JP5789120B2 - Image reading device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus that optically reads a document, and more particularly to a technique for masking and outputting a part of a read image.

  A conventional image reading apparatus is an image reading apparatus that constitutes a part of, for example, an electrophotographic multi-function printer (hereinafter referred to as “MFP”). It has a function of outputting data to various devices.

  In a conventional image reading apparatus, when a document is read by a scanner, the read image is displayed on a monitor, and a mask process for specifying a mask area with a mouse is performed on the displayed image. In such a mask process, the specified area is converted into white data for masking. There are various reasons for masking. For example, masking may be performed to make an output-prohibited area such as a confidential document that is output to a print medium and inconvenient to be read by anyone other than the related party in an unreadable manner. .

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-228561 describes a technique for obtaining a masked image by setting a mask in an output prohibited area of an image prescanned by a scanner and performing scanning again.

JP 2004-173159 A

  However, in the conventional image reading apparatus, when reading a document in which an output-permitted area and an output-prohibited area are mixed, there is a problem that if the mask process is insufficient, the output-prohibited area is output in a readable state. .

The image reading apparatus of the present invention includes an image reading unit that optically reads a document, a storage unit that stores image data read by the image reading unit, and a display that displays the image data stored in the storage unit An area designating unit for designating a first boundary position of a first boundary region designated for the image data displayed on the display unit, and storing the first boundary position and the storage unit in the storage unit A mask area setting unit that sets the first boundary area to be prohibited from output based on the image data that has been output; and the image data stored in the storage unit is set in the mask area setting unit A mask image combining unit configured to mask and combine with the first boundary region; and an output unit configured to output mask image data combined by the mask image combining unit.

Then, the mask area setting unit uses the area designating unit to permit the output to overlap with at least a part of the first boundary area while displaying the first boundary area in a different color. A boundary area is set, and the mask image composition unit permits the first boundary area to deviate from the second boundary area while allowing the character enclosed by the second boundary area to be output. It is characterized in that the composition for prohibiting the output of the character in the boundary region is performed.

According to the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the first boundary whose output is prohibited based on the first boundary position of the first boundary region specified by the region specifying unit and the image data stored in the storage unit. An area is set, and further, a second boundary area that is allowed to be output and that overlaps at least a part of the first boundary area is set while displaying the first boundary area in a different color. Therefore, even when a document in which the first boundary area where output is prohibited and the second boundary area where output is permitted is read together with sufficient masking , the first boundary area where output is prohibited cannot be reliably read. There is an effect that it can output in a stable state.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing an image reading apparatus in the MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circumscribed rectangle of the character “I” displayed on the monitor in FIG. FIG. 3 is a view showing a masked area in the monitor shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing correction of deviation between the circumscribed rectangular area and the mask area in the monitor shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an operation of masking a character string in the monitor shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an operation when a mask is specified over two lines of character strings in the monitor shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step S6 in FIG. FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram showing an image reading apparatus in the MFP according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an operation of masking a character string inclined upward to the left in the monitor shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an operation of masking a character string inclined upward to the right in the monitor shown in FIG. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step S20 in FIG.

  Modes for carrying out the present invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in light of the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are only for explanation and do not limit the scope of the present invention.

(Configuration of MPF of Example 1)
FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating an image reading apparatus in the MFP according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The image reading apparatus is, for example, an apparatus constituting a part of the MFP, and is configured to read a document and output the read image data to an electrophotographic printer (not shown) in the MFP. The image reading apparatus includes a control unit 10 including a central processing unit (hereinafter referred to as “CPU”) that controls the entire image reading apparatus by program control, an image reading unit (for example, a scanner) 1 that reads a document, and the like. A storage unit (for example, a first memory) 2 for storing read image data, a storage unit (for example , a second memory) 3 for storing various data, a display unit (for example, a monitor) 5 and a mouse 6 are provided. An area designating unit (for example, a monitor controller) 4 that outputs a first boundary position of a mask area as a first boundary area to be controlled and output prohibited , and a monitor 5 that displays image data input from the monitor controller 4 , A mouse 6 that outputs movement information including its own moving direction, moving amount, and moving speed to the monitor controller 4; It has an output unit 7 for outputting a.

