JP2000307842A - Image input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image input device capable of notifying a user of the change reason of an original image, in the case of having read an original that is reading inhibited. SOLUTION: A scanner 1 has a reading means 2 which optically reads an original 11 and converts it into an image signal, an image discriminating means 4 which processes the image signal from the means 2 and decides the content of the read image, a message storing means 6 in which a message to be displayed on an image is stored when a read inhibition image is read, a message combining means 5 which acquires a message from the means 6 and superimposes it on the image signal, when the decision result of the means 4 is notified and when the decision result of the means 4 is read inhibited and an outputting means 7 which outputs the image signal from the means 5 to an external device.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input device such as a scanner or a facsimile for electrically processing captured image information, and more particularly to an image input device for determining image contents.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the dramatic improvement in the performance of color scanners and color printers, which are input / output devices of color copiers and personal computers, it has become possible to easily obtain high-precision color original copies. ing. There is an increasing need to take measures to prevent forgery of documents and the like that exploit such functions.

Here, regarding a specific original such as a bill,
Detection is possible using the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 09-143598.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a conventional image input device equipped with a function of performing image discrimination, and FIG.
And FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating another example of a conventional image input device.

In FIG. 13, a scanner 1, which is an image input apparatus, includes a computer 8, a printer 9, and a network 10 having predetermined devices for receiving an image read by the scanner 1 (hereinafter, these will be collectively referred to as “collective”). May be expressed as “external device”).

The scanner 1 includes a reading unit 2 that optically reads a document 11 on a platen and converts it into a digital signal, an image determining unit 4 that determines whether a read image is a read-inhibited image, and an image determining unit 4. Image signal from the computer 8, the printer 9, or the network 1
Output means 7 for outputting the signal to 0 is provided.

In the scanner 1, processing such as shading correction and color conversion processing for improving the image quality of the read image is performed, but the description thereof is omitted.

An image read by such a scanner 1 is transmitted via an output means 7 to a network 8 to which a computer 8, a printer 9, or any other device is connected.

Here, the read image is determined by the image determining means 4 inside the scanner 1. If it is determined that the image is a read-inhibited image, a read-inhibited signal meaning “the image is a read-inhibited image” is sent to the external device via the output unit 7.

When the external device receives the read prohibition signal, it stops normal display and normal hard copy output so that the image cannot be handled.
As shown in (b) and (b), a process different from that when a normal image is read is performed by solid-coloring one side or a partly unrelated color, or by changing the density or hue of the image.

As described above, in order for an external device to perform an operation corresponding to a read prohibition signal, a mechanism is required in which all devices receive the read prohibition signal and do not perform the same operation as normal processing. However, in general, external devices cannot be limited, and there are devices that cannot receive the read prohibition signal and devices that intentionally ignore the prohibition signal. In such a case, the read-prohibited image is captured in the same manner as a normal image. There is a danger of getting lost.

FIG. 15 shows a scanner having an image discriminating function.

In FIG. 15, a scanner 1, which is an image input device, includes a reading unit 2 for optically reading a document 11 on a platen and converting it into a digital signal; an image discriminating unit 4 for determining the content of the read image; The image discriminating unit 4 outputs an image signal obtained by performing a predetermined image conversion process on an image that has been determined to be a read-inhibited image, and outputs an image signal as it is for an image that is not a read-inhibited image. Image conversion means 23, image conversion means 2
An output means 7 for outputting an image signal from 3 to a computer 8, a printer 9 or a network 10 is provided.

In the scanner 1 shown in FIG. 15, when it is determined that the image is a read-prohibited image, the prohibition signal is not processed by an external device, but is processed by the image conversion means 23 inside the scanner. The image processing is performed by changing all the image signals to be output to black or white, or by changing the color of the original image by operating the color conversion processing of the image.
A method of outputting the same as in (a) and (b) is adopted.

In such a scanner 1, unlike the scanner 1 shown in FIG. 13, there is no possibility that a read-inhibited image is captured even if the external device has no special function.

[0016]

However, according to such an image input device, the image signal is all changed to black or white, or the color tone of the original image is largely changed by manipulating the color conversion processing of the image. In such a case, it is difficult to distinguish the device from a device in which a failure has occurred, and the user cannot know why such an output is obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image input device capable of notifying a user of a reason for a change in a document image when a document whose reading is prohibited is read.

