JPH03161870A - Image storage device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to store much image data by detecting effective image data blocks in a read image data and their positional information and then storing respective effective image data and their positional information in a storage means. CONSTITUTION:Image data read out by a line sensor 28 are entered to a control part 22 through a read control part 26 and stored in a RAM 25. The control part 22 detects effective image data clocks in a read image data and their positions, specifies the integration of plural effective image data blocks to change/set up the effective image data and their positional information and stores the changed/set up effective image data and their positional information in a RAM 25. Consequently, the capacity of the memory for storing image data can be effectively utilized and much image data can be stored.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image storage device that reads and stores image data, and outputs it as a display or printout as required.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, an image scanner is used to read image data such as a document, and index data is attached to the read image data and stored in a plurality of storage means such as a memory or a magnetic disk. An image storage device that searches for and reads arbitrary image data and outputs it for display or printing by manually specifying index data according to the image data has been considered. This type of image storage device is capable of storing a plurality of image data.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above image data is stored as is, including empty areas, regardless of the amount of data.For example, if the read data is blank, teeth,
A bit with a value of "0" is stored, and a bit with a value of "1" is stored when a valid image is printed, that is, black characters are printed. When recalling data, the image data consisting of "0" and "1" stored in the storage means is directly recalled and displayed or printed out.

If you store the image data as is as shown above,
Since the amount of image data required to be stored increases and the storage capacity of the storage means is limited, it is only possible to store data for a limited number of images.

Therefore, it is conceivable to designate only a valid image portion of one sheet of image data using a cursor or the like, and to store only the image data in the designated region.

However, in this case, when there are many valid image parts in the image data or when the area has a complicated shape, the operation for specifying the area becomes troublesome, and the photographing process becomes troublesome.

This invention was made in view of the above circumstances,
Effectively utilizes the capacity of the storage means for storing image data,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image storage device capable of storing a larger amount of image data and easily specifying an area of a necessary valid image part in the image data.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] The present invention reads image data using, for example, an image scanner, detects a spine image data block and its position information in one piece of image data that has been read, and then, This design specifies the integration of valid image data blocks, changes and sets the valid image data and position information, and writes and stores the changed H effect image data and its position information in the storage means. It is possible to store a larger amount of image data by effectively utilizing the capacity of the memory for storing the image data, and to easily designate a necessary valid image portion in the image data.

[Embodiment] An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a business card filing device will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show the external structure, and numeral 11 is the main body case. This main case 11 is an upper case l.
The lower case lla and the lower case llb are connected and integrated, and the size is large enough to be held in the hand when folded.
The figure shows its open state. Main body case 11
Inside the upper case 11a, there is a dot matrix liquid crystal display panel 22 that displays scanned image data and index data (described later), a power key 13 that turns the power ON/OFF, and a 2-contact slide switch for "registration". A mode changeover switch 14 for switching between the mode and the "search" mode, and an execution key 15 for executing various instructions are provided. In addition, inside the lower case Ilb, there is a cursor key lea (in the figure "▼
”), I. 8b Character/numeric keys for inputting index data, etc. (indicated as "g" in the figure) 16, "Company emblem" key for inputting and specifying items "Name" key "Company" key " An item key 17 consisting of an "address" key, an "rTEL (telephone number)" key, and an "other" key is provided.

Furthermore, a reading section 18 for reading the image data of the business card is provided on one side of the upper case lla, and a reading switch 19 for instructing reading on the other side. Although the details will not be explained, the reading unit 18 uses a line sensor (described later) that reads 8 to 16 dots/■ corresponding to the width of the business card, a light source, and a reading movement speed to determine the reading timing. It consists of an encoder that generates signals, and as shown in Figure 2, the upper case lla
and the lower case Ilb are folded, and with the reading section 18 standing up against one end of the top surface of the business card 20 to be read, scan the top of the business card 20 in the direction shown by arrow A while holding down the reading reswitch 19. By doing so, the image data printed on the business card 20 can be read.

Next, the structure of the electronic circuit provided in the main body case II will be explained with reference to FIG. In the same figure, power key IL
All key human input signals generated by key operations in the key input section 21, which consists of the mode changeover switch 14, execution keys 15, 6, character/numeric keys 1B, item keys 17, and reading switch 19, are sent to the control section 22 consisting of the CPU. . The control unit 22 controls the operation of other circuits according to the signals from the key power unit 2l, and includes a ROM 23 that stores a microprogram for operation control.
The microprogram is read from the ROM 23 by addressing the addressing unit 24, and output is performed by addressing the RAM 25 which stores various data. The control unit 22 also outputs a read control command to the read control unit 2B and display data to the display control unit 27. The reading control section 2B sends a drive signal to the line sensor 28 of the reading section l8 shown in FIG. 1 in response to a command from the control section 22, and causes the line sensor 28 to read the target image data. At this time, the control section 22 simultaneously drives a lamp 29 of a white light source provided in the reading section 18 to turn on, and the image data read by the line sensor 28 is sent to the control section 22 via the reading control section 26. and stored in the RAM 25. The display control section 37 obtains a display drive signal based on the display data sent from the control section 22, and uses this display drive signal to drive and control the display section 30 consisting of the liquid product display panel l2 to generate image data. etc. are displayed and output.

