JPH0458655A - Picture reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To display a desired frame picture immediately through only loading a buffer memory when other frame picture is desired to be observed by storing a read picture data into the designated buffer memory. CONSTITUTION:A host is provided with a picture memory 18 and a buffer memory 19, and the memory 19 has a capacity for two frames B1, B2. When the necessity of referencing a frame picture D5 is called for while a frame picture A12 is observed, a frame number D5 and a number 2 of the memory 19 to be stored with a delimiter of a comma are entered as 'D5, 2' by a keyboard 15, then a prescribed processing is executed and the desired frame picture D5 is stored in an area B2 of the memory 19 and displayed on a CRT 14.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image reading device such as a league printer that photoelectrically reads image frames in an image recording medium such as microfiche using an image sensor or the like.

[Prior Art] Traditionally, in analog league printers that use microfiche, when the microfiche is introduced into the league printer body, the x-y carriage as a fish carrier starts operating, and the index information of the microfiche ( An index frame (hereinafter referred to as index information) is projected onto an optical screen.

Then, the operator searches for a desired frame number C1 while looking at this index information, and by inputting the frame number C, the X-Y carriage is operated and the frame image is enlarged and projected onto the optical screen.

After that, when you want to see another frame image C2 and refer to the index frame, by turning on the index switch provided in advance, the X-Y carriage moves again and the index frame is placed on the optical screen. Since the image is projected again, by inputting the desired frame number C2, the frame image C2 is enlarged and projected onto the optical screen.

However, the analog league printers mentioned above need to be equipped with large optical screens because it is necessary to enlarge the microfiche image frames to a size close to the original document size and confirm the information. can be,
This meant that the equipment would be larger.

Furthermore, in analog processing, it is difficult to freely process image information.

Therefore, in recent years, digital league printers have been provided that read microfiche frame images with an image sensor or the like, store the read images, and display them on a display device such as a CRT.

In addition, in the field of microfilm, a league printer is
The term "optical monitor" refers to the above-mentioned printer having a magnified screen, but here it is expanded to mean the entire system including the scanner, host computer, CRT, and output printer.

Therefore, in the above-mentioned digital league printer, it is difficult to display the read image on a display device such as a CRT. Since it does not require a large screen and the read image is stored as digital data, the image can be freely processed in various ways.

[The invention seeks to solve a! IM] By the way, in the analog league printer mentioned above,
When referring to another frame image C2, the frame image could be viewed immediately by simply turning on the index switch and moving the frame C2 to a predetermined projection position by operating the x-y carriage.

However, in the above-mentioned digital league printer, when referring to another frame image, after the x-y carriage operates and moves the frame to a predetermined reading position, if no further reading operation is performed, the frame image I couldn't see it.

However, since the ratio of viewing two or more microfiche frame images in parallel is generally high, it is difficult to view the contents for the first time after the movement of the X-Y carriage has been completed and the reading operation of the frame images has been completed. If it were possible to do this, the efficiency of the work would be significantly reduced, and the advantage of being able to freely perform various types of image processing would not be fully utilized.

The present invention is capable of digital image processing.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device that can instantly refer to more than one frame image.

[Means for Solving the Problem] The present invention provides a reading means for searching a desired image in an image recording medium and photoelectrically reading the image frame, a storage means for storing the read image, and the storage means. an image reading device comprising a display means for displaying an image recorded in the image reading means; a buffer memory having an area for storing two or more frames of frame images from the reading means; and a buffer memory corresponding to each frame of the buffer memory. The present invention is characterized by comprising a designation means for designating an area, and a display control means for displaying a frame image of the area designated by the designation means on a display unit other than the display means.

Here, the buffer memory is a second storage means different from the above-mentioned storage means, and is a VRA that is normally used for CRT display.
M may be used for this.

[Function] In the present invention, a buffer memory for storing images read by the reading means is provided for two or more frames, and an area of this buffer memory is designated to display frame images, so that - degree information can be stored. If reading is performed, it is not necessary to perform a reading operation every time information is displayed, and two or more frame images can be immediately referred to.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of an image reading section of an image reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Microfiche l, an information recording medium, is a sheet of film with many image frames AI.

A2,...,A14,B1,...,G
This is a type of microfilm that records 14 in reduced size.

The fluorescent lamp 2 is a longitudinal light source disposed corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the microfiche l, and the field lens 3 includes the fluorescent lamp 2, a thick glass plate 4.5 holding the microfiche 1 therebetween, and the field lens 3. It has a cylindrical shape that has lens characteristics only in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the fluorescent lamp 2.

