JP2004205564A - Image processing device, image processing method, computer program for image processing, image reading device, and copying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reading device that realizes reading of stereoscopic prints, as represented by braille, by a simple modification based on a general-purpose image reading device. <P>SOLUTION: The image reading device reads a document to obtain image information, and is characterised in that it includes: a storage part that stores specific colors for stereoscopic image information in advance; and a determination part that obtains specific parts of the document, as the stereoscopic image information based upon the specific color. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that reads a document and obtains image information, and more particularly to an improvement in a technique of reading a three-dimensional image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 08-152771
[Patent Document 2] JP 08-227455 A
[0003]
Heretofore, the present applicant has already proposed a mechanism for forming a three-dimensional image such as Braille using a thermally foamable toner. However, a system for copying stereoscopic information using an output once printed as a document has not yet been proposed.
[0004]
By the way, as a method for reading minute three-dimensional information on a planar document represented by Braille, a method using a shadow of document illumination has been conventionally proposed as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2. I have. In these proposals, two illumination lamps that illuminate from both sides of a reading line are alternately turned on to dynamically change the illumination condition, and separate and identify characters and braille on a target document.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the illumination system of a general image reading device has a configuration in which one illumination lamp is combined with a reflector (reflector). Modification of the illumination device exclusively for Braille requires complicated devices. This is disadvantageous in terms of cost.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such technical problems, and an object of the present invention is to realize reading of a three-dimensional print represented by Braille by a simple modification based on a general-purpose image reading device. An image reading device is provided.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, the present invention is an image processing apparatus to which image information of a document is input, a storage unit for storing in advance a specific color to be stereoscopic image information, and a three-dimensional image information of a specific color portion of the document based on the specific color. And a determining unit that outputs the image information. Further, the present invention is an image processing method for processing image information of a document, wherein a step of inputting image information of the document, a step of comparing the input image information with a specific color stored in advance, And outputting the image information of the specific color portion of the document as stereoscopic image information when the obtained image information corresponds to the specific color. The present invention also provides a computer capable of inputting and outputting image information, a step of inputting image information of a document, a step of comparing the input image information with a specific color stored in advance, And outputting the image information of the specific color portion of the document as stereoscopic image information when the image information corresponds to the specific color. Further, the present invention is an image reading apparatus for reading an original to obtain image information of the original, a storage unit for storing in advance a specific color as stereoscopic image information, and a specific color portion in the original based on the specific color. An image reading apparatus comprising: a determination unit that obtains information.
[0008]
Here, the specific color may be white. Note that the “specific color” refers to one in which lightness, saturation, hue, RGB, and the like are in certain regions. The term "white" means that the brightness, saturation, hue, RGB, and the like are in a certain area and are recognized as substantially white by human vision. Further, the determining unit can change the level of the stereoscopic image information based on the color of the specific portion. For example, the level of the stereoscopic image information can be increased in the case of bright white, and the level of the stereoscopic image information can be decreased in the case of dark white (close to gray).
[0009]
Further, a color other than white (for example, black, red, blue, etc.) can be used as the specific color. Although the specific color can be fixedly set in advance, it is preferable that the user can change the specific color. That is, the image reading apparatus may include a user interface unit to which an instruction from a user is input, and can change the specific color via the user interface unit. When the determination is made based on the specific color as described above, stereoscopic image information can be obtained with a simple configuration.
[0010]
Further, the present invention is an image processing apparatus to which image information of a document is input, a storage unit which stores in advance a specific shape to be stereoscopic image information, and a three-dimensional image information of a specific shape portion of the document based on the specific shape. And a determining unit that outputs the image information. The present invention is also an image processing method for processing image information of a document, wherein a step of inputting image information of the document, a step of comparing the input image information with a specific shape stored in advance, And outputting the image information of the specific shape portion of the document as stereoscopic image information if the obtained image information corresponds to the specific shape. Further, according to the present invention, a step of inputting image information of a document to a computer capable of inputting / outputting image information, a step of comparing the input image information with a specific shape stored in advance, And outputting the image information of the specific shape portion of the document as stereoscopic image information when the image information corresponds to the specific shape. Further, the present invention is an image reading apparatus that reads a document and obtains image information of the document, a storage unit that stores in advance a specific shape as stereoscopic image information, and a specific shape portion in the document based on the specific shape. And a determination unit obtained as the following.
