JP2000295396A - Device, method and system for reading image and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform setting about image scanning while watching an image display screen. SOLUTION: This image reader which has a reader screen 180, displays an image formed on a microfilm F on the screen 180 and also generates image data by scanning the displayed image is provided with an operating part 270 for setting a condition about image scanning and a set content notifying means which transmits a content set by the part 270 to an externally connected host computer and operates the part 270 to be able to perform various setting even while connected to the host computer by notifying the set content performed by the part 270 to make the host computer be able to grasp the set content all the time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image reading device,
The present invention relates to an image reading method and a storage medium, and is particularly suitable for use when a host computer is externally connected to an image reading apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a device called a microfilm scanner which projects an image formed on a film onto a screen, scans the projected image to generate image data, and loads the image data into an image memory. Has been put to practical use.

In the above-mentioned microfilm scanner, an image formed on a microfilm is positioned at a predetermined position, and is illuminated by an illuminating means comprising a light source lamp, a spherical mirror, a condenser lens and the like arranged on the microfilm carrier body side. I do. Then, the illumination light transmitted through the film is enlarged and projected at a predetermined magnification on the back surface of the reader screen (optical diffusion plate) by a projection lens, a prism lens, and a plurality of fixed mirror reader optical systems, thereby forming the reader screen. It can be viewed as an enlarged image from the front side (reader mode).

[0004] An image sensor is arranged in the above-described scanner unit. In the reader mode, the image sensor is arranged above the reader screen and held at a position evacuated from the optical path.

[0005] When scanning the micro image enlarged and projected on the reader screen, the scanner unit is moved in a direction of entering the optical path on the reader screen to scan image light. Scanning is performed (scanning mode).

In the above-described microfilm scanner, the scanning operation scans the image based on scanning conditions input from an externally connected host computer.

[0007]

When scanning a recording medium to generate image data, an operator determines a scan size while looking at an image display screen. Settings.

Conventionally, however, these settings have to be performed on the host computer. Therefore, even if the settings are slight, the operator must go out to the host computer side and perform the operations. Was. For this reason, there was a problem that workability was extremely poor. Further, when the image is displayed on the screen of the host computer and the setting is performed while looking at the screen of the host computer, there is a problem that the image must be scanned to create a preview screen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to enable various settings relating to image scanning while viewing an image display screen.

[0010]

An image reading apparatus according to the present invention has an image display screen, displays an image formed on a recording medium on the image display screen, and scans the image to form image data. An operation unit for setting conditions relating to scanning of the image, and a setting content notification unit for transmitting the content set by the operation unit to an externally connected host computer. It is characterized by having. Another feature of the image reading apparatus of the present invention is that the operation unit is means for setting a scan size while viewing a screen displayed on the image display screen. Another feature of the image reading apparatus of the present invention is that the operation unit is a unit for setting a type of the recording medium. Another feature of the image reading apparatus of the present invention is that the recording medium is a microfilm.

An image reading system according to the present invention displays an image formed on a recording medium on an image display screen, and scans the image to generate image data. An image reading apparatus comprising: an operation unit for setting related conditions; a setting content notification unit for transmitting the content set by the operation unit to an externally connected host computer; And a host computer for controlling the scanning operation of the image reading apparatus based on the information.

An image reading method according to the present invention has an image display screen, displays an image formed on a recording medium on the image display screen, and scans the image to generate image data. An image reading method using, transmitting the contents set by the operation unit for setting the conditions related to the image scan to an externally connected host computer,
The host computer controls a scanning operation based on the transmitted information. Another feature of the image reading method of the present invention is that an image is read by setting a scan size using the operation unit while viewing the screen displayed on the image display screen. Another feature of the image reading method of the present invention is that an image is read by setting a recording medium using the operation unit. Another feature of the image reading method of the present invention is that the recording medium is a microfilm.

[0013] A storage medium according to the present invention is characterized in that a program for causing a computer to function as means constituting the image reading device is stored so as to be readable from the computer. Another feature of the storage medium of the present invention is a storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the procedure of the image reading method so that the program can be read from the computer.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of an image reading apparatus, an image reading method and a storage medium according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, and is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a microfilm scanner, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an optical system in the microfilm scanner.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of the present invention and showing a schematic configuration of a microfilm scanner.
In FIG. 1, 600 is a microfilm scanner, 6
10 is a roll film carrier attached to the microfilm scanner, 180 is a leader screen, 18
1 is a display screen, 16 is a projection lens.

In the present embodiment, as will be described later, a desired image frame portion of the roll microfilm F is searched for in the projection glass portion A as a projection position by an automatic image frame search operation of the roll film carrier 610.

