JP2010193123A - Scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a scanner easily specifying a trimming area. <P>SOLUTION: The scanner includes: a scanner unit for scanning the image of an original placed on an original platen and generating the image data of the image; a touch sensor unit provided on the original platen, for detecting a specified position in response to the specification of an optional position on the original platen by a user; and a control means for detecting a trimming area specified by the specified position on the basis of the specified position detected by the touch sensor unit and generating the image data within the trimming area. In the scanner, the trimming area is specified while the original is placed on the original platen. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a scanner device that scans an image formed on a document and generates image data.

  The scanner device is mounted as a scanner-dedicated device or in a copy device or a fax device. In either case, the scanner device optically scans an image formed on a document to generate image data. The scanner device has a function of trimming only a part of an image formed on a document. An example in which a trimming function is combined with a scan function is described in Patent Document 1, for example.

  In Patent Document 1, an original is set on a platen, an image is read, the read image is previewed on a monitor screen, an editing area (trimming area) is designated from a coordinate input device such as a separately provided digitizer, The document describes that a trimming area is confirmed on a preview display screen, and a desired area is scanned to acquire image data. In other words, pre-scanning is performed and a trimming area is designated and scanning is performed again.

JP-A-11-196258

  According to the example described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to scan an image of a document once, capture the image data, and display it on a monitor screen. For this reason, the operation is complicated and it is necessary to mount a large monitor screen having sufficient resolution. Furthermore, it is necessary to provide a coordinate input device such as a digitizer separately. Since the monitor screen of a recent inexpensive multifunction peripheral is small in size and does not have sufficient resolution, it is difficult to designate a trimming area on the monitor screen.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a scanner device that can easily designate a trimming area.

  In the first aspect, the scanner device scans an image of a document placed on a document table and generates image data of the image, and designates an arbitrary position of the document table provided on the document table by a user. A touch sensor unit that detects the designated position in response, and a control unit that detects a trimming area specified by the designated position based on the designated position detected by the touch sensor unit and generates image data in the trimming area And have. In this scanner device, the trimming area can be designated with the document placed on the document table.

According to a preferred aspect of the first aspect, the touch sensor unit detects the plurality of designated positions in response to designation of a plurality of positions on the document table performed simultaneously by the user,
The control means detects the trimming region based on a plurality of designated positions detected by the touch sensor unit.

According to a preferred aspect of the first aspect, the touch sensor unit sequentially detects a plurality of designated positions in response to designation of a plurality of positions on the document table sequentially performed by the user,
The control means detects the trimming region based on a plurality of designated positions detected by the touch sensor unit.

  According to a preferable aspect of the first aspect, the scanner unit scans an image of a document placed downward on the document table to generate the image data, and the control unit faces the document table upward. The document is placed downward on the document table based on the designated position detected by the touch sensor unit in response to designation of an arbitrary position of the document table by the user in a state where the document is placed on the document table. The trimming area in a state where the document is placed is detected.

  In the second aspect, a scanner unit that scans an image of a document placed on a document table and generates image data of the image, and provided in the document table, responds to a user's designation of an arbitrary position on the document table. Then, in the trimming method of the scanner device having the touch sensor unit for detecting the designated position, the trimming area specified by the designated position is detected based on the designated position detected by the touch sensor unit, and the trimming is performed. Image data in the area is generated.

1 is a configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus including a scanner device according to the present embodiment. It is a schematic block diagram of the image processing apparatus in this Embodiment. It is a flowchart figure which shows the scanning operation | movement in this Embodiment. FIG. 4 is a detailed flowchart of the trimming area designating step S14 of FIG. 3. It is a figure explaining the trimming area designation | designated by back surface designation | designated. It is a figure explaining the trimming area designation | designated by surface designation | designated. It is a flowchart figure of area | region designation | designated operation. It is a figure which shows a projected capacitive touch sensor. It is a figure which shows the infrared type touch sensor.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus including a scanner device according to the present embodiment. The image processing apparatus 10 is an example of a multi-function machine having a scanner function, a copy function, a fax function, a printer function, and the like. However, in the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 10 may be a scanner apparatus having only a scanner function.

  The image processing apparatus 10 includes a scanner unit 42 that optically scans an image of a document to generate a scanned image signal, a printer engine 44 that prints image data, and a communication that transmits and receives image data when a fax function is executed. It includes a device 46, a hardware group such as a display panel 48 that displays a job operation menu, a setting operation menu, an internal state of the device, and the like, and a controller 16 that controls the hardware.

