JPH07333757A - Photographic material image information reading device and photographic material image-pickup screen detecting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce total processing time by enhancing operational efficiency through the elimination of any nonconformity regarding the operation of a photographic image information reading device and a photographic material image-pickup screen detecting device. CONSTITUTION:The use of liquid crystal shutters 8, 9, 10 provided for each of color separating filters 5, 6, 7 in reading an original image on a color negative film 2 by separating its colors enables the time set for each of the color separating filters 5, 6, 7 to be reduced, thus enabling the image processing time of a device to be reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used in a photographic printing apparatus or the like for exposing and printing a desired image on a silver halide color photographic light-sensitive material. The present invention relates to an image information reading device and a sensitive material image pickup screen detection device used for determining a reading position of an image pickup screen in the reading device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a color photographic image on a negative film is printed on a photographic printing paper, it is set after the photographic image is read in advance as image information by an image sensor and correction processing such as density correction and color correction is performed. A photographic print is obtained by exposing and printing a photographic image on the screen of a negative film onto photographic paper under exposure conditions.

When inputting image information with the image sensor, a rotary plate provided with color filters (R filter, G filter, B filter) is rotated and sequentially switched in order to separate a photographic image into three colors. Insert in the optical path,
The image sensor is made to receive this decomposed light. Further, the range of the transmittance of the negative film is wide, and depending on the mode set at the time of photographing with a camera, it may be underexposed or overexposed as compared with appropriate exposure.
On the other hand, since a high S / N ratio is required for image information captured by an image sensor such as a CCD, exposure control suitable for such a negative film scene is required. The exposure is performed at the shutter speed, the correction value is obtained, and the final image data is obtained at the appropriate shutter speed.

Further, with the recent diversification of needs, a camera capable of selecting various screen sizes for shooting has appeared, which allows various screen sizes to be mixed in the original image of the same negative film. In addition to full size and half size, recently there is also panorama size. Therefore, it is necessary to automatically set the printing magnification for each screen from the photographed screen size and the order printing paper size.
The image size is identified when the image sensor sequentially conveys the image information of the screen by transporting each image.

[0005]

By the way, when the electronic shutter speed of the image sensor is not on the screen of the negative film, in order to obtain an appropriate shutter speed, the image sensor pre-scans once and the screen There is a loss of reading time because the image information is read twice, such as reading the imaging exposure state, determining the exposure condition based on the information, and then performing the main scan.

Further, regarding the identification of the screen size, the boundary between the exposed area (image area) and the non-exposed area (base area) of the negative film is defined by the difference in density value obtained based on the read signal obtained from the screen detection sensor. Since the judgment was made, if the density of the photographic image of the negative film is low, or if the base density is different due to the difference in the manufacturer, type, development process and aging of the negative film, the boundary cannot be judged and the device cannot be judged. Causes a problem of setting an incorrect exposure condition with respect to the exposure printing of the printing paper, resulting in a loss of setting time in which the user himself sets the exposure condition.

Further, since the color filters for three-color separation are mechanically switched, a loss of time for setting the color filters occurs. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and shortens the total processing time by eliminating operational problems of the sensitive material image information reading device and the sensitive material imaging screen detection device and improving the operation efficiency. The purpose is to do.

[0008]

Therefore, the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems. The invention according to claim 1 is a photosensitive material image information for reading image information from a negative film having an image pickup screen. In the reading device, an image pickup device that conveys the sensitive material in one direction, reads image information of the sensitive material by a reading element arranged on the upstream side in the conveying direction, and detects a position of an imaging screen based on the image information. A screen detection unit, a two-dimensional image sensor that reads image information in order to perform image processing on the imaged screen detected and positioned by the imaged screen detection unit, and a two-dimensional image sensor that reads the image information while the sensitive material is being conveyed. And an exposure control means for controlling an exposure amount when the two-dimensional sensor reads based on the image information of the screen thus obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sensitive material image sensing screen detection apparatus for detecting a screen imaged on a sensitive material,
A density sensor for reading density information of the sensitive material by a plurality of reading elements arranged in a direction perpendicular to the carrying direction of the sensitive material conveyed in one direction, and density data in a predetermined direction based on a read signal of the density sensor. Density distribution range detecting means for detecting the distribution of the density data, and comparing the density distribution range detected by the density distribution range detecting means with a reference distribution range for non-exposure area determination. And an image pickup screen determination unit that determines an area outside the range as an image pickup screen.

