JP4620272B2 - Image reading apparatus, method, control apparatus for implementing the method, program, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, a method, a control apparatus that implements the method, and a program and a storage medium, and more particularly to an image reading apparatus, a method, a control apparatus that implements the method, a program, and a storage medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, as an image reading apparatus such as a scanner for electronically reading an original, in an environment where originals of different sizes are mixed, the use of an apparatus that automatically detects the original size and reads the original image at an optimum size has increased. ing.
[0003]
Among such image reading apparatuses, in a double-sided reading apparatus capable of reading both sides of a document by a reading unit, each image on the front and back sides of the document is read with the maximum width of the reading unit, and an image end of each read image is read. It is known to detect an optimum size when reading each image on the front and back sides of a document.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional double-sided scanning device, the optimum size detection when reading each image on the front and back sides of the document is performed separately for the front and back sides of the document, so the optimum size for image reading on the front and back sides May be different, and the optimal size may not be detected correctly.
[0005]
The present invention , An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus, a method, a control apparatus that implements the method, a program, and a recording medium that can reduce erroneous detection of a document size.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Claims 1 The image reading apparatus described includes a reading unit that reads at least a first area image and a second area image of a subject image, first data about the read first area image, and the read first area image. Detecting means for detecting the size of the subject image based on the second data for the second area image, and combining means for combining the first data and the second data to obtain combined data The detection means detects the size of the subject image based on the combined data combined by the combining means.
[0008]
Claims 2 The image reading apparatus described includes a reading unit that reads at least a first area image and a second area image of a subject image, first data about the read first area image, and the read first area image. Detecting means for detecting the size of the subject image based on the second data for the second area image, and combining means for combining the first data and the second data to obtain combined data The synthesizer includes an inverting unit that inverts the second data with respect to the first data.
[0009]
Claims 3 The image reading apparatus according to claim 1. Or 2 The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting a reading size by the reading means, wherein the reading size is set based on a size of the subject image detected by the detecting means.
[0010]
Claims 4 The image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a moving unit that relatively moves the subject image and the reading unit, wherein the first data and the second data are the movements, respectively. It consists of data related to the region image orthogonal to the direction.
[0011]
Claims 5 The image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 In the image reading apparatus according to any one of the above, the first area image and the second area image are area images of different surfaces of the subject.
[0012]
Claims 6 The image reading apparatus described in claim 5 In the image reading apparatus described above, the subject is a document, the first area image is composed of a front surface image of the document, and the second area image is composed of a back surface image of the document.
[0013]
Claims 7 The image reading apparatus described in claim 6 In the image reading apparatus described above, the reading unit includes a pair of a first reading unit that reads the front surface of the document and a second reading unit that reads the back surface of the document, which are arranged to face each other with respect to the document.
[0014]
Claims 8 The image reading apparatus described in claim 6 In the image reading apparatus described above, the reading unit includes a single reading unit that reads the first area and the second area of the conveyed document.
[0015]
Claims 9 The image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 The image reading apparatus according to any one of the above, further comprising mode setting means for setting an operation mode from at least a reading mode for reading a subject image and a size detection mode for detecting the size of the subject image. The size of the subject image is detected when the operation mode is the size detection mode.
Claims 10 The image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 In the image reading apparatus according to any one of the above, the facing surface of the reading unit is black.
[0017]
Claims 11 The image reading method described includes a reading step of reading at least a first area image and a second area image of a subject image by reading means, first data about the read first area image, and the reading A detection step of detecting the size of the subject image based on the second data of the second region image thus obtained, and combining the first data and the second data to obtain composite data And in the detecting step, the size of the subject image is detected based on the synthesized data synthesized in the synthesizing step.
[0018]
Claims 12 The image reading method described includes a reading step of reading at least a first area image and a second area image of a subject image by reading means, first data about the read first area image, and the reading A detection step of detecting the size of the subject image based on the second data of the second region image thus obtained, and combining the first data and the second data to obtain composite data And a reversing step of inverting the second data with respect to the first data in the synthesizing step.
[0019]
Claims 13 The image reading method according to claim 11 or 12 The image reading method according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting a reading size by the reading means, wherein the reading size is set based on the size of the subject image detected in the detection step.