  The controller 16 controls the scanner unit 42 and inputs a scan image signal from the scanner unit 42 to generate image data, a printer control unit 34 that controls the printer engine 44, and a communication device 46. It includes a fax control unit 46 that controls the fax transmission / reception, and a panel control unit 38 that controls the display of the display panel 48 and detects an operation input. These control units 32 to 38 are connected to the CPU 20 and the internal memory 24 via the internal bus 50. Further, the CPU reads out the control program from the memory 22 storing the control program, and executes various controls.

  The image processing unit 28 processes, for example, image data read by the scanner unit 42 and converts it into a specified file format (for example, JPEG, PDF, TIFF), or is supplied from the host computer 12 via the interface 26. For example, the print job image data is processed to generate print data to be supplied to the printer engine 44. Further, an external memory 14 such as a USB memory is detachably connected to the interface 26, and image data generated by the scanner function is stored in the external memory 14 or an image file to be printed by the printer engine 44 is stored. It is used for inputting from the external memory 14.

  The image processing apparatus 10 includes a touch sensor unit 40 and a touch sensor control unit 30 that controls the touch sensor unit 40. The touch sensor unit 40 is provided on a document table (not shown) provided on an upper surface of a casing (not shown) including a scanner unit 42, a printer engine 44, and a display panel 48. A scan head of the scanner unit is provided in the vicinity of the document table so that an image of the document placed on the document table can be scanned. By providing the touch sensor unit 40 on the document table, the touch sensor unit 40 detects the designated position in response to designation of an arbitrary position of the document table by the user. The touch sensor 40 that detects the designated position of the document table can detect the position on the document table that is designated by the user's finger or a position designating instrument while the document to be scanned is placed on the document table. The user can specify the trimming area while confirming the image of the document.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image processing apparatus 10 includes a housing 60 that houses a scanner unit 42, a printer engine 44, a communication device 46, a controller 16, and the like (not shown), a transparent document table 62 provided on the upper surface of the housing 60, and a document. It has a touch sensor unit 40 provided on a table 60 and a lid 68 having an automatic paper feeding unit. With the document 70 placed on the document table 62 downward, the scanner head 64 constituting the scanner unit scans and reads the image of the document 70. Further, when the user designates an arbitrary position of the document table 62 with a finger 72 or a position specifying device (not shown) while the document 70 is placed on the document table 62, the touch sensor unit 40 provided on the document table is provided. Detects the specified position.

  The CPU executes a control program in the controller and detects a trimming area in the document based on the designated position detected by the touch sensor unit 40. The user can designate a trimming area in the document while the document 70 to be scanned is placed on the document table 62 for scanning, so that the area designation is simplified and convenience is improved. After the trimming area is determined, the scanner unit 42 scans the image, and the image processing unit 28 generates image data of the designated trimming area.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the scanning operation in the present embodiment. The user selects a scan mode on the display panel 48, and selects “designate range on the platen” in the scan mode (S10). “Specifying a range on the document table” means designating a trimming region by designating a position on the document table. Then, the user sets a document to be scanned on the document table (S12). This document setting may be performed before step S10.

  Then, the user designates a trimming area in the document with a finger or a position designating tool with the document placed on the document table (S14). When the user designates an arbitrary position on the document table with a finger or a position designating instrument, the touch sensor unit 40 detects the position (S14). Then, the controller detects a trimming area based on the designated position (S15). For example, the trimming area is a rectangular area having sides parallel to the vertical and horizontal sides of the document. Therefore, the user is required to designate at least two positions whose positions are shifted in the vertical and horizontal directions. The controller calculates a rectangular trimming area having at least two designated points as opposite vertices.

  When the user has set to store the trimming area on the display panel (YES in S16), the controller stores the trimming area detected by the designation of the position in the internal memory 24 (S18). After the designation of the trimming area, when the user gives an instruction to execute scanning (YES in S20), the controller executes scanning (S22). In executing the scan, the controller causes the scan unit 42 to scan the image of the document placed on the document table, and causes the image processing unit 28 to generate image data of the image specified in the trimming area. The generated image data is printed by, for example, a printer engine, stored in the external memory 14, displayed on the display unit of the host computer 12, or sent to a remote fax machine via the fax control unit 46 and the communication device 46. Or transmitted.

