JP2000069252A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader which is aimed at improving reading efficiency and can change sub-scanning speed into high speed between original images by shortening the reading time of an image pickup means which is required by original size, print size or the like. SOLUTION: An image pickup means is equipped with a photoelectric conversion part 70, a transfer part 72, a transfer gate 74 for performing transfer control of a photoelectric converted charge, an overflowed lane 78 for discharging a saturated charge when a charge accumulated in the photoelectric conversion part 70 is saturated, a clear gate 76 for performing the discharge control of the saturated charge, a charge abandonment drain 82 for scrapping the charge of a pixel which is not required for reading, and a charge scrap gate 80 for controlling the charge abandonment. By this means, partial reading of a read pixel is performed in accordance with an original image. Moreover, the read pixel is projected on the image pickup means by way of a reflection mirror and sub-scanning is performed by driving the reflection mirror.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus which receives transmitted light or reflected light of a light emitted from a light source with respect to a document image, converts the light into an electric signal, and reads the document image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image recorded on a photographic photosensitive material is photoelectrically read by an image pickup device such as a line CCD sensor.
Image processing such as various corrections is performed on the read digital image data, and an image is formed on a recording material by a laser beam modulated based on the image-processed digital image data.

As described above, in the technique of digitally reading a frame image using a line CCD sensor, a frame image is preliminarily read at a high speed (so-called pre-scan) to realize accurate image reading. Reading conditions were determined according to the density and the like, and the frame image was read again under the determined reading conditions (so-called fine scan).

In a photographic material in which image frames having different frame sizes such as a normal size and a panorama size are mixed,
To read a normal size, about 1500 × 1000 pixels are required, and to read a panoramic size, about 3000 × 1000 pixels are required. For this reason, an image reading apparatus is used in which a line CCD sensor is arranged along the width direction of the photographic photosensitive material and the photographic film is sub-scanned as it is transported. The optical magnification and the sub-scanning speed of the optical system for forming an image are changed to read a frame image recorded on a photographic material. At the time of this reading, the frame size is recognized at the time of the pre-scan reading, and at the time of the fine scanning, the transmitted light to the photographic photosensitive material is irradiated to all the pixels of the line CCD sensor for each frame image based on the pre-scan result. Reading has been performed at a sub-scanning speed (the normal size is twice as large as the panorama size) at the sub-scanning speed according to the frame size while changing the optical magnification of the optical system.

Alternatively, based on the prescan result, the optical magnification of the optical system for reading a normal size frame image is first changed to read only the normal size frame image at the sub-scanning speed of the normal size reading. Then, after changing the optical magnification of the optical system that forms an image on the line CCD sensor to read a panorama-size frame image, the panorama-size reading is performed at the sub-scanning speed for reading the panorama-size frame image. In any case, reading was performed by always reading the maximum number of pixels of the line CCD sensor.

[0006]

As described above, the optical magnification of the optical system formed on the image pickup means is adjusted for original images having different numbers of pixels in original images having different original image sizes. Since the image is always read by reading the maximum number of pixels, the change time for changing to the optical magnification of the optical system corresponding to the original image, the reading time for reading the maximum number of pixels of the imaging unit, and the like cause deterioration of the reading efficiency. I was

In the present invention, in consideration of the above, the document size,
An object of the present invention is to improve the reading efficiency by shortening the reading time of the imaging means required depending on the print size and the like, and to provide an image reading apparatus capable of changing the sub-scanning speed between document images at high speed. The purpose is to do.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a transmitted light or a reflected light of a document image from a light source is received,
A photoelectric conversion unit that converts the amount of received light into an amount of charge corresponding to the amount of received light and stores the charge, a transfer unit that sequentially transfers the charges converted by the photoelectric conversion unit to an output terminal, the photoelectric conversion unit, and the transfer unit And a transfer gate that is provided between and transfers the charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion unit to the transfer unit;
An overflow drain that discharges a saturated charge when the charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion unit is saturated; and an overflow drain that is provided between the photoelectric conversion unit and the overflow drain to discharge the saturated charge to the overflow drain. A clear gate, a charge discarding gate for selecting an effective image and a non-effective image among charges transferred to the transfer unit, and a charge discarding gate for passing charges selected for the non-effective image, and passing through the charge discarding gate And a charge rejection drain for rejecting the generated charge.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the transmitted light or the reflected light of the original image from the light source is received by the photoelectric conversion unit, converted into a charge amount corresponding to the received light amount, and accumulated. After the photoelectrically converted charges move to the transfer path via the transfer gate, they are sequentially transferred to the output side. Further, by providing an overflow drain, saturated charges can be discharged. In other words, when used in supersaturation, photocharge flows into the adjacent photoelectric conversion unit, and a state in which light is incident even though light is not incident occurs, which causes an accuracy error. Can be prevented. Further, the sensitivity can be freely set by an electronic shutter function that varies the accumulation time performed by controlling the clear gate.

