JPH05307435A - Picture area input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To designate the desired position of an original and to eliminate the need of the troublesome mounting work of the original by arbitrarily mounting the original on a table glass. CONSTITUTION:When the original 3 is mounted on the table glass, the original is detected by four vibration detection sensors S1-S4 provided at the periphery of the table glass by depressing the coordinate positions of four positions g1-g4 in the original 3. The whole area and the mounting state of the original 3 are grasped by obtaining the coordinates of the respective depressed point positions g1-g4 in accordance with detection timing. When the position of the desired area (a) of the original 3 is inputted in the grasped state, the coordinate of the position (a) is obtained in the similar way. Thus, a picture area input device which can obtain the coordinate at the position (a) as a position A which corresponds when the original 3 is mounted at a regular position shown by the states of G1-G4 based on the obtained whole area of the original.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for designating a desired image area of a document and inputting the image area of the document for processing an image in the designated area.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some image forming apparatuses such as copying machines perform image processing only on an image of a specific area of a document or excluding the image. For example, a desired image area of the original is designated, the image of the designated area is masked, and the other image is formed. In contrast to this masking, an image of a desired specific area is formed and other images are formed. There is image processing such as trimming that does not form a region.

Therefore, an area input device for designating a desired area of the original is required. Therefore, conventionally, the following devices have been proposed or implemented as devices for designating an image area.

(1) The copied image is superposed on a transparent sheet having a grid-like scale in advance, and the transparent sheet is scaled on the X-axis and Y-axis.
A method in which the data is read separately in the axial direction and the operator inputs one point at a time using the numeric keypad.

(2) A method in which the X-axis and Y-axis scales are provided on the document table, the scales are read in the same manner, and the data of the required points are input from the ten-key pad.

(3) A method in which switch rows are provided at regular intervals in each of the X-axis and Y-axis directions on the platen and corresponding coordinates are input by operating two switches.

(4) A method of forming a sensor matrix array in a plane shape on the upper surface of a document cover separately from the document table, and inputting a position with an input pen or the like.

As described above, if the area input methods (1) and (2) are adopted, the cost can be reduced, but the operability is extremely poor. If the method (3) is adopted, it is necessary to separately input the X-axis data and the Y-axis data, so that there is a drawback that the operability is poor.

According to the input method (4), the operability is improved, but since the sensor matrix array is expensive, the entire input device is expensive. In addition, a table for reading a document such as a document table is required to have transparency and smoothness, and the sensor matrix array cannot be directly provided, and a dedicated table for placing the document and inputting a designated position is provided. There is a need. In this case, there is a drawback that the original has to be placed on the transparent original placing table again.

Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-244068 proposes a device which utilizes a document table itself on which a document is placed and designates a necessary area of the document placed on the document table. This is because a vibration source is incorporated in the input pen, at least three vibration detection elements are provided around the document table, and the input pen strikes the document table so that the dot positions are three vibration detection elements. The hitting position is specified by detecting the timing received by. Although the specific means and configuration for specifying the hitting point position are not specified in detail, the cost is reduced because the document table itself is used and the key input device and the matrix array are not required. Can be achieved.

[0011]

According to the area input device described in the above (1) to (4) and the area input device described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-244068, a document is placed at a predetermined position, In this state, the desired image area is designated. Therefore, it is necessary to accurately place the document at the specified position.
If an area is designated in the area input in a state where the original is not placed at the proper position, image processing of an area different from the designated area is performed.

Therefore, in the conventional area input device,
In order to input a desired image area of a document, it is necessary to place the document in a proper position without fail, which is very troublesome and troublesome.

In addition, when the operator inputs the area of the original, if the operator does not know that the original is placed at the proper position or if the operator places the original at the proper position, accurate image processing cannot be performed. Also, an image of an unintended area is formed.

According to the present invention, when an area is input, even if the document is not placed at a regular position, the designated area can be processed as a regular image area without requiring a troublesome work. It is intended to provide an input device of.

[0015]

The image area input device of the present invention inputs the four corners of the original placed on the original placing portion to first grasp the area of the entire original, and in this state. By inputting a predetermined image area of the original, the input state of the image area is recognized based on the area of the entire original, and the same area as the state in which the original is placed at the regular position is recognized. Characterized by inputting.

