JP2010130418A - Data processor, scanner, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique for generating an easily readable data file when outputting a data file including a plurality of kinds of scan data generated from a plurality of scan objects. <P>SOLUTION: A data processor includes a character size detecting means, a size changing means, and a data file generating means. The character size detecting means detects the size of characters included in scan data concerning the respective kinds of scan data. The size changing means changes the size of the scan data by a magnification/reduction ratio allowing the size of the characters included in the respective kinds of scan data to be the first prescribed character size (S60). The data file generating means generates the data file for outputting an image where the plurality of kinds of scan data including the scan data, whose size is changed by the size changing means, are arranged. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for processing a plurality of scan data generated from a plurality of scan objects each including a character string.

  There is a technique for processing a plurality of image data and outputting an image in which the processed image data is arranged (for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 discloses a technique for scaling each image data in order to arrange a plurality of image data according to a predetermined page layout.

Special table 2003-532205 gazette JP 2005-1111797 A

  It is widely practiced to create a scrapbook by pasting together multiple articles. The present inventor has developed a technique for creating a data file including a plurality of articles described above by causing a scanner to read a plurality of articles instead of creating a scrapbook. In this specification, when a data file including a plurality of scan data generated from a plurality of scan objects (for example, a plurality of articles) each including a character string is output, an easy-to-read data file may be created. Provide possible technologies.

  One technique disclosed in the present specification is a data processing device that processes a plurality of scan data generated from a plurality of scan objects each including a character string. The “plurality of scan data” may be obtained by scanning a plurality of scan objects in a plurality of times, or a plurality of scan objects may be scanned at a time. It may be obtained by this. The data processing apparatus includes character size detection means, size change means, and data file creation means. The character size detection means detects the size of the character included in the scan data for each of the plurality of scan data. The size changing means changes the size of the scan data at an enlargement / reduction ratio for making the size of the character included in each of the plurality of scan data the first predetermined character size. For example, when the character size of one scan data is the first predetermined character size, the size of the scan data is not changed. The first predetermined character size may be set in advance by the user, or a character size included in any of the plurality of scan data may be set as the first predetermined character size. The data file creating means creates a data file for outputting an image in which a plurality of scan data including the scan data whose size has been changed by the size changing means. Note that the term “output” includes displaying, printing, and the like.

  In the data processing apparatus described above, the character size included in each of the plurality of scan data is unified to the first predetermined character size. As a result, a data file with a uniform character size is created. For example, when a single-page scrap is created from articles of a plurality of types of newspapers and magazines, the size of characters may be different if the types of newspapers and magazines are changed. When an article with a different character size is simply cut and pasted to create a one-page scrap, sentences with different character sizes are arranged in one page. If the text size on the page is different, it will be difficult for the reader to read. In the data file created by the data processing apparatus described above, the character sizes included in each of the plurality of scan data are unified. This makes it easier for readers to read.

The above-described data processing apparatus may further include character number counting means for counting the number of characters for each character size for each of the plurality of scan data. The character size changing means is a scaling ratio for making the first size character having the largest number of characters the first predetermined character size when a plurality of size characters are detected in one scan data by the character size detecting means. The size of the scan data may be changed.
For example, a newspaper or magazine article may include a title corresponding to the article. The title is often written in characters that are larger in size than the body of the article. The text size of photographs and chart annotations included in articles may be smaller than the article text. Also, the text of articles often has more characters than titles and annotations. In this data processing apparatus, the size of the character having the largest number of characters is unified among a plurality of scan data. As a result, the sizes of a large number of characters included in a plurality of scan data can be unified, and the reader can easily read.

In the data processing device described above, the character size changing unit detects, when the character size detecting unit detects a second size character having a size larger than the first most large character in one scan data, The size of the area in which the character of the second size is arranged may be reduced by an enlargement / reduction ratio for making the character of the second character size a second predetermined character size equal to or larger than the first predetermined character size.
According to this configuration, it is possible to create a data file in which more scan data is arranged in a certain area by reducing the size of a large character. For example, when printing a data file, the number of pages can be reduced.

