JPS6247037A - Picture information detecting and processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform a printing operation quickly and accurately by detecting picture information with an image sensor and comparing the picture information of frames adjacent to each other or picture information of a reference frame and a frame on a negative film divided into many picture elements with each other to discriminate the size and the passing direction of the negative film. CONSTITUTION:Picture frames 31-34 are detected in areas 41-44 by the image sensor, and picture information in the area 41 of the picture frame 31 is stored in a memory, and picture information in the area 42 of the adjacent picture frame 32 is detected and is subtracted, and the area and directions of longer and shorter sides of picture elements corresponding to an area whose density is not 0 are detected by the subtraction result. The difference between direction imformation of the image sensor of areas corresponding to picture frames adjacent to each other is used in this manner. Since pictures on picture frames are normally different from one another, the difference is not 0. Thus, the size and the passing direction of a negative film 30 are discriminated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Branch of Development II) This invention detects a frame image of an original film such as a negative film using pixel information of the entire screen divided into pixels, and detects the previous adjacent frame image or a reference. The present invention relates to an image information detection processing method in which size and threading direction are determined by comparing with stored information of a frame image.

(Technical background of IgI and its problems) Photo! Burn '+1
The device uses printing exposure 1.1. Or correct it! In order to determine the formula, it is necessary to measure the density of the original film (for example, negative film), but conventionally, the density of the original film (for example, negative film) must be measured. The film is LATD (Large Are
a TransSmi+ttancaDensIty)
It is designed to emit +-equal Δ1 light. Image detection using this LATD average photometry measures the average photometry of a negative film, and does not measure the image density of the negative film accurately over the entire screen, so it has the disadvantage that printing exposure or correction is not reliable. was there. Furthermore, when printing negative film on photographic paper, it is necessary to change the exposure IH, correction, and E l; depending on the size of the film due to differences in light diffusion, etc., and conventionally, the size of the negative film, which is the original film, has to be changed. This was done by visual inspection, by manually pressing keys on a keyboard, or by reading the negative size status signal from the negative film carrier. Therefore, key operations and detection and reading processing of the stator signal are complicated, and there are problems such as erroneous human input.

The applicant has proposed the device shown in FIG. 1 as a device that solves this problem (for example, Japanese Patent
-7534, patent application No. 59-33723). That is, FIG. 1 shows an example in which the photographic image information detection apparatus 10 is applied as is to a conventional photographic printing apparatus. is illuminated by a light source 4 through three complementary color filters 3 of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and black and white (C).
The transmitted light from 2 passes through a lens unit 5 and a black shack 6 and reaches photographic paper 7. The photographic paper 7 is wound on a supply reel 7A, and is wound on a take-up reel 7B in synchronization with the conveyance and stop of the negative film 2, and is placed near the lens unit 4 side of the auger film 2. are red (R), green (G) and blue (B)
An optical sensor 8 such as a photodiode for detecting image density information of the 3ff colors is arranged, and the photo printing is performed based on the detection signal of this optical sensor 8. Then, the image information detecting device "J!1to" is tilted to the optical axis LS of the light source 4 and the negative film 2.
A lens unit 12 for imaging approximately the center of the negative film 2 is disposed in front of the built-in two-dimensional image sensor 11 (7).
The back side of the unitized detection device performs image processing. A board 13 is attached to which a processing circuit consisting of is mounted.

Here, the two-dimensional image sensor 11 includes an imaging unit +01 that optically captures an image, and an imaging unit 10 as shown in FIG.
Holding section +0 to hold the charge transferred from 1
2, and an output register 103 for outputting the charge held in the holding unit +02, and converts two-dimensional (area) image information into photovoltaics by controlling drive signals 10Is-103s from the drive circuit. After conversion, an analog image signal PS is output from the output register 103 in series. Further, the circuit configuration mounted on the substrate 13 is, for example, a 41j configuration as shown in FIG. The light irradiated onto the imaging unit 101 is outputted as an image signal PS from the output register 103, sampled and held in a sample hold circuit 21 at a predetermined sampling period, and the held value is converted into a digital signal O8 by an AII converter 22. be done. The digital signal O5 from the AD converter 22 is input to the logarithmic conversion circuit 23, where it is logarithmically converted, converted into a density signal ON, and then written into the memory 25 via the write control circuit 24. Note that the write control circuit 24 receives a reading speed signal R5 from the drive circuit 20 for driving the image sensor IO to read image information at a constant speed, and
The density signal ON is sequentially written to a predetermined position in the memory 25 according to the driving speed of the memory 25.

