JPH0321165A - Method and device for processing image information - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the process of photographing, edition and image output by executing the automatic edition of an inputted image based upon previously set up format information or the like to form assembling information and printing out the information on printing paper by a photoprinter. CONSTITUTION:Image input parts 41 to 47 receive a schedule list and photographing command information from a master CPU 2 and change an automatic edition command. The input parts 41 to 47 pick up and input images, execute the automatic density correction of the photographed images and transmit the images and their completion information to the CPU 2 through an optical loop network 5. At the time of receiving the information, the CPU 2 stores the received information in an optical disk device 6, updates schedule table completion information and automatic edition information and starts the succeeding processing. At the time of completing the photographing of images in the same format, image assembling information is formed by automatic edition to form an edition image. The assembled edition image is DMA- transferred to the photoprinter 8 through a personal computer 7, printed out on printing paper by the printer and automatically carried to a developing machine 9 to develop the image.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Ikawa Branch] The present invention relates to an image information processing method and apparatus for digitizing images captured without using film and processing them at high resolution.

[Conventional technology]

Many photographs are used in the research, development, and inspection of materials and sacred goods, and quality is determined based on these photographs.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart 1 showing the processing procedure of a conventional metal analysis test using photographs. First, a sample is cut out from the metal to be analyzed, and its surface is polished (S1).

Next, take an external photograph of the polished lean pull, micro photograph, and S
Photographed by UN (scanning electron microscope), IEPMA (
The resulting film is developed using an automatic film developing machine, and the developed film is printed on photographic paper by hand or automatically (S3). Next, the created photographs are recorded on a form such as a photo statement, and the photographic information is added to the negative film to organize it (s4).

For example, information such as the photograph M, sample mark, photographing position, magnification, film M, etc. is entered in the photograph specification. Then, transfer the information of the photo specification onto the back of the photo, press the outer periphery according to the layout, and paste it on the mount of the report.
&: Editing is performed (S5). After that, use it to compose documents such as manuals and reports, and publish them (S
6).

In addition, in the development and testing of metallic materials, metallurgical analyzes such as particle size measurements and tissue area ratio measurements for non-metallic inclusion analysis are performed by quantifying micro-Mi textures captured by microscopic images.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In conventional metal analysis using photographs, the process from photographing to editing (steps 2 to 5 in Figure 22)
) required many steps, which required a lot of effort and time.

In addition, photographs are used to judge the structure and appearance of the metal, and it is recommended to take double photographs to prevent failures caused by irregular reflections of light due to unevenness of the tissue surface, ambient brightness, etc. It becomes necessary. For this reason, film, photographic paper, etc. were wasted.

Furthermore, quantifying the microstructure requires a large amount of man-hours and highly skilled techniques, making it difficult to pass it on to others.

Furthermore, there is a problem in that quantitative evaluations have a strong sensual element, resulting in individual differences in evaluations.

In order to solve these problems, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 61269
It is conceivable to use image processing by a computer, such as the image processing system disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 569 and the planning/editing system disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 157467/1983.

The former inputs an image using a digital copying machine and uses format parameters to develop text according to printing typesetting rules, and the editing process is done interactively while looking at the display.

The latter method similarly trims the photo image information displayed on the display unit based on the square frame selected by the input means, and converts the trimmed photo image information into the selected square frame. At the same time, the set display magnification of the photographic image information is changed step by step to approach the target magnification, and the photographic image information is
It is treated as a value image.

However, in the former case, the editing work is interactive, and the editing work requires a long time. Furthermore, since images must be input using a digital copying machine, thousands of steps are required from photographing to developing, printing, sorting, and editing, and there is a problem in that the number of steps cannot be reduced.

On the other hand, the latter is a 2{i image, and it is difficult to express shading in fine gradation like a photograph, and its resolution is not sufficient, making it difficult to obtain a high-quality image.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is possible to obtain high-quality images with gradation and resolution of 11 times lower than that of photographs as a substitute for photographs, and to quantify the characteristic values of the images. An object of the present invention is to provide an image information processing method and apparatus that automates the editing and significantly reduces the number of steps from imaging to editing output.

