JPH08334833A - Controlling method for microfilm image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To attain high speed on the retrieval of a microfilm and image reading by combining plural commands and unifying an SCSI command transferred to the microfilm control unit(MCU) of a scanner from a host computer. CONSTITUTION: The SCSI standard command transferred to the MCU 20 by the host compute 10 commands plural kinds of processing. For example, the command obtained by integrating SCAN command, READ command, and NEXTSCAN command, that is, SCAN-READ-NEXTSCAN command is used. READ-NEXTSCAN command obtained by combining the READ command with the NEXTSCAN command is used. The MCU20 receives the command, divides it into the READ and NEXTSCAN commands, and simultaneously performs the processing of the contents of both commands. That is, the contents of a memory 20A is transferred, the retrieval of a next frame is performed, the frame is read to the stored in the memory 20A.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of controlling a microfilm image reading apparatus which, based on a SCSI command issued by a host computer, searches a frame designated by this command with a scanner, reads the frame and transfers it to the host computer. It is about.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A microfilm image reading apparatus includes a host computer and a scanner, and searches for a target frame based on a command based on the SCSI standard (hereinafter referred to as SCSI command) sent from the host computer to the scanner. Also, the image of the target frame is read and sent to the host computer.

That is, the host computer sends a separate command for each process performed by the scanner, and the scanner sends a command complete signal to the host computer every time a predetermined process based on this command is completed.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of this device, and FIG. 5 is a diagram explaining the operation procedure thereof. In FIG. 5, the vertical axis indicates the time t, and the time t goes downwards.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 10 is a host computer (H
OST) and personal computer (personal computer)
And workstations. Reference numeral 12 is a keyboard, and 14 is a printer.
Connected to 0. Reference numeral 16 is a scanner, which searches the microfilm and reads (scans) the image.

The scanner 16 is provided with a host computer 1 by a bus (BUS) 18 based on the SCSI standard.
Connected to 0. That is, they are connected by the SCSI interface. The scanner 16 has a microfilm control unit (abbreviated as MCU) 20 and a roll film retrieval unit (abbreviated as RRU) 22.

The MCU 20 has a microcomputer, controls the search operation of the RRU 22, and
The image of the searched frame is read by moving the line sensor and stored in the memory 20A such as a DRAM. The RRU 22 sends a roll microfilm and searches for a desired frame. Reference numeral 24 is a microfilm installation system (abbreviated as MIS), which accommodates a large number of microfilm cartridges and selects a desired cartridge to scan the scanner 16
It is to be loaded into the RRU22 of. MIS24 here
When the MCU 20 designates a cartridge including a frame to be searched, it operates when the corresponding cartridge is not loaded in the RRU 22 and replaces it with the corresponding cartridge.

First, prior to the search, the host computer 1
0 sets the window parameter and sends this parameter to the MCU 20 via the bus 18. The MCU 20 performs a predetermined process such as securing a storage area in the memory 20A based on this parameter. When these processes are completed, the complete signal is sent to the host computer 10 via the bus 18.
Sent to the host computer 10 and then the "SEARC
The "H" command is sent to the MCU 20 (step 200 in FIG. 5).

This "SEARCH" command contains the address of the frame to be searched. Upon receiving this command, the MCU 20 immediately searches (step 202). That is, the RRU (22 is operated to feed the film to select the target frame. When the micro film cartridge loaded in the RRU 22 does not have the target frame, a signal is sent to the MIS 24 to exchange the cartridge including it (step 204). That is, the film is rewound into a cartridge and then replaced with a new cartridge.

When the search for the target frame is completed, a command complete signal is sent to the host computer 10. Then, the host computer 10 next sends a "SCAN" command to the MCU 20. MCU20 is this "SCAN"
Based on the command, the image of this frame is read (step 206). That is, while moving (scanning) the line sensor to read an image, the image signals are sequentially stored in the memory 20A (step 208). When the scanning operation is completed and the image reading is completed, the MCU 20 sends a command complete signal to the host computer 10 via the bus 18 (step 210).

Upon receiving this command complete signal, the host computer 10 sends a "READ" command (step 212). MCU20 is this "RE
Upon receiving the "AD" command, the image signal stored in the memory 20A is transferred to the host computer 10 through the bus 18 (step 214). When this data transfer is completed, a command complete signal is sent to the host computer 10, and the host computer 10 enters the next frame search (step 216).