[0011]
Here, the specific shape may be a Braille pattern or a dot constituting the Braille pattern. Here, “dot” means a point that constitutes Braille. The “Braille pattern” is a pattern composed of dots, and includes, for example, regularity of intervals between dots (constant intervals), regularity of directions between dots (vertical, horizontal, oblique) and the like. Can be When the determination is made based on the specific shape as described above, it is possible to appropriately obtain stereoscopic image information even when there is a color confusing with the specific color in the background of the document. In particular, since the braille patterns and the shapes of the dots are somewhat fixed, it is expected that more accurate stereoscopic image information can be obtained.
[0012]
When a line sensor (such as a line CCD) is used as a reading unit of the image reading apparatus, it is necessary to scan a document while scanning. In this case, in order to recognize the specific shape, (1) the main scan is performed after previously recognizing the position of the specific shape in the original document by the pre-scan, and (2) a plurality of lines in the main scanning direction (including the specific shape. The temporary information that temporarily stores image information, and obtains stereoscopic image information while recognizing a specific shape from the image information stored in the temporary memory during scanning.
[0013]
In addition, the determination unit can determine the combination of the specific color and the specific shape to obtain stereoscopic image information.
[0014]
Incidentally, such an image reading apparatus includes a normal reading mode and a three-dimensional reading mode, and the determination unit obtains a specific part (a specific color part or a specific shape part) in the document as the three-dimensional image information only in the three-dimensional reading mode. It can be configured as follows. In other words, a user interface unit for inputting an instruction from the user is provided, and the user can obtain the stereoscopic image information unintentionally by enabling the normal reading mode and the stereoscopic reading mode to be selectable by the instruction from the user. Also, it is possible to prevent the user from unintentionally obtaining normal planar image information.
[0015]
In addition, from the viewpoint of reflecting the user's intention, the user is instructed on a partial area in the document, and the determination unit is configured to obtain a specific portion in the designated area of the document as stereoscopic image information. Can be configured. Specifically, (1) a user interface unit for inputting an instruction from a user is provided. Before reading, a partial area in a document is instructed via the user interface unit, and the determination unit Is for obtaining a specific portion (specific color portion or specific shape portion) in the designated area of the document as stereoscopic image information. (2) An area indication mark indicating a partial area in the document is written, Recognizes the designated area based on the area support mark at the time of preliminary reading (pre-scanning), and recognizes a specific portion (specific color part or specific shape part) in the designated area of the document at the time of main reading (main scanning) thereafter. Information obtained as stereoscopic image information can be used.
[0016]
Further, the present invention can be regarded as a copying apparatus including such an image reading device. In other words, the present invention is a copying apparatus that includes these image reading devices and an image output device that forms a three-dimensional image using foamed toner based on three-dimensional image information among image information obtained by the image reading devices. Further, among the image information obtained by the image reading device, the image output device forms a three-dimensional image using foaming toner based on the three-dimensional image information and forms a flat image using non-foaming toner based on the image information. You can also. Here, the flat image made of the non-foamed toner may be a single color (for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) image, or a multicolor (for example, three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan), and four colors obtained by adding black to these. (Color) image.
[0017]
In this way, by providing an image reading mode for selecting a part for performing three-dimensional output based on the color and shape in the document to be read, a three-dimensional print having a color background such as braille printed on color paper is provided. On the other hand, a three-dimensional portion can be extracted from a normal three-color read image, and based on a general-purpose image reading device and a copying device (for example, a single illumination is sufficient and there is no need to dynamically change the illumination conditions). A three-dimensional reading system and a copying system can be realized by simple changes.