[0018]

In order to solve this problem, an image input apparatus according to the present invention comprises a reading means for optically reading an original and converting the image into an image signal, and a processing means for processing the image signal from the reading means. Image determination means for determining the content of the image read by reading, a message storage means in which a message to be displayed on the image when a read-inhibited image is read is stored, and a determination result of the image determination means is notified,
If the determination result of the image discriminating means is prohibition of reading, a message synthesizing means for obtaining a message from the message storing means and superimposing it on the image signal, and directing the image signal from the message synthesizing means to the external device And output means for outputting.

Thus, when a document whose reading is prohibited is read and the original image is changed to a state where it cannot be used, the user can be notified of the reason. Therefore, the user can clearly distinguish whether the change in the document image is due to the reading prohibited image or the failure of the apparatus.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Reading means for optically reading a document and converting it into an image signal; image discriminating means for processing the image signal from the reading means to determine the content of the read image; The message storage means storing the message to be displayed and the determination result of the image determination means are notified. If the determination result of the image determination means is prohibited, the message is obtained from the message storage means. Is an image input device including a message synthesizing unit that superimposes an image signal on an image signal, and an output unit that outputs an image signal from the message synthesizing unit to an external device. When the state is changed to an impossible state, it is possible to notify the user of the reason.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading means for optically reading a document and converting it into an image signal, and an image signal for processing an image signal from the reading means to determine the content of the read image. The determination result of the determination means, the image determination means is notified, the message storage means storing a plurality of messages to be displayed on the image when the read-inhibited image is read, and the determination result of the image determination means is notified. A message synthesizing unit that obtains a message having a content according to the result of the image judging unit from the message storing unit and superimposes the message on the image signal when the judgment result of the image judging unit is prohibited; Output means for outputting an image signal from the means to an external device. In the case of changing the unusable state has the effect that it becomes possible to notify the reason to the user.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a reading means for optically reading an original and converting it into an image signal, and processing an image signal output from the reading means to determine the content of the read image. Image reading means, a message storage means storing a message to be displayed on the image when a read-inhibited image is read, and whether the read image area is a character area based on an image signal generated by the reading means. The image area discriminating means for judging whether or not the image area is a photograph area, and the judgment results of the image discriminating means and the image area discriminating means are notified. And a message synthesizing unit that superimposes the image signal on the photograph area of the image signal, and directs the image signal from the message synthesizing unit to an external device. An image input device provided with an output unit that outputs a document that is prohibited from being read, and when the document image is changed to an unusable state, the user can be notified of the reason. Having. In addition, when a read-inhibited document is read, only the read-protected portion of the document image can be changed to a state in which it cannot be used in a limited manner.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG. In these drawings, the same members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate description is omitted.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image input device according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of reading means in the image input device of FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the image discriminating means in the image input device of FIG. 1, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the operation of the image matching means in the image discriminating device of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a message in the image input device of FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the synthesizing means, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an output image by the image input device of FIG.

In FIG. 1, a scanner 1 as an image input device optically reads an original 11 on an original platen and converts it into a digital image signal (hereinafter, referred to as an "image signal"). 2, an image buffer 3 for temporarily storing the image signal generated in step 2, an image discriminating unit 4 for processing the image signal output from the reading unit 2 to determine the content of the read image, and a read-inhibited image being read. The message storage unit 6 storing the text information and the character font information of the message to be displayed on the image, and the determination result of the image determination unit 4 are notified.
If the image discrimination means 4 determines that reading is prohibited, the message and font information is obtained from the message storage means 6 and is superimposed on the image signal. To a computer 8, a printer 9 or a network 10
And output means 7 for outputting to an external device such as an electronic device.

In such a scanner 1, if the image discrimination result of the image discriminating means 4 is not a read prohibited image,
The message synthesizing unit 5 simply sends the image signal to the external device via the output unit 7 without performing the above-described superimposition processing.

Here, the external device is a computer 8 capable of displaying, editing, and storing the read image, a printer 9 capable of receiving the image data and outputting a hard copy, or a network capable of transmitting the data to another remote device. 10 and the like.