The image area input device of the present invention is characterized in that a dot input means is used as a means for inputting the position of the document.

[0017]

According to the image area input device of the present invention configured as described above, a document is placed on the document placing portion and the four corners of the placed document are input. This makes it possible to grasp the entire area of the placed document and its placement state. That is, it is possible to know the positions of the four corners of the placed document as a reference. Then, next, an input is made for designating the image area of the document. By inputting the designation of the image area, it is possible to specify which position of the original with respect to the area of the entire original document, and thereby grasp the desired position of the designated original.

As the input means for designating the position of the original, the dot input means for specifying the dot position by hitting the original table is used as the input means for inputting with a ten-key or the like. Not only is the input much easier, but you can also enter the correct document position.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an image area input device of the present invention, which uses a dot input device capable of inputting the coordinates of the dot position by hitting the document placement surface. It is shown as an example.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a table glass, which is a document placing portion made of a single transparent glass plate, which is placed on the upper surface of the copying apparatus main body, and 2 is a document for placing a copy document 3. This is the placement area, and the image of the original placed in the area can be copied. Reference numeral 4 denotes a desired image designation area of the document 3 to be placed, which is a quadrangle area having a diagonal line between two points 5-5 'on the operation surface, and 6 is placed with the leading edge 3-1 of the document 3 as a reference. Is a reference plate in the vertical direction (Y axis) and is provided so as to cover a part of the top end of the table glass 1. The reference plate 6 is slightly projected from the mounting surface of the table glass 1 so that the leading edge 3-1 of the document is brought into contact with and locked to one side end of the reference plate 6, so that the document 3 can be easily mounted. To Further, 7 is a reference index of the placed document,
For example, the center line in image formation of a document is the X-axis.

Near the four corners of the table glass 1, sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ for determining the coordinates of the hitting position according to the present invention are provided on the back surface (or front surface) of the glass 1.
Is directly bonded to. The sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ are provided to detect any spotted position on the table glass 1, and are detection elements capable of detecting vibration transmitted from the spotted position, It is provided to detect the reception timing time.

With the configuration described in detail below, the original 3 is placed on the table glass 1, and the position signals (for area designation) of the designated points 5 and 5'of the original 3 are imaged on the copying apparatus main body. It can be input as the designated area 4. Thereby, the processing area of the copy image of the original can be designated. Further, not only this area designation, but also the copy condition and the like related to the detected position signal can be input by similarly scoring with a pen or the like with a desired input portion of the table glass 1 as a designated point.

In particular, as an input pen, if a vibrating element for vibrating at a constant frequency is provided inside the pen and the vibrating element vibrates for a fixed time by hitting on the table glass 1, the sensor S _The detection by _{1 to} S ₄ can be performed more accurately.

Therefore, when one point on the table glass 1 is hit, the vibration is transmitted from the hitting position to each of the centers S _{1 to} S ₄ , and the centers S _{1 to} S ₄ correspond to the straight line distance from the hitting position. Therefore, the time to detect (receive) the vibration is different. Thereby, for example, the spotted position with respect to the position (P ₀ ) of the reference index 7 can be calculated.
Therefore, it is possible to grasp the dot position of the document placing area 2 and perform image processing of the area designated by the dot position.

The image processing includes trimming for copying only a designated area, masking the original image in the designated area,
Image processing such as masking for copying other images.

The sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ are arranged, for example, at positions outside the document placing area 2. As for the arrangement position, for example, in order to simplify the calculation processing of the hitting point position, when the center line is the X axis and the vertical direction of the reference plate 6 is the Y axis, for example, the straight line connecting the sensors S ₁ and S ₃ and the sensor The straight line connecting S ₂ and S ₄ is arranged so that the intersection point P ₁ is orthogonal. Further, each sensor S ₁ ~ from the intersection P ₁
The distances to S ₄ are arranged to be equal.

Therefore, in the arrangement of the sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ , when the intersection point P _{1 on the} straight line is defined, the intersection point P _1
1 is assumed to be located on the center line (X-axis) indicated by the reference index 7 for placing the original 3. The center line is adjusted so as to coincide with the center of the paper transport system and the image forming system of the copying apparatus main body.

Now, assuming that the position of the reference index 7 on the center line is the origin O (P ₀ ) of the X and Y axes, the sensors S ₁ to
If S ₄ is accurately arranged and its intersection point P ₁ is above the center, the coordinates (x ₀ , y ₀ ) of the origin O of the reference index 7 are set as (0, 0).

