JP2004274468A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus capable of reading an original image by keeping the original image to have a desired image size and applying re-scanning to the image even when the original read by the skimming-through method includes the original image whose size is beyond the desired image size. <P>SOLUTION: When the compression rate of a read image is insufficient in the case of reading the image by a reader adopting the skimming-through method, the job is interrupted, and whether re-scanning is carried out or the job is to be stopped can be instructed. When the insufficient state repetitively takes place for N times even by the re-scanning, the job is automatically terminated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that compresses and processes image data.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in image input / output devices, an image input device including a document conveying unit has been generally used as a unit for inputting a plurality of documents to the image input / output device.
[0003]
The image input apparatus provided with the document conveying means is roughly classified into two types depending on the method of conveying the document and the method of inputting the image. One is a fixed document reading method in which a document is transported by a document transport unit and then the document is read by a movable reading optical system. The other is a fixed reading method in which the document is transported by the document transport unit. This is a drift reading method in which an original is read by an optical system.
[0004]
The image reading apparatus of the moving-reading method has an excellent performance of reading a document per unit time as compared with the image input apparatus of the fixed-document reading method. This is because when the fixed document reading method reads a document, two operations of “document conveyance” → “document reading by moving the optical system” are sequentially performed on one document, so that a plurality of documents are read. Compared with reading a document, the flow reading method is for reading a plurality of documents by one operation of “document conveyance + document reading by a fixed optical system”.
[0005]
Such a stream reading type image input apparatus converts image information into a digital signal, performs image processing, and then performs image processing. Has become.
[0006]
On the other hand, conventionally, when handling color image data, the size of the data amount has been a problem. For example, for a binary image sufficient to represent a black-and-white image, a standard color image consisting of 8 bits each for RGB requires 24 times the data amount to represent an image of the same size. . This simply means that 24 times as much memory is required as when a monochrome image is handled, which leads to a large increase in cost.
[0007]
For this reason, a technique has been adopted in which compression processing is performed on image data to reduce the data capacity, thereby reducing the memory capacity mounted on the device and suppressing an increase in cost. For example, by providing a circuit for compressing / expanding image data in the control device, storing the compressed image data in a memory, and expanding the image data when outputting from the memory, This means that the capacity of the image memory can be reduced.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the case of using a variable-length compression method such as JPEG, which increases the compression ratio and suppresses cost increase, as the compression / expansion method, the data size after compression is not determined until image compression processing is performed. Therefore, when an image is read, it may not fit in a desired image size.
[0009]
In this case, in the case of the fixed original reading method, since the original is placed on the platen glass, reset the image so that the image is compressed at a higher compression ratio, and then re-input the same original. Image reading can be performed. However, in the case of the flow-reading method, when the data size of the document is determined, the document is moved and has already been ejected, so that there is a problem that the image cannot be read again for the same document. .
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and enables re-scanning of an image even when an original image that does not fit in a desired image size is included in an original read by the drift reading method. It is another object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus capable of performing a reading operation while keeping a desired image size.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, an image input means for inputting an image, a data compression means for compressing image data input by the image input means, Size estimating means for estimating in advance whether or not the size can achieve a predetermined size; and interrupting the image input operation by the image input means when the size estimating means estimates that the predetermined size cannot be achieved. Image input suspending means for setting the state.
[0012]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0013]
<Overall configuration of image processing device>
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014]
The image processing apparatus includes a reader unit (image input device) 200, a control device 220, and a printer unit (image output device) 300. A reader unit (image input device) 200 optically reads a document image and converts it into image data. The reader unit 200 includes a scanner unit 210 having a function of reading a document, and a document feeding unit 250 having a function of conveying document sheets.
[0015]
A printer unit (image output device) 300 has a function of conveying recording paper, printing image data thereon as a visible image, and discharging the recording paper outside the apparatus, and a paper feeding unit having a plurality of types of recording paper cassettes. 310, a marking unit 320 for transferring and fixing image data to recording paper, and a paper discharging unit 330 for sorting, stapling and printing the printed recording paper outside the apparatus.
