JPS61164372A - Picture reading and storing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To decrease remarkably the reading time by arranging plural linear image sensor arrays on a chip at an equal internal as a picture read means and storing each read data in parallel with a storage medium. CONSTITUTION:In a sensor section 11 being a picture read means, n-set of linear image sensor arrays 11-1-11-n each comprising m-set of picture elements possible for reading of one column's share are arranged on the sensor chip 12 at the equal interval of (l) in the direction intersecting orthogonally with a read moving direction. Attended with the running of the sensor section 11, the linear image sensor arrays 11-1-11-n read the prescribed region of the optical image of an object and read out the information corresponding to one column's share in parallel serially. Each read information is recorded simultaneously on a magnetic tape 20 by using corresponding magnetic heads 19-1-19-n as a serial data. In moving the sensor section by a distance corresponding to the interval (l), the sensor section 11 reads picture information for one pattern's share by one effort so as to decrease remarkably the reading time.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an image reading storage device capable of storing images read by an image sensor such as an image sensor on a storage medium such as a magnetic tape.

PRIOR ART AND PROBLEMS Conventionally, in this type of device, if, for example, five A4-sized documents are to be read at a resolution of 1 meter layer, the number of pixels is (5X2)" x 210 x 297 = 8.237,
There will be 000 pieces. If this were to be realized with a two-dimensional CCD image sensor, a chip with approximately 2048 x 3072 elements would be required. Although such a CCD image sensor with a high number of elements can be manufactured using current technology, it is extremely expensive due to very low yields and a large chip area, so its practicality is limited. do not have.

On the other hand, one-dimensional sensors with 2000 to 3000 elements are available at relatively low cost. Therefore, we used a one-dimensional sensor to
A method for scanning and reading dimensional images has been developed.For example, in the Model 90 system of Datacopy in the United States, a one-dimensional image sensor consisting of a row of 172B ($1) elements is scanned in a direction perpendicular to the row of elements. However, the minimum scanning time is 11.3 seconds.The disadvantages of this method are that the data transfer rate cannot be increased very much, and because the image sensor is scanned during reading, there are limitations on sensitivity. Therefore, if you try to shorten the scanning time, the data transfer rate will increase and the image input device, image processing interface device, etc. will become expensive. there were.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to arrange a plurality of one-dimensional image sensor arrays at equal intervals on a chip as an image reading means, and to The data read by each one-dimensional image sensor array is stored in a storage medium in parallel, thereby improving the yield in manufacturing the reading means and significantly shortening the reading time. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a readable storage device.

Structure of the Invention The object of the present invention described above is to provide an optical system that forms an optical image of a subject at a predetermined position, and a plurality of one-dimensional sensors arranged at equal intervals in order to read the optical image formed at a predetermined position. An image constituted by reading means arranged, and a storage means for reading in parallel each data corresponding to the optical image of the subject obtained by each of the one-dimensional sensors, and storing each data in a storage medium in parallel. This is achieved by a read storage device.

Embodiment of the Invention FIG. 1 shows an example of a schematic perspective view of the main parts of the apparatus of the invention.

In the figure, IO is an optical system including an imaging lens, and an optical image of a subject (not shown) such as a document is transmitted to the scanning surface ( imaged on the reading surface). The sensor section 11 is formed on the sensor chip 12 as described below,
The sensor is attached to a sensor receiving stand 13 that can freely reciprocate while being guided by a guide 17.

The sensor mount 13 of the sensor unit 11 is fixed to an endless bell (14) that converts rotation from a motor (not shown) such as a DC motor into linear motion by a pair of pulleys 15 and 16. Therefore, the sensor unit 11 can read the optical image of the subject formed on the imaging surface by driving the motor. In this way, for driving (travelling) the sensor unit 11, piezoelectric motors and ultrasonic motors can be used in addition to so-called electromagnetic motors such as DC motors as described above, and the rotational force obtained by these motors can be used as described above. This can be easily realized by converting the motion into linear motion using a gear or the like in addition to a belt.

Furthermore, the sensor section 11 can be moved by so-called screw feeding, and furthermore, it is also possible to employ a linear motor.

The sensor section 11 starts running at the timing of the opening operation of a shutter (not shown), which is a mechanism included in the optical system 10 and introduces light into the optical system 10 for a predetermined period of time. Start a read operation. When the reading operation for one screen is completed, the sensor section 11
stops its running and ends its reading operation.

Note that this shutter opening operation can be performed by pressing the recording start button (
(not shown). These operations will be detailed later.

Reference numeral 18 denotes a magnetic recording device as a storage means such as a tape recorder capable of recording a relatively large amount of data and reproducing the recorded data.
Binary data consisting of, for example, "°l" or "0" obtained through photoelectric conversion and predetermined processing can be recorded on a magnetic tape, which is a recording medium, via a recording head.

Next, a second section regarding the configuration of the sensor section 11 shown in FIG.
This will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

As shown in the figure, the sensor unit 11 includes a one-dimensional image sensor array 1l consisting of m pixels capable of reading one column.
-1-11-n are formed by arranging n pieces on the sensor chip 12 at equal intervals in a direction perpendicular to the reading movement direction.

The number m of pixels of this one-dimensional image sensor array 11-1 to 11-n is preferably 1, for example, 2048 pixels,
Further, it is preferable that the number n of these elements is, for example, nine, but it is not limited to this.

Since a plurality of sensor arrays are formed on the chip at appropriate intervals in this way, the number of defective parts during manufacture is extremely small, and the yield of the sensor section is extremely high.

More specifically, the sensor unit 11 is configured such that it can read the optical image of the subject for one screen, which is formed on the reading surface by the optical system 10, at once by simply moving the distance Kl. One-dimensional image sensor array 11-1 and 11
-n are arranged at the left and right ends of the sensor chip 12, and another one-dimensional image sensor array 11 is arranged between them.
-2... are arranged at equal intervals with distance sentences.

Each of these one-dimensional image sensor arrays 11-1 to 11-n
When forming with a CCD, for example, an oxide film (Si0
1) is formed, and electrodes corresponding to each pixel are arranged in a row on its surface. As described above, since the formation of these CCDs is easily possible using conventional techniques, a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted here.

As described above, since a CCD is a typical example of an optical sensor, in this embodiment, the one-dimensional image sensor array 1l-1-11
-n was set as can, but instead of BBD,
Of course, it may also be constructed from a MOS array or the like.

Further, the sensor section 11 includes various circuits such as peripheral circuits, drive circuits, control circuits, etc., but each of these circuits may be formed in the form of a monolithic IC in an appropriate space on the sensor chip 12. By installing a light sensor in an empty space, you can measure the amount of light and decide on the shutter time, aperture, etc.

In addition, one-dimensional image sensor arrays 11-1 to 11-n
It is preferable that the surface side of the sensor chip 12, on which the sensor chip 12 is made, be subjected to an appropriate treatment so as not to reflect light.

Although the linear sensors are arranged parallel to the short side of the chip 12 in FIG. 2, they may be arranged at right angles thereto (parallel to the long side).

In addition to configuring the sensor section 11 in this way, each read information read out from each one-dimensional image sensor array 11-1 to 11-n by a clock pulse is subjected to predetermined signal processing by a signal processing circuit (not shown). After doing
Each magnetic head 19-1-1 of the multi-form multi-magnetic head 18 as shown in FIG. 3 of the magnetic recording device 18
9-n at the same time. The above-mentioned information is magnetically recorded via each of the magnetic heads 19-1 to 19-n on each track of the magnetic tape 20 of a cassette that is removably attached to the magnetic recording device 1B as described later.

Next, an example of the operation of the present invention will be described.

First, when the operator operates a recording start button (not shown), the magnetic tape 20 housed in the magnetic recording device 18 starts running in synchronization with the operation of the recording start button. After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, a shutter provided in a part of the optical system 10 is opened, and an optical image of the subject is formed on the scanning surface of the sensor section 11 via the lens system 10, and the sensor section 11 is driven by the motor. The vehicle starts its travel by being driven.

As the sensor unit 11 moves, each one-dimensional image sensor array 1l-1-11-n starts reading a predetermined area of the above-mentioned optical image of the object or body, and reads data for one row at a predetermined timing. Information for corresponding m pixels is read out in parallel in serial form using clock pulses. Each piece of information read out simultaneously (in parallel) is subjected to predetermined signal processing separately, as shown in Figure 3. magnetic recording device 1
8 corresponding magnetic heads 19-1 to 19-n. At this time, since the magnetic tape 20 has already been run by the magnetic recording device 18 and is in a steady state, each data read from the one-dimensional image sensor arrays 11-1 to 11-n is transferred to the corresponding magnetic head 19-1. ~ 19-n, if serial recording is performed simultaneously on each corresponding track of the magnetic tape 20, the output from the CCD must of course be digitally exchanged, and in the case of digital recording, before the rising speed of the tape drive becomes constant. It is possible to start recording, which is advantageous over analog recording.

During these magnetic recording operations, the sensor unit l! further moves, and during this movement, the one-dimensional image sensor arrays 11-1 to 11-n read the next area to be read, and this read data is simultaneously read out at a predetermined timing as described above. Each piece of serial data is guided to the corresponding magnetic heads 18-1 to 19-n after being subjected to predetermined signal processing, and is first transferred to the magnetic tape 20.
Magnetic recording is simultaneously performed on the same track of the magnetic tape 20 so as to be continuous with the data recorded on the magnetic tape 20. Here, the reading timing of the sensor unit 11, the recording speed of the magnetic tape 20, etc. are determined so that each data read from the one-dimensional image sensor array 1l-1=11-n can be continuously recorded on the magnetic tape 20. so that the timing of

In this way, the one-dimensional image sensor array 11-1 to 1
1-n sequentially reads the optical images of the subject formed on the scanning surface of the sensor unit 11, and serially transmits the read data onto the magnetic tape 20 via the corresponding magnetic heads 19-1 to 19-n. Then, when the sensor unit 11 completes the distance #discount travel shown in FIG. 2, the one-dimensional image sensor array 11-1''1
The last data read by l-n is transferred to the magnetic heads 18 to 1.
.about.19-n on the magnetic tape 20, in the area A of the magnetic tape 20.

Image information corresponding to one screen is magnetically recorded. Here, it is assumed that the above-mentioned shutter is closed at the timing when the last reading of one screen of the sensor section 11 is completed.

Furthermore, when the operator operates the recording start button again, the sensor unit 11 starts reading the optical image of the subject corresponding to the next one screen, and after the above-mentioned series of operations are executed, the magnetic tape 2 Image information corresponding to the next one screen is magnetically recorded in area B of . In this way, when the recording start button is operated, image information obtained from the optical image of the subject corresponding to one screen is sequentially transferred to areas A, B, C, etc. of the magnetic tape. magnetically recorded.

As described above, according to this embodiment, by moving the one-dimensional image sensor array formed on the chip 12 by a distance corresponding to the distance reading, the sensor section 11 can read image information for one screen at once. Since sensor part 1
1 can be significantly shortened.

In this embodiment, a case has been described in which a magnetic tape is used as the recording medium and recording is performed on it. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a magnetic disk or the like can be used instead of the magnetic tape as the recording medium. Of course, it can be adopted.

Furthermore, in the reproduction of the image information that has been continuously recorded at a fairly high speed according to this embodiment, it is extremely convenient because it can be performed as needed after recording IjL. Also,
When reproducing the recorded contents of a magnetic tape, it may be done using a multi-magnetic head, or it may be converted into a series once, that is, n-channel multi-tracks may be rearranged into single tracks. , the problem of skew disappears if the method converts to a series.

As described in detail, according to the present invention, a plurality of one-dimensional image sensor arrays are arranged at regular intervals on a chip as image reading means, and each of the #i number of one-dimensional image sensors Since each image data read by the array is read out in parallel and stored in the recording medium in parallel, although the overall area of the reading means is large, the proportion occupied by the reading section is reduced, which makes it easier to manufacture the reading means. This has the effect of improving the production yield and significantly shortening the reading time for one screen.

[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the schematic configuration of the main parts of the unreleased rll device, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an example of the configuration of the sensor section shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of recording data read by the sensor section shown in FIG. 1 onto a magnetic tape. lO...Optical system, 11...Sensor section, 11-1~
11-n... One-dimensional image sensor array, 12...
・Sensor chip, 13...Sensor mounting base, 14...
・Endless belt, 15.18...Pulley, 17...Guidance guide, 18...Magnetic recording device, 13...Multi magnetic head, 1i9-1-19-n...Magnetic head,
20...Magnetic tape. Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1) An optical system that forms an optical image of a subject at a predetermined position, and a plurality of one-dimensional sensors arranged at equal intervals to read the optical image formed at the predetermined position. and a storage means for reading in parallel each piece of data corresponding to the optical image of the object read by each of the one-dimensional sensors and storing each piece of data in a storage medium in parallel. Characteristic image reading and storage device. 2) In the image reading storage device according to claim 1, the storage medium of the storage means is a magnetic tape, and each of the data is magnetically recorded on the magnetic tape via a multi-magnetic head. Characteristic image reading and storage device.