JP4134056B2 - Image reading apparatus and image reading program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and an image reading program installed in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a facsimile machine, and in particular, recognizes a character from a read image and outputs character data (text data) corresponding to the recognized character. It relates to a device having a so-called OCR (Optical Character Recognition) function.

  Since the OCR function creates and outputs character data simply by reading a document document, it is very effective for creating a new document by quoting or correcting a document once documented. is there. The character data obtained by the OCR function is stored in the storage means or transferred to another device. When managing many documents, the file for the manuscript is easy to manage for the user. First name must be registered. In a typical prior art, every time a file is created, a user inputs a file name from an input unit different from a document image reading unit such as a keyboard.

  However, in such a method, there is a problem that the user has to determine the file name by determining the content of the document and input it, which is troublesome.

Therefore, Patent Documents 1 and 2 show conventional techniques for solving such problems. Patent Document 1 is an image reading apparatus that reads a file name handwritten in a predetermined file name area such as a corner of a document and automatically sets the file name. Patent Document 2 is also a network image communication apparatus that reads characters written in a predetermined area of a read image and automatically sets a file name.
JP 2002-74321 A JP 2004-140551 A

  In the above-described prior art, the user can save the input of the file name, but the characters described in the predetermined area of the document are read and automatically determined as the file name. If the users are different, there is a problem that how to assign the file name is not constant.

  The object of the present invention is to save the user from having to decide and give a file name, and when the file name is given by a plurality of users, the tendency of the given file name is fixed. An image reading apparatus and an image reading program can be provided.

The image reading apparatus of the present invention reads an original image while moving the original relatively with respect to the image reading means, and recognizes characters from the read image of the image reading means and outputs character data. In the reading device, a storage unit that stores in advance a character string that can be selected as a file name for the document , and a character string that has a high appearance frequency is stored in the storage unit from the recognition result of the recognition unit . the string or strings that are similar to the character string stored, characterized in that it comprises a registration means for registering as a pre-notated Airu name.

According to the above configuration, when the original moves on the image reading means or the image reading means moves on the original, the image reading means reads the original image, and the recognition means reads the character from the read image. In the image reading apparatus having a so-called OCR function that recognizes the character and outputs the character data corresponding to the recognized character, the recognized character data or the read image data is stored in, for example, a storage unit or sent to another device. When transferring, a character string that can be selected as a file name for the document is stored in advance in the storage unit, and the registration unit uses the recognition result of the file name for the document by a character having a high appearance frequency. of column, to determine a string similar to a string the string is stored or stored, and in the storage means, the character Or stored in the storage means together over data or image data, or stored in a separate storage means, or transfer to another device. For example, among the character strings stored in the storage means or the character strings similar to the stored character strings, only the most frequently occurring character string or the most frequently occurring character string is determined in advance. The number is adopted for the file name.

Therefore, it is possible to save the user from having to decide and assign the file name, and when the file name is given by a plurality of users, the tendency of the given file name can be made constant. it can. Further, if registered candidate string pre Me user is likely to easily identify the storage means, the registration means is simply to automatically determine the file name with high string frequency of occurrence is However, since a file name that matches or is similar among the candidates is determined as a file name, a more appropriate file name can be selected.

  Furthermore, the image reading apparatus of the present invention further includes a display unit and an input unit, and the registration unit makes the display unit display a list of the character strings having a high appearance frequency, and the user inputs the input unit from the list. The character string selected in step 1 is registered as the file name.

  According to the above configuration, when registering a file name, an appropriate and appropriate file name is automatically selected (narrowed down) based on the appearance frequency. By letting the user select from among them, a more appropriate file name can be selected.

  In the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the registration unit adds unique information to the character string and registers it as a file name.

  According to the above configuration, not only the file name but also a number of files that use the same character string as the file name by adding unique information such as a serial number and date / time that will not be the same. Even if they exist, they can be identified individually, and by registering the same file name, files that have already been saved are not overwritten and can be managed by type. It becomes easy.

