JP2003219245A - Image processor, imaging apparatus, image reading system, information processing method, recording medium, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively use a battery up to the last minute of the number of usable times without user worrying about a dead battery halfway by displaying residual quantity of the battery with the number of readable times of a regulated reading operation. <P>SOLUTION: A host computer detects an image reading condition in an image pickup device for reading an image (step S53), and calculates electric capacity consumed by the image pickup device under the detected reading condition (step S54). Information showing residual electric capacity is received from the image pickup device, and the number of times of reading the image by the image pickup device is detected on the basis of the calculated electric capacity and the received residual electric capacity (step S55) and displayed (step S56). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information processing device, an imaging device, an image reading system, an information processing method, a recording medium, and a recording medium for displaying the number of times an image can be read from the remaining power of a battery of the imaging device. It's about the program.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image pickup apparatus having a battery, the remaining amount of the battery has been displayed at a stage determined empirically, or a ratio to a fully charged state.

[0003]

However, with the above display method, the user cannot determine how many more operations the battery will run out, and the battery will run out in the middle of the reading operation. Even though I could read it, I thought that the battery would run out on the way and I gave up reading.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the user is concerned about running out of the battery halfway by displaying the remaining amount of the battery as the number of times the reading operation can be performed in a prescribed manner. An object of the present invention is to provide an information processing device, an imaging device, an image reading system, an information processing method, a recording medium, and a program that can effectively use the battery as many times as possible without using the battery.

[0005]

In order to achieve such an object, an information processing apparatus according to claim 1 is an information processing apparatus connectable to an imaging apparatus for picking up an image of a subject using battery power. And a display unit for displaying the first information in association with the power consumption consumed when the imaging device captures an image of a subject. Characterize.

An information processing apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention is an information processing apparatus connectable to an image pickup apparatus for picking up an image of a subject by using the power of a battery, and obtains first information about the remaining amount of the battery. An information processing apparatus, comprising: a remaining amount acquisition unit; and a control unit that controls to display the first information in association with power consumption consumed when the imaging device images a subject.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the information processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the setting means for setting the image pickup condition by the image pickup device and the image pickup condition set by the setting means are detected. Detecting means for performing the first information, and the first information varies depending on the imaging condition.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the information processing apparatus according to the third aspect, wherein the setting means sets a reading condition based on a past setting history.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided the information processing apparatus according to the third aspect of the invention, wherein the setting means sets the reading condition based on the previously set contents.

Further, an information processing apparatus according to a sixth aspect is characterized in that, in the invention according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the first information includes the number of times the image can be picked up.

An information processing apparatus according to a seventh aspect is the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, wherein the first information corresponds to that the image pickup apparatus picks up a subject image. And the remaining amount is reduced.

The information processing apparatus according to claim 8 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein information indicating the number of times calculated by the reading number calculating means is displayed by voice. It is characterized by

An information processing apparatus according to a ninth aspect is the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, further comprising power supply means for supplying power to the battery,
Is associated with the power supplied by the power supply means.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in an image pickup device connectable to an information processing device, an image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject by using electric power of a battery, and first information on the remaining amount of the battery. And a transmitting means for transmitting the first information to the information processing device in association with the power consumption consumed when capturing an image of a subject.

An image pickup apparatus according to claim 11 is an image pickup apparatus connectable to an information processing apparatus, wherein image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject by using electric power of a battery, and first information on the remaining amount of the battery. And a display unit for displaying the first information in association with the power consumption consumed when the subject is imaged.

An image reading system according to a twelfth aspect includes the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects and the image pickup apparatus according to the tenth or eleventh aspect. And

The information processing method according to claim 13 is
In a method for processing information using an information processing device connectable to an imaging device for imaging a subject using the power of a battery, a remaining amount acquiring step for acquiring first information regarding the remaining amount of the battery; And a display step of displaying the information of (1) in association with the power consumption consumed when the image pickup apparatus picks up an image of a subject.

Further, the information processing method according to claim 14 is
In an information processing method using an information processing device connectable to an imaging device for imaging a subject using battery power, a remaining amount acquisition step of acquiring first information regarding the remaining amount of the battery; Controlling the display of the first information in association with the power consumption consumed when the subject is imaged.

The information processing method according to claim 15 is
15. The invention according to claim 13 or 14, further comprising a setting step of setting an image pickup condition of the image pickup apparatus by a setting means, and a detection step of detecting the image pickup condition set in the setting step. The information is different depending on the imaging conditions.

The information processing method according to claim 16 is
According to a fifteenth aspect of the invention, in the setting step, a reading condition is set based on a past setting history.

