JPH07121077B2 - Image input device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an image input device, and more particularly to improvement of initial operation settings thereof.

[Conventional technology]

14 and 15 show an overall perspective view and a front view of an example of a conventional image input device. The image input device in the example of the drawing includes a mounting table 1 for mounting an image 1a to be read, a camera (imaging unit) 2 having a photoelectric conversion unit for reading the image 1a, and a support member for supporting the camera 2. The mounting table 1 and the supporting member S are integrally formed inseparably.

The support member S is composed of a vertical support portion 4 and a horizontal support portion 3, respectively, and the camera 2 moves vertically in the vertical member 4 (Z direction) and in the front-back direction (X direction) in the horizontal support portion 3. Each can be moved. M is a monitor display unit, 7 is a power switch, W is a white balance knob, and 5 is each illuminating device for illuminating the mounting table 1.

Further, focusing, zooming of the camera 2 and switching between inversion / non-inversion of image output are manually performed.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in this type of conventional example, since focusing / zooming and the like are performed manually as described above, when the power is turned on to start the operation of the image input apparatus, the apparatus is operated by the previous manual operation. However, it is necessary to carry out focusing / zooming again or switching of video output, which is troublesome and poor in operability.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the conventional example as described above, and an object thereof is to provide an image input device having good operability at the start of operation.

[Means for solving problems]

Image input including a document table for an image to be read, an illumination section for illuminating the document table, an image capturing section for photoelectrically converting the image, a support for the image capturing section, and an exposure adjusting mechanism having a diaphragm. A device, at the time of starting the operation of the image input device, after narrowing down the diaphragm to the minimum diaphragm, regardless of the amount of light incident through the diaphragm, the diaphragm is opened to a predetermined target value. It is intended to achieve the above object by providing a control means for operating the exposure adjustment mechanism.

[Action]

With the above-described configuration, the operability at the start of the operation is remarkably improved, and the switches and the like conventionally required for the initial setting are not necessary, which can contribute to cost reduction.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on Examples.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show an overall perspective view and a sectional side view, respectively, of an embodiment of an image input device according to the present invention.
The same (corresponding) components as those in FIGS. 14 and 15 showing the conventional example are represented by the same reference numerals.

(Structure) In FIG. 2, in FIG. 2, 1 is a mounting table on which an image 1a to be read is placed. In order to adjust the white balance of the camera 2 having a color photoelectric conversion unit for reading an image such as a document described later, the camera 2 of the mounting table 1 is adjusted.
The side surface is an achromatic gray. The surface of the mounting table 1 on the camera 2 side may be white, but if the amount of light incident on the photoelectric conversion unit in the camera 2 is too large, the output of the photoelectric conversion unit may be saturated and the white balance may not be properly adjusted. In order to prevent such a phenomenon, a gray color having a lower reflectance than a white color is preferable. Further, the mounting table 1 is a diffuse reflection plate so that diffused reflection light does not enter the camera 2 from the mounting table 1. Reference numeral 2 denotes a camera fixedly / supported to the horizontal support portion 3 and having a color photoelectric conversion portion. Reference numeral 4 denotes a vertical support portion, which is fixed to the mounting table 1, and the horizontal support portion 3 is connected to the mounting table 1 via the vertical support portion 4. Reference numerals 5 and 5 denote lighting devices arranged on the upper portions of both sides of the mounting table 1. When the lighting is dark on the mounting table 1, or when it is desired to input something written on a trapen pen or the like into the camera 2, an interior light is used. Specular reflection of camera 2
It is used when a shade or the like is used to prevent the pick-up by the switch 6 and can be turned on / off by the switch 6. 7
Is a power switch of this device.

Reference numeral 8 denotes an external input terminal for inputting a video signal from the outside, and the external input input thereto is output from the monitor output terminal 9. Further, 10 is a remote control device (hereinafter,
As will be described later, a remote controller will be used to electrically operate each operation member such as focusing and zooming with a built-in zoom lens for forming an image on the mounting table 1 on the camera 2 portion by the zoom lens. In the illustrated example, the cord is connected to the main body, but it goes without saying that it may be wireless.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional explanatory view of the camera 2. Reference numeral 11 denotes a CCD (charge coupled device) as an image pickup device, which inputs the image 1a on the mounting table 1 through the zoom lens 12 and the focus lens 13. The zoom lens 12 is fixed to the moving barrel 21, and is driven by the motor 15 via the cam barrel 19.

