Reading device and control method for the reading device

Abstract

To provide an easy-to-use reading device, and a method for controlling a reading device.SOLUTION: A reading device is connected with an external device, and comprises: a conveying unit that conveys a document; a reading unit that reads the document conveyed by the conveying unit; a data generation unit that generates image data of the document read by the reading unit; a transfer unit that transfers the image data to the external device; a notification unit that notifies a user of information; and a control unit. The control unit controls a conveyance speed of the document conveyed by the conveying unit on the basis of a transfer speed of the image data transferred by the transfer unit, and when changing the conveyance speed, causes the notification unit to notify a user of a change notification A1 indicating a change in the conveyance speed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a reading apparatus and a control method for a reading apparatus. [Background Art]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a reading apparatus that changes a document reading speed based on the storage amount of image data stored in a buffer, a transfer speed of the image data, and the like. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-215326 [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] In the reading apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when the transfer speed is low, the reading speed is automatically decreased. In this case, a user may mistakenly recognize that a failure, malfunction, or the like has occurred in the reading apparatus. [Means for Solving the Problem]

[0005] A reading apparatus configured to solve the above problem is a reading apparatus connected to an external device, comprising: a conveying section that conveys a document; a reading section that reads the document conveyed by the conveying section; a data generating section that generates image data of the document read by the reading section; a transfer section that transfers the image data to the external device; a notification section that notifies information to a user; and a control section. The control section controls a conveying speed of the document by the conveying section based on a transfer speed of the image data by the transfer section, and causes the notification section to send a change notification indicating the change of the conveying speed when changing the conveying speed.

[0006] A reading device that solves the above problems is a reading device connected to an external device, comprising: a transport unit for transporting a document; a reading unit for reading the document transported by the transport unit; a data generation unit for generating image data of the document read by the reading unit; a transfer unit for transferring the image data to the external device; a notification unit for notifying the user of information; and a control unit, wherein the control unit controls the transport speed of the document by the transport unit based on the transfer speed of the image data transferred by the transfer unit, and, if the transfer speed is below an improvement threshold, causes the notification unit to notify an improvement notification prompting an improvement in the transfer speed.

[0007] A control method for a reading device that solves the above problems is a control method for a reading device that generates image data of a document by reading a document being transported, and includes changing the transport speed of the document based on the transfer speed of the image data transferred from the reading device to an external device, and notifying the device of the change in transport speed when the transport speed is changed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the reading device. [Figure 2] This is a block diagram of the reading device. [Figure 3] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the procedure for generating a JPEG image as image data. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the procedure for generating a TIFF image as image data. [Figure 5] This is a timing chart for cases where the transfer speed is sufficiently high. [Figure 6] This is a timing chart for low transfer speeds. [Figure 7] This is a timing chart for controlling the transport speed based on the transfer rate. [Figure 8] This is a timing chart for controlling the transport speed and power supply to the conversion module based on the transfer speed. [Figure 9]This is a timing chart for controlling the transport speed and power supply to the processing circuit based on the transfer speed. [Figure 10] This table shows an example of the relationship between transfer speed and transport speed. [Figure 11] This is a schematic diagram showing the display screen when the transfer speed is S1 or higher during wireless connection transfer. [Figure 12] This is a schematic diagram showing the display screen when the transfer speed is less than S1 and greater than or equal to S2 during wireless connection transfer. [Figure 13] This is a schematic diagram showing the display screen when the transfer speed is less than S2 and greater than or equal to S3 during wireless connection transfer. [Figure 14] This is a schematic diagram showing the display screen when the transfer speed is less than S3 during wireless connection transfer. [Figure 15] This is a schematic diagram showing the display screen when the transfer speed is S1 or higher during direct connection transfer. [Figure 16] This is a schematic diagram showing the display screen when the transfer speed is less than S1 during direct connection transfer. [Figure 17] This is a flowchart illustrating an example of the reading process. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] The following describes one embodiment of the reading device with reference to the diagram. The reading device is a sheet-fed scanner that reads characters, photographs, and other images recorded on a document, such as paper or film, by transporting the document.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the reading device 11 is connected to one or more external devices 100. The reading device 11 transfers the image data D1 of the scanned document 99 to the external devices 100. Therefore, the image data D1 is stored in the external devices 100.

[0011] The reading device 11 is, for example, directly connected to an external device 100. The external device 100 includes, for example, storage media such as a USB memory and an SD card. The reading device 11 is connected to the external device 100 by, for example, wireless communication. The external device 100 includes, for example, a personal computer, a smartphone, a tablet, a server, and the like. The reading device 11 communicates with the external device 100 by, for example, accessing a separately installed access point 101. The access point 101 is, for example, a LAN router.

[0012] The reading device 11 includes a housing 12. A supply port 13 is open in the housing 12. A document 99 is supplied into the housing 12 through the supply port 13. A discharge port 14 is open in the housing 12. The document 99 is discharged from the inside of the housing 12 through the discharge port 14.

[0013] The reading device 11 includes a supply tray 15. The supply tray 15 is, for example, attached to the housing 12. The supply tray 15 extends from the supply port 13 toward the outside of the housing 12. One or more documents 99 are set on the supply tray 15. By being set on the supply tray 15, the document 99 is conveyed into the housing 12 through the supply port 13.

[0014] The supply tray 15 may be configured to be storable in the housing 12. For example, the supply tray 15 may be stored in the housing 12 or pulled out from the housing 12 by sliding. The supply tray 15 may be configured to be foldable.

[0015] The reading device 11 may include a discharge tray. The discharge tray extends from the discharge port 14 toward the outside of the housing 12, for example. The discharge tray receives the document 99 discharged from the discharge port 14. The discharge tray may be configured to be slidable or may be configured to be foldable.

[0016] The reading device 11 may include a display unit 16. The display unit 16 is mounted on the housing 12. The display unit 16 is configured to display information. The display unit 16 is, for example, a liquid crystal display. The display unit 16 is not limited to a liquid crystal display; it may also be a lamp. The display unit 16 may display the communication speed via wireless communication. This communication speed is the speed of communication between the reading device 11 and the access point 101. The specific content displayed by the display unit 16 will be described later.

[0017] The reader 11 may include an operating unit 17. The operating unit 17 is mounted on the housing 12. The operating unit 17 may be, for example, a touch panel, buttons, or a lever. The user operates the reader 11 or gives instructions to the reader 11 by operating the operating unit 17. The user may also operate the reader 11 or give instructions to the reader 11 via, for example, a personal computer connected to the reader 11.

[0018] The user can specify the destination for transferring image data D1, for example, by operating the control unit 17. The user can specify an external device 100 directly connected to the reader 11 as the destination, or an external device 100 wirelessly connected to the reader 11 as the destination. The user may also specify the destination via a personal computer connected to the reader 11.

[0019] As shown in Figure 2, the reading device 11 includes a transport unit 19. The transport unit 19 is configured to transport documents 99. The transport unit 19 includes one or more rollers. The transport unit 19 includes, for example, a pick roller 20 that sequentially transports documents 99 loaded on a supply tray 15. The transport unit 19 may also include a separation roller that separates the documents 99 one by one. The transport unit 19 may also include a transport roller pair 21 that transports the documents 99 to a reading unit 23 (described later), and a discharge roller pair 22 that discharges the documents 99 read by the reading unit 23. The transport roller pair 21 and the discharge roller pair 22 may consist of a drive roller and a driven roller, or they may consist of two drive rollers. The transport unit 19 sequentially transports the documents 99 at predetermined intervals. For example, the pick roller 20 starts transporting the next document 99 after the reading of the preceding document 99 is completed. The transport roller pair 21 and the discharge roller pair 22 sequentially transport the documents 99 that are transported by the pick roller 20. As a result, the transport unit 19 discharges the preceding documents 99 while supplying subsequent documents 99.

[0020] The reading device 11 includes a reading unit 23. The reading unit 23 is configured to read a document 99. The reading unit 23 reads the document 99 being transported by the transport unit 19. The reading unit 23 includes one or more CISMs 24. The CISM 24 is, for example, a line sensor that is long in the width direction of the document 99. The CISM 24 reads the transported document 99 line by line.

[0021] The reading unit 23 may include two CISMs 24. In this case, the two CISMs 24 read the front and back sides of the document 99, respectively. That is, the two CISMs 24 are positioned so as to sandwich the document 99. The reading unit 23 can read the front and back sides of the document 99 in parallel using the two CISMs 24. The reading unit 23 may also read the front and back sides of the document 99 with a single CISM 24. In this case, the reading device 11 may read the back side of the document 99 after reading the front side, for example by inverting and transporting the document 99.

