Method of detecting a scanning start point, scanner, method of reading out image information, and image information reader

A method of reading out image information from a predetermined sample, using an image information reader comprising an exciting light source for emitting exciting light, an optical head for emitting said exciting light to said sample, horizontal scanning means for relatively moving said optical head and/or said sample so that said exciting light can repeatedly perform horizontal scanning by a predetermined length in a fixed direction with respect to said sample, vertical scanning means for relatively moving said optical head and/or said sample in direction substantially perpendicular to said horizontal scanning direction so that said exciting light can perform vertical scanning with respect to said sample, and photoelectric read means for photoelectrically reading out luminescence emitted from said sample irradiated with said exciting light by said relative scanning, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating two rotational angle pulse signals having a phase difference which varies according to a rotational direction of a rotary drive means provided in said horizontal scanning means;
• causing said horizontal scanning direction to depend on the rotational direction of said rotary drive means;
• detecting reversal of the rotational direction of said rotary drive means, based on said phase difference between said two rotational angle pulse signals;
• detecting said rotational angle pulse signals from said reversal of the rotational direction;
• and
• detecting a reading start point which starts reading said sample, based on the detected rotational angle pulse signals.

A scanner for detecting a reading start point which starts reading information in a horizontal scanning direction or a recording start point which starts recording information in said horizontal scanning direction, by relatively moving a predetermined medium to be scanned and/or a scan head, which reads said information from said medium or records said information on said medium, by horizontal scanning means so that said scan head can reiteratively perform horizontal scanning in a fixed direction with respect to said medium, said scanner comprising:

• rotary drive means having angle signal generation means for generating two rotational angle pulse signals having a phase difference which varies according to a rotational direction of said rotary drive means, said rotary drive means being provided in said horizontal scanning means and said horizontal scanning direction being dependent on the rotational direction of said rotary drive means;
• rotational direction detection means for detecting the rotational direction of said rotary drive means and reversal of said rotational direction, based on said phase difference between said two rotational angle pulse signals;
• and
• scanning-start-point detection means for detecting said rotational angle pulse signals from said reversal detected by said rotational direction detection means, and detecting said scanning start point, based on the detected rotational angle pulse signals.

An image information reader comprising:

• an exciting light source for emitting exciting light;
• an optical head for emitting said exciting light to a predetermined sample;
• horizontal scanning means for relatively moving said optical head and/or said sample so that said exciting light can repeatedly perform horizontal scanning by a predetermined length in a fixed direction with respect to said sample;
• vertical scanning means for relatively moving said optical head and/or said sample in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of said horizontal scanning so that said exciting light can perform vertical scanning with respect to said sample;
• photoelectric read means for photoelectrically reading out luminescence emitted from said sample irradiated with said exciting light by said relative scanning;
• rotary drive means having angle signal generation means for generating two rotational angle pulse signals having a phase difference which varies according to a rotational direction of said rotary drive means, said rotary drive means being provided in said horizontal scanning means and said horizontal scanning direction being dependent on the rotational direction of said rotary drive means;
• rotational direction detection means for detecting the rotational direction of said rotary drive means and reversal of said rotational direction, based on said phase difference between said two rotational angle pulse signals;
• and
• reading-start-point detection means for detecting said rotational angle pulse signals from said reversal detected by said rotational direction detection means, and detecting a reading start point which starts reading said sample, based on the detected rotational angle pulse signals.

A method of detecting a reading start point which starts reading information in a horizontal scanning direction or a recording start point which starts recording information in said horizontal scanning direction, by relatively moving a predetermined medium to be scanned and/or a scan head, which reads said information from said medium or records said information on said medium, in the going and returning directions by horizontal scanning means so that said scan head can reiteratively perform horizontal scanning in a fixed direction with respect to said medium, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a scanning start point which starts scanning said medium in said going direction of said horizontal scanning;
• measuring a moved distance in said going direction of said medium and/or said scan head between a scanning end point, which ends said scanning, and reversal of a moving direction of said medium and/or said scan head from said going direction to said returning direction, said scanning end point previously being set according to a length in said horizontal scanning direction of said medium;
• measuring a moved distance in said returning direction of said medium and/or said scan head from the reversal of the moving direction of said medium and/or said scan head;
• and
• detecting a position, where said moved distance in said returning direction coincides with said moved distance measured in said going direction, as a scanning start point in said returning direction.

