JP2586589B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a micro image processing apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional technology and its problems A microreader having a printer function, a so-called microreader printer, has a projection lens for enlarging and projecting an original image in an optical system. It is necessary to make adjustments.

On the other hand, microfilms are classified into a roll type and a fish type, and when the microfilm is replaced, it is general to replace the entire microfilm carrier. In this case, if the microfilm carrier is replaced, the focal position is different, so that the focus must be adjusted each time the carrier is replaced. As a result, the relationship between the exchange of the microfilm carrier and the focus adjustment becomes a problem. That is, if the focus adjustment is performed after the microfilm carrier is replaced, there is no particular problem. However, if the microfish carrier is replaced during the focus adjustment, the focus adjustment operation becomes completely meaningless and a malfunction occurs.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a micro image processing device that can rationally solve the above problems.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 comprises a projecting means for projecting an image projected on a film supported by a carrier onto an image receiving surface, and light from the film. Photoelectric conversion means for receiving light and converting it into an electric signal, a focus detection means for detecting a focus state on an image receiving surface based on a signal of the photoelectric conversion element, and outputting a lens movement signal; and An auto-focusing means having a focus adjusting means for adjusting a focus by moving a focus adjusting lens based on a movement signal; a detecting means for detecting that the carrier is mounted on the apparatus body; and And control means for stopping the operation of the focus adjustment means when the detection means no longer detects the carrier during the operation of the focus means.

Further, the invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, after the operation of the focus adjustment unit by the control unit is stopped, when the detection unit detects that the carrier is mounted, the operation of the focus adjustment unit is automatically performed. It is characterized by having a means for restarting.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a projection unit for projecting an image projected on a film supported by a carrier onto an image receiving surface, and a photoelectric conversion unit for receiving light from the film and converting the light into an electric signal. A focus detection unit that detects a focus state on an image receiving surface based on a signal from the photoelectric conversion element and outputs a lens movement signal; and moves a focus adjustment lens based on a movement signal of the focus detection unit. And focus adjustment means for adjusting the focus,
First detecting means for detecting that the carrier is mounted on the apparatus main body, second detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a film in the carrier, and the carrier being mounted on the apparatus main body by the first detecting means And control means for starting the operation of the autofocus means when the second detection means detects that a film is present on the carrier.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a micro reader printer as one embodiment of the present invention. The reader printer is provided with a light source for irradiating an image and an image projected by the light source on a lower portion 1 of the main body. Built-in printer. A print button B ₁ , a zoom button B ₂ , and an auto focus (hereinafter, referred to as AF) button are provided on the front of the lower body 1.
B ₃ such predetermined operation button are arranged.

On the other hand, an optical system described later is incorporated in the upper part 5 of the main body, and a screen 6 for projecting an image when the optical system is in the reader mode is provided on the upper front surface. This screen 6
A film carrier loading space A is provided immediately below the space. In this example, a fish film carrier 7 having a frame search function is loaded in this space A. The fish film carrier 7 can be exchanged by pulling it in the front direction of the main body. Although not shown, a roll film carrier can be loaded in the loading space A. With the fish film carrier 7 loaded, a projection lens 8 forming a part of a projection optical path is mounted on the central upper surface thereof. Reference numeral 9 denotes a fish film insertion opening formed on the front surface of the carrier 7, and reference numeral 10 denotes a controller connected to the main body of the reader printer through a connection cord. The controller has a key for designating a frame signal to be searched or a frame feed key. B ₄ … etc. are provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the fish film carrier 7 has an XY carrier 12 and a film loading 13 inside a flat casing case 11. X
The -Y carrier 12 is a combination of an X-axis linear motor 14 and a Y-axis linear motor 15, and the movable table 16 is moved in any direction on the XY plane by both motors. This movable platform
Upper and lower 2 for holding fish film (not shown)
A plurality of transparent film holders 17 and 18 are provided. X
The axis and Y-axis linear motors 14 and 15 move according to a search command from a control circuit described later, and move the fish film held in the film holders 17 and 18 in any direction to position the designated piece on the optical path. . The loading block 13 is disposed in the vicinity of the insertion slot 9, and supplies the fish film inserted from the insertion slot 9 between the film holders 17 and 18, and loads the fish film from between the film holders. , Has an unloading function. A plate 19 is provided on the outermost right end of the housing case 11, and when the carrier 7 is loaded in the loading space A in a normal state, the plate 19 is moved to the reader / printer main body side. Photo interrupter 20 provided
Into the detection groove 20a, and the loading of the carrier can be detected. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes an optical path for irradiating the fish film with light from a light source.

