JP5481901B2 - Image reading apparatus and image reading program - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and an image reading program.

  In Patent Document 1, shading data is stored in advance for each type of scan mode in a shading data file, and when performing image reading, whether there is shading data corresponding to the scanning mode of the reading in the shading data file. A technique is described in which the data is read from the file if it is present, and if it is not present, shading data is generated and the image is read.

JP 2002-44437 A

The present invention shortens the time from the reception of a document reading start instruction signal for reading an image of a document to the start of reading of the document, as compared with the case without this configuration , and obtains it in advance. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading apparatus and an image reading program capable of correcting image information with higher accuracy than in the case where correction is performed using light amount information .

In order to achieve the above object, the image reading apparatus according to claim 1 accepts a document reading start instruction for instructing a user to start reading a document and a reading condition instruction for instructing a reading condition for reading the image of the document. From the operation instruction receiving unit and the operation instruction receiving unit, an original reading start instruction signal indicating the original reading start instruction and a reading condition instruction signal indicating the reading condition instruction for sequentially reading an image of one original are sequentially received. An instruction receiving means; an image reading means for irradiating the original with light from the optical means and receiving an image of the original with reflected light from the original; a reference light amount information indicating the reference amount of light irradiated from the means, and the reference light amount information storage means for storing for each of a plurality of reading conditions predetermined, the original in the instruction receiving means After receiving the reading start instruction signal and before receiving the reading condition instruction signal, the light quantity information acquisition means for acquiring the light quantity information for each of a plurality of predetermined reading conditions and the reference light quantity information storage means of the reference light amount information that is, with the reference light amount information corresponding to the read condition instructing signal received by the instruction receiving means, among the plurality of the light quantity information acquired by the light amount information acquisition unit, the instruction receiving based on said amount information corresponding to the read condition instructing signal received by the unit, a correction value calculating means for calculating a correction value for correcting the image information of the image read by said image reading means, the correction value Image correction means for correcting image information of an image read by the image reading means with the correction value calculated by the calculation means.

  The image reading apparatus according to claim 2 is the image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the correction value calculating unit includes the reference light amount information and the light amount information acquired by the light amount information acquiring unit. The correction value is calculated based on the light quantity information corresponding to the reading condition instruction signal received by the instruction receiving means.

If the image reading apparatus according to claim 3, in the image reading apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the light quantity information obtaining means, wherein the image reading means reads a plurality of images of the document, between from an image of a document is read to the start of the reading of the next document image to obtain the light amount information corresponding to the reading condition received by the instruction receiving means, the correction value calculating means, the The correction value is calculated based on the light amount information acquired by the light amount information acquisition unit and the reference light amount information.

The image reading apparatus according to claim 4 is the image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the correction value includes a light amount ratio of the optical unit, shading data , black reference information, And at least one of shading data.

An image reading apparatus according to a fifth aspect is the image reading apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the light amount information for each of the plurality of predetermined reading conditions and other reading conditions are set. comprising a light quantity ratio storage means for storing in advance the light amount ratio between the light amount information, the correction value calculation unit, when the reading condition received by the instruction receiving means is a another reading condition, the reference light amount information storage means and the reference light amount information stored in, calculates said amount information acquired by the light amount information acquisition unit, and a light quantity ratio stored in the light amount ratio storage means, the correction value based on. The image reading device according to claim 6 is the image reading device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the instruction receiving unit receives the document reading start instruction signal from the operation instruction receiving unit. The reading condition instruction signal is received by the serial communication from the operation instruction receiving unit.

The image reading program according to claim 7, wherein the program instructs the computer to receive a document reading start instruction for a user to start reading a document and a reading condition instruction to specify a reading condition for reading an image of the document. An instruction receiving means for sequentially receiving an original reading start instruction signal indicating the original reading start instruction and a reading condition instruction signal indicating the reading condition instruction for reading an image of one original from the accepting unit; and the instruction receiving means After receiving the reading condition instruction signal, the image reading means for irradiating the original with light from the optical means and reading the image of the original with reflected light from the original, and the reference amount of light emitted from the optical means Reference light quantity information storage means for storing reference light quantity information for each of a plurality of predetermined reading conditions, and the instruction receiving means for reading the original After receiving the start instruction signal and before receiving the reading condition instruction signal, the light quantity information acquisition means for acquiring the light quantity information for each of a plurality of predetermined reading conditions and the reference light quantity information storage means are stored. Among the reference light quantity information, the instruction light receiving means among the reference light quantity information corresponding to the reading condition instruction signal received by the instruction receiving means and the plurality of light quantity information acquired by the light quantity information acquiring means. Correction value calculation means for calculating a correction value for correcting image information of an image read by the image reading means based on the light amount information corresponding to the reading condition instruction signal received in step, and the correction value calculation And an image correction unit that corrects image information of an image read by the image reading unit based on the correction value calculated by the unit .

