Image analysis – Image sensing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-15
2004-08-17
Do, Anh Hong (Department: 2724)
Image analysis
Image sensing
C382S313000, C382S317000, C382S318000, C382S319000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06778713
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for reading an image recorded on a photographic film and, more particularly, to an image reading apparatus in which light is irradiated from a light source to a photographic film supported by a film carrier via an optical waveguide and an image can be read from a plurality of types of photographic films of different sizes or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there have been proposed photographic processing methods in which a film image recorded on a photographic film is brokendown into component colors of red, green and blue, to be read, and then, the image data obtained by the reading is subjected to a variety of image processings such as correction, and the image then recorded on a recording material, displayed on a display unit, or the like. Some image reading apparatuses in which such photographic processing methods are implemented are provided with a film carrier, a mirror box and a lens unit. The film carrier is detachably disposed in the apparatus body and supports a photographic film loaded from the outside on an optical axis of the lens unit. The mirror box to be used in combination with the film carrier is previously disposed in the apparatus body. The mirror box includes an incident light portion and a light emitting portion connected via a waveguide, in which light incident into the incident light portion from a light source such as a halogen lamp is guided to the light emitting portion by the waveguide, and then, the light emitted from the light emitting portion is irradiated onto the photographic film which has been carried to a predetermined position by the film carrier. The lens unit is adapted to focus transmitted light or reflected light (hereinafter collectively referred to as transmitted light) from the photographic film on a reading sensor such as a line CCD (charge coupled device) or an area CCD, which photoelectrically converts the transmitted light which is formed in an image into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal corresponding to a film image.
Since in the above-described conventional image reading apparatus it is necessary to make the center beam of the transmitted light transmitting the film image of the photographic film accord with the optical axis of the lens unit constructed as an image forming optical system with a high degree of accuracy, the light source, the mirror box and the film carrier are disposed in such a manner that their positions are adjustable in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens unit (hereinafter referred to as an optical axis adjusting direction). Consequently, when the conventional image reading apparatus performs an optical axis adjusting operation to make the center beam of the transmitted light from the photographic film accord with the optical axis of the lens unit, the position of the mirror box is adjusted in the optical axis adjusting direction in such a manner as to make the center beam of scattered light emitted from the light emitting portion of the mirror box accord with the optical axis of the lens unit. The position of the light source is then adjusted in the optical axis adjusting direction in such a manner as to maximize the amount of the light incident on the mirror box and to minimize illumination unevenness, and further, the position of the film carrier is adjusted in the optical axis adjusting direction in such a manner that the optical axis of the lens unit passes through the center of an image recorded region (frame) of the photographic film.
Moreover, the above-described photographic processing method of the image reading apparatus has the advantage of giving free control of the quality of an image to be recorded by image processing of the image data in comparison with the conventional photographic processing method in which a film image is recorded on photographic paper by surface exposure.
Some of the image reading apparatuses, in which the above-described photographic processing methods are implemented, may be provided with a film carrier detachably disposed in the apparatus body so as to hold a photographic film, and an optical waveguide for guiding light emitted from the light source to the photographic film held by the film carrier. The shape and a structure of the film carrier are determined according to the type of photographic film. The film carrier is detachably disposed in a film carrier supporting portion provided at the main body of the image reading apparatus, and a photographic film is loaded in the film carrier. Here, the film carrier supporting portion can support any film carrier corresponding to the type of photographic film in order to facilitate operation of changing the type of photographic film from which an image is read. The shape and structure of the optical waveguide are also determined according to the type of photographic film. The optical waveguide corresponding to the type of photographic film with an image to be read recorded thereon is replaceably fixed at the main body of the image reading apparatus. Consequently, a film carrier and optical waveguide which both corepond to the same type of photographic film must always be used in combination.
In the case where in the conventional image reading apparatus either one of the mirror box and the film carrier is displaced from the optical axis of the lens unit after the optical axis adjusting operation, the positions of the mirror box, the light source and the film carrier must be adjusted in sequence. Therefore, the conventional image reading apparatus first encounters the problem that the optical axis adjusting operation has a large number of processes and is cumbersome.
Second, in the case where in the conventional image reading apparatus the type of photographic film for which the film carrier is suited is different from that for which the optical waveguide is suited, i.e., in the case where the optical waveguide previously fixed at the main body of the image reading apparatus is erroneously combined with the film carrier disposed in the film carrier supporting portion, the image recorded on the photographic film cannot be read correctly, and further, the apparatus may be broken. Particularly, since the optical waveguides composed of the mirror box and the like suitable for any type of photographic film are formed in a similar extarnal shape, there is a possibility that the film carrier may be disposed in the film carrier supporting portion without the fact that the optical waveguide has been attached in an erroneous combination to the main body of the image reading apparatus being noticed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In consideration of the above-described problems, a first object of the present invention is to provide a light amount adjusting device in which an optical axis adjusting operation for an optical waveguide and a film carrier can be simplified with respect to an optical axis of an image forming optical system.
Furthermore, in consideration of the above-described problems, a second object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus which can be prevented from being broken if an optical waveguide previously fixed to the apparatus and a film carrier to be disposed in a film carrier supporting portion are incorrectly combined, and further, which can inform an operator of the incorrect combination of the optical waveguide previously fixed to the apparatus and the film carrier to be disposed in the film carrier supporting portion.
In order to attain the aforementioned first object, the image reading apparatus according to the present invention comprises: a light source for irradiating light onto a photographic photosensitive material; an image forming optical system for forming reflected or transmitted light from the photographic photosensitive material into an image; a film carrier for supporting the photographic photosensitive material loaded from the outside; an optical waveguide for guiding the light, which is inciden
Yamamoto Takashi
Yorifuji Shinichi
Yoshida Takashi
Do Anh Hong
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-3294941