[0018]
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Example
Hereinafter, a three-dimensional copying system using an image processing apparatus, an image reading apparatus, and a copying apparatus according to the present invention will be described as an embodiment.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the entire three-dimensional copying system. FIG. 2 shows an input document (a flat input document G1 and a three-dimensional input document G2) to be copied by the three-dimensional copying system and an output document (a three-dimensional output document) C copied by the copying machine 1 of the three-dimensional copying system. It is for explanation.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 2A, a (flat) input document G1 has a flat character (ABC) L (f) and a flat braille B (f) on a background BG. In the input document G1, the color of the background BG and the color of the Braille B, and the color of the Braille B and the color of the character L are distinguishably different from each other. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2B, the (solid) input document G2 and the (solid) output document C have two-dimensional characters (ABC) L (f) and three-dimensional braille B (s) on the background BG. Is formed. In the input document G2 and the output document C, the color of the background BG and the color of the Braille B, and the color of the Braille B and the color of the character L are distinguishably different from each other. The background BG color, character L color, and Braille B color of the input documents G1 and G2 and the output document C are all substantially the same (the output document C is a color copy of the input documents G1 and G2). Is.)
[0021]
Here, the plane input document G1 is, for example, the one in which the user draws a portion of Braille B on a color drawing paper with a correction pen (see arrow {circle around (1)} in FIG. 1), or the one output by a copying machine 1 'capable of forming only a flat image. (See arrow (2) in FIG. 1). When the flat input document G1 is three-dimensionally printed by the copying machine 1, an output document C is obtained (see arrows {circle around (4)} and {circle around (6)} in FIG. 1). Further, the three-dimensional input document G2 may be the one output by the copying machine 1 according to the present invention (see arrow {circle around (3)} in FIG. 1). When the three-dimensional input document G2 is further subjected to three-dimensional color printing by the copying machine 1, an output document C is obtained (see arrows (5) and (6) in FIG. 1).
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view illustrating the copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a color copier (copier). As shown in FIG. A document reading device (image reading device) 4 for reading an image is provided.
[0023]
The original reading device 4 illuminates the original 2 placed on the platen glass 5 with a light source 6 and a reflector 6b, and reflects a reflected light image from the original 2 on a full rate mirror 7, half rate mirrors 8, 9 and Scanning exposure is performed on an image reading element 11 such as a CCD via a reduction optical system including an image lens 10, and the color reading light image of the original 2 is scanned by the image reading element 11 at a predetermined dot density (for example, 24 dots). / mm).
[0024]
The color material reflected light image of the document 2 read by the document reading device 4 is processed, for example, as document reflectance data of three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) (each 8 bits). The image processing device 12 transmits the reflectance data of the document 2 to the predetermined data such as shading correction, positional deviation correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame erasing, color / moving editing, and the like. Image processing is performed.
[0025]
Then, the image data subjected to the predetermined image processing by the image processing device 12 as described above has four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and transparent (T) (each 8 bits). The image data is sent to a ROS13 (Raster Output Scanner) as original color material gradation data. In the ROS13, image exposure using laser light is performed according to the original color material gradation data.
[0026]
An image forming means (image output device) A capable of forming a plurality of toner images of different colors (and types) is provided inside the color printer and the copying machine main body 1. The image forming means A mainly includes a ROS 13 as an image exposing means, a photosensitive drum 14 as an image gripper on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 14. And a rotary developing device 15 as a developing means capable of developing a plurality of toner images of different colors.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 3, the ROS 13 modulates a semiconductor laser (not shown) according to original reproduction color material gradation data, and emits a laser beam LB from the semiconductor laser according to the gradation data. The laser beam LB emitted from the semiconductor laser is deflected and scanned by a rotating polygon mirror (not shown), and is scanned and exposed on a photosensitive drum 14 as an image holding body via an f · θ lens and a reflecting mirror (not shown).
[0028]
The photoreceptor drum 14 on which the laser light LB is scanned and exposed by the ROS 13 is driven to rotate at a predetermined speed in a direction indicated by an arrow by a driving unit (not shown). The surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is charged in advance to a predetermined polarity (for example, negative polarity) and potential by a scorotron 16 for primary charging, and then scanned and exposed to laser light LB in accordance with original reproduction color material gradation data. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed. After the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is uniformly charged to, for example, -650 V, the image portion is scanned and exposed to laser light LB to form an electrostatic latent image having an exposed portion of -200 V. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 14 includes four color developing units 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15T of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and transparent (T). For example, the rotary developing device 15 reversely develops the toner (charged color material) charged to a negative polarity having the same polarity as the charged polarity of the photoconductor drum 14 to form a toner image T of a predetermined color.