In the data processing apparatus described above, the character size changing unit detects a third size character smaller than the first size character having the largest number of characters in one scan data by the character size detecting unit. The size of the area in which the character of the third size is arranged may be enlarged with an enlargement / reduction ratio for making the character of the third size a third predetermined character size equal to or smaller than the first predetermined character size.
According to this configuration, characters that are small in size and difficult to read can be enlarged.

  In the data processing apparatus described above, when a plurality of size characters are detected in one scan data by the character size detection means, the character size changing means is configured to unify each of the plurality of sizes to the same size. You may change the size of the area | region where the character of each size is arrange | positioned. On the other hand, the second size character, which is larger than the first size character having the largest number of characters, is made slightly larger than the first size, and the third size character having a smaller first size is made slightly smaller than the first size. In this way, the size of the area where the characters of each size are arranged may be changed.

If the size of characters is unified, it may be difficult to distinguish titles and annotations from text. Therefore, when changing the size of the area including characters of each character size so as to unify the character size in the scan data, the first character mode changing means for changing the character included in each area in a different mode for each scaling ratio. Furthermore, you may provide.
According to this configuration, even if the character size is unified in the scan data, the title and the annotation can be easily distinguished from the text.

The data processing apparatus described above may further include a character color detection unit and a second character mode change unit. The character color detecting means may detect the color of the character in the scan data. The second character form changing unit may change the character for each color when the character color detecting unit detects characters of a plurality of colors in one scan data.
The scan data is generated in color, and the data file may be output in monochrome. In this case, it is difficult to distinguish the color of the character even if the output image is confirmed. According to this configuration, since the character is different for each color, the character can be distinguished for each color in the monochrome output image.

A scanner including the above-described data processing apparatus is also new and useful. That is, the scanner includes scanning means and one of the data processing devices described above. The scanning unit generates a plurality of scan data by scanning a plurality of scan objects. The data processing apparatus processes a plurality of scan data generated by the scanning unit.
According to this scanner, it is possible to create a data file that is easy to read when output from a plurality of scan data generated by scanning.

In the scanner described above, the scanning unit may generate scan data by scanning the object to be scanned again at a higher resolution when a character smaller than a predetermined size is detected by the character size detection unit. Good.
If the character size is small, the character may be crushed if the resolution of the scanning means is low. Further, when the size of the scan data is enlarged, if the resolution is low, the enlarged characters may be difficult to read. On the other hand, if all the scan objects are scanned in a high resolution state, it takes time to scan and the capacity of the generated scan data increases. According to this scanner, when a character smaller than a predetermined size is detected by the character size detecting means, the resolution is increased and scanning is performed again. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent characters from being crushed due to low resolution, and to prevent scanning at an unnecessarily high resolution.

A computer program for a data processing apparatus that processes a plurality of scan data generated from a plurality of scan objects each including a character string is also useful. The computer program detects, for each of the plurality of scan data, a character size detection process for detecting a character size included in the scan data, and sets the character size included in each of the plurality of scan data to a first predetermined character size. Create a data file to output an image in which multiple scan data including the scan data whose size has been changed by the resizing process and the scan data whose size has been changed by the resizing process are output with the scaling ratio Have the computer execute the data file creation process.
By using this computer program, the above data processing apparatus can be realized.

Here, some of the embodiments in the technology described in this specification are listed.
(Mode 1) The data processing apparatus includes a character grouping unit that groups characters for each character size for each of a plurality of scan data, and a region that defines a region including characters belonging to each character group in the scan data It may further comprise a defining means.

(First embodiment)
(Scanner configuration)
A first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external view of the scanner 10. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the scanner 10 and the PC 30 connected to the scanner 10. The scanner 10 includes a control unit 20, a display panel 16, an operation unit 14, a scanner unit 12, a USB interface (hereinafter referred to as USB I / F) 22, a storage unit 24, and a network interface (in FIG. 2 and below, network I / F). / F) 26 and the printing unit 18. Each part of the scanner 10 is connected by a bus 28.