Furthermore, the image reading program of the present invention causes a computer, to recognize characters from reading the output of the original image by the image reading unit, the image reading program for outputting text data corresponding to the recognized character, the file name for the original A step of preliminarily storing a character string that can be selected as, a step of extracting a character string having a high appearance frequency from the character data, and a character string stored in advance among the extracted character strings, or And causing the computer to execute a step of registering a character string similar to the stored character string as a file name for the document.

According to the above configuration, when the original moves on the image reading means or the image reading means moves on the original, the image reading means reads the original image, and the recognition means reads the character from the read image. In an image reading program that realizes a so-called OCR function that recognizes the character and outputs the character data corresponding to the recognized character, the recognized character data or the read image data is stored in, for example, a storage means or other device Or the like, a character string that can be selected as a file name for the document is stored in advance, and a character string having a high appearance frequency is extracted from the character data, and the character string is stored in advance. register string, or a string similar to the character string stored as a file name for the document, the text data and the read image And stores in the storage means with the data, or stored in a separate storage means, or transfer to another device. For example, among the character strings stored in advance or the character strings similar to the stored character strings, only the character string having the highest appearance frequency, or the predetermined number in order from the character string having the highest appearance frequency. Adopted in the file name.

Therefore, it is possible to save the user from having to decide and assign the file name, and when the file name is given by a plurality of users, the tendency of the given file name can be made constant. it can. If a character string candidate that is likely to be easily identified by the user is registered in advance, a character string having a high appearance frequency is not automatically determined as a file name, but matches the candidate. Since the file name is determined to be something similar or similar, a more appropriate file name can be selected.

As described above, the image reading apparatus and the image reading program of the present invention allow the image reading means to move the original on the image reading means or the image reading means on the original so that the image reading means can read the original image. In an image reading apparatus having a so-called OCR function in which a recognition means recognizes a character from the read image and outputs character data corresponding to the recognized character. Character strings that can be selected as file names for the originals are stored in advance in the storage means, and the registration means determines the file names for the originals by the recognition means. from the recognition result, of high frequency of appearance string, the string stored in said storage means or is stored, It is determined to be similar to the character string to a character string.

Therefore, it is possible to save the user from having to decide and assign the file name, and to make the tendency of the given file name constant when the file name is given by multiple users. Can do. In addition, if a character string candidate that can be easily identified by a user is registered in the storage unit in advance, the registration unit does not simply determine a character string having a high appearance frequency as a file name automatically. Since a candidate that matches or is similar among the candidates is determined as a file name, a more appropriate file name can be selected.

[Embodiment 1]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a mechanical configuration of a copying machine 31 including a scanner unit 33 which is an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The copying machine 31 is generally arranged on the upper side of the main body 32 for forming an image, the main body 32, and on the upper side of the scanner 33, which is a document reading device. An ADF (Auto document feeder) 34 is provided.

  In the main body 32, one or a plurality of (three in FIG. 1) paper feed trays 41, 42, 43 or one of the recording papers 41a, 42a, 43a, 44a loaded in the manual feed tray 44 is a take-in roller 41b, 42b, 43b, and 44b are taken out one by one, adjusted in timing by registration rollers 45 and 46, and then conveyed to the image forming unit 47. The image forming unit 47 includes a charger (not shown), a laser writing unit, a developing unit, a transfer unit 47b, a cleaning unit (not shown), and the like around the photosensitive drum 47a, and forms an image on the recording paper by electrophotography. I do. The toner image thus formed on the recording paper is fixed by the fixing unit 48 and discharged from the discharge rollers 49 and 50 onto the paper discharge tray 51.

  Document image data given to the laser writing unit is read by the scanner unit 33 and / or the ADF 34. In the scanner unit 33, the lower surface of the document placing table 52 is irradiated with illumination light on the document and receives a reflected light thereof, and a mirror unit 54 that reflects a document image obtained by the lamp unit 53. And an imaging lens 55 for condensing the original image from the mirror unit 54 and an image sensor 56 that photoelectrically converts the original image formed by the imaging lens 55, such as a CCD image sensor. Is done. The lamp unit 53 is displaced at a speed V and the mirror unit 54 is displaced at a speed V / 2 in the left-right direction in FIG. 1, whereby a book or a single original image placed on the original placement table 52. Is always imaged on the image sensor 56 with the same optical path length. The document image data read in this way is subjected to image processing such as density adjustment and contour enhancement in an image processing unit (not shown), and is given to the laser writing unit.