[0029]
At this time, for example, a developing bias voltage of -500 V is applied to the developing rolls of the developing units 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15T. The toner image T formed on the photoconductor drum 14 is charged with a negative polarity by a pre-transfer charger 17 as necessary, and the charge amount is adjusted.
[0030]
The toner image of each color formed on the photosensitive drum 14 is transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt 18 as an intermediate transfer member disposed below the photosensitive drum 14 by a primary transfer roll as a first transfer unit. By 19, multiple transfer is performed at the first nip portion N1. The intermediate transfer belt 18 is moved at the same moving speed as the peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum 14 by a driving roll 20, a driven roll 21, a tension roll 22, and a backup roll 23 as an opposing roll constituting a part of the secondary transfer means. To be rotatable in the direction of the arrow.
[0031]
On the intermediate transfer belt 18, four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and transparent (T) are formed on the photosensitive drum 14 according to the color of the image to be formed. All or some of the toner images are transferred by the primary transfer roll 19 in a state of being sequentially superimposed. The toner image T transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 18 is provided on a recording paper 24 as a recording medium conveyed to a secondary transfer position N2 at a predetermined timing, with a backup roll 23 supporting the intermediate transfer belt 18 and The transfer is performed by the pressing force and the electrostatic attraction force of the secondary transfer roll 25 that forms a part of the second transfer unit that presses against the back-up flower 23.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 3, the recording paper 24 is fed in a predetermined size by a feed roll 27 from a paper feed cassette 26 serving as a plurality of recording medium housing members disposed at a lower portion in the copying machine 1. You. The fed recording paper 24 is transported by a plurality of transport rolls 28 and registration rolls 29 to the secondary transfer position N2 of the intermediate transfer belt 18 at a predetermined timing. Then, as described above, the toner image of a predetermined color is collectively transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 18 to the recording paper 24 by the backup roll 23 and the secondary transfer roll 25 as secondary transfer means. It has become so.
[0033]
The recording paper 24 on which the toner image of a predetermined color has been transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 18 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 18 and then conveyed to a fixing device 30 where a heating roll 31 of the fixing device 30 is heated. Then, the toner image is fixed on the recording paper 24 by heat and pressure by the pressure roll 32, and is discharged to the outside of the color printer and the copying machine main body 1, thereby completing the color image forming process.
[0034]
In the drawing, reference numeral 33 denotes a cleaning device for removing residual toner, paper dust, and the like from the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 after the completion of the transfer process, and reference numeral 34 denotes an intermediate device for cleaning the intermediate transfer belt 18. Reference numeral 35 denotes a transfer belt cleaner, which is a cleaner for cleaning the secondary transfer roll 25. Further, the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 34 and the cleaner 35 of the secondary transfer roll 25 are configured to come into contact with and separate from the intermediate transfer belt 18 at a predetermined timing.
[0035]
As described above, a non-foamable full-color toner (yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C) is formed on the toner image formed of the heat-foamable toner (transparent (T)) formed on the surface of the recording paper 24. ), A toner image composed of a heat-expandable toner and a color toner image composed of a non-expandable full-color toner are transferred to the surface of the recording paper 24, and then heated and fixed. By performing the processing, the thermally foamable toner is foamed to form a three-dimensional image, and a three-dimensional color image is formed by fusing and fixing a color toner image composed of a non-foamable toner.
[0036]
That is, in this embodiment, the non-foamable toner image and the non-foamable full-color toner image are transferred onto the recording paper 24 only on the upper surface of the thermo-foamable toner image in a state where they are transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 18. A non-foaming full color toner image is formed on the side (slope) of the thermal foaming toner image, and a non-foaming full color toner image is formed. Color superimposed images are formed so that the full-color toner image is not continuously contacted with the recording paper 24, transferred collectively to the recording paper 24, and the foaming / thermal fusion of the heat-foamable toner and non-foaming are performed by the fixing device. It is configured to form a three-dimensional full-color image by performing simultaneous (one-shot) thermal fusing of the neutral full-color toner.
