IMAGE SENSOR, IMAGE SENSOR UNIT, AND IMAGE SCANNING DEVICE

Abstract

An image sensor includes: a case that extends in a longitudinal direction; and a first positioning member that is disposed at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the case, the first positioning member positioning the case in the longitudinal direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outer configuration of an image scanning device according to a first example of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating an inner configuration of a scanning platform;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating an important part of the scanning platform;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an image sensor and a carriage;

FIG. 5A is a partially enlarged view of the image sensor shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 5B is a partially enlarged view of the carriage shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an image sensor unit in which the carriage is mounted with the image sensor;

FIG. 7 is a side view of an image sensor unit according to a first modified example of the first example;

FIG. 8 is a side view of an image sensor unit according to a second modified example of the first example;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an image sensor and a carriage according to the second modified example of the first example as viewed from the rear side;

FIG. 10A is a partially enlarged view of the image sensor shown in FIG. 9, and FIG. 10B is a partially enlarged view of the carriage shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11A is a perspective view illustrating an image sensor unit according to a third modified example, FIG. 11B is a perspective view illustrating the image sensor according to the third modified example, and FIG. 11C is a perspective view illustrating the carriage according to the third modified example;

FIG. 12A is a perspective view illustrating an image sensor unit according to a fourth modified example of the first example, FIG. 12B is a perspective view illustrating an image sensor according to the fourth modified example, and FIG. 12C is a perspective view illustrating a carriage according to the fourth modified example; and

FIG. 13A is a top view illustrating an image sensor unit according to a second example of the present invention, FIG. 13B is a partially enlarged view of the left end portion of the image sensor unit shown in FIG. 13A, and FIG. 13C is a partially enlarged view of the right end portion of the image sensor unit shown in FIG. 13A.

Claims

1. An image sensor comprising: a case that extends in a longitudinal direction; anda first positioning member that is disposed at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the case, the first positioning member positioning the case in the longitudinal direction.

2. The image sensor according to claim 1, wherein supported portions are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the case, wherein each of the supported portions includes either one of a shaft portion and a bearing portion, andwherein the first positioning member is provided at either one of the supported portions.

3. The image sensor according to claim 2, wherein the case has a pair of end faces in the longitudinal direction thereof and wherein the supported portions are disposed within a projection area of the end faces, the projection area being formed when the end faces are projected in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the case.

4. The image sensor according to claim 3, wherein each of the supported portions is disposed substantially at a center of the end face in a transverse direction of the case, the transverse direction being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the case.

5. The image sensor according to claim 3, wherein the supported portions are disposed at the end faces and substantially on a line extending in the longitudinal direction of the case and passing a center of gravity of the image sensor.

6. The image sensor according to claim 1, further comprising: a light source that emits light, the light source being disposed within the case;a light guiding member that is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the case, the light guiding member guiding the light emitted from the light source toward a top surface of the case;a condenser lens that is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the case; anda photoelectric conversion element that outputs electrical signal in accordance with intensity of light received through the condenser lens, the photoelectric conversion element being disposed within the case.

7. An image sensor unit comprising: an image sensor that emits light to an object and outputs electrical signal in accordance with light reflected by the object; anda retention member that retains the image sensor,wherein the image sensor comprises: a case that extends in a longitudinal direction; anda first positioning member that is disposed at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the case,wherein the retention member comprises: a frame that extends in the longitudinal direction; anda second positioning member that is disposed at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the frame, andwherein the case is positioned relative to the frame in the longitudinal direction by engaging the first positioning member with the second positioning member.

8. The image sensor unit according to claim 7, wherein supported portions are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the case, wherein each of the supported portions includes either one of a shaft portion and a bearing portions andwherein the first positioning member is provided at either one of the supported portions.

9. The image sensor unit according to claim 8, wherein the case has a pair of end faces in the longitudinal direction thereof, and wherein the supported portions are disposed within a projection area of the end faces, the projection area being formed when the end faces are projected in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the case.

10. The image sensor unit according to claim 9, wherein each of the supported portions is disposed substantially at a center of the end face.

11. The image sensor unit according to claim 9, wherein the supported portions are disposed at the end faces and substantially on a line extending in the longitudinal direction of the case and passing a center of gravity of the image sensor.

12. The image sensor unit according to claim 7, wherein the case of the image sensor has shaft portions at both ends thereof in the longitudinal direction, wherein the frame of the retention member has bearing portions at both ends thereof in the longitudinal direction, andwherein the first positioning member is provided at one of the shaft portions while the second positioning member is provided at one of the bearing portions in which the one of the shaft portions is supported.

13. The image sensor unit according to claim 12, wherein the one of the shaft portions projects from one of the end portions of the case along the longitudinal direction, wherein the one of the shaft portions has larger diameter portions as the first positioning member and a smaller diameter portion sandwiched between the larger diameter portions,wherein the one of the bearing portions has a groove as the second positioning member in which the smaller diameter portion is fitted, andwherein a dimension of the groove in the longitudinal direction is substantially equal to a dimension of the smaller diameter portion in the longitudinal direction.

14. The image sensor unit according to claim 7, wherein the image sensor further comprises: a light source that emits light, the light source being disposed within the case;a light guiding member that is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the case, the light guiding member guiding the light emitted from the light source toward a top surface of the case;a condenser lens that is disposed along the longitudinal direction of the case; anda photoelectric conversion element that outputs electrical signal in accordance with intensity of light received through the condenser lens, the photoelectric conversion element being disposed within the case.

15. The image sensor unit according to claim 7, wherein support portions that support the image sensor are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the frame, wherein each of the support portions includes either one of a shaft portion and a bearing portion, andwherein the second positioning member is provided at either one of the support portions.

16. An image scanning device comprising: a platen glass on which a document to be scanned is placed; andan image sensor unit that is provided beneath the platen glass to be movable in a predetermined direction along the platen glass, the image sensor unit comprising:an image sensor that emits light to an object and outputs electrical signal in accordance with light reflected by the object; anda retention member that retains the image sensor,wherein the image sensor comprises: a case that extends in a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the predetermined direction; anda first positioning member that is disposed at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the case,wherein the retention member comprises: a frame that extends in the longitudinal direction; anda second positioning member that is disposed at one end portion in the longitudinal direction of the frame, andwherein the case is positioned relative to the frame in the longitudinal direction by engaging the first positioning member with the second positioning member.

17. The image scanning device according to claim 16, wherein supported portions are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the case, wherein each of the supported portions includes either one of a shaft portion and a bearing portion, andwherein the first positioning member is provided at either one of the supported portions.

18. The image scanning device according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the supported portions includes the bearing portion, and wherein the bearing portion is formed as a U-lettered shape groove that allows the image sensor to be movable in direction toward the platen glass.

19. The image scanning device according to claim 16, wherein support portions that support the image sensor are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the frame, wherein each of the support portions includes either one of a shaft portion and a bearing portion, andwherein the second positioning member is provided at either one of the support portions.

20. The image scanning device according to claim 19, wherein at least one of the support portions includes the bearing portion, and wherein the bearing portion is formed as a U-lettered shape groove that allows the image sensor to be movable in direction toward the platen glass.