Control unit 10 includes a mask area setting section for setting a mask region in the read image data, the image data read mask image synthesizing unit for synthesizing the mask image was masked with the mask region (hereinafter simply referred to as "synthesis unit". ) has a 13. Based on the image data stored in the memory 2, the mask area setting unit obtains a second boundary position in a re-masking area as a second boundary area that is permitted to be output of a character or an image object ( For example, the first boundary position is corrected by comparing the first boundary position output by the character position detection unit) 11 and the monitor controller 4 with the second boundary position of the character or the image object, It has a mask correction unit 12 for setting a mask region.

  The scanner 1 is a flatbed scanner connected to the memory 2, optically reads a document, converts the read data into 16-bit red, green, and blue (RGB) image data, and stores the image data in the memory 2. It has a function.

  The first memory 2 is a semiconductor memory connected to the scanner 1, the monitor controller 4, the character position detection unit 11, and the synthesis unit 13, and has a function of inputting and storing image data output from the scanner 1. ing. Each of the monitor controller 4, the character position detection unit 11, or the synthesis unit 13 is configured to read image data stored in the memory 2. The memory 2 may be a hard disk.

  The second memory 3 is a semiconductor memory connected to the monitor controller 4 and the mask correction unit 12. The memory 3 is configured to receive and store the position information of all masks designated by the mouse 6 from the monitor controller 4 and to output the position information of all masks under the control of the mask correction unit 12. .

  The monitor controller 4 is configured to move the cursor on the monitor 5 based on the movement information of the mouse 6. When the enter key 6a of the mouse 6 is pressed, the monitor controller 4 has a function of outputting the position information of a cursor (not shown) to the memory 3 as coordinates. Note that a plurality of cursor position information can be specified.

  The coordinates used here are monitor coordinates in which the origin O is the upper left vertex of the monitor 5, the right direction from the origin O is the positive x axis, and the downward direction from the origin is the positive y axis.

Further, when the enter key 6a of the mouse 6 is pressed at two positions of the start point and the end point while the image data is displayed on the monitor 5, the monitor controller 4 generates a mask area having these two points as diagonal lines. Then, it has a function of displaying on the monitor 5 and simultaneously storing the first boundary position in the memory 3.

  The monitor 5 is a liquid crystal (hereinafter referred to as “LCD”) monitor that is one of flat-panel display devices connected to the monitor controller 4, and has a function of inputting and displaying image data output from the monitor controller 4. Have. The monitor 5 may be a cathode ray tube monitor.

  The character position detection unit 11 is a program module connected to the memory 2 and the mask correction unit 12, and receives image data stored in the memory 2, performs character recognition on the image data, and serves as character position information. The upper left coordinate PLn and the lower right coordinate PRn of the circumscribed rectangle in all characters are stored and output to the mask correction unit 12 as character position information. Note that the coordinates in this case are data coordinates where the origin O is the upper left vertex of the image, the right direction from the origin O is the positive x axis, and the downward direction from the origin is the positive y axis.

  The mask correction unit 12 is a program module connected to the memory 3, the character position detection unit 11, and the synthesis unit 13. The first boundary positions of the plurality of mask areas stored in the memory 3 are obtained from the monitor controller 4. input. Further, all the second boundary positions are input from the character position detection unit 11, the coordinates of the second boundary positions are converted from the data coordinates to the monitor coordinates, and the upper left coordinates PLM which is the first boundary position of each mask area And the function of correcting the lower right coordinate PRM.

  The synthesis unit 13 is a program module connected to the memory 2, the mask correction unit 11, and the output unit 7. The image data is input from the memory 2, the corrected mask position information is input from the mask correction unit 12, The image data in the mask area is converted to R = 0, G = 0, and B = 0, and the converted image data is output to the output unit 7. As a result, the mask area is converted to black.

