JPH01561A - Image contour line data creation device - 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 [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an apparatus for creating contour signal data of a desired image area in an original image to be processed such as a photographic image, and an apparatus for creating a cutting mask based on the data. In particular, the present invention relates to an image outline data creation device for creating a cutout mask used when recording a duplicate image of only a desired image area in photoengraving work.

[Prior Art] For example, in photoengraving work, when extracting and duplicating only a specific image area from a given original image, the outline of the image area is displayed and either the outside or the inside is made transparent. By creating a so-called "cutting mask" film in which the other side is made opaque and aligning and superimposing it on the original image and exposing it, a duplicate image in which only the desired image area is extracted is obtained.

Such a cutout mask (also referred to as a cut mask, cutout mask, etc.) has conventionally been created using the following method.

First, as the most basic and simple method, there is a manual method in which a transparent film is superimposed on the original image, a desired image area is visually determined, and the outline of the area is hand-drawn.

Also, a method of creating a cutout mask using a color scanner for plate making is also being considered. For example, means for detecting a contour line based on the difference in color tone, density value, etc. on both sides of a desired contour line is also disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-4061 (title of the invention "Color Scanner") by the present applicant. In this method, the image is displayed on a color CRT monitor using an image signal obtained by pre-scanning the target original image at a scanning line pitch coarser than that used for duplication scanning, and the displayed image is Based on this, a desired image contour is written into a control memory and displayed, and the inside of the contour is filled in to create a cutout mask, and
The cutout mask data is written in the control memory, and when duplication scanning is performed, the cutout mask data is read out in synchronization with image scanning and is combined with the image signal to record the desired cropped duplicated image. The means are described.

Also, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-476638, also by the present applicant.
In the publication (title of the invention: ``Method for creating a punched mask plate''), image data obtained by a scanner is displayed on an image display device, and the outline of the image is plotted using a coordinate indicating device such as a digitizer. By roughly tracing the image and sequentially obtaining the contour line data obtained for the image of a predetermined section approximately centered at the position based on the position data, the contour line data of the entire image is obtained and a cropping mask is created. It describes how to do this.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] When creating a cutout mask, it is important to know how to detect the contour line of the desired image area in the original image.

The first question is how to track it.

There are usually many contour lines in a pattern image, and in order to create a cropping mask, among those contour lines,
Only those surrounding the desired image area must be selected and recorded, which poses the following problems in terms of work efficiency and device cost.

For example, with the manual method that is still used today as the most basic method, which is performed by the operator's visual inspection, it is easy to select the desired contour line, but it takes a lot of skill to record the exact contour line. It is inefficient and costly as it requires long hours of work by a person.

In addition, although the means described in the above-mentioned prior application publication can accurately and relatively easily create a cutout mask, the configuration of the implementation device is complicated and the cost of the equipment is high. be.

The present invention makes use of the simplicity of the image contour selection and tracking means visually performed by an operator, and also includes means for correcting manual detection position errors.
The Y coordinate value is accurately detected to create image contour signal data, and based on that data, for example, the beer layer of a beer-off film is cut into the shape of the required contour line to create a cutout mask. It provides equipment.

[Means for solving the problem] Attach the original image to be processed to a digitizer, visually set a coordinate value indicating means such as a cursor near the desired contour line, and use the digitizer to determine the position as X-Y coordinate values. On the other hand, there is an image sensor that detects the position of the image of the image outline when it is projected onto a head that moves in both the X and Y axes directions along the digitizer surface, and an image sensor that detects the position of the image and the original image on the digitizer surface. Cutters for cutting the beer layer of the beer-off film to be replaced and installed are arranged at required intervals, and the X-
The position of the head is controlled using the Y/I standard value data to align the center point of the image sensor with the set position number of the coordinate value indicating means, and at that time, the position of the image outline projected on the image sensor is used to determine the position of the image sensor. Determine the X-Y coordinate values of the contour line portion, store them in a memory device as appropriate, and repeat this operation for a plurality of required points on the contour line of the desired image area to obtain the contour signal data of the area. Next, a beer-off film is attached to the digitizer surface in place of the original image, and the drive of the head is controlled by the contour signal data,
A cutout mask is created by cutting the beer layer of the beer-off film into the shape of a desired image outline using a cutter.

