Image Reading Device Visible Infrared Component Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing image reading devices using infrared components struggle to completely remove visible components from invisible images, resulting in inappropriate infrared images due to residual visible components.

Innovation Solution

An image reading device with both visible and invisible light sources, and corresponding imaging elements, uses circuitry to remove visible components from captured invisible images by referencing the visible images, ensuring accurate infrared image capture.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If an IR pass filter is used to remove the infrared component from an invisible image, then the infrared component can be removed, but the visible component slightly remains resulting in an inappropriate invisible image

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinfrared component removal accuracyVSAvoidinvisible image quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the imaging system into two separate imaging elements: one dedicated to capturing visible images and another dedicated to capturing invisible (infrared) images. This segmentation allows each imaging element to be optimized for its specific wavelength range, with the visible light imaging element using a visible light source and the invisible light imaging element using an infrared light source, thereby preventing visible component contamination in infrared images

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a visible light source as an intermediary to illuminate the document and create a visible image that serves as a reference. This visible image acts as a mediator to identify and remove visible component contamination from the infrared image captured by the invisible light imaging element, enabling precise separation of visible and infrared components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 approach effectively corrects for residual visible components, enabling the generation of high-quality infrared images by utilizing the visible and invisible light sources simultaneously and processing the images to remove unwanted visible components.

Implementation Method 1

a visible light source to emit visible light to an object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Implementation Method 2

an invisible light source to emit invisible light to the object

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation emission: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 3

a first imaging element to receive light reflected from the object to capture a visible image

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Implementation Method 4

a second imaging element to receive light reflected from the object to capture an invisible image

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS20240348729A1Image reading device, image forming apparatus, and image reading method

Publication Date: 2024.10.17 RICOH CO LTD

AI summary

An image reading device includes: a visible light source to emit visible light to an object; an invisible light source to emit invisible light to the object; a first imaging element to receive light reflected from the object to capture a visible image; a second imaging element to receive light reflected from the object to capture an invisible image; and circuitry to remove a visible component included in the invisible image captured by the second imaging element using the visible image captured by the first imaging element.