The output unit 7 has an output button (not shown) and is connected to the combining unit 13. When the output button of the output unit 7 is pressed, the mask image data that has been subjected to mask conversion is input from the synthesizing unit 13 and output to, for example, an electrophotographic printer (not shown).

(Operation of the image reading apparatus of Embodiment 1)
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a circumscribed rectangle of the character “I” displayed on the monitor 5 in FIG.

  The character 21 includes a character main body 21b and a circumscribed rectangle 21a circumscribing the character main body 21b with a predetermined gap. The circumscribed rectangle 21a is an area where characters are actually recognized in the character recognition technology. As position information, the upper left coordinate PLn and the lower right coordinate PRn (n is the number of each character) as shown in Table 1 below. )have. The coordinates of each character are generated by the character position detection unit 11 recognizing the image data in the memory 2.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a masked area in the monitor 5 in FIG.
The mask area 31 serving as the first boundary area to be prohibited from being output is a black rectangle whose diagonal is a straight line connecting the upper left coordinates PLM and the lower right coordinates PRM of the monitor coordinates. When the enter key 6 a of the mouse 6 is pressed, the mouse 6 outputs its movement information to the monitor controller 4. When the enter key 6a of the mouse 6 is pressed at two positions while the image data is displayed on the monitor 5, the monitor controller 4 generates a mask area 31 having these two points as diagonal lines. Information is an upper left coordinate PLM and a lower right coordinate PRM. This mask area is displayed in black on the monitor 7 by the monitor controller 5.

  4A and 4B are diagrams showing correction of displacement between the circumscribed rectangular area 21a and the mask area 31 in the monitor 5 in FIG.

  FIG. 4A shows a state before mask correction when the mask area 31 is specified with a deviation from the character 21 to the character 25.

  A plurality of characters 21 to 25 are displayed on the monitor 5. Each character 21 to 25 has the coordinates shown in Table 1 because the character position detection unit 11 recognizes the image data in the memory 2 and generates the circumscribed rectangles 21a to 25a for each character 21 to 25. Has PLn and PRn. The characters 21 to 25 have character numbers 1 to 5, respectively. For example, the upper left coordinate PLn and the lower right coordinate PRn of the character 21 are the coordinates PL1, PR1. The characters 21 to 25 are detected by the mask correction unit 12 as characters in which the mask region 31 and the circumscribed rectangles 21a to 25a are shifted and overlapped.

FIG. 4B shows an example after mask correction.
Upper left coordinates PL1 of the circumscribed rectangle 21a character 21, the upper left coordinates and PLM match the mask region 31, and the lower right coordinates PR5 of the circumscribed rectangle 25a of characters 25, lower right coordinates PRM mask regions 31 matches .

  FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C are diagrams illustrating an operation of masking a character string in the monitor 5 in FIG.

FIG. 5A shows a state before characters are masked.
A scanned image 41 is displayed on the monitor 5. The scanned image 41 is image data read by the scanner 1 and has a character string 42. The character string 42 is a document text read by the scanner 1 and has an output prohibition area 43 and other output permission areas. The output prohibition area 43 is, for example, data such as confidential matters, and is a portion where output is prohibited.

  FIG. 5B shows a scan image 41 when the start point and end point of the mask area 31 are designated.

  The start point 44 is the upper left coordinate PLM of the mask area 31 and is the position information of the cursor when the enter key 6a of the mouse 6 is pressed while the image data is displayed on the monitor 5. The end point 45 is the lower right coordinate PRM of the mask area 31, and the position information of the cursor when the enter key 6 a of the mouse 6 is pressed after the start point 44 is pressed in a state where the image data is displayed on the monitor 5. It is.

