JPH11146265A - Image input device and image pickup print system using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To speedily and exactly control exposure and white balance when performing image pickup through an image pickup device. SOLUTION: An image pickup chamber 5 is provided on the deep side of an aperture provided on the front face of a casing 2. The respective wall surfaces of the image pickup chamber 5 become gray diffusing and reflecting planes in gray having no wavelength selectivity with the fixed concentration. Inside the image pickup chamber 5, a fluorescent lamp is provided for illuminating an image pickup object. The image pickup is performed by a video camera while making the image pickup chamber 5 empty and turning on the fluorescent lamp. An image pickup signal provided from the video camera is monitored, and the exposure is controlled so that the lightness for one picture can become a proper level. The exposure control is performed by the control of charge storage time at a CCD image sensor (the control of shutter speed) and the control of a gain value at an auto gain control amplifier for amplifying the image pickup signal. The exposure control is performed at fixed time intervals and when the gain value is stabilized, it is discriminated the quantity of light of the fluorescent lamp is stabilized. Then, the exposure control is stopped, and the shutter speed and gain value at that time point are preserved as reference data.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input apparatus capable of picking up an image recorded on a sheet-shaped document or a small-sized three-dimensional object by a simple operation, and further relates to this image input apparatus. The present invention relates to an imaging printing apparatus using a printer together with a printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image input apparatus which captures an image or a sample recorded on an original and allows a video signal thereof to be displayed on a monitor screen is known, for example, from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-236171. In addition, it is installed and used on the street,
2. Description of the Related Art An imaging and printing apparatus has been commercialized so that a small image such as a hand-held print photograph or an accessory can be easily imaged and a video print can be obtained on the spot. Since these devices are intended to be used by an unspecified number of people, it is necessary to eliminate troublesome adjustments and setting operations when using them so that anyone can use them easily.

Each of the above-mentioned image input devices and image pickup printing devices has a built-in solid-state image pickup device such as a CCD image sensor as an image pickup means, and is used when an image is reproduced on a monitor or a video print is performed. Images must be reproduced with appropriate brightness and color. Therefore, these devices are provided with an automatic white balance adjustment function and an automatic exposure adjustment function.

[0004] These devices are generally provided with an illuminating lamp such as a fluorescent lamp so that an object to be imaged can be imaged under certain illumination conditions. However, even under a fixed illumination condition, for example, when a print photograph is an imaging target, various colors and luminance distributions of the photographic image itself are assumed, and white balance adjustment or white balance adjustment based on the imaging target itself is performed. If the exposure is adjusted, the color and brightness of the main subject cannot be determined accurately. Also,
These adjustments also change depending on whether the entire screen of the printed photograph is to be imaged or only a part of the screen is zoomed in to be imaged.

[0005] These disadvantages can be avoided by using a standard gray plate. The standard gray plate is a diffuse reflection plate having a constant reflection density (for example, 18%) and having no wavelength selectivity in absorption. If this standard gray plate is imaged before imaging the imaging target, and exposure adjustment and white balance adjustment are performed based on the obtained imaging signal,
Thereafter, appropriate exposure adjustment and white balance adjustment can be performed for any imaging object while maintaining this adjustment state.

[0006]

However, considering that the above device is used by various people, even if a standard gray board is attached to these devices, it is not always used. If lost, proper adjustment cannot be performed.

Further, in order to make exposure adjustment and white balance adjustment more appropriate, it is necessary to consider a change in the light amount of the illumination lamp. In particular, when a fluorescent lamp is used as an illumination lamp, it is known that the amount of light changes with the lapse of time immediately after lighting, and the degree of change in the amount of light varies depending on the ambient temperature. If the timing of performing is too early, there is a possibility that the appropriate adjustment is no longer appropriate when the image is actually taken.

Further, in an image pickup and printing apparatus in which a video signal obtained from an image input apparatus is directly input to a printer and a video print is created on the spot, it is costly to use a dedicated printer as the printer. However, many printers incorporate a general printer. Therefore, in addition to a setting operation unit for adjusting the image quality of a print, the printer is provided with various setting operation units related to cooperation with a system connected thereto.
Since these can be adjusted by the same operation, if the setting relating to the linkage with the system is changed by mistake, there is a possibility that the entire imaging and printing apparatus may malfunction.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides an image input apparatus capable of performing exposure adjustment and white balance adjustment easily and accurately.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an image capturing and printing apparatus using this image input apparatus, in which cooperation with a printer is ensured, and particularly, initial settings of the printer are accurately performed.

