JPH047956A - Picture input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To save a buffer or a counter for an absolute coordinate and to reduce the cost of the picture input device by providing a mark detection means detecting a mark displaying a read part or a non-read part and controlling a CPU to be in the read or the non-read mode when the mark is detected. CONSTITUTION:A marker detection circuit 25 compares a picture element data from a picture processing circuit 24 with a prescribed threshold level to detect a marker line described on an original and a mark detecting signal MS is outputted to a CPU 27. The CPU 27 judges the start and end of a region displayed on the marker line by the signal MS to control an output and a non- output of a picture element data. As a result, a RAM buffer or a counter for managing the mark position as the absolute coordinate and the cost of the picture input device 21 is reduced.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image input device, and more particularly, to an image input device that reads a document whose reading area or non-reading area is indicated by a predetermined mark.

[Conventional technology]

Generally, in an image input device, reflected light projected onto a document from a light source is guided through an optical system to a photoelectric conversion means, and the photoelectric conversion means performs photoelectric conversion and outputs it as a serial pixel signal.

Recently, it has become possible to mark areas on a document with markers or the like to mark areas that you want to read or do not want to read, read the marked document in this way with an image input device, and output only the image data within the marked area. Image input devices have appeared that do not output only image data within a marked area.

A conventional image input device for reading a document in which areas are displayed with such marks is configured as shown in FIG. 7, for example. That is, the conventional image input device 1 uses a CCD (Charg, e-Coupled) as a photoelectric conversion means.
Device) 2, A/D converter 3, image processing circuit 4, marker detection circuit 5, RAM buffer 6.7, I
/F control circuit 8, I/F 9 and CPU (Cent
ral Processing Unit) 10, etc., and a host device 11 such as a personal computer is connected to the I/F 9.

In the image input device 1, for example, as shown in FIG.
3, the CCD 2 first reads the document from the beginning to the last line, and then converts the pixel data of this read image into A/
After being digitally converted by the D converter 3, it is sent to the marker detection circuit 5 via the image processing circuit 4 and stored in the RAM buffer 7. At this time, the marker detection circuit 5
As shown in FIG. 9, the marker line 12 is determined by comparing input pixel data with a predetermined threshold level m, and the determination result is stored in the RAM 6. In the example shown in FIG. 8, this marker detection circuit 5 detects the area indicated by the mark in the main operation direction (X direction) and the sub operation direction (Y direction) of the starting point S and the ending point E of the marker line 12. absolute coordinates US (Xa, Xb), E (X
c, Yd) is detected, and the data of its absolute coordinates is stored in the RAM 6. Therefore, the marker detection time 85 is as follows:
In order to determine the absolute coordinates of the marker line 12, a RAM processor 6 for absolute coordinates and a counter are required.

When the reading of one page of the original 1301 is completed, the image input device 1 outputs the image data stored in the RAM 7 to the tosto device 11, and then the CPU 10 reads the area displayed by the marker line 12 stored in the RAM 6. reading,
Information on absolute coordinates indicating this area is output to the host device II via the I/F control circuit 8 and I/F 9.

C Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such conventional image input devices, marker lines are detected as absolute coordinates of the document, so the hardware configuration for detecting the marker lines as absolute coordinates, that is, the absolute This requires a RAM buffer for coordinates, a counter, etc., and the image input device becomes expensive, resulting in a problem of high cost.

[Purpose of the invention]

Therefore, the invention according to claim 1 provides the following: When the mark detection means detects a mark indicating a read portion or a non-read portion of a predetermined image written on a manuscript,
Outputting the detection result of the mark as a synchronization signal for the CPU,
Based on the synchronization signal, the CPU determines output 1 or non-output of the pixel signal, and controls reading and non-reading of the area indicated by the mark in the document, thereby setting the mark position to absolute coordinates. The invention as claimed in claim 2 aims to reduce the cost of an image input device by omitting buffers and counters for making judgments, and the invention as claimed in claim 2 displays a read portion or a non-read portion of a predetermined image written on a manuscript. When a mark detection means detects a mark, the absolute position of the mark is determined by inserting the detection result of the mark into a pixel signal as a synchronization signal for displaying mark detection and outputting it to a host device, etc. (This method notifies the host device, etc. of the mark position in real time, eliminates the need for buffers and counters to determine the mark position as absolute coordinates, reduces the cost of the image input device, and also allows the host device to know the mark position.) The purpose is to make it possible.

