JPH07200634A - Image reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an image reading device which can exclusively read out or register the images. CONSTITUTION:A register original 2 is inputted together with a register sheet 1 where the information on the title, the key word, the number of sheets, etc., of the original 2 are recorded. Then the contents of the original 2 and the sheet 1 are read as the image data at a reading part 4. The image data on the sheet 1 undergo the recogition of characters at an information recognition part 5 for the retrieval information and then are sent to a coding circuit part 7. Meanwhile the image data on the original 2 are directly sent to a coding circuit part 6 to undergo the compression and the coding processing there and then converted into a code that can be recorded on an optical disk. This is code is sent to a selector part 7. At the same time, the image data on the contents of the sheet 1 and the original 2 which are read at the part 4 are also sent to the part 7 for selection of a register or reading function.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading device dedicated to reading or registering an image used in an image filing device, for example.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a large amount of images such as documents are read by a scanner (two-dimensional scanning device), the read image is registered in a storage medium, and any registered image is registered. An image filing device has been put into practical use, which retrieves and reads it, and outputs it in a state where it can be viewed by an output device with a printer.

This image filing device is an image reading device such as a scanner, an output device such as a printer, a storage device such as an optical disk drive, a display device such as a CRT display device, a console such as a keyboard and a mouse, image compression / expansion, and the like. It is configured by connecting a control device such as an image processor for enlarging / reducing images, and also has an interface for connecting to other devices or expanding it to a higher-level system as needed. Sometimes.

Further, in such an image filing apparatus, when an image of a document such as a document is registered, the registration is performed using a registration sheet in which search information for searching the image is recorded for each document. Is proposed.

[0005]

By performing the image registration work using the registration sheet as described above, the operability in registering the image is improved, but the image filing apparatus having the above-mentioned configuration is used. Therefore, there is a problem that the equipment is expensive when only reading or registering the image is desired.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an inexpensive image reading apparatus for reading or registering an image exclusively.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An image reading apparatus according to the present invention includes a document having one to a plurality of pages as one unit, and
An image reading device that reads the contents of a registration sheet recording search information for searching this document as an image, records the image on a recording medium provided, and outputs the image to an external device connected via a communication line. A supply means for supplying the document and the registration sheet, and a registration sheet determination means for determining the registration sheet supplied by the supply means,
An image reading unit that reads the contents of the document and the registration sheet supplied by the supply unit as an image, and an output that outputs the images of the document and the registration sheet read by the image reading unit to the external device via the communication line. Means, an information recognition unit that recognizes the search information from the image of the registration sheet read by the image reading unit, the search information recognized by the information recognition unit, and the image reading unit that is associated with the search information. Recording means for recording the image of the document read by the method on the recording medium, and selection means for selecting one of the output means and the recording means.

Further, the image reading apparatus of the present invention reads the content of a document having one to a plurality of pages as a unit and the contents of a registration sheet recording search information for searching the document as an image, and a communication line. An image reading apparatus for outputting to an external device connected via a sheet, a supply unit that supplies the document and the registration sheet, a registration sheet determination unit that determines the registration sheet supplied by the supply unit, and Image reading means for reading the contents of the document and registration sheet supplied by the supply means as an image; first output means for sequentially outputting the images of the document and registration sheet read by the image reading means to an external device; An information recognition unit that recognizes the search information from the image of the registration sheet read by the image reading unit, the search information recognized by the information recognition unit, and the detection information. A second output means for outputting an image of a document read by the image reading means associated with the information to the external device via the communication line, said first
Output means and selection means for selecting one of the second output means.

[0009]

The present invention can provide an inexpensive image reading apparatus for reading or registering an image by incorporating a function for controlling the interface with an external device such as a LAN or an optical disk drive into the image reading apparatus.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

First, the first embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of an image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the registration sheet 1 is arranged at the beginning or the end of the registration document 2, and the registration sheet 1 records information such as a title, a keyword, and the number of sheets as search information of the registration document 2. ing. There are many possible methods for recording this search information, an example of which is shown in FIG. FIG. 2A shows a case where the information defined in the specific area is recorded by the character 22. Figure 2 (b)
Shows a case where the search information is recorded by the barcode 23. FIG. 2C shows a case where the search information is recorded on the mark sheet 24. Figure 2 (d)
Shows a case where the search information is recorded in the punch holes 25. Further, the area for recognizing the content of the search information can be set by the operator. In the first embodiment, the recording method shown in FIG. 2A is used.

