Image Reading Apparatus Wire Connection Control for Parallel Signal Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image reading apparatuses face challenges in increasing reading speed, particularly in single-sided reading modes, due to limitations in controlling output channels for image sensor ICs, which affects efficiency across multiple reading modes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a configuration that includes a first and second reading unit, a conversion unit, a wire connection control unit, and an output control unit, allowing for controlled wire connections and output timing adjustments between the reading units and the conversion unit, enabling efficient input and processing of analog signals in various reading modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the number of output channels for image sensor ICs is controlled to increase single-sided reading speed, then reading speed is improved, but reading efficiency across multiple reading modes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wire connection configuration is made dynamic and reconfigurable based on the reading mode. The wire connection control unit switches between different connection patterns: in single-sided reading mode, channels are configured for high-speed single-sided operation, while in double-sided reading mode, the same physical channels are reconfigured to handle simultaneous dual-sided data flow, optimizing performance for each mode without requiring separate hardware sets
Solution Approach 2:
The same set of image sensor ICs and conversion units serve multiple reading modes (single-sided and double-sided). The system achieves multi-functionality by dynamically reconfiguring the wire connections between reading units and conversion units, allowing the hardware to adapt to different operational requirements without dedicated components for each mode
2Productivity
If analog signals from multiple output channels are input to conversion units in parallel, then reading efficiency is improved, but signal timing synchronization becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The wire connection control unit acts as an intermediary between the reading units and conversion units. It manages the complex timing synchronization by controlling which reading unit connects to which conversion unit at specific time intervals, absorbing the synchronization complexity within the control logic rather than requiring complex hardware synchronization circuits
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary configuration of wire connections based on the selected reading mode before actual reading operations begin. The wire connection control unit pre-establishes the appropriate connection pattern (single-sided or double-sided) and timing relationships, so that when reading operations start, the synchronization is already configured and parallel processing can proceed efficiently
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading apparatus comprises a first reading unit configured to output an analog signal by reading an original, a second reading unit different from the first reading unit, a conversion unit configured to convert analog signals outputted from the first reading unit and the second reading unit to digital signals, a wire connection control unit configured to control wire connection between the first reading unit and the second reading unit, and the conversion unit, and an output control unit configured to control an output of an analog signal from the first reading unit.