JPH1188656A - Image-processing unit and record medium thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To apply joint processing to image divisions, without missing of thin lines of characters and line drawing or the like. SOLUTION: An image input device 10 outputs image data expressed in a density for each pixel by reading an image with a scanner or the like. An image memory 20 stores plural image data obtained by reading at the image input device 10. A histogram-generating section 30 generates a histogram which denotes the relation between the density and the pixel number for each line of a single pixel width in the subscanning direction in joint available areas that are duplicated parts of divided images. A discrimination section 50 discriminates a histogram for each line, based on a prescribed reference to decide a line being a joint position of division images. Then an image joint processing section 70 applies joint processing of plural images entered with division based on the joint position decided by the discrimination section 50.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and a recording medium for connecting a plurality of divided images by connecting them.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when the size of a document to be read by an image reading apparatus such as a scanner is large, the image of the document is read in a plurality of times, and then the plurality of images read in a divided manner are connected. The original image is restored by performing the processing. Further, even when a plurality of line sensors for reading an image are provided, one image is restored by performing a connecting process when one image is read by the plurality of line sensors.

FIG. 15 shows such a conventional image processing apparatus. In the image input device 100 such as a scanner, first, a rough image is input by performing a pre-scan for reading the entire image of a document or the like to be read in one scan. Then, according to the coarse image and the resolution and the trimming set value at the time of dividing and reading an image of a document or the like at a high resolution, an image joining position is determined in units of one pixel.
The connection position determined in this way is called image boundary information, and this image boundary information is sent to the image connection processing unit. Then, a plurality of image data obtained by dividing and inputting an image at a high resolution is input, and the obtained plurality of image data is stored in the image memory 200. Then, the image connection processing unit 3
At 00, a plurality of pieces of image data stored and held in the image memory 200 are read out, and image connection processing is automatically performed based on image boundary information obtained from the image input device 100. FIG. 16 shows an outline of the processing of such a conventional image processing apparatus.

[0004]

By the way, the accuracy required when performing the joining process on the divided images is as follows.
It is within one pixel. Because images such as characters and line drawings are 1
This is because the contrast is clearly divided into white and black on a pixel-by-pixel basis, and if a deviation occurs there, it is visually noticeable.

For example, when an image such as a character or a line drawing has a high resolution, the line width of a thin line may be one pixel. In such a case, when a deviation of one pixel occurs in the connecting process, the thin line disappears. This can cause problems. FIG.
Looking at the character "middle" represented by a line having a width of one pixel as shown in FIG. 7, if there is no deviation in the connecting portion P between the divided image 1 and the divided image 2 as shown in FIG. When the character "middle" is normally expressed, but the divided image 2 is shifted by one pixel to the left as shown in FIG. 17B, the connecting process is performed at the connecting portion P. Then, the vertical line of "medium" disappears, and it is unknown what kind of character it is.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to accurately adjust the joining position between the divided image 1 and the divided image 2 without causing a shift.

However, in the case where the connecting position is mechanically adjusted in the image input apparatus, the connecting position is 2,000 to 2,000.
When reading at a resolution of about 1200 dpi, the size of one pixel is generally about 10 to 20 μm. Therefore, in order to prevent a displacement at the connecting position, alignment with an accuracy of one pixel or less is required. There has been a problem that the cost of the apparatus is extremely high when trying to achieve the required accuracy.

In the case where the connection position is to be adjusted by digital processing with respect to the image data after the image is read, the position of each divided image relative to the original is detected by recognizing a reference line outside the original. For example, a process of deriving an overlapping portion between the divided image 1 and the divided image 2 by image comparison is performed. However, in both the method of recognizing the reference line and the method of leading the overlapping portion, when the reference line or the like is straddling between two pixels, the reference line or the like is recognized by one of the pixels so that about one pixel is reduced. Since there is a possibility that a displacement occurs, it has been difficult to perform positioning with accuracy within one pixel.

For this reason, even if the conventional image linking process is performed, a problem that a deviation of about one pixel occurs at a very high frequency and a thin line such as a character or a line drawing is lost cannot be solved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has an image processing apparatus capable of performing a joining process of divided images without losing fine lines such as characters and line drawings, and a recording program for the image processing apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording medium that has been used.

