JP2003244402A - Image reading system, image reading method for image reading system, and image reading program for image reading system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reading system, an image reading method for the image reading system and an image reading program for the image reading system in which the same image processing can be performed all over a designated range when reading images. <P>SOLUTION: A range wider than designated is scanned in advance for the same image processing all over the designated range, and pixel data over the wide range are obtained. Besides, data are saved including the pixel data over the wide range. Concerning display, however, since it is troublesome if another area is displayed in a spite of the designation, only the designated area is displayed. <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 image reading system, an image reading method for an image reading system, which makes it possible to perform appropriate processing even in a peripheral portion of a read image when performing various processes on the read image. And an image reading program of the image reading system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional image reading device normally scans the maximum reading range of the image reading device. Further, the conventional image reading apparatus scans only the range designated for reading, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-79150.

[0003]

In the above prior art, only the image in the range designated for reading is scanned, and after the scanning is finished, the averaging process is performed on the read image in units of a plurality of pixels according to the preference of the user. Etc. may be given. In this case, at least the data of the outermost pixel of the read image is
Since there is no data outside the outermost circumference (data outside the reading range), the same processing as the internal data cannot be performed.
Therefore, the dummy data is temporarily used to perform processing such as creating pseudo data corresponding to the outermost peripheral pixels. Therefore, in the above-described conventional technique, there may be a case where complete processing cannot be performed over the entire area of the read image.

Hereinafter, a case where complete processing can be performed over the entire area of a read image and a case where complete processing cannot be performed will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a case where complete processing can be performed over the entire area of a read image in the conventional technique. FIG. 8 shows an example in which the reading designated range (area B) of the user and the reading range (area C) of the image reading apparatus are the same as in the prior art. Here, it is assumed that the averaging process is performed on each pixel shown in FIG. 8 within a range of two peripheral pixels in the upper, lower, left, and right directions (25 pixels in total) around the pixel. In the black circled pixels in FIG. 8, the range including the periphery (25 pixels) is within the scan range.
The average value can be easily obtained from the data of each pixel.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a case where complete processing cannot be performed over the entire area of the read image. In the pixels indicated by black circles in FIG. 9, the data of the pixels in the two columns on the left side and one row on the lower side (circles indicated by dotted lines) do not exist. Therefore, it is necessary to process the data of the pixel at the position as shown in FIG. 9 after changing the processing and the calculation method of other pixels, or generating the circled data indicated by the dotted line in a pseudo manner by another calculation or the like. is there.

However, even if the processing method of other pixels is changed from the calculation method, or even if the circled data indicated by the dotted line is artificially generated by another calculation or the like, it should be the same as the one processed based on the original data. It is difficult. That is, there is a problem in that it is difficult to perform image processing according to the user's preference on at least the pixel data near the outermost periphery of the read image.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. When an image is read, the same image processing can be performed over the entire specified range, and the image reading of the image reading system. A method and an image reading program of an image reading system are provided.

[0008]

An image reading system according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises an illuminating means for illuminating a document and an image capturing means for focusing light from the document through an optical system and converting the formed image into an electric signal. Means, an original moving means for relatively moving the original and the image pickup means, and a control means for controlling the respective means, and an image reading device, and various data between the image reading device. In an image reading system configured to include a host computer capable of displaying an image read by the image reading device, and the image reading device is configured to read an image instructed by an instruction unit of the host computer. It is characterized by reading a wider range than the range.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the image reading apparatus can read a range wider than the reading instruction range of the image instructed by the instruction means of the host computer. The image reading system according to a second aspect is the image reading system according to the first aspect, wherein a range wider than the reading instruction range is a maximum reading range of the image reading device.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the image reading device can read the maximum reading range of the image reading device as a range wider than the reading instruction range. According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading system according to the first aspect, the range wider than the reading instruction range is narrower than the maximum reading range of the image reading device.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, a range narrower than the maximum reading range of the image reading device can be read as the range wider than the reading instruction range. The image reading system according to claim 4 is the image reading system according to claim 1, 2 or 3.
In the image reading system described in any one of the above items, the host computer displays only an image in the reading instruction range when displaying an image.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the host computer displays an image, only the image in the reading instruction range can be displayed. An image reading system according to a fifth aspect is the image reading system according to any one of the first, second, and third aspects, wherein the host computer images all image data read by a reading unit of the image reading device. After the processing, only the image in the read instruction range is displayed.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the host computer can display only the image in the reading instruction range after performing image processing on all the image data read by the reading means of the image reading device. The image reading system according to claim 6 is the image reading system according to any one of claims 1 or 2 or 3, wherein the host computer stores all image data read by a reading unit of the image reading device as a storage medium. It is characterized by storing in.