[Structure of the invention]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 provides an image input device that converts reflected light from a document into photoelectric a and reads and outputs a document image as a serial pixel signal. mark detection means for detecting a mark indicating a read portion or a non-read portion of an image is provided, and when the mark detection means detects the mark, it outputs the detection result of the mark as a synchronization signal for the CPU;
The invention according to claim 2, characterized in that U determines output or non-output of the serial pixel signal based on the synchronization signal, and controls reading and non-reading of an area indicated by a mark in the document, In an image input device that photoelectrically converts light reflected from a document and reads and outputs the document image as a serial pixel signal, a mark indicating a read portion or a non-read portion of a predetermined image written on the document is detected. The present invention is characterized in that a mark detection means is provided, and when the mark detection means detects the mark, the detection result of the mark is inserted into the serial pixel signal and output as a synchronization signal for displaying mark detection.

Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given based on examples.

1 to 5 are diagrams showing an embodiment of an image input device according to the invention as claimed in claim 1. FIG.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of the image reading device 21.
The image input device 21 is a CCD (Charge Coupon).
pledDevice) 22, A/D converter 23, image processing circuit 241, marker detection circuit 25, RAM h Noah y 26, cP U27, I/F control circuit 2
8, an I/F 29, etc., and a host device 30 such as a personal computer or the like is connected to the I/F 29.

The reflected light of the light projected on the original is incident on the C0D 22, and the CCD 22 photoelectrically converts the incident light and outputs it to the A/D converter 23 as an analog signal for each pixel, that is, serial pixel data. do.

The A/D converter 23 performs A/D conversion (ablog/digital conversion) on the pixel data manually input from the CCD 22 and converts it into a digital value of predetermined bits, for example, 6 bits, and outputs it to the image processing circuit 24. do.

The pixel data sent to the image processing circuit 24 is sent to the marker detection circuit 25, undergoes image processing such as shading correction, and is output to the RAM bass buffer 26.

Writing of the pixel data output to the RAM sofa 26 is controlled by the CPtJ 27. J, that is, C
The PU27 accepts the conditions (
The RAM
Controls writing to the hash sofa 26.

The marker detection circuit 5 detects a marker line written on the document by comparing the pixel data from the image processing circuit 4 with a predetermined threshold level m (see FIGS. 2 and 8) and detects a mark. The signal MS is output to the CPU 27. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when a rectangular marker line 12 is provided on the document 13, when the reading line is L, the density of the pixel data of the reading line is
As shown in FIG. 9, the marker line 12 can be detected by comparing it with the threshold level m. When the reading line is Ll, the pixel data of the reading line becomes as shown in FIG. 2, and the density of the pixel data is set to a predetermined threshold level m
The marker line 12 can be detected by comparing with .

The marker detection circuit 5 detects a mark (marker line 12)
When the mark detection signal MS is detected, the mark detection signal MS is output to the CPUl0, but this mark detection signal MS is input as a synchronization signal to the CPUl0, and the CPUl0 outputs the mark detection signal MS to the CPUl0.
When inputted, it is determined that the marker line 12 of the document 13 has been detected, and writing of pixel data to the RAM 26 is controlled. Furthermore, this marker detection circuit 25 is constructed by adding one signal to the marker line judgment circuit section of the conventional marker detection circuit, and can be implemented with a simple modification.

The pixel data written in the RAM 261 is sent to the Hosmil device 30 via the I/F control circuit 28 and I/F 29.
is output to.

Next, the effect will be explained.

Now, a case where a marker line J2 as shown in FIG. 8 is provided on the document 13 will be described.

First, after forming the marker line 12 on the document 13, the operator inputs whether the image within the marker line 12 is to be set as a reading area or a non-reading area by operating keys on the operation section of the image input device 21, etc. .

In addition, information to the effect that the marker detection function is to be used, information on the number of marker detections, etc. are input. The information on the number of marker detections indicates the number of times the marker line 12 has been detected in the sub-scanning direction, and the number of areas in the sub-scanning direction divided by the marker line 12 can be determined from this number of detections.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the image input device 21, when the marker detection function is turned on (step S1) and the number of marker detections n and the output method of the pixel data in the marker are set (steps S2 and S3), Start reading from the first line of No. 13, check the output method for the image inside the marker, and press (
In step S4), writing to the RAM 26 is controlled.