[0010]

According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, a wall of an imaging room in which an imaging object is installed is a gray diffuse reflection surface having no wavelength selectivity, and the imaging object is installed. The exposure and the white balance are automatically adjusted based on the image signal obtained from the image pickup means when the illumination lamp is turned on. Further, when a document table can be set in the imaging room when positioning the sheet-shaped image capturing object at a predetermined distance from the reference wall surface, the document mounting surface of the document table may be of a wavelength-selective type. There is no gray diffuse reflective surface.

In the exposure adjustment, the illumination lamp is turned on without setting the object to be imaged, and the exposure time of the imaging means is controlled by a feedback method based on an imaging signal obtained by imaging light from the gray diffuse reflection surface. Or by adjusting the gain of an amplifier that amplifies the imaging signal. And
In order to avoid the influence of the change in the light amount of the illumination lamp, the values of the exposure time and the gain are monitored at fixed time intervals, and when the deviation from the value obtained by the previous monitoring becomes a certain value or less, the exposure time and the gain are monitored. The exposure adjustment is stopped while maintaining the value. When the exposure time or the gain value when the exposure adjustment is stopped exceeds a certain value, it is effective to perform a warning of an abnormality of the illumination lamp in managing the illumination lamp.

In an image pickup printing apparatus in which the image input device and the printer are combined and their operations are managed by the sequence control means, the sequence control means is controlled by the sequence control means so as not to cause an error in the initial setting of the printer. A data memory storing data for printer initial setting is provided, and at the time of initial setting at power-on, data read from the data memory is transferred to the printer to perform initial setting of the printer. Further, the sequence control means includes a read-only sequence memory storing a sequence program including setting data of the printer, and when it is verified that the setting data read from the data memory is not proper, the sequence program is read. The setting data in the middle is transferred to the printer so that no error occurs in the initial setting of the printer.

[0013]

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of an image pickup printing apparatus. An opening 3 is formed in the front panel of the housing 2, and the inside of the opening 3 is an imaging room 5. Each wall surface 5a surrounding the imaging room 5 is a gray-scale diffuse reflection surface having a certain density.

The front panel further includes a coin slot 6, an LCD (liquid crystal) monitor 7 for image observation, a zoom lever 8, and three types of print buttons 9 for "color", "white / black", and "sepia". , A print sheet outlet 10 is provided. Reference numeral 11 denotes a display which shows the progress from the insertion of a coin through the coin insertion slot 6 to the completion of the initial setting process after the power supply reset state of the device is released. It can be used after lighting.

When a video print of the three-dimensional object 12 such as a miniature car is to be obtained, after inserting a coin, an "OK" lamp is turned on, and then the object 12 is placed on the floor 5a of the imaging room 5. Place on. As shown in FIG. 2, a video camera 15 is installed inside the housing 2 so as to face the floor surface 5a, and a pair of fluorescent lamps 14 are provided in the imaging room 5 as illumination lamps. Fluorescent lamp 14
Imaging of the three-dimensional object 12 is performed under the illumination by. Since the image is displayed on the LCD monitor 7 in real time, the user positions the object 12 while observing the image. Further, by operating the zoom lever 8, the magnification of the imaging optical system of the video camera 15 is changed, and an image of a size corresponding to the magnification is displayed on the LCD monitor 7.

After performing framing and scaling in this manner, the finish color tone of the video print is selected from "color", "white / black", and "sepia", and the corresponding print button 9 is pressed. Thereby, the video signal of the object 12 captured at that time is sent to the printer 16 provided in the housing 2, and a video print can be obtained from the outlet 10. The printer 16 has 1 as a standard.
A seal print paper in which six sticker print chips are arranged in 4 × 4 is used, and the same video print of the object 12 can be obtained on each seal print chip.