As shown in FIG. 4, the RAM 25 includes a display data storage section 25a, an image data storage section 25b, an index storage section 25C, a work area 25d, and an image data storage section 25e. Display data storage section 25
The area a has at least a number of bit memories corresponding to all the bitmaps of the image data of one read business card, and is an area for storing display data to be displayed on the display unit 30, and the image data storage unit 25b will be described later. This is an area for storing image data of a plurality of blocks of effective image areas. The index storage section 25c includes an index data storage section 1a that stores index data input and set using the character/numeric keys 16 corresponding to the image data stored in the image data storage section 25b, and each effective image block that is divided into blocks. a plurality of coordinate data storage units Ic for storing coordinate data, which is positional information indicating where the four corner points are located in the entire read image data;
A plurality of address storage units Ib storing address positions on the image data storage unit 25b at which image blocks specified by the coordinate data storage unit Ic are stored, and image blocks specified by the coordinate data storage unit Ic. It consists of a plurality of sets of areas, one set being a plurality of item data storage sections Id that store item data, and numbers rIoJ rI+J rI2J . . . are assigned in order to each of the sets. Further, the work area 25d includes a Ya register, a yb register, an Xa register, an Xb register, a YC register, an XC register, an F flag register, an M register for item search, etc. for blocking image data. The image data temporary storage section 25e is an area for temporarily storing image data when it is divided into blocks, and has at least a number of bit memories corresponding to all the bitmaps of the image data of one read business card. are doing.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be explained.

Here, an example will be explained in which an image 9 of a business card 20 as shown in FIG. 12 is read and registered, and then searched and output.

FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of the overall operation contents by the control unit 22, and at the beginning, the step AOI
As shown in FIG. 1, it is determined whether the operating position of the mode selector switch l4 shown in FIG. 1 is "registration" or "search".

If the position is in the "registration" mode, the process proceeds to step AO2, where image data is read at the edge of the fire.

As shown in FIG. 2 above, the reader l8 is brought into contact with the face of the business card 20 to be read, and the business card 20 is scanned, for example, in the longitudinal direction while the read switch l9 is held down. 20 image data are illuminated by a lamp 29, read by a line sensor 28 at about one line qt, and sequentially sent to a control unit 22 via a reading control unit 26. In the control unit 22, the image data of the line lit, which is sent sequentially, is sent in one bite. Display data storage section 2 of RAM 25
5a and the image data temporary storage section 25e, and the contents held in the display data storage section 25a are sequentially sent as display data to the display control section 2710 to be displayed on the display section 30. 1 business card 20
After storing all the image data in the display data storage section 25a and the image data storage section 25e, the reading switch l9 is
When the pressure is stopped, the control section 22 detects the coordinates of the valid image area excluding the blank area in the image data stored in the image data storage section 25e, that is, the coordinates of the valid image block portion, as shown in step AO3. and stored in the image data storage section 25b.

This detection and storage of block coordinates involves a process of detecting a certain row of image data based on a bitmap of the image data stored in the display register 25a, a process of detecting a column of data in the data column, and a process of detecting a data column in the data column. This is done through two processes of memory.

That is, in the image data stored in the display register 25a, the blank bit is "0" and the black pixel (with printing) is "1".
” is remembered.

Therefore, the horizontal coordinates of the bitmap of the display register 25a are xo l XI * X2 + X3
r ”', vertical coordinate y.+ )'+ + V2
If r y3 +...11, then the horizontal direction with the same y coordinate is a row, the vertical direction with the same X coordinate is a column, and each row has at least one pixel data "1". The presence or absence of data is determined by the initial data presence detection process, and the processing means is shown in FIG.

That is, FIG. 6 shows the detailed process contents of this data presence detection. At the beginning of the process, the control unit 22 initializes the work area 25d of the RAM 25 in step BOI
The Ya register, Yb register, Xa register, Xb register, Yc register, Xc register, and F flag register are all cleared to "0". Then step B
At O2, the content of the Xc register, which is the search register in the X coordinate direction, is updated by "+1" and set to "1j," and at the subsequent step BO3, the coordinates X, on the bitmap of the display register 25a specified by the contents of this Xc register are It is determined whether or not is the last column.