  The display panel 16 can display various information. The display panel 16 may be a liquid crystal display panel, for example. The operation unit 14 has a plurality of keys (ten key, start key, cancel key, etc.) operated by the user. The user can input various information and instructions to the scanner 10 by operating the operation unit 14. The scanner unit 12 reads a document set in the scanner unit 12 and generates image data. The scanner unit 12 may have a flat bed type reading unit. The scanner 10 is connected to an external PC 30 or the like via a LAN (Local Area Network) 60 connected to the network I / F 26. The scanner 10 can be connected to an external memory or the like via the USB I / F 22. The printing unit 18 can print the image data created by the scanner unit 12 on the print medium 56. The printing unit 18 can function as a printer that prints data transmitted from the PC 30 or the like on the print medium 56.

  The control unit 20 executes various processes according to a program stored in advance in the storage unit 24 and controls the operation of the scanner 10 in an integrated manner. The processing executed by the control unit 20 according to each program stored in the storage unit 24 will be described in detail later. The storage unit 24 can temporarily store the image data generated by the scanner unit 12.

(PC configuration)
The PC 30 includes a control unit 32, a display 34, an operation unit 36, a network interface (hereinafter referred to as a network I / F in FIG. 2) 38, and a storage unit 40. Each part of the PC 30 is connected by a bus 42. The display 34 can display various information. The display 34 may be a liquid crystal display, for example. The operation unit 36 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like operated by the user. The user can input various information and instructions to the PC 30 by operating the operation unit 36. The control unit 32 executes various processes according to a program stored in advance in the storage unit 40 and controls the operation of the PC 30 in an integrated manner. The storage unit 40 can store data transmitted from the scanner 10. The PC 30 is connected to the external scanner 10 or the like via a LAN 60 or the like connected to the network I / F 38.

(Processing of the scanner control unit)
The user can instruct the scanner 10 to scan a document by setting the document in the scanner unit 12 and operating the operation unit 14. The control unit 20 causes the display panel 16 to display either “normal mode” or “scrap mode” according to the program stored in the storage unit 24 so that the user can select either “normal mode” or “scrap mode”. The user can select either “normal mode” or “scrap mode” by operating the operation unit 14. When the “normal mode” is selected by the user, the control unit 20 causes the scanner unit 12 to read a document set in the scanner unit 12 and creates scan data. The control unit 12 transmits the created scan data to the external PC 30 or the like via the network I / F 26. Alternatively, it is stored in an external memory connected via the USB I / F 22.

  On the other hand, the case where “scrap mode” is selected by the user will be described below. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of processing executed by the control unit 20 when “scrap mode” is selected. The user causes the scanner unit 12 to read a cutout such as a newspaper or a magazine. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, three cutouts (hereinafter sometimes referred to as scraps) 50, 52, and 54 are scanned in the scanner unit 12 by a single scanner process. FIG. 6 shows scraps 50, 52, and 54 scanned in this embodiment. The control unit 20 executes scan processing according to the program stored in the storage unit 24 (S12). The control unit 20 generates scan data by dividing the image data created by the scanner unit 12 for each scrap (S14). Hereinafter, the scan data corresponding to the scraps 50, 52, and 54 are referred to as scan data 50, 52, and 54, respectively. Three scan data 50, 52, and 54 are created from the three scraps 50, 52, and 54 in FIG. For example, the control unit 20 detects a scrap boundary and divides the image data into three scan data 50, 52, and 54. The control unit 20 temporarily stores the generated scan data 50, 52, 54 in the storage unit 24.