The imaging optical system of the video camera 15 has an auto-focus function, and automatically focuses within a few centimeters from the floor 5a. This focusing
The feedback control is performed while monitoring the frequency distribution of the spatial frequency included in the imaging signal obtained by the imaging means. In order to efficiently perform this focusing process in a short time, the initial focusing position of the imaging optical system is
It is 30 mm above the floor surface 5a, which is the reference wall surface, and the focusing range is limited to a range of several tens of mm above the floor surface 5a.

When an image of a sheet-like object 18 such as a print photograph is taken, focusing is quickly performed by using the document table 20. A transparent cover sheet 21 is provided on the document table 20, and holds the sheet-like target 18 along the document placing surface 20a so as not to curl. By using the platen 20, the sheet-shaped object 18 can be positioned at a position close to the initial focus position of the imaging optical system, and therefore, the focus can be adjusted more quickly and accurately than when it is directly placed on the floor 5a. Matching can be performed.

The exposure adjustment and the white balance adjustment are automatically performed with the fluorescent lamp 14 turned on during the initial setting period after the coin is inserted and until the "OK" lamp of the display 11 is turned on. As described above, all of the wall surfaces surrounding the imaging room 5 are gray diffuse reflection surfaces so that these adjustments can be performed accurately without being affected by the reflection density and color of the objects 12 and 18. The document table 20 is located in the imaging room 5.
The original placing surface 20a of the original platen 20 is also the same gray diffuse reflection surface so that these adjustments can be performed accurately even when the original is placed in the interior.

In FIG. 2 schematically showing the internal structure of the housing 2, a sequence circuit unit 22 includes a video camera 1.
5 and a sequence control means for managing the operation of the printer 16 as a whole. Reference numeral 23 indicates a power supply circuit unit. As the printer 16, a general-purpose printer based on a general-purpose TA system (light fixing type direct thermal recording system) is used, and thermoautochrome paper is used as print paper.

As schematically shown in FIG. 3, the basic electrical configuration of the imaging and printing apparatus includes a camera unit 25, a sequence circuit unit 22, and a printer unit 26. The camera unit 25 includes a circuit portion included in the video camera 15 and includes a CCD image sensor 28 used as an imaging unit, a signal processing unit 29, a microcomputer (hereinafter, a microcomputer) 30, a lens driving unit 31, and the like. The camera unit 25 constitutes an image input device,
If the print function is not required, the video signal from the signal processing unit 29 is output to an external device. The signal processing unit 29 performs various kinds of signal processing on the imaging signal obtained from the CCD image sensor 28 and outputs it as a video signal. The microcomputer 30 controls the operation of the video camera 15 by receiving a signal from the signal processing unit 29, and performs focusing and zooming of the imaging optical system 27 via the lens driving unit 31.

The sequence circuit unit 22 includes the microcomputer 3
3, an EEPROM 34 and a sequence ROM 35.
The microcomputer 33 exchanges signals with the camera unit 25 by LANC communication according to the sequence program stored in the sequence ROM 35, and manages the operation of the camera unit 25. The EEPROM 34 is a data memory for storing initial setting data of the printer 26. The initial setting data read from the EEPROM 34 is transmitted to the printer unit 2 via a communication line of the RS-232C format.
6.

The printer section 26 is a circuit section built in the printer 16 and includes a microcomputer 36, a signal processing section 37, a setting section 38, and a printing mechanism 39. The signal processing unit 37
The video signal sent from the camera unit 25 through the sequence circuit unit 22 is received, and the print signal is sent to a print mechanism unit 39 including a print head and a print paper feeding mechanism. The video signal from the camera unit 25 that has relayed the signal processing unit 37 is sent to the LCD driver 41 via the sequence circuit unit 22 again. Thus, an image of the object to be imaged is displayed on the LCD monitor 7.

Initial setting data when the printer 16 operates is written to a setting section 38 composed of a memory.
Then, according to the initial setting data written in the setting unit 38, the signal processing form in the signal processing unit 37, the operation timing of the printing mechanism 39, and the like are determined. The operation input unit 43 is provided for inputting signals from the coin sensor, the zoom lever 8 and the print button 9 incorporated in the back of the coin insertion slot 6 to the microcomputer 33 of the sequence circuit unit 22.

