Reading Device Optical Path Switching for Reflection Capture
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reading devices face challenges in efficiently capturing images using both diffuse and regular reflection light from a single light source, leading to suboptimal image quality and complexity in switching between different reflection modes during the image reading process.
Innovation Solution
A reading device with a radiator, a light receiver, and a switcher that alternates between two optical paths to guide diffuse and regular reflection light, allowing for efficient image capture by switching between these paths as the carriage moves, enabling separate reading of diffuse and regular reflection light components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single light source is used to read both diffuse reflection light and regular reflection light, then the device complexity is reduced, but it becomes difficult to efficiently capture both reflection components separately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging process into two separate optical paths: one for diffuse reflection light and another for regular reflection light. By segmenting the light collection paths and using a switcher to alternately connect them to the sensor, the system can capture both reflection components separately while using a single light source, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining image reading quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a dynamic switching mechanism that alternately connects different optical paths to the image sensor based on the carriage position. This dynamic reconfiguration allows the single light source to serve multiple purposes at different times, efficiently capturing both diffuse and regular reflection light components without requiring multiple simultaneous light sources.
2Measurement precision
If separate optical paths are used for diffuse and regular reflection light, then image reading quality is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the diffuse reflection optical path and regular reflection optical path into a single integrated system that shares common components including the light source, image sensor, and carriage structure. By combining these paths with a simple switcher mechanism rather than maintaining completely separate systems, the patent achieves improved image reading quality while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The single light source and image sensor serve multiple functions by being shared between two different optical paths. The switcher mechanism enables these components to be universally used for both diffuse reflection imaging and regular reflection imaging, reducing the need for duplicate components and thereby limiting the increase in device complexity despite having separate optical paths.
3Productivity
If the carriage moves to switch between optical paths, then efficient image capture is achieved, but the reading speed may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic switching between the diffuse reflection optical path and regular reflection optical path based on the carriage position. The switcher alternately connects different paths to the sensor in a periodic manner synchronized with the carriage movement, allowing efficient capture of both reflection components without requiring continuous mechanical reconfiguration, thus maintaining reading speed while improving image capture efficiency.
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 solution allows for improved image reading by effectively capturing both diffuse and regular reflection light components, enhancing image quality and simplifying the image reading process by using a single light source and switching mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a radiator configured to radiate light
Implementation Method 2
a first optical path on which the light radiated by the radiator is reflected by a reflection surface
Implementation Method 3
a light receiver configured to receive the light reflected from an image capturing target
Data Source
AI summary
A reading device includes a radiator configured to radiate light, a light receiver configured to receive the light reflected from an image capturing target, a first optical path on which the light radiated by the radiator is reflected by a reflection surface to irradiate a surface of the image capturing target in a radiation area so that diffuse reflection light diffusely reflected by the surface of the image capturing target is guided to the light receiver as a read image, a second optical path on which the light radiated by the radiator is reflected by the reflection surface to irradiate the surface of the image capturing target in the radiation area so that regular reflection light regularly reflected by the surface of the image capturing target is guided to the light receiver as a read image, and a switcher configured to switch the first optical path and the second optical path on a downstream side in a movement direction of a carriage that houses the radiator and the reflection surface and moves along a sub-scanning direction for image reading.