JPH1175039A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately compensate light quantity fluctuation due to the occurrence of scattered light that corresponds to the flaw and to obtain accurate image data even if there is flaw on an image recorded surface of photosensitive material. SOLUTION: If there is flaw, etc., on the surface and rear faces of a film N, light from a light source 64 becomes scattered light by the flaw 49 and light quantity of the flaw part is reduced. For that, an IR(infrared) component reading part 48IR is arranged equally to each component reading part 48B, 48G and 48R of the other RGB, and if a value falls not more than a threshold that is previously defined, it is confirmed that light quantity reduction due to the flaw occurs. A data compensating part 41 compensates read image data of each color component based on data that are read by the part 48IR before sending the data to a development read controlling part 40.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for digitally reading image information recorded on a photosensitive material.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When digitally reading an image recorded on a photosensitive material, for example, a negative film, light is irradiated from a light source onto the negative film.
The transmitted light amount is read.

As a sensor for reading the amount of transmitted light, there is a CCD image sensor in which light receiving elements are arranged in a matrix. In this case, the transmitted light is transmitted to a light receiving surface of the CCD image sensor with a negative film fixed. Make an image.

Further, there is a line sensor in which light receiving elements are arranged in a line as a sensor. In this case, an image formed on the line sensor is formed while moving a negative film at a constant speed.
Read the image for each line.

Each sensor outputs an electric signal in accordance with the amount of light transmitted through a negative film. Each of the sensors has advantages and disadvantages (the CCD image sensor has a high image reading speed, but needs to feed frames). In the line sensor, the reading speed of the image depends on the transport speed of the negative film, but it is easy to control the transport at a constant speed.) However, the line sensor is properly used depending on the combination of the apparatus configuration and peripheral devices.

When an image is read from such a negative film, if the surface of the negative film is damaged, transmitted light may be scattered and proper image data may not be obtained. That is, in the area where the scattered light is generated, the light amount detected by the sensor is reduced, and the light amount fluctuates.

Further, since the degree of scattering differs for each color (each wavelength), the color reproducibility also decreases.

In the present invention, in consideration of the above fact, even if there is a scratch on the image recording surface on the photosensitive material, a fluctuation in the amount of light due to the generation of scattered light corresponding to the scratch is properly corrected to obtain accurate image data. It is an object of the present invention to obtain an image reading apparatus capable of performing the above-mentioned operations.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus for digitally reading image information recorded on a photosensitive material, comprising: a visible light region having three wavelengths; Image information reading means for reading image information in a wavelength region of at least four wavelengths including one wavelength in the light region, and image information read in the visible region, based on the image information read in the non-visible region, Correction means for correcting the amount of light scattering during image reading.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the three wavelengths in the visible light region are, for example, three primary colors for reading an image on a photosensitive material as a full-color image, and the wavelengths in the invisible light region are infrared light. Or it is ultraviolet light.

In the invisible light region wavelength, the output does not change with respect to the image information on the photosensitive material, but when there is a flaw or the like on the photosensitive material, the output changes. This is due to light scattering. On the other hand, in the wavelength region of the visible light, an image on the photosensitive material can be reliably read. However, when there is a flaw or the like on the photosensitive material, the shape of the read image information includes the scattering of the light. Becomes

Therefore, by correcting the image read in the visible light region based on the image information read in the invisible light region, it is possible to eliminate light scattering.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus for digitally reading image information recorded on a photosensitive material, wherein the amount of reflected or transmitted light for each color in a visible light region constituting an image is provided. A visible light range photoelectric conversion sensor that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the photosensitive material, and a relative position between the visible light range photoelectric conversion sensor and the photosensitive material are arranged to be equivalent to the relative position between the visible light range photoelectric conversion sensor and the photosensitive material. A non-visible light range photoelectric conversion sensor for detecting the amount of reflection or transmission in the non-visible light range of the image recorded on the material, and a detection result detected by the visible light range photoelectric conversion sensor, Correction means for correcting based on the detection result detected by the conversion sensor.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when image information on a photosensitive material is read by a visible light region photoelectric conversion sensor, if the image region on the photosensitive material is damaged, the visible light region photoelectric conversion is performed. The light reaching the sensor may not reach due to scattering. For this reason, for example, the actual image density differs from the image density reproduced based on the detection result detected by the visible light region photoelectric conversion sensor.