In such a configuration, when printing a normal photograph, the optical sensor 8 detects the transmitted light of the negative film 2, which is transported by the transport mechanism 9 and remains stationary in the printing section, and detects each of the three primary colors, RGB. The filter 3 is adjusted according to the image signal, the black shutter 6 is opened, and the photographic paper 7 is exposed at the determined exposure rate.

For example, a CCD (Ch
A surface scanning type two-dimensional image sensor 11 made of a large coupled device is disposed, and the entire screen of the negative film 2 is divided into a large number of aligned pixels to detect image information. That is, by applying predetermined drive signals 10Is-103S from the drive circuit 20 to the image sensor 11, the two-dimensional image sensor 11 converts the transmitted light of the negative film 2 placed in the printing section into the lens unit 1.
2, the two-dimensional image sensor 11 divides the entire negative film 2 into a large number of aligned small pixels 2A as shown in FIG. The entire screen of the film 2 can be scanned. After the entire screen has been scanned, an image signal is sent from the output register 103 of the image sensor 11.
This image signal PS is An-converted and then logarithmically converted to obtain the density signal DN. This density signal ON is stored in the memory 25 under the control of the speed control circuit 24 as shown in FIG. 4(B). The C degree digital value of the negative film 2 is stored in an array corresponding to the pixel 2A having a size smaller than .

In this way, when the digital value for each pixel of the negative film 2 or the C degree i1 for each pixel related to the three primary colors is stored in the memory 25, the digital value (Il'i) is stored in the pixel % of the negative film A2 from the memory 25. Therefore, by using a mosaic filter (not shown) attached to the pixel of the image sensor II, the density as shown in FIG. 4(B) is obtained for each of the three primary colors, RGB. Once the value is determined and stored, it can be used to determine or correct the photographic printing exposure F11 in the same manner as in the prior art by reading out the memory f and performing calculations and other processing.

When the size of the negative film 2 is determined by such an image information detection device IO, the following procedure is performed. That is, the long negative film 2 is sequentially conveyed to the printing section by the conveyance mechanism 9, and in the printing section, as shown in FIG. The negative film 2, which is held between the upper guide 18 and the f guide IG, is printed frame by frame. ,
- The size of the opening IA of the E guide IB is negative film 2.
It perfectly corresponds to the frame size, and the peripheral portion of the frame image does not protrude from the edge of the opening IA of the 1-kite IB. The light-receiving area of the two-dimensional image sensor 1 includes not only the frame images of the negative film 2, but also the non-transmitted light portion of the upper guide IB so that it can handle large-sized negative films with ease. The image information of the area detected by the two-dimensional image sensor 1, for example, in the case of a 110 size negative film carrier, is as shown in Figure 7fS6 (A),
The image information in the case of a 135 size negative film carrier is as shown in the same figure (B), these: fS6 figure (A),
CB) shows an example of the detected image information of a blank image when there is no negative film 2 or no image has been taken on the negative film 2, and the parts surrounded by the broken line in the center are each It shows the opening IA, that is, the area of the image frame. Since the size of the image hump corresponds to the size of the negative film 2, the image sensor II
The area of the opening IA can be determined by binarizing the read image information as necessary, detecting the density "0" that indicates clearness, and calculating the number. The problem lies in determining the size of negative film 2. In this case, since the optical axis of the image sensor 11 is directed to approximately the center of the aperture IA, the number of pixels with a density of "0" (or a value near it) can be counted by hardware or software. The size of the negative film 2 is determined by comparing the counted value with a predetermined value predetermined for each size.

