JP4859234B2 - Image processing apparatus, image processing apparatus control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of outputting an image obtained by combining a character image added by a user to a sheet and an image to be combined, a control method for the image processing apparatus, and a program .

  Currently, a multifunction printer (MFP) in which a printer, a scanner, a memory card reader, and a display device (LCD) are integrated is commercially available. Some MFPs are equipped with the “handwritten navigation sheet” function.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a handwritten navigation sheet 601 used in a conventional MFP.

  The handwritten navigation sheet 601 is printed with an area 602 for performing print settings and layout settings, an area 603 for displaying an original image to be combined, and a handwritten area 604 corresponding to the original image and handwriting a character. It is a sheet.

  The handwritten navigation sheet 601 first selects a desired print setting and layout setting from the settings described in the area 602, and fills with a mark. Next, a desired character is freely written with a pencil or the like in the handwriting area 604.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conventional handwritten navigation sheet 701 in which a user selects print settings, selects layout settings, and handwriting a character.

  When the reading unit (scanner) reads the handwritten navigation sheet 701, the image and the handwritten character are automatically combined and printed on the set paper and layout.

When combining a handwritten character and an image, in an electronic device (digital camera) equipped with a touch panel, a method of manually writing and inputting a character on the touch panel and combining the image and the handwritten character is known. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2000-307915 A

  In the conventional handwritten navigation sheet, after the scanner unit reads the handwritten navigation sheet, it is automatically combined and printed, so if the handwritten character's position and size are handwritten by mistake, the handwritten navigation sheet is printed again, It is necessary to repeat the work from the stage. There is a problem that this operation is complicated. That is, when the handwritten character is handwritten in the wrong position or size, there is a problem that the handwritten navigation sheet is printed again and the work of repeating the work from the first stage is complicated.

  Moreover, since the technique using a touch panel requires a touch panel, there are problems that parts related to the touch panel are required, resulting in an increase in cost and an increase in the size of the entire apparatus.

The present invention provides an image processing apparatus and an image processing apparatus that can easily edit the character image when outputting an image in which a character image added to a sheet by a user and an image to be combined are output. It is an object to provide a control method and a program .

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a printing unit that prints an image, a reading unit that reads a sheet, a display unit that displays an image, and a sheet that includes an image to be combined. A printing control unit that causes the printing unit to print an image corresponding to the sheet to be added to the sheet, and a reading image obtained by reading the sheet printed by the printing control unit by the reading unit is acquired. Acquiring means for storing the character image added to the sheet by the user included in the read image acquired by the acquiring means, and the character image stored in the memory by the storing means. The character image and the image to be combined are separated from the image to be combined with the image to be combined that has been printed on the sheet. As possible, the character image included in the composite image is specified in accordance with a display control unit to be displayed on the display unit and a user instruction based on the display by the display control unit, and the specified character image And an output means for outputting an image obtained by combining the character image edited by the editing means and the image to be combined.

According to the present invention, when outputting an image in which a character image added to a sheet by a user and an image to be combined are output, the character image can be easily edited.

  The best mode for carrying out the invention is the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an MFP (multifunction printer, multifunction peripheral) 101 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

  The MFP 101 includes a scanner unit 200 (see FIG. 2), a print unit 400 (see FIG. 4), an HDD 102, a memory card slot 103, an external connection terminal 104, an operation unit 105, an LCD 106, an upper lid 107, A paper discharge tray 108 and a paper supply unit 109 are provided.

  The print unit 400 is an inkjet serial printer. The scanner unit 200 is a CCD reading type flat head scanner. The HDD 102 is a memory for storing various image data and applications inside the right side of the MFP 101. A memory card slot 103 is installed on the left side of the MFP 101 and is a slot for reading and writing a memory card used in a digital camera or the like.

  Since there are a plurality of types of memory cards, two types of ports of the memory card slot 103 are provided to deal with these types. Further, an external device connection (USB) terminal 104 connects to an external device such as a digital camera, a DVD / CD-ROM drive, or a removable HDD. The operation unit 105 has a plurality of operation buttons, and operates the MFP 101 by operating these operation buttons. In the center of the operation unit 105, a color LCD 106 for displaying the state of the MFP 101 and an image is provided.

