JP4380153B2 - Image processing apparatus, image processing method, computer program for image processing, image reading apparatus, copying apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that reads a document and obtains image information, and more particularly, to an improvement in technology for reading a stereoscopic image.
[0002]
[Prior art]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 08-152771 A
[Patent Document 2]
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 08-227455
[0003]
Conventionally, the applicant has already proposed a mechanism for forming a stereoscopic image such as Braille using a thermally foamable toner. However, a system for copying three-dimensional information using an output once printed as a manuscript has not yet been proposed.
[0004]
By the way, as a method for reading minute three-dimensional information on a flat document represented by Braille, a method using a shadow of document illumination has been proposed as disclosed in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2. Yes. In these proposals, two illumination lamps that illuminate from both sides of the scanning line are alternately turned on to dynamically change the illumination conditions, and to separate and identify characters and Braille on the target document.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the illumination system of a general image reading device has a structure that combines a single illumination lamp and a reflector (reflector). Remodeling the illumination device exclusively for Braille increases the complexity of the device. This is disadvantageous in terms of cost.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such a technical problem, and an object thereof is to realize reading of a three-dimensional print typified by Braille by a simple modification based on a general-purpose image reading apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, the present invention is an image processing apparatus to which image information of a document is input, a storage unit that stores a specific color as stereoscopic image information in advance, and image information of a specific color portion of the document based on the specific color. And a determination unit that outputs the image information. The present invention is also an image processing method for processing image information of a document, the step of inputting the image information of the document, the step of comparing the input image information with a specific color stored in advance, And outputting the image information of the specific color portion of the document as stereoscopic image information when the image information corresponding to the specific color corresponds to the image processing method. According to another aspect of the present invention, a step of inputting image information of a document to a computer capable of inputting / outputting image information, a step of comparing the input image information with a specific color stored in advance are input. And a step of outputting the image information of the specific color portion of the document as stereoscopic image information when the image information corresponds to the specific color. Further, the present invention is an image reading apparatus that reads an original and obtains image information thereof, a storage unit that stores in advance a specific color as stereoscopic image information, and a specific color portion in the original based on the specific color. An image reading apparatus including a determination unit obtained as information.
[0008]
Here, the specific color may be white. The “specific color” refers to a color, brightness, saturation, hue, RGB, etc. in a certain area. Further, “white” means lightness / saturation / hue, RGB, etc. in a certain region and recognized as substantially white by human vision. The determination unit may change the level of the stereoscopic image information based on the color of the specific part. For example, the level of stereoscopic image information can be increased for bright white, and the level of stereoscopic image information can be decreased for dark white (close to gray).
[0009]
In addition, colors other than white (for example, black, red, blue, etc.) can be used as the specific color. In addition, the specific color can be fixed in advance, but it is preferable that the user can change it. That is, an image reading apparatus that includes a user interface unit to which an instruction from a user is input and can change the specific color via the user interface unit may be provided. Thus, when determining based on a specific color, stereoscopic image information can be obtained with a simple configuration.
[0010]
Further, the present invention is an image processing apparatus to which image information of a document is input, and a storage unit that stores in advance a specific shape as stereoscopic image information, and image information of a specific shape portion of the document based on the specific shape. And a determination unit that outputs the image information. The present invention is also an image processing method for processing image information of a document, the step of inputting the image information of the document, the step of comparing the input image information with a specific shape stored in advance, And outputting the image information of the specific shape portion of the document as stereoscopic image information when the image information corresponding to the specific shape corresponds to the image processing method. According to another aspect of the present invention, a step of inputting image information of a document to a computer capable of inputting / outputting image information, a step of comparing the input image information with a specific shape stored in advance are input. When the image information corresponds to the specific shape, a computer program for image processing that executes the step of outputting the image information of the specific shape portion of the document as stereoscopic image information. Furthermore, the present invention is an image reading apparatus that reads a document and obtains image information thereof, a storage unit that stores in advance a specific shape as stereoscopic image information, and a specific shape portion in the document based on the specific shape. And a determination unit obtained as an image reading device.
[0011]
Here, the specific shape may be a Braille pattern or a dot constituting the Braille pattern. Here, “dot” means a point constituting Braille. “Braille pattern” is a pattern formed by dots, and includes, for example, regularity of the interval between dots (constant interval), regularity of the direction of dots (vertical, horizontal, diagonal), etc. It is done. As described above, when the determination is made based on the specific shape, stereoscopic image information can be appropriately obtained even when a color confusing with the specific color exists in the background of the document. In particular, since the braille pattern and the shape of the dots are fixed to some extent, it can be expected to obtain more accurate stereoscopic image information.
