JPS5857858A - Picture reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate an input device for special coordinate information, by giving a light of an indicating pen such as light pen to the upper part of an original stand, reading the light at an image sensor and obtaining coordinate information. CONSTITUTION:When a coordinate reading key is operated, a scanning stand 14 moves in the right direction as shown in Figure. In this case, no illuminating lamp 11 is illuminated. A spot light from an indicating pen P on an original stand 2 is read by an image sensor 13 to obtain instructed coordinate information. In designating a rectangular region, the pen P indicates two vertexes of diagonal lines of the rectangular of a desired region on the original stand. As the reading method of the two points, there are various methods such as two- point reading with one movement, each one point reading for forward and return movement, and two-point reading at two movements.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for reading original documents, and particularly to an image reading apparatus for photoelectrically converting an image of an original document 11i and outputting original information as an electrical signal.

Manuscript IJ! A device has been proposed that reads the jlal using an image sensor such as a COD and handles the 100,000,000 m information as an electrical signal. When image information is treated as an electrical signal in this way, it is possible to transmit the image information to a remote location, store it in a memory device such as a disk or semiconductor, or perform intelligent image synthesis, editing, etc. Become.

In the above-mentioned intelligentization, Ws of image information
In order to perform functions such as editing and erasing desired areas of images,
It is necessary for the user to instruct which part of the read manuscript should be edited, synthesized, erased, etc.

Conventionally used methods for specifying the processing area include displaying the read image on a CRT, indicating the area to be extracted on the CRT using a two-point pen, inputting coordinate information using an input means such as a keyboard, or using a tablet. It is common to specify coordinates corresponding to the original document being used.

However, these methods require additional mounting for area indication. In addition, there are disadvantages such as frequent operations,
As a so-called general office nuisance, it cannot be said to be desirable from the viewpoint of price, installation space, and user composition.

In view of the above points, the present invention provides an image reading apparatus having a simple configuration and a mechanical function that allows the above-mentioned area specification to be performed easily.

FIG. 1 shows an external view of an image reading VeK to which the present invention is applied, where l is the main body of the device. Reference numeral 2 is an original plate made of a transparent acrylic plate, glass plate, etc., on which the original is placed, 3 is the original placed on the original platen 2, and 4 is a round plate for fixing the original placed on the original plate 2. The document cover 5 is a manual operation unit through which the user manually issues operation commands to the IT.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed diagram of the input operation section 5. 5-1 indicates the document Q on the document table 2! A manuscript reading key that commands the reading of
Reference numeral 5-2 is a coordinate reading key for reading nine coordinates indicated on the document table 2. 5-3 is a display indicating that the apparatus is in the original reading mode by the operation of the original reading key 5-1;
is an indicator indicating that the paper making apparatus is in the coordinate reading mode by the operation of the coordinate reading key 5-2.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the image reading device shown in FIG. 1. The parts numbered 1 in Figure 1 are the same. 6～
10 is a reflecting mirror, 11 is an illumination lamp, 12 is a lens, 13
is a one-dimensional image sensor made of a charge-coupled booklet, for example, COD, which includes a reflector 6, an illumination lens 11, and a mirror 12.
, the image sensor 13 is integrally fixed to the scanning table 14. The scanning table 14 is equipped with a commonly known motor, clutch,
It reciprocates in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure by a driving means such as a wire. SL is a sensor for detecting the home position of the scanning table 14, and 82 is a sensor for detecting the back position of the scanning table 141iD.

First, the document reading mode will be explained. When the user operates the J# [manuscript reading key 5-1, the lighting lug 1
1 lights up, and the scanning table 14 starts moving toward the right in the figure. The light emitted from the illumination plate 11 is reflected by the original 3 on the original table 2, and the reflected light is made incident on the lens 12 by the reflecting mirrors 6-10. The light incident on the lens 12 is reflected on the image sensor 13. (This optical path is shown as 1 in the figure.
The scanning table 14 moves from the left to the right in the drawing, as shown by the dotted chain line, so that image information of the entire area of the document 3 on the document table 2 can be read.

Next, the coordinate specification mode will be explained. P is an indicator pen that can input light into one point such as a penlight, 15° 16 is a manuscript table 2
This is an auxiliary lamp that illuminates from below.

When the user operates the coordinate reading key 5-2, the scanning table 14 moves forward in the right direction in the figure. In this case, the illumination lamp 11 is not lit.

Then, the image sensor 13 reads the spot light from the pointing pen P on the document table 2 to obtain the specified coordinate information.

