A colour image reading apparatus

Abstract: An image reading apparatus, having RGB photoreceptors comprising a CCD line sensor, reduces influence of color mixture due to intrapixel transfer in which electric charges from a photoreceptor are transferred via another photoreceptor. The RGB photoreceptors are provided close to each other in parallel, between CCD shift units corresponding to the photoreceptors. The electric charges generated at the G photoreceptor and the B photoreceptor are directly transferred to the CCD shift units. The electric charges generated at the R photoreceptor are transferred to the CCD shift units via the B photoreceptor. That is, the electric charges generated at a photoreceptor having a larger electric charge-generating characteristic are transferred via a photoreceptor having a smaller electric charge-generating characteristic. Further, a transfer direction in which the electric charges are transferred and a subscanning direction in which an original is conveyed upon reading by the photoreceptors are in the same direction. Thus the amount of color mixture can be reduced.

Description: The present invention relates to colour image reading apparatus. Fig. 3 shows the construction of a conventional CCD linear image sensor 201 used in a conventional colour image reading apparatus. In Fig. 3, reference numerals 301 to 303 denote photoreceptors (line sensors) having R, G and B colour filters. The photoreceptors 301 to 303 have diodes for converting a light quantum into electric charges for each pixel. The electric charges generated by photoreception for a predetermined period are respectively transferred to CCD shift units 304, 306 and 308 for odd-numbered pixels and CCD shift units 305, 307 and 309 for even-numbered pixels. While the photoreceptors 301 to 303 perform photoreception for the next line and accumulate electric charge for the received light quanta, the electric charges transferred to the CCD shift units 304 to 309 are sequentially shifted in a fixed direction within the shift units, and converted into electric signals by amplifiers 310 to 316 and outputted. As shown in Fig. 3, in the conventional colour linear image sensor, the CCD shift units for shifting electric charges from the R, G and B photoreceptors in a fixed direction are provided between the R and G photoreceptors and between the G and B photoreceptors. For this arrangement, the spacing between the R and G photoreceptors and that between the G and B photoreceptors must be wide. In a case where signal processing such as masking calculation is performed on R, G and B signals read by this CCD sensor, corrections of difference among respective RGB reading positions are required. As spacing between the R and G photoreceptors and that between the G and B photoreceptors become wider, necessary memory capacity becomes large. The above drawback has been considered in both United States Patents US-A-5340977 and US-A-5241377. These disclose, as detailed in the preamble of claim 1 of the claims appended hereto, an arrangement wherein the photoreceptors are not alternatively provided with the CCD shift units, but photoreceptors are provided, as a set of photoreceptors, between CCD shift units. In this arrangement, the spacing among the R, G and B photoreceptors can be smaller than that in a conventional CCD sensor, and memory capacity for correcting differences among respective RGB reading positions can be reduced. However, in this arrangement, at least one of the photoreceptors transfers electric charges to its corresponding CCD shift unit via another photoreceptor (pixel) that receives light of another colour. This is called "intrapixel transfer". In this case, while the electric charges pass through the relay photoreceptor, the photoreceptor is exposed to light. As a result, a slight amount of colour mixture occurs due to electric charges generated at the relay photoreceptor. The present invention has as its aim the reduction of the influence of colour mixing due to intrapixel transfer in image reading apparatus of the kind defined in the preamble of claim 1. Image reading apparatus of such kind is, in accordance with the present invention, characterised in that the transfer direction and the moving direction in which the object image is moved relative to the first and second line sensors by the moving means, are the same. The result of these directions being the same is that the portions of the object image corresponding to the charge received for one colour, and to the charge received for another colour mixed therewith are set closer than for the case where the directions are opposite. Accordingly the degradation of image quality due to colour mixing is much reduced or even suppressed. Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention by way of example only. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the construction of a linear image sensor for use in a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a colour image reading apparatus incorporating the linear image sensor of Figure 1 in accordance with a first embodiment; Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the construction of a conventional linear image sensor; Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing connection between R photoreceptor and B photoreceptor, and corresponding CCD shift units, according to the first embodiment; Figs. 5A to 5E are graphs showing accumulation of electric charges and colour mixture in a case where the image moving direction and electric charge transfer direction are opposite to each other; Figs. 6A to 6E are graphs showing accumulation of electric charges and colour mixture in a case where the image moving direction and the electric charge transfer direction are the same; Fig. 7 is a graph showing spectral responsivity characteristics of the linear image sensor; Fig. 8 is a graph showing energy distribution of light from a halogen lamp; Fig. 9 is a block diagram showing the construction of an alternative linear image sensor for use in image reading apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing the construction of a colour image data generator of the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment. Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. A Colour Image Reading Apparatus First, the construction of a colour image reading apparatus using a linear image sensor according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The colour image reading apparatus irradiates an original 212 placed on a glass platen 211 using an illumination light source 210 having a reflection shade 209, and converges reflected light from the original 212 onto a photoreception surface of a CCD (colour linear image sensor) 201 via mirrors 208, 205, 206 and a lens 202, thus forms an image. In Fig. 2, the apparatus reads the entire image from the original 212 by moving the parts shown within dotted-line portion 207 in a direction represented by a double-line arrow at a speed V, and moving the parts shown within dotted-line portion 203 in a direction also represented by a double-line arrow at a speed V/2. First Embodiment Fig. 1 shows the construction of a first example of a linear image sensor for use according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 1, reference numerals 101 to 103 denote photoreceptors having R, G and B colour filters. Each photoreceptor has diodes for converting a received light quantum into electric charges for each pixel. Different from the conventional linear image sensor as shown in Fig. 3, CCD shift units 104 to 109 are not alternatively provided with the R, G and B photoreceptors 101 to 103, accordingly, the spacings among the photoreceptors 101 to 103 can be reduced. In Fig. 1, there is some spacing between the G photoreceptor 101 to the R photoreceptor 102 and between the R photoreceptor 102 to the B photoreceptor 103, however, these spacings may be reduced by providing the photoreceptorscloser to each other until they come in contact with each other. Accordingly, in comparison with the conventional arrangement where the CCD shift units are alternately provided with the photoreceptors, the spacing among the photoreceptors can be smaller. This reduces memory requirement for correcting the difference amount between reading positions corresponding to the spacing between the photoreceptors. In the construction according to the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 & 2, photoreceptors 101 to 103 are provided between two sets of CCD shift units 104 and 105, and CCD shift units 106 to 109 in parallel. That is, the CCD shift units 104 and 105 for the G photoreceptor 101 are provided at an upper part in Fig. 1, and the CCD shift units 106 to 109 for the R photoreceptor 102 and the B photoreceptor 103 are provided at a lower part in Fig. 1. This arrangement can reduce the number of relay photoreceptors upon intrapixel transfer where electric charges accumulated at one photoreceptor are transferred via another photoreceptor for another colour. Further, in this construction, upon intrapixel transfer, the transfer direction in which electric charges are transferred and the moving direction in which an original image is moved relative to the linear image sensor are in the same direction. In Fig. 1, electric charges accumulated at the R photoreceptor 102 are transferred to the CCD shift units 106 and 107 via the B photoreceptor 103. Then, the CCD shift units 106 and 107 shift the electric charges to amplifiers 112 and 113 which output R-ODD output and R-EVEN output. In this manner, the transfer direction in which electric charges are transferred, and the moving direction in which the image is moved relative to the linear image sensor, are the same. Fig. 4 shows connection between the R photoreceptor 102 and the B photoreceptor 103, and corresponding CCD shift units 106 to 109. In Fig. 4, the parts corresponding to those in Fig. 1 have the same reference numerals and the explanations of these parts will be omitted. As shown in Fig. 4, upon intrapixel transfer, colour mixture due to transferring the electric charges via the relay photoreceptor for another colour where a slight amount of electric charges are generated at the relay photoreceptor, can be reduced to a minimum amount. Upon this transfer, amount E of the finally outputted electric charges including colourmixture is expressed by the following equation: E = EM + ES × (TB/TA) EM: amount of electric charges accumulated at a photoreceptor before transfer via another photoreceptor; ES: amount of electric charges accumulated at another photoreceptor for another colour; TA: accumulation time; and TB: transfer time In the equation (1), [ES × (TB/TA)] is an amount of electric charges (colour mixture) occurred during transfer via the photoreceptor for another colour. A ratio α of the amount of colour-mixture electric charges with respect to the amount E of finally-outputted electric charges is: α = (TB/TA) × (ES/EM) As (TB/TA) is a constant determined by CCD characteristics and the like, in order to reduce the ratio α of the amount of electric charges as much