In this way, from the entire image information read by the image sensor 11, the area of density "0" indicating the size of the opening IA of the negative carrier l is counted by the number of pixels, and the size of the negative film 2 is calculated from the counted value. For example, if the number of pixels with a density of 0 is 12 (for example, between 11 and 14 to provide a margin) as shown in FIG. 5 as shown in B)
If there are 6 (similarly, for example, between 58 and 54) pieces, the size is determined as 135 size, and when there are 30 to 34 pieces, it is 12B size, and so on.The size information of the negative film 2 determined in this way is used for printing. After the image is sent to the system and an exposure amount determination formula is selected and calculated, printing according to the size is realized.

As mentioned above, in the conventional size detection method using an image sensor, before starting the printing process, a snooker image is detected when there is no negative film or when no image has been taken on the negative film. ,
There is a drawback that the size cannot be detected and confirmed when the negative carrier l is attached and detached and the size is changed during continuous printing work.

On the other hand, in a photographic printer, with respect to the conveyance direction of the alpha photographic paper 7, as shown in FIG. There is a vertical thread for conveying the film 2. This is done to reduce the number of types of photographic paper 7 that can be loaded to about 15, and to make the printing process more efficient.
This is commonly done for negative films other than 28 size. In this way, in addition to changing the size, the size of the negative film during continuous printing work,
The above-mentioned image information detection cannot be used as it is to replace the negative carrier due to a change in the threading direction, and the negative filter size or threading direction may be incorrect and printed, resulting in the loss of Mars photographic paper. I often put it away.

(Object of the Invention) This invention was made out of the above-mentioned circumstances, and the purpose of this light is to improve the status 4j of negative carriers.
Image signals are processed during printing without the need for special input signals from outside, and the size and threading direction of the original film are automatically distinguished by 'Fl' to prevent errors in setting the size and threading direction of the original film. An object of the present invention is to provide an image information detection processing method that enables identification.

(Jl Essentials of the Invention) This invention relates to an image information detection and processing method, in which an image sensor receives light from an area including the periphery of a frame image of an original film illuminated by a light source, and the entire area of the frame image is detected by an image sensor. By detecting image information for each pixel, and comparing the characteristic density value or true value quantity and/or pattern of the detected value with stored information of adjacent frame images, 12 This system is designed to determine the size and threading direction of the original film.

Further, in another invention, an image sensor receives light from a frame image of an original film 1 illuminated by a light source;
The image information of the entire area including the same side area of one image is detected for each pixel, and the number and pattern of characteristic density values or Qa values of the L composition values, or any of them,
By performing arithmetic processing and comparing with the stored information of the reference frame image, the size and threading direction of the L original film are determined.

(Embodiments of the Invention) This invention is realized by a configuration similar to that shown in FIG. 1, and its principle will be explained with reference to the memory charts of FIG. 8(A) and FIGS. 9(A) to (E). .

In this invention, a negative film 3 as shown in FIG.
0, and when the conveying direction of the negative film 30 is set to N, one image frame 31 to 34 is detected in areas 41 to 44 by the image sensor. And image frame 3
The image information of the area 41 of the first image frame 32 is stored in the memory, and the image information of the area 42 of the adjacent image frame 32 of the first order is detected and subtracted.
The area (size) and the direction of the long side and short side of the pixel corresponding to the area where the value is not close to 2 are detected.

In this way, by calculating the difference in the detection information of the image sensor of the area for adjacent image frames, the image information of the area other than the image frame is always the same, so in the case of the same size and the same threading direction, The difference is 0 degrees, but since different images are usually taken in the image frames, the difference is not 0 degrees. Image information with exactly the opposite correspondence is obtained, and the size of the negative film 30 and its passing direction can be determined. That is, the detection area 4 of one image frame 31 can be determined.
9 (A) and the image information of the detection area 42 of one image frame 32 is as shown in FIG. 9 (B), the difference is as shown in FIG. Frame 31.3
A value appears only in the frame area PAI of No. 2, and all other areas are “0”. Therefore, FIG. 9 (C
) has exactly the opposite relationship to Figure 6 (A) and (8), so
By inverting the signal "0" and other values, etc., the Ril calculation process is performed.
By comparing with fi, the size of one image frame, that is, the size of the negative filter, can be determined by one. In addition, in FIG. 9(c), the absolute value of the image information orthogonal at the center of the image sensor is binarized and arithmetic processed as "0" threshold. ), the added “1” pieces of the row P)I @PHN.

