JP3105425B2 - Image reading device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus using a light emitting diode array as a light source, such as a scanner, a facsimile or a copying machine, and more particularly to an image reading apparatus having a self-diagnosis function and a result display function. .

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional image reading apparatus having a self-diagnosis function, various types of error detection are performed in a self-diagnosis mode when the power is turned on, and the detection results are transmitted to two or three parts provided on a part of the exterior. In some cases, the error is indicated by a lighting state of a light emitting diode (hereinafter, referred to as an LED), that is, three states of lighting, turning off, and blinking. FIG. 4 shows an example of the identification of error display by two LEDs and the contents thereof.

In FIG. 4, the user cannot recover except for a residual paper check error, and is subject to repair by a serviceman. The service technician switches to an external or internal dip switch based on the error display as shown in FIG. 4 to move to the next check hierarchy and make a more detailed diagnosis. For example, LED in normal self-diagnosis
In the case of a power check error in which both (A) and LED (B) are lit, the service person switches the dip switch to a power check mode different from normal. In this case, 2
The error display of the LEDs and their contents are as shown in FIG. 5, for example.

Similarly, a drive system test error is switched to a drive system check mode, a light source system test error is switched to a light source system check mode, and an optical system test mode is switched to an optical system check mode.
Here, the function of performing a self-diagnosis at the time of turning on the power is referred to as an initial diagnosis, and a diagnosis performed by a serviceman by switching a dip switch is referred to as a unit diagnosis.

[0005]

As described above, two LEs are used.
If D is used to switch the three patterns of lighting, extinguishing, and blinking of each LED to indicate the error,
² = 9 ways, and even when three LEDs are used, only 3 ³ = 27 ways of error display can be performed.

Therefore, if a detailed diagnosis is to be performed without the above-described unit diagnosis performed by the serviceman by switching the dip switch, it is necessary to increase the number of LEDs for error display. Actually, there is a device provided with an additional LED for serviceman diagnosis in a place invisible to the user.

As described above, conventionally, when performing a unit diagnosis, a troublesome operation of switching an external or internal DIP switch is required by a service technician, and when performing a detailed diagnosis without a unit diagnosis, LED
The cost increased due to the increase in the number.

Accordingly, the present invention solves such a problem, eliminates the need for a troublesome operation of switching a DIP switch, and can easily and inexpensively display an error by self-diagnosis without increasing the number of LEDs. It is an object to provide a reading device.

[0009]

A feature of the image reading apparatus according to the present invention is to use some light emitting diodes of a light source for illuminating a document together with an error display, and to perform an error detection for self-diagnosis. A light emitting diode control means for turning on or off or blinking a corresponding light emitting diode among a large number of light emitting diodes of the light source for document illumination according to the detection content.

[0010] In addition, one light emitting diode for error display is provided on the exterior, and depending on the lighting condition of this light emitting diode,
It is also possible to display roughly classified errors such as presence / absence of an error and whether the user can be restored.

[0011]

According to the present invention, diagnosis results regarding various error items are displayed by using a light emitting diode of a part of the light source for document illumination, without performing mode switching or error item switching by an external or internal dip switch or the like. can do.

[0012]

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, an LED array 1 which is a light source for illuminating a document in which a large number of light emitting diodes (hereinafter, referred to as LEDs) are arranged in a row comprises a carriage 3 together with its substrate 2.
It is installed in. The carriage 3 also includes an imaging system and a photoelectric conversion element (CCD) (not shown). When the carriage 3 moves in the sub-scanning direction along the platen glass 4, the carriage 3 is placed on the platen glass 4. The image of the original is read as an electric signal by the photoelectric conversion element while being illuminated by the LED array 1. LED array 1
Is designed to be visible from above the platen glass 4 through the platen glass 4.

Some of the many LEDs of the LED array 1 are used not only for the original function of illuminating the original, but also for displaying an error. FIG. 2 shows a required number (10 in FIG. 2) of LEDs 5 that are also used for error display. These LEDs
5 is preferably set to be distinguishable from other LEDs in the LED array 1. Hereinafter, when it is necessary to specify the LED 5 that is also used for error display, it is referred to as a combined LED 5.

