1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to photoelectric conversion apparatus and information processing apparatus, and more particularly to photoelectric conversion apparatus suitably applicable to input portions in facsimile devices, image readers, scanners, copiers, electronic blackboards, etc., which are information processing apparatus for reading image information while relatively moving the original or the like subjected to image reading in close contact on a primary line sensor, and the information processing apparatus therewith.
2. Related Background Art
Recently, in order to further decrease the size or further enhance the performance as to information processing apparatuses such as facsimile devices, image readers, etc., elongate line sensors that can be used in a 1:1 optical system have been developed as photoelectric conversion apparatuses for information processing apparatuses. In order to further decrease the size and the cost, photoelectric conversion apparatus and information processing apparatus have been developed for directly detecting reflected light from the original by a sensor without using a 1:1 fiber lens array but through a transparent spacer of glass or the like.
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a conventional photoelectric conversion apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic cross section thereof when the photoelectric conversion apparatus is cut along 2--2 in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 designates a photosensor, 101 a sensor substrate, 102 photoelectric conversion elements, 103 a wiring part, 104 a mount plate, and 105 a transparent protection layer.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements 102 are arranged in line on the sensor substrate 101, and the transparent protection layer 105 comprised of a thin glass plate or the like is provided on the photoelectric conversion elements 102 in order to protect the photoelectric conversion elements 102 and to act as a spacer between the photoelectric conversion elements 102 and the original Output signals from the photoelectric conversion elements 102 are arranged as capable of being output to the outside through the wiring part 103. These sensor substrate 101, photoelectric conversion elements 102, wiring part 103, and transparent protection layer 105 are incorporated with the mount plate 104, thus composing the photoelectric conversion apparatus 1. The mount plate 104 is made of an easily-moldable material such as a resin, and is molded except for an optically transparent portion of the member.
The structure of a photoelectric conversion element used in such a photoelectric conversion apparatus is next explained briefly referring to FIG. 3.
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic cross section for illustrating an example of the photoelectric conversion element. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 170 is a substrate, 171 a light-shielding layer, for example, of aluminum or chromium, 172 an insulator layer, for example, of silicon nitride, 173 a semiconductor layer, for example, of i-type amorphous silicon, 174 an ohmic contact layer, for example, of n.sup.+ -type non-single-crystal silicon, 175 an electrode layer, for example, of aluminum, 176 a passivation layer, for example, of silicon nitride or polyimide, and 177 an adhesive layer, for example, of an epoxy resin.
As shown in FIG. 3, the sensor substrate 101 has a photoelectric conversion element having the light-shielding layer 171 provided on the substrate 170 in correspondence to a photoelectric conversion portion so as to prevent illumination light from the substrate side from entering the photoelectric conversion portion, the insulator layer 172 provided on the light-shielding layer 171, the semiconductor layer 173 provided on the insulator layer, and the electrode layer 175 provided through the ohmic contact layer 174 above the semiconductor layer with a space for an incident area of light, and the passivation layer 176 provided on the photoelectric conversion element; and the transparent protection layer 105 is provided through the adhesive layer 177 above the sensor substrate 101.
Light L emitted from a light source (not shown) passes through the sensor substrate 101, adhesive layer 177, and transparent protection layer 105 to reach the original P, and reflected light from the original P is incident to the space formed in the electrode layer 175 to be photoelectrically converted according to the incidence of light.
FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic, sectional, structural drawing for illustrating an example of a facsimile device with a communication function as an example of the information processing apparatus having the above photoelectric conversion apparatus.
In FIG. 4, reference numeral 180 denotes the facsimile device, 181 a feed roller, 182 a separator pawl, 183 a conveying roller, 184 a system control substrate, 185 a platen roller, 186 a recording head, 187 a power supply section, 188 the photoelectric conversion apparatus, 189 an operation panel, P the original, and W a recording medium.
As shown in FIG. 4, the facsimile device 180 supplies the original P to an image reading section by the feed roller 181 when the original P is inserted thereinto. In the original reading section the photoelectric conversion apparatus 188 is disposed and the original P is conveyed as urged against the reading portion by the conveying roller 183 opposed to the photoelectric conversion apparatus 188. This urging is effected by an urging device such as a spring, not shown. As urging the conveying roller 183 and/or the photoelectric conversion apparatus 188 against each other, the original P conveyed to between the conveying roller 183 and the photoelectric conversion apparatus 188 is further conveyed in a discharge direction. The separator pawl 182 is used for separating and feeding the originals P set in a pile one by one.
Further, the facsimile device 180 has the recording head 186 for recording an image received or information read by the above photoelectric conversion apparatus 188 in a recording medium W, and the platen roller 185 for conveying the recording medium W for recording information by the recording head 186.
The power supply 187 is a power-supply portion for driving the facsimile device 180, the system controller 184 is provided for controlling an image reading means including the photoelectric conversion apparatus 188 and the recording means including the recording head 186, and the operation panel 189 is a so-called control portion of the facsimile device 180.
The photoelectric conversion apparatus 188 is mounted, as shown, to a frame 4 (a main body frame in the drawing) provided in the facsimile device 180. This frame is normally provided in order to attain mainly the strength of the apparatus main body.
FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic, structural drawing for illustrating a mounting portion of the photoelectric conversion apparatus 188 and surroundings thereof.
In FIG. 5, reference numeral 191 represents a light source such as light-emitting diodes, 192 a sensor frame, 193 a light-source substrate, and 194 a connector. For using the light-emitting diodes as a light source 191, a plurality of light-emitting diodes are arranged at intervals on the light-source substrate 193. The photosensor 1 and light-source substrate 193 are mounted to the sensor frame 192 so as to be incorporated therewith, thereby composing the photoelectric conversion apparatus 188. The connector 194 is provided for supplying the power for driving the photoelectric conversion elements or the light-emitting diodes and/or for outputting electric signals carrying information output from the photoelectric conversion elements.
The photoelectric conversion apparatus 188 is mounted by unrepresented means in a recess formed in the frame 4.
FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic, perspective assembly drawing for illustrating the mounting portion of the photoelectric conversion apparatus 188 and surroundings thereof
In FIG. 6, reference numeral 195 stands for a flexible board for outputting signals from the photosensor 1, 196 a flexible board for outputting the signals from the photoelectric conversion apparatus 188 to the outside, and 197 an electric connection portion in FIG. 7 to be connected with the flexible board.
As shown in FIG. 6, the photoelectric conversion apparatus 188 is arranged so as to be dropped into the recess formed in the frame 4, and the flexible board 196 is connected to the electric connection portion on the apparatus body side, thereby electrically being connected with the apparatus body. The conveying roller 183 is disposed above the reading portion of the photoelectric conversion apparatus 188, as described above. The signal line from the photosensor 1 is first electrically connected through the flexible board 195 to the light-source substrate 193 and then electrically connected through a signal processing circuit provided in the light-source substrate 193 and through the flexible board 196 to a processing circuit on the apparatus body side.
FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic, structural drawing for illustrating an example of the connection relation between the photoelectric conversion apparatus 188 and the system control substrate 184 in the facsimile device 180.
As shown in FIG. 7, the flexible board 196 from the photoelectric conversion apparatus 188 is electrically connected with the connector 197 formed in the system control substrate 184.
However, with attempt to achieve further reductions of cost, size, and weight for the information processing apparatus constructed in the above structure, there was virtually no room for further reductions of cost, size, and weight, because the photoelectric conversion apparatus is constructed in a unit structure using the sensor frame. Another problem was that the limits of further reductions of size and weight would impose restrictions on freedom of engineering design of the apparatus main body or freedom of design thereof.