According to the present invention described in claims 1, 6, and 7, compared to the case without this configuration, the document reading start instruction signal for reading the document image is received after the document reading start instruction signal is received. In addition to shortening the time required to start reading, the image information can be corrected more accurately than when correction is performed using light amount information acquired in advance. .

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the time can be further reduced as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effect that image information can be corrected with higher accuracy than in the case where the present configuration is not provided.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, there is an effect that the image information can be easily corrected with high accuracy as compared with the case where the present configuration is not provided.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, compared to the case where the present configuration is not provided, even when there are a plurality of reading conditions, the original reading start instruction signal for reading the original image is received and then the original is read. The effect that the time until the start can be shortened can be obtained.

1 is a side view showing an example of a schematic configuration of an image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of the platen glass, the white reference board, and CVT glass which are provided in the apparatus frame of the image reading process part of the image reading apparatus which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a functional block diagram which shows an example of schematic structure of the process part which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the image reading process performed by the control part of the process part which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the color mode light quantity data acquisition process in the image reading process which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the monochrome mode light quantity data acquisition process in the image reading process which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows a specific example of the light quantity ratio of the light quantity data for every predetermined several mode which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and the light quantity data of another mode. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the color mode light quantity data acquisition process in the image reading process which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment reads the reference light quantity data acquired when the image reading apparatus is turned on and the like with respect to the light quantity data of the lamp, which is a light source that emits light to read the document, and the image. A correction parameter is calculated based on the acquired light amount data, and image data obtained by reading an image of a document is corrected using the calculated correction parameter. The light amount data has different values depending on the reading condition (mode) for reading the original image.

  First, the overall configuration of the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a side view showing an example of a schematic configuration of the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment. The image reading apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes an automatic document feeder 12, an image reading processing unit 14 that reads an image formed on the surface of a document, a processing unit 16 that processes image data of the read document image, It is configured with.

  The automatic document feeder 12 of the present embodiment includes a document table 20 on which at least one document is placed, a document conveyance path 22 that conveys the document, and a discharge table 24 that ejects the document after the image is read. And a contact image sensor (CIS) 25.

  The document conveyance path 22 is formed in a U-shape, and around the document conveyance path 22, a sheet delivery roll 26, a delivery roll 28, a pre-positioning roll 30, a positioning roll 32, a platen roll 34, an out-roll 36, And a discharge roll 38 is provided. The paper feed roll 26 descends when feeding the original and picks up the original placed on the original table 20. The delivery roll 28 supplies only the uppermost document among the documents sent from the paper delivery roll 26 to the inside. The pre-positioning roll 30 temporarily stops the document sent from the sending roll 28 and corrects the skew feeding. The alignment roll 32 temporarily stops the document sent from the pre-alignment roll 30 and adjusts the reading timing. The platen roll 34 makes the original passing through the original conveying path 22 face the CVT glass 54. The out roll 36 and the discharge roll 38 discharge the read document to the discharge table 24.

  The contact image sensor 25 is disposed between the out roll 36 and the discharge roll 38 and is used for reading an image formed on the back side of the document from above. A white reference plate 40 is disposed below the contact image sensor 25 so as to face the contact image sensor 25 with the document transport path 22 interposed therebetween. The white reference plate 40 has a reflective surface facing upward that is white that serves as a reference for image reading. The light emitted from the light source unit (not shown) of the contact image sensor 25 is used as the reference reflected light for white. Reflected toward the mold image sensor 25.

  The image reading apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment has a function of flowing and reading the surface of a document sent from the document table 20 by the automatic document feeder 12, a function of reading the surface of a document placed on the platen glass 50, And a function of reading both sides (front and back sides) of the document fed by the automatic document feeder 12.

  The image reading processing unit 14 according to the present embodiment includes an optical unit (see the optical unit 79 in FIG. 3) and an image reading unit 65 in an apparatus frame 69 that is a casing. Further, the image reading processing unit 14 includes a processing unit 16 (details will be described later) in the apparatus frame 69.

  As shown in FIG. 2, on the surface of the apparatus frame 69 facing the automatic document feeder 12, a platen glass 50 on which a document for reading an image is placed, a white reference plate 52, and a document being conveyed by the automatic document feeder 12 A CVT (Constant Velocity Transport) glass 54 serving as an opening for irradiating the document with light is provided.

  The optical unit includes a full rate carriage 56 and a half rate carriage 58.