as possible, ES must be set to be a small value, while EM must be set to be a large value. In this embodiment, upon intrapixel transfer, a photoreceptor (e.g., the R photoreceptor 102 in Fig. 1) that transfers electric charges has a larger electric charge-generating characteristic, while a relay photoreceptor (e.g., the B photoreceptor 103 in Fig. 1) that passes the electric charges has a smaller electric charge-generating characteristic. This lowers ratio α of the amount of electric charges as the cause of colour mixture with respect amount E of finally-outputted electric charges. Next, occurrence of colour mixture upon intrapixel transfer as shown in Fig. 1 will be described below based on the relation between image scanning direction and electric charge transfer direction. In Figs. 5A to 5E, image information 410 in Fig. 5A moves in a moving direction 401. At this time, the image information 410 is advanced in the moving direction 401 and images are formed on the photoreception surfaces of the photoreceptors 403 to 405. Figs. 5C to 5E show an amount of electric charges at the respective photoreceptors when an edge portion 409 of the image information 410 moves along the moving direction 401. As the image information 410 passes over an R photoreceptor 404, electric charges represented by a hatched portion 407 are accumulated. Assuming that the transfer direction for transferring the electric charges via another photoreceptor is a direction 402 opposite to the direction 401, the electric charges accumulated at the R photoreceptor 404 are transferred via a G photoreceptor 403. Immediately after the accumulation of electric charges for a predetermined period at the R photoreceptor 404, the R photoreceptor 404 transfers the electric charges accumulated by the indicated hatched portion 407. At this time, the electric charges of colour mixture upon intrapixel transfer via the G photoreceptor 403 is a part of the electric charges as indicated by a hatched portion 406 in Fig. 5C. Regarding the electric charges accumulated at the R photoreceptor 404, the information of the hatched portion 406 corresponds to a hatched portion 408 in Fig. 5D. Accordingly, when the moving direction 401 and the transfer direction 402 are opposite to each other, the information of colour mixed in the information (electric charges) from the R photoreceptor 404 is shown as the hatched portion 406 in Fig. 5C, and the mixed information (406) corresponds to a position (hatched portion 408) delayed by time L1 from the hatched portion 407. Figs. 6A to 6E show a case where the moving direction 501 and the transfer direction 502 are in the same direction. The electric charges collected at an R photoreceptor 504 are accumulated for a predetermined period (hatched portion 507 in Fig. 6D) and transferred via a B photoreceptor 505. At this time, the electric charges of colour mixture occur, as represented by a hatched portion 506 in Fig. 6E. Regarding the electric charges accumulated at the R photoreceptor 504, the information of the hatched portion 506 corresponds to the hatched portion 508 in Fig. 6D. Accordingly, the information of colour mixture included in the information from the R photoreceptor 504 is positioned advanced by time L2 from the electric charges 507 accumulated at the R photoreceptor 504. It should be noted that the influence of colour mixture on image information depends on the distance between a photoreceptor that causes colour mixture and the photoreceptor that originated the image information. In case of a drawing pattern in which the contrast radically changes in short change periods, it is apparent that as a photoreceptor that causes colour mixture is closer to an originator photoreceptor, the influence of colour mixture becomes smaller. Assuming that the width of a photoreceptor is A, and the pitch between photoreceptors in a subscanning direction is 2A, the position of image information to include colour mixture, due to the difference between the transfer direction and the moving direction is: L1 = 2.5A (moving direction and transfer direction are opposite to each other) L2 = 1.5A (moving direction and transfer direction are in the same direction) Therefore the moving direction in which the image is moved relative to the first photoreceptor and the transfer direction in which electric charges are transferred via another photoreceptor are chosen to be in the same direction. This construction where the moving direction and transfer direction correspond with each other may include the construction where the photoreceptor that transfers electric charges has a larger electric charge-generating characteristic, while the photoreceptor that passes the electric charges of different colour has a smaller electric charge-generating characteristic. The spectral response characteristic of a linear image sensor with respect to incident light differs dependent on the semiconductor material, structure of photosensitive area, process of surface etc. However, most linear image sensors have a peak wavelength on the long wavelength side of a visible light spectrum. Fig. 7 shows the spectral responsive characteristic of a linear image sensor using silicon material. In Fig. 7, in a visible light area (about 380 nm - 700 nm wavelengths), the sensitivity on the short wavelength side is low. Usually, a halogen lamp is employed as a light source having spectral energy distribution as shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 8 shows the same visible light area (about 380 nm - 700 nm wavelengths), in which the