By comparing the difference between the summed ``1'' fiPVNs in the column Pv, if pHN > PVN, it is passed horizontally, and if PHN < PVN, it is passed vertically.

The direction in which the negative film 30 is passed can also be determined. In addition, a method of comparing PHN or PVN with a pre-stored standard I1 or standard pattern can also be used.
Similarly, set the size and threading direction of the negative film 30 to 'r4.
In this way, the size of the area outside the "0" area that is f'J can be detected by taking the difference in the image information of the areas paired with sequentially adjacent image frames. By processing the signals detected by the method described above, it is possible to determine the size and threading direction of the negative film, and it is possible to identify if this determination result is different from the set size or threading direction. If this happens, an alarm can be output to prompt the operator to take action.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8(A), next to the image frame 32 of <135F size, negative carriers of different negative film sizes are successively loaded, as shown in FIG. 8(B)! ! O
When the size image frame 33A is transported and printed,
Image information from the image sensor is shown in Figure 9 (
D).

At this stage, when taking the difference from the detected image information of the previous image frame 32, areas other than "0" are the previous image information.

In other words, since it is similar to the case of comparing image frames 31 and 32, the correct size and threading direction cannot be determined.At this time, image information of area 43 corresponding to image frame 33A is stored in the memory. Then, in the next step, when the image in the detection area 44 corresponding to the image frame 34A is detected and the difference from the stored information in the area 43 is taken, areas other than the area PA2 as shown in FIG. 9(E) are detected. At this time, it is possible to identify that the size of the negative film has changed.Similarly, using the stored information detected by the size detection method using a conventional image processor as a reference frame image,
The size and threading direction of the negative film can also be determined and identified by arithmetic processing and comparison with the image information of the area corresponding to the image frame to be subjected to printing.

Note that in the above description, image information is detected by a two-dimensional image sensor, but it is also possible to detect image information by positioning a one-dimensional line sensor at the opening of the negative film carrier and moving (scanning) it relative to the negative film. In addition, in the example of FIGS. 9A to 9E, an example of detection based on the difference between memory values of density values has been described, but it is also possible to calculate the ratio of memory values of true values. Furthermore, the frames to be compared can be freely combined, and if similar frames are consecutive and difficult to distinguish, the detection may be repeated several times in sequence. In the above-described embodiment, a photographic printing apparatus has been described, but the present invention can be similarly applied to recording on recording media such as magnetic tapes, optical disks, and magnetic disk films.

(Effect of Light 1) As shown in I-H, according to this FF1151, the image sensor detects the image information including the frame images of the original film up to the surrounding area, and the image information of adjacent parts of the original film divided into many pixels is detected. Since the image information of the frame or the reference frame is compared with the image information of the frame to determine the size and threading direction of the original film, the printing operation can be performed quickly and accurately.

