JPH09298645A - Transfer method for image data and image input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To convert image pickup signals for one screen obtained from the image sensor of an area type to image data under a simple processing without using an expensive memory and to transfer them to an external equipment. SOLUTION: The image pickup signals from a CCD image sensor 21 are digitized in an A/D converter 26. The digitized image pickup signals are converted to the image data composed of luminance signals Y and color difference signals C for each picture element by a digital signal processing circuit 27. Among the image data for one screen, only the ones belonging to eight horizontal scanning lines provided with line numbers specified in a microcomputer 24 are written in the first-in/first-out memories 31 and 32 of a FIFO system. The image data written in the first-in/first-out memories 31 and 32 are transferred to a personal computer 38. The microcomputer 24 specifies the next eight line numbers every time the data transfer is ended and repeats the similar processing. Thus, the image data for one screen are divided for each specification of the line numbers and transferred to the personal computer 38.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of transferring image data, and more particularly, to efficiently transfer image data obtained by capturing an optical image with an image sensor to a personal computer without using a large-capacity frame memory or the like. The present invention relates to a method of transferring to an external device such as a computer and an image input device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the widespread use of personal computers (personal computers), it has become widespread among general users to try various image processes by, for example, capturing a photographed image as image data for one screen into the personal computer. is there. In response to such a demand, various image input devices have been commercialized that are capable of converting an optical image into electrical image data and transferring the electrical image data to an external device such as a personal computer.

A solid-state image pickup device is used for such an image input device. A scanner type which uses a line-type solid-state image pickup device (line sensor) and picks up an image one line at a time while feeding an original in a direction orthogonal to the line sensor. And a type that uses an area-type solid-state image sensor (area sensor) to simultaneously capture an image for one screen. Then, in any type of image input device, an image signal obtained by imaging is digitally converted and then written as image data for each pixel in a frame memory having a storage capacity for one screen. In addition, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-10
In the method described in Japanese Patent No. 4692, two field memories are used in place of the frame memory, and the image data of the odd line and the image data of the even line are written in separate field memories.

The image data written in the frame memory is sequentially read by a command input from an image input device or an external device. When a personal computer is connected as an external device, the read image data is expanded in the image memory built in or added to the personal computer, and thereafter various image processing is performed for each image data read from the dot map memory. It becomes possible to add. In the case of using the two field memories, the image data is alternately read line by line from each memory to transfer the data.

[0005]

As described above, the conventional image input device has a storage capacity sufficient to store at least one screen of image data, regardless of whether the frame memory or the field memory is used. Need image data memory. However, since such an image data memory is considerably expensive as compared with the other components that make up the image input device, it is a great way to commercialize a low-priced, popular image input device. It was an obstacle.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to easily send one screen of image data to an external device without using a large-capacity, high-priced image data memory such as a frame memory or a field memory. An object of the present invention is to provide an image data transfer method and an image input device that can transfer the image data.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a horizontal scanning line selected by designating a line number from the image signals for one screen output from an area type image sensor. Only the image pickup signals belonging to are converted into digitized image data and written in the data memory, and after the image data is transferred to the external device according to the writing order, the line numbers are sequentially specified while sequentially being specified. By converting the image pickup signal belonging to the horizontal scanning line of the changed line number into image data, writing it to the data memory, and transferring it to an external device repeatedly, the image data for one screen is divided into a plurality of times It is transferred to the device.

As the data memory, it is effective to use a first-in first-out type data memory which does not require address designation when writing and reading image data, and is effective in simplifying the image data writing and reading processes. It is effective to specify the line numbers of the horizontal scanning lines one by one, and to specify the specified line numbers at regular intervals to identify the outline of the image early.