Note that the auxiliary lamps 15 and 16 are turned on prior to reading by the image sensor 13 to illuminate the JIL document, and the document image can be recognized and specified from actual measurement of the document. It is also possible to use the auxiliary lamps 15 and 16 as illumination lamps for reading originals.

In this way, the image sensor 13 recognizes the position of the spot light on the document table 2. In order to designate a rectangular area using this, it is possible to designate two diagonal vertices of the rectangle corresponding to the desired area on the document table using the pointing pen P.

There are various methods available for reading two points, such as reading two points at the same time in one forward movement, reading one point each during forward movement and backward movement, and reading two points in two forward movements. be.

According to the designated area information as described above, it is possible to perform various operations such as erasing, dithering, and extraction of the designated area of the document.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the control circuit of the present invention.

Reference numeral 101 denotes a control section such as a well-known one-chip microcomputer. 102 is the input operation section 5. shown in FIG.
103 is a ninth sensor 81 for detecting the position of the scanning unit 14;
82.104 is the display 5-3 of the manual operation section 5. 5-4
．． 106 is Thailand! , 107 is an image sensor, -108
1 is an ND converter that converts the analog signal inputted from the image sensor 107 into a digital signal; 109 is a processing unit that performs processing such as extraction and erasure of image information read by the image sensor 107; and 110 is a reading unit. iiiiiigl
This is a rounded interface that outputs I information to an external printer device, display device, etc.

Explain the operation. Coordinate reading IIl in the input operation unit 102
When the bead is set, the display 104 displays the coordinate reading mode, and the driver 105 starts forward movement of the scanning table 14 without turning on the illumination unit 11. The reading signal of the spot F light detected by the image sensor 107 enters the processing unit 109 from the converter 108 . Control unit 101 obtains coordinate information on document table 2 from this signal. The coordinate information obtained in this way is then stored in the RAM of the control unit 101. The coordinate signals stored in this manner are sent to the processing unit 109 during subsequent document reading.

Thereafter, when the original reading mode is designated in the input operation unit 102, the display 104 displays the original reading mode, the driver 105 turns on the illumination lamp 11, and moves the scanning table 14 forward. The image information read by the image sensor 107 is converted into a digital signal by the Φ converter 108,
Then, in process 74109, the RAM of the control unit 101
Processing such as erasing or extracting a desired portion of the image information is performed using the coordinate information stored in the image information. The signal is then further sent to the interface 110 and output to an external post.

FIG. 5 shows a control flowchart of the spot light coordinate reading key using the pointing pen P. This program is stored in the control device 101010RO in advance.

When the coordinate reading key 5-2 of the input operation section 102 is operated, the coordinate designation routine shown in FIG. 5 is called.

In step 1, the scanning table 14 starts to move forward, and at the same time, the timer 1 starts measuring time. If the spot light on the document table 2 is detected in step 2, the process proceeds to step 3, where the time t1 from the start of the forward movement of the scanning table 14 until the spot light is detected and the bit value of the image sensor that detected the spot light. 11 is stored in RAM. In addition, if the scanning table 14 reaches the back position before the spot light is detected in step 2, it is determined that there is no intention to specify the coordinates, and the process proceeds to step 4.
The process then proceeds to step 5, where the scanning table 14 is moved backward.

Hereinafter, the timing at which the second spot light is detected will be explained depending on the case.

(1) When detecting two spot lights in one forward movement.

When a spot light is detected in step 2 and a continued spot light is detected while the scanning table 14 is moving forward, the process proceeds from step 6 to step 7. In step 7, the time t2 from the start of forward movement to the spot light detection and the bit value 12 of the image sensor that detected the spot light are stored in the RAMK.
Remember. The coordinates of two points (tl, /1) and (t2./2) were stored in the computer. Thereafter, when the scanning table 14 reaches the pack position, the process advances from step 15 to step 16 to start the backward movement of the scanning table 14, and then proceeds to step 17.

(2) When only one spot light is detected in one forward movement.

If no further spot light is detected before the scanning optical system 14 reaches the back position in step 6, the process proceeds from step 8 to step 9, and timer 3 is started. This timer 30 is determined in consideration of the time required for the user to specify the next coordinate.

Here, if the coordinate readout 4F-5-2 is activated before the timing of tie i3 is completed, the step advances from step KIO to step KIIK, the backward movement of the scanning table 14 is started, and at the same time, the timer 2 starts timing. .

