JP2007157034A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a transfer fault of image data for an image reader which can read image information from a carrier holding image information and transfer the image data of the image expressed by the image information to an external unit through a USB. <P>SOLUTION: For the image reader 110 comprises a USB transfer section 35 to transfer the image data to a computer 120 through the USB, the USB transfer section 35 has functions of monitoring status of the USB line and communicating to inform a user of a failure while transfer rate is monitored when the USB transfer section 35 is transferring the image data, and the user is notified to decrease the load of the computer 120 when the transfer rate becomes lower than a preset rate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus capable of reading image information from a carrier carrying image information and transferring image data of the image represented by the image information to an external device via USB.

  When the stimulable phosphor is irradiated with radiation, a part of this radiation energy is accumulated. After that, when excitation light such as visible light or laser light is irradiated, stimulated emission light is emitted according to the accumulated radiation energy. The Using this stimulable phosphor (stimulable phosphor), this stimulable phosphor is laminated on a support, and a sheet of the stimulable phosphor sheet is irradiated with radiation to a subject such as a human body. The radiation image is obtained by temporarily accumulating and recording a radiation image, irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet with excitation light such as laser light, generating stimulated emission light, and photoelectrically reading the stimulated emission light to obtain an image signal. An image reading apparatus is widely used as CR (Computed Radiography).

  Similarly, as a system using the stimulable phosphor sheet, there are an autoradiographic image detection system (for example, Patent Document 1), an image detection system using an electron microscope, a radiation diffraction image detection system (for example, Patent Document 2), and the like. Are known.

  Unlike the case of using a photographic film, the system that uses these stimulable phosphor sheets as an image detection material not only requires a chemical process called a development process, but also performs image processing on the obtained image data. By performing the above, there is an advantage that an image can be reproduced as desired or quantitative analysis by a computer can be performed.

  On the other hand, a fluorescent image detection (fluorescence) system using a fluorescent substance as a labeling substance instead of the radioactive labeling substance in the autoradiography system is also known.

  Also known is a chemiluminescence image detection system that uses a chemiluminescent substance as a labeling substance in contact with the chemiluminescent substance and detects chemiluminescence emitted by bringing the labeling substance into contact with the chemiluminescent substance. . As this chemiluminescent image detection system, chemiluminescent light is stored and recorded in the aforementioned stimulable phosphor sheet, and then image detection is performed from the stimulable phosphor sheet (for example, Patent Document 3), There is a type in which chemiluminescent light is directly detected by light detection means.

These autoradiographic image detection systems, chemiluminescence image detection systems, electron microscope image detection systems, radiation diffraction image detection systems, and fluorescence image detection systems are used for similar purposes. In common, usable image reading apparatuses have already been proposed.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-60784 JP-A-61-51738 US Pat. No. 5,028,793

  Usually, the above-described image detection system includes an image reading device and a computer. Image data of an image read by the image reading device is transferred from the image reading device to the computer, and the image data is analyzed by the computer. In recent years, the connection between an image reading apparatus and an external device such as a computer is often performed by a universal versatile USB (Universal Serial Bus). This USB allows the user to freely connect multiple USB compatible devices via a hub, but the transfer speed decreases depending on the number of connected USB compatible devices, and the load on the connected external device increases. As a result, there is a problem that the transfer speed is lowered.

  On the other hand, in an image reading apparatus, image data of an image read from an object to be measured is temporarily stored in a memory and output from the memory to an external device. Generally, an image read by the image reading apparatus has a high resolution. Therefore, the size of the image data tends to become very large, and it is not preferable from the viewpoint of cost to mount a memory having the same amount or more as the size of the image data in the image reading apparatus. For this reason, a memory having a capacity smaller than the size of the image data is installed, and when image data is transferred from the image reading apparatus to an external device, a part of the image information is read from the measurement object, and the image represented by the image information It is considered to perform a so-called ring process in which a process of storing image data in a memory and a process of transferring image data stored in the memory to an external device are alternately and continuously performed.

