Television – Camera – system and detail – Support or housing
Reexamination Certificate
1996-04-09
2001-11-13
Christensen, Andrew B. (Department: 2612)
Television
Camera, system and detail
Support or housing
C358S471000, C355S021000, C355S070000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317155
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image input apparatus which picks up an image of an original such as a document, OHP sheet, or the like as an object, and outputting the image information to an external monitor.
Conventionally, an image input apparatus, which picks up an image of an object using a camera serving as an image pickup means, and displays the picked-up image information on an external monitor or the like, has been popularly used.
In recent years, a compact, portable image input apparatus which can be used in a meeting or presentation is becoming increasingly popular.
FIGS. 12A and 12B
are perspective views showing the arrangement of a conventional portable image input apparatus. Referring to
FIG. 12A
, reference numeral
100
denotes a lens;
101
, a camera head serving as an image pickup means;
102
, an arm;
103
, a post;
104
, an original table;
119
, a base portion;
105
, an illumination device (right); and
106
, an illumination device (left). In particular, in this image input apparatus, the camera head
101
, the arm
102
, the post
103
, and the illumination devices
105
and
106
are foldable to allow a user to easily carry this apparatus anywhere.
The camera head
101
comprising the lens
100
is axially supported by the arm
102
to be pivotal about a fulcrum
107
within a predetermined range. The arm
102
is axially supported by the post
103
to be pivotal about a fulcrum
108
within a predetermined range. Furthermore, the post
103
is axially supported by the base portion
119
to be pivotal about a fulcrum
109
within a predetermined range. The camera head
101
, the arm
102
, and the post
103
can be pivoted about their fulcrums
107
,
108
, and
109
, and can be locked at an image pickup position (a state shown in
FIG. 12A
) or a storage position (a state shown in FIG.
12
B).
Reference numeral
110
denotes an unlock button. Upon depression of the button
110
, the camera head
101
can be unlocked from the locked state and can be pivoted. Reference numeral
111
denotes an unlock button; and
112
, another unlock button. When these buttons
111
and
112
are depressed, the arm
102
and the post
103
can be unlocked from the locked state, and can be pivoted.
The folding operation upon storage of the image input apparatus will be explained below.
First, the illumination devices
105
and
106
are folded. As shown in
FIG. 12A
, the illumination device
105
is pivoted in the direction of an arrow A in
FIG. 12A
until it contacts an object placing surface
104
a of the original table
104
. Also, the illumination device
106
is pivoted in the direction of an arrow B in
FIG. 12A
until it contacts the illumination device
105
.
Next, as shown in
FIG. 12A
, the camera head
101
is pivoted in the direction of an arrow C in
FIG. 12A
by depressing the unlock button
110
, and is locked at the storage position. Subsequently, the arm
102
is pivoted in the direction of an arrow D in
FIG. 12A
by depressing the unlock button
111
, and is locked at the storage position. Then, the post
103
is pivoted in the direction of an arrow E in
FIG. 12A
by depressing the unlock button
112
, and is locked at the storage position. In this manner, the folding operations of the respective members upon storage are completed, and the apparatus main body in the storage state is shown in FIG.
12
B. Upon carrying, a carrying handle
118
is pulled out from the original table
104
. When the image input apparatus is unfolded in an image pickup operation, operations opposite to those in the storage operation can be performed.
However, upon storage of in the conventional image input apparatus, the arm
102
for supporting the camera head
101
, the post
103
for supporting them, and the illumination devices
105
and
106
must be appropriately folded in a predetermined order in consideration of an accurate assembling/storage order.
On the other hand, the base portion
119
which foldably supports the illumination devices
105
and
106
protrudes from the object placing surface
104
a
on the entire rear surface region of the original table
104
. For this reason, when an object, e.g., an end portion
116
a
, on the side of an operation panel
117
of an original
116
is to be widened, if the original
116
is moved in the direction of an arrow S in
FIG. 12A
, it undesirably contacts a side surface
119
a
of the base portion
119
, resulting in poor operability.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an image input apparatus which allows an easy and adequate handling operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An image input apparatus of the present invention is characterized by the following arrangement.
That is, an image input apparatus for picking up an image of an object using image pickup means, and outputting an image signal of the object, comprises:
a base portion on which the object is placed;
a post for supporting the image pickup means to be located above the base portion; and
illumination means for illuminating the object,
wherein the post can be raised/lowered from/to a surface, on which the object is placed, of the base portion, and the illumination means can be raised/lowered from/to and is foldable to a side portion of the base portion.
With this arrangement, a user can easily assemble and store the apparatus regardless of an operation order.
More preferably, the apparatus further comprises: transmission illumination means for illuminating a surface, on which the object is placed, of the base portion from a rear side, and the illumination means, which is folded to the side portion of the base portion, is used as a light source of the transmission illumination means.
With this arrangement, the cost of the apparatus is reduced.
Also, an image input apparatus of the present invention is characterized by the following arrangement.
An image input apparatus for picking up an image of an object using image pickup means, and outputting an image signal of the object, comprises:
a base portion on which the object is placed;
a post for supporting the image pickup means to be located above the base portion;
illumination means for illuminating the object; and
transmission illumination means for illuminating a surface, on which the object is placed, of the base portion from a rear side,
wherein the post can be raised/lowered from/to a surface, on which the object is placed, of the base portion, and the illumination means can be raised/lowered from/to and is foldable to a side portion of the base portion.
With this arrangement, a user can easily assemble and store the apparatus regardless of the operation order.
More preferably, the apparatus further comprises:
a switch for turning on the illumination means and the transmission illumination means;
detection means for detecting a position of the illumination means; and
control means for, when a user operates the switch and when the position of the illumination means corresponds to a storage position, inhibiting the illumination means from being turned on, and for, when the position of the illumination means is other than the storage position, inhibiting the transmission illumination means from being turned on.
Alternatively, the apparatus further comprises:
a switch for turning on the illumination means and the transmission illumination means;
detection means for detecting a position of the illumination means; and
control means for, when a user operates the switch and when the position of the illumination means corresponds to a storage position, inhibiting the illumination means from being turned on and turning on the transmission illumination means, and for, when the position of the illumination means is other than the storage position, inhibiting the transmission illumination means from being turned on and turning on the illumination means.
With this arrangement, an optimal image pickup condition can be obtained in correspondence with each object.
In either of the above arrangements, preferably, the post and the illumination means can be so
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Christensen Andrew B.
Morgan & Finnegan , LLP
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