[Means to solve the problem]

The image information processing method according to the present invention inputs photographing information necessary for imaging a subject, displays the photographing information, images the subject based on the photographing information, and displays an image of the photographed subject. Predetermined l'}7 Convert AIAI into a digital image, and assemble the converted image based on the pre-installed 1/Iau1・ with the letters 11゜t to create an edited image. The image information processing device is characterized in that the latent image of the self-edited image, which improves the resolution, gradation, and resolution, is formed on the photoreceptor by subsequent light adjustment, and the image information processing device acquires the photographing information necessary for photographing the subject. The photographic information input means to be input, the photographic means to photograph the subject, and the table displaying the n'lI photographic information; An image input means for converting digital images into two digital images, arranges the digital images in a preset layout based on the photographing information, and selects a set of images to be output. L゛(6
An image editing means for creating a fude collection image; a recording/re-recording means for recording and reproducing the edited image; converting the edited image into optical information; {Image form generating means for forming a chant of Moeki Dashu image with ν tone and resolution, and said imaging information input F stage, image input means, both image editing thousand stages, and recording/reproduction/''Lower stage and image It is characterized by comprising a processing section that is connected to the form command means in a predetermined order and controls them.

(Function) In the present invention, when the photographing information inputting means inputs photographing information indicating the work details necessary for photographing, it is displayed on the image inputting means, and based on the displayed photographing information, the subject is detected by the imaging means. Take an image, convert it to a digital image of Kokashina.ill, and paste it into a preset layout.
Create an 11-frame edited image.

Thereafter, a high-gradation, high-resolution latent image is formed on the photoreceptor using modulated light from the edited image.

(Examples) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on drawings showing examples thereof.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the system implementation of the image information processing device according to the present invention, in which a wooden device is used for metal testing. In the figure, 1 is a host 1 which is a photographing information input means.
- It is a CPU, and the host 1-cpu1 has a central processing mechanism with a width of 32 bits. The host l-CPU 1 registers photographing information of a photographing request to an operator who images a subject using an image input means 4, which will be described later, and processes information from a mask CPU 2, which will be described later. Phosl-CI'll
The shooting information from [l ] is sent to the mask CPυ2 which is the main processing unit.
The test is carried out using NliC's standard Leher 2B procedure. The mask CI'U 2 is used to train each section, and sends photographing information to the seven image input sections 4f, 42 to 47, which are the image input means 4, via the optical loop non-note work 5. The image input unit 4l is a large-scale macro photograph of the subject using a CCII camera, 42 is an external view taken by an ITν camera, 43 and 44 are microscope images taken by an ITV camera, and 1:+1 shadow of the subject is taken, and 45 is sl. MiH shooting, same 46
47 performs E 11 M A imaging, and 47 performs analysis primary microscope imaging.

Also, mask CI) [I 2 is the optical loop non-I work 5
The image input unit 41 to the two image editing devices 3, 3 via
Send the input image in step 47. The image editing device 33 interactively sets the layout of the sent image 2 and edits the image as a &Ji vertically edited image based on the layout. The edited image is provided to the optical disk device 6 via the host CPU 1. The edited image stored in the optical disk device 6 is sent to a personal computer 7, and a latent image of the edited image is formed on photosensitive paper by a printer 8 controlled by the personal computer 7, which is then developed by a developing device 9. .

Figure 21 is 'Kibatsu'! This is a system flowchart 1 for It iA. Note that the steps surrounded by broken lines do not indicate selectable processing. First, a request form to be described later, which is photographing information, is input on the host 1-CPII (Sl). Next, it is determined whether character string information is required to be input (S2), and if necessary, character string information is input (S3). Then, the input request form information and character string information are written into the automatic editing instruction file in the mask CITLI 2 (S4). If it is not necessary, the input request form information is written into the henoda and sample management instruction information file (S5), and the request form input work is completed.

Also, when editing dialogue, use Stenob 11 to
・It is determined whether it is a modification or a new registration, and if it is a modification, the formaso 1. is transferred from the optical loop unso 1.
Output to the image editing device 4 via the work 5 (S12)
. Then, the formano 1 is corrected (S13).

