JPS63155139A - Principal image measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate the specification of a principal image and to accurately measure the principal image by guiding light which is passed through a magnification converting optical system for enlarging an original image to the image pickup device of a monitor display system and the image sensor of a photometry system. CONSTITUTION:This instrument is equipped with the magnification converting optical system 33 for enlarging the original image, and optical path splitting means (half- mirror) 32 and 34 which guide the light passed through the magnification converting optical system 33 to the image pickup device 41 of the monitor display system and the image sensor 40 of the photometry system. The light reflected by the half-mirror 32 reaches the half-mirror 34 after passing through a zoom lens 33 and the zoom lens 33 enlarges the principal image to specific size. When the image feature quantity of a principal image area is detected in automatic mode, the principal image is only specified by a specifying means and then the magnification is varied automatically; and the principal image area is determined according to data obtained by measuring the enlarged image and the image feature quantity is detected. Thus, the specific principal image is enlarged and then measured, so the principal image area is accurately measured.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a main image measuring device that enlarges and measures a main image designated on a monitor to a desired size, and relates to an optical copying device, For example, the present invention relates to improvements in devices used to calculate copying exposure in photographic printers, CRT printers, copying machines, laser printers, and the like.

[Conventional technology]

Although various images are recorded on the original picture, it is difficult to finish all of them to a desired density. In addition to the density, color originals also need to have good color balance. In general, if the main image has a good finish, a high evaluation is often obtained. Therefore, a method is known in which a region including the main image is designated and the image feature quantity, such as the average density, of this region is measured to correct the copying exposure amount (Japanese Patent Publication No. 55-2941).

Furthermore, the original image is displayed on a CRT monitor, the main image is designated by observing this monitor image, pixels with the same or similar color or density as the designated main image are automatically extracted, and these pixels are A method has also been proposed in which the area composed of the main image area is defined as the main image area, and the copying exposure amount is calculated by considering the image features of this main image area (Japanese Patent Application No. 61-32).
No. 388).

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

Most of the main images are of people, but in the case of 35mm photographic film, the size of the faces of people is quite small. When we looked at statistics on the size of faces recorded on a full-size screen, we found that 60% of faces were larger than 1.0 mm, and 40% were smaller than 1.0 mm. As described above, when the size of the main image is small, it is difficult to specify it on the monitor.

In addition, the pixel size of the image sensor that measures the original image is often 1.0 mm or more on the original image.
%, parts other than the main image are measured at the same time, so the main image cannot be measured correctly.

[Purpose of the invention]

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a main image measuring device that makes it easy to specify a main image and can measure the main image with high accuracy.

[Means for solving problems]

The present invention is provided with a magnification conversion optical system for enlarging an original image, and an optical path splitting means for guiding light that has passed through the magnification conversion optical system to an imaging device of a monitor display system and an image sensor of a photometry system. It is characterized by:

Another invention moves the original image according to the position of the main image,
The main image is displayed approximately at the center of the monitor screen.

There are two ways to perform magnification conversion: manual and automatic. In the case of manual operation, when the main image displayed on the monitor is small, the magnification specifying key is operated to adjust the magnification conversion optical system and enlarge it to a predetermined size on the monitor.

This enlarged image is measured by a photometric system and displayed on a monitor display system. Observe this monitor image,
Once the position of the main image is specified, the main image area is determined by extracting pixels with the same or similar color or density as the specified area from the data obtained by measuring the enlarged original image. Ru. Then, the image feature amount, such as the average density, of the main image area is detected from the density of pixels belonging to this main image area.

In the automatic case, if the main image is specified by the specifying means, the magnification is automatically converted so that the main image part has a predetermined size. The main image area is determined from the data obtained by measuring this enlarged image, and its image characteristics are detected.

If the main image is displayed on the periphery of the monitor, the main image may move off the monitor screen when the magnification is increased. Therefore, after moving the original image so that the specified main image is almost in the center of the monitor screen,
Perform the magnification conversion described above.