FIG. 3 shows an electrical configuration for detecting an error by self-diagnosis and displaying the error. In this example, one or two error display LEs are used to roughly classify errors.
D6 is included in a display unit (not shown) provided in a part of the exterior. When an error due to self-diagnosis is detected by the error detection circuit 7, the LED selection circuit 8 selects the LEDs 5.6 according to the detection result, and the LED drive circuit 9 turns on or off or blinks the selected LEDs 5.6. It has become. The LED selection circuit 8 and the LED drive circuit 9 constitute an LED control circuit 10 that controls the LEDs 5 and 6 in three ways (on, off, blinking) according to the detection result of the error detection circuit 7.

Next, the operation will be described. When the power is turned on, the image reading device itself performs the initial diagnosis as before,
An error display LED 6 is used to roughly indicate whether an error has occurred or not and whether or not the user can recover. L for error display
The number of EDs 6 may be two or more, but it is desirable that the number be small in consideration of cost. In the case of one, 1
The lighting of the error display LEDs 6 indicates "normal", the extinguishing of the LEDs 6 indicates "error unrecoverable by user" or "outlet not connected", and the blinking indicates "error recoverable by user".

Simultaneously with such display by the error display LED 6, the combined LED 5 in the LED array 1 is turned on / off / blinks in accordance with various error items. Therefore, if the error display LED 6 is turned off after the power is turned on and the initial diagnosis is completed, the user is informed that an “error that cannot be restored by the user” has occurred. Is removed, and the lighting state of the combined LED 5 is visually observed to confirm an error item. At this time, if any one of them is lit or blinking, it is repair for a serviceman. When all the combined LEDs 5 are turned off, "outlet not connected" may be considered. After confirming the connection of the outlet, if all the combined LEDs 5 are turned off, the repair is for a serviceman.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the case of using 10 combined LEDs 5, five units are divided by five LEDs from the left, and five units from the right are divided by five LEDs from the right. An error display of a part can be performed. For example, the five unit divisions are the leftmost LE
Power supply system, ROM / RAM, drive system, light source system,
It is an optical system. Now, as shown in FIG.
When the ED is lit to indicate that there is an error in the power supply system, the five LEDs from the right are lit in order from the rightmost LED in the order of +5 VDC voltage abnormality (Low), +12 VDC voltage abnormality (Low), +15 VDC voltage abnormality. (Low), +
30 VDC voltage abnormality (High) and +30 VDC voltage abnormality (Low), respectively. In the figure, since the fifth LED from the right end is lit, it is a +30 VDC voltage abnormality (Low).

In the example of FIG. 2, an error is displayed only by turning on the LED. However, since one LED can be divided into three patterns of lighting, turning off, and blinking, 10 LEDs can be displayed.
According to the number of LEDs, 3 ¹⁰ = 59049 error displays can be performed.

[0020]

According to the present invention, the error display is performed by using a part of the light emitting diodes of the light source for illuminating the original, so that the mode switching and the error item switching by the external or internal dip switch are not performed. Detailed diagnosis results for various error items can be displayed.
Therefore, without increasing the number of light emitting diodes,
It is possible to provide an image reading apparatus that can easily and inexpensively display a large number of errors by self-diagnosis.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, errors are roughly classified according to the lighting status of one error display light emitting diode provided on the exterior, so that it is more economical.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a main part of an example of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing correspondence between LEDs that also display an error in an LED array and their display contents in the image reading apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the image reading apparatus for detecting an error and displaying the error.

FIG. 4 is a correspondence diagram showing identification of error display by two LEDs and its contents in a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a correspondence diagram showing more detailed error display contents according to the first embodiment;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 LED array for document illumination 2 Substrate 3 Carriage 4 Platen glass 5 LED for error display 6 LED for error display 7 Error detection circuit 8 LED selection circuit 9 LED drive circuit 10 LED control circuit

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A light source for illuminating a document in which a large number of light emitting diodes are arranged, an imaging system for imaging reflected light from an image, and a photoelectric conversion element for converting an image formed by the reflected light into an electric signal. In the image reading apparatus provided with, an error detecting means for detecting an error for self-diagnosis, and turning on or off a corresponding light emitting diode among a number of light emitting diodes of the light source for illuminating the original according to the detected content. An image reading apparatus comprising: a light-emitting diode control unit that blinks. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a light emitting diode for error display is provided on the exterior, and an error is roughly classified according to a lighting state of the light emitting diode.