JPH11261867A - Image input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image input device capable of being easily operated from any directions by a presenter by making an operation part for setting the photographing conditions or the like of writing-and-drawing originals rotatable. SOLUTION: This image input device is provided with a main body part for mounting the writing-and-drawing original 38, an arm part turnably attached to one end of the main body part, an image pickup part turnably attached to the tip of the arm part and provided with an image pickup element 10 for picking up the image of the writing-and-drawing original 38 and the operation part attached to the main body part rotatable in the same direction as the direction of mounting the writing-and-drawing original 38.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input apparatus for converting a document into an image signal and outputting the signal, and more particularly to an image input apparatus having improved operability when inputting a document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a presentation or the like, an image input device for photographing a document such as a document or a drawing, converting the image into a corresponding image signal, outputting the image signal to a projector or the like, and displaying a projected image on a screen. Is used.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a conventional image input apparatus in use. The image input device is configured separately from the projector 18 and can be used separately from each other. However, as shown in FIG. 9, the image input device can be mounted on the projector 18 and used. .

In order to input an image of a document 38, the arm 2 is rotated about a rotation shaft 7a,
Is rotated about the rotation shaft 7b to the position shown in FIG.
Next, a document 38 such as a document is placed on the upper surface of the main body 1, and the imaging camera 3 captures a photographic light flux 39 of the document 38. The illumination device 8 illuminates a document 38 placed on the upper surface of the main body 1 through the diffusion plate 9.

[0005] An image pickup device described later is built in the image pickup camera 3, and converts an image of a photographed document document 38 into a corresponding image signal and outputs it to the projector 18. The projector 18 projects a projection image corresponding to an input image signal from a projection lens 31 onto a screen (not shown).

[0006] A part of the main body 1 is provided with a document 38.
An operation unit 30 for setting photographing conditions and the like is provided. The operation unit 30 includes a power on / off switch, a switch for switching illumination and imaging lens magnification, an aperture control switch, and the like as the operation switches 5.

[0007]

As described above, the projected image of the document 38 is displayed on the screen, but the upward direction of the document 38 must be displayed in the projected image as well. For this reason, the direction in which the document 38 is placed on the main body 1 is fixed by the direction of the imaging camera 3 and the like. The operation unit 30 is fixed to a part of the main body 1 on the assumption that the presenter operates from one direction.

However, when the image input device is mounted on the projector 18 and used, or when the image input device and the projector 18 are integrated, the operation direction of the operation unit 30 is different from the image projection direction. There was a problem that it was difficult to use if it was limited.

For example, when a presenter stands by the image input device and gives a presentation while looking at the document 38 placed on the main body 1, the direction in which the document 38 is placed and the operation unit 30 are fixed. Therefore, the presenter may have to operate the operation unit 30 while reading the document 38 in the horizontal or oblique direction, and the operability is extremely poor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image input apparatus in which an operation unit for setting a photographing condition of a document is rotatable and a presenter can easily operate from any direction.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image input apparatus for processing an image signal in accordance with a placement direction of a document and outputting an image signal for displaying the upper direction of the document in a projected image. The purpose is to provide.

[0012]

The object of the present invention is to provide a main body on which a document is placed, an arm rotatably attached to one end of the main body, and a rotatable tip of the arm. An image pickup unit having an image sensor for imaging the document, and an operation unit attached to the main body and rotatable in the same direction as the direction in which the document is placed. This is achieved by providing an image input device that performs

According to the present invention, since the operation unit for setting the photographing conditions of the document is rotatable in the same direction as the direction in which the document is placed, the presenter can operate the operation unit from any direction. This makes it easier to use during presentations.

Further, the image input device of the present invention further has a rotation position detection unit for detecting a rotation position of the operation unit,
A pixel signal of the image sensor is read out in an order based on a detection signal of the rotation position detection unit, and an image signal of the document is output.