If it is determined that it is not the last column, the process proceeds to step BO9, and the bit map of the display register 25a specified by the content "0" of the Ye register, which is the search register in the y-coordinate direction, and the content 12 of the Xc register. It is determined whether there is image data at the position 41'l (x+, Vo), that is, whether there is black pixel data "1". If it is determined that there is no
Returning to step BO8, the contents of the Xc register are updated and set to "+1", and the processing of steps BO8 and BO9 is repeated.

If the content of the Xc register reaches a value indicating the last column on the bitmap of the display register 25a without any data, this is determined in step BO3 and the process proceeds to step BO4.

In step BO4, it is determined whether the F flag "1" indicating the presence of data is set in the F flag register.

If it is determined that it has not been set and is rOJ, the process proceeds to step BO7 and the contents of the Yc register are updated and set by "+1". In the following step BO8, the contents of the Xc register are cleared to rOJ, and the process returns to step BO2.

In this way, the value of the Yc register is updated, and the process from step BO2 is repeated again with the next row specified.

13 T413 shows the block coordinates of the portion of the image data of the business card 20 shown in FIG. 12 above. In the same figure, the size of business card 20 is 55mo (height) + 90io (width)
+ binding, and when the dividing capacity by the line sensor 28 is 16 dots/III1, the bitmap of the entire business card image data stored in the display register 25a is 880xl4.
This results in 40 dots. Therefore, the value indicating the last possible row of the Yc register for this business card image data is r87.
9J, the value indicating the last possible column of the Xc register is “1”.
339".

In the case of this business card image data, the contents of the Yc register are rl
At the time when 28J is reached, the right row of the first data is detected, and the process proceeds from step BO9 to step BIG.

In step BIG, it is determined whether the F flag register is set to "0". If it is determined that it is rOJ, the process proceeds to step Bll and the content r of the Yc register is
Input and set l28J to the Ya register (Yat register). After that, in step Bl2, the F flag "1" indicating the presence of data 14 is set in the F flag register again, and the step BO7
Update the contents of the Yc register by "+1" with rl29.
After setting it to J, the contents of the Xc register are cleared to "0" in the following step BO8, and the process goes to step BO9. If it is determined in step BO9 that the contents of the Yc register are not the value rl339J indicating the last row, the process returns to step BO2.

After that, until the Yc register is sequentially updated and set to r240J, when it is determined that there is data at step BO9 via steps BO2 and BO3, the F flag register is not "0" but set at step BIO. "1
”, and the process of returning to step BO2 via steps BO7 to BO9 is repeated.

The Yc register becomes r24 1J, and steps BO2, BO3, and B are performed while sequentially setting the contents of the Xe register.
Repeat the process of O9, and the contents of the Xc register will be the value r indicating the last column without any data. 1. If it becomes 3 3 9 J, this is determined in step BO3, and the process then proceeds to step BO4. If it is determined in step BO4 that the F flag "1" indicating that data is high in the F flag register 15 is set, the process proceeds to step BO5, where the value r-IJL is calculated from the contents of the Ye register, that is, the data is set. The value r240J indicating the last consecutive row is stored in the yb register (
Y bl register). After that, in step BO8, the value "0" indicating no data is set in the F flag register, and in step BO7, the contents of the Yc register are updated by "+1" to r242J, and in the following step BO8, the contents of the Xc register are set. Clear "
0'' and the process proceeds to step BO9. And step B
At O9, the contents of the Yc register are the value rl indicating the last line 3
3 If it is determined that it is not 9J, repeat step B above.
Leads to O2.

Thereafter, in the same way as above, if there is continuous data, the values r320J, r400J, r
480J, “640”, ●●● are sequentially transferred to the Ya register (Y
Input settings are made as a pair in the a2 register, Ya3 register, ●◆) and yb register (Yb2 register, Yb3 register,...).

1 6 Then, when the contents of the YC register reach r879J, it is determined in step BO9 that this is the value indicating the final row, and the process of detecting a row with data according to FIG. 6 is thus completed.

After the process of detecting the row with data is completed, the process of detecting the column with data in the row with data is subsequently performed.

Figure 7 shows the processing content of this data sequence detection.
At the beginning of the process, the control unit 2 is initialized in step CO1.
2 is the Yc register of the work area 25d of the RAM 25,
Clear both the XC register and F flag register and
It will be O.J. Next, in step CO2, the value rl28J once held in the Ya register (Yal register) is set to r-I.
After manually setting the Yc register as JL, te rl27, J, the value of this Yc register is set to "+1" in step C03.
” and set it again to the value “128” indicating the first row with data. Then, in step CO4, the value of the Yc register exceeds the value r240J indicating the end row of data held in the yb register (Ybl register) and 17? After it is determined that there is not, in step CLL, the content rl28J of the Yc register, which becomes the search register in the y-coordinate direction, and the display register 2 specified by the Xc register "0" are displayed.
It is determined whether the image data is H at the coordinate (xO+)'+■8) on the bitmap of 5a. If it is determined that there is not, return to step CO3 again, update the contents of the Yc register by "+1", and then step CO4, CI+
Repeat the process.