[0022] The reading device 11 includes a data generation unit 25. The data generation unit 25 is configured to generate image data D1 of the original document 99. The data generation unit 25 generates image data D1 read by the reading unit 23. The data generation unit 25 includes one or more processing circuits 26. The data generation unit 25 includes, for example, two processing circuits 26. The processing circuits 26 are connected to the CISM 24. The two processing circuits 26 may each be connected to two CISM 24s. One processing circuit 26 may be connected to two CISM 24s. The number of processing circuits 26 is preferably equal to or greater than the number of CISM 24s. The data generation unit 25 can generate data for the front side of the original document 99 and data for the back side of the original document 99 in parallel using the two processing circuits 26. The processing circuit 26 is composed of, for example, a circuit including a software processing circuit and a hardware circuit, each including one or more CPUs.

[0023] The processing circuit 26 includes an RGB module 27. The RGB module 27 generates an RGB image D2 from the readings of the reading unit 23. The RGB module 27 converts the values ​​detected by the CISM 24 into 256 gradation values ​​for red, green, and blue. This generates the RGB image D2. The RGB module 27 is, for example, a hardware circuit such as an ASIC.

[0024] The processing circuit 26 may perform image processing on the RGB image D2. Image processing may include, for example, tilt correction and cropping correction. Tilt correction is the process of correcting the tilt of the area corresponding to the original document 99 in the RGB image D2. Cropping correction is the correction of cropping the area corresponding to the original document 99 in the RGB image D2. The content of the image processing is predetermined, for example, when scanning the original document 99.

[0025] The processing circuit 26 includes one or more conversion modules 28. For example, the processing circuit 26 includes two conversion modules 28. The conversion module 28 generates image data D1 by performing conversion processing on the RGB image D2. For example, the conversion module 28 performs color conversion or compression conversion on the RGB image D2. The conversion module 28 is, for example, a hardware circuit such as an ASIC.

[0026] The conversion module 28 performs conversion processing on the RGB image D2 in predetermined line increments. For example, the conversion module 28 performs conversion processing on 8 lines of the RGB image D2 in advance. In the processing circuit 26, the two conversion modules 28 perform conversion processing on one RGB image D2 in parallel, in predetermined line increments. For example, one of the two conversion modules 28 performs conversion processing on the data from line 1 to line 8, while the other conversion module 28 performs conversion processing on the data from line 9 to line 16. Therefore, the more conversion modules 28 there are in the processing circuit 26, the faster the image data D1 is generated.

[0027] The conversion module 28 generates segmented data D3 by applying a conversion process to the RGB image D2 line by line. For example, the conversion module 28 generates segmented data D3 by applying a conversion process to the data from the 1st to the 8th line of the RGB image D2, and generates segmented data D3 by applying a conversion process to the data from the 9th to the 16th line. Segmented data D3 is data obtained by dividing the image data D1. Multiple segmented data D3 are generated by applying a conversion process to the RGB image D2. The image data D1 is composed of multiple segmented data D3.

[0028] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the conversion module 28 converts the RGB image D2 to a predetermined image format. The conversion module 28 converts the RGB image D2 to a predetermined image format by performing color conversion and compression conversion on each predetermined line. The conversion module 28 includes various modules to enable conversion to various color spaces and various image formats. The image format is pre-set, for example, when scanning the original document 99.

[0029] As shown in Figure 3, the conversion module 28 may generate a JPEG image. The conversion module 28 may include a YUV module 29 and a JPEG module 30. The YUV module 29 converts the color space of the RGB image D2 from RGB to YUV. At this time, the YUV module 29 performs a color conversion on the RGB image D2 line by line. The JPEG module 30 converts the image converted to YUV into a JPEG image by compressing it using a predetermined method. At this time, the JPEG module 30 performs a compression conversion on the data for each predetermined line that has been converted to YUV. As a result, segmented data D3 of the JPEG image are generated sequentially.

[0030] Each of the two conversion modules 28 may contain one YUV module 29, or they may contain a common YUV module 29. That is, each of the two conversion modules 28 may contain one YUV module 29 and one JPEG module 30. The two conversion modules 28 may also contain a common YUV module 29 and each a different JPEG module 30.

[0031] As shown in Figure 4, the conversion module 28 is not limited to JPEG images; for example, it may generate TIFF images. The conversion module 28 may also include a TIFF module 31. The TIFF module 31 converts an RGB image D2 into a TIFF image by applying color correction. In this case, the TIFF module 31 applies color correction to the RGB image D2 for each predetermined line. For example, the TIFF module 31 applies color correction to the RGB image D2 by converting the color gradation values. This sequentially generates segmented data D3 of the TIFF image. The TIFF module 31 can convert the RGB image D2 to monochrome scale, grayscale, etc.

[0032] As shown in Figure 2, the reading device 11 includes a storage unit 33. The storage unit 33 is, for example, a memory such as ROM or RAM. The storage unit 33 temporarily stores, or buffers, the data related to the document 99 read by the reading unit 23.

[0033] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the storage unit 33 includes, for example, an RGB buffer 34. The RGB buffer 34 is a storage area where RGB images D2 are temporarily stored. The RGB buffer 34 typically has enough capacity to store RGB images D2 for two documents 99. The RGB image D2 is deleted from the RGB buffer 34 when the conversion process for all lines of the RGB image D2 is completed. This reduces the risk of the RGB buffer 34 running low on free space. If the free space in the RGB buffer 34 becomes 0 or very low, the reading of the document 99 may stop.

[0034] The storage unit 33 includes a transfer buffer 35. The transfer buffer 35 is a storage area where segmented data D3 is temporarily stored. Specifically, the transfer buffer 35 stores segmented data D3 of JPEG images, segmented data D3 of TIFF images, etc. The segmented data D3 is sequentially transferred from the transfer buffer 35 to the external device 100. After being transferred to the external device 100, the segmented data D3 is sequentially deleted from the transfer buffer 35. This reduces the risk of the free space in the transfer buffer 35 becoming low. If the free space in the transfer buffer 35 becomes 0 or very low, there is a risk that the reading of the original document 99 will stop.

[0035] The memory unit 33 may include a conversion buffer 36. The conversion buffer 36 is a storage area where data that has undergone color conversion for the RGB image D2 is temporarily stored. The conversion buffer 36 contains data that has been converted, for example, by a YUV module 29, a TIFF module 31, etc. The converted data is stored there. The data stored in the conversion buffer 36 is sequentially transferred to the transfer buffer 35 after predetermined processing. The conversion buffer 36 may be shared with the transfer buffer 35.

[0036] As shown in Figure 2, the reader 11 includes a transfer unit 37. The transfer unit 37 is configured to transfer image data D1 to an external device 100. The transfer unit 37 is, for example, an output interface. The transfer unit 37 transfers image data D1 to an external device 100 that is directly connected to the reader 11, an external device 100 that is connected to the reader 11 by wireless communication, etc. When the transfer unit 37 transfers image data D1 to an external device 100 that is connected to the reader 11 by wireless communication, it may, for example, transfer it directly to a folder on the external device 100, transfer it to the external device 100 by email, or transfer it to the external device 100 by a cloud service.

[0037] The transfer unit 37 sequentially transfers the divided data D3 stored in the transfer buffer 35 to the external device 100. That is, the transfer unit 37 transfers the image data D1 for each predetermined line that has been processed by the conversion module 28. The transfer unit 37 transfers the divided data D3 to the external device 100 each time that the conversion module 28 has processed each predetermined line. Once the transfer of all the divided data D3 is complete, the transfer of the image data D1 is complete.

[0038] The reading device 11 includes a notification unit 38. The notification unit 38 is configured to notify the user of information. The notification unit 38 is, for example, an output interface. The notification unit 38 notifies the display unit 16 of information, for example. The display unit 16 then displays the notified information. As a result, the user understands the information. The notification unit 38 may also notify the user's personal computer, for example. The specific information that the notification unit 38 notifies will be described later, along with the content displayed by the display unit 16.

[0039] The reading device 11 includes a control unit 39. The control unit 39 may, for example, comprehensively control the reading device 11. The control unit 39 may be composed of a software processing circuit including one or more CPUs. The control unit 39 may be composed of a hardware circuit such as an ASIC. The control unit 39 may be composed of a circuit including a combination of a software processing circuit and a hardware circuit.

