Image signal reading operation control device

• US 6,088,532 A
• Filed: 12/29/1995
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Yasuhiro, Morisawa, Tahei
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAHONEY, CHRISTOPHER E
• Application Number:
  US08/580,684
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 396/30, 396/429, 396/430, 348/202, 348/297, 348/96-100, 348/102-103, 348/110, 358/506, 358/487, 358/497, 358/486, 358/474, 358/509, 358/510, 358/475, 358/480
• US Class Current: 396/30
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/50 with both developing and finishing apparatus

Abstract

An image signal reading operation control device has an electro-developing recording medium to electronically develop an image formed by a photographing optical system. The image is read out by a line sensor with the electro-developing recording medium being illuminated by a light source. Namely, pixel signals arranged along a horizontal scanning line are read by the line sensor while the line sensor is set at a predetermined position, and then the line sensor is moved in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal scanning line by a predetermined amount. When the image is read out by the line sensor, the light source is displaced along the longitudinal direction of the line sensor.

Claims

1. An image signal reading operation control device, comprising:

an electro-developing recording medium that electronically develops an image formed thereon;

a light source that illuminates said electro-developing recording medium, said light source comprising a plurality of light emitting light source elements;

a sensor that reads said image developed on said electro-developing recording medium that is illuminated by said light source, said sensor comprising a line sensor and generates pixel signals aligned in a longitudinal direction of said sensor, in accordance with said image read by said sensor; and

a moving mechanism that moves said light source together with said sensor as a unit in a direction perpendicular to said longitudinal direction of said sensor;

a displacement mechanism that displaces said light source along said longitudinal direction with respect to said sensor while said sensor reads said image, such that a luminance deviation on a light receiving surface of said sensor is reduced.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes facing said line sensor.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a linear light-emitting diode extending parallel to said line sensor.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said light source is connected to said moving mechanism through said displacement mechanism.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said pixel signals are generated by an accumulating operation in which an electric charge is accumulated in said line sensor, said displacement mechanism displacing said light source in accordance with said accumulating operation of said line sensor.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein said displacement mechanism displaces said line sensor in a first direction while said accumulating operation is performed, and displaces said line sensor in a second direction opposite to said first direction while said accumulating operation is not performed.

7. A device according to claim 5, wherein said displacement mechanism displaces said line sensor while said accumulating operation is performed, and stops said line sensor while said accumulating operation is not performed.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes, an amount of displacement of said light source by said displacement mechanism being approximately equal to a distance between two adjacent light-emitting diodes.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes, an amount of displacement of said light source by said displacement mechanism being approximately equal to half of a distance between two adjacent light-emitting diodes.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein said electro-developing recording medium comprises an electrostatic information recording medium that generates an electric charge in accordance with an image formed thereon, and an electric charge keeping medium which generates a visible image in accordance with said electric charge and which can keep said visible image.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said electric charge keeping medium comprises a liquid crystal display having a memory-type liquid crystal.

12. The device according to claim 1, said light source and said sensor being positioned on opposite sides of said electro-developing recording medium.

13. The image signal reading operation control device according to claim 1, said displacement mechanism reducing luminance deviation resulting from said plurality of light source elements.

14. An image signal reading operation control device, comprising:

an electro-developing recording medium that electronically develops an image formed thereon;

a line sensor that senses said image developed on said electro-developing recording medium, said line sensor generating pixel signals aligned in a longitudinal direction of said line sensor, in accordance with said image sensed by said line sensor;

a moving system, said moving system moving said line sensor in a scanning direction different from said longitudinal direction, said line sensor being moved from a first position to a second position, corresponding to two adjacent scanning lines, by said moving system;

a reading system, said reading system reading out said pixel signals from said line sensor when said line sensor reaches said second position; and

a controller that controls a moving speed at which said line sensor is moved by said moving system, said controller changing said moving speed while said line sensor is moved from said first position to said second position, said moving speed at which said line sensor is moved being periodically changed by said controller while said image developed on said electro-developing recording medium is sensed by said line sensor.

15. A device according to claim 14, wherein said controller increases said moving speed in such a manner that said moving speed at said second position is higher than said moving speed at said first position.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein said controller linearly increases said moving speed.

17. A device according to claim 14, wherein said controller outputs a drive pulse to control said moving speed, said drive pulse having a frequency in accordance with which said moving speed is changed, said frequency being increased as said line sensor is moved from said first position to said second position.

18. A device according to claim 14, wherein said electro-developing recording medium comprises an electrostatic information recording medium that generates an electric charge in accordance with an image formed thereon, and an electric charge keeping medium which generates a visible image in accordance with said electric charge and which can keep said visible image.

19. A device according to claim 18, wherein said electric charge keeping medium comprises a liquid crystal display having a memory-type liquid crystal.

20. The device according to claim 14, further comprising a light source that illuminates said electro-developing recording medium, said light source and said line sensor being positioned on opposite sides of said electro-developing recording medium.

21. An image signal reading operation control device, comprising:

an electro-developing recording medium that electronically develops an image formed thereon;

a stationary light source that outputs parallel light, said parallel light illuminating said electro-developing recording medium;

a mirror disposed in front of said electro-developing recording medium so that the parallel light output by said stationary light source is led to said electro-developing recording medium;

a shutter disposed in front of said electro-developing recording medium such that said mirror is disposed between said shutter and said electro-developing recording medium, said shutter opening and closing to control an amount of said light led to said electro-developing recording medium, said mirror and said light source being positioned between a plane containing a surface of said shutter and a plane containing a light receiving surface of the electro-developing recording medium;

a line sensor positioned opposite to said mirror with respect to said electro-developing recording medium, said line sensor sensing said light passing through said electro-developing recording medium; and

a scanning mechanism that moves said mirror together with said line sensor as a unit in a scanning direction, said scanning direction extending along an optical path of the parallel light from said stationary light source towards said mirror and being different from a longitudinal direction of said line sensor.

22. A device according to claim 21, wherein said line sensor and said mirror are positioned at a same height.

23. A device according to claim 21, wherein said mirror comprises a total reflecting mirror.

24. A device according to claim 21, wherein said mirror comprises a half-mirror, said shutter having a reflecting surface facing said electro-developing recording medium, said light led to said electro-developing recording medium being reflected by said mirror and said reflecting surface prior to being led to said electro-developing recording medium.

25. A device according to claim 21, wherein said electro-developing recording medium comprises an electrostatic information recording medium that generates an electric charge in accordance with an image formed thereon, and an electric charge keeping medium which generates a visible image in accordance with said electric charge and which can keep said visible image.

26. A device according to claim 25, wherein said electric charge keeping medium comprises a liquid crystal display having a memory-type liquid crystal.