According to the sixth aspect of the invention, the host computer can store all the image data read by the reading means of the image reading device in a storage medium. The image reading method of an image reading system according to claim 7, comprising a host computer and an image reading device, wherein the image reading device receives a command indicating an image reading range transmitted from the host computer, and reads the image. An image reading method of an image reading system for reading an image in an instructed image reading range and transmitting it as image data to the host computer, wherein the image reading range is determined on a display screen of a display device of the host computer. 1), a second step of transmitting to the image reading device an instruction to read a range wider than the determined image reading range, and the determined image read and transmitted by the image reading device A third step in which the host computer receives image data in a range wider than the reading range; A fourth step of image-processing the wide-range image data received from the capturing device; and a step of displaying only the image of the image-reading range determined in the first step using the image-processed image data. And 5 steps.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention, the image reading device reads a wider range than the image reading instruction range instructed by the host computer, performs image processing, and then issues an image reading instruction instructed by the host computer. Only the range can be displayed. 9. The image reading program of the image reading system according to claim 8, comprising a host computer and an image reading device, the image reading device receiving an instruction to instruct an image reading range transmitted from the host computer, and issuing the instruction. An image reading program of an image reading system for reading an image in a read image reading range and transmitting it as image data to the host computer, wherein the image reading program reads an image on a display screen of a display device of the host computer. A first procedure for determining a range, a second procedure for transmitting to the image reading device a command to read a range wider than the determined image reading range, and a second procedure for reading and transmitting the image reading device. The host computer receives image data in a range wider than the determined image reading range. 3), a fourth procedure of performing image processing on the image data of the wide range received from the image reading device, and only the image of the image reading range determined in the first procedure as the image processed image. And a fifth step of displaying using data.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, the image reading device reads a wider range than the image reading instruction range instructed by the host computer, performs image processing, and then the image reading instruction instructed by the host computer. Only the range can be displayed.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments shown in the accompanying FIGS. 1 to 7 will be described below. In addition, this embodiment is
It corresponds to claims 1 to 8.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of an image reading system 1 to which the present invention is applied. In the embodiments described below, the film scanner 100 of the image reading system 1 corresponds to an image reading device. The image reading system 1 includes, as shown in FIG.
Host computer (personal computer) 20,
Display 30, input device 40 (keyboard 40A,
The mouse 40B) and the like. Here, the host computer 20 includes a CPU 21, a memory 22,
A hard disk 23, a CD-ROM drive 24, and an interface board (for example, a SCSI board) 25 are built in. Here, the interface board 25
Is connected to the film scanner 100 by an interface cable 26. The host computer 20 and the film scanner 100 are connected by USB.
Other interfaces such as

In the image reading system 1, the user
The keyboard 40A and the mouse 40B are operated while referring to the display 30 to instruct the image reading and the image reading range. Here, it is assumed that the display 30 displays a rough image obtained by the prescan performed by the film scanner 100 in advance. When instructing the image reading and the image reading range, the host computer 20 instructs the film scanner 100 to scan an image range wider than the image reading range designated by the user.

The film scanner 100 scans an image range wider than the image reading range designated by the user in response to the image reading and image reading range commands. Here, the image range wider than the image reading range designated by the user is usually a range narrower than the maximum reading range of the image reading apparatus. However, the image range wider than the image reading range designated by the user may be the maximum reading range of the image reading device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the structure of the film scanner 100. The film scanner 100 includes a light source 111 that constitutes a photographing optical system and a lens 1 that constitutes an imaging optical system.
13, CCD 114, lens drive unit 100D, control unit 1
It consists of 00E. A light source 111, a holder 112, a lens 113, a CCD 114, and mirrors 115 and 115 are arranged in a scanner block 110 of the film scanner 100.