[0040] <Control of transport speed> The control unit 39 controls the transport unit 19. The control unit 39 controls, for example, the transport speed of the document 99 by the transport roller pair 21 and the discharge roller pair 22. The control unit 39 controls the transport speed based on the transfer speed. Specifically, the control unit 39 reduces the transport speed when the transfer speed is low. The transfer speed is the speed at which the divided data D3 is transferred. When the transfer speed is low, the divided data D3 is stored one after another in the transfer buffer 35, causing the divided data D3 to accumulate in the transfer buffer 35. As a result, the available capacity of the transfer buffer 35 may decrease. Therefore, it is preferable to reduce the transport speed when the transfer speed is low. When the transport speed is low, the time from when the reading unit 23 starts reading the document 99 until it is completed, i.e., the reading time, becomes longer. Consequently, the time from when the generation of the RGB image D2 starts until it is completed, i.e., the generation time, becomes longer. The longer generation time means that the time until the generation of image data D1 starts becomes longer. This reduces the risk of the divided data D3 accumulating in the transfer buffer 35.

[0041] The control unit 39 may control the transport speed based on the free space in the transfer buffer 35, i.e., the amount of image data D1 stored in the data generation unit 25, and the transfer speed. For example, the control unit 39 may reduce the transport speed when the free space in the transfer buffer 35 is small and the transfer speed is high. If the transport speed is high, the free space in the transfer buffer 35 is The available capacity may decrease. Therefore, if the transfer speed is high when the available capacity of the transfer buffer 35 is low, the available capacity of the transfer buffer 35 may become 0 or very small. The control unit 39 may, for example, reduce the transfer speed when the available capacity of the transfer buffer 35 is low and the transfer speed is low. The control unit 39 may, for example, reduce the transfer speed when the available capacity of the transfer buffer 35 is high and the transfer speed is low. The control unit 39 may, for example, increase the transfer speed when the available capacity of the transfer buffer 35 is high and the transfer speed is high.

[0042] As shown in Figure 5, after the transfer of image data D1 is completed, the generation of the next image data D1, i.e., the first conversion process for the next RGB image D2, is started, thereby reducing the risk of the divided data D3 accumulating in the transfer buffer 35. Figure 5 shows the drive timing of the transport roller pair 21, discharge roller pair 22, reading unit 23, RGB module 27, conversion module 28, and transfer unit 37. ON indicates that it is being driven. OFF indicates that it is not being driven.

[0043] The pick roller 20, the transport roller pair 21, and the discharge roller pair 22 are driven when the document scanning process 99 is started. When the pick roller 20 is driven, one document 99 is supplied from the supply tray 15. The pick roller 20 stops when it has finished feeding one document 99 to the transport roller pair 21. The pick roller 20 is driven again if there is a document 99 set in the supply tray 15. The pick roller 20 is driven again, for example, after a predetermined time has elapsed since the scanning unit 23 finished scanning the document 99. This allows the next document 99 to be supplied from the supply tray 15. The transport roller pair 21 and the discharge roller pair 22 are driven in conjunction with the supply of documents 99 from the pick roller 20. The transport roller pair 21 and the discharge roller pair 22 are driven synchronously with each other. The transport roller pair 21 and the discharge roller pair 22 stop when they have finished discharging one document 99. In other words, the transport roller pair 21 and the discharge roller pair 22 stop after the reading unit 23 has finished reading the document 99. In the transport unit 19, the time from when the transport roller pair 21 and the discharge roller pair 22 are driven until they stop corresponds to the transport time. Note that the transport roller pair 21 and the discharge roller pair 22 may be driven without synchronization with each other. In this case, in the transport unit 19, the time from when the transport roller pair 21 is driven until the discharge roller pair 22 stops corresponds to the transport time.

[0044] After a predetermined time has elapsed since the transport roller pair 21 was driven, the document 99 reaches the reading unit 23. When the document 99 reaches the reading unit 23, the reading unit 23 is driven. The reading unit 23 stops when it has finished reading the document 99. The reading unit 23 starts driving again when the next document 99 arrives. The time from the start to the completion of reading in the reading unit 23 is called the reading time.

[0045] The RGB module 27 is driven when the reading unit 23 starts reading. When the RGB module 27 is driven, an RGB image D2 is generated from the reading values ​​of the reading unit 23. In other words, the RGB module 27 is driven in parallel with the reading unit 23. The RGB module 27 stops when it has finished generating the RGB image D2. The RGB module 27 is driven again when the reading unit 23 starts reading the document 99 again. The time from when the generation of the RGB image D2 is started to when it is completed in the RGB module 27 is the generation time.

[0046] The conversion module 28 is activated after the RGB module 27 has finished generating the RGB image D2. Specifically, the conversion module 28 is activated when the RGB image D2 is stored in the RGB buffer 34. If the processing circuit 26 performs image processing on the RGB image D2, the conversion module 28 is activated after the image processing is completed. The conversion module 28 is activated. Then, the generation of image data D1 begins. The conversion module 28 stops when it has finished converting the RGB image D2, that is, when it has finished generating the image data D1. More specifically, the conversion module 28 stops if the RGB image D2 is not stored in the RGB buffer 34. The time from when the conversion process starts until it is completed in the conversion module 28 is called the conversion time.

[0047] The transfer unit 37 is activated after the conversion module 28 starts generating the image data D1. More specifically, the transfer unit 37 is activated when the transfer buffer 35 contains divided data D3. That is, the transfer unit 37 is activated after the conversion module 28 has finished generating the first divided data D3. The transfer unit 37 stops when it has finished transferring the image data D1, i.e., when it has finished transferring all the divided data D3. More specifically, the transfer unit 37 stops when the transfer buffer 35 does not contain any divided data D3. The time from when the transfer unit 37 starts transferring the image data D1 until it is completed is the transfer time. In other words, the transfer time is the time from when the transfer of the first divided data D3 is started until the transfer of the last divided data D3 is completed.

[0048] The transfer time is affected by factors such as the communication speed between the reader 11 and the access point 101, and the processing speed of the external device 100. Therefore, depending on the environment at the time, the transfer speed may be lower than usual, which may result in a longer transfer time.

[0049] As shown in Figure 6, if the transfer time is long, the generation of the next image data D1, i.e., the first conversion process for the next RGB image D2, may start before the transfer of image data D1 is complete. In this case, the rate at which the divided data D3 is input to the transfer buffer 35 is greater than the rate at which the divided data D3 is output from the transfer buffer 35, which may cause the divided data D3 to accumulate in the transfer buffer 35. As the divided data D3 accumulates in the transfer buffer 35, the free capacity of the transfer buffer 35 gradually decreases. Therefore, the transfer of the previous image data D1 must be completed before the generation of image data D1 starts, i.e., before the conversion module 28 starts the next conversion process.

[0050] As shown in Figure 7, longer transport times result in longer reading and generation times. The longer generation time delays the timing at which the conversion module 28 starts the conversion process. In other words, longer transport times increase the time it takes for the conversion module 28 to start the next conversion process. As a result, the generation of the next image data D1 begins after the transfer of the previous image data D1 is completed. Thus, longer transport times allow the transfer unit 37 to spend more time transferring the image data D1. This reduces the risk of the transfer buffer 35 running out of free space. Therefore, the control unit 39 increases the transport time when the transfer time is long. The control unit 39 increases the transport time by reducing the transport speed. The control unit 39 reduces the transport speed by reducing the rotation speed of the rollers included in the transport unit 19.

[0051] When the transport speed decreases, not only the transport time, reading time, and generation time, but also the transport interval of the document 99 by the transport roller pair 21 and the discharge roller pair 22, the reading interval of the document 99 by the reading unit 23, and the generation interval of the RGB image D2 by the RGB module 27 may increase. As a result, the time that can be allocated to generating one image data D1 increases.

[0052] In Figure 7, t1 indicates the start of the transfer of the first segmented data D3. t2 indicates the start of the transfer of the next document 99. t3 indicates the completion of the transfer of the last segmented data D3. Therefore, the time from t1 to t3 is the transfer time. t4 indicates the start of the conversion process for the next RGB image D2. .

[0053] The control unit 39 controls the transport speed so that t3 is located by t4. In other words, the control unit 39 controls the transport speed so that the transfer of the previous image data D1 is completed before the generation of image data D1 begins. If the transport speed decreases, i.e., the transport time increases, the timing of t4 will be delayed. This reduces the risk of segmented data D3 accumulating in the transfer buffer 35. Conversely, if t3 is located after t4, segmented data D3 will accumulate in the transfer buffer 35.

[0054] The control unit 39 obtains the transfer speed in order to control the transport speed. For example, the control unit 39 obtains the transfer speed from the elapsed time from the start of the transfer of the first divided data D3 to the start of the transport of the next document 99, and the amount of data of the divided data D3 transferred during that elapsed time. That is, the control unit 39 obtains the transfer speed from the elapsed time from t1 to t2 and the amount of data of the divided data D3 transferred during that elapsed time. Based on the obtained transfer speed, the control unit 39 controls the transport speed of the document 99 that is to be transported at t2.

