JP2011066820A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve convenience when image data of a read original of a plurality of pages is divided and stored. <P>SOLUTION: An image processing part 3 analyzes the image data of the original of a plurality of pages read by an image reading part 2 for each page and simultaneously files it, a division processing part 61 divides the original of the plurality of pages read by the image reading part 2 to be grouped based on analysis results of the image processing part 3, and associates files of each page with each group to be stored in a storage part 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that digitizes and stores an image.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image processing apparatus that reads an image of a document and stores image data, a technique is known in which image data of a plurality of pages of a document is divided and stored for each predetermined number of pages (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

JP 2005-143039 A

  When scanning a multi-page document in which document types are mixed, there are cases where it is desired to store the document separately for each document type.

  In the technique of Patent Document 1, since the number of pages to be divided is fixed, when a plurality of types of documents having different numbers of pages coexist, in order to store the documents separately for each type, read the document separately for each type. It was inconvenient because it was necessary to perform the operation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of improving the convenience in dividing and storing the read image data of a plurality of pages of a document.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an image reading unit for reading an image of a document, and analyzing image data of a plurality of pages of the document read by the image reading unit for each page and creating a file. An image processing unit, a division processing unit for dividing and grouping a plurality of pages of documents read by the image reading unit based on an analysis result of the image processing unit, and each group divided by the division processing unit And a storage unit for storing the file of each page in association with each other.

  An image processing apparatus according to a second aspect is the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the image processing unit determines whether or not a predetermined image is included in each page of the document. The page including the predetermined image and other pages are divided into different groups.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing unit that reads an image of a document, an image processing unit that files image data of a plurality of pages of documents read by the image reading unit for each page, and a user operation. A division designation unit for designating grouping of each page of the document read by the image reading unit, and a division process for dividing a plurality of pages of the document read by the image reading unit in accordance with the designation of the division designation unit And a storage unit that associates and stores the file of each page for each group divided by the division processing unit.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, grouping is performed on a plurality of pages of the document based on the analysis result of the image data of the scanned document, and the files on each page are stored in association with each group. It is possible to perform a desired grouping by operation, and it is possible to improve convenience when the read image data of a plurality of pages of a document is divided and stored.

  According to the second aspect of the invention, since the page including the predetermined image and the other pages are divided into different groups, the pages including the image desired by the user can be grouped and stored.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, since grouping is performed in accordance with the designation of grouping by the user operation, it is possible to divide and store the read image data of a plurality of pages of the document as desired by the user.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image processing apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows a page division condition setting screen. It is a figure which shows a symbol selection screen. It is a figure which shows a command sheet selection screen. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation at the time of image reading of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows a thumbnail display screen. It is a figure which shows a thumbnail display screen.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, an image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes an image reading unit 2, an image processing unit 3, an operation input unit 4, a sheet thickness detection unit 5, a control unit 6, and a storage unit. 7.

  The image reading unit 2 includes an image sensor in which photoelectric conversion elements such as a plurality of CCD (Charge Coupled Device) elements are arranged, optically reads a document, and outputs image data of the read document. The image reading unit 2 includes an automatic document feeder (not shown), and reads an image while automatically conveying a document by the automatic document feeder.

  The image processing unit 3 analyzes the image data of the document read by the image reading unit 2 for each page, and performs processing for creating a file.

  The operation input unit 4 includes a display / input panel 41 and various operation keys (not shown), and outputs an operation signal based on a user operation to the control unit 6.

  The display / input panel 41 includes a pressure-sensitive or electrostatic transparent touch panel (not shown) disposed on the front surface and a liquid crystal display panel (not illustrated) disposed on the back surface of the touch panel. Yes. The user can perform an input operation by directly touching the surface of the touch panel with a finger or the like while viewing the display screen of the liquid crystal display panel.

  The display / input panel 41 displays thumbnail display screens 50 and 60, which will be described later, and functions as a division designation unit that designates grouping of each page of a document according to a user operation.

  The paper thickness detection unit 5 is a sensor installed in the automatic document feeder of the image reading unit 2 and detects the thickness of the document to be read.

  The control unit 6 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a memory (not shown) that stores a control program for the CPU, and the like, and the CPU performs processing according to the control program, whereby the image processing apparatus 1 as a whole. It controls the operation. The control unit 6 has a function as a division processing unit 61 that divides and groups a plurality of pages of documents read by the image reading unit 2 based on the analysis result of the image processing unit 3.

