JP2000013577A - Scanner device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the transfer of image data and to facilitate operation for that as well. SOLUTION: At writing of the image data obtained by a CCD sensor 52 to a memory card 40, the size of the free area of the memory card 40 is detected, and the detected size of the free area and the size of the image data are compared. As a result of the comparison, when the detected size of the free area is larger than that of the image data, the image data are written to the memory card 40. Otherwise, in the case that the detected size of the free area is smaller than that of the image data, the resolution is changed, an object is re-scanned and the image data obtained from the CCD sensor 52 by re-scanning are written to the memory card 40.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a scanner device which is easy to handle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A scanner device for scanning an image such as a photograph and outputting image data is configured as shown in FIG. 5, for example. That is, the photograph 10 is
, The image of the photograph 10 is scanned by the CCD sensor 22, the image data is output from the CCD sensor 22, and the image data is accumulated in the memory 23.

When one scan is completed, the image data stored in the memory 23 is converted by a format conversion circuit 24 into image data of a predetermined format such as JPEG. The converted image data is transmitted to the personal computer 31 through the communication circuit 25 such as a SCSI board, and the image of the photograph 10 is displayed on the display 32. The image data is transmitted to the personal computer 31 as necessary. Will be saved.

A scanner device having a configuration as shown in FIG. 6 has also been considered. That is, in this scanner device, the image data converted by the format conversion circuit 24 is transferred to the memory card 4 through the writing circuit 26.
Written to 0. This memory card 40 is, for example,
According to the PCMCIA card standard, a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory is built in.

Accordingly, the memory card 40 is taken out of the scanner device and the personal computer 20 is removed.
Of the PCMCIA standard, the image data written in the memory card 40 is read out from the memory card 40, and as a result, the picture 32 is displayed on the display 32.
Is displayed, and the image data is stored in the personal computer 31 as necessary.

Thus, according to the scanner device shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the image of the photograph 10 can be scanned and displayed on the display 32 or stored in the personal computer 31.

[0007]

However, in the scanner device shown in FIG. 5, it is necessary to transfer the format-converted image data to the personal computer 31 through the communication circuit 25 via a cable, so that the user is somewhat more likely to do so. When knowledge of a personal computer is required and an operation for transfer cannot be performed, an image scanned by the scanner device cannot be viewed or stored.

In this respect, in the scanner device shown in FIG.
Since image data is transferred only by removing the memory card 40 from the scanner device and inserting it into the personal computer 20, the PCM including the memory card 40
Since the CIA card is standardized on the assumption that it can be inserted and removed, scanned image data can be easily enjoyed without knowledge of a personal computer or the like.

However, since the capacity of the memory card 40 is finite, when a large number of images are taken in, the empty area of the memory card 40 runs short during the process, and a state occurs in which the remaining images cannot be written to the memory card 40. Sometimes. Similarly, for example, if it is desired to write dozens of related photographs on the same memory card 40, a situation may arise in which the user does not know how to realize this.

The present invention seeks to solve these problems.

[0011]

Therefore, according to the present invention, there is provided a sensor for scanning a subject such as a photograph, a writing circuit for writing image data to a removable memory card, and the memory card. Detecting means for detecting the size of the free area of the memory card, when the image data obtained by the sensor is written to the memory card by the writing circuit, the detecting means detects the size of the free area of the memory card, The size of the detected free area is compared with the size of the image data. As a result of the comparison, when the size of the detected free area is larger than the size of the image data, the image data is written by the writing circuit. Write to the memory card, and as a result of the comparison, the size of the detected free area When the size is smaller than the size of the image data, the scanner is configured to change the resolution and rescan the subject, and the image data obtained from the sensor by the rescan is written to the memory card by the writing circuit. Is what you do. Therefore, when the size of the free area of the memory card is insufficient, the image data of the changed resolution is written to the memory card.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, when a photograph 10 is inserted into an inlet 51, an image of the photograph 10 is scanned by a CCD sensor 52, and the image data is output from the CCD sensor 52. This image data is stored in a memory. 53.

When one scan is completed, the image data stored in the memory 53 is converted into image data of a preset format such as JPEG by a format conversion circuit 54, and the image after the format conversion is converted. Data is written to the memory card 40 through the writing circuit 56. The memory card 40 is as described with reference to FIG.

In this case, especially in the present invention, the control circuit is, for example, a microcomputer 57
The microcomputer 57 is provided with, for example, a routine 100 shown in FIG. 2 as a part of a program executed by the CPU (not shown).
Writing of image data to the memory card 40 is controlled as follows. The microcomputer 57 includes:
For example, an LCD 58 is connected as a display element, and an operation key 59 is connected.