  As described above, the MFP 101 includes the print unit 400, the scanner unit 200, the HDD 102, the memory card slot 103, the external device connection terminal 104, and the LCD 106. Therefore, the MFP 101 can display the image data stored in the storage (memory card, HDD 102, external device) and the scanned image on the LCD 106 and print them without connecting to the PC.

  Next, the scanner unit 200 of the MFP 101 will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the scanner unit 200 in the MFP 101, with the upper lid 107 lifted and the MFP 101 viewed from above.

  The scanner unit 200 includes a scanner carriage 201, a shaft 202, glass 204, and a scanner carriage drive motor 205.

  The scanner carriage 201 includes a light source, a mirror, a lens, and a CCD, and has a mechanism that moves on the shaft 202 and optically reads an image. A reading image 203 is placed on the glass 204.

  Next, the operation unit 105 of the MFP 101 will be described.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation unit 105.

  The operation unit 105 includes a navigation sheet button 301, a copy button 302, a scan button 303, a print button 304, a direction button 305, a determination button 306, and a reset button 307. The operation unit 105 includes a monochrome button 308, a color button 309, and a rotary dial 310.

  In the center of the operation unit 105, an operation state of the MFP 101 and a color LCD 106 for displaying an image are arranged.

  A copy button 302, a scan button 303, and a print button 304 are buttons that are provided on the right side of the LCD 106 and determine the operation mode of the MFP 101. Direction buttons 305 are four direction buttons for operating the menu up, down, left and right on the LCD 106. The rotation dial 310 is provided inside the direction button 305 and performs a rotation operation. The determination button 306 is a button that is arranged inside the rotary dial 310 and determines a menu.

  The reset button 307 is a button that is arranged on the lower right side of the LCD 106 and interrupts the operation. The navigation sheet button 301 is a button for starting printing of a handwritten navigation sheet. A monochrome button 308 and a color button 309 are buttons for determining monochrome / color for printing and scanning. By operating the various keys, the mode setting and menu operation of the MFP 101 are performed.

  When scanning the image of the original 203, the upper cover 107 of the MFP 101 is lifted, the original 203 to be scanned is placed on the scanner glass 204, the upper cover 107 is lowered, and the scan button 303 on the operation unit 105 is pressed. When the scan button 303 is pressed, the light source in the scanner carriage 201 is turned on, the scanner carriage 201 moves on the shaft 202, irradiates the document 203, and the CCD reads the amount of reflected light. The read image data is converted into electronic data.

  Next, the printing unit 400 of the MFP 101 will be described.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the printing unit 400 in the MFP 101.

  The print unit 400 includes a printer carriage 401, a print head 402, an ink tank, a shaft 407, a paper feed roller 409, a platen 410, a carriage, and a paper feed drive motor (not shown).

  The print head 402 is provided below the printer carriage 401. The ink tanks are four colors of a black ink tank 403, a cyan ink tank 404, a magenta ink tank 405, and a yellow ink tank 406. The shaft 407 supports the ink tank and the printer carriage 401. A paper feed roller 409 feeds the printing paper 408. The platen 410 supports the printing paper 408.

  When printing, the uppermost printing paper 408 of the paper feeding unit 109 is drawn into a U shape using a paper feed roller 409 and a drive motor. The leading edge of the printing paper 408 reaches below the print head 402. At the same time, the printer carriage 401 reciprocates in the horizontal direction, and prints one line by ejecting minute ink droplets from the print head 402 onto the printing paper 408. Thereafter, the printing paper 408 is fed by one line, and the printer carriage 401 moves again to perform printing. This operation is repeated, and after printing is completed, the print medium is discharged onto the discharge tray 108, and the printing operation is completed.

  The HDD 102 built in the MFP 101 performs backup storage of data in a memory card, backup storage of image data of an externally connected device, storage of image data at the time of scanning, and the like.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the MFP 101 according to the first embodiment.

  The MFP 101 includes a print head control circuit 502, a print head 402, a scanner CR motor 504, a printer CR motor 505, a paper feed motor 506, a recovery operation motor 507, sensors 508, a mechanism control circuit 509, ASIC 510. The MFP 101 includes a CPU 511, a ROM 512, a RAM 513, a nonvolatile memory 514, an HDD 515, a memory card 516, an operation / display unit 517, an interface (I / F-1) 518, and a PC 519. .