FIG. 5C shows a state in which the mask area 31 is designated.
The mask area 31 is displayed by the monitor controller 4 with the start point 44 and the end point 45 as the upper left coordinate PLM of the mask area 31 and the lower right coordinate PRM of the mask area 31, respectively.

  FIGS. 6A, 6B, 6C, and 6D are diagrams showing operations when the mask region 31 is specified over two character strings in the monitor 5 in FIG. .

  FIG. 6A shows a state before mask correction when the mask region 31 is designated over two lines of a plurality of characters 51 to 56 and a plurality of characters 57 to 59.

  A plurality of characters 51 to 56 are displayed on the monitor 5. The plurality of characters 51 to 56 and the plurality of characters 57 to 59 are displayed in separate lines, and the character position detection unit 11 recognizes the image data in the memory 2 for each character, and each circumscribed rectangle. 51a to 59a are generated. Each circumscribed rectangle 51a to 59a has an upper left coordinate PLn and a lower right coordinate PRn, and the characters 51 to 59 have character numbers 1 to 9, respectively. For example, the upper left coordinate PLn and the lower right coordinate PRn of the character 51 are the upper left coordinate PL1 and the lower right coordinate PR1.

  The characters 51 to 56 and the characters 57 to 59 are detected by the mask correction unit 12 as characters in which the mask region 31 and the regions of the circumscribed rectangles 51a to 54a and 57a to 59a overlap. Characters 51 to 53 and characters 57 to 59 are output prohibited areas, and characters 54 to 56 are output permitted areas.

  FIG. 6B shows a state after the mask correction when the mask 31 is designated over two lines of the characters 51 to 56 and the characters 57 to 59.

  Compared to FIG. 6A, the upper left coordinate PLM of the mask region 31 is changed to the upper left coordinate PL1 of the circumscribed rectangle 51a, and the lower right coordinate PRM of the mask region 31 is changed to the lower right coordinate PR9 of the circumscribed rectangle 59a.

  FIG. 6C shows a state before remask correction when the character 54 is remasked.

A mask area 32 which is a re-mask area as a second boundary area whose output is permitted is generated by the same method as the mask area 31, and re-masking is performed on the overlapping area on the mask area 31. The mask area 32 is erased by the mask correction unit 12 together with the overlapping area of the mask area 31 after remask correction.

FIG. 6D shows a state after remask correction.
The mask 31 of the character 54 is deleted, and only the characters 51 to 53 and the characters 57 to 59 are masked by the mask region 31.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In step S1, the scanner 1 reads a document and outputs image data to the memory 2. The memory 2 stores the input image data. In step S <b> 2, the monitor controller 4 displays the scan image 41 on the monitor 5 based on the image data in the memory 2.

  In step S3, the character position detection unit 11 recognizes the character string 42 of the scanned image 41 and stores the position information of all characters.

  In step S <b> 4, the mask area 31 is designated by the mouse 6 for the scan image 41 displayed on the monitor 5. When the cursor (not shown) is at the start point 44 near the upper left of the output prohibited area 43 of the scanned image 41, when the enter key 6a of the mouse 6 is pressed, the monitor controller 4 stores the cursor position information.

  Next, the operation of the mouse 6 moves the cursor to the end point 45 near the lower right of the output prohibited area 43 of the scan image 41. When the enter key 6a is pressed in this state, the monitor controller 4 generates a mask area 31 having a start point 44 and an end point 45 as diagonal lines and displays them on the monitor 5. Further, the monitor controller 4 outputs the position information of the start point 44 and the end point 45 to the memory 3, and the memory 3 stores the position information. If the output button of the output unit 7 is pressed, the process proceeds to step S6, and if not, the process returns to step S4. In step S <b> 6, the mask correction unit 12 corrects the position of the mask region 31.

  In step S <b> 7, the composition unit 13 converts the image data in the mask area 31 whose position has been corrected in step S <b> 6 into R = 0, G = 0, and B = 0 for the scanned image 41. In step S8, the output unit 7 outputs the mask image data converted in step S7 to an electrophotographic printer (not shown) in the MFP.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step S6 in FIG.
Regarding the processing of the mask correction unit 12, correction of a state in which the mask area 31 is specified with a deviation from the characters 21 to 25 shown in FIG. 4 will be described.