  On the other hand, in the ADF 34 that sequentially takes in sheet originals, the originals 62 stacked on the original tray 61 are taken out one by one by the take-in rollers 63 and supplied to the curved conveyance path 64. Then, the paper is transported to the document placing table 72 extending in the main scanning direction by the transport rollers 65, 66; 67, 68 provided in the curved transport path 64, and the lamp unit 53 faces the document placing table 72. The document images are sequentially read and then discharged onto the discharge tray 71 by the discharge rollers 69 and 70.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the copying machine 31 configured as described above. FIG. 2 shows only the signal processing portion for the image signal obtained by reading the original 62 in the image pickup device 56 as image reading means, and the feeding system for the original 62 and the recording paper 41a, 42a, 43a, 44a. Further, the configuration other than the image signal such as the temperature control of the fixing unit 48 is omitted.

  First, an image signal from the image pickup device 56 is amplified by an amplifier 81, converted into a digital signal by an analog / digital converter 82, and then an image signal processing circuit 83 realized by a microcomputer, a digital signal processor, or the like. Is input. In the image signal processing circuit 83, the image signal is subjected to shading correction by a shading correction unit 84, and further subjected to processing such as enlargement / reduction, density adjustment, and contour enhancement in the image processing unit 85, and then the laser writing. Output to the unit.

  Further, the image signal is given to a character recognition unit 91 which is a recognition means, and characters are sequentially recognized from the image signal, and corresponding character data (text data) is created, so-called OCR function is realized. Yes. The character data is stored in the storage unit 92, filed for each original document or for a predetermined batch of originals, and output from the output interface unit 93 to an external device such as a personal computer, a printer, or a network. .

  It should be noted that the present invention includes a registration unit 94 that extracts a character string (word / phrase) having a high appearance frequency from the character data stored in the storage unit 92 and registers it as a file name for the document 62. It is. In the storage unit 92, for example, forbidden characters that should not be used as the file name, such as only numbers, and the upper limit number of characters that can be registered are stored in advance by the manufacturer or by the user input unit 97. Is stored as a restriction list 95 by an input operation from. In addition, a user interface for the display unit 96 and the input unit 97 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 32.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an image reading operation by the control unit 98 that controls each unit in the image signal processing circuit 83. In step S1, the image of the document 62 is read by the image pickup device 56, and the character recognition unit 91 recognizes the character and stores it in the storage unit 92. In step S2, the registration unit 94 loads the restriction list from the input unit 97. Character strings are extracted with the number of characters set to 95 as the upper limit.

  In step S3, the registration unit 94 extracts a character string having the highest appearance frequency. In step S4, the registration unit 94 determines whether the character is a prohibited character set in the restriction list 95. If the character is a prohibited character, step S5 is performed. Then, the next candidate character string is selected and the process returns to step S4. If it is not a prohibited character, the process proceeds to step S6.

  In step S6, it is determined whether or not the file name including the selected character string is already stored as a file name in the storage unit 92, that is, whether or not a file name including the same character string has existed in the past. If so, the process moves to step S8 after adding unique information to the character string in step S7 to make a file name, and directly moves to step S8 if it does not exist. The unique information may be information that does not have the same file name, such as a serial number or date / time data.

  With this configuration, the registration unit 94 automatically registers the file name in an appropriate one, so that the user can save time and effort to determine and give the file name, and a plurality of uses When a file name is given by a person, the tendency of the given file name can be made constant.

[Embodiment 2]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining an image reading operation according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the configuration of the copying machine 31 described above can be used, and only the control operation of the control unit 98 in the image signal processing circuit 83 is different. It should be noted that in the present embodiment, the display unit 96 can display a predetermined number of character strings in descending order of appearance frequency, and the user can select from the input unit 97. For this reason, in the restriction list 96, the number of displayable character strings is preset. In FIG. 4, the same steps as those in FIG. 3 are denoted by the same step numbers and description thereof is omitted, and similar steps are denoted by the suffix “a”.