Furthermore, by comparing the discrimination information and setting information,
A mistake in selecting a print channel that stores different printing settings for each negative size, the size and threading direction of the original film, or any negative carrier! By identifying loading errors and alerting the operator, large amounts of paper and processing chemicals are lost, and
Loss of time due to reprinting can also be prevented.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 is a configuration diagram showing an example of a case where a two-dimensional image sensor is applied to image information detection in a photo printing device, and Figure 2
Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the control system of the 2D image sensor; Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the functions of the dimensional image sensor;
Figures (A) and (B) are diagrams explaining an example of the correspondence between pixel division of the original film and stored data, Figure 5 is a diagram showing details of the printing section, and Figures 6 (A) and (B). 7 is a memory diagram showing an example of image information, FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the film threading direction, FIGS. 8(A) and (B) are diagrams for explaining the present invention, and FIG. A) to (F) are diagrams for explaining the method of this invention. l...Negative film carrier, 2.30...Negative film, 3...Filter, 4...Light i, 5. II
...Lens unit, 6...Black shutter, 7
. . . Photographic paper, 8 . . . Sensor, 10 . . . Image information detection device. 11-2D image processor, 20... drive circuit,
22...AD converter, 24..., 1; speed control circuit,
25...Memory. Applicant's agent Yuzo Yasugata ←・ 1st figure tea 2 figure vine 3 figure 5 figure ↑ figure 7 (A) (B) sheep θ figure (Aan straw! 3 figure 49 figure (, r) lid 9 Sub-procedure corrector Director of the Patent Office Michibe Uga Indication of the case 1985 Patent Application No. 185792 2 Name of the invention Image information detection processing method 3 Relationship with the person making the amendment f'1 Patent applicant ( 520) Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. 4, "Claims" and "Detailed Description of the Invention" in the attorney's specification
column. 6. Contents of amendment (1) The scope of the claims of the present application is corrected as follows. ``Claims (1) An image sensor receives light from a frame image of an original film illuminated by a light source, and detects image information of the entire area including the peripheral area of the frame image for each pixel; An image information detection and processing method characterized in that the size and threading direction of the original film are determined by calculating and comparing the feature amount of the detected value with stored information of adjacent frame images. (2 ) The image information detection and processing method according to claim 1, wherein a two-dimensional image sensor is used as the image sensor. (3) A one-dimensional line sensor is used as the image sensor, and this line sensor is used as the frame. The image information detection and processing method according to claim 1, wherein the image information is moved relatively on the image. The image information detection processing method according to item 1. (5) An image sensor receives light from a frame image of an original film illuminated by a light source, and the image information of the entire area including the peripheral area of the frame image is collected pixel by pixel. The image information detection process is characterized in that the size and threading direction of the original film are determined by arithmetic processing and comparison with stored information of a feature 1 soil standard frame image of the detected value. (6) The image information detection processing method according to claim 5, wherein a two-dimensional image sensor is used as the image sensor. (7) A one-dimensional line sensor is used as the image sensor, and the line The image information detection processing method according to claim 5, in which a sensor is moved relatively on the frame image. (8) A patent in which the threading direction is determined as vertical threading or horizontal threading. The image information detection and processing method according to claim 5." (2) In the specification, page 14, lines 14 to 16, "the number and pattern of a certain density value or true value, Or correct any of the following: ``The amount r.'' (3) In the 4th and 5th lines of page 15 of the same, the phrase ``the quantity and pattern of a certain density value or true value, or any of them'' is corrected to ``the amount.'' . (4) In the same article, page 15, line 8, after ``It is designed to discriminate.'' ``The feature quantity of the detected value is the quantity or number of characteristic density values, or the characteristic pattern of true numerical values. , quantity, number, or a combination of these characteristics.'' is inserted.

Claims (8)

[Claims] (1) An image sensor receives light from a frame image of the original film illuminated by a light source, detects image information of the entire area including the peripheral area of the frame image for each pixel, and detects the characteristic of the detected value. The size and threading direction of the original film are determined by arithmetic processing and comparison of the quantity, number, and pattern of density values or true values, and/or the stored information of adjacent frame images. Image information detection processing method. (2) The image information detection and processing method according to claim 1, wherein a two-dimensional image sensor is used as the image sensor. (3) The image information detection and processing method according to claim 1, wherein a one-dimensional line sensor is used as the image sensor, and the line sensor is moved relatively on the frame image. (4) The image information detection and processing method according to claim 1, wherein the threading direction is determined as vertical threading or horizontal threading. (5) An image sensor receives light from a frame image of the original film illuminated by a light source, detects image information of the entire area including the peripheral area of the frame image for each pixel, and detects the characteristic of the detected value. The size and threading direction of the original film are determined by processing and comparing the quantity, number and pattern of density values or true values, or any of them, with stored information of reference frame images. Characteristic image information detection processing method. (6) The image information detection and processing method according to claim 5, wherein a two-dimensional image sensor is used as the image sensor. (7) The image information detection and processing method according to claim 5, wherein a one-dimensional line sensor is used as the image sensor, and the line sensor is moved relatively on the frame image. (8) The image information detection and processing method according to claim 5, wherein the threading direction is determined as vertical threading or horizontal threading.