JP2011138371A - Seal direct reader and seal impression data creation method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a seal direct reader for obtaining clear seal impression data by directly imaging the surface of a seal with inexpensive device configurations. <P>SOLUTION: The seal direct reader is provided with: a support part for supporting a seal; a plurality of light emitting parts arranged around the surface of the supported seal to emit light to the surface of the seal from a plurality of directions; an image pickup part for imaging the surface of the seal; an image pickup control part for controlling the image pickup part to image the surface of the seal by causing some of the light emitting parts to emit light to the seal unidirectionally and causing the image pickup part to image the surface of the seal by changing the irradiation directions of the light emitting parts to obtain a plurality of image data; and an image data synthesizing part for creating seal impression data by synthesizing a plurality of image data obtained by a plurality of imaging operations by the image pickup control part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for obtaining image data by directly imaging a seal surface of a seal.

  At present, when making a withdrawal or transfer at a financial institution, it is necessary to fill in a paper slip with a name and an amount of money, and then stamp it as an identity verification means. The entry part can be digitized by replacing it with an input to an electronic bookkeeping terminal, etc. However, it is necessary to perform the stamp after printing the input contents on paper (slip).

  Therefore, various techniques are known for realizing paperless identity verification in combination with computerization of an electronic bookkeeping terminal by reading a seal stamp directly from a seal stamp without contact, without imprinting a seal on a slip.

Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a seal is inserted into a support member in a light shielding cover and the unevenness of the stamped surface is photographed with a camera.
Patent Document 2 discloses an image reading apparatus in which a seal is inserted into a holder, and a stamped surface is directly read by an imprint reading unit.

  In Patent Document 3, a camera that photographs an object (for example, a coin) having an uneven surface placed on a glass plate from below, and a plurality of LEDs that are provided so as to surround the object slightly below the glass plate, An inscription reading device is shown having a light guide for guiding the light irradiated simultaneously onto the object from each LED.

  In order to obtain a clear read image, it is necessary to prevent the shadow from being formed on the uneven surface of the object in the engraving reading device disclosed in Patent Document 3. From this relationship, the LED should be surrounded by the object. Many need to be installed. Therefore, there is a problem that the apparatus becomes complicated and the apparatus cannot be manufactured at low cost.

JP-A-60-256882 JP 61-290580 A JP 07-167788 A

  The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and is a direct stamp reading apparatus (seal stamp direct) capable of obtaining clear seal image data by directly photographing the seal surface with an inexpensive apparatus configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide a reader) and an imprint data creation method.

  The proposed seal stamp direct reader includes a support section that supports the seal stamp, a plurality of light emitting sections that are disposed so as to surround the stamp surface of the supported seal stamp, and that irradiates light on the stamp surface of the seal stamp from a plurality of directions, and a stamp surface of the seal stamp An imaging unit that captures the image, and a portion of the plurality of light emitting units is irradiated in one direction on the seal, the seal surface of the seal is photographed on the imaging unit, and the irradiation direction of the light emitting unit is changed to An image for creating seal impression data by combining an imaging control unit for capturing a plurality of image data by causing the imaging unit to capture a seal surface of a seal stamp and a plurality of image data obtained by multiple imaging by the imaging control unit. And a data synthesis unit.

  As disclosed in Patent Document 3 of the prior art, in the case where a large number of LEDs are arranged and the light from the LEDs is simultaneously irradiated onto the imaging object, in order to capture the object clearly with the CCD, the surface of the object is Since it is necessary to shoot each part evenly with light, shadows must not be created on the surface of the object, so it is necessary to increase the number of LEDs that irradiate the object to be imaged, which increases the cost of the device. Connected. On the other hand, in the proposed seal stamp direct reader, light from a part of a plurality of light emitting units is irradiated to an object by changing the irradiation direction of the light emitting unit, and a plurality of image data obtained are synthesized. is doing. For example, light from one of four LEDs is selectively irradiated to the object in order, and the obtained four images are synthesized. Thereby, even if it is an inexpensive apparatus with few LED, it becomes possible to image a target object (imprint on the seal face of a seal stamp) clearly.