  FIG. 4 is a detailed flowchart of the trimming area designating step S14 of FIG. In the present embodiment, the trimming area designation operation in the document can be selected from either the back side specification performed with the document set downward on the document table or the front side specification performed with the document set upward. (S30).

  When the user selects the back side designation from the operation menu on the display panel, the user sets the document face down on the platen and designates a position that defines the trimming area from the back side of the document (S32). The touch sensor unit 40 detects the designated position. Then, the controller obtains a rectangular trimming area having at least two designated positions as a boundary (S34).

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the trimming area designation in the reverse side designation. The user turns over the original 70 and sets a downward original 70 </ b> R on the original table 62. Then, the user designates the two points TR1 and TR2 that define the trimming region TR with a finger or a position designation tool while looking at the back surface 70R of the document. The two points TR1 and TR2 are detected by the touch sensor unit 40. Depending on the configuration of the touch sensor unit, the two points TR1 and TR2 may be specified at the same time, or may be specified sequentially. This will be described in detail later. When the touch sensor unit detects the designated positions TR1 and TR2, the controller obtains a rectangular trimming area TR having the two points TR1 and TR2 as boundaries, that is, opposing vertices, by calculation.

  In order to designate the trimming area by the above-mentioned back side designation, it is necessary that the original paper is transparent enough to identify the trimming area from the back side. Alternatively, it can be used even when the same image is formed as a mirror image on the front and back surfaces of the paper.

  On the other hand, if the user selects the front side specification from the operation menu on the display panel, the user sets the original document upward on the platen and specifies the position for defining the trimming area from the front side of the original document, as shown in FIG. (S36). The touch sensor unit 40 detects the designated position. Further, the controller detects the size of the document (S38). The document size can be detected by the controller, for example, from the document or the reflected light from the cover surface of the light emitting element for size detection when the cover 68 (see FIG. 2) of the apparatus is closed. Alternatively, it can be detected by the user inputting the document size in the display panel 48.

  If the document size can be detected, the controller can obtain a rectangular trimming area when the document is turned over from the position designated on the front side of the document (S40). However, the position where the document is set needs to be a predetermined position. The controller requests that the document be turned over in the display panel (S42). The document size detection step S38 and the trimming region calculation step S40 may be performed after the scan execution instruction (YES in S20) in FIG. 3 or during the scan execution step S22. That is, when the document size is detected by the reflected light of the size detecting light emitting element, it is desirable that the lid 68 is closed. If the document size can be detected even when the lid is not closed, the document size can be detected when the document is set.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the trimming area designation in the surface designation. The user sets the document 70 on the document table 62 with the document 70 facing upward. Then, the user designates the two points TR1 and TR2 that define the trimming region with a finger or a position designation tool while looking at the surface 70 of the document. The two points TR1 and TR2 are detected by the touch sensor unit 40. When the position designation is completed, the user turns the document over and sets a downward document 70R on the document table 62. The positions where the front document 70 and the back document 70R are set need to be determined on the document table 62. If the positions where the originals are set coincide with each other, the trimming area TR on the back surface 70R can be calculated based on the two positions TR1 and TR2 designated on the front surface 70 and the original size.

  In the surface designation, the user needs to set the document upward and then set the document downward. However, since the position defining the trimming area on the surface of the document can be designated, the position designation is easy and accurate. This is also effective when it is difficult to confirm the trimming area of the document from the back side.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the area specifying operation. This figure shows the region designation operation by the user in the trimming region designation step (S14) in FIG. 3 and the trimming region designation step (S32, S36) in FIG.