The light source 111 emits three kinds of visible light (for example, R, G, B) having different visible wavelength components. here,
The light source 111 includes a plurality of light emitting diodes that emit visible light. The light source 111 has three types of visible light (R, G, B)
Are selectively irradiated onto the photographic film 2 at a predetermined timing. This irradiation is performed according to a control signal from the control circuit 136. As a result, the color components of the image on the photographic film 2 are decomposed into visible components. The light source 111 may be of a type that emits infrared light as well as visible light. Irradiation with infrared light is because it is possible to detect dust (foreign matter) or scratches attached to the surface of the photographic film 2 regardless of the image on the photographic film 2.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which the photographic film (transparent original) 2 is held by the holder 112. Figure 2
3, the CCD 114 reads an image of one line in the main scanning direction of the photographic film 2 held by the holder 112 (reading an image along line L1 in FIG. 3). The CCD 114, when selectively irradiated with any of the three types of visible light, outputs an analog signal indicating the brightness thereof,
The analog processing circuit 13 of the control unit 100E for each one pixel
Transfer to 1. Image data for one line (pixel data)
When the transfer of is finished, other visible light is emitted, and similarly,
Image data for one line is obtained for each color component and infrared component. In this way, the CCD 114 reads the image decomposed into visible components (here, visible wavelength components) line by line. In FIG. 3, Yp1 and Yp2 indicate the entire reading range in the sub-scanning direction (different from the range instructed to read).

The CCD 114 outputs an analog signal indicating a brightness level according to the read image. The analog signal is subjected to various kinds of signal processing to sequentially generate visible image data. The lens driving unit 100D includes a lead screw 121 for driving the scan block 110,
It is composed of a scan motor 122. The scan motor 122 is a stepping motor. The shaft of the scan motor 122 is a lead screw. The shaft of the scan motor 122 is connected to the scan block 110.

The scan motor 122 has a control unit 100E.
Depending on the number of pulses of the drive signal from (MPU137),
Rotate a specified angle. At this time, the scan block 11
0 is moved stepwise at a constant interval relative to the photographic film 2 according to the number of pulses (movement in the sub-scanning direction indicated by arrow Y in FIG. 3). Control unit 100E
Is an analog processing circuit 131 and an A / D converter 13
2, LUT circuit 133, memory 134, interface circuit 135, control circuit 136, microprocessor unit (MPU) 137, program memory 1
And 38. Here, the analog processing circuit 131 is composed of a sample hold circuit, a clamp circuit, an offset circuit, and the like.

The analog processing circuit 131 includes a CCD 1
Signal processing is performed on the analog signals sequentially transferred from 14 (in units of one pixel). That is, the sample hold circuit performs signal processing such as removal of unnecessary signal components. The clamp circuit clamps a part of the signal to stabilize the signal. The offset circuit adjusts the signal level to a predetermined level.

The A / D converter 132 converts the analog signal output from the analog processing circuit 131 into a digital signal (image data). The LUT circuit 133 has A
The digital signal output from the / D converter 132 is subjected to gradation conversion processing according to the LUT gradation table. The memory 134 temporarily stores the image data for one line detected by the main scanning of the CCD 114. These image data are sent to the host computer 20 side through the interface circuit 135 and the connector 139.

Next, the specific operation of the image reading system shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The program that realizes this flowchart is a control program stored in the hard disk 23, the CD-ROM (storage medium) 3 or the like for the host computer 20. The film scanner 100 is a control program stored in the program memory 138.

The host computer 20 executes step S1.
At, the scan command is transmitted to the film scanner 100. At this time, the host computer 20
The image reading range is instructed to scan an image range wider than the image reading range designated by the user. here,
The difference between the image reading range specified by the user and the image reading range specified by the host computer is, for example, 2 to 2 for each of the row direction and the column direction of the reading range specified by the user.
The number of pixels is about 0 pixel higher (corresponding to 1 to 10 pixels per side in the rectangular reading range).

The film scanner 100 operates in step S1.
At 1, it is determined whether or not a prescan command is received from the host computer 20. If it is determined that it has been received, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, the film scanner 100 moves the scan block to the scan start position. Here, the scan start position is a line outside the line corresponding to the reading range designated by the user.

