JPH06205278A - Picture input device in picture data recording system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To output data whose processing time is reduced from the picture input device when a picture is read at a high speed and high picture element density and the data are processed. CONSTITUTION:Picture element data A-D from plural image pickup elements arranged to an optical section 10 whose apertures are adjacent to each other are sequentially stored to line buffers 314-320 from amplifiers 300-306 via switches 310, 312 and fed quickly to a subtractor via a line selector 324. The data are equivalent to picture element data with high resolution comprising 2048X3072 picture elements read from a negative film of 35mm size, for example. A pseudo data generating section 400 generates sequentially pseudo data B'-D' based on the picture element data A from the amplifier 300 for that time and gives the data to the subtractor 500. Thus, the subtractor 500 takes a difference between the original picture element data and the pseudo data from the pseudo data generating section 400 and gives the result to a data processing unit of a work station or the like.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input device in an image data recording system for reading and recording high resolution image data from, for example, a negative film of a silver halide photograph, and particularly to a read high resolution image. The present invention relates to an image input device in an image data recording system that compresses and records data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, image input devices have been known which output image data obtained by reading an image formed on a base of paper or photographic film to an image processing device such as a computer. As such an image input device, there is a device such as a film scanner for optically reading an image recorded on a 35 mm size silver halide photographic film. Recently, with such an image input device, an image recorded on, for example, a silver halide photographic film can be read in high definition, and the read image data can be additionally recorded on a compact disc (CD-
R: Compact Disc-Recordable) writing system was announced as a Photo CD system by joint development with Eastman Kodak Company and Phillips.

Image data of up to 100 frames, for example, is recorded on one compact disc, and the recorded image data is recorded, for example, on a dedicated player or CD-I (Com.
pact Disc-Interactive) A reproduction device such as a player reproduces and outputs to an image display device such as a home television receiver or a high-resolution monitor device for reproduction. The image data obtained from this silver halide photographic film has a resolution more than ten times as high as the image data obtained by other recording method, for example, the image data obtained by photographing with an electronic still camera or the like. The image data recorded on this compact disc is used to generate printing data for high-resolution printing, or it is converted to high-definition TV data and the image is displayed on the high-definition TV receiver. It can be done. For this reason, in the Photo CD system, the images formed on the 35mm size silver halide photographic film and the silver image print that are the source of these image data are 30
High pixel density of 72 × 2048 pixels, that is, about 60 for each primary color
An image input device that reads in super high definition (SHD) at 0,000 pixels is advantageously used.

As a device for reading image data at such a high resolution, there is a drum scanner which winds a document on which an image of a subject is recorded on a cylindrical drum and rotates it to read one line for each rotation. . As such an apparatus, for example, a one-dimensional solid-state imaging device such as a CCD line sensor reads an image of 2048 pixels for each line in the main scanning direction, and the original or CCD line sensor is moved in the sub-scanning direction 3072. There have been document moving type or flat bed type image scanners for reading images in the sub-scanning direction of lines.

Also, for example, obtained in this way,
The image data of 2048 × 3072 pixels is sent to an image processing device such as a workstation, subjected to predetermined processing and transferred to a recording device such as a CD writer. For example, EFM (Eight to Fou
rteen Modulation) After processing such as modulation, it is recorded on a write-once compact disc. In this case, pixel data of approximately 6 million pixels is read from the image input device as described above and transferred to the image processing device. The image processing apparatus transfers this to the recording apparatus as pixel data of about 30,000 to 40,000 bytes by a predetermined compression process for recording.

As a processing method in such an image processing apparatus, there is a pending application by the same applicant as that of the present application.
There was one described in 219387. In this processing method, low-resolution image data having a predetermined data amount is generated by thinning out high-resolution large-capacity image data obtained from a conventional film scanner, and this is output as recording data. High-resolution image data is pseudo-generated from the low-resolution image data generated by interpolation, etc., and the difference between this pseudo-data and the original high-resolution image data is calculated, and this is encoded by Huffman encoding etc. and recorded. Output as data. With these data, it is possible to effectively reproduce the high resolution data from the low resolution data by correcting the difference data when reproducing the high resolution image data from the low resolution image data.

[0007]

However, in the above-described drum scanner, the main scanning is performed on the density of each rotating pixel from the image recorded on the original set on the drum by the photoelectric conversion element such as a phototransistor. Read in the direction,
Further, because the photoelectric conversion element is sub-scanned for each rotation of the drum to read out all the pixels of the image recorded on the document,
Although there is an advantage that an image can be read at a high pixel density, there is a problem that the reading time takes a very long time. An image scanner using a CCD line sensor reads the image for each line, which is almost the same as the reading time for all pixels in the two-dimensional area sensor. Therefore, the pixels for all lines are read for each primary color. There was a problem that it took about 10 minutes to finish. Therefore, the process of reading an image, reproducing the converted image data, displaying the image on a display device such as a CRT display, or outputting the image data to a printing device such as a printer for printing is prompt. There was a problem that I could not. For example, when reading an image formed on a 35mm silver halide photographic film in order to record 100 frames of image data on one compact disc, it takes about 1000 minutes for simple calculation, which is not practical. There wasn't. Further, for example, it is difficult for a CCD line sensor to significantly reduce the image reading time due to restrictions on the amount of light applied to a subject image, the charge accumulation time, and the charge transfer time. On the other hand, it is conceivable to shorten the reading time by optically reading the images recorded on 35mm size silver halide photographic film and silver image prints with a camera that uses a two-dimensional area sensor such as CCD. However, it is difficult to obtain a high pixel density type 2D area sensor.
The limit was a CCD with a pixel density of about 0,000 pixels. Further, CCDs with high pixel density have been researched and developed, but it is difficult to obtain stable performance, and it is difficult to apply them to image input devices because the manufacturing cost becomes high. Therefore, the image formed on the film, for example,
With ultra-high resolution of 6 million pixels, it was not possible to read stably and quickly.

Further, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, a large amount of image data obtained from the image input device has to be processed by the image processing device, so that there is a problem that a lot of processing time is required. It was In particular, when high-resolution pseudo data is generated from the generated low-resolution image data, a large number of pixel processes are required, and it takes a very long time to generate this pseudo data. there were.

The present invention solves the problems of the prior art as described above, and for example, an image formed on a silver salt photographic film can be read at high speed with a high pixel density, and the processing time in the image processing apparatus can be reduced. An object of the present invention is to provide an image input device in an image data recording system that generates effective image data that can be shortened and supplies it to an image processing device.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an image input device according to the present invention forms a high-quality image incident through an image pickup lens, and has a high resolution representing this high-quality image. In the image input device in the image data recording system for generating the pixel data of (1) and recording the pixel data in the recording medium, the device transmits and reflects the light flux incident from the imaging lens and decomposes the first light. And a second resolving optical means for further transmitting and reflecting the light flux transmitted through the first resolving optical means to form a subject image at two positions, and a light flux reflected by the first resolving optical means. Is further transmitted and reflected to form a subject image at two positions, and third resolving optical means, which are provided corresponding to the positions at which the subject image is formed, respectively. A plurality of image pickup means for converting a body image into pixel data, and a signal reading means for reading out pixel data output from the plurality of image pickup means are provided, and the plurality of image pickup means have openings of respective pixels displaced from each other. And is arranged at the imaging position of the subject image.

In this case, each of the first, second and third resolving optical means is preferably a half mirror whose light reflectance and light transmittance are substantially equal to each other.

The plurality of image pickup means are arranged in a horizontal direction with respect to the first image pickup means for picking up the formed image of the subject at a predetermined position, and the opening of each pixel of the first image pickup means. Second image pickup means in which the opening portion of the pixel is arranged next to it, and third image pickup means in which the opening portion of the pixel is arranged next to the opening portion of each pixel of the first image pickup means in the vertical direction. And a fourth imaging unit in which the pixel opening is arranged next to the pixel opening of the first imaging unit in the horizontal and vertical directions.

Further, the signal reading means selects a plurality of pixel data output from the plurality of image pickup means for each one horizontal scanning period by alternately selecting and reading out the plurality of pixel data during the one horizontal scanning period. And corresponding to the plurality of first signal switching means, the pixel data selected by the first signal switching means is switched every horizontal scanning period and output to the first and second outputs. A plurality of second signal switching means, and one horizontal scanning period provided corresponding to the outputs of the second signal switching means and output from the first and second outputs of the second switching means. It is preferable to include a storage unit that alternately stores the pixel data of 1 and a selection unit that selects and outputs the pixel data output from the storage unit for each horizontal scanning period.

In this case, the apparatus may include a drive unit that generates a drive signal for driving the plurality of image pickup units at the same timing and supplies the generated drive signals to the plurality of image pickup units.

Further, the signal reading means outputs a plurality of pixel data output from the plurality of image pickup means for each one horizontal scanning period by alternately selecting a plurality of signals during the one horizontal scanning period and outputting the plurality of signals. One signal switching unit and a selection unit that selects and outputs the pixel data output from the plurality of first signal switching units for each horizontal scanning period may be provided.