It is an external appearance perspective view which shows the seal stamp direct reader which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the extraction method of the unevenness | corrugation of the stamp surface of the seal stamp in this embodiment. It is a flowchart of the seal impression data creation process in this embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a seal stamp direct reading apparatus (seal stamp direct reader) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the seal stamp direct reader of FIG. 1, the seal stamp 1 is inserted in the direction of arrow A, and is supported from both sides by a support portion (not shown) and placed on the base portion 3 to fix the position.
This seal stamp direct reader is arranged outside the peripheral line of the seal surface of the supported seal stamp 1 and has four LEDs 2-1 for irradiating light on the stamp surface of the seal stamp 1 from four diagonal directions on the side close to the image sensor 5; 2-2, 2-3, 2-4, and an image sensor 5 provided at a position facing the seal surface of the seal 1 in order to photograph the seal surface of the seal 1, and the image sensor 5 and the seal surface of the seal 1 And a lens 7 provided therebetween. Among these, the four LEDs 2-1, 2-2, 2-2, 2-4, the image sensor 5, and the lens 7 are accommodated in the housing 8.

  Although not shown in FIG. 1, this seal stamp direct reader emits only one of the four LEDs 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, and 2-4 to image the stamp surface of the stamp 1. Obtaining image data through the lens 7 by the sensor 5 is obtained by changing the LEDs that emit light each time and executing the imaging control unit that executes all of the four LEDs, and performing the imaging four times by the imaging control unit. An image data composition unit for compositing four pieces of image data to create seal impression data. The imaging control unit and the image data synthesis unit can be realized as hardware or software.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a method for extracting irregularities on the seal surface of the seal in the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2, four LEDs 2-1, 2-2, 2-2, and 2-4 are provided obliquely forward with respect to the stamp surface 11 of the seal 1. In photographing the marking surface 11 and reading it as image data, only one of the four LEDs 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 is turned on (emits light) to emit light to the marking surface 11. In the irradiated state, the image plane 5 is photographed through the lens 7 by the image sensor 5. In FIG. 2, only the LED 2-1 emits light, and the remaining three LEDs are in an off state (a state in which no light is emitted).

  In FIG. 2, the light-emitting LED 2-1 is shown on the right side of the drawing. In this state, the LED 2 of the outline of the character imprinted on the stamping surface 11 indicated by the ridge line at the boundary between the character on the stamping surface 11 (the character “mark” in FIG. 2) and the recessed portion that is not a character. The portion that becomes a shadow by the light from −1, that is, the shadow including the ridge line on the opposite side (left side of the paper) of the LED 2-1 clearly appears.

  Then, as described above, the LED that emits light is changed every time, shooting is performed for all four LEDs, four image data are obtained by four shootings, and the four image data are synthesized and imprinted. Create data.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the seal data creation process in the present embodiment.
The processing of this flowchart is executed by the imaging control unit and the image data synthesis unit of the seal direct reader.

  As a first step before proceeding to the process of the flowchart of FIG. 3, first, the seal 1 to be photographed for imprinting is inserted into the seal direct reader and placed on the table 3 by the support unit (not shown) on both sides. The position of the seal 1 is fixed in support from.

From this state, photographing of the stamp surface 11 of the seal 1 starts.
In step S <b> 1 of FIG. 3, only the LED 2-1 shown on the right side of the sheet is turned on, and the stamp surface 11 is photographed by the image sensor 5. In the first image data read at this time, a shadow including a ridge line on the opposite side (left side of the paper) of the LED 2-1 among the ridge lines indicating the boundary between a character and a non-character dent portion appears clearly.

  In the next step S2, only the LED 2-2 shown on the lower side of the sheet is lit and the image surface 5 is photographed by the image sensor 5. In the second image data read at this time, a shadow including a ridge line on the opposite side (upper side of the sheet) of the LED 2-2 among the ridge lines indicating the boundary between the character and the non-character dent portion appears clearly.

  In subsequent step S3, only the LED 2-3 shown on the left side of the sheet is turned on, and the printing surface 11 is photographed by the image sensor 5. In the third image data read at this time, a shadow including a ridge line on the opposite side (right side of the sheet) of the LED 2-3 among the ridge lines indicating the boundary between the character and the hollow portion that is not a character appears clearly.

  Subsequently, in step S4, only the LED 2-4 shown on the upper side of the paper is lit and the image surface 5 is photographed by the image sensor 5. In the fourth image data read at this time, a shadow including a ridge line on the opposite side (lower side of the paper) of the LED 2-4 among the ridge lines indicating the boundary between the character and the non-character dent portion appears clearly.

  In step S5, the seal image data 15 of the seal stamp to be processed is synthesized by synthesizing the four pieces of image data (first image data to fourth image data) obtained as a result of photographing in steps S1 to S4. obtain.