  The control unit 20 executes the first scan data process for each of the scan data 50, 52, and 54. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a procedure of first scan data processing executed by the control unit 20. Hereinafter, a case where the control unit 20 processes the scan data 50 will be described. The control unit 20 detects characters and character sizes included in the scan data 50 (S32). Note that the control unit 20 may detect only the character size. That is, the control unit 20 only needs to detect at least the character size. The control unit 20 checks whether or not a character having a size smaller than the allowable character size is included in the scan data 50 (S34). The allowable character size may be set as appropriate by the user, or the control unit 20 may determine the allowable character size based on the resolution of the scanner unit 12. If NO in S34, the process proceeds to S42. On the other hand, in the case of YES in S34, the control unit 20 increases the reading resolution of the scanner unit 12 (S36). The control unit 20 may set the resolution according to the detected character size. The control unit 20 causes the scanner unit 12 to execute the scan process for the scrap 50 again (S38). As a result, new scan data 50 is created from the scrap 50. The control unit 20 detects the character and the character size from the new scan data 50 obtained by scanning again (S40).

  In S42, the control unit 20 performs grouping for each character size (S42). As shown in FIG. 6, the scan data 50 is divided into a first group 50a and a second group 50b. The control unit 20 determines a character area belonging to the character group for each character group. The area of each character group is indicated by a broken line in FIG. The same applies to the scan data 52 and 54. The control unit 20 counts the number of characters for each character group (S44). The control unit 20 identifies the character group having the largest number of characters from the character groups included in the scan data 50 as the representative character group (S46). In the scan data 50, the second group 50b is specified as the representative character group. The control unit 20 checks whether or not unprocessed scan data (for example, scan data 52 and 54) is stored in the storage unit 24 (S48). In the case of YES in S48, the control unit 20 proceeds to S32 and executes the above-described processing for other scan data. If NO in S48, the first scan data process is terminated and the process proceeds to S18 in FIG.

  Similar to the scan data 50, the scan data 52 and 54 are processed by the first scan data processing. The scan data 52 is grouped into a first group 52a and a second group 52c. The scan data 52 includes a table 52b. In the scan data 52, the first group 52a is specified as the representative character group. Similarly, the scan data 54 is grouped into a first group 54a and a second group 54b. In the scan data 54, the second group 54b is specified as the representative character group.

  In S <b> 18 of FIG. 3, the control unit 20 causes the display panel 16 to display a message for inquiring the user whether or not there is more scrap. The user can select whether or not there is scrap to be scanned by operating the operation unit 14. If the user has selected that there is scrap (YES in S20), the process proceeds to S12. The user can set other scraps in the scanner unit 12. Other scraps are scanned. On the other hand, when the user selects that there is no scrap (NO in S20), the control unit 20 executes the second scan data process on each of the scan data 50, 52, and 54 (S22).

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the second scan data processing executed by the control unit 20. The second scan data process is sequentially executed for each scan data 50, 52, and 54. The control unit 20 checks whether there is a character group having a size larger than the character size of the representative character group in the scan data to be processed (S52). If NO in S52, the process proceeds to S56. On the other hand, if YES in S52, the area of the character group having a large character size is reduced (S54), and the process proceeds to S56. For example, in the scan data 50, the first group 50a has a larger character size than the second group 50b, which is a representative character group. The control unit 20 reduces only the area of the first group 50a (does not reduce the area of the second group 50b). The reduction ratio may be set in advance by the user. For example, the character size of a character group having a large character size may be set to be the same as the character size of the representative character group. Alternatively, the character size of the character group having a large character size may be set to be slightly larger than the character size of the representative character group. When reducing the first group 50a, a predetermined position (for example, the lower right corner of the area) on the side close to the representative character group (second group 50b) in the area of the first group 50a is fixed and reduced at a predetermined reduction ratio. To do. Similarly, in the scan data 54, the area of the first group 54a is reduced.

  In S56, the control unit 20 checks whether there is a character group having a size smaller than the character size of the representative character group in one scan data to be processed. If NO in S56, the process proceeds to S60. On the other hand, if YES in S56, the area of the character group having a small character size is enlarged (S58), and the process proceeds to S60. For example, in the scan data 52, the second group 52c has a smaller character size than the first group 52a, which is a representative character group. The controller 20 expands the area of the second group 52c. The enlargement ratio may be set in advance by the user. For example, the character size of the character group having a small character size may be set to be the character size of the representative character group. Alternatively, the character size of the character group having a small character size may be set to be slightly smaller than the character size of the representative character group.