  The full-rate carriage 56 has a light source (illumination lamp) 70 and a mirror 72, and moves in the direction of arrow A in the figure when reading an image of a document on the platen glass 50. The half rate carriage 58 includes a mirror 74 and a mirror 76.

  The light emitted from the light source 70 is applied to the original on the platen glass 50 or the original sent by the automatic document feeder 12 and reflected. The reflected light is imaged on the light receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion element (CCD) 66 by the lens 67 through the mirror 72, the mirror 74, and the mirror 76.

  The photoelectric conversion element 66 photoelectrically converts the optical image formed on the light receiving surface to generate an image signal that is an analog electric signal. The generated image signal is sent to the processing unit 16 (details will be described later) via the drive substrate 68. When acquiring light amount data for correcting image data (details will be described later), an image signal for correction obtained by reading the white reference plate 52 or the like is generated as an image signal. Is generated.

  In this embodiment, as a specific example, the CCD, which is the photoelectric conversion element 66, reads a document image as a monochrome image (monochrome mode, details will be described later) and a document image as a color image. (Color mode, details will be described later) R sensor, G sensor, and B sensor provided with respective RGB filters are used, and a total of four line sensors are used.

  The processing unit 16 according to the present embodiment performs correction processing on image data that is raw data read from a document based on an image signal input from the CCD 66, and generates document image data. FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a schematic configuration of the processing unit 16 according to the present embodiment.

  The image reading processing unit 14 according to the present embodiment includes the above-described optical unit 79 and a CCD 66 that converts light received from the optical unit 79 into an image signal. The analog image signal converted by the CCD 66 is input to the processing unit 16 and converted into digital data by an AFE (Analog Front End, analog front end) 69.

  The processing unit 16 according to the present embodiment includes an AFE 69, a control unit 80, a light amount data acquisition unit 82, a correction parameter generation unit 84, a storage unit 88, a transmission / reception unit 90, a user interface unit 92, and an image processing unit 94. Has been.

  The control unit 80 includes a CPU, ROM, RAM, and HDD (all not shown), and controls the entire processing unit 16 and the image reading processing unit 14. The CPU executes a processing program for image reading processing, the details of which will be described later. The ROM stores various programs, parameters, and the like, and the RAM is used as a work area when the CPU executes various programs. The processing program for the image reading process is recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM (both not shown), installed in the HDD or the like in the control unit 80, and read and executed by the CPU. You may be made to do.

  Further, when reading the document image, the control unit 80 sets an exposure cycle, a gain, a light emission amount of the lamp, and the like in a setting unit (not shown) and operates the image reading processing unit 14 so as to operate based on the setting. To control.

  The light amount data acquisition unit 82 is for acquiring light amount data related to the light amount of the lamp 70 (the amount of light received by each sensor of the CCD 66) based on the digitally converted image signal.

  The correction parameter generation unit 84 is a correction parameter related to correction data such as shading data, based on the light amount data acquired when the document image is read by the light amount data acquisition unit 82 and the reference light amount data stored in the storage unit 88. Is for generating (calculating). The correction parameter setting unit 86 sets (stores) the correction parameter generated by the correction parameter generation unit 84.

  The storage unit 88 stores the light amount data acquired by the light amount data acquisition unit 82 as reference reference light amount data in a predetermined time or state such as when the image reading apparatus 10 is turned on. In the present embodiment, the acquired color mode light amount data and monochrome mode light amount data (both described later in detail) are stored.

  The image processing unit 94 uses the correction parameters set in the correction parameter setting unit 86 to correct the raw image data read from the document image with shading data or the like, thereby generating document image data. In the image reading apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the document image data may be output to an image forming apparatus (not shown) or the like and printed on paper or the like, or the user interface unit 92 as image data. May be transmitted to the user's computer (not shown) or the like.

  The transmission / reception unit 90 sends an image reading start instruction signal, a reading condition instruction signal for instructing reading conditions such as a color mode for reading an original image as a color image and a monochrome mode for reading an original image as a black and white image. For receiving from the user. In addition, a message indicating that the image reading preparation is completed is transmitted via the user interface unit 92. In the present embodiment, an image reading start instruction signal is received on the hot line as a signal indicating that the user has pressed a start button (not shown) of the image reading apparatus 10. The reading condition instruction signal is received by serial communication after the image reading start instruction signal is received. For this reason, there is a time between receiving the image reading start instruction signal and receiving the reading condition instruction signal. In the present embodiment, light amount data is acquired by the light amount data acquisition unit 82 during this time.

  Next, an image reading processing operation executed by the control unit 80 of the image reading apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image reading processing according to the present embodiment.