Further, the signal reading means includes a plurality of accumulating means for accumulating the pixel data sequentially output from the plurality of image pickup elements for each scanning line, and this device includes pixels output from the plurality of image pickup elements. Pseudo pixel data generation means for extracting one output of the data and sequentially generating pseudo pixel data corresponding to the output of the image pickup device of the difference based on the pixel data, and the pseudo pixel data generation means. It is preferable to have an output unit that outputs the difference between the pixel data and the corresponding pixel data accumulated in the plurality of accumulation units.

The present invention is also an image input apparatus in an image data recording system for reading high resolution image data from a medium representing a high quality image, compressing the image data into a predetermined data amount and recording the compressed data on a recording medium. The apparatus includes a plurality of image pickup elements for sequentially reading pixel data for each pixel from a high-quality image, and a plurality of storages for storing pixel data sequentially output from the plurality of image pickup elements for each scanning line. Means and pseudo data generation means for extracting one output of the pixel data output from the plurality of image sensors and sequentially generating pseudo pixel data corresponding to the outputs of the other image sensors based on the pixel data. Output means for taking the difference between the pseudo pixel data generated by the pseudo data generating means and the corresponding pixel data accumulated in the plurality of accumulating means Characterized in that it has a.

In this case, this apparatus is provided with a resolving optical means for reflecting and transmitting a light beam incident from the image pickup lens for forming a high quality image, and the resolving optical means transmits and receives the light beam incident from the image pickup lens. First resolving optical means for reflecting and decomposing, and second resolving optical means for further transmitting and reflecting the light flux transmitted through the first resolving optical means to form high-quality images at two positions. And a third resolving optical means for further transmitting and reflecting the light flux reflected by the first resolving optical means to form a high-quality image at two positions. It is preferable that the openings of the pixels are arranged at two positions of each of the second and third resolving optical means so that they are displaced from each other.

Further, the image pickup device is a four-plate type image pickup device, and pixel data is sequentially output from the first to fourth image pickup devices by raster scanning, and the pseudo data generating means is
A first averaging unit that obtains an average value of pixel data adjacent to each other in the horizontal scanning line of the output from the first image sensor as a value of the second pseudo pixel data corresponding to the output of the second image sensor. And an average value of the respective pixel data on the scanning lines that are consecutive in the output from the first image sensor as the value of the third pseudo pixel data corresponding to the output of the third image sensor. Averaging means and 4 in the vertical and horizontal directions in the scanning line of the output from the first image sensor
It is preferable to have a third averaging unit that obtains the average value of one pixel data as the value of the fourth pseudo pixel data corresponding to the output of the fourth image sensor.

In this case, the pseudo data generating means delays the output from the first image pickup element by one scanning line and outputs the output, and the output of the first delay means by one pixel. The second averaging means for outputting the pixel data from the first image sensor after delaying the pixel data from the first image pickup element by one pixel, and outputting the first averaging means for the first averaging means. The output from the means and the output from the second delay means are averaged, and the second averaging means averages the output from the second delay means and the output from the third delay means, and a third It is preferable that the averaging means further averages a value obtained by averaging the output from the first image pickup device and the output from the third delay means and the output of the first averaging means.

In this case, the apparatus includes first selecting means for sequentially selecting outputs of the plurality of accumulating means and outputting pixel data of the original image by raster scanning, first averaging means, and second averaging means.
Of the averaging means, the third averaging means, and the first delay means are sequentially switched, and the pseudo pixel data generated in the output from the first image sensor is interpolated and sequentially output. However, the output means may take the difference for each pixel data supplied from the first selection means and the switching means and output the difference as device output.

In this case, this device preferably outputs the pixel data from the first image sensor as the device output together with the output from the output means.

[0023]

According to the image input device in the image data recording system of the present invention, the resolving optical system transmits and reflects the light flux from the high quality image incident from the image pickup lens, and the image is recorded at a plurality of predetermined positions. Image. The image pickup means is arranged at a predetermined position of the resolving optical system on which the plurality of images are formed, and is further adjustably fixed so that the openings of the respective pixels are displaced from each other. The imaging means is
Upon receiving a drive signal from the drive means, an image signal corresponding to the amount of light reaching each opening is generated and output.
The image signal output from the image pickup means is read at high speed by the signal reading means. As a result, a high quality image can be read in a short time and output to the image processing device at high speed.

Further, according to the image input device in the image data recording system of the present invention, high resolution image data is sequentially read by raster scanning from a medium showing a high quality image by a plurality of image pickup elements, and a plurality of image pickup devices are read. The output of one of the image pickup devices is extracted, and the pseudo pixel data of the pixel corresponding to the output of the other image pickup device is obtained from only this pixel data. Further, the difference between the resulting pseudo pixel data and the corresponding pixel data from the four image pickup devices is calculated to obtain and output difference data of high resolution image data. Further, a low resolution output is obtained by the output of one image sensor. Thus, in the image data recording system that receives the data from the image input device, by receiving the difference data between the low resolution image data and the original image, the data processing when recording the image data on the recording medium is reduced, Image data can be processed and recorded in a short time.

[0025]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the image input device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of an image data recording system to which the image input device according to the present invention is applied. The image data recording system 1 in this embodiment is a system for obtaining high-resolution image data from an image formed on a negative film of silver halide photography, and sequentially recording the obtained image data on a write-once compact disc. Is.

Image data obtained from a 35 mm size negative film or positive film has a high resolution of, for example, 2048 × 3072 pixels. In this embodiment, the information for each image on the photographic film is read by the film scanner 2 and the data representing the information is supplied to the workstation 4 via the connection line 3. The workstation 4 temporarily stores the received data in the hard disk 6 via the connection line 5, performs a predetermined process on the data, and transfers the data to the recording device 8 connected via the connection line 7. The compact disc used in the recording device 8 has a storage capacity of 600 to 750 MB, can form up to 99 tracks, and the image data converted into a predetermined data amount has a storage capacity of approximately 100 to 750 MB. 250 images can be recorded. In the following description, parts not directly related to the present invention will not be shown and described, and the reference numerals of signals will be represented by the reference numerals of the connecting lines in which they appear.

The film scanner 2 scans the developed 35 mm size photographic film and scans 2048 images per frame.
The image reading device reads image data of × 3072 pixels. The film scanner 2 (hereinafter referred to as the scanner 2) in this embodiment is, for example, a solid-state image pickup device that photoelectrically converts an optical image, and is a CCD (charge coupled
It is a four-panel image input device using four evices. The scanner 2 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1. The scanner 2 may be provided corresponding to each of an optical unit 10 that converts a subject image into a pixel signal and outputs the pixel signal, and outputs of the optical unit 10. Amplifiers 16a, 16b, 16c and
16d, A / D converters 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d that convert each amplified pixel signal to a digital value, and A / D
A multiplexer 20ab that multiplexes and outputs the pixel data output from the converters 18a and 18b, and an A / D converter 18c
And a multiplexer 20cd that multiplexes and outputs the pixel data output from each of the pixel data 18d, and demultiplexers 22ab and 22cd that switch the output destination of the multiplexed pixel data every horizontal scanning (1H) period and output the demultiplexer. twenty two
Double line buffers 24 and 26 that are connected to the respective outputs of ab and 22cd and sequentially store pixel data in the 1H period, and lines that switch and read the pixel data stored in the double line buffers 24 and 26 every 1H period. A multiplexer 28 and a signal generation circuit 30 that generates a reference signal for driving these circuits and supplies the signals to each circuit are provided.

The optical section 10 is a photoelectric conversion unit that receives an image representing a subject and photoelectrically converts the image representing the subject formed on the incident surface to output it as a pixel signal.
Specifically, referring to FIG. 3, an example of the configuration of the optical unit 10 is shown in the same figure. The optical unit 10 includes an optical lens 12 for forming a subject image and an optical block 14. The optical block 14 has a half mirror 50 that allows one of the light fluxes incident from the optical lens 12 to pass therethrough and the other half-reflects the light in a 45-degree direction. From the half mirror 52 for semi-reflecting in the 45-degree direction, the half mirror 54 for transmitting the light semi-reflected by the half mirror 50, and the other for semi-reflecting the light in the 45-degree direction from the half mirrors 52 and 54. CCDs 56a, 56b, 56c and 56 that receive transmitted or semi-reflected light and generate electric charge according to the amount of received light and perform photoelectric conversion
d and are provided.

The optical lens 12 allows a subject image to enter,
It is an imaging lens that forms an image on the light receiving surfaces of the CCDs 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d. The optical axis 58 of the incident light transmitted through the optical lens 12 passes through the half mirrors 50 and 52 to the CCD 56b.
It is configured so as to reach the light receiving surface of.