  However, when the image reading apparatus and an external device such as a computer are connected by USB, when transferring image data by ring processing, the image data stored in the memory due to a decrease in transfer speed or the like is the next image data. If the image data cannot be transferred before being stored, a part of the image data is overwritten and the image data cannot be transferred normally.

  In such a case, for example, when there is no need to transfer data in real time, such as a connection between a computer and a printer, all the data stored in the transfer memory is transferred, and then the next data is transferred to the transfer memory. Although the problem can be solved by storing the image, the image reading apparatus described above has a request to acquire an image in real time, such as detection of a chemical reaction of a measurement object. It is not realistic to reduce the reading speed of the image information in accordance with the decrease in the transfer speed with the device. In addition, when reading a stimulable phosphor sheet, it cannot be re-read due to its characteristics, so that the image data stored in the memory cannot be transferred before the next image data is stored. The image in the area cannot be read again.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and can read image information from a carrier carrying image information, and can read image data represented by the image information to an external device via USB. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading apparatus that does not cause defective transfer of image data.

  An image reading apparatus of the present invention reads image information from a carrier that carries image information, outputs image data of an image represented by the image information, a memory that stores image data, and a memory that stores the image data USB transfer means for transferring the received image data to an external device via USB (Universal Serial Bus), and when the USB transfer means is transferring image data, the transfer speed is monitored, and the transfer speed falls below a predetermined speed In this case, it is characterized in that a notification means for notifying the user to reduce the load on the external device is provided.

  Here, “notifying the user to reduce the load on the external device” means that the user recognizes that it is necessary to reduce the load on the external device. May be notified by turning on this indicator, or a message may be displayed on the monitor of an external device (for example, a computer) connected to the image reading device via the USB transfer means. Also good.

  The notification means may further include a function for notifying a warning when the USB transfer means and the external device are connected via a hub. In addition, when a predetermined number or more of USB devices are connected to the external device, a function of notifying a warning may be further provided. Also provided is a function of transferring test data from the USB transfer means to an external device, monitoring the transfer speed when transferring the test data, and notifying a warning when the transfer speed falls below a predetermined speed. It is also good.

  Here, “notify the warning” means that the user recognizes that there is a possibility that the image data cannot be transferred normally. Specifically, the indicator is provided in the image reading apparatus, and this indicator is displayed. The notification may be performed by turning on or a message may be displayed on a monitor of an external device (for example, a computer) connected to the image reading apparatus via a USB transfer unit.

  An image reading apparatus of the present invention carries image information in an image reading apparatus capable of reading the image information from a carrier carrying image information and transferring image data of the image represented by the image information to an external device via USB. Image information reading means for reading the image information from the carrier and outputting the image data of the image represented by the image information, a memory for storing the image data, and the image data stored in the memory to the external device via USB (Universal Serial Bus) and USB transfer means to transfer the image data, and the transfer speed is monitored while the USB transfer means is transferring image data, and when the transfer speed falls below a predetermined speed, the load on the external device is reduced for the user. By providing notification means for notifying image data, it is possible to prevent image data transfer failure due to a decrease in USB transfer speed.

  The notification means further includes a function for notifying a warning when the USB transfer means and the external device are connected via a hub, and a predetermined number or more of USB devices are connected to the external device. A function to notify a warning when the test data is transferred, or transfer the test data from the USB transfer means to the external device and monitor the transfer speed while transferring the test data. By further providing a function of notifying a warning when the speed falls below a predetermined speed, it is possible to more reliably prevent image data transfer failure due to a decrease in USB transfer speed.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image detection system provided with an image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical head and main parts of the image reading apparatus.

  The image detection system 100 includes an image reading device 110, a computer 120 connected to the image reading device 110 via USB, and a monitor 121 connected to the computer 120.