[Operation] Since the image sensor can detect the position of the image contour line in a certain range of image area, when setting the coordinate value indicating means such as a cursor near the contour line, it is possible to accurately match the position of the target contour line. Even if the outline is not projected within the effective operating range of the image sensor, the X-Y coordinate values of the accurate position can be detected and output.

After determining the X-Y coordinate values of multiple points set at the required pitch on the desired contour line and creating contour data for the image area, the movement of the head is controlled using the contour data, and the cutter By processing the beer-off film, a cutout mask is obtained that matches the shape of the desired contour.

[Embodiment] First, a first embodiment of the one-image contour signal data creation device will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing the main parts of the device.

An original film (2) having a target image area (1) surrounded by a contour line (c) for which data is to be created is mounted on a digitizer (3).

The digitizer (3) outputs the position as X-Y coordinate values by setting the stylus pen (4) at an arbitrary position. A transparent type digitizer is applied so that the irradiated light beam can be transmitted downward through the digitizer (3).

On the other hand, a pedestal (5) movable along the surface of the digitizer is arranged below the digitizer (3).

The pedestal (5) is supported by a guide shaft (6) in the X-axis direction.

It is driven in the X-axis direction by a drive screw (7) in the same direction.

The guide shaft (6) and screw shaft (7) are Y (not shown).
It is mounted on a moving rack that moves in the axial direction. This driving means in both the X and Y axes directions is configured in accordance with a well-known XY plotter or the like.

The upper surface of the pedestal (5) forms a light-tight case as shown in the figure, and an imaging lens (8) is attached to the upper end of the case, and this lens (8) allows the original image (2) attached to the digitizer (3) to be
) An image sensor (9) is installed at a position where the image of the target area is projected and formed. This image sensor (9) employs a matrix type in which a large number of photoelectric elements are arranged in a lattice pattern, and its center is arranged at a position aligned with the perpendicular optical axis of the lens (8).

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control system for operating the first illustrated device, in which a stylus pen (4) is attached to a plot point on the outline of an original image attached to a digitizer (3).
The X-axis and Y-axis coordinate values output by contacting the CPU (12) are output via the interface (11).
), and the CPU (12) outputs a command to the motor drive circuit (13) based on this coordinate value data to control the X-axis upper (14) and Y-axis upper (15). hand,
The vertical optical axis of the imaging lens (8) is the stylus pen (4)
The frame (5) is moved to a position that matches the set point of the digitizer (3), and an image of a partial area of the original image (2) is transferred to the image sensor (9) using a light beam from a light source installed above the digitizer (3).
) to form a projection image.

At this time, if the stylus pen (4) remains in contact with the relevant area of the original image (2), it will be difficult to project one image, so after outputting the X-Y coordinate values of the plot points, use the stylus pen (4) to The pen (4) is evacuated from the area and the positions are successively plotted. During this time, the device performs predetermined processing at each plotted position. The coordinate value data of the contour line in each area thus output is as follows.

It is desirable to configure the CPU to appropriately store the information and control the movement of the pedestal (5).

If the setting position of the stylus pen (4) is on the image contour line (c), 1 contour line image (C') is set on the image sensor (9).
However, since there is usually some error in the manual setting position of the stylus pen (4), the contour image (C') is projected through the image sensor as shown in the third figure. It is projected at a position slightly shifted from the center (P) of (9).

Each of the photoelectric elements arranged in a matrix forming the image sensor (9) outputs a signal corresponding to the density of the projected image and inputs it to the image processing section (16).

The image processing unit (16) includes an amplifier (17), an A/D converter (18), and an image memory (19), and digitally converts the signals from each photoelectric element of the image sensor (9). The address corresponding to the array position of each photoelectric element is stored in the image memory (19).