Further, an image input apparatus using the above-mentioned image data transfer method is an area type in which a large number of pixels are arranged in a matrix on an image pickup surface and an image pickup signal for one screen is output at a constant cycle. The image sensor, the line number designating means for sequentially designating and changing the line number of the horizontal scanning line at the constant period, and the image pickup signals belonging to the horizontal scanning line having the line number designated by the line number designating means are digitized. Data conversion means for converting the image data output from the data conversion means, and data transfer means for sequentially transferring the image data written in the data memory to an external device. The image signal for one screen, which is used and is output from the image sensor, is not converted into image data sequentially in multiple times. Configured to forward to an external device.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An example of an image input device using the present invention is shown in FIG. This image input device can take an image of a general reflective original in the form of a sheet such as a print photograph, and by setting as shown in the figure, the developed photo film can be used as a transmissive original to produce a photograph. An image can be easily picked up. A mount portion 3 that is rotatable about a vertical axis is provided on the upper portion of the main body portion 2 in which circuit components such as a photographing lens and a CCD image sensor are built. A slit 4 is formed in the mount portion 3, and a film holder 5 can be inserted into this slit 4. 2 for film holder 5
A thin plate is connected in an openable and closable manner. A back plate (upper surface side in the figure) is a milky white diffusion plate, and a rectangular opening is formed in the front plate. A sheet-shaped photographic film 6 is sandwiched between the front plate and the rear plate of the film holder 5, and the photographic film 6 is inserted into the slit 4.

A pair of illumination units 7 are provided on the upper portion of the mount portion 3, and by lighting a lamp incorporated therein, the photographic film 6 can be illuminated from behind to capture a photographic image. The photographic film 6 may be either negative or positive, and in the case of negative, negative / positive inversion processing is performed on the obtained image signal. It should be noted that depending on whether the photographic image was taken in a vertical position or in a horizontal position, the mount unit 3
By rotating the, it is possible to always take an image in an upright posture. A pair of support legs 8 pivotally attached to the main body 2,
The image input device can also be used in an inverted state by rotating 8 further upward from the position shown in the drawing and opening the pair of illumination units 7. In this state, for example, it is possible to capture an image of a general sheet original placed below while applying illumination by the illumination unit 7.

The main body 2 is provided with terminals and operation knobs necessary for using and operating this apparatus. For example, a plug for supplying DC power is connected to the power supply terminal 10. Also, by connecting a monitor device such as a CRT to the video terminal 11, it becomes possible to easily observe the captured image. The connector terminal 12 is used to connect to an external device such as a personal computer. Then, the image data obtained from this image input device is transferred to the external device through this connector terminal 12, and the control signal from the external device is input through the connector terminal 12 to thereby operate the image input device from the outside. It can also be controlled. The dials 14 and 15 are used to adjust the photographing lens incorporated in the main body 2, and one of them is used for focusing operation and the other is used for zooming operation. In addition, an operation unit for manually setting exposure adjustment and white balance adjustment, a negative / positive reversal switching operation unit, and the like are provided.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic electrical configuration of the image input device. The image of the photographic film 6 illuminated by the lamp 7 a incorporated in the illumination unit 7 is formed on the imaging surface of the image sensor 21 by the taking lens 20. Although the photographic lens 20 is simply shown, the dial 14,
Focusing and zooming can be performed by the operation of 15, and it is also possible to combine with an autofocus device and an electric zooming device.

As is well known, the image sensor 21 is an area-type CCD image sensor in which a large number of minute pixels made of a photoreceptor having a charge storage section are arranged in a matrix on the image pickup surface, and an optical image is picked up. Convert to a signal and output. A minute color filter that transmits the complementary colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan is provided on the front surface of each pixel, and an image pickup signal can be obtained for each pixel. 480 effective horizontal scanning lines are set in the CCD image sensor 21, and an image pickup signal for 504 pixels is obtained for one horizontal scanning line. Then, the vertical synchronization period (1
Horizontal scanning (480H) is performed 480 times in V).

An image pickup signal from the CCD image sensor 21 is input to an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit 22 and amplified with a predetermined gain for each color. The image pickup signal amplified by the AGC circuit 22 is digitized by the A / D converter 26 and input to the digital signal processing (DSP) circuit 27. The DSP circuit 27 evaluates the signal level of the digitized image pickup signal for each color, automatically adjusts the white balance when these show the bias depending on the color temperature of the illumination light, and also performs the γ correction process. This DSP circuit 27 performs this. White balance adjustment can also be set manually. The color balance adjustment can also be handled by changing the gain for each color in the AGC circuit 22. The electronic volume (EVR) 25 is for inputting appropriate control signals and control data to the AGC circuit 22, the A / D converter 26, and the DSP circuit 27 based on the digital data input from the microcomputer (microcomputer) 24. It is used.