If you are new, please register a new Formanoto (S14).
, pass it through the optical loop Neno 1 and Work 5 to the mask CP.
Send it to U2 and register it in the Fumemano 1 management information file there (3.15).

The image input units 41 to 47 first receive the schedule and photographing instruction information from the mask CF'U 2 (521), and change the automatic editing instruction (S22). And each image input section 41
In steps 47 to 47, an image is photographed and input (S23), white dynamic density correction is performed on the photographed image (S24), and the image and completion information are sent to the mask CPU 2 via the optical loop network 5 (S25). . When the mask CPU 2 receives it (S26), it stores it in the optical disk device 6 (
S27), the plan table completion information and automatic editing information are updated, and the process moves to the next photographing process (32B). and Stenop 2
In step 9, it is determined whether or not the image capturing in the same format 1 is completed. If it is not completed, the process returns to step 23, and if it is completed, image &:Il setting information is automatically created and masked. It is registered in the output queue in CPII Z (S30). Then, it is determined whether or not it is the output order of the assembly information (S31), and when the +Ij output order comes, automatic density correction of the image is performed (S32), and the image is assembled to create an edited image (S33). The assembled edited image is sent to the printer 8 on the personal computer 7.
The image is transferred via DMA and printed onto photographic paper by the photo printer 8 (S34), and is automatically conveyed to the developing machine 9 for development processing (S35).

Next, the construction and functions of each part will be explained in more detail.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram showing the structure of the host 1.CI)Ll. In the figure, 10 is the CPU tree, and 32 bis 1
・It consists of a central processing mechanism, a main memory unit for Suhai 1, and a high-speed lotus that connects them. Also CIll
The wooden body 10 has an 8-inch Frembie disk device 13, a hard disk device 14, and a magnetic tape device 15 as external storage devices.

In addition, there are seven workstations (W) as input terminals.
/S) 11.11... and two personal computers 1
It has 12, 12.

Host CPII] uses the request form, which is request information for the operator who photographs the subject, and the mask CI during automatic editing.
Character string information to be incorporated into the edited image in IU 2, request to make progress of the requested shooting, request for forced completion of request information, measurement result error 1I! Mask the f-report C
Output to PU 2.

The request form is subdivided into header information, sample information, and instruction information. The henoda information is information that instructs matters such as the title and number of samples that are {=1 for each method, and the sample information is information that instructs the sample collection position and sample preprocessing conditions.The instruction information is information that instructs the sample unit. This information instructs the photographing location, photographing method such as magnification, and automatic editing conditions.

In addition, the progress status, plan processing, and measurement results 1et information are managed by the mask CIIU 2, and the host 1/CPU 1 accesses the master CPU 2 to update the information.

Also, if an error occurs in the measurement results sent from mask CI'U 2, the error message will be sent to mask CFI1.
Send to 2.

Also, based on the plan forced completion processing request, the mask CPU 2 sends a part of the header information and instruction information that the master CPU 2 has to the host CPU 1 as plan completion information. In addition, in response to progress management requests, the host sends return information for progress management, measurement results information, response messages to error messages from host 1 and CPU 1, and error messages for failures that occur on the mask CPU 2 side. Notify CPII 1.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram without showing the structure of the master CPU.

In the figure, 20 is a 16-bit wide CPU tree, and 4
It has an M-height main memory section, a multi-bus, various interfaces, and a controller/roller. Connected to the CPU body 20 are a disk unit 21 consisting of an 80 Mbyte hard disk device and a 320 Kbyte 5-inch floppy disk device, and a cassette tape 1/magnetic tape device 22 as external storage devices.

In addition, it is equipped with a large capacity memory of 96M height, and a graph ink processor 23, 14 inch CR that assembles the output image.
Two system consoles with T 24. 24 and a printer 25 are connected via an interface or controller.

The mask CPU 2 is also connected to the image editing device 3 and the image processor 4 via the optical loop independent work 5, and is connected to the host I/Cl 111 1 using the level 2B procedure. Saraoto Photo I/Printer 8 via a personal computer not shown above [] +1
11/1~'cla are connected.

