JPH05292263A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To store and display a large original efficiently in a way easy to recognize by storing the original of a size larger than a scanning means by eliminating the part of the original overlapped on an adjacent image as continuous data, and scrolling the display range of the original. CONSTITUTION:When the original of a size larger than that of a scanner part 1 is read and stored, the first part of the original is read first by the scanner part 1, and it is stored in an information storage part 4. Thence, a part adjacent to that part is read, and the image data of the part is stored in a temporary storage part 2. A comparison part 3 compares the image data with that of the first part stored in the information storage part 4, and stores data from which a detected overlapped part is eliminated as one sheet of image data. The data of the part to be displayed is inputted to a memory 5 for display based on a scroll signal from a signal input part 7. Furthermore, when the scroll signal is inputted, the storage content of the memory 5 for display is shifted in a direction reverse to that of scrolling, and new data is inputted from the information storage part 4 to a terminal part on a scroll side.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading device for reading an image of a large original.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image reading apparatus, when an image to be read is larger than a readable size of a scanner, the image is read in plural times. In this case, conventionally, each reading is stored as image data of another frame.

[0003]

By the way, when a large original image is read in a plurality of times, the images are partially overlapped and read so that a gap is not formed. However, if this is stored as it is, the data of the overlapping portion is stored. However, there is a disadvantage in that the number of frames that can be stored for a given storage capacity is reduced because an additional area is required.

Further, when this image data is displayed, since each frame is displayed as a separate image, the vicinity of the boundary cannot be seen as a continuous image, and the contents of the image near the boundary are difficult to understand.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading apparatus which can efficiently store even a large original image and whose display is easy to understand.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprises a scanning means for reading an image of an original, a storage means for storing the read image data, and an instructing means for instructing to read an adjacent image of the same original. An image stored in the storage means, the image data being compared with each other when adjacent images of the same document are read, and comparing means for deleting the overlapped portions and storing them as continuous image data. Display means for displaying data and scroll means for arbitrarily moving the display range of the display means within the range of the image data are provided.

[0007]

When a document having a size larger than that of the scanning means is to be read / stored, first the first part is read and then the part adjacent thereto is read. These are compared by the comparison means, and the overlapping portion is deleted. After that, these data are stored as one image data. By storing in this way, it becomes easy to carry out subsequent processing, for example, continuous processing at the time of display. When displaying this content, scrolling is possible only by moving and shifting the display portion according to the storage area of the memory.

[0008]

1 is an external view of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the configuration of the image reading apparatus. Further, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a document image read by the image reading apparatus, and FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining stored data of the read image. A display unit 6 and a signal input unit 7 are provided on the upper surface of the device. The display unit 6 is a liquid crystal matrix display, and displays the read image. The signal input unit 7 includes a scan start switch, a continuous scan switch, a scroll key, and the like. The scan start switch is a switch for starting the reading of the original image set in the scanning unit 1. The continuous scan switch reads the original image and then detects the overlapping portion by comparing with the image data previously read. This switch is turned on in the continuous scan mode. The scroll key is a key that is turned on when the image data is displayed on the display unit 6 and the image is scrolled vertically and horizontally. The scanner unit 1 is connected to the temporary storage unit 2 and stores the read image in the temporary storage unit 2. The temporary storage unit 2 is connected to the data comparison unit 3. The data comparison unit 3 is connected to the information storage unit 4. The data comparison unit 3 compares the image data already stored in the information storage unit 4 with the image data stored in the temporary storage unit 2 to detect an overlapping portion.
The display memory 5 is a memory that stores image data to be displayed on the display unit 6. These components operate based on the control signal input from the signal input unit 7.

In the continuous scan mode, this device operates as follows. When the first portion 11 of the document (see FIG. 3) is set on the scanner unit 1 and the scan start switch is turned on, the image is read and directly stored in the information storage unit 4. Next, the adjacent portion 12 is set in the scanner unit 1 and the continuous scan switch is turned on. The scanner unit 1 reads the adjacent portion 12, but stores the image data in the temporary storage unit 2. The comparison unit 3 inputs and compares the image data 12 and the first image data 11 already stored in the information storage unit 4, and the overlapping portion 12
a is detected. The data in which the overlapping portion 12a is deleted is stored in the information storage unit 4. At this time, an area is allocated as data that is continuous with the first image data 11. That is, continuous addresses are assigned to the right end of the image data 11 and the left end of the non-overlapping portion of the image data 12. Further, when the next adjacent portion 13 is read, similarly, the read image data is stored in the temporary storage unit 2 and then compared with the image data 12 by the data comparison unit 3, and the overlapping portion 13a is deleted, and then the information storage unit as continuous data. Store in 4.

When displaying the image data stored in the information storage unit 4, the image data read by the above operation is treated as one image data 10 as shown in FIG. Of these, the data 10a of the portion to be displayed is input to the display memory 5 based on the scroll signal input from the signal input unit 7. The display unit 6 displays the content of the display memory 5 as it is as an image. Further, when the scroll signal is input, the stored contents of the display memory 5 are shifted in the opposite direction to the scroll, and new data is input from the information storage unit 4 to the end portion on the scroll side. As a result, the entire range of the image data 10 can be viewed while scrolling.

[0011]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image data read in a plurality of times can be stored as one sheet of data, so that the storage area can be saved and at the time of displaying. Since it is possible to scroll, there is an advantage that the display contents are easy to see.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of the image reading apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a document image read by the image reading apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a state of a document image stored in the image reading apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3-Temporary storage unit 4-Information storage unit 5-Display memory

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A scanning unit for reading an image of an original,
Storage means for storing the read image data; instruction means for instructing to read adjacent images of the same document;
An image stored in the storage means, which compares the two image data when adjacent images of the same document are read, and deletes the overlapping portion and stores the image data as continuous image data. An image reading apparatus comprising: display means for displaying data; and scroll means for arbitrarily moving a display range of the display means within the range of the image data.