[0055] The control unit 39 may estimate the transfer time based on the transfer speed. That is, the control unit 39 may estimate the transfer time based on the amount of data of the segmented data D3 transferred during the elapsed time from t1 to t2. For example, the control unit 39 can estimate the time required to transfer all of the segmented data D3 from the amount of data of the RGB image D2 and the amount of data of the segmented data D3 that has been transferred at time t2.

[0056] The control unit 39 may control the transport speed not only based on the transfer speed but also on the communication speed. The transfer speed depends on the communication speed. If the communication speed is low, the transfer speed will be low. Therefore, the control unit 39 may reduce the transport speed when the communication speed is low.

[0057] The control unit 39 may control the transport speed for the first document 99 based on the communication speed when scanning multiple documents 99 consecutively. This is because the transfer speed is measured by the transfer of the divided data D3, and therefore the most recent transfer speed cannot be measured when scanning the first document 99. For example, the control unit 39 acquires the communication speed before starting to transport the first document 99. Based on the communication speed, the control unit 39 controls the transport speed for the first document 99.

[0058] The control unit 39 may supply the first document 99 at the normal transport speed, regardless of the communication speed. This is because reading only the first document 99 does not significantly reduce the available capacity of the transfer buffer 35. The control unit 39 may also transport the first document 99 at the transport speed applied in the previous job. Specifically, the control unit 39 may determine the transport speed for the first document 99 in the current reading process based on the transfer speed used to determine the transport speed for the last document 99 in the previous reading process.

[0059] The control unit 39 may control the transport speed for the second and subsequent documents 99 based on the transfer speed. Even when the communication speed is high, the transfer speed may decrease if the processing of the external device 100 is delayed. Therefore, controlling the transport speed based on the transfer speed rather than based on the communication speed allows for more accurate control of the transport speed based on the transfer status of the divided data D3.

[0060] The control unit 39 may change the transport speed based on the transfer speed between the completion of reading the preceding document 99 and the start of transporting the subsequent document 99. In this case, the risk of deterioration in reading quality is reduced compared to when the transport speed is changed in the middle of reading the document 99.

[0061] <Control of power supply> As shown in Figure 2, the control unit 39 may control the data generation unit 25. The control unit 39 may, for example, control the power supply to the data generation unit 25. The control unit 39 limits the functionality of the data generation unit 25 by controlling the power supply to the data generation unit 25. The control unit 39 switches the data generation unit 25 between normal mode M1 and one or more power-saving modes by, for example, controlling the power supply to the data generation unit 25. Specifically, the control unit 39 switches from normal mode M1 to power-saving mode by reducing the amount of power supplied to the data generation unit 25.

[0062] Normal mode M1 is the mode in which the data generation unit 25 performs at its full potential. In normal mode M1, the data generation unit 25 generates image data D1 at high speed. The power-saving mode is a mode in which the functions of the data generation unit 25 are limited. In other words, the power-saving mode is a mode in which the performance of the data generation unit 25 is lower than that of the normal mode M1. In the power-saving mode, the data generation unit 25 may generate image data D1 at a slower speed compared to the normal mode M1. In this case, the time required to generate image data D1 for one page of original document 99 may be longer.

[0063] The control unit 39 may switch from normal mode M1 to power-saving mode by, for example, supplying power to only one of the two processing circuits 26. When power is supplied to only one processing circuit 26, if the reading unit 23 reads both sides of the document 99, one processing circuit 26 generates image data D1 for both the front and back sides of the document 99. In this case, the processing efficiency is reduced compared to when power is supplied to both processing circuits 26, so the time required to generate one image data D1 increases. When power is supplied to only one processing circuit 26, if the reading unit 23 reads one side of the document 99, one processing circuit 26 generates image data D1 for one side of the document 99. In this case, there is no change in the time required to generate one image data D1 compared to when power is supplied to both processing circuits 26.

[0064] The control unit 39 may switch from normal mode M1 to power-saving mode by, for example, supplying power to only one of the two conversion modules 28. When power is supplied to only one conversion module 28, the conversion efficiency of the RGB image D2 decreases, regardless of whether the reading unit 23 reads both sides or only one side of the original document 99, and the conversion time becomes longer. Therefore, in this case, the time required to generate one image data D1 becomes longer.

[0065] The control unit 39 limits the functionality of the data generation unit 25 by restricting the power supply to the processing circuit 26, the conversion module 28, or both. The control unit 39 limits the processing capacity of the data generation unit 25 by restricting the power supply to the data generation unit 25.

[0066] One or more power-saving modes include, for example, a first power-saving mode M2 ​​and a second power-saving mode M3. Therefore, the control unit 39 switches between normal mode M1, the first power-saving mode M2, and the second power-saving mode M3 by controlling the power supply to the data generation unit 25.

[0067] The first power-saving mode M2 ​​is a mode that supplies less power than the normal mode M1. The first power-saving mode M2 ​​consumes less power than the normal mode M1. In this respect, the data generation unit 25 driven in the first power-saving mode M2 ​​consumes less power than the data generation unit 25 driven in the normal mode M1. The control unit 39 supplies power to only one of the two conversion modules 28 of the processing circuit 26, thereby enabling the first power-saving mode Switch to M2. In other words, the first power-saving mode M2 ​​is a mode in which only two of the four conversion modules 28 are driven in the data generation unit 25.

[0068] The second power-saving mode M3 is a mode in which the power supply is less than that of the first power-saving mode M2. The second power-saving mode M3 consumes less power than the first power-saving mode M2. In this respect, the data generation unit 25 driven in the second power-saving mode M3 consumes less power than the data generation unit 25 driven in the first power-saving mode M2. The control unit 39 switches to the second power-saving mode M3 by supplying power to only one of the two processing circuits 26. In other words, the second power-saving mode M3 is a mode in which only one of the four conversion modules 28 is driven in the data generation unit 25.

[0069] The control unit 39 may control the power supply to the data generation unit 25 based on the transfer speed. In other words, the control unit 39 may limit the functions of the data generation unit 25 based on the transfer speed. When the transfer speed is low, even if the data generation unit 25 generates image data D1 at high speed, the transfer speed becomes a bottleneck. When the transfer speed is low, the control unit 39 reduces the transport speed, which increases the transport time, transport interval, reading time, and reading interval, thus increasing the time that can be allocated to generating one image data D1. Therefore, there is no problem even if the data generation unit 25 generates image data D1 at a low speed in accordance with the low transfer speed.

[0070] As shown in Figure 8, by reducing the transport speed, the control unit 39 can increase the reading time and reading interval, thereby allowing for a longer conversion time. Therefore, when the transfer speed is low, the control unit 39 may limit the function of the data generation unit 25 by supplying power to only one of the two conversion modules 28. This reduces power consumption. The conversion process only needs to be completed before the generation of the next RGB image D2 is completed.

[0071] As shown in Figure 9, by reducing the transport speed, the control unit 39 can increase the reading time and reading interval, thereby allowing for a longer conversion time. Specifically, by reducing the transport speed, the control unit 39 can allow for two conversion times for both the front and back sides of the original document 99. Therefore, when the transfer speed is low, the control unit 39 may limit the function of the data generation unit 25 by supplying power to only one of the two processing circuits 26. This reduces power consumption. The two conversion processes only need to be completed before the generation of the next RGB image D2 is completed.

[0072] The control unit 39 may control the power supply to the data generation unit 25 based on the communication speed, not just the transfer speed. The control unit 39 limits the amount of power supplied to the data generation unit 25 when the communication speed is low.

[0073] When scanning multiple documents 99 consecutively, the control unit 39 may control the power supply to the data generation unit 25 for the first document 99 based on the communication speed. That is, the control unit 39 may switch the data generation unit 25 to a power-saving mode based on the communication speed. Alternatively, the control unit 39 may drive the data generation unit 25 in normal mode M1 for the first document 99 regardless of the communication speed.

[0074] The control unit 39 may control the power supply to the data generation unit 25 for the second and subsequent documents 99 based on the transfer speed. Similar to the case of transport speed, controlling the power supply to the data generation unit 25 based on the transfer speed allows for more accurate control of the power supply based on the transfer status of the divided data D3 than controlling the power supply to the data generation unit 25 based on the communication speed.

[0075] <Control of transport speed and power supply> As shown in Figure 10, the control unit 39 may control the transport speed in multiple stages based on the communication speed or transport speed. The control unit 39 may also control the amount of power supplied to the data generation unit 25 in multiple stages based on the communication speed or transport speed.

[0076] Communication speed can be divided into four stages, for example, R1, R2, R3, and R4. In terms of communication speed, R1, R2, R3, and R4 are in increasing order. R1, R2, R3, and R4 are communication speed thresholds.