The light source lamp 14 and the spherical mirror 14 are arranged such that the image frame portion is disposed below the projection glass portion A and on the microfilm carrier main body side.
a, a illuminating means including a condenser lens 15 and the like, which is illuminated from below by a illuminating means, and a illuminating light transmitted through the film is a reader section comprising a projection lens 16, a prism lens 18, and fixed first to fourth mirrors 41 to 44 The optical system enlarges and projects the rear screen of the reader screen (optical diffusion plate) 180 at a predetermined magnification. As a result, the micro image can be viewed as an enlarged image from the front side of the reader screen 180 (reader mode).

An image sensor 48 is arranged on the scanner unit 80. The image sensor 48 is arranged above the reader screen 180 in the reader mode, and is held at a position retracted from the optical path.

When scanning of the micro image enlarged and projected on the reader screen 180 is to be performed, a scan instruction is issued from a host computer or a main body operation unit which will be described later, and the scanner unit 80 is connected to the motor 81. The belt 82 is moved in the direction of entering the optical path on the reader screen 180 (arrow ef in FIG. 2), and the image sensor 48 scans the image light to execute scanning (scanning). mode).

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, a host computer 280 and a printer 290 are connected as connected devices. The image reading apparatus 200 includes a scanner unit 210 that scans the microfilm F set on the roll film carrier 610 with the image sensor 211 to obtain image information on a document.

The driving unit 2 of the scanner unit 210
60, an image processing unit 220 that performs image processing such as gradation conversion and image synthesis on the image information obtained by the scanner unit 210, and an image processing unit that stores the image information after the image processing by the image processing unit 220. Image memory 230, a communication unit 240 for communicating with a host computer (personal computer) 280 and a printer 290 that can be connected to the main body of the image reading apparatus 200, and an operation unit for performing various settings for reading image information ( Operation panel) 270
And a CP that controls the operation of the entire image reading apparatus 200
U250. And the above CP
By U250, the setting content notifying means 25 of the present embodiment
1 is configured as a program.

The image reading apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment configured as described above basically operates in accordance with an instruction from the host computer 280. The operation can be performed in accordance with an instruction from 270.

As the microfilm F which is the object of the image reading apparatus 200 of the present embodiment, both a negative film as shown in FIG. 4A and a positive film as shown in FIG. The image data can be obtained by scanning.

It is also possible to arbitrarily select the left reference as shown in FIG. 5A, the "center" as shown in FIG. 5B, and the "continuous shooting" as shown in FIG. 5C. it can.

As shown in FIG. 6, the operation section 270 is provided with a film designation section 169, a projection position designation section 167, a size designation section 161 and the like. The film designation section 169 is provided with a selection button 170, the projection position designation section 167 is provided with a selection button 168, and the size designation section 161 is provided with a selection button 162.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, when "positive film" is selected as the film, "center" is selected as the projection reference position, and the standard "A3" is selected as the scan area size. As shown in (a), each image frame of the film is A based on the center (center).
The image is projected on the reader screen 180 in three sizes.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a "negative film" is selected as a film, a "left reference" is selected as a projection reference position, and a standard "A4" is set as a scan area size. Is selected, FIG. 7 (a)
As shown in the figure, each image frame of the film is "left reference" and the size is "A4 size".
Is projected on the display surface 181.

Next, the image reading apparatus 2 of the present embodiment
An image reading method, which is a main feature of 00, will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, when the processing is started, an image is projected on the reader screen 180 in the first step S1.

Next, the projection image is adjusted in step S2. This adjustment is performed by the operation unit 270 provided on the image reading device 200. Next, the process proceeds to step S3, where it is determined whether or not the set recording medium is a negative film.

If the result of this determination is that the film is a negative film, the flow advances to step S4 to select negative or automatic discrimination (automatic) using the selection button 170 of the film designation section 169.

Next, in step S6, it is determined whether the scan size is A3. If the result of this determination is that the scan size is A3, step S7
Then, the user operates the selection button 162 of the size designation section 161 to select the A3 size.

If it is determined in step S6 that the scan size is not A3, the flow advances to step S9 to determine whether the scan size is A4 portrait. If the result of this determination is that it is A4 portrait, the selection button 162 of the size designation section 161 is operated in step S10 to
4 Select the vertical size.

If the result of determination in step S9 is that the scan size is not A4 portrait, the flow advances to step S11 to determine whether or not the scan size is A4 landscape (A4-R). If the result of this determination is that it is A4 landscape, then in step S12 the selection button 1
Operate 62 to select A4 horizontal size.

If the result of determination in step S11 is that the scan size is not A4 horizontal, the flow advances to step S13 to determine whether or not the scan size is B4. If the result of this determination is that the size is B4, the B4 size is selected by operating the selection button 162 of the size designation section 161 in step S14.

If the result of determination in step S13 is that the scan size is not B4, the flow advances to step S15, and the B5 size is selected by operating the selection button 162 of the size designation section 161.

After the predetermined size is set as described above, the process proceeds to step S8, where the setting content notifying means 25
1 to notify the host computer (personal computer) 280 of the above-mentioned setting contents.

Next, the process proceeds to step S9, where the personal computer 28
At 0, the scanning operation of the image reading device 200 is controlled to scan the image displayed on the reader screen 180 and acquire image data.