Further, by providing a charge rejection drain and a charge rejection gate, unnecessary charges are discarded by the charge rejection gate by the charge rejection gate so that unnecessary charges are discarded by the charge rejection gate. By reading out the electric charges that have been photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion units, it is possible to read out image data of the required number of photoelectric conversion units. That is,
The number of photoelectric conversion units used for reading can be changed as needed. As described above, it is not necessary to always read data photoelectrically converted by all photoelectric conversion units, and reading can be performed with the required number of photoelectric conversion units (so-called number of read pixels), so that reading efficiency can be improved.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the charge rejection gate is controlled at least for each of the photoelectric conversion units or for each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units as one block, and is selected as an effective image. It is characterized by eliminating electric charges.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, at least for each photoelectric conversion unit, or for a plurality of photoelectric conversion units as one block, a charge discarding gate is provided for each block, and a charge discarded as an ineffective image. By the control described above, the charges can be discarded to the charge discarding drain, and unnecessary charges selected as ineffective images according to the document image size and the like can be discarded.

For example, the number of photoelectric conversion units to be read out is set according to the size of the original image, or a block using a plurality of photoelectric conversion units as one block is set according to the size of the original. If charge is discarded by controlling the photoelectric conversion unit corresponding to the effective image or the charge disposal gate of the block, the charge of the photoelectric conversion unit that does not require the ineffective image can be discarded. This eliminates the need to read data in all the photoelectric conversion units of the imaging means, allows partial reading, and reduces reading time, thereby improving reading efficiency.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a photoelectric conversion unit which receives transmitted light or reflected light of a document image from a light source, converts the received light into a charge amount corresponding to the received light amount, and stores the charge. A transfer unit for sequentially transferring the charges converted by the unit to the output terminal; and a transfer unit provided between the photoelectric conversion unit and the transfer unit, and transfers the charges photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion unit to the transfer unit. A transfer gate, an overflow drain for discharging saturated charge when the charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion unit is saturated, and an overflow drain provided between the photoelectric conversion unit and the overflow drain; A clear gate for discharging to a drain,
The clear gate is controlled at least for each of the photoelectric conversion units, or for each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units as one block, and is separated into a valid image and a non-valid image. Is discharged to the overflow drain.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the transmitted light or the reflected light of the original image from the light source is received by the photoelectric conversion unit, converted into a charge amount corresponding to the received light amount, and accumulated. After the photoelectrically converted charges move to the transfer path via the transfer gate, they are sequentially transferred to the output side. Further, by providing an overflow drain, saturated charges can be discharged. In other words, when used in supersaturation, photocharge flows into the adjacent photoelectric conversion unit, and a state where light is incident even though light is not incident occurs, which causes an accuracy error. Can be prevented. Further, the sensitivity can be freely set by an electronic shutter function that varies the accumulation time performed by controlling the clear gate.

Further, at least for each photoelectric conversion unit or a plurality of photoelectric conversion units as one block, the charge selected as the non-effective image is discharged to the overflow drain by the clear gate by the block. In addition, it is possible to discharge unnecessary charges selected as ineffective images according to the document image size and the like.