The projection lens 8 mounted on the carrier 7 has a configuration as shown in FIG. The illustrated lens 8 is a zoom lens having an autofocus (hereinafter, referred to as AF) gear 31 and a zoom gear 32 on its periphery, and is loosely inserted into a lens receiving unit 33. A lens accommodating case 35 in which a portion 34 corresponding to an optical path is cut off is provided on the reader printer main body side,
The lens 8 is loaded into the optical path portion 34 by sliding the lens receiving unit 33 onto the bottom plate of the lens housing case 35 and inserting it in the direction of the arrow. Although not shown, since the upper film holder 18 of the carrier for fish film is located below the case bottom plate, the lens 8 is mounted on the film holder 18 in the loaded state as described above. Become. A lens mounting detection optical switch 36 is provided on the right side wall of the housing case 35, and when the lens 8 is loaded as described above, a detection piece 37 formed by bending a part of the lens receiving unit 33 is turned on. Detected at 36,
You can check whether the lens is loaded. In the drawing, reference numeral 38 denotes an AF gear, and 39 denotes a zoom gear, which are attached to rotating shafts 44 and 45 connected to motors 40 and 41 via timing levels 42 and 43, respectively. The gears 38 and 39 mesh with the corresponding gears 31 and 32 on the lens side when the lens 8 is loaded. AF
The gear 38 is driven during focus adjustment by a command from a control circuit described later. On the other hand, the zoom gear 38 is driven by operating a variable power key provided on the front face of the reader printer main body.

FIG. 14 shows a projection optical system inside the microreader printer. In the figure, 46 is a light source, 47 is a concave mirror, 48a, 48b
Is a condenser lens, and 49 is an illumination mirror. The light emitted from the light source 46 is applied to the fish film F sandwiched between the transparent film holders 17 and 18 via the condenser lens 48b. The light transmitted through the film F passes through the projection lens 8 and reaches the first mirror 51 where the light path is bent.
This mirror 51 is rotatable and the light reflected by the mirror is selectively switched in two directions. In the first direction, a reader optical path that reaches the screen 6 reflected by the half mirror 52 and a focus detection optical path that passes through the half mirror 52 and passes through the second reflection mirror 53 to the focus detector 54 are formed. . The second direction is the third mirror 55, the fourth mirror 56,
A printer optical path that reaches the photosensitive drum 58 via the fifth mirror 57 is formed.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first mirror 51 is supported by a horizontal axis 59 at the center in the vertical direction. The horizontal axis 59 is connected to a swing mechanism such as a motor (not shown), and the optical path is switched between the two directions by swinging the mechanism. In a state where the mirror 51 is directed to the printer optical path, the mirror 51 is rotated at a predetermined speed, and the image scanning is performed.

As long as the focus detector 54 is a TTL (Through The Lens) system, it may be either a type that detects a focused state based on a contrast difference, a phase difference, or the like. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. , Half mirror 6 with 2/3 transmittance
A configuration is used which consists of one and half half mirrors 62 and three two-dimensional CCDs 63a, b, c, and detects a focused state from a contrast difference. The light receiving surface of the CCD 63c is placed on the image forming surface of the projection lens 8 or the secondary imaging lens, and the light receiving surfaces of the CCDs 63a and 63b are placed at a predetermined distance before and after the image forming surface. The detection operation of the focus detector 54 will be described later.