Further, an optical disk device 6 for holding images is connected to the mask CPI 12 and is controlled by the mask CPU 2. The optical disk device 6 has two drive devices and 25
O-1 changer for storage! One optical disc has a capacity of 3.5G high 1, which is equivalent to 3500 IM type images. The images from the image editing storage 3 and the image input stage 4 are temporarily stored in a hard disk device that can be accessed at high speed, and when the load on the optical disc device 6 is light, they are stored again in the optical disk device G for long-term storage. . This is because the i:L heart disk device has a fast access speed and a small capacity, while the optical disk device 6 has a slow access speed and a large capacity.

The mask CI"I12 is for controlling the device of the present invention, and is for linkage with each part such as the host I-CPIII, image input means 4, image editing device 3, data storage, data search, image editing, and from each part. 9 +. Search the data of each information of Humemano 1 and send it to the request source.

The image editing performed here includes automatic editing and editing work based on information assembled by interactive editing in the image collection device 4. In the automatic editing, as shown in FIG. 15, assembly information is created based on the plan forced completion request, the automatic editing forced output request, the human information at the time of natural completion, and the automatic editing instruction information, and this information is output by the printer 8. It is registered in the output queue of the hard disk device in mask CPtl 2 that performs the waiting session.

In addition, assembly information created through interactive editing is transferred from the image editing device 3 to the master CPIJ 2 via the optical loop independent work 5.
and placed in the output queue.

The contract information registered in the output queue can be changed in output order, deleted from the output queue, and additionally registered in response to a request from the image editing device 3 or image input units 41 to 47. , Normally, image assembly is started in the order of registration in the output queue, and the assembled edited images are transferred to the personal computer 7 by DMA. Note that the image assembly processing includes image search and automatic density correction processing.

In addition, there are items listed in Table 1 as services for each part.

In this table, the system status adjustment in interval 17 and the photo/printer status adjustment in interval 13 are in the menu of image editing device 3 and image input section old ~ 47.
The operator issues various requests and instructions to the mask CI'U 2 based on this information.

FIG. 4 is a system diagram showing the configuration of the image editing device.

In the figure, 30 is the graph ink processor (hereinafter referred to as GP).
C) and has a memory of 64M high 1. This center machine is composed of a 17-inch monochrome monitor 31 and a 16-viso1 personal computer 32 for control. personal computer 32
includes a printer 33 and mice 36 and 14 for GIIC control.
An inch color CRT 34 and a keyboard 35 are connected via separate controllers or interfaces,
Moreover, a 5-inch 21{D fluorosopi disk device and a 20-piece heart disk device are installed inside it. Further, the personal computer 32 is connected to the mask CI)ll2 via the optical loop network 7 talk 5. 13th
Figure +a+ shows the heart structure of GPC, Figure 13 (bl shows GPC)
The layout of the PI, W collection area is also shown in Figure 13 (C+
shows the GPC memory manob.

The image editing device 3 is provided for performing formatting and interactive editing. The software 1 to software used in the image editing device 3 is composed of a group of tasks such as editing commands for Gl)C, human editing 1/editing, and linkage with mask CPI+ 2. Table 2 shows the editing commands, and Table 3 shows the editing commands. The structure of the j-gram is displayed in a list.

The formant editing menu is shown in Figure 14]3
Menu J. Select. Then, the functions shown in the menu are combined with S1 to create Forman 1 information. Fomaso 1 information is composed of background image assembly information, image embedding frame information, and character embedding frame information. Here, the background image assembly information is fixed information of an image consisting of information such as fixed characters, ruled lines, symbols, etc., and the image and character embedding frame information is the position of images and characters when incorporating them,
This is information for setting instructions for values such as size and angle. The concept and details of the format information are shown in FIG. 15, and the background image assembly information is shown in FIG. Further, Table 4 shows details of the built-in frame information.