[0011]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for generating an original image by performing a joining process on a plurality of images obtained by dividing an original image. And (a) image input means for inputting an image,
(b) a linkable area determining means for determining a linkable area of a plurality of images divided and input from the image input means,
(c) a connecting position determining means for determining a connecting position based on density information in the connecting possible area; and (d) performing the connecting processing of the plurality of images based on the connecting position determined by the connecting position determining means. Connection processing means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the first aspect, the connection position determining means extracts (c-1) a density value of all pixels in the connectable area, and extracts the density value. Histogram creating means for creating a plurality of histograms in a predetermined direction from values, and (c-2) a histogram determining means for performing a predetermined determination on the plurality of histograms and determining a connection position based on a result of the determination And

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus according to the first aspect, the connection position determining means extracts (c-1) a density value of all pixels in the connectable area, and extracts the density value. Contrast deriving means for obtaining a plurality of contrasts in a predetermined direction from a value, and (c-2) a contrast determination means for performing a predetermined determination on the plurality of contrasts and determining a connection position based on a result of the determination. It has.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein (e) a plurality of images each including the connectable area determined by the connectable area determining means. There is further provided a block dividing means for dividing into block areas.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a computer is provided on a computer-readable recording medium by: (a) image input means for inputting an image; and (b) connection of a plurality of images divided and input by the image input means. (C) a connecting position determining means for determining a connecting position based on density information in the connecting possible area, and (d) a connecting position determined by the connecting position determining means. In addition, a program for functioning as a connection processing means for performing the connection processing of the plurality of images is recorded.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

<1. First Embodiment> First, a first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
As shown in (1), the image processing apparatus according to this embodiment includes an image input device 10, an image memory 20, a histogram creation unit 30, a determination unit 50, and an image connection processing unit 70.

The image input device 10 reads an original image such as a document and generates image data. The image memory 20 stores the image data obtained by the image input device 10. The histogram creation section 30 is a section for creating a histogram of the connectable area, and the determination section 5
Numeral 0 is a part for determining a connection position based on a plurality of histograms created by the histogram creating unit 30. The image connection processing unit 70 is a processing unit that performs a connection process on a plurality of images divided based on the connection position determined by the determination unit 50.

An example of reading an original image in the image input apparatus 10 is shown in FIG.
The image is read by the line sensor 2 in which a plurality of pixels are arranged in the main scanning direction X. The entire surface of the original 1 can be read by moving the line sensor 2 in the sub-scanning direction Y. Here, the reading resolution when reading the original 1 is changed by adjusting the magnification by an optical system (not shown) provided in the line sensor 2. By changing the reading resolution, the area in which the line sensor 2 can read in the main scanning direction X is also changed. The area is low for low resolution and small for high resolution.

The processing performed by the image processing apparatus having such a configuration will be described. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, first, in step S11, the image input device 10 performs a pre-scan, and inputs a coarse image of the original image. This pre-scan does not read an original image such as a document in a divided manner, but reads the entire original image in one scan. The coarse image obtained here is stored in the image memory 20. Thereafter, when the operator designates the trimming and the resolution of the coarse image by setting input means (not shown), the number of divisions and the connectable area for performing the main scan are obtained from the information of the trimming and the resolution. be able to. In other words, since an area that can be read by the line sensor of the image input device 10 in one scan at an arbitrary resolution can be obtained in advance, the number of times that the area sensor and the trimming area are divided and read during the main scan can be determined. A connectable area, which is an overlapping area between the divided images, can be derived.

In step S12, the histogram creating section 30 reads the coarse image from the image memory and creates a histogram based on the density values of each pixel existing in the connectable area. For example, it is assumed that a connectable area of a rough image as shown in FIG. 4 is determined by performing the trimming and the designation of the resolution. Then, the connectable area is divided into a plurality of pixels each having a width of one pixel in the main scanning direction X, and a plurality of lines La, Lb, L having a width of one pixel in the sub-scanning direction Y.
, Lg are generated. Then, the density values of all the pixels included in each line are extracted, and a histogram as shown in FIG. 5 is created. In each histogram shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal axis indicates the density value. The image becomes white (bright) as the density value increases, and the image becomes black (dark) as the density value decreases. The vertical axis indicates the number of pixels in the density value. FIG. 5A shows a histogram of the line La shown in FIG.
5B is a line Lb in FIG. 4, FIG. 5C is a line Lc in FIG. 4, FIG. 5D is a line Ld in FIG. 4, FIG. 5E is a line Le in FIG. ) Indicates the line Lf in FIG.
(G) shows the respective histograms for the line Lg in FIG.