  The print head control circuit 502 electrically controls the print head 402 on the printer carriage, and generates drive pulses for ejecting ink based on the image data. The scanner unit 503 optically reads an image. The scanner CR motor 504 is a motor that moves the scanner unit 503. A printer CR motor 505 is a motor for moving the printer carriage. The paper feed motor 506 is a motor for transporting the print medium. The recovery operation motor 507 is a motor that drives a pump that recovers clogging in the nozzles of the print head 402.

  Sensors 508 are sensors that check the operation of the print unit 400 and the scanner unit 200. The mechanism control circuit 509 controls and manages various motors and sensors. The ASIC 510 includes a CPU 511 that generally controls the operation of each unit in accordance with a processing procedure described later.

  The ROM 512 is a ROM that stores a program corresponding to a processing procedure executed by the ASIC 510. A RAM 513 is a memory having an area for temporarily storing parameters and scan data in the course of execution of processing procedures by the ASIC 510.

  The non-volatile memory 514 is a non-volatile memory such as an EEPROM for storing the state of the print head 402 even when the apparatus is turned off. The HDD 515 has an area for storing various data. The memory card 516 can be inserted and removed which can be used with other devices such as a digital camera and a PC.

  The operation / display unit 517 includes a color LCD 106 that displays power on, online / offline settings with the host device, various operation buttons for the user to perform necessary operations, operation states, and images.

  The MFP 101 is connected to the interface (I / F-1) 518 via a cable.

  The PC 519 inputs and outputs image data to and from the MFP 101, and is a device that processes data such as images related to printing and scanning. The external device 521 such as a host device is an external device such as a digital camera or an optical disk, and is connected via an interface (I / F-2) 520 and a cable.

  Next, a method of printing a composite image obtained by combining image data and a handwritten character using a handwritten navigation sheet on L-size photo paper will be described.

  The user inserts a memory card containing image data into the memory card slot 103. While looking at the LCD 106, the button of the operation unit 105 is operated to select an image to be printed. When the navigation sheet button is pressed while an image is displayed on the LCD 106, a handwritten navigation sheet 601 corresponding to the displayed image is printed.

  In addition, the handwritten navigation sheet in Example 1 is the same as the conventional handwritten navigation sheet shown in FIGS.

  The user selects and marks a desired printing paper from “1. Paper setting” of the handwritten navigation sheet 601. Here, it is assumed that an L-size photo is marked as shown in FIG. Next, “2. Layout setting” is performed. The layout setting selects how to arrange an image and a handwritten layout. Here, as shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the top layout is selected and marked.

  Next, a handwritten character is written in “3. Handwriting area”. Here, the handwriting area 604 corresponds in position to the image selected in the upper area 603. Here, date 2006.01.01 is written in the lower right of the handwriting area. This completes the writing operation of the handwritten navigation sheet.

  When the handwritten navigation sheet 701 that has been written is set in the scanner unit 200 and the scan button 303 is pressed, the scanner unit 200 operates to read the handwritten navigation sheet 701.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an operation unit 105 in which an image obtained by combining a handwritten character and a selected image is displayed on the LCD 106 and buttons provided in the vicinity thereof.

  When the scan is finished, the handwritten character and the selected image are combined and displayed on the LCD 106 as shown in FIG.

  The user confirms the composite image displayed on the LCD 106, and if there is no problem, the number of prints is set and the color button 309 is pressed. The printing unit 400 operates, and an image that is combined by handwriting is printed on L-size paper.

  Next, a case will be described in which the position of the handwritten character “2006.01.01” is moved to the upper center of the image, the character is enlarged, and the character color is changed from black to gray.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the direction button 305 is pressed while the composite image is displayed on the LCD 106. Since a square indicated by a dotted line is displayed on the LCD 106, the direction button 305 is used to surround the character portion to be changed, and the enter button 306 is pressed.

  FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a character surrounded by a square is displayed on the LCD 106.

  When the direction button 305 is pressed again, the character surrounded by the square can be moved as shown in FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the LCD 106.

  When the navigation sheet button 301 is pressed, a character change item is displayed on the LCD 106 as shown in FIG. When the user selects “1. Change size”, characters of different sizes are displayed as shown in FIG. The size of the character is changed using the upper and lower portions of the direction button 305.

  FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a state where the position, size, and color of the character are changed and displayed on the LCD 106.

  Next, when the user selects “2. Change Color” for changing the character and changes the character color to gray, the position, size, and color of the character are changed and displayed as shown in FIG. . When printing is performed in this state, a printed matter is output with the changed position, size, and color of the character.

  Next, an operation from correction of a handwritten character to printing will be described using an image in a memory card and a handwritten character using a handwritten navigation sheet.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing operations from the correction of the handwritten character to the printing by combining the image in the memory card with the handwritten character using the handwritten navigation sheet in the first embodiment.

  First, an image in the memory card to be printed is selected. Whether or not a memory card is inserted is confirmed (S1). If no memory card is inserted, an error is displayed (S2) and the memory card is inserted (S3). If a memory card is inserted (S1), the image in the card is read and the image is selected on the LCD 106 (S4). In a state where an image to be handwritten is displayed, the navigation sheet button 301 is pressed to print the handwritten navigation sheet (S5).

  Next, the print setting of the printed handwritten navigation sheet is performed, and the character is input by handwriting (S6). The handwritten navigation sheet for which handwriting input has been completed is set in the scanner unit 200 (S7) and read (S8, S9). It is determined whether the original read at this time is a handwritten navigation sheet (S10).

  Next, the presence or absence of a handwritten navigation sheet and a mark is confirmed (S10, S12). If there is a mistake, an error is displayed (S11, S13). When the handwritten navigation sheet is read, the print setting and the handwritten character are determined (S14), and the image and the handwritten character are stored separately in the memory (S15). The images in the memory and the characters are combined so as to be superimposed and displayed on the LCD 106 (S16).

The user confirms the composite image displayed on the LCD 106 (S17), and if the user wants to change the position, size, etc. of the character, it changes while looking at the display (S18). The displayed composite image is checked again visually, and if there is no problem (S17), it is printed (S19), and the operation is completed.

  The second embodiment of the present invention is an embodiment in which an image and a combined handwritten character are corrected by a simple operation.

  In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, a handwritten navigation sheet is printed, handwritten input is input, the handwritten navigation sheet is read by a scanner, and a composite image is displayed on the LCD 106. Here, when correcting a handwritten character, when moving a position, direction buttons are used as in the first embodiment.

  The rotary dial 310 is used to change the character size. After the character to be changed is designated by the direction button 305, the rotary dial 310 is turned to change the size of the character. By turning the rotary dial 310 clockwise, the size of the character increases stepwise. Further, when the rotary dial 310 is turned counterclockwise, the size of the character can be reduced stepwise.

  In order to change the color of the character, the color can be changed sequentially by turning the rotary dial 310 while pressing the upper part of the direction button 305. In order to change the font, the font can be changed sequentially by turning the rotary dial 310 while pressing the lower part of the direction button 305. Subsequent operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, the handwritten character can be easily corrected by using the direction button 305 and the rotary dial 310 in combination.

  Note that the second embodiment is not a multifunction device in which a printing unit, a reading unit, and a storage unit are integrated, but a complex system (MFP system) in which a printing device, a reading device, and a storage are connected to each other. ) Can be applied.

  That is, the print unit 400 is an example of a printing unit that prints a format for combining an image stored in the image data storage device and a handwritten character. The scanner unit 200 is an example of a reading unit that reads a format. The CPU 511 is an example of a determination unit that determines a handwritten character.

  The RAM 513 is an example of a storage unit that stores the handwritten character determined by the determination unit. The LCD 106 is an example of a composite display unit that composites and displays the image data and the handwritten character. The operation unit 105 is an example of an operation unit that operates the image displayed by the composite display unit and the handwritten character.

  In the embodiment, the operation means is means for changing at least one of the position, direction, size, color, and font of the character. Furthermore, the operation means includes a rotary dial and a direction button, and is means for changing at least one of the position, direction, size, and color of the displayed handwritten character in a stepwise manner.

