Image input/output apparatus with light illumination device for two-dimensional illumination

• US 6,295,390 B1
• Filed: 08/08/1995
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Takeda, Shinichi, Kobayashi, Isao, Mizutani, Hidemasa, Morishita, Masakazu, Kaifu, Noriyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH-VINH THI
• Application Number:
  US08/512,699
• Time in Patent Office: 2,240 Days
• Field of Search: 358/473, 358/474, 358/475, 358/482, 358/483, 358/484, 382/313-315, 250/208.1, 257/59, 257/72, 257/290, 257/291, 257/350, 349/45-47, 349/63-64, 349/112
• US Class Current: 382/313
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/028 for picture information pick-up
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/02805 with photodetectors arranged in a two-dimensional array
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/195 the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/043 Viewing the scanned area

Abstract

A two-dimensional image input unit is disposed on one surface, and data processed by an image processing circuit for processing an image input by the image input unit can be displayed on a two-dimensional image output unit disposed on the other surface as a rear surface with respect to the one surface. Size and cost reductions of the entire apparatus are attained, and read image information can be displayed on the image output surface as the upper surface in real time.

Claims

1. An image input/output apparatus comprising:

a two-dimensional image input unit disposed on a first surface;

an image processing circuit for processing an image input by said image input unit;

a two-dimensional image output unit disposed on a second surface opposite to the first surface; and

an illumination device disposed between said image input unit and said image output unit for producing an illumination light for use in reading an image by said image input unit and for use in an image display by said image output unit, wherein said illumination device has a light diffusion region,

wherein said image input unit comprises photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a matrix, and switch means arranged adjacent to said photoelectric conversion elements for driving said photoelectric conversion elements,

each of said photoelectric conversion elements comprises a first electrode layer, a first insulating layer for preventing passage of a carrier of a first conductivity type and a carrier of a second conductivity type different from the first conductivity type, a photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer, a second electrode layer, and an injection prevention layer which is formed between said second electrode layer and said photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer, disposed in opposition to said first electrode layer, to prevent injection of the carrier of the first conductivity type to said photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer, wherein, when a voltage is supplied between said first and second electrode layers, said photoelectric conversion element performs a photoelectric conversion function between said first and second electrode layers, and a function of storing a carrier generated based on the photoelectric conversion function, and

said switch means comprises a gate electrode, a gate insulating film on said gate electrode, a semiconductor layer on said insulating film, an ohmic contact layer with a gap on said semiconductor layer, and an electrode on said ohmic layer.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing an image input by said image input unit, or storage means for storing an image processed by said image processing circuit.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said illumination device comprises a light and a light guide member.

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said illumination device has a light guide in which the light diffusion region is formed.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said illumination device has a light guide, and the light diffusion region is formed from a sheet disposed on the light guide.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image processing circuit has a function of enlarging image data.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of said photoelectric conversion elements comprises a switch element for applying an electric field to the photoelectric conversion element in a direction to guide the carrier of the first conductivity type from said photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer to said second electrode layer in a refresh operation, applying an electric field to the photoelectric conversion element to cause the carrier of the first conductivity type generated in response to light incident on said photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer to stay in said photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer and to guide the carrier of the second conductivity type to said second electrode layer in a photoelectric conversion operation, and detecting the carrier of the first conductivity type stored in said photoelectric conversion semiconductor layer or the carrier of the second conductivity type guided to said second electrode layer in the photoelectric conversion operation as an optical signal, and said photoelectric conversion device is divided into a plurality of blocks, and said switch elements are operated in units of blocks to detect optical signals.