  The storage unit 7 has a non-volatile recording medium, and stores the file of each page in association with each group divided by the division processing unit 61.

  Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus 1 will be described.

  In the image processing apparatus 1, a user can operate the operation input unit 4 to set in advance a condition for dividing and saving a plurality of pages of documents read by the image reading unit 2. ing.

  When an instruction signal for setting page division conditions is input by a user operation, the control unit 6 causes the display / input panel 41 to display a page division condition setting screen 10 as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the page division condition setting screen 10 includes items of various conditions such as “text / photo” and “symbol”, an “invalid” button 11 for invalidating each condition, An “valid” button 12 for validating each condition is displayed. On the page division condition setting screen 10, the user can perform an operation for setting each of the page division conditions to be valid or invalid.

  When the “text / photo” condition is enabled on the page division condition setting screen 10, the page including the photo area in the image and the other pages are divided into different groups.

  When the “symbol” condition is validated, a page including a predetermined image as a symbol in the image and other pages are divided into different groups. An image to be read as a symbol can be selected from a plurality of images registered in advance.

  When the “valid” button 12 of the “symbol” condition is selected, the control unit 6 causes the display / input panel 41 to display a symbol selection screen 20 as shown in FIG. On the symbol selection screen 20, images 21A, 21B,... Showing symbols registered in advance are displayed as a list. As the images 21A, 21B,..., For example, a company logo can be registered. The registered image is stored in the memory of the control unit 6. The user can select an image to be set as a symbol from the images 21A, 21B,.

  A plurality of images may be selected as symbols. In this case, pages including at least one of the selected symbols may be grouped into one group, or may be grouped separately for each symbol.

  When the “thumbnail” condition is validated, the grouping specified by the user operation on the thumbnail display screens 50 and 60 described later is set after reading the document.

  When the “paper type” condition is validated, division is set according to the paper type of each page of the document. The paper type is determined based on the detection result of the paper thickness detection unit 5.

  When the “command sheet” condition is validated, the setting from the command sheet to the previous page of the next command sheet is grouped as one group. The command sheet is a sheet inserted between the sheets of the document in order to indicate the separation of the document type, and an identification image indicating that it is a command sheet is drawn. The identification image read as the command sheet can be selected from a plurality of images registered in advance.

  When the “valid” button 12 of the “command sheet” condition is selected, the control unit 6 causes the display / input panel 41 to display a command sheet selection screen 30 as shown in FIG. The command sheet selection screen 30 displays a list of pre-registered identification images 31A, 31B,. The registered identification image is stored in the memory of the control unit 6. The user can select an identification image set as a command sheet from the identification images 31A, 31B,. A plurality of identification images may be selected.

  When the “optimum paper size” condition is validated, the setting is made so as to perform grouping for each page having the same optimum paper size. The optimum paper size is a minimum paper size necessary for printing an image included in the page. For example, if there is a large margin around the area where an image of a page exists, and the image area can be printed even on a paper that is one size smaller than the paper size in the image data, this smaller size is the optimum paper size. Become.

  Each of the above page division conditions may be used alone or in combination.

  Next, the operation of the image processing apparatus 1 when reading an image will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, in step S10, the image reading unit 2 reads a plurality of pages of a document image and outputs image data.

  Next, in step S20, the control unit 6 causes the image processing unit 3 to analyze the image data of the document read by the image reading unit 2 for each page, and to process the file. The image data analysis processing performed here includes the following processing according to preset page division conditions.

  When the “text / photo” condition is valid, the image processing unit 3 determines whether or not a photographic region including a photo exists in the image of each page by a well-known region separation process. When the “symbol” condition is valid, the image processing unit 3 determines whether an image of a preset symbol exists in the image of each page. When the “command sheet” condition is valid, the image processing unit 3 determines whether or not a preset command sheet identification image exists in the image of each page. When the “optimum paper size” condition is valid, the image processing unit 3 detects the position and size of the area where the image exists in the image data of each page, and determines the optimum paper size. Any of the above processes in the image processing unit 3 can be performed by a known image processing technique.

  In step S30, the control unit 6 determines whether or not the “thumbnail” condition is valid. If the “thumbnail” condition is valid (step S30: YES), the process proceeds to step S40. If the “thumbnail” condition is invalid (step S30: NO), the process proceeds to step S50.

