Patent ID: 8500021
Filing Date: 2013-08-06
Classification: G06K

Abstract:
1. An image reading apparatus comprising: a light source that emits light toward a card mounting surface where a radio-frequency identification (RFID) card is placed, the RFID card having incorporated therein a tag having identification (ID) information stored therein and an ID-information transmitting unit that receives an electromagnetic wave for power supply and transmits the ID information with an electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the ID information; a reading unit that includes an image pickup device, a casing that houses the image pickup device, and a light guide that guides light reflected by the RFID card to the image pickup device, wherein the reading unit images, based on the light from the light source, an image read surface of the RFID card on a card mounting surface side when the RFID card is placed on the card mounting surface and outputs a pickup image signal representing the image read surface of the RFID card; an image-data generating unit that generates pickup image data of the image read surface of the RFID card based on the output pickup image signal; a transmitting and receiving unit that transmits the electromagnetic wave for power supply and receives the electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the ID information; an ID-information obtaining unit that obtains the ID information based on the received electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the ID information, when the RFID card is imaged by the reading unit; and an interference suppressing unit that suppresses interference of at least either one of the electromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the ID information with the reading unit, wherein the image pickup device images the image read surface of the RFID card based on the light from the light source and outputs the pickup image signal representing the image read surface of the RFID card, the reading unit includes a carrier cable that transmits the pickup image signal to the image-data generating unit, the interference suppressing unit suppresses the interference of at least either one of the electromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the ID information with at least one of the image pickup device and the carrier cable, and includes a closed-loop coil that forms a suppression area, the suppression area is disposed in a propagation area where at least either one of the electromagnetic wave for power supply and the electromagnetic wave for transmission and reception of the ID information is propagated, and a magnetic-flux change in the suppression area is suppressed based on a magnetic-flux change in the propagation area, and at least either one of the image pickup device and the carrier cable is disposed in the suppression area.