Document reading apparatus, having a body unit for holding apparatus components

An apparatus for reading a document, comprising:

• at least one light source positioned for illuminating the document,
• a substantially linearly arranged plurality of lenses positioned at predetermined intervals for imaging light reflected from the document and forming a reduced image of the document,
• a substantially linearly arranged plurality of semiconductor chips having a plurality of photoelectric transducer elements arranged for receiving an image of the document, each one of the plurality of chips being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of lenses, and
• a body unit for holding the light source and the plurality of semiconductor chips and for defining a substantially shielded light path from the document to each of the semiconductor chips through each of the corresponding lenses.
• wherein the at least one light source defines a luminescent point and a luminescent plane,
• wherein at least one of the lenses defines an object point,
• wherein the luminescent point and the object point define a first straight line,
• wherein at least one of the lenses defines an object principle point,
• wherein the object point and the object principle point define a second straight line,
• wherein the second straight line and the luminescent plane define an intersection point,
• wherein the luminescent point and the intersection point define a third straight line,
• wherein the first straight line and the third straight line define an angle .eta., and wherein .eta. is greater than 90.degree..

An apparatus for reading a document, comprising:

• at least one light source positioned for illuminating the document,
• a substantially linearly arranged plurality of lenses positioned at predetermined intervals for imaging light reflected from the document and forming a reduced image of the document,
• a substantially linearly arranged plurality of semiconductor chips having a plurality of photoelectric transducer elements arranged for receiving an image of the document, each one of the plurality of chips being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of lenses, and
• a body unit for holding the light source and the plurality of semiconductor chips and for defining a substantially shielded light path from the document to each of the semiconductor chips through each of the corresponding lenses,
• wherein the body unit defines a sidewall facing at least one of the light paths from the document to at least one of the lenses, and comprising means for preventing scattered light generated on the sidewall from entering the lens.

An apparatus for reading a document, comprising:

• at least one light source positioned for illuminating the document,
• a substantially linearly arranged plurality of lenses positioned at predetermined intervals for imaging light reflected from the document and forming a reduced image of the document,
• a substantially linearly arranged plurality of semiconductor chips having a plurality of photoelectric transducer elements arranged for receiving an image of the document, each one of the plurality of chips being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of lenses, each of the photoelectric transducer elements defining an output,
• a body unit for holding the light source and the plurality of semiconductor chips and for defining a substantially shielded light path from the document to each of the semiconductor chips through each of the corresponding lenses,
• a common signal line commonly connecting the outputs of each of the photoelectric transducer elements, the common signal line having a noise signal superimposed thereon, the noise signal having a phase,
• a plurality of switching elements interposed between each of the photoelectric transducer elements and the common signal line,
• a scan circuit for sequentially driving each of the plurality of switching elements, and
• means for applying to the common signal line a signal having a phase that is opposite to the phase of the noise signal.

An apparatus for reading a document, comprising:

• at least one light source positioned for illuminating the document,
• a substantially linearly arranged plurality of lenses positioned at predetermined intervals for imaging light reflected from the document and forming a reduced image of the document,
• a substantially linearly arranged plurality of semiconductor chips having a plurality of photoelectric transducer elements arranged for receiving an image of the document, each one of the plurality of chips being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of lenses, and
• a body unit for holding the light source and the plurality of semiconductor chips and for defining a substantially shielded light path from the document to each of the semiconductor chips through each of the corresponding lenses, the body unit being provided with a light transmitting plate defining a surface and a downstream direction, and further comprising
• a document guide positioned substantially adjacent the downstream side of the light transmitting plate, the document guide defining a section that is inclined at an angle .theta. relative to the surface of the light transmitting plate, the angle .theta. being not greater than approximately 45.degree..