JP3079747B2 - 3D image processing system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 3D image input / output capable of directly outputting the output of an information system to a medium as a 3D image, reading a 3D image written on the medium, and converting between a printed image and a 3D image. About the system.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional stereoscopic image output devices include:
For example, as described in JP-A-56-30891, a current is locally applied to a sheet having both the property of expanding and irreversibly increasing the volume by heating and the conductivity, and The sheet is locally heated and expanded by the heat generated by the electric resistance of the sheet to form a three-dimensional image on the sheet.

According to this method, since electrodes are required on both sides of the sheet, the size of the apparatus is increased, and no consideration has been given to obtaining a delicate three-dimensional image due to the necessity of the electrodes. Also, reading of a stereoscopic image and conversion of a print image and a stereoscopic image have not been considered.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to read a print image and convert it to a three-dimensional image and output it, or conversely read a three-dimensional image and convert it to a print image and output it. .

[0005]

The object of the present invention is to provide a reading means for reading a three-dimensional image formed on a medium, and a reading means for reading the three-dimensional image.
Conversion means for converting the three-dimensional image taken read by viewing takes means to a character, the three-dimensional image processing with an output means you output the conversion means in the converted text, and control means for controlling the operation of each unit a system, read-means, light source, a first lens for imaging a light source image on the medium, a mirror for moving the light source image on the medium, second and third mutually orthogonal and the lens is accomplished by the one having a sensor for converting the read-signal formed image by the second and third lens. Also,
The above object is a medium whose volume expands when heated.
Transport means for transporting, and heating means for heating the medium
A stereoscopic image processing system comprising:
The means consist of a plurality of heating cells, the temperature of this heating cell
Control means for controlling the
By setting the heating temperature suitable for the type of paper,
Achieved by forming a stereoscopic image.

[0006]

When reading a three-dimensional image and outputting a print image, first, reading the three-dimensional image is performed.
By means of the light source on the medium on which the stereoscopic image is formed.
Image the light source image and connect the formed images to each other
An orthogonal cylindrical lens forms an image on the sensor.
The image can be converted into a read signal, and the image can be printed on a print medium by the output unit .

[0007] In the case of outputting a standing body image, the heating of
Irreversible increase in volume due to expansion
Set the heating temperature to a medium with
Heating the medium by heating means having a plurality of heating elements
Form a three-dimensional image on the medium.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of a three-dimensional image input / output device according to the present invention will be described.

First, a description will be given of an embodiment of a three-dimensional image input / output device for reading a print image on, for example, paper as a medium and outputting a three-dimensional image on, for example, paper as a medium. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conversion device for converting a print image into a stereoscopic image according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration of a stereoscopic image output unit of the stereoscopic image output device, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a print format of a print image, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an information processing control unit that controls the conversion device of FIG.

The configuration of the conversion apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. In the description, the case where the print image is printed on paper will be described, but the present invention is not limited to paper.

The conversion device 100 is provided with a display operation unit 5 for displaying a guide for operation and inputting user information to the user.

First, a configuration for reading a print image will be described. The hopper 101, which is a storage unit, stores the paper 10 on which a print image is printed. The hopper 101 is provided with a separation unit 110 including a gate roller 112, a feed roller 113, and a pickup roller 111, so that the sheets 10 in the hopper 101 can be taken out one by one. The separation unit 110 is provided with a first transport path 107 as first transport means having transport rollers 102, 103, 104, and 105 for transporting the sheet 11 taken out from the hopper 101. The first transport path 107 is provided with a detection sensor 134 for detecting a print format of the sheet 11 and a print image reading unit 450 for reading a print image printed on the sheet 11. The first transport path 107 is provided with a sheet discharge port 106 on the opposite side of the separation unit 101, so that the sheet that has been read can be discharged.

