JP2003001809A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the amount of ink consumption without deteriorating image clearness. SOLUTION: The apparatus comprises a still picture photographing camera 14 for photographing a subject, a controller 19 for restoring images photographed by the camera 14, and a printer 24 for printing the images restored in the controller 19 with ink. The printer 24 has a mask recognizing means for recognizing a mask image being an unwanted region in the image and an image conversion means for converting the mask image to an image to reduce ink consumption based on the output of the mask recognition means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus used in ophthalmology that requires a fundus image of an eye to be examined.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are various types of image recording apparatuses such as a fundus camera for photographing the fundus of an eye to be inspected and a microscopic photographer for performing a pathological examination. For example, the fundus camera includes a mask that blocks light traveling toward the peripheral area of the fundus to clarify the effective photographing range, and an optical system that re-images the fundus image and the image of the mask. Usually, the mask is placed immediately in front of the film or at the image plane and the optics are placed behind the mask.

Since the fundus camera plays a major role in removing flare generated around the image, the image of the mask, which is an unnecessary area of the image, is recorded in black. The mask image is recorded as black image data together with the medical image portion.

Image recording apparatuses of recent years are designed to record an image using an electronic image pickup device such as a CCD camera and to print the recorded image with an ink jet type or thermal transfer type printer. Further, this type of image recording apparatus may be configured by connecting one or a plurality of image pickup means to separate image storage means and image recording means.

[0005]

However, since the ink jet type or thermal transfer type printer consumes ink or ribbon, it is extremely uneconomical to consume ink or ribbon to print the image on the mask. Become. Normally, the image of the mask is printed in black, so that when the image of the black mask is printed on a white background paper by an inkjet printer, a large amount of ink is consumed. On top of that, the ink ejection force is great, so you can make the paper wavy,
Ink drooling or ink adhering to the paper feed roller or other parts may impair the clarity of the area required for an image.

The main object of the present invention is to improve the above-mentioned conventional example, and one of the specific objects thereof is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of reducing the ink consumption without impairing the clarity of the image. To provide.

Another object of the present invention is, when recording images photographed by a plurality of photographing means, based on information of the photographing means stored together with the images, the ink consumption amount without impairing the clarity of the image. An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus that can efficiently reduce the above-mentioned problem.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of reducing the ink consumption without impairing the clarity of the image even when there is no information on the photographing means.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus capable of ensuring visibility when observing a stored image.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the invention for achieving the above object, there is provided storage means for storing an image photographed by a photographing means for photographing a subject, and the image stored in the storage means. In an image recording apparatus having a printer that prints with ink, the printer recognizes an unnecessary area in the image and reduces the consumption of the ink in the unnecessary area in the image based on the recognition. The image recording apparatus is characterized by having a calculation means for converting such an image.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the photographing means includes a mask for blocking light traveling toward a peripheral area of the subject, and an unnecessary area in the image is an image of the mask photographed by the photographing means. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1.

The invention according to claim 3 is the image recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conversion is performed when the image is output to the printer.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the arithmetic means comprises:
The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the shape of the mask attached to the image information is stored, and the image of the mask is recognized based on the storage.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the arithmetic means comprises:
The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the shape of the mask attached to the photographing information is stored, and the image of the mask is recognized based on the shape of the mask.

The invention according to claim 6 is the image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the photographing information is information of the photographing means.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the arithmetic means comprises:
The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the color information of the image of the mask is stored, and the shape of the mask is cut out based on the stored color information.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the arithmetic means comprises:
Judge the color information around the image as mask color information,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the shape of the mask is cut out based on this.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, the arithmetic means comprises:
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the region of interest information associated with the image information is recognized.

The invention according to claim 10 is the image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the printer is an ink jet type which sprays the ink onto paper to perform printing.

The invention according to claim 11 is the image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the color of the image on the mask is substantially black.

The invention according to claim 12 is the image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the image is a fundus image of an eye to be inspected.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a display device for displaying the image stored in the storage means, and the mask image displayed on the display device and the mask image printed on the printer. Claim 1 which differs in any one of Claim 1-12.
An image recording device according to one of the claims.