[0012]
When a line sensor (line CCD or the like) is used as the reading unit of the image reading apparatus, it is necessary to read the document while scanning. In this case, in order to recognize the specific shape, (1) the main scan is performed after the position of the specific shape in the document is recognized in advance by pre-scanning, and (2) a plurality of lines (including specific shapes are included in the main scanning direction). A temporary memory for temporarily storing image information), and obtaining 3D image information while recognizing a specific shape from the image information held in the temporary memory at the time of scanning.
[0013]
In addition, the determination unit can determine the combination of the specific color and the specific shape to obtain stereoscopic image information.
[0014]
By the way, such an image reading apparatus includes a normal reading mode and a stereoscopic reading mode, and the determination unit obtains a specific portion (specific color portion or specific shape portion) in a document as stereoscopic image information only in the stereoscopic reading mode. It can be configured as follows. In other words, a user interface unit to which an instruction from the user is input is provided, and the normal reading mode and the stereoscopic reading mode can be selected by the instruction from the user, so that the user can obtain stereoscopic image information unintentionally. In addition, it is possible to prevent the user from obtaining normal plane image information unintentionally.
[0015]
Further, from the viewpoint of reflecting the user's intention, the image reading apparatus is configured to instruct the user of a part of the document in the document and to obtain the specific part of the document in the specified region as the stereoscopic image information. Can be configured. Specifically, (1) a user interface unit to which an instruction from the user is input, a partial area in the document is instructed through the user interface unit before reading, and the determination unit Is to obtain a specific portion (specific color portion or specific shape portion) in the indicated area of the document as stereoscopic image information, and (2) an area indication mark indicating a partial area in the original is written, Recognizes the designated area based on the area support mark at the time of preliminary reading (pre-scan), and the specific part (specific color part or specific shape part) in the designated area of the document at the subsequent main reading (main scanning). What is obtained as stereoscopic image information can be used.
[0016]
The present invention can also be understood as a copying apparatus including such an image reading apparatus. That is, the image forming apparatus is a copying apparatus that includes these image reading apparatuses and an image output apparatus that forms a three-dimensional image using foamed toner based on the three-dimensional image information among the image information obtained by the image reading apparatus. Further, among the image information obtained by the image reading device, the image output device forms a stereoscopic image with foamed toner based on the stereoscopic image information and forms a planar image with non-foamed toner based on the image information. You can also. Here, the planar image using the non-foaming toner may be a single color (for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) image, or may be a multicolor (for example, three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan), and four colors obtained by adding black to these. Color) image.
[0017]
In this way, by providing an image reading mode that selects the part for 3D output based on the color and shape in the document to be read, 3D print with color background such as Braille printed on color paper On the other hand, a three-dimensional portion can be extracted from a normal three-color read image, and based on a general-purpose image reading device and copying device (for example, a single illumination is sufficient, and there is no need to dynamically change illumination conditions) A three-dimensional reading system and a copying system can be realized by simple changes.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Example
A three-dimensional copying system using an image processing apparatus, an image reading apparatus and a copying apparatus according to the present invention will be described below as an embodiment.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the entire three-dimensional copying system. FIG. 2 also shows an input document (planar input document G1 and 3D input document G2) to be copied by this stereoscopic copying system and an output document (stereoscopic output document) C copied by the copying machine 1 of this stereoscopic copying system. Explain.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 2A, the (planar) input document G1 has a planar character (ABC) L (f) and a planar Braille B (f) formed on the background BG. In this input document G1, the color of the background BG and the color of the Braille B, and the color of the Braille B and the color of the character L are distinguishable. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2B, the (three-dimensional) input original G2 and the (three-dimensional) output original C have two-dimensional characters (ABC) L (f) and three-dimensional Braille B (s) on the background BG. Is formed. The input document G2 and the output document C are different from each other so that the color of the background BG and the color of the Braille B, and the color of the Braille B and the color of the character L can be distinguished from each other. Also, the background BG color, the character L color, and the Braille B color of the input originals G1 and G2 and the output original C are substantially the same (the output original C is a color copy of the input originals G1 and G2). .)