light-emitting energy of the long wavelength side is high. In a case where an optical system scanning is constructed using a linear image sensor, generally, the quantity of electric charge-generating of a colour having a short wavelength characteristic is small. Accordingly, a photoreceptor for receiving the colour component having short wavelength is used as a relay photoreceptor that passes electric charges from another photoreceptor. That is, it is preferred that in consideration of spectral characteristics, this photoreceptor having a smaller electric charge-generating characteristic is a B (blue) photoreceptor. Also, the photoreceptor having a larger electric charge-generating characteristic that transfers electric charges via another photoreceptor is a G (green) or R (red) photoreceptor. Second Embodiment The construction of the image sensor suitable for use in the image reading apparatus of the present invention is not limited to that in Fig. 1. The image sensor may have a construction as shown in Fig. 9. Fig.9 shows an arrangement where a set of CCD shift units 604 to 609 are not provided between photoreceptors 601 to 603, but they are provided at one side. Note that the photoreceptors 601 to 603 and the CCD shift units 604 to 609 correspond to the photoreceptors 101 to 103 and the CCD shift units 104 to 109 in Fig. 1. Also in this embodiment, electric charges accumulated at each photoreceptor are transferred to the CCD shift units via another photoreceptor. As the CCD shift units 604 to 609 are provided as a set at one side in a subscanning direction, the photoreceptor that transfers electric charges via the other two photoreceptors is the R photoreceptor 601 having the larger electric charge-generating characteristic. The photoreceptor, closest to the CCD shift units 604 to 609, that passes electric charges from the other photoreceptors is the B photoreceptor 603 having the smaller electric charge-generating characteristic. Similar to the first embodiment, the influence of colour mixture, due to electric charges occurred at a photoreceptor used as a relay photoreceptor in intrapixel transfer, is reduced by setting the transfer direction in which electric charges are transferred from a photoreceptor to a CCD shift unit, and the moving direction in which the image is moved relative to the image sensor, to the same direction. Fig. 10 shows the construction of an image data generator of an image reading apparatus using the linear image sensor of the second embodiment. In Fig. 10, numeral 801 denotes a B (blue)-signal input unit including the B photoreceptor 601 and the corresponding CCD shift units 608 and 609; 802, an R (red)-signal input unit including the R photoreceptor 602 and the corresponding CCD shift units 606 and 607; 803, a G (green)-signal input unit including the G photoreceptor 601 and the corresponding CCD shift units 604 and 605; 804 to 812, line buffers for storing pixel data (binary or multi-level data) corresponding to the number of reading pixels of the photoreceptors; and 814 to 816, A/D converters respectively for inputting an analog image signal from a corresponding colour signal input unit and converting the signal into a digital signal. Similar to Fig. 1, as the spacing between the photoreceptors is "2A", when B image data read by the B photoreceptor of the B-signal input unit 801 is stored in the line buffer 808, R image data corresponding to the stored B image data is stored in the line buffer 811, further, G image data corresponding to the stored B image data is stored in the line buffer 812. The image data of the respective color components are simultaneously read out of the line buffers 808, 811 and 812, and colour image data for one line is generated by a color-signal generator 813. Assuming that the A/D converters 814 to 816 are respectively 8-bit A/D converters, one pixel of the image data read by the optical scanning apparatus is represented by 24 bits. The number of line buffers can be reduced by reducing the pitch between the photoreceptors. Thus, the generated colour image data is outputted to an external device such as a computer connected to the image reading apparatus. Note that the signal-input units 801 to 803 may respectively comprise a combination of a photoreceptor and a corresponding CCD shift unit as shown in Fig. 9. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the arrangement where the CCD shift units as a set are provided at one side in the subscanning direction can reduce colour mixture of electric charges accumulated at a photoreceptor with electric charges caused at another photoreceptor for another colour due to intrapixel transfer, to a minimum level. Further, upon transferring electric charges, a photoreceptor that passes electric charges has a smaller electric charge-generating characteristic, while a photoreceptor that transfers the electric charges has a larger electric charge-generating characteristic. This reduces the amount of electric charges causing colour mixture. Further, according to the present embodiment, the arrangement, where the transfer direction in which electric charges accumulated at a photoreceptor are transferred and the moving direction in which the image is moved relative to the linear image sensor are in the same direction, reduces the influence of colour mixture upon intrapixel transfer. In the above embodiments, the image reading apparatus uses photosensors for R, G and B (three colors), however, the present invention is not limited to these photosensors, but is applicable to any image reading