In step 100, it is determined whether the hot line has changed from inactive to active and the transmission / reception unit 90 has received an image reading start instruction signal. That is, in this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the start button has been pressed by the user. If it is not active, that is, if the start button is not depressed, a negative determination is made and a standby state is entered. If it is activated , that is, if the start button is depressed, the determination is affirmed and the routine proceeds to step 102.

  In step 102, the full rate carriage 56 is moved below the white reference plate 52.

  In the next step 104, processing for acquiring light amount data when the reading condition is in the color mode is performed by color mode light amount data acquisition processing, which will be described in detail later. As the light amount data, light amount data related to the monochrome sensor (monochrome light amount data) and light amount data related to each of the R, G, and B sensors (color light amount data) are acquired.

  In the next step 106, a process for acquiring light amount data when the reading condition is in the black and white mode is performed in the same manner as in step 104 by a black and white mode light amount data acquiring process described in detail later.

  In the next step 108, the full-rate carriage 56 is moved to a reading start position that is set in advance as a position to start reading a document.

  In the next step 110, it is determined whether or not the transmission / reception unit 90 has received the reading condition signal. If it has not been received, the result is denied and a standby state is entered. If it is received, the result is affirmed and the routine proceeds to step 112.

  In step 112, it is determined whether or not the received reading condition is a color mode. If it is the color mode, the determination is affirmative and the routine proceeds to step 114.

  In step 114, the correction parameter generation unit 84 calculates (generates) a correction parameter using the color mode light amount data acquired in step 104, and then proceeds to step 118. In the present embodiment, as a specific example of the correction parameter, a light amount ratio between when the reference light amount data is acquired and when the light amount data is acquired at the time of image reading by this processing is used. An example of a specific method of calculating the light amount ratio is exposure cycle / reference exposure cycle × gain / reference gain × lamp emission light amount / reference lamp emission light amount. Further, as a specific example of the correction parameter, the amount of black level fluctuation obtained by reading an image when the reference light amount data is acquired and when the light amount data is acquired at the time of image reading by this processing is used. A specific example of the calculation of the fluctuation amount is a black level difference or ratio.

  On the other hand, if the received reading condition is not the color mode, that is, the black and white mode is negated, the process proceeds to step 116, and the correction parameter generation unit 84 uses the black and white mode light amount data acquired in step 106 to step the correction parameter. After calculating (generating) in the same manner as 114, the process proceeds to step 118.

  In the next step 118, the correction parameter calculated in step 114 or 116 is set in the correction parameter setting unit 86.

  In the next step 120, the transmission / reception unit 90 transmits a read preparation completion notification indicating that the preparation for reading the document image has been completed.

  In the image reading apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, a read execution instruction signal is input from the user interface unit 92 to the transmission / reception unit 90 in response to a read preparation completion notification transmitted from the processing unit 16, and the read execution instruction signal is input. The lamp 70 is turned on, the full rate carriage 56 starts to move from the reading start position for reading the document image, and the scan is executed.

  Therefore, in step 122, it is determined whether a reading execution instruction signal has been received. If it has not been received, the result is denied and a standby state is entered. If it has been received, the result is affirmed and the routine proceeds to step 124 where a scan is executed.

  When there are a plurality of documents from which images are to be read, the light quantity data is acquired in a mode corresponding to the received reading condition instruction signal between the time when the original is read and the start of reading the next original. By generating correction parameters using the light amount data and setting them so as to be associated with the read image data, correction can be performed with higher accuracy.

  In the next step 126, the image processing unit 94 performs correction using the correction parameters set in the correction parameter setting unit 86, generates document image data, and then ends the present process. In the present embodiment, as a specific example, the image processing unit 94 generates document image data by performing shading correction or the like on the image data input from the image reading unit 65, and thus a reference light amount stored in advance. The image data is corrected using shading data obtained by multiplying the shading data based on the data with a light amount ratio as a correction parameter. In addition, correction (offset control) is performed by subtracting the black level fluctuation amount to obtain a constant level.

  Next, the color mode light amount data acquisition process (FIG. 4, step 104) will be described in detail. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example of color mode light amount data acquisition processing.

  In step 200, the settings for exposure period, gain, and the amount of light emitted from the lamp 70, which are settings for reading by the image reading processing unit 14 set in the setting unit (not shown), are changed to the color mode.

In the next step 202, the lamp 70 is turned on and turned on. In the next step 204, the white reference plate 52 is read, lamp light quantity data is acquired, and stored in the storage unit 88. Note that the entire white reference plate 52 may be read, or for example, a predetermined position indicated by a dotted line B in FIG. 2 may be read.