If the contents of the Ye register exceed the value of the yb register without any data, this is determined in step CO4 and the process proceeds to step CO5.

In step CO5, it is determined whether the F flag "1" indicating data presence is set in the F flag register.

If it is determined that it is not set and is "0", then the process proceeds to step CO8 and the contents of the Xc register are updated and set to "+1". In the following step CO9, the above step CO2
Similarly, the value rl28J once held in the Ya register (Yal register) is r-IJL and rl27J is set as Yc.
After setting the input to the register, it is determined in step ClO that the 1 8 content of the Xe register is not the value rl339J indicating the last column, and then in step C03 the value of this Yc register is set to r+IJL again to the first row with data. The value rl2 indicating
Set to 8J.

In this way, the value of the Xc register is updated, and the process from step C03 is repeated again with the next column specified.

In the case of this business card image data, the contents of the Xc register are "8".
0", the first row with data is detected,
Step Cll leads to step CI2.

In step Cl2, it is determined whether the F flag register is set to "0". If it is determined that the
80'' in the Xa register (Xal register) manually. After that, in step C14, the F flag register is set to "1" again indicating that there is data, and in step C08, the contents of the Xc register are updated by "+1" to "81", and then in step CO9, 19 Value rl2 held in Ya register (Yal register)
After manually setting 8J by "-1" in the Yc register as rl27J, it is determined in step CIO that the content of the Xc register is not the value rl339J indicating the final column, and the value of this Yc register is r+I
JL is again set to the value rl28J indicating the first row with data.

Thereafter, until the Xc register is sequentially updated and set to rl44J, when it is determined that the data is blank at step CI1 via steps C03 and C04,
Next, in step CI2, it is determined that the F flag register is not "0" but "1", and the process of returning to step CO3 via steps CO8 to CIO is repeated.

The YC register becomes rl45J, and steps CO2, CO3, CO are set while sequentially setting the contents of the Yc register.
Repeat the process in step 9 and write the xb register (
If it is determined that the value r240J indicating the end row of the data held in the Ybl register) has been exceeded, this is determined in step CO4, and the process then proceeds to step CO5. When it is determined in step CO5 that the F flag "1" indicating that data is present is set in the F flag register, the process proceeds to step 006, and from the contents of the The value rl44J indicating the last column that was stored in the xb register (
xbt register). Then step 0
In step 06, the value "0" indicating no data is set in the F flag register, and in step CO8, the contents of the Xc register are updated by "+1" to rl46J, and in the following step CO9, the value is set in the Ya register (Yal register). The retained value rl28J is r-IJL and rl27J is Y.
After setting the input to the c register, the process advances to step CIO.

If it is determined in step CIO that the contents of the Xc register are not the value rl339J indicating the final column, the process returns to step CO3.

After that, in the same way as above, if there is continuous data, the values r208J, r272J, r
320J and r384J are sequentially input into the Xa register (Xal register) and xb register (Xbl21? register) as a set.

Then, when the contents of the Xc register become rl 3 3 9J, if this is the value indicating the last column, step CO
9, and the character string “A” in the first line of FIG.
This means that the processing of the Yal register, Ybl register, Xal register, and XN register in FIG. 9 for BcJ has been completed, and from now on, as shown in step Cl5, for the data-containing rows from the second line onward in FIG. Also, the same process as above is repeated. Then, when the detection of data columns has been completed for all the rows with data detected in the sixth step, the process of detecting columns with data according to FIG. 7 is completed.

In this way, the coordinate data of the block area can be detected by combining the coordinate data of each row area and the coordinate data of each column area stored in the Ya register, Yb register, Xa register, and Xb register of the work area 25d. It is. For example, the Yal register in FIG. 9, Yb
Coordinate data of row area of l register “y1■8” “y2
4o” and the Xal register, 2 2 ? Coordinate data of column area of bl register “x8o” rXl
By 44J, (y+■8+x80), (y+■8+XI44), (
Y 240 1 X go), 0'2ao r X
It is detected as an image block with four points indicated by the coordinates I+4) as corners.

Figure 10 shows a set of coordinate data of the block area obtained from the coordinate data shown in Figure 9 above, and the coordinate data of these four points as a set corresponds to the number of blocks. It is stored and set in area 25d.

When the detection of this column with data is completed, the detection of the block coordinates is also completed, so the first block in the image data displayed on the display unit 30 is blinked to prompt block specification and item input. Thereafter, the process proceeds to step AO4 in FIG. 5, where the H effect image block designation input and item input processing are performed.