The contents of the image memory (19) are sent to the CPU (12) and the position of the contour line within the area of the image sensor (9) is determined. This can be determined by performing arithmetic processing such as two-dimensional first-order differentiation or second-order differentiation based on the contents written in the memory (19).

Since a well-known general-purpose technique may be applied to this arithmetic processing means, a detailed explanation will be omitted.

In this way, the position of the contour line within the area of the image sensor (9) can be determined, for example, by a series of X-Y coordinate values (hereinafter, in this specification, the position of the contour line within the area) with the center of the image sensor (9) as the origin. When we say coordinate values, we mean a series of coordinate values for the contour line. (
9) based on the coordinate value data of the center of CPU (1
Through the calculation process 2), the x-y coordinate values indicating the position of the desired image outline are detected.

This coordinate value data is written and stored in the memory (21) according to a command from the CPU (12).

Next, the stylus pen (4) is brought into contact with the next plot point on the image outline (c), and the coordinate value data of the image outline at that position is written into the memory (21) by the same process.

This operation is repeated for the entire outline surrounding the desired image area, and the coordinate value data for the outline forming one closed loop is stored in the memory (21). Memory (21
) is used to display the shape of the detected contour using this accumulated data, and to confirm that the desired contour has been detected. If a spot is found, redo the above operation for that spot, or if it is a simple fix,
The correction may be made using the operation panel (20).

Also.

Known smoothing correction can also be applied if necessary.

After the data for the entire desired contour line is obtained, the data is transferred from the memory (21) to an external storage device (23) such as a floppy disk and stored in accordance with a command from the CPU (12). This memorized contour line data is used during photoelectric scanning of the original image (2) in the color scanner in the primary process.
It is read out in synchronization with the scanning of the original image, and by turning the recording image signal ON-OFF at the contour line position, it is possible to record an image only within the area (or outside the area) surrounded by the contour line. .

In addition, as in the embodiment described later, a cutting plotter is controlled using contour line data to cut the peel-off film to create a cutting mask.

[Second Embodiment] FIGS. 4 to 8 show an apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. This device uses a linear image sensor, whereas the first embodiment uses a matrix image sensor.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the main parts, and the digitizer (3), stylus pen (4), etc., which are not shown, are the same as those in the first illustrated embodiment.

A guide shaft (32) and a drive screw (33) that slidably support the frame (31) in the X-axis direction are movable in the Y-axis direction in accordance with the first illustrated device.

A light-tight case (35) is rotatably supported around a vertical axis by a rotating shaft (34) set up in the center of the upper surface of the mount (31), and an imaging lens (36) is mounted on the upper part of the case (35). ,
A linear image sensor (37) is attached to the bottom. The linear image sensor (37) has a plurality of photoelectric elements arranged in a row in one direction.

A gear (38) formed on the outer periphery of the bottom of the case (35) is
Motor (39) mounted vertically at the appropriate location on the frame (31)
The case (35) rotates around the optical axis of the imaging lens (36) by engaging the gear (40) and driving the motor (39).

In this example device, the lens (36
) is the same as above, controlling the movement of the pedestal (31) so that the optical axis of the case (35) is aligned.
is controlled so that the direction of the photoelectric element row of the linear image sensor (37) is approximately orthogonal to the projected image outline.

That is, as shown in Figure 5, if the locus of the plotted point by the stylus pen (4) is at the position of the dotted line (cp) that is slightly shifted from the image outline image shown by the solid line (C'), the image The center points of the sensors (37) are sequentially set at points on the dotted line (cp). At this time, the image sensor (
The rotation of the case (35) is controlled so that the direction of the photoelectric element array (37) (hereinafter referred to as "image sensor direction") is approximately perpendicular to the tangent of the curve (cp) at each set point. .

This control is performed by the following means.

Last stylus pen position a: (Z,,, yo)
If this = (z-work, yl), then the direction "θ" of the linear image sensor is.

It is determined by the following formulas.

y, -y.

π yz=3'a-Z>2. When θ=-y-=yo
, when zl<zo, θ=-π In other words, the direction that the image sensor (37) should take is calculated based on the coordinate values at each set position of the stylus pen and the coordinate values at the position immediately before that, and the motor (39) ) to control the rotation amount of
As shown in Figure 5, the image sensor (
37) Determine the direction.