  In S60, the control unit 20 changes the size of the scan data to be processed so that the character size of the representative character group becomes the target character size, and proceeds to S62. The target character size can be appropriately determined by the user. Alternatively, the character size of any representative character group in the scan data may be set as the target character size. In this case, the control unit 20 may cause the display panel 16 to display a message for inquiring the user about which character size to use. The user can select a target character size by operating the operation unit 14.

  In this embodiment, the character size of the first group 52a, which is the representative character group of the scan data 52, is set as the target character size. In this case, in the scan data 50, the character size of the second group 50b, which is the representative character group, is larger than the character size of the first group 52a of the scan data 52. Therefore, the entire scan data 50 is reduced so that the character size of the second group 50 b of the scan data 50 becomes the character size of the first group 52 a of the scan data 52. At this time, the ratio between the character size of the first group 50a and the character size of the second group 50b is not changed. On the other hand, in the scan data 54, the character size of the second group 54b, which is the representative character group, is smaller than the character size of the first group 52a of the scan data 52. Therefore, the entire scan data 54 is enlarged so that the character size of the second group 54 b of the scan data 54 becomes the character size of the first group 52 a of the scan data 52. At this time, the ratio between the character size of the first group 54a and the character size of the second group 54b is not changed.

  In S62, the control unit 20 checks whether there is scan data that has not been processed. If YES in S62, the process proceeds to S52. On the other hand, if NO in S62, the second scan data processing is terminated, and the process proceeds to S24 in FIG.

  When the second scan data processing ends, the control unit 20 creates a data file including the processed scan data 150, 152, and 154 (see FIG. 7) (S24). More specifically, the control unit 20 creates a file name (for example, date and time) and associates the data including the scan data 150, 152, and 154 with the file name and stores them in the storage unit 24. In this embodiment, a format having the concept of a page is used as a format for storing the scan data 150, 152, and 154. A data file is created so that each scan data 150, 152, 154 is arranged in one page. However, when there are a large number of scan data or large scan data, the scan data 150, 152, and 154 may not be arranged in one page. The control unit 20 checks whether there is scan data that could not be arranged on one page (S26). If YES in S26, the process proceeds to S24. In this case, the control unit 20 arranges the scan data that could not be arranged on the first page on the next page. In S24, the control unit 20 instructs the printing unit 18 to print the data file. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the print medium 56 on which the processed scan data 150, 152, and 154 are arranged is obtained. On the other hand, if NO at S26, the process ends.

FIG. 7 shows the print medium 56 on which the data file created in S24 is printed by the printing unit 18. Each scrap 150, 152, 154 has the same character size with the largest number of characters. Note that reference numerals 150a, 150b, 152a to 152c, 154a, and 154b in FIG. 7 correspond to the groups (areas) 50a, 50b, 52a to 52c, 54a, and 54b before processing. Readers can read without feeling uncomfortable because the character size does not change with each scrap.
In the scanner 10 described above, for each scan data, the character size (character groups 50a and 54a in FIG. 6) of the large character group included in the scan data is reduced. As a result, the scrap area can be reduced. As a result, the number of scraps that can be arranged on one print medium 56 can be increased. For example, when the first group 50a is reduced, the position of the end adjacent to the second group 50b, which is the representative character group, is fixed and reduced. As a result, the interval between the first group 50a and the second group 50b is not increased by reducing the first group 50a. Thereby, the area of a scrap can be made smaller. In addition, when changing the size of a character group, you may change the position of the character group after a change suitably.

In the scanner 10 described above, the character size (character group 52c in FIG. 6) of the character group having a small character size included in the scan data is enlarged for each scan data. As a result, in the original scrap, characters that are difficult to read due to a small character size are easy to read.
In the second scan data processing shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 20 does not have to perform the processing from S52 to S58. In this case, in the second scan data process, the control unit 20 performs the processes of S60 and S62 in FIG. In this configuration, even if there are a plurality of character groups in one character group, all the character groups are resized at the same enlargement / reduction ratio. That is, the layout of each scan data does not change. According to this configuration, the character size of the representative character group can be unified among the plurality of scan data without changing the layout of each scan data.
Further, as the second scan data processing, after the size of the entire scan data is changed in S60, the size of each area in the scan data may be changed as in S52 to S58.