In FIG. 4 showing the functional blocks of the camera section 25, a diaphragm 45 is incorporated in the imaging optical system 27, and the aperture diameter is adjusted by driving an iris motor 46. The CCD image sensor 28 is driven by a sensor driver 47 to adjust the charge storage time and transfer stored charges. CCD by controlling charge storage time
The accumulation time of the signal charges of the image sensor 28 changes, and thereby the exposure time is adjusted.

An image pickup signal from the CCD image sensor 28 is supplied to an automatic gain control amplifier (hereinafter, AGC).
The signal is amplified by the circuit 48, converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 49, and input to the color separation circuit 50 as serial image data. The image data separated for each color by the color separation circuit 50 is input to the image data processing circuit 51. The block surrounded by a broken line in the figure is the camera unit 2
5 corresponds to the signal processing unit 29.

The image data processing circuit 51 includes a color separation circuit 4
Known image data processing such as horizontal and vertical interpolation processing, matrix calculation processing, and γ correction is performed on the image data for each color input from 9 to obtain a luminance signal and a color difference signal, and synchronize and output these signals. . D / A for luminance signal and color difference signal
The signal is converted into an analog signal by the converter 52 and output as a video signal. The video signal thus obtained is sent to the signal processing unit 37 of the printer unit 26 via the sequence circuit unit 22.

The luminance signal from the image data processing circuit 51 is input to the AE circuit 52. The AE circuit 52 integrates a luminance signal for one screen and inputs an integrated signal corresponding to the brightness of the screen to the CPU 53. The CPU 53 together with the memory 54 corresponds to the microcomputer 30 described above. Memory 54
The ROM area stores a sequence table for managing the sequence operation of the video camera, a data table for performing exposure control, focusing, and white balance adjustment. The RAM area stores the sequence operation of the video camera. It is used as a working area for temporarily storing or reading out various data, flags, and the like obtained during execution.

The CPU 53 determines whether or not the integrated signal from the AE circuit 52 is within an appropriate range, and outputs a control signal to the AE control unit 55 when the integrated signal is out of the appropriate range. The AE control unit 55 outputs a gain adjustment signal to the AGC circuit 48 via the D / A converter in response to the control signal. The CPU 53 is the sensor driver 4
7, an exposure time adjustment signal for adjusting the exposure time (charge accumulation time) of the CCD image sensor 28 is output.

Further, the AE control unit 55 drives the iris motor 46 via a D / A converter to adjust the aperture diameter of the diaphragm 45. The adjustment of the aperture 45 is performed in conjunction with the zooming operation. When the aperture diameter of the diaphragm 45 changes due to zooming, the exposure time of the CCD image sensor 28 and the gain of the AGC circuit 48 are adjusted in conjunction with the change. These control data are stored in R
The data table is prepared in the OM area, and nonlinear control is performed. A zoom signal from the sequence circuit unit 22 is also input to the CPU 53, whereby the zoom motor is driven and the magnification of the imaging optical system 27 is changed.

The AF circuit 56 inputs a focusing signal to the CPU 53 while monitoring the frequency distribution of the spatial frequency contained in the image signal for one screen. The CPU 53 drives a focus motor via the lens drive unit 31 in accordance with the focus signal, whereby the focus lens of the imaging optical system 27 is moved and adjusted.

The AW circuit 57 monitors the white balance based on the red and blue image data from the image data processing circuit 51. If the white balance is not properly adjusted, an AW adjustment signal is input to the CPU 53. The CPU 53 refers to a data table stored in the ROM area of the memory 54, and outputs a white balance adjustment signal according to the AW signal to the image data processing circuit 51.
To enter. The image data processing circuit 51 performs a correction process on the red and blue image data, thereby automatically adjusting the white balance.

Hereinafter, the operation of the above-described imaging and printing apparatus will be described. FIG. 5 shows the main flow, which is started from a standby state in which the power is reset, when the user inserts a coin. When the insertion of a coin is detected, the power reset is released and the camera unit 2
5, power is supplied to the sequential circuit unit 22 and the printer unit 26. Then, the initialization of the printer and the initialization of the camera unit are sequentially performed.