In step S13, for each histogram shown in FIG. 5 created in step S12 by the determination unit 50, for example, the number of pixels on the vertical axis is cumulatively added from the low density side to the high density side. , A density value DL whose cumulative pixel number is 10% of the total pixel number and a density value DH whose cumulative pixel number is 90%. Then, the determination unit 50 determines that the density value DL which is 10% for each histogram and the 90%
A density width with the density value DH is obtained. Then, a histogram indicating the minimum value of the density width of each histogram,
Alternatively, one histogram in which the density width is equal to or smaller than a predetermined value is extracted. Here, when a plurality of histograms indicating the minimum value or a plurality of histograms having a value equal to or less than a predetermined value are continuous, a histogram having a line position at the center of the histogram is extracted. For example, in the case of the histogram shown in FIG. 5, assuming that the density widths of the three histograms of FIGS. 5D, 5E, and 5F are the minimum, these histograms correspond to the lines Ld, Le shown in FIG. , Lf and the center of these three lines is the histogram of FIG. Then, the determination unit 50 determines a line position corresponding to the histogram extracted as described above as a connection position of the divided images.

In the histogram as described above, the small density width between the density value DL where the cumulative number of pixels is 10% of the total number of pixels and the density value DH where the cumulative number of pixels is 90% means that many pixels have a certain density value. This indicates that the image is concentrated in the vicinity, the density change is small, and a flat portion of the image is shown. By determining this position as a connection position, the connection position is not determined in an image portion where a thin line such as a character or a line drawing exists, and the characters “medium” and “small” as shown in FIG. Is determined. Note that 10% and 90% are merely examples, and it goes without saying that they can be set arbitrarily according to the nature of the document.

In step S14, based on the resolution set by the operator, the image input device 10 performs a main scan of an original image such as a manuscript, and stores the obtained image data in the image memory 20. Here, since the main scan generally has a high resolution, the original image is divided and input. Then, the image connection processing unit 70
Are connected based on the connection position determined in step S13 to the plurality of divided and input image data stored in.

As described above, when the connection processing according to this embodiment is performed, the connection position is not determined in the image portion where the thin line such as the character or the line drawing exists as described above. It is possible to perform the connection processing of the divided images in which the fine line is not lost.

When the image input device 10 captures a high-resolution image from the beginning without performing prescanning as in a digital camera or the like, a plurality of divided and captured images are compared and overlapped. An image part is found, and the overlapping part is set as a connectable area. Then, in the same manner as described above, the connection position is determined using the histogram, and a connection process is performed on a plurality of images divided and captured based on the connection position. Also in the case of taking in an image, it is possible to perform the connection processing of the divided images in which fine lines such as characters and line drawings are not lost.

<2. Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 6, the image processing device according to the present embodiment includes an image input device 10, an image memory 20, a contrast deriving unit 40, a determining unit 60, and an image connection processing unit 70.

The image input device 10 reads an original image such as a document and generates image data. The image memory 20 stores the image data obtained by the image input device 10. The contrast deriving unit 40 is a unit that derives the contrast of the connectable area, and the determining unit 60 is a unit that determines the connecting position based on the contrast derived by the contrast deriving unit 40. Then, the image connection processing unit 70 is a processing unit that performs connection processing of a plurality of images divided based on the connection position determined by the determination unit 60. In FIG. 6, components having the same functions as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The processing performed by the image processing apparatus having such a configuration will be described. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, first, in step S21, the image input device 10 performs a pre-scan and inputs a coarse image of an original image. The coarse image obtained here is stored in the image memory 20. Thereafter, as in the first embodiment, when the operator designates the trimming and the resolution of the coarse image from the setting input unit (not shown), the main scan is performed based on the information of the trimming and the resolution. The number of divisions and the connectable area when performing the above can be obtained.

