Contact type image sensor and information processing apparatus

• US 6,343,162 B1
• Filed: 12/23/1998
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Nagata, Kenji, Saito, Oji
• Primary Examiner(s): GRANT II, JEROME
• Application Number:
  US09/220,070
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 382/312, 358/474, 358/475, 358/505, 358/513, 358/482, 358/483, 348/311, 348/332
• US Class Current: 382/312
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14678 Contact-type imagers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0318 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 Class Codes: H04N 2201/03112 Light source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/03129 Transparent cover or transparent document support mounted on the head
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/03141 Photodetector lens
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/03145 Photodetector

Abstract

In a contact type image sensor having a sensor array mounting photosensors, a focussing unit for focussing light from an original upon the photosensors, and a frame for holding in position the sensor-array and focussing unit, the focussing unit abuts on the sensor array. In a contact type image sensor having a sensor array having a plurality of face-down sensor chips with a plurality of pixels mounted on a transparent substrate in line, a rod lens array for focussing light from an original, a light source for illuminating the original, and a frame for holding in position the sensor array, rod lens array, the transparent substrate is covered with a light shielding layer in an area other than an area on which the pixels of the sensor chips are mounted and an area corresponding to a focussing area of the rod lens array.

Claims

1. A contact type image sensor comprising:

(a) a transparent substrate having photosensors mounted thereon;

(b) a focusing unit, disposed on said transparent substrate on a side opposite to a side where the photosensors are mounted, for focusing light from an original upon the photosensors; and

(c) a frame for holding said transparent substrate and said focusing unit,

wherein said transparent substrate has a light shielding layer and is not covered with the light shielding layer in an area corresponding to a focusing area of said focusing unit.

2. A contact type sensor according to claim 1, wherein said transparent substrate is not covered with the light shielding layer in an area corresponding to an area where the photosensors are mounted.

3. A contact type image sensor according to claim 2, wherein the light shielding layer is formed so that an area of the focusing area of said focusing unit becomes smaller than an area of light reception pixels of the photosensors.

4. A contact type image sensor according to claim 1, wherein said focusing unit is a rod lens.

5. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a contact type image sensor for reading an original image and outputting an image signal;

processing means for performing a predetermined process relative to the image signal output from said contact type image sensor; and

control means for controlling said contact type image sensor and said processing means;

wherein said contact type image sensor comprises;

a transparent substrate having photosensors mounted thereof;

a focusing unit, disposed on said transparent substrate on a side opposite to a side where the photosensors are mounted, for focusing light from an original upon the photosensors; and

a frame for holding said transparent substrate and said focusing unit, wherein said transparent substrate has a light shielding layer and is not covered the light shielding layer in an area corresponding to a focusing area of said focusing unit.

6. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said transparent substrate is not covered with the light shielding layer in an area corresponding to an area where the photosensors are mounted.

7. An information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the light shielding layer is formed so that an area of the focusing area of said focusing unit becomes smaller than an area of light reception pixels of the photosensors.

8. An information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said focusing unit is a rod lens.

9. An apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising a moving unit adapted to relatively move said original image and said contact type image sensor.

10. A contact type image sensor comprising:

(a) photosensors;

(b) a support member for supporting an original;

(c) a focusing unit for focusing light from the original upon the photosensors;

(d) a frame for holding said photosensors, said focusing unit, and said support member; and

(e) a focusing unit holding member different from said support member and disposed between said support member and said focusing unit, for positioning said focusing unit relative to said frame in an optical path direction of said focusing unit and wherein a thickness in the optical path direction of said focusing unit holding member between said support member and said focusing unit is set so that an original support surface of said support member is positioned in a range of a depth of focus of said focusing unit, and said focusing unit holding member abuts on said support member and said focusing unit.

11. A contact type image sensor according to claim 10, wherein said focusing unit is inserted into a space between, and squeezed between, said focusing unit holding member and said frame.

12. A contact type image sensor according to claim 10, wherein said support member is fixed to said frame with adhesive.

13. A contact type image sensor according to claim 12, wherein said support member together with said focusing unit holding member is fixed to said frame with adhesive.

14. A contact type image sensor according to claim 10, wherein said focusing unit holding member is positioned outside of an opening angle of said focusing unit.

15. An information processing apparatus comprising:

a contact type image sensor for reading an original image and outputting an image signal;

processing means for performing a predetermined process relative to the image signal output from said contact type image sensor;

control means for controlling said contact type image sensor and said processing means,

wherein said contact type image sensor comprises;

photo sensors;

a support member for supporting an original;

a focusing unit for focusing light from the original upon the photosensors;

a frame for holding said photosensors, said focusing unit, and said support member; and

a focusing unit holding member different from said support member and disposed between said support member and said focusing unit, for positioning said focusing unit relative to said frame in an optical path direction of said focusing unit and where in the optical path direction of said focusing unit is set so that an original support surface of said support member is positioned in a range of a depth of focus of said focusing unit, and said focusing unit holding member abuts on said support member and said focusing unit.

16. An information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said focusing unit is inserted into a space between, and squeezed between, said focusing unit holding member and said frame.

17. An information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said support member is fixed to said frame with adhesive.

18. An information processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said support member together with said focusing unit holding member is fixed to said frame with adhesive.

19. An information processing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said focusing unit holding member is positioned outside of an opening angle of said focusing unit.

20. An apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a moving unit adapted to relatively move said original image and said contact type image sensor.