That is, check whether the output is within the marker (step S4), and if the inside of the marker is a reading area, the pixel data from the first row until the marker is detected is not written to the RAM 26 (step S5), and the inside of the marker is a non-reading area. If so, pixel data from the first row until the marker is detected is written into the RAM 26 (step S6). next,
When marker detection is started (step S7), it is checked whether the output is within the marker (step S8). If the output is within the marker, the pixel data is written to the RAM 26 (step S9); if it is not the output within the marker,
Writing of pixel data to the RAM 26 is stopped (step S10). This operation is performed while the marker is being detected or until the end marker is detected as described later, and when the marker detection is finished (step 512), the marker is checked to see if it is an output within the marker. During internal output, writing of pixel data to the RAM 26 is prohibited in step 513.
), RA of pixel data when not output in marker
Writing to M26 is started (step 514). Next, the number of times the marker was detected that was sent in step S2 is subtracted by 1 (step 515), and it is checked whether the marker has been detected the number of times that the marker was sent (step 515).
7p516). If detection of all markers has not been completed, return to step S7 and perform the same process,
When detection of all markers is completed and writing of all necessary pixel data to the RAM 26 is completed, the RAM 26
The pixel data is read out from the host device 30 via the I/F control circuit 28 and I/F 29. Therefore, marker line 1 is stored in RAM26.
Only the pixel data of the reading area of the document 13 specified by 2 is written and output to the host device.

In the above process, when the marker detection circuit 25 detects a marker line (mark), it outputs a mark detection signal MS to the CPU 27.
When the marker detection signal MS is input as a synchronization signal to the PU 27, the CPU 27 performs recognition processing for the start and end of marker detection, as shown in FIG. 4. That is, when the mark detection signal MS is input, the CPU 27 checks whether the marker detection star 1-on flag is currently set (step TI), and if it is in the start-on state, turns off the start-on flag. Turn on the marker detection end (step T2). This indicates that marker detection is in an end-on state, and one area delimited by the marker line 12 has ended. On the other hand, when the start is on at step 7'TI, the marker detection start flag is turned on to set marker detection on (step T3).

This marker detection start-on state indicates that one area delimited by the marker line 12 has started. In this way, the CPLJ 27 can determine the start and end of the area displayed by the marker line 12 based on the mark detection signal MS from the marker detection circuit 25, and can control output and non-output of pixel data. As a result, RAM for managing mark positions as absolute coordinates
A sofa and a counter can be omitted, and the cost of the image input device 21 can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the CPU 27 controls writing to the RAM buffer 26 based on the detection result of the marker detection circuit 25, but the invention is not limited to this. Reading during transmission may also be controlled. Further, in the embodiment described above, all data in the reading area of one page of the original document is stored in the RAM buffer 26 and then outputted, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the image input device according to the second aspect of the invention. This embodiment is applied to an image input device similar to the image input device 21 shown in FIG.
Components similar to those of the image input device 21 in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 5, the image input device 41 includes a CCD 22, an A
/D converter 23, image processing circuit 24, marker detection circuit 42, RAM buffer 26, CPU 43, I/'F control circuit 44, I/F 29, etc., and the I/F 29 is equipped with a host device such as a personal computer. 30 are connected.

The marker detection circuit 42 detects the marker line 12 of the document 13 in the same manner as the marker detection circuit 25 described above, but
The mark detection signal MX is output to the I/F control circuit 44. Furthermore, this marker detection circuit 42 is constructed by adding one signal to the marker line determination circuit section of the conventional marker detection circuit, and can be implemented with only simple changes. The CPU 43 controls writing and reading of pixel data into the RAM buffer 26, but does not control writing into and reading from the RAM buffer 26 based on the mark detection signal MX of the marker detection circuit 42 as in the above embodiment. , writing of pixel data processed by the image processing circuit 24 to the RAM buffer 26 and the host device 3
RAM buffer 2 only for sending pixel data to 0
6 control is performed. As described above, the I/F control circuit 44 receives the mark detection signal MX from the marker detection circuit 42, and the I/F control circuit 44 receives the mark detection signal MX from the mark detection circuit 42. Then, a signal indicating a mark (mark signal) is inserted into the serial pixel data sent to the host device 30 and sent out.

Next, the effect will be explained.

The pixel data photoelectrically converted by the CCD 22 is digitally converted by the A/D converter 23 and then inputted to the image processing circuit 24, and the pixel data inputted to the image processing circuit 24 is outputted to the marker detection circuit 42. At the same time, the image is outputted to the RAM buffer 26 after being subjected to image processing such as shading correction. The pixel data sent to the RAM buffer 26 is sequentially sent to the host device 30 via the 17F control circuit 44 and I/F 29.