[0020]
Claims 14 The image reading method according to claim 11 Thru 13 The image reading method according to claim 1, further comprising a moving step of relatively moving the subject image and the reading unit, wherein the first data and the second data are the movements, respectively. It consists of data related to the region image orthogonal to the direction.
[0021]
Claims 15 The image reading method according to claim 11 Thru 14 In the image reading method according to any one of the above, the first region image and the second region image are region images of different surfaces of the subject.
[0022]
Claims 16 The image reading method according to claim 15 In the image reading method described above, the subject is a document, the first area image is composed of a front surface image of the document, and the second area image is composed of a back surface image of the document.
[0023]
Claims 17 The image reading method according to claim 16 In the image reading method described above, the reading unit includes a pair of a first reading unit that reads the front surface of the document and a second reading unit that reads the back surface of the document, which are arranged to face each other with respect to the document.
[0024]
Claims 18 The image reading method described above is the preceding claim. 16 In the image reading method described above, the recording / reading means includes a single reading means for reading the first area image and the second area image of the conveyed document.
[0025]
Claims 19 The image reading method according to claim 11 Thru 18 The image reading method according to any one of the above, further comprising a mode setting step of setting an operation mode from at least a reading mode for reading a subject image and a size detection mode for detecting the size of the subject image, Thus, the size of the subject image is detected when the operation mode is the size detection mode.
[0026]
Claims 20 The control device as claimed 11 Thru 19 The image reading method described in any one of the above is performed.
[0027]
Claims 21 The described program is a program that can be executed by a computer device, and the computer device that executes the program is claimed. 20 It functions as the control device described.
[0028]
Claims 22 The program described is claimed 11 Thru 19 The program code for implement | achieving the control method of any one of these is provided.
[0029]
Claims 23 The storage medium described is a claim. 22 The described program is stored.
[0030]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0031]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0032]
In FIG. 1, an image reading apparatus 100 includes a document table 12 on which a document as a subject is placed, a motor 1 that moves the document table 12 up and down, and a main motor that operates when a paper feed sensor 6 detects a document as a subject. 2, driven by the main motor 2 when the paper feed clutch 3 is engaged, and fed by the main motor 2 when the separation clutch 4 is engaged with the paper feed roller 13 that is driven by the main motor 2 to feed a document as a subject. Separating rollers 14 and 15 for separating the uppermost document from other documents on the document table 12, a registration sensor 7 for detecting the leading edge and the trailing edge of the document, and a registration clutch 5 are fitted. Registration rollers 16 and 17 that are sometimes driven by the main motor 2 to convey a document, a document detection sensor 2g that detects the leading edge and the trailing edge of the document, and a later-described diagram. And the image reading unit 11 in FIG. 3 and transport rollers 2a to 2d for transporting the document so that the document passes through the image reading unit 11 by a motor (3d in FIG. 2) disposed in the image reading unit 11. A paper discharge sensor 9 for detecting the leading edge and the trailing edge of the document is provided.
[0033]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image reading unit 11 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the image reading unit 11 in FIG.
[0034]
In FIG. 2, an image reading unit 11 is composed of an LED light source and a light receiving CCD line sensor. The image reading unit 11 is composed of an LED light source and a light receiving CCD line sensor. A back side reading unit 2f for reading the back side image (FIG. 3).
[0035]
In the front side reading unit 2e and the back side reading unit 2f, the opposite surface of each LED light source is subjected to black processing in order to minimize incident light received by the CCD line sensor when there is no document in the image reading unit 11. ing. Thereby, when each LED light source irradiates the white part of the document, the brightness level of the reflected light received by the CCD line sensor is high, and when each LED light source irradiates the part where there is no document and the document black part, The brightness level of the reflected light received by the CCD line sensor is lowered.
