JPH0219063A - Image scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the alignment of a scanner while observing the display by reading a picture by image sensors arranged in a 2-dimension matrix and observing the display. CONSTITUTION:A light source 2 lighting an original face, an image forming optical system 3 forming the image of an original W onto an image sensor, the image sensor 4 with photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a 2-dimension matrix, a 2-dimension display means 5 displaying a picture data read from the image sensor 4 and a recording means 6 recording picture data on a recording medium such as paper or the like are provided in a main body casing 1. Then the light from the light source 2 is reflected in the original W being a read object, the image of the original is formed on the image sensor by the image forming optical system 3 and the picture subject to photoelectric conversion by the image sensor 4 is always displayed in real time. The operator moves the image scanner while observing the picture of the display means 6 to a proper position. Thus, the image scanner is aligned accurately to the picture on the original W desired to be read.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image scanner that reads images using an image sensor.

[Prior Art] Image scanners currently in use include mechanically moving types that move the relative positions of the image sensor and paper in an i-mechanical manner, and hand-held moving types that move the image scanner over the paper by holding it by hand. The former mechanically moving type includes a fixed original type and a moving original type. A one-dimensional image sensor is generally used as the image sensor.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in both the mechanically movable type and hand-held movable type described above, there is a problem in that the operability is low because it is difficult to specify the reading range.

That is, in the case of a mechanically movable type, the printing surface of the paper cannot be seen at all, so it is necessary to specify the reading range in the paper in advance by dimensions. Moreover, since errors occur depending on the mechanical precision of the device, the assumed dimensions are generally determined by trial and error.

Furthermore, in the case of a hand-held mobile type, there is greater flexibility in determining the positional relationship between the document and the image scanner, so it should be possible to improve the poor operability of the mechanically mobile type. However, since the image scanner body is actually larger than the reading range, it is difficult to accurately know the reading range. Therefore, in this case as well, the optimum position cannot be obtained until reading is repeated several times by trial and error. Furthermore, since the reading range is narrower and limited compared to the mechanically movable type, it is not possible to read any arbitrary range.

The present invention was made in view of the current state of the art of conventional image scanners, and its purpose is to solve the problems of the conventional mechanically movable type and hand-held type image scanners, and to provide an image scanner with high operability. is to provide.

[Means for Solving the Problems] Therefore, in the present invention, as means for solving the above problems, a light source that illuminates the surface of a document, an imaging optical system that forms an image of the document on an image sensor, and a photoelectric conversion element are provided. an image sensor arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and a two-dimensional display means for displaying an image read from the image sensor,
A configuration is adopted in which the image data is displayed in real time.

As yet another means for solving the problem, in addition to the configuration of the first invention, there is provided a recording means for recording image data from the image sensor on a recording medium, or transmitting this image data to an external side view. Either or both of the transmitting means for outputting, a control means for controlling these, and a starting means for instructing the control means to start recording or transmitting, so that the image data can be recorded or transmitted at any time. The structure was adopted.

[Effect]

The light emitted from the light source is reflected by the original to be read, and an image of the original is formed on an image sensor by an imaging optical system.The image photoelectrically converted by the image sensor is always displayed in real time by a display means.

The operator moves the image scanner to an optimal position while looking at the image on this display means. This allows the image scanner to be accurately positioned with respect to the image of the document to be read.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the image displayed on the display means is at an optimal position due to the movement of the image scanner, the operator instructs the start of recording using the activation means.

Further, the transmitting means instructs to transmit to the outside. As a result, the same image as that displayed is recorded and transmitted by the recording means.

In any of the above inventions, the reading range may have a fixed size, but if the focus of the imaging optical system is made variable by a zoom mechanism, the reading range can be adjusted to an appropriate size while looking at the display screen.

You can use a narrow range when you want to read at high resolution, and a wide range when you want to read at low resolution.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an image scanner according to the present invention. Inside the main body casing 1 of this image scanner, there is a light source 2 that illuminates the surface of the document, an imaging optical system 3 that focuses the image of the document on the image sensor, an image sensor 4 that has photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and an image sensor. 4
Two-dimensional display means 5 for displaying image data read from
, recording means 6 for recording image data on a recording medium such as paper, etc. are provided. W is a document to be read.