According to the present invention, when the presenter rotates the operation unit in the same direction as the document, the rotation position detection unit
The upward direction of the document is detected by detecting the rotational position of the operation unit. Then, the pixel signals of the image pickup element that has photographed the document are sequentially read from above the document and output as image signals of the document. Therefore, the upward direction of the document is displayed in the upward direction also in the projected image, and the usability at the time of presentation is improved.

Further, the image input device of the present invention further includes a rotation position detection unit for detecting a rotation position of the operation unit, and a storage unit for storing a pixel signal read from the image pickup device. The pixel signal is written in a predetermined storage area of the storage unit based on a detection signal of a position detection unit, and an image signal of the document is output.

According to the present invention, when the presenter rotates the operation unit in the same direction as the document, the rotation position detection unit
The upward direction of the document is detected by detecting the rotational position of the operation unit. Then, pixel signals corresponding to the upper direction of the document are sequentially written from the upper side of the storage area of the storage unit, and are output as image signals of the document. Therefore, the upward direction of the document is displayed in the upward direction also in the projected image, and the usability at the time of presentation is improved.

Further, the image input device of the present invention further includes a rotation position detection unit for detecting a rotation position of the operation unit, and a storage unit for storing a pixel signal read from the image pickup device. The pixel signals stored in the storage unit are read out in an order based on the detection signals of the position detection unit, and an image signal of the document is output.

According to the present invention, when the presenter rotates the operation unit in the same direction as the document, the rotation position detection unit
The upward direction of the document is detected by detecting the rotational position of the operation unit. Then, the pixel signals stored in the storage section are sequentially read from the upper side of the document, and output as image signals of the document. Therefore, the upward direction of the document is displayed in the upward direction also in the projected image, and the usability at the time of presentation is improved.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, such embodiments do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a top view of an image input device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a housed state. The image input device according to the present embodiment includes a main body 1, an imaging camera 3, a camera lens 4, an arm 2, an operation unit 30, and the like.

The main body 1 has a flat surface on which a document such as a document or a drawing or a three-dimensional object is placed on an upper surface, and an operation unit 30 for setting photographing conditions and the like of the document is provided in a part thereof. . The operation unit 30 is rotatable in the direction of arrow 32, and the rotation position of the operation unit 30 is detected by a rotation position detection unit described later.

The operation unit 30 has a power on / off switch, an illumination / imaging lens magnification changeover switch, an aperture control switch, and the like as operation switches 5, and a glide pointer 6 for inputting position information of an electronic pointer projected on a screen. Having.

The glide pointer 6 is formed, for example, by laminating a pressure-sensitive element for detecting position information and a plastic film. When the presenter presses the plastic film with a finger, an electronic pointer such as an arrow is projected at a position on the screen corresponding to the pressed position.

The imaging camera 3 is attached to the arm 2 by a support 33, and has a built-in imaging device described later. The image sensor photoelectrically converts the subject image formed by the camera lens 4, converts the image into an image signal, and outputs the image signal to a projector described later. An illumination device 8 is built in the arm 2 and illuminates a document placed on the upper surface of the main body 1.

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state in which the image input device according to the embodiment of the present invention is switched from the housed state to the used state. In FIG. 2, the use state is indicated by a solid line, and the storage state is indicated by a two-dot chain line. In addition, the image input device is used by being mounted on the projector 18.

The main body 1 and the arm 2 are connected by a rotating shaft 7a, and the arm 2 is rotatable in the direction of arrow 35. The rotating shaft 7a is provided with a click portion and a friction torque applying mechanism (not shown), and the arm 2 is positioned at a position corresponding to the stored state and the use state by the click portion, and at an arbitrary position by the friction torque applying mechanism. To stop.

The arm 2 and the imaging camera 3 are connected by a rotating shaft 7b, and the imaging camera 3 is rotatable in the direction of arrow 34. The rotating shaft 7b is also provided with a click portion and a friction torque applying mechanism, and the imaging camera 3 is positioned at a predetermined position and stops at an arbitrary position. The illumination device 8 uniformly illuminates the document placed on the upper surface of the main body 1 through the diffusion plate 9.