In addition, as a countermeasure when errors accumulate, the direction of the sensor is displayed on the monitor (22), and the operator refers to it and the direction of the contour line, and if it deviates significantly from the right angle, performs manual operation. It is desirable to be able to make corrections.

Thus, at each setting position, the image sensor (37
), but as described above, the projection position is shifted from the center position 1 of the image sensor (37) (lens (36) by an amount corresponding to the error in the setting position of the stylus pen). ), so the error is corrected to obtain accurate coordinate value data of the contour line.

Fig. 6 shows the means for this purpose, and the image sensor (3
7) is set at an angle "θ" with respect to the X axis, and the projection point (Pc) of one image contour line is the center (
The case is shown where the distance "d" is from Pi).

Here, "S" is the total length of the image sensor (however.

If the projection magnification by the lens (36) is not 1=1,
rAnJ is the number of addresses corresponding to the entire length of the image sensor, and rAcJ is the number of addresses up to the contour projection point (Pc).
The coordinate value (Z, ?) of c) is determined by the following formula.

n 2 Note that FIG. 7 shows the output state when the image outline portion is projected onto the linear image sensor (37).
Since the output level changes at the contour projection position rAcJ, the position can be determined by differential calculation6. Thus, the position of the image contour projected on the linear image sensor (37) is Output as a value.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the control system of the above device, which is basically the same as the first embodiment shown in the second figure, and means for rotating the image sensor (37) and controlling its direction. , so the explanation of the parts common to FIG. 2 will be omitted.

In the eighth illustrated system, the motor drive circuit (41) is
According to a command from the CPU (12), the X-axis
), the center point (Pi) of the linear image sensor (37) is moved to the position of the X-Y coordinate value set by the stylus pen (4) by controlling the Y-axis tar (43). In addition to the function of Rotate.

The output of the image sensor (37) is processed by the image processing unit (16) in accordance with the first embodiment, and the position of the target image outline is input into the memory (21) as coordinate value data through the above-mentioned arithmetic processing. , one product is performed sequentially.

In this second embodiment device, the image sensor is a linear type, and it is sufficient to process it as one-dimensional data.
This has the advantage of simplifying the calculation process and enabling rapid processing.

[Third Embodiment] FIGS. 9 to 16 show an apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The apparatuses according to the first and second embodiments are means for creating only one image outline data. This third embodiment device is further based on contour line data.

A means for processing a mask material such as a peel-off film and creating a cutout mask is installed in parallel, and the apparatuses of the first and second embodiments are intended only for transmission type originals.
This is to create contour line data, and in this embodiment, it is applicable to both a transmission type and a reflection type.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the device of the third embodiment.

A digitizer (52) is arranged on the upper surface of the frame (51). The digitizer (52) is a backlight type digitizer made of a semi-transparent material such as ground glass or a white diffuser plate, and has a light source (53) disposed within a frame (51).

The original picture (2) is placed on the surface of the digitizer (52), the cursor (54) is placed at a desired point on the original picture (2), an input operation is performed, and the X-Y coordinate values of the set point are output.

The cursor (54) is the first. A stylus pen similar to that of the second embodiment may be used, and an operation panel (55) is provided at a suitable position on the frame (51).

On the other hand, a pedestal (56) driven in the X-axis direction by a drive screw (57) is attached to the upper surface of the frame (51).

A guide rail (58) in the Y-axis direction and a drive screw (59) are attached to the frame (56), and the head (60) is driven along the guide rail (58). At the rear of the frame (51) are a cover (61) and a CRT monitor (62).
to be placed.

An image sensor device and a cutter device are built into the head (60).

The tenth direction is a cross-sectional view of the head (60) in the X-axis direction at the position of the image sensor device.

The head (60) has a box-like structure including a base portion (63) that engages with a dovetail-shaped guide rail (58) formed on the pedestal (56), a lower plate (64), an upper plate (65), etc. A cover plate (66) is attached.

Attach the lens (70) to the appropriate position on the lower surface of the lower plate (64),
A light source device for illuminating the reflective original is arranged around it. This light source device includes a plurality of lamps (68) installed in a cylindrical cover (67), and a transparent window (69) provided in the cover (67) corresponding to each lamp. The original image attached to the digitizer (52) is irradiated.

It depends on whether the original image to be processed is a transparent type such as photographic film, or a reflective type such as a photographic print.

The light source (53) in the frame (51) and the head (60)
Apply by switching the lamp (68) attached to. The light flux from the original screen is projected upward through the lens (70) and the hole (71) provided in the lower plate (64).

A circular bearing (72) is installed on the upper surface of the lower plate (64) with its center aligned with the optical axis of the lens (70).
A case (73) that holds a linear image sensor (74) is mounted on top of the case. The case (73) has a cup shape with an open bottom, and has a bottom end fitted and engaged with the upper edge of the bearing (72), and a shaft (75) erected at the center of the top surface.
The bearing (
76) so as to be rotatable about the optical axis of the lens (70).

A gear (77) is formed on the outer periphery of the case (73), which meshes with a small gear (78) attached to the shaft of a motor (79) placed inside the head (60), and the case is driven by the motor (79). (73) rotates to control the direction of the linear image sensor (74).

Note that a matrix type image sensor may be used as the image sensor as in the above embodiment, and in that case, the rotation mechanism of the case (73) as described above is unnecessary. FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a main part showing one embodiment, in which the image sensor holding case (80) is directly fixed to the lower plate (64),
A matrix type image sensor (81) is mounted inside the upper surface.

Next, FIG. 12 shows the head (
60) in the X-axis direction.

A bearing (82) is installed on the upper surface of the lower plate (64), and a gear (83) is pivotally connected to this. At the lower end of the boss part of gear (83).

A stop plate (84) is attached to regulate the vertical position.

The gear (83) engages with a small gear (85) attached to the shaft of a motor (86) disposed within the head (60), and is rotationally driven by the motor (86).

A lifting shaft (87) is located at the center of the gear (83), and a parallel key (8
8), it rotates following the gear (83) and is installed so that it can be raised and lowered in the vertical direction. The elevating shaft (87) is biased downward by a spring (89) fitted in the small diameter portion at the top, and the small diameter portion passes through the top plate (65).
A plunger (90) is attached to its upper end.

A solenoid coil (91) is installed on the upper plate (65) around the plunger (90), and when the solenoid coil (91) is energized, the elevating shaft (87) resists the spring (89). and rise.

A cutter blade (92) is attached to the lower end of the lifting shaft (87). The direction of the cutter blade (92) is controlled by the rotation of the gear (83) by the motor (86), and when the solenoid coil (91) is not energized, the cutter blade (92) is connected to the digitizer by the spring (89). (5
2), and when the solenoid coil (91) is energized, it rises and separates from the peel-off film surface.

Next, FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a control system for operating the above-described apparatus.

As in the case of the previous embodiment, the original image to be processed is attached to the digitizer (52), and on the outline surrounding the desired image area,
Cursor (54) at each plot point according to the required pitch.
(or stylus pen) to output the X-Y coordinate value data of each plot point, and store it in the memory (105).
The input is stored in the . When inputting coordinate values using the cursor or stylus pen, the pedestal (56) is retracted laterally from the surface of the digitizer (52) as shown in FIG.

Further, the shape of the contour line is displayed on the monitor (62) based on the X-Y coordinate value data of each plot point, and confirmation and correction are performed in the same manner as in the previous embodiment.

The CPU (100) outputs a command to the drive control circuit (101) based on the coordinate value data stored in the memory (105), and outputs a command to the 60) is sequentially moved to a position where the optical axis of the lens (70) of the image sensor device is aligned with each plot point. If the image sensor is of the linear type shown in Figure 10, the motor (79) rotates the image sensor (74) so that the direction of the image sensor (74) is substantially orthogonal to the image outline of the area.

When moving this head (60), the solenoid ((91) of the cutter device is energized and the cutter blade (