In step S11, the mask correction unit 12 detects the characters 21 to 25 in which the mask region 31 and the circumscribed rectangles 21a to 25a overlap each other. At this time, the coordinates of the circumscribed rectangles 21a to 25a shown in Table 1 stored in the character position detection unit 11 are converted from the data coordinates to the upper left coordinates PLn and lower right coordinates PRn (n = 1 to 5) as monitor coordinates. And use it.

In step S12, the mask correction unit 12 compares the upper left coordinates PL1 converted from the data coordinates of the leftmost character 21 of the duplicated characters into the monitor coordinates and the upper left coordinates PLM of the mask area 31. (YES), the process proceeds to step S13. If they do not match (NO), the process proceeds to step S14. The upper left coordinate PL1 of the circumscribed rectangle 21a is acquired from the character position detection unit 11, and the upper left coordinate PLM of the mask area 31 is acquired from the memory 3.

  The mask correction unit 12 compares the lower right coordinates PR5 converted from the data coordinates of the rightmost character 25 of the duplicated characters to the monitor coordinates and the lower right coordinates PRM of the mask area 31, and when they match (YES). The process proceeds to step S16, and if they do not match (NO), the process proceeds to step S15. The lower right coordinate PR5 of the circumscribed rectangle 25a is acquired from the character position detection unit 11, and the lower right coordinate PRM of the mask area 31 is acquired from the memory 3.

  In step S14, the mask correction unit 12 changes the x and y coordinates of the upper left coordinate PLM of the mask area 31 to the x and y coordinates of the upper left coordinate PL1 of the circumscribed rectangle 21a. In step S15, the mask correction unit 12 changes the x and y coordinates of the lower right coordinate PRM of the mask area 31 to the x and y coordinates of the lower right coordinate PR5 of the circumscribed rectangle 25a.

  In step S <b> 16, the monitor controller 4 displays on the monitor 5 the mask area 31 that has undergone the processing from step S <b> 11 to step S <b> 15.

Here, the mask designation operation shown in FIG. 6 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 6A, when the mask area 31 is specified on the monitor 5, the mask area 31 may be specified over two lines of the characters 51 to 56 and the characters 57 to 59. In this sense, the mask area 31 is displayed in red. In this case, the upper left coordinate PLM of the mask area 31 by the mask correction unit 12 is the upper left coordinate PL1 having a small y coordinate when the upper left coordinate PL1 of the circumscribed rectangle 51a is compared with the y coordinate of the upper left coordinate PL7 of the circumscribed rectangle 57a. Changed to The lower right coordinate PRM of the mask area 31 is the lower right coordinate PR9 of the circumscribed rectangle 59a having a larger y coordinate when the lower right coordinate PR4 of the circumscribed rectangle 54a is compared with the y coordinate of the lower right coordinate PR9 of the circumscribed rectangle 59a. To be in the state shown in FIG.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6C, the characters 54 to 56 are masked in the same manner as the mask region 31 because the characters 54 are masked even though they are output permission regions. Region 32 is remasked. As a result, re-mask correction is performed by the mask correction unit 12, and the state shown in FIG.

(Effect of Example 1)
According to the image reading apparatus of the first embodiment, masking is sufficiently performed by correcting the position of the mask area 31. Therefore, even when reading a document in which an output permitted area and an output prohibited area are mixed, the output prohibited area is set. There is an effect that the data can be output in an unreadable state.

(Configuration of Example 2)
FIG. 9 is a functional block diagram illustrating an image reading apparatus in the MFP according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Elements common to the elements in FIG. 1 illustrating the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals.