  The image reading apparatus 110 according to the present embodiment can be used in common for an autoradiography image detection system, a chemiluminescence image detection system, an image detection system using an electron microscope, a radiation diffraction image detection system, a fluorescence image detection system, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2, in order to irradiate the excitation light E onto the stage 20 on which the image carrier 21 is placed and the image carrier 21, and to collect the emitted light L emitted from the image carrier 21. The optical head 15, a light source optical system 50 that includes a plurality of light sources and selectively generates excitation light E, a photomultiplier 30 that is a light detection unit that detects the emitted light L, and light from the light source optical system 50. Is guided to the optical head 15, and the optical means 60 for guiding the emitted light L to the photomultiplier 30 is output from the photomultiplier 30. A / D converter 33 for A / D converting the received signal, memory 34 for storing image data output from A / D converter 33, and image data stored in memory 34 to computer 120 And a USB transfer unit 35 for transferring by (Universal Serial Bus).

  The USB transfer unit 35 has a function as a USB transfer unit that transfers image data stored in the memory 34 to the computer 120 via USB, and a function as a notification unit that monitors the status of the USB line and notifies the user when there is a malfunction. Have both.

  The notification means constantly monitors the status of the USB line, and warns the user when the USB transfer means and the computer 120 are connected via a hub or when a predetermined number or more of USB devices are connected to the computer 120. Notice.

  Also, the test data is transferred to the computer 120 via the USB transfer means, the transfer speed is monitored when the test data is being transferred, and a warning is notified to the user when the transfer speed falls below a predetermined speed. It is also possible. The measurement of the transfer speed based on the test data may be performed based on a user instruction, or may be automatically performed when the image reading apparatus 110 and the computer 120 are not transmitting or receiving image data.

  The notification of the warning may be performed by providing an indicator in the image reading device 110 and turning on the indicator, or by the computer 120 connected to the image reading device 110 via a USB transfer unit. A message may be displayed on the monitor 121.

  Further, the notifying means monitors the transfer speed when the USB transfer means is transferring image data, and notifies the user to reduce the load on the computer 120 when the transfer speed falls below a predetermined speed. The notification in this case may also be notified by providing an indicator in the image reading device 110 in the same manner as described above and lighting this indicator, or connected to the image reading device 110 via a USB transfer unit. A message may be displayed on the monitor 121 of the computer 120.

  The memory 34 has a capacity smaller than the size of the image data of the image read from the image carrier 21, and the image reading device 110 receives part of the image information from the image carrier 21 when transferring the image data to the computer 120. A so-called ring process is performed in which the process of reading and storing the image data of the image represented by the image information in the memory 34 and the process of transferring the image data stored in the memory 34 to the computer 120 are alternately and continuously performed. It is configured.

  The light source optical system 50 includes a first laser excitation light source 1 that emits a laser beam E having a wavelength of 640 nm, a second laser excitation light source 2 that emits a laser beam E having a wavelength of 532 nm, and a laser beam E having a wavelength of 473 nm. The first laser excitation light source 1 is composed of a semiconductor laser, and in the present embodiment, the second laser excitation light source 2 and the third laser excitation light source 3 are provided. Each of these includes a semiconductor laser and a second harmonic generation element. The light source optical system 50 includes collimator lenses 5, 10, and 11 for making the laser light E from the plurality of excitation light sources 1, 2, and 3 parallel light, and a mirror 6 for guiding the laser light E to the optical means 60. , 9 and dichroic mirrors 7, 8.

  The laser light E generated by the first laser excitation light source 1 is collimated by the collimator lens 5 and then reflected by the mirror 6. In the optical path of the laser beam E generated by the first laser excitation light source 1, the first dichroic mirror 7 that transmits the laser beam E of 640 nm and reflects the light of wavelength of 532 nm and the light of wavelength of 532 nm or more are transmitted. A second dichroic mirror 8 that transmits and reflects light having a wavelength of 473 nm is provided. The laser light E generated by the first laser excitation light source 1 and reflected by the mirror 6 is reflected by the first dichroic mirror. 7 and the second dichroic mirror 8 and enter the mirror 9.