[0077] Transfer speeds can be divided into four stages, for example, S1, S2, S3, and S4. In terms of transfer speeds, S1, S2, S3, and S4 are in increasing order. S1, S2, S3, and S4 are transfer speed thresholds.

[0078] The transport speed is divided into four stages: V1, V2, V3, and V4. In terms of transport speed, V1, V2, V3, and V4 increase in that order. V1, V2, V3, and V4 are the set transport speed values. V1 is the normal transport speed.

[0079] The control unit 39 changes the transport speed to V1, for example, when the communication speed is R1 or higher. The control unit 39 also switches the data generation unit 25 to normal mode M1, for example, when the communication speed is R1 or higher.

[0080] The control unit 39 changes the transport speed to V2, for example, when the communication speed is less than R1 and greater than or equal to R2. The control unit 39 also switches the data generation unit 25 to the first power saving mode M2, for example, when the communication speed is less than R1 and greater than or equal to R2.

[0081] The control unit 39 changes the transport speed to V3, for example, when the communication speed is less than R2 and greater than or equal to R3. The control unit 39 also switches the data generation unit 25 to the second power saving mode M3, for example, when the communication speed is less than R2 and greater than or equal to R3.

[0082] The control unit 39 changes the transport speed to V4, for example, when the communication speed is less than R3. The control unit 39 also switches the data generation unit 25 to the second power saving mode M3, for example, when the communication speed is less than R3.

[0083] The control unit 39 changes the transport speed to V1, for example, when the transfer speed is S1 or higher. The control unit 39 also switches the data generation unit 25 to normal mode M1, for example, when the transfer speed is S1 or higher.

[0084] The control unit 39 changes the transport speed to V2, for example, when the transfer speed is less than S1 and greater than or equal to S2. The control unit 39 switches the data generation unit 25 to the first power saving mode M2, for example, when the transfer speed is less than S1 and greater than or equal to S2. That is, the control unit 39 switches the data generation unit 25 to the first power saving mode M2 ​​when the transfer speed is less than the first threshold.

[0085] The control unit 39 changes the transport speed to V3, for example, when the transfer speed is less than S2 and greater than or equal to S3. The control unit 39 switches the data generation unit 25 to the second power saving mode M3, for example, when the transfer speed is less than S2 and greater than or equal to S3. That is, the control unit 39 switches the data generation unit 25 to the second power saving mode M3 when the transfer speed is less than the second threshold, which is less than the first threshold.

[0086] The control unit 39 changes the transport speed to V4, for example, if the transfer speed is less than S3. The control unit 39 also switches the data generation unit 25 to the second power saving mode M3, for example, if the transfer speed is less than S3.

[0087] The control unit 39 may stop the reading process if the communication speed is less than R3 or the transfer speed is less than S3. This is because if the communication speed is less than R3 or the transfer speed is less than S3, there is a risk that the divided data D3 may not be transferred properly. In other words, the control unit 39 may issue an error if the transfer speed is less than the third threshold, which is smaller than the second threshold. If the communication speed is less than R3 or the transfer speed is less than S3, the control unit 39 may, for example, stop the reading process after finishing reading the document 99 that is currently being read. This prevents the reading process from stopping while reading one document 99 is being read. This reduces the risk of a decrease in reading quality when reading is resumed due to an improvement in the transfer speed. If the reading process is stopped and then resumed while reading one document 99 is being read, there is a risk of misalignment of the lines in the image data D1.

[0088] <Notification content> Next, the information notified by the notification unit 38 will be described. In this embodiment, the information notified by the notification unit 38 will be described on the premise that it is displayed on the display unit 16. As mentioned above, the information notified by the notification unit 38 may be displayed on a device other than the reading device 11. The notification unit 38 notifies information, for example, while the reading process is being performed on a group of documents 99 loaded in the supply tray 15.

[0089] The notification unit 38 notifies the user of a change when the control unit 39 changes the transport speed. The change notification is a notification indicating that the transport speed has been changed. For example, the notification unit 38 notifies the user of a change when the transport speed is changed from V1 to V2, V3, V4, etc. In other words, the notification unit 38 notifies the user of a change when the transfer speed is below the change threshold, i.e., below S1. The notification unit 38 may also notify the user of a change when the communication speed is below R1. It can also be said that the notification unit 38 notifies the user of a change when the control unit 39 switches the data generation unit 25 to power saving mode. The change notification allows the user to understand that the transport speed has been changed.

[0090] The notification unit 38 issues an improvement notification when the transfer speed is below the improvement threshold, i.e., below S2. The improvement notification is a notification that encourages an improvement in the transfer speed. The improvement notification encourages an improvement in the transfer speed, for example, by encouraging an improvement in the communication speed. The notification unit 38 may also issue an improvement notification when the communication speed is below R2. It can also be said that the notification unit 38 issues an improvement notification when the control unit 39 switches the data generation unit 25 to the second power saving mode M3. The improvement notification helps the user understand that they should improve the transfer speed. The user can then try to improve the transfer speed, for example, by changing the position and orientation of the reader 11. When the position and orientation of the reader 11 are changed, the communication speed may improve.

[0091] If the position or orientation of the reading device 11 changes while the document 99 is being read, the reading quality may deteriorate. Therefore, the notification unit 38 does not need to notify an improvement notification while the document 99 is being read if the transfer speed is below the improvement threshold. For example, the notification unit 38 may notify an improvement notification between the completion of reading the preceding document 99 and the start of reading the subsequent document 99.

[0092] The notification unit 38 issues an error notification when the transfer speed is below the error threshold, i.e., below S3. The error threshold is, for example, the third threshold. The error notification is a notification of an error, i.e., a notification to stop the read process. The notification unit 38 may also issue an error notification when the communication speed is below R3. By issuing an error notification, the user can be notified if the transfer speed is extremely low. The low risk is recognized. Error notifications reduce the risk that the user may mistakenly believe that reading has stopped due to a malfunction or failure of the reader 11. For example, when an error notification is issued, the reading process stops when the currently being read document 99 has finished reading, or when the free space in the transfer buffer 35 becomes 0 or very small.

[0093] As shown in Figures 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, the notification unit 38 notifies information, for example, by message. Figures 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 are examples of display screens shown by the display unit 16. The display unit 16 displays, for example, change notification A1, improvement notification A2, and error notification A3. The display screens shown in Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14 are displayed when image data D1 is transferred to an external device 100 connected to the reader 11 by wireless communication. The display screens shown in Figures 15 and 16 are displayed when image data D1 is transferred to an external device 100 directly connected to the reader 11.

[0094] The display unit 16 may display information other than change notification A1, improvement notification A2, and error notification A3. The display unit 16 may also display reading information B1. Reading information B1 is information that indicates the current reading status. For example, reading information B1 indicates that document 99 is being read. For example, reading information B1 indicates which page of document 99 is currently being read.

[0095] The display unit 16 may also notify the setting information B2. Setting information B2 is information indicating settings related to reading. Setting information B2 includes, for example, information about color such as color scale, monochrome scale, and grayscale. Setting information B2 includes, for example, information about the reading format such as PDF and TIFF. Setting information B2 includes, for example, information about the resolution by the reading unit 23 such as 300 dpi and 600 dpi.

[0096] The display unit 16 may display communication speed information B3. Communication speed information B3 is information indicating the communication speed between the reader 11 and the access point 101. Communication speed information B3 may be shown numerically as the amount of data per unit time, or as a stepwise representation of radio wave strength. The communication speed information B3 shown in Figure 11 indicates that the communication speed is R1 or higher. The communication speed information B3 shown in Figure 11 is notified when the communication speed is R1 or higher.

[0097] The display unit 16 may display transfer speed information B4. Transfer speed information B4 is information indicating the transfer speed. For example, transfer speed information B4 may show the amount of data per unit time numerically, or it may show the transfer speed in steps.

[0098] The display unit 16 may also display transfer time information B5. Transfer time information B5 is information indicating the transfer time for the document 99 currently being read. The display unit 16 may display a cancel button 41. When the cancel button 41 is operated via the operation unit 17, the reading process is canceled. The display unit 16 may also display a resume button 42. The resume button 42 is displayed, for example, when the reading process is stopped. When the resume button 42 is operated via the operation unit 17, the reading process is resumed. The resume button 42 allows the user to manually resume the reading process. The reading process may also be resumed automatically.

[0099] The display screen shown in Figure 11 is displayed when the transfer speed is S1 or higher. The display screen shown in Figure 12 is displayed when the transfer speed is less than S1 but S2 or higher. Therefore, in Figure 12, change notification A1 is displayed. The display screen shown in Figure 13 is displayed when the transfer speed is less than S2 but S3 or higher. Therefore, in Figure 13, change notification A1 and improvement notification A2 are displayed. The display screen shown in Figure 14 is displayed when the transfer speed is less than S3. Therefore, in Figure 14, change notification A1, improvement notification A2, and error notification A3 are displayed.