[0036]
The image reading unit 11 further performs black correction, white correction, gamma correction, edge enhancement, etc. for each image data of the front side of the original read by the front side reading unit 2e and the back side of the original read by the back side reading unit 2f. The image processing circuit 3f for performing the image processing, the combining unit 3g for combining the images of the front and back surfaces of the document that has been subjected to the image processing by the image processing circuit 3f, and the document size from the image combined by the combining unit 3g A document size detection unit 3h to be detected; a RAM 3a for temporarily storing the document size detected by the document size detection unit 3h and the image data of the front and back surfaces of the document subjected to image processing by the image processing circuit 3f; ROM 3b for storing a program used in image reading apparatus 100, and image reading apparatus 100 according to the program stored in ROM 3b The CPU 3c for controlling the body, the motor 3d for driving the rollers 2a to 2d for conveying the document in the image unit 11, and the image data in the RAM 3a transmitted from the CPU 3c are transferred to the external PC 900 via the SCSI controller 800. And a transfer unit 3e that transfers a SCSI interrupt, which is received via the SCSI controller 800 and instructing image reading from the external PC 900, to the CPU 3c.
[0037]
Hereinafter, the operation of the image reading apparatus of FIG. 1 will be described.
[0038]
First, when the CPU 3c receives a SCSI interrupt from the external PC 900, reading of an image of the document on the document table 12 is started, and at the same time, the conveyance rollers 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d are rotated by the operation of the motor 3d.
[0039]
Subsequently, when the document table motor 12 is raised by the operation of the document table motor 1, and the document on the document table 12 is detected by the paper feed sensor 6, the main motor 2 is activated and the paper feed clutch 3 is engaged to feed paper. The roller 13 is rotated. Further, the separation rollers 14 and 15 are simultaneously rotated by the engagement of the separation clutch 4. As a result, only the topmost document on the document table 12 can be transported to the transport path in the image reading apparatus 100.
[0040]
When the document is supplied into the conveyance path and the leading edge of the document is detected by the registration sensor 7, the registration rollers 16 and 17 are rotated by the engagement of the registration clutch 5. Further, when the document detection sensor 2g detects the leading edge of the document being conveyed, the conveyance rollers 2a to 2d are rotated by the motor 3d to convey the document into the image reading unit 11, and the surface of the image by the surface reading unit 2e is conveyed. Reading and reading of the back side of the image by the back side reading unit 2f are started. In this case, the image reading start time of the front surface reading unit 2e and the back surface reading unit 2f is the same as that of the front surface reading unit 2e and the back surface reading unit 2f from the position of the original material detection sensor 2g after the document detection sensor 2g detects the leading edge of the document. This is after a lapse of time obtained by dividing the distance to the position by the document conveyance speed. Thereby, the front side reading unit 2e and the back side reading unit 2f can start image reading of the front side and the back side of the original when the leading edge of the original reaches the front side reading unit 2e and the back side reading unit 2f.
[0041]
On the other hand, when the registration sensor 7 detects the trailing edge of the document that has entered the conveyance path, the rotation of the paper feed roller 13 is stopped by disengaging the paper feed clutch 3, and the paper feed sensor 6 removes the original on the document table 12. Detect. As a result of the detection, when there is no document, the document table motor 1 is rotated to lower the document table 12, and when there is a document, the document table 12 is held without being lowered.
[0042]
When the document detection sensor 2g detects the trailing edge of the document, the reading of the front surface of the image by the front surface reading unit 2e and the reading of the back surface of the image by the back surface reading unit 2f are finished. In this case, the image reading end time of the front surface reading unit 2e and the back surface reading unit 2f is after the predetermined time has elapsed since the document detection sensor 2g detected the trailing edge of the document. Thus, the front side reading unit 2e and the back side reading unit 2f can finish reading the image on the front side and the back side of the original when the trailing edge of the original reaches the reading unit 2e and the back side reading unit 2f.
[0043]
The document for which reading of each image on the front surface and the back surface of the document has been completed is further conveyed, and the discharge sensor 9 sequentially detects the leading edge and the trailing edge of the document to confirm the discharge.
[0044]
When the image reading is completed by the front surface reading unit 2e and the back surface reading unit 2f, the image data on the front surface and the back surface of the read original is black-corrected, white-corrected, gamma-corrected, edge-by-line by the image processing circuit 3f. Image processing such as emphasis is performed, and the luminance level (hereinafter simply referred to as “luminance level”) when the CCD line sensor receives the reflected light from the reading position is stored in the RAM 3a. The position where the LED light source irradiates the original with light for reading the original is hereinafter referred to as “reading position”.