If a spot light is detected during the backward movement of the scanning table 14, the process advances from step 12 to step 13. Step 13, the time t2' from the start of the backward movement to the spot light detection and the bit value 12 of the image sensor that detected the spot light are stored in the RAM. And step 1
4, the time t2' obtained in step 13 is converted into the time t2 from the start of forward movement to that point. Then, this time t2 and bit value t2 are newly stored in the RAM. The coordinates of two points in this ζ are (tl, /1) and (12,72)
was stored in l'LAM.

However, if the movement of the coordinate gun key 5-2 is not detected at step KIO before the forward movement of the scanning table 14 is completed and the timer 30 ends, the sequence moves from step 18 to step 19.
In step 19, the scanning table 14 is moved backward, and when the scanning table 14 returns to the home position, the process proceeds from step 20 to step 21, where the timer 30 starts counting. Then, it waits again for the operation of the coordinate reading key 5-2.

Even if the spotlight is not detected in step 12 before the end of the return movement, the process proceeds from step 23 to step 20 and the timer 3 starts counting.

In step 22, if the coordinate reading key 5-2 is operated before the timer 3 finishes counting, the process proceeds to step 24, where the scanning table 14 starts to move forward, and at the same time, the timer 1 starts counting. Then, proceed to step 6 to detect the second spot light, and then proceed.

However, before the timer 3 finishes counting, the coordinate reading key 5-2
If not activated, step 25 or step 26
It is determined that there is no intention to specify coordinates, and the time tl and bit value 11 already stored in the RAM are cleared.

As mentioned above, the coordinate information of the two locations (11, jl) and (t2
．． /2) is stored in the RAM, the process proceeds to step 17. In step KIT, the time tI! in the RAM is stored. ' and 1
Compare 2 and if 12 is larger, proceed to step 27.
In the opposite case, proceed to step 28. In step 27, compare bit values 11 and 12 in the RAM, and if 12 is larger, proceed to step 29; in the opposite case, proceed to step 30. At step 28, the bit value 11 in the RAM and j2 are also compared. If /2 is large, proceed to step 31; if /1 is thick, proceed to step 32.

Step, K29. 30. At 31 and 32, the X and Y coordinates of a predetermined form on the document table 2 shown in FIG. 5 are determined from the nine coordinate information obtained by spot detection through the above comparison operation, and are stored in RAMK.

For example, in Fig. 6, the coordinate information of one point O is (11,
$1), and the coordinate information of the next KC point is (12,
/2), the relationship between these values is tl
<t2. /1>/2. From these four values (
XI, Yl) and the relationship between these values is tl>12, $1)/2. From these four values, the values of (Xi, Yl) and (X2.Y2) are Xi
m t 2°X2-1l, Yl-/2. It is determined to be Y2-71.

In the case of two nine pieces, that is, one point is (tl, /1) d, d
(t2./2) and when point C is detected as (1
1,/1) When point C is detected as (t2, 12), the values of (XI, Yl) and (X2.Y2) can be determined in the same way.

Furthermore, the transmitted light of the light pen is used to specify the coordinates, and when the coordinates are specified, it is conceivable that external light from the open document cover may enter as noise.

The light from the light pen is made to have a red light wavelength of 90.1, and a removable filter is installed in the optical path to remove the light from the light pen. Such an inconvenience can be eliminated by configuring the image sensor to detect only light.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to input coordinate information corresponding to a document image on the document table. That is, coordinate information can be input while confirming the size and position of the actual document image without requiring a new device for inputting coordinate information.

Furthermore, even when specifying an area of a document image, the area can be easily recognized by simply specifying two opposing vertices of a rectangle.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an external view of the #i reading pocket to which the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is a detailed view of the manual operation section, Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4- is the invention of the present invention. % Iss is a control flowchart of the coordinate reading operation. The sixth factor is a diagram showing the state of specifying an area on the document table. 2Fi document table, 3 the document, 5 the Input operation section, 13
is an image sensor, and P is an indicator pen. Applicant: Canon Co., Ltd.;-f g-2 Kari

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) It is characterized by having a document table on which a document to be read is placed, and a photoelectric conversion means for converting an optical signal into an electric signal, and coordinate information of a spot light on the document table is obtained by the photoelectric conversion means. 111g1I appearance, removal device. (2) The image reading device according to claim (1), characterized in that the photoelectric conversion means reads the document jTifIN on the document platen. (3) The image reading device according to claim (1), wherein the photoelectric conversion means is a one-dimensional image sensor, and the coordinate information is obtained by reciprocating movement of the image sensor. (4) A tii* reading device as set forth in claim (1), characterized in that an area of a draft manuscript is designated by spotlights at two locations on a manuscript table.