JPH05120405A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To realize the insertion of an image without further providing a frame memory. CONSTITUTION:The first image original is read by an image reading means 2. The image data of the first read image original are written in an image memory 7. A image insertion area in the image of the first image original written in the image memory 7 is set by an insertion area setting means 35. A signal indicating the set image interruption area is generated from an interruption area signal generating means 36. The image insertion area signal is superimposed on the image data read out from the image memory 7 by a superimposing circuit 9. The output data of the superimposing circuit 9 are taken out from an output terminal. Only the image data of a storage area on the image memory 7 corresponding to the image insertion area can be reloaded. The image data of the second image original read by the image reading means 2 are written only in the reloadable storage area of the image memory 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, and more particularly to the case of embedding an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image reading apparatus in which an image is read by an image reader, for example, when another original image is embedded in a previously read original image, the following method is used. Has been.

One of the methods is to separately prepare a frame memory for image fitting, read two document images, temporarily store each of them in a file, and then, on a frame memory for fitting, use a microcomputer ( C
This is a method of synthesizing images by software using PU).

Another method is to perform superimposing, in which a frame memory is prepared for superimposing and an image is combined by a CRT controller or the like.

[0005]

However, in the case of the former method, an expensive frame memory must be separately prepared for image synthesis, and since it does not have a video output, it is possible to proceed while watching the display. It is difficult to set the fitting position. Further, since the images are combined by software, the processing speed is slow.

In the latter superimposing method, two frame memories are required and the apparatus becomes expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device capable of performing image fitting at a relatively high speed without adding a frame memory.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, when the reference numerals of the embodiments described later are made to correspond, the image reading means 2 for reading an image original and the image reading means. 2. The image memory 7 into which the image data of the first image original read in 2 is written, and the first memory written in the image memory 7.
Setting area setting means 35 for setting an image fitting area in the image of the image original, and fitting area display signal generating means 36 for generating a signal indicating the image fitting area set by the fitting area setting means 35.
A superimposing circuit 9 for superimposing the image fitting area signal on the image data read from the image memory, and an output terminal 10 to which the image data from the superimposing circuit is supplied.
R, 10G, 10B, and means 32, 33, 34 for enabling rewriting of only the image data in the storage area on the image memory 7 corresponding to the image fitting area, and the means read by the image reading means 2. Rewriting means 32 for writing the image data of the second image original only in the rewritable storage area of the image memory 7.

[0009]

The output terminal 10 of the image reading apparatus having the above structure
The image monitor device 11 is connected to R, 10G, and 10B. Then, of the first original image displayed on the screen of the monitor device 11, the area in which the second image set by the fitting area setting means is desired to be displayed is displayed by, for example, a frame display. .. Therefore, the desired area of the first original image can be easily set as the fitting area by setting the fitting area while viewing the frame display.

Then, only the area of the image memory corresponding to the fitting area set as described above becomes writable. Then, after that, when the second document image is read by the image reading unit 2, the second document image is written in the memory area of the image memory 7 corresponding to the fitting area. Therefore, the second original image is fitted to the desired position in the first original image.

[0011]

1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a document table, and 2 is an image reading head. In the case of this example, the image reading head 2 is an optical type, and the light source 2
1, a multi-lens array 22, and a CCD line sensor 23. Then, the reflected light obtained by irradiating the original 3 placed on the original placing table 1 with the light from the light source 21 is received by the line sensor 23 via the multi-lens array 22. .

In the case of this example, the line sensor 23 is constituted by arranging a plurality of, for example, 1728 CCD light receiving cells on a straight line, and the line sensor 23 is in a vertical scanning direction of a monitor screen which will be described later. Is arranged as. Then, the line sensor 23 or the document table 1 is moved in the horizontal scanning direction to read the document. When reading one line of the image original, the light source 21 sequentially emits three primary colors of red light, blue light, and green light, and three primary color signals are obtained for one line.

The output of the line sensor 23 is supplied to the A / D converter 5 via the amplifier 4 and converted into digital image data. This digital image data is a so-called FIF.
It is supplied to the line buffer 6 such as O, and the timing is adjusted to be written in the image memory 7. The image memory 7 is a frame memory and, for example, a RAM, a dual port memory, or the like is used.

