Scanner Housing Cable Overlap for Thickness Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flatbed-type scanners face challenges in size reduction, particularly due to the arrangement of the AC inlet and the overlap of the power supply and signal transmission cables, which hinder further thickness reduction.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a flexible signal transmission cable that deforms with the operational movement of the medium reading unit, allowing the power supply to be housed within the apparatus, with the insertion/extraction space for the power cable overlapping the cable deformation area, and the power supply positioned outside the movement area of the medium reading unit, reducing the overall height. Additionally, the analog signal transmission cable is connected via a bypass path distant from the power supply to minimize noise interference, and the circuit board overlaps with the insertion/extraction space to further reduce thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the power supply is installed within the housing, then the apparatus can be more compact, but the insertion/extraction space for power cable and signal transmission cable deformation area will conflict, increasing the height dimension
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensional reconfiguration by making the insertion/extraction space and cable deformation area overlap in the height direction rather than arranging them sequentially in the depth direction. This vertical stacking approach transforms the spatial relationship from one-dimensional linear arrangement to three-dimensional overlapping arrangement, reducing the apparatus depth while maintaining functional independence of both spaces.
2Ease of operation
If the AC inlet is provided on the side of the apparatus, then the power cable can be easily connected, but the apparatus thickness cannot be reduced further
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates the AC inlet from the side surface to the top surface of the apparatus, changing the connection direction from horizontal to vertical. This allows the power cable to enter from above and route downward through the housing, enabling the inlet to be positioned within the overlapping vertical space rather than requiring lateral extension, thus reducing apparatus thickness while maintaining ease of connection.
3Device complexity
If the signal transmission cable is routed close to the power supply, then the device structure is simplified, but noise interference from the power supply affects signal transmission quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the analog signal transmission cable from the general cable routing path and creates a dedicated bypass route that deliberately avoids the power supply area. This separation isolates the noise-sensitive analog signals from electromagnetic interference generated by the power supply, maintaining signal integrity while keeping the overall device structure relatively simple through targeted cable path optimization.
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading apparatus includes a medium reading unit that extends in a main scanning direction and reads an image of a medium while moving in a sub-scanning direction which is a direction crossing the main scanning direction; a signal transmission cable that is a flexible cable having a curved section and connected to the medium reading unit and that deforms following a movement of the medium reading unit; a power supply that supplies power to the medium reading unit; and a housing that accommodates the medium reading unit and the power supply. At least a portion of an insertion/extraction space for inserting/extracting a plug of a power cable from outside the housing to the power supply and at least a portion of an area where the signal transmission cable deforms following the movement of the medium reading unit overlap in a height direction of the medium reading unit.