  The configuration of the image reading apparatus in the second embodiment is substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that the configuration of the mask correction unit 12A is different from the mask correction unit 12 of the first embodiment. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

The mask correction unit 12 </ b> A is a program module connected to the memory 3, the synthesis unit 13, and the character position detection unit 11. As in the first embodiment, the mask correction unit 12A inputs the position information of all the masks from the memory 3, and inputs all the character position information from the character position detection unit 11. In addition to the function of the mask correction unit 12 of the first embodiment, the mask correction unit 12A performs a correction method depending on whether the character string is tilted upward to the left or tilted upward to the main scanning direction of the scanner. And the function of correcting the upper left coordinate PLM and the lower right coordinate PRM of the mask area 31 is provided.

(Operation of Image Reading Apparatus of Example 2)
FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing an operation of masking a character string inclined upward to the left in the monitor 5 in FIG. FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C are diagrams illustrating an operation of masking a character string tilted upward to the right in the monitor 5 in FIG.

  In the first embodiment, when the scanner 1 reads an original, if the original is placed at an inclination with respect to the main scanning direction of the scanner 1, that is, the x-axis direction of the monitor coordinates, there is a possibility that the mask cannot be accurately performed.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, when correction is performed in the processing of the first embodiment with respect to the case where the scanner 1 is inclined upward to the main scanning direction, FIG. ), The mask can be sufficiently masked.

  The operation of masking characters that are tilted to the left will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b).

  FIG. 10A shows a state before mask correction for a plurality of characters 61 to 65 that are inclined upward to the left with respect to the main scanning direction of the scanner 1.

The characters 61 to 65 are displayed on the monitor 5, and the character position detection unit 11 performs character recognition for each of the characters 61 to 65 in the image data in the memory 2 to generate circumscribed rectangles 61 a to 65 a. . The circumscribed rectangles 61a to 65a have an upper left coordinate PLn and a lower right coordinate PRn (where n = 1 to 5 ), and the characters 61 to 65 have character numbers 1 to 5, respectively. For example, the character 61 has an upper left coordinate PL1 and a lower right coordinate PR1. The characters 61 to 65 are detected by the mask correction unit 12 as characters in which the mask region 31 and the circumscribed rectangles 61a to 65a are shifted and overlapped.

  FIG. 10B shows a state after the mask correction for the characters 61 to 65 inclined to the left with respect to the main scanning direction of the scanner 1.

  As described above, the characters 61 to 65 inclined to the left with respect to the main scanning direction of the scanner 1 can be sufficiently masked by the processing described in the first embodiment.

  However, as shown in FIG. 11 (a), if masking is performed for a case in which it is inclined upward, the left and right characters are not masked as shown in FIG. It will be enough. The correction in this case will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 11A shows a state before the mask correction for the characters 61 to 65 inclined to the right with respect to the main scanning direction of the scanner 1. In this state, the mask area 31 is designated for the characters 61 to 65 while leaving a part of the circumscribed rectangle 61 a of the character 61 and the circumscribed rectangle 65 a of the character 65.

  FIG. 11B shows a state after the mask correction for the characters 61 to 65 inclined to the right with respect to the main scanning direction of the scanner 1. In this state, the mask region 31 does not mask the characters 61 and 65 with respect to the characters 61 to 65, and masks a part of the circumscribed rectangular region 62a of the character 62 and the circumscribed rectangular region 64a of the character 64. Yes.

  FIG. 11C shows a state after the mask correction for the characters 61 to 65 inclined to the right with respect to the main scanning direction of the scanner 1. In this state, the x coordinate of the upper left coordinate PLM of the mask area 31 is equal to the x coordinate of the upper left coordinate PL1 of the circumscribed rectangle 61a, the y coordinate of the upper left coordinate PLM of the mask area 31 is equal to the y coordinate of PL5, and the mask area The x coordinate of the lower right coordinate PRM 31 is equal to the x coordinate of PR5, and the y coordinate of the lower right coordinate PRM of the mask area 31 is equal to the y coordinate of PRl. As a result, the characters 61 to 65 are completely covered with the mask region 31.

  FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the operation of the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  The operation of the image reading apparatus in the second embodiment is substantially the same as that in the first embodiment. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that step S6 in the flowchart showing the operation of the first embodiment in FIG. 7 is replaced with step S20. Other steps S1 to S5, S7, and S8 are the same as those in the first embodiment. In step 20 different from the first embodiment, the mask correction unit 12A corrects the position of the mask 31.

  FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of step S20 in FIG. 12, and steps common to those in FIG. 8 showing the first embodiment are denoted by common reference numerals.

  PLM: x, y in FIG. 13 indicate the x coordinate and y coordinate of the upper left coordinate PLM of the mask region 31. Similarly, PRM: x, y are the x coordinate and y coordinate of the lower right coordinate PRM of the mask area 31, and PL1: x, y are the x coordinate and y coordinate of the upper left coordinate PL1 of the circumscribed rectangle 61, PL5: y is the y coordinate of the upper left coordinate PL5 of the circumscribed rectangle 65, PR1: y is the y coordinate of the lower right coordinate PR1 of the circumscribed rectangle 61, and PR5: x is the x coordinate of the lower right coordinate PR5 of the circumscribed rectangle 65, respectively. Show.

  In step S11 similar to the first embodiment, a character detection process is executed. In step S21 different from that in the first embodiment, the mask correction unit 12A determines that the y coordinate of the upper left coordinate PL1 of the leftmost character 61 in FIGS. 10A and 11A is the y coordinate of the upper left coordinate PL5 of the character 65. If it is smaller (YES), it is determined that the character string is rising to the right and the process proceeds to step S22. If not (NO), the character string is determined to be rising to the left and the process proceeds to step S12. Steps S12 to S15 similar to those in the first embodiment are executed, and the process proceeds to step S16 similar to that in the first embodiment.

  In step S22 different from the first embodiment, the mask correction unit 12A proceeds to S23 if the x coordinate of the upper left coordinate PL1 of the leftmost character 61 is equal to the x coordinate of the upper left coordinate PLM of the mask 31 (YES). Otherwise (NO), the process proceeds to step S26 for correction.

  In step S23, if the y coordinate of the upper left coordinate PL5 of the rightmost character 65 is equal to the y coordinate of the upper left coordinate PLM of the mask 31 in step S23 (YES), the mask correction unit 12A proceeds to step S24. If not (NO), the process proceeds to step S27 to perform correction.

  In step S24, if the x coordinate of the lower right coordinate PR5 of the rightmost character 65 is equal to the x coordinate of the lower right coordinate PRM of the mask area 31 (YES), the mask correction unit 12A proceeds to step S25. Otherwise (NO), the process proceeds to step S28 for correction.

  In step S25, if the y coordinate of the upper left coordinate PR1 of the leftmost character 61 is equal to the y coordinate of the lower right coordinate PRM of the mask area 31 in step S25 (YES), the mask correction unit 12A proceeds to step S16. Otherwise (NO), the process proceeds to step S29 to perform correction.

  In step S26, the mask correction unit 12A changes the x coordinate of the upper left coordinate PLM of the mask area 31 to the x coordinate of the upper left coordinate PL1 of the circumscribed rectangle 61a. In step S27, the mask correcting unit 12A changes the y-collision of the upper left coordinate PLM of the mask area 31 to the y coordinate of the upper left coordinate PL5 of the circumscribed rectangle 65a.

  In step S28, the mask correction unit 12A changes the x coordinate of the lower right coordinate PRM of the mask region 31 to the x coordinate of the lower right coordinate PR5 of the circumscribed rectangle 65a. In step S29, the mask correction unit 12A changes the y coordinate of the lower right coordinate PRM of the mask area 31 to the y coordinate of the lower right seat PR1 of the circumscribed rectangle 61a.

  In step S16 similar to that of the first embodiment, monitor display processing is executed, and the mask correction result shown in FIG.