[0045]
Thereafter, when the image reading instruction from the external PC 900 includes document size detection, the combining unit 3g combines the brightness level of the document surface and the brightness level of the document back surface stored on the RAM 3a for each line. Based on the synthesized luminance level, the document size detecting means 3h detects the document size by the document size detecting process shown in FIG.
[0046]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart of document size detection processing executed by the document size detection means 3h in FIG. This document size detection process is executed by the CPU 3c.
[0047]
First, it is determined whether or not the operation mode is the document size detection mode based on whether or not an image reading detection instruction (SCSI interrupt) has been received from the external PC 900 (step S1). In contrast, the document shown in FIG. 5 is conveyed (step S2).
[0048]
FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the original document transported in step S2 of FIG. 4, in which (a) shows the front surface of the original document, and (b) shows the back surface of the original document.
[0049]
In FIG. 5A, on the surface of the document, a black portion (in the drawing) having a width b1 on the left side with respect to the transport direction (hereinafter simply referred to as “transport direction”) in which the document is transported in the image reading unit 11. , And a white portion having a width b2 on the right side. In FIG. 5B, the back side of the document has a black portion (hatched portion in the drawing) having a width b3 on the left side and a white portion having a width b4 on the right side in the conveyance direction. Here, since the originals in FIGS. 5A and 5B are a single original with the front and back sides, naturally (b1 + b2) and (b3 + b4) have the same value.
[0050]
Returning to FIG. 4, in the subsequent step S3, the front side of the document conveyed to the image reading unit 11 is read by the front side reading unit 2e and the back side is read by the back side reading unit 2f with the same width bx (FIG. 6A). The read image data shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C are acquired.
[0051]
6A is an explanatory diagram of the positional relationship between the document of FIG. 5 and the image reading unit 11, and FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram of the image data of the read document surface, and FIG. (c) is an explanatory diagram of the image data of the read back side of the document.
[0052]
6A, the image reading unit 11 includes a guide surface 11a that is on the left side in the transport direction and contacts the left end of the document, and a guide surface 11b that is on the right side in the transport direction and contacts the right end of the document. . The reading unit width bx between the contact portions 11a and 11b is larger than the width (b1 + b2) of the surface of the original, and the original is conveyed with its left end in contact with the guide surface 11a.
[0053]
In FIG. 6B and FIG. 6C, in the image data on the front surface and the back surface of the document, the black portion is represented by hatching, the portion where the document does not exist is represented by double hatching, and the white portion is represented by Represented on a white background. These are the same in the following drawings.
[0054]
In the image reading unit 11, since the front side reading unit 2e and the back side reading unit 2f are arranged opposite to each other with respect to the original, the read image data on the front side of the original is a portion where no original exists on the right side, whereas the read image on the back side of the original The left side of the data is the part where no manuscript exists.
[0055]
Returning to FIG. 4, in the subsequent step S4, the reading position on the back side of the original read in step S3 is reversed as shown in FIG. 7B (step S4), and then the combining unit 3g reads the original read in step S3. The luminance level on the front surface (FIG. 7A) and the luminance level on the back surface of the document (FIG. 7B) after the reading position is reversed in step S4 are combined (FIG. 7C) (step S5). ).
[0056]
FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the reading position and the luminance level acquired by the image reading unit 11 of FIG. 2, wherein (a) is a graph corresponding to the image data of FIG. 6 (b), and (b) is a graph. FIG. 6C shows a graph corresponding to the image data, and FIG. 6C shows a graph obtained by combining FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B.
[0057]
In FIG. 7, the horizontal axis indicates the reading position, the vertical axis indicates the luminance level, and the horizontal line indicates the limit value of the luminance level as the document (hereinafter referred to as “document limit value level S”). However, the reading position on the horizontal axis in FIG. 7B is reversed. The reading position is represented by a distance from the guide surface 11a, and the inverted reading position is represented by a distance from the guide surface 11b. FIG. 7C shows the luminance level of FIG. 7A combined (added) by the combining unit 3g with the luminance level of FIG. 7A. In FIG. The limit value is the document limit value level S × 2.