The half mirrors 50, 52 and 54 are reflecting mirrors formed so that the light transmittance and the light reflectance are substantially equal to each other. Half mirror 50 is with respect to optical axis 58
The optical unit 14 is tilted to form an angle of 45 degrees. Further, the half mirror 50 transmits a part of the light beam incident from the optical lens 12 and reflects the remaining part of the light beam, and reflects the light incident from the optical lens 12 along the optical axis 58, for example, on the optical axis 60.
Reflect in the direction of. Half mirror 52, half mirror
The optical unit 14 is arranged so as to be orthogonal to the reflecting surface of 50 and to form an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the optical axis 58. The light flux transmitted through the half mirror 50 is incident on the half mirror 52, a part of the light flux is transmitted and guided to the CCD 56b, and the remaining part is reflected in the direction of the optical axis 62 and guided to the CCD 56a. Half mirror
54 is orthogonal to the reflecting surface of the half mirror 50 and has an optical axis
The optical unit 14 is arranged so as to be inclined with respect to 60 at an angle of 45 degrees. The half mirror 54 receives the light beam reflected by the half mirror 50, transmits a part of the light beam, guides it to the CCD 56c, and reflects the remaining part in the direction of the optical axis 64 to guide it to the CCD 56d.

The CCDs 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d are two-dimensional solid-state image pickup devices which convert an image of light projected on its image pickup surface into an electric signal and output it. CCD 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d
As for the image sensor, an image sensor in which the area of the opening for receiving the incident light is about 1/4 of the pixel is advantageously used. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, the CCD 56a has a horizontal direction H
And the openings a ₁₁ , a for each pixel A arranged in the vertical direction V
₁₂ , ・ ・ ・, a _1n , openings a ₂₁ , a ₂₂ , ・ ・ ・, a _2n , ・ ・ ・ and openings a _mn , a _mn , ・ ・ ・, a _mn (m and n are natural numbers) Has been formed. For example, a vertical transfer path V and a horizontal transfer path H for transferring the generated charges are formed in the pixel portions other than the openings a _{11 to} a _{mn of the} CCD 56a, for example, in the hatched portions in FIG. . CCD56b, 56c and 56d are
Similar to CCD56a, pixel B, pixel C and pixel D respectively
Are arranged, and the openings b _{11 to} b _mn , c are provided for each pixel.
_{11 to} c _mn d _{11 to} d _mn are formed respectively. These CCDs 56 are advantageously applied to a solid-state image pickup device having, for example, 1.5 million pixels each having a high pixel density in this embodiment.

Returning to FIG. 3, CCDs 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d.
Are adjustably fixed to the positions of the projection surfaces of the respective optical axes of the optical block 14. In this case CCD56a, 56b, 56c and
In 56d, the openings of the respective pixels are spatially combined when viewed from the direction of the optical axis 58, and the respective pixels are arranged with a shift. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the openings a _mn , b _mn , c _mn, and d of the pixels of the CCDs 56a, 56b, 56c, and 56d, respectively.
_mn is configured to be placed together in a portion corresponding to each of the CCD56 vertical transfer path V and the horizontal transfer path H. A _mn , B _mn , C _mn and D _mn shown in capital letters in the figure are the openings a _mn, b _mn, c _mn and d _{mn of the} pixel A, the pixel B, the pixel C and the pixel D, respectively. It is shown in block 14 that the pixels are optically combined. In other words, with CCD56a as the reference, CCD56b is 2 in the horizontal direction (H).
The CCD56c is vertically displaced by 1 / pixel.
It is shifted by 1/2 pixel below (V), and CCD5
6d is arranged so as to be shifted to the right by 1/2 pixel in the horizontal direction (H) and shifted downward by 1/2 pixel in the vertical direction (V). Figure 1
Back to, CCDs 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d of optical block 14
Receives a drive signal from a signal generation circuit 30 described later, converts the light incident on the opening into pixel signals, reads the converted pixel signals in the pixel array order, and outputs the pixel signals.
Output to a, 66b, 66c and 66d sequentially. CCD56a, 56b, 56c
The outputs 66a, 66b, 66c and 66d of 56d and 56d are connected to the amplifier 16 via connection line 66, respectively. In the case of this embodiment, the CCDs 56a and 56c and the CCDs 56b and 56d are set so that the reading directions of the pixels in the horizontal direction are opposite to each other, and for example, the image which is horizontally inverted by the half mirror 52 is corrected. Is configured as follows.

Amplifiers 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d are CCD 56
Is an amplifier that amplifies the pixel signals photoelectrically converted and output. The amplifier 16 is provided for each of the outputs of the CCDs 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d provided in the optical block 14. The amplifier 16 amplifies each pixel signal output from the CCD 56 to a predetermined level, and corrects the sensitivities of the CCDs 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d to the same value. The amplifier 16 outputs the amplified pixel signals respectively to outputs 68a, 68b, 68c and 68d.
Output to. The output of the amplifier 16 is the A / D converter 18
It is connected to the.

The A / D converters 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d are analog-digital conversion circuits for converting the analog signals input to the respective inputs 68 into digital format data. The A / D converter 18 outputs the outputs 68a, 68b, 68 of the amplifier 16.
Each is provided for c and 68d. A
The / D converter 18 samples the pixel signal sent from the output of the amplifier 16 based on the reference signal from the signal generating circuit 30, and outputs it as, for example, 10-bit digital pixel data. The outputs of the A / D converters 18a and 18b are connected to the multiplexer 20ab, and the outputs of the A / D converters 18c and 18d are connected to the multiplexer 20cd.

The multiplexer 20 is a switching circuit for selecting and outputting the pixel data transferred from the A / D converter 18 for each pixel. For example, multiplexer 20ab is A / D
The pixel data transferred from the converters 18a and 18b are selected and output. The multiplexer 20ab is a signal generation circuit 30.
Based on the sync signal supplied by
The pixel data transferred from the D converters 18a and 18b and appearing at the input 70a and the input 70b are input by switching the respective inputs at a speed twice the transfer speed. The multiplexer 20ab outputs the input pixel data to its output 72ab
Output to. In addition, the multiplexer 20cd is supplied from the signal generation circuit 30 like the multiplexer 20ab and receives the input 100
Based on the synchronization signal appearing at the input, the pixel data appearing at the input 70c and the input 70d are input by switching the respective inputs at a speed twice the transfer speed. The multiplexer 20cd outputs the input pixel data to its output 72cd. The outputs of the multiplexers 20ab and 20cd are connected to the demultiplexers 22ab and 22cd, respectively.

The demultiplexers 22ab and 22cd are switching circuits that alternately output the pixel data input to the input 72 to their respective outputs every 1H period based on the synchronization signal 102 supplied from the signal generating circuit 30. . Demultiplexer
The outputs 74 and 76 of 22ab are connected to the double line buffer 24, and the outputs 78 and 80 of the demultiplexer 22cd are connected to the double line buffer 26, respectively.

The double line buffers 24 and 26 are storage circuits for sequentially storing the transferred pixel data. Double line buffers 24 and 24 each have 74,76 inputs
Alternatively, it has two line buffers having a storage capacity for respectively storing the pixel data of 1H period appearing at the inputs 78 and 80. Therefore, the double line buffers 24 and 24 each have a storage capacity for storing data having a data length that is twice the number of horizontal pixels (m) of the CCD 56 provided in the optical block 14. The double line buffer 24 sequentially stores the pixel data input to the respective inputs 74 and 76 based on the synchronization signal 104 supplied from the signal generation circuit 30, and outputs the stored pixel data to the respective output 82 and It is alternately output to 84 every 1H period. The double line buffer 26 sequentially stores the pixel data input to the respective inputs 78 and 80 similarly to the double line buffer 24,
Stored pixel data 1H at each output 86 and 86
Output alternately every period. Double line buffers 24 and 26 are composed of shift registers, for example. The outputs 82 and 88 of the double line buffer 24 and the outputs 86 and 88 of the double line buffer 26 are connected to the line multiplexer 28, respectively.

The line multiplexer 28 is a switching circuit for selecting and outputting the pixel data transferred from the double line buffer 24. The line multiplexer 28 receives the pixel data transferred from the double line buffers 24 and 26 for 1H.
The input pixel data is switched every period and the input pixel data is output to the output 92 of the line multiplexer 28. More specifically, the line multiplexer 90, under the control of the signal generation circuit 30, sequentially selects its inputs 82, 86, 84 and 88 every 1H period and outputs the pixel data appearing at these inputs to its output 3. . This output 3 is, for example, via an interface circuit (not shown) for converting a signal level representing the pixel data thereof, and the workstation 4 shown in FIG.
The line multiplexer 90 sends the pixel data read from the subject to the workstation 4.

The signal generating circuit 30 is a reference signal generating circuit for generating a reference signal for operating the scanner 2 and supplying it to each part of the circuit. The signal generation circuit 30 includes an optical unit 14
The drive signals such as transfer pulses for driving the CCDs 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d provided in the
Output to. The signal generation circuit 30 also generates a reference signal for sampling the pixel signal in the A / D converter 18, and outputs the reference signal to the output 96. Further, the signal generating circuit 30 generates a synchronizing signal for driving the multiplexers 20ab and 20cd, the demultiplexers 22ab and 22cd, the double line buffers 24 and 26, and the line multiplexer 28 to output 100, 102, 104 and 106. Output each.