For example, in the same manner as in claim 2, the number of photoelectric conversion units to be read is set according to the size of the document image or the like, or a block using a plurality of photoelectric conversion units as one block is set according to the size of the document. By discharging the charge of the photoelectric conversion unit corresponding to the ineffective image or the block generated by the document size or the like to the overflow drain by the clear gate, the charge of the photoelectric conversion unit that does not require the ineffective image can be discharged. . This eliminates the need to read data in all the photoelectric conversion units of the imaging means, allows partial reading, and reduces reading time, thereby improving reading efficiency.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the transfer gate is controlled at least for each of the photoelectric conversion units or for each of the blocks, and at least the readout provided for each of the photoelectric conversion units or for each of the blocks is provided. The amplifier is controlled to read the effective image.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the transfer gate is controlled at least for each photoelectric conversion unit or for each block including a plurality of photoelectric conversion units as one block, so that an effective image can be obtained. The selected charges can be transferred to the transfer unit. Further, since a readout amplifier is provided for each photoelectric conversion unit or for each block, it is possible to partially read only the charges of the photoelectric conversion unit or the block corresponding to the effective image.

For example, in the same manner as in claim 2, a photoelectric conversion unit to be read out is set according to the document image size or the like, or a block using a plurality of photoelectric conversion units as one block is set according to the document size or the like. By controlling the transfer gate for each photoelectric conversion unit or for each block in the setting, it is possible to transfer only the charges selected as valid images to the transfer path. Further, only a charge selected as an effective image can be partially read by a read amplifier provided for each photoelectric conversion unit or each block. This eliminates the need to read data in all the photoelectric conversion units of the imaging unit, and allows partial reading, so that reading time can be shortened and reading efficiency can be improved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the image pickup means is a line sensor, and the position of transmitted light or reflected light of the original image from the light source irradiated on the line sensor is used for reading. It is characterized by changing according to the number of photoelectric conversion units.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, reading can be performed by changing the position of the transmitted light or reflected light of the original image irradiated on the line sensor depending on the number of photoelectric conversion units used for reading. .

For example, since the number of pixels required for reading is different between a normal size and a panorama size frame image recorded on a photographic material, the optical magnification or the image formation position of the optical system to be formed on the line sensor is changed. By making changes,
The original can be read by changing the position where the transmitted light or reflected light of the original irradiated to the line sensor is irradiated, and the reading can be performed with a required number of pixels. Therefore, the transmitted light or the reflected light of the original image is not irradiated to all the photoelectric change portions. That is, partial reading can be performed with the required number of photoelectric conversion units according to the document image, and reading efficiency can be improved.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus for reading the original image based on the transmitted light or the reflected light of the light output from the light source unit with respect to the original image, wherein an image pickup means is provided for the original image. Moving means to move along, or
The image forming apparatus further includes a reflecting unit that reflects transmitted light or reflected light from the light source unit with respect to the document image and projects the reflected light on the imaging unit, and a driving unit that drives the reflecting unit.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in an image reading apparatus for reading an original image based on transmitted light or reflected light of the light output from the light source unit with respect to the original image, the image pickup means is arranged along the original image. Sub-scanning of the document image is performed by the driving means for moving. Or, by irradiating the imaging unit with transmitted light or reflected light for the original image projected from the light source to the imaging unit by using the reflection mirror, and driving the reflection mirror by the driving unit, the sub-scanning of the original image is performed. It can be carried out.

For example, when reading a frame image recorded on a photographic light-sensitive material or the like, an image pickup means is arranged with a line CCD sensor along the longitudinal direction of the photographic light-sensitive material, and reciprocates in the width direction of the photographic light-sensitive material. Line C via reflection mirror
The CD sensor is irradiated with transmitted light to the photosensitive material, and the reflection mirror is driven reciprocally (for example, the reflection mirror is reciprocally rotated,
If sub-scanning is performed by reciprocating the reflection mirror, etc., reading at a relatively high speed (so-called pre-scan) is performed on the outward path, and reading is performed under reading conditions based on the pre-scan result on the return path (so-called fine). Scan).

Further, when the normal size and the panoramic size are mixed in the frame image recorded on the photographic material,
When a frame image is read by using the line CCD sensor of about 3000 pixels by the imaging unit according to claim 1, the frame size determined by the prescan is a normal size frame image. Changes the optical magnification of the optical system so that about 1500 partial pixels of the line CCD sensor are read at the time of fine scan, and performs reading in the case of a panoramic size frame image. The reading is performed by changing the optical magnification of the system. Furthermore, by performing the sub-scanning speed at the same speed, the resolution of the normal size and the resolution of the panorama size can be made substantially the same, and all pixels are not read when reading the normal size, so that the reading efficiency is improved. Can be improved.