The image reading device 3 comprises a reading unit 4, an information recognition unit 5, a coding circuit unit 6, a selection unit 7, an external interface unit 8, a recording unit 9, an operation panel 11, and a control unit 12.

In the reading unit 4, first, the registration sheets 1 and the registered originals 2 set in an automatic document feeder (hereinafter simply referred to as ADF) 4a are sequentially fed to the reading unit 4 one by one, and registered. The sheet discrimination unit 4b discriminates between the registered sheet 1 and the registered document 2. At this time, the registration sheet 1 and the registration document 2 are registered in the registration sheet determination unit 4b.
In order to discriminate between the registration sheet 1 and the registration sheet 1, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), the registration sheet 1 can be discriminated from the change in the shape of the registration sheet 1, and FIG.
As shown in, the identification mark 21 is added to the registration sheet 1,
It is determined that the sheet with the discrimination mark 21 is a registration sheet.

When the registration sheet 1 is determined, the retrieval information recorded on the registration sheet is read by a reading method corresponding to the recording method. When the registration original 2 is determined, the content of the registration original 2 is read as image data. That is,
In the first embodiment, since the recording method on the registration sheet 1 is the method shown in FIG. 2A, the contents of the registration sheet 1 are read by the reading unit 4 as image data, like the registered original 2. The content of the registered original 2 is read by, for example, a two-dimensional scanning device to two-dimensionally scan the original (document) with laser beam light to obtain an electric signal (image data) corresponding to the image on the original. is there.

Then, the retrieved search information of the registration sheet 1 and the read image of the registration document 2 are sent to the information recognition section 5 and the selection section 7.

The information recognition section 5 character-recognizes the content of the search information from the image of the registration sheet 1 read by the reading section 4, sends it to the coding circuit section 6, and the image of the registered original 2 read by the reading section 4. Is sent to the coding circuit section 6 as it is. As a character recognition method, for example, in the first embodiment, image data is detected and cut out for each character, and the detected and cut out character pattern and a character pattern described in a dictionary (not shown) are used. Character recognition is performed by comparison.

In the coding circuit section 6, the information recognition section 5
The title, keyword,
The search information such as the number of sheets and the image data of the registered document 2 read by the reading unit 4 are compressed and encoded, and then converted into a code recordable on an optical disc and sent to the selection unit 8. That is, a reduction circuit (not shown) performs image reduction processing, and a compression circuit (CODEC) not shown
In (1), an encoding process for compressing an image (reducing redundancy) is performed, and then the image is converted into a code that can be recorded on an optical disc. The compression circuit is MH (Modified Hu
Band compression is performed by using the ffman) method or the MR (Modified Read) method.

The selection unit 7 selects either the output from the coding circuit unit 6 as it is to the recording unit 9 or the output from the reading unit 4 as it is to the external interface unit 8. The instruction is given from the operation panel 11 via the control unit 12. That is, the selection unit 6 selects either the former image registration function or the latter reading function.

The external interface unit 8 physically, electrically, and logically converts the image data of the registration sheet 1 and the registration document 2 read by the reading unit 4 so as to be transmitted through a communication line. is there.

The recording unit 9 is equipped with an optical disk drive for recording information on the optical disk 10 with a laser beam, and the search information recognized from the image data of the registration sheet 1 and the image data of the registered original 2 are recorded on the optical disk 10. To be recorded in.

The operation panel 11 is a man-machine interface, and when an operator instructs reading start, reading end, function selection, etc., transmits the instruction information to the control unit 9 or the control unit 9. When receiving information notifying the processing status of the apparatus from the device, the information is displayed.

The control unit 12 is composed of a CPU, a memory and the like, and controls the entire control of this apparatus. Control unit 12
Is a reading unit 4, an information recognizing unit 5, a coding circuit unit 6, a selecting unit 7, a recording unit 9, an operation panel 1 according to a program stored in a memory (not shown) and an operator's instruction from the operation panel 11.
Various controls are performed for 1 so that a series of processes can be executed.