The visible light region photoelectric conversion sensor cannot judge whether the output is a change due to the scattered light or an actual image. Therefore, an image area detected by the visible light region photoelectric conversion sensor is read by a non-visible light region photoelectric conversion sensor whose output changes only when scattered light is generated without converting the image information. In this case, it is necessary to determine the relative position between the non-visible light range photoelectric conversion sensor and the photosensitive material so as to be equivalent to the relative position between the visible light range photoelectric conversion sensor and the photosensitive material.

The correction means corrects the detection result with the visible light region photoelectric conversion sensor based on the detection result detected by the non-visible light region photoelectric conversion sensor, so that the correction result can be obtained with image information having high reproducibility. Become.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, at least two or more invisible light range photoelectric conversion sensors having different detection wavelength ranges are provided, and the correction amount by the correction means is adjusted according to the degree of change with respect to wavelength. Features.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the degree of change of the read detection result of the visible light region photoelectric conversion sensor differs depending on the color (wavelength) even for the same scratch. That is, the longer the wavelength, the less the effect of the scratch. Therefore, if correction is performed only with the detection result detected by a single non-visible light region photoelectric conversion sensor, a slight error occurs. Therefore, detection is performed by two or more invisible light range photoelectric conversion sensors, a wavelength characteristic curve is created based on the degree of change, and each wavelength (color)
To obtain a correction value (correction coefficient) suitable for. Thereby, appropriate correction can be performed for each color, and the color reproducibility can be further improved.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an image forming apparatus 10 has a developing unit 1 for developing a film N on which an image has been recorded (for example, photographed by a camera).
4 and a reading unit 12 for digitally reading an image recorded on the film N developed by the developing unit 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the developing unit 14 and the reading unit 12 are covered with a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing.
Reference numeral 2 is disposed above the developing unit 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the developing section 14 is provided with a patrone loading section 20 for loading a patrone 18 accommodating a photographed film N. Film N
Is transported in the direction of arrow A by a transport roller (not shown).

A coating device 22 is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction, and a drum 24 heated by a heater 26 and a transport roller 30 are further downstream.
The film N is guided between the lower surface of the drum 24 and the upper surface of the transport roller 30.

On the other hand, the developing unit 14 is provided with a supply roll 28 in which a processing member K having a layer containing a mordant for developing the film N on a support is wound in a roll shape. The processing member K is moved from the supply reel 28 to the transport roller 30.
And is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the transport roller 30 and then around the outer peripheral surface of the drum 24 (the outer peripheral surface on the left side in FIG. 2). Further, the processing member K is wound around a transport roller 32 installed near the upper end portion of the drum 24, and then wound around a take-up reel 34 and stored.

The above-mentioned film N is guided between the lower surface of the drum 24 and the upper surface of the transport roller 30, and is then wound around the outer peripheral surface of the drum 24 and transported. The drum 24 is sandwiched by the outer peripheral surface.
Is transported along the outer peripheral surface of. Thereby, the film N
And the processing member K can be superimposed and transported.

When the film N and the processing member K in the overlapped state reach the upper end of the drum 24, the processing member K is wound around the transport roller 32 and is separated from the film N. After being peeled, the film N is transported to the reading unit 12 by the plurality of transport rollers 36.

Since the diameter of the transport roller 32 is considerably smaller than the diameter of the drum 24, the processing member K is wound around the transport roller 32 at the upper end of the drum 24, so that the curvature of the transport path of the processing member K is increased. The radius becomes smaller. Thereby, the processing member K is easily separated from the film N. In the vicinity of the outer peripheral surface on the left side of the drum 24 in FIG.
A heating unit 26 for heating the film N and the processing member K in an overlapping state is provided.

FIG. 3A is a diagram viewed from the reading unit 12 in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction of the film N indicated by an arrow B. The film N developed by the developing unit 14 is transported to the reading unit 12 by a transport roller (not shown),
A predetermined reading position E sandwiched by 54 is reached.

The reading section 12 is provided with a light source 64 for emitting light toward the reading position E, and a mirror box on the downstream side in the light emitting direction (the direction of the arrow L) for preventing light quantity unevenness. 58 and a diffusion plate 56 are sequentially arranged.