[0016]
The control device 220 is electrically connected to the reader unit 200 and the printer unit 300, and is further connected to host computers 401 and 402 via the network 400. The control device 220 controls the reader unit 200 to read the image data of the document, and controls the printer unit 300 to output the image data to recording paper to provide a copy function. Also, a scanner function of converting image data read from the reader unit 200 into code data and transmitting the code data to the host computer via the network 400, and converting code data received from the host computer via the network 400 into image data, A printer function for outputting to the printer unit 300 is provided.
[0017]
The operation unit 150 includes a liquid crystal touch panel and is connected to the control device 220 to provide a user I / F for operating the image processing apparatus.
[0018]
<Document scanning method>
Next, a method of reading a document in the reader unit 200 will be described.
[0019]
FIG. 2 is a device configuration diagram of the reader unit 200.
[0020]
When a document is fed from the document feed unit 250, information on the document 1403 is read while the document 1403 is relatively moved with respect to the exposure unit 1413 of the scanner unit 210. A document 1403 is set on a document tray 1402, and a document feed roller 1404 is paired with a separation pad 1405 to transport the documents 1403 one by one. The transported document 1403 is sent into the apparatus by an intermediate roller pair 1406, transported by a large roller 1408 and a first driven roller 1409, and further transported by a large roller 1408 and a second driven roller 1410.
[0021]
The document 1403 conveyed by the large roller 1408 and the second driven roller 1410 passes between the flow reading document glass 1412 and the document guide plate 1417, passes through the jump table 1418, and passes through the large roller 1408 and the third driven roller. 1411. The document 1403 conveyed by the large roller 1408 and the third driven roller 1411 is discharged out of the apparatus by a document discharge roller pair 1407. The document 1403 is conveyed by the document guide plate 1417 so as to contact the document glass 1412 between the document glass 1412 and the document guide plate 1417.
[0022]
When the original 1403 passes over the flow-reading original glass 1412, the surface in contact with the flow-reading original glass 1412 is exposed by the exposure unit 1413. As a result, the reflected light from the obtained document 1403 is transmitted to the mirror unit 1414. The transmitted reflected light passes through a lens 1415, is collected, and is converted into an electric signal by a CCD sensor unit 1416.
[0023]
When performing pressure plate reading for reading the document 1421 on the platen glass 1420, the movement of the exposure unit 1413 is started to scan the document, and as a result, reflected light from the document 1403 is reflected by the mirror unit 1414. Is transmitted to The transmitted reflected light passes through a lens 1415, is collected, and is converted into an electric signal by a CCD sensor unit 1416.
[0024]
<Detailed configuration of image processing device>
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG.
[0025]
The reader unit 200 includes a document feeding unit 250 having a function of conveying a document sheet, and a scanner unit 210 having a function of reading a document.
[0026]
The control device 220 controls the document feeding unit 250 and the scanner unit 210 to read the image data of the document, and controls the printing unit 300 to output the image data to recording paper to provide a copy function. In the figure, 100 is a selector for switching an image input system, 101 is a block line buffer for compression, 103 is a color image encoder, 106 is a compression memory, 109 is a hard disk, 110 is a compression memory, 111 is a color image decoder, Reference numeral 115 denotes a development block line buffer.
[0027]
Signals from the image input means are supplied from a scanner unit 210 and a page description language (PDL) rendering unit 121, and from a scanner unit 210 for a copier, from a page description language rendering unit 121 for a printer, and the like. Is used by switching the selector 100 in accordance with.
[0028]
In the compressed block line buffer 101, the image is divided into tiles (assuming that the size of the tile is M × N). Cosine transform coding (JPEG) is performed.
[0029]
However, M and N must be multiples of the window size for discrete cosine transform coding. In the JPEG compression scheme used in this embodiment, the window size for compression is 8 × 8 pixels. For example, if M = N = 32, the 32 × 32 pixel tile is further divided into 16 8 × 8 pixels. The image is divided and JPEG compression is performed in units of 8 × 8 pixels. (Hereafter, the description will be made assuming that M = N = 32, but it is not necessarily limited to that value.)