As shown in Figure 15 (al), in automatic editing, images and characters are incorporated based on the image and character embedding frame information, and the background image and images and characters are merged. As shown, the human information includes "data length", "paper direction", "image embedding frame information aNo. 1~
M25''...

On the other hand, the interactive editing menu consists of 17 items such as "-Next image search", "Secondary image search", etc., as shown in Figure 17, and the editing work is performed by combining these functions. Create information.

Further, as with the mask CPII 2, other menu functions include displaying the output of the photo printer 8 and displaying the system status.

5 to 10 are system diagrams showing the configuration of the image input section, and FIG. 18 is a flowchart thereof. FIG. 5 shows the image input unit 41 for large-scale exterior photography (macro), and in the figure, the old 1 is a CCI camera.

The CCD camera 411 has 6 million pixels (2000 x 3
000 x 8 yll, 1M high 1 unit: 1
Capable of capturing images with an image size of ~6M high 1. C.C.
Control of the D camera 411 is performed by a personal computer 412 via an RS232C interface. The personal computer 412 is equipped with various controllers, interfaces, and a floppy disk and hard disk as external storage devices. Also, the image from the CCD camera 411 is processed by the camera controller 413 ^
/D conversion and image processing.

The exterior photography and microscopic photography shown in Figures 6 and 7 are of ultra-high resolution ITV42 with a resolution of more than 1,600 lines.
1 431 and IM bytes (1024 x 1024
Image processing devices 423, 433 equipped with six 19-20 image memories and 14-inch color monitors 424, 434 can now be used to check images, adjust density levels, and measure image characteristic values. It has become. Also ITV 421,431
Control is performed by camera controllers 422 and 432. Image 1 is created by combining ultra-high resolution ITVs 421, 431 and image processing devices 423, 433.
It enables high-quality images to be taken at a speed of 1/30 seconds per image. Also, a personal computer 42 for control
5,435 is for macro photography and I? The structure is almost the same except for the 3232C interface.

FIG. 8 is a system diagram showing the configuration of an imaging device for SliM imaging, and FIG. 10 is a system diagram showing the configuration of an imaging device for analytical electron microscopy.
The structure is the same as that shown in Fig. 6 except for the difference. That is, the structure is exactly the same as that of imaging processing using a microscope, except that the image signals are taken into the slow scan adapters 452 and 472 and processed.

Figure 9 is a diagram of the EPM^ system configuration, with two RS
232 (: The IiPMA 461 body is controlled and photographed by the l6bino 1 personal computer 462 via the interface. The image signal sent from the EPMA 461 is processed by a dedicated image processing board at 1024
Convert to 1024 x 8 bit digital data,
Processing.

The image input units 41 to 47 perform image input and measurement processing. The menus of the image input units 41 to 47 are as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, for example.
The figure shows a menu for image input using EPM^. Further, the processing functions at that time are shown in Tables 5 and 6, respectively.

When performing photographing and measurement work, the steps are as follows: aligning the work schedule to mask CP'U 2 based on the header information, separating the photographed frame information, and photographing and measurement processing, but they may be performed in any order. can.

To arrange the work schedule, request the work schedule, saw 1.
There are functions for requesting , printing, plan completion, and photographing information, and the operator uses these functions to process each plan.

There are functions such as requesting shooting instruction information, selecting shooting frames, modifying and adding shooting instruction contents and automatic fraud instruction contents, etc., and Obelek uses these functions to update shooting frames. 1.

Photographing processing includes functions related to image processing such as photographing, confirmation of transmitted images, image storage, bin correction, and density correction, and functions such as editing, adding, and changing the photographing order of photographic information. . The photographing method differs depending on the image input units 41 to 47, and is roughly divided into input from a telephoto camera and an electronic microscope, but the input analog image has a resolution of 1024.
x 1024 pixels or more, density 256 (=2n)
The image is A/D converted into a digital image with gradation levels below -L and stored in an image memory. However, in the characteristic X-ray image taken by the image input unit 47 of EI'M8, the number of characteristic X-rays is counted for each pixel, this is defined as the density, and the image is stored in the image memory.