FIG. 8 shows in detail the contents of this block designation and item input processing, and in the state where the block is shown blinking, the character/numeric key 1B, the unillustrated feed key, cursor keys lea and 16b, and the item key are pressed. 1
This process is executed when any one of 7 is operated.

For example, the first block rA of image data shown in FIG.
The cursor key (in the figure, press "
When the user operates 16b (indicated by "G"), this operation executes this process, and first, as shown in step DOI, it is determined whether or not the operated key is a forward key (not shown) among the character/numeric keys 16. . This feed key is used simply to move the blinking position of the block, and here the judgment result is No, and the process then proceeds to step DOI. In step DO3, it is determined whether or not the operated key is the cursor key lea among the character/numeric keys 16. Here, too, the determination result is No, and the process then proceeds to step DO5. If it is determined in step DO5 that the operated key is the cursor key +eb, the process proceeds to step DOG. Step 24? In the DB, as the cursor 18b is operated, the block of characters rAJ that was blinking at the beginning and the block of characters rBJ adjacent to it to the right are stored as one block in the work area 25d. This is used to change and set the coordinate data. In this case, the coordinates of the four corner points of the block with the character rAJ are (Y 128 1 X go), (y + ■81Xl
44), (Y 240 1 X 80), (7
240 1
+X27■), (y24o + X208) S(y
24o +
X272) s()'24o + Xso) s
(y2ao + X272). In addition, with this change of coordinate data, the blinking position of the block is also changed again, and the block of characters rABJ that has become one is displayed blinking, and the process of FIG. 8 is completed at 25.

Thereafter, by operating the cursor key IGb again, the process shown in FIG. 8 is executed, and the coordinate data of the character rABcJ is treated as one block and its coordinate data is changed and set by the same process as described above.

Next, when the forward key in the text/numeric keys 16 is pressed, the photographing operation of that key is determined by step DOI, and then step DO2 is reached. In step DO2, the position of the blinking display is moved to specify the next block. Here, the block with the letters rABcJ was blinking until then, so next the block with the letters "open" is displayed blinking. This concludes this process.

Thereafter, by appropriately operating the cursor key 16b and the forward key, the same process as described above is repeatedly executed, and the valid image blocks in the image data are integrated as shown in FIG. Further, the coordinate data of the image blocks within the work area 25d are changed and set as shown in FIG. 11 by the process shown in FIG. 8 above.

2 6 If it is determined that the key operated in step DO3 is the cursor key lea, the process proceeds to step DO4, where the block that was blinking and the block adjacent to it in the downward direction are The coordinate data stored in the work area 25d is changed and set as one block again.

Along with this change in coordinate data, the blinking position of the block is also changed again, and the combined block is displayed blinking, thus ending the process of FIG. 8.

FIG. 15 shows an example of block integration of other business card images using the cursor key 16a.

The third block in the figure is the address "Tokyo...
・Specify a block of the character string 3-2-IJ using the cursor key 18b and integrate it, while also specifying a block using the cursor key 16b since the character string ``zip code 189'' below it is also address-related data, integrate. After that, "Tokyo...3-2" again
-1. Select J by operating the feed key, and with it blinking, press 27 cursor key 1[ia to
It is designed to integrate two blocks of character strings. In this case, the coordinate data of this third block is changed and set to six points indicated by P1 to Pb in the figure by the process of step DO4.

After specifying blocks for integration in this manner, item data for each block is manually set.

Input settings for item data are made by specifying a corresponding block using the forward key and then operating any of the item keys 17.

Here, while the position of the character rABCJ, which is the first block, is displayed blinking using the feed key, first the "company" key of the item keys 17 is operated.

By this key operation, the process shown in FIG. 8 is executed again, and the feed key and
After it is determined that the key photography was not performed using the cursor keys lea and 18b, it is determined whether the photographed item key 17 is a "company emblem" key or a cup, as shown in step DO7. Here, the determination result is NO, and the process proceeds to step DO9 where it is determined whether or not the operated item key 17 is the "name" key. Here, too, the determination result is NO, and the process then proceeds to step DI1, where it is determined whether or not the operated item key 17 is the "company" key. If it is determined that it is the “company” key, then step D
Proceeding to step 12, the index storage unit 25c is stored in the position corresponding to the coordinate data of the work area 25d in which the coordinate data of the first block is stored by the storage process described later.
As the item data to be stored in the item data storage unit Id, item data "3" indicating "company" is input and set.

After that, instead of the first block that is currently blinking, the next second block, that is, the block with the character string "Development Headquarters Development Office" is displayed blinking, prompting you to input the item data, and ending this process. .

