JP2013078683A - Image recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the amount of ink consumption without deteriorating image clearness.SOLUTION: An image recording apparatus includes: a still picture photographing camera 14 for photographing a subject; a controller 19 for storing an image photographed by the camera 14; and a printer 24 for printing the image stored in the controller 19 with ink. The printer 24 has a mask recognizer for recognizing a mask image that is an unwanted region in the image, and an image converter for converting the mask image, based on the output of the mask recognizer, to such an image that can reduce ink consumption.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that records an image of a subject.

  There are various types of image recording apparatuses of this type, such as a fundus camera for photographing the fundus of a subject's eye and a microphotographer for performing a pathological examination. For example, a fundus camera includes a mask that blocks light traveling toward a peripheral region of the fundus to clarify an effective photographing range, and an optical system that re-images the fundus image and the mask image. Usually, the mask is disposed immediately before the film or in the image plane, and the optical system is disposed behind the mask.

  Since the fundus camera plays a major role in removing flare generated around the image, the mask image, which is an unnecessary area for the image, is recorded as black. The mask image is recorded as black image data together with the medical image portion.

  In recent years, an image recording apparatus records an image using an electronic image pickup device such as a CCD camera, and prints the recorded image with an ink jet type or thermal transfer type printer. Also, this type of image recording apparatus may be configured by connecting separate image storage means and image recording means to one or a plurality of photographing means.

  However, since ink jet and thermal transfer printers consume ink and ribbon, it is extremely uneconomical to consume ink and ribbon to print the mask image. Normally, the mask image is printed in black. For example, when printing an image of a black mask on white paper with an ink jet printer, a large amount of ink is consumed. In addition, since the ink ejection force is large, paper can be rippled, ink can drip, or ink can adhere to the paper feed roller and other parts, making the area necessary for the image clearer. It may be damaged.

  The main object of the present invention is to improve the above-described conventional example, and one of the specific objects is to reduce ink consumption without impairing the clarity of the image.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a storage unit that stores an image captured by an imaging unit that captures a subject, and a printer that prints the image stored in the storage unit with ink. In the image recording apparatus, the printer recognizes a predetermined area in the image, and converts the predetermined area in the image into an image having a color that reduces the ink consumption based on the recognition. It has a calculation means.

  As described above, according to the present invention, an image that recognizes a predetermined region in an image (for example, an image of a mask that is an unnecessary region) and reduces the ink consumption in the predetermined region in the image. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the ink consumption without deteriorating the clarity of the image.

1 is a configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the image which the camera for still image photography image | photographed. It is explanatory drawing of the image which the monitor for still image reproduction | regeneration projected. It is a flowchart figure of the procedure which cuts out the image of a mask. It is explanatory drawing of the image which the printer output. It is a block diagram of the image recording device of 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart figure of the procedure which cuts out the image of the mask of 3rd Embodiment.

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

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to the first embodiment. The image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment records a fundus image Er ′ of the eye E to be examined.

  On the optical path from the observation alignment light source 1 such as a photographing lamp to the objective lens 2 in front of the eye E, a condenser lens 3, a still image photographing light source 4 such as a strobe, a condenser lens 5, a mirror 6, a lens 7, A diaphragm 8 having a ring-shaped opening, a relay lens 9, and a perforated mirror 10 having an opening in the center are sequentially arranged. On the optical path behind the perforated mirror 10, a focus lens 11 that can move in the optical axis direction, a photographic lens 12 that has a zooming function, a switching mirror 13 that can be inserted into and removed from the optical path, and a high-definition like a digital camera. The still image shooting cameras 14 are sequentially arranged, and a high-sensitivity moving image observation camera 15 is arranged in the reflection direction of the switching mirror 13.

  The output of the moving image observation camera 15 is connected to the moving image observation monitor 17 via the character generating means 16. The output of the character generating means 16 is connected to the focus lens 11 and the photographing lens 12, respectively. The output of the focus knob 18 is connected to the focus lens 11, and the focus lens 11 is driven by the focus knob 18.