The DSP circuit 27 creates image data consisting of a luminance signal Y and a color difference signal C for each pixel based on the digitized image pickup signal input every 1/60 sec. The image data thus obtained is further converted into a signal form conforming to the NTSC system, and then output from the video terminal 11 as a composite image signal via the D / A converter 28. Therefore, if a general external monitor such as a television receiver is connected to the video terminal 11, the image picked up by this image input device can be reproduced.

The image signals for one screen, which are input every 1/60 sec, are the same and may be used as they are for each of the first and second fields. However, for example, they are input for each horizontal scanning. Incoming image signals are combined and added in the order of odd lines and even lines in the first field,
An image signal of the first field is created based on the averaged signal, an even line and an odd line are combined in the second field in order, and an image signal of the second field is created based on the averaged signal. The image signal may be used in an interlaced system. Even if the number of pixels per horizontal scanning line or the number of horizontal scanning lines of the CCD image sensor 21 does not match the number of pixels per raster of the external monitor or the number of rasters within a 1V period, it is well known. Good reproduction images can be displayed by using the pixel number conversion method or the vertical interpolation method.

The DSP circuit 27 is an A / D converter 26.
Along with this, data conversion means for converting an image pickup signal obtained from each pixel of the CCD image sensor 21 into image data (luminance signal Y and color difference signal C) for each pixel is configured, and arithmetic processing is performed on the image pickup signal input as a digital signal. Done,
The luminance signal Y and the color difference signal C for each pixel are calculated. The number of pixels is the same as the total number of pixels arranged on the image pickup surface of the CCD image sensor 21. The luminance signal Y and the color difference signal C for one screen obtained for each pixel are output as a composite signal conforming to the NTSC system from the video terminal 11 as described above, and the image data for one screen is described later. Only some of these are written into the first-in / first-out (FIFO) memories 31, 32 respectively.

The FIFO memories 31 and 32 are memories in which data can be written and read without addressing, and a luminance signal Y and a color difference signal C are sequentially stored in the order of input from the DSP circuit 27 by a write command from the microcomputer 24. Then, the luminance signal Y and the color difference signal C are output in the order of writing by a read command from the microcomputer 24. The storage capacity of each of the FIFO memories 31 and 32 is the number of pixels corresponding to eight horizontal scanning lines.
The number of horizontal scanning lines of the CD image sensor 21 is 480
Since it is a book, 1/60 of the image data for one screen
Has a storage capacity that can be written.

The overall operation sequence of this image input device is controlled by the microcomputer 24. Memory 33
The ROM area is used for storing the sequence program, and the RAM area is stored for sequence processing.
It is used to store updated data and flags. Reference image data is further prepared in the ROM area of the memory 33, and after the reference image data is transferred to the FIFO memories 31 and 32 by a command input from the outside, the reference image data is read and transferred to an external device to display an image. By performing the observation, it is possible to confirm the operation of the digital output section DS surrounded by the broken line. Microcomputer 24
Also controls the operation of the CCD driver 34 for driving the CCD image sensor 21 and the inverter 35 for driving the lamp 7a for illumination.

The parallel I / F control circuit 36, when the personal computer 38 is connected to the connector terminal 12, transmits control signals and data between the personal computer 38 and the microcomputer 24 via the I / F buffer memory 39 and the interface circuit 40. It controls the exchange of signals and also controls the transfer of image data read from the FIFO memories 31 and 32. When the personal computer 38 is connected to the image input device for use, it is necessary to read the dedicated drive software into the personal computer 38. For this purpose, for example, a magnetic disk 41 or a CDROM is used.
A general storage medium such as can be used.