The encoder 103 subjects the 16 8 × 8 pixel windows included in the 32 × 32 pixel tile image to DCT transform and quantizes the windows. The quantization coefficient (called a quantization matrix) used at this time can be switched and set for each tile. The switching is performed by a CPU (not shown) generating a selection signal for selecting a plurality of quantization coefficients held in the encoder in advance and sending the selection signal to the encoder 103. The encoded data is stored as compressed image data on the hard disk 109 via the compression buffer 106.
[0030]
When outputting the stored image from the printer unit 300, the image data stored in the hard disk 109 is read out, decoded by the decoder 111, and output. That is, in accordance with the quantization matrix at the time of compressing the image, the decoding parameter of the compressed and stored image data (in this embodiment, the inverse quantization matrix) is switched, and the image data is decoded. Is output to the line buffer 115.
[0031]
<Configuration of Encoder and Decoder>
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the encoder 103 and the decoder 111.
[0032]
Reference numeral 200 denotes an image signal input from the image input device, and in the case of a color signal, a signal of three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) and a signal of 256 gradations.
[0033]
In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a color converter, which converts an RGB signal into a luminance / color difference signal (YCbCr). Reference numeral 12 denotes a discrete cosine transform (DCT), which performs spatial frequency transform (DCT transform) on each of the luminance and color difference signals in units of 8 × 8 pixels. A quantizer 13 quantizes the DCT coefficients using the set quantization matrix, thereby reducing the data amount. Reference numeral 14 denotes a variable length encoder (VLC), which further reduces data by performing a Huffman encoding process on the quantized value.
[0034]
The encoder 103 is constituted by these means, and the compressed image data is stored in the hard disk 109 via the compression memory 106. The stored data is decoded in the order of a variable length decoder (VLD) 16, an inverse quantizer 17, an IDCT 18, and a color converter 19. That is, the variable length decoder 16 performs Huffman decoding, and the inverse quantizer 17 returns to the DCT coefficient value by the set inverse quantization matrix. The IDCT 18 performs a DCT inverse transform to return to a luminance / color difference signal. The color converter 19 returns the luminance and chrominance signals to RGB signals. Then, as a result of the above-described compression processing and decoding processing, the color image signal 01 is output to the outside.
[0035]
<Example of quantization matrix>
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a quantization matrix for an 8 × 8 DCT coefficient. FIG. 5A shows an example of a quantization matrix T1 applied first, and FIG. Is an example of a quantization matrix T2 applied to increase.
[0036]
When the compression is performed using the quantization matrix T1 and a desired compression ratio cannot be achieved, the compression is performed using the quantization matrix T2 that is a matrix that coarsens the quantization step. In the present embodiment, since two matrices are prepared, rescanning can be performed only once (up to twice for one page of the original together with the first scan), but a higher compression ratio is used. If a plurality of quantization matrices are prepared, rescanning can be performed by the number of prepared quantization matrices.
[0037]
In the above, the quantization matrices T1, T2 and their corresponding inverse quantization matrices are stored in advance in the quantization unit 13 and the inverse quantization unit 17 in FIG. 4, and the CPU (not shown) performs the quantization at the time of compressing the image data. Switch which tile to use according to the matrix.
[0038]
<Data structure of compressed image data>
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a data structure when the compressed image data is stored in the compression line block buffer 101 and the hard disk 109.
[0039]
The header information of the first tile and the DCT-encoded image information are stored in order from the beginning of the data, and the data is continuously written to the second tile, the third tile,. Is written up to the last tile included in.
[0040]
In the header information of each tile, the data size of the compressed data, the number of the tile, and the like are recorded. At the same time, whether the quantization matrix T1 or the quantization matrix T2 is used as the quantization matrix of the image data is recorded. Information is also recorded.
[0041]
When decoding the encoded and recorded data, information of T1 or T2 is read with reference to the header information, and inverse quantization may be performed by selecting an appropriate inverse quantization matrix. It turns out that.