That is, when the memory card 40 is inserted into the scanner device of FIG. 1 (when the memory card 40 is connected to the writing circuit 56), the C
The PU processing starts from step 101 of the routine 100, and then proceeds to step 102 where the memory card 4
The size M (unit: bytes) of the free area of 0 is confirmed, and then, in step 103, the resolution at the time of scanning is set to the default value X (unit: dpi).

Subsequently, in step 111, photograph 1
When the photograph 10 is inserted while waiting for insertion of the “0” into the loading port 51, the processing proceeds from step 111 to step 112.
The normal scan is performed on the photograph 10 as described above, and the image data is accumulated in the memory 53.

When one scan is completed, in step 113, the image data stored in the memory 53 is converted into image data of a predetermined format such as JPEG by the format conversion circuit 54. It is assumed that the size of the image data after the format conversion is N (unit is byte).

Next, at step 114, the size M of the free area of the memory card 40 is compared with the size N of the image data after format conversion. And M ≧
In the case of N, there is an empty area for writing the image data into the memory card 40, so that the processing is performed in step 1
From 14, the process proceeds to step 115, in which the format-converted image data is written to the memory card 40 through the writing circuit 56, and thereafter, the routine 100 ends in step 116.

That is, when a certain photograph 10 is scanned, the image data after the format conversion, that is,
When the size N of the image data to be actually written to the memory card 40 is smaller than the size M of the free area of the memory card 40, the image data is written to the memory card 40.

However, in step 114, M <N
When there is no free area for writing image data to the memory card 40, the process proceeds from step 114 to step 121. In this step 121, it is displayed on the LCD 58 that the free area of the memory card 40 is insufficient. Is done.

Subsequently, the process proceeds to step 122. In this step 122, the resolution of the current scan (in this case, the value X) should be reduced to what extent the image data will enter the free area of the memory card 40. Is calculated and its new resolution Y (unit is dpi)
Is displayed on the LCD 58.

Then, in step 123, the process waits for an instruction as to whether or not to execute the scan at the new resolution Y. When instructed, the result of the instruction is determined at step 124, and the scan at the new resolution Y is instructed. If so, the process proceeds from step 124 to step 125, in which the scan resolution is set to the new resolution Y, and then the process returns to step 111.

Accordingly, the photograph 10 is thereafter scanned at the new resolution Y. In this case, since M ≧ N, the image data at the new resolution Y is written to the memory card 40, and the processing of the routine 100 ends. I do.

If it is not instructed to scan at the new resolution Y in step 123, the process proceeds from step 124 to step 116, and the routine 100 ends without executing re-scanning.

That is, when a certain photograph 10 is scanned, the image data after the format conversion, that is,
If the size N of the image data to be actually written to the memory card 40 is larger than the size M of the empty area of the memory card 40, the resolution is reduced and the scan is re-executed. Written on the card 40. Alternatively, depending on the user's instruction, the process is terminated without re-scanning.

The memory card 40 on which the image data is written is taken out of the scanner device and inserted into a PCMCIA standard slot of the personal computer 20. Then, the image data written in the memory card 40 is read out,
As a result, the image of the photograph 10 is displayed on the display 32, and the image data is stored in the personal computer 31 as necessary.

Thus, in the above-described scanner device, the image data is provided to the personal computer 31 through the memory card 40. When the size of the image data is larger than the size of the empty area of the memory card 40, the resolution is increased. The image data is dropped and rescanned so that the image data enters the empty area of the memory card 40. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a trouble that the free area of the memory card 40 becomes insufficient and the writing to the memory card 40 becomes impossible while the image is being captured.

Here, an example of calculating the resolution in step 122 will be described. That is, in practice, the compression ratio at the time of format conversion of image data becomes a problem, but in the above description, the compression ratio is fixed. Therefore, M
The resolution X is reduced until the relationship of ≧ N is satisfied.

The resolution at the time of scanning depends on the resolution basically supported by the scanner device. Y: resolution one step lower than the current resolution X NY: image after format conversion in the case of resolution Y Assuming that the size of the data is, NY = N × (Y / X) × (Y / X) is calculated, and the resolution may be reduced until the relationship of M> NY is satisfied.

Specifically, the resolution at the time of scanning is 400 dp
If i, the compression rate at the time of format conversion is 2, and the size of image data before format conversion is 200 Kbytes, the size of image data after format conversion is 100 Kbytes. Therefore, if the size of the free area of the memory card 40 is 80 Kbytes, writing of the image data is impossible.

However, at the time of rescanning, if the resolution of the scan is reduced to, for example, 200 dpi, the size of the image data is reduced to 1/4. Therefore, the size of the image data before format conversion is 50 Kbytes, The size will be 25K bytes. Therefore, the memory card 40
Even if the size of the free area is 80 Kbytes, writing can be performed.