FIG. 7 shows a control circuit for controlling the operation of the micro reader printer. This circuit consists of two CPUs (AF7 CPU
1, RP control CPU72) and ROM73,74, RAM connected to each CPU
75, 76, I / O ports 77 and 78, and input / output devices 79 to 88 connected to each I / O port. However, although only ten input / output devices are shown in the figure, other carrier control devices,
There are an exposure control device and the like. The focus detection mechanism 79 shown is CCD6
The circuit comprises a circuit for driving 3a to 3c and a circuit for transmitting the light receiving signal of the CCD to the I / O port. The lens moving mechanism 80 and the first mirror swing mechanism 82 include driving means such as a stepping motor and a circuit for detecting the positions of the lens and the mirror.
The printer control mechanism 83 includes a mechanism for operating a series of devices at a predetermined timing to print an image on the fish film using the photosensitive drum 58. The search state detection circuit 84 is a circuit for monitoring the movement of the film movement motors (the X-axis linear motor 14 and the Y-axis linear motor 15), and a search start signal is output when any one of the motors 14 and 15 starts moving and stops. And a search end signal. The lens replacement detection circuit 85 is a circuit for shaping and amplifying the detection signal of the optical switch 36 shown in FIG. 3, and the film carrier detection circuit 86 is a second circuit.
The circuit for shaping and amplifying the detection signal of the photointerrupter 20, the print button detection circuit 87, and the zoom button detection circuit 88 shown in the figure are circuits for detecting ON / OFF of a switch in conjunction with the print button and the zoom button, respectively.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control circuit RP control CP. First, when the power is turned on in a state where the film carrier 7 is loaded in the loading space A and the projection lens 8 is at a predetermined projection position, the flow proceeds to step S1.
It circulates → S2 → S3 → S4 → S5 → S6 → S1. If the AF button is pressed at this time, the flags F ₁ and F ₂ are reset (S7)
A start signal is transmitted to the AF CPU 71 (S8). A
The F CPU starts focus adjustment. For RP control in parallel with this
The CPU 72 detects the presence of the projection lens 8 until the AF CPU completes the focus adjustment (S9), and the photo interrupter 20 detects that the film carrier 7 is loaded (S10). Step S9), while confirming that the zoom button detection circuit detects that the zoom button is not pressed (S11) and that the search state detection circuit detects that the film search is not being performed (S12). S10 → S1
It cycles from 1 → S12 → S13 → S14 → S15 → S9. And C for AF
When the PU 71 completes the focus adjustment, it receives a signal to that effect from the CPU (S15), and proceeds to the next step S16. At this time, if the print button has not been pressed yet, the flag F ₂
Remains reset, so that F ₁ = F ₂ = 0,
The flow returns from step S16 to S1, and S1 → S2 → S3 → S4 → S
Circulate between 5 → S6 → S1. If the print button is pressed during this circulation, the flow proceeds from S6 to S18 to perform a predetermined print operation. On the other hand, during the flow from S7 to S16, S
When the print button 13 is determined to have been depressed, the flag F ₂ is set to 1 at step S17,
Based on the determination result in step S16, the flow is step S
The process proceeds from S16 to S18 to perform a predetermined print operation.

On the other hand, if the projection lens 8 is replaced while the AF CPU 71 is performing focus adjustment, the focus position differs depending on the newly provided lens, and it is meaningless to continue the current focus adjustment operation any further. is there. Therefore, in this case, the flow proceeds from step S9 to S19, in which a focus adjustment stop signal is given to the AF CPU 71, and the focus adjustment operation is stopped. When a new lens is set (S20), the condition is that the film carrier exists in the predetermined space A (S2).
1) Start the focus adjustment operation again.

If the film carrier is changed from fish film to roll film during focus adjustment, as in the case of changing the projection lens, it is meaningless to continue the current focus operation further. is there. Therefore,
In that case, the flow proceeds to step S10 → S22, and the focus adjustment is stopped. When a new carrier is loaded (S23), the focus adjustment operation is started again on the condition that a fish film is present in the carrier (S24).

In addition, when the zoom button is pressed during the focus adjustment or when the search for the frame image is started, the focus adjustment is stopped for the same meaning as described above (S25, S26), and the zooming process and the search process are waited for. (S27, S28), the focus adjustment operation is restarted.