  On the other hand, the laser light E generated from the second laser excitation light source 2 is collimated by the collimator lens 10 and then reflected by the first dichroic mirror 7 so that its direction is changed by 90 degrees. The light passes through the second dichroic mirror 8 and enters the mirror 9.

  Further, the laser light E generated from the third laser excitation light source 3 is converted into parallel light by the collimator lens 11, and then reflected by the second dichroic mirror 8, and its direction is changed by 90 degrees. Incident on the mirror 9.

  The laser beam E incident on the mirror 9 is reflected by the mirror 9 and incident on the mirror 12 of the optical means 60 described later.

  The optical head 15 includes a concave mirror 16 and an aspheric lens 17, travels parallel to the image carrier surface, and the laser light E incident on the optical head 15 is reflected toward the image carrier 21 by the concave mirror 16. Then, the light is condensed on the image carrier 21 set on the stage 20 by the aspherical lens 17. The emitted light L emitted from the image carrier 21 by the irradiation of the laser light E is condensed by the aspheric lens 17, is incident on the concave mirror 16, is further condensed by the concave mirror 16, and the laser light E The light is reflected on the same side as the optical path of the light, is made substantially parallel light, and is incident on the concave mirror 18 of the optical means 60 described later.

  The optical head 15 is arranged to be movable in the main scanning direction (arrow X direction) on the substrate 40 that is movable in the sub-scanning direction (arrow Y direction) by a moving mechanism (not shown). The entire surface of the image carrier 21 is scanned by the laser beam E by the movement of 15. That is, the optical head 15 is moved in the main scanning direction X on the substrate 40 and the substrate 40 is moved in the sub-scanning direction Y, so that the optical head 15 is moved in the XY direction, and the laser beam E The entire surface of the image carrier 21 is scanned.

  The optical means 60 is selectively applied to the mirror 12, the perforated mirror 14 made of a concave mirror having a hole 13 in the center for splitting the excitation light E and the emitted light L, the concave mirror 18, and the photomultiplier 30. And a filter unit 28 for allowing light to enter.

  The laser beam E reflected by the mirror 9 of the light source optical system 50 and incident on the mirror 12 is reflected by the mirror 12, passes through the hole 13 of the perforated mirror 14, enters the concave mirror 18, and The light is reflected by the concave mirror 18 and enters the optical head 15.

  The emitted light L emitted from the image carrier 21 and reflected by the concave mirror 16 of the optical head 15 and incident on the concave mirror 18 is reflected by the concave mirror 18 and enters the perforated mirror 14.

  The emitted light L incident on the perforated mirror 14 is reflected downward by the perforated mirror 14 and incident on the filter unit 28, and light of a predetermined wavelength is cut and incident on the photomultiplier 30. It is detected photoelectrically.

  The filter unit 28 includes four filter members 31a, 31b, 31c, and 31d. The filter unit 28 is configured to be movable in the arrow Z direction by a filter unit motor (not shown).

  When the image carrier 21 is a gel support or a transfer support, the filter member 31a uses the first laser excitation light source 1 to excite the fluorescent dye contained in the image carrier 21 and read the fluorescence. The filter member is used for the above-described filter, and has a property of cutting light having a wavelength of 640 nm and transmitting light having a wavelength longer than 640 nm.

  When the image carrier 21 is a gel support or a transfer support, the filter member 31b uses the second laser excitation light source 2 to excite the fluorescent dye contained in the image carrier 21 and read the fluorescence. The filter member is used for the above-described filter and has a property of cutting light having a wavelength of 532 nm and transmitting light having a wavelength longer than 532 nm.

  When the image carrier 21 is a gel support or a transfer support, the filter member 31c uses the third laser excitation light source 3 to excite the fluorescent dye contained in the image carrier 21 and read the fluorescence. The filter member is used for the above-described filter, and has a property of cutting light having a wavelength of 473 nm and transmitting light having a wavelength longer than 473 nm.