The fluorescent lamp 2 and the field lens 3 uniformly illuminate an area corresponding to one frame row of the microfiche I up to both ends, for example, every frame from E1 to E14.

Further, the frame image of the microfiche 1 is reflected by the first mirror M1, and is imaged by the projection lens L onto the surface of the reading sensor 22 via the second and third mirrors M2 and M3.

Here, the first mirror M1 and the projection lens L are fixed on the lens stand 6, and the second and third mirrors M
2 and M3 are fixed to the mirror stand 7, and the reading sensor 22 is fixed independently of the lens stand 6 and the mirror stand 7.

One end of each of the L lens stand 6 and the mirror stand 7 is slidably supported by a common shaft 8 via bearings 6a, 7a.

Further, the other end of each of the lens stand 6 and mirror stand 7 is provided with a slider (not shown) for improving sliding characteristics.
are supported by a common guide 9 via. This guide 9 positions the lens stand 6 and the mirror stand 7 in the axial direction, and also guides their movement.

The drive wire 10 is connected to the lens stand 6 via the wire locking tool 10a, and a wire hook is locked to one end of the member 6C. This wire hook is attached to the other end of member 6C.
A tension spring 11 is attached, and the drive wire 10 is fixed to the tension spring 11 via a wire locking device lOb. Furthermore, a wire hook attached to the mirror stand 7 is connected to the member 7C. Further, a reference position (hereinafter referred to as home position) of the lens stand 6 during movement is determined by a home position sensor P.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing an outline of the image reading device.

This image reading device includes a reading section 12 having an insertion slot for microfiche 1 on the front panel, a host section 13 equipped with a memory for storing image data read by the reading section 12, and an MPUf for performing various controls. , a CRT 14 as a display means, and a keyboard 15 for inputting necessary data such as the frame number to be searched.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit of this embodiment.

The host section 13 is provided with an image memory 18 as a first storage means for one image data, and a buffer memory 19 as a second storage means. The buffer memory 19 has a capacity for two frames, B1 and B2.

The MPU 16 is a one-chip microcomputer that controls the entire device and compresses/expands image data.

The signal processing circuit 17 is a circuit incorporating an A/D converter that digitizes the analog signal from the reading sensor 22.

The memory 20 includes a video memory such as an image memory 18 and a buffer memory 19, as well as an RA used by the MP016.
This is memory such as M or ROM.

The index memory 21 is a memory that stores index images.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of this embodiment.

First, a microfiche l is loaded into the insertion slot of the reading unit 12 (S 1). Then, the host unit 13 stores the frequently used value of the microfiche (generally the value of the index frame) as the default value. Internal variable j is initialized based on the contents of memory 20 (B2), internal variable I is cleared, and variable K is initialized with variable 1 (B3).

Here, the internal variable I is a flag, and the variable is 0, which means the frame number of the image frames A1, ..., G14 to be read. For example, K = AI, A2, ..., A1
4. ...Gl, ...G14, using G14 as the above default value).

At this time, the lens stand 6 is located at the home position by the home position sensor P, but the drive amount corresponding to the alphabet G of the value G14 is set in the above variable by the feeding roller of the microfiche 1 (not shown). By giving a driving amount corresponding to the number 14 of the value G14 to the above variable to the scanning motor (not shown) of the lens stand 6, a predetermined image frame (in this case, the index frame) Complete the movement up to (B4).

Then, read this frame image l, X (B5)
, and stored in the image memory 18 (S17).

Next, the value of variable I, which is an index flag, is checked (B6).

The variable I here is "0", that is, the index frame has been read, so this frame image is stored in the index memory 21 (S7), and the variable I is set to rlJ (B8).
.

Then, the data in the index memory 21 is transferred to the CRT 14.
and perform index display (B9), and this C
Search for a predetermined frame number while referring to the index information displayed on the RT 14, use the keyboard 15 to separate the frame number and buffer number B to be stored with a comma, and select rA1.
4. Input like IJ (S10), buffer number Btk, "1" is B of buffer memory 19.
1 area, and "2" indicates the B2 area.

Next, check whether the character type input from the keyboard 15 is a frame number or not. In this case, it is a frame number, so depending on the value of the variable, select S4 → S5 →
The process of S17 is performed.

Then, in the process of B6 and S12, the value of variable I is "1".
”, and since the buffer number B has changed to rlJ, the frame image read in the process of B5 is stored in the Bl area of the buffer memory 19 (S13), and the data stored in this Bl area is transferred to the CRT 14. displayed above (S
14).