(Second embodiment)
The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the second scan data processing executed by the control unit 20. Other processes and the configurations of the scanner 10 and the PC 30 are the same as those in the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, a description overlapping that of the first embodiment is omitted.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of second scan data processing executed by the control unit 20 of the second embodiment. The second scan data processing is executed for each of the scan data 50, 52, and 54. The control unit 20 checks whether or not there are a plurality of character groups in one scan data to be processed (S72). If NO in S72, the process proceeds to S76. On the other hand, if YES in S72, the character color is changed for each character group (S74), and the process proceeds to S76. For example, the scan data 50 includes a first group 50a and a second group 50b. For example, the control unit 20 changes the character color of the first group 50a to red and changes the character color of the second group 50b to black. When the character color of the second group 50b is black in the state of the original scan data, the control unit 20 does not change the character color of the second group 50b. For example, the control unit 20 does not change the character color of the first group 52a of the scan data 52, but changes the character color of the second group 52c to a color (blue) different from the character color of the first group 52a. For example, the control unit 20 sets the first group 54a and the second group 54b of the scan data 54 to different character colors. The character color of the representative group of the control unit 20 and each of the scan data 50, 52, and 54 may be the same.

  In S76, the control unit 20 changes the area of each character group so that the character size of all the character groups included in one scan data to be processed becomes the character size of the representative character group. Next, the control unit 20 changes the size of the entire scrap data so that all the character sizes included in one scan data to be processed become the target character size (S78). The control unit 20 checks whether there is scan data that has not been processed (S80). If YES in S80, the process proceeds to S72. On the other hand, in the case of NO in S80, the second scan data processing is terminated, and the process proceeds to S24 in FIG.

FIG. 9 shows a print medium 156 on which the data file created in S24 of this embodiment is printed by the printing unit 18. In the scanner 10 of the second embodiment, the same effect as the scanner 10 of the first embodiment can be obtained. In this embodiment, the character sizes are the same for all character groups 250a, 250b, 252a to 252c, 254a, 254b included in all the scanned data 250, 252, 254 after processing.
In the scanner 10 of the second embodiment, the character color is changed for each character group. Thereby, even when the character size is unified in the scan data, it can be distinguished for each character group.

  In the second embodiment, the character color is changed for each character group. However, the character mode may be changed for each character group. For example, the characters in one character group may not be underlined and the characters in the other character group may not be underlined. Further, for example, the density of characters may be changed for each character group.

(Third embodiment)
The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the second scan data processing executed by the control unit 20. Other processes and the configurations of the scanner 10 and the PC 30 are the same as those in the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, a description overlapping that of the first embodiment is omitted.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of second scan data processing executed by the control unit 20 of the third embodiment. The same processes as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. The control unit 20 executes the processes from S52 to S58. The control unit 20 detects the character color of the character included in one scan data to be processed (S92). The control unit 20 checks whether or not a plurality of character colors are included in the scan data (S94). If NO in S94, the process proceeds to S98. On the other hand, in the case of YES in S94, the control unit 20 changes the character mode for each character color (S96). With reference to FIG. 6, an example in the case of changing the character mode will be described. For example, when the character color of the first group 50a of the scan data 50 is red and the character color of the second group 50b is black, the control unit 20 sets the characters of the first group 50a to white and the first group 50a. A process for making the area other than the character black (that is, the whitening process) may be executed. Further, for example, when some characters of the second group 54b of the scan data 54 are blue and other characters are black, the control unit 20 may underline only the blue characters. When S96 ends, the control unit 20 executes the processes of S60 and S62, and ends the second scan data process.