[0037]
The copier 1 ′ (see FIG. 1) that does not form a three-dimensional image uses a developing unit 15BK filled with black toner, which is a non-foamed toner, instead of the developing unit 15T filled with transparent foamed toner. Have.
[0038]
By using such a copying machine 1, a braille B (s) portion (see FIG. 2B) in a three-dimensional input document G2 (see arrow 3 in FIG. 1) or a flat input document G1 (see arrow in FIG. 1) If the Braille B (f) portion (see FIG. 2A) in (1) and (2) can be discriminated and read, the portion can be printed out with the thermal foaming toner (see arrow in FIG. 1). (Refer to (6)), and it is possible to copy a three-dimensional image even if there is no electronic original.
[0039]
However, in the case of a thermofoamable toner printed on ordinary white paper, it was difficult to distinguish the thermofoamable toner from white paper. Braille is an example of application of such a thermal foaming toner output. In the case of low-vision people, who account for a considerable proportion of Braille users, a small amount of remaining visual acuity helps reading of Braille. Therefore, white Braille B is used as background BG with color paper as shown in FIG. Things tend to be pleased. Further, even decorative prints using a thermal foaming toner have many uses since printing on such a color background BG gives a high-quality feeling like a cameo.
[0040]
In consideration of these circumstances, as a copy mode, a three-dimensional copy mode in which a white area is extracted from a read image and the extracted portion is output with a thermal foaming toner is provided, so that a thermal foam having such a color background is provided. It is possible to perform a copy specialized for the toner information.
[0041]
FIG. 4 illustrates an outline of the image reading processing circuit of the copying machine 1. As shown in the figure, a three-line CCD sensor 110 is provided, and image data read by this sensor is read as an analog signal, and is converted into a digital signal by an AD converter 111. At the subsequent stage, a pre-correction processing unit 112 for correcting unevenness at the time of reading, such as color registration correction and shading correction processing of the three-line sensor, is provided. Subsequently, a color conversion circuit using a reading signal of three colors is used. After being sent to a color conversion processing unit 122 for performing a correction process such as a stain, and subjected to a color conversion process, it is subjected to a sharpness correction, a TRC process and the like, and then a plate of a copy color is formed.
[0042]
Further, the operation of the color conversion processing unit 122 will be described. First, the UI section of the copying machine 1 selects a three-dimensional original reading mode for performing output using a thermal foaming toner having a color background.
[0043]
When this mode is selected, the control unit 100 rewrites the setting of the color conversion processing from the normal copy mode to another setting stored in the storage unit in advance. The color conversion process converts the RGB data into L * a * b *, and performs L / a * b * data conversion using a color conversion 120 for user adjustment of saturation, hue, etc., and a direct lookup table (DLUT). , And color conversion 121 for converting color data into YMC three-color data.
[0044]
In the DLUT method constituting the color conversion 121, a data table indicating output values of YMC and YMCK corresponding to input L * a * b * data is provided in advance for each output version of each color. Usually, if a table of 8 bits × 3 colors = 24 bits is provided, the scale of the LUT becomes large. Therefore, addressing of upper 6 bits of each color and interpolation processing by lower 2 bits are used in combination. As in this embodiment, when the (BK) toner of the YMCK four-color copying machine / printer is used by switching to the thermal foaming toner (T), a DLUT that outputs L * a * b * → K plate is used. The contents of the interpolation processing are rewritten for the thermal foaming toner (the contents of the LUT and the DLUT for outputting the T-plate and the interpolation processing).
[0045]
FIG. 5 shows an outline of the LUT at this time, in which the values of a * b * are represented by saturation values C *. The vertical axis is lightness L *, and the horizontal axis is chroma value C *. An area in which the lightness L * is bright (high) and the value of the saturation C * is low is extracted as a white area indicated by oblique lines in the drawing, and white thermal foaming toner and white are placed on the color background BG of the input documents G1 and G2. Judgment is made as Braille B (s) or Braille B (f) formed with the ground portion of the recording paper or the white correction liquid, and is output as a thermally foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information).
