JP3669165B2 - Optical sensor adjustment device and adjustment method thereof - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical sensor adjustment device and an adjustment method thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Image reading devices and digital cameras are known as devices that read images with optical sensors. For example, a general carriage movement type image reading apparatus is provided with a box-shaped casing and an original table made of a transparent plate such as glass for placing an original on the upper surface of the casing. A substrate, a light source, a condensing lens, a mirror, and an A / D converter on which a light sensor is fixed to a carriage moved by a driving device are mounted inside.
[0003]
The carriage is moved in parallel with the document surface by the driving device, and a light source mounted on the carriage irradiates the document with light so that the optical sensor reads the image of the document. The light reflected by the document surface is collected by the optical sensor through the mirror and the condenser lens, and the collected light is read by the optical sensor.
[0004]
The optical sensor is provided on a substrate, and this substrate is fixed to a boss or the like formed so as to protrude from the carriage. Generally, the depth of focus allowed for the condenser lens mounted on the image reading apparatus is several tens of μm, and the depth of focus allowed for an elaborate condenser lens becomes smaller. The boss that contacts the substrate that determines the position of the optical sensor and the carriage that determines the position of the condenser lens are processed with strict accuracy so that the optical sensor is located within the focal depth of the condenser lens.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, special technology is required to process bosses and the like with strict accuracy. By processing bosses and carriages with strict accuracy, the condensing lens and optical sensor can be adjusted according to the focal depth of the condensing lens. There is a problem that the fixing causes a rise in production cost. Further, when the optical sensor cannot be fixed within the depth of focus, there is a problem that the image is read by the optical sensor in a so-called defocused state, and the image quality is deteriorated.
[0006]
The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and provides an optical sensor adjustment device and an adjustment method thereof that can adjust the optical sensor to an appropriate position with respect to the condenser lens. Objective.
[0007]
Another object of the present invention is to provide a light that can prevent deterioration in image quality by adjusting the position of the optical sensor even when the substrate for fixing the optical sensor and the housing for mounting the substrate are not precisely processed. It is to provide a sensor adjustment device and an adjustment method thereof.
[0008]
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an optical sensor adjustment device and an adjustment method thereof that can easily adjust the position of the optical sensor.
[0009]
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an optical sensor adjustment device and an adjustment method thereof in which the optical sensor is fixed at the position after the position of the optical sensor is determined by adjustment.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to the optical sensor adjustment device of the first aspect of the present invention, an optical sensor having a plurality of image sensors, a housing that houses the optical sensor, a condensing lens that collects light on the optical sensor, an optical sensor, and a housing And an optical sensor adjusting means for fixing the optical sensor to the housing, the optical sensor adjusting means comprising: a substrate including the optical sensor; and a relative position between the substrate and the housing. Substrate adjusting means for adjusting the substrate, the substrate adjusting means comprising: a movable block that moves relative to the housing; a substrate fixing means that fixes the substrate to the movable block; and a relative position between the movable block and the housing. Movable substrate adjusting means for adjusting, and the substrate adjusting means has guide means for moving the movable block in the direction of the optical axis of the condenser lens, and the guide means Two guide pins formed so as to protrude from the movable block, a first guide pin hole formed in the housing and into which one of the two guide pins is inserted, and formed in the housing. A second guide pin hole into which the other of the guide pins is inserted, and one of the two guide pin holes is elongated and flattened in a direction in which the two guide pin holes are arranged. Therefore, the two guide pins can be easily inserted into the two guide pin holes.
[0011]
According to the optical sensor adjusting device of the present invention, since the substrate adjusting means has the movable block fixing means for fixing the movable block to the housing, the movable block is moved to the housing after the optical sensor is adjusted to an appropriate position. The position of the optical sensor that moves along with the movable block can be fixed.
[0012]
According to the optical sensor adjusting means according to claim 3 of the present invention, the movable block adjusting means has the elastic body inserted between the movable block and the housing, so that the position of the movable block is moved from the housing by the pressing of the elastic body. It can be moved in the direction of leaving, and the position of the optical sensor that moves accompanying the movable block can be easily adjusted.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment showing an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0021]
An embodiment in which the optical sensor adjusting device of the present invention is applied to a carriage movement type image reading device will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.