Here, the density distribution range detecting means may be configured to detect the distribution range of density changes in the direction in which the photosensitive material is conveyed and the direction perpendicular thereto. Further, the image sensing screen detection means may include the sensitive material image sensing screen detection device according to claim 2. Further, when the concentration distribution range detecting unit detects two different concentration distribution ranges, the image capturing screen determining unit determines a change point where the distribution range changes abruptly as a boundary of the screen region and determines the screen. It may be configured to.

Further, it is also possible to adopt a constitution having a storage means for rewriting and storing the distribution range information relating to the reference distribution range for each exposure characteristic of the photosensitive material. According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in a photographic printing apparatus that sets exposure conditions for a photosensitive material that has been subjected to development processing and performs exposure printing, a first spectroscopic method that splits an optical path into a plurality of paths according to the number of color separations. Means, a color separation filter and a liquid crystal shutter provided in each of the separated optical paths, a condensing means for guiding each color component light passing through the color separation filter and the liquid crystal shutter to the same predetermined position, and the condensing means One monochrome image sensor for reading the image information of the sensitive material for each color component via an exposure control means for controlling the opening and closing of the liquid crystal shutter is provided.

Further, the photosensitive material may be formed so that a plurality of screens can be picked up in the carrying direction such as screen detection. Here, the photosensitive material may be a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material.

[0013]

Therefore, according to the light-sensitive material image information reading apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the light-sensitive material image information is read by the exposure control means during the light-sensitive material conveyance of the light-sensitive material detection means by the light-sensitive material detection means. The imaging state can be recognized, the number of times of reading the image information of the two-dimensional sensor can be reduced to one, the reading time can be short, and the image processing time of the device can be shortened.

According to the photosensitive material image information reading apparatus of the present invention, the density distribution range detecting means detects the distribution range of the density change of the read screen based on the read signal of the density sensor and picks up the image. The screen determination means compares this with a reference distribution range for non-exposure region determination, and determines the imaged screen read by the density sensor, so that there is no density difference between the exposed region and the non-exposed region of the photosensitive material. Even if there is, the screen can be detected with high accuracy.

Particularly, as in the third aspect of the present invention, in the case where the distribution range of the density change is detected in the direction in which the photosensitive material is conveyed and in the direction perpendicular to the direction, the size in which the vertical width is different is also detected. can do. Further, as in the invention described in claim 4, in the device provided with the sensitive material imaging screen detection device according to claim 2 as the imaging screen detection means, the imaging screen detection means is used to recognize the imaging state and detect the imaging screen. Both are possible.

According to the invention of claim 5, when the density distribution range detecting means detects two different density distribution ranges, the change point of the distribution range is judged to judge the screen. Then, since it is not necessary to compare with the reference distribution range information, the configuration can be simplified. According to the invention of claim 6, the distribution range information relating to the reference distribution range is rewritably stored for each exposure characteristic of the photosensitive material. Even if is changed, it can be dealt with by rewriting the reference distribution range information.

Further, according to the sensitive material image information reading device of the present invention, since the liquid crystal shutter provided for each color separation filter is used when the original image on the sensitive material is color-separated and read. The setting time of various color separation filters is short, the image processing time of the device can be shortened, and only one monochrome image sensor is used, and an inexpensive device can be provided.

[0018]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below. Figure 1
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall system configuration of the present invention, and the outline of the system will be described using this figure. First, the scanner A is a device for converting an image of a developed photographic film into a color electric image signal and reading the image signal. The image signal read by the scanner A is printed by the exposure printing control unit B on printing paper. After setting various exposure conditions such as density correction, color correction, and exposure time, the data is output to the output device C. In the output section C, the original image of the negative film is exposed and printed on the photographic paper on the basis of the exposure conditions set by the exposure and printing control section B to obtain a photographic print.

