JPS63294066A - Manual scan speed detecting circuit for manual image input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect the moving speed of a scanner and, to output a warning if the scanner speed exceeds a prescribed value, by providing a horizontal counter, a vertical counter, plural comparing circuits, an address memory, an arithmetic circuit, a warning circuit, etc. CONSTITUTION:The output of an image sensor 1 stored in an image memory 2 is read out by a horizontal counter 4 at each time of update to take a histogram of black picture elements in the horizontal direction. A comparing circuit A5 compares the value of a counter 4 with a prescribed value K; and if it exceeds the value K, the value of a vertical counter 6 is counted up and is outputted to a comparing circuit B7. The circuit B7 compares the value of the counter 6 with a prescribed value L; and if it exceeds the value L, existence of an image in a continuous area is decided and area information is stored in an address memory A8. An arithmetic circuit 10 obtains the difference of position between contents of the memory A8 and an address memory B9 when comparing them with each other to confirm the same image; and if this difference exceeds a prescribed value, a warning circuit 11 is started to give a warning and a user is instructed to take in data again.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to optical image input devices such as OCR, barcode league, image league, etc., and more specifically, relates to a manual scanning speed detection circuit of a manual image input device. It is.

[Conventional technology and its problems]

In semi-scanning optical image input devices (including OCR input units, etc.), the scanning speed (manual scanning speed) of the scanner (reading unit) relative to the paper surface is determined by the user's senses, and therefore is often not constant.

This appears as image distortion, but if the distortion becomes severe, the original image cannot be reproduced, and characters may become unrecognizable even when read using OCR, or worse, misrecognition may occur.

To solve this problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 273684 discloses that the speed detection shaft built into the scanner is brought into contact with the paper surface, and the speed of movement of the scanner is determined by detecting its rotational speed. This is to correct distortion.

However, when using the speed detection axis, there are the following problems.

■ Operability deteriorates because the scanner must be placed in close contact with the paper surface.

■ If there are irregularities on the paper surface, it cannot be corrected accurately.

■ Since the scanner has a built-in speed detection axis, it becomes large, making it difficult to operate and obstructing the field of view.

Furthermore, even if some speed is detected, there is a limit to the speed at which the image can be corrected, and if this is exceeded, image distortion is unavoidable.

The present invention aims to solve these problems.

Note that in the following description, for simplicity, it is assumed that the manual scanning direction is the vertical direction. When manually scanning in the horizontal direction, "horizontal" and "vertical" in the following description may be interchanged.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention manually scans a scanner equipped with an optical system that forms an image on an image sensor in which photoelectric conversion elements are arranged two-dimensionally, and outputs the image sensor output into an appropriate manner. In an optical image input device that inputs an image by comparing it with a slice level and converting it into a binary or higher multilevel signal, the image sensor output is stored in the image memory for each array of the image sensor orthogonal to manual scanning. The approximate image position within the screen is detected by taking a pixel histogram, the moving distance is detected by comparing the image position on one screen with the image position on the subsequent screen, and a certain number is added to that value. The multiplied value is taken as the manual scanning speed.

〔Example〕

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention, in which 1 is an image sensor, 2 is an image memory, 3 is an address control circuit, 4 is a horizontal counter, 5 is a comparison circuit A, 6 is a vertical counter, and 7 is a comparison circuit. Circuit B, 8.9 is address memory A and B, 10
1 is an arithmetic circuit, and 11 is a warning circuit.

It is assumed that address memories A8 and B9 are cleared in the initial state.

The output from the image sensor 1 is binarized into black 1 for the image portion and white 0 for the background portion, and is stored in the image memory 2.

The image memory 2 has a configuration in which the address control circuit 3 corresponds to the arrangement of the elements of the image sensor 1 on a one-to-l basis, and allows writing and reading.

When the contents of the image memory 2 are updated, the horizontal counter 4 reads out the image and takes a histogram of black pixels in the horizontal direction (X direction). Comparison circuit A5 compares this value with a predetermined value, and counts up vertical counter 6 if it exceeds K, and clears vertical counter 6 if it is less than K.