The legs 36a and 36b of the image input device are inserted into holes provided on the upper surface of the projector 18, and the projector 18 is set on a desk by the legs 37a and 37b. Note that FIG. 2 shows a case where the image input device is configured separately from the projector 18 and the image input device is mounted on the projector 18 for use. However, both may be configured integrally. According to such a use form or configuration, the installation area on the desk of the image input device can be reduced.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the use state of the image input device according to the embodiment of the present invention. In order to input an image of the document 38, the document 38 is placed on the upper surface of the main body 1, the imaging camera 3 is rotated about the rotation shaft 7b, and the camera lens 4 is directed downward. The image capturing camera 3 is positioned at a predetermined position by the click portion as described above, and captures the photographic light flux 39 of the document 38.

The image of the document 38 is photoelectrically converted by an image pickup device described later and output as an image signal of the document 38. An image signal output from the image input device is input to the projector 18 via a cable (not shown), and the projector 18 modulates light of a built-in light source by the image signal, and projects the light from a projection lens 31 onto a screen described later.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are explanatory diagrams showing the operation directions of the image input device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The relationship between the direction in which the presenter operates the image input device and the direction in which the document is set on the image input device will be described with reference to these drawings.

When giving a presentation, first, as shown in FIG. 4A, the arm 2 and the imaging camera 3 are rotated to a position where the document 38 can be photographed. In addition,
It is assumed that the image input device is mounted on the projector.

Next, a document 38 is set on the upper surface of the main body 1 of the image input apparatus. As shown in FIG. 4A, the direction in which the document 38 is set can be set in any direction that the presenter can easily operate, such as the A direction, the B direction, and the C direction.

According to the present embodiment, even if the document 38 is set on the upper surface of the main body 1 in an arbitrary direction, the projected image 41 displayed on the screen 40 becomes as shown in FIG. The upper direction of the document 38 is displayed in the upper direction of the screen 40.

FIG. 5A shows the case where the presenter sets the document 38 with the direction of the arrow 43 as the upward direction. At this time, the presenter operates the operation unit 3
0 is set to a rotation position in which the direction of arrow 43 is upward, similarly to the document 38. The rotation position of the operation unit 30 is detected by a rotation position detection unit described later, and an image signal converted so that the upper direction of the document 38 becomes the upper direction of the projection image 41 is output.

FIG. 5B shows the case where the presenter sets the document 38 with the direction of the arrow 45 as the upward direction in the case of the direction B. At this time, the presenter operates the operation unit 3
0 is set to a rotational position in which the direction of arrow 45 is upward. Also in this case, the rotation position of the operation unit 30 is detected by the rotation position detection unit, and the upward direction of the document 38 is the projected image 41.
The image signal converted to be in the upward direction is output.

FIG. 5C shows the case where the presenter sets the document 38 with the direction of the arrow 44 upward. At this time, the presenter operates the operation unit 3
0 is set to a rotational position with the direction of arrow 44 as the upward direction. Also in this case, the rotation position of the operation unit 30 is detected by the rotation position detection unit, and the upward direction of the document 38 is the projected image 41.
The image signal converted to be in the upward direction is output.

As described above, the presenter sets the document 38 in a direction easy to read from any direction of the image input apparatus and rotates the operation unit 30 in a direction easy to operate from that direction. Can be done.

At this time, by rotating the operation unit 30 in the same direction as the document 38, the projected image 41 displayed on the screen 40
Since the display is made so as to be upward of 0, usability in presentation is improved.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the image input apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The signal processing of the image input device will be described with reference to FIG. The photographed document manuscript 38 is
An image is formed on the image sensor 10 by the camera lens 4. The imaging element 10 is, for example, a CCD (charge couple).
ed device) to form n × n pixels,
The optical image is photoelectrically converted to output an image signal S1.