In the next step 206, the lamp 70 is turned off and extinguished, and in the next step 208, the white reference plate 52 is read as black level fluctuation correction data in the same manner as in step 204, lamp light quantity data is obtained, and the storage unit. After storing in 88, the present process is terminated.

By this processing, the light amount data when the lamp 70 is turned on and the light amount data when the lamp 70 is turned off (for black level fluctuation correction) are stored in the storage unit 88 as the color mode light amount data.

  Next, the monochrome mode light amount data acquisition processing (FIG. 4, step 106) will be described in detail. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example of a monochrome mode light amount data acquisition process. This process is substantially the same as the above-described color mode light quantity data acquisition process (FIG. 5).

  Step 300 corresponds to step 200 in FIG. 5, and sets the exposure cycle, gain, and light emission amount of the lamp 70, which are settings for reading by the image reading processing unit 14 set in a setting unit (not shown). Change to black and white mode.

  The next step 302 corresponds to step 202 in FIG. 5, step 304 corresponds to step 204 in FIG. 5, step 306 corresponds to step 206 in FIG. 5, and step 308 corresponds to step 208 in FIG. The same processing is performed for each.

By this processing, the light amount data when the lamp 70 is turned on and the light amount data when the lamp 70 is turned off (for black level fluctuation correction) are stored in the storage unit 88 as the black and white mode light amount data.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the light amount data acquisition unit 82 receives the color mode light amount data and the data until the reading condition instruction signal is received after the instruction receiving unit 90 receives the image reading start instruction signal. When the black-and-white mode light amount data is acquired and the reading condition instruction signal is received, the light amount ratio and the black level fluctuation amount are calculated as correction parameters by the correction parameter generation unit 84 using the light amount data of the mode corresponding to the received reading instruction signal. And set in the correction parameter setting unit 86. When a reading execution instruction signal is input from the instruction receiving unit 90, the lamp 70 is turned on to read an image of the document. An image signal obtained by reading an image of a document is input to the processing unit 16, and is corrected using the correction parameters set in the correction parameter setting unit 86 by the image processing unit 94, thereby generating document image data.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the image reading start instruction signal is received, the light amount data in the color mode and the black and white mode is acquired, and when the reading condition instruction signal is received thereafter, the correction parameter is used using the light amount data in the corresponding mode. After receiving the reading condition instruction signal, the image reading start instruction signal is received without degrading the image quality of the read image data as compared with the case of acquiring the light amount data in the received mode. The time from when the document starts to be read is shortened.

  In the present embodiment, each light quantity data is acquired immediately before reading an image of a document. As described above, in order to correct the image data using the light amount data acquired in a state closer to the actual document image reading time, for example, before receiving the image reading start instruction signal, it is acquired in advance. Since the correction can be performed with higher accuracy than the correction using the light amount data that has been read, deterioration of the image quality of the read image data is prevented.

  In this embodiment, the color mode light amount data and the monochrome mode light amount data are acquired and the correction parameter for the received reading condition instruction mode is generated by the correction parameter generation unit 84. The correction parameter generation unit 84 may generate intermediate data for generating correction parameters for the color mode and intermediate data for generating correction parameters for the monochrome mode, and store them in the storage unit 88. Further, the correction parameter for the color mode and the correction parameter for the black and white mode are generated and stored in the storage unit 88, and the received correction parameter for the reading condition instruction mode is read from the storage unit 88 and used. Also good.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the case where there are two conditions of the color mode and the black and white mode as the reading condition has been described in detail. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other modes may be used, and a plurality of modes may be provided. There may be. In this case, when the image reading start instruction signal is received (the start button is depressed), the light amount data corresponding to each mode is acquired before the reading condition instruction signal is received. Light amount data in a mode corresponding to the reading condition instruction signal may be used.

  In addition, the acquisition of the light amount data is preferably completed between the time when the image reading start instruction signal is received (when the start button is depressed) and the time when the reading execution instruction signal is received, and more preferably, the image reading is performed. It is preferable that the process is completed between the reception of the start instruction signal and the reception of the reading condition instruction signal.

  In this embodiment, the light amount ratio and the black level fluctuation amount are used as the correction parameters. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the shading data itself may be generated by the correction parameter generation unit 84 and used as the correction parameters.

  In the present embodiment, the white reference plate 52 is read to acquire the light amount data, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the entire white reference plate 53 formed at an arbitrary location on the CVT glass 54 shown in FIG. Alternatively, the light amount data may be acquired by reading a predetermined position indicated by the dotted line portion C. Alternatively, the end portion or the like of the platen glass 50 may be regarded as a white reference plate, and the light amount data may be acquired by reading a predetermined position or the like indicated by the dotted line portion D.