The operation at the time of image input of the film scanner 2 in this embodiment having the above-mentioned structure will be described with reference to FIGS. First, in FIG. 3, an image representing a subject is incident on the optical block 14 through the optical lens 12.
Images are formed on the respective image pickup surfaces of the CCDs 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d. The drive signals for driving the CCDs 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d provided in the optical block 10 are output to the output 94 of the signal generating circuit 30, and these drive signals are output to the respective CCDs 56.
Is supplied to. When the drive signal is supplied to the CCD56, the light incident on the opening of each pixel is photoelectrically converted, the converted pixel signals are sequentially read out, and the pixel signal is transferred to the CCD56.
Are output to respective outputs 66a, 66b, 66c and 66d of. Next, in FIG. 1, the pixel signal output from the CCD 56 is output from the output 66 of the optical unit 10, and the pixel signal is output from each amplifier.
Input to 16a and 16b and amplified. The amplified pixel signals are converted into digital-value pixel data by A / D converters 18a and 18b, respectively, and pixel data 70a and 70b are created as shown in FIG. The pixel data thus created are transferred to the multiplexer 20ab.
Similarly, the pixel signals output from the outputs 66c and 66d of the optical unit 10 are amplified by the amplifiers 16a and 16b, respectively. The amplified pixel signals are sent to the A / D converter 18
Converted to digital pixel data at a and 18b, pixel data 70c and 70d are created as shown in FIG. These created pixel data are transferred to the multiplexer 20cd.

Based on the reference signal 100, the first pixel data representing the pixel A transferred to the multiplexer 20ab via the connecting line 70a is 2 times the appearance time of the pixel data.
The selected pixel data is output at the output 72ab in one-half the time. Further, the first pixel data representing the pixel B transferred to the multiplexer 20ab via the connection line 70b is selected based on the reference signal 100 at a half of the time when the pixel data appears, The selected pixel data is output to the output 72ab next to the first pixel data representing the pixel A.

After that, similarly, the pixels A to be sequentially transferred are
And pixel data representing the pixel B are alternately output to the output 72ab of the multiplexer 20ab to generate the pixels A ₁₁ and B shown in FIG.
Pixel data for 1H period representing ₁₁ , A ₁₂ , B ₁₂ , ..., A _1n , B _1m are sequentially transferred to the demultiplexer 22ab. The first 1H period pixel data input to the input 74 of the demultiplexer 22ab is output to the output 74 of the demultiplexer 22ab,
It is transferred to the double line buffer 24. The transferred pixel data is sequentially stored in the double line buffer 24.
Similarly, the pixel data representing the pixel C transferred to the multiplexer 20cd via the connection line 70c and the pixel data representing the pixel D transferred to the multiplexer 20cd via the connection line 70d are the pixels shown in FIG. C ₁₁ , D ₁₁ , C ₁₂ , D ₁₂ , ・ ・ ・,
It is output to the output 72cd in the order of C _1n and D _1m , transferred to the demultiplexer 22cd, and output to the output 78 of the demultiplexer 22cd. The pixel data output from the demultiplexer 22cd is sequentially stored in the double line buffer 26.

The pixel data stored in the double line buffer 24 is output to its output 82 during the second 1H period and transferred to the line multiplexer 28. Next, the pixel data stored in the double line buffer 26 It is output to the output 86 and transferred to the line multiplexer 28. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the pixels A ₁₁ , B _{11 to} A _1n , B _1n and C ₁₁ , D
Pixel data representing each of _{11 to} C _1n and D _1n are sequentially output from the output 6 of the line multiplexer 28.

In the second 1H period, the pixel data output from the multiplexer 20ab is transferred to the demultiplexers 22ab and 22cd. During this period, the transferred pixel data is demultiplexer 22ab
And 22 cd outputs 76 and 80, respectively,
It is transferred to and stored in the double line buffers 24 and 26. Pixel A in double line buffers 24 and 26 respectively
_{When the} pixel data representing _{21 to} B _2m and C _{21 to} D _2m are stored, the stored pixel data are sequentially read in the third 1H period to output 84 and the outputs of the double line buffers 24 and 26, respectively. It is output to 88. Pixels A _21, B _{21 to} A _2n, B _2n and C _21, D _{21 to} C transferred from the outputs of these double line buffers 24 and 26 to the line multiplexer 28.
Pixel data represented by _{2n and} D _2n respectively are sequentially output from the output 3 of the line multiplexer 28 during this 1H period, as shown in FIG. Similarly, the pixels A _3n , B _3n , C _3n
And pixel data representing D _{3n to} A _mn , B _mn , C _mn and D _mn are sequentially output to the output 3 of the line multiplexer 28. The pixel data output from the line multiplexer 28 is sequentially transferred to the workstation 4 shown in FIG.

The pixel data transferred to the workstation 4 is temporarily stored in the hard disk 6. The pixel data accumulated in the hard disk 6 is thinned out by a recording device 8 to be recorded on a compact disc, for example, by a thinning process for thinning out a predetermined number of pixels to create pixel data composed of a plurality of image sizes. Is given. Further, image processing such as interpolation processing for interpolating and expanding the thinned pixel data and arithmetic processing for calculating the thinned pixel data and the interpolated pixel data is performed. The data processed in this way is subjected to encoding processing such as Huffman encoding, transferred to the recording device 8, and finally written on a compact disc.

Next, another embodiment of the image input apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The structure of the film scanner 110 in this embodiment is shown in FIG. This film scanner 110 (hereinafter referred to as scanner 110)
This is an image reading apparatus configured without the double line buffers 24 and 26 shown in FIG. 1, which reads an image formed on a photographic film and the read pixel data is read by, for example, the workstation 4 shown in FIG. It is an image input device for outputting to. For more information, see Scanner 110
10, amplifiers 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d, and A / D converter 18
a, 18b, 18c and 18d and latches 120a, 120b, 120c and
It has 120d, multiplexers 20ab, 20cd and 122, and a signal generating circuit 124.

In the following description, FIG. 1 and FIG.
The configuration indicated by the same reference numeral as that of the embodiment shown in FIG. For example,
The optical unit 10 may have the same configuration as that of the embodiment shown in FIG.
The pixel array of each CCD 56 and the pixel array optically combined by the optical block 14 may be the same as those of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Also, the amplifier 16
The a, 16b, 16c and 16d, the A / D converters 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d, and the multiplexers 20ab and 20cd may be the same as the configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG.

The latches 120a, 120b, 120c and 120d receive the clock supplied from the signal generating circuit 124, which will be described later, and
This is a temporary storage circuit for temporarily holding the pixel data transferred from the / D converters 18a, 18b, 18c and 18d. The input of the latch 120 is connected to the respective output 70 of the A / D converter 18,
The digital pixel data appearing at its input is temporarily held and the outputs 126a, 126 of the latches 120a, 120b, 120c and 120d are held.
Output to b, 126c and 126d respectively. The outputs of latches 120a and 120b are connected to multiplexer 20ab
The outputs of 120c and 120d are connected to multiplexer 20cd.

The multiplexer 122 is a data switching circuit that switches each input to input pixel data and outputs the pixel data to the output 30. The multiplexer 122 has an input 128a connected to the outputs of the multiplexers 20ab and 20cd based on the synchronization signal supplied from the signal generating circuit 124.
b and input 128cd are switched every 1H period.

The signal generation circuit 124 is a reference signal generation circuit that generates a reference signal for operating the scanner 110 and supplies it to each part of the circuit. The signal generating circuit 124 generates a driving signal such as a transfer pulse for driving each of the CCDs 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d provided in the optical unit 14 and outputs it to its output 132. In addition, the signal generation circuit 124
The A / D converter 18 generates a reference signal for sampling the pixel signal and outputs it to the output 136 thereof. Further, the signal generating circuit 124 generates a clock for driving the latches 120a, 120b, 120c and 120d and outputs it to its output 138. The signal generation circuit 124 also generates a synchronization signal for driving the multiplexers 20ab and 20cd and the multiplexer 122, and outputs the synchronization signals to the outputs 140 and 142, respectively. The operation of the image input apparatus 2 at the time of inputting an image with the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 and FIGS. 8 and 9. In FIG. 3, the image representing the subject is an optical lens.
It is incident on the optical block 14 via 12 and CCD 56a, 56b, 56c
And 56d are imaged on the respective imaging planes. CCD56a and 56b provided in the optical block 10, CCD56c and
The drive signal for driving 56d and 56d is output to the output 132 of the signal generation circuit 124, and the drive signal is output to the CCDs 56a and 56b.
And CCD 56c and 56d. In the first 1H period, the drive signal is supplied to the CCDs 56a and 56b, and the pixel signals A _{11 to} A _1n and B _{11 to} B _1n representing the pixel A and the pixel B in FIG. 5 are read out and output respectively. Output on 66a and 66b. In the second 1H period, the drive signal is supplied to the CCDs 56c and 56d, and the pixel signals C _{11 to} C _1n and D representing the pixel C and the pixel D in FIG.
_{11 to} D _1n are read and output 66c
And output to 66d. Referring to FIGS. 9A to 9D, the output waveforms of the pixel signals output from the respective outputs 66a, 66b, 66c and 66d of the CCD 56 are shown. As shown in the figure, pixel signals A _{11 to} A _1n and B _{11 to} B _1n
And the pixel signals C _{11 to} C _1n and D _{11 to} D _1n are alternately output every 1H period.