The focus lens 13 is attached to the focus frame 20,
It is fixed to the moving cylinder 22, and the motor is
Driven by 16. A diaphragm 14 is opened and closed by a motor 17. 18 is a fixed cylinder, which is fixed to the horizontal support portion 3,
The moving barrels 21, 22 and the cam barrel 19 are rotatably attached.

Next, FIG. 4 shows a top view of the operation unit of the remote controller 10.
Reference numeral 23 is a rotary dial for focus / zoom adjustment, and 24 is a control switch of the dial 23, which is selectively set to either the focus / zoom position (the focus state is shown in the figure). 25 is an iris (aperture) button, +
Pressing one side opens the bottle, pressing one side closes the diaphragm. Further, by pressing the auto iris button 26, the aperture can be automatically adjusted.

27 is an external input selector button, which is the external input terminal 8 (Fig. 2).
Is a button for selecting the input from, and 28 is a negative / positive switching button. Reference numeral 29 is a white adjustment button of the camera 2. By pressing this button, the white balance can be automatically adjusted. Also, by pressing this button, the white balance adjustment may be manually selected according to the type of external light, fluorescent lamp, daylight, incandescent lamp light, and the like. Reference numeral 30 is a reset button described later.

(Electrical Circuit) FIG. 5 shows an electrical circuit diagram of this embodiment. In the figure, 101
Is a camera head for imaging the subject Y. X
Is a lens attached to the front of the camera head 101 for forming an image of the subject Y on the image pickup device CCD of the head unit, and includes a plurality of zoom optical lenses 102, an aperture 103, a zoom adjustment motor 104, It is composed of a focus adjusting motor 105 and an aperture adjusting motor 106.

Here, each of the motors 104, 105, 106 is an element capable of converting electrical energy into mechanical energy, such as a DC motor, a step motor, an ultrasonic motor, etc.
It is possible to mechanically move in opposite directions by a command from 112, and the motor 104 is "tele" / "wide" and the motor 105 is in focus "near" / "moving" in both directions.
"Far", the motor 106 performs the "open" / "close" operation of the diaphragm,
The zoom, focus (focus) and aperture (exposure amount) can be adjusted respectively. Here, for simplification of description, each of the motors 104, 105, 106 is assumed to be a step motor.

The image information of the subject Y is output from the camera head 101 via the output line 107 as a video signal such as NTSC.
At the same time, the camera head 101 detects the average luminance of the subject Y, so that the luminance signal output from the terminal b is
In the integration circuit 109 via the line 108, the camera head
An appropriate weighting is performed according to the signal from the terminal d of 101, integration is performed, and A / D conversion is performed by the A / D converter 111, and then the controller 11 which is the control device of the entire system.
Enter 2

The camera head 101 sends a synchronizing signal from the terminal C to the integrating circuit 109 to give reset timing of the integrated waveform, and also sends a timing pulse to the controller 112 from the terminal C to obtain the integrated waveform to the controller 112. The timing to insert is specified.

The following operating members are connected to the controller 112.

That is, 113 is a rotary encoder, and its two outputs A and B are connected to the controller 112, and when the encoder 113 is rotated to the right as shown in the output signal waveform diagram of the rotary encoder 113 in FIG. When rotated left, Because it is designed to change like
2 is capable of discriminating the rotation direction by input from the rotary encoder 113.

Next, 114, 115, and 116 are members that specify zoom, focus, and aperture operations, respectively, and, for example, when the input from this point becomes a "high" level, the controller
112 determines that the operation has been specified.

118/119 are up / down operation members, and when they are at the “high” level, the controller 112 turns the diaphragm 103
Open (up operation) / close (down operation).

With respect to the rotation of the rotary encoder 113, the controller 112 performs tele / wide operation for zoom operation, near / far operation for focus operation, and open / close operation for aperture operation with respect to right / left rotation, respectively. 120 is a reset switch described later.

As the configuration of each of the above operation members, for example, 112 to 120,
It may take the form of a remote control device, or it may be incorporated in the body.

(Operation) The operation of the present embodiment having the above-mentioned configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

First, the aperture control will be described. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a photometric area for the screen, and a case where a part of the entire screen is uniformly weighted for photometry will be described as an example. (T _{1 to} t ₂ )
Is a photometric portion, and FIG. 8 shows timing waveform diagrams of respective signals related to aperture control corresponding to respective time points in FIG.

8A is a vertical synchronizing signal output from the terminal C of the camera head 101 to the integrating circuit 109, FIG. 8B is an integrated output waveform of the integrating circuit 109, and FIG. 8C is a camera head. 1
The timing pulse is output to the controller 112 from the terminal d 01.