When it is desired to change the resolution (sub-scanning speed) in the sub-scanning direction depending on the print size or the like, pre-scanning and fine scanning sub-scanning are performed independently for each frame image. The sub-scanning speed can be changed at high speed.

[0029]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a digital laboratory system 10 according to the present embodiment.

The digital lab system 10 includes a film scanner 12, an image processing unit 14, a laser printer unit 16, and a processor unit 18, as shown in FIG.

A frame image recorded on a photographic material (hereinafter simply referred to as a photographic film) is read by a film scanner 12 and output to the image processing section 14 as scan image data. The image processing unit 14 receives the scanned image data output from the film scanner 12 and reads the image data obtained by photographing with the digital camera and the original (for example, a reflective original) other than the film image by the scanner. The obtained image data, image data generated by a computer, and the like (hereinafter, referred to as file image data) are externally input (for example, input via a storage medium such as a memory card, or a communication line is connected). Input from another information processing device via the Internet).

The image processing section 14 performs various types of image processing such as various corrections on the input various image data, and outputs the processed image data to the laser printer section 16 as recording image data. Further, the image processing unit 14 outputs the image data subjected to the image processing to an external device as an image file (for example, outputs the image data to a storage medium such as a memory card, or transmits the image data to another information processing device via a communication line). Etc.) are also possible.

The laser printer section 16 is provided with R, G, and B laser light sources, and irradiates a photographic paper with laser light modulated in accordance with recording image data input from the image processing section 14 to scan the photographic paper. An image is recorded on photographic paper by exposure.
Further, the processor unit 18 performs each process of color development, bleach-fixing, washing, and drying on the photographic paper on which the image is recorded by the scanning exposure by the laser printer unit 16. Thus, an image is formed on the printing paper.

Next, the film scanner 12 will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 2, the film scanner 12 is provided with a light source section 20, an acrylic block 22 for diffusing light irradiated on the photographic film 100, and a light diffusing plate 24 in this order.

The photographic film 100 is set on the light exit side of the acrylic block 22, and is advanced by the film carrier 26 so that the screen of the frame image is perpendicular to the optical axis.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a reflection mirror 28 for reflecting light transmitted through the frame image along the optical axis is arranged on the opposite side of the light source unit 20 with the photographic film 100 interposed therebetween. The light reflected by the reflection mirror 28 is applied to a line CCD sensor 32 via a lens unit 30 arranged along the optical axis. Although only a single lens is shown as the lens unit 30, the lens unit 30 is actually a zoom lens including a plurality of lenses.

The line CCD sensors 32 are arranged in a line so as to scan the long side of the photographic film 100 along the transport direction of the photographic film 100, and the sub-scanning is performed by rotating the reflection mirror 28. . The sub-scanning is performed by reciprocating in the width direction of the photographic film 100, that is, in the short side direction of the frame image. In the reciprocating sub-scan, in the forward sub-scan, reading is performed by rotating the reflection mirror at a relatively high speed (so-called pre-scan),
In the sub-scan on the return path, reading (so-called fine scan) is performed under reading conditions based on the pre-scan result.

As shown in FIG. 4, the reflection mirror 28 includes a reflection mirror 28, a rotating shaft 34, a motor 38, pulleys 36 and 66, and a belt 68. The pulley 36 is locked to the rotating shaft 34. A pulley 66 is locked to a rotation shaft 38A of the motor 38, and a belt 68 is hung between the pulley 36 and the pulley 66. Motor drive is 2
The reflection mirror is reciprocally rotated via the two pulleys 36 and 66 and the belt 68.
Sub-scanning is performed. The rotation of the motor 38 is controlled by the control unit 64 shown in FIG. Further, when high resolution is required due to the print size of L size, KG size, etc., the sub-scanning speed can be controlled by controlling the rotation of the motor 38 of the control unit 64. It is possible to change.

In this embodiment, the sub-scanning is performed by rotating the reflection mirror 28.
The sensor may be directly sub-scanned in the short side direction of the frame image of the photographic film 100.