FIG. 6 shows a processing flow of the printer. Initialization of the printer is performed first by the sequence circuit unit 22.
Is started when the microcomputer 33 checks the initial setting data of the printer stored in the EEPROM 34. If the initial setting data in the EEPROM 34 is appropriate, the initial setting data is
Is sent to the setting unit 38 to confirm whether the communication state between the microcomputer 33 and the microcomputer 36 is normal. If the initial setting data in the EEPROM 34 is not appropriate, the communication state is checked without transferring the initial setting data to the printer unit 26.

Subsequently, the initial setting data stored in the setting unit 38 of the printer unit 26 is loaded into the microcomputer 33 of the sequence circuit unit 22, and it is verified whether the initial setting data is the same as the regular default data. You.
Default data serving as a reference for this verification is prepared in advance in a sequence program stored in the sequence ROM 35. When the initial setting data of the setting unit 38 has been transferred as data previously read from the EEPROM 34, the initial setting data is to be verified. On the other hand, when the initial setting data previously read from the EEPROM 34 is inappropriate, since the initial setting data is not sent to the setting unit 38, the initial setting data written in the setting unit 38 at that time is not used. Be subject to verification.

If the verification of the default data is OK,
The initial setting data is sent to the setting section 38 of the printer section 26, thereby completing the printer initial setting processing.
If the verification results in NG, the sequence ROM 3
Initial setting data prepared in advance in the sequence program stored in 5 is set in the setting unit 38. In addition,
The initial setting data finally set in the setting unit 38 is E
If the initial setting data is not read out from the EPROM 34, it means that the initial setting data in the EEPROM 34 has been destroyed.
Initialization data written to OM34 is verified OK
Is updated to the default data, which will be used as initial setting data thereafter.

As described above, if the initial setting data read from the EEPROM 34 is appropriate, the initial setting data is set in the setting section 38, and the abnormal setting data in the EEPROM 34 is ignored and set in the setting section 38 at that time when an abnormality occurs. By verifying the suitability of the initial setting data, and furthermore, when the initial setting data read from the setting unit 38 has an abnormality, the initial setting of the printer is performed using the initial setting data of the sequence program. It can be reliably prevented. Therefore, even if the general-purpose printer 16 is used, it is very effective in eliminating the malfunction.

FIG. 7 shows the initialization processing of the camera unit 25.
First, the suitability of LANC communication between the microcomputer 33 of the sequence circuit unit 22 and the microcomputer 30 of the camera unit 25 is checked. When it is confirmed that the operation is normal, initialization processing for exposure adjustment and white balance adjustment is performed. By this initialization processing, the fluorescent lamp 14 is turned on, the imaging optical system 27 is zoomed up and set to the telephoto end, and the aperture diameter of the diaphragm 45 is fixed to a standard value at the telephoto end.

After this initialization process, a 30-second timer is started to adjust the exposure time of the CCD image sensor 28,
Exposure control by adjusting the gain value of the AGC circuit 48 is started. The AE circuit 52 monitors the image data from the image data processing circuit 51,
The exposure time of the image sensor 28 and the gain of the AGC circuit 49 are adjusted. This exposure adjustment is performed conceptually as shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing how the shutter speed V (reciprocal of the charge accumulation time) of the CCD image sensor 28 and the gain value K of the AGC circuit 48 are adjusted for the brightness of one screen. It is.

When the brightness of one screen is sufficient,
Exposure control is performed by adjusting the shutter speed of the CCD image sensor 28, and this shutter speed is set to the lowest (eg, 1/30 second) shutter speed _Vmin.
However, if it is still dark, the gain value K of the AGC circuit 48
Is adjusted towards K _max . Since this exposure control is performed by light from the gray diffuse reflection surface having a constant density applied to the inner wall 5a of the imaging room 5 or the original placing surface 20a of the original table 20, the brightness of one screen greatly varies. In most cases, the exposure can be adjusted to an appropriate exposure level only by adjusting the shutter speed.

The above-described exposure control is continuously performed. After the 30-second timer counts up, the shutter speed V of the CCD image sensor 28 and the gain value of the AGC circuit 48 are read every three seconds. This process is performed in consideration of the fact that the amount of illumination light from the fluorescent lamp 14 fluctuates with the elapse of time after being turned on and is affected by the ambient temperature. FIG. 9 shows the illuminance characteristics of a general fluorescent lamp. As shown in the drawing, the illuminance of the fluorescent lamp rapidly increases immediately after being turned on, and after reaching the peak value, the illuminance is gradually decreased and settles to a constant value.

