JP2010093693A - Image sensor module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image sensor module which can easily reduce its body case in size. <P>SOLUTION: The image sensor module A includes: the body case 1; a light receiving substrate 3 which is arranged at the bottom of the body case 1 while mounting a plurality of light receiving elements 30 in a longitudinal direction in a row form; a lens module 4 arranged inside the body case 1 so that the light from an object to be imaged facing the upper part of the body case 1 may be led to the plurality of light receiving elements 30; and a light emitting substrate 5 which is arranged in the interior of the body case 1 with an erecting posture at the side of the lens module 4 while mounting a plurality of light emitting elements 50 in a longitudinal direction in a row form, without depending on the light receiving substrate 3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a contact image sensor module, for example.

  A conventional image sensor module is disclosed in Patent Document 1. The image sensor module disclosed in this document is classified as a so-called contact type. This type of image sensor module is configured by housing a plurality of light receiving elements and light emitting elements, a substrate on which these are mounted, and a lens module in a main body case. The light receiving element and the light emitting element are mounted side by side on a single substrate arranged at the bottom of the main body case so as to be positioned in the shielding space directly below the lens module and the light guiding space isolated from the shielding space, respectively. Yes. The wall surface forming the light guide space is made of a surface capable of reflecting light, and the light from the light emitting element is guided to the imaging object positioned above the lens module while being reflected by the wall surface.

  However, the conventional image sensor module has a problem in that it is difficult to reduce the size of the main body case because a light guide space having a certain size must be secured inside the main body case.

JP 2001-223844 A

  The present invention has been conceived under the circumstances described above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image sensor module capable of easily reducing the size of the main body case.

  An image sensor module provided by the present invention includes a main body case and a plurality of light-receiving elements arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, disposed on a back side portion in the first direction of the main body case. An image comprising: a light receiving substrate; and a lens module disposed inside the main body case so as to guide light from the imaging object facing the first direction front side portion of the main body case to the plurality of light receiving elements. A sensor module, wherein the first and second directions are spaced apart in a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions with respect to the lens module in the case. And a light-emitting substrate mounted with a plurality of light-emitting elements arranged in the second direction separately from the light-receiving substrate. To have.

  As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light emitting substrate is arranged with the plurality of light emitting elements facing the lens module.

  As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a reflection for reflecting light from the light emitting elements toward the front direction of the first direction of the lens module on the front surface in the third direction of the plurality of light emitting elements. A surface is provided.

  As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mounting surface of the light emitting substrate on which the plurality of light emitting elements are mounted is a surface capable of reflecting light, and the reflection surface is a light from the plurality of light emitting elements. A direct reflection surface that reflects and directs the lens module directly toward the front side in the first direction, and reflects light from the plurality of light emitting elements toward the mounting surface, and the lens module passes through the mounting surface. And an indirect reflection surface for directing reflected light in the first direction front side direction.

  As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the direct reflection surface is disposed closer to the first direction front side than the indirect reflection surface.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the indirect reflection surface is a concave curved surface.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of light emitting elements and the indirect reflection surface overlap in the first direction.

  As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light emitting substrate is arranged with the plurality of light emitting elements facing away from the lens module, and the third direction of the plurality of light emitting elements is arranged. A front surface is provided with a reflecting surface for reflecting light from these light emitting elements toward the first front side of the lens module.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the reflecting surface is a concave curved surface.

  As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light receiving substrate, the lens module, and the light emitting substrate are provided as a set of optical systems, and a plurality of sets of the optical systems are incorporated in the main body case. ing.

  As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, light having a wavelength different from that of the plurality of light emitting elements is emitted on the opposite side of the light emitting substrate in the third direction with respect to the lens module inside the main body case. A light source unit is arranged.

  As a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the light source unit includes a light source that emits light having a wavelength different from that of the plurality of light emitting elements, and a light guide that emits light from the light source as linear light extending in the second direction. And an optical member.