Next, a configuration for forming a three-dimensional image on a sheet will be described. The paper 12 is a paper having the property of expanding and irreversibly increasing in volume when heated.
The hopper 121 is for storing new paper 12. The hopper 121 is provided with a separation unit 130 including a gate roller 132, a feed roller 133, and a pickup roller 131.
2 can be taken out one by one. Separation unit 13
0, transport rollers 122, 123, 124, and 125 for transporting the sheet 13 taken out from the hopper 121.
A second transport path 127 is provided as a second transport unit having the following. In the second transport path 127, the paper 1
3 is provided with a three-dimensional image output unit 50 for forming a three-dimensional image by heating 3, and a roller 128 as pressing means for pressing the paper 13 against the three-dimensional image output unit 50 relative to the three-dimensional image output unit 50. ing. Second
The paper path 127 is provided with a paper discharge port 126 on the opposite side of the separation unit 130 so that a paper on which a three-dimensional image is formed can be discharged.

Further, an information processing control unit 7 for controlling each unit and processing information is provided.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the three-dimensional image output unit 50 shown in FIG. The heating head 500
It is formed of a plurality of heating cells 501a, 501b, 501c, 501d and the like each having a heating means by a heating element, and the size of each heating cell is a size in which one character size includes a plurality of heating cells. . That is, one character is printed by a plurality of heating cells. Here, each heating cell 501a, 501b, 501c, 501
Since the configuration such as d is the same, the heating cell 501a will be described. The heating cell 501a is provided with a heater 502a as a heating unit. One of the heaters 502a is connected to a power supply, and the other is connected to the collector terminal of a transistor 503a that controls the amount of power to the heater 502a. The emitter terminal of the transistor 503a is connected to the resistors 504a, 504b, 504c, the base terminal is connected to the driver 507, and the transistor 503a
Control the operation of. Resistance 504a, 504b, 504c
Are the transistors 505a, 505b, and 505, respectively.
c is connected to the collector terminal. Transistor 50
5a, 505b, and 505c are heating cells 501a,
It is a temperature setting means for controlling the maximum amount of electricity to be applied to 01b, 501c, 501d, etc., and for setting the heating temperature of the heating means. Transistor 505a,
Each emitter terminal of 505b and 505c is connected to the ground line, and each base terminal is connected to the driver 506. That is, the transistors 505a, 505b, 5
By selecting and operating 05c, the set heating temperature can be obtained. The level of the output signal of the driver 506 is changed to change the level of the transistors 505a, 505b,
505c can be driven to set the heating temperature suitable for the set paper. The drivers 506 and 507 are shown in FIG.
Is controlled by the stereoscopic image output control unit 706 of the information processing control unit 7.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a print format of a print image. The print image printed on the paper 11 includes a recognition area 11a on which characters to be converted into Braille characters are printed, and other unrecognized areas 11a.
Each area is designated by the display operation unit 5 before the reading is started.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the information processing control unit 7 for controlling the conversion apparatus 100. Separation unit 11 for separating sheets 10 and 12 one by one from hoppers 101 and 121
0, 130, the transport rollers 102, 103, 104, 105 of the first transport path 107,
And the transport rollers 122 and 123 of the second transport path 127,
Conveyance roller control unit 704 for controlling 124 and 125, print image read control unit 705 for controlling print image reading unit 450, three-dimensional image output control unit 706 for controlling three-dimensional image output unit 50, data with other devices A transmission control unit 707 for controlling communication, and a display / operation unit 5 for displaying information and inputting operations of the converter.
708, a conversion unit 709 for converting the information of the area 11a to be recognized in the read print image information into Braille characters, and performs overall control on each control unit. The control unit 70 is configured. The control unit 70 includes a CPU 700, a main memory 701, and a data storage unit 702 for storing data.