[0100] The display screen shown in Figure 15 is displayed when the transfer speed is S1 or higher. The display screen shown in Figure 15 is displayed when the transfer speed is less than S1. In Figures 15 and 16, communication speed information B3 is not displayed because wireless communication is not used. When wireless communication is not used, the transfer speed is determined by the performance of the external device 100 directly connected to the reader 11, so improvement notification A2 is not displayed. Also, when wireless communication is not used, the transfer speed will not become so low that it becomes difficult to transfer the image data D1, so error notification A3 is not displayed.

[0101] <Flowchart> Next, an example of a reading process performed by the control unit 39 will be described. For example, the reading process starts when the user inputs a reading start instruction to the control unit 39.

[0102] As shown in Figure 17, in step S11, the control unit 39 determines whether or not to transfer the image data D1 by wireless communication. If the image data D1 is to be transferred by wireless communication, the control unit 39 proceeds to step S12. If the image data D1 is not to be transferred by wireless communication, that is, if the image data D1 is to be transferred to an external device 100 directly connected to the reader 11, the control unit 39 proceeds to step S13.

[0103] In step S12, the control unit 39 acquires the communication speed. In step S13, the control unit 39 determines the transport speed. The control unit 39 determines the transport speed based on the communication speed obtained in step S12. If the process in step S12 has not been performed, the control unit 39 determines the transport speed to the normal speed, i.e., V1. If the transport speed is determined to be V4, the control unit 39 stops the reading process at a predetermined timing.

[0104] In step S14, the control unit 39 determines the amount of power to supply to the data generation unit 25. Based on the communication speed obtained in step S12, the control unit 39 determines the amount of power to supply to the data generation unit 25. If the process in step S12 has not been performed, the control unit 39 supplies the power to the normal amount, i.e., drives the data generation unit 25 in normal mode M1.

[0105] In step S15, the control unit 39 starts transporting the document 99. The control unit 39 transports the document 99 at the transport speed determined in step S13. In step S16, the control unit 39 starts reading the document 99. The control unit 39 drives the data generation unit 25 with the power supply amount determined in step S14.

[0106] In step S17, the control unit 39 determines whether the next document 99 is set in the supply tray 15. If the next document 99 is set in the supply tray 15, that is, if multiple documents 99 are to be read consecutively, the control unit 39 proceeds to step S18. If the next document 99 is not set in the supply tray 15, that is, if only one document 99 is to be read, the reading process ends after reading the current document 99.

[0107] In step S18, the control unit 39 acquires the transfer speed. The control unit 39 acquires the transfer speed of the image data D1 of the preceding document 99. For example, the control unit 39 acquires the transfer speed of the image data D1 of the document 99 whose reading was started in step S16.

[0108] The control unit 39 determines the transport speed in step S19. The control unit 39 determines the transport speed based on the transfer speed obtained in step S18. The transport speed is determined to be V4. If this occurs, the control unit 39 stops the reading process at a predetermined timing.

[0109] In step S20, the control unit 39 determines the amount of power to supply to the data generation unit 25. Based on the transfer rate obtained in step S18, the control unit 39 determines the amount of power to supply to the data generation unit 25.

[0110] In step S21, the control unit 39 starts transporting the document 99. The control unit 39 transports the document 99 at the transport speed determined in step S19. In step S22, the control unit 39 starts reading the document 99. The control unit 39 drives the data generation unit 25 with the power supply amount determined in step S20.

[0111] In step S23, the control unit 39 determines whether the next document 99 is set in the supply tray 15. If the next document 99 is set in the supply tray 15, the control unit 39 returns to step S18. If the next document 99 is not set in the supply tray 15, the control unit 39 finishes reading the current document 99 and then terminates the reading process.

[0112] <Effects> Next, the effects of the above embodiment will be described. (1) The control unit 39 controls the transport speed based on the transfer speed, and when changing the transport speed, it causes the notification unit 38 to send a change notification A1 indicating the change in transport speed.

[0113] With the above configuration, the risk of the user mistakenly believing that a change in transport speed occurred due to a malfunction or defect in the reader 11 is reduced. Therefore, the usability of the reader 11 is improved.

[0114] (2) The display unit 16 displays the transfer speed. With the above configuration, users can understand the transfer speed. This allows users, for example, to try to improve the transfer speed if it is low.

[0115] (3) The control unit 39 estimates the transfer time based on the transfer speed. The display unit 16 displays the transfer time. With the above configuration, users can understand the transfer time. This improves user convenience.

[0116] (4) The control unit 39 causes the notification unit 38 to send an improvement notification A2 if the transfer speed is below the improvement threshold. With the above configuration, the improvement notification A2 allows the user to understand that the transfer speed is low. This improves user convenience.

[0117] (5) If the transfer speed is less than an error threshold which is smaller than the improvement threshold, the control unit 39 stops the transport unit 19 and notifies the notification unit 38 of the error. If the transfer speed is extremely low, transferring image data D1 may become difficult. With the above configuration, the user can be aware that the transfer speed is extremely low by being notified of an error.

[0118] (6) When the transfer speed is below the improvement threshold, the control unit 39 does not send an improvement notification A2 to the notification unit 38 while the reading unit 23 is reading the document 99. Upon receiving improvement notification A2, the user may change the position, orientation, etc., of the reader 11. The position, orientation, etc., of the reader 11 may be changed while the document 99 is being read. This could lead to a decrease in reading quality. With the above configuration, the risk of changes in the position and orientation of the reading device 11 during the reading of the document 99 is reduced, thus reducing the risk of a decrease in reading quality.

[0119] (7) The control unit 39 changes the transport speed based on the transfer speed between the time it finishes reading the preceding document 99 and the time it starts transporting the subsequent document 99. If the transport speed is changed while scanning one document 99, the scanning quality may deteriorate. With the above configuration, the transport speed is not changed while scanning one document 99, thus reducing the risk of a deterioration in scanning quality.

[0120] (8) When scanning multiple documents 99 in succession, the control unit 39 controls the transport speed for the first document 99 based on the communication speed with the external device 100 connected by wireless communication. For the second and subsequent documents 99, the control unit 39 controls the transport speed based on the transfer speed. With the above configuration, the transport speed is controlled for each document 99. In other words, the transport speed is optimized for each document 99, so the user's waiting time is reduced.

[0121] (9) The data generation unit 25 generates an RGB image D2 from the reading values ​​of the reading unit 23 and generates image data D1 by performing a conversion process on the RGB image D2. The control unit 39 controls the transport speed of the second and subsequent documents 99 so that the transfer of image data D1 of the preceding document 99 is completed before the generation of image data D1 of the subsequent document 99 begins.

[0122] If the transfer of the previous image data D1 is not completed before the generation of image data D1 begins, there is a risk that image data D1 may accumulate. However, with the above configuration, the next image data D1 is generated after the transfer of image data D1 is completed, thus reducing the risk of image data D1 accumulating.

[0123] (10) The control unit 39 limits the function of the data generation unit 25 based on the transfer speed. When the functionality of the data generation unit 25 is restricted, the generation speed of image data D1 decreases. However, in situations where the transfer speed is low, the time required to transfer image data D1 is the same whether the data generation unit 25 generates image data D1 at high speed or at low speed. In other words, the transfer speed becomes the bottleneck. Therefore, in situations where the transfer speed is low, there is no problem in restricting the functionality of the data generation unit 25. By restricting the functionality of the data generation unit 25, the power consumption of the data generation unit 25 is reduced. Thus, with the above configuration, the power consumption of the data generation unit 25 can be reduced when the transfer speed is low.

[0124] (11) The control unit 39 changes the transport speed based on the amount of image data D1 stored in the memory unit 33 and the transfer speed. For example, if the amount of image data D1 to be stored is large, the available space in the storage unit 33 will decrease. Furthermore, if the transport speed of the document 99 is high, the available space in the storage unit 33 may decrease even further. Even if the transfer speed is high, if the available space in the storage unit 33 is low, it may be better to reduce the transport speed of the document 99. Therefore, with the above configuration, the transport speed can be changed more favorably.

[0125] (12) The control unit 39 switches the data generation unit 25 to power saving mode when the transfer speed is less than the first threshold. If the functionality of the data generation unit 25 is limited, the generation speed of image data D1 will decrease. However, in situations where the transfer speed is low, the time required to transfer image data D1 is the same whether the data generation unit 25 generates image data D1 at high speed or at low speed. In other words, the transfer speed becomes the bottleneck. Therefore, in situations where the transfer speed is low, there is no problem in limiting the functionality of the data generation unit 25. For this reason, the above configuration is used. If the transfer speed is below the first threshold, power consumption will be reduced by the power saving mode.