Further, a lens 50 is disposed on the downstream side of the transport path of the film N, and a CCD sensor 48 for reading a transmitted image by light transmitted through the film N is disposed on the downstream side. Have been. Lens 50
Has a function of forming an image of the light transmitted through the film N on the CCD sensor 48.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the CCD sensor 48 includes a B color component reading section 48B constituted by a line sensor for reading the B color component of an image, and a G sensor constituted by a line sensor for reading a G color line segment. A color component reading section 48G, an R color component reading section 48R composed of a line sensor for reading the R color component
And an IR component reading section 48IR constituted by a line sensor for reading infrared (IR) color components.
An image formed by light transmitted through the film N passing through the reading position E is read digitally for each color component line by line.

Of course, the emission spectrum of the light source 64 is determined by the wavelengths read by the reading units 48R, 48G and 48B of the R, G and B components of the image, as well as by the IR component reading unit 48IR. Contains the area. It is preferable that the intensity of the emission spectrum is the same in the wavelength region of all the reading units. Based on the characteristics of
The correction may be made.

Since the IR component reading section 48IR is a component in the invisible light range, it does not react to an image at all.
Normally, a constant value corresponding to the amount of light from the light source 64 is maintained. However, as shown in FIG. 4A, if there is a scratch 49 on the front and back surfaces of the film N, the light from the light source 64 becomes scattered light due to the scratch 49 (see FIG. 4B). The amount of light in the part decreases.

The influence of the scratch 49 naturally affects the light amount of the component in the visible light range. It is not possible to determine whether the image is due to a high-density portion of the image itself (a transmission density, and therefore, a decrease in the amount of light at a high density) (see FIGS. 4C to 4E).

Therefore, the IR component reading unit 48IR is arranged in the same manner as the other component reading units 48B, 48G, 48R of the BGR, and the value is lower than a predetermined threshold value (see a dashed line in FIG. 4). In such a case, it is recognized that the light amount is reduced due to the scratch 49 (FIG. 4F).
reference).

Such a CCD sensor 48 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 10 is connected to a development reading control unit 40 which includes a microcomputer and controls various processes of the image forming apparatus 10, and transmits the read image data of each color component to the development reading control unit 40. . Before sending data to the development reading control unit 40, the IR component reading unit 48IR
Data correction unit 41 (FIG. 3)
(See FIG. 3A), and if the threshold value is exceeded, a value obtained by multiplying the decrease by a predetermined gain (see K ₁ , K ₂ , K _{3 in} FIG. 3). The correction is performed by adding the data read by the component reading units 48B, 48G, and 48R of the BGR.

The development reading control section 40 is provided with a floppy disk drive 44 and further connected to a magnetic disk device 42. After performing predetermined image processing on the received image data, the development reading control unit 40 can store the image data in the floppy disk 46 set in the floppy disk drive 44 or the magnetic disk device 42. Further, it is also possible to read out the image data once stored.

The operation of this embodiment will be described below.

The patrone 18 containing the film N in which the image is stored is inserted into the patrone loading section 20 of the image forming apparatus 10.
And the conveyance of the film N and the processing member K is started. The film N is conveyed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2, passes through the coating device 22, and is coated with water.

The film N coated with water is applied to the drum 24
Is guided between the lower end of the transfer roller 30 and the upper end of the transport roller 30, and is sandwiched between the processing member K and the outer periphery of the drum 24. Is transported.

When the outer periphery of the drum 24 is being conveyed, three color images are formed on the film N.

When the film N and the processing member K reach the upper end of the drum 24, the processing member K is wound around the transport roller 32 and wound up on a take-up reel 34. One of the films N is transported toward the reading unit 12 by the transport rollers 36, whereby the film N and the processing member K are separated.

The reading section 12 digitally reads an image recorded on each image frame while transporting the film N at a constant speed.

That is, when the n-th frame (n is a positive integer) reaches the reading position, an image is read by the CCD sensors 48 arranged in a line in the width direction of the film N for each color.

That is, the transmitted light output from the light source 64 and transmitted through the film N forms an image on the light receiving surface of the CCD sensor 48 by the lens 50, and the B color component reading unit 48B, the G color component reading unit 48G, and the R color component The reading unit 48R reads each color component. Further, the IR component reading unit 48IR detects the amount of infrared light that is an invisible light region.