As shown in (b) of the figure, the integrated output is cleared at the front line of the vertical synchronizing signal and changes at the photometric portion (t _{1 to} t ₂ ), but after that, it is a constant value until the next synchronizing signal is input. Has become. Therefore, this constant value, capture the timing of the timing pulses to be input at time t ₃ during a certain period ((c) Figure) to the controller 112, the light amount measurement result ((b)
The diaphragm 103 is adjusted according to the figure and the integral value V _A ). This operation sequence will be described with reference to the aperture adjustment operation sequence flowchart of FIG.

First, in step 201, the controller 112 determines whether or not a timing signal has been input. If it has not been input (N), it jumps to another routine, and if it has been input (Y), the integral value V _A is input there through the A / D converter 110 (step 202). Next, set this value V _A to the maximum allowable value V
Compare with _R1 (step 203). If V _A > V _R1 (Y), it is determined that the amount of incident light is excessive, and the motor 106
Step down the aperture 103 by one step (step 20
Four). Thus, the operation in this case is completed, and the next work is started (step 208).

If V _A <V _R1 in step 203 (N), then the V _A value is compared with the minimum allowable value V _R2 (step 205). If V _A <V _R2 (Y), it is determined that the amount of incident light is insufficient, and the diaphragm 103 is opened by one step via the motor 106 (step 206). This completes the operation in this case and moves to the next work (step 208).

If V _A > V _R2 in step 205 (N), it is determined that the amount of incident light is appropriate, the diaphragm 103 is left as it is (step 207), the operation in this case is terminated, and the next Move to work (step 208).

Note that, here, the maximum / minimum allowable value V _R1 of the integrated value V _A
/ V _R2 is, for example, V _R1 = with respect to the target value V _R of the integrated light amount.
Determine as 1.4V _R , V _R2 = 0.7V _R.

When correcting this, for example, assuming that the correction is performed in ^20.5 steps, as shown in Table 1, a target value for aperture control may be tabulated and referred to. That is, in this case, No. 5 is the standard value, and the smaller the No numerical value, the lower the target incident light amount.

(Operation Operation) Next, a specific operation of the control device according to the present embodiment will be described.

1) Direction of operation with rotary encoder 113 FIG. 10 shows focus / zoom / operation by operation of rotary encoder 113.
The operation | movement sequence flowchart of diaphragm control is shown. However, in this case, the up / down operation members 118/119 are not used.

First, in step 301, the controller 112 reads the output of the rotary encoder 113. The value of
It compares with the previously read value (step 302). If the two values are equal (Y), the rotary encoder 113 has not been operated and the operation is completed (step 30).
3). If both values are different in step 302 (N), as shown in FIG.
The left is discriminated (step 304), and the variable of the rotary encoder 113 (for comparison at the time of next reading) is updated (step 305). Here, for convenience of explanation, it is assumed that the rotation is to the right.

Next, the states of the zoom / focus / aperture operation designating members 114/115/116 are read into the controller 112 to determine what to operate (step 307).

For example, if the zoom operation 114 is performed, the motor 104 is driven to the "tele" side by two steps in step 308, and if the focus operation 115 is performed, the motor 105 is moved by two steps "near". If it is driven to the "" side, or if the diaphragm operation 116 is performed, the photometric target is set to a value two higher than the current value in Table 1 (smaller No.) (step 308).

If the rotary encoder 113 is rotated in the opposite direction, the operation direction in step 308 may be reversed.

2) Operation when the power is turned on If the current position can be confirmed by setting a switch at least at one point in the operating range for zoom, focus, and diaphragm, if this confirmation is not made, for example, the diaphragm is fully opened. However, if the amount of light is insufficient, continue to drive the motor 106 in the direction to further open the diaphragm,
There is a fear that troubles such as wasteful power consumption, heat generation of the motor, and shortening of the life of the motor may occur. In order to prevent these, the following initial operation is performed.

Initial Operation of Aperture FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of the initial operation sequence of the aperture.

It is assumed that the motor 106 can be reduced by N ₁ steps to reduce the aperture 103 from the minimum aperture to the minimum aperture.
In steps 501 to 503, N ₁ steps are unconditionally narrowed down. The diaphragm 103 is now in the minimum diaphragm state.

Next, it is assumed that the aperture value having the highest appearance frequency is N ₁₁ steps away from the minimum aperture value, and then in steps 505 to 508, the N ₁₁ step aperture is unconditionally opened. Then, the standard target value (No. at the left end in Table 1)
Let NR be NR = 5) and start controlling exposure (step 509).