[0058]
In FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, the white background portion indicating the white portion of the document has a luminance level higher than the document limit value level S, whereas the black portion of the document and the portion where no document exists. The hatched portion and the double-hatched portion shown in FIG. 3 cannot distinguish between the black portion of the document and the portion where the document does not exist because both of the luminance levels thereof are lower than the document limit value level S. And the document size cannot be detected correctly.
[0059]
However, in FIG. 7C, the white background portion indicating the white portion of the document has a luminance level exceeding the document limit value level S × 2, and the reading position including the black portion on the front surface and the back surface of the document. Both of these brightness levels exceed the document limit value level S × 2, whereas the double hatched portion indicating the portion where the document does not exist has a brightness level lower than the document limit value level S × 2, By distinguishing the non-existing portion, it is possible to clearly distinguish the document range from the outside of the range, and the document size can be detected.
[0060]
Returning to FIG. 4, in the subsequent step S <b> 6, the document size detection unit 3 h recognizes a reading position where the luminance level synthesized in step S <b> 5 is a predetermined level (original document limit level S × 2) or more, and the recognized reading position. This image is determined to be valid (step S7), and this process is terminated.
[0061]
On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S1 is that the operation mode is not the development size detection mode, the rated size reading mode is set (step S8), and the image within the rated size region is recognized as valid (step S9). This process ends.
[0062]
According to the process of FIG. 4, each image on the front and back sides of the document is read (step S3), and the read position on the back side of the read document is reversed (step S4). (Step S5), a reading position where the combined luminance level is equal to or higher than a predetermined level (document limit value level S × 2) is recognized (step S6), and the image at the recognized reading position is determined to be valid. (Step S7) By reading the images on the front and back sides of the document with the same reading size, erroneous detection of the document size can be reduced as compared with the document size detection method using only one side of the document.
[0063]
In the above embodiment, the document shown in FIG. 5 is used as the document, but the document shown in FIG. 8 may be used.
[0064]
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of another example of the document read in step S2 of FIG. 4, in which (a) shows the front side of the document and (b) shows the back side of the document.
[0065]
In FIG. 8A, on the surface of the document, there is a black portion (hunting portion in the drawing) having a width m1 on the left side and a white portion having a width m2 on the right side in the conveyance direction. In FIG. 8B, the entire document width m4 is a white portion on the back surface of the document with respect to the transport direction. Here, since the originals in FIGS. 8A and 8B are a single original with the front and back sides, (m1 + m2) and m4 are naturally the same value.
[0066]
The positional relationship between the original in FIG. 8 and the image reading unit 11 in FIG. 2 is as shown in FIG. 9A. The image data obtained by the image reading unit 11 in FIG. 9B shows the back side of the document as shown in FIG.
[0067]
In FIG. 9A, since the reading unit width bx is larger than the width (m1 + m2) of the document, the document is conveyed with the left end of the document in contact with the guide surface 11a, as in FIG.
[0068]
The relationship between the reading position and the luminance level acquired by the image reading unit 11 in FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. 10 (the graph corresponding to the image data in FIG. 9B is shown in FIG. A graph corresponding to the image data of c) is shown in FIG. 10B, and a graph obtained by combining FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B is shown in FIG.
[0069]
As a result, since the back surface of the original in FIG. 8 is a white portion on the entire surface, the brightness level of the white background portion indicating the white portion of the original has a predetermined level (original limit) regardless of the black portion on the front side of the original. As a matter of course, the luminance level exceeds a predetermined level (document limit value level S × 2) at the reading position including the black portion of the document surface, while the document does not exist. Since the brightness level of the double hatched portion indicating the portion is lower than a predetermined level (document limit value level S × 2), it is possible to clearly distinguish the document range from the outside of the range by distinguishing the portion where the document does not exist. The document size can be detected.
[0070]
In the above embodiment, for example, even when the document size is not constant, such as various document sizes such as business card size to B4 size, the document size can be detected and read, thereby reducing the speed. Image reading can be performed without any problem. In addition, even when the document size is a non-standard document, image reading is performed while omitting an extra space around the document, so that the memory of the connected computer can be saved. Further, by repeating the detection process for each line, the accuracy of document size detection can be increased.