The information processing method according to claim 17 is
According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, in the setting step, the reading condition is set based on the previous setting contents.

According to the information processing method of claim 18,
In the invention according to any one of claims 13 to 17,
The first information includes the number of times the image can be captured.

The information processing method according to claim 19 is
In the invention according to any one of claims 13 to 18,
The first information is characterized in that the remaining amount is reduced corresponding to the image pickup device picking up a subject image.

Further, the information processing method according to claim 20 is
In the invention according to any one of claims 13 to 19,
It is characterized in that the information indicating the number of times calculated by the reading number calculating means is displayed by voice.

According to the information processing method of claim 21,
In the invention according to any one of claims 13 to 20,
A power supply step for supplying power to the battery, wherein the first information is associated with the power supplied in the power supply step.

The information processing method according to claim 22 is
In an information processing method using an image pickup device connectable to an information processing device, an image pickup step of picking up an image of a subject using battery power, and a remaining amount acquisition step of obtaining first information regarding the remaining amount of the battery. And a transmission step of transmitting the first information to the information processing device in association with power consumption consumed when capturing an image of a subject.

The information processing method according to claim 23,
In an information processing method using an image pickup device connectable to an information processing device, an image pickup step of picking up an image of a subject using battery power, and a remaining amount acquisition step of obtaining first information regarding the remaining amount of the battery. A display step of displaying the first information in association with power consumption consumed when capturing an image of a subject.

A recording medium according to a twenty-fourth aspect is the information processing apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects.
It is characterized in that a program for causing a computer to function as each of the image pickup apparatus described in 0 or 11 or each unit of the image reading system described in claim 12 is recorded.

A recording medium according to a twenty-fifth aspect is characterized by recording a program for causing a computer to execute the processing steps of the information processing method according to any one of the thirteenth to twenty-third aspects.

The program according to claim 26 is the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, the image pickup apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, or the image reading system according to claim 12. The computer is made to function as each means of.

A program according to claim 27 is characterized by causing a computer to execute the processing steps of the information processing method according to any one of claims 13 to 23.

[0032]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(Overall Structure) FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the structure of a color image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. (A) is a partially cut plan view, (b) is a partially cut front view, and (c) is FIG.
As shown in the figure, an original is set on the original platen glass 2 attached to the upper surface of the apparatus main body 1, and the contact image sensor 3 is scanned in parallel with the original platen glass 2 to display an image on the original document. read.

As shown in FIG. 2, the contact image sensor 3 has three color LEDs 3R, 3G, and 3B, which are light sources for illuminating the original, and the reflected light from the original on the light receiving element of the image sensor. The rod lens array 3L that forms an image on the image sensor and the image sensor 3S are incorporated.
Image sensor 3
Color reading is performed by S reading the reflected light from the original for each color.

The contact image sensor 3 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, the guide shaft 4 fixed to the device body
It is fixedly supported on a slider 5 that slides on it. Further, a belt for transmitting power from a motor which is a scanning drive source is fixed to the slider 5. The contact image sensor 3 is capable of reciprocating scanning within the range of the original platen glass 2 by the forward and reverse rotations of the motor.

In addition to the above, the components of the image pickup device include an electric component section including a control board and a power supply. These components are arranged in the main body 1 of the apparatus which fixes and supports the platen glass 2.

On the original table glass 2, an original cover 6 as a cover member for pressing the original on the glass.
Is attached to the apparatus body 1 via the hinge member 7 so as to be openable and closable. A document pressure-bonding sheet 8 made of a sheet material and sponge is attached to the surface of the inner surface of the document cover that faces the document table glass 2.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit in this embodiment. The circuit operation of this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. The AMP 103 is an amplifier that amplifies the signal output from the CIS 101, and 105 is an A / D converter that performs A / D conversion of the amplified output to obtain, for example, a 16-bit digital output.

The shading RAM 110 stores data for shading correction by reading a calibration sheet attached to the platen glass, and the shading correction circuit 109 uses the shading R
Shading correction of the read image signal is performed based on the AM110 data.

The peak detection circuit 108 is a circuit for detecting the peak value in the read image data line by line, and is used to detect the leading edge of the document. The gamma conversion circuit 111 performs gamma conversion of image data read according to a gamma curve preset by the host computer.

The buffer RAM 115 is an RA for temporarily storing image data in order to match the actual reading operation with the timing in communication with the host computer.
The packing / buffer RAM control circuit 114 performs the packing process according to the image output mode (binary, 4-bit multi-value, 8-bit multi-value, 24-bit multi-value) preset by the host computer. After that, the data is written in the buffer RAM 115, and the interface circuit 116 is caused to read the image data from the buffer RAM 115 and output it.