The image data transferred from the image input device to the personal computer 38 is stored in the FIFO memory 3 as described above.
Written at 1, 32. However, the FIFO memory 3
The storage capacity of 1,32 is 480 that constitutes one screen.
Since it is limited to eight (1/60) of the horizontal scanning lines of one book, in order to transfer the image data of one screen,
Each time, the image data to be written in the FIFO memories 31 and 32 needs to be updated every eight horizontal scanning lines. Therefore, the microcomputer 24 and the memory 33 function as line number designating means for designating only eight of the 480 horizontal scanning lines output from the DSP circuit 27, and the A / D converter 26 displays one screen. Every time a minute image pickup signal is input, the address (line number) in the vertical direction of the horizontal scanning line to which the image data to be written in the FIFO memories 31 and 32 belongs is switched.

The drive software written on the magnetic disk 41 reads the image data roughly and displays the image easily on the monitor 38a of the personal computer 38, and the standard read image data to display the image. A normal mode for performing the operation is prepared so that the image can be sequentially observed even while the image data is being read. If you display images in parallel while reading image data, it will take time to transfer one screen of image data, but in these cases, you can check the outline of the displayed image early. The horizontal scanning lines to which the image data written in the FIFO memories 31 and 32 belong are not set to eight adjacent lines, but are set to eight lines, for example, every eight lines in the preview mode, and every four lines in the normal mode. Opened 8
It is set in the book.

The operation when the personal computer 38 is connected to the image input device and used will be described. FIG. 3 shows a main screen displayed on the monitor 38a when the personal computer 38 is connected to the image input device and the drive software is started up. In the main screen, a preview image display frame 50
And indicator for brightness adjustment, preview button,
A capture button, image quality adjustment button, setting button, and close button are displayed. Each program can be started by moving the cursor to each of the above indicators and buttons by key operation and mouse operation, and by clicking.

By clicking the brightness adjusting indicator and moving the cursor to an appropriate position, the brightness adjustment from the personal computer 38 side is given priority over the brightness adjustment on the image input device side. Data is transmitted to the microcomputer 24. As a result, the electronic shutter speed of the CCD image sensor 21 (charge accumulation time) and the AGC
The gain adjustment of the circuit 22 is changed under a predetermined combination, and the signal level of the image pickup signal can be manually adjusted. When the image quality setting button is clicked, a window for adjusting the image quality is opened on the monitor 38a by the drive software, and the brightness, contrast, color density, and sharpness when displaying an image on the monitor 38a are appropriately adjusted. It can be set, and white balance adjustment can also be set manually. The control data for driving the image input device thus set on the personal computer 38 side is updated and stored in the memory of the personal computer 38. Then, when the personal computer 38 is connected to the image input device for use next time, the control data stored in the memory is read out, so that the initial setting at the time of starting the image input device is performed. Has become.

When the setting button is clicked, a setting menu screen is opened on the monitor 38a, and the pixel size, masking size, type of negative, etc. when the image data is taken in can be set. The maximum number of pixels when displaying an image on the monitor 38a is “640 × 480”. However, when the image is displayed on the monitor 38a by this pixel size setting, the display mode is a full-size photograph. For the image, use “640 × 480” dots (normal image) of the field image or “640 × 48” of the frame image.
"0" dots (fine image) or "320x240" of field image for half size photographic image
Dot (normal image) or frame image "320 x 2"
It is possible to select whether to use 40 "dots (fine image).

As for the masking size, the size of the photographic image is a horizontal full size, a high definition size, a panoramic size,
The vertical size is set according to which the photographic image is displayed on the monitor 38a.
It becomes possible to electrically mask the unnecessary portions. The type of the negative is set according to the type of the photo film 6 which is the original, and these setting data are stored in the memory in the personal computer 38. Then, when the image data is fetched from the image input device and displayed, a correction corresponding to the data stored in the memory is performed.

When the preview button is clicked,
The microcomputer 24 on the image input device side starts reading the image data in the preview mode, and transfers the read image data to the personal computer 38. The image data thus transferred is stored in an image memory built in or added to the personal computer 38, and in parallel with this, a preview image is displayed in the display frame 50.