[0022]
FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of a carriage movement type image reading apparatus according to this embodiment. An original table 1 made of a transparent plate such as glass is provided on the upper surface of the box-shaped housing 2. Inside the housing 2 is provided a carriage 3 that can be reciprocated in parallel with the document table 1 by a driving device (not shown). A light source 4, a plurality of mirrors 6, and a plurality of image sensors are linearly arranged on the carriage 3. A CCD (Charge Coupled Device) image sensor 5 of an optical sensor in which a plurality of imaging element rows 16 arranged in parallel are arranged in parallel with each other is mounted.
[0023]
The carriage 3 corresponds to a housing according to claim 1 of the claims, and the CCD image sensor 5 corresponds to an optical sensor according to claim 1. Light emitted from the light source 4 is reflected by the surface of the document 8 on the document table 1, reflected by the mirror 6, and then condensed by the condenser lens 7 on the CCD image sensor 5. The CCD image sensor 5 converts red (R: Red), green (G: Green), and blue (B: Blue) light into electrical signals and outputs the signals. By reflecting with a plurality of mirrors 6, the optical path length from the document 8 to the condenser lens 7 is increased. A white reference 9 having a highly reflective uniform reflection surface is provided at the end of the document table 1 in the moving direction of the carriage 3.
[0024]
An electric signal output from the CCD image sensor 5 is detected while moving the carriage 3 in the sub-scanning direction, processed by the signal processing unit 10, and then transferred from the interface 15 to an external image processing device, whereby the image of the original 8 is transferred. Can be read.
[0025]
The configuration of the photosensor adjustment device according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 6, 8, and 9. FIG. 3 and 4 show the carriage 3. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the substrate 21 on which the CCD image sensor 5 is fixed is attached to the carriage 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The carriage 3 has a light source 4 installed on the upper surface, and incorporates a condenser lens 7 and a plurality of mirrors (not shown).
[0026]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the substrate 21 provided with the CCD image sensor 5 is screwed to the first boss portion 41 of the carriage 3 by the first substrate fixing screw 22, and by the second substrate fixing screw 23, Screwed to the second boss portion 29 of the movable block 24. The movable block 24 is fitted to a compression bush 26 which is an annular elastic body and screwed to the carriage 3 by a turning adjustment screw 25, and further pressed and fixed by a first set screw 52 and a second set screw 53. The
[0027]
Next, each member of the substrate 21, the movable block 24, and the carriage 3 will be described in detail.
[0028]
The substrate 21 includes the CCD image sensor 5, and the first through hole 27 and the second through hole 28 through which the first substrate fixing screw 22 and the second substrate fixing screw 23 pass are perpendicular to the direction of the imaging element array 16. It is formed in a long and flat shape.
[0029]
When the substrate 21 is fixed, the first through hole 27 and the second through hole 28 are parallel to the direction perpendicular to the direction of the imaging element array 16 with the substrate 21 in contact with the first boss portion 41 and the second boss portion 29. It has a long and flat shape so that it can be moved to adjust the fixing position of the substrate 21.
[0030]
The movable block 24 is formed so that the second boss portion 29 and the second guide pin 31 protrude in a cylindrical shape at a coaxial position, and the first guide pin 33 is formed so as to protrude in a cylindrical shape at a position on another axis. . The second boss portion 29 forms a second screw hole 30 into which the second substrate fixing screw 23 is screwed. The second guide pin 31 is provided with a second recess 34. The first guide pin 33 forms a first recess 35 by forming a fixing hole 32 through which the turn adjusting screw 25 passes at a coaxial position.
[0031]
The second boss portion 29 is formed so as to protrude in order to prevent contact between the electronic component and the surface of the carriage 3 when the electronic component is mounted on the back surface of the substrate 21. The first guide pin 33 is inserted into a first guide pin hole 44, which will be described later, and is formed so as to protrude so that the movable block 24 moves in parallel with respect to the carriage 3. The second guide pin 31 is a second guide pin, which will be described later. It is inserted into the guide pin hole 45 and is formed so as to protrude in order to prevent the movable block 24 from rotating about the first guide pin 33. The first recess 35 and the second recess 34 are for engaging the first set screw 52 and the second set screw 53, respectively.