By repeating the above operation, a large number of frames are sequentially searched, the image thereof is read, and the image is sent to the host computer 10. Then, the host computer 10 performs predetermined image processing and causes the printer 14 to print out. Further, this image data is transferred to another computer or a storage medium such as a magneto-optical disk.

[0012]

2. Description of the Related Art As described above, in the conventional method, the host computer 10 performs a single process, that is, "SEARC".
Commands for instructing processing such as "H" and "READ" have been separately sent to the MCU 20. Therefore, the next process is performed after one process is completed.

However, when the image reading of the microfilm is performed by the line sensor, the movement of the line sensor requires a remarkably long time as compared with the processing speed of the computer.
Further, it takes a long time to search for the target frame because it is necessary to run the film or replace the cartridge. Therefore, if each process is instructed by a separate command as described above, there is a problem that the processing time required for searching / reading a large number of frames becomes extremely long.

Further, as the number of commands increases, the occupation time of the bus 18 due to the transfer of this command also becomes longer. In particular, since it is necessary for each command to send back a command complete signal to the host computer 10 each time the processing of its instruction content is completed, it is necessary to send and receive these signals to the bus 1
The occupancy time of 8 is even longer. Therefore, the free time (BUS · FREE) of the bus 18 becomes short, and the free time is divided, which is inconvenient for large-capacity data transfer.

[0015]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is capable of promptly performing microfilm retrieval and image reading processing, and has a SCSI interface for connecting a host computer and a scanner.
An object of the present invention is to provide a control method for a microfilm image reading apparatus, which makes it possible to easily transfer a large amount of data by lengthening the time of US · FREE.

[0016]

According to the present invention, a scanner for reading a searched frame by a line sensor is coupled to a host computer by a SCSI interface, and after the frame commanded by the host computer is searched and read by the scanner, the host computer In a method of controlling a microfilm image reading apparatus for sending to a computer, the host computer sends a plurality of SCSI commands to the scanner,
A method of controlling a microfilm image reader, characterized by being combined into a single command.

Here, the command is "REA" for instructing transfer of image data from the scanner to the host computer.
It is assumed that the "D" command and the "NEXTSCAN" commanding the search and scan of the next frame to be read are combined,
The processing of both commands can be temporally overlapped.
The address of the frame searched by this "NEXTSCAN" command is used for other commands (for example, "NEXTSEARCH PARAMETE" sent before this command).
R ”command). However, as described above, instead of setting the address, the frame having a high probability of being read next may be set. For example, it is possible to specify the adjacent frame photographed on the film, or specify the first frame of the middle classification or the large classification.

[0018]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied,
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the scanner, and FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the operation procedure. Since the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has the same overall structure as the apparatus shown in FIG. 4, the same reference numerals are given to the same portions and the description thereof will not be repeated.

A cartridge storage shelf 52 is housed in the rectangular case 50 of the MIS 24. The cartridge storage shelf 52 accommodates a large number of cartridges 54 so that they can be taken in and out from the front surface. Also, this case 50 4
The guide rails 56 (56a to 56d) are fixed along the sides, and two guide rails 56a and 56c facing each other are provided.
The horizontal rail 58 is guided to move up and down. Further, the vertical rail 60 is guided by the other two opposing guide rails 56b and 56d and moves in the left-right direction.

The horizontal rail 58 and the vertical rail 60 move up and down and left and right while being orthogonal to each other, and a cartridge carrying section 62 is slidably attached to both rails 58 and 60 at the intersection thereof. The horizontal rail 58 is fixed to a belt 64 stretched around a pair of pulleys located near both ends of the guide rail 56a. Vertical rail 6
0 is fixed to a belt 66 stretched around a pair of pulleys located near both ends of the guide rail 56d. Belt 6
4, 66 are motors 68, 7 connected to one pulley
It runs and is positioned by 0.

As a result, by independently moving the horizontal / vertical rails 58, 60 by the motors 68, 70, the cartridge carrying section 62 can be moved to an appropriate position. The cartridge storage shelf 52 and the scanner 16 are located within the movable range of the cartridge transport unit 62.
That is, the scanner 16 is located at the lower right corner of this movable range.

The cartridge carrying section 62 takes in a predetermined cartridge 54 from the cartridge storage shelf 52 and carries it to the scanner 16, and also takes in the searched cartridge from the scanner 16 and returns it to a predetermined position of the cartridge storage shelf 52.