Images stored in the image memory during image capture work are subjected to image processing such as density correction, and then the image and image completion information are temporarily stored in a cue file in the heart disk of the personal computer using the image storage menu. The mask CIIυ20 is automatically transferred.

In the measurement work, the image stored in the image memory is used as the original image, image processing (binarization, Lahering, etc.) according to the purpose of quantification is performed, and characteristic values are measured. The measured data is temporarily stored in a measurement file in the heart disk of the personal computer, and is automatically stored in the mask CPII 2 and transferred to the host l. Transferred to cPII 1.

FIG. 11 is a system and configuration diagram of the image forming means. The printer 8 uses a 16-viso 1 personal computer 7 as a control CPU, and a mask Cl111.
The output image transferred from 2 to the DMA is written to the 32M RAM disk 7l, and then the output image is read out line by line and transferred to photographic paper or film, which is a photoreceptor, that has been transferred to the photo printer 8. Based on the density gradation information, the Ar or Lie-Ne +/- the light beam is modulated to 256 gradations, and is used to print at a resolution higher than I/**. Photographic paper or film size is R
Can process from 6 to 4-cut size, photo printer 8
A maximum of 15,023 sheets of A4 size or quarter-cut paper can be sent at one time, and the burned photographic paper or film is conveyed to the developing machine 9. In the developing machine 9, the developing process of developing, stopping, fixing, washing, and drying the film or photographic paper sent from the photo printer 8 is automatically performed.

In this embodiment, a printer that prints an assembled image on photographic paper was used as an image forming means, but the present invention is not limited to this; Printed on a photosensitive tram {=tlt. 4J It goes without saying that an electrophotographic device that performs development in a 4J state may be used.

(Margins below) 24 [Effects] As explained above, according to the present invention, an input image is A/D converted into a digital image with high resolution and high gradation,
This is automatically edited based on preset formats, information, etc. to create assembly information, and the image is printed onto photographic paper using a photo printer, thereby completing the process from photographing to editing to outputting the image. can be significantly shortened,
Reduce the cost required for this. In addition, since high-resolution, high-gradation images can be digitally processed and various data can be quantified, various measurements can be carried out automatically, and the measurement does not require any skilled skills.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a system diagram of the image information processing device according to the present invention, and Figs. 2 to 11 are system configuration diagrams of each part.
Figure 2 shows the linkage between the mask CPυ and each part, Figure 13 shows the GPC hardware structure, CPC editing area layout and GPC memory manop, and Figure 14 shows the formant editing menu. FIG. 15 is a diagram related to Formaso 1 information, FIG. 16 is a diagram related to background image assembly information, FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a dialogue editing menu, and FIG.
, FIG. 19 is a diagram showing an example of the menu of the black image input section,
Fig. 20 shows an example of the menu of the IEIIMA image input section, Fig. 21 shows the system flowchart 1 for automatic editing,
FIG. 22 is a flowchart 1 showing the operation of conventional photographing processing.
It is ~. ■...Host CPII 2...Master CPU4.
...Image input means 6...Optical disc device 8...
Four printers

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Input photographing information necessary for photographing a subject, display the photographic information, photograph the subject based on the photographic information, and convert the photographed image of the subject to a predetermined resolution and floor level. The converted image is assembled with character information based on a preset layout to create an edited image, and the latent image of the edited image having a predetermined gradation and resolution is converted into a digital image with a predetermined gradation and resolution using modulated light. An image information processing method characterized by forming an image on a photoreceptor. 2. Photographing information input means for inputting photographing information necessary for photographing a subject; photographing means for photographing a subject; display means for displaying said photographing information; an image input means having means for converting into a digital image having gradation; an image editing means for arranging the digital image in a preset layout based on the photographing information and assembling the image to be output to create an edited image; recording/reproducing means for recording and reproducing the edited image; and image forming means for converting the edited image into optical information and forming a latent image of the edited image having a predetermined gradation and resolution on a photoreceptor using the optical information. and an image information processing device, comprising a main processing unit that is connected to the imaging information input means, the image input means, the image editing means, the recording/reproducing means, and the image forming means in a predetermined procedure and controls them. .