If you know the frame number you want to search for next, enter that frame number and the above SIO → Is 1
1 → S4 → S5 → S17 → S6 → S12 → S13 →
514 is repeated, and the desired frame image is displayed on the CRT 14.
displayed above.

However, if you do not know the frame number you want to search for and want to refer to the index information, you can enter the 511-315 →The process of S9 is executed, and the index information is immediately displayed.

Next, when viewing the frame image A12, if it becomes necessary to refer to the frame image D5, when inputting the SlO, enter the frame number D5 from the keyboard 15 and the number 2 of the buffer memory 19 to be stored, using a comma. If you separate it and input it like rD5, 2J, SIO → 511 +S4 → S5 → S1
7→S6→S12 are executed to obtain the desired frame image D5.
but.

It is stored in the B2 area of the buffer memory 19 (316),
It will be displayed on CRTIA (s ia)
.

Here, if you want to see the previous frame image A12.

When "1" is input from the keyboard 15 (S10), S
Execute 11 → 515 → 514.

Area B1 of buffer memory 19 will be displayed on CRT 14 instead of frame image D5.

In short, if you want to refer to the frame images A12 and D5 alternately, the frame image A12 read by the 2-degree reading sensor 22
By storing the image data in area B2 of the buffer memory 19, a frame image can be created by inputting the number (1 or 2) of the buffer memory 19 in which the desired frame image is stored from the keyboard 15. C just by reading
Since the image is displayed on the RT 14, the desired image can be immediately viewed after inputting the number of the buffer memory 19.

Next, a case will be described in which image data is compressed and expanded upon input to and output from area B2 of the buffer memory 19.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart thereof, and corresponds to 316 in FIG. 4 showing the overall operation. Note that other basic operations are the same as in the embodiment described above.

In this example, when inputting the frame number above, for example,
When area B2 of the buffer memory 19 is specified, such as rA 12 and 2J, the image data is automatically compressed to reduce the amount of data (521), and the data is stored in area B2 (S22). In addition, area B of the backup memory 19
When reading data from 2, the data is automatically expanded (S23).

Frame images to be displayed on the CRT 14 with sparse contents have high compression efficiency, so when storing image data in the buffer memory 19, by specifying area B2,
The required capacity can be reduced.

In this example, as for the data in the area B1 of the buffer memory 19, as shown in FIG.
Although no expansion is performed, the data in this area Bl may also be compressed and expanded in the same manner as shown in FIG.

The buffer memory 19 also includes the above-mentioned area B1. B2
The storage device is not limited to one that has the following, but may be one that can store even more frame images.

Furthermore, instead of displaying the images alternately, a plurality of images may be reduced and displayed simultaneously.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, by storing the image data read by the reading means in a designated buffer memory, there is no need to perform a reading operation every time the image data is displayed. If you are watching and want to see another frame image, you can instantly display the desired frame image by simply loading the backup memory.

Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the wasted time required for frame movement and reading operations that were required with conventional digital image reading devices, and it is possible to use CR for image recording media such as microfiche.
The workability when observing with T can be greatly improved,
Particularly when observing two frame images in parallel, a great effect can be obtained.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the internal JIII structure of an image reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing an outline of the image reading device of the same embodiment. ff13 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control circuit of the same embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the same embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing part of the operation in another embodiment of the present invention. l...Microfiche, 2...Fluorescent lamp, 3...Field lens. 6... Lens stand, 7... Mirror stand, 10... Drive wire. 12...Reading section, 3...Host section, 4...CRT, 5...Keyboard. 6...MPU. 7... Signal processing circuit, 8... Image memory, 9... Buffer memory, 0... Memory, l... Index memory, 2... Reading sensor.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A reading device that searches for a desired image in an image recording medium and photoelectrically reads the image frame, a storage device that stores the read image data, and displays the image stored in the storage device. a buffer memory provided separately from the storage means and having an area for storing two or more frame images from the reading means; for each frame of the buffer memory; An image reading device comprising: a designation unit for designating a corresponding area; and a display control unit for displaying a frame image of the area designated by the designation unit on a display unit different from the display unit. (2) The image reading device according to claim (1), wherein the image data from the reading means is stored in a designated buffer memory. (3) The image reading device according to claim (1), wherein inputting and outputting data to and from the buffer memory for at least one frame is performed by compressing and decompressing data.