JP3406017B2 - Image input method - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input method, and more particularly to an image input method for performing a predetermined process on each read image data or a plurality of image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a technique for reading an image with a scanner or the like and utilizing the read image data has come to be used in various technical fields.

For example, a sewing machine or the like is known in which an image is binary-input by a scanner or the like and a predetermined portion of white or black is sewn.

As such a sewing machine, there is also known a sewing machine which can read not only single color but also multicolor image data to express a color image.

[0005]

Among the above-mentioned sewing machines, for those which read multi-color image data and express color images, an original image is created for each color, and this is read one by one. To synthesize.

For example, when the original image for one color is read, the color is designated before (or after) the original image is stored for each color, and the sewing is controlled based on the image.

However, in the image input method proposed hitherto, it is necessary to previously specify whether to input a single color image or a multicolor image, and input images in different modes. The image input work is troublesome, and I chose the single color input mode with the intention of multi-color input mode, and even if I noticed this error after starting the work, I could not correct it, so I stopped the work. There was no choice but to redo the input work from the beginning.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, to make the operation in the case of inputting a single image or a plurality of images as modeless as possible, to easily perform the image input, and to improve the operability. An object is to provide an image input method having a large degree of freedom.

[0009]

In order to solve the above problems, in the present invention, an input means for reading image data, a counting means for counting the number of image data read from the input means, An operation unit is provided for designating the end of the image reading process. When the end of the image reading process is designated by the operating unit, the number of read image data counted by the counting unit is 1
In the case of one sheet, a process for handling a predetermined single image data is executed for one read image data, and when the number of read image data is two or more, for a plurality of read image data The configuration that executes the processing of handling the predetermined combined image data is adopted.

[0010]

According to the above construction, a predetermined process can be executed for each single-color image data or a plurality of multi-color image data read in accordance with the number of input images.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the structure of a sewing machine provided with a scanner for inputting a monochromatic / multicolor image as an example of an image input system adopting the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a sewing mechanism 20 is composed of a driving mechanism for a sewing machine needle, an xy table for feeding cloth, etc., as in the conventional case. This sewing mechanism 20 is RAM
It is controlled by the CPU 11 on the basis of sewing machine control data created in the data memory 19 including the following. The control program of the CPU 11 is stored in the program memory 12 including a ROM and the like.

The following members are further connected to the control bus 13 of the CPU 11.

Reference numeral 14 is a key switch for controlling the operation of the sewing machine and the image reading described later.

Reference numeral 15 is a display which is composed of an LCD or the like and is used for a monitor of an operating state and a monitor display of a read image.

Reference numeral 16 is a storage medium for storing the read image data and the created sewing machine control data, which is usually composed of a floppy disk or the like.
It goes without saying that a known mechanism such as a floppy disk drive is used to access the storage medium 16.

Reference numeral 17 is a scanner used for inputting an original image for monochromatic / multicolor sewing. The scanner 17 is composed of a handy scanner or the like.

When reading with the scanner 17,
Although it is conceivable that the image is read in multiple values, in this embodiment, it is assumed that each image is read in binary.

In this embodiment, the input of the original image for monochromatic / multicolor sewing is controlled by the method shown in FIGS. FIG. 2 shows a control procedure of the CPU 11, and this control procedure is stored in the program memory 12 as a program of the CPU 11.

FIG. 3 conceptually shows the processing of this embodiment, and shows the structure of sewing machine control data used for monochrome and multicolor sewing. In FIG. 3, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 indicate the functions realized by the members of the same reference numerals in FIG. 1 as a higher-level concept (for example, the reading means 17 in FIG. 3 is constituted by the scanner 17). .

In the present embodiment, the monochrome / multicolor switching is performed according to the number of images input from the scanner 17. In step S1 of FIG. 2, a counter C (FIG. 2) for counting the number of images is displayed. (Refer to 3: Registers of CPU 11 and work area of RAM are allocated.)
Are initialized to 0.

In step S2, the scanner 17 performs an operation of reading one original image. This work
It is done in the conventional manner. The image data read as a binary image is stored in the image memory 18. Needless to say, when a plurality of images are read as will be described later, the storage areas of the respective images are stored in a distinguishable form (see FIG. 3).