The configuration and operation of each member of the scanner 1 having the above configuration will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 2, the reading means 2 includes a document table 12 on which a document 11 is placed, and a light source 1 for irradiating the document 11.
3. CC for receiving reflected light of the original 13 and photoelectrically converting the same
It comprises a D image sensor 14 and an image processing means 15 for processing an image signal.

In such a reading means 12, while moving the CCD image sensor 14 with respect to the original 11 placed on the original table 12, the main scanning is performed in the horizontal direction (the arrangement direction of the sensors) of the original 11 and the vertical direction. (Sensor movement direction)
Is optically read in order one pixel at a time as sub-scanning. The read pixels are digitized, subjected to image processing such as shading correction, MTF correction, and γ correction by the image processing unit 15 and output as RGB digital signals (hereinafter, referred to as “image signals” or “RGB signals”). Is done.

Here, shading correction refers to light source 1
In this method, the influence of 3 or non-uniformity of the lens or variation in the sensitivity of the CCD is corrected based on the reference white plate reading value for each pixel. The MTF correction is to improve the reproducibility of an image by correcting the image dull due to the lens performance by using the peripheral pixel level when obtaining one pixel. Gamma correction is to convert a non-linear reading level into a linear one.

The RGB signals output from the reading means 2 are temporarily stored in the image buffer 3 and sent to the image determining means 4. At this time, the image buffer 3 does not necessarily need to hold the entire image, but may be a band unit composed of a plurality of sub-scanning lines and having a certain width or more.

As shown in FIG. 3, the image discriminating means 4 includes an image buffer 16 for temporarily holding an image, a template holding means 17 for holding a template 20 (FIG. 4), and a collation degree between the image and the template 20. It is composed of an image collating means 18 for performing collation determination by calculation.

Here, FIG. 4 shows the image matching degree S using the correlation value between the image in the search window 19 and the template 20 while moving the search window 19 in which the image matching means 18 looks at a part of the image. Is calculated. Since the direction of the input image cannot be specified in advance, the template 20 is a plurality of templates that can be applied to almost all angles.

In the case of FIG. 4, the n-th template Tn has the highest matching degree. If the collation degree Sn at this time is equal to or greater than the threshold Th, the read image is determined to be a specific image, and if less than the threshold Th, it is determined not to be a specific image. Then, this determination result is transmitted as a determination signal to the following message synthesizing means 5.

As shown in FIG. 5, the message synthesizing means 5 comprises a switching means 21. If the judgment signal from the image judging means 3 indicates that the image is a specific image, the message synthesizing means 5 6 is overwritten on the image in the image buffer 3 and sent to the output means 7. In this embodiment, in the overwriting, the R, G, and B signals of the message character portion are set to R, G, and B are set to the minimum, the red character is set, and the portion other than the message character remains the original image signal.

For example, “CO”
A word such as "PY" or "invalid" or a sentence such as "this document is prohibited from reading" is set together with the character font.

As a result, images obtained by the computer 8 and the printer 9 as external devices are as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, and images transmitted to other devices via the network 10 are also shown. It will be the same.

It is to be noted that the character set in red here is merely an example, and the present invention is not particularly limited to this. Also, in the overwriting, the signals of the font portion may not be completely replaced but may be mixed and output at a fixed ratio.

In the message storage means 6, only the fonts necessary for the message, that is, the message itself may already be stored as a bitmap, in which case the text information is unnecessary.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when a document for which reading is prohibited is read and the image of the document is changed to an unusable state, the user can be notified of the reason. . This allows the user to clearly distinguish whether the change in the document image is due to a read-inhibited image or a device failure.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image input device according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of image discriminating means in the image input device of FIG. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an output image by the image input device of FIG.

In FIG. 7, a scanner 1, which is an image input device, optically reads a document 11 on a document table and converts it into a digital image signal (hereinafter referred to as an "image signal"). An image buffer 3 for temporarily storing the image signal generated in step 2, an image discriminating unit 4 for processing the image signal output from the reading unit 2 to determine the content of the read image, and a judgment by the image discriminating unit 4. The result is notified, and the determination result of the message storage unit 6 and the image determination unit 4 in which the text information and the character font information of a plurality of messages to be displayed on the image when the read prohibited image is read are notified. If the determination result of the image determining means 4 is prohibition of reading, a message having the content according to the result of the image determining means 4 and the font information are displayed. Message synthesizing means 5 which obtains from the image storing means 6 and superimposes it on the image signal, and output means 7 which outputs the image signal from the message synthesizing means 5 to an external device such as a computer 8, a printer 9 or a network 10. It has.