In the display frame 50 of the preview image, 60 horizontal scanning lines are displayed, and an image is displayed with 160 pixels per horizontal scanning line. Therefore, the image input device takes in the image pickup signal for one screen as it is to output the composite signal to the video terminal 11, and at the same time, in principle, in accordance with the process shown in FIG. Capture image signals. That is, the DSP circuit 2
Among the image signals for one screen (480 horizontal scanning lines) that are input every 7/60 seconds to 7, the line numbers "1, 9, 17, 25, 33, 4 are read at the first reading.
Only the image pickup signals belonging to the eight horizontal scanning lines of "1, 49, 57" (= 8N + 1) are taken into the DSP circuit 27 for creating image data for transfer.

As a result, the line numbers "1, 9, 17, 25, 33, 4 are selected from among the image signals for the first one screen.
1, 49, 57 "are selected, and image data of a luminance signal Y and a color difference signal C of 126 pixels is calculated from an image pickup signal of 504 pixels per horizontal scanning line, and the FIFO
It is written in the memories 31 and 32, respectively. Thus 8
When the line image data is written in the FIFO memories 31 and 32, the image data is written in the writing order via the parallel I / F control circuit 36, the I / F buffer memory 39, and the interface circuit 40 according to the command from the microcomputer 24. It is transferred to the personal computer 38 and written in the image memory on the personal computer 38 side. An address is given to the image memory on the personal computer 38 side.
On the 8 side, the image data can be read in pixel units by addressing.

The image data expanded in the image memory on the personal computer 38 side is 60 horizontal scanning lines and 126 pixels per horizontal scanning line, whereas the display pixel number in the display frame 50 is The number of horizontal scanning lines is equal to 60, but the number of pixels per horizontal scanning line is 160 pixels. Therefore, the personal computer 38 converts the image data of 126 pixels per horizontal scanning line into the image data of 160 pixels according to the drive software, and displays the image in the display frame 50. As described above, the line numbers “1, 9, 17,
Image data belonging to “25, 33, 41, 49, 57” is acquired, and therefore 1 from the ratio of the number of horizontal scanning lines.
Although the image data corresponds to / 60 (= 8/480), since there are eight horizontal scanning lines, the area ratio on the imaging surface of the CCD image sensor 21 is 1 / 7.5 (=
64/480) image data is FIF
It is written in the O memories 31 and 32.

When the second image pickup signal is input to the DSP circuit 27, the line number designating means composed of the microcomputer 24 and the memory 33 causes the line number of the horizontal scanning line to which the image data to be written next in the FIFO memories 31 and 32 belongs. The line number is changed to "65, 73, 81,
89, 97, 105, 113 ”are similarly converted into image data and similarly written in the FIFO memories 31 and 32. Then, similarly, the image data is transferred to the personal computer 38, and in parallel, the preview image is continuously displayed in the display frame 50 based on the image data of the next eight lines.

When the image data is transferred eight times in this way, a preview image is displayed in the display frame 50 by the image data of 60 horizontal scanning lines and 126 pixels per horizontal scanning line. After confirming this preview image, if the image is the target image, the cursor is moved to the button on the menu screen of FIG. If not, the same preview operation is performed after moving the film holder 5.

When the capture button is clicked after the preview image is confirmed, the screen display of the monitor 38a is changed as shown in FIG.
The screen is switched to the screen shown in, and the normal reading of the image data is executed in the mode set on the setting menu screen described above. In the setting menu screen, when the fine image mode, that is, the image display with “640 × 480” dots of the frame image is set, the image pickup signal is converted into the image data in principle according to the process of FIG. Image data is written and transferred to the FIFO memories 31 and 32 every eight horizontal scanning lines.

As shown in FIG. 6, at the time of normal reading of image data, line numbers "1, 5, 9 ,," are selected from the image signals for one screen first input to the DSP circuit 27.
From the image pickup signals belonging to eight horizontal scanning lines of "13, 17, 21, 25, 29", 50
Image data for four pixels is created, and these image data are sequentially written in the FIFO memories 31 and 32. Then, when the writing of the image data for eight horizontal scanning lines is completed, these image data are similarly stored in the personal computer 38.
Is forwarded to

In this way, the image data for 8 horizontal scanning lines and 504 pixels for each horizontal scanning line is expanded in the image memory on the personal computer 38 side, and the image data read from this image data is displayed on the monitor screen shown in FIG. Display frame 5
The image is displayed at 1. At this time, since the number of display pixels in the display frame 51 is 640 pixels per horizontal scanning line, the personal computer 38 uses 5 according to the drive software.
Image conversion is performed by performing data conversion from 04 pixels to 640 pixels. As a result, the horizontal scanning line 8 is displayed in the display frame 51.
Every time the image data for each line is transferred, the image is displayed for every eight horizontal scanning lines.