The interface circuit 116 receives a control signal and outputs an image signal with an external device 117 which is a host computer of the image pickup apparatus according to the present embodiment such as a personal computer.

Reference numeral 120 is, for example, a CPU in the form of a microcomputer, which has a ROM 120A storing a processing procedure and a work RAM 115B, and controls each part in accordance with the procedure stored in the ROM 120A. Reference numeral 119 is, for example, a crystal oscillator, and 118 is a timing signal generating circuit for dividing the output of the oscillator 119 according to the setting of the CPU 120 to generate various timing signals serving as a reference for operation.

Next, with reference to the configuration diagram of FIG. 4, the configuration of the battery remaining amount display device according to the present embodiment is shown. First, 301,
Reference numerals 302 and 303 denote a preview start button, a read start button, and a read stop button, respectively. The preview image is displayed on the preview image display unit 304, and the reading condition setting unit 305 sets the reading condition.
The number of times the current battery level can be read is displayed on the battery level indicator of 6.

Next, the control method of the reading operation according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, the remaining electric capacity of the battery is detected from the battery remaining amount detecting device on the reading device (step S5).
1). Then, the detected remaining capacitance data is transferred to the host computer (step S52).

On the other hand, the host computer detects the current reading conditions (step S53). On the host computer, necessary capacitance data is set in advance in association with each reading setting serving as a calculation reference, and the host computer refers to the capacitance data corresponding to the current reading condition detected in step S53. As a result, the required electric capacity, that is, the electric capacity consumed by the imaging device is obtained (step S54).

Next, the host computer and the remaining electric capacity data transferred from the reading device and the step S54.
Based on the electric capacity calculated in step S5, the number of readable times in the current reading setting is calculated (step S5).
5) It is displayed on the battery remaining amount display section on the host computer (step S56). The display on the battery remaining amount display is sufficient so that the number of times of reading can be roughly understood. This is because there are cases where it is easier to grasp the remaining number of times with a display that can be visually recognized than with a number. For example, there is a case where the remaining number is displayed on the time axis or the number of sheets axis. In the present embodiment, the remaining number is displayed so as to display the remaining number of image readings, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it is sufficient if the remaining level can be grasped. That is, it is sufficient if the progress of image reading can be grasped. For example, if the percentage of the entire battery is displayed in a pie chart or a bar graph, or if the remaining battery power and the power consumption per sheet are also displayed together, it is possible to display not only visual recognition but also voice. It may be displayed to appeal auditorily.

Further, as another embodiment of the present invention, the user sets the reference reading mode in the above embodiment, but the history used so far, the setting at the previous scan, etc. It is also possible to set automatically based on.

As still another embodiment of the present invention, although the display unit and the setting unit are placed on the host computer in the above-mentioned embodiment, they can be placed on the image reading device.

As described above, according to the above-described embodiment, in the image reading apparatus driven by the battery, the reading operation can be performed up to the last one time without worrying about the remaining amount of the battery. As still another embodiment of the present invention, in the above embodiment, the remaining readable amount is displayed based on the remaining amount of the battery. However, the image reading device charges the battery while receiving power from the outside through a USB connection or the like. In such a case, the remaining readable amount may be displayed in consideration of the amount of power supplied to the image reading device. This allows the accurate remaining readable amount to be grasped. As another embodiment of the present invention, the color image forming apparatus has been described in the above embodiments, but an image pickup apparatus having a battery is sufficient, for example, a digital camera, a mobile phone with a digital camera, a notebook type capable of taking an image. It may be a personal computer or the like.

Further, an object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium having a program code of software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and to supply the computer (or CPU or M
It is needless to say that it is also achieved by the PU) reading and executing the program code stored in the storage medium.

In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.

As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, C
DR, magnetic tape, non-volatile memory card, ROM
Etc. can be used.

Further, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by executing the program code read by the computer, but also the OS (operating system) running on the computer based on the instructions of the program code. It is needless to say that this also includes the case where () etc. perform part or all of the actual processing and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, this also includes the case where the CPU or the like included in the function expansion board or the function expansion unit performs some or all of the actual processing and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.