Then, in step S22, the contrast deriving unit 40 reads the coarse image from the image memory 20, and derives a contrast based on the density value of each pixel existing in the connectable area. For example, as in the case of the first embodiment, it is assumed that a connectable area of a coarse image as shown in FIG. 4 is determined by performing the trimming and the designation of the resolution. Then, the connectable area is divided into a plurality of pixels with a width of one pixel in the main scanning direction X, and a plurality of lines La, Lb, Lc,... Then, the density values of all the pixels included in each line are extracted. Here, each of the lines La, Lb,
In Lc,..., Lg, the position of the first pixel in the sub-scanning direction Y is “1”, and the position of the last pixel is “m (where
m is an integer satisfying m> 1) ". Also, using an arbitrary integer j, the density value of the j-th pixel in the sub-scanning direction Y is represented by D
(j), the contrast C derived by the contrast deriving unit 40 is

[0030]

(Equation 1)

Is derived. That is, a difference in density value is derived between pixels adjacent in the sub-scanning direction Y, and its absolute value is obtained.
This is performed for all the pixels distributed in the sub-scanning direction Y, and the addition is performed to obtain the contrast C. The contrast for each of the lines La, Lb, Lc,..., Lg is defined as the contrast Ca, Cb, C, respectively.
Assuming that c,..., Cg, the contrasts Ca, Cb, Cc,. In the rough image shown in FIG. 4, when the contrasts Ca, Cb, Cc,...
For example, "Ca = 50, Cb = 100, Cc = 50, C
d = Ce = Cf = 0, Cg = 40 ".

In step S23, the judging section 60 extracts one of the contrasts indicating the minimum value or one of the contrasts equal to or less than the predetermined value from the contrasts for each line in the sub-scanning direction Y derived in step S22. I do. Here, when a plurality of contrasts showing the minimum value or a plurality of contrasts that are equal to or less than the predetermined value are continuous, the histogram whose line position is at the center is extracted from those histograms. For example, as described above, the contrast Ca, Cb, Cc,..., Cg for each line in FIG.
a = 50, Cb = 100, Cc = 50, Cd = Ce = C
Assuming that f = 0 and Cg = 40, the contrast of the lines Ld, Le, and Lf shown in FIG. 4 indicates the minimum value. Then, among the lines Ld, Le, and Lf, the one whose line position is at the center is the line Le, so this line is extracted. Then, the determination unit 60 determines a line position corresponding to the contrast extracted as described above as a connection position of the divided images.

Each of the contrasts Ca, Cb, Cc,..., Cg obtained for each of the lines La, Lb, Lc,..., Lg (see FIG. The larger the change in the density value, the larger the value, and the smaller the change in the density value, the smaller the value. Generally, when each line in the sub-scanning direction Y includes an image portion such as a character or a line drawing, a change in shading increases, and a change in density value of the line also increases. Therefore, in this embodiment, since the line position of the contrast indicating the minimum value or the contrast which is equal to or less than the predetermined value is determined as the connection position of the divided image as described above, the image in which the thin line such as the character or the line drawing exists is determined The connection position is not determined for the portion, and the connection position is determined between the characters "medium" and "small" as shown in FIG.

In step S 24, the image input device 10 performs a main scan of an original image such as a document based on the resolution set by the operator, and stores the obtained image data in the image memory 20. Here, since the main scan generally has a high resolution, the original image is divided and input. Then, the image connection processing unit 70
Are connected based on the connection position determined in step S23 to the plurality of divided and input image data stored in.

As described above, when the connection processing according to the present embodiment is performed, the connection position is not determined in the image portion where the thin line such as the character or the line drawing exists as described above. It is possible to perform the connection processing of the divided images in which the fine line is not lost.

When the image input device 10 captures a high-resolution image from the beginning without performing prescanning such as a digital camera, a plurality of divided and captured images are compared and overlapped. An image part is found, and the overlapping part is set as a connectable area. Then, the connectable area is divided into a plurality of lines having a width of one pixel, and the contrast is obtained for each line. Then, the connection position is determined based on the obtained contrast, and the plurality of divided and captured images are processed at the connection position at the connection position, so that even when the image is captured without performing a prescan of a digital camera or the like, It is possible to perform the connection processing of the divided images in which fine lines such as characters and line drawings are not lost.

<3. Third Embodiment> Next, a third embodiment will be described. In the connection processing described in the first and second embodiments, when a character or a line drawing is present at a certain position in the main scanning direction X as shown in FIG. Is determined as a connection position. If the position where a character or a line image is present in the main scanning direction X is not constant as shown in FIG.
Even if the connection position is determined based on the histogram and the contrast of the character, there is a possibility that characters and line drawings may be missing.

