Image sensor unit and method for manufacturing image sensor unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9456105-B2
Application number	US-201414767993-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2014
Priority date	Feb 22, 2013
Publication date	Sep 27, 2016
Grant date	Sep 27, 2016

Abstract

Light guides emit light from the side surface thereof toward the subject to be read, the light emitted to one end surface of each of the light guides. A frame is frame shaped, the frame houses the light guides and a lens, the frame including light guide holders that support a first to-be-supported section on the side surface of the light guides. A cover covers at least a part of one opening of the frame, and does not restrict light from passing through between the light guides and the subject to be read, the cover including light guide holders that support a second to-be-supported section opposite of the first to-be-supported section on the side surface of the light guides. The light guides are fixed inside the frame by the flange portion including the light guide holders provided by the frame and the light guide holders provided by the cover.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An image sensor unit, comprising:
a columnar light guide configured to emit a light, emitted to an end surface of the light guide, from a side surface thereof toward a subject to be read;
a light source positioned facing the end surface of the light guide, and configured to emit light toward the end surface of the light guide;
a lens configured to converge the light emitted from the side surface of the light guide and reflected by the subject to be read in a width direction of the light guide;
a frame having frame-shape and configured to house the light guide and the lens, the frame including a first support configured to support a first to-be-supported section on the side surface of the light guide, wherein the first to-be-supported section is provided on both end portions in the lengthwise direction of the light guide;
a cover configured to cover at least a part of one opening of the frame and not to restrict light from passing through from the light guide to the subject to be read, the cover including a second support configured to support a second to-be-supported section on the side surface of the light guide, wherein the second to-be-supported section is opposite to the first to-be-supported section and is provided on both end portions in the lengthwise direction of the light guide;
a line sensor configured to receive the light converged in a width direction of the light guide by the lens; and
a sensor board onto which the line sensor is mounted along a lengthwise direction of the light guide, configured to cover the other opening of the frame,
wherein the light guide is fixed inside the frame by a flange portion composed of the first support of the frame and the second support of the cover.

2. The image sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein
the light source is housed inside the frame, and
the flange portion is configured to block a path from which the light emitted from the light source leaks from the one opening of the frame to the outside of the image sensor unit not passing through the light guide.

3. The image sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein
the light guide is circular columnar shaped and includes a first protrusion provided on the first to-be-supported section,
the frame includes a first hole provided in the first support, and
the light guide is prevented from rotating by fitting the first protrusion into the first hole.

4. The image sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein
the light guide is circular columnar shaped and includes a second protrusion provided on the second to-be-supported section,
the cover includes a second hole provided in the second support, and
the light guide is prevented from rotating by fitting the second protrusion into the second hole.

5. The image sensor unit according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor board is fixed to the frame on an extension line of a line onto which the line sensor is mounted.

6. The image sensor unit according to claim 5 , wherein
the sensor board includes through-holes on the extension line of the line onto which the line sensor is mounted,
the frame includes holes in portions corresponding to the through-holes formed on the sensor board, and
further comprising fastening members that fasten the sensor board with the frame by passing through the through-holes provided in the sensor board and by fitting in the holes provided in the frame.

7. The image sensor unit according to claim 6 , further comprising:
a light source board on which the light source is mounted, the light source board including a flexible portion; and
a connector positioned on the opposite surface of the sensor board, the connector configured to couple the light source board with an external device,
wherein the frame includes a through-hole, and
the flexible portion of the light source board passes through the through-hole provided in the frame, extends over the fastening members and couples with the connector.

8. The image sensor unit according to claim 5 , wherein
the frame includes protrusions at portions intersecting a plane passing on a line, onto which the line sensor is mounted, the plane being orthogonal to the sensor board,
the cover includes holes at portions corresponding to the protrusions provided in the frame, and
the frame and the cover are fixed by fitting the protrusions provided in the frame into the holes provided in the cover.

9. An image sensor unit manufacturing method, the unit including:
a light guide that is column shaped and configured to emit a light from a side surface thereof toward a subject to be read, the light emitted to an end surface of the light guide;
a light source positioned facing the end surface of the light guide, and configured to emit light toward the end surface of the light guide;
a lens configured to cause the light reflected by the subject to be read to converge in a width direction of the light guide, the light emitted from the side surface of the light guide;
a frame that is frame shaped and configured to house the light guide and the lens;
a cover configured to cover at least a part of one opening of the frame and not to restrict light from passing through between the light guide and the subject to be read;
a line sensor configured to receive light converged in a width direction of the light guide by the lens; and
a sensor board onto which the line sensor is mounted along a lengthwise direction of the light guide, configured to cover the other opening of the frame,
the method comprising:
forming a first support that supports a first to-be-supported section on the side surface of the light guide, wherein the first to-be-supported section is provided on both end portions in the lengthwise direction of the light guide,
forming a second support that supports a second to-be-supported section on the side surface of the light guide, wherein the second to-be-supported section is opposite to the first to-be-supported section and is provided on both end portions in the lengthwise direction of the light guide, and
providing a flange portion composed of the first support provided on the frame and the second support provided on the cover between which the light guide is sandwiched, and fixing the light guide inside the frame.

10. The image sensor unit manufacturing method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
covering the other opening of the frame with the sensor board by fixing the sensor board to the frame on an extension line of a line onto which the line sensor is mounted.

Assignees

• Mitsubishi Electric Corp

Inventors

• Matsui Hideki
• Fujiuchi Akiko

Classifications

• H04N1/0281

  with means for collecting light from a line or an area of the original and for guiding it to only one or a relatively low number of picture element detectors · CPC title

• H04N2201/0094

  Multifunctional device, i.e. a device capable of all of reading, reproducing, copying, facsimile transception, file transception · CPC title

• H04N2201/0081

  Image reader (H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence) · CPC title

• H04N1/02885

  Means for compensating spatially uneven illumination, e.g. an aperture arrangement · CPC title

• 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 · CPC title