Comparison circuit B7 compares the output of vertical counter 6 with a predetermined value, and if it exceeds L, it is determined that an image exists in this continuous MeI area, and information of this area, such as the start and end coordinates, or the start The coordinates and area length are stored in address memory 88.

The arithmetic circuit 10 has address memory A8 and address memory B.
Compare S and confirm that they are the same image based on one of the coordinates (first coordinate or final coordinate) and the area length (difference between the first and final coordinates), or the first and final coordinates, and check the position of both. seek changes in Image sensor 1
Since the speed at which is electrically read out is constant, the change in position during reading one image corresponds to the moving speed of the scanner.

Furthermore, if the change in position (moving speed) exceeds a predetermined value, the warning circuit 11 is activated to issue a warning with light, sound, etc., thereby instructing the user to retake the data.

Note that after this, the address of the address memory A8 is transferred to the address memory BS and the next image is read out again.

FIG. 2 is an example of a histogram. FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the operation.

FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment.

1 is an image sensor, 2 is an image memory, 3a is an X address control circuit, 3b is a Y address control circuit, 4 is a horizontal counter, 5 is a comparison circuit A, 6 is a vertical counter, 7 is a comparison circuit B, 8a is the start coordinate Memory A, 8b is final coordinate memory A, 9a is first coordinate memory B, 9b is final coordinate memory B
, 10' is a coordinate comparison ROM, and 11' is a warning buzzer circuit.

The coordinate comparison ROMIQ' inputs the previous start and end addresses stored in the address memory and the newly obtained start and end addresses (ROM addresses), and determines whether the two images are the same image or not. It is preprogrammed so that the output (ROM data) is the bit and the change in position between the two. Also, depending on the application, ROM
If you program the judgment result of the moving speed directly as data, this output will immediately activate the warning buzzer circuit 1.
1' can be activated and give a warning.

Although ROM10' is used here as the arithmetic circuit, it is also possible to replace it with a microcomputer or to implement it as hardware by combining a digital IC.

As a warning means, in addition to a buzzer, a lamp may be used to visually appeal to the user.In order to prevent misrecognition due to distorted images, especially in ROM and optical character reading devices, control signals are used to display image data when the speed is exceeded. It is also possible to prohibit the import of

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, in the present invention, the moving speed of the scanner can be detected without using a special speed detection axis, and it is easy to give a warning when the speed exceeds.
Appropriate feedback can be given to the user without interfering with the operability of the scanner.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the first embodiment, FIG. 2 is an example of the histogram shown above, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the same, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the second embodiment. 1... Image sensor, 2... Image memory, 3... Address control circuit, 4...
・Horizontal counter, 5... Comparison circuit A, 6...
... Vertical counter, 7... Comparison circuit B, 8.
...Address memory A, 9...Address memory B, 10...Arithmetic circuit, 11...
・Warning circuit. Patent applicant Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Agent Kama 1) Text 2 Figure 1 Figure 2

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Manually scan a scanner with a built-in optical system that forms an image on an image sensor with photoelectric conversion elements arranged two-dimensionally, compare the image sensor output with an appropriate slice level, and compare it with a binary or higher level. In an optical image input device that inputs an image by converting it into a multi-level signal, the image sensor output is calculated on the screen by taking a histogram of black pixels for each array of the image sensor orthogonal to manual scanning on the image memory. The approximate image position is detected, the moving distance is detected by comparing the image position on one screen with the image position on the subsequent screen, and the value obtained by multiplying this value by a certain number is taken as the manual scanning speed. A manual scanning speed detection circuit for a manual image input device. (2) The manual image input device according to claim 1 includes a speed over-detection circuit that issues a warning signal if the hand-scanning speed obtained by the hand-scanning speed detection circuit exceeds a predetermined value. A hand scanning speed detection circuit for a manual image input device, characterized in that: (3) In the manual scanning speed detection circuit of the manual image input device according to claim 2, a warning signal drives a lamp, a buzzer, etc. to give a warning to the user, or the warning signal prohibits image input. A manual scanning speed detection circuit for a manual image input device, characterized in that the circuit prevents input of an erroneous image.