[0042]
<Control Sequence of Document Feeding Unit and Scanner Unit>
Next, a control sequence of the document feeding unit 250 and the scanner unit 210 by the control device 220 will be described.
[0043]
If the image size after compression is larger than the desired size, it may be necessary to read the same document again. The command cannot be issued, and the next original feed request command cannot be issued unless the image size is determined, regardless of whether the reading operation is necessary again.
[0044]
Therefore, the sequence is delayed by the response time from when the control device 220 receives the scan operation completion command to when the next document feed request command is issued, and the copy productivity is deteriorated. There is a problem.
[0045]
To solve this problem, in the present embodiment, the image size after compression is estimated before the compression of the image is completed, that is, before the control device 220 receives the scan operation completion command, and the estimated value is calculated. If the size is equal to or smaller than the predetermined size, a command to request feeding of the next document is issued. That is, if the control device 220 issues a next document feed request command to the document feed unit 250 before the document feed unit 250 receives the scan operation completion command from the scanner unit 210. Therefore, the above-described delay of the response time does not occur.
[0046]
<Control Timing of Document Feeding Unit and Scanner Unit>
FIG. 7 is a control timing chart of the document feeding unit 250 and the scanner unit 210 by the control device 220. Communication between the units is performed by a known technique such as command transmission by serial communication.
[0047]
When a copy operation start request command is given from the operation unit 150 to the control device 220 (T11), the control device 220 issues a document feed request command to the document feed unit 250 (T12).
[0048]
In response, the document feeding unit 250 performs a sheet feeding operation (T13), and when the sheet feeding operation is completed, issues a sheet feeding completion command to the control device 220 (T14). In response, the control device 220 issues a scan start request command to the scanner unit 210 (T15). Then, in response to the scan start request command, the scanner unit 210 issues a scan preparation completion command (T16), starts a scanning operation (T17), reads a document, and transfers image data to the control device 220 (T16). T18).
[0049]
During the reception of the image data, the image size after compression is estimated (T19). If the estimated value is equal to or smaller than the predetermined size, the control device 220 causes the document feeding unit 250 to feed the second document. A request command is issued (T20). When the scanning operation is completed and the image transfer is completed, a scanning operation completion command is issued to the control device 220 and the document feeding unit 250 (T21).
[0050]
The document feeding unit 250, which has already received the feed request command for the second document, receives the scan operation completion command, discharges the first document, and simultaneously feeds the second document. Can be performed (T22). After the document exchange operation is completed, the document feed unit 250 issues a feed completion command for the second document to the control device 220 (T23).
[0051]
The control device 220, which has already received the scan operation completion command for the first document, receives the feed completion command for the second document and issues a scan start request command to the scanner unit 210 (T24). .
[0052]
Thereafter, the above-described sequence is repeated for the number of originals (T24 to T29).
[0053]
In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, it is assumed that there are only two documents set in the document feeding unit 250. Therefore, in response to a feeding request for the third document, the document feeding unit 250 After performing the sheet discharging operation of the second document (T30), a document end notification is issued to the control device 220 (T31), and the reading operation ends.
[0054]
<Method of estimating image size after compression>
Next, a method for estimating the image size after compression will be described.
[0055]
In the present embodiment, an image is divided into tiles of 32 pixels × 32 lines, and compression and decompression processing is performed on each tile. Therefore, the size of the compressed image in the middle of one page can be determined by accumulating the image sizes up to a predetermined number of tiles even by a compression method such as JPEG which originally uses an image for one page. By estimating the size of the remaining image data of the page, it becomes possible to estimate the image size of the entire compressed one page.
[0056]
According to the following equation (1), the size of the image data without compression, the target compression ratio, the number of tiles of the entire image, and one page after compression when the image is read up to the predetermined number of tiles The relationship between the predetermined number of tiles for estimating the image size of the minute and the image data size at the predetermined number of tiles can be expressed.
