Adjustable Reflecting Units for Stable Image Quality

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Solution Overview

Problem

The positioning of reflecting units in reading devices is critical for maintaining image quality, as slight shifts in their relative positions affect the direction of light, leading to changes in image quality, particularly when receiving specularly reflected light.

Innovation Solution

A reading device is designed with adjustable support units for the reflecting surfaces, ensuring precise positioning and orientation of the first and second reflecting units, which reflect light before and after it reaches the reading region, thereby stabilizing the image quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the reflecting units are fixed in position to maintain image quality, then image quality stability is improved, but adaptability to documents of varying sizes and positions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage quality stabilityVSAvoidadaptability to varying document sizes

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the first and second reflecting units adjustable in position and orientation through support units with adjusting mechanisms. This allows the system to adapt to documents of varying sizes and positions while maintaining stable image quality through precise positioning control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by enabling adjustment of the positional and orientational parameters of the reflecting units. The support units include adjusting mechanisms that modify these parameters to optimize light reflection paths for different document configurations, thereby resolving the contradiction between stability and adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the reflecting units are made adjustable to adapt to varying documents, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to varying document sizesVSAvoidcomplexity of support and adjustment mechanisms

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the support structure into separate support units for the first and second reflecting units. Each support unit independently manages the positioning of its corresponding reflecting unit, simplifying the overall adjustment mechanism while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support units are designed with universal adjusting mechanisms that can accommodate different document sizes and positions. These mechanisms serve multiple functions including positioning, orienting, and stabilizing the reflecting units, thereby reducing overall device complexity while enhancing adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the light path is optimized for specularly reflected light, then image quality is improved, but sensitivity to position shifts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimage qualityVSAvoidpositioning precision requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback through adjusting mechanisms that allow real-time modification of the reflecting units' positions and orientations. This feedback system compensates for position shifts and maintains optimal light paths for specularly reflected light, reducing the stringent requirements for manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The support units include preliminary positioning features that pre-establish the correct geometric relationships between reflecting units before operation. This preliminary action reduces the sensitivity to subsequent position shifts by establishing a robust baseline configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration ensures consistent image quality by maintaining the relative position and orientation of reflecting surfaces, ensuring that specularly reflected light is accurately directed to the image sensor, even when the document is raised or of varying sizes.

Implementation Method 1

a first reflecting unit having a first reflecting surface that reflects the light emitted by the emission unit toward a document

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 2

a second reflecting unit having a second reflecting surface that reflects the light reflected by the first reflecting unit and specularly reflected by the document

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpecular reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS11323586B2Reading device, output apparatus, and image forming apparatus

Publication Date: 2022.05.03 FUJIFILM BUSINESS INNOVATION CORP

AI summary

A reading device includes an emission unit that emits light; a first reflecting unit having a first reflecting surface that reflects the light emitted by the emission unit toward a document; a second reflecting unit having a second reflecting surface that reflects the light reflected by the first reflecting unit and specularly reflected by the document; a first support unit that supports the first reflecting unit and the second reflecting unit and fixes a relative position and a relative orientation between the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface; and a second support unit that supports the first support unit such that at least one of a position and an orientation of the first support unit is adjustable.