On the other hand, when the print button is pressed during the focus adjustment, the print is generally performed after the focus adjustment is completed, so the focus adjustment is stopped unlike the exchange of the lens and the carrier, the zoom button, and the like. On the contrary, after the focus adjustment is completed, printing is continuously performed. This operation is as described above. However, in this case, for example, when the original image does not exist on the film positioned in the projection optical path, the focus adjustment is not possible, so that the focus adjustment does not end forever. Then the flow proceeds from step S14 to S29, a flag F ₁ for storing that the focus adjustment impossible, with performing display to that effect at step S30, the process proceeds from step S16 S1, focus Return to the adjustment standby state. The display in step S30 is canceled in step S31 the next time the AF button is pressed. Thus, in the above case,
Even if the print button is pressed, the storage is canceled and the print operation is not performed. However, if the print button is pressed during the focus adjustment standby state (circulation between S1, S2, S3, S4, S5, S6, and S1), the flow proceeds from step S16 to S.
Proceeding to 18, a predetermined print operation is performed. in this case,
Since the operator gives a print instruction after knowing that AF focus adjustment is not possible by the display,
After the focus adjustment is performed manually, the print button is pressed.

The above operation is performed under the condition that the AF button is pressed, but it is not necessary to change the lens in the program even if the AF button is not pressed (S2 → S20 → S2
1) Focus adjustment is automatically performed when the carrier is replaced (S3 → S23 → S24), the zoom button is pressed (S4 → S27), and the film search ends (S5 → S28). It has become.

Next, the adjustment operation performed by the AF CPU will be described. FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining this operation. First, the first mirror 51 is swung so that the optical path of the focus detection system is formed, and each of the CCDs 63a to 63c is set so that a substantially center of the screen equivalent surface S is set as a detection area as shown by E in FIG. Thereafter, the light receiving outputs of all the pixels of each of the CCDs 63a to 63c are checked, and a maximum value Lmax and a minimum value Lmin are searched for, and the difference Cs is obtained.
(S51) Cs = Lmax−Lmin (1) Here, the Cs value of the CCD 63a is Csa, and the Cs value of the CCD 63b is Csb, CC
The Cs value of D63c is defined as Csc. When one of the Cs values becomes maximum, it means that an image is formed on the light receiving surface of the CCD that gives the maximum Cs value. Figure 11 shows the focus detector 54
1 schematically shows the relationship between the CCDs 63a to 63c and focusing, front focus, and rear focus states. Also, FIG. 12 shows FIG. 11 (b),
The characteristics of the Cs value of each CCD in each state of (c) and (d) are drawn. From this figure, in the focused state of FIG. 11B, the Cs value of each CCD is Csc> Csa, Csa = Csb, and FIG.
It can be seen that Csa <Csb in the back focus state and Csa> Csb in the front focus state in FIG. When the calculation of each Cs value is completed, the process proceeds to step S52, where each Cs value is compared with the minimum contrast Cmin at which the focus detector can determine focus.
If all Cs values are smaller than Cmin, the process proceeds to step S53, where an AF impossible signal is issued.

On the other hand, if any Cs value is larger than Cmin, step S5
Proceed to 4 to determine whether an AF stop signal has been received. If the AF stop signal is received, stop the AF operation and return.
If not, the process proceeds to step S55, and the respective Cs values calculated in step S51 are compared. If Csa ≠ Csb, the process proceeds to step S56, in which the sizes of Csa and Csb are compared. Thus, the moving direction of the projection lens 8 is determined, and in step S57, the AF CPU 71 reads out predetermined distance information from the ROM and sends the signal to the lens moving mechanism 80 to determine whether the focus is on the front or rear focus. The projection lens 8 is moved in the same direction. The amount of lens movement at this time is smaller than the amount of lens movement performed in step S59 when Csa = Csb = Csc.
This is because when Csa ≠ Csb, an image is formed near the focus position, but when Csa = Csb = Csc, it is considered that an image is formed far away from the focus position.