Therefore, after turning on the fluorescent lamp 14 as described above, a 30-second timer is started and waits until the light amount of the fluorescent lamp 14 becomes substantially stable. The gain value K is monitored. Then, the difference between the shutter speed V obtained in the previous monitoring and the gain value K is obtained. When the illuminance of the fluorescent lamp 14 becomes stable, these differences decrease. When the difference becomes less than a certain value, the illumination by the fluorescent lamp 14 can be regarded as being stable. Shutter speed V and gain value K at the time
Are read as reference values and written into the memory 54.

Thereafter, the gain value K is changed to the AGC circuit 48.
Of whether it is above the maximum value K _max decided as the limit value is determined. Set the shutter speed V to the low shutter speed V
on you _min, that no further gain value K is proper exposure level if Shikere than the maximum value K _max obtained,
Since it means that the brightness of the fluorescent lamp 14 is already insufficient, in this case, the life warning of the fluorescent lamp 14 is displayed, and the replacement of the fluorescent lamp 14 is urged. When the gain value K is less than the maximum value _Kmax but is greater than or equal to the warning value Ka, it indicates that the brightness of the fluorescent lamp 14 has become considerably insufficient. Is performed, and an operation for confirming whether the fluorescent lamp 14 has an abnormality such as adhesion of dirt is urged.

As described above, while continuously performing the exposure control, the gain value of the AGC circuit 48 adjusted depending on the light amount of the fluorescent lamp 14 is monitored, and the value obtained by the previous monitoring and the current value are monitored. Fluorescent lamp 1
By judging that the light amount of No. 4 is stable, it is possible to make an accurate judgment without using a sensor for detecting the illuminance separately and without being affected by the illuminance characteristic of the fluorescent lamp 14 or the ambient temperature. become. At the same time, it is possible to accurately detect the decrease in the amount of light and the life of the fluorescent lamp 14 over time.

When the light quantity of the fluorescent lamp 14 is stable and the gain value K of the AGC circuit 48 is within an appropriate range, the white balance is adjusted by the AW circuit 57 next. As described above, the AW circuit 57 evaluates the color balance between the red component and the blue component based on the image data from the image data processing circuit 51, and the CPU 53 sends an adjustment signal to the image data processing circuit 51 accordingly. input. The image data processing circuit 51 receives the adjustment signal from the CPU 53 and adjusts the levels of the red and blue component image data, thereby completing the adjustment of the point balance.

Thus, the initialization processing of the camera section 25 is completed, and the imaging optical system 27 is returned from the tele end to the wide end.
An initialization completion command is sent from the microcomputer 30 of the camera unit 25 to the microcomputer 33 of the sequence circuit unit 22. As a result, an OK display is performed on the display 11, and the user can place an arbitrary imaging target, for example, a miniature car as the imaging target 12 on the floor 5 a of the imaging room 5 and obtain a video print thereof. become able to.

The AF circuit 56 determines the position of the focus lens so that the floor 5a is in focus when the document table 20 is removed.
When the camera 2 is mounted, the focus lens is moved and adjusted via the lens driving unit 31 based on the image signal so that the image pickup object 12 is focused. Then, the position data of the focus lens at the time of focusing is written in the work area of the memory 54.

Each time the imaging object 12 is moved in the imaging room 5 for framing, focusing is performed. When a zooming operation is performed, the focus lens is automatically adjusted in accordance with the zoom position, and the aperture diameter of the aperture 45, the shutter speed of the CCD image sensor 28, and the gain value of the AGC circuit 48 are adjusted. Is performed.

Subsequently, when the user operates an arbitrary print button 9, a video print having a color tone corresponding to the operation is obtained. Since the printer 16 operates based on the correct initial setting data set by the initialization processing shown in FIG. 6, even if the printer 16 changes the initial setting data by itself, for example, This is automatically restored, and there is no possibility that the printer 16 malfunctions.