  According to such a configuration, the light emitting substrate different from the light receiving substrate is disposed vertically in a posture standing in the thickness direction, for example, inside the main body case. Therefore, the interval between the light emitting substrate and the lens module can be easily narrowed, and it is not necessary to secure a very large space inside the main body case, and the main body case can be easily downsized.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  1 and 2 show an embodiment of an image sensor module according to the present invention. The image sensor module A of the present embodiment reads the imaging object in a state of being in close contact with the imaging object. The image sensor module A has a long rectangular shape whose longitudinal direction is the main scanning direction, and includes a main body case 1, a light transmitting cover 2, a light receiving substrate 3, a lens module 4, a light emitting substrate 5, a reflector 6, and a light source unit 7. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the main body case 1 has a longitudinal shape extending in a certain direction. The upper part of the main body case 1 is opened for irradiating the imaging object with light and taking in light from the imaging object, and the upper opening is closed by the translucent cover 2. Inside the main body case 1, the lens module 4, the light emitting substrate 5, the reflector 6, and the light source unit 7 are accommodated, and the light receiving substrate 3 is incorporated at the bottom thereof. As shown in FIG. 2, a shielding space S is formed between the light receiving substrate 3 and the lens module 4 in the main body case 1.

  The translucent cover 2 is made of, for example, a transparent resin or glass. The imaging target is in close contact with the outer surface of the translucent cover 2, and light transmitted from the imaging target through the translucent cover 2 is guided into the main body case 1.

  The light receiving substrate 3 is a substrate on which a plurality of light receiving elements 30 are mounted in a row in the longitudinal direction. The light receiving substrate 3 is disposed in a horizontal posture on the bottom of the main body case 1. The light receiving element 30 is located immediately below the lens module 4 in the shielded space S. When receiving light that has passed through the lens module 4, the light receiving element 30 outputs a pixel signal at a level corresponding to the amount of light received.

  In the lens module 4, a plurality of rod lenses 41 for image formation are held in a row on a long holder 40. Each rod lens 41 has a focal point set on the outer surface of the translucent cover 2 and is set to form an image on the focal point on each light receiving element 30.

  The light emitting substrate 5 is a substrate on which a plurality of light emitting elements 50 are mounted in a row in the longitudinal direction. The light emitting substrate 5 is in a posture of standing up to the side of the lens module 4 inside the main body case 1, and is arranged vertically with each light emitting element 50 facing the lens module 4. The mounting surface 5a of the light emitting substrate 5 on which each light emitting element 50 is mounted is a surface capable of reflecting light. The light emitting element 50 is made of, for example, an infrared LED, and is mounted on the light emitting substrate 5 so as to be biased toward the upper side of the main body case 1.

  The reflector 6 is for reflecting the light from the light emitting element 50 toward the upper side of the lens module 4. The reflection surface of the reflector 6 is formed so as to be positioned in front of the light emitting element 50. The reflection surface includes a direct reflection surface 6 a that reflects light from the light emitting element 50 and directs the light directly above the lens module 4, and reflects light from the light emitting element 50 toward the mounting surface 5 a of the light emitting substrate 5. In addition, there is an indirect reflection surface 6b for directing reflected light indirectly above the lens module 4 through the mounting surface 5a. The direct reflection surface 6 a is formed as a flat slope at the tip of the reflector 6 that is closer to the top of the main body case 1. The indirect reflection surface 6b is formed so as to form a concave curved surface following the direct reflection surface 6a at a position substantially overlapping with the light emitting element 50 in the vertical direction. In FIG. 2, the light guided through the direct reflection surface 6a is denoted by reference symbol L1, and the light guided through the indirect reflection surface 6b is denoted by reference symbol L2, without passing through the direct reflection surface 6a and the indirect reflection surface 6b. The light guided upward of the lens module 4 is indicated by a symbol L3. Such direct reflection surface 6a and indirect reflection surface 6b increase the optical path length from the light emitting element 50 to the object to be imaged, and allow light from the light emitting element 50 to pass through the longitudinal direction of the main body case 1 (through the paper surface of FIG. 2). In addition, there is an action of diffusing in the direction), and it has a role of making the light intensity distribution uniform with respect to the imaging object.