(Effect of Example 2)
According to the image reading apparatus of Embodiment 2, so as to correct the position of the mask by dividing the correction method to the case of inclined upward sloping and when tilted upward to the left with respect to the main scanning direction of the scanner 1 Yes. For this reason, when the scanner 1 reads an original, even if the original is inclined with respect to the main scanning direction of the scanner 1, an effect that a mask can be sufficiently obtained is obtained.

(Modification)
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various usage forms and modifications are possible. For example, the following forms (a) to (d) are used as the usage form and the modified examples.

  (A) In the first and second embodiments, the electrophotographic printer in the MFP has been described as the output destination of the mask image data of the output unit 7, but for example, an inkjet printer, a thermal printer, a facsimile machine, etc. Is also applicable. Further, it may be a file output unit that outputs a JPEG, TIFF, or PDF file.

  (B) In the first and second embodiments, the mask region 31 is set to R = 0, G = 0, and B = 0. However, the mask region 31 may be output in white as R = 255, G = 255, and B = 255.

  (C) The monitor 5 may be of an A4 size, for example, which can display a document at a time, or may be smaller than that. If the document cannot be displayed at once, it can be masked by scrolling or moving the screen.

  (D) In the first and second embodiments, the mouse 6 has been described. However, in the case of the mouse 6, a space for operation is required. When a track pad or a track ball is used instead of the mouse 6, there is no need for an operation space.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Scanner 2 Memory 3 Memory 4 Monitor controller 5 Monitor 6 Mouse 7 Output part 10, 10A Control part 11 Character position detection part 12, 12A Mask correction part 13 Compositing part 31 Mask area | region PLM The upper left coordinate PRM of the mask area | region 31 The mask area | region 31 Lower right coordinate PLn Upper left coordinate PRn circumscribed rectangle Lower right coordinate of circumscribed rectangle PRn

Claims (12)

An image reading unit for optically reading a document;
A storage unit for storing image data read by the image reading unit;
A display unit for displaying the image data stored in the storage unit;
An area designating unit for designating a first boundary position of the first boundary area designated for the image data displayed on the display unit;
A mask area setting unit for setting the first boundary area to be prohibited based on the first boundary position and the image data stored in the storage unit;
A mask image combining unit that combines the image data stored in the storage unit with the first boundary region set in the mask region setting unit ;
An output unit for outputting mask image data synthesized by the mask image synthesis unit;
An image reading apparatus having
The mask area setting unit
Using the region designating unit, setting a second boundary region that permits output, overlapping at least a part of the first boundary region while displaying the first boundary region in a different color,
The mask image composition unit
A composition for prohibiting the output of the character that is outside the second boundary region and is applied to the first boundary region while allowing the character surrounded by the second boundary region from the first boundary region. Do,
An image reading apparatus. The mask area setting unit
An object position acquisition unit that acquires a second boundary position of the character in the second boundary region based on the image data stored in the storage unit;
The first boundary position in the first boundary region specified by the region specifying unit is compared with the second boundary position in the second boundary region acquired by the object position acquisition unit. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first boundary area is set . The second boundary position is
Image reading apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the vertices on the diagonal line in the circumscribed rectangle of the character in the image data stored in the storage unit. The shape of the first boundary region specified by the region specifying unit is
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a quadrangle. The first boundary position of the first boundary region specified by the region specifying unit is:
5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the coordinates of the vertexes on the diagonal line of the first boundary area are coordinates. The storage unit
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a hard disk or a semiconductor memory. The display unit
2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a flat panel display or a cathode ray tube monitor. The output unit is
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mask image data is output to any one of an electrophotographic printer, an inkjet printer, and a thermal printer. The output unit is
2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mask image data is output to a facsimile apparatus. The mask image data is
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is an image file. The image file is
The image reading apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image reading apparatus is any one of a JPEG, TIFF, or PDF file. The reading unit is
The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading apparatus is a flatbed scanner.

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