Next, the configuration of the line CCD sensor 32 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

The line CCD sensor 32 receives the transmitted light of the frame image recorded on the photographic film 100 and converts it into a charge corresponding to the amount of light received, and a transfer for transferring the photoelectrically converted charge. The photoelectric conversion unit 7
0 and a transfer unit 72, a transfer gate 74
Is arranged. The charge stored in the photoelectric conversion unit 70 is transferred to the transfer unit by controlling the transfer gate 74.

On the opposite side of the photoelectric conversion unit 70 from the transfer unit 72, an overflow drain 7 for discharging saturated charges is provided.
8, the photoelectric conversion unit and the overflow drain 7
8, a clear gate 76 is arranged. The saturated charges accumulated in the photoelectric conversion unit 70 are discharged to the overflow drain 78. Further, by controlling the clear gate 76, the accumulation time in the photoelectric conversion unit 70 can be controlled, and the sensitivity of the photoelectric conversion unit can be set freely.

On the opposite side of the transfer section 72 from the photoelectric conversion section 70, a charge disposal drain 82 is disposed to discard charges of the photoelectric conversion section which are not required for reading, and the transfer section 72 and the charge disposal drain are disposed. , A charge discharging gate 80
Is arranged. Charges not required for reading are discarded to a charge discard drain 82 under the control of the charge discard gate 80.

The line CCD sensor 32 has a photoelectric conversion unit of 3000 pixels necessary for reading the long side direction of the panorama size frame image recorded on the photographic film 100 along the length direction of the photographic film 100. R and R are arranged on the light incident side of the photoelectric conversion unit 70 in a line.
One of the G and B color separation filters is attached to each other (a so-called three-line CCD sensor).

The number of pixels necessary for reading the long side direction of the frame image of the normal size is 1500 pixels, which is half the number of the panorama size.
750 pixels, 1500 pixels, 7 pixels
It is configured as three blocks divided into 50 pixels. The panorama size is read by 3000 pixels of all pixels, and the normal size is read by 1500 pixels at the center.

It should be noted that 3000 when reading the panorama size
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the use of the pixels and the 1500 pixels in the normal size reading is performed by changing the optical magnification of the lens unit 30 and changing the position of the light irradiated to the line CCD sensor 32. Will be (FIG. 6 shows a case where a normal size image is formed, and FIG. 7 shows a case where a panorama size is formed.) Each of the three divided blocks of the line CCD sensor 32 has a line CCD as shown in FIG. The amplifier 42, A /
The D converters 46 are sequentially connected, and the electric charges photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion unit 70 are output to the amplifier 42 via the transfer unit. The electric charge output to the amplifier 42 is amplified as image data, and is converted into digital data by the A / D converter 46. The digital data converted by the A / D converter 46 is output to the control unit 64 connected to the A / D converter 46. In the control section 64, the input digital data is converted from the transmittance into a corresponding density value. Similarly, an amplifier 50 and an A / D converter 54 are connected to the central block, and an amplifier 58 and an A / D converter 62 are connected to the terminal block on the opposite side of the line CCD sensor 32 in order. The photoelectrically converted charge is output to the amplifiers 50 and 58 via the transfer unit. The charges output to the amplifiers 50 and 58 are amplified as image data, and are converted into digital data by A / D converters 54 and 62. The digital data converted by the A / D converters 54 and 62 is
It is output to a control unit 64 connected to 62. Control unit 64
In, the conversion from the transmittance to the corresponding density value is performed on the input digital data.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

When the operator inserts the photographic film 100 into the film carrier 26 and gives a start instruction using a keyboard (not shown), the photographic film 100 is fed by the film carrier 26 for each frame image.

The frame is fed by the film carrier 26, and once the frame image reaches a predetermined position, the conveyance is temporarily stopped. Subsequently, a drive command is issued from the control unit 64 to the motor 38, and the reflection mirror 28 is rotated forward and stopped at a predetermined position. The photographic film 10 output from the light source unit 20
The light transmitted through the zero frame image is applied to the line CCD sensor 32 via the reflection mirror 28. The sub-scan is performed by the forward rotation of the reflection mirror 28, so that the pre-scan is performed and the frame image is read.

