JPH04181381A - Method and device for image processing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the operability by storing position information indicating a position to be recognized in image information, setting the characteristic of a graph for converting the image information, and recognizing numeric information on the position indicated by the position information in the image information and converting the recognized numeric information into a graph according to the characteristic of the graph. CONSTITUTION:The position information indicating the position to be recognized in the image information is stored and the characteristic of the graph for converting the image information is set; and the numeric information on the position indicated by the position information in the image information is recognized and the recognized numeric information is converted into the graph according to the set characteristic of the graph. For example, pattern are displayed on a display part 400 and a desired pattern is set with cursor keys 409 and an execution key 410 and a setting 403 of an item, a setting 404 of a title, a longitudinal axis unit setting 406, a lateral axis unit setting 405, a numeral setting 407, and a graph kind setting 408 are made with respective keys and numeric keys of a graph setting part by using a digitizer. Consequently, the graph can be generated by character recognition with the recognized information.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image processing method and apparatus capable of character recognition and creating a graph from recognized information.

[Conventional technology]

In the past, some machines capable of advanced processing, such as personal computers, had the ability to create graphs based on numerical data stored in databases and the like.

[Problem that the invention is trying to solve]

However, with the above conventional method, only numerical values input into a database etc. are calculated, only a limited amount of data can be converted into graphs, and input to the database must be made in advance. Therefore, it was troublesome.

[Means to solve problems]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image processing device that converts input image information into a graph and outputs the graph, and a position information storage means that stores position information indicating a position recognized in the image information. , a setting means for setting characteristics of a graph for converting the image information, a numerical recognition means for recognizing numerical information at a position indicated by the position information in the image information, and a means for converting the recognized numerical information according to the set characteristics of the graph. Provided is an image processing device characterized by having a conversion means for converting into a graph.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an image processing method that converts input image information into a graph and outputs the graph, the method stores position information indicating a position to be recognized in the image information, and stores the position information indicating the position to be recognized in the image information. The present invention is characterized by setting characteristics of a graph to be converted, recognizing numerical information at a position indicated by the position information in the image information, and converting the recognized numerical information into a graph according to the set characteristics of the graph. An image processing method is provided.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on the drawings.

This embodiment is characterized by graphing the output after table calculations.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a copying apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the copying apparatus according to this example is composed of a reader unit A that reads an original image, and a printer unit B that forms the read image on a recording medium such as paper. There is.

The reader unit A is also provided with an operating section A-1, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 2(B).

As shown in FIG. 2(A), the original is placed with the side on which the image to be read (original surface) is formed facing downward on the original platen glass 3, and is pressed onto the glass 3 by the original cover 4. The document surface is illuminated by a fluorescent lamp 2, and the reflected light is focused on the surface of a CCD 1 as a reading sensor via mirrors 5 and 7 and a lens 6.

Mirror 7 and mirror 5 are controlled to move in the sub-scanning direction at a relative speed of 2:1.

The image signal serially processed by the reader unit A for each bit of the CCD 1 is input to the laser scanning optical system unit 25 of the printer unit B. This unit 25 includes a semiconductor laser unit, a collimator lens, a rotating polygon mirror, an F-θ lens, a correction optical system, and the like. That is, the image signal from the reader unit A is supplied to the laser unit, where it undergoes electrical-to-optical conversion, and is irradiated via a collimator lens to a polyhedral mirror that rotates at high speed, and the reflected light is transmitted to the photoreceptor 8.
and is scanned.

Regarding the photoconductor 8, as process components capable of forming an image, there are a pre-static eliminator 9, a pre-static eliminator 10, -
Secondary charger 11, secondary charger 12, pre-exposure lamp 13, developer 14, paper feed cassette 15, paper feed roller 16, paper feed guide 17, registration roller 18, transfer charger 19, separation roller 20, conveyance guide 21, fixing device 22, tray 23
etc. are arranged. Note that the speed of the photoreceptor 8 and the conveyance system is 180 mm/sec.

FIG. 2(B) shows an example of the configuration of the operating section A-1.

Here, 100 is a copy start key that commands the start of copying, 102 is a copy stop key that specifies stopping the copying operation, 101 is a reset key that returns the copy mode to the standard state, and 103 is "0" to "9" Clear the numeric keypad group and the set number of copies, etc. Used to input numerical data such as "C" key and trimming area. This is a setting key with a "*" key. Reference numeral 108 is a density key for setting the density from high to low, and the result is displayed on the display section 112. 104 and 105 are keys and indicators for turning on/off the document position coordinate detection function, respectively; 111;
113 is a display area for displaying various error messages; 109 and 114 are keys and indicators for turning on/off the automatic density adjustment function; 110 and 115 are for halftone originals such as photographs, respectively. A key and its display for turning on/off the dither processing function when reading an image, 1] 6 is a key for selecting the paper feed stage and automatic paper selection function, and the paper feed stage and display are shown on the display 117. Vessel 11
8 displays the paper size, etc.