On the other hand, the pixel data sent to the marker detection circuit 42 is
The marker detection circuit 42 detects the marker line 12.
When the mark detection signal MX is detected, the mark detection signal MX is sent to the I/F control circuit 4.
Output to 4. When the I/F control circuit 44 receives the mark detection signal MX image from the marker detection circuit 42, it inserts a signal indicating a mark into the pixel data sent from the RAM buffer 26 and sends it to the host device 30. , R for managing conventional mark positions as absolute coordinates
The AM buffer and counter can be omitted, and the cost of the image input device 21 can be reduced. In addition, if the host device 30 on the receiving side determines the method of image processing within the marker line 12 in advance, the pixel data until the signal indicating the mark is received from the image input device 41 is stored in a buffer or the like. It is possible to set whether to store the pixel data in the buffer or the like after receiving the signal indicating the mark, or to store the pixel data sent from the image input device 41 in the buffer or the like. As a result, the buffer amount in the host device 30 can be reduced.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where the reading area or the unreadable head of the document is displayed surrounded by a rectangular marker line is explained. You can specify an area even if it is not rectangular. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, a marker line 52 in the sub-scanning direction is drawn on a document 51, and an area sandwiched between the marker lines 52 is set as a reading area or a non-reading area.

Furthermore, the number of times the marker line 52 is detected is set to ! Then, by performing mark determination processing and pixel data processing in the same manner as the processing shown in FIG. This method can be similarly applied to the invention set forth in claim 2. therefore,
The area can be specified by drawing a required number of marker lines indicating the area in the sub-scanning direction, the length of which indicates the area, and the area specification method can be simplified.

〔effect〕

According to the invention set forth in claim 1, when the mark detection means detects a mark indicating a read portion or a non-read portion of a predetermined image written on a document,
Outputting the mark detection result as a CPU synchronization signal,
Since the CPU can determine output or non-output of the pixel signal based on the synchronization signal, this synchronization signal can be used as a synchronization signal for reading and non-reading of the pixel signal of the document, and the mark position can be determined absolutely. Buffers and counters for determining coordinates can be omitted.

Therefore, the cost of the image input device can be reduced.

According to the invention set forth in claim 2, when the mark detection means for detecting a mark indicating a read part or a non-read part of a predetermined image written on a document detects a mark, the mark detection result is converted into a mark detection means. Since it can be inserted into the pixel signal as a display synchronization signal and output to the host device, etc., it is possible to notify the host device, etc. of the mark's position in real time without having to judge the absolute position of the mark. Buffers and counters for determining absolute coordinates can be omitted. Therefore, the cost of the human-powered image device can be reduced, and the mark position can also be known in the host device, and the amount of buffers for storing input pixel data can be reduced.

Further, according to the inventions recited in claims 1 and 2, reading and non-reading areas of a document can be specified only by marker lines in the sub-scanning direction, so designation of reading and non-reading areas of a document is easy. can be done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 4 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the image input device according to the invention as claimed in claim 1. FIG. 1 is a process diagram of the image input device, and FIG. Figure 3 is a flowchart of the marker detection process and pixel data transmission process, and Figure 4 is the area start and area for marker detection. It is a flowchart of end recognition processing. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the image input device according to the second aspect of the invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of writing marker lines on a manuscript according to each invention of the present application. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a conventional image input device. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of writing marker lines on a manuscript. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the pixel density and the threshold level for marker detection when the border line of FIG. 8 is read. 1... Image input device, 2... CCD, 3... A/D converter, 4... Image processing circuit, 5...・Marker detection circuit, 6... RAM buffer, 7 buffer, 7... RAM buffer, 8... I/F control circuit, 9... I/ F, 10...CPU, 11...Host device, 12...Marker line, l3...Manuscript, 21...Image input device , 22...CCD, 23...A/D converter, 24...image processing circuit, 25...marker detection circuit, 26... ...RAM buffer, 27...CPU, 28...I/F control circuit, 29...I/F, 30...host device, 41. ... Image input device, 42 ... Marker detection circuit, 43 ... CPU, 44 ... /F control circuit, 51 ... Manuscript, 52... Marker line, MS, MX... Mark detection signal. Agent: Patent Attorney Arigagun

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In an image input device that photoelectrically converts light reflected from a document and reads and outputs the document image as a serial pixel signal, a mark that indicates the read portion or non-read portion of a predetermined image written on the document. A mark detection means for detecting the mark is provided, and when the mark detection means detects the mark, it outputs the detection result of the mark as a synchronization signal for the CPU.
An image input device characterized in that U determines output or non-output of a serial pixel signal based on the synchronization signal, and controls reading and non-reading of an area indicated by a mark in a document. (2) In an image input device that photoelectrically converts light reflected from a document and reads and outputs the document image as a serial pixel signal, a mark that indicates the read portion or non-read portion of a predetermined image written on the document. A mark detection means is provided for detecting the mark, and when the mark detection means detects the mark, the mark detection result is inserted into the serial pixel signal and outputted as a synchronization signal for displaying mark detection. image input device.