  In the present embodiment, as the CCD 66, a monochrome sensor and a four-line sensor such as an R, G, B sensor (color sensor) are used, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  Further, FIG. 1 shows the image reading apparatus 10 alone, but the image reading apparatus 10 is not only used alone, but also a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions such as copying, scanning, and faxing, and an image. It is also used as a part of a forming apparatus or the like.

[Second Embodiment]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the image reading apparatus according to the present embodiment corresponds to a case where reading condition instruction signals corresponding to a plurality of modes are input in addition to the color mode and the monochrome mode of the first embodiment.

  Since the outline of the overall configuration of the image reading apparatus according to this embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment, description thereof is omitted here (see FIGS. 1 and 2). Further, the processing unit of the present embodiment corresponds to the processing unit 16 of the first embodiment and has a substantially similar configuration, and therefore detailed description thereof is omitted here (see FIG. 3) and is different. Only the part is explained.

  The storage unit 88 of the processing unit 16 according to the present embodiment stores in advance the light amount ratio between the reference light amount data, the light amount data for each of a plurality of predetermined modes, and the light amount data of other modes. A specific example of the light quantity ratio is shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, a plurality of predetermined modes are used under normal reading conditions, a color mode (normal) in which an original image is read as a color image by moving the full rate carriage 56 at a normal speed, and normal reading conditions. There are two modes: a monochrome mode (platen) for reading a document image placed on the platen glass 50 as a monochrome image. The monochrome mode (platen) is light amount data obtained by reading the white reference plate 52. The color mode (normal) corresponds to the color mode of the first embodiment, and the monochrome mode (platen) corresponds to the monochrome mode of the first embodiment.

  FIG. 7A shows the light amount ratio based on the color mode (normal) of the color light amount data, which is the light amount data regarding each of the R, G, and B sensors, and (B) indicates the light amount data regarding the monochrome sensor. The light quantity ratio based on the color mode (normal) of the black and white light quantity data is shown.

  Note that the color mode (enlarged) is enlarged when the original image is read as a color image, and the color mode (low speed) is a low-speed full-rate carriage for improving accuracy when reading the original image as a color image. In the case of reading by moving 56, the color mode (high speed) indicates a case of reading by moving the full rate carriage 56 at a high speed in order to improve the processing speed when reading an image of a document as a color image. Further, the monochrome mode (automatic) indicates a case where an image of a document sent from the automatic document feeder 12 is read as a monochrome image, and here is light amount data obtained by reading the white reference plate 53 of the CVT glass 54.

  7 may be stored in advance as a default value, or when the reference light amount data is obtained, the light amount data of each mode is acquired and the light amount ratio is calculated. You may make it memorize.

  The control unit 80 according to the present embodiment stores a processing program for the image reading process according to the present embodiment. The image reading processing operation executed by the control unit 80 will be described. FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example of image reading processing according to the present embodiment. In the image reading process of the present embodiment and the image reading process of the first embodiment (FIG. 4), this is described in the steps for performing the same process, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Step 400 corresponds to Step 100 in FIG. 4, Step 402 corresponds to Step 102 in FIG. 4, Step 404 corresponds to Step 104 in FIG. 4, Step 406 corresponds to Step 106 in FIG. 4, Step 408 Corresponds to step 108 in FIG. 4, step 410 corresponds to step 110 in FIG. 4, and step 412 corresponds to step 112 in FIG. 4, and the same processing is performed.

  If it is affirmed in step 412 of the present embodiment that the color mode is selected, the process proceeds to step 414 to determine whether or not the received reading condition is “normal”. If “normal”, the determination is affirmative and the routine proceeds to step 416. Step 416 corresponds to step 114 in FIG. 4, the same processing is performed using the light amount data in the color mode (normal) acquired by the processing in step 404, the correction parameter is calculated, and then the processing proceeds to step 426. . On the other hand, if the reading condition is any one of “enlargement”, “low speed”, and “high speed”, the determination is negative and the process proceeds to step 418.