[0021]
Here, the plane input document G1 is, for example, one that the user has drawn a Braille B portion on a color drawing paper with a correction pen (see arrow (1) in FIG. 1), or that is output by a copier 1 ′ that can form only a plane image. (See arrow (2) in FIG. 1). When these plane input originals G1 are three-dimensional color printed by the copying machine 1, an output original C is obtained (see arrows (4) and (6) in FIG. 1). The three-dimensional input document G2 may be output by the copying machine 1 according to the present invention (see arrow (3) in FIG. 1). When the three-dimensional input original G2 is further three-dimensionally printed by the copying machine 1, an output original C is obtained (see arrows (5) and (6) in FIG. 1).
[0022]
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the copying machine 1 according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a color copying machine (copying apparatus). As shown in FIG. 3, an upper portion of the color copying machine main body 1 has a document 2 suppressed by a platen cover 3. A document reading device (image reading device) 4 for reading an image is provided.
[0023]
This document reading device 4 illuminates a document 2 placed on a platen glass 5 with a light source 6 and a reflector 6b, and reflects a reflected light image from the document 2 to a full-rate mirror 7, half-rate mirrors 8, 9 and a connection. The image reading element 11 made of a CCD or the like is scanned and exposed through a reduction optical system consisting of the image lens 10, and the color material reflected light image of the document 2 is scanned by the image reading element 11 at a predetermined dot density (for example, 24 dots). / mm).
[0024]
The color material reflected light image of the document 2 read by the document reading device 4 is processed as, for example, document reflectance data of three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) (each 8 bits). The image processing apparatus 12 sends predetermined reflectance data such as shading correction, positional deviation correction, brightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame deletion, color / moving editing, etc. Image processing is performed.
[0025]
The image data that has been subjected to the predetermined image processing by the image processing device 12 as described above is composed of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and transparent (T) (each 8 bits). The original color material gradation data is sent to a ROS 13 (Raster Output Scanner), and the ROS 13 performs image exposure with laser light in accordance with the original color material gradation data.
[0026]
An image forming means (image output device) A capable of forming a plurality of toner images of different colors (and types) is disposed inside the color printer and the copying machine main body 1. The image forming unit A mainly includes an ROS 13 as an image exposure unit, a photosensitive drum 14 as an image holding body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, and an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 14. And a rotary type developing device 15 as developing means capable of developing a plurality of toner images of different colors.
[0027]
As shown in FIG. 3, the ROS 13 modulates a semiconductor laser (not shown) according to the original reproduction color material gradation data, and emits a laser beam LB from the semiconductor laser according to the gradation data. The laser beam LB emitted from the semiconductor laser is deflected and scanned by a rotating polygon mirror (not shown), and is scanned and exposed on a photosensitive drum 14 as an image gripping body via an f · θ lens and a reflecting mirror (not shown).
[0028]
The photosensitive drum 14 on which the laser beam LB is scanned and exposed by the ROS 13 is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed along the direction of the arrow by a driving means (not shown). The surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is charged in advance with a predetermined polarity (for example, negative polarity) and potential by the scorotron 16 for primary charging, and then the laser beam LB is scanned and exposed in accordance with the original reproduction color material gradation data. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed. The surface of the photosensitive drum 14 is uniformly charged to, for example, −650 V, and then the image portion is scanned and exposed with the laser beam LB to form an electrostatic latent image in which the exposed portion is −200 V. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 14 includes four color developing devices 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15T of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and transparent (T). The rotary developing device 15 reversely develops, for example, with a toner (charged color material) charged to a negative polarity that is the same polarity as the charged polarity of the photosensitive drum 14 to form a toner image T of a predetermined color.
[0029]
At that time, for example, a developing bias voltage of −500 V is applied to the developing rolls of the developing units 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15T. The toner image T formed on the photosensitive drum 14 is charged with a negative polarity by the pre-transfer charger 17 as necessary, and the amount of charge is adjusted.
[0030]
A toner image of each color formed on the photosensitive drum 14 is transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt 18 as an intermediate transfer member disposed under the photosensitive drum 14, and a primary transfer roll as a first transfer unit. By 19, multiple transfer is performed at the first nip portion N1. The intermediate transfer belt 18 is moved at the same moving speed as the peripheral speed of the photosensitive drum 14 by a driving roll 20, a driven roll 21, a tension roll 22 and a backup roll 23 as a counter roll constituting a part of the secondary transfer means. It is supported so as to be rotatable along the arrow direction.