When the movement is completed, Csa to Csc are calculated again (S58), and A
After confirming that the F stop signal has not been received (S54),
The respective Cs values are compared (S55). Then, this operation is repeated until Csc> Csa and Csa = Csb in the focused state.

On the other hand, as a result of the comparison in step S55, Csa = Csb = C
In the case of sc, since the image forming position of the projection lens 8 is far from the screen equivalent surface,
Proceeding to S59, the lens moving mechanism 80 is driven to move the projection lens 8 by a predetermined distance. Thereafter, each Cs value is calculated (S58) and compared (S55). This operation is repeated until Csa ≠ Csb, and the same operation as described above is performed to adjust the focus state.

As described above, the present invention has been described with reference to a microreader having a printer function for printing a document image, that is, a so-called microreader printer, but the present invention is not limited to such a microreader. Instead of the printer function, the present invention can be applied to a microreader having an image processing function such as an image scanner function of reading a document image and outputting an image signal, that is, a so-called microreader scanner.

Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
When the detecting means detects that the carrier has been removed from the apparatus main body during the focus adjustment, the focus adjustment operation is interrupted. For this reason, the focus adjustment which is meaningless by replacing the carrier is not performed. Further, since the focus adjustment does not continue during the carrier exchange, there is no occurrence of a malfunction such as an inability to detect the focus.

According to the second and third aspects of the present invention, when it is detected that the carrier is mounted, the focus adjustment operation is automatically performed. Therefore, the focus adjustment is performed reliably when the carrier is mounted, and a clear image can be immediately viewed / printed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a micro reader printer as one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing a carrier used for searching for a microfilm, and FIG. 3 is a projection lens and a housing portion thereof. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an optical path inside a micro reader printer, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first mirror for bending the optical path, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of a focus detector, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a control circuit;
FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the control circuit, FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the focus adjustment operation, FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a detection area of the focus detector on a screen equivalent surface, and FIG. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing each state of a front pin and a rear pin, and FIG. 12 is an illuminance distribution diagram in each state of FIG. A ...... film carrier loading space, B ₁ ...... print button, B ₂ ...... zoom button, B ₃ ...... AF button, B ₄ ...... frame advance key (search button), 6 ...... screen, 7 ...... carrier , 8: Projection lens (focusing lens), 20: Photointerrupter (for carrier detection), 36: Optical switch (for lens detection), 71: AF CPU, 72: Control CPU.

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] A projection means for projecting an image projected on a film supported by a carrier onto an image receiving surface; a photoelectric conversion means for receiving light from the film and converting the light into an electric signal; Focus detecting means for detecting a focus state on an image receiving surface based on the signal of (i) and outputting a lens movement signal; and moving a focus adjusting lens based on a movement signal of the focus detection means to adjust the focus. Auto-focusing means having a focus adjusting means for detecting, the detecting means for detecting that the carrier is mounted on the apparatus main body, and the detecting means no longer detects the carrier during the operation of the auto-focusing means. And a control means for stopping the operation of the focus adjustment means when the image processing apparatus is in use. And a means for automatically restarting the operation of the focus adjustment means when the detection means detects that the carrier has been mounted after the control means stops the operation of the focus adjustment means. 2. The device according to claim 1, wherein
The image processing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims. 3. A projection means for projecting an image projected on a film supported by a carrier onto an image receiving surface, a photoelectric conversion means for receiving light from the film and converting the light into an electric signal, and a photoelectric conversion element. Focus detecting means for detecting a focus state on an image receiving surface based on the signal of (i) and outputting a lens movement signal; and moving a focus adjusting lens based on a movement signal of the focus detection means to adjust the focus. Auto-focusing means having a focus adjusting means, a first detecting means for detecting that the carrier is mounted on the apparatus main body, a second detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of a film in the carrier, When the detecting means detects that the carrier is mounted on the apparatus main body and the second detecting means detects that the carrier has a film, the operation of the auto focus means is performed. The image processing apparatus characterized by comprising: a control means for starting, the.