[0057]
Sn · Pt> α · (1-x / X) + x · Sc / X (1)
In the above equation (1), Sn is the size of image data for one page when not compressed, Pt is the target compression ratio (if 1.0 is not compressed at all), and α is the value that has not yet been read. The compression ratio to be achieved by the image data of the part that has not been compressed, x is the predetermined number of tiles for estimating the image size after compression, X is the number of tiles for one page of image data, and Sc is the predetermined number of tiles (x ) Is the accumulated value of the size of the image data at the time of reading the image data.
[0058]
For example, as shown in FIG. 8, a portion of tiles indicated by oblique lines in FIG. 8 in one page of image data composed of 14 tiles in the main scanning direction and 10 tiles in the sub scanning direction. At the time when (126) are read, the following values can be applied to each term of the expression (1). For simplicity of explanation, it is assumed that an image of one tile is 1 MB when not compressed, and the value of Sc is calculated assuming that image data of a part that has not been read is not compressed at all even if encoding processing is performed. , As follows.
[0059]
Sn = 140 (unit MB; 1 tile image is 1 MB when not compressed)
Pt = 1/8
α = 1.0 (assuming that the image data of the unread portion is not compressed at all)
x = 126
X = 140
Sc <3.89 (unit MB)
That is, in this example, the cumulative value of the size of the image data must be always smaller than 3.89 MB until the 126th tile is read out of the 140 tiles in the image data of one page. become.
[0060]
Therefore, it is determined whether or not the size of the image data for one page is equal to or smaller than a certain size by determining whether or not the size cumulative value of the image data for the predetermined number of tiles exceeds the predetermined size. Can be estimated.
[0061]
<Compression size estimation processing and scan sequence>
Next, the relationship between the compression size estimation process and the scan sequence will be described with reference to the flowchart in FIG.
[0062]
First, before receiving the image data, the control device 220 initializes a counter value for counting the accumulated value of the read image data size and the number of tiles of the received image (step S1501). Subsequently, the control device 220 determines whether or not the next scan operation is a rescan, with reference to the value of a counter that counts the number of rescans (step S1502).
[0063]
If it is a rescan, it is checked whether the number of rescans is equal to or less than a predetermined number (step S1503). If the number is larger than the predetermined number, the reading operation is terminated with an error. The predetermined number depends on the number of quantization matrices prepared in advance. A quantization matrix is determined according to the number of rescans. Further, a predetermined number of tiles for estimating the compression ratio and a predetermined size of image data at the number of tiles are determined according to the quantization matrix (step S1504).
[0064]
If the scan is not the rescan but the first scan for the document, the counter for counting the number of rescans is initialized, and the quantization matrix is also set to the initial value. Further, a predetermined number of tiles for estimating a compression ratio and a predetermined size of image data at the number of tiles are determined according to the quantization matrix (step S1505).
[0065]
Since the preparation for receiving the image data is completed, the control device 220 issues a scan start request command to the scanner unit 210 (step S1506).
[0066]
Thereafter, the control device 220 is in a state of waiting for a notification of completion of scan preparation from the scanner unit 210 (step S1507). Upon receiving the scan preparation completion notification, the control device 220 enters a state of waiting for tile image reception (step S1508).
[0067]
Upon receiving the tile image, the control device 220 adds the size obtained by performing the encoding process on the received tile image and compressing it to a counter that accumulates the size of the image data (step S1509).
[0068]
Also, one counter for counting the number of received tiles is added (step S1510). It is determined whether the value of the image data size cumulative value counter exceeds a predetermined size (step S1511). If it exceeds, it is determined that the predetermined compression ratio cannot be achieved (step S1512), and a scan completion notification waiting state is set (step S1513). When the scan completion notification is received, the processing is terminated, and a job interruption state described later or the job termination is performed.
[0069]
If not, it is checked whether the number of received tiles does not exceed a predetermined number (step S1514). If not, the control device 220 shifts to a tile image reception waiting state. If it exceeds, even if a predetermined number of tiles are received, the accumulated size of the image data is equal to or smaller than the predetermined size. Therefore, even if the control device 220 does not receive the remaining tiles, the image data of one page is It is estimated that the size of the document is smaller than a certain size, and a command to request the next document to be fed is issued to the document feeding unit (step S1515).