[0031]
On the intermediate transfer belt 18, four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and transparent (T) are formed on the photosensitive drum 14 according to the color of the image to be formed. All or part of the toner image is transferred in a state of being sequentially superimposed by the primary transfer roll 19. The toner image T transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 18 is a backup roll 23 that supports the intermediate transfer belt 18 on a recording sheet 24 as a recording medium that is transported to the secondary transfer position N2 at a predetermined timing. Then, the image is transferred by the pressure contact force and electrostatic attraction force of the secondary transfer roll 25 that constitutes a part of the second transfer means that is in pressure contact with the back-up flow 23.
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 3, the recording paper 24 is fed by a feed roll 27 with a predetermined size from a paper feeding cassette 26 as a plurality of recording medium housing members arranged in the lower part of the copying machine 1. The The fed recording paper 24 is conveyed to a secondary transfer position N2 of the intermediate transfer belt 18 by a plurality of conveyance rolls 28 and registration rolls 29 at a predetermined timing. Then, as described above, a toner image of a predetermined color is collectively transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 18 to the recording sheet 24 by the backup roll 23 and the secondary transfer roll 25 as secondary transfer means. It has become so.
[0033]
The recording paper 24 onto which the toner image of a predetermined color has been transferred from the intermediate transfer belt 18 is separated from the intermediate transfer belt 18 and then conveyed to the fixing device 30, and the heating roll 31 of the fixing device 30 is used. In addition, the toner image is fixed on the recording paper 24 by heat and pressure by the pressure roll 32, and is discharged to the outside of the color printer and the copying machine main body 1 to complete the color image forming process.
[0034]
In the figure, reference numeral 33 denotes a cleaning device for removing residual toner, paper dust and the like from the surface of the photosensitive drum 14 after the transfer process is completed, and reference numeral 34 denotes an intermediate for cleaning the intermediate transfer belt 18. A transfer belt cleaner, reference numeral 35 denotes a cleaner for cleaning the secondary transfer roll 25. Further, the intermediate transfer belt cleaner 34 and the cleaner 35 of the secondary transfer roll 25 are configured to contact and separate from the intermediate transfer belt 18 at a predetermined timing.
[0035]
In this way, a non-foaming full-color toner (yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C) is formed on the toner image formed of the thermally foamable toner (transparent (T)) formed on the surface of the recording paper 24. )), A toner image made of a heat-foamable toner and a color toner image made of a non-foamable full-color toner are transferred to the surface of the recording paper 24, and then heat-fixed. By performing the treatment, the heat-expandable toner is foamed to form a stereoscopic image, and a color toner image made of non-expandable toner is melt-fixed to form a stereoscopic color image.
[0036]
That is, in this embodiment, the heat-foamable toner image and the non-foamable full-color toner image are transferred onto the recording paper 24 on the intermediate transfer belt 18 and are not foamed only on the upper surface of the heat-foamable toner image. A non-foaming full color toner image is formed so that a non-foaming full-color toner image is not formed on the side surface (inclined surface) of the heat-foamable toner image. A color-superimposed image is formed to prevent continuous contact of the full-color toner image with the recording paper 24, transferred to the recording paper 24 at once, and foaming / thermal fusing of the heat-foamable toner and non-foaming in the fixing device A three-dimensional full-color image is formed by performing heat fusion of the conductive full-color toner simultaneously (one-shot).
[0037]
Note that the copying machine 1 ′ (see FIG. 1) that does not form a three-dimensional image has a developing device 15BK filled with black toner, which is non-foamed toner, instead of the developing device 15T filled with transparent foamed toner. I have.
[0038]
Using such a copying machine 1, the Braille B (s) portion (see FIG. 2 (b)) in the three-dimensional input document G2 (see arrow (3) in FIG. 1) or the flat input document G1 (see arrow in FIG. 1). If the Braille B (f) part (see FIG. 2 (a)) in (1) and (2)) can be discriminated and read, the part can be printed out with thermally foamable toner (see the arrow in FIG. 1). (Refer to (6)), it is possible to copy a stereoscopic image even for an electronic original that does not exist.