Next, in the apparatus having the above structure,
A procedure for designating and inputting a desired area of a document will be described. Figure 2
As shown in FIG. 3, the document 3 is placed at an arbitrary position on the table glass 1 in order to input a desired area. in this case,
In order to simplify the explanation, it is assumed that the original 3 is arranged displaced by Δy (in the Y-axis direction) from the regular reference position shown by the broken line.

First, the original 3 is placed in the copy image forming area 2 of the table glass 1 such that the image surface faces upward, for example, in the state shown by the solid line. Then, the positions g1 to g4 of the four corners (corners) of the placed document 3 are struck by the input pen, and as described above, the sensors S ₁ to
By detecting the vibration in S ₄ , the impact point positions g1 to g
The coordinates of 4 are obtained. As a result, the entire area of the document 3 is grasped, and it is possible to recognize how much the document 3 is deviated from the regular document placement position.

That is, how much the center coordinates of the length (distance) between g1 and g2 deviate from the coordinates of the reference point (origin) P ₀ can be calculated. Therefore, it can be recognized that the document is displaced by Δx in the X-axis direction.

Then, the whole area of the original document surrounded by the above-mentioned printing point positions g1 to g4 is stored as a reference, and then a desired area of the original document 3, for example, the center point a of the original document 3 is printed. Then, if the area a is specified, the coordinates of the position of the area a are obtained based on the reception timing of the sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ .

With respect to the coordinates of the area a obtained as described above, the entire area of the original document 3 previously stored
The position of the area a can be obtained based on the entire area. The area a can be specified as the area A in the state where the document 3 is placed at the regular position. That is, it is possible to know the desired accurate area of the original 3.

Next, the original 3 is turned upside down and the image surface is made to face the table glass 1 and placed at a regular position indicated by broken lines surrounded by points G1 to G4. When the image formation is started in this way, image processing corresponding to the area A of the normally placed original corresponding to the area a previously obtained, for example, image processing such as trimming or masking is performed. In this case, image processing is performed on the area A that matches the area a specified by the operator.

As described above, when performing image processing on the designated area a of the original 3, the original 3 is arbitrarily placed in the image forming area 2 of the table glass 1 and the four corners of the original 3 are designated. The desired image area a of the original
Can be specified. Therefore, when the area is designated, it is not necessary to accurately place the document on the defined position, which is conventionally done, and the area can be easily input.

Next, a method for obtaining an arbitrary hitting point position (coordinates) on the table glass 1 will be described. In order to simplify the explanation, as shown in FIG. 3, a straight line (x = −y) between the sensors S _{1 and} S ₃ and a straight line (x between the sensors S _{2 and} S ₄ with the center line of the table glass 1 as the X axis are used.
= Y) is the origin O (0,0). Let L be the distance from the origin to each of the sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ . The coordinates of the position P ₀ of the reference index 7 of the reference plate 6 on the sensor line are (x ₀ , y ₀ ). The coordinates of the hitting point P (x, y) are calculated by the following equation.

[0037]

[Equation 1]

Q ₁ , Q ₂ shown in the above equation 1 and equation
(Same as Q ₁ and Q _{2 in} FIG. 3) shows the coordinates of the hitting point P when the straight line between the sensors S _{2 and} S ₄ is the Y axis and the straight line between the sensors S _{1 and} S ₃ is the X axis. It is a thing. The equation for converting the coordinates (Q ₁ , Q ₂ ) into the regular (x, y) is the above-mentioned formula 1. Therefore, the above Q ₁ and Q ₂ can be calculated by the following Equation 2 and the equation.

[0039]

[Equation 2]

In the above equation, the constants A ₁ , A ₂ and B ₁ , B ₂ and K ₁ ² , K ₂ ² are as shown in Formula 3.