apparatus which uses photosensors for at least two colors. For example, if two photosensors are for red (R) and blue (B), two CCD shift units corresponding to these photosensors are both provided on the B photosensor side, so that electric charges from the R photosensor are transferred via the B photosensor to the CCD shift units. As described above, the arrangement, where photoreceptors are provided close to each other and shift units are also provided close to each other, reduces memory capacity for correcting the difference among reading positions for respective colors. Further, the arrangement, where photoreceptors are provided between a plurality of shift units, suppresses the amount of colour mixture caused by intrapixel transfer in which electric charges accumulated at one photoreceptor are transferred via another photoreceptor, to a minimum level. As described above, according to the present invention, the image reading apparatus, having an arrangement wherein the transfer direction in which electric charges are transferred and the moving direction in which the image is moved relative to the linear image sensor are in the same direction, therefore positions of colour mixture of respective colours are closer to each other, reduces the influence of the colour mixture on image quality. Furthermore, the invention is applicable also to a case where the invention is embodied by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. In this case, a storage medium, storing a program according to the invention, constitutes the invention. The system or apparatus installed with the program read from the medium realizes the functions according to the invention. The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and various changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.

Claims: A colour image reading apparatus comprising: a first line sensor (102) comprising pixels for one colour; a second line sensor (103) comprising pixels for another colour; respective first and second shift means (106-109) for receiving electric charges from respective said first and second line sensor pixels and for shifting the electric charges to output, sequentially; and moving means (203, 207) for moving an object image (212) relative to said first and second line sensors in a moving direction, said apparatus being adapted to transfer the electric charges from said first line sensor (102) via said second line sensor (103) to said first shift means (106,107) in a transfer direction, said first and second line sensors (102, 103) being provided adjacent to each other, said second line sensor (103) being provided closer to said first and second shift means (106-109) than said first line sensor; said apparatus being characterised in that : the transfer direction, and the moving direction in which the object image is moved over said first and second line sensors (102-103), by said moving means (203, 207), are the same. An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second line sensors (102, 103) are each adapted by filter means to receive light corresponding to respective one and another colours and generate electric charges in accordance with the intensities of the received light. An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 1 or 2, further comprising: a third line sensor (101), comprising pixels for a third colour, provided adjacent to said first line sensor; and third shift means (104, 105) for receiving electric charges from said third line sensor pixels and shifting the discrete electric charges to output, sequentially. An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein said apparatus is arranged to transfer the electric charges from said third line sensor (101) to said third shift means (104, 105) in a direction opposite to the moving direction in which the object image is moved over the first and second line sensors (102, 103). An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 3, wherein said apparatus is arranged to transfer the electric charges from said third line sensor (101) to said third shift means (104, 105) via said first and second line sensors (102, 103) in the same direction to the moving direction in which the object image is moved over the first and second line sensors (102, 103). An image reading apparatus in accordance with any of claims 3, 4 or 5, wherein said third line sensor (101) is adapted by filter means to receive light corresponding to a the third colour and to generate electric charges in accordance with the intensity of received light. An image reading apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein said first, second and third line sensors (101, 103) are each adapted to receive light corresponding to a respective one of red, green and blue colour components of the object image. An image reading apparatus according to any of the preceding claim$wherein said line sensors (101-103; 102-103;) are included in a linear image sensor (201), further comprising: conveyance means for conveying said linear image sensor (201) relative to an original (212), and output means (813) for outputting original image data, based on the electric charges generated by said line sensors (101-103; 102-103) and outputted from said shift means (104-109; 106-109) respectively corresponding to each of said line sensors.

Inventors: KAWAI TAKASHI, OHASHI KAZUHITO, SATO HIROSHI, KAWAI, TAKASHI, OHASHI, KAZUHITO, SATO, HIROSHI
Applicants: CANON KK, CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1995
Main classification: H04N3
IPC codes: H04N3, H04N9