[0039]
However, in the case of heat-expandable toner printed on ordinary white paper, it is difficult to distinguish between heat-expandable toner and white of white paper. Braille is an application example of such a heat-foamable toner output. In the case of amblyopia who account for a significant percentage of Braille users, the little remaining eyesight helps the interpretation of Braille, so hit the white Braille B with the color paper as shown in Fig. 2 as the background BG. There is a tendency to be happy. In addition, decorative prints using heat-foamable toners have many applications because printing on such a color background BG gives a high-class feeling like a cameo.
[0040]
In consideration of these circumstances, a thermal foam having such a color background is provided as a copy mode by providing a three-dimensional copy mode in which a white area is extracted from a scanned image and the extracted portion is output with a heat-foamable toner. Copying can be performed specifically for toner information.
[0041]
FIG. 4 explains the outline of the image reading processing circuit of the copying machine 1. As shown in the figure, a three-line CCD sensor 110 is arranged, and image data read by this sensor is read as an analog signal and converted into a digital signal by the AD converter 111. This is followed by a pre-correction processing unit 112 that corrects unevenness at the time of reading such as color registration correction and shading correction processing of the three-line sensor, and subsequently the color conversion circuit using the three-color read signals, After being sent to a color conversion processing unit 122 that performs correction processing such as dust and the like, subjected to color conversion processing, sharpness correction / TRC processing and the like are performed, and then a copy color plate is formed.
[0042]
Further, the operation of the color conversion processing unit 122 will be described. First, the UI unit of the copying machine 1 selects a three-dimensional document reading mode that performs output using a thermal foaming toner having a color background.
[0043]
When this mode is selected, the setting of the color conversion processing is rewritten from the control unit 100 to another setting stored in the storage unit in advance from the normal copy mode. The color conversion process converts the RGB data into L * a * b *, and performs color adjustment 120 for user adjustments such as saturation and hue, and L * a * b * data using a direct lookup table (DLUT). To color conversion YMC3 color data or the like.
[0044]
In the DLUT system constituting the color conversion 121, a data table indicating the corresponding YMC and YMCK output values from the input L * a * b * data is provided in advance for each output version of each color. Normally, if a table of 8 bits × 3 colors = 24 bits is provided, the scale of the LUT becomes large. Therefore, it is used in combination with addressing of upper 6 bits of each color and interpolation processing by lower 2 bits. As in this example, when using the YMCK four-color copier / printer (BK) toner by switching to the thermally foamable toner (T), the DLUT that outputs L * a * b * → K plate Rewrite the contents of the interpolation processing for heat-foamable toner (DLUT that performs L * a * b * → T version output and the contents of the interpolation processing).
[0045]
FIG. 5 shows an outline of the LUT at this time by representing the value of a * b * by the saturation value C *. The vertical axis is the lightness L *, and the horizontal axis is the saturation value C *. An area where the lightness L * is bright (high) and the saturation C * value is low is extracted as a white area indicated by diagonal lines in the figure, and a white thermal foaming toner, white on the color background BG of the input documents G1 and G2 It is determined as a Braille B (s) or Braille B (f) formed with the background portion of the recording paper or white correction liquid, and is output as a thermally foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information).
[0046]
The actual copy mode operation will be described below. In this example, an example is shown in which copying is performed with four colors, YMC three colors and thermally foamable toner. For the three YMC colors, as in the normal copy mode, color conversion is performed from the three RGB reading colors for each reading scan to convert it into an output pattern for each YMC monochromatic version. This is repeated three times to form a YMC print image on the intermediate transfer belt 18.
[0047]
In the copy operation of the fourth color corresponding to the thermal foamable toner plate, the content of DLUT is switched to the thermal foamable toner corresponding to the color background, and the saturation and brightness of the RGB read data are in the white area. A printed image is formed so that the thermally foamable toner is applied by the DLUT.
[0048]
By doing this, the color information on the input originals G1 and G2 is copied as it is with the YMC toner, and the three-dimensional information by the heat-foamable toner, the white portion of the white recording paper, and the white correction liquid are output to the heat-foamable toner plate. Then, it is printed as a three-dimensional color print by printing with a heat-foamable toner.
[0049]
In this case, even if there is no color paper of the same color as the input originals G1 and G2 as copy paper, the background BG color same as that of the input originals G1 and G2 can be reproduced with the color toner. The letter L written above can be reproduced with color toner as it is. Further, the Braille B formed in white on the input originals G1 and G2 (regardless of whether it is a solid or a plane) is formed as a three-dimensional Braille B (f) (FIG. 2, FIG. 2). 6).