  FIG. 11 shows a state in which the data file created in S24 is printed on the print medium 256 by the printing unit 18. In the scan data 350 after the scan data 50 is processed, the characters included in the region 350a corresponding to the first group 50a are outlined, and the mode of the characters included in the region 350b corresponding to the second group 50b is as follows. It has not changed. Further, in the scan data 52, all the groups 52a to 52c have the same color, and it is determined NO in S94 in FIG. There is no change in the aspect corresponding to the character color. In the scan data 354 after the scan data 54 is processed, there is no change in the mode corresponding to the character color in the region 354a corresponding to the first group 54a, and a part of the region 354b corresponding to the second group 54b. Only letters are underlined.

In the scanner 10 of the third embodiment, the same effect as the scanner 10 of the first embodiment can be obtained.
In the scanner 10 of the third embodiment, the character mode is changed when the character color is different. This configuration is useful, for example, when the scanner unit 12 can scan in color while the printing unit 18 is monochrome printing. That is, when the character colors are different, even if monochrome printing is performed in the original scan data state, the difference in character colors may not be known. According to this configuration, even if monochrome printing is performed, it is possible to distinguish characters having different character colors from the original scan data.

(Modification)
In each of the above-described embodiments, the control unit 20 of the scanner 10 executes the above-described processes. However, the control unit 32 of the PC 30 connected to the scanner 10 may execute each process described above. In this case, the scanner 10 transmits the image data generated by the scanner unit 12 to the PC 30. The control unit 32 temporarily stores the received image data in the storage unit 40. The control unit 32 can create a data file that is easy for the reader to read when it is output by executing the same processes as the above-described processes.
In the embodiment described above, the data file created by the control unit 20 is printed on the print medium 56 by the printing unit 18. However, the created data file may be transmitted to the PC 30 or the like. The user can display the data file on the display 34 by operating the operation unit 36 of the PC 30.

In each of the embodiments described above, the target character size is either a character size preset by the user or a character size of the representative character group. However, the target character size may be, for example, the smallest character size among characters included in a plurality of scraps, and the user may be inquired every time the scanner 10 creates a data file. Further, once the target character size is determined, the target character size may be set as a default value and used when the next data file is created.
When the data file covers a plurality of pages, the target character size may be changed for each page, or may be unified for each data file.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, when there is a character having a size smaller than the allowable character size in S34 (see FIG. 4) of the first scan data processing, the resolution is increased and scanning is performed again. However, for example, in S32 of the first scan data processing, when the character detection rate is lower than a predetermined threshold value, the resolution may be increased and scanning may be performed again. In each of the above-described embodiments, in S34, when a character having a size smaller than the allowable character size exists among the characters included in the scan data, scanning is performed again. However, when the character size of the representative character group is smaller than the allowable character size, the resolution may be increased and scanning may be performed again. That is, the control unit 20 increases the resolution again when the character size of the representative character group is larger than the allowable character size even if there is a character having a character size smaller than the allowable character size other than the representative character group. You do not have to scan. In this case, the processing of S42 to S46 is performed after the processing of S32, and then it is determined whether or not the character size of the representative character group specified in S46 is smaller than the allowable character size. If it is determined that the character size of the representative character group is smaller than the allowable character size, the processing of S36 and S38 is performed, and the processing of S42 is performed on the scanned data that has been scanned again. On the other hand, if the character size of the representative character group is larger than the allowable character size, the process proceeds to S48.

In the above-described embodiment, the determination as to whether or not to scan again after increasing the resolution according to the character size of the scan data is performed in the first scan data processing. With such a configuration, it is possible to save the user from having to read the scanned image again. This determination may be made at the timing when the size of the scan data is actually changed (for example, during the execution of the second scan data processing).
Further, the format of the data file created in S24 of FIG. 3 may be, for example, one image file such as JPEG in which a plurality of scan data 150, 152, 154 are arranged, or a plurality of scan data 150, 152. , 154, a single document file such as a PDF file in which a plurality of image files are arranged. Alternatively, a plurality of image files generated from the plurality of scan data 150, 152, and 154 and the plurality of image files are output in order to output the plurality of scan data 150, 152, and 154 in a state where they are arranged at predetermined positions. It may be a data file group (for example, an HTML format data file) associated with a document file that defines an arrangement condition at that time.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the second scan data processing is different. One scanner 10 may execute the second scan data processing of each embodiment described above. In this case, the control unit 20 may be configured so that the user can select in which embodiment the data file is created. Further, the second scan data processing of each embodiment may be combined. In this case, it can be implemented by combining the flowcharts of FIGS.

Specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, but these are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes various modifications and changes of the specific examples illustrated above.
The technical elements described in this specification or the drawings exhibit technical usefulness alone or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of filing. In addition, the technology illustrated in the present specification or the drawings achieves a plurality of objects at the same time, and has technical utility by achieving one of the objects.

Shows the appearance of the scanner. The configuration of the scanner and the configuration of the PC are shown. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the process which a control part performs is shown. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of first scan data processing executed by a control unit. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of second scan data processing executed by the control unit according to the first embodiment. The scrap which a scanner part produces scan data is shown. 1 shows a print medium printed by a scanner according to a first embodiment. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of second scan data processing executed by a control unit according to the second embodiment. The printing medium printed by the scanner of 2nd Example is shown. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure of second scan data processing executed by a control unit according to a third embodiment. The printing medium printed by the scanner of 3rd Example is shown.

Explanation of symbols

10: scanner, 12: scanner unit, 14: operation unit, 16: display panel, 18: printing unit, 20: control unit, 24: storage unit, 30: PC

Claims (10)

A data processing device that processes a plurality of scan data generated from a plurality of scan objects each including a character string,
For each of the plurality of scan data, a character size detecting means for detecting a size of a character included in the scan data;
A size changing means for changing the size of the scan data at an enlargement / reduction ratio for making the size of characters included in each of the plurality of scan data a first predetermined character size;
Data file creating means for creating a data file for outputting an image in which the plurality of scan data including the scan data whose size has been changed by the size changing means;
A data processing apparatus comprising: For each of the plurality of scan data, further comprising a character number counting means for counting the number of characters for each character size,
The character size changing means, when the character size detecting means detects a plurality of size characters in one scan data, the enlargement / reduction ratio for making the first size character having the largest number of characters the first predetermined character size. The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the size of the scan data is changed. The character size changing means, when the character size detecting means detects a second size character having a size larger than the first size character having the largest number of characters in one scan data, the second size character. The size of an area in which a character of the second size is arranged is reduced at a scaling ratio for making the second predetermined character size greater than or equal to the first predetermined character size. Data processing device. The character size changing means detects the third size character when the character size detecting means detects a third size character having a size smaller than the first size character having the largest number of characters in one scan data. The size of an area in which the character of the third size is arranged is enlarged at a scaling ratio for making the third predetermined character size equal to or smaller than the first predetermined character size. The data processing apparatus described. The character size changing means arranges the characters of each size so that when the character size detecting means detects a plurality of sizes of characters in one scan data, the plurality of sizes are unified to the same size. The data processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the size of each area is changed.   The data processing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising first character mode changing means for changing a character included in each area in a different mode for each enlargement / reduction ratio. Character color detection means for detecting the color of characters in the scan data;
A second character mode changing unit for changing the character for each color when characters of a plurality of colors are detected in one scan data by the character color detecting unit;
The data processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: Scanning means for generating the plurality of scan data by scanning the plurality of scan objects;
The data processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which processes the plurality of scan data generated by a scanning unit;
With a scanner. The scanning unit, when a character smaller than a predetermined size is detected by the character size detection unit, scans the object to be scanned at a higher resolution to generate scan data. The scanner according to 8. A computer program for a data processing device that processes a plurality of scan data generated from a plurality of scan objects each including a character string,
For each of the plurality of scan data, a character size detection process for detecting the size of characters included in the scan data;
A resizing process for changing the size of the scan data at an enlargement / reduction ratio for changing the size of characters included in each of the plurality of scan data to a first predetermined character size;
A data file creation process for creating a data file for outputting an image in which the plurality of scan data including the scan data whose size has been changed by the size change process;
A computer program that causes a computer to execute.

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