Therefore, in the third embodiment, FIG.
As shown in (b), even when the position of a character or a line drawing in the main scanning direction X is not constant, the connection processing of the divided images without missing the character or the line drawing is realized.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the sub-scanning direction Y of the image area including the connectable area
Is divided into a plurality of blocks, and a connection position is determined for each of the divided blocks. FIG.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to this embodiment. FIG. 10A illustrates a configuration that determines a connection position based on a histogram as described in the first embodiment. FIG. 10B shows a configuration in which the connection position is determined based on the contrast as described in the second embodiment. These configurations differ from the configurations described in the first and second embodiments in that block division information is input to the histogram creation unit 30 and the contrast derivation unit 40. The block division information is information that defines a position at which block division is performed in the sub-scanning direction Y as shown in FIG. 9, and is set and input by a setting input unit (not shown) by an operator. For example, the operator designates a position at which the coarse image is divided into blocks in the sub-scanning direction Y while visually observing a screen on which the coarse image read by the prescan is displayed, thereby generating the block division information. If the image input device 10 can automatically determine an appropriate position for dividing the block, the operation specified by the operator is not particularly necessary.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the linking process performed by the image processing apparatus of FIG. First, the image input device 10 performs pre-scan, inputs a coarse image of the original image, and stores it in the image memory 20 (step S3).
1). Then, the histogram creation unit 30 divides the coarse image in the image memory 20 into blocks based on the block division information (step S32), and creates a histogram of a connectable area for each block (step S33). The creation of the histogram is performed for a plurality of one-pixel-width lines extending in the sub-scanning direction Y as described in the first embodiment. Then, similarly to the first embodiment, the histogram of each line is determined for each block, and the connection position is determined (step S34). Then, the main scan is performed, and the connection processing of the divided images is performed based on the connection position of each block (step S35).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the connecting process performed by the image processing apparatus of FIG. First, the image input device 10 performs a pre-scan, inputs a coarse image of the original image, and stores it in the image memory 20 (step S4).
1). Then, the contrast deriving unit 40 divides the coarse image in the image memory 20 into blocks based on the block division information (step S42), and sends out the contrast of the connectable area for each block (step S43). The derivation of the contrast is performed for a plurality of lines each having a width of one pixel and extending in the sub-scanning direction Y based on Equation 1 as described in the second embodiment. Then, similarly to the second embodiment, the contrast of each line is determined for each block, and the connection position is determined (step S44). Then, the main scan is performed, and the connection processing of the divided images is performed based on the connection position of each block (step S4).
5).

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a connection position for each block determined when the connection processing is performed by such an image processing apparatus. As shown in FIG. 13, as described in this embodiment, the sub-scanning direction Y is divided into a plurality of blocks, and a connection position is obtained for each block.
Even in the case where the position of a character or a line drawing in the main scanning direction X is not constant, it is possible to realize the connection processing of the divided images without missing the character or the line drawing.

<4. Fourth Preferred Embodiment> Next, a fourth preferred embodiment will be described. In the fourth embodiment,
The processing performed by the image processing apparatus shown in the first, second, and third embodiments is processed by a general computer.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 14, in this device, an input / output device 61, a CPU 62, a memory 63, a storage unit 64, interfaces 71, 72, 7
3, 74 are interconnected via a data bus.
The input / output device 61 is a device that reads data from and writes data to a computer-readable portable recording medium 80 such as a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk, and a CD-ROM. CPU
Reference numeral 62 denotes a processing unit that executes a predetermined program to perform arithmetic processing. The memory 63 is a device for temporarily storing data such as image data and the like.
Is a computer-readable fixed recording medium such as a magnetic disk. A display device 65 such as a CRT or a liquid crystal display is connected to the interface 71, and a keyboard 6 is connected to the interface 72.
6, a mouse 67 is connected. Further, the image input device 10 is connected to the interface 73, and an external device such as an output scanner is connected to the interface 74, and the image data subjected to the connection processing is output.

As described above, the image processing apparatus according to this embodiment is divided into a plurality of divided computers input from the image input device 10 by the internal CPU 62 in a single computer 90 on which an operating system (OS) is installed. This is an apparatus realized by executing a predetermined program for generating a single image by performing a joining process on the images. Note that the predetermined program for performing the above-described connection processing may be read from the portable recording medium 80 or may be stored in the storage unit 64 in advance.
That is, the program is stored irrespective of whether it is a portable recording medium or a fixed recording medium.

With such a configuration, the first, second, and third
In order to realize the same processing as the processing shown in the embodiment, the CPU 62 may perform the processing of the flowcharts shown in FIGS. 3, 7, 11, and 12.