In this case, the operation of the line sensor 23, the A / D converter 5 and the line buffer 6 is controlled by the control signal from the read timing control circuit 31, and the image memory 7 is controlled by the memory control circuit 32. Is controlled by the control signal.

Under the control of the memory control circuit 32, the three-primary-color image data is read from the image memory 7, supplied to the D / A converter 8, and converted into an analog three-primary-color image signal. Then, the analog three-primary-color image signal is output via the superimposing circuit 9 to output terminals 10R, 10B,
It is taken out to 10G. Then, these output terminals 10
The image signals obtained in R, 10B and 10G are, for example, CR
The image is supplied to a color image monitor device 11 such as a T (cathode ray tube) to display a color image.

The three primary color signals from the superposing circuit 9 are the luminance signal matrix circuit 12 and the color signal matrix circuit 1.
3 and the luminance signal Y is supplied from the circuit 12 to the circuit 13
From which a color signal C is obtained. Then, these luminance signals Y
And the color signal C are taken out via the output terminals 10Y and 10C. Further, these luminance signal Y and color signal C
Is supplied to the mixing circuit 14, a composite video signal is obtained therefrom, and is taken out via the output terminal 10V.

The read timing control circuit 31 and the memory control circuit 32 are controlled by a system control circuit 33 including a microcomputer, for example. The system control circuit 32 exchanges data and control signals with a microcomputer (hereinafter, referred to as CPU) 34 that controls the entire system. System control circuit 33 and CPU 34
May be composed of one microcomputer.

From the system control circuit 33, a horizontal synchronizing signal HD, a vertical synchronizing signal VD and a composite synchronizing signal SYNC in which these signals are mixed are output terminals 37, respectively.
It is taken out via H, 37V, 37S.

A key input device 35 is connected to the CPU 34. From the key input device 35, for example, the reading range of a document is determined, the enlargement ratio at the time of reading is switched, and the read document is read. A key input signal for setting a fitting range when another image is fitted therein is supplied to the CPU 34.

In the case of this example, enlargement can be performed without deterioration of resolution. That is, normally, the resolution of the display screen of the CRT monitor in which the line sensor 23 is arranged in the vertical scanning direction is about 480 lines. On the contrary,
In the case of this example, the number of light receiving cells of the line sensor 23 is 172
Since there are eight, when displaying a full-size (for example, A4) original on the entire display screen, one of four light-receiving cells of the line sensor 23 is thinned out and written in the image memory 7. Just do it.

Then, for example, when reading a 1/4 size area of the above-mentioned full-size document and enlarging and displaying it on the entire screen, the output of all the light receiving cells of the line sensor 23 in the reading area is output to the image memory. This can be realized by writing in 7 and an enlarged image can be displayed without deterioration of resolution.

Further, in the image fitting mode, when a rectangular fitting range on the monitor screen is set by the key input means 35, the CPU 34 generates a frame display signal indicating the outer edge of the fitting range area in response to the key input. The frame generation circuit 36 is controlled so that it is generated from the circuit 36. In this frame display signal, for example, when the coordinate values of two diagonal positions of a rectangular area are input from the key input device 35, a frame line surrounding the area determined by these two points is converted into a single color, for example, a white line. It can be generated as a signal to be displayed.

The frame generation circuit 36 is not limited to the above. For example, the position on the screen may be set with a cursor using a mouse, and as described above, the inset region may be set by inputting the coordinate positions of the two diagonal positions of the rectangular region. .. Further, for example, a frame generating circuit as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-261260 may be used.

The frame display signal from the frame generation circuit 36 is
It is supplied to the superposition circuit 9 and superposed on the image data from the image memory 7.

Therefore, the CRT image monitor device 11
On the monitor screen of, the inset range area set on the read original image is displayed as an area surrounded by a frame. Therefore, since the frame position can be confirmed by looking at this screen display, it is possible to easily set the size and position of the fitting area to a desired one while looking at this screen display.

When the fitting range area is set as described above, the CPU 34 controls the system control circuit 33.
The information of the fitting range area is given to. In response to this, the system control circuit 33 controls the memory control circuit 32 so that only the memory area of the image memory 7 corresponding to the fitting range area can be written.