When the transfer of the image data for the first eight horizontal scanning lines is completed, the designation change processing of the line number of the horizontal scanning line is performed for the next reading. In the second time, the line numbers "33, 37, 41, 45, 49, 53,
57, 61 "horizontal scanning line image data is FIFO
It is written in the memories 31 and 32, and similarly, the personal computer 3
It is expanded in the image memory on the 8 side. The same process is performed 15 times, and at the 15th time, the line numbers "449, 453, 45
7, 461, 465, 469, 473, 477 ”, the data for eight horizontal scanning lines is transferred, and the data for 120 horizontal scanning lines is transferred.

When the transfer of the image data for 120 horizontal scanning lines is completed in this way, the image for one screen to be imaged is displayed in the display frame 51 at intervals of four horizontal scanning lines. Therefore, the horizontal scan line 4
When 120 of the 80 image data have been captured, the outline of the image currently being captured can be identified. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a warning message "Do not move during import" is displayed so that the image input device and the film holder 5 are not inadvertently moved during import of image data. .

Subsequently, the designation of the line number of the horizontal scanning line is changed, but at this time, the value of "Z" in FIG. 6 is changed and skipped when the image data of the first 120 horizontal scanning lines is fetched. Line number "3, 7, 1
1, 15, 19, 23, 27, 31 ”, the image data belonging to the eight horizontal scanning lines are FIFO memories 31, 32.
Is written to. Therefore, by performing the same processing four times, the image data of one screen can be sequentially transferred to the FIFO.
It is written in the memories 31 and 32 and transferred to the personal computer 38. Then, each time, the image displayed in the display frame 51 becomes finer.

Further, since the image display with "640 × 480" dots of the frame image is set, all the image data of 480 horizontal scanning lines are transferred to the personal computer 38 as described above, and one horizontal scanning is performed. Field images of odd field and even field are created every line,
A frame image is displayed on the monitor 38a by the interlace method. On the other hand, the field image "640 x 480"
When the image display by dots is set, the time point of “K = 2” in FIG. 6, that is, the horizontal scanning line 24
When the image data for 0 lines has been captured, the image data is captured. Then, the image data thus obtained constitutes each field image of the odd field and the even field.

The image data transferred from the image input device to the personal computer 38 includes a blanking period as well as a video period. However, the blanking period data is deleted on the personal computer 38 side. That is, only the continuous image data within the video period is written in the image memory on the personal computer 38 side in the order of addresses. Also, when taking a picture of a half-size photographic image,
The number of pixels per horizontal scanning line is half of 504 pixels, which is 2
Since only 52 pixels can be obtained, the interpolation processing is performed by the personal computer 38 in accordance with the number 320 of display pixels when displaying on the monitor 38a. Also, the number of horizontal scanning lines when capturing image data is
In FIG. 6, the process is completed at the time of “K = 2”, that is, the image data of 240 horizontal scanning lines is captured, and in the field image display mode, “K = 1”, that is, the image data of 120 horizontal scanning lines is captured. Complete with.

As another function, reference image data is prepared in the memory 33 of the image input device. This reference image data is called by a specific command from the personal computer 38, passes through the DSP circuit 27, and the FIFO memory 3
After being written in the PCs 1, 32, through the parallel I / F control circuit 36, the I / F buffer memory 39, and the interface circuit 40 under the same processing as before, the personal computer 38
Image memory. As the reference image data, for example, a luminance signal Y and a color difference signal C for displaying the three primary colors of red, green and blue with predetermined luminance are prepared.