In FIG. 8, the pixel signal A ₁₁ output from the CCD 56 in the first 1H period and output from the output of the optical unit 10
~ A _1n and B _{11 to} B _1n are amplifiers 16a and
It is input to 16b and amplified. The amplified pixel signal is
It is converted into digital pixel data by the A / D converters 18a and 18b, respectively. Latch the converted pixel data
Temporarily held at 126a and 126b, each output 12
It is output to 6a and 126b. Input of multiplexer 20ab
The pixel data appearing at 126a and 126b are alternately selected for each pixel and output to the output 128ab of the multiplexer 20ab. The output pixel data is
It is selected at 122 and output from the output 130 of the multiplexer 122.

Next, the pixel signals C _{11 to} C _1n and D _{11 to} D _1n output from the output of the optical unit 10 in the second 1H period are
The signals are input to and amplified by the amplifiers 16c and 16d, respectively. The amplified pixel signals are converted into digital pixel data by A / D converters 18c and 18d, respectively. The converted pixel data is latched by latches 126c and 126d and output to respective outputs 126c and 126d. Multiplexer 20cd has its inputs 126c and 126d
The pixel data appearing in the pixel are alternately selected for each pixel and output to the output 128cd of the multiplexer 20cd. The output pixel data is selected by the multiplexer 122 and output from the output 130 of the multiplexer 122.
Similarly, as shown in FIG. _8E , pixels A _2n , B _2n , C
Pixel data representing _2n and D _{2n to} A _mn , B _mn , C _mn and D _mn are sequentially output from the output 130 of the line multiplexer 122. The pixel data output to the output 130 of the line multiplexer 122 is transferred to, for example, an image processing apparatus such as the workstation 4 shown in FIG. It is recorded on the information recording medium.

As described above, in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, each CCD 56 is driven at the same timing,
Pixel signals are read during the 1H period. Also, the pixel data that has been digitally converted into the multiplexers 20a b and 20a
Alternately transfer the data at twice the transfer speed of the pixel data by cd, and put the pixels A ₁₁ , B _{11 to} C _mn , in the double line buffer 24.
Pixel data representing D _mn is stored, and the double line buffer 26 stores pixel data representing C ₁₁ , D _{11 to} C _mn , D _mn . Therefore, the pixel data of two lines after composition can be output in a time corresponding to the 1H period, and all the pixel data can be read at high speed in a time substantially corresponding to the reading time of one CCD.

Further, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the read time of the pixel data need only be increased by the time corresponding to the increase in the number of pixels in the vertical direction, and the pixel data can be read at high speed. it can.

Although the optical section 10 shown in FIG. 3 is constructed such that the pixel reading directions of the CCDs 56a and 56d are opposite to those of the CCDs 56b and 56c, the present invention is not limited to this.
As shown in FIG. 15, the optical section 10a is configured so that the total reflection mirrors 140 and 142 are tilted to the optical block 14a so as to form an angle of 45 degrees with respect to the optical axes 58 and 64, respectively.
The pixel reading directions in all may be the same. Further, although the optical unit 10 uses the half mirror as means for semi-reflecting the incident light, the present invention is not limited to this, and the reflecting surface may be formed by, for example, a beam splitter or a prism on a rectangular parallelepiped. Further, the optical unit 10 is provided with, for example, a rotary three-primary-color filter, and is configured to obtain color image data in a frame-sequential manner by capturing an image representing an object three times through each color filter. Good. Further, the subject may be irradiated with the three primary color lights respectively to be imaged to obtain the frame sequential color image data.

As described above, the pixel data representing one image composed of 2048 × 3072 pixels transferred to the workstation 4 is sequentially subjected to image processing such as thinning processing and interpolation processing. The pixel data input to the workstation 4 requires a large amount of processing time because the data amount is very large and complicated image processing is performed.

Next, another embodiment of the image input device capable of shortening the processing time of the pixel data input to the workstation 4 will be described below. Referring to FIG.
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an image data recording system to which the image input device according to the present invention is applied. The image data recording system 200 in this embodiment is a system for sequentially recording high resolution image data obtained from a negative film such as a silver halide photograph on a write-once compact disc. In particular, this image data recording system is a so-called photo CD system which is used in a photo lab or the like and sequentially records image data obtained from a developed film for each user on a compact disc of each user.

Image data obtained from, for example, a 35 mm size negative film has a high resolution of, for example, 2048 × 3072 pixels. In this embodiment, the data for each image is read by the film scanner 202 and converted into a predetermined data amount by hardware, and the workstation is used.
Supply to 4a. The workstation 4a temporarily stores the received data in the hard disk 6, subjects the data to a predetermined process, and transfers the data to the recording device 8. The compact disc used in the recording device 8 has a capacity of 600 to 750 MB, can form up to 99 tracks, and the image data converted into a predetermined data amount is almost the same.
It is possible to record 100 to 250 images. In this embodiment, the same reference numerals as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be the same as those of the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

The film scanner 202 is an image reading device which scans, for example, a 35 mm size negative film of a silver halide photograph and reads image data of 2048 × 3072 pixels per image. This film scanner 202 (hereinafter scanner 202
Is called a CCD (charge couple) with, for example, 1.5 million pixels.
It has a four-plate type solid-state imaging device using four d devices). The film scanner 202 of the embodiment includes a first data output 210 that outputs 1/4 of the read high-resolution original image data, pseudo data obtained by interpolating the image data of this resolution, and the read original image data. A second data output 220 for outputting difference data obtained by subtracting The original image data has a resolution 16 times that of an image displayed on a normal television receiver and is so-called 16Base data.
Base difference data So-called Δ16Base output 220 and 16Ba
21 so-called 4Base output with quarter resolution of se
We get 0 and.

The film scanner 202 in this embodiment
The specific configuration of the scanner will be described with reference to FIG.
202 is four digital amplifiers 300 to 306, two sets of transfer switches 310 and 312, and four line buffers 314 to 32.
It includes 0, a selector 324, a pseudo data generation unit 400, and a subtractor 500. In this figure, the digital amplifier
A digital conversion circuit for converting the outputs of 300 to 306 into digital values is omitted for simplification of the drawing.

The first amplifier 300 is, for example, a digital amplifier for amplifying one output A of the four solid-state image pickup devices output from the output 66a of the optical section 10 shown in FIG. Output line 210 is connected. Further, the pixel data A output from the first amplifier 300 is transmitted via the first transfer switch 310 to the line buffers 314 and 31.
6 is supplied for each horizontal scanning line. Similarly, the second amplifier 302 is connected to the output 66b of the optical unit 10, and the pixel data B output via the second amplifier 302 is input.
The line buffer 31 via the first transfer switch 310.
4 and 316 are provided for each horizontal scan line.
That is, the switch on the left side of the transfer switch 310 in the drawing switches the pixel data A and B from the amplifiers 300 and 302 for each pixel, and the switch on the right side is the line buffer for each horizontal scanning line.
Switch to 314 and 316 respectively, and line buffer 314 and 31
Pixel data A and B are alternately stored in 6 for each horizontal scanning line, and this is repeated to obtain image data of each odd line.

The output 66c of the optical section 10 is the third amplifier.
The output 66d of the optics 10 is connected to the 304 and is connected to the fourth amplifier 30.
Connected to 6. 3rd amplifier 304 and 4th amplifier
The output of 306 is stored in the line buffers 318 and 320 for each scanning line via the second transfer switch 312.
That is, the switch on the left side of the second transfer switch in the drawing switches the pixel data C and D from the amplifiers 304 and 306 for each pixel, and the switch on the right side switches for each horizontal scanning line, and the line buffers 318 and 320 respectively store the pixel data C and D. , D
Are alternately stored for each horizontal scanning line, and this is repeated to read the image data of each even line. Each of the line buffers 314 to 320 has a capacity for accumulating data of the number of pixels of horizontal scanning lines on the screen representing one image, for example, 2048 pixels, and is formed of a first-in first-out storage element.

The selector 324 is for the line buffers 314-32.
The output of 0 is selected respectively, and the pseudo data generation unit described later
It is a selection circuit that reads pixel data in the order of A, B, C, D in response to the output from 400. Specifically, for example, the first line buffer 314 is selected to output the first two pixel data A ₁₁ and B ₁₁ of the first scanning line, and then the third line data 314 is output.
Line buffer 318 of the second scanning line is selected to output the first two pixel data C ₁₁ and D ₁₁ of the second scanning line, which are alternately output to 2
Pixel data A of the first and second scanning lines repeated pixel by pixel
Output _1j , B _1j , C _1j , D _1j . In the next line, the second line buffer 316 is selected to output the pixel data A _2j and B _2j as the third scanning line, and the fourth line buffer 32
Select 0 to output pixel data C _2j , D _2j as the fourth scanning line, and repeat this to sequentially output pixel data A _2j , B _2j , C _2j , D _2j for the third and fourth scanning lines. ,Output. This selector
Reference numeral 324 sequentially repeats the outputs of the first to fourth line buffers 314 to 320 for, for example, 3072 lines and outputs data for one screen to the subtractor 500. In this case, the output of the selector 324 is high-resolution image data of 2048 × 3072 pixels, that is, 16Base original image data which is 16 times the normal television image.