The copying exposure amount is calculated using the image feature amount of the main image area that has been enlarged and measured, and if necessary, other image feature amount such as the average density of the entire screen determined by photometry before enlarging. The exposure when reproducing the copied image is controlled according to the

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments in which the present invention is applied to a photoprinting apparatus will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows an example of a photographic printing apparatus embodying the present invention. White light emitted from a white light source 10 passes through a mixing box (diffusion box) 11° negative carrier 12, reaches a color original image, such as a color negative film 13, set at a printing position, and illuminates it from below. This color negative film 13 is pressed down from above by a mask 14 operated by a solenoid (not shown) during photographic printing. The negative carrier 12 is moved by a negative carrier moving device 15 so that the designated main image is centered on the monitor screen, and then, just before printing, it is returned to the initial position where the center of the color negative film 13 coincides with the optical axis 16. .

Between the mixing box 11 and the white light 'a10, there are a cyan filter 17 for adjusting the red component of the illumination light, a magenta filter 18 for adjusting the green component, and a filter for adjusting the blue component. yellow filter 1
9 are arranged.

The filter adjustment unit 20 adjusts the insertion amount of each of the color filters 17 to 19 into the optical path, depending on the calculation result of an exposure calculation formula described later. For example, if the amount of insertion of the cyan filter 17 is increased, the red component of the illumination light will be reduced, and the amount of red exposure will be reduced.

A lens 24 is arranged above the color negative film 13, and a color negative image is formed on a color photographic paper 26 while the shutter 25 is open. The shutter drive unit 27 opens the shutter 25 for a certain period of time to provide a standard exposure time. Further, when printing of one frame of the color photographic paper 26 is completed, the exposed portion is wound onto the take-up reel 28, and at the same time, the unexposed portion is pulled out from the supply reel 29.

A half mirror 32 is arranged to be inclined with respect to the optical axis 16, and the light reflected by this half mirror 32 passes through a zoom lens 33 and then reaches a half mirror 34.

This zoom lens 33 is held in a lens barrel 35 and magnifies the main image to a predetermined size. A gear 35a provided on the outer periphery of this lens barrel 35 meshes with a gear 36, and this gear 37 is driven by a motor 38 connected to a driver 37.

The light transmitted through the half mirror 34 is incident on a color image sensor 40, and the light reflected downward by the half mirror 34 is incident on a color TV camera 41. In this color image sensor 40, for example, one pixel measuring section is composed of three types of adjacent photoelectric conversion sections (a photoelectric conversion section for red, a photoelectric conversion section for green, and a photoelectric conversion section for blue), and the size is approximately 1 mm. A pseudo three-color separation photometer is used for picture elements.

The three-color signal taken out from the image sensor 40 is converted into a digital signal by an A/D converter 42, then converted into a density signal by a logarithmic converter 43, and then sent to a microcomputer via an I10 board 44. 45. This microcomputer 45, as is well known,
I10 boat 44, CPU46. RAM47. ROM4
8, and performs exposure amount calculation and control of each part, which will be described later. The keyboard 49 includes keys for controlling each part. Incidentally, in order to effectively utilize the amount of light from the white light source 10, the half mirror 32 is preferably retracted from the optical path during photo printing. The logarithmic converter 4
3, data corresponding to the magnification of the zoom lens 330 is written.

The color TV camera 41 images a color negative image and outputs a video signal. This video signal is converted into a positive image video signal by a negative/positive converter 52, and then
It is sent to the controller 53. The controller 53 displays a positive image 55 on the display surface of the color monitor 54 and sends position information created from the synchronization signal to the position detection section 56. This positive image 55 is observed, and a part of the image that is recognized to be the main image is indicated by a position specifying means, for example, a light pen 57. When a specified point lights up on the color monitor 54, the light pen 57 photoelectrically converts the light and sends it to the position detection section 56. This position detection section 56 detects the color monitor 5 when a signal from the light pen 57 is generated.
The coordinate position on 4 is sent to the microcomputer 45.

In addition to the light pen 57, the position specifying means includes a touch panel sensor, a joystick, and a digitizer.

A trackball, XY cursor, etc. can be used.

FIG. 2 shows a procedure for exposure control, and the operation of the photographic printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be briefly explained with reference to FIG. The color negative film 13 is transferred by a transfer means (not shown), and the frames to be printed are transferred to the negative carrier 12.
position on top of.