  The output of the still image shooting camera 14 is connected to a controller 19 having a computing unit such as a computer having an image memory. The output of the controller 19 is a still image playback monitor 20 such as a display, and an external such as an optical disk or a magnetic disk. Each is connected to the storage device 21. The output of the shooting switch 22 is connected to the still image shooting light source 4, and the output of the shooting switch 22 is connected to the controller 19.

  The output of the zoom switch 23 for changing the shooting magnification is connected to the character generating means 16 and the controller 19, respectively.

  An ink jet printer 24 is connected to the controller 19 as a means for hardware output of images. The printer 24 includes an ink tank 25 as a consumable material, and also includes a paper feed tray 26 that stores paper as an output medium.

  The controller 19 is further connected with a printing switch 27 for printing output.

  The printer 24 guides ink from the ink tank 25 and sprays it on the paper, thereby outputting a fundus image Er 'of the eye E to be examined. The ink tank 25 is replaceable so that the ink tank 25 itself can be replaced when the ink runs out. The paper feed tray 26 is a replenishment type so that paper can be replenished at any time when the paper runs out.

  Here, the printer 24 has a built-in computer so that the mask recognition means for recognizing the mask image M and image conversion for converting the mask image M into an image for reducing ink consumption based on the output of the mask recognition means. Means. The mask recognizing unit includes a mask shape storage unit that stores the shape of the mask.

  In this image recording apparatus, the light beam emitted from the observation alignment light source 1 passes through the condenser lens 3, the still image photographing light source 4, and the condenser lens 5, and is reflected upward by the mirror 6. Reflected to the left by the apertured mirror 10 through the aperture and the relay lens 9, and illuminates the fundus Er through the objective lens 2 and the pupil Ep. Then, the fundus image Er ′ reflected by the fundus Er passes through the pupil Ep, the objective lens 2, the focus lens 11, and the photographing lens 12, is reflected downward by the switching mirror 13, and forms an image on the imaging surface of the moving image observation camera 15. To do.

  The fundus image Er ′ formed on the moving image observation camera 15 becomes an electric signal and is input to the moving image observation monitor 17 via the character generating means 16. The moving image observation monitor 17 projects a fundus image Er ′ and, for example, a black mask image M generated by the character generation unit 16, masks a flare portion around the fundus image Er ′, and captures a still image of the fundus Er. Display only valid parts that match the range. At this time, the controller 19 recalls the shape of the mask image M from the mask shape storage means and displays it on the moving image observation monitor 17.

  The photographer checks the fundus image Er ′ on the moving image observation monitor 17 and confirms the imaging region, alignment state, and focus state. For example, when the focus is shifted, the focus lens 11 is driven by the focus knob 18 to adjust the focus. Then, after confirming that the subject is in focus, the photographing switch 22 is operated.

  Thereby, the switching mirror 13 is retracted out of the optical path, and the still image photographing light source 4 emits light. The light beam emitted from the still image photographing light source 4 illuminates the fundus Er through the same optical path as the light beam emitted from the observation alignment light source 1. The fundus image Er 'reflected from the fundus Er passes through the pupil Ep, the objective lens 2, the hole of the perforated mirror 10, the focus lens 11, and the photographing lens 12, and forms an image on the imaging surface of the still image photographing camera 14. The fundus image Er 'formed on the still image capturing camera 14 is input as a digital signal to the controller 19 and stored together with the mask image M in the image memory therein.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the fundus image Er 'formed on the still image capturing camera 14. The fundus image Er' is surrounded by the flare F, and the boundary of the effective region for diagnosis is not clear. Therefore, the controller 19 rewrites the data of the predetermined mask image M area to the black level display data in the fundus oculi image Er ′, and surrounds the still picture reproduction monitor 20 with the normally black mask image M as shown in FIG. The fundus oculi image Er ′ is displayed, and the boundary of the effective region for diagnosis is clarified. At this time, it is preferable that the still image reproduction monitor 20 displays the mark S indicating the up and down direction effective at the time of printing and the data display D indicating the subject or the photographing state together with the mask image M.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a procedure for cutting out the mask image M. When the print switch 27 is turned on, the controller 19 starts to output the image data displayed on the still image reproduction monitor 20 to the printer 24. In step S1, it is determined whether or not the printing switch 27 is on. When it is determined that the printing switch 27 is on, the process proceeds to step S2. In step S2, the mask shape is read from the mask shape storage means. In step S3, the color of the mask image M is converted into a color that does not use ink, usually white, by the image conversion means. At this time, in order to clarify the shape of the mask, it is possible to leave the border black.

