Patent ID: 6812467
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: H04N

Abstract:
An apparatus for reading images of a photographic film disposed on an image reading optical path, comprising:a light source for emitting visible light and infrared light into the image reading optical path to irradiate said photographic film; a magnification-varying lens unit for the visible and infrared light irradiating said photographic film, said magnification-varying lens unit being switchable between a first magnification state and a second magnification state different from the first magnification state providing a magnification smaller than that of the first magnification state; an optical path branching unit for branching the optical path front said magnification-varying lens unit into a visible light optical path and an infrared light optical path; a visible light sensor far detecting a visible image based on the visible light traveling along said visible light optical path from said optical path branching unit; an infrared light sensor for detecting an infrared image based on the infrared light traveling along said infrared light optical path from said optical path branching unit; the detection by said visible light sensor of the visible image and the detection by said infrared light sensor of the infrared image being effected simultaneously; said visible light sensor being disposed such that a focal position of said visible image falls on said visible light sensor at both said first magnification, state end said second magnification state; said infrared light sensor being disposed such that a focal position of said infrared image falls on said infrared light sensor at said first magnification state; a focal position varying transparent element movable into the infrared optical path between said optical path branching unit and said infrared light sensor in response to switchover of said magnification-varying lens unit from said first magnification state to said second magnification state, so that with the movement of said focal position varying transparent element, the focal position of the infrared image based on said second magnification state of said magnification-varying lens unit is shifted to fall on said infrared sensor, said focal position varying transparent element being movable also away from the infrared optical path between said optical path branching unit on the infrared optical path and said infrared light sensor in response to switchover of said magnification-varying lens unit from said second magnification state to said first magnification state.