As a result, even in the general computer 90, it is possible to perform the connection processing of the divided images without losing characters, line drawings, and the like.

<5. Modified Example> In each of the above embodiments, for simplicity of description, the case where there are two divided images to be connected is mainly described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It is needless to say that the present invention can also be applied to a connecting process when the image is read after being divided into three or more images.

In the above description, the image joining process is described as deriving a histogram or contrast for each line in the sub-scanning direction Y and determining the joining position based on the histogram or contrast. Normal processing is performed when a splicing process is performed on a plurality of divided images. On the other hand, in the case where the image is divided into a plurality of images in the sub-scanning direction Y, if the splicing position is determined for each line in the main scanning direction X and the splicing process is performed, the splicing process can be performed normally. Done.

Further, in the above description, the description has been given of deriving the histogram and the contrast for each line in the sub-scanning direction Y. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the image of each line is determined based on the density information of the coarse image. If it is possible to judge the characteristics of the above, the present invention can be applied to the connection processing of divided images in which characters, line drawings and the like are not lost.

[0051]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a connectable area of a plurality of images divided and input by the image input means is determined, and based on the density information in the connectable area. Determines the splice position and performs splicing processing of multiple images that are divided and input based on the spliced position determined.This enables splicing of spliced images without missing thin lines such as characters and line drawings. Becomes

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the density values of all the pixels in the connectable area are extracted, and a plurality of histograms in a predetermined direction are created from the density values. Since a predetermined determination is made and the connection position is determined based on the result of the determination, it is possible to perform the connection processing of the divided images in which fine lines such as characters and line drawings are not lost.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the density values of all the pixels in the connectable area are extracted, and a plurality of contrasts in a predetermined direction are obtained from the density values.
Since a predetermined determination is made for the plurality of contrasts and the connection position is determined based on the result of the determination, it is possible to perform the connection processing of the divided images without thin lines such as characters and line drawings.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the image including the connectable area determined by the connectable area determining means is divided into a plurality of block areas, the positions where characters, line drawings and the like exist are different. Also, it is possible to perform the connection processing of divided images without thin lines such as characters and line drawings.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a connectable area of a plurality of divided and input images is determined on a computer-readable recording medium, and a connect position is determined based on density information in the connectable area. Since a program for determining and connecting a plurality of images divided and input based on the determined connection position is recorded, a thin line such as a character or a line drawing is missing due to the computer executing the program. It can function as an image processing apparatus that performs a splicing process of a divided image without any.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a method for reading an image in an image input device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a connectable area.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a histogram created in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the concept of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining the concept of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a processing procedure according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a connection position for each block determined when performing a connection process according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a conventional image processing apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a simple flowchart showing an outline of processing of a conventional image processing apparatus.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating an example of a case where image connection processing is performed by a conventional image processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image input device 20 Image memory 30 Histogram creation part 40 Contrast derivation part 50, 60 judgment part 70 Image connection processing part 90 Computer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for generating an original image by performing a joining process on a plurality of images obtained by dividing an original image, comprising: (a) image input means for inputting an image; and (b) the image input means. A connection-possible area determining means for determining a connection-possible area of a plurality of images divided and input from the input means; (c) a connection-position determining means for determining a connection position based on density information in the connection-possible area; An image processing apparatus comprising: a connection processing unit that performs a connection process on the plurality of images based on the connection position determined by the connection position determination unit. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection position determining means extracts (c-1) density values of all pixels in the connection-possible area, and extracts a plurality of pixels in a predetermined direction from the density values. And (c-2) a histogram determination unit that performs a predetermined determination on the plurality of histograms and determines a connection position based on a result of the determination. Image processing apparatus. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connection position determining means extracts (c-1) density values of all pixels in the connection-possible area, and extracts a plurality of pixels in a predetermined direction from the density values. And (c-2) performing a predetermined determination on the plurality of contrasts, and a contrast determination unit that determines a connection position based on a result of the determination. Image processing device. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein (e) an image including the connectable area determined by the connectable area determination unit is divided into a plurality of block areas. An image processing apparatus, further comprising: 5. A computer, comprising: (a) image input means for inputting an image; (b) connectable area determining means for determining a connectable area of a plurality of images divided and input by the image input means; (c) A connecting position determining means for determining a connecting position based on density information in the connecting possible area, (d) a connecting processing means for performing a connecting process of the plurality of images based on the connecting position determined by the connecting position determining means, A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for functioning as a computer is recorded.