[0050]
Although the above description has been given for a four-color printer, a five-color printer having a YMCK normal color toner and a fifth color developer for thermally foamable toner can also be used. In the combined system of the color reader and monochrome printer provided for the scan-in function to the image database, the black toner of the monochrome printer is switched to the thermally foamable toner, and the color background stereoscopic mode is combined. By selecting and switching to the same color conversion setting as in the case of a four-color printer, only the white portion in the color background can be printed with thermally foamable toner and copied as three-dimensional information. Further, in the present embodiment, white is a specific color, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a color other than white (for example, black, red, blue, etc.) can be specified by instructing via the UI unit of the copying machine 1. It can also be. Specifically, the color area shown as the hatched portion in FIG. 5 can be changed.
[0051]
Modification 1
In the embodiment, a region where the lightness L * is bright (high) and the value of the saturation C * is low is extracted as a white region indicated by hatching in the drawing, and white thermal foaming is performed on the color background BG of the input originals G1 and G2. It was judged as Braille B (s) or Braille B (f) formed with the base toner, white recording paper or white correction liquid, and output as a thermally foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information). The level of the thermally foamable toner plate was a constant value. FIG. 7A is a graph for explaining the relationship between the level of the thermally foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information) and the lightness L * as an element of the white area. Thus, when the lightness L * exceeds a certain value, the level of the thermally foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information) changes from “0” to the maximum value “255”.
[0052]
In this modification, the relationship between the lightness L * and the level of the thermally foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information) is continuously changed. FIG. 7B is a graph for explaining the relationship between the level of the heat-foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information) and the lightness L * as an element of the white area in this modification. Thus, when the lightness L * exceeds a certain value, the level of the heat-foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information) changes from “0” to “127”, and then the level increases as the lightness increases. When the brightness is increased to some extent, the level can be configured to take a constant value “255”.
[0053]
Further, in the copying machine 1, by changing the coverage ratio of the heat-expandable toner in the output document C and the heating time at fixing according to the level of the heat-expandable toner plate, for example, the input documents G1, G2 The bright white portion can increase the height of the stereoscopic image, and the relatively dark white portions of the input documents G1 and G2 can decrease the height of the stereoscopic image.
[0054]
Modification 2
In this embodiment, it is assumed that the characters L and B of the input originals G1 and G2 can be distinguished from each other. However, the colors of the characters L and B of the input originals G1 and G2 are different. It may be impossible to identify. In this case, unlike the user's intention, the character L is also three-dimensionally formed in the output document C.
[0055]
In such a case, first, as shown in FIG. 8, a specific area of the input documents G1 and G2 is designated using the UI unit of the copying machine 1, and a white portion (braille B) in the specific area is designated. Can be formed on the output document C as a three-dimensional image in Braille B (s). At this time, the character L outside the specific area is formed as a character L (f) in a plane.
[0056]
Secondly, as shown in FIG. 9, a special color (preset) mark A surrounding the specific area is entered in the input documents G1 and G2, and the specific area is recognized based on the special color during pre-scanning. The braille B (s) can be formed as a three-dimensional image in the output original C with the white portion (braille B) in the specific area during the main scan. Similarly, the character L outside the specific area is formed as a character L (f) in a planar manner.
[0057]
Modification 3
In the second modification, it is necessary for the image reading device 4 to recognize the specific area in advance, which is somewhat complicated for the user. Therefore, in this modification, braille characters in the output document C are three-dimensionally formed even when the colors of the characters L and B of the input documents G1 and G2 cannot be identified without recognizing the specific area in advance. The letter L is formed in a plane.
[0058]
FIG. 10 illustrates the configuration of the control unit 100 (see FIG. 4) of the copying machine 1 according to this modification. The control unit 100 includes an image memory 101 and a reference shape memory 102 therein. The image memory 101 stores image information extracted as a plurality of scanning lines as a region (white region indicated by hatching in FIG. 5) where the lightness L * is bright (high) and the value of the chroma C * is low. On the other hand, the standard shape memory 102 stores a standard shape of the dots d constituting the braille B as the standard shape. Here, if the dot d shape is recognized in the image information stored in the image memory 101, it is a white thermally foamable toner, a ground portion of white recording paper on the color background BG of the input documents G1 and G2, or It is determined as Braille B (s) or Braille B (f) formed with the white correction liquid, and is output as a thermally foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information).