[0070]
<Control in scan sequence>
Next, control in the scan sequence of the control device 220 will be described with reference to FIG.
[0071]
First, the control device 220 enters a reading operation start request waiting state (step S1701). Upon receiving the reading operation start request from the operation unit 150, the control device 220 issues a command to request feeding of the first document to the document feeding unit 250 (step S1702). After that, the control device 220 enters a state of waiting for a notification of completion of paper feeding from the document feeding unit 250 (step S1703).
[0072]
Upon receiving the feed completion notification, as described above with reference to FIG. 9, the control device 220 issues a scan start request to receive the image data, performs encoding processing for each tile image, compresses the tile image, and compresses the data for one page. Before reading the image data, the size of the image data after compressing one page is estimated, and the next original is read in accordance with the estimated value. Determine whether to do. (Step S1704).
[0073]
As a result of the estimation, if it is determined that the compression ratio has been achieved (step S1705), the control device 220 waits for a scan completion notification from the scanner unit 210 indicating the end of the transfer of the image data (step S1706). . When scanning is completed, the number of originals is added, and if the original that has just been read is the last one, the reading operation is terminated, but if there is still an original to be read in the original feeding unit 250, the control device 220 The process shifts to a state of waiting for a paper-feed completion notification for the next document (step S1707).
[0074]
On the other hand, if it is determined in step 1704 that the compression ratio has not been achieved, it is determined whether rescanning has been performed a predetermined number of times (step S1708). If it is determined that rescanning has not been performed a predetermined number of times, the document feeding operation is stopped, all the documents being fed are discharged, and the job is suspended. (Step S1710). At this time, a pop-up screen is displayed on the operation unit 150, as shown in FIG. If it is detected that the cancel key in the pop-up screen has been pressed (step S1711), the job can be terminated (step S1709).
[0075]
When the user returns the original to the original state, places the original on the original tray 1402 of the original feeding unit 250, and detects that a start key (not shown) on the operation unit 150 has been pressed (step S1712), the process proceeds to FIG. (Step S1713), and restart the interrupted job. At this time, the document feeding unit 250 is controlled to judge the number of scanned documents and to feed the document immediately before the interrupted document to the original (step S1714).
[0076]
Thereafter, the processing from step 1702 for issuing a paper feed request for the relevant document is repeated. As described above with reference to FIG. 9, if the image is determined to be re-scanned, the image is scanned and compressed using a quantization matrix corresponding to the number of re-scans. Further, from the next image, scanning and compression are performed using the quantization matrix for the first scan.
[0077]
If it is determined in step 1708 that rescanning has been performed a predetermined number of times, the job is terminated (step S1709), and reading is stopped because the size of the data of the read original exceeds the upper limit as shown in FIG. Is displayed and the job ends.
[0078]
In the present embodiment, since the number of prepared quantization matrices is set to two, if the compression size is determined to be unachieved after rescanning once, the job is stopped and terminated. By preparing N matrices, it is also possible to increase the number of times that can cope with rescanning.
[0079]
As described above, in the present embodiment, when a document image that does not fit in the desired image size is included in the document read by the drift reading method, the job is suspended, and the user performs recovery processing. The user can select to re-scan or cancel the job, and when instructing re-scan, change the compression setting and read again to fit the desired image size and perform the reading operation. It can be carried out.
[0080]
The above-described control method can be realized by storing and operating a program according to the above-described flowcharts of FIGS. 9 and 10 in, for example, the storage device 160 connected to the control device 220.
[0081]
The present invention is not limited to the device of the above-described embodiment, and may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or an apparatus including one device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium. It goes without saying that it will be completed by doing so.
[0082]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, or ROM is used. Can be. When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS or the like running on the computer performs the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where some or all of the operations are performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.