The operation of the converter 100 will be described below. The user who uses the conversion device 100 can use the display operation unit 5
Then, the user specifies the type of paper to be used and the area to be recognized on the paper for reading the print image, and inputs a start. According to the start information, the separation unit 110 and the conveyance roller 1 are controlled by the separation control unit 703 and the conveyance roller control unit 704 from the hopper 101 storing the paper 10 on which the print image is printed.
02, 103, 104 and 105 are started. Separation unit 11
0 starts and the paper 1 set in the hopper 101
0 is taken out and sent to the conveyance path 107. The fed sheet 11 is sent to the detection sensor 134 by the conveyance rollers 102 and 103, and the area 11a recognized by the detection sensor 134 is detected. Further, the paper 11 is sent to a print image reading section 450, where the print image is read, and the read information is stored in the data storage section 7.
02 is stored. In the information stored in the data storage unit 702, the area 11 recognized by the detection sensor 134
The information detected as the data of a
Is converted into Braille characters, and the information is stored in the data storage unit 7 as information of a three-dimensional image together with information of the unrecognized area 11b.
02 is stored. The sheet 11 from which the print image has been read is discharged from the sheet discharge port 106. The paper to be read is sequentially separated by the separation unit 110 and the information is read.

The data storage unit 7 stores information on the three-dimensional image.
In order to output the information stored in the storage unit 02 as a three-dimensional image on a sheet, first, control signals from the separation control unit 703 and the conveyance roller control unit 704 are used to separate the separation units 130 and 130 respectively.
Then, the transport rollers 122, 123, 124, and 125 start. The separation unit 130 starts, and one sheet of paper 12 set in the hopper 121 is taken out and sent out to the transport path 127. The fed sheet 13 is transported by the transport roller 12.
It is sent to the three-dimensional image output unit 50 by 2 and 123 and is pressed against the three-dimensional image output unit 50 by the roller 128 and heated.

On the other hand, in order to obtain a heating temperature set according to the type of paper to be used, a three-dimensional image output control unit 70
6 controls the driver 506, and selects and operates the transistors 505a, 505b, and 505c based on the output of the driver 506. The information stored in the data storage unit 702 is sequentially sent to the three-dimensional image output control unit 706 to select a heating cell to be heated, control the driver 507, and select and operate the transistors 503a, 503b, 503c, 503d and the like. . As a result, the heaters 502a, 502b, 5
02c, 502d, etc. are heated. In this state, paper 1
3 is heated to a position corresponding to the output information, thereby expanding and irreversibly increasing the volume to form a three-dimensional image. The sheet on which the three-dimensional image is formed as described above is sent to the sheet discharge port 126 by the conveying rollers 124 and 125, and is discharged to the user.

According to the embodiment described above, a print image is read, the information in the recognition area is converted into Braille characters, and the paper having the property of expanding and irreversibly increasing in volume when heated is used. Heating to form a three-dimensional image.

In the present embodiment, the case where a three-dimensional image is directly output by the present apparatus has been described.
It is also possible to transmit the information of No. 2 to another device via the transmission control unit 707 and output it.

Next, an embodiment of a three-dimensional image input / output device for reading a three-dimensional image and outputting a print image will be described. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conversion apparatus for converting a stereoscopic image to a print image according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an optical system of a three-dimensional image reading unit. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an information processing control unit that controls the conversion device in FIG.

The configuration of the conversion device 200 shown in FIG. 5 will be described. In the description, the case where the print image is printed on paper will be described, but the present invention is not limited to paper.

The conversion device 200 is provided with a display / operation unit 5 for displaying guidance for operation and inputting user information to the user.