If the scanner can scan at 300 dpi, the size of the image data is (3/4) * (3
/ 4) times, the size of the image data before format conversion is 112.5 Kbytes, and the size after format conversion is 56.25 Kbytes. Therefore, the memory card 4
Even if the size of the free area of 0 is 80 Kbytes, writing is possible, so that the resolution of 300 dpi is more preferable.

In the routine 100 shown in FIG. 2, when the empty area of the memory card 40 is not enough, the rescanning is performed with the resolution lowered according to the instruction of the user. In the routine 100 shown in FIG. Is
This is the case where the rescanning is omitted.

That is, when the free area of the memory card 40 is not enough, the instruction waits at step 123 as described above, and the result of the instruction is determined at step 124. When the user instructs to lower the resolution, The process proceeds from step 124 to step 131. Then, in this step 131, the memory 5
The image data remaining in 3 (already accumulated by the processing of step 112) is decimated (decimated) to generate image data of a new resolution. Then, the process returns to step 113.

Accordingly, in the case of the routine 100 of FIG. 3, image data of a new resolution can be obtained without performing rescanning as in the case of the routine 100 of FIG.

In the routine 200 shown in FIG. 4, for example, when the number of photographs (images) to be scanned is known and the image data of the scanned result is to be stored in one memory card 40, this can be easily performed. This is the case.

That is, when the memory card 40 is inserted into the scanner device of FIG. 1 (when the memory card 40 is connected to the writing circuit 56), the C
The PU processing starts from step 201 of the routine 200, and then in step 202, the memory card 4
The size of the empty area of 0 is confirmed, and then, in step 203, the process waits for input of the number of photos to be scanned.

Then, after inputting the number of photographs to be scanned, in step 204, the memory card 40
The resolution at the time of scanning is calculated from the size of the empty area, the number of photos to be scanned, and the data compression ratio at the time of format conversion, and the resolution is set in the apparatus. And
Thereafter, in step 205, scans are sequentially performed on all target photographs, and image data is format-converted and written to the memory card 40 for each scan. When the image data of all the photos is written to the memory card 40, the routine 200 proceeds to step 206.
To end.

Therefore, according to this routine 200, the image data of all the photos can be stored in one memory card 40 only by inputting the number of the photos to be scanned. Does not take much time. Further, the image quality becomes uniform.

[0040]

According to the present invention, image data obtained by scanning is written to a memory card, but image data is transferred only by inserting the memory card into a personal computer.
The user can easily enjoy scanned image data without any knowledge of a personal computer or the like.

Further, when the free space of the memory card becomes insufficient while the image is being captured, the resolution is changed and the data is written to the memory card. Therefore, a trouble that the image data cannot be written to the memory card is prevented. be able to.

Further, by simply inputting the number of photographs to be scanned, the image data of all the photographs can be stored in one memory card. Moreover, in such a case, no labor such as rescan is required. Further, the image quality becomes uniform.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a system diagram for explaining the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a system diagram for explaining the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 = photograph, 31 = personal computer, 32 = display, 40 = memory card, 51 = inlet,
52 = CCD sensor, 53 = Memory, 54 = Format conversion circuit, 56 = Write circuit, 57 = Microcomputer, 58 = Display element, 59 = Operation key

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sensor for scanning a subject such as a photograph, a writing circuit for writing image data to a removable memory card, and a detecting means for detecting the size of an empty area of the memory card. When the image data obtained by the sensor is written to the memory card by the writing circuit, the size of the free area of the memory card is detected by the detection means, and the size of the detected free area and the image data As a result of the comparison, when the size of the detected free area is larger than the size of the image data, the image data is written to the memory card by the writing circuit, and as a result of the comparison, When the size of the detected empty area is smaller than the size of the image data , By changing the resolution rescan the subject, the image data obtained from the sensor by the rescan, the scanner device to be written to the memory card by the write circuit. 2. The scanner device according to claim 1, further comprising a memory for temporarily storing image data obtained by said sensor, wherein said image data stored in said memory is written to said memory card by said writing circuit. Detecting the size of the free area of the memory card by the detecting means, comparing the size of the detected free area with the size of the image data, and as a result of the comparison, the size of the detected free area is When the size of the image data is larger than the size of the image data, the image data is written to the memory card by the writing circuit. As a result of the comparison, when the size of the detected free area is smaller than the size of the image data, the image data is stored in the memory. After thinning out the image data that has been Scanner device to be written to the memory card. 3. A sensor for scanning a subject such as a photograph, a writing circuit for writing image data to a removable memory card, and a detecting means for detecting a size of an empty area of the memory card. Input means for inputting the number of objects to be scanned, wherein before the scan, the number of objects to be scanned input through the input means and the size of the empty area of the memory card detected by the detection means A scanner that calculates the resolution of the scan, executes the scan in accordance with the resolution indicated by the calculation result, and writes the image data obtained by the scan to the memory card by the writing circuit.