Since the filter adjustment unit 20 maintains the tips of the color filters 17 to 19 inserted at standard positions in the optical path, a portion of the white light emitted from the white light source 10 passes through the color filter 17. ~ 19, and after being sufficiently diffused in the mixing box 11, the color negative film 1
Reach 3. The light transmitted through this color negative film 13 is transmitted through a lens 24, a half mirror 32, and a zoom lens 33.
and enters the half mirror 34. The light transmitted through the half mirror 34 enters a color image sensor 40, and the light reflected by the half mirror 34 enters a color TV camera 41.

The color image sensor 40 scans a color negative image, measures three color components of each pixel, and outputs a color signal of each pixel. This color signal is A/D converted and logarithmically converted, and then stored in the RAM 4 of the microcomputer 45.
7 and stored separately for each color. Further, the video signal output from the color TV camera 41 is subjected to negative/positive conversion and then sent to the color monitor 54 via the controller 53, where a positive image is displayed on the display surface.

The user observes the color monitor 54 and uses the light pen 57 to point out a portion of the image that is considered to be the main image. The position indicated by the light pen 57 is detected by the position detecting section 56, and the position information is input to the microcomputer 45.

The microcomputer 45 calculates the distance Δd from the center position of the color image sensor 40 to the designated main image position. Distance Δd from this center position
is larger than a certain value, the negative carrier moving device 15 moves the negative carrier 12 by Δd to bring the main image to the center position of the color image sensor 40 and the color monitor 54. In addition, in this example,
Although the negative carrier 12 moves in one dimension, it is preferable to move in two dimensions. When Δd<L, the main image position may be estimated and used as the image is enlarged.

Next, using the density or color of the designated portion as a reference, the density or color of each pixel outside of this is compared in order to determine whether they are the same or similar. Pixels that are the same or similar are determined to be included in the main image area, and this determination data is written into an image area table (not shown).

It is determined whether the main image area thus obtained is larger than a predetermined size. This size determination can be performed based on whether the number of pixels included in the main image area is greater than or equal to a certain value. If the main image area is smaller than a predetermined size, the motor 38 is driven to change the focal length of the zoom lens 33 to convert the magnification. This magnification conversion may be performed continuously or stepwise, for example, by 4 times. This enlarged image is measured again and the main image area is examined again using the procedure described above. As a simple method of magnification conversion, only one sufficiently large magnification factor may be possible.

When the main image area reaches a predetermined size, the image feature amount of the main image area, such as the average density, is determined for each color from the density of pixels belonging to this main image area. The exposure amount is calculated for each color using the main image feature amount obtained in this way. Note that the copying exposure amount may be calculated using the main image feature amount and other image feature amounts, such as image quality minute amounts, maximum values, minimum values, etc. of a specific portion of the screen. Furthermore, from the initial full-screen photometry results, the image feature amount of the entire screen, such as the average density of the entire screen, is determined, and the exposure amount is calculated using this average density of the entire screen and the amount of main image obtained from the enlarged image. You may.

The calculated exposure amount is sent to the filter adjustment section 19, and a color filter of a complementary color to the corresponding color is extracted stepwise from the standard position or further inserted toward the center of the optical path. As a result, the amount of insertion of the color filters 17 to 19 into the optical path is adjusted in stages, and the three-color light components of the printing light are adjusted. The amount that cannot be corrected by the color filters 17 to 19 is sent to the shutter control section 27, which appropriately increases or decreases the exposure time of the shutter 25.

When the print key on the keyboard 47 is operated, the negative carrier 13 is returned to its initial position, the shutter 25 is opened for a certain period of time, and a color negative image is printed onto the color photographic paper 26. After this printing, the color photographic paper 26 and the color negative film 13 are fed by one frame. Along with this, the filter adjustment section 19 controls the color filters 17 to 1.
9 back to the standard position in the optical path.

FIG. 3 shows an example of main image area determination. When a part of the main image is designated, the same color density as this pixel is read out from the RAM 47, and a comparison is made to see if adjacent pixels have the same color density, and pixels with the same color density are extracted. If there are no pixels with the same color density,
The magnification of the zoom lens 33 is changed by a predetermined step. Then, after photometry is performed again, adjacent pixels having the same color density are extracted. This enlargement/photometry procedure is repeated until at least one pixel with the same color density is extracted.The main image area is composed of the designated pixel and the extracted pixels with the same color density. Note that the number of pixels having the same color density can be determined to an arbitrary value.

