, in the main scan direction, light entering the light guide through an end surface of the transparent body,
a scatterer configured to scatter light and formed along the main scan direction on a surface of the light guide that is opposite to an illumination position side of the light guide,
an emitter formed along the main scan direction on a surface of the light guide between the scatterer and the illumination position and configured to emit the light scattered by the scatterer to the illumination position,
a stepped portion formed, from the end surface of the transparent body along the main scan direction, on a side of the light guide that is opposite to the illumination position side of the light guide, and
a light-shielding member covering a portion of the emitter of the light guide, the portion including the end surface of the transparent body, the light-shielding member extending beyond the stepped portion in the main scan direction and having an end portion that is located out of a scan range of the sensor in the main scan direction.

2. The image scanning device according to claim 1 , wherein the linear light source further includes a light guide holder covering the end surface of the transparent body and supporting the light guide.

3. The image scanning device according to claim 2 , wherein the light guide holder includes the light-shielding member.

4. The image scanning device according to claim 3 , wherein the light guide holder includes a projection corresponding to the stepped portion.

5. The image scanning device according to claim 4 , wherein the projection is a light blocking member.

6. The image scanning device according to claim 5 , wherein the light guide holder has a structure dividable into a portion in which the light-shielding member is formed and a portion in which the projection is formed.

7. The image scanning device according to claim 6 , wherein the portion in which the light-shielding member is formed covers the portion in which the projection is formed.

8. The image scanning device according to claim 4 , wherein the light guide holder has a structure dividable into a portion in which the light-shielding member is formed and a portion in which the projection is formed.

9. The image scanning device according to claim 8 , wherein the portion in which the light-shielding member is formed covers the portion in which the projection is formed.

10. An image scanning device comprising:
a linear light source to illuminate a linear illumination position of a scan target with light;
a lens body to focus the light from the scan target; and
a sensor to receive the light focused by the lens body,
the linear light source including
a light guide being a rod-like transparent body extending along a main scan direction of the sensor and configured to guide, in the main scan direction, light entering the light guide through an end surface of the transparent body,
a scatterer configured to scatter light and formed along the main scan direction on a surface of the light guide that is opposite to an illumination position side of the light guide,
an emitter formed along the main scan direction on a surface of the light guide between the scatterer and the illumination position and configured to emit the light scattered by the scatterer to the illumination position,
a stepped portion formed, from the end surface of the transparent body along the main scan direction, on a side of the light guide that is opposite to the illumination position side of the light guide, the stepped portion inclining relative to the main scan direction, and
a light-shielding member covering a portion of the emitter of the light guide, the portion including the end surface of the transparent body, the light-shielding member extending beyond the stepped portion in the main scan direction and having an end portion that is located out of a scan range of the sensor in the main scan direction.

11. The image scanning device according to claim 10 , wherein
the linear light source further includes a light guide holder covering the end surface of the transparent body and supporting the light guide, and
the light guide holder includes the light-shielding member and a projection corresponding to the stepped portion.

12. The image scanning device according to claim 11 , wherein the stepped portion has an angle of inclination of 7° or less relative to the main scan direction.

13. The image scanning device according to claim 10 , wherein the stepped portion has an angle of inclination of 7° or less relative to the main scan direction.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Electric Corp

Inventors

• Matsuzawa Taku
• Ohama Daisuke
• Daijogo Akira

Classifications

• G02B2006/0098

  for scanning · CPC title

• G02B6/0005

  the light guides being of the fibre type (G02B6/0003 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B19/0076

  for use with a detector (G02B19/009, G02B19/0095 take precedence) · CPC title

• G02B5/0278

  used in transmission · CPC title

• H04N1/1295 Primary

  using an optical guide, e.g. a fibre-optic bundle between the scanned line and the scanning elements · CPC title