Next, the processing performed by the image input apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, when the registration sheet 1 and the registration document 2 are input in step S1, the process proceeds to step S2. At this time, it is assumed that the registration sheet 1 is placed at the beginning of the registration document 2.

In step S2, the registration sheet 1 and the registration document 2 are discriminated by the method as shown in FIG. 3. If the registration sheet 1 is selected, the process proceeds to step S3. If the registration document 2 is selected, the process proceeds to step S4. Since the first sheet arranged is the registration sheet 1, the process first proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, the contents of the registration sheet 1 are read by the reading unit 4 as image data,
Go to step S5.

In step S5, the selection unit 7 checks whether the image registration function or the reading function is selected. When the reading function is selected, the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S6, the image data of the registration sheet 1 is sent to the communication line via the external interface section 8.

When the image registration function is selected in step S5, the process proceeds to step S7, and the contents of the search information such as the title, keyword, number of sheets of the registered original 2 are read from the image data of the registration sheet 1 read in step S3. Character recognition is performed by the information recognition unit 5, and the process proceeds to step S8.

In step S8, the coded search information obtained by the character recognition is used to perform image reduction processing in the reduction circuit in the coding circuit unit 6 and compression (reduce the redundancy) of the image in the compression circuit (CODEC). After the conversion processing, the code is converted into a code recordable on the optical disc, and the process proceeds to step S9.

In step S9, the code recordable on the optical disc is recorded (registered) on the optical disc 10 in the storage section 9.

Since the registration document 2 is arranged next to the registration sheet 1, it is determined in step S2 that the next input document is the registration document 2, and the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the input registered document 2 is input.
The content of is read as image data by the reading unit 4, and the process proceeds to step S5. Hereinafter, the image data of the registration sheet 1 is replaced with the image data of the registered document 2, and the same process as described above is performed.

Next, the second embodiment will be described.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the image input apparatus according to the second embodiment. The same parts as those in FIG. 1 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. Only different parts will be described. Further, the method of recording information as shown in FIG. 2 and the method of discriminating between the registration sheet 1 and the registered document 2 as shown in FIG. 3 are similarly applied to the second embodiment, and therefore will be described. Is omitted. Further, in the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the recording method shown in FIG.
The method shown in is adopted.

That is, in FIG. 5, the image data of the registration sheet 1 and the registration document 2 read by the reading unit 4 is sent to the information recognition unit 5 and the selection unit 7.

The information recognition unit 5 character-recognizes the content of the search information from the image of the registration sheet 1, sends it to the selection unit 7, and sends the image of the registered document 2 to the selection unit 7 as it is.

In the selection unit 7, the image data of the registered original 2 and the image data of the registration sheet (hereinafter referred to as first output data) read by the reading unit 4 or sent from the information recognition unit 5. The output data is selected from either the image data of the registered document 2 or the search information (hereinafter referred to as the second output data) in which the character is recognized, and the instruction is given from the operation panel 11 via the control unit 12. To be done.

The LAN interface unit 13 is the LAN 1
It is connected to the node 15 of No. 4 and controls the interface with the LAN 14. That is, the output data selected by the selection unit 7 is physically, electrically, and logically converted so as to be transmitted via the LAN 14, and LA is converted.
It is sent to the image filing device 17 connected to the other node 16 of N14.

The operation panel 11 is a man-machine interface, which transmits the instruction information to the control unit 12 when the operator gives an instruction to start reading, finish reading, select output data, or the like. When the information notifying the processing status of the apparatus is received from 12, the information is displayed.

The control unit 12 includes a program stored in a memory (not shown) and the operation panel 1.
In accordance with the operator's instruction from 1, the reading unit 4, the information recognition unit 5, the selection unit 7, the operation panel 11,
Various controls are performed so that a series of processes can be executed.

The nodes 15 and 16 compose the LAN 14, and in order to perform data communication on the LAN 14, the nodes 15 and 16 include interfaces with various external devices and interfaces with transmission media, control network control, etc., and transmit media. Data is transmitted and received via.