[0046]
The operation in the actual copy mode will be described below. In this example, an example is shown in which copying is performed with four colors of YMC and thermal foaming toner. As for the three YMC colors, as in the normal copy mode, color conversion is performed on each of the read scans from the three read colors of RGB to convert them to the output pattern of each YMC single color plate. This is repeated three times to form a YMC print image on the intermediate transfer belt 18.
[0047]
In the fourth color copying operation corresponding to the thermal foaming toner plate, the content of the DLUT is switched to the thermal foaming toner for the color background, and the saturation and brightness of the RGB read data are in the white area. The print image is formed such that the thermal foaming toner is hit by the DLUT.
[0048]
In this way, the color information on the input documents G1 and G2 is copied as is with the YMC toner, and the three-dimensional information by the thermal foaming toner, the ground portion of the white recording paper, and the white correction liquid are output to the thermal foaming toner plate. Then, the printed image is printed with a thermal foaming toner, and is copied as a three-dimensional color print.
[0049]
In this case, even if there is no color paper of the same color as the input originals G1 and G2 as copy paper at hand, the same background BG color as the input originals G1 and G2 can be reproduced by the color toner, and The letter L written above can also be reproduced as it is with color toner. Furthermore, the Braille B formed in white on the input documents G1 and G2 (regardless of whether it is three-dimensional or flat) is formed as three-dimensional Braille B (f) (FIG. 2, FIG. 6).
[0050]
Although the above description has been made with reference to a four-color printer, a five-color printer having a developing unit for a fifth color for a thermally foamable toner can be used for a normal YMCK color toner. Also, in a combination system of a color reading device and a monochrome printer provided for a scan-in function to an image database, the black toner of the monochrome printer is switched with the thermal foaming toner, and combined with the color background three-dimensional mode. By switching to the same color conversion setting as in the case of a four-color printer, only the white portion in the color background can be printed with thermal foaming toner and copied as three-dimensional information. Further, in the present embodiment, white is set as the specific color. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and colors other than white (for example, black, red, blue, etc.) can be changed to specific colors by instructing via the UI unit of the copying machine 1 It can also be. Specifically, the color area shown as a shaded portion in FIG. 5 can be changed.
[0051]
Modification 1
In the embodiment, an area in which the lightness L * is bright (high) and the value of the saturation C * is low is extracted as a white area indicated by oblique lines in the drawing, and white thermal foaming is performed on the color background BG of the input documents G1 and G2. Is determined as a braille B (s) or a Braille B (f) formed with a non-conductive toner, a ground portion of white recording paper, or a white correction liquid, and output as a thermally foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information). The level of the thermally foamable toner plate was constant. FIG. 7A is a graph illustrating the relationship between the level of the thermally foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information) and the lightness L * as a white region element. As described above, when the lightness L * exceeds a certain value, the level of the thermally foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information) changes from “0” to the maximum value “255”.
[0052]
In this modification, the relationship between the lightness L * and the level of the thermally foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information) is continuously changed. FIG. 7B is a graph illustrating the relationship between the level of the thermally foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information) and the lightness L * as an element of the white area in this modification. As described above, when the lightness L * exceeds a certain value, the level of the thermally foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information) changes from “0” to “127”, and thereafter, the level increases as the lightness increases. The level can be configured to take a constant value “255” when the brightness becomes high to some extent.
[0053]
Further, in the copying machine 1, for example, by changing the coverage rate of the thermal foaming toner in the output document C and the heating time at the time of fixing according to the level of the thermal foaming toner plate, for example, the input documents G1, G2 The bright white portion can increase the height of the stereoscopic image, and the relatively dark white portions of the input documents G1 and G2 can decrease the height of the stereoscopic image.