The photographic film 1 irradiated from the light source unit 20
00 is transmitted through a reflection mirror 28 to a line CCD.
The light is emitted to the photoelectric conversion unit 70 of the sensor 32. The transmitted light of the photographic film 100 applied to the photoelectric conversion unit 70 is converted into a charge amount corresponding to the received light amount, and is transferred to the transfer unit 72 under the control of the transfer gate. At this time, the supersaturated charge in the photoelectric conversion unit is discharged to the overflow drain 78 by the clear gate 76. By discharging the charges saturated by the clear gate 76 to the overflow drain 78, it is possible to prevent the charges from being oversaturated and flowing into the adjacent photoelectric conversion unit, and it is possible to obtain error-free image data.

The read data of the frame image read by the pre-scan is output to the amplifiers 42, 50 and 58, and is amplified by the amplifiers 42, 50 and 58.
The data is converted into digital data by the / D converters 46, 54, and 62 and output to the control unit 64.

The control unit 64 converts the input digital data from the transmittance to the corresponding density value, and calculates the reading conditions at the time of fine scanning from the read data read by the prescan. At this time, the frame image size is determined at the same time, a lens magnification change instruction is output to the lens unit 30 according to the frame size, and the lens magnification of the lens unit 30 is changed.

When the change of the lens magnification of the lens unit 30 is completed, the controller 64 outputs an instruction for reverse rotation driving to the motor 38, and the reflection mirror 28 is rotated backward. The sub-scanning of the fine scan is performed by the backward rotation of the reflection mirror 28, and the frame image recorded on the photographic film 100 is read.

At the time of pre-scan, 30 pixels of all pixels
At the time of fine scan, reading is performed at 3000 pixels in the case of panorama size, and at the time of fine scanning, at the center block of the line CCD sensor 32 in the case of normal size.
Reading at 00 pixels is performed.

For example, when the frame image size is determined to be the normal size by the pre-scan, the light transmitted through the frame image is changed to the line C by the signal output from the control unit 64.
The magnification of the lens unit 30 is changed so that 1500 pixels of the center block of the CD sensor 32 are irradiated.
In the line CCD sensor 32, only 1500 pixels are partially read out and output to the amplifier 50. The charge remaining in the pixels not used for reading is transferred to the charge discharging gate 80.
Is discharged to the charge discharge drain 82 by the discharge control.

When a high resolution is required due to the print size or the like, the resolution in the sub-scanning direction is determined by the rotation of the reflection mirror. Can be varied, and the sub-scanning speed can be varied at high speed for each frame image.

The image data partially read by the line CCD sensor 32 is amplified by the amplifier 50, converted to digital data by the A / D converter, and output to the control unit 64.

As described above, when reading the photographic film 100 without using all the pixels of the line CCD sensor 32, partial reading can be performed, so that the reading time can be reduced and the reading efficiency can be improved. Can be.

On the other hand, in the control section 64, the input digital data is converted from the transmittance into a density value, and is output to the image processing section 14 as scan image data. The scanned image data output to the image processing unit 14 is subjected to image processing such as various corrections, and is output to the laser printer unit 16 as image data for recording. The laser printer section 16 irradiates the photographic paper with laser light modulated according to the input recording image data, records the image on the photographic paper by scanning exposure, and prints the image on the photographic paper to the processor section 18. Convey paper. In the processor section 18, the color development, bleach-fixing, washing, and drying processes are performed on the photographic paper on which the image is recorded, and an image is formed on the photographic paper.

In this embodiment, in order to make the resolution after printing equal, the photographic film 100 is used.
The lens magnification of the lens unit 30 is changed according to the frame image size (normal size and panorama size) recorded in the frame image, and the position of the light irradiated to the line CCD sensors 32 arranged in the long side direction of the frame image is determined. It is changed to perform all-pixel reading or partial-pixel reading. However, as a configuration in which the line CCD sensors 32 are arranged along the width direction of the photographic film and sub-scan is performed as the photographic film is transported, an optical magnification is used. Without changing the pixel size, only the pixels at the positions where the transmitted light or the reflected light of the original image is irradiated on the line CCD sensor 32 according to the original image size are partially read (for example, all pixels are read for the normal size, and partial pixels are read for the panoramic size). (Read out).

In this embodiment, the line CCD sensor 32 is divided into three blocks to perform partial reading. However, a reading amplifier is provided for each pixel, and the partial reading is performed for each pixel. May be performed.