First, a configuration for reading a three-dimensional image will be described. The hopper 201 serving as a storage section is for storing the paper 20 on which a three-dimensional image is formed. The hopper 201 is provided with a separation unit 210 including a gate roller 212, a feed roller 213, and a pickup roller 211, so that the sheets 20 in the hopper 201 can be taken out one by one. The separation unit 210 is provided with a third conveyance path 207 as third conveyance means having conveyance rollers 202, 203, 204, and 205 for conveying the sheet 21 taken out from the hopper 201. In order to read a three-dimensional image formed on the paper 21, the third transport path 207 is provided with a detection sensor 234 for detecting a print format of the paper 21 and a three-dimensional image reading unit 600. The third discharge path 207 has a sheet discharge port 2 on the side opposite to the separation section 210.
Reference numeral 06 is provided so that the sheet whose reading has been completed can be discharged. The three-dimensional image reading unit 600
The light source 601 includes a light source 601, a first lens 602, a second lens 603, a sensor unit 604, a lens 605, a motor 606, and a mirror 607. Details of the three-dimensional image reading unit 600 will be described with reference to the explanatory diagram of the optical system in FIG. I do. The light source 601 and the lens 605 are arranged so as to form an image on the sheet 21 via the mirror 607. The mirror 607 is driven by a motor 606 and is set so that an image can be sequentially traversed from the end face of the sheet 21 to another end face of the sheet 21 via the sheet 21. Each of the first lens 602 and the second lens 603 is formed of a cylindrical lens orthogonal to each other, and
The first lens 602 and the second lens 603 are arranged so as to form an image sequentially on the sensor unit 604 in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, respectively. The sensor unit 604 has a plurality of sensor elements 604m, 604n, 604o. The image of the light source when the projection 21 a is not the projection 21 a of the paper 21 is
If it is detected by the sensor element 604n, the protrusion 2
Since the image of the light source in the case of 1a is detected, for example, by the sensor element 604o, the unevenness of the sheet 21 can be detected.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the information processing control unit 8 for controlling the conversion device 200. Separation unit 21 for separating sheets 20 and 22 one by one from hoppers 201 and 221
0, 230, the separation control unit 803, the conveyance roller 2
02, 203, 204, 205 and the transport roller 22
2, 223, 224, and 225, and the light source 601 of the three-dimensional image reading unit 600.
A read control unit 805 for controlling the motor 606 and the sensor unit 604; a print head control unit 806 for controlling the print image output unit 400; and a transmission control unit 807 for controlling data communication with other devices. A display operation control unit 808 for controlling the display operation unit 5 for displaying information of the conversion device and performing operation input, and a conversion for converting the information of the area 11a to be recognized in the read information of the three-dimensional image into characters. The control unit 809 includes a control unit 80 that performs overall control of the control unit 809 and each control unit. The control unit 80 includes a CPU 800, a main memory 801, and a data storage unit 802 for storing data.

The operation of the conversion device 200 will be described below. The user who uses the conversion device 200 has the display operation unit 5
Then, the user specifies the type of paper to be used and the area to be recognized on the paper for reading a three-dimensional image, and inputs a start. According to the start information, the hopper 201 storing the paper 20 on which the three-dimensional image is formed is transported through the separation unit 210 and the third transport path 207 by the control signals of the separation control unit 803 and the transport roller control unit 804, respectively. The rollers 202, 203, 204, 205 start. The separation unit 210 starts, and one sheet of paper 20 set in the hopper 201 is taken out and sent out to the third conveyance path 207. The fed sheet 21 is sent to the detection sensor 234 by the conveyance rollers 202 and 203,
An area (not shown) to be recognized is detected by the detection sensor 234. Further, when the sheet 21 is sent to the three-dimensional image reading unit 600, the three-dimensional image reading control unit 80
Under the control of 5, the light source 601 is turned on, and the mirror 607 is driven by the motor 606. The mirror 607 is first condensed by the lens 605, is reflected by the mirror 607, and is set at a position where an image is formed on the edge of the sheet 21. The image formed on the sheet 21 is subjected to a plurality of sensor elements 604m, 604n, and 6 of the sensor unit 604 by the first lens 602 and the second lens 603.
An image is formed on any of the images such as 04o. When a read signal from the sensor unit 604 is sent to the data storage unit 802,
By driving the motor 606 to rotate the mirror 607, the paper 2
1, the image is similarly shifted to the sensor unit 60.
In step 4, the data is sent to the read data storage unit 802. When reading by the sensor unit 604 is completed while rotating the mirror 607 to shift the image to the other end of the sheet 21 in this way, the motor 606 is driven in reverse to traverse the mirror 607 in the reverse direction and read. This is performed for the entire sheet 21. The reading of the protrusion 21a of the sheet 21 will be described. Assuming that the image of the light source in the case of not the convex portion 21a of the paper 21 forms an image with the sensor element 604n, a signal detected from the sensor element 604n is stored in the data storage unit 802 via the three-dimensional image reading control unit 805,
The image of the light source in the case of the convex portion 21a of the sheet 21 is detected by a sensor element other than the sensor element 604n according to the height, and the data is stored in the data storage unit 802. While the paper 21 is being fed, the image on the paper 21 is traversed by the mirror 607, this image is detected by the sensor unit 604, and the detected signals are sequentially stored in the data storage unit 8.
By storing the information in the area 02, the unevenness of the sheet 21 can be read. Among the information stored in the data storage unit 802, the information detected as the data of the area recognized by the detection sensor 234 is converted into print characters by the conversion unit 809, and the information of the unrecognized area is printed together with the information of the unrecognized area. The information is stored in the data storage unit 802. The sheet 21 that has completed reading of the three-dimensional image is discharged from the sheet discharge port 206. The paper to be read is sequentially separated by the separation unit 210, and the information is read.