[0059]
By performing such processing, as shown in FIG. 11, the Braille B in the input document G can be replaced with the three-dimensional Braille B (s) in the output document C without specifying a specific area where the Braille B exists. A planar character L (f) is formed.
[0060]
In addition, as a reference | standard shape, as shown in FIG. 12, a Braille pattern can also be memorize | stored. This Braille pattern is a pattern in which dots d and d are adjacent in the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the diagonal direction, and is a characteristic pattern provided in Braille. Also, braille B (s) or braille B (f) formed by white thermal foaming toner on the color background BG of the input originals G1 and G2, a ground portion of white recording paper, or white correction liquid by pre-scanning. Therefore, the specific portion can be output as a thermally foamable toner plate (stereoscopic image information) in the main scan.
[0061]
As described above, the copying machine or the like according to the present embodiment can be realized only by changing the software system such as addition of mode setting means and a color conversion table without making major changes to the original system. The copying function can be provided to Braille users by modifying the general-purpose copying machine at low cost. Also, (2) it can be easily copied as a decorative print. (3) Without using a personal computer or the like, it is possible to easily create a Braille pattern by copying a color paper with a Braille pattern written with white correction liquid in the copy mode of the present invention.
[0062]
In the present embodiment, a copying machine (an image reading apparatus and an image processing apparatus) serving as an image forming apparatus has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and image data (image information, for example) from a scanner or the like. ) Can also be applied to a computer image forming program. The image data may be input / output to / from the outside of the computer, or may be input / output to / from a memory inside the computer.
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an image reading apparatus that realizes reading of a three-dimensional print represented by Braille.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the entire three-dimensional copying system.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining an input document and an output document.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the copying machine according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 4 illustrates an outline of an image reading processing circuit of the copying machine according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 5 shows an outline of a LUT in which the value of a * b * is represented by the saturation value C *.
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a procedure of stereoscopic color copying in the first embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a graph for explaining the stereoscopic image information level of the first modification.
FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram illustrating one procedure of stereoscopic color copying in Modification 2.
FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating another procedure of stereoscopic color copying in the second modification.
FIG. 10 illustrates a configuration of one control unit of a copier according to a third modification.
FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a procedure for stereoscopic color copying in a third modification.
FIG. 12 illustrates another configuration of the control unit of the copier according to the third modification.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Copy machine (copying apparatus), G ... Input original, C ... Output original, W ... White correction pen, BG ... Background, L ... Character, B ... Braille, d ... Dot, 4 ... Original reading apparatus (image reading apparatus) , 11 ... Image reading element, 12 ... Image processing device, A ... Image forming means (image output device), 100 ... Control unit (storage unit, determination unit), 122 ... Color conversion processing unit, 101 ... Image memory, 102 ... Standard shape memory

Claims (8)

  An image reading unit that has a storage unit that preliminarily stores a specific color as stereoscopic image information and a determination unit that obtains a specific color portion in the document as stereoscopic image information based on the specific color, and reads the document to obtain the image information Equipment,
  An image output device for forming a three-dimensional image with foamed toner based on the three-dimensional image information among the image information obtained by the image reading device;
With
  The specific color has a certain range, and the determination unit changes the level of the stereoscopic image information based on the color of the specific color portion, and the image output device determines the stereoscopic image according to the level of the stereoscopic image information. A copying apparatus characterized by controlling the height of an image.   The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific color has different brightness within the certain range.   The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific color is white.   The copying apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface unit to which an instruction from a user is input, wherein the specific color can be changed via the user interface unit.   It has a normal reading mode and a stereoscopic reading mode,
  The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit obtains a specific portion in the document as stereoscopic image information only in the stereoscopic reading mode.   A user interface unit for inputting an instruction from the user is provided, and a partial area in the document is instructed through the user interface unit before reading,
  6. The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit obtains a specific portion in the designated area of the document as stereoscopic image information.   An area instruction mark indicating a partial area in the document is written, and the determination unit recognizes the instruction area based on the area support mark at the time of preliminary reading, and in the instruction area of the document at the subsequent main reading. The copying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the specific portion is obtained as stereoscopic image information.   The image output device of the image information obtained by the image reading device forms a stereoscopic image with foamed toner based on the stereoscopic image information, and forms a planar image with non-foamed toner based on the image information. The copying apparatus according to any one of 1 to 7.

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