In this state, when the image original to be fitted is placed on the original placing table 1 and the original is read, the image data of the read original is stored in the memory area of the writable image memory 7. Written in. As a result, on the monitor screen, the newly read image is displayed in the fitted area designated by the frame display, with the newly read image fitted in the first read image.

Next, FIG. 1 at the time of image fitting described above
2 and 3 are flowcharts showing the operation of the above apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart for taking out the first image original of the original to be image-embedded. First, the device is placed in the image reading mode (step 10).
1). Then, the first image original is read (step 102) and written in the image memory 7 (step 103). Then, the image content written in the image memory 7 is displayed on the monitor 11 (step 10).
4).

In this reading mode, if a frame is designated on the monitor screen, by re-reading the first image original, it is possible to enlarge a part of the frame designated portion and enlarge the entire monitor.

Next, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the operation in the fitting mode. That is, first, the device is put into the fitting mode by, for example, key input (step 20
1). Then, the frame setting information is detected from the key input information (step 202). Next, the set frame display signal in the detected key input information is generated (step 20).
3). Then, by this frame display signal, as shown in FIG. 4A, the frame 42 of the fitting area is displayed so as to be superimposed on the image 41 of the first original displayed on the monitor screen 40 (step 204).

Then, the image data in the memory area of the image memory 7 corresponding to the fitting area surrounded by the frame 42 can be rewritten (step 205). Then, for example, in response to a signal such as a start of reading, the second image original placed on the original placing table 1 is read (step 206).

Then, the read image data of the second image original is written in the writable fitting area of the image memory 7 (step 207). Then, the image data is read from the image memory 7 and sent to the CRT monitor device 11 for display (step 2).
08). Then, on the CRT monitor screen 40, as shown in FIG.
As shown in B, the second original image 43 is inset and displayed in the inset area designated by the frame 42 in the first original image 41.

Next, the routine proceeds to step 209, where it is judged whether or not there is a request for further fitting, and if not, this flowchart is ended. If there is another fitting request, the process returns to step 202 and the above operation is repeated. Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, one original image 41
It is also possible to fit two or more images 43, 44, 45 therein.

The orientation of the inlaid image and the orientation of the inlaid image can be changed by changing the orientation of the original on the original placing table 1 relative to the line sensor 23. Further, since it is possible to read the in-fitted image and the in-fitted image by enlarging them respectively, it is possible to perform various insets.

As described above, image fitting can be performed with only one image memory (frame memory). Moreover, a plurality of inset images can be used as described above. Further, by changing the reading direction of the original, it is possible to set the image in various modes.

In the above example, the fitting range is displayed as a frame so as to be superimposed on the image, but the displaying method of the fitting range is not limited to this. For example, the entire area of the fitting range is blanked. May be displayed as. In this case, a blanking signal for blanking the image in the fitting range area can be used as the display signal of the fitting range area. And
When the embedded image is read, the generation of this blanking signal is stopped.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to embed an image without adding a frame memory. Moreover, it is possible to set a plurality of inset images.

Further, in the present invention, since the signal for indicating the fitting range area is superimposed on the image data, the fitting range area can be confirmed on the monitor screen, and the size and position of the fitted image can be confirmed. Can be easily set to the desired one.

Further, by changing the reading direction of the original, the orientation of the image to be fitted and the image to be fitted can be changed, so that the image can be fitted in various modes.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a main part of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an essential part of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an image fitting operation according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a composite image by image fitting according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 image reading head 3 image original 7 image memory 9 superimposing circuit 11 CRT monitor 21 light source 23 line sensor 31 reading timing control circuit 32 memory control circuit 33 system control circuit 35 key input device 36 frame generation circuit

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H04N 5/262 7337-5C

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image reading unit for reading an image original, an image memory in which image data of the first image original read by the image reading unit is written, and the first image original written in the image memory. Image fitting area setting means for setting an image fitting area in the image, fitting area signal generating means for generating a signal indicating the image fitting area set by the fitting area setting means, and an image read from the image memory. A superimposing circuit that superimposes the image embedding area signal on data, an output terminal to which the image data from the superimposing circuit is supplied, and rewrite only the image data in the storage area on the image memory that corresponds to the image embedding area. And a second image original read by the image reading unit. An image reading apparatus and a rewrite unit to write only the image data in the rewritable the storage area of the image memory.