[0126] (13) The control unit 39 switches the data generation unit 25 to a first power saving mode M2 ​​when the transfer speed is below a first threshold. The control unit 39 switches to a second power saving mode M3 when the transfer speed is below a second threshold, in which the power supply to the data generation unit 25 is reduced compared to the first power saving mode M2, thereby further limiting its functionality. With the above configuration, when the transfer speed is below a second threshold, the power consumption is further reduced by the second power saving mode M3.

[0127] (14) The control unit 39 causes the notification unit 38 to notify it of an error if the transfer speed is less than the third threshold. If the transfer speed is extremely low, transferring image data D1 may become difficult. With the above configuration, the user can be aware that the transfer speed is extremely low by being notified of an error.

[0128] (15) The control unit 39 switches the data generation unit 25 to power saving mode by supplying power to only some of the conversion modules 28 out of the multiple conversion modules 28. According to the above configuration, in power-saving mode, the number of conversion modules 28 to be driven is reduced, thus reducing the amount of power consumed.

[0129] <Example of changes> This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0130] The control unit 39 may predict the communication speed. The control unit 39 may determine the transport speed for the first document 99 based on the predicted communication speed. The control unit 39 may also predict the communication speed based on the free space in the transfer buffer 35. For example, if the free space in the transfer buffer 35 is small, it can be predicted that the communication speed will be low because the transfer of image data D1 is delayed.

[0131] The conversion module 28 may be configured to generate image data D1 in formats other than JPEG and TIFF images. For example, the conversion module 28 may generate image data D1 in formats such as BMP or PNG.

[0132] The control unit 39 may change the transport speed not only for each sheet, but for example, every predetermined number of sheets. The control unit 39 may also switch the mode of the data generation unit 25 every predetermined number of sheets. The notification unit 38 only needs to notify the user of at least one of the change notification A1 and improvement notification A2. This reduces the risk that the user may mistakenly believe that the change in transport speed is due to a malfunction or defect in the reader 11.

[0133] <Technical philosophy> The technical concepts and their effects, as understood from the above-described embodiments and modifications, are explained below.

[0134] [Aspect 1] The reading device is a reading device connected to an external device, comprising: a transport unit for transporting a document; a reading unit for reading the document transported by the transport unit; a data generation unit for generating image data of the document read by the reading unit; a transfer unit for transferring the image data to the external device; a notification unit for notifying the user of information; and a control unit, wherein the control unit controls the transport of the document by the transport unit based on the transfer speed of the image data by the transfer unit. When controlling the speed and changing the transport speed, the notification unit is instructed to send a change notification indicating the change in the transport speed.

[0135] The above configuration reduces the risk of users mistakenly believing that a change in transport speed is due to a malfunction or defect in the reader. Therefore, the usability of the reader is improved.

[0136] [Aspect 2] The reading device of aspect 1 is equipped with a display unit that displays the change notification, and the display unit may display the transfer speed. With the above configuration, users can understand the transfer speed. This allows users, for example, to try to improve the transfer speed if it is low.

[0137] [Aspect 3] The reading device of Aspect 1 or Aspect 2 includes a display unit for displaying the change notification, the control unit estimates the transfer time required until the transfer of the image data is completed based on the transfer speed, and the display unit may display the transfer time. With the above configuration, the user can understand the transfer time. This improves user convenience.

[0138] [Aspect 4] In any of the reading devices of aspects 1 to 3, the control unit may cause the notification unit to notify the notification unit of an improvement notification prompting an improvement in the transfer speed when the transfer speed is below an improvement threshold.

[0139] With the above configuration, the user can become aware of the low transfer speed through the improvement notification. This improves user convenience. [Aspect 5] In the reading device of aspect 4, the control unit may stop the transport unit and notify the notification unit of an error when the transfer speed is less than an error threshold which is smaller than the improvement threshold.

[0140] If the transfer speed is extremely low, transferring image data may become difficult. With the above configuration, the user can be aware that the transfer speed is extremely low by being notified of an error.

[0141] [Aspect 6] In the reading device of aspect 4 or aspect 5, the control unit does not need to notify the notification unit of the improvement notification while the reading unit is reading the document if the transfer speed is less than or equal to the improvement threshold.

[0142] When an improvement notification is received, the user may change the position and orientation of the scanner. If the position and orientation of the scanner are changed while scanning a document, the scanning quality may deteriorate. With the above configuration, the likelihood of the position and orientation of the scanner being changed while scanning a document is reduced, and therefore the likelihood of a deterioration in scanning quality is reduced.

[0143] [Aspect 7] In any of the reading devices of aspects 1 to 6, the control unit may change the transport speed based on the transfer speed between the completion of reading the preceding document and the start of transporting the subsequent document.

[0144] If the transport speed is changed while scanning a single document, the scanning quality may deteriorate. With the above configuration, the transport speed is not changed while scanning a single document, thus reducing the risk of a deterioration in scanning quality.

[0145] [Aspect 8] In any of the reading devices of aspects 1 to 7, when the control unit reads multiple documents in succession, the first document is read before the connection is made via wireless communication. The transport speed may be controlled based on the communication speed with the external device, and for the second and subsequent documents, the transport speed may be controlled based on the transfer speed of the image data transferred by the transfer unit. With the above configuration, the transport speed is controlled for each document. In other words, the transport speed is optimized for each document, so the user's waiting time is reduced.

[0146] [Aspect 9] In any of the reading devices of aspects 1 to 8, the data generation unit generates an RGB image from the reading values ​​of the reading unit, and generates the image data by performing a conversion process on the RGB image. The control unit may control the transport speed of the second and subsequent documents so that the transfer of the image data of the preceding document is completed before the generation of the image data of the subsequent document begins.

[0147] If the transfer of image data from a preceding document is not completed before the generation of image data for a subsequent document begins, there is a risk of image data accumulating. However, with the above configuration, since the image data for the subsequent document is generated after the transfer of image data from the preceding document is completed, the risk of image data accumulating is reduced.

[0148] [Aspect 10] In any of the reading devices of aspects 1 to 9, the control unit may limit the function of the data generation unit based on the transfer speed. When the functionality of the data generation unit is limited, the image data generation speed decreases. However, in situations with low transfer speeds, the time required to transfer image data is the same whether the data generation unit generates image data at high speed or at low speed. In other words, the transfer speed becomes the bottleneck. Therefore, in situations with low transfer speeds, it is not a problem to limit the functionality of the data generation unit. By limiting the functionality of the data generation unit, the power consumption of the data generation unit is reduced. Thus, with the above configuration, the power consumption of the data generation unit can be reduced when the transfer speed is low.

[0149] [Aspect 11] The reading device according to any of aspects 1 to 10 includes a storage unit for storing the image data, and the control unit may change the transport speed based on the amount of image data stored in the storage unit and the transfer speed.

[0150] For example, if the amount of image data to be stored is large, the available storage space in the memory unit will decrease. Furthermore, if the document transport speed is high, the available storage space may decrease even further. Even with a high transfer speed, if the available storage space is low, it may be better to reduce the document transport speed. Therefore, the above configuration allows for a more favorable adjustment of the transport speed.

[0151] [Aspect 12] The reading device is a reading device connected to an external device and comprises a transport unit for transporting a document, a reading unit for reading a document transported by the transport unit, a data generation unit for generating image data of the document read by the reading unit, a transfer unit for transferring the image data to the external device, a notification unit for notifying the user of information, and a control unit, wherein the control unit controls the transport speed of the document by the transport unit based on the transfer speed of the image data transferred by the transfer unit, and causes the notification unit to notify an improvement notification prompting an improvement in the transfer speed when the transfer speed is below an improvement threshold.

[0152] The above configuration reduces the risk of users mistakenly believing that a change in transport speed is due to a malfunction or defect in the scanner. In other words, users can understand that the document transport speed has been changed because the transfer speed was too low, thanks to the improvement notification. Therefore, the usability of the scanner is improved.

[0153] [Aspect 13] A control method for a reading device, which generates image data of a document by reading a document being transported, wherein the image data is transferred from the reading device to an external device. This method includes changing the document transport speed based on the transfer speed of the image data, and notifying the user of the change in transport speed when the transport speed is changed. The above method provides the same effects as the reading device described above.

[0154] [Aspect 14] The reading device is a reading device connected to an external device and comprises: a transport unit for transporting a document; a reading unit for reading a document transported by the transport unit; a data generation unit for generating image data of the document read by the reading unit; a transfer unit for transferring the image data to the external device; and a control unit for switching the data generation unit into a plurality of modes, including a normal mode and a power-saving mode, by controlling the power supply to the data generation unit, wherein the power-saving mode is a mode in which the function is limited by reducing the amount of power supplied to the data generation unit compared to the normal mode, and the control unit controls the transport speed of the document by the transport unit based on the transfer speed of the image data by the transfer unit, and switches the data generation unit to the power-saving mode when the transfer speed is below a threshold.