An image reading apparatus 200 according to the present embodiment
Performs image scanning as described above, so that the operator can operate the operation panel 270 while looking at the reader screen 180 to make various settings relating to image scanning.

As a result, various settings which had to be moved to the host computer in the past,
According to the image reading device of the present embodiment, since the reading can be easily performed while looking at the reader screen 180,
The efficiency of the setting operation can be greatly improved.

Further, since the setting operation can be performed while viewing the image projected on the reader screen 180, detailed setting can be performed without creating a preview screen. In the above-described embodiment,
Although the example in which the microfilm F is used as the recording medium has been described, the present invention is not limited to the microfilm F as long as an image can be projected. Can be.

(Other Embodiments of the Present Invention) The present invention is applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices (for example, a host computer, an interface device, a reader, a printer, etc.), but is also applicable to an apparatus composed of one device. You may.

Further, in order to realize the functions of the above-described embodiment, a device connected to the above-mentioned various devices or a computer in a system is operated so that various devices are operated so as to realize the functions of the above-described embodiment. The present invention also includes programs implemented by supplying the program code of the software described above and operating the various devices according to programs stored in a computer (CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus.

In this case, the program code itself of the software realizes the functions of the above-described embodiment, and the program code itself and means for supplying the program code to the computer,
For example, a storage medium storing such a program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for storing such a program code, for example, a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM,
A magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

When the computer executes the supplied program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS (operating system) or other operating system running on the computer. Needless to say, even when the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized in cooperation with application software or the like, such program codes are included in the embodiments of the present invention.

Further, after the supplied program code is stored in a memory provided in a function expansion board of the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion board or the function expansion unit is specified based on the instruction of the program code. It is needless to say that the present invention also includes a case where the CPU or the like provided in the first embodiment performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0046]

According to the present invention, as described above, the present invention has an image display screen, displays an image formed on a recording medium on the image display screen, and scans the image. The image reading apparatus for generating image data includes an operation unit for setting conditions relating to the scanning of the image, and a setting content notification unit for transmitting the content set by the operation unit to an externally connected host computer. Since the setting is provided, the host computer can always grasp the setting contents performed by the operation unit. Thus, even while the host computer is connected, various settings can be made by operating the operation unit.
Thereby, the trouble of moving to the host computer side for setting can be omitted, and the efficiency of various operations performed while looking at the reader screen can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a front view of an image reading apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an optical system in the microfilm scanner.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image reading device.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a film that can be handled by the image reading device according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a reference when projecting on a reader screen.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which an image is displayed at the center in A3 size on a leader screen.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which an image is displayed on the reader screen in A4 size on the left basis.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a scan operation according to the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 200 image reading device 210 scanner unit 211 image sensor 220 image processing unit 230 image memory 240 communication unit 250 CPU 251 setting content notification unit 252 scan condition setting unit 260 driving unit 270 operation unit (operation panel) 280 host computer 290 printer 610 roll film Carrier F Microfilm

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 2H106 BB02 BB13 BB14 BB32 BB41 BC22 5C062 AA13 AB03 AB17 AB20 AB23 AB38 AB41 AB42 AC05 AC66 AC67 BA00 5C072 AA01 RA04 RA06 RA10 UA11 UA13 VA04

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. An image reading apparatus having an image display screen, displaying an image formed on a recording medium on the image display screen, and scanning the image to generate image data. An image reading apparatus, comprising: an operation unit for setting conditions relating to the scanning of the image data; and a setting content notifying unit for transmitting the contents set by the operation unit to an externally connected host computer. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is means for setting a scan size while viewing a screen displayed on the image display screen. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation unit is a unit that sets a type of the recording medium. 4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording medium is a microfilm. 5. An image data generating means for displaying an image formed on a recording medium on an image display screen and scanning the image to generate image data, and setting conditions relating to the scanning of the image. An image reading device comprising: an operation unit of: and a setting content notification unit that transmits the content set by the operation unit to an externally connected host computer; and An image reading system, comprising: a host computer that controls a scanning operation of the image reading device. 6. An image reading method using an image reading apparatus having an image display screen, displaying an image formed on a recording medium on the image display screen, and scanning the image to generate image data. Transmitting contents set by an operation unit for setting conditions related to scanning of the image to an externally connected host computer, and the host computer performs a scanning operation based on the transmitted information. An image reading method characterized by controlling. 7. The image reading method according to claim 6, wherein an image is read by setting a scan size by the operation unit while watching a screen displayed on the image display screen. 8. The image reading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the operation section sets a recording medium and reads an image. 9. The image reading method according to claim 6, wherein the recording medium is a microfilm. 10. A storage medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as the means for configuring the image reading apparatus according to claim 1 so as to be readable from the computer. 11. A storage medium, wherein a program for causing a computer to execute the procedure of the image reading method according to claim 5 is stored so as to be readable from the computer.