A method of photoelectrically reading out luminescence emitted from a predetermined sample irradiated with exciting light, by relatively moving said exciting light and/or said sample within a fixed range in the going and returning directions so that said exciting light can reiteratively perform horizontal scanning relatively with respect to said sample and by relatively moving said exciting light and/or said sample in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of said horizontal scanning so that said exciting light can perform vertical scanning with respect to said sample, said method comprising the steps of:

• detecting a reading start point which starts reading said luminescence in said going direction of said horizontal scanning;
• reading out said luminescence photoelectrically, while said exciting light is scanning said sample from the detected reading start point to a reading end point which ends said reading, said reading end point previously being set according to a length in said horizontal scanning direction of said sample;
• measuring a moved distance in said going direction of said exciting light and/or said sample between said reading end point and reversal of a moving direction of said exciting light and/or said sample from said going direction to said returning direction;
• measuring a moved distance in said returning direction of said exciting light and/or said sample from said reversal of the moving direction of said exciting light and/or said sample;
• and
• starting reading said luminescence photoelectrically in said returning direction from a position where said moved distance in said returning direction coincides with said moved distance measured in said going direction.

A scanner for detecting a reading start point which starts reading information in a horizontal scanning direction or a recording start point which starts recording information in said horizontal scanning direction, by relatively moving a predetermined medium to be scanned and/or a scan head, which reads said information from said medium or records said information on said medium, in the going and returning directions by horizontal scanning means so that said scan head can reiteratively perform horizontal scanning in a fixed direction with respect to said medium, said scanner comprising:

• reversal detection means for detecting that a moving direction of said medium and/or said scan head being moved by said horizontal scanning means has been reversed from said going direction to said returning direction;
• first scanning-start-point detection means for detecting a scanning start point in said going direction of said horizontal scanning which is performed by said horizontal scanning means;
• first offset measurement means for measuring a moved distance in said going direction of said medium and/or said scan head between a scanning end point which ends scanning, set according to a length in said horizontal scanning direction of said medium, and said reversal;
• second offset measurement means for measuring a moved distance in said returning direction of said medium and/or said scan head from said reversal detected by said reversal detection means;
• and
• second scanning-start-point detection means for detecting a horizontal scanning position, where said moved distance in said returning direction detected by said second offset measurement means coincides with said moved distance in said going direction detected by said first offset measurement means, as a scanning start point in said returning direction.

An image information reader comprising:

• an exciting light source for emitting exciting light;
• an optical head for emitting said exciting light to a predetermined sample;
• horizontal scanning means for relatively moving said exciting light and/or said sample within a fixed range in the going and returning directions so that said exciting light can reiteratively perform horizontal scanning with respect to said sample;
• vertical scanning means for relatively moving said exciting light and/or said sample in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of said horizontal scanning so that said exciting light can perform vertical scanning with respect to said sample;
• photoelectric read means for photoelectrically reading out luminescence emitted from said sample irradiated with said exciting light by said relative scanning;
• reversal detection means for detecting that a moving direction of said exciting light and/or said sample being moved by said horizontal scanning means has been reversed from said going direction to said returning direction;
• first reading-start-point detection means for detecting a reading start point which starts reading said luminescence in said going direction of said horizontal scanning which is performed by said horizontal scanning means;
• first offset measurement means for measuring a moved distance in said going direction of said exciting light and/or said sample between a reading end point which ends reading, set according to a length in said horizontal scanning direction of said sample, and said reversal;
• second offset measurement means for measuring a moved distance in said returning direction of said exciting light and/or said sample from said reversal detected by said reversal detection means;
• and
• second reading-start-point detection means for detecting a horizontal scanning position, where said moved distance in said returning direction detected by said second offset measurement means coincides with said moved distance in said going direction detected by said first offset measurement means, as a reading start point which starts said reading in said returning direction;
• wherein said photoelectric read means starts said reading from said reading start points in said going and returning directions.