In the present embodiment, the unnecessary charge is discharged to the charge discharge drain by the charge discharge gate 80, but the clear gate 76 is replaced by the photoelectric conversion unit 70.
The clear gate 76 may have the same function as the charge rejection gate 80 by dividing the unnecessary charges into blocks or blocks and discharging the unnecessary charges to the overflow drain 78 by the clear gate 76.

In the above description, a line CCD sensor has been described as an example of the imaging means according to the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to a line CCD sensor, and may be applied to an area sensor.

Further, in the above, the case where the photographic film 100 is read as an original according to the present invention has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the original may be a recording material such as photographic paper, plain paper, or thermal paper. (Reflective original), a scanner that reads an image recorded on a recording material (for example,
The present invention can also be applied to a scanner of a copying machine.

[0066]

As described above, according to the present invention, the reading time can be reduced by partially reading out the signal photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion unit of the image pickup means according to the document size, print size, and the like. This has the excellent effect that the reading efficiency can be improved, and when the sub-scanning speed is changed between document images, the speed can be changed at a high speed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital laboratory system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a film scanner provided in the digital laboratory system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing reading of a document image by a line CCD sensor.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a sub-scanning method of the line CCD sensor.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a line CCD sensor provided in a film scanner of the digital laboratory system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a range projected on a line CCD sensor when reading a document image of a normal size frame.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a range projected on a line CCD sensor when reading a document image of a panoramic size frame.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 digital laboratory system 28 reflection mirror 38 motor 32 line CCD sensor 42 amplifier 50 amplifier 58 amplifier 70 photoelectric conversion unit 72 transfer unit 74 transfer gate 76 clear gate 78 overflow drain 80 charge waste gate 82 charge waste drain

Claims (6)

[Claims] A photoelectric conversion unit that receives transmitted light or reflected light of a document image from a light source, converts the light into a charge amount corresponding to the received light amount, and accumulates the charge; A transfer unit for sequentially transferring the charges to an output terminal; a transfer gate provided between the photoelectric conversion unit and the transfer unit, for transferring the charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion unit to the transfer unit; An overflow drain that discharges a saturated charge when the charge that has been photoelectrically converted in the unit is saturated; a clear gate that is provided between the photoelectric conversion unit and the overflow drain and discharges the saturation charge to the overflow drain; A charge rejection gate that selects an effective image and a non-effective image from the charges transferred through the transfer unit, and passes the charge selected as the non-effective image; An image reading apparatus, comprising: an image pickup unit including a charge rejection drain for rejecting charges passing through a reject gate. 2. The charge discarding gate is controlled at least for each of the photoelectric conversion units or for each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion units as one block, and discards charges selected as the ineffective image. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A photoelectric conversion unit that receives transmitted light or reflected light of a document image from a light source, converts the received light into a charge amount corresponding to the received light amount, and accumulates the charge. A transfer unit for sequentially transferring the charges to an output terminal; a transfer gate provided between the photoelectric conversion unit and the transfer unit, for transferring the charge photoelectrically converted by the photoelectric conversion unit to the transfer unit; An overflow drain that discharges a saturated charge when the charge that has been photoelectrically converted in the unit is saturated; a clear gate that is provided between the photoelectric conversion unit and the overflow drain and discharges the saturation charge to the overflow drain; Wherein the clear gate includes at least each of the photoelectric conversion units or a plurality of photoelectric conversion units in one block. To, is controlled for each block, and selecting the effective image and the non-effective image, the image reading apparatus of the charge to be sorted in the non-effective image, characterized in that discharging into the overflow drain. 4. The transfer gate is controlled at least for each of the photoelectric conversion units or for each of the blocks, and the effective image is read by at least a read amplifier provided for each of the photoelectric conversion units or for each of the blocks. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is controlled to read. 5. The image pickup means is a line sensor, and the position of transmitted light or reflected light of a document image from the light source irradiated on the line sensor changes according to the number of the photoelectric conversion units used for reading. The image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the image reading apparatus is configured to: 6. An image reading apparatus for reading the original image based on transmitted light or reflected light of the light output from the light source unit with respect to the original image, wherein: a moving unit that moves an imaging unit along the original image;
Or, a reflection unit that reflects transmitted light or reflected light on a document image from the light source unit and projects the reflected light on the imaging unit,
An image reading apparatus comprising: a driving unit that drives the reflection unit.