Next, the structure of the scanner 16 will be described with reference to FIG. The scanner 16 has the MCU 20 and the RRU 22 as described above. The scanner 16 has a vertically long housing 72, and the MCU 20 and the RRC 22 are housed in the housing 72. The MCU 20 is composed of a microcomputer and is housed in the bottom of the housing 72. Below RR
C20 will be described.

A supply-side reel drive section 74 is arranged above the front part of the housing 72, and a take-up reel drive section 76 is arranged below the front part. When the cartridge 54 is inserted into the cartridge insertion port 78, the supply-side reel driving unit 74 automatically moves the cartridge 34 to engage the reel with the rotation shaft. Further, the leading end of the film 80 is pulled out and sent downward, and is guided to the take-up reel 82 of the take-up reel drive unit 76.

Here, the film 80 is used for each reel driving section 7
It passes through the back side of the gap of 4, 76, that is, the back side when viewed from the front of the housing 72. Therefore, a space is formed between this gap and the front panel of the housing 72, and the light source lamp 84 and the condenser lens 86 are housed therein.

A line sensor drive unit 88 for reading a projected image of a frame with a line sensor is accommodated in the housing 72. The line sensor driving unit 88 is integrated with the projection lens 90. That is, the line sensor driving unit 88
A cylindrical portion 92 for holding the projection lens 90 is integrally formed in the case. The projection lens 90 held by the tube portion 92 has a fixed focus and a magnification of about 2 times.

A movable base 94 is attached to the case so as to face the cylindrical portion 92. That is, the movable base 94 is
It is slidably held by a pair of guide rods fixed to the case, and can reciprocate near the opening of the cylindrical portion 92 in a direction orthogonal to the optical axis 96.

A belt 102 wound around pulleys 98 and 100 is provided in the case parallel to the reciprocating direction of the movable base 94, and one side of the movable base 94 is fixed to the belt 102. Further, one pulley 100 is driven by a stepping motor 104. As a result, the movable table 94 can be reciprocated on a plane orthogonal to the optical axis 96 by rotating the stepping motor 104 forward and backward.

A CCD line sensor 106 is fixed to the movable table 94 in a direction orthogonal to the reciprocating direction of the movable table 94. Of course, the light receiving surface of the CCD line sensor 106 is made to coincide with the image forming surface of the projection image of the projection lens 90.

The RRC 22 is provided with a blip detecting means (not shown) for detecting a search blip previously attached to the film 80. That is, the blip is counted by the light emitting element and the light receiving element that sandwich the film 80 with the travel path of the blip sandwiched therebetween.
The MCU 20 counts the blips to obtain a target frame.

In this embodiment, the SCSI standard command (SCSI command) sent from the host computer 10 to the MCU 20 is designed to instruct a plurality of processes.
For example, as shown in FIG. 3, "SCAN" command,
A command that combines a "READ" command and a "NEXTSCAN" command, that is, "SCAN RE
AD NEXTSCAN "command is used.

[READ] command and NEXTS
"READ NEXTS" combined with "CAN" command
The "CAN" command is used.

The address of the frame read by the "SCAN" command is the "NEX" sent before this command.
T SEARCH PARAMETER ". This "NEXT SEARCH PARAMET
The "ER" command specifies the addresses of two consecutive search frames. The “SCAN” command is for instructing the processing from the search of the frame of the search frame address to the reading by the line sensor 106 and storing in the memory 20A. The "READ" command causes the image data in this memory 20A to be transferred to the host computer 10. In addition, the "NEXTSCAN" command
RCH PARAMETER ”frame search and image reading are instructed.

Therefore, the host computer 10 first sets the window parameters and the like, and then executes "NEXT".
The address of the first search frame and the address of the next search frame are set by the "SEARCH PARAMETER" command (step 300 in FIG. 3). Next, "SCAN
-READ-NEXTSCAN "command is sent to the MCU 20 through the SCSI bus 18 (step 30 in FIG. 3).
2). The scanner 16 receives this command and performs three processes, that is, "SCAN", "READ", and "NEXT".
SCAN ”processing is performed. These processes are performed so that some of them overlap in time.

That is, in the MCU 20, when this command comes, three commands "SCAN", "READ",
Divided into "NEXT SCAN" and "NEXT SEAR"
The frame of the first address set by the "CHPARAMETER" command is searched (step 304 in FIG. 3).
At this time, if the target frame is not included in the cartridge 54 taken into the scanner 16, the cartridge 54 is exchanged by the cartridge transport unit 62 of the MIS 24 (step 306).