[0083]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the expansion is performed based on the instruction of the next program code. It goes without saying that a CPU or the like provided in the expansion board or the expansion unit performs the processing and performs a part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.
[0084]
[Embodiment]
Examples of embodiments of the present invention are listed below.
[0085]
<Embodiment 1>
Image input means for inputting an image, data compression means for compressing image data input by the image input means, and whether or not the size of the image data compressed by the data compression means can achieve a predetermined size Size estimating means for estimating in advance, and image input suspending means for suspending an image input operation by the image input means when the predetermined size cannot be achieved by the size estimating means. An image processing apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.
[0086]
<Embodiment 2>
Image input means for inputting an image, encoding means for encoding the image data input by the image input means using a quantization coefficient, the code amount of the image data encoded by the encoding means, A code amount estimating unit for estimating in advance whether a predetermined code amount can be achieved, and an image input operation by the image input unit when the code amount estimating unit estimates that the predetermined code amount cannot be achieved. An image processing apparatus comprising: an image input suspending unit for suspending the image.
[0087]
<Embodiment 3>
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when a restart instruction is issued during the interruption state, the image input operation is performed again by the image input unit while changing the quantization coefficient.
[0088]
<Embodiment 4>
A counting unit that counts the number of image input operations performed by the image input unit on the image data estimated to be unable to achieve the predetermined code amount by the code amount estimation unit; Determining means for determining whether or not a predetermined number of times has been exceeded, wherein when the determining means determines that the predetermined number of times has been exceeded, the image input operation by the image input means is terminated. An image processing apparatus according to the second or third aspect.
[0089]
<Embodiment 5>
The code amount estimating means has a code amount accumulating means for accumulatively adding the code amount of the image data encoded by the encoding means, and the image data is determined based on a cumulative addition value by the code amount accumulating means. 5. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein whether the code amount can be achieved is estimated in advance.
[0090]
<Embodiment 6>
During the interruption state, it is possible to select whether to perform a restart process for performing an image input operation again by the image input unit or to perform a stop process for ending the image input operation. An image processing apparatus according to the second to fifth embodiments.
[0091]
<Embodiment 7>
A document feeder for feeding a document, and a fixed reading optical system for reading an image of the document conveyed by the document feeder, wherein the image input means conveys the document by the document conveyer; 7. The image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein an image is input by a flow reading method of reading an image of a document by a type reading optical system.
[0092]
<Embodiment 8>
An image input step of inputting an image, a data compression step of compressing the image data input in the image input step, and whether or not the size of the image data compressed in the data compression step can achieve a predetermined size. A size estimating step of estimating the predetermined size in advance, and an image input suspending step of suspending an image input operation in the image input step when it is estimated that the predetermined size cannot be achieved by the size estimating step. A method for controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising:
[0093]
<Embodiment 9>
An image input step of inputting an image, an encoding step of encoding the image data input by the image input step using a quantization coefficient, and a code amount of the image data encoded by the encoding step, A code amount estimating step of estimating in advance whether a predetermined code amount can be achieved, and, when it is estimated that the predetermined code amount cannot be achieved by the code amount estimating step, an image input operation by the image input step is performed. An image input interrupting step of interrupting the image processing apparatus.
[0094]
<Embodiment 10>
The control method of the image processing apparatus according to the ninth embodiment, wherein when a restart instruction is issued during the suspension state, the image input operation is performed again in the image input step by changing the quantization coefficient.
[0095]
<Embodiment 11>
A counting step of counting the number of times that the image input operation is performed in the image input step for the image data estimated to be unable to achieve the predetermined code amount in the code amount estimation step; A determining step of determining whether a predetermined number of times has been exceeded; and when the determining step determines that the predetermined number of times has been exceeded, terminating the image input operation in the image input step. A control method for an image processing apparatus according to the ninth or tenth aspect.