[0054]
Modification 2
In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the color of the character L of the input documents G1 and G2 and the color of the braille B can be identified, but the color of the character L and the color of the braille B of the input documents G1 and G2 are In some cases, they cannot be identified. In this case, unlike the user's intention, the characters L are also formed three-dimensionally in the output document C.
[0055]
In such a case, first, as shown in FIG. 8, a specific area of the input documents G1 and G2 is designated using the UI unit of the copying machine 1, and a white portion (Braille B) in the specific area is designated. Can be used to form Braille B (s) as a stereoscopic image on the output document C. At this time, the character L outside the specific area is formed as a character L (f) in a plane.
[0056]
Second, as shown in FIG. 9, a mark A of a special color (preset) surrounding a specific area is written in the input documents G1 and G2, and the specific area is recognized based on the special color at the time of pre-scanning. Then, at the time of the main scan, the braille B (s) can be formed as a three-dimensional image of the white portion (Braille B) in the specific area on the output document C. At this time, similarly, the character L outside the specific area is formed as a character L (f) in a plane.
[0057]
Modification 3
In the second modification, it is necessary for the image reading device 4 to recognize the specific area in advance, which is somewhat complicated for the user. Therefore, in this modified example, the Braille in the output document C is formed three-dimensionally even if the color of the character L and the color of the Braille B of the input documents G1 and G2 cannot be identified without previously recognizing the specific area. , A letter L in a plane.
[0058]
FIG. 10 illustrates a configuration of the control unit 100 (see FIG. 4) of the copying machine 1 according to the present modification. The control unit 100 includes an image memory 101 and a reference shape memory 102 therein. The image memory 101 stores image information extracted as an area where the lightness L * is bright (high) and the value of the saturation C * is low (a white area indicated by oblique lines in FIG. 5) for a plurality of scanning lines. On the other hand, the reference shape memory 102 stores a standard shape of the dots d forming the Braille B as the reference shape. Here, if a dot d shape is recognized in the image information stored in the image memory 101, it is white thermal foaming toner on the color background BG of the input documents G1, G2, the ground portion of the white recording paper, or Judge as Braille B (s) or Braille B (f) formed with the white correction liquid, and output as a thermally foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information).
[0059]
By performing such processing, as shown in FIG. 11, the braille B in the input original G is replaced with the three-dimensional braille B (s) in the output original C without specifying the specific area where the braille B exists. A planar character L (f) is formed.
[0060]
As the reference shape, a Braille pattern can be stored as shown in FIG. This Braille pattern is a pattern in which dots d are adjacent to each other in the vertical, horizontal, and diagonal directions, and is a characteristic pattern included in Braille. Also, by pre-scanning, the white thermal foaming toner on the color background BG of the input documents G1 and G2, the ground portion of the white recording paper, or the braille B (s) or the braille B (f) formed with the white correction liquid. Thus, the specific portion can be output as a thermally foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information) in the main scan.
[0061]
As described above, in the copying machine and the like according to the present embodiment, (1) the original system can be realized only by changing the software system such as adding the mode setting means and the color conversion table without making a major change. By modifying a general-purpose copying machine at low cost, a copying function can be provided to a Braille user. Also, (2) it can be easily copied as a decorative print. (3) Even if a personal computer or the like is not used, a Braille pattern written on a color paper with a white correction liquid is copied in the copy mode of the present invention, whereby a Braille pattern can be easily created.
[0062]
In the present embodiment, a copying machine (image reading apparatus and image processing apparatus provided therein) as an image forming apparatus has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, image data (image information ) Can also be applied to an image forming program of a computer to which is input. The image data may be input / output to / from the outside of the computer, or may be input / output to / from a memory inside the computer.
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image reading apparatus that realizes reading of a three-dimensional print represented by Braille.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the entire three-dimensional copying system.
FIG. 2 illustrates an input document and an output document.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating a copying machine according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an outline of an image reading processing circuit of the copying machine according to the embodiment;
FIG. 5 shows an outline of the LUT, in which a * b * values are represented by saturation values C *.
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a procedure of three-dimensional color copying in the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating a stereoscopic image information level according to a first modification.
FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating one procedure of three-dimensional color copying in a second modification.
FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating another procedure of three-dimensional color copying in Modification Example 2.
FIG. 10 illustrates one configuration of a control unit of a copying machine according to a third modification.
FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a procedure of three-dimensional color copying in a third modification.
FIG. 12 illustrates another configuration of the control unit of the copying machine according to the third modification.
[Explanation of symbols]
1. Copying machine (copying device), G: input document, C: output document, W: white correction pen, BG: background, L: character, B: Braille, d: dot, 4: document reading device (image reading device) , 11 image reading element, 12 image processing device, A image forming means (image output device), 100 control unit (storage unit, judgment unit), 122 color conversion processing unit, 101 image memory, 102 … Standard shape memory

Claims (18)

An image processing device into which image information of the document is input,
A storage unit that stores in advance a specific color as stereoscopic image information;
A determination unit that outputs image information of a specific color portion of the document as stereoscopic image information based on the specific color,
An image processing apparatus comprising: An image processing method for processing image information of a document,
Inputting image information of the original;
Comparing the input image information with a specific color stored in advance,
Outputting the image information of the specific color portion of the document as stereoscopic image information when the input image information corresponds to the specific color;
An image processing method comprising: To a computer that can input and output image information,
Inputting image information of the original;
Comparing the input image information with a specific color stored in advance,
Outputting the image information of the specific color portion of the document as stereoscopic image information when the input image information corresponds to the specific color;
A computer program for image processing to execute. An image reading apparatus that reads an original and obtains image information of the original;
A storage unit that stores in advance a specific color as stereoscopic image information;
A determining unit that obtains a specific color portion in the document as stereoscopic image information based on the specific color;
An image reading device comprising: The image reading device according to claim 4, wherein the specific color is white. The image reading device according to claim 4, wherein the specific color has a certain range, and the determination unit changes the level of the stereoscopic image information based on a color of the specific color portion. 7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a user interface unit to which an instruction from a user is input, wherein the specific color can be changed via the user interface unit. An image processing device into which image information of the document is input,
A storage unit that stores in advance a specific shape to be stereoscopic image information;
A determining unit that outputs image information of a specific shape portion of the document as stereoscopic image information based on the specific shape,
An image processing apparatus comprising: An image processing method for processing image information of a document,
Inputting image information of the original;
Comparing the input image information with a specific shape stored in advance,
Outputting the image information of the specific shape portion of the document as stereoscopic image information when the input image information corresponds to the specific shape;
An image processing method comprising: To a computer that can input and output image information,
Inputting image information of the original;
Comparing the input image information with a specific shape stored in advance,
Outputting the image information of the specific shape portion of the document as stereoscopic image information when the input image information corresponds to the specific shape;
A computer program for image processing to execute. An image reading apparatus that reads an original and obtains image information of the original;
A storage unit that stores in advance a specific shape to be stereoscopic image information;
A determining unit that obtains a specific shape portion in the document as stereoscopic image information based on the specific shape,
An image reading device comprising: The image reading device according to claim 11, wherein the specific shape is a Braille pattern. The image reading device according to claim 11, wherein the specific shape is a dot forming a Braille pattern. A normal reading mode and a three-dimensional reading mode are provided,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the determination unit obtains a specific portion in the document as stereoscopic image information only in a stereoscopic reading mode. A user interface unit to which an instruction from a user is input is provided, and a partial area in the document is instructed via the user interface unit before reading,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the determination unit obtains a specific portion in the designated area of the document as stereoscopic image information. An area indication mark indicating a partial area in the document is written,
The image according to claim 4, wherein the determination unit recognizes the designated area based on the area support mark at the time of preliminary reading, and obtains a specific portion in the designated area of the document as stereoscopic image information at the time of subsequent main reading. Reader. A copying apparatus comprising: the image reading device according to claim 4 or 11; and an image output device that forms a three-dimensional image using foamed toner based on three-dimensional image information among image information obtained by the image reading device. The image output device forms a three-dimensional image using foaming toner based on the three-dimensional image information and forms a two-dimensional image using non-foaming toner based on the image information, among image information obtained by the image reading device. 8. The copying apparatus according to 7.

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