Here, when the operation of steps 505 to 508 is performed,
From the minimum aperture to the expected value N _11, the step opening work can be speeded up to the full response time of the motor 106, as compared with the conventional case where there is a delay of a screen unit (16.6 ms for 60 fields / s). .

Initial zoom operation The initial zoom operation is from the "tele" end to the "wide" end, for example, when the standard "wide" end is often used.
Assuming that the robot can move in N _Z steps, it can be driven unconditionally to the N _Z step “wide” side. The operation sequence flowchart in this case is shown in step 50 in FIG.
Since it is exactly the same as 1 to 504, illustration is omitted.

Initial operation of focus Since it is usual to focus on the document table 1 for focus, this position is set as an initial position. That is,
When the focus is assumed to have N _F Step from close range to infinity (∞), first, the motor 105 is operated N _F Step, and ∞. Next, assuming that it takes N _FO steps to _move from ∞ to the initial position, the motor 1
You can focus on the initial position by operating the 05 N _F0 step. The flowchart in this case is also the same as in the 11th
The illustration is omitted because it follows steps 501 to 508.

3) Reset operation When operating the system of this embodiment and wanting to return it to the standard during exposure compensation, for example, it can be restored by operating the same number in the direction opposite to the compensated direction.
In this case, since it is easier to operate by returning with one touch, the reset switch 120 in FIG. 5 is used here.

FIG. 12 shows a reset operation sequence flowchart. First, in step 601, the controller 112 determines whether or not the reset switch 120 has been operated. If it is not operated (N), work is completed (switch
606), and if the reset switch 120 has been operated (Y), whether or not the aperture 103 is currently in the reset state (that is, whether or not the standard target NR = 5 in Table 1 is controlled). Is determined (step 602). If not (N), the aperture is reset in step 603, and the work is finished (step 606). If the aperture is reset in step 602 (Y), then zoom
It is determined whether 102 is currently in a reset state (for example, "wide" end) (step 604). If it is in the reset state (Y), the work is finished (step 606).
On the contrary, if it is not in the reset state (N), the motor 104 is driven to the "wide" side by the difference between the current zoom value and the "wide" end to reset the zoom (step 60).
5), the work is completed (step 606).

Here, as described above, the priority is given to the aperture and the zoom, and the reset is performed in the order of the aperture when the first operation is performed and the zoom when the next operation is performed. However, all the resets are performed by one reset operation. May be performed. In this case, step 604 may be performed as the operation subsequent to step 603.

Further, in the above, as the reset, only the diaphragm and the zoom are performed, but it goes without saying that the focus may be reset (for example, stop at a certain characteristic distance).
In that case, the focus, aperture, and zoom may be reset in this order by three operations, or the focus, aperture, and then zoom may be reset by two operations. Alternatively, it does not matter even if all are reset in one operation.

For the zoom, a special reset button may be provided and some reset positions may be provided. That is, at standard distance all screens are A3, B4, A4, B5,
A5, B6, etc. are provided so that the size is set so that one zoom reset is reset to one of them, for example, A4, and then the reset switch 120 and the up / down operation members 118/119. If you operate both at the same time,
→ B5 → A5 …… for up, ………… for down
→ You can enlarge / reduce like B4 → A3.

Alternatively, if the reset switch 120 and the up / down operation members 118/119 are simultaneously operated from the beginning of the non-reset state, the reset switch 120 and the up / down operation member 118/119 may be reset to the closest reset position in the enlargement / reduction direction.
The reset position may be reset to the nearest reset position only by a simple reset operation.

4) Operation of the whole system Next, the operation of the whole system including the audio system will be described.

A selection member 130 (audio select) for audio operation selection and input selection members 131, 132, 133 are newly added to the controller 112 as operation members. In addition, as a dedicated audio circuit, a microphone
701, audio circuit (amplifier, automatic level control, etc.) 702,
An electronic volume 703, a prohibition switch 705, a switcher 706, etc. are added.

Of these, the electronic volume 703 is an amplifier whose gain changes according to the voltage of the D / A converter 704 which converts the volume control digital signal from the controller 112 into an analog value. Further, the prohibition switch 705 is a switch for prohibiting the output of noise generated in a transient state of the audio system when the power is turned on. In addition, each switcher 70
6,706 'outputs one of the three inputs c, d, e to the output terminal f by the digital signal applied to the control terminals a, b. For example Thus, one of the two, the internal input or the external input, can be selected.

FIG. 13 shows an operation sequence flowchart when the power of all the systems including the audio system is turned on.