In such a scanner 1, when the image discrimination result of the image discriminating means 4 is not a read prohibited image,
The message synthesizing unit 5 simply sends the image signal to the external device via the output unit 7 without performing the above-described superimposition processing.

Here, the external device is a computer 8 capable of displaying, editing and storing the read image, a printer 9 capable of receiving the image data and outputting a hard copy, or a network capable of transmitting the data to another remote device. 10 and the like.

The configuration and operation of each member of the scanner 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the reading unit 2, the image buffer 3, and the message storing unit 6 are the same as those described in the first embodiment, and thus the description is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 8, the image discriminating means 4 includes an image buffer 16 for temporarily holding an image, a plurality of template holding means 17 for holding a template, and a degree of matching between an image and a template. It comprises an image matching means 18 for making a determination.

As described above, in the present embodiment, a plurality of template storage units 17 are provided so that a plurality of types of images can be handled. Since there are a plurality of templates, the same processing as the image matching operation using one type of template set described in the first embodiment is performed on each template set.

The result of the judgment by the image judging means 4 is notified to the message synthesizing means 5 as a judgment signal,
Further, which image pattern is detected is transmitted to the message storage unit 6. If a plurality of images are detected as a result of the comparison, priorities are assigned to the images, and the image with the highest priority is output.

For example, “CO”
Plural words such as "PY", "invalid", and "this document is prohibited from reading" are prepared, and these are selected according to the selected image.
For example, according to the read prohibition level, a setting is made so that a message with a large number of characters such as "This document is prohibited from being read" or a message with a small number of characters such as "invalid" is selected.

At this time, the images obtained by the computer 8 or the printer 9 of the external device are as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, and the images transmitted to other devices via the network 10 are also the same. Become.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to notify the user of a detailed reason when a document whose reading is prohibited is read and changed to a state where the document image cannot be used. Become. This allows the user to clearly distinguish whether the change in the document image is due to a read-inhibited image or a device failure.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image input apparatus according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.
1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a message synthesizing unit in the image input device of FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an output image by the image input device of FIG.

In FIG. 10, a scanner 1, which is an image input device, optically reads a document 11 on a document table and converts it into a digital image signal (hereinafter, referred to as an "image signal"). 2, an image buffer 3 for temporarily storing the image signal generated in step 2, an image discriminating unit 4 for processing the image signal output from the reading unit 2 to determine the content of the read image, and a read-inhibited image being read. The message storage means 6 in which text information and character font information of a message to be displayed on an image when stored are read from the image signal generated by the reading means 2 whether the read image area is a character area or a photographic area. The determination results of the image area determining means 22, the image determining means 4, and the image area determining means 22 for determining whether or not the image is present are notified. If the determination result indicates that the reading is prohibited, the message and font information is acquired from the message storage means 6 and the message and font information are superimposed on the photograph area of the image signal. 8, an output unit 7 for outputting to an external device such as a printer 9 or a network 10.

In such a scanner 1, if the image discrimination result of the image discriminating means 4 is not a read prohibited image,
The message synthesizing unit 5 simply sends the image signal to the external device via the output unit 7 without performing the above-described superimposition processing.

Here, the external device is a computer 8 capable of displaying, editing, and storing the read image, a printer 9 capable of receiving the image data and outputting a hard copy, or a network capable of transmitting the data to another remote device. 10 and the like.

The configuration and operation of each member of the scanner 1 having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the reading unit 2, the image buffer 3, and the image discriminating unit 4 are the same as those described in the first embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The image area discriminating means 22 examines a plurality of items such as a change in image density and frequency characteristics, and separates them into a plurality of areas such as a photograph area, a halftone dot area, and a character area. And
Information on this area is sent to the subsequent message synthesizing means 5.