In this embodiment, the scanner A is provided with a function as a pre-process when printing a color photographic image according to the present invention on photographic paper, and the screen size and the image sensor detected here are detected. The image information read in step 3 is output to the exposure / printing control section B. Figure 2
3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the scanner A. FIG.

Here, the white light from the light source 1 is transmitted through the exposure area of the color negative film 2 and is split into three paths by the spectral prism 3, and the blue light (B) provided in each optical path by the mirrors 4a and 4b. ) A filter 5, a green (G) filter 6, and a red (R) filter 7 guide the three colors. Further, liquid crystal shutters 8, 9, and 10 are arranged downstream of each color separation filter along the flow of the optical path, and the opening / closing of the liquid crystal shutters is sequentially controlled by the scanner processing unit 11.

The color component light that has passed through the pair of color separation filters 5, 6, 7 and the liquid crystal shutters 8, 9, 10 is reflected by the mirror 12.
After being reflected by a and 12b, they are sequentially incident on the spectroscopic prism 13 to be condensed, and an image is formed on the light receiving surface of a monochrome two-dimensional image sensor (two-dimensional CCD sensor) 14. Here, the color two-dimensional CCD sensor is not used because the monochrome two-dimensional CCD sensor is superior in filter selectivity to the color two-dimensional CCD sensor and can be matched to the characteristics of the color negative film. Is.

The two-dimensional CCD sensor 14 two-dimensionally reads the image in the exposed area on the color negative film 2 which has been color-separated, and outputs it as an analog image signal by the scanner processing unit 1.
However, at this time, the scanner processing unit 11 controls the shutter so as to obtain an appropriate exposure amount. The shutter control is performed by controlling the time during which the photoelectric conversion element of the two-dimensional CCD sensor 14 accumulates charges according to incident light, and this exposure control will be described later.

In the scanner processing unit 11, the two-dimensional CC
The analog image signal for each of R, G, and B input from the D sensor 14 is amplified by an operational amplifier (not shown), noise is removed by a sample hold circuit, and then converted into a digital image signal by an A / D conversion circuit. Then C
Shading correction is performed to correct the output characteristic peculiar to the CD sensor, and the result is output to the exposure / printing control section B.

As described above, the transmitted light from the color negative film 2 is dispersed according to the color component lights of the three primary colors, and the respective shutters are independently controlled to mechanically switch the three color separation filters. Compared to the conventional method of imaging,
It takes a lot of time to set the color filter. Since each color component light is guided to the light receiving surface of the two-dimensional CCD sensor 14 by the mirror 12 and the spectral prism 13, only one two-dimensional CCD sensor 14 is used and it is economical.

Next, screen detection by the screen detection sensor will be described with reference to FIGS. The light from the dedicated light source 20 passes through the color negative film 2 and the screen detection sensor 2
It is configured to be incident on 1. The color negative film 2 is conveyed in the arrow direction for each screen by a not-shown conveying unit, and the screen detection sensor 21 continuously receives transmitted light during this period, and an analog signal corresponding to the image density of the color negative film. Is output to the A / D conversion circuit 22. The A / D conversion circuit 22 converts the analog signal into a digital signal and then outputs the digital signal to the scanner processing unit 11.

In the scanner processing section 11, a density distribution range detecting section (not shown) provided inside is used as a screen detecting sensor 2.
Based on the output signal of 1, when the distribution range of the density change in the predetermined direction of the read screen is detected, it is compared with the reference distribution range information stored in advance in a memory (not shown) to determine each screen size of the color negative film, The screen is negative carrier 23
The transport unit is controlled so as to come to a predetermined position. Also,
At the same time, an appropriate exposure condition necessary for imaging the color negative film is set based on the read signal, and exposure control is performed so that the shutter speed of the two-dimensional CCD sensor 14 is changed based on this exposure condition.