  The trimming area is specified by specifying the position of two points that can define the area. Depending on the type of the touch panel, there are cases where two points can be specified simultaneously and cases where only two points can be specified sequentially. For example, in the case of a capacitive touch sensor, the surface type is composed of a conductive film covering the panel and electrodes at its four corners, and a voltage is applied to the electrodes to form a uniform electric field throughout the panel. When the finger touches the panel, current flows from the electrodes at the four corners, and the touched position is detected from the ratio of the current flowing from the electrodes at the four corners. Therefore, two points cannot be detected at a time. On the other hand, the projection type forms vertical and horizontal electrode patterns on the panel, and detects changes in capacitance between the electrodes caused by the approach of the finger. Therefore, two points of contact can be detected simultaneously.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating the above-described projected capacitive touch sensor. Vertical and horizontal transparent electrode patterns 80 and 82 covering the document table 62 are formed, and detection circuits 84 and 86 for detecting a change in capacitance between the electrodes are connected to the electrode patterns 80 and 82. Then, when a finger touches a position indicated by a black dot in the figure, the capacitance between the electrodes at that position changes, and the touched position can be detected. The position can be detected from the position in the horizontal direction and the position in the vertical direction where the capacitance has changed, and two positions can be detected simultaneously.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an infrared touch sensor. In the case of the infrared touch sensor, the infrared light emitting element arrays 90 and 94 and the light receiving element arrays 92 and 96 are arranged vertically and horizontally, respectively, and when the finger touches the panel, the emitted infrared light 98 is cut off and the finger position is detected. Is done. In the figure, when a finger touches a black dot, the infrared ray 98 is cut off, and the light receiving element arrays 92 and 96 detect the blocked horizontal and vertical positions. Thereby, the position of the finger can be detected. Also in this case, if there are two points, the position can be detected simultaneously. However, it is required to have an environment where infrared rays are not incident, such as indoors.

  Returning to FIG. 7, in the case of multipoint simultaneous detection (left side of S60), if the user designates any two points on the document table at the same time after the user instructs the start of trimming area designation (YES in S62), In response to the designation, the touch sensor detects two positions (YES in S64). Then, the positions of the two points are stored (S66).

  On the other hand, in the case of multipoint sequential detection (right side of S60), after the user instructs the start of trimming area designation (YES in S68), if the user designates any two points on the document table sequentially, this designation is made. In response, the touch sensor detects the designated position (YES in S70). The detected position is stored (S72). The detection and storage of the designated position is performed until the designation is completed (YES in S74). The end of designation can be realized by an instruction to complete the area designation by the user or a predetermined time from the start of area designation, for example, within 5 seconds.

  The position designation by the user is not limited to two points, and may be three points or more. In the case of two points, a rectangle having the opposite vertex is detected as a trimming region. However, in the case of three points or more, the minimum rectangle including the designated position is detected as a trimming region.

  As described above, two points can be detected simultaneously or two points can be sequentially detected according to the type of touch sensor provided on the document table. Even if the position is specified by three or more points, a rectangle including the position can be detected as a trimming region.

  As described above, according to the image processing apparatus and the scanner apparatus of the present embodiment, the trimming area can be designated on the document while the document is placed on the document table. The trimming area can be designated easily and with high accuracy. Further, if the surface designation is used for designating the trimming area, the trimming area can be designated accurately even for a document with low transparency or a thick paper document. Even a touch sensor that can detect only one position can specify a trimming region by sequentially storing a plurality of positions, for example, two positions.

60: Scanner device casing 62: Document table 40: Touch sensor 68: Cover 70: Document 72: User's finger

Claims (5)

A scanner unit that scans an image of a document placed on a document table and generates image data of the image;
A touch sensor unit provided on the document table and detecting the designated position in response to designation of an arbitrary position of the document table by a user;
A scanner device comprising: a control unit configured to detect a trimming area specified by the designated position based on the designated position detected by the touch sensor unit and generate image data in the trimming area. In claim 1,
The touch sensor unit detects the plurality of designated positions in response to designation of a plurality of positions on the document table performed simultaneously by the user,
The scanner device, wherein the control unit detects the trimming region based on a plurality of designated positions detected by the touch sensor unit. In claim 1,
The touch sensor unit sequentially detects a plurality of designated positions in response to designation of a plurality of positions on the document table sequentially performed by the user,
The scanner device, wherein the control unit detects the trimming region based on a plurality of designated positions detected by the touch sensor unit. In any one of claims 1 to 3,
The scanner unit generates an image data by scanning an image of a document placed downward on the document table;
The control means includes the designated position detected by the touch sensor unit in response to designation of an arbitrary position of the document table by the user in a state where the document is placed upward on the document table, the document size, Based on the above, the trimming area in a state where the original is placed downward on the original table is detected. A scanner unit that scans an image of a document placed on a document table and generates image data of the image, and is provided on the document table. In a trimming method of a scanner device having a touch sensor unit for detecting,
A trimming method comprising: detecting a trimming area specified by the designated position based on the designated position detected by the touch sensor unit; and generating image data in the trimming area.