[0096]
<Embodiment 12>
The code amount estimating step includes a code amount accumulating step of accumulatively adding the code amount of the image data encoded by the encoding step, and based on the accumulated value obtained by the code amount accumulating step, the image data is determined by a predetermined value. 12. The control method of the image processing apparatus according to any one of Embodiments 9 to 11, wherein whether or not the code amount can be achieved is estimated in advance.
[0097]
<Embodiment 13>
In the interrupted state, it is possible to select whether to perform restart processing for performing an image input operation again in the image input step or to perform stop processing for ending the image input operation. 13. The method for controlling an image processing apparatus according to 9 to 12.
[0098]
<Embodiment 14>
A document transport device that transports the document, and a fixed reading optical system that reads an image of the document transported by the document transport device, wherein the image input step includes: 14. The control method for an image processing apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein an image is input by a flow reading method of reading an image of a document by a reading optical system.
[0099]
<Embodiment 15>
An image input step of inputting an image, a data compression step of compressing the image data input in the image input step, and whether or not the size of the image data compressed in the data compression step can achieve a predetermined size. A size estimating step of estimating in advance, and an image input suspending step of suspending an image input operation by the image input step when it is estimated that the predetermined size cannot be achieved by the size estimating step. A computer-readable control program characterized by the following.
[0100]
<Embodiment 16>
An image input step of inputting an image, an encoding step of encoding the image data input by the image input step using a quantization coefficient, and a code amount of the image data encoded by the encoding step, A code amount estimating step of estimating in advance whether or not a predetermined code amount can be achieved; and, when it is estimated that the predetermined code amount cannot be achieved by the code amount estimating step, the image input operation by the image input step is performed. A computer-readable control program, comprising: an image input suspending step of causing a suspend state.
[0101]
<Embodiment 17>
17. The computer-readable control program according to embodiment 16, wherein, when a restart instruction is issued during the suspension state, the image input operation is performed again in the image input step by changing the quantization coefficient.
[0102]
<Embodiment 18>
A counting step of counting the number of times the image input operation is performed on the image data estimated to be unable to achieve the predetermined code amount by the code amount estimation step; A determining step of determining whether a predetermined number of times has been exceeded; and when the determining step determines that the predetermined number of times has been exceeded, terminating the image input operation in the image input step. A control program readable by a computer according to aspect 16 or 17.
[0103]
<Embodiment 19>
The code amount estimating step includes a code amount accumulating step of accumulatively adding the code amount of the image data encoded in the encoding step, and based on the accumulated value obtained by the code amount accumulating step, the image data is determined by a predetermined value. The computer-readable control program according to any one of Embodiments 16 to 18, wherein whether or not the code amount can be achieved is estimated in advance.
[0104]
<Embodiment 20>
In the interrupted state, it is possible to select whether to perform a restart process for performing an image input operation again by the image input step or to perform a stop process for ending the image input operation. 20. A control program readable by a computer according to 16 to 19.
[0105]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, according to the present invention, even if an image that does not fit in the desired image size is included in the original read by the drift reading method or the like, the image is stored in the desired image size. The image input operation can be performed again.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a device configuration diagram of a reader unit 200.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of the image processing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an encoder and a decoder.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a quantization matrix.
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram showing a data structure of compressed image data.
FIG. 7 is a control timing chart of a document feeding unit and a scanner unit.
FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the number of tiles.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the relationship between a compression size estimation process and a scan sequence.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating control in a scan sequence.
FIG. 11 is a display diagram of a pop-up screen for prompting a restart.
FIG. 12 is a display diagram of a pop-up screen for stopping reading.
[Explanation of symbols]
200 Reader unit (image input device)
220 control device
210 Scanner unit
250 Document feeding unit
300 Printer unit (image output device)
1413 Exposure unit
1416 CCD sensor unit

Claims (1)

Image input means for inputting an image,
Data compression means for compressing the image data input by the image input means,
Size estimation means for estimating in advance whether the size of the image data compressed by the data compression means can achieve a predetermined size,
An image processing apparatus, comprising: an image input suspending unit that suspends an image input operation by the image input unit when the size estimation unit estimates that the predetermined size cannot be achieved.

Images