The above embodiment can be grasped as an MFP control method. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the printing process for causing the printing means to print the format for combining the image stored in the image data storage device and the handwritten character, and the reading for reading the format and storing it in the storage device. It is an example which implement | achieves a process. Moreover, the said Example is an example which implement | achieves the discrimination | determination process which discriminate | determines a handwritten character, and memorize | stores it in a memory | storage device, and the preservation | save process which preserve | saves the handwritten character discriminated in the said discrimination | determination process in a memory | storage device. Further, the embodiment stores a combined display step of combining and displaying the image data and the handwritten character on the combined display means, and a result of the user operating the image displayed on the combined display means and the handwritten character. It is an example which implement | achieves the memory | storage process memorize | stored in an apparatus.

1 is a diagram illustrating an MFP (multifunction printer) 101 that is Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the scanner unit 200 in the MFP 101, with the upper lid 107 lifted, and the MFP 101 viewed from above. It is a figure which shows the operation part. 2 is a diagram illustrating a print unit 400 in the MFP 101. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an MFP 101 according to a first embodiment. It is a figure which shows the example of the handwritten navigation sheet used with the conventional MFP. It is a figure which shows the conventional handwritten navigation sheet 701 which the user selected the print setting, selected the layout setting, and handwritten the character. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation unit 105 in which an image obtained by combining a handwritten character and a selected image is displayed on an LCD. It is a figure which shows the state currently displayed on LCD106 by the character enclosed with the square. 6 is a diagram showing a display example of an LCD 106. FIG. It is a figure which shows the state displayed on LCD106 by changing the position, the magnitude | size, and the color of a character. In Example 1, it is a flowchart which shows the operation | movement to the correction | amendment of a handwritten character, and printing, combining the image and handwritten character in a memory card using a handwritten navigation sheet.

Explanation of symbols

100 ... MFP system (complex system),
101 ... MFP (multifunction machine),
105 ... operation unit,
106 ... LCD,
200 ... scanner unit,
203 ... Reading document,
400: Print section.

Claims (7)

A printing section for printing an image;
A reading unit for reading the sheet;
A display for displaying an image;
Print control means for causing the printing unit to print on the sheet an image corresponding to a sheet on which the user adds a character image to be combined, which is a sheet including the image to be combined;
Obtaining means for obtaining a read image obtained by reading the sheet printed by the print control means by the reading unit ;
Storage means for storing, in a memory, a character image added to the sheet by a user included in the read image acquired by the acquisition means;
The character image and the image to be synthesized can be distinguished from the synthesized image obtained by synthesizing the character image saved in the memory by the saving unit and the image to be synthesized printed on the sheet. to a display control means for displaying on the display unit;
Editing means for specifying the character image included in the composite image and editing the specified character image in response to a user instruction based on display by the display control means;
Output means for outputting an image obtained by combining the character image edited by the editing means and the image to be combined;
An image processing apparatus comprising: In claim 1,
The output unit outputs an image obtained by combining the character image edited by the editing unit and the image to be combined to the printing unit, and causes the printing unit to print the output image. A featured image processing apparatus. In claim 2,
The sheet includes an area for instructing print settings, and the output unit causes the printing unit to print an image in accordance with a print setting indicated by the image in the area of the image acquired by the acquisition unit. An image processing apparatus. In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3,
The display control unit combines the character image stored in the memory by the storage unit with the image to be combined stored in the memory separately from the character image, and combines the combined image. An image processing apparatus that displays an image on the display unit . In any one of Claims 1 thru | or 4,
The image processing apparatus, wherein the editing unit changes at least one of a position, a direction, and a size of the character image with respect to the image to be synthesized . A control method for an image processing apparatus having a printing unit for printing an image, a reading unit for reading a sheet, and a display unit for displaying an image,
A printing control step of causing the printing unit to print an image corresponding to a sheet on which a user adds a character image to be combined, which is a sheet including the image to be combined;
An acquisition step of acquiring a read image obtained by reading the sheet printed in the print control step by the reading unit ;
A storing step of storing, in a memory, a character image added to the sheet by a user included in the read image acquired in the acquiring step;
The character image and the image to be combined can be distinguished from the combined image obtained by combining the character image stored in the memory and the image to be combined printed on the sheet in the storing step. And a display control step to display on the display unit ;
An editing step of specifying the character image included in the composite image and editing the specified character image in response to a user instruction based on the display in the display control step;
An output step of outputting an image obtained by combining the character image edited in the editing step and the image to be combined;
A control method for an image processing apparatus, comprising: A program for causing a computer to execute the control method of the image processing apparatus according to claim 6.

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