The screen detection sensor is composed of a photodiode array in which a large number of photodiodes are arranged in the lateral direction of the color negative film. FIG. 3 shows the color negative film 2 set on the negative carrier 23.
And the screen detection sensor 21 as seen from above,
FIG. 4 shows the screen detection sensor 21 via the A / D conversion circuit 22.
Is an output signal (voltage value) of. The detection of the screen size will be described with reference to these figures. For convenience of explanation, there are four screen detection sensors 21 (21
a, 21b, 21c, 21d).

Now, the color negative film 2 having screens of different sizes called full size, half size and panoramic size is conveyed in the direction of the arrow, and after the lapse of t ₁ time, the respective photodiodes 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d.
The digital output voltage of is as shown in B of FIG. That is, since the density of the non-exposed region is extremely thin and uniform, the voltage value is high and the distribution range is narrow. On the other hand, in the exposed area (hatched portion), the voltage value is low and the distribution range is wide (V ₂ ) because the image is formed.

The reference distribution range information of the scanner unit 11 in the non-exposed region (V ₁₎ is compared with V ₂ from the memory, V ₂ is the reference distribution range (V _1), if the outer exposed area (screen) If it is within the reference distribution range (V ₁ ), it is determined as a non-exposure area. Then, it is finally determined to be a half size from the duration of V ₂ . Furthermore, after the lapse of t ₂ time, the digital output voltage becomes as shown in C of FIG.

At this time, the photodiodes 21a, 2a
The distribution range of the output voltage of 1d is V ₁ and the distribution range of the output voltage of the photodiodes 21b and 21c is V _2. Therefore, it is similarly determined from the duration of V _{2 that} the size is the panoramic size, and the full size is determined. The size can be similarly determined. If the reference distribution range (V ₁ ) information of the non-exposure area is rewritably stored in the memory, determination is made even if the photosensitive material characteristics such as the base density change due to difference in type or aging. Control can also be accommodated. Further, even if there is a change in the characteristics of the screen detection sensor 21, the determination control can be changed in the same manner, so that it is not necessary to replace the screen detection sensor 21 each time, which is economical.

The photodiodes 21a, 21b,
Must be V on either 21c or 21d ₁And V₂Appears
Paying attention to this, the screen size is determined based on this appearance position.
By doing so, the above memory is not needed, and the configuration is simple.
You can do it. Also, regarding the determined exposure area,
By detecting whether the output voltage value is high or low, the color
The exposure state of Gafilm 2 is slightly underexposed or overexposed.
Since it is possible to recognize whether there is a slight tendency,
The shutter speed of the two-dimensional CCD sensor 14 based on the light condition
Exposure control is performed to correct the degree to an appropriate value.

As described above, by substituting the exposure state with the detection signal of the screen detection sensor 21 before entering the scanner operation, the image capturing time can be shortened. As described above, in the present embodiment, the case where the invention is applied to the scanner section of the photographic printing apparatus has been described.

[0033]

As described above, according to the sensitive material image information reading apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, the exposure control means uses the information of the imaging screen read during the transportation of the sensitive material by the imaging screen detecting means. The imaging state of the photosensitive material can be recognized, the number of times of reading the image information of the two-dimensional sensor can be reduced to one, the reading time can be shortened, and the image processing time of the apparatus can be shortened.

According to the sensitive material image information reading apparatus of the second aspect of the invention, the density distribution range detecting means detects the distribution range of the density change of the read screen based on the read signal of the density sensor and picks up the image. The screen determination means compares this with a reference distribution range for non-exposure region determination, and determines the imaged screen read by the density sensor, so that there is no density difference between the exposed region and the non-exposed region of the photosensitive material. Even if there is, the screen can be detected with high accuracy.

Particularly, as in the invention according to the third aspect, in the case where the distribution range of the density change is detected in the direction in which the photosensitive material is conveyed and in the direction perpendicular thereto, the size having different vertical widths is also detected. can do. Further, as in the invention described in claim 4, in the device provided with the sensitive material imaging screen detection device according to claim 2 as the imaging screen detection means, the imaging screen detection means is used to recognize the imaging state and detect the imaging screen. Both are possible.