[0071]
In the above embodiment, the image read from the document is a multi-valued image. However, even in the case of a binarized image, the document size detection is performed with the same configuration in a system in which white pixels are 1 and black pixels are 0. By determining that 0 is outside the document range by means 3h, the document size of the document can be correctly detected even when the front and back surfaces of the document have black portions. Further, in a system in which the white pixel is 0 and the black pixel is 1, a logical product is obtained at the combined portion, and the document size detecting means 3h determines that 1 is outside the document range, so that both the front and back surfaces of the document have black portions. However, the document size of the document can be detected correctly.
[0072]
In the above embodiment, one line is synthesized from the images on the front and back sides of the document stored on the RAM 3a. However, before storing in the RAM 3a, a line buffer is provided between the RAM 3a and the image processing circuit 3f. The document size may be detected.
[0073]
In the above embodiment, the document size detection process is performed in the image reading unit 11. However, even if the image read with the reading unit width bx is transferred to the host computer and the document size is detected by the host computer. Good.
[0074]
Further, in the above embodiment, the image reading unit 11 is composed of a pair of the front side reading unit 2e and the back side reading unit 2f facing each other with respect to the original, but the single reading unit reads the front side of the original and the back side of the original, respectively. May be.
[0075]
In the above-described embodiment, the front and back areas of the document as a subject are read, but when composite data is created from a plurality of area images, it is not necessary to read the front and back faces. On the other hand, since a document as a subject with many blank pages on the back side is common, the size of the subject can be detected more accurately by reading the front and back sides.
[0076]
In the steam embodiment, the size of the subject image is detected based on the luminance data obtained from the reading of the subject image, but may be detected based on other data such as density data.
[0077]
It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied when a storage medium storing software program modules for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is achieved by supplying a program to a system or apparatus. . At this time, the program module itself read from the storage medium realizes the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program constitutes the present invention.
[0078]
The program module according to each of the above embodiments is stored in the ROM 3b. As a storage medium for supplying the program module, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk (registered trademark), a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD -R, DVD, MO, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, etc. can be used.
[0079]
【The invention's effect】
As described in detail above, the image reading device according to claim 1 and the claim 11 According to the described image reading method, erroneous detection of the size of the subject image can be reduced.
[0080]
Claim 4 The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 and claims 14 According to the described image reading method, the composite data can be obtained accurately.
[0081]
Claim 6 The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 and claims 16 According to the described image reading method, the reading unit can synthesize the data of the front surface and the back surface of the document.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the image reading unit 11 in FIG.
3 is a configuration diagram of the image reading unit 11 of FIG. 2;
4 is a flowchart of document size detection processing executed by document size detection means 3h in FIG.
5A and 5B are explanatory diagrams of an example of a document conveyed in step S2 of FIG. 4, in which FIG. 5A shows the front surface of the document, and FIG. 5B shows the back surface of the document.
6A is an explanatory diagram of a positional relationship between the document of FIG. 5 and the image reading unit 11, and FIG. 6B is an explanatory diagram of image data on the surface of the read document; () Is an explanatory diagram of image data on the back side of the read original.
7 is a graph showing a relationship between a reading position and a luminance level acquired by the image reading unit 11 of FIG. 2, wherein (a) is a graph corresponding to the image data of FIG. 6 (b), and (b) is a graph. FIG. 6C shows a graph corresponding to the image data, and FIG. 6C shows a graph obtained by combining FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B.
FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory views of another example of the document read in step S2 of FIG. 4, in which FIG. 8A shows the front surface of the document and FIG. 8B shows the back surface of the document.
9A is an explanatory diagram of a positional relationship between the document of FIG. 8 and the image reading unit 11, and FIG. 9B is an explanatory diagram of image data on the surface of the read document; () Is an explanatory diagram of image data on the back side of the read original.