The light from the camera lens 4 is separated into red, green, and blue light by a color separation mirror (not shown), and each light is photoelectrically converted by the three image pickup devices 10, thereby obtaining
Red, green, and blue image signals can be generated.

The light from the camera lens 4 is changed to red, green,
By making the light enter a rotating color filter (not shown) divided into three portions of blue, red, green, and blue image signals that are time-divided by one image sensor 10 can also be generated. Hereinafter, one image signal S1 of red, green, and blue will be described.

For example, when the CCD has n × n pixels, the image signal S1 is changed from pixels in one row and one column to pixels in one row and n columns, and then from pixels in two rows and one column to pixels in two rows and n columns. , Signals sequentially read out for each row. The image signal S1 is converted into a discrete image signal S2 by the sample and hold circuit 11, and A / A
The signal is converted into a digital signal by the D conversion circuit 12.

Image signal S3 converted into a digital signal
Are stored in a frame memory 13 having n × n storage areas corresponding to n × n pixels of the image sensor 10. Which storage area of the frame memory 13 stores the digital signal corresponding to each pixel of the image sensor 10 is determined by the control signal S5 of the control circuit 16.

The rotation position detection section 17 detects the rotation position of the operation section 30 and outputs a detection signal S4 to the control circuit 16. As described above, the operation unit 30 is set at a rotational position in the same direction as the document 38 by the presenter.
Therefore, by detecting the rotational position of the operation unit 30,
The setting direction of the document 38 can be detected.

The control circuit 16 outputs a control signal S5 corresponding to the setting direction of the document 38 to the frame memory 13, and controls the writing order of the image signal S3 in the frame memory 13.

The image signal S3 stored in the frame memory 13 is read out in a predetermined order, and is input to the D / A conversion circuit 14 as an image signal S6. D / A conversion circuit 1
4 converts the image signal S6 into an analog signal and further inputs the analog signal to the image processing circuit 15.

The image processing circuit 15 performs image processing such as contour enhancement or contrast enhancement on the image signal S7, and outputs it to the projector 18 as an output signal S8 of the image input device. The projector 18 modulates an internal liquid crystal element or the like with the output signal S8, and
Is displayed.

As described above, the frame memory 13
Since the image signal S3 is stored in each storage area so that the upward direction of the document 38 is displayed on the screen 40 in the upward direction, the projected image 41 of the projector 18
Is displayed such that the top direction of the screen is the top direction of the screen.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a rotational position detector according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 7A, the operation unit 30 is rotatable about the rotation shaft 50 in the direction of the arrow 32. In addition, as shown in FIG.
A scale plate 51 is connected to the inside of the main body housing 53, and the scale plate 51 and the scale reading unit 52 constitute the rotation position detecting unit 17.

The scale 51 is formed, for example, by slitting an opaque disk, and the scale reading section 52 comprises a light emitting diode and a photodiode. The rotation position of the operation unit 30 is detected by intermitting the light from the light emitting diode with the slit and detecting the intermittent light with the photodiode.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the scanning direction in the image input device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 (1)
A state in which an image of a document 38 on which an arrow is drawn is formed by an image sensor having n × n pixels is shown. An image of an arrow in an arbitrary direction is formed on the image sensor according to the direction in which the presenter sets the document. The image signal from the image sensor is converted from the pixel in the first row and the first column to the pixel in the first row and the nth column, and then from the pixel in the second row and the first column to the second row and the nth row.
The data is sequentially read out to the pixels in the column.

FIG. 8B schematically shows image data written in the frame memory 13 having n × n storage areas. In the present embodiment, the image signals sequentially read from the image sensor are stored in n rows 1
The data is sequentially written from the storage area of the column to the storage area of one row and one column, and then from the storage area of n rows and two columns to the storage area of one row and two columns.

FIG. 8 (3) shows a liquid crystal element of n × n pixels built in the projector 18. If an image signal is written in the liquid crystal element in the same direction as the frame memory 13,
The upper direction of the document 38 is displayed in the upper direction of the screen 40.