The data storage unit 8 stores information on a print image.
In order to output the information stored in the printer unit 02 as a print image on a sheet, first, control signals from the separation control unit 803 and the conveyance roller control unit 804 cause the separation unit 230 to output the print image.
And transport rollers 222, 223 of the fourth transport path 227,
224 and 225 are started. The separation unit 230 starts, and one sheet 22 set in the hopper 221 is taken out and sent to the fourth conveyance path 227. The fed sheet 23 is sent to the print image output unit 400 by the conveying rollers 122 and 123, and prints the information stored in the data storage unit 802 on the sheet 23. The paper on which the print image is printed in this way is transport rollers 224 and 22
5, the sheet is sent to the sheet discharge port 226 and discharged to the user.

According to the above-described embodiment, it is possible to read a three-dimensional image, convert information in the recognition area into characters, and print a print image on paper.

In this embodiment, the case where the print image is directly output by this apparatus has been described.
It is also possible to transmit the information of No. 2 to another device via the transmission control unit 807 and output it.

[0032]

According to the present invention, a printed image can be read and converted to a three-dimensional image and output, or conversely, a three-dimensional image can be read and converted to a printed image and output. In addition, the read information can be transmitted, converted to another device, and output.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conversion device for converting a print image into a stereoscopic image according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a configuration of a stereoscopic image output unit of the stereoscopic image output device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a print format of a print image.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of overall control for controlling the conversion device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conversion device for converting a stereoscopic image to a print image according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an optical system of a reading unit of a three-dimensional image.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of overall control for controlling the conversion device of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

5 {display control unit, 7, 8} information processing control unit 10, 11, 12, 13, 20, 21, 22, 23}
Paper 50 ‥‥ stereoscopic image output unit, 100, 200 ‥‥ conversion device, 400 ‥‥ print image output unit, 450 ‥‥ print image reading unit 600 ‥‥ stereoscopic image reading unit 707, 807 ‥‥ transmission control unit, 709, 809 ‥‥ conversion means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00 B41M 5/035 B41M 5/26

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A solid formed on the medium Ime - reading means for reading a di-, converting means for converting the character stereoscopic images taken read by this reading unit, to output the converted character in this converting means an output means that, in the three-dimensional image processing system and a control means for controlling the operation of each unit, the read-means includes a light source and a first lens for imaging a light source image on the medium A mirror for moving a light source image on the medium, second and third lenses orthogonal to each other, and an image formed by the second and third lenses.
Stereoscopic image processing system comprising a sensor for converting the saw taken signal. 2. A three-dimensional image processing system comprising: a conveying unit that conveys a medium whose volume expands when heated, and a heating unit that heats the medium, wherein the heating unit includes a plurality of heating cells; Control means for controlling the temperature of the heating cell is provided.
A three-dimensional image processing system for forming a three-dimensional image on the medium by setting a heating temperature suitable for a type of paper to be used.