[0032]
The carriage 3 is formed so as to protrude the first boss portion 41 with which the substrate 21 abuts, and a first screw hole 42 into which the first substrate fixing screw 22 is screwed is formed in the first boss portion 41. A turning guide screw hole 43 into which the turning adjustment screw 25 is screwed and a first guide pin hole 44 into which the first guide pin 33 is inserted are formed at a coaxial position, and a second guide pin hole into which the second guide pin 31 is inserted. 45 is formed at the position of another axis. The second guide pin hole 45 has a shape that is elongated and flat in a direction connecting the axis of the first guide pin 33 and the axis of the second guide pin 45. Further, a first set screw hole 50 is formed at a position corresponding to the first recess 35 of the first guide pin 33 so as to communicate with the first guide pin hole 44, and corresponds to the second recess 34 of the second guide pin 31. A second set screw hole 51 is formed at a position so as to communicate with the second guide pin hole 45.
[0033]
The first boss portion 41 is formed so as to protrude in order to prevent contact between the electronic component and the surface of the carriage 3 when the electronic component is mounted on the back surface of the substrate 21. The second guide pin hole 45 is provided to prevent the movable block 24 from rotating about the axis of the first guide pin 33 when the second guide pin 31 is inserted. The second guide pin hole 45 can be inserted into the second guide pin 31, and the second guide pin 31 can be inserted in a tangential direction of the second guide pin hole 45 in a circle centered on the axis of the first guide pin 33. The first guide pin 33 and the second guide pin are formed so as not to rattle and the diameter of the first guide pin 33 and the second guide pin 45 are expanded so that the first guide pin hole 44 and the second guide pin hole 45 are rattled. The operation of simultaneously inserting 31 into the first guide pin hole 44 and the second guide pin hole 45 is facilitated. In the first set screw hole 50 and the second set screw hole 51, a first set screw 52 and a second set screw 53 are screwed in, respectively. The first set screw 52 and the second set screw 53 are connected to the first guide pin 33 and the second set screw hole 51, respectively. 2 For fixing the guide pin 31 by lateral pressure.
[0034]
Next, the procedure of the adjustment method in the optical sensor adjustment device having the above configuration will be described.
[0035]
(1) The compression bush 26 is fitted to the first guide pin 33, and the first guide pin 33 and the second guide pin 31 are inserted into the first guide pin hole 44 and the second guide pin hole 45, respectively. Is inserted between the carriage 3 and the movable block 24 and the turning adjustment screw 25 is temporarily tightened to temporarily fix the movable block 24 to the carriage 3. When the turn adjustment screw 25 is temporarily tightened, it is tightened until the compression bush 26 presses the carriage. Further, necessary equipment is arranged so that the electrical signal of the CCD image sensor 5 can be taken out and displayed on the monitor, and the subsequent processes are performed based on the data displayed on the monitor.
[0036]
(2) Temporarily fixing the condenser lens 7 and causing the CCD image sensor 5 to read the original for adjustment and confirming the data on the monitor, the first substrate fixing screw 22 and the second substrate fixing screw 23 are respectively set. The first through hole 27 and the second through hole 28 are passed through, and the first screw hole 42 and the second screw hole 30 are screwed into the first boss portion 41 and the second boss portion 29, and the substrate 21 is bridged. At this time, the substrate 21 brought into contact with the first boss portion 41 and the second boss portion 29 is translated in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the imaging element array 16 so that the substrate 21 is fixed at an appropriate position.
[0037]
(3) The adjustment image is read by the CCD image sensor 5 and the condensing lens 7 is fixed at an appropriate position with reference to the fixed substrate 21 while checking the data on the monitor.
[0038]
(4) Have the CCD image sensor 5 read the adjustment document, check the data on the monitor, adjust the turn adjustment screw 25, and collect the CCD image sensor 5 using the fixed condenser lens 7 as a reference. The movable block 24 is moved so as to be positioned within the focal depth of the optical lens 7.
[0039]
(5) The first set screw 52 and the second set screw 53 are screwed into the first set screw hole 50 and the second set screw hole 51, respectively, and the first guide pin 33 and the second guide pin are pressed to move the movable block 24. Fix it.