On the other hand, the pseudo data generator 400 is a circuit which is connected to the output of the first amplifier 300 and interpolates the 4Base image data from the first amplifier 300 to generate pseudo 16Base image data. . Specifically, the pseudo data generation unit 400 includes a line buffer 402 for one scanning line in the pixel data A, two delay elements 404 and 406, four averaging circuits 408 to 414, and three changeover switches 416 to 416. 420
And have. The line buffer 402 has half the capacity of the first to fourth line buffers 314 to 320, for example.
It has a data capacity of 1024 pixels and is one of 4Base images.
This is a storage circuit that stores and outputs pixel data of scanning lines in first-in first-out.

Each of the delay elements 404 and 406 is composed of a circuit such as a D flip-flop. The first delay element 404 delays the output of the line buffer 402 by one pixel. The second delay element 406 is connected to the first amplifier 300.
The output from is delayed by one pixel and then output. The output of the second delay element 406 becomes the corresponding pixel data one scan line after the output delayed by the line buffer 402 and the first delay element 404.

The first to fourth averaging circuits 408 add the direct or delayed outputs from the first amplifier 300 for every two pixels, and the addition result is halved by downshifting. It is composed of a shift register for averaging. Specifically, the first averaging circuit 408 is a circuit that calculates the average value of the output of the line buffer 402 and the output of the first delay element 404 that is obtained by delaying the output by one pixel. This output is the average value of the data of adjacent A pixels that sandwich the B pixel in the scanning line of the pixels A and B, and is generated as pseudo B pixel data B ′.

The second averaging circuit 410 includes the first delay element
Pixel data output via 404 and second delay element
This is a circuit for obtaining the average value with the output from 406. This output is the average value of the data of the A pixels that vertically sandwich the C pixel in the vertical direction of the scanning line, and is generated as pseudo C pixel data C ′. The third averaging circuit 412 obtains the average value of the direct output of the first amplifier 300 and the output of the second delay element 406, and outputs it to the fourth averaging circuit 414. This output is
This is the average value of adjacent A pixels on the scanning line one line after the scanning line pixel data obtained by the first averaging circuit 408.

The fourth averaging circuit 414 receives the data output from the first averaging circuit 408 via the first changeover switch 416, and receives the output of the third averaging circuit 412, This is a circuit for obtaining the average value of these. The output value of the averaging circuit 412 becomes the pseudo pixel data D ′ of the D pixel on the diagonal line of the A pixel. That is, the four A's around the D pixel
It is the average value of pixels.

The first changeover switch 416 is a switch for switching between the output from the first delay element 404 and the output from the first averaging circuit 408, and is connected to the first delay element 404 side. The A pixel data itself passing through the line buffer 402 and the first delay element 404 is transferred to the third switch 420.
The pseudo B pixel data B ′ from the second averaging circuit 408 to the fourth averaging circuit 408 when it is connected to the second averaging circuit 408 side.
Of the averaging circuit 414 and the third switch 420.

The second changeover switch 418 is a switch for switching the output of the second averaging circuit 410 and the output of the fourth averaging circuit 414, and when connected to the second averaging circuit 410 side. Further, when the pseudo C pixel data C ′ from the second averaging circuit 410 is passed to the third switch 420 side and connected to the fourth averaging circuit 414 side, the pseudo C pixel data from the fourth averaging circuit 414 is simulated. The D pixel data D ′ is passed to the third switch 420 side.

The third switch 420 sequentially converts the pixel data A, B ', C', D'from the first or second changeover switches 416, 418 into pixel data A, B, C, D of the original image of 16Base. It can be switched to output in synchronization. In detail, as shown in FIG. 12, each of the switches 416 to 420 is a first switch.
(SW1) 416 is connected to the upper contact (UP), that is, the first delay circuit 404 side, and the third switch (SW3) 420 is lower contact.
(down) That is, the first switch 416 is connected to
The A pixel data itself from the delay element is output to the subtractor 500. In this case, the second switch (SW2) 418 is preferably connected to the upper contact (UP), that is, the side of the fourth averaging circuit 414 so as not to receive the output from the second averaging circuit 410.

Also, the first switch (SW1) 416 is the lower contact.
(down), that is, connected to the first averaging circuit 408 side, and the third switch (SW3) 420 has a lower contact (down), that is, the first contact.
Connected to the switch 408 side of the first averaging circuit 408
The pseudo B pixel data B ′ from is output to the subtractor 500.
Further, the second switch (SW2) 418 is connected to the lower contact (down), that is, the second averaging circuit 410 side, and the third switch (SW3) 420 is connected to the upper contact (up), that is, the second contact. Switch 41
Pseudo C from the second averaging circuit 410 connected to the 8 side
The pixel data (C ′) is output to the subtractor 500. Further, the first switch (SW1) 416 is further connected to the lower contact (down), that is, the first averaging circuit 408, and the second switch (SW2) 4
18 is connected to the upper contact (up) or the fourth averaging circuit 414, and the third switch (SW3) 420 is the upper (up) fourth
The pseudo D pixel data D ′ from the fourth averaging circuit 414 is connected to the contact on the side of the averaging circuit 414 on the subtractor 500.

The subtractor 500 is a digital adder, and is shown in FIG.
As shown in, each pixel data A _ij , B _ij , C _ij , D _ij representing the 16Base original image data from the line selector 324
Pixel data A _ij , B ' _ij , C' _ij , D 'of the pseudo image data (16'Base) generated by the pseudo data generator 400 from
take the difference for each pixel and _ij, the difference data of 16Base Δ16Ba
This is an output circuit that outputs se to the workstation 4a.
A 4Base output line 210 is connected to the output of the first amplifier 300, and the 4Base output is output to the workstation 4a.

Returning to FIG. 11, the workstation 4a is a main processing unit that performs a predetermined process for recording the image data received from the scanner 202 and transfers the image data to the recording unit 8. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14, the 16Base difference data 220 from the scanner 202 surrounded by the alternate long and short dash line is Huffman-encoded (222), and on the other hand, it is the output of the scanner 202.
Thinning processing is performed on 4Base (1024 × 1536) image data, 512 × 768 pixel Base data 212, 256 × 384 pixel Base / 4 data 214, 128 × 192 pixel Base / 16 data 2
Generate multiple low resolution image data such as 16. If necessary, base image data 21 should be surrounded by a chain double-dashed line.
2 may be interpolated to generate pseudo 4Base image data 224, and the difference from the 4Base data 210 from the scanner 202 may be calculated (226) and Huffman coded (228).
All of these are calculated by the program processing, and the data surrounded by the bold solid line is output as the recording data of one image. These include normal televisions such as NTSC and PAL, high definition television and multiple images.
The data is reproduced as an index image to be displayed each time.

Further, the workstation 4a records a predetermined amount of image data, for example, the image data of one film of 24 shots on a write-once compact disc.
When recording as batch data, a management file for the recording, that is, a so-called directory file is created. This management file includes a file used for reproduction by the reproduction system and a file generated in the form of an ISO9660 file conforming to the International Organization for Standardization standards. Specifically, the recording format of each image data, the minute and the second are represented by an LSN (Logical Sector Number) and the like, and are composed of specifications such as the recording / reproducing time of each track. When the image data to be recorded on the optical disc is known in advance, this management file is written to the hard disk 6 connected by the SCSI bus 5 together with the generated image data, and the image stored in the hard disk 6 is also stored. When some image data is selected from the data and recorded, it is generated after the recording and transferred to the recording device 8.

The recording device 8 forms a digital signal satisfying the compact disc standard, for example, EFM-modulated from the image data received from the workstation 4a,
It is composed of a CD writer which modulates a light beam by this modulation method and writes image data on a recording surface of a predetermined photo CD. Advantageously, a patent application filed by the same applicant as the applicant of the present application, “high-speed recording device for write-once optical disc” described in JP-A-4-353628, and the like are used. This recording device is a device capable of high-speed recording as compared with a conventional recording device, and a compact disc used in this case is a write-once type using a material described in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-76836. Compact discs and the like are advantageously used. The combination of these enables high-speed recording and reproduction with little jitter. The compact disc recorded by the recording device 8 can be reproduced by a home photo CD player, a CD-I player, or a personal computer equipped with a drive compatible with the CD-ROM XA (extended architecture) standard. Thus, an image can be effectively reproduced on any display or a normal television receiver, especially a high-resolution display device.