Next, when the "Others" key of the item keys 17 is operated while the second block "Development Headquarters Development Office" is blinking, the process shown in FIG. 8 is performed. Here, first, the keys 17 operated in steps D01, DO3, DO5, DO7, DO9, and DI+ are forward keys, cursor keys 16a, ieb, r "company emblem" key, "name" key, "
After it is determined that the key is not one of the "company" keys, the process proceeds to step D13, where it is determined whether the operated key is the "address" key of the item key 17. The determination result is NO, and the process then proceeds to step Dl5, where it is determined whether the operated key is the rTELJ key of item key l7. Again, if the judgment result is NO, the remaining key is item key 17.
Since it is only the "Others" key, the operated key is recognized as this "Others" key, and then the step DI
Proceeding to step 7, the coordinate data of this second block is stored in the index storage unit 2 at a position corresponding to the coordinate data of the work area 25d in the storage process described later.
As the item data to be stored in the item data storage section Id of 5c, item data "6" indicating "others" is input and set. After that, instead of the second block that is currently blinking, the next third block, that is, the block with the character string "Chief" is displayed blinking 3 0, prompting you to input the item data, and ending this process. do.

If you operate the "Others" key of the item keys 17 while the third block "Director" is blinking, the same process as above will be executed again, and this third block
``Others'' is stored as item data to be stored in the item data storage section 1d of the index storage section 25c in the storage process described later at a position corresponding to the coordinate data of the work area 25d where the coordinate data of the th block is stored. After the indicated item data "6" is manually set, the next fourth block, that is, the block with the character string "Ito Ichiro", is displayed blinking in place of the currently blinking third block, and that item is displayed. This process ends after prompting for data input.

When the "Name" key of the item keys 17 is operated while the fourth block "Ito Ichiro" is blinking, the process shown in FIG. 8 is performed. Here, the key 17 operated in step DO9 via steps DOI, DO3, DO5, and DO7 is determined to be the "name" key of item 31 key 17, and the process then proceeds to step DIO to select this fourth key. "Others" is indicated as item data to be stored in the item data storage unit Id of the index storage unit 25c in the storage process described later at a position corresponding to the coordinate data of the work area 25d where the coordinate data of the block is stored. Input and set item data “2”. After that, the next fifth block, that is, the block with the character string rTEL 03 (525) 1112J, is displayed blinking in place of the fourth block that is currently blinking, prompting you to input the item data, and starting this process. finish.

When the rTELJ key of the item key 17 is operated while this fifth block is blinking, the process shown in FIG. 8 is performed. Here, steps DOI, DO3, DO5, DO7, DO
9, Dll. It is determined through D13 that the key 17 operated in step DI5 is the rTELJ key of item key 17, and the process then proceeds to step D16, where the coordinate data of this fifth block is stored in the work area 32. r as item data to be stored in the item data storage section Id of the index storage section 25c in a storage process described later at a position corresponding to the coordinate data of 25d.
Input and set item data "5" indicating TELJ. Thereafter, when it is determined that the fifth block currently blinking is the last block, the process of FIG. 8 is completed.

Note that if it is determined that the key operated in step DOI is the "company emblem" key of the item key 17, the work area 25d where the coordinate data of that block is stored.
The item data "1" indicating "company emblem" is also included in the position corresponding to the coordinate data of step D1.
If the key operated in step 3 is determined to be the "Address" key of the item key 17, "Address" is displayed as item data at the position corresponding to the coordinate data of the work area 25d where the coordinate data of the block is stored. Item data ``4'' indicating ``
” are respectively input and set.

As described above, when the item data has been set in the last block by the process in Figure 8, the process in Figure 8 ends, and at the same time, the process in step AO4 in Figure 5 ends, and then the process proceeds to step AO5. .

In step AO5, character/numeric key 1 of key human power section 2l
Waits for index data input by B.

Once the index data has been manually stored, the index data is stored in a predetermined position in the display data storage section 25a and the image data temporary storage section 25e, that is, in a storage area different from the storage area for image data, and then stored in the display data storage section 25a. The content is displayed on the display unit 80. Next, in step AO8, a registration confirmation instruction by operating the execution key 15 is awaited.

When the execution key 15 is operated, the process proceeds to step AO7, in which only the data within the area defined by the coordinate data of the effective block in the image data held in the display data storage section 25a is stored in the image data storage section. At the same time, the coordinate data of the work area 25d is transferred to the coordinate data storage section 1c of the corresponding area of the index storage section 25c, the item data shown in FIG. 8 is transferred to the item data storage section 1d, and the address storage section The address on the image data storage section 25b34 is set in lb, and the index data held in the image data temporary storage section 25e is also stored and set in the index data storage section Ia.