[0040]
In the present embodiment, when the substrate 21 is bridged in contact with the first boss portion 41 and the second boss portion 29, both the left and right end portions of the CCD image sensor 5 mounted on the substrate 21 are disposed on the condenser lens 7. The distance from the condensing lens 7 of the 2nd boss | hub part 29 can be adjusted so that it may be located in this focal depth. For this reason, if the condensing lens 7 is fixed with reference to the first boss portion 41, the second boss portion 29 can be adjusted with reference to the position of the condensing lens 7, and the dimensions allowed for the carriage 3. The error range can be expanded. Since the CCD image sensor 5 can be fixed without being affected by the dimensional error of the carriage 3 to which the condenser lens 7 and the substrate 21 are attached, the processing of the carriage 3 can be facilitated.
[0041]
Further, since the position of the CCD image sensor 5 can be adjusted and fixed to an arbitrary position, the position of the CCD image sensor 5 is fixed in correspondence with a small depth of focus set for a high-performance condenser lens. be able to.
[0042]
Still further, the fixing of the substrate 21 to the carriage 3, the adjustment of moving the substrate 21 in contact with the first boss portion 41 and the second boss portion 29 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the imaging element array 16, and the substrate 21 Since the distance from the lens to the condenser lens 7 can be adjusted separately, delicate adjustment is easy.
[0043]
Furthermore, since the second guide pin 31 is inserted into the second guide pin hole 45 and the turn adjusting screw 25 is tightened, the movable block 24 is prevented from rotating around the first guide pin 33. It is possible to easily adjust the position of the CCD image sensor 5 that moves accompanying the movement.
[0044]
Furthermore, due to the shape of the second guide pin hole 45, it is easy to insert the first guide pin 33 and the second guide pin 31 into the first guide pin hole 44 and the second guide pin hole 45, respectively.
[0045]
Furthermore, since the movable block 24 moved to an appropriate position can be completely fixed by the first set screw 52 and the second set screw 53, the turning adjustment screw 25 is loosened and the position of the CCD image sensor 5 is changed. There is no.
[0046]
Furthermore, since the compression bushing 26 is inserted and the turn adjustment screw 25 is screwed in, the turn adjustment screw 25 can be easily tightened delicately.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an optical sensor adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an image reading apparatus to which an optical sensor adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a carriage of an image reading apparatus to which an optical sensor adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a carriage of an image reading apparatus to which an optical sensor adjustment device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. 1;
FIGS. 6A and 6B are a plan view and a side view showing a movable block of the photosensor adjustment device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIGS.
7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG.
8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG.
9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
3 Carriage (housing)
5 CCD image sensor (light sensor)
7 condensing lens 21 substrate 24 movable block 25 turning adjustment screw 26 compression bush 29 second boss portion 31 second guide pin 33 first guide pin 41 first boss portion 44 first guide pin hole 45 second guide pin hole 52 first 1 set screw 53 2nd set screw

Claims (3)

While adjusting a relative position between the optical sensor having a plurality of image sensors, a housing that houses the optical sensor, a condenser lens that collects light on the optical sensor, and the optical sensor and the housing, A light sensor adjusting means for fixing the light sensor to the housing, wherein the light sensor adjusting means adjusts a relative position between the substrate provided with the light sensor and the substrate and the housing. The substrate adjusting means adjusts the relative position of the movable block and the housing, the movable block that moves relative to the housing, the substrate fixing means that fixes the substrate to the movable block, and Movable substrate adjusting means, and the substrate adjusting means has guide means for translating the movable block in the direction of the optical axis of the condenser lens. The guide means includes two guide pins formed so as to protrude from the movable block, and two guide pin holes formed in the housing and into which the two guide pins are inserted. One of the two guide pin holes is elongated and flattened in the direction in which the two guide pin holes are aligned, and is an optical sensor adjustment device characterized in that it is flat.  The optical sensor adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the substrate adjustment unit includes a movable block fixing unit that fixes the movable block to the housing.  The optical sensor adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the movable block adjustment unit includes an elastic body inserted between the movable block and the housing.

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