In the operating state, when pixel data is accumulated in each image pickup device of the scanner 202 and sequentially output, these are converted into digital data and supplied to the amplifiers 300 to 306 shown in FIG. A scan line i
In the above, when the first pixel data A _i1 is supplied to the first amplifier 300, the switch on the left side of the transfer switch 310 in the drawing is connected to the upper side, and the switch on the right side is, for example, the first switch.
Connected to the line buffer 314. As a result, the first pixel data A _i1 is stored in the line buffer 314.
In addition, the first pixel data A from the first amplifier 300
_i1 is accumulated in the line buffer 402 of the pseudo data generation unit 400. Next, the pixel data B _i1 is transferred to the second amplifier 302.
, The switch on the right side of the transfer switch 310 in the drawing remains and the switch on the left side is connected to the lower side.
As a result, the second pixel data B _i1 of the scanning line i is stored in the first line buffer 314 subsequently to the first pixel data A _i1 . After that, the pixel data A and the pixel data B are alternately supplied to the first amplifier 300 and the second amplifier 302, and accordingly, the left switch of the first transfer switch 310 alternates up and down, and the right switch Pixel data for one scan line is stored in the line buffer 314 connected to the switch.
A _ij and B _ij are accumulated alternately. At this time, the pixel data A _ij from the first amplifier 300 is accumulated for one scanning line in the line buffer 402 of the pseudo data generator 400.

On the other hand, when the pixel data C _ij and D _ij are sequentially and alternately supplied to the third and fourth amplifiers 304 and 306 in the next scanning line after the scanning line i of the pixel data A _ij and B _ij , The switch on the left side of the second transfer switch 312 switches alternately,
The switch on the right side is connected to the third line buffer 318, and the pixel data C _ij and D _ij for one scanning line are sequentially accumulated in the third line buffer 318.

After that, when the pixel data of the next scanning line is supplied to the first and second amplifiers 300 and 302, the switch on the left side of the transfer switch 310 is alternately switched and the switch on the right side is switched to the lower side in the same manner as described above. The pixel data A _{(i + 1) j} and B _{(i + 1) j} of the third scanning line are sequentially accumulated in the line buffer 316. In this case, in the pseudo data generation unit 400, when the second pixel data A _{(i + 1) 2} of the line is output from the first amplifier 300, the first pixel data A _ij of the previous line is output. It is output through the line buffer 402 and the first delay circuit 404. The pixel data A _ij is the first changeover switch 216 and the third changeover switch 420.
Is output to the subtractor 500 via.

On the other hand, when the data A _{(i + 1) j of} the third line begins to be accumulated in the line buffer 316, the line selector
324 selects the first line buffer 314 and outputs the first pixel data A _ij to the subtractor 500. Thus, the pixel data A _ij from the first pixel data A _ij and the pseudo data generation unit 400 is supplied to a subtracter 500 from the selector 324, these difference data, the data in this case, the difference value "0" Is output to the workstation 4a.

Next, the pixel data A _ij output from the first delay circuit 404 and the next pixel data A _{i (j + 1)} output from the line buffer 402 are _combined with the first averaging circuit 40.
Supplied to 8. The first averaging circuit 408 shifts down the value obtained by adding these by one and performs a half operation to generate pseudo B pixel data B ′ _ij . This data is the first
It is output to the subtractor 500 via the changeover switch 416 and the third changeover switch 420. On the other hand, the selector 324 receives the pixel data B _ij of the original image from the line buffer 314 and outputs it to the subtractor 500. This allows the subtractor 500
Then, the pseudo B pixel data B ′ from the pseudo data generation unit 400
_ij and the pixel data B _ij from the selector 324 (B _ij -B ' _ij )
Is output to the workstation 4a.

Further, the pixel data A _ij from the first delay element 404 is supplied to the second averaging circuit 410, and at this time,
The first pixel data A _{(i + 1) j} of the next scan line is supplied to the second averaging circuit 410. As a result, in the second averaging circuit 410, the pixel data A _ij of the first scanning line from the first delay element 404 and the data A _{i + 1j} of the next scanning line from the second delay element 406 are stored. And the first averaging circuit 408
In the same manner as above, the shift down is performed and averaged, and the pseudo data C ′ _ij of the pixel data C _ij of the scanning line between them is generated. This data _C'ij is supplied to the subtractor 500 via the second changeover switch 418 and the third changeover switch 420. on the other hand,
The selector 324 selects the line buffer 318 and supplies the first pixel data C _ij to the subtractor 500. As a result, in the subtractor 500, the difference (C _ij-
C'ij ) and output to workstation 4a.

Further, in the third averaging circuit 412, the pixel data A one line after the pixel data A _{i (j + 1)
(i + 1) (j + 1)} is supplied, and the data A _{(i + 1) j} one pixel before from the second delay circuit 406 is supplied. Fourth averaging circuit 41 averaging to 1
Output to 4. In the fourth averaging circuit 414, A _ij and A _{i (j + 1)} calculated in the first averaging circuit 408 together with the fourth averaging circuit 414.
The average value of and is supplied via the first changeover switch 416, and these are averaged. This data is A
_ij, and output B _ij and C _ij, pseudo pixel data D _'ij next data D _ij on the diagonal line of the pixel data A _ij at the scanning line of D _ij, to the subtractor 500 through the switch 418 and 420 . On the other hand, the selector 324 selects the pixel data D _ij from the line buffer 318 and supplies it to the subtractor 500. As a result, the subtracter 500 takes the difference between the pixel data D _ij from the selector 324 and the pseudo data D ′ _ij from the pseudo data generator 400 and supplies it to the workstation 4a.

Next, when the next pixel data A _{(i + 1) (j + 2)} is supplied to the amplifier 300, the pseudo data generator 400 causes the next pixel data A _{i (j + 1) on the} scanning line i. ₎ , B _{i (j + 1)} , C
Pseudo data of _{i (j + 1)} and D _{i (j + 1)} are generated and sequentially output to the subtractor 500, while the selector 324 responds to this to select the line buffers 314 and 318, respectively. Subtractor 500 for each second pixel data of the image
Output to. After that, when the pixel data A is supplied to and output from the first amplifier 300, the pseudo data generation unit 40
0 generates pseudo data A, B ', C', D'and subtracts 50
It is sequentially output to 0, and the difference between these and the pixel data A, B, C, D of the original image from the selector 324 is obtained and sequentially supplied to the workstation 4a. When the output of Δ16Base on the first and second scan lines is completed in this way, the selector 324 then sequentially selects the pixel data of the next scan line (i + 1) accumulated in the line buffers 316 and 320. The pseudo data generated by the pseudo data generation unit 400 is supplied to the subtractor 500. As a result, the subtractor 500 generates Δ16Base pixel data for the third and fourth scanning lines and sequentially outputs the pixel data to the workstation 4a.

In this way, in the next scanning line, similarly to the above, pseudo data is generated in response to the output of the pixel data A, the difference from the original image data is sequentially obtained, and the data of Δ16Base is sequentially obtained. Output to the workstation 4a.
Along with this, the output of pixel data A from output 210 is 4
The data of Base is supplied to the workstation 4a.

The workstation 4a receiving these 4Base data and Δ16Base data sequentially thins out 4Base data to generate low resolution data of Base, Base / 4, Base / 16, and Δ16Base data. The data is Huffman-encoded, and these are once written in the hard disk 6 as the recording data of the first image. This is 1 from the scanner 202
When the recording data is generated for the data for each image and, for example, the processing of the image data for 24 sheets is completed, the management data such as the directory is generated and written in the hard disk 6. When this process ends, workstation 4a
Sequentially reads the recording data from the hard disk 6 and supplies it to the recording device 8. As a result, the recording device 8 records the image data on the predetermined user disk.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the scanner 202 reads high-resolution image data of 16Base, one-fourth of the output is 4Base output 21.
Since 0 and the data of Δ16Base with a small amount of information that continues to be almost zero are generated by hardware and supplied to the work station 4a as the output 220, the work station 4a need only perform Huffman coding and a simple thinning process. Good.
As a result, the processing time can be significantly shortened as compared with the case of processing data of 16Base in the workstation 4a. Further, in this embodiment, since the data of 16Base itself is not stored in the hard disk 6, the hard disk 6 having a relatively small capacity can be used.

In the above-described embodiment, the film scanner 202 outputs low resolution pixel data from outputs 210 to 4B.
The ase data was output, but not limited to this,
4Bas by combination of line buffer and selector
Pixel data may be extracted every four from the image data of e, and further converted into Base image data and output.

The output of 4Base data can be obtained from the output 70a of the A / D converter 18c in the scanner 2 shown in FIG. In this case, the output of the Δ16Base data is output to the data generated by the pseudo data generation unit 400 based on the output 70a of the A / D converter 18c and the output 3 of the line multiplexer 28 shown in FIG. The data and the data may be obtained as data of a value calculated by the subtractor 500.

[0090]

As described above, according to the image input device in the image data recording system of the present invention, the resolving optical system transmits and reflects the light flux from the subject to form a plurality of predetermined images representing the subject. Image the position. Since the image pickup means are arranged so that the openings of the respective pixels are displaced from each other at these image forming positions, it is possible to obtain an image signal of high pixel density which is difficult to obtain from a single image pickup means. . Further, the signal reading unit can read and output the pixel signal from the plurality of image pickup units at high speed. As a result, images formed on film such as photographs can be read at high speed and with high pixel density. For example, images formed on photographic film can be read in a short time to record information such as compact discs. Image data to be recorded on a medium can be quickly generated and output. Therefore, there is an excellent effect that the information recording medium in which the image data is written can be mass-produced without being limited by the image input time.