  The light source unit 7 includes a light guide member 70 and a light source substrate 71. The light source unit 7 is arranged on the opposite side to the side of the lens module 4 on which the light emitting substrate 5 is arranged inside the main body case 1. The light guide member 70 has a longitudinal shape extending in a certain direction, and guides light from the end portion as linear light extending in the longitudinal direction above the lens module 4. The light source substrate 71 is a substrate on which light sources 72 R, 72 G, and 72 B that emit light having a wavelength different from that of the light emitting element 50, for example, RGB light, are mounted, and are attached to the end portion of the light guide member 70. Such a light source unit 7 irradiates the imaging target object with light as visible light separately from the light emitting element 50.

  According to the image sensor module A having such a configuration, when visible light is irradiated from the light source unit 7, an image of the visible light is formed on the light receiving element 30 via the lens module 4. Further, when infrared light is emitted from the light emitting element 50 in a state where no visible light is emitted from the light source unit 7, an infrared image is formed on the light receiving element 30 via the lens module 4. Thereby, a visible light image and an infrared image of the imaging object are obtained.

  Infrared rays have a property that they are difficult to scatter because they have a longer wavelength than visible light. On the other hand, most infrared rays irradiated from the light emitting element 50 reach the imaging target via the direct reflection surface 6a and the indirect reflection surface 6b. Accordingly, the optical path length is increased by the direct reflection surface 6a and the indirect reflection surface 6b, and infrared rays reach the imaging target while diffusing in various directions. Therefore, an infrared image with little shading unevenness can be obtained.

  The light-emitting substrate 5 on which such a light-emitting element 50 is mounted is arranged vertically with the posture standing inside the main body case 1. Therefore, even if the space for guiding the infrared light from the light emitting element 50 to the upper side of the lens module 4 is reduced, the infrared light can be efficiently guided to the imaging object. Thereby, even if it is the main body case 1 which accommodates the light emission board | substrate 5 and the light source unit 7 as a several different light emission means, such size reduction of the main body case 1 can be achieved easily.

  3 and 4 show another embodiment of the image sensor module according to the present invention. Note that the same or similar components as those according to the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  In the image sensor module B shown in FIG. 3, the light emitting substrate 5 is arranged vertically with each light emitting element 50 facing toward the opposite side of the lens module 4. On the other hand, the reflecting surface 6c of the reflector 6 is formed so as to be positioned in front of the light emitting element 50 on the side opposite to the lens module 4, and reflects the light from the light emitting element 50 to above the lens module 4. It has a concave curved surface that goes directly to. Such a reflective surface 6c also increases the optical path length from the light emitting element 50 to the object to be imaged, and diffuses the light from the light emitting element 50 in the longitudinal direction of the main body case 1 (the direction penetrating the paper surface of FIG. 2). There is also an effect, and the light intensity distribution is made uniform with respect to the imaging object.

  Therefore, the image sensor module B of FIG. 3 can obtain the same advantages as those according to the above-described embodiment. That is, even if the space for guiding infrared rays from the light emitting element 50 to the upper side of the lens module 4 is made as small as possible, an infrared image with less unevenness in density can be obtained, and the main body case 1 can be easily downsized. Can be aimed at.

  In the image sensor module C shown in FIG. 4, two sets of optical systems X <b> 1 and X <b> 2 including the light receiving substrate 3, the lens module 4, the light emitting substrate 5, and the reflector 6 are accommodated adjacent to the inside of the main body case 1. For example, the light-emitting substrate 5 included in one optical system X1 is mounted with a light-emitting element 50 of an infrared LED, and the light-emitting substrate 5 included in the other optical system X2 is mounted with a white light source 50 ′. Is done. In one optical system X1, an infrared image of the imaging target is obtained when the imaging target passes through the right side of the translucent cover 2, and in the other optical system X2, the imaging target is positioned on the left side of the transparent cover 2. A visible light image of the object to be imaged can be obtained when passing through.

