Patent ID: 9235947
Filing Date: 2016-01-12
CPC Classification: G07D

Claim Text:
1. A subject discriminating apparatus that discriminates a subject having an unevenness pattern on a surface of the subject, the apparatus comprising: a transparent unit that includes a supporting surface supporting the subject; a light irradiation unit that irradiates illumination light onto the surface of the subject through the transparent unit; an imaging unit that images an imaging region including at least a part of the transparent unit, and generates image data; a discrimination processing unit that discriminates the subject, using the image data generated by the imaging unit; a timing sensor that includes a light emitting element and a light receiving element, the light emitting element emitting light to the transparent unit, the light receiving element receiving light being emitted by the light emitting element and then passing through the transparent unit, the light receiving element outputting a timing signal in response to not receiving light emitted by the light emitting element; and a control unit that receives an input of the timing signal, the control unit causing the light irradiation unit to irradiate the illumination light synchronous with the input of the timing signal, the discrimination processing unit discriminating the subject based on discrimination image data generated by correcting subject image data using correction image data, the subject image data being generated by imaging the imaging region in a state of the subject presenting in the imaging region, and the correction image data being generated by imaging the imaging region free from the subject in the imaging region, the light irradiation unit having a circular shape, a center of the light irradiation unit being set on a central axis passing through a central portion of the transparent unit, the light irradiation unit including a plurality of light emitting elements arranged at approximately equal intervals in a circumferential direction of the light irradiation unit, the plurality of light emitting elements irradiating illumination light so that luminous flux of the illumination light moves in a direction inclined to a side of the transparent unit with respect to a direction parallel to the supporting surface, the light emitting element and the light receiving element being provided within an opening when seen from a direction perpendicular to the supporting surface, the opening being formed by the light irradiation unit.