  In step S4, it is determined whether or not the data display D is displayed on the still image monitor 20. When the data display D is displayed, the process proceeds to step S5. When the data display D is not displayed, the process proceeds to step S6. In step S5, the character portion of the data display D is converted from white to black. In step S6, the converted image data is output to the printer 24. The printer 24 receives the image data and starts printing.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 5, the printer 24 prints the mask image M as white without ink, and normally prints the character portion of the data display D and the edge ME of the mask image M in black. In step S7, the image data is restored and the output of the image data to the printer 24 is terminated.

  In the present embodiment, when the fundus image Er ′ is printed by the printer 24, the mask image M, which is an unnecessary area as the fundus image Er ′, is converted into white and printed, so that the ink consumption of the printer 24 is reduced. can do. Since the black mask image M similar to the conventional one is displayed on the still image monitor 20, the visibility when observing the fundus oculi image Er 'can be ensured.

(Second Embodiment)
FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an image recording apparatus according to the second embodiment. The image recording apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a slit lamp that includes an image sensor 28a for capturing a still image and images the anterior segment of the eye E. 28, a fundus camera 29 that includes an image sensor 29a for taking a still image and photographs the fundus Er of the eye E, and a controller similar to the first embodiment connected to the image sensors 28a and 29a for taking a still image 19 and a printer 24 similar to that of the first embodiment connected to the controller 19.

  The controller 19 also manages information incidental to the image and photographing, for example, the data display D and information of the slit lamp 28 and the fundus camera 29 of the first embodiment. The camera No. in the data display D on the still image playback monitor 20 is displayed. 3 is effective when the fundus camera 29 or the image sensor 29a used for photographing is identified and the recorded image is compared with another image, or when the image is corrected by image processing or the like.

  At this time, the controller 19 stores the shape of the mask corresponding to the slit lamp 28 and the fundus camera 29, and can extract information corresponding to the shape of the mask from the information of the slit lamp 28 and the fundus camera 29. .

  Further, the controller 19 includes image management software, and can search and display images taken by the slit lamp 28 or the fundus camera 29. As a result, the examiner searches for and displays a desired image using the software of the controller 19, and prints the searched and displayed image with the printer 24. At this time, most of the operation of the printer 24 is the same as that of the printer 24 of the first embodiment, but the first is that the information corresponding to the shape of the mask is extracted from the information of the slit lamp 28 and the fundus camera 29. It is different from the embodiment. It should be noted that the same effect can be obtained by including information corresponding to the shape of the mask in the information attached to each image.

  Since the fundus photographed by the fundus camera 29 contains a lot of red, it can be easily and clearly distinguished from the black mask selected here. On the other hand, in the case of the slit lamp 28, the anterior ocular translucent portion that does not receive the slit light is close to black, and therefore there is a high risk of erroneous processing if black is selected. Therefore, in the case of the slit lamp 28, it is desirable to memorize the shape of the mask as in the first embodiment.

  However, a mask image M having, for example, a purple edge (usually purple does not exist in the slit image) between the black mask image and the slit image portion is used, and this edge ME is detected. This configuration can easily solve this problem. In any case, it is obvious that the mask should be optimally determined based on the slit lamp 28 and the fundus camera 29 and coexist.

(Third embodiment)
FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a procedure for cutting out the mask image M according to the third embodiment. In the first embodiment, the mask image M is cut out using the mask shape prepared in advance. In the present embodiment, the mask image M is automatically cut out from the characteristics of the image itself.