If the main image is extremely small, the portion designated by the light pen 57 will include items other than the main image. In this case, if the specified pixel color density is used, the main image area cannot be determined correctly. Therefore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the keyboard 49 is provided with a key indicating the type of main image, such as a person key, and is operated to specify the type of main image. The color densities (reference color densities) for these main images are stored in the ROM.
Since the reference color density is stored in the ROM 48, when the type of main image is specified, the reference color density is read out from the ROM 48. Next, when the position of the main image is designated with the light pen 57, it is determined whether the designated pixel or a pixel in its vicinity has the same density as the reference color density. If it is determined that there is a difference in color density, the zoom lens 33 is enlarged by a predetermined step and the same procedure is performed again.

In the embodiments described above, magnification is performed automatically, but it may also be done manually. In this case, the user operates the keyboard 49 to set the enlargement ratio to a desired value. In order to refer to this magnification setting, a label 62 indicating the minimum size of the main image is pasted on the case 61 of the color monitor 60, as shown in FIG. Note that the minimum size of the main image may be electrically displayed at the corner of the display surface 63.

In the case of manual enlargement, the average density of the entire screen is automatically measured immediately after the frames of the color negative film 13 are set. By operating the keyboard 49, the zoom lens 33 is operated and the image is enlarged to a desired size. This enlarged image is displayed as a positive image on the color monitor 60, so the user observes it and specifies a part of the main image with the light pen 57. After this designation, the computer 45 extracts pixels of the same color from adjacent pixels to determine the main image area. The main image feature quantity is calculated from the color density of the pixels forming this main image area.

Note that the main image area may be directly designated by tracing the outline of the main image area with the light pen 57.

FIG. 5 shows a lens turret used in place of a zoom lens. The turret 65 is provided with lenses 66 to 69 having different focal lengths, which are selected depending on the magnification conversion.

Although the above embodiment is a color photographic printing apparatus, the present invention can also be used in color negative verification machines, color copying machines, laser color printers, CRT color printers, and the like.

〔Effect of the invention〕

In the main image measuring device of the present invention, since the designated main image is enlarged and photometered, the main image area can be photometered with high accuracy. Further, since the main image can be enlarged and then its position specified, it is easy to specify the main image.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a photographic printing apparatus embodying the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the procedure of exposure control. FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the procedure for automatically determining the magnification ratio. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the lens turret. FIG. 6 is a front view of a color monitor used when manually enlarging the main image. 10... White light source 13... Color negative film 26... Color photographic paper 32. 34... Half mirror 40... Color image sensor - 41... Color TV camera 54... Color monitor 55... Positive image 57... Light Pen 60...Color monitor 62...Label 65...Turret 66-69...Lens section (Y'> Arm)
vague

Claims (7)

[Claims] (1) In a main image measurement device that measures a designated main image on the monitor and is equipped with a photometry system that measures each point of the original image and a monitor display system that images the original image and displays it on a monitor, the original image is enlarged. A main image measuring device characterized by being provided with a magnification converting optical system for converting the magnification, and an optical path splitting means for guiding the light that has passed through the magnification converting optical system to an imaging device of a monitor display system and an image sensor of a photometry system. . (2) The main image measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the magnification conversion optical system is a zoom lens. (3) The main image measuring device according to claim 2, wherein the magnification conversion optical system enlarges the designated main image so that the number of pixels reaches a certain number. (4) The main image measuring device according to claim 3, wherein the optical path splitting means is a half mirror. (5) A main image measuring device that measures a designated main image on a monitor, which is equipped with a photometry system that measures each point of the original image and a monitor display system that images the original image and displays it on a monitor. A magnification conversion optical system that expands to the size of
an optical path splitting means for guiding the light that has passed through the magnification conversion optical system to an imaging device of a monitor display system and an image sensor of a photometry system; and a moving means for moving the original image so that the main image is approximately at the center of the monitor. A main image measuring device characterized by being provided with. (6) The main image measuring device according to claim 5, wherein the magnification conversion optical system is a zoom lens. (7) The main image measuring device according to claim 6, wherein the magnification conversion optical system enlarges the designated main image so that the number of pixels reaches a certain number.