  In step 418, the same processing is performed using the light amount data obtained by multiplying the light amount ratio corresponding to the received mode by the light amount data of the color mode (normal) acquired in the processing of step 404, and the correction parameter is set. calculate. For example, when the received mode is “low speed”, the color mode (color light amount ratio = 1.15 and black / white data light amount ratio = 1.15 is read from the storage unit 88, and the color mode ( After calculating the correction parameters using the color light amount data obtained by multiplying the normal light amount data by 1.15 and the monochrome light amount data obtained by multiplying the monochrome light amount data by 1.15, the process proceeds to step 426.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step 412 that the mode is not the color mode (in the case of the monochrome mode), the process proceeds to step 420 and it is determined whether or not the received reading condition is “platen”. If it is “platen”, the determination is affirmative and the routine proceeds to step 422. Step 422 corresponds to step 116 in FIG. 4. The same processing is performed using the light amount data of the black and white mode (platen) acquired by the processing in step 406, and the correction parameter is calculated. Then, the processing proceeds to step 426. . On the other hand, if the reading condition is “automatic”, the determination is negative and the routine proceeds to step 424.

  In step 424, the same processing is performed using the light quantity data obtained by multiplying the light quantity data of the black and white mode (platen) obtained in step 406 by the light quantity ratio according to the received mode, and the correction parameter is set. calculate. That is, read the color data light quantity ratio = 1.20, 1.15 and the black / white data light quantity ratio = 0.60, 0.57 from the storage unit 88, and obtain the color of the black and white mode (platen) acquired by the processing of step 406. After calculating the correction parameter using the color light amount data obtained by multiplying the light amount data by 1.15 / 1.20 and the black and white light amount data obtained by multiplying the black and white light amount data by 0.57 / 0.60, the process proceeds to step 426. .

  Step 426 corresponds to step 118 in FIG. 4, step 428 corresponds to step 120 in FIG. 4, step 430 corresponds to step 122 in FIG. 4, step 432 corresponds to step 124 in FIG. Corresponds to step 126 in FIG. 4, and the same processing is performed, and correction processing is performed using the correction parameter corresponding to the received mode calculated and set by any one of steps 416 to 424. Document image data is generated.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the light quantity ratio of each mode based on the color mode (normal) is stored in advance in the storage unit 88, and the instruction receiving unit 90 receives the image reading start instruction signal. The light amount data acquisition unit 82 acquires color mode (normal) light amount data and black and white mode (platen) light amount data after receiving the reading condition instruction signal. When the reading condition instruction signal is received, if the mode corresponding to the received reading instruction signal is color mode (normal) light amount data and monochrome mode (platen) light amount data, the light amount data of the corresponding mode is used, and the other modes In this case, the corresponding light amount ratio is read from the storage unit 88, the light amount data obtained by multiplying the acquired light amount data by the obtained light amount data is used as the light amount data of the mode, and the correction parameter generation unit 84 uses the light amount ratio as a correction parameter. Then, the black level fluctuation amount is calculated and set in the correction parameter setting unit 86. When a reading execution instruction signal is input from the instruction receiving unit 90, the lamp 70 is turned on to read an image of the document. An image signal obtained by reading an image of a document is input to the processing unit 16, and is corrected using the correction parameters set in the correction parameter setting unit 86 by the image processing unit 94, thereby generating document image data.

  As described above, in this embodiment, when the image reading start instruction signal is received, the light amount data of the color mode (normal) and the black and white mode (platen), which are predetermined modes, are acquired, and then the reading condition instruction signal is received. When receiving, if the corresponding mode is color mode (normal) or black and white mode (platen), the correction parameter is calculated using the acquired light amount data, and if it is other mode, the light amount ratio of the corresponding mode is stored in the storage unit. A value obtained by multiplying the read light amount ratio by the light amount data in the color mode (normal) or the black and white mode (platen) is used as the light amount data of the mode, and the correction parameter is calculated using this. In order to acquire light quantity data of a plurality of reading conditions (modes) in a short time, even when the image reading apparatus 10 has a plurality of reading conditions (modes), reading of an original is started after receiving an image reading start instruction signal. Time to do is shortened.

  In this embodiment, the value obtained by multiplying the color mode (normal) light amount data or the black and white mode (platen) light amount data by the light amount ratio is used as the light amount data of each mode, and the correction parameter is calculated using this value. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the correction parameter calculated using the color mode (normal) light amount data or the black and white mode (platen) light amount data may be multiplied by the light amount ratio of the received mode as in the present embodiment. From the viewpoint of correction accuracy, it is preferable to multiply the light amount data by the light amount ratio.

  In this embodiment, the color mode (normal) light amount data and the black and white mode (platen) light amount data are acquired before receiving the reading condition instruction signal. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the light amount data of other modes. May be. It is preferable that the light quantity ratio between the two (in this embodiment, the color mode (normal): black and white mode (platen)) be increased.