When the power is turned on, first, in order to prevent noise in step 801, the prohibition step 705 is turned off, and the switcher 706 outputs an internal signal (step 802). If you configure the inhibit switch 705 to turn off when the control terminal is at "high" level, normally all the output terminals (open collector or open train) are turned off when the controller 112 is reset by power-on. In many cases, the steps 801 and 802 are automatically performed only by attaching a pull-up resistor.

Next, in step 803, the volume control digital signal is initialized to the minimum value or the most frequently used value. Next, the aperture, focus, and zoom are initialized in this order (steps 804, 805, and 806), and then the prohibit switch 7
The prohibition of 05 is released (step 807). If the transient time during which the audio system may generate noise is shorter, the prohibition may be released in the middle of step 804, for example.

Next, the operation including the audio in the steady state will be described. The input switching is performed by operating each of the input selection members 131 to 133, completely independently of the operation of the other operating members.

Further, the volume adjustment is performed by operating the up / down operation members 118/119 in the state of the audio select 130.

5) Initial operation of negative / positive reversal When the power is turned on, it is usually used in positive, so
Set to positive. That is, the output of the camera head 101 may be directly input to the terminal C of the switcher 706 '.
Normally, when the negative / positive switch 28 is pressed, the operation of the controller 112 is input to the camera head 101 through the line c of the camera head 101, and the output of the head is
It is inverted and input to the terminal C of the switcher 706 '.

6) Initial operation of video output Normally, when the power is turned on, the output of the camera head 101 is projected, and the controller 112 selects the input end C, that is, the internal input through the input lines a and b of the switcher 706 and 706 'as input. And output.

In the normal state, the external input switch button 27 (each input selection member
If any one of 131-133) is selected, the controller 11
2 selects one of the switcher inputs c, d, e through the switcher input lines a, b according to the input.

For the reset including the audio, the input switching and the sound volume are added as the reset targets. As for the priority of reset, put the input switching in the first place,
Next, aperture focus, zoom, then volume,
Only the input switching may be separately set to the highest level, and the other operations may be performed all at once.

(Operation / Effect of Embodiment) As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, when the power is turned on, the focus / zoom automatically matches the predetermined position such as the A4 size position, and the microphone output is appropriate. In addition, the operability of the image section has been significantly improved as a positive mode and as an internal input. At the same time, the reliability of the subsequent operation is improved, and the switches and the like required for the initial setting become unnecessary, which can contribute to cost reduction.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above with reference to the embodiments, according to the present invention, the operability is remarkably improved because the image input device is automatically set to the predetermined setting state when the operation is started.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 13 relate to an embodiment of the image input apparatus of the present invention, respectively. FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view and FIG.
1 is a sectional view of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a camera, FIG. 4 is a top view of an operation portion of a remote controller, FIG. 5 is an electric circuit diagram, and FIG. 6 is a rotary encoder output. Signal waveform diagram, FIG. 7 is a metering area diagram for the screen, FIG. 8 is a timing waveform diagram of aperture control related signals, FIG. 9 is an aperture adjustment operation sequence flowchart, and FIG. 10 is a rotary encoder operation sequence. Flow chart, FIG. 11 is a flow chart of the initial operation of the aperture, FIG. 12 is a flow chart of the reset operation, FIG. 13 is a flow chart of the operation sequence when the power of the entire system is turned on, and FIGS. It is a perspective view and a front view of an example of the conventional image input device. 1 ... Mounting table 1a ... Image 2 ... Camera (imaging part) 3/4 ... Horizontal / vertical support part 7 ... Power switch 8 ... Input terminal 10 ... Remote control device 12 ... Zoom lens (shooting magnification Adjusting mechanism) 13 …… Focus lens (imaging distance adjusting mechanism) 14 …… Aperture (exposure adjusting mechanism) 28 …… Negative / positive switching button (shooting output reversing / non-reversing selecting mechanism) 30 …… Reset button 112 …… Controller (Control means) 703 ... Electronic volume (audio output adjustment mechanism)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A document table for an image to be read, an illumination section for illuminating the document table, an image pickup section for photoelectrically converting the image, a support for the image pickup section, and an exposure adjustment mechanism having a diaphragm. An image input device comprising, at the start of operation of the image input device, after narrowing down the diaphragm to the minimum diaphragm, regardless of the amount of light incident through the diaphragm, the diaphragm to a predetermined target value. An image input device comprising: a control unit that operates the exposure adjustment mechanism to open. 2. The control means is provided with a plurality of target values as a table, and the predetermined target value is set substantially in the middle of the plurality of target values.
The image input device according to the item.