FIG. 8 shows the case where the setting direction of the document 38 is the A direction or the B direction in FIG. 4 or 5, but in the case of the C direction, the writing order of the frame memory 13 is changed to the C direction. The image signal can be written in the same storage area as in FIG.

In this embodiment, the frame memory 13 of the image signal is stored in correspondence with the rotational position of the operation unit 30.
Although the order of writing to the image pickup device is controlled, the order of reading from the image sensor may be controlled in accordance with the rotational position of the operation unit 30. For example, in FIG. 8A, one row n of the image sensor
Column to n rows and n columns, and then sequentially from row 1 to column n-1 to row n and column n-1. The data may be sequentially written to two rows and n columns.

Further, according to the rotational position of the operation unit 30,
The reading direction of the frame memory 13 may be controlled. For example, in FIG.
Write image data in the same direction as the image sensor in 3 and 1
From row n column to n row n column, then from 1 row n-1 column to n row n-
The data may be sequentially read out to one column.

As described above, by controlling the reading direction of the image sensor or the writing direction or the reading direction of the frame memory 13 in accordance with the rotational position of the operation unit 30, the upper part of the document set in an arbitrary direction is controlled. The direction can be displayed in the upper direction of the screen 40.

In this embodiment, the operation unit 30 is installed in the main body 1 of the image input device and is rotatable. However, the operation unit 30 is separated from the main body 1 of the image input device, and It can also be a controller. The operation unit 30 is provided with a rotation switching signal generation unit that generates a signal similar to that of the rotation position detection unit 17 described above, and the output screen is rotated by the switching signal.

Also in this case, the document can be set in an arbitrary direction and the output screen can be rotated by the remote controller, so that the ease of use in the printing is further improved.

[0062]

As described above, according to the present invention, the operation unit for setting the photographing conditions of the document is rotatable in the same direction as the direction in which the document is placed. This makes it easy to operate the operation unit even from the background, and improves the operability during presentation.

Further, according to the present invention, when the presenter rotates the operation unit in the same direction as the document, the rotation position detecting unit detects the upward direction of the document and outputs an image signal according to the direction. Therefore, the upward direction of the document is displayed in the upward direction also in the projected image, and the usability at the time of presentation is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a stored state of an image input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the image input device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the use state of the image input device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram (I) of an operation direction of the image input device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram (II) of an operation direction of the image input device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of the image input apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a rotation position detection unit according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a scanning direction according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a conventional image input device in use.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Main body part 2 Arm 3 Imaging camera 4 Camera lens 5 Operation switch 6 Ground pointer 7a, 7b Rotation axis 8 Illumination device 9 Diffusion plate 10 Image sensor (CCD) 11 Sample hold circuit 12 A / D conversion circuit 13 Frame memory 14 D / A conversion circuit 15 Image processing circuit 16 Control circuit 17 Rotational position detector 18 Projector

Claims (4)

[Claims] A main body on which a document is placed; an arm rotatably attached to one end of the body; and a pivot attached to a tip of the arm to image the document. An image input device comprising: an image pickup unit having an image pickup device; and an operation unit attached to the main body unit and rotatable in the same direction as the direction in which the document is placed. 2. The imaging device according to claim 1, further comprising: a rotation position detection unit configured to detect a rotation position of the operation unit, wherein pixel signals of the image sensor are read in an order based on a detection signal of the rotation position detection unit. An image input device for outputting an image signal of the document. 3. The rotation position detection unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a rotation position detection unit that detects a rotation position of the operation unit; and a storage unit that stores a pixel signal read from the image sensor. An image input device that writes the pixel signal to a predetermined storage area of the storage unit based on the detection signal of (i) and outputs an image signal of the document. 4. The rotation position detection unit according to claim 1, further comprising: a rotation position detection unit that detects a rotation position of the operation unit; and a storage unit that stores a pixel signal read from the image sensor. An image input device that reads out the pixel signals stored in the storage unit in an order based on the detection signal of (i) and outputs an image signal of the document.