  In the present embodiment, the correction parameter is calculated after receiving the reading condition instruction signal. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the correction parameters for all modes are calculated using the light amount ratio stored in the storage unit 88. It may be calculated and stored in the storage unit 88, and the received correction parameters for the reading condition instruction mode may be read from the storage unit 88 and used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image reading apparatus 12 Automatic document feeder 14 Image reading process part 16 Processing part 50 Platen glass 52 White reference board 54 CVT glass 65 Image reading part 66 CCD
70 Light source (lamp)
79 Optical unit 80 Control unit 82 Light amount data acquisition unit 84 Correction parameter generation unit 86 Correction parameter setting unit 88 Storage unit 90 Transmission / reception unit 92 User interface unit 94 Image processing unit

Claims (7)

An operation instruction receiving unit for receiving a document reading start instruction for instructing a user to start reading a document and a reading condition instruction for instructing a reading condition for reading an image of the document;
An instruction receiving means for sequentially receiving an original reading start instruction signal indicating the original reading start instruction and a reading condition instruction signal indicating the reading condition instruction for reading an image of one original from the operation instruction receiving unit;
An image reading means for irradiating the original with light from an optical means after receiving a reading condition instruction signal by the instruction receiving means, and reading an image of the original with reflected light from the original;
Reference light quantity information storage means for storing reference light quantity information indicating a reference amount of light emitted from the optical means for each of a plurality of predetermined reading conditions ;
After receiving the document reading start instruction signal by the instruction receiving means and before receiving the reading condition instruction signal, a light amount information acquiring means for acquiring the light amount information for each of a plurality of predetermined reading conditions;
Among the reference light amount information stored in the reference light amount information storage unit, the reference light amount information corresponding to the reading condition instruction signal received by the instruction receiving unit, and a plurality of the light amount information acquired by the light amount information acquisition unit of light amount information, on the basis of the light amount information corresponding to the read condition instructing signal received by the instruction receiving means, the correction to calculate a correction value for correcting the image information of the image read by said image reading means A value calculating means;
Image correcting means for correcting image information of an image read by the image reading means with the correction value calculated by the correction value calculating means;
An image reading apparatus comprising: The correction value calculation unit includes the reference light amount information and the light amount information corresponding to the reading condition instruction signal received by the instruction receiving unit among the plurality of light amount information acquired by the light amount information acquiring unit. Calculating the correction value based on:
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1. When the image reading unit reads a plurality of images of the document, the light quantity information acquisition unit is configured to receive the instruction receiving unit between reading the document image and starting reading the next document image. The light amount information corresponding to the reading condition received in step S1 is acquired, and the correction value calculation unit calculates the correction value based on the light amount information acquired by the light amount information acquisition unit and the reference light amount information. To
The image reading / reading apparatus according to claim 1 or 2. The correction value is at least one of a light amount ratio of the optical means, shading data, black reference information, and shading data.
The image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A light amount ratio storage means for storing in advance a light amount ratio between the light amount information for each of the plurality of predetermined reading conditions and the light amount information of the other reading conditions;
The correction value calculating means includes the reference light quantity information stored in the reference light quantity information storage means and the light quantity information acquiring means when the reading conditions received by the instruction receiving means are other reading conditions. Calculating the correction value based on the acquired light amount information and the light amount ratio stored in the light amount ratio storage means;
The image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 . The instruction receiving unit receives the document reading start instruction signal from the operation instruction receiving unit via a hot line, and receives the reading condition instruction signal from the operation instruction receiving unit through serial communication.
The image reading apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5. By computer,
The document reading for reading an image of one document from an operation instruction receiving unit for receiving a document reading start instruction for instructing a document reading start and a reading condition instruction for instructing a reading condition for reading an image of the document. An instruction receiving means for sequentially receiving a document reading start instruction signal indicating a start instruction and a reading condition instruction signal indicating the reading condition instruction;
An image reading means for irradiating the original with light from an optical means after receiving a reading condition instruction signal by the instruction receiving means, and reading an image of the original with reflected light from the original;
Reference light quantity information storage means for storing reference light quantity information indicating a reference amount of light emitted from the optical means for each of a plurality of predetermined reading conditions;
After receiving the document reading start instruction signal by the instruction receiving means and before receiving the reading condition instruction signal, a light amount information acquiring means for acquiring the light amount information for each of a plurality of predetermined reading conditions;
Among the reference light amount information stored in the reference light amount information storage unit, the reference light amount information corresponding to the reading condition instruction signal received by the instruction receiving unit, and a plurality of the light amount information acquired by the light amount information acquisition unit Correction for calculating a correction value for correcting the image information of the image read by the image reading unit based on the light amount information corresponding to the reading condition instruction signal received by the instruction receiving unit among the light amount information A value calculating means;
Image correcting means for correcting image information of an image read by the image reading means with the correction value calculated by the correction value calculating means;
Image reading program to make it function.

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