[0041]

[Equation 3]

In the equation (3) for obtaining each constant, v is the transmission speed of vibration in the table glass 1. The actual vibration transmission speed of the table glass 1 varies depending on the material of the table glass and the manufacturing method, but is 3000 to 4500.
m / sec and about 4300 m / sec for soda glass. Further, T ₁ and T ₂ are time differences between the sensors S _{1 to} S _{4, and} the time difference between the sensors S _{1 and} S ₃ is T ₁ and the sensor S ₂ as shown in the time chart of FIG.
This is the case where the time difference of −S ₄ is T ₂ . In FIG. 4, for example, in the input device of FIG. 2, when a designated point P on the table glass 1 is hit with a pen or the like, the vibration wave is transmitted to the surface or the inside of the table glass 1 and the respective sensors S _{1 to} S. The time chart when reaching ₄ is shown.

T ₀ is the timing when the designated point P is pressed, t _{1 to} t ₄ are the timings when the sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ detect the vibration, respectively, and T ₁ and T ₂ are the sensors S ₁ respectively. , S _3, and the difference in detection timing between the sensors S ₂ , S ₄ .

From the above, the constants in the equation (3) are set to the time differences T ₁ and T ₂ , and the table glass 1 to be used.
Can be obtained by setting the transmission speed v at
Thus, the coordinates (x, y) of the hit point position P can be obtained by performing calculations based on the equations 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram for explaining the outline of the circuit for dot input in the area input according to the present invention.

The sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ are for converting vibrations into electric signals, and piezoelectric sensors, strain sensors, microminiature microphones, etc. can be used. The sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ input the detection signal to the signal processing circuit 20. Signal processing circuit 2
0 starts and stops time measurement according to the received signals from the sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ in order to measure the above-mentioned time differences T ₁ and T ₂ . For example, means that the sensor S ₁ is performing time measurement at the time t ₁ that has detected the vibration, for example, by driving the timer, stops the timer counting operation at the time of when the sensor S ₃ detects the vibration, when the The time measured by the timer becomes the time difference T ₁ . The same applies to T ₂ .

Therefore, by identifying the sensor that detects the earliest vibration, it is possible to determine the hitting position in the quadrant where the sensor is arranged (the position of the sensor S ₁ is the first quadrant). It can be specified and can be treated as either positive or negative according to the above equation.

The timer for measuring the time has a count unit of 0.1 μsec in order to keep the allowable error in detecting the position of the hit point within 1 mm. If, for example, soda glass is used as the table glass 1, it is 1 mm ÷ 4300 m / sec≈0.23 μsec (4300 m / sec is the sound wave transmission speed of general soda glass), and if measurement is performed at a cycle twice or more that Since the tolerance can be measured within 1 mm, for example, about 0.1 μsec
Is the unit of measurement.

Time differences T ₁ and T ₂ from the signal processing circuit 20
Is input to the control circuit (CPU) 21. This CPU2
1 is a sensor-S _{1 to} S ₁ in the signal processing circuit 20 in particular.
Taking in the vibration detection timing and time difference from ₄
The coordinates (x, y) of the hitting point position P are obtained by performing the calculation according to the equations 1 to 3 described above. Therefore, the transmission speed v or the like of the table glass 1 to be used is stored in the ROM 22 and the correction value or the like of the speed v is appropriately stored in the RAM 23, and the hitting position P due to this speed v and the above-mentioned time differences T ₁ and T _2. Ask for.

Further, the ROM 22 stores in advance an arithmetic program relating to the expressions of the equations 1 to 3, a program for controlling the copying operation, and the like. Further, the ROM 22 also stores a program for obtaining a predetermined area A with respect to a desired designated area a in the areas surrounded by the hitting positions g1 to g4 at the four corners described in FIG. 2 according to the present invention. Has been done. Then, the CPU 21 controls according to the program stored in the ROM 22. In addition, RAM23
Temporarily stores the data required by the CPU 21,
Further, the data of the above-mentioned time differences T ₁ and T ₂ , the sensor-S ₁
(Sensor has detected the fast vibration -) detection timing to S _4, further four corners of g1~g4 position coordinates of the original 3, the designated region a and the corrected storage area A or the like of the normal in the designated area a It is used to

In the circuit configuration of FIG. 5 described above, the original 3 is placed at an arbitrary position in the image forming area 2 of the table glass 1 in FIG. 2, and the four corners g1 to g of the placed original are placed.
By hitting 4, the respective coordinates of that position are obtained, and these coordinates are stored in the RAM 23. At the four points, at the coordinate position, the placement state of the document 3, that is, the entire area and the placement state (for example, displacement in the X and Y axis directions and inclination of the placed document) can be grasped. Therefore, in order to copy an arbitrary image area of the original 3, if the area a is designated, the image processing of the dot position in the area a is normally performed. It is possible to find out which position of the point is the hitting point at the previous four corners.