Reference numeral 122 denotes an operation display section, which has a preset key for presetting or calling up a copy mode and its display section. 123 is, for example, a 5×7 dot matrix 32
This is a 124 soft key for selecting a desired mode from copy modes made up of digits.

125 is a screen for performing table registration settings, and is shown in FIG. 4(B).
It is shown in the figure below.

Here, to explain the table registration method, first, as shown in Fig. 4 (A), a document in the format of the table to be registered is scanned by a copying machine as shown in Fig. 1. 4 (B).
) Instruct the settings in the table registration setting section shown in ). When it is desired to register the format of the table, by pressing the line registration key 4.12, the straight line portions constituting the table are detected from the read original image and stored in the RAM 317, and the format of the table is registered. Then, the format of the registered table is displayed on the table registration screen 411, and the operator can check whether it has been correctly registered at any time.If you wish to make corrections or edits, press the line registration key 412 or the clear key (C). 415,
By using the cursor keys 416 or the like, it is possible to add new lines, erase them, or correct them line by line. The table format corrected on the table registration screen 411 is immediately sent to the RAM 317 and re-registered as new data.

127 is a graph setting section in which keys for setting the output mode of the graph are arranged as shown in FIG. 4(A).

In FIG. 4(A), reference numeral 400 denotes a display section, which displays setting items for determining the form of the graph as described below, so that the desired output form can be selected and confirmed. However, this display section 400 is
It may be shared with the display section 411 of No. 5.

Reference numeral 401 is a pattern setting key for making each data easier to distinguish and view when graphing. When the pattern setting key 401 is pressed, a plurality of patterns are displayed on the display section 400, and the desired pattern is selected from among them by pressing the cursor key 4.
When the pattern setting key 401 is pressed again after giving an instruction using O9, that pattern is set.

402 sets the priority when you want to output only a part of the items (for example, the top 5 values among the read values) instead of outputting all the items in the table to be output as a graph. This is the key to set.

Reference numeral 403 is a key for illustrating the pattern and the item in association with each other outside the graph, as shown in 411 in FIG. 4(B) when a pattern is set for each item of the graph.

404 is a key for setting the title of the graph.

405 is a key for setting the vertical axis unit and vertical axis name, and the numerical value corresponding to the vertical axis scale is entered by placing the cursor on the desired position on the topsoil displayed in 411 and inputting the numerical value using the numerical keys. .

406 is a key for setting the unit of the horizontal axis and the name of the horizontal axis, and the setting method is the same as that for the vertical axis.

407 is a key for inputting a value shown in a bar graph or the like as shown in 412 in FIG. 4(B).

Reference numeral 408 is a key for setting the type of graph, and by pressing a key specifying a desired graph, the input table values are output in the specified table format.

By specifying the graph format as described above, characters can be entered using a digitizer as shown in Figure 8 or using the cursor keys 40.
In step 9, the characters displayed on the display section 411 are designated. The output mode data of these specified graphs are stored in the RAM 318.

Next, FIG. 3 shows a block diagram showing the overall control of the copying apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

In FIG. 3, a document 300 passes through a CCD 202 through a lens 305 of an image reading section 301, enters an A/D converter 307 that performs A/D conversion, and a signal after A/D conversion is input to an image processing section 302. The image processing unit 302 performs shading correction 308 and the number recognition circuit 3
Proceed to 09.

Here, information on the location where numbers are recognized is taken from the table registration data control circuit 314, numbers are recognized, and calculations are performed. (
The calculation result is also sent to the data processing circuit 315. ) Next, proceed to the graphing circuit 310. Here we create the format of the specified graph. The process then proceeds to a light color density conversion circuit 311 and then to an image editing section 312. Here, numerical data etc. calculated in a graph format are incorporated. Then, the image processing unit 302 is terminated,
The process advances to the image recording unit 303. The image recording unit 303 includes a control circuit such as a motor that transports transfer paper, a laser recording circuit unit that writes a video signal input from the image processing unit 302 onto a photosensitive drum, and a development control circuit that performs development. Further, the CPU circuit section 304 includes a CPU 316,
It has a ROM 317 and a RAM 318, and the image reading section 3
015 The image processing unit 302, the image recording unit 303, the operation unit 319, the digitizer 321, the IC card 320, and other Kimoto device sequence controls are generally controlled.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a manuscript, in which A- shows the sales volume of the company by year. When this document is placed on the document table and the copy start button is pressed, the designated numbers are recognized, arithmetic is performed, and the results are output as a graph as shown in FIG. (In this case, the graph designation in FIG. 4(A) is a stacked line graph.) The flow of the above graph setting is shown as a flowchart in FIG.