Through the registration process described above, the image data of one business card is stored in the image data storage section 25b, and the address, display coordinate data, and item data on the image data storage section 25b are used as index data. It is stored in one of the storage units 25c, for example, area IO.Hereafter,
Each time a business card image is read, the image data is stored in the image data storage section 25b, and its index data, address on the (own) image data storage section 25b, coordinate data at the time of display, and item data are stored in the area 1. ,I2,I,
,... are stored.

Next, a process for searching desired image data from a large number of image data stored in the RAM 25 will be described. There are four methods for performing a search: one is to input index data as before, and one is to simply operate the sequential key (not shown) 35 provided on the character/numeric key 16. One method is to specify a specific item using one of the item keys 17 and then operate the sequential keys, and the other is to specify a specific item using one of the item keys 17. This method displays the same item data in a plurality of image data together with the serial number, and then specifies the serial number again.

The usual method for inputting the initial index data is to first set the mode selector switch 14 to the "search" mode, and then input the index data of the desired image data using the character/numeric keys 16. The process shown in FIG. 5 is executed again using this key manually, and if it is determined that the mode is "search" mode at step AOI at the beginning, the manually inputted index data is stored in the RAM 25 at step AO8. The image data is temporarily held in the temporary storage section 25e. After waiting for the execution key 15 to be operated in the following step AO9, each area l of the index storage section 25c. ,I. , I, . . . in which matching index data is stored are sequentially searched.

Then, it is determined whether or not there is a match in step AIO, and if there is, the next step All
Then, the coordinate data of the effective block corresponding to the index data is read from the index storage section 25c, and the image data is read from the image data storage section 25b according to the address storage section 1b, and the coordinate data of the valid block corresponding to the index data is read from the image data storage section 1c.
The image data read out according to the coordinate data stored in is stored in the display data storage section 25a so as to be at the original position, and is displayed and output on the display section 30, and the process ends.

If it is determined in step AO9 that there is no image data to H the index data that matches the manually-generated index data, the process proceeds to step AI2.
An error display indicating that there is no matching data is displayed on the display unit 30, and the process is terminated.

Next, a method of searching by operating only the sequential key provided on the second character/numeric key 16 will be described.

3 7 If you operate only the sequential key with the mode selector switch I4 set to "Search" mode,
After it is determined that the "search" mode is in step AO+, the operated key is recognized as a sequential key in step AI5, and then step AlB is reached. In step AlB, it is determined whether the M flag register in the work area 25d of the RAM 25 is "0". This M flag register is set with the item data when the item is specified by the item key 17, and since no item is specified here, it is set to 0.
”, the judgment result is YES, and then step A
Proceed to l7.

In step A17, each area of the index storage section 25 is edited. , I, , I2, . . . by the coordinate data storage unit Ic and item data storage unit Id, respectively,
All individual image data are sequentially displayed in a unified format, and this process is completed. In this case, each image data to be displayed is displayed in a unified format 38 according to the item data, so by operating the sequential keys one after another, all image data can be displayed at the same position on the display 30 screen. The data for Mukaichichoguchi will be displayed, and the user can move the line without moving the line.
It becomes possible to search for desired image data.

Next, in the third section, a search method in which a specific item is specified using one of the 1 keys 17 and sequential keys are operated will be explained.

When one of the item keys 17 is operated with the mode selector switch 14 set to the "search" mode,
After it is determined in step AOI that the mode is "search", it is recognized in step Al3 that it is a manual operation using the item key 17, and then the process proceeds to step A14. In step A14, the item data corresponding to any of the operated item keys 17 is manually set in the M flag register of the work area 25d of the RAM 25, and this process ends. The setting contents are almost the same as the processing shown in Fig. 9 above.
"1" for the "company badge" key, "2" for the "name" key,
39 "3" for "company" key, "4" for "address" key
, rTELJ key is "5", and "other" key is "6".

After setting the items in this way, if you operate the sequential key of character/numeric key 1B, the 5th
After it is determined in step AOI of the figure that the mode selector switch 14 is in the "search" mode, the key operated in step A15 is recognized as a sequential key, and then step A1B is reached. Step A1[1
Then, it is determined whether the M flag register in the work area 25d of the RAM 25 is "0". Here, the M flag register is set to "1" through the process of step Al4 above.
Since any item data of "6" is set, the determination result is No, and the process then proceeds to step Al8.

In step A18, the specified item is determined based on the contents of the M flag register in the work area 25d. In the following step AI9, each area I of the index storage section 25c of the RAM 25 is determined according to the determination result. ,I++ I2+
. . , and reads out the address corresponding to the matching item data from the address storage unit 1b. and,
A plurality of image data blocks of desired items are read from the image data storage section 25b according to the read address, numbered and displayed on the display section 30, and this processing is completed.

Finally, a method will be described in which a specific item is designated using any of the item keys 17, the same item data in a plurality of image data are displayed together with a serial number, and the serial number is designated again.