In step S13, the film scanner 100 emits R light. Subsequently, in step S14, the film scanner 100 scans the pixels in the reading range of the reading line designated by the host computer 20 (wider than the reading range designated by the user), and the obtained R color image data is stored in the host. Computer 20
Send to.

In step S15, the film scanner 100 emits G light. Subsequently, in step S16, the film scanner 100 scans the pixels in the reading range of the reading line designated by the host computer 20 (wider than the range designated by the user), and obtains the obtained G color image data in the host computer. Send to 20.

In step S17, the film scanner 100 emits B light. Subsequently, in step S18, the film scanner 100 scans the pixels in the reading range of the reading line designated by the host computer 20 (wider than the range designated by the user), and obtains the obtained B color image data in the host computer. Send to 20.

In step S19, the film scanner 100 determines whether or not all lines to be executed have been scanned. Here, all the lines to be executed are, for example, 2 to 5 from the reading range (the number of lines) specified by the user.
The number of lines is increased by 20 lines (scan start position and scan end position, 1 to 10 lines in each row direction). If it is determined that the processing has not ended, the process proceeds to step S20.

In step S20, the film scanner 100 moves the scan block to the next reading line. Subsequently, the film scanner 100 operates in step S.
The processes of 13 to S19 are repeated. In step S19, the film scanner 100 ends the process when it is determined that all the lines to be executed have been scanned.

The host computer 20 executes step S2.
At, it is determined whether R color image data is received from the film scanner 100. If received, the process proceeds to step S3. In step S3, the host computer 20 determines whether G color image data is received from the film scanner 100. If received,
Go to step S4.

In step S4, the host computer 20 determines whether the B color image data is received from the film scanner 100. If received, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, the host computer 20 receives the received R color image data, G color image data,
The B color image data is stored in a storage medium such as the memory 22 or a hard disk. Subsequently, in step S6, the host computer 20 determines whether or not image processing is performed. If it is determined that the image processing is performed, the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S7, the host computer performs image processing using all the image data received from the film scanner 100. At this time, since the film scanner 100 scans a range wider than the reading range designated by the user, the same processing can be performed over the entire range of image processing. In step S8, the host computer 20 displays on the display 30 only the image data in the range designated by the user among the data processed in step S7.

If it is determined in step S6 that there is no image processing, the process proceeds to step S9. In step S9, the host computer 20 uses only the image data in the range instructed by the user to read the display 30.
To display. Although the MPU 136 on the film scanner side controls the scan in the above-described embodiment, the CPU 21 of the host computer 20 may control the scan. In this case, the scanning program may be stored in the hard disk 23.
In addition, the scanning program is a CD-ROM (storage medium)
3 and records these programs in the CPU 21 or M
The PU 136 may be made to execute.

When the user specifies the reading range so that the maximum reading range is displayed, the following action can be taken. First, the film scanner 100 is previously prepared.
The rough image displayed by the prescan performed by
Display as an image narrower than the maximum reading range. Accordingly, even when the user specifies the reading range so as to display the maximum reading range, it is possible to perform the process of widening the reading range of the image reading device.

Secondly, the film scanner 10 is previously prepared.
The rough image displayed by the prescan executed by 0 is displayed for the entire image range. In this case, it becomes impossible to perform image processing on the edge of the image. Next, a specific example of image reading according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a concept when the film scanner 100 of the present embodiment performs reading. Figure 5
2A, the area A indicates the maximum reading range that the film scanner 100 can read, the area B indicates the image reading range specified by the user, and the area C indicates the film scanner 10.
0 indicates the image reading range that is actually scanned. Circles in FIGS. 5 to 7 represent read pixels.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the concept of reading in the present embodiment. Areas B and C have the same meanings as in FIG. The example shown in FIG. 6 shows the case of reading a range wider by 2 pixels each in the upper, lower, left, and right directions than the range specified by the user. In the example shown in FIG. 6, for the black circle pixels, the range (25 pixels) including the periphery is within the scan range,
It is possible to easily obtain the average (flattened value) from the data of each pixel.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example (see FIG. 3) when a problem occurs in the conventional technique. According to the example shown in FIG. 7, the pixel data read by the film scanner 100 also exists outside the area B designated by the user.
Therefore, the same calculation can be performed over the entire range specified by the user based on the original data. Therefore,
It is possible to effectively prevent the peripheral portion of the image from having a different color sense from the other portions such as the central portion. That is,
According to the present embodiment, pixel data can be obtained over a wider range than pixel data in an originally designated range, so that accurate processing, calculation, etc. can be performed over the entire designated range.

