Photocopying – Projection printing and copying cameras – Focus or magnification control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-07
2001-12-25
Adams, Russell (Department: 2851)
Photocopying
Projection printing and copying cameras
Focus or magnification control
C355S027000, C355S028000, C355S040000, C355S041000, C348S096000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06333778
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, and particularly to an image reading apparatus in which an image recorded on an original to be read such as a photographic film is read based on light transmitted through the image or light reflected from the image.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been proposed in recent years a photographic processing method in which a film image recorded on a photosensitive material such as a photographic film (hereinafter referred to merely as photographic film) is read by an image sensor ax such as a CCD, based on light transmitted through the film image or light reflected from the film image when light is irradiated on the film image, and image data obtained by the reading is subjected to image processings including various corrections, and thereafter, the image is recorded on a recording material or is displayed on a display. It should be noted that the term photographic film used here refers to a film whose negative image or positive image is visualized by development processing, after a subject has been photographed.
In an image reading apparatus for use in reading a film image in this type of photographic processing method, a diffusion box is widely used in which illumination light emitted from a light source is made into diffused light, with the objects of making the amount of light, which is irradiated on the film image, substantially uniform, and making scratches, which are formed on the film surface when the image is recorded on a recording material, difficult to see. (See Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) Nos. 9-114008, 8-76271, etc.)
Conventionally, when a plurality of types of photographic film are to be read by the image reading apparatus as described above, such a diffusion box has been provided in advance for each type of photographic film, and an operator chooses the diffusion box according to the type of the photographic film to be read and disposes the chosen diffusion box at a predetermined position.
In other words, since the size of a film image recorded on a photographic film varies depending on the type of photographic film, there is a need to change an illumination range according to the type of the photographic film. Thus, there is a need to pick out and use the proper diffusion box from among several diffusion boxes according to the illumination range. In this case, a structure has also been conceived of in which a common diffusion box is used that can illuminate the entire surface of the largest film image of the film images recorded on the photographic films to be read by the image reading apparatus. However, it is desirable to irradiate an amount of light which is as large as possible on a photographic film by using a low amount of energy. Therefore, from this standpoint, it is preferable to employ a structure in which a proper diffusion box is picked out for use, from among several diffusion boxes, for each type of photographic film (for each size of photographic film).
However, in the above-described technique in which a proper diffusion box is picked out and used, from among several diffusion boxes, for each type of photographic film to be read, there is a problem in that, as the operator chooses the diffusion box according to type of the photographic film to be read and disposes it at a predetermined position, a large responsibility is imposed upon the operator and he/she may choose a wrong diffusion box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been attained to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide an image reading apparatus in which the responsibility imposed upon an operator can be reduced and a wrong diffusion box can be prevented from being mischosen.
In order to achieve the above-described object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus comprising: illuminating means for illuminating an original to be read; changing means for changing automatically one of an illumination range and a degree of diffusion of the illuminating means according to reading conditions of the original to be read; a lens for focussing the original to be read; and an image sensor for separating the image of the original to be read, which is obtained through the lens, into a plurality of pixels for reading and outputting as image data.
In the image reading apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, an original to be read is illuminated by the illuminating means. At this time, the changing means causes one of an illumination range and a degree of diffusion of the illuminating means to be changed automatically according to reading conditions of the original to be read. It should be noted that the above original to be read includes a transparent original such as a photographic film, a reflective original such as a photographic print, and the like.
Subsequently, an image of the original to be read, which is obtained through the lens for focusing the original to be read, is separated into a plurality of pixels and read by an image sensor, and is then outputted as image data. It should be noted that the above image sensor includes a linear CCD, an area CCD, and photoelectric transfer elements other than a CCD.
As described above, in the image reading apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, since one of the illumination range and the degree of diffusion of the illuminating means are changed automatically according to the reading conditions of the original to be read, compared with the case in which the illumination range and degree of diffusion are changed by an operator, the responsibility imposed upon the operator can be reduced.
It should be noted that the above reading conditions of the first aspect include, as the second aspect, the following three types:
The size of the original to be read.
Whether the reading to be carried out is a preliminary reading or a main reading when the reading is carried out in two steps, i.e., the preliminary reading for reading an original to be read at relatively high speed but with low precision and the main reading for reading the original to be read at relatively low speed but with high precision based on image data obtained by the preliminary reading.
Whether the printing is a simultaneous film processing or a reprinting when the original to be read is a photosensitive material (photographic film).
In other words, generally, the larger the size of the original to be read is, the broader the area to be read becomes. Accordingly, as the size of the original to be read becomes larger, the range illuminated by the illuminating means is automatically broadened.
Further, when the original to be read is read in two steps, i.e., by the preliminary reading and the main reading, an area to be read sometimes needs to be broadened when the preliminary reading is carried out, compared with when the main reading is carried out. For example, if the original to be read is a photographic film, it is often necessary to detect the position of perforations as well as the contents of a bar code, which are provided outside the film image of the photographic film, when the preliminary reading is carried out. In such a case, the illumination range is automatically broadened when the preliminary reading is carried out, compared with when the main reading is carried out. As a result, an appropriate illumination range corresponding to the reading conditions (whether it is the preliminary reading or the main reading) can be automatically set.
Moreover, there are also occasions when scratches on the photographic film are present when the original to be read is a photographic film and reprints are made thereof. Therefore, the degree of diffusion of the illumination light is increased at the time of reprinting, compared with during simultaneous film processing, in order to reduce the scratches appearing on the print. Conversely, during simultaneous film processing, because there are hardly any scratches on the pho
Katakura Kazuhiko
Konagaya Tatsuya
Adams Russell
Brown Khaled
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
LandOfFree
Image reading apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Image reading apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Image reading apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2579351