JPH09238232A - Electronic magnification mirror - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily read even an object with a wide surface area and a stereoscopic structure on the surface having not been conformed to a conventional image scanner or hand scanner. SOLUTION: The magnification mirror has a moving mechanism moving an image pickup camera above a read object. The mirror has an image pickup camera 3 with a read section 1 and a control section 2 processing optical information of a read object and storing and processing information of the read object, a display device 4 monitoring a read state and the moving mechanism moving the image pickup camera 3 and is configured to easily read not only a plane object but also even an object whose surface is stereoscopic.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electronic magnifying glass using an image scanner device using a CCD camera or the like, and was developed in consideration of electronic reading glasses.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a person grows older, his or her eyes become less accommodative and it becomes difficult to see nearby objects or small objects. Therefore, a magnifying glass using a convex lens is generally used so that a small object can be seen large. However, the magnifying glass had the drawback of being difficult to see in the dark. Therefore, I thought of using an image scanner with the idea of electronic reading glasses.

However, the conventional image scanner uses an area sensor, a line sensor or the like to place an object on the upper surface of the glass plate, and a light source is provided on the lower surface to drive the sensor to read the object on the upper surface of the glass plate. Was common.

[0004]

However, in such a system, since the reading surface of the object is pressed against the glass surface and projected, the end of the reading portion must be confirmed on the back surface side. Therefore, if the projected area of the object is narrower than the readable area, that is, if it is narrower than the glass plate, there is no problem, but if it is wider than the glass plate, such as in newspapers, the edges of the read part are difficult to confirm Then, there is a problem that the scanning is performed, or a part which is not scanned is generated.

In such a case, there is a method of tracing the surface of the object by using a handy scanner separated from the main body, but it is not suitable for the case where the surface has irregularities. In any case, it is necessary to incorporate a light source required for reading.
Further, it is not suitable for reading an object having a three-dimensional structure, such as a mounting board.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has an image pickup unit having a reading unit and a control unit for processing optical information of an object to be read and further storing the information of the object read. It has a camera, a display that monitors the reading status, and a moving mechanism that moves the imaging camera above the object to be read, making it possible to easily read not only planar objects but also objects with a three-dimensional structure. The present invention provides an electronic magnifying glass characterized by the above.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has an image pickup unit having a reading unit and a control unit for processing optical information of an object to be read and further storing the information of the object read. It has a camera, a display that monitors the reading status, and a moving mechanism that moves the imaging camera above the object to be read, making it possible to easily read not only planar objects but also objects with a three-dimensional structure. The present invention provides an electronic magnifying glass characterized by the above.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, description will be given in accordance with embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic magnifying glass according to an embodiment of the present invention in use. The electronic magnifying glass according to the present invention includes an imaging camera 3 having a reading unit 1 and a control unit 2, and a display 4. And a power supply unit (not shown).

A high-definition CCD or the like in which the reading unit 1 and the control unit 2 are incorporated is used as the image pickup camera 3, and the moving mechanism of the image pickup camera 3 is provided so that the area sensor portion for catching the subject 9 can freely move. It has a structure. The moving mechanism shown in FIG. 1 uses the moving box 5, and the moving box 5 can be moved freely.

In the embodiment, the reading unit 1 has a high-definition CCD.
However, it is also possible to use a line sensor, an area sensor, or the like instead. The CCD focus can be switched between automatic and manual. If the focal length of the lens is constant, the focus should be fixed manually on the surface surrounded by the lower edge of the frame. It is good and convenient to handle.

When a zoom lens is used, it is convenient to combine it with automatic focusing. However, in this case, since the lower frame of the frame 6 does not match the readable range, it is necessary to work while checking the monitor on the display 4.

The image pickup camera 3 has a structure having functions of automatic magnification, automatic exposure and automatic focus. Therefore, the enlargement switch 7 or the reduction switch 8 is built in the moving box 5. When the enlargement switch 7 is continuously pressed, the lens of the imaging camera 3 moves and the subject 9 stops when it is enlarged and pressed. The reduction switch 8 operates in reverse.