10 is a graph showing a relationship between a reading position and a luminance level acquired by the image reading unit 11 of FIG. 2, wherein (a) is a graph corresponding to the image data of FIG. 9 (b), and (b) is a graph. FIG. 9C shows a graph corresponding to the image data, and FIG. 9C shows a graph obtained by combining FIG. 10A and FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
2e Surface reading unit
2f Back side reading unit
2g Document detection sensor
3a RAM
3b ROM
3c CPU
3d motor
3e Transfer unit
3f Image processing circuit
3g synthesis unit
3h Document size detection means
11 Image reading unit
800 SCSI controller
900 External PC

Claims (23)

  Reading means for reading at least the first area image and the second area image of the subject image, first data about the read first area image, and first information about the read second area image. Detecting means for detecting the size of the subject image based on the second data, and combining means for combining the first data and the second data to obtain combined data, the detecting means An image reading apparatus that detects the size of the subject image based on the synthesized data synthesized by the synthesizing unit.   Reading means for reading at least the first area image and the second area image of the subject image, first data about the read first area image, and first information about the read second area image. Detection means for detecting the size of the subject image based on the second data, and combining means for combining the first data and the second data to obtain combined data, the combining means Comprises an inversion means for inverting the second data with respect to the first data. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting a reading size by the reading means, wherein the reading size is set based on a size of the subject image detected by the detecting means. The image reading apparatus described in 1. The image processing apparatus further includes a moving unit that relatively moves the subject image and the reading unit, and the first data and the second data each include data related to a region image orthogonal to the moving direction. The image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . Wherein the first region image second area image, an image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a region image of different surfaces of the object with each other. 6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the subject is a document, and the first area image is composed of a front surface image of the document, and the second area image is composed of a back surface image of the document. . Said reading means, according to claim, characterized in that it consists of the disposed in facing with respect to the document, a pair of second reading means for reading the back surface of the first reading means and said original reading surface of the document 6 The image reading apparatus described. 7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the reading unit includes a single reading unit that reads the first area and the second area of the conveyed document. It further comprises mode setting means for setting an operation mode from at least a reading mode for reading a subject image and a size detection mode for detecting the size of the subject image, and the detection means is configured to detect the subject when the operation mode is the size detection mode. image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that to detect the size of an image. The facing surface of the reading unit, the image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it is black.   A reading step of reading at least a first area image and a second area image of the subject image by a reading unit; first data on the read first area image; and the read second area image A detection step for detecting the size of the subject image based on the second data for the first step, and a combining step for combining the first data and the second data to obtain combined data. In the detection step, the size of the subject image is detected based on the combined data combined in the combining step.   A reading step of reading at least a first area image and a second area image of the subject image by a reading unit; first data on the read first area image; and the read second area image A detection step for detecting the size of the subject image based on the second data for the first step, and a combining step for combining the first data and the second data to obtain combined data. The image reading method includes a reversing step of reversing the second data with respect to the first data in the combining step. Further comprising setting means for setting a reading size by said reading means, said reading size, claim 11 or 12, characterized in that it is set based on the size of the subject image detected by said detecting step The image reading method described in 1. The method further comprises a moving step of relatively moving the subject image and the reading means, wherein the first data and the second data are each composed of data relating to a region image orthogonal to the moving direction. The image reading method according to any one of claims 11 to 13 . Wherein the first region image second area image, image reading method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that a region image of different surfaces of the object with each other. 16. The image reading according to claim 15 , wherein the subject is a document, and the first area image is composed of a front surface image of the document, and the second area image is composed of a back surface image of the document. Method. Said reading means, according to claim 16, characterized in that it consists of the disposed in facing with respect to the document, a pair of second reading means for reading the back surface of the first reading means and said original reading surface of the document The image reading method described. 17. The image reading method according to claim 16 , wherein the reading unit includes a single reading unit that reads the first area image and the second area image of the conveyed document. And a mode setting step of setting an operation mode from at least a reading mode for reading a subject image and a size detection mode for detecting the size of the subject image. In the detection step, when the operation mode is the size detection mode, image reading method according to any one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that to detect the size of the subject image. The control apparatus which implements the image reading method of any one of Claims 11 thru | or 19 . 21. A program that can be executed by a computer device, and that causes the computer device that executes the program to function as the control device according to claim 20 . A program executable by an information processing apparatus having program code for realizing the control method according to any one of claims 11 to 19 . A storage medium storing the program according to claim 22 .

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