[0155] When the functionality of the data generation unit is limited, the image data generation speed decreases. However, in situations where the transfer speed is low, the time required to transfer image data is the same whether the data generation unit generates image data at high speed or at low speed. In other words, the transfer speed becomes the bottleneck. Therefore, when the transfer speed is low, there is no problem in limiting the functionality of the data generation unit. Accordingly, with the above configuration, when the transfer speed is below the threshold, power consumption is reduced by the power saving mode.

[0156] [Aspect 15] The reading device of aspect 14 includes a storage unit for storing the image data, and the control unit may change the transport speed based on the amount of image data stored in the storage unit and the transfer speed.

[0157] When the amount of image data to be stored is large, the available storage space in the memory unit decreases. Furthermore, if the document transport speed is high, the available storage space may decrease even further. Thus, even with a high transfer speed, if the available storage space is low, it may be better to reduce the document transport speed. Therefore, the above configuration allows for a more favorable adjustment of the transport speed.

[0158] [Aspect 16] In the reader according to aspect 14 or aspect 15, the power saving mode is a first power saving mode, the threshold is a first threshold, and the control unit may switch the data generation unit to the first power saving mode when the transfer speed is less than the first threshold, and switch to a second power saving mode in which the function is further restricted by reducing the power supply to the data generation unit compared to the first power saving mode when the transfer speed is less than a second threshold which is lower than the first threshold. According to the above configuration, when the transfer speed is less than the second threshold, the power consumption is further reduced by the second power saving mode.

[0159] [Aspect 17] The reading device of aspect 16 includes a notification unit that notifies the user of information, and the control unit may cause the notification unit to notify the notification unit of an error when the transfer speed is less than a third threshold which is lower than the second threshold.

[0160] If the transfer speed is extremely low, transferring image data may become difficult. With the above configuration, the user can be aware that the transfer speed is extremely low by being notified of an error.

[0161] [Aspect 18] In a reading device according to any of aspects 14 to 17, the data generation unit includes an RGB module that generates an RGB image from the reading value of the reading unit, and a plurality of conversion modules that generate the image data by performing a conversion process on the RGB image, and the control unit supplies power to only some of the plurality of conversion modules. The data generation unit may be switched to the power-saving mode by supplying power. According to the above configuration, the number of conversion modules to be driven is reduced in the power-saving mode, thus reducing the amount of power consumed.

[0162] [Aspect 19] In the reading device of any of aspects 14 to 18, when reading multiple documents in succession, the control unit may control the transport speed for the first document based on the communication speed with the external device connected by wireless communication, and control the transport speed for the second and subsequent documents based on the transfer speed of the image data transferred by the transfer unit. According to the above configuration, the transport speed is controlled for each document. That is, the transport speed is optimized for each document, so the user's waiting time is reduced.

[0163] [Aspect 20] In the reading device according to any of aspects 14 to 19, the data generation unit generates an RGB image from the reading values ​​of the reading unit, and generates the image data by performing a conversion process on the RGB image, and the control unit may control the transport speed of the second and subsequent documents so that the transfer of the previous image data is completed before the generation of the image data is started.

[0164] If the transfer of the previous image data is not completed before the generation of new image data begins, the image data may accumulate. However, with the above configuration, the next image data is generated after the transfer of the previous image data is completed, thus reducing the risk of image data accumulation.

[0165] [Aspect 21] A control method for a reading device is a control method for a reading device that includes a data generation unit that generates image data of a document from a document being transported, and includes changing the transport speed of the document based on the transfer speed of the image data transferred from the reading device to an external device, and limiting the function of the data generation unit by reducing the amount of power supplied to the data generation unit when the transfer speed is below a threshold. The above method provides the same effects as the reading device described above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0166] 11...Reading device, 12...Housing, 13...Supply port, 14...Discharge port, 15...Supply tray, 16...Display unit, 17...Operation unit, 19...Transport unit, 20...Pick roller, 21...Transport roller pair, 22...Discharge roller pair, 23...Reading unit, 24...CISM, 25...Data generation unit, 26...Processing circuit, 27...RGB module, 28...Conversion module, 29...YUV module, 30...JPEG module, 31...TIFF module, 33...Storage unit, 34...RGB buffer, 35...Transfer battery Fa, 36...Conversion buffer, 37...Transfer unit, 38...Notification unit, 39...Control unit, 41...Cancel button, 42...Resume button, 99...Original document, 100...External device, 101...Access point, A1...Change notification, A2...Improvement notification, A3...Error notification, B1...Reading information, B2...Setting information, B3...Communication speed information, B4...Transfer speed information, B5...Transfer time information, D1...Image data, D2...RGB image, D3...Split data, M1...Normal mode, M2...First power saving mode, M3...Second power saving mode.

Claims

1. A reader connected to an external device, A transport unit that transports the manuscript, A reading unit that reads the document being transported by the transport unit, A data generation unit that generates image data of the document read by the reading unit, A transfer unit that transfers the image data to the external device, A notification unit that notifies the user of information, It comprises a control unit and, The control unit, Based on the transfer speed of the image data by the transfer unit, the transport speed of the document by the transport unit is changed between the completion of reading the preceding document and the start of transporting the subsequent document. A reading device characterized in that, when the transport speed is changed, it causes the notification unit to notify a change notification indicating the change in the transport speed.

2. A reader connected to an external device, A transport unit that transports the manuscript, A reading unit that reads the document being transported by the transport unit, A data generation unit that generates image data of the document read by the reading unit, A transfer unit that transfers the image data to the external device, A notification unit that notifies the user of information, It comprises a control unit and, The control unit, The transport speed of the document by the transport unit is controlled based on the transfer speed of the image data by the transfer unit. When changing the transport speed, the notification unit is notified of the change indicating the change in transport speed. A scanning device characterized in that, when scanning multiple documents in succession, the transport speed for the first document is controlled based on the communication speed with the external device connected by wireless communication, and the transport speed for the second and subsequent documents is controlled based on the transfer speed of the image data transferred by the transfer unit.

3. It includes a display unit that displays the aforementioned change notification, The reading device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the display unit displays the transfer speed.

4. It includes a display unit that displays the aforementioned change notification, The control unit estimates the transfer time required for the transfer of the image data to be completed based on the transfer speed. The reading device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the display unit displays the transfer time.

5. The reading device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit causes the notification unit to notify the notification unit of an improvement notification prompting an improvement in the transfer speed when the transfer speed is below an improvement threshold.

6. The reading device according to claim 5, characterized in that the control unit stops the transport unit and notifies the notification unit of an error when the transfer speed is less than an error threshold which is less than the improvement threshold.

7. The reading device according to claim 5, characterized in that the control unit does not notify the notification unit of the improvement notification while the reading unit is reading the document when the transfer speed is less than the improvement threshold.

8. The control unit, When scanning multiple documents consecutively, For the first document, the transport speed is controlled based on the communication speed with the external device connected via wireless communication. The reading device according to claim 1, characterized in that, for the second and subsequent documents, the transport speed is controlled based on the transfer speed of the image data transferred by the transfer unit.

9. The data generation unit generates an RGB image from the reading value of the reading unit, and generates the image data by performing a conversion process on the RGB image. The reading device according to claim 2 or 8, characterized in that the control unit controls the transport speed of the second and subsequent documents so that the transfer of the image data of the preceding document is completed before the generation of the image data of the subsequent document begins.

10. The reading device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit limits the function of the data generation unit based on the transfer speed.

11. The system includes a storage unit in which the aforementioned image data is stored, The reading device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit changes the transport speed based on the amount of image data stored in the storage unit and the transfer speed.

12. A reader connected to an external device, A transport unit that transports the manuscript, A reading unit that reads the document being transported by the transport unit, A data generation unit that generates image data of the document read by the reading unit, A transfer unit that transfers the image data to the external device, A notification unit that notifies the user of information, It comprises a control unit and, The control unit, The transport speed of the document by the transport unit is controlled based on the transfer speed of the image data transferred by the transfer unit. A reading device characterized in that, when the transfer speed is below an improvement threshold, it causes the notification unit to send an improvement notification prompting an improvement in the transfer speed.

13. A control method for a reading device that generates image data of a document by reading a document being transported, Based on the transfer speed of the image data transferred from the reading device to the external device, the document transport speed is changed between the completion of reading the preceding document and the start of transporting the subsequent document. A control method for a reading device, characterized by including notifying the user of a change in the transport speed when the transport speed is changed.

Images