Here, the enlarged portion can be confirmed in the lower frame. Also, by mounting a car on the bottom of the moving box 5, the moving box 5 can be moved smoothly. Furthermore, since the distance from the subject is constant, the focus is constant and the screen does not flicker. In the case of autofocus, the depth of focus changes automatically if the distance changes, but it takes time to respond and is difficult to see. Even if the subject 9, for example, a book is thick, it can be read by the same operation as a thin one such as a newspaper.

The frame 6 of the moving box 5 is made of metal or plastic. The reading unit 1 is held in a horizontal state by the frame 6, and in the embodiment, the reading unit 1 is held in a horizontal position.
The surface surrounded by the legs of the book serves as an indicator of the readable range. In the embodiment, a frame surrounding the lower end of the leg of the frame 6 is provided in order to clarify the boundary of the readable range.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory perspective view showing another embodiment in which the present invention is used, and shows a form in which a free arm 11 is used instead of the frame 6. The first arm (fixed shaft) of the free arm 11 is semi-fixed to a desk by a clamp or the like, and a second arm portion is provided at the tip of the first arm (horizontal direction).
The imaging camera 3 is attached to the tip of a third arm that is vertically rotatable and that is provided at the tip of the second arm. In this case, the distance from the top surface of the desk on which the subject 9 is located to the imaging camera 3 can be set arbitrarily.
As a result, the imaging camera 3 is moved up and down using the free arm 11.
You can move left and right, back and forth freely. The image from the imaging camera 3 is input to the video terminal of the display 4 through the image transmission cable 12.

When the light source that illuminates the subject 9 is the incandescent lamp 10, there is no problem, but when the light source is a fluorescent lamp, the screen of the display 4 may flicker. This flicker can be removed electronically, but here, as shown in FIG.
An incandescent light bulb 10 is attached near the to prevent flicker. The attachment of the incandescent light bulb 10 has another purpose and brightens the subject 9 which tends to be dark, and can clearly indicate the place where the subject 9 is being enlarged. A fluorescent lamp or other light source may be used if it has a built-in electronic flicker prevention circuit.

The control unit 2 senses optical information and position information of the subject 9 located below the reading unit 1.
The control unit 2 has a built-in storage device, and can store and reproduce a plurality of pieces of information, and can synthesize a plurality of pieces of information on the screen. Since the control unit 2 can be connected to a storage medium external to the storage device, for example, the personal computer 14, even if there is a large amount of information to be stored, the control unit 2 shown in FIG.
It is possible to support with the configuration as shown in.

The moving box 5 has a built-in memory switch 13 as shown in FIG. 2, and if the user wants to store this screen, the memory switch 13 may be pressed.
At this time, the date, time, etc. can be stored at the same time. As an application of this, in addition to being able to store weather forecasts, traffic information, telephone numbers, important articles, etc., in the case of stocks etc., past data and this time data can be easily compared on the same screen.

The display 4 can monitor the reading state in real time, and is also used as a monitor when the image captured by the control unit 2 is reproduced. The control unit 2 and the display 2 are usually connected by a transmission cable 12, but a wireless system can be used as shown in FIG. In this case, the reading unit can be moved more easily. At this time, the driving battery is built in the imaging camera.

[0020]

Unlike the conventional image scanner device, the electronic magnifying glass according to the present invention is read by the image pickup camera 3 which is separated from the upper surface of the subject 9 by a predetermined distance, so that the recognition range can be easily visually confirmed. Moreover, it becomes easy to read an object having a three-dimensional structure in a normal state.

In addition, as an effect of the embodiment, when the lens of the image pickup camera 3 is a zoom lens, the operation can be performed while looking at an enlarged screen on the display, and it is possible to read a fine portion such as a wiring circuit. Is also convenient.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front explanatory view showing the inside of a moving box.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a wireless system.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing cooperation with a personal computer.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1. . . Reading unit 2. . . Control unit 3. . . Imaging camera 4. . . Display 5. . . Moving box 6. . . Frame 7. . . Expansion switch 8. . . Reduction switch 9. . . Subject 10. . Incandescent light bulb 11. . Free arm 12. . Transmission cable 13. . Memory switch 14. . Personal computer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An imaging camera having a reading unit, a control unit for processing optical information of an object to be read and further storing the information of the object to be read, a display for monitoring a reading state, and an upper part of the object to be read. An electronic magnifying glass characterized by having a moving mechanism for moving the image pickup camera so that not only a planar object but also an object having a three-dimensional structure can be easily read.