The present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated embodiment. However, the exposure control, the white balance control, and the life control of the fluorescent lamp are the same for an image input apparatus without a built-in printer 16. It is possible to apply. In practicing the present invention, a CRT monitor may be used instead of an LCD monitor, or a video camera may be provided on a side wall of an imaging room so that a three-dimensional imaging target can be imaged from the side. It is also possible.

The initialization of the exposure adjustment and the white balance adjustment is not performed each time a user inserts a coin, but only when the administrator first energizes and starts up the imaging print apparatus. It may be performed at the time of coin insertion, as a matter of course.

[0052]

As described above, according to the image input apparatus of the present invention, the original mounting surface of the original table used when imaging the wall surface of the imaging room or the sheet-like object to be imaged is wavelength-selective. Since there is no gray diffuse reflection surface, it is possible to accurately adjust exposure and white balance without having to prepare a standard gray plate separately, and it is suitable for any imaging target Video signals can be obtained.

Further, the exposure is adjusted while the illumination lamp is lit without mounting the object to be imaged, and the gain value that changes depending on the light amount of the illumination lamp is monitored. The stabilization of the light amount of the illumination lamp is determined based on the following conditions, and the exposure control is terminated at that point, so that accurate exposure control can be performed regardless of the illuminance characteristics of the illumination lamp. An abnormality in the lamp can be detected.

In an image pickup and printing apparatus using a printer together with the image input apparatus, even if a general-purpose printer is used, the initial setting data of the printer is checked twice or three times. Therefore, even if the printer alone changes the initial setting data carelessly, video printing can always be performed under appropriate initial setting data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an imaging printing apparatus using the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of an internal structure of the imaging print apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an outline of an electrical configuration of the imaging print apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of a camera unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating basic initial processing of the entire imaging print apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating initialization processing of a printer unit.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating initialization processing of a camera unit.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram conceptually showing exposure adjustment processing.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing an example of illuminance characteristics of a fluorescent lamp.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 housing 5 imaging room 7 LCD monitor 8 zoom lever 9 print button 14 fluorescent lamp 15 video camera 16 printer 20 platen 22 sequence circuit unit 27 imaging optical system 28 CCD image sensor

Claims (6)

[Claims] An imaging room capable of setting and taking out an imaging object through an opening on a front surface, and an illumination lamp for illuminating the imaging object in the imaging room, are provided at a fixed distance from a reference wall surface of the imaging room. In an image input apparatus for imaging an object to be imaged by a given imaging means, a wall constituting the imaging room is a gray diffuse reflection surface having no wavelength selectivity, and an illumination lamp is turned on without installing the object to be imaged. An image input apparatus characterized in that exposure adjustment and white balance automatic adjustment are sometimes performed based on an image pickup signal obtained from the image pickup means. 2. A document mounting surface of a document table placed in the imaging chamber, wherein the image capturing object is placed and positioned in the imaging chamber, in order to position the sheet-shaped imaging object at a predetermined distance from the reference wall surface. 2. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the image is a gray diffuse reflection surface having no selectivity. 3. An exposure time of the image pickup means or a gain of an amplifier for amplifying the image pickup signal is adjusted based on an image pickup signal obtained from the image pickup means when the illumination lamp is turned on without setting the image pickup object. While performing the exposure adjustment, the exposure time of the imaging means or the gain of the imaging signal is monitored at regular time intervals. The exposure adjustment is stopped by holding the exposure.
The image input device according to the above. 4. An abnormality warning of an illuminating lamp when an exposure time or a gain value of said image pickup means exceeds a predetermined value when said exposure adjustment is stopped. 3. The image input device according to 3. 5. An image input device according to claim 1, a printer for performing printing based on a video signal output from the image input device, and a sequence for controlling operations of the image input device and the printer. In the imaging printing apparatus having control means, the sequence control means includes a data memory storing printer setting data, and transfers setting data read from the data memory to the printer at the time of initial setting at power-on. An imaging and printing apparatus, wherein initial settings of a printer are performed. 6. The sequence control means includes a read-only sequence memory storing a sequence program including setting data of a printer, and when it is verified that the setting data read from the data memory is not proper, 6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein setting data in the sequence program is transferred to a printer.