  In step S40, the control unit 6 causes the display / input panel 41 to display a thumbnail display screen 50 as shown in FIG. The thumbnail display screen 50 displays a list of thumbnail images 51A, 51B,...

  On the thumbnail display screen 50, the user selects thumbnail images of pages to be divided into the same group. For example, when the user selects thumbnail images 51A, 51B, 51C, 51F, and 51L, grouping of pages corresponding to these is designated. Then, the control unit 6 switches the display / input panel 41 to the thumbnail display screen 60 that displays the thumbnail images 51D, 51E,... Corresponding to the remaining pages. On the thumbnail display screen 60, the user selects thumbnail images of pages to be divided into the same group. By repeating this, grouping is designated.

  In step S50, the division processing unit 61 divides and groups a plurality of pages of the read original. When the “thumbnail” condition is invalid, the division processing unit 61 performs grouping according to other page division conditions other than the “thumbnail” condition based on the analysis result of the image processing unit 3. When the “paper type” condition is valid, the division processing unit 61 compares the paper thickness range set in advance for each paper type with the paper thickness of the document detected by the paper thickness detection unit 5. Then, the type of each sheet of the document is determined, and the result is grouped by sheet type.

  On the other hand, when the “thumbnail” condition is valid and grouping is designated on the thumbnail display screens 50 and 60 by the user operation, the division processing unit 61 is designated by the user regardless of other page division conditions. Group. By doing in this way, when the grouping by other page division conditions differs from a user's hope, a user can correct.

  When other page division conditions other than the “thumbnail” condition are designated, the thumbnail images 51A, 51A, 51B, 51A, 51B are displayed for each group so that the thumbnail display screens 50, 60 can show the grouping result based on other page division conditions. The display form of 51B,... May be changed and displayed. For example, a screen frame having a different color for each group may be displayed on the thumbnail images 51A, 51B,..., Or the thumbnail images 51A, 51B,.

  In step S <b> 60, the division processing unit 61 associates the file of each page with each divided group and stores the file in the storage unit 7.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, grouping is performed on a plurality of pages of originals based on the image analysis result of the originals according to preset page division conditions, and the user is displayed on the thumbnail display screens 50 and 60. When grouping is specified by, grouping is performed according to the specification. Accordingly, a desired grouping can be performed by one reading operation without performing a reading operation for each group. Therefore, it is convenient for dividing and storing image data of a plurality of pages of read originals. Can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, when the “text / photo” condition is valid, the page including the photo area and the other pages are divided into different groups in the image. It may be further divided into a page consisting of only a page and a page in which a photo area and a text area are mixed.

  In the above embodiment, the paper type is determined based on the detection result of the paper thickness detection unit 5. However, the image processing unit 3 creates a histogram indicating the density distribution of the image data, and based on this, the paper type of the document is generated. May be judged. According to this, for example, it can be grouped according to the color of the original paper.

  In the above embodiment, an image processing apparatus that processes and stores an image read by a scanner has been described. However, the present invention can also be applied to an apparatus that stores an image, such as a digital camera.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 2 Image reading part 3 Image processing part 4 Operation input part 5 Paper thickness detection part 6 Control part 7 Storage part 10 Page division condition setting screen 20 Symbol selection screen 30 Command sheet selection screen 50, 60 Thumbnail display screen 41 Display / Input panel 61 Division processing section

Claims (3)

An image reading unit for reading an image of a document;
An image processing unit that analyzes image data of a plurality of pages read by the image reading unit for each page and converts the image data into a file;
A division processing unit that divides and groups a plurality of pages of documents read by the image reading unit based on the analysis result of the image processing unit;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a storage unit that associates and stores a file of each page for each group divided by the division processing unit. The image processing unit determines whether each page of the document includes a predetermined image;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the division processing unit divides a page including the predetermined image and other pages into different groups. An image reading unit for reading an image of a document;
An image processing unit that converts the image data of a plurality of pages read by the image reading unit into a file for each page;
A division designation unit for designating grouping of each page of the document read by the image reading unit in response to a user operation;
A division processing unit that divides a plurality of pages of documents read by the image reading unit in accordance with the designation of the division designation unit;
An image processing apparatus comprising: a storage unit that associates and stores a file of each page for each group divided by the division processing unit.

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