Further, according to the image input device in the image data recording system of the present invention, pseudo data is generated in a hardware manner from the high resolution image data read by the plurality of image pickup devices, and this and the pixels of the original image are generated. Since the difference between the data and the data is sequentially output, the subsequent system only needs to perform processing such as encoding. As a result, there is an excellent effect that data processing can be performed quickly, and image data that can significantly reduce the time required to record a large amount of data can be output.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a film scanner according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of an image data recording system to which the film scanner of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optical unit in the embodiment shown in FIG.

4 is a diagram showing an example of an array of CCD pixels and apertures in the optical unit shown in FIG.

5 is a diagram showing an example in which CCDs are arranged so that the openings of the CCDs in the optical unit shown in FIG. 3 are displaced from each other.

6 is a diagram showing respective outputs of the optical unit in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the output of the film scanner in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the film scanner according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing respective outputs of an optical unit and outputs of a film scanner in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing still another embodiment of the film scanner according to the present invention.

11 is a block diagram showing an image data recording system to which the film scanner in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is applied.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a switch state and an output relationship of pseudo pixel data in the pseudo data generation unit of the embodiment shown in FIG.

13 is a timing chart showing input / output data of the subtracter of the embodiment shown in FIG.

14 is a diagram showing a processing example of image data in the embodiment shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another configuration example of the optical unit according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,200 Image data recording system 2,110,202 Film scanner 10 Optical part 12 Imaging lens 14 Optical block 16a, 16b, 16c, 16d Amplifier 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d A / D converter 20ab, 20cd, 122 Multiplexer 22ab, 22cd Demultiplexer 24,26 Double line buffer 28 Line multiplexer 30 Signal generation circuit 50,52,54 Half mirror 56a, 56b, 56c, 56d CCD 120a, 120b, 120c, 120d Latch 310,312 Transfer switch 314-320 Line buffer 400 Pseudo data generation Part 402 Line buffer 404,406 Delay element 408-414 Averaging circuit 416-420 Changeover switch 500 Subtractor

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. An image data recording system for forming a high-quality image incident through an imaging lens, generating high-resolution pixel data representing the high-quality image, and recording the pixel data on a recording medium. In the image input device in
The apparatus further comprises: first decomposing optical means for transmitting and reflecting the light beam incident from the image pickup lens to decompose the light beam; and further transmitting and reflecting the light beam transmitted through the first decomposing optical means to form the subject image. Second resolving optical means for forming images at two positions, and third resolving means for further transmitting and reflecting the light flux reflected by the first separating optical means to form the subject image at two positions. Optical means, a plurality of image pickup means provided respectively corresponding to the positions where the subject images are formed, for converting the formed subject images into pixel data, and pixel data output from the plurality of image pickup means. In the image data recording system, the plurality of image pickup means are arranged at an image forming position of the subject image with the openings of respective pixels shifted from each other. Image input device. 2. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the first, second and third resolving optical means are half mirrors each having a light reflectance and a light transmittance substantially equal to each other. An image input device in a characteristic image data recording system. 3. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of image pickup units include a first image pickup unit that picks up the formed subject image at a predetermined position, and the first image pickup unit. Second image pickup means in which the pixel apertures are arranged next to the respective pixel apertures in the horizontal direction, and in the vertical direction relative to the respective pixel apertures of the first image pickup means. Third image pickup means in which an opening portion of the pixel is arranged, and fourth image pickup means in which the opening portion of the pixel is arranged in the horizontal and vertical directions of the opening portion of the pixel of the first image pickup means. An image input device in an image data recording system, comprising: 4. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the signal reading unit alternately outputs a plurality of pixel data for each horizontal scanning period output from the plurality of imaging units during the one horizontal scanning period. A plurality of first signal switching means that are selectively read out, and the pixel data selected by the first signal switching means are provided for one horizontal scanning period. A plurality of second signal switching means for switching each time to output to the first and second outputs, and a plurality of second signal switching means provided corresponding to the outputs of the second signal switching means. 1 output from the second output
Image data characterized by comprising storage means for alternately storing pixel data for each horizontal scanning period, and selection means for selecting and outputting pixel data output from the storage means for each horizontal scanning period. Image input device in recording system. 5. The image input device according to claim 4, wherein the device generates a drive signal for driving the plurality of image pickup units at the same timing, and the generated drive signal is used for the plurality of image pickup units. An image input device in an image data recording system, characterized in that the image input device is provided with driving means for supplying the image data to the image input device. 6. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the signal reading unit outputs a plurality of pixel data for each one horizontal scanning period output from the plurality of image capturing units during the one horizontal scanning period. A plurality of first signal switching means for alternately selecting and outputting the signals, and a selection means for selecting and outputting the pixel data output from the plurality of first signal switching means for each horizontal scanning period. An image input device in an image data recording system, comprising: 7. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the signal reading means includes a plurality of storage means for storing pixel data sequentially output from the plurality of image pickup devices for each scanning line, The apparatus uses one of pixel data output from the plurality of image pickup devices.
And a pseudo pixel data generation unit that sequentially generates pseudo pixel data corresponding to the output of the image pickup device of the difference based on the pixel data, and the pseudo pixel data generated by the pseudo pixel data generation unit. An image input device in an image data recording system, comprising: an output unit that outputs a difference from corresponding pixel data stored in a plurality of storage units. 8. An image input device in an image data recording system for reading high resolution image data from a medium representing a high quality image, compressing the image data into a predetermined data amount, and recording the compressed data on a recording medium. A plurality of image pickup elements for sequentially reading pixel data for each pixel from the high-quality image, and a plurality of storage means for storing pixel data sequentially output from the plurality of image pickup elements for each scanning line. A pseudo data generating unit that extracts one output of the pixel data output from the plurality of image sensors and sequentially generates pseudo pixel data corresponding to the outputs of other image sensors based on the pixel data, And output means for calculating the difference between the pseudo pixel data generated by the pseudo data generating means and the corresponding pixel data accumulated in the plurality of accumulating means. An image input apparatus in the image data recording system, characterized in that. 9. The image input device according to claim 8, wherein the device includes a decomposing optical unit that reflects and transmits a light beam incident from an imaging lens that forms the high-quality image, and the decomposing optical unit. Is a first resolving optical means for transmitting and reflecting the light beam incident from the image pickup lens to decompose it, and further transmitting and reflecting the light beam transmitted through the first resolving optical means for displaying the high-quality image. A second resolving optical means for forming images at two positions, and a third resolving optical means for further transmitting and reflecting the light flux reflected by the first resolving optical means to form the high-quality image at two positions. Decomposing optical means, wherein the plurality of imaging means are arranged at the two positions of each of the second and third decomposing optical means such that openings of respective pixels are displaced from each other. An image input apparatus in the image data recording system that symptoms. 10. The image input device according to claim 8, wherein the image pickup device is a four-plate type image pickup device.
Pixel data is sequentially output from the fourth to fourth image pickup devices by raster scanning, and the pseudo data generation means outputs the average value of pixel data adjacent to each other in the horizontal scanning line of the output from the first image pickup device to the second value. First averaging means for obtaining the value of the second pseudo pixel data corresponding to the output of the image pickup device, and the average of the respective pixel data in the scanning lines before and after the output from the first image pickup device. Second averaging means for obtaining a value as the value of the third pseudo pixel data corresponding to the output of the third image sensor, and vertical and horizontal directions in the scanning line of the output from the first image sensor. Image data recording, which comprises a third averaging means for respectively obtaining an average value of four pixel data as a value of fourth pseudo pixel data corresponding to the output of the fourth image sensor. Image input device in the system. 11. The image input device according to claim 10, wherein the pseudo data generating unit delays the output from the first image sensor by one scanning line, and outputs the first delay unit. The second delay unit delays the output of the first delay unit by one pixel and outputs it, and the third delay unit delays the pixel data from the first image sensor by one pixel and outputs it. The first averaging means averages the output from the first delaying means and the output from the second delaying means, and the second averaging means outputs from the second delaying means. And the output from the third delay means are averaged to obtain the third
Averaging means further averages a value obtained by averaging the output from the first image sensor and the output from the third delay means and the output of the first averaging means. Image input device in an image data recording system for use. 12. The image input device according to claim 11, wherein the device sequentially selects outputs from the plurality of storage means and outputs pixel data of an original image by raster scanning.
Of the selection means, the first averaging means, the second averaging means, the third averaging means, and the first delay means are sequentially switched to generate an output from the first image sensor. Switching means for interpolating the pseudo pixel data and sequentially outputting the pseudo pixel data, and the output means takes the difference for each pixel data supplied from the first selecting means and the switching means and outputs the difference as device output. An image input device in an image data recording system characterized by the above. 13. The image input device according to claim 12, wherein the device outputs pixel data from the first image sensor as device output together with output from the output means. Image input device in recording system.