In this case, generally, a substantially constant value is output in accordance with the light amount of the light source 64 which is not substantially affected by the density of the image. However, as shown in FIG.
When 9 is present, the light from the light source 64 is scattered, and the light amount at the portion corresponding to the scratch 49 is reduced. IR component reading section 48I
In R, the output value changes due to the decrease in the light amount. When the changed output value falls below the threshold value, the presence of the flaw 49 is recognized.

Here, the image data read by the CCD sensor 48 is fetched by the development reading control unit 40. Before this fetching, the data correction unit 41 corrects the image data of each color by the amount of light fluctuation due to the scratch 49. Then, the process reaches the development reading control section 40. Therefore, even if the film N has a flaw and an error occurs in the detection of each color component, the correction is reliably performed, so that appropriate image data can be obtained.

The corrected image data is stored in a storage medium (for example, a floppy disk 46 or the like) mounted on a predetermined or designated drive.

As described above, in the present embodiment,
Since a line sensor for reading the invisible light component is provided in addition to the line sensor for reading the visible light range component, even if there is a light amount fluctuation (decrease) due to a flaw, it can be reliably corrected.

In the present embodiment, the IR component reading section 48IR is applied as the non-visible light range photoelectric conversion sensor, but a non-visible light range photoelectric conversion sensor for detecting the amount of light in the ultraviolet region may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, a single invisible light range photoelectric conversion sensor is used, but the light quantity fluctuation due to the scratch 49 increases or decreases according to the wavelength. In other words, the longer the wavelength, the less affected the scratch 49.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5A, two or more invisible light range photoelectric conversion sensors (for example, UV component reading unit 48UV and IR component reading unit 48IR) are used, and the difference between the detected data of the two components is detected. Wavelength characteristic curve (FIG. 5B)
), And the image data in each wavelength range may be corrected according to the characteristic curve. In addition, two IR component reading units having different wavelength ranges may be used.

[0051]

As described above, the image reading apparatus according to the present invention appropriately corrects a light quantity fluctuation caused by the generation of scattered light according to the scratch even if the image recording surface on the photosensitive material has a scratch. This has an excellent effect that accurate image data can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating the inside of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3A is a schematic configuration diagram of a reading unit, and FIG. 3B is a schematic configuration diagram of a CCD sensor.

4A is a plan view of a film having a scratch, FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4A, and FIGS. 4C to 4E are images of each color component of BGR on the reference data line shown in FIG. Data, (F)
Is IR component data read by the IR component reading unit.

FIG. 5A is a front view of a CCD sensor provided with two non-visible light range photoelectric conversion sensors, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a wavelength-light amount due to scratches obtained by the two non-visible light range photoelectric conversion sensors. It is a fluctuation characteristic curve.

[Explanation of symbols]

N film K processing member 10 image forming device 22 coating device 40 development reading control unit 41 data correction unit (correction unit) 48 CCD sensor 48B B component reading unit (image reading unit, visible light region photoelectric conversion sensor) 48G G component reading unit (Image reading unit, visible light region photoelectric conversion sensor) 48R R component reading unit (image reading unit, visible light region photoelectric conversion sensor) 48IR IR component reading unit (image reading unit, non-visible light region photoelectric conversion sensor) 49

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image reading apparatus for digitally reading image information recorded on a photosensitive material, comprising at least four wavelengths including three wavelengths in a visible light region and one wavelength in an invisible light region. Image information reading means for reading the image information, and correcting means for correcting the image information read in the visible area based on the image information read in the non-visible area, by the amount of light scattering at the time of image reading. And an image reading device comprising: 2. An image reading device for digitally reading image information recorded on a photosensitive material, wherein the image reading device outputs an electric signal corresponding to the amount of reflected or transmitted light of each color in a visible light region constituting an image. The visible light range photoelectric conversion sensor and the relative position of the photosensitive material are disposed so as to be equal to the relative position of the visible light range photoelectric conversion sensor and the photosensitive material, and the image recorded on the photosensitive material A non-visible light range photoelectric conversion sensor that detects the amount of reflected or transmitted light in the non-visible light range, and a detection result detected by the visible light range photoelectric conversion sensor,
A correction unit configured to perform correction based on a detection result detected by the non-visible light region photoelectric conversion sensor. 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least two pairs of the invisible light range photoelectric conversion sensors having different detection wavelength ranges are provided, and the correction amount by the correction means is adjusted according to a degree of change with respect to a wavelength. The image reading device according to claim 1.