  When the image carrier 21 is a stimulable phosphor sheet, the filter member 31d uses the first laser excitation light source 1 to excite the stimulable phosphor contained in the stimulable phosphor sheet. Filter member used when reading the photostimulated light emitted from the stimulable phosphor, transmits only light in the wavelength range of the stimulable light emitted from the stimulable phosphor, and transmits light having a wavelength of 640 nm. It has a filter that cuts.

  Accordingly, the laser excitation light source is selected according to the type of the image carrier 21 and the type of the fluorescent dye, and the filter members 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d corresponding to the laser excitation light source are selectively positioned on the front surface of the photomultiplier 30. By doing so, the photomultiplier 30 can photoelectrically detect only the light to be detected.

  Note that the reading mode name may be set and stored for each combination of the laser excitation light source and the filter, and the type of the laser excitation light source and the filter may be uniquely determined by referring to the reading mode name.

Analog image data S _A photoelectrically detected and generated by the photomultiplier 30 is converted to digital image data S _D by the A / D converter 33 and sent to the memory 34.

When transferring the image data _SD to the computer 120, the image reading device 110 reads a part of the image information from the image carrier 21, and stores the image data _SD of the image represented by the image information in the memory 34. A so-called ring process is performed in which the process of transferring the image data _SD stored in the memory 34 to the computer 120 is alternately and continuously performed.

The USB transfer unit 35 monitors the transfer speed when the USB transfer means is transferring the image data _SD , and notifies the user to reduce the load on the computer 120 when the transfer speed falls below a predetermined speed. To do.

  With the above-described configuration, when image data is transferred from the image reading apparatus 110 to the computer 120 via USB, it is possible to prevent image data transfer failure due to a decrease in USB transfer speed.

  The computer 120 may notify the user by e-mail when the image data of all the image information carried by the image carrier 21 has been acquired.

  In addition, when referring to image data from analysis software, the format of the image data may be automatically changed according to the analysis software.

  Further, the analysis software may be provided with a function for determining pass / fail based on the density of the designated area in the image, or may be provided with a function for automatically correcting the gradation of the designated area in the image.

  In the above description, the image reading apparatus has been described as an example capable of reading various images such as a fluorescent image, a chemiluminescent image, and a radiation image. It may be configured individually such as a reading device.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image detection system including an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Schematic configuration diagram of optical head and main part of the image reading apparatus

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st laser excitation light source 2 2nd laser excitation light source 3 3rd laser excitation light source 5, 10, 11 Collimator lens 6, 9, 12 Mirror 7 1st dichroic mirror 8 2nd dichroic mirror 13 hole 14 hole Aperture mirror 15 Optical head 16 Concave mirror 17 Aspherical lens 18 Concave mirror 20 Stage 21 Image carrier 28 Filter unit 30 Photomultiplier 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d Filter member 33 A / D converter 34 Memory 35 USB transfer unit 50 Light source Optical system 60 Optical means 100 Image detection system 110 Image reader 120 Computer 121 Monitor

Claims (4)

Image information reading means for reading the image information from a carrier carrying image information and outputting image data of an image represented by the image information;
A memory for storing the image data;
USB transfer means for transferring the image data stored in the memory to an external device via USB (Universal Serial Bus);
The USB transfer means includes a notification means for monitoring the transfer speed when transferring the image data, and notifying the user to reduce the load on the external device when the transfer speed falls below a predetermined speed. An image reading apparatus characterized by that.   2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit further includes a function of notifying a warning when the USB transfer unit and the external device are connected via a hub. .   The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit further includes a function of notifying a warning when a predetermined number or more of USB devices are connected to the external device. .   The notification means transfers test data from the USB transfer means to the external device, monitors the transfer speed when transferring the test data, and gives a warning when the transfer speed falls below a predetermined speed. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a notification function.

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