The invention according to claim 14 is the image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, which has a fundus photographing camera for photographing a fundus image.

[0024]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail based on the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the image recording apparatus of the first embodiment. This image recording apparatus records the fundus image Er 'of the eye E by maximizing the effects of the present invention.

Light source 1 for observation alignment such as a photographing lamp
On the optical path from the objective lens 2 in front of the eye E to be examined,
A condenser lens 3, a light source 4 for photographing a still image such as a strobe, a condenser lens 5, a mirror 6, a lens 7, a diaphragm 8 having a ring-shaped aperture, a relay lens 9, and a perforated mirror 10 having an aperture in the center are sequentially arranged. To do. On the optical path behind the perforated mirror 10, there is a focus lens 11 movable in the optical axis direction, and a taking lens 1 having a variable magnification function.
2. A switching mirror 13 that can be inserted into and removed from the optical path, and a high-definition still image capturing camera 14 such as a digital camera are sequentially arranged, and a high-sensitivity video observation camera 15 is arranged in the reflection direction of the switching mirror 13. To do.

The output of the moving image observing camera 15 is connected to the moving image observing monitor 17 through the character generating means 16. The output of the character generation means 16 is connected to the focus lens 11 and the taking lens 12, respectively. The output of the focus knob 18 is connected to the focus lens 11, and the focus lens 11 is driven by the focus knob 18.

The output of the still image capturing camera 14 is connected to a controller 19 having an arithmetic unit such as a computer having an image memory, and the output of the controller 19 is a still image reproducing monitor 20 such as a display and an optical disk or a magnetic disk. Etc. to the external storage device 21, respectively. The light source 4 for still image shooting has a shooting switch 22
The output of the shooting switch 22 is connected to the controller 19. The output of the zoom switch 23 for changing the shooting magnification is connected to the character generating means 16 and the controller 19, respectively.

An ink jet printer 24 is connected to the controller 19 as a means for outputting a hard image. The printer 24 includes an ink tank 25 as a consumable material, and a paper feed tray 26 that stores paper as an output medium. And the controller 19
Further, a print switch 27 for print output is connected to the.

The printer 24 guides the ink from the ink tank 25 and sprays the ink onto the paper, whereby the fundus image E
Output r '. The ink tank 25 is of a replaceable type, and the ink tank 25 itself can be replaced when the ink runs out. The paper feed tray 26 is of a replenishing type, and can be replenished with paper at any time when the paper runs out.

Here, the printer 24 has a built-in computer, and thereby the mask recognition means for recognizing the mask image M and the mask image M is converted into an image for reducing the ink consumption based on the output of the mask recognition means. Image conversion means for performing the above. Further, the mask recognition means is provided with a mask shape storage means for storing the shape of the mask.

In this image recording apparatus, the luminous flux emitted from the observation alignment light source 1 passes through the condenser lens 3, the still image photographing light source 4 and the condenser lens 5, and is reflected upward by the mirror 6, and the lens 7 and the diaphragm 8 are provided. After passing through the ring-shaped opening, the relay lens 9 and the perforated mirror 10, the light is reflected to the left and passes through the objective lens 2 and the pupil Ep to illuminate the fundus Er. Then, the fundus image Er ′ reflected by the fundus Er passes through the pupil Ep, the objective lens 2, the focus lens 11, and the photographing lens 12, is reflected downward by the switching mirror 13, and is imaged on the imaging surface of the video observation camera 15. To do.

The fundus image Er 'formed on the moving image observing camera 15 becomes an electric signal and is inputted to the moving image observing monitor 17 through the character generating means 16. The moving-picture observation monitor 17 displays the fundus image Er ′ and the mask image M, for example, black, generated by the character generating means 16, and displays the fundus image E.
The flare portion around r ′ is masked, and only the effective portion that matches the imaging range of still image shooting of the fundus Er is displayed.
At this time, the controller 19 retrieves the shape of the mask image M from the mask shape storage means to display the moving image observation monitor 17.
To display.

The photographer confirms the photographed region, the alignment state, and the focus state while monitoring the fundus image Er 'on the moving image observation monitor 17. For example, when the focus is out of focus, the focus knob 18 is used to move the focus lens 11.
Drive to focus. Then, after confirming that the subject is in focus, the photographing switch 22 is operated.

As a result, the switching mirror 13 is retracted out of the optical path, and the still image photographing light source 4 emits light. The light flux emitted from the still image capturing light source 4 illuminates the fundus Er through the same optical path as the light flux emitted from the observation alignment light source 1. The fundus image Er ′ reflected by the fundus Er passes through the pupil Ep, the objective lens 2, the hole portion of the perforated mirror 10, the focus lens 11 and the photographing lens 12, and forms an image on the image pickup surface of the still image photographing camera 14. Then, the fundus image Er ′ formed on the still image capturing camera 14 becomes a digital signal, is input to the controller 19, and is stored in the image memory therein together with the mask image M.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the fundus image Er ′ formed on the still image capturing camera 14, and the fundus image Er ′ is surrounded by the flare F, and the boundary of the region effective for diagnosis becomes clear. Not not. Therefore, the controller 19 controls the fundus image E
In r ′, the data in the region of the predetermined mask image M is rewritten into black level display data, and the fundus image Er ′ normally surrounded by the black mask image M is displayed on the still image reproducing monitor 20 as shown in FIG. Clarify the boundaries of areas that are useful for diagnosis. At this time, it is preferable that the still image reproducing monitor 20 displays a mark S indicating the vertical direction effective when printing and a data display D indicating the subject or the photographing state together with the mask image M.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the procedure for cutting out the mask image M. When the printing switch 27 is turned on, the controller 19 starts outputting the image data displayed on the still image reproducing monitor 20 to the printer 24. In step S1, it is determined whether or not the printing switch 27 is on, and when it is determined that it is on, the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, the mask shape is read from the mask shape storage means. In step S3, the color of the mask image M is changed by the image conversion means without using ink,
Normally it is converted to white. At this time, in order to clarify the shape of the mask, it is possible to leave the edging black.

In step S4, it is determined whether or not the data display D is displayed on the still image monitor 20. When the data display D is displayed, the process proceeds to step S5, and when the data display D is not displayed, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S5, the character portion of the data display D is converted from white to black. In step S6, the converted image data is output to the printer 24. The printer 24 receives the image data and starts printing.

At this time, as shown in FIG.
In No. 4, the mask image M is printed as white without ink, and the character portion of the data display D and the edge ME of the mask image M are normally printed in black. Then, in step S7,
The image data is returned to the original state, and the output of the image data to the printer 24 is completed.

In the first embodiment, the fundus image E
When r ′ is printed by the printer 24, the mask image M, which is an unnecessary region as the fundus image Er ′, is converted into white and printed, so that the ink consumption of the printer 24 can be reduced. Since the black mask image M similar to the conventional one is displayed on the still image monitor 20, the fundus image E is displayed.
It is possible to ensure the visibility when observing r ′.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the image recording apparatus according to the second embodiment. The image recording apparatus according to the second embodiment is equipped with an image pickup device 28a for photographing a still image of the eye E to be examined. A slit lamp 28 for photographing the anterior segment of the eye, a fundus camera 29 for photographing the fundus Er of the eye E provided with an image sensor 29a for photographing a still image, an image sensor 28a for photographing a still image,
The controller 19 is similar to that of the first embodiment and is connected to the controller 29a, and the printer 24 is similar to that of the first embodiment and is connected to the controller 19.

The controller 19 also manages information associated with images and photographing, such as the data display D of the first embodiment and the information of the slit lamp 28 and the fundus camera 29. The camera No. in the data display D on the still image reproduction monitor 20. Fundus camera 2 used for photographing by 3
9 or the image pickup device 29a, and it is effective when comparing the recorded image with other images and when correcting the image by image processing or the like. At this time, the controller 19 stores the shape of the mask corresponding to the slit lamp 28 and the fundus camera 29, and the slit lamp 28 and the fundus camera 2 are stored.
It is possible to extract information corresponding to the shape of the mask from the information of 9.