  In step S11, it is determined whether or not the switch of the printer 24 is on. When it is on, the process proceeds to step S12. In step 12, mask color information preliminarily stored in the control device 19, for example, information that the mask is black (R <10, G <10, B <10 in RGB representation) is read, and the process proceeds to step S13. move on.

  In step S13, it is determined whether or not there is a superimposed data display D. If there is a superimposed data display D, the process proceeds to step S14. If there is no superimposed data display D, the process proceeds to step S15 without passing through step S14. move on.

  In step S14, the color of the character portion of the data display D is changed from white to the original color, here black, which is the color of the mask image M, and the process proceeds to step S15. In step S15, a pixel having a color close to the color of the mask image M is extracted from the image data or the continuity thereof is evaluated to cut out the mask image M from the image data, and the process proceeds to step S16. And step S16-step S20 are processed similarly to step S5-step S7 of 1st Embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the mask is cut out based on the mask color information stored in advance. However, for example, the mask is cut out based on the color information of the pixels in the periphery of the image that the mask is sure to exist. However, the same effect can be obtained. In this case, it is important that the color used as the mask is a color that can be clearly distinguished from the color that is captured as the original image.

  In the first to third embodiments described above, in order to cut out a mask, a region of interest such as a ROI (Region of Interest) included in a header region such as a compressed image is recognized, and a non-interest region is not required to be printed. It can also be defined as a mask area. The operation at the time of printing is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same effect can be obtained by converting the area designated as the non-interest area to white that is not printed with ink.

  Further, although the image recording apparatus that captures and records the fundus and anterior eye portion of the eye E has been described, the present invention can be applied to a system that captures and records other subjects other than the eye E. Needless to say.

  Although the ink of the printer has been described, it goes without saying that the ink includes other printing materials such as an ink ribbon.

(Other embodiments)
One of the objects of the other embodiments is that, when an image taken by a plurality of photographing means is recorded, the amount of ink consumed without impairing the clarity of the image based on the information of the photographing means stored together with the image. Is efficiently reduced.

  Another object of other embodiments is to reduce ink consumption without impairing the clarity of an image even when there is no information on the photographing means.

  Another object of other embodiments is to ensure visibility when observing a stored image.

  Here, in the image recording apparatus according to another embodiment, the photographing unit includes a mask that shields light traveling toward the peripheral area of the subject, and an unnecessary region in the image is an image of the mask photographed by the photographing unit. Also good. In addition, image recording apparatuses according to other embodiments may perform the above conversion when outputting an image to a printer.

  In the image recording apparatus according to another embodiment, the calculation unit may store the shape of the mask attached to the image information and recognize the image of the mask based on the storage. Thereby, even when there are different mask shapes depending on the photographing means and photographing conditions, the ink consumption of the printer can be reduced.

  In the image recording apparatus according to another embodiment, the calculation unit may store a mask shape attached to the photographing information and recognize the mask image based on the mask shape. In the image recording apparatus according to other embodiments, the shooting information may be information of a shooting unit. As a result, even when there are different mask shapes depending on the photographing means and photographing conditions, the ink consumption of the printer can be more efficiently reduced.

  In the image recording apparatus according to another embodiment, the calculation unit may store the color information of the image of the mask and cut out the shape of the mask based on the stored color information. As a result, the mask can be detected even for an image whose mask shape is unknown, and the ink consumption of the printer can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to store the shape of the mask as incidental information, the image can be easily managed.

  In the image recording apparatus according to another embodiment, the calculation unit may determine the color information around the image as the mask color information and cut out the shape of the mask based on this. As a result, the ink consumption of the printer can be reduced even for an image whose mask shape and color are not determined in advance.

  In the image recording apparatus according to another embodiment, the calculation unit may recognize the region-of-interest information incidental to the image information. As a result, it is possible to reduce the ink consumption for an operator who wants to print only the region of interest.

  In addition, for image recording apparatuses according to other embodiments, the printer may be an ink jet type that prints by spraying ink on paper. As a result, the cost is reduced and the ink consumption of the printer can be reduced. It also reduces the risk of smearing the required image area when the ink ejection force is large, the base undulates, the ink drips, or the ink adheres to the paper feed roller or other parts. it can.