  When a document image is read in steps S1 to S2 and character strings are extracted after character recognition, in step S3a, the registration unit 94 sets the number of presets in the order of appearance frequency by the number set in advance in the restriction list 95. Extract a string. In the display in step S8a, the extracted character string list is displayed on the display unit 96, and in the determination process in step S9a, what is determined to be more appropriate by the user from a plurality of character strings is displayed. Determine the file name.

  With this configuration, when registering a file name, an appropriate file name is automatically selected (narrowed down) based on the appearance frequency, and the number of candidates is not limited to one but to some extent. Since the user selects from among the above, a more appropriate file name can be selected.

[Embodiment 3]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a copying machine 101 which is an image reading apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The copying machine 101 is similar to the copying machine 31 shown in FIG. 2 described above, and corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. The mechanical configuration is the same as in FIG. It should be noted that the copying machine 101 further includes a candidate list 102 in which character strings that can be selected as file names are stored in the storage unit 92a serving as storage means in advance. Among the frequently used character strings, a character string stored in the candidate list 102 or a character string similar to the stored character string is registered as the file name. The similarity is, for example, a case where a part of the extracted character string matches the character string of the candidate list 102 or conversely a part of the character string of the candidate list 102 matches the extracted character string. Show.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining an image reading operation by the control unit 98a in the image signal processing circuit 83a of the present embodiment. This operation is similar to the operation shown in FIG. When a document image is read in steps S1 to S2 and character strings are extracted after character recognition, in step S3b, the registration unit 94a sets the number set in advance in the restriction list 95 in descending order of appearance frequency. Just extract the string. At this time, the recognized character string is compared with a character string registered in advance in the candidate list 102, and only those that match or are similar are extracted. Subsequent confirmation of prohibition, display of a list of extracted character strings, and determination processing by the user are the same as in FIG.

  With this configuration, character strings that are likely to be easily identified by the user are registered in the candidate list 102 instead of automatically determining a character string having a high appearance frequency as a file name. Since a file name that matches or is similar to the file name is determined, a more appropriate file name can be selected.

  The present invention is not limited to a copying machine, and can be widely implemented as an image reading apparatus having an OCR function. The image reading method may be a configuration including an image sensor (CIS) that is in close contact with an ADF in a facsimile machine or the like. Further, other data such as the read date may be added together with the file name and stored in the storage units 92 and 92a or output to the outside.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a mechanical configuration of a copying machine including a scanner unit that is an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the image reading operation | movement which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the image reading operation | movement which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of a copying machine which is an image reading apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the image reading operation | movement which concerns on other form of implementation of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

31, 101 Copier 32 Main Body 33 Scanner 34 ADF
56 Image sensor 62 Document 81 Amplifying unit 82 Analog / digital conversion unit 83, 83a Image signal processing circuit 84 Shading correction unit 85 Image processing unit 91 Character recognition unit 92, 92a Storage unit 93 Output interface unit 94, 94a Registration unit 95 Restriction List 96 Display unit 97 Input unit 98, 98a Control unit 102 Candidate list

Claims (4)

In an image reading apparatus that reads a document image while moving the document relative to the image reading unit, recognizes characters from a read image by the image reading unit, and outputs character data.
Storage means for storing in advance a character string that can be selected as a file name for the document;
From the recognition result by the recognition unit, and registers of the high frequency of appearance string, the string is stored in the storage means, or a character string similar to the character string stored as pre-notated Airu name image reading apparatus characterized by including a registration unit. It further comprises display means and input means,
2. The registration unit according to claim 1, wherein the character string having a high appearance frequency is listed and displayed on a display unit, and the character string selected by the user from the list using the input unit is registered as the file name. The image reading apparatus described. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the registration unit adds unique information to the character string and registers it as a file name. In an image reading program for causing a computer to recognize characters from a read output of a document image by an image reading means and outputting character data corresponding to the recognized characters,
Storing in advance a character string that can be selected as a file name for the document;
Extracting a character string having a high appearance frequency from the character data;
An image that causes a computer to execute a step of registering, as a file name for a document, a character string similar to the character string stored in advance or the character string stored in the extracted character string Reader program.

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