When the image input is completed, in step S3, a counter C for counting the number of input images initialized in step S1 is counted up.

In step S4, it is determined whether or not an input operation of performing additional reading is performed by the key switch 14. If additional reading is to be performed, the process returns to step S2. If additional reading is not to be performed, that is, if image input has been completed, the process proceeds to step S5.

In step S5, the count value of the counter C that counts the number of input images is checked. If the count value of the counter C is 1, the process proceeds to step S6, and if it is 2 or more, the process proceeds to step S7.

In step S6, the process is continued as a monochromatic image input process, and in step S7, the process is continued as a multicolor image input process.

That is, in the case of a single color, the sewing machine control data for one sheet is created based on the already read one sheet of image (see FIG. 3). Although details of creation of the sewing machine control data are arbitrary, here, mainly, a binary dot image is converted into a set of needle drop points based on a predetermined algorithm, or a sewing method is changed according to the shape of the image. Such processing is executed.

In the case of a single color, since only one color is sewn, if the default color to be used for sewing is determined, the color change code is not particularly included. As shown on the right side, sewing machine control is performed by narrowing the color change code such as sewing machine control data 1 for sewing a certain color, color change code, sewing machine control data 2 for sewing the next color, color change code. Data is data memory 19
They are arranged on the top (here, the case of two colors is illustrated).

According to the above-described embodiment, one of the monochromatic input processing and the multicolor input processing is selected according to the number of input images. Since there is no need to specify a multicolor mode and the operation system and work can be modeless, a single color /
It is possible to easily input multicolor images.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the input mode itself of the single color / multicolor mode does not exist, even if the image input operation for the first image is already started, if the user changes his / her mind, the operation is troublesome. It is possible to switch from monochromatic processing to multicolor processing, or from multicolor to monochromatic processing without needing to make a mistaken operation such as a mode selection error that has existed in the conventional device itself, and to give a great degree of freedom in operability.

In the above, the sewing machine device for performing single color / multicolor sewing is described as an embodiment, but it goes without saying that the image input method of the present invention is not limited to the sewing machine device, and various other image inputs can be performed. It goes without saying that it can be implemented in an apparatus for performing.

[0033]

As is apparent from the above, according to the present invention, the input means for reading the image data, the counting means for counting the number of the image data read from the input means, and the end of the image reading process. When the number of the read image data counted by the counting means is one at the time when the end of the image reading process is designated by the operating means, the reading is performed. A process for handling a predetermined single image data is executed for one image data, and when the number of read image data is two or more, a predetermined composite image data is read for a plurality of read image data. Since it adopts a configuration that executes processing, it converts to a system in which the line thickness is different for each image data, or changes the combination of multiple image data There is an excellent advantage that different images can be easily combined with and. Especially when handling one or more images of one color with one image, one single color read according to the number of input images. Alternatively, it is possible to execute a predetermined process for each of the multi-colored image data, and make the modeless operation as much as possible when performing the mono-colored / multi-colored image input, and the mono-colored / multi-colored image input is easy. In addition, it is possible to provide an excellent image input method that can be performed at any time and has a high degree of freedom in operability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a sewing machine adopting the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of a CPU of the apparatus shown in FIG.

3 is an explanatory diagram showing an image input process in the apparatus of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 CPU 12 program memory 13 control bus 14 key switch 16 storage media 17 Scanner 19 data memory 20 Sewing mechanism C counter

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Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. To read image data in an image input method in which one image data is read for each color and a predetermined process is performed on each read single-color image data or a plurality of multi-color image data. Input means, counting means for counting the number of image data read from the input means, and operating means for designating the end of the image reading process. The operating means designates the end of the image reading process. At this point, if the number of read image data counted by the counting means is one, a process for handling a predetermined monochrome image data is executed for one read image data to read the read image data. When the number of data is two or more, processing for handling predetermined multicolor image data can be executed for the read plural image data. Image input method according to claim. 2. An input device for reading image data, a counting device for counting the number of image data read from the input device, and an operating device for designating the end of the image reading process. When the number of the read image data counted by the counting means is one when the end of the image reading process is designated by the means, a predetermined single image data is read for one read image data. Is executed, and when the number of read image data is two or more, a process for handling a predetermined combined image data is executed for a plurality of read image data. .