When the target frame is selected, the line sensor 10
The reading of the image by 6 is started (step 308), and the read data is stored in the memory 20A (see FIG. 4) (step 310). Next, the MCU 20 processes the command "READ" (step 312). That is, the contents of the memory 20A are transferred to the host computer 10 via the SCSI bus 18.

On the other hand, the MCU 20 starts searching for the next frame based on the command "NEXTSCAN" during this data transfer (step 314). This processing or the above-mentioned "READ" processing can be performed at the end of the image reading processing by the line sensor 106. That is, the movement of the line sensor 106 is accompanied by acceleration / deceleration,
This is because the image is read only during movement at a constant speed during that time, and the next frame search can be started during deceleration. Also, during this deceleration, image data transfer (step 31
2) may be started.

When the next frame is searched in this way, the image is read by the line sensor 106 (scan, step 316) and stored in the memory 20A (step 318). Transferring image data (step 312)
Is completed, a command complete signal is sent to the host computer 10 (step 320). In response to this signal, the host computer 10 receives the next "NEXT S
The address of the next search frame is set by the "EARCH PARAMETER" command (step 322). Then, a "READ NEXT SCAN" command is output (step 324).

Upon receipt of this command, the MCU 20 divides this command into "READ" and "NEXTSCAN", and performs the processing of the contents of both commands at the same time or a part of the processing overlapping in time. That is, the contents of the memory 20A are transferred to the host computer 10 by the SCSI bus 18 (step 326), and the next frame is searched for on top of this (step 328). Then, the retrieved frame is read by the line sensor 106 (scan, step 3
26), and stores it in the memory 20A. When the transfer of this image data to the host computer 10 is completed, a command complete signal is sent to the host computer 10.
Hereinafter, the “NEXT S” sent by the host computer 10 is sequentially sent.
Use the "EARCH PARAMETER" command to set the address of the next search frame, and then click "READ NEXT
The operation of sequentially searching and reading a plurality of frames by the "SCAN" command is repeated.

In the above embodiment, the "NEXT SCAN" command is preceded by "NEXT SEARCH PAR".
Although the frame of the address set by the "AMETER" command is searched, the frame to be searched next may be determined in advance by a certain method. For example, assume that the frame is read next most frequently. As the frames with high frequency, adjacent frames, the top frame of a large or medium blip group when the blip includes a plurality of types of lengths divided into large, medium and small can be used.

[0041]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of commands are combined into a single SCSI command to be sent from the host computer to the microfilm control unit (MCU) of the scanner. , You can send multiple commands at once,
It is possible to shorten the processing time required for searching for multiple frames and reading images.

Further, since the number of commands passing through the SCSI bus connecting the host computer and the scanner is reduced, the time occupied by the SCSI bus by the command is reduced and the bus vacant time (BUS · FREE) is lengthened. Therefore, it is convenient for transferring a large amount of data. In addition, by combining the "READ" command and the "NEXTSCAN" command,
If at least a part of both commands are processed so as to overlap in time, the processing time becomes shorter and a large number of frames can be processed continuously and efficiently (claim 2).
The "NEXTSCAN" command used here can search for a frame having a high read instruction rate, that is, a frame having a high probability of being read next, instead of the address of the frame to be searched next (claim 3).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an embodiment to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a scanner.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the operation procedure.

[Fig. 4] Overall configuration diagram

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an operation procedure of a conventional method.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Host Computer 16 Scanner 18 SCSI Bus (SCSI Interface) 20 MCU (Microfilm Control Unit) 20A Memory 22 RRU (Roll Film Retrieval Unit) 24 MIS (Microfilm Instorm System) 54 Cartridge 80 Microfilm

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A microfilm image reading apparatus in which a scanner for reading a searched frame by a line sensor is coupled to a host computer by a SCSI interface, and the frame ordered by the host computer is searched and read by the scanner and then sent to the host computer. 2. The control method of the microfilm image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the host computer combines a plurality of SCSI commands to be sent to the scanner into a single command. 2. A single "READ" command for transferring the image data stored in the scanner to the host computer and a "NEXTSCAN" command for searching for a frame to be read next and storing the read image data in a single unit. 2. The control method of the microfilm image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer processing of the image data by the "READ" command and the search processing by the "NEXTSCAN" command are temporally overlapped with each other as a command. 3. The control method of the microfilm image reading apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the "NEXTSCAN" command targets a frame having a high reading instruction rate as a next search target.