Further, the controller 19 is provided with image management software, and it is possible to search and display an image taken by the slit lamp 28 or the fundus camera 29. Thus, the examiner searches for and displays a desired image using the software of the controller 19, and prints the searched and displayed image on the printer 24. At this time, most of the operation of the printer 24 is the same as that of the printer 24 of the first embodiment, but the first point is that information corresponding to the shape of the mask is extracted from the information of the slit lamp 28 and the fundus camera 29. Different from the embodiment. The same effect can be obtained by including the information corresponding to the shape of the mask in the information attached to each image.

Since the fundus photographed by the fundus camera 29 contains a lot of red color, it can be easily and clearly distinguished from the black color of the mask selected here. In contrast,
In the case of the slit lamp 28, since the anterior ocular segment which is not exposed to slit light is close to black, if black is selected, there is a high risk of erroneous processing. Therefore, in the case of the slit lamp 28, it is desirable to store the mask shape as in the first embodiment.

However, between the black mask image and the slit image portion, a mask image M having, for example, a purple edge portion (usually, the slit image portion has no purple portion) is used. Is configured to detect
This problem can be easily solved. In any case, it is obvious that the mask should be optimally determined based on the slit lamp 28 and the fundus camera 29 to coexist.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the procedure for cutting out the mask image M according to the third embodiment. In the first embodiment, the mask image M is cut out using the shape of the mask prepared in advance, but in the third embodiment, the mask image M is automatically cut out based on the characteristics of the image itself.

In step S11, it is determined whether or not the switch of the printer 24 is on, and when it is on, the process proceeds to step S12. In step 12, the color information of the mask, which is predetermined and stored in the control device 19, for example, the information that the mask is black (R <10, G <10, B <10 in RGB expression) is read out, and in step S13. move on. In step S13, it is determined whether or not there is a superimposed data display D. When there is a superimposed data display D, the process proceeds to step S14, and when there is no superimposed data display D, the process proceeds to step S15 without passing through step S14. move on.

In step S14, the color of the character portion of the data display D is changed from white to the original color, here black which is the color of the mask image M, and the process proceeds to step S15. Step S15
Then, the mask image M is cut out from the image data by extracting pixels of a color close to the color of the mask image M from the image data or by evaluating the continuity thereof, and the process proceeds to step S16. Then, steps S16 to S20 are the first
Processing is performed in the same manner as steps S5 to S7 of the embodiment.

In the third embodiment, the mask is cut out based on the color information of the mask which is predetermined and stored. However, for example, the color of the pixel in the peripheral portion of the image promised to exist. The same effect can be obtained by cutting out the mask based on the information. In this case, it is important that the color used as the mask be a color that can be clearly distinguished from the color captured as the original image.

Further, in the above-described first to third embodiments, in order to cut out a mask, a region of interest such as ROI (Region of Interest) included in a header region of a compressed image or the like is recognized and a non-interest region is detected. Can also be defined as a mask area that does not require printing. The operation at the time of printing is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same effect can be obtained by converting the area designated as the non-interest area into white that is not printed with ink.

Also, the image recording apparatus for photographing the fundus and anterior segment of the eye E and recording the image has been described.
It goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to a system for photographing and recording other subjects except the eye E to be inspected.

Although the ink for the printer has been described, it goes without saying that the ink may include other printing materials such as an ink ribbon.

[0052]

As described above, the image recording apparatus according to the first to third aspects recognizes the unnecessary area in the image and reduces the ink consumption of the unnecessary area in the image. Since it is converted into an image, it is possible to reduce the amount of ink consumption without impairing the clarity of the image.

The image recording apparatus according to the fourth aspect can reduce the ink consumption of the printer even when there are different mask shapes depending on the photographing means and photographing conditions.