As the image sensor 4, for example, a MOS image sensor, a CCD (charge coupled device) image sensor, or the like can be used. The two-dimensional display means 5 can be, for example, a liquid crystal display, and the number of pixels of this display means is the same as the effective pixels of the image sensor.

As the recording means 6, a printer is used in this embodiment.

The imaging optical system 3 may be of a fixed focus type, but in this embodiment it is equipped with a zoom mechanism as shown in FIG.

FIG. 2(a) shows a type in which the lens barrel 3a is moved up and down with respect to the case 3b by a lever 3C, and FIG. 2(b) shows a type in which the lens barrel 3a is moved up and down by turning the low left 30'. 3d, 3e, and 3f are a retaining ring, a spacer, and a lens, respectively. In addition, when using a combination of multiple lenses, it is also possible to disassemble the lens barrels and move one barrel using the method described above to change the distance between the lenses and change the focal length. .

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the control circuit of the image scanner. In order to read the image by the image sensor 4, the timing generation circuit 41 consisting of a clock 42, a horizontal synchronization circuit 43, and a vertical synchronization circuit 44 has a clock ck,
Horizontal scanning and vertical scanning are performed in accordance with the timing signals of horizontal synchronization H3 and vertical synchronization (1) S, thereby reading out the data of the pixel at the uniquely determined address position. The image data read out sequentially and continuously is sent to the output stage 10.

The output stage 10 consists of the two-dimensional display means 5, the recording means 6, and the transmitting means 7, each of which has a buffer 51, 61, 71 and a controller 52, 62, 72, and when the starting means 8 starts recording. Switch signals from the switch 81 and the transmission start switch 82 are sent to each controller via the control means 9, and the liquid crystal display 53 of the 0 display means 5, which starts the operation of recording output or transmission output, displays the sent image data. is temporarily stored in the buffer 51 and displayed at all times via the controller 52, but the display may be stopped when it is transmitted from the transmitting means 7 to the external device 7EX. For the recording means 6 and the transmitting means 7, data is once written into the buffers 61 and 71, respectively, and then each controller 62 and 72 reads the data as needed and sends the data to the printer 6.
3 or an external output line.

When reading an image using the image scanner of this embodiment configured as described above, if the read image protrudes from the screen as shown in FIG. 4(a), move the image scanner and read the image as shown in FIG. The user moves the user to an appropriate position while viewing the image displayed on the display means 5 in real time.

When the displayed image is at the optimum position, the operator instructs the start of recording by operating the starting means 8. Or instruct external transmission. As a result, the same image as what is being displayed is recorded by the printer 63, and the external image is printed! ? ! , sent to.

If the image size is not appropriate, the zoom mechanism of the imaging optical system 3 is operated to enlarge or reduce the image to an appropriate size as shown in FIG. 4(C).

〔effect〕

As explained in detail above, this invention reads images using image sensors arranged in a two-dimensional matrix and displays them on the display means, so it has the functionality of a hand-held image scanner and can be used while looking at the display. It is easy to align the images, and images can be captured accurately. Furthermore, by incorporating a zoom mechanism into the imaging optical system, images can be recorded with optimal resolution by the recording means, and can also be transmitted to the outside.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of an image scanner according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed diagram of an embodiment of an imaging optical system, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram of the control circuit, and FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram. 2... Light source, 3... Imaging optical system, 4... Image sensor, 5... Two-dimensional display means, 53... Liquid crystal display, 6...Recording means, 63...Printer, ? . . . Transmission means, 8 . . . Starting means, 9 . . . Control means. Patent applicant Sumitomo Electric Industries Co., Ltd. Agent Fumi Kamata

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A light source that illuminates the document surface, an imaging optical system that forms an image of the document on an image sensor, an image sensor that has photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, and displays the image read from the image sensor. An image scanner comprising a two-dimensional display means for displaying the image data in real time. (2) Further, a recording means for recording image data from the image sensor on a recording medium, or a transmitting means for transmitting and outputting this image data to an external side view, or both, and a control means for controlling these; and a starting means for instructing the control means to start recording or transmission,
The image scanner according to claim 1, wherein the image data can be recorded or transmitted at any time. (3) The image scanner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the imaging optical system is configured to have a variable focal length so that the imaging magnification can be set arbitrarily.