As shown in FIG. 11, the message synthesizing means 5 is constituted by a switching means 21, and when the judgment signal from the image judging means 3 indicates that the image is a specific image whose reading is prohibited. If the result of the image area determination by the image area determination means 22 is determined to be a photograph area, the message storage means 6
Is overwritten on the image in the image buffer 3 and sent to the output means 7. In this embodiment, in the overwriting, the R, G, and B signals of the message character portion are set to R, G, and B are set to the minimum, and the original image signal is left unchanged for portions other than the message character.

For example, “CO
A word such as “PY” is set, and according to this, an image obtained by the computer 8 or the printer 9 of the external device is as shown in FIG.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to notify the user of a detailed reason when a document whose reading is prohibited is read and changed to a state where the document image cannot be used. Become. This allows the user to clearly distinguish whether the change in the document image is due to a read-inhibited image or a device failure.

Further, according to the present embodiment, when a document whose reading is prohibited is read, it is possible to change only the reading prohibited portion of the document image to a state in which it cannot be used in a limited manner.

In the present embodiment, the collation determination of an image using a template is described. However, the image determination includes statistical quantities such as the color and frequency of an image.
Alternatively, a character recognition technology may be used. Therefore, the present embodiment does not limit the determination method. In addition,
When image determination is performed based on character recognition and understanding of the meaning of a document, an image in which a message is superimposed can be generated in accordance with the content of a sentence in a read image.

Further, the present invention is not necessarily applied only to a read-inhibited image.
It can also be used when some message needs to be superimposed on the image.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a document whose reading is prohibited is read and the image of the document is changed to an unusable state, the user can be notified of the reason. That is, an effective effect is obtained.

As a result, it is possible to obtain an effective effect that the user can clearly discriminate whether the change of the original image is due to the reading-inhibited image or the failure of the apparatus.

Further, by providing the image area discriminating means, when a document whose reading is prohibited is read, it is possible to effectively change only the reading prohibited portion of the document image to a state where it cannot be used in a limited manner. Is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a reading unit in the image input device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image determining unit in the image input device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of an image matching unit in the image discriminating unit of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a message synthesizing unit in the image input device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an output image by the image input device of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

8 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an image discriminating unit in the image input device of FIG.

9 is an explanatory diagram showing an output image by the image input device of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of an image input device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a message synthesizing unit in the image input device of FIG.

12 is an explanatory diagram showing an output image by the image input device of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a conventional image input device equipped with a function of performing image discrimination.

14 is an explanatory diagram showing an output image subjected to image processing by the image input device in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing another example of a conventional image input device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Scanner (image input device) 2 Reading means 4 Image discriminating means 5 Message combining means 6 Message storing means 7 Output means 22 Image area discriminating means

Claims (3)

[Claims] A reading means for optically reading a document and converting the read image into an image signal; an image discriminating means for processing an image signal from the reading means to determine the content of the read image; A message storage unit in which a message to be displayed on an image is stored, and a determination result of the image determination unit is notified. If the determination result of the image determination unit is prohibited, the message An image input device comprising: a message synthesizing unit that acquires a message from a storage unit and superimposes the message on an image signal; and an output unit that outputs the image signal from the message synthesizing unit to an external device. . A reading means for optically reading an original and converting the read image into an image signal; an image discriminating means for processing an image signal from the reading means to determine the content of the read image; A message storage unit storing a plurality of messages to be displayed on the image when the determination result is notified and the read-inhibited image is read; and a determination result of the image determination unit is notified, and the determination by the image determination unit is performed. In the case where the result is read prohibition, a message having a content according to the result of the image discriminating means is obtained from the message storing means, and a message synthesizing means for superimposing the message on an image signal; Output means for outputting an image signal to an external device. A reading means for optically reading a document and converting the read image into an image signal; an image discriminating means for processing an image signal output from the reading means to determine the content of the read image; And a message storage unit in which a message to be displayed on the image when the image is read is stored. From the image signal generated by the reading unit, it is determined whether the read image region is a character region or a photograph region. An image area discriminating means, a judgment result of the image discriminating means and the image area discriminating means is notified, and if the judgment result of the image discriminating means is prohibited from reading, a message is obtained from a message storing means and Message synthesizing means for superimposing the image signal on the photograph area of the image signal, and directing the image signal from the message synthesizing means to an external device. An image input apparatus characterized by and output means for force.