  The image sensor module C of FIG. 4 can also reduce the space for guiding light from the light emitting element 50 and the white light source 50 ′ to the upper side of the lens module 4 as much as possible. It is possible to easily reduce the size of the main body case 1 after incorporating X1 and X2. Even if three or more sets of optical systems are incorporated, the size of the main body case can be reduced as compared with the conventional structure.

  The present invention is not limited to the contents of the above-described embodiments. The specific configuration of each part of the image sensor module according to the present invention can be varied in design in various ways.

  For example, at least one set of an optical system including a light receiving substrate, a lens module, and a light emitting substrate is accommodated in the main body case, and the light emitting substrate may be arranged vertically in an upright posture.

  The light emitting element is not limited to an infrared LED or a white light source, and may emit a wavelength different from these.

It is a disassembled perspective view which shows one Embodiment of the image sensor module concerning this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing of the image sensor module shown in FIG. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows other embodiment of the image sensor module concerning this invention. It is principal part sectional drawing which shows other embodiment of the image sensor module concerning this invention.

Explanation of symbols

A, B, C Image sensor module X1, X2 Optical system 1 Body case 2 Translucent cover 3 Light receiving substrate 30 Light receiving element 4 Lens module 5 Light emitting substrate 5a Light emitting substrate mounting surface 50 Light emitting element 6 Reflector 6a Direct reflection surface 6b Indirect reflection Surface 6c Reflective surface 7 Light source unit

Claims (12)

A body case,
A light receiving substrate mounted with a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, disposed on the back side portion of the main body case in the first direction;
A lens module disposed inside the main body case so as to guide light from the imaging object facing the first direction front side portion of the main body case to the plurality of light receiving elements;
An image sensor module comprising:
Inside the case, the first and second directions are in-plane directions at positions spaced apart in a third direction perpendicular to both the first and second directions with respect to the lens module. An image sensor module, further comprising: a light emitting substrate arranged in a posture and mounting a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in the second direction separately from the light receiving substrate.   The image sensor module according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting substrate is disposed with the plurality of light emitting elements facing toward the lens module.   The reflective surface for reflecting the light from these light emitting elements toward the said 1st direction front side direction of the said lens module is provided in the said 3rd direction front surface of these light emitting elements. The image sensor module described in 1. The mounting surface of the light emitting substrate on which the plurality of light emitting elements are mounted is a surface capable of reflecting light,
The reflection surface includes a direct reflection surface that reflects light from the plurality of light emitting elements and directs the lens module toward the first front side of the lens module, and light from the plurality of light emitting elements on the mounting surface. 4. The image sensor according to claim 3, further comprising: an indirect reflection surface that reflects toward the first surface and indirectly directs reflected light toward the first direction front side of the lens module through the mounting surface. module.   The image sensor module according to claim 4, wherein the direct reflection surface is disposed closer to the first direction front side than the indirect reflection surface.   The image sensor module according to claim 4, wherein the indirect reflection surface is a concave curved surface.   The image sensor module according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of light emitting elements and the indirect reflection surface overlap in the first direction. The light-emitting substrate is disposed with the plurality of light-emitting elements facing toward the opposite side of the lens module,
The reflective surface for reflecting the light from these light emitting elements toward the said 1st direction front side direction of the said lens module is provided in the said 3rd direction front surface of these several light emitting elements. The image sensor module described in 1.   The image sensor module according to claim 8, wherein the reflection surface is a concave curved surface.   The light receiving substrate, the lens module, and the light emitting substrate are provided as a set of optical systems, and the main body case incorporates a plurality of sets of the optical systems. An image sensor module according to claim 1.   The light source unit that emits light having a wavelength different from that of the plurality of light emitting elements is disposed inside the main body case on a side opposite to the light emitting substrate in the third direction with respect to the lens module. The image sensor module according to any one of 1 to 10.   The light source unit includes: a light source that emits light having a wavelength different from that of the plurality of light emitting elements; and a light guide member that emits light from the light source as linear light extending in the second direction. The image sensor module described.

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