When a specific item is specified using any of the item keys 17, step AO in FIG.
After I determines that it is in "search" mode, step A
The key operated in step 13 is recognized as the item key 17, and the process then proceeds to step A1[1. Step A
At step 15, the item data corresponding to any of the operated item keys 17 is manually set in the M register of the work area 25d of the RAM 25, and this process is completed.

41 When the execution key 15 is operated after setting the items in this way, each area I of the index storage section 25c of the RAMZ 5 is changed. The item data storage units Id stored in r II+ I2+ . . . are searched, and the addresses corresponding to the matching item data are read from each address storage unit rb. Then, a plurality of image data blocks of desired items are read out from the image data storage section 25b according to the read address, numbered and displayed on the display section 30, and this processing is completed. Therefore, only the image data of the designated item is displayed on the display section 30 by a specific number of numbers.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a display when the "Name" key is selected from among the item keys 17 and the execution key 15 is operated. In this way, only the image data of the specified item is displayed on the display unit 30 along with the number by a specific number, for example, "3".

Here, when the desired image data is selected from among the "name" data displayed on the display section 30 and the number is entered manually using the character/numeric keys 16, the key 42 is automatically pressed again as shown in FIG. The process is executed and step A
Step A20 is reached via OI, and after it is recognized that the key input is based on a numerical key, step A2
1, it waits for the operation of the execution key 15 to confirm the numerical value manually. Then, when the execution key 15 is operated, the process moves to step A22, in which all image data corresponding to the "name" data for which the number is specified is read out from the image data storage section 25b according to the contents of the index storage section 25c, It is displayed on the display unit 30, and this process ends.

In addition, in the above embodiment, an example was shown in which a business card image is read and stored as image data, and this is displayed and output, but it is not limited to business card images, and any other image can be stored by similar processing. Needless to say.

Further, in the above embodiment, a line sensor is used for image reading, but it goes without saying that a dot matrix type full sensor that reads all image data simultaneously may be used, and various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. Application is possible.

43 Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the bit contents of the display data storage section 25a are displayed as they are on the display section 30, but for example, the number of dots displayed on the display section 30 can be set to half the bit contents of the display section 30. , display data storage section 25a
If the displayed contents are difficult to read, the entire bit contents of the display data storage section 25a may be displayed by, for example, display switching. That is, in this case, enlarged display is possible.

[Effects of the Invention] As detailed above, according to the present invention, after reading image data using, for example, an image scanner, and detecting the effective image data block and its position information of one piece of image data ψ read, Specify integration of valid image data blocks, change and set valid image data and position information,
Since each changed valid image data and its position information are written and stored in the storage means, it is possible to easily specify the area of the necessary valid image part in the image data 44, and the image data can be stored. Accordingly, it is possible to provide an image storage device that can store a larger amount of image data by effectively utilizing the memory capacity.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the external configuration, FIG. 2 is a side view showing the external configuration when reading an image, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of an electronic circuit. Block diagram, Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the area configuration of the RAM in Fig. 3, Fig. 5 is a flowchart showing the contents of the entire data processing, Fig. 6 is the detection of data presence when detecting the block in Fig. 5. Flowchart showing the contents of the process; FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the process of detecting a data sequence during block detection in FIG. 5; FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the process of specifying blocks and inputting items in FIG. 5. Flow chart, Figures 9 and 10
The figure shows the coordinate data of effective blocks in the read image data, Fig. 11 shows the coordinate data of the image blocks integrated by block designation, Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating valid image blocks in the image data of FIG. 12, FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating valid image blocks in image data integrated by block designation,
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating the integration designation of blocks in image data, and FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating the display state of image data obtained by manual search of items. 1l...wooden case, lla...upper case, llb
...Lower case, 12...Liquid product display panel, 13...
・Power key, 14...mode changeover switch, I5...
・Execution key, 16...Character/numeric key, lea, +
8b...Cursor key, 17...Item key,! 8・
...Reading section, l9...Reading switch, 20...
Business card, 21...Key human power department, 22...Control unit, 23
...ROM, 24...ROM address designation section, 25
...RAM, 25a...Display data storage section, 25b
...Image data storage unit, 25c...Index storage unit, 25d...Work area, 25e...Image data temporary storage unit, 26...Reading control unit, 27...Display control unit, 28 ...Line sensor, 29...Lamp, 46 30... Display unit. 4 7 JP 3-161870 (16)

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Image reading means for reading image data; position information detection means for obtaining position information of a valid image data portion in the image data obtained by the image reading means; and position information detection means. a specifying means for specifying the integration of the valid image data portion obtained by the above; a setting means for setting positional information of the valid image data integrated according to the specification of the specifying means; and a setting means for setting the positional information of the valid image data obtained by the setting means 1. An image storage device comprising: storage means for storing integrated effective image data.