The image recording apparatus according to the fifth and sixth aspects can more efficiently reduce the ink consumption of the printer even when there are mask shapes that differ depending on the photographing means and photographing conditions. .

The image recording apparatus according to the seventh aspect can detect the mask even for an image in which the shape of the mask is unknown, and the ink consumption of the printer can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to store the shape of the mask as the supplementary information, the image can be easily managed.

The image recording apparatus according to the eighth aspect can reduce the ink consumption of the printer even for an image in which the shape and color of the mask are not predetermined. .

The image recording apparatus according to the ninth aspect can reduce ink consumption especially for an operator who wants to print only the region of interest.

The image recording apparatus according to the tenth aspect can be inexpensive and reduce the ink consumption of the printer. Further, when the ink ejection force is large, the base is wavy, the ink drips, or when the ink adheres to the paper feed roller or other parts, it is possible to reduce the risk of contaminating the necessary image area. it can.

The image recording apparatus according to the eleventh aspect can reduce the ink consumption of the printer as compared with the case where the color of the image on the mask is black.

In the image recording apparatus according to the twelfth aspect, since the image area of the mask is large, it is possible to greatly reduce the ink consumption of the printer.

According to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, since the image can be observed by the display means without processing the image of the mask, the image of the mask which is familiar to the conventional art, that is, suitable for the observation is used. Therefore, the visibility of the image can be secured.

An image recording apparatus according to a fourteenth aspect comprises a fundus photographing camera.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of an image captured by a still image capturing camera.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an image displayed on a still image reproduction monitor.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a procedure for cutting out an image of a mask.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an image output by a printer.

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a procedure for cutting out an image of a mask according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Observation alignment light source 4 Light source for still image shooting 14 Camera for still image shooting 15 Video observation camera 16 Character generation means 17 Monitor for video observation 19 Controller 20 Still image playback monitor 21 External storage device 22 Shooting switch 24 printers 25 ink tanks 27 Printing switch 28 slit lamp 29 fundus camera D data display E eye to be examined Er fundus Er 'fundus image M mask image ME edge

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI theme code (reference) H04N 5/76 B41J 3/04 101Z F term (reference) 2C056 EA25 EB58 EC79 2C061 AP01 AQ05 HH13 HJ06 HK11 2C087 AB01 AB05 AC05 AC07 BA03 BB20 BD24 CB09 CB16 5C022 AA13 AC51 CA00 5C052 AA12 AB04 DD04 FA02 FA03 FA04 FB01 FC06 FD06 FD10 FE01 FE08

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. An image recording apparatus comprising: a storage unit that stores an image captured by a capturing unit that captures an image of a subject; and a printer that prints the image stored in the storage unit with ink. An image recording apparatus, comprising: an arithmetic unit that recognizes an unnecessary area in the image and converts the unnecessary area in the image into an image that reduces the ink consumption based on the recognition. 2. The image capturing means comprises a mask for blocking light traveling toward a peripheral area of the subject, and an unnecessary area in the image is an image of the mask captured by the image capturing means. Image recording device. 3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion is performed when the image is output to the printer. 4. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit stores the shape of the mask attached to the image information and recognizes the image of the mask based on the storage. 5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the arithmetic unit stores the shape of the mask attached to the photographing information and recognizes the image of the mask based on the shape of the mask. 6. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the photographing information is information of the photographing means. 7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the arithmetic means stores color information of the image of the mask and cuts out the shape of the mask based on the color information of the memory. 8. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit determines color information around the image as mask color information and cuts out the shape of the mask based on the color information. 9. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation means recognizes region of interest information that is incidental to the image information. 10. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printer is an inkjet type that sprays the ink onto paper to print. 11. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color of the image on the mask is substantially black. 12. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is a fundus image of an eye to be inspected. 13. The display device for displaying the image stored in the storage means, wherein the image of the mask displayed on the display and the image of the mask printed on the printer are different. The image recording device according to claim 12. 14. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fundus photographing camera for photographing a fundus image.