To explain the flow of graph setting according to this flowchart, start the graph setting by pressing the execution key 410 in the graph setting section 127, etc.
), to set the priority among the read table data, press the priority setting key 402 (S2), and input the number of priority settings using the numerical keys (S3). If you want to set a pattern, press the pattern setting key 401. Pattern setting key 401
If the CPU 316 determines that is not pressed (S2)
The pattern is automatically set (S4). If the pattern setting key 401 is pressed and the pattern setting is not automatic, the CPU 3
16 (S2), the pattern is displayed on the display section 40.
0 is displayed, and the desired pattern is set using the cursor key 409 and execution key 410 (S3). When the pattern setting key 401 is pressed again and the CPU 316 determines that the pattern setting is complete (56), the item setting (
S7), title setting (S8), vertical axis unit setting (S9),
Horizontal axis unit setting (SIO), numerical value setting (SIX), and graph type setting (S12) are performed using each key in the graph setting section 127,
Settings are made using the numeric keys 103 and digitizer 801. The data set above is stored in the RAM 318.

FIG. 8 shows the appearance of a digitizer 801 used as an example of a device for specifying an area. Reference numeral 802 is a point pen for setting.

Furthermore, although the above-described example is an example in which the data to be output as a graph is collected into one table, it is also possible to output data in a plurality of tables together as one graph.

In this case, in addition to the process shown in the flowchart in Figure 7, enter the number of tables to be read using the numeric keys 1.03.
14) Set the calculation by inputting the calculation formula for the read multiple sheets of table data using a calculation key (not shown) or reading the calculation formula written in the table using the digitizer 80J ( S15).

In addition to the method using the table registration setting unit 125, the table can be registered by using the digitizer 801.The format of the table can be stored in the IC card 320, and when necessary, the IC card with the necessary format stored can be used. There is a method of inserting it into the cart insertion section 126 and performing a copying operation. or,
It can also be stored on a disk and used as a database on a computer.

[Other Examples]

In the embodiments described above, graphing was set as the output mode setting, but in this embodiment, an example of a mode for copying handwritten numbers and the like will be described. Recognized numbers (
(including handwritten numbers) are replaced with numbers in a different font and output.

Differences from the previous example will be shown.

In the embodiment described above, the graph was set as shown in FIG. 4(A), but in this embodiment, the numbers are converted as shown in FIG. 9. Specify the numbers you want to convert using the digitizer and set 901 to 914 individually.

FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of this embodiment. 10
01 is a branch for determining the end of numeric conversion. 1002 is a digitizer specification, where the location of the number to be converted is specified.

1003 is where the type of number is set at the location specified in 1002. 1004 is a branch for checking the settings set in 1002 and 1003.

If you make a mistake, return to step 1002 and perform the settings again.

If the settings are correct, the process returns to branch 1001 to end the numeric conversion.

Further, it is possible to specify by a marker instead of a digitizer, and it is also possible to change the format to be converted depending on the color.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, there is provided an image processing method for converting input image information into a graph and outputting the graph, and storing position information indicating a position to be recognized in the image information; By setting characteristics of a graph for converting the image information, recognizing numerical information at a position indicated by the position information in the image information, and converting the recognized numerical information into a graph according to the set characteristics of the graph. , it is possible to easily create a desired graph by simply setting the characteristics of the graph and the position at which to read the numerical values.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a copying machine showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2(A) is a cross-sectional view of the copying machine, FIG. 2(B) is a diagram of the operation part of the copying machine, and FIG. 3 is a diagram of the copying machine. A block diagram of this embodiment, FIG. 4(A) is an example of the operation display board for graph settings, FIG. 4(B) is an example of the table registration setting screen, FIG. 5 is an example of the table of this embodiment, Fig. 6 is a stacked line graph diagram of this embodiment, Fig. 7 is a graph setting flow chart diagram of this embodiment, Fig. 8 is an illustration of the digitizer used in this embodiment, and Fig. 9 is a numerical diagram of this embodiment. An operation display board diagram for conversion settings, FIG. 10 is a flowchart for numeric conversion settings of this embodiment, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an embodiment when setting the number of sheets to be read.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An image processing device that converts input image information into a graph and outputs it, comprising: a position information storage unit that stores position information indicating a position to be recognized in the image information; characteristics of the graph that converts the image information; a setting means for setting a value, a numerical recognition means for recognizing numerical information at a position indicated by the position information in the image information, and a converting means for converting the recognized numerical information into a graph according to the set characteristics of the graph. Characteristic image processing device. (2) An image processing method for converting input image information into a graph and outputting it, the method comprising: storing position information indicating a position to be recognized in the image information; and setting characteristics of the graph for converting the image information; An image processing method, comprising: recognizing numerical information at a position indicated by the position information in the image information, and converting the recognized numerical information into a graph according to the set graph characteristics.