Further, when the user specifies the image reading range, it is possible to perform image processing of the same quality at least over the entire range. Moreover, since the range to be scanned is slightly increased, it is possible to keep the minimum required scan without increasing the scan time.
In the above-described embodiment, the difference between the image reading range designated by the user and the image reading range designated by the host computer is, for example, 2 for each of the row direction and the column direction of the reading range designated by the user. It has been described that the number of pixels is about 20 pixels higher (corresponding to 1 to 10 pixels per side in the reading range of a quadrangle).

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in the reading range of the above-mentioned quadrangle, the number of pixels to be widely scanned per side may be any number.

[0048]

According to the invention described in claims 1 to 8,
The host computer can perform the same image processing over the entire specified range. Therefore, the host computer can perform image processing over the entire specified range according to the preference of the user, and can display an image with a natural feeling according to the preference.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of an image reading system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the film scanner shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a main scanning direction and a sub scanning direction when scanning a photographic film (original).

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a specific operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a concept when the film scanner performs reading.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a concept when a film scanner performs reading.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a concept when the film scanner performs reading.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example in which a reading designated range of a user and a reading range of an image reading apparatus are the same in the related art.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of a case where complete processing cannot be performed over the entire area of a read image in the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image processing system 2 Photo film (original) 3 CD-ROM (storage medium) 20 Host computer 21 CPU 23 hard disk 24 CD-ROM drive 100 film scanner 111 light source 112 holder 114 image sensor 133 LUT circuit 137 MPU 138 Program memory

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An illumination unit for illuminating a document, an image pickup unit for forming light from the document through an optical system and converting the formed image into an electric signal, and the document and the image pickup unit relatively to each other. Various data is transmitted and received between an image reading device including a moving document moving device and a control device for controlling each device, and the image reading device.
In an image reading system including a host computer capable of displaying an image read by the image reading device, the image reading device is wider than a reading instruction range of an image instructed by an instruction unit of the host computer. An image reading system characterized by reading the. 2. The image reading system according to claim 1, wherein a range wider than the reading instruction range is a maximum reading range of the image reading device. 3. The image reading system according to claim 1, wherein the range wider than the reading instruction range is narrower than the maximum reading range of the image reading apparatus. 4. The image reading system according to claim 1, wherein the host computer displays only an image in the reading instruction range when displaying an image. Image reading system. 5. The image reading system according to claim 1, wherein the host computer performs image processing on all image data read by a reading unit of the image reading device, and then performs the image processing. An image reading system that displays only an image in the reading instruction range. 6. The image reading system according to claim 1, wherein the host computer stores all image data read by a reading unit of the image reading device in a storage medium. Characteristic image reading system. 7. A host computer and an image reading device, wherein the image reading device receives an instruction to send an image reading range from the host computer, and outputs an image in the image reading range instructed to read. In an image reading method of an image reading system for reading and transmitting to the host computer as image data, a first step of determining an image reading range on a display screen of a display device of the host computer; and the determined image reading A second step of transmitting to the image reading device an instruction to read a range wider than the range; and image data of a range wider than the determined image reading range read and transmitted by the image reading device, The third step received by the host computer; and the wide range received from the image reading device. And a fifth step of displaying only the image within the image reading range determined in the first step by using the image-processed image data. And an image reading method for an image reading system. 8. A host computer and an image reading device, wherein the image reading device receives an instruction to instruct an image reading range transmitted from the host computer, and reads an image in the instructed image reading range. An image reading program of an image reading system for transmitting to the host computer as image data, the image reading program includes a first step of determining an image reading range on a display screen of a display device of the host computer; A second procedure for transmitting to the image reading device a command to read a range wider than the determined image reading range; and a range wider than the determined image reading range read and transmitted by the image reading device. A third step of receiving the image data of the above from the host computer, and receiving from the image reading device. And a fourth procedure for performing image processing on the wide range of image data, and a fifth procedure for displaying only the image within the image reading range determined in the first procedure using the image-processed image data. An image reading program for an image reading system, comprising: