KR19980084093A - How to automatically change the scanner configuration - Google Patents

Abstract

According to the present invention, when the size of the image data to be read by the scanner exceeds the remaining capacity of the computer memory, the setting environment of the scanner is automatically converted to automatically convert the image data into a size corresponding to the remaining capacity of the memory. A method of automatically changing the configuration of a scanner so that it can be done.

The present invention provides a method for automatically converting a setting environment of a scanning system in which a scanner and a computer are mutually interfaced, and employs a method of storing image data scanned through the scanner in the computer memory. Calculating a size of the image data to be scanned based on the size; A determination step of detecting a remaining capacity of the computer memory and comparing and determining whether the size of the image data calculated in the size calculating step exceeds the remaining capacity of the memory; A setting environment converting step of converting a setting environment of the image data when the size of the image data exceeds the remaining capacity of the memory in the determining step; And a scanning step of performing a scanning operation according to the converted setting environment.

Therefore, the inconvenience that the user has to change the setting environment is eliminated.

Description

How to automatically change the scanner configuration

The present invention relates to a method for automatically converting a setting environment of a scanner, and more particularly, to a negative method of temporarily storing image data scanned by a scanner in a memory area of a computer (in this case, a 'RAM area'). In Native Mode, when the size of the image data exceeds the remaining capacity of the computer memory, the setting environment of the scanner is automatically converted to automatically convert the image data into a size corresponding to the remaining capacity of the memory. The present invention relates to a method for automatically changing the scanner configuration environment.

In general, when a scanner transmits scanned image data to a computer, a negative method of storing the image data in a memory area of the computer and a portion of a hard disk area of the computer as a swapping area After the image data is stored, it is roughly divided into a method of converting it into a data format (BMP, TIF Data) suitable for an application program of a computer. In addition to the above classification, there is also a method of compressing and transmitting the image data according to the type of scanner.

In the scanning operation, data transmission between the computer application and the scanner device is performed by a predefined protocol, and various types of data transmission are possible.

In the case of the negative method using the computer's memory area as a temporary storage location of the image data transmitted from the scanner, the processing speed of the image data can be shortened due to the data high-speed processing characteristic of the memory (especially 'RAM'). Due to its wide adoption. In order to acquire the image data transmitted from the scanner on the computer, the user uses an application program provided by the manufacturer. The application program is a specification such as a user's computer under certain conditions (computer model, memory capacity, etc.). It is designed to be able to operate when (Spec)) is satisfied. Therefore, the acquisition performance of the image data transmitted from the scanner is directly related to the performance of the computer, and certain regulations also depend on the performance of the computer. In particular, the memory capacity of the computer, which is essential when acquiring image data, greatly affects the operation of the scanner.

In a conventional scanner employing the negative method, the scanned image data should be smaller than the remaining capacity of the computer memory. If the scanned image data is larger than the remaining capacity of the computer memory, the image data may not be stored in the computer memory. Therefore, after calculating the size of the image data to be scanned, the scanner compares the size of the image data with the remaining capacity of the computer memory. Here, when the size of the image data exceeds the remaining capacity of the computer memory, the scanner generates an alarm signal indicating that the scanning operation is impossible and at the same time generates a message for changing the size and resolution of the image data. And end the operation.

By the way, according to the conventional negative scanner as described above, when the size of the scanned image data exceeds the remaining capacity of the computer memory, the operation after generating a message requesting an alarm signal and a change in size and resolution Since the user must check the alarm signal and the message, the user must directly change the scanner's setting environment, and input a command to restart the scanning operation after the setting environment is changed. Therefore, there is a problem that the user feels a hassle.

In addition, in the case of a beginner who is not good at using a scanner, there is a problem that it is not easy to change the setting environment, and thus it is not easy to cope with the shortage of remaining capacity of the memory.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to compare the size of the scanned image data with the remaining capacity of the computer memory so that the size of the scanned image data exceeds the remaining capacity of the computer memory. In this case, the present invention provides a method for automatically converting a setting environment of a scanner to automatically change the resolution and size of the image data.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a scanning system applied to the present invention;

2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of performing a method for automatically converting a setting environment of a scanner according to the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

1: scanner 2: computer

3: CCD / CIS Module 4: Image Data Processing Unit

5: motor drive part 6, 10: memory

7, 9: interface unit 8, 11: central processor

In order to achieve the above object, a feature of the present invention is that a scanner and a computer can mutually interface, and automatically set a configuration environment of a scanning system employing a method of storing image data scanned through the scanner in the computer memory. A conversion method comprising: a size calculation step of calculating a size of image data to be scanned on the basis of a preset setting environment; A determination step of detecting a remaining capacity of the computer memory and comparing and determining whether the size of the image data calculated in the size calculating step exceeds the remaining capacity of the memory; A setting environment converting step of converting a setting environment of the image data when the size of the image data exceeds the remaining capacity of the memory in the determining step; And a scanning step of performing a scanning operation according to the converted setting environment.

In the above feature of the present invention, the size calculation step, it is preferable to calculate using the resolution of the image data and the size of the paper to be scanned in the setting environment.

In the determining step, when the size of the image data does not exceed the remaining capacity of the memory, it is preferable to perform the scanning operation according to the preset setting environment without performing a separate conversion process.

In addition, the setting environment conversion step, it is preferable to use at least one conversion method of the resolution conversion method and the ratio conversion method of the image data.

In this case, the resolution converting method may be set to randomly sample an arbitrary number of dots corresponding to the remaining capacity of the memory among the total number of dots per inch of image data obtained by the preset resolution; By varying the frequency of the clock signal that is the reference of the conversion process in the conversion process to convert the scanned image into data, random lines are randomized by the number of lines corresponding to the remaining capacity of the memory in an arbitrary division unit. It can also be set to detect.

In addition, the size conversion method of the image data may be set so as to convert the data reading speed of the CCD and CIS for reading the image recorded on the original while keeping the feed speed of the original constant; It is also possible to set such that the feed rate of the document is varied while the data reading speeds of the CCD and CIS for reading the image recorded on the document are kept constant.

The display apparatus may further include a display step of displaying the contents converted in the setting environment conversion step so that a user can easily check the contents.

In addition, the automatic conversion function selection step may be further included so that the user can arbitrarily select any one of the automatic conversion function and the manual conversion function.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a preferred embodiment of a method for automatically changing the setting environment of the scanner according to the present invention will be described in detail.

1 is a schematic block diagram of a scanning system applied to the present invention.

The scanning system of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is connected in a state where an interface is possible between the scanner 1 and the computer 2.

In addition, the scanner 1 includes a CCD / CIS module 3 composed of a charge coupled device (CCD) and a contact image sensor (CIS) to read an image of an original, and a CCD. Image data processing section 4 for converting the image read out by the / CIS module 3, motor drive section 5 for controlling driving of the CCD motor, the CIS motor, and the feed motor, and the image data. A memory 6 for storing data, an interface 7 for communicating with the computer 2, and a central processor 8 for controlling each of the above-mentioned components in the scanner 1.

The computer 2 further includes an interface unit 9 in charge of communicating with the scanner 1, a memory 10 for storing image data transmitted from the scanner 1, and the respective angles in the computer 2; It consists of the central processor 11 which controls a component.

The operation of the present invention having the configuration as described above is as follows.

When the user sets the scanning environment using the application program of the computer 2, the set environment data is stored in the scanner 1. Accordingly, when the user selects the scanning operation, the central processor 8 for the scanner 1 switches to the scanning mode (S1). Thereafter, the central processor 8 calculates the size of the image data based on the set environment (S2). Here, the setting environment information required for calculating the size of the image data is information about the size of the original (eg, A4) and the resolution (eg, 600 DPI), and the image to be scanned when the size and resolution of the original are recognized. The size of the data can be easily detected.

When the size of the image data to be scanned is calculated in the step 2 (S2), the central processor 8 for the scanner 1, each interface unit 7 to detect the remaining capacity of the memory 10 for the computer 2 Communication with the central processing unit 11 for the computer 2 via the &lt; RTI ID = 0.0 &gt; Accordingly, the central processing unit 11 for the computer 2 transmits the remaining capacity of the memory 10 for the computer 2 to the central processing unit 8 for the scanner 1, and the central processing unit for the scanner 1 ( 8 determines whether the size of the image data to be scanned exceeds the remaining capacity of the memory 10 for the computer 2 (S3). In this step 3 (S3), if it is determined that the size of the image data to be scanned exceeds the remaining capacity of the memory 10 for the computer 2, the central processor 8 for the scanner 1 can determine the resolution and size of the image data. The setting environment is converted (S4).

Here, the method of converting the resolution and the size may be performed by converting an image acquired by the CCD or CIS of the scanner 1 into the image data processing unit 4 (shading correction, gamma correction, etc.). Perform a sub-sampling operation at a constant rate in software, or adjust the frequency of the clock signal in the analog / digital conversion process of converting an analog CCD or CIS signal into a digital form, or A method of varying the driving speed of the CCD / CIS motor and the feed motor can be used.

Here, in the subsampling operation, 600 dots per inch should be formed in a state where the resolution is set to 600 DPI, and 300, 200, or the computer are randomly sampled among the 600 dots. The method of converting the resolution by detecting only the other arbitrary dots corresponding to the remaining capacity of the memory (2) for (2).

The operation of adjusting the frequency of the clock signal is, for example, by varying the number of clock signals generated by 600 clocks per line to an arbitrary number (300, 200, or any other arbitrary number). Is a method of randomly detecting and converting resolution.

In addition, the method of varying the driving speed of the CCD / CIS motor refers to a method of reducing the size of the acquired image data by slowing down the data reading speed of the CCD / CIS when the originals are transferred at the same speed.

In addition, the method of varying the drive speed of the feed motor is to increase the speed of the feed motor while the CCD / CIS reads data at the same speed, thereby reducing the size of the acquired image data so that the document is transferred quickly. Say the way.

When the setting environment for the resolution and size of the image data is converted in step 4 (S4), the central processing unit 8 for the scanner 1 controls the CCD / CIS module 3 and the motor driver 5. Scanning is started, and the acquired image data is transmitted to the computer 2 via the interface units 7 and 9 (S5). Accordingly, the scanned image data is temporarily stored in the memory 6 for the scanner 1 and transmitted to the computer 2 in units of lines, blocks, or pages.

If the size of the image data to be scanned in step 3 (S3) does not exceed the remaining capacity of the memory 10 for the computer 2, the step 4 (S4) does not need to be performed. Proceeding to S5, a scanning operation is performed.

On the other hand, it is preferable to display the setting environment converted in the step 4 (S4) through a conventional display device so that the user can confirm this.

In addition, it is preferable that the setting environment allows the user to arbitrarily select the automatic conversion function and the manual conversion function.

As a result, according to the present invention as described above, by comparing the size of the image data to be scanned and the remaining capacity of the computer memory, when the size of the image data exceeds the remaining capacity of the memory, the setting environment is automatically converted By doing so, the user does not have to perform a separate operation for converting the setting environment has a convenient advantage.

In addition, even a beginner who is not good at using a scanner has an advantage in that scanning can be performed without any difficulty.

Claims (10)

In a method of automatically converting a setting environment of a scanning system in which a scanner and a computer are mutually interoperable, and employing a method of storing image data scanned through the scanner in the computer memory: A size calculation step of calculating a size of image data to be scanned based on a preset setting environment; A determination step of detecting a remaining capacity of the computer memory and comparing and determining whether the size of the image data calculated in the size calculating step exceeds the remaining capacity of the memory; A setting environment converting step of converting a setting environment of the image data when the size of the image data exceeds the remaining capacity of the memory in the determining step; And Automatic setting method of the scanner comprising a scanning step of performing a scanning operation according to the converted setting environment. The method of claim 1, wherein the size calculation step, Automatic setting method of a scanner, characterized in that the calculation using the resolution of the image data and the size of the paper to be scanned in the setting environment. The method according to claim 1, In the determining step, if the size of the image data does not exceed the remaining capacity of the memory, the scanning operation is performed according to the preset setting environment without going through a separate conversion process. Automatic conversion of configuration environment. The method according to claim 1, wherein the setting environment conversion step, An automatic conversion method for a scanner setting environment, comprising using at least one conversion method among a resolution conversion method and a ratio conversion method of image data. The method of claim 4, wherein the resolution conversion method, And randomly sampling a random number of dots corresponding to the remaining capacity of the memory among the total number of dots per inch of image data obtained by the preset resolution. The method of claim 4, wherein the resolution conversion method, By varying the frequency of the clock signal that is the reference of the conversion process in the conversion process to convert the scanned image into data, random lines are randomized by the number of lines corresponding to the remaining capacity of the memory in an arbitrary division unit. A method for automatically changing the setting environment of a scanner, characterized in that the detection. The method according to claim 4, wherein the size conversion method of the image data, A method of automatically converting a scanner setting environment, characterized in that for converting data reading speeds of CCD and CIS for reading an image recorded on the document while maintaining a feed speed of an original. The method of claim 1, wherein the size conversion method of the image data, A method for automatically converting a scanner setting environment, characterized in that the feed rate of the document is varied while the data reading speeds of the CCD and CIS for reading the image recorded on the document are kept constant. The method according to claim 1, And a display step of displaying the contents converted in the setting environment converting step so that a user can easily check the setting environment. The method according to claim 1, A method for automatically converting a setting environment of a scanner further comprising an automatic conversion function selection step for allowing a user to arbitrarily select one of an automatic setting environment conversion function and a manual conversion function.