Image filing device 1 as an external device
In No. 7, when data transmitted via the LAN 14 is received by a LAN interface section (not shown), it is converted into a code recordable on an optical disk and the code is sent to an optical disk drive provided in the image filing device 17, In this, recording is performed on the optical disc 10 by laser light.

Next, the processing performed by the image input apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the case of the second embodiment, the processing of steps S1 to S4 is similar to that of FIG. That is, FIG.
The processing from step S5 onward of step S5 replaces the processing from step S10 to step S15 in FIG. 6, which will be described below.

In step S10, the selection unit 7
It is checked which of the first output data and the second output data is selected, and when the first output data is selected, the process proceeds to step S11.

In step S11, the first output data is physically, electrically, and logically converted so as to be transmitted via the LAN 14, and then transmitted to the node 15 of the LAN 14, and the process proceeds to step S12. .

In step S12, data communication is performed in the LAN 14, the first output data is sent from the node 15 to the node 16, and the process proceeds to step S13.

In step S13, the data is received by the LAN interface section (not shown) of the image filing device 17 connected to the node 16 of the LAN 14,
It proceeds to step S14.

In step S14, the received first output data is converted into a code recordable on the optical disk, and the code is sent to the optical disk drive provided in the image filing device 17, in which the optical disk is irradiated with laser light. Recorded at 10.

When the second output data is selected in step S10, the process proceeds to step S15 and the registration sheet 1
The content of is read by the reading unit 4 as image data. The following process is the same as the process from step S11 to step S14 described above, except that the first output data is read as the second output data.

In the second embodiment, the image filing system 17 is connected to the node 16 different from the node 15 to which the image reading device of the LAN 14 is connected, but the invention is not limited to this and the same. It may be connected to the node 15.

As described above, the image reading device is
By incorporating the AN interface unit 13 or the external interface unit 8 and the recording unit 9 including an optical disk drive, it is possible to provide an inexpensive image reading apparatus that exclusively reads or registers an image.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an inexpensive image reading apparatus for exclusively reading or registering an image.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image reading apparatus according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method of recording information on a registration sheet.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a method of discriminating a registration sheet and a registration document.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image reading apparatus according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Registration sheet, 2 ... Registration document, 3 ... Image reading registration device, 4 ... Reading unit, 5 ... Information recognition unit, 6 ... Coding circuit unit, 7 ... Selection unit, 8 ... External interface unit, 9 ... Recording unit 10 ... Optical disk, 11 ... Operation panel, 12 ... Control unit, 13 ... LAN interface unit, 1
4 ... LAN, 15, 16 ... Node, 17 ... Image filing device, 20 ... Cutting, 21 ... Discrimination mark.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A document having one or a plurality of pages as a unit, and the contents of a registration sheet in which search information for searching the document is recorded are read as an image and recorded on a recording medium provided. An image reading apparatus for outputting to an external device connected through a communication line, a supply unit for supplying the document and the registration sheet, and a registration sheet for discriminating the registration sheet supplied by the supply unit. A discriminating means, an image reading means for reading the contents of the document and the registration sheet supplied by the supplying means as an image, and an image of the document and the registration sheet read by the image reading means for the external device via the communication line. Output means for outputting to the, an information recognition section for recognizing the search information from the image of the registration sheet read by the image reading means, and the information recognition section Recording means for recording the retrieved search information and the image of the document read by the image reading means, which is associated with the retrieved information, on the recording medium; and selecting means for selecting one of the output means and the recording means. An image reading apparatus comprising: 2. An external device which is connected through a communication line with a document having one to a plurality of pages as a unit and the contents of a registration sheet in which search information for searching the document is recorded as an image. An image reading apparatus for outputting the document and the registration sheet, a supply unit that supplies the registration sheet and the registration sheet, a registration sheet determination unit that determines the registration sheet supplied by the supply unit, and a document supplied by the supply unit. An image reading unit that reads the content of the registration sheet as an image, a first output unit that sequentially outputs the images of the document and the registration sheet read by the image reading unit to an external device, and the registration read by the image reading unit. An information recognition unit that recognizes the search information from the image of the sheet, the search information recognized by the information recognition unit, and the search information that is associated with the search information. Second output means for outputting the image of the document read by the image reading means to the external device via the communication line, and selection for selecting one of the first output means and the second output means An image reading apparatus comprising: