JPS61281761A - Method and apparatus for capturing color image for color facsimile or color data tranmission or storage - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is useful for converting images into digital records, for storage, for transmission by color facsimile, or for transmitting color data over telephone lines or other transmission means. The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for scanning images.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Traditionally, the scanning of images for conversion into digital records has been limited to black and white, or even color, it has been limited to scanning still images within the range of a camera scanner using a single color filter. They are limited to capturing still images as digital records by scanning them completely with a color filter, then scanning again with the next color filter, and so on. Generally, such scanning devices require complex adjustments of illumination and lens focus, or
or requires the use of a fixed focus lens, and the maximum size of the image for scanning must be fixed constant;
Careful manipulation is required to position the image onto the scan plane.

No device has hitherto been known which has a simple fixed focus lens for scanning color images and which allows the scanning of very large originals with little attention paid to the illumination of the document position. Therefore, the capture of color images for commercial use has not been practically possible and has had to rely on complex or expensive techniques.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a new exposure method that allows scanning of larger images with less expensive techniques and with simpler operation.

The present invention is devised and constructed based on current knowledge regarding the nature and composition of colored light rays and, in one aspect, information about the color of each point on an image is divided into sections rather than as a whole. Provides a means for separate transmission.

Preferably, each segment of information transmitted is in the form of a value selected from a series of values (light and dark) with a simple linear gradient.

Preferably, each point on the image is scanned more than once and different information is transmitted to the processor.

Preferably, the information is transmitted using a variety of different color filters that are selectively interposed between the light source that conveys the information about the image and the device that records and/or reads that information. These color filters can be positioned to traverse the path of the light from the light source before or after it hits the image to which information is to be transmitted.

The invention, in other aspects, can also be manufactured as an integrated complete product in combination with several other devices or as a unit that can be used to modify and improve existing equipment. We provide a system that can.

The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention, in its preferred embodiment, comprises a plurality of color filters 22 mounted on a rotatably mounted drum 2D. These color filters 22 are
A line or plane of light 50 passing through the drum from one side of the drum 20 through the central axis of the drum and exiting from the other side of the drum is 1.
It is arranged so that it is blocked by only one filter 22. The rotation of the drum 20 is controlled by a processor.
It is also likely to be monitored based on the operator's observations and instructions.
controlled.

The same processor as that for the drum 20 may also control the image mover 30, which defines which portions of the image or document 31 to scan, and the scanner 40. Information obtained from scanning the images may be collected and/or stored within this processor, or such information may be collected and/or stored by a separate processor or computer. The drum 20 may be rotated about a horizontal axis, as shown, or about a vertical axis. Alternatively, color filter 22 can be mounted on a color filter wheel or other movable device. Here, the term "color filter wheel" refers to a rotatable drum equipped with a plurality of color filters, and a window (7c) of the wheel (segment).
shall mean any flat wheel having a plurality of color filters adapted to be configured.

The color filter wheel has ttr! which senses tIL of each color filter. ? , strips are preferably provided whose position sensors are controlled by a stepper motor control circuit using a stepper motor and feedback from the position sensor. This control circuit board operates through a proprietary program that is encoded into the entire system (color image capture device) and associated EFROMS (erasable and programmable read-only memory) or other memory devices. connected as a board to the built-in microcomputer chip used to Each subsystem of this control device will be explained with full reference to FIG. 2. In the block diagram of FIG. 2, these subsystems are numbered as follows.

1. Color filter wheel with transparent, red (b), green (q and blue 0) filters and a position sensor strip 2. Color filter position sensor 3. Steps for intermittent rotation of the color filter wheel motor 4, control circuit 5 for the step motor of the color filter wheel, light controller 6, controller Z of the light sensor, data input of the light intensity sensor 8, microcomputer processor with its own EPROM program chip 9, document feeder Step motor controller IQ,
Serial data port 11, parallel data port 12, serial control port 13, parallel control port 14, external communication device The external communication device 14 has a built-in microcomputer chip 8.
It is used to introduce all commands via the serial port 12 and the parallel port 13 to the computer. A proprietary program in the microcomputer chip and EPROM reads commands from the external communicator and provides fine level control of the system. Color information is collected by a photodetector, such as a charge transfer device (cCD) array.

Typical operation of this system for providing a color image is that an external scanning command is introduced through the serial command port 12'' and parallel command port 13, and is acknowledged by the EPROM program in the microcomputer chip 8. The light controller 5 is then energized to turn on the light source 51 and direct the color filter wheel step motor control circuit 4 to index the color filter to the "red" position and indicate its completion. A command is sent to acknowledge.

Then, the step motor control circuit 4 for the color filter wheel operates the step motor 3 of the color filter wheel to move the color filter wheel 1 to "
Wait until the color filter position sensor 2 indicates that the color filter wheel is positioned at the correct position. Acknowledgment of correct positioning can be sent to a microcomputer control program.

The program then starts the light intensity sensor controller 6 and waits until a light intensity sensor input cuff is received from the CCD light sensor.

The information from the CCD light sensor is then transferred to the serial data boat 10 or the parallel data boat 1 by the control program.
1 to an external receiver such as a printer with information processing function, a computer, or an operator.

Next, the microcomputer program indexes the rotatable drum to the next color filter position and starts operating the CCD light sensor for that color filter to capture information. This sequential operation is repeated for the next third color filter, and then the document feed step motor controller 9 is activated to advance the document or image to be scanned to the next line, and for that line. A similar process can be repeated. This process continues over the entire length of the image to be scanned.

According to the most preferred embodiment of the color scanning system of the present invention, one line of the document is scanned with a red◎ filter, then a green◎ filter, then a blue (B) filter, and then the next line of the document is scanned with a red◎ filter and then a blue (B) filter. Proceed to the line, this time in reverse color order, ie B, G.

Scan in random order. This allows the color filter wheel to remain stationary at the end of scanning each line, thus simplifying the scanning operation. Scanning and document feeding are repeated as follows.

RGB → Original feed → BGR, → Original feed → Original feed 9 → R
GB......> The color filter 22 is preferably translucent and includes three primary color filters, that is, red, green, and blue, but it also includes a colorless, ie, transparent filter 23. May be included. A position sensor strip is associated with each filter to provide a feedback signal to a stepper motor for rotating (indexing) rotatable drum 20i.

Colorless filter 23, which can be provided as an option
is simply to check that the image to be recorded is not unduly influenced by the dimming (blurring) effect caused by passing through the filter. The drum or color wheel 20 can be configured to be rotated to an inactive position (or to a colorless filter position) when black and white image capture is desired, such as in conventional facsimile modes.

By combining the three primary colors at different intensities, any other possible color can be obtained. Therefore, any other possible color can be recorded in the computer as a combination of three values (color values) selected from a series of light and dark values in the form of a simple linear gradient. Thus, according to the invention, it is possible to supply these three values to an image scanner and thereby to a computer, operator, printer or transmission device.

The document feeding mechanism used in the present invention is preferably a document feeding mechanism of a facsimile machine. Scanner 40 may also be a CCD array such as those used in facsimile machines. In such facsimile machines, light source 51 is directed onto a line or strip of document or other image 31. This configuration is particularly suitable for the color scanner of the present invention.

Accordingly, the present invention converts a conventional facsimile device into a color image capture device for capturing color images as input for a computer and/or for transmission to another computer or facsimile device. make it possible.

By receiving one scan line as color information, such as a red scan, that information can be transmitted in raw fax format. That is, the dots can be collected as a single color value and transmitted via serial or parallel ports to a receiving device, such as an intelligent printer, computer, or memory device such as a floppy disk, hard disk, optical disk, etc. .

If desired, the data can be compressed before storage or transmission and expanded later.

Color information can be transmitted over the telephone line to any of the above receiving devices.

When using the present invention to input color digital information into a computer, it is preferred to use RGB color information. Where color facsimile machines or other color printing operations are required, the filter colors are preferably cyan (blue-green), magenta (crimson) and yellow, but other filter colors including colorless filters are preferred. Other filter sets of filters or any other number of filters may also be used.

A color facsimile machine, in accordance with the present invention, captures color information and transmits the color information over a telephone line or other medium to a facsimile receiving device using a transmission scheme that is the same as or similar to that of conventional facsimile machines. This can be obtained by configuring the data to be transmitted from one place to another. Such a facsimile receiving device may include means for storing, printing or retransmitting (transferring) color facsimiles. It is preferable that the color facsimile transmission device to which the present invention is applied uses cyan, magenta, and yellow filters, and the F2-facsimile receiving device uses cyan, magenta, and yellow films that thermally transfer color information. A thermal color film printer can be used.

When transmitting color information to a computer, the color data is preferably calibrated and loaded onto the appropriate memory control plane to create color output on an RGB monitor or other color display device.

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, those skilled in the art will readily understand that the present invention can be implemented in various forms without departing from its spirit and scope. For example, color filters can be movably mounted within optical path 50 in a variety of ways. That is, the color filter is introduced into the optical path,
Means for movable attachment such that it can be removed therefrom may include, for example, sliding or transfer sheets or discs, flexible endless loops or bands,
Hinged or pivoted plates, rotating turrets, etc. can be used.

As the color filter, a translucent filter is preferable, but a reflective filter can also be used. Also, the size, shape, and number of color filters are not particularly limited and can be varied considerably to suit various scanning applications.

The color filter may also be installed not between the image 61 and the scanner 40 but between the light source 51 and the image 51, and can be placed at virtually any position on the light line or plane 5Q. be able to.

However, in general, color filters
It is preferable to arrange it in a position where the light is restricted to some extent, such as a position close to a light source or a position behind the restriction screen 52.

The restriction screen 52 reduces the entire field of view of the scanner 40.
Limit to controllable areas.

Although it is preferred to use colored filters, three separate colored (eg red, green, blue) light sources may be used instead.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the components of the color image capture device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main circuitry used in the present invention. In the figure, 20 is a drum or color wheel, 22 is a color filter, 30 is an image moving device (document feeding mechanism),
31 is an image (original), 40 is a scanner (photosensitive short separation), 5
1 is a light source.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1) a document advance mechanism for advancing the document one line at a time; color means including a light source; and a light sensor capable of receiving optical information from the document illuminated by the light source. a color image capture device comprising: a color image capture device; switching means for switching said color means from one color to another; and transmission means for transmitting color information received by said light sensor to a receiving device; Device. 2) the color means includes a plurality of color filters that can be individually inserted into the path of light passed from the light source through the document to the photodetector; 2. A color image capture device as claimed in claim 1, including filter moving means for moving the filter into and out of the light path. 3) The color image capture device according to claim 2, wherein the color filter is mounted on a color wheel, and the filter moving means includes a step motor and a step motor control circuit. 4) A color image capture device according to claim 3, wherein said light source, document feed mechanism and light sensor are located within a facsimile machine. 5) The color image capture device according to claim 4, wherein the color filters are red, green and blue color filters. 6. The color image capture device of claim 5, further comprising a color filter position sensor for sending a feedback signal to said stepper motor control circuit for controlling the position of each said color filter. 7) (a) locating an image; and (b) illuminating a photodetector with a line of colored light of a first color before or after reaching said image; (c) transmitting said first color information from said light sensor to a receiving device; (d) repeating said operations (b) and (c) for a subsequent second color; e) repeating step (d) until sufficient color information is obtained from one line of said image; and (f) advancing said image by one line and performing step (b).
(g) repeating the operations (f) to (e) until an image of the desired length is scanned;
). 8) A method as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that a color filter is used to color the light before it reaches the light sensor. 9) The color filter has red (R) and green (G) colors.
) and blue (B), and the image is scanned alternately line by line in the order of RGB and BGR.