  In the first image data, a shadow including the ridge line on the left side of the character stamped on the stamp surface 11 appears clearly, and in the second image data, a shadow including the ridge line on the upper side of the character stamped on the stamp surface 11 is clearly displayed. In the third image data, a shadow including the right ridge line of the character imprinted on the stamp surface 11 appears clearly. In the fourth image data, the lower ridge line of the character imprinted on the stamp surface 11 appears. Since the shadow including the image appears clearly, by superimposing these four pieces of image data, the shadow including the respective ridge lines is superimposed, and the resultant imprint data (superimposed image) 15 is the superimposed image. Imprints appear clearly as areas surrounded by the respective shadows.

  As disclosed in Patent Document 3 of the prior art, in the case where a large number of LEDs are arranged and the light from the LEDs is simultaneously irradiated onto the imaging object, in order to capture the object clearly with the CCD, the surface of the object is Since it is necessary to shoot each part evenly with light, shadows must not be created on the surface of the object, so it is necessary to increase the number of LEDs that irradiate the object to be imaged, which increases the cost of the device. Connected. In this embodiment, the light from one of the four LEDs is selectively irradiated onto the object in order, and the obtained four images are synthesized (superposed), thereby reducing the number of LEDs and being inexpensive. Even if it is an apparatus, it becomes possible to image a target object (imprint on the seal face of a seal stamp) clearly. In addition, although it implement | achieves by four LED in this embodiment, it is an example which can reduce the cost of LED, and if it can irradiate one direction, the number of LED will not be restricted to this but according to the cost of LED It is good also as a structure by quantity other than that. Further, the light emitting element is not limited to the LED.

1 Seal 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4 LED
3 parts 5 image sensor 7 lens 8 housing 11 seal surface 15 seal data

Claims (6)

A support part for supporting the seal,
A plurality of light emitting units that are arranged so as to surround the seal surface of the supported seal stamp and irradiate light on the seal surface of the seal stamp from a plurality of directions,
An imaging unit for photographing the seal surface of the seal;
A part of the plurality of light emitting units is irradiated in one direction with respect to the seal, the seal surface of the seal is photographed by the imaging unit, and the stamping surface of the seal is changed by changing the irradiation direction of the light emitting unit. An imaging control unit that obtains a plurality of image data,
An seal data direct reader, comprising: an image data composition unit that composes a plurality of pieces of image data obtained by photographing a plurality of times by the imaging control unit to create seal data.   2. The seal stamp direct reader according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light emitting sections are arranged outside the peripheral line of the seal stamp surface and close to the imaging section side, and irradiate the stamp surface side with light. . In one shooting by the imaging control unit, a shadow including a ridge line on the opposite side of the light emitting unit that emits light out of a ridge line indicating a boundary between a character imprinted on the stamp surface and a hollow portion that is not a character is clear. The image data that appears is read
When a plurality of pieces of image data are combined by the image data combining unit, shadows including respective ridge lines on the opposite side of the respective light emitting units that emit light are overlaid. 2. The seal stamp direct reader according to claim 1, wherein the seal appears clearly as an area surrounded by each shadow. An apparatus is provided that includes a plurality of light emitting units that are arranged so as to surround the seal surface of the seal supported by the support unit, and that emits light from a plurality of directions to the seal surface of the seal, and an imaging unit that captures the seal surface of the seal In the imprint data creation method to
A part of the plurality of light emitting units is irradiated in one direction with respect to the seal, the seal surface of the seal is photographed by the imaging unit, and the stamping surface of the seal is changed by changing the irradiation direction of the light emitting unit. An imaging control step for obtaining a plurality of image data,
And a step of creating seal impression data by synthesizing a plurality of image data obtained by photographing a plurality of times in the imaging control step.   5. The imprint data creation according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of light emitting units are arranged outside a peripheral line of a seal surface of the seal stamp and at a position close to the imaging unit side, and irradiate light on the seal surface side. Method. In one imaging in the imaging control step, the shadow including the ridge line on the opposite side of the light emitting portion to be lit out of the ridge lines indicating the boundary between the character stamped on the stamp surface and the recessed portion that is not a character is clearly displayed. The image data that appears is read
In the step of combining the image data, when combining a plurality of pieces of image data, shadows including the respective ridge lines on the opposite side of the respective light emitting units that emit light are overlapped. 5. A method for creating seal stamp data according to claim 4, wherein the seal stamp appears clearly as an area surrounded by each shadow in the combined image.