[0056]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the number of times the image pickup device can read an image is displayed on the display means, so that the user is concerned about running out of the battery of the image pickup device. In addition, the battery can be effectively used up to the limit of the number of times it can be used.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a contact image sensor of the imaging device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an image pickup apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a battery remaining amount display device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing operations of the image reading system according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

301 Preview start button 302 Start reading button 303 Scan stop button 304 Preview image display area 305 Reading condition setting section 306 Battery level indicator

Claims (27)

[Claims] 1. An information processing apparatus connectable to an image pickup apparatus for picking up an image of a subject using battery power, comprising: a remaining amount acquiring unit for acquiring first information about the remaining amount of the battery; An information processing apparatus, comprising: a display unit that displays the first information in association with power consumption consumed when capturing an image of a subject. 2. An information processing apparatus connectable to an image pickup apparatus for picking up an image of a subject using the power of a battery, wherein the remaining amount acquisition means for acquiring first information regarding the remaining amount of the battery, and the image pickup apparatus An information processing apparatus, comprising: a control unit that controls to display the first information in association with power consumption consumed when capturing an image of a subject. 3. The image pickup apparatus further comprising: setting means for setting an image pickup condition by the image pickup apparatus; and detecting means for detecting the image pickup condition set by the setting means, wherein the first information varies depending on the image pickup condition. The information processing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: 4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the setting unit sets a reading condition based on a past setting history. 5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the setting unit sets the reading condition based on the previously set content. 6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first information includes the number of times the image can be captured. 7. The information according to claim 1, wherein the remaining amount of the first information is reduced in response to the subject capturing an image of a subject. Processing equipment. 8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein information indicating the number of times calculated by the reading number calculation means is displayed by voice. 9. The battery according to claim 1, further comprising power supply means for supplying power to the battery, wherein the first information is associated with power supplied by the power supply means. The information processing device according to item. 10. An image pickup apparatus connectable to an information processing apparatus, comprising: an image pickup means for picking up an image of a subject using electric power of a battery; and a remaining amount acquisition means for obtaining first information on the remaining amount of the battery. An image pickup apparatus, comprising: a transmission unit that transmits the first information to the information processing apparatus in association with power consumption consumed when capturing an image of a subject. 11. An image pickup apparatus connectable to an information processing apparatus, comprising: an image pickup unit that picks up an image of a subject by using electric power of a battery; and a remaining amount acquisition unit that obtains first information about the remaining amount of the battery. An image pickup apparatus, comprising: a display unit that displays the first information in association with power consumption that is consumed when an image of a subject is taken. 12. An image reading system comprising the information processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 and the image pickup apparatus according to claim 10 or 11. 13. An information processing method using an information processing device connectable to an image pickup device for picking up an image of a subject using the power of a battery, the remaining amount obtaining step of obtaining first information about the remaining amount of the battery. And a display step of displaying the first information in association with power consumption consumed when the imaging device images a subject. 14. An information processing method using an information processing device connectable to an image pickup device for picking up an image of a subject using the power of a battery, the remaining amount obtaining step of obtaining first information on the remaining amount of the battery. And a control step of controlling to display the first information in association with power consumption consumed when the imaging device captures an image of a subject. 15. A setting step of setting an image pickup condition of the image pickup apparatus by a setting means, and a detection step of detecting the image pickup condition set in the setting step, wherein the first information is the image pickup condition. 15. The information processing method according to claim 13, wherein the information processing method is different depending on the type. 16. The information processing method according to claim 15, wherein in the setting step, a reading condition based on a past setting history is set. 17. The information processing method according to claim 16, wherein in the setting step, the reading condition is set based on the previous setting content. 18. The information processing method according to claim 13, wherein the first information includes the number of times the image can be captured. 19. The information according to claim 13, wherein the remaining amount of the first information is reduced in response to the subject taking an image of a subject. Processing method. 20. The information processing method according to claim 13, wherein information indicating the number of times calculated by the reading number calculation means is displayed by voice. 21. A power supply step of supplying power to the battery, wherein the first information is associated with the power supplied in the power supply step. The information processing method described in the section. 22. An information processing method using an image pickup device connectable to an information processing device, wherein an image pickup step of picking up an image of a subject by using electric power of a battery, and obtaining first information on the remaining amount of the battery. An information processing method comprising: a remaining amount acquisition step; and a transmission step of transmitting the first information to the information processing apparatus in association with power consumption consumed when capturing an image of a subject. 23. An information processing method using an image pickup device connectable to an information processing device, wherein: an image pickup step of picking up an image of a subject using battery power; and obtaining first information on the remaining amount of the battery. An information processing method comprising: a remaining amount acquisition step; and a display step of displaying the first information in association with power consumption consumed when capturing an image of a subject. 24. A computer is caused to function as each unit of the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, the image pickup apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, or the image reading system according to claim 12. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for recording is recorded. 25. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the processing steps of the information processing method according to claim 13 is recorded. 26. A computer is caused to function as each unit of the information processing apparatus according to claim 1, the image pickup apparatus according to claim 10 or 11, or the image reading system according to claim 12. Program for. 27. A program for causing a computer to execute the processing steps of the information processing method according to any one of claims 13 to 23.