That is, the area a in the original 3 surrounded by the four corners g1 to g4 can be easily obtained. For example, when the center point a of the original document 3 placed in the state shown by the solid line is designated as the area, if the original document 3 is placed in the state of the broken line surrounded by the regular points G1 to G4, it will be on the center line. However, when it is placed at an arbitrary position regardless of the regular position, the area a shifts greatly. However, since the area of the placed document 3 is known in advance, the CPU 21 indicates that the center of the document 3 within this area is spotted.
The corrected area A, which is easily obtained according to the arithmetic program of the OM 22, is stored in the RAM 23.

When the area input is completed in this way, if the original 3 is placed with the image surface facing down as in the conventional case and is placed at the regular position as shown by the broken line, the desired image area A stored in the RAM 23 is obtained. Image processing (corresponding to the designated area a) can be performed.
That is, the copying apparatus main body side processes the image area a of the original document with the value A obtained as described above.

Therefore, when the image area is to be formed, even if the original is placed at an arbitrary position and the area is input in that state, the accurate area of the original can be grasped and the image processing of the area can be performed. Therefore, it is not necessary to carry out a troublesome work such as placing the manuscript at a regular position one by one. Further, when the area is designated, the image area can be accurately input even if the document is not placed at the proper position, and the image processing by the trowel can be performed.

As described above, the dot input device is used as the input device of the image area in the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to the devices configured as in 1) to (4).

Further, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ are arranged in a normal state in the case of hitting the position of the table glass 1 and obtaining the hitting position.
The case where the reference position P ₀ is in the normal state has been described. However, it is offset sensor S ₁ to S ₄ is somewhat by performing region input according to the present invention, together can also be performed this correction.

That is, even if the sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ detect the hitting position, even if they are displaced from the actual position,
The area surrounded by g1 to g4 of the entire document can be accurately grasped, and the image position in the grasped area can be accurately recognized as a normal state. for that reason,
Image processing in the designated area of this image can be performed accurately.
Therefore, it is possible to also correct the deviation of the arrangement positions of the sensors S _{1 to} S ₄ and the deviation of the reference plate 6.

According to the present invention, as image processing,
I explained on the premise of masking or trimming, but
Not limited to this, the size of the original can be easily recognized by designating the four corners of the original, so that automatic paper selection according to the magnification setting or the like and automatic magnification setting according to the selected paper can be performed.

[0059]

According to the input device in the image area of the present invention, the positions of the four corners for grasping the area of the original are input in advance, and the areas to be designated and input are obtained with reference to these areas. The image position of can be specified. Further, for the input, the document may be placed at an arbitrary position, and troublesome work is eliminated.

Further, since the data can be input by dot-writing on the document placing table for the position input, the position can be designated by a simple operation without requiring a troublesome operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view showing an example in which an area input device according to the present invention is configured by a dot input device, and particularly when applied to a document mounting table of a copying apparatus.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view for explaining an image area input procedure of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a principle of obtaining a dot input position for designating an image area according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a time chart showing a state in which, when a designated point on the table glass in the input device of FIG. 1 is struck with a pen or the like, the vibration wave propagates on the surface or inside of the table glass and reaches each sensor.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of circuits of an input device and a copying device applied to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Table Glass 2 Copyable Area 3 Original 21 CPU (Calculator) 22 ROM 23 RAM (Memory) S _{1 to} S ₄ Vibration Detection Sensor P ₀ Reference Coordinates (Origin) g1 to g4 Positions of 4 corners of the original (entire original Area) G1 to G4 regular document placement position a designated area (position) A image processing area (position)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A document placing unit for placing a document, a position inputting unit for inputting an arbitrary position of the document placed on the document placing unit, and the above-mentioned input by the position inputting unit. A means for grasping the entire area of the original document at the four corners of the original document, and a means for grasping the position input by the position input means for image processing the desired area of the original document. An image area input device, comprising: an arithmetic unit that obtains the input position based on the entire original area. 2. The image area input device according to claim 1, wherein the position inputting means is a dot inputting means including a sensor for receiving the vibrations made by hitting the original placing table. ..