  In the image recording apparatus according to other embodiments, the color of the mask image may be substantially black. Thereby, the ink consumption of the printer can be reduced as compared with the case where the color of the mask image is black.

  In the image recording apparatus according to another embodiment, the image may be a fundus image of the eye to be examined. Thereby, since the area of the mask image is large, the ink consumption of the printer can be significantly reduced.

  In addition, the image recording apparatus according to another embodiment includes a display that displays the image stored in the storage unit, and the mask image displayed on the display is different from the mask image printed on the printer. Also good. As a result, the image can be observed by the display means without processing the mask image, so that the visibility of the image is ensured by using a mask image that is familiar, that is, suitable for observation as in the past. be able to.

  In addition, the image recording apparatus according to another embodiment may include a fundus photographing camera that photographs a fundus image.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light source for observation alignment 4 Light source for still image photographing 14 Camera for still image photographing 15 Camera for moving image observation 16 Character generating means 17 Monitor for moving image observation 19 Controller 20 Monitor for still image reproduction 21 External storage device 22 Shooting switch 24 Printer 25 Ink Tank 27 Printing switch 28 Slit lamp 29 Fundus camera D Data display E Eye to be examined Er Fundus Er 'Fundus image M Mask image ME Edge

Claims (18)

  An image recording apparatus comprising: a storage unit that stores an image captured by an imaging unit that captures a subject; and a printer that prints the image stored in the storage unit with ink. The printer includes a predetermined area in the image. An image recording apparatus comprising: an arithmetic unit that recognizes the image and converts a predetermined area in the image into an image having a color that reduces the ink consumption based on the recognition.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the photographing unit includes a mask that blocks light traveling toward a peripheral region of the subject, and the predetermined region in the image is an image of the mask photographed by the photographing unit.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conversion is performed when the image is output to the printer.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit stores a shape of the mask attached to image information and recognizes an image of the mask based on the storage.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit stores a shape of the mask attached to photographing information and recognizes an image of the mask based on the shape of the mask.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the photographing information is information of the photographing unit.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit stores color information of an image of the mask and cuts out a shape of the mask based on the stored color information.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the calculation unit determines color information around the image as mask color information, and cuts out the shape of the mask based on the color information.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit recognizes region-of-interest information incidental to the image information.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printer is an ink jet type that prints the paper by spraying the ink onto paper.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a color of the image of the mask is substantially black.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image is a fundus image of an eye to be examined.   It has a display which displays the image memorized by the storage part, and the image of the mask displayed on the display differs from the image of the mask printed on the printer. An image recording apparatus according to claim 1.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a fundus photographing camera that photographs a fundus image. Acquisition means for acquiring information indicating a mask area around the image of the eye to be examined;
When an instruction from an operator is input after the mask area is displayed on the display means in the first color, the image is printed on a print medium by a printer based on the information indicating the mask area, and the Print control means for printing a mask area on the print medium in a second color different from the first color;
A control device comprising: Acquisition means for acquiring information indicating a mask area around the image of the eye to be examined;
When an instruction from an operator is input after the mask area is displayed in black on the display means, the image is printed on a print medium by a printer based on information indicating the mask area, and the mask area is displayed. Print control means for printing on the print medium in a color different from the black;
A control device comprising: Acquisition means for acquiring information indicating a mask area around the image of the eye to be examined;
When an instruction from an operator is input after the mask area is displayed in black on the display means, the image is printed on a print medium by a printer based on information indicating the mask area, and the mask area is displayed. Print control means for preventing printing on the print medium;
A control device comprising: Acquisition means for acquiring information indicating a mask area around the image of the eye to be examined; display control means for displaying the mask area in black on the display means based on the information indicating the mask area;
When an instruction from an operator is input after the mask area is displayed in black on the display means, the mask area is set to white by a printer based on information indicating the mask area and the edge of the mask area Print control means for printing a part on a print medium in black,
A control device comprising:

Images