According to the invention of claim 5, when the density distribution range detecting means detects two different density distribution ranges, the change point of the distribution range is judged to judge the screen. Then, since it is not necessary to compare with the reference distribution range information, the configuration can be simplified. According to the invention of claim 6, the distribution range information relating to the reference distribution range is rewritably stored for each exposure characteristic of the photosensitive material. Even if is changed, it can be dealt with by rewriting the reference distribution range information.

According to the sensitive material image information reading device of the present invention, since the liquid crystal shutter provided for each color separation filter is used when the original image on the sensitive material is color-separated and read. The setting time of various color separation filters is short, the image processing time of the device can be shortened, and only one monochrome image sensor is used, and an inexpensive device can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an overall system configuration in this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a scanner A in this embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a color negative film and a screen detection sensor in this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an output signal of a screen detection sensor in the present embodiment.

[Explanation of Codes] 2 Color negative film CCD 5 B filter 6 G filter 7 R filter 8, 9, 10 Liquid crystal shutter 11 Scanner processing unit 14 Imaging sensor 21 Screen detection sensor

Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display location H04N 5/253

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A light-sensitive material image information reading apparatus for reading image information from a negative film having an image pickup screen, wherein the light-sensitive material is conveyed by a reading element arranged upstream in the conveying direction while conveying the light-sensitive material in one direction. Image information for reading the image information and detecting the position of the image pickup screen based on the image information, and image information for performing image processing on the image pickup screen detected and positioned by the image pickup screen detection unit. A two-dimensional image sensor for reading the image, and an exposure controller for controlling the exposure amount when the two-dimensional sensor reads the image based on the image information of the screen read by the screen detector during the conveyance of the sensitive material. And a photosensitive material image information reading apparatus. 2. A sensitive material image pickup screen detection device for detecting a screen imaged on a sensitive material, wherein the sensitive material is conveyed in one direction by a plurality of reading elements arranged in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. Density sensor for reading the density information of the density sensor, density distribution range detecting means for detecting the distribution of the density data in a predetermined direction based on the read signal of the density sensor, and detecting the range of the distribution of the density data; An image pickup screen determining unit that compares the distribution range of the density detected by the means with a reference distribution range for non-exposure area determination, and determines an area outside the range as an image pickup screen. Sensitive material imaging screen detection device. 3. The sensitive material image pick-up screen detecting apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said density distribution range detecting means detects a distribution range of density change in a direction in which a sensitive material is conveyed and a direction perpendicular thereto. . 4. The sensitive material image information reading device according to claim 1, wherein the sensitive material image sensing device according to claim 2 is provided as the sensed image sensing means. 5. When the density distribution range detecting means detects two different density distribution ranges, the image pickup screen judging means judges a change point at which the distribution range changes abruptly as a boundary of the screen area. The sensitive material image pickup screen detection device according to claim 2, wherein the screen is determined. 6. A sensitive material image pick-up screen detection apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising storage means for rewriting and storing distribution range information relating to the reference distribution range for each exposure characteristic of the sensitive material. . 7. An exposure condition for a photosensitive material which has been developed is set,
In a photographic printing apparatus that performs exposure printing, a first spectroscopic unit that splits an optical path into a plurality of paths according to the number of color separations, a color separation filter and a liquid crystal shutter that are provided in each of the separated optical paths, A condensing unit that guides each color component light that has passed through the separation filter and the liquid crystal shutter to the same predetermined position; one monochrome image sensor that reads the image information of the sensitive material for each color component through the condensing unit; An exposure material image information reading apparatus comprising: an exposure control unit that controls opening and closing of a liquid crystal shutter. 8. The sensitive material is formed so that a plurality of screens can be picked up in a carrying direction such as screen detection, and the like, claim 2, claim 3, claim 5, and claim 5. 7. The light-sensitive material image information reading device described in any one of 7. 9. The photosensitive material image according to claim 1, wherein the photosensitive material is a silver halide photographic light-sensitive material. Information reading device or sensitive material imaging screen detection device.