Image reading device, method, and program

Abstract

To provide an image reading device etc. capable of contributing to customization corresponding to the width and shape of an imaging object.SOLUTION: The image reading device is obtained by connecting a plurality of line scanner units by an arrangement number in a width direction with respect to an arbitrary line scanner unit, or an arbitrary relative angle, or a relative position in a height direction with respect to the arbitrary line scanner unit. Each line scanner unit comprises: a casing capable of capturing light from a surface facing at least a portion of an imaging object; a guide rail affixed in the casing so as to extend in the width direction; an illumination part affixed to the casing so as to illuminate at least a portion of the imaging object; and an imaging unit which is disposed movably along the guide rail in the casing and acquires image data by imaging at least a portion of the imaging object illuminated by the illumination part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Claims

1. An image reading device in which multiple line scanner units are connected, Each of the aforementioned multiple line scanner units is A housing configured to capture light from a surface facing at least a portion of the object to be imaged, A guide rail fixed inside the housing so as to extend in the width direction, An illumination unit fixed to the housing so as to illuminate at least a portion of the object to be imaged, An imaging unit is arranged within the housing so as to be movable along the guide rail and is configured to capture at least a portion of the object to be imaged illuminated by the illumination unit and acquire image data, Equipped with, An image reading device in which the housings of the plurality of line scanner units can be connected to each other by changing their relative angle or relative position in the height direction to match the shape of the object to be imaged.

2. The outer surface of the aforementioned housing has an arbitrary multifaceted shape. The housings are connected at any relative angle, by combining any surface of the housing other than the light-receiving surface with any surface of an adjacent housing other than the light-receiving surface. The image reading device according to claim 1.

3. The imaging unit is A lens fixed to the housing and configured to focus light signals from at least a portion of the object to be imaged that is illuminated by the illumination unit, An image sensor is disposed within the housing and configured to generate image data by converting the optical signal focused by the lens into an electrical signal, An image control board is configured to control the operation of the imaging unit and the illumination unit, and to process the image data generated by the image sensor. Equipped with, The image reading device according to claim 1.

4. The image control board is configured to control the position of the imaging unit on the guide rail in coordination with the image control boards of other line scanner units in the image reading device, other than its own line scanner unit. The image reading device according to claim 3.

5. The image control board is configured to control the operation of the image sensor in coordination with the image control boards of other line scanner units in the image reading device, other than its own line scanner unit, so as to focus on the object to be imaged. The image reading device according to claim 3.

6. The image control board is configured to control the operation of the image sensor and illumination unit of its own line scanner unit in synchronization with the operation of the image sensor and illumination unit of other line scanner units, using a common synchronization signal in the image reading device. The image reading device according to claim 3.

7. The image control board is configured to perform a process of combining the image data acquired by the imaging unit of its own line scanner unit with the image data acquired by the imaging unit of another line scanner unit in the image reading device other than its own line scanner unit to generate combined image data. The image reading device according to claim 3.

8. Each line scanner unit is electrically connected to the image control board, and the line scanner control device is configured to control the operation of the imaging unit and the illumination unit through the image control board, and to process the image data acquired by the image sensor. The image reading device according to claim 3.

9. An image reading method that reads an image using an image reading device in which multiple line scanner units are connected, Each of the aforementioned multiple line scanner units is A housing configured to capture light from a surface facing at least a portion of the object to be imaged, A guide rail fixed inside the housing so as to extend in the width direction, An illumination unit fixed to the housing so as to illuminate at least a portion of the object to be imaged, An imaging unit is arranged within the housing so as to be movable along the guide rail and is configured to capture at least a portion of the object to be imaged illuminated by the illumination unit and acquire image data, Equipped with, The image reading method includes the steps of connecting the housings of the plurality of line scanner units by changing their relative angle or relative position in the height direction according to the shape of the object to be imaged, and the steps of the hardware resources of the image reading device controlling the position of the imaging unit of each line scanner unit on the guide rail. Image reading method.

10. A program to be executed by hardware resources in an image reading device in which multiple line scanner units are connected, Each of the aforementioned multiple line scanner units is A housing configured to capture light from a surface facing at least a portion of the object to be imaged, A guide rail fixed inside the housing so as to extend in the width direction, An illumination unit fixed to the housing so as to illuminate at least a portion of the object to be imaged, An imaging unit is arranged within the housing so as to be movable along the guide rail and is configured to capture at least a portion of the object to be imaged illuminated by the illumination unit and acquire image data, Equipped with, The housings of the multiple line scanner units are connected to each other by changing their relative angle or relative position in the height direction, in accordance with the shape of the object to be imaged. The program causes the hardware resources in the image reading device to perform a process to control the position of the imaging unit in each line scanner unit on the guide rail. program.

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