When the reference image data is input to the DSP circuit 27, the reference image data for eight horizontal scanning lines are similarly written in the FIFO memories 31 and 32 and transferred to the personal computer 38. As a result, the monitor 38a displays red,
The three primary colors of green and blue are displayed as color bars, and the user can confirm that the digital output section DS including the microcomputer 24 and the DSO circuit 27 is operating properly. It should be noted that whether or not the imaging unit is operating properly can be confirmed by observing the image on the monitor connected to the video terminal 11.

Although the present invention has been described above based on the illustrated embodiment, the image data to be written in the FIFO memories 31 and 32 is not necessarily limited to the luminance signal and the color difference signal. For example, a personal computer with image processing function 3
There are not a few 8 equipped with RGB input terminals.
Therefore, after converting the image pickup signal input to the DSP circuit 27 into R, G, and B color signals digitized for each pixel, these image data are written in a FIFO memory prepared for each color. Good. Further, as the minute color filter provided on the image pickup surface of the CCD image sensor 21, it is also possible to use a red color transmission, a green color transmission and a blue color transmission instead of the complementary color type.

Further, the horizontal scanning line designation change processing is not limited to the processing shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, but for example, a table memory in which line numbers to be designated are sequentially arranged in a predetermined address area of the memory 33. It is also possible to prepare and change the designation of the line number while moving the address pointer for every eight horizontal scanning lines. Also,
The storage capacity of the FIFO memory is set to 8 horizontal scanning lines, but this storage capacity can be increased if there is a margin in cost. Also, as an external device connected to the image input device, an output device such as a video printer,
It is also possible to target an external storage device such as an IC memory, a magnetic disk, or a CD.

[0046]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image pickup signal for one screen obtained from the CCD image sensor is divided into a plurality of blocks by designating the line number of the horizontal scanning line, and is sequentially divided. Since image data can be transferred to an external device, it is not necessary to use a memory with a huge storage capacity such as a frame memory on the imaging device side as in the past, and it is possible to easily obtain image data. become.

Further, by applying the above-mentioned data transfer method, the cost of the image input device can be reduced, and the image pickup signal for one screen is divided by specifying the line number of the horizontal scanning line and converted into image data. However, since the image data is transferred to an external device, the hardware structure on the image input device side does not become complicated, and the image data can be transferred by simple data processing.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view of an image input device using the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an outline of an electrical configuration used in the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an initial screen displayed on a monitor of a personal computer connected to the image input device.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a screen displayed on a monitor of a personal computer when image data is normally captured.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart showing a line number designation change process performed when capturing image data of a preview image.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a line number designation changing process performed when image data is captured in a normal mode.

[Explanation of symbols]

 21 CCD image sensor 24 Microcomputer 27 Digital signal processing circuit 31, 32 First-in / first-out memory 33 Memory 38 Personal computer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. From an image pickup signal for one screen output from an area type image sensor, only an image pickup signal belonging to a horizontal scanning line selected by designating a line number is converted into digitized image data. Then, after writing the image data to the external device according to the writing order and sequentially changing the designation of the line number, the imaging signal belonging to the horizontal scanning line of the sequentially designated line number is changed. Image data characterized in that the image data for one screen is transferred to the external device by dividing the image data into a plurality of times by repeating conversion into image data, writing to the data memory, and transfer to the external device. Transfer method. 2. The data memory is a first-in first-out type data memory that does not require address designation when writing and reading image data.
How to transfer the described image data. 3. The image data according to claim 1, wherein the line numbers of the horizontal scanning lines are designated by a plurality of lines, and the designated line numbers are designated at regular intervals. Transfer method. 4. An area type image sensor in which a large number of pixels are arranged in a matrix on an image pickup surface and which outputs an image pickup signal for one screen at a constant cycle, and a line number of a horizontal scanning line at the constant cycle. , A line number designating means for sequentially redesigning the data, a data converting means for converting an image pickup signal belonging to the horizontal scanning line having the line number designated by the line number designating means into digitized image data, and the data converting means. Image data output from the image memory is written, and a data transfer unit that sequentially transfers the image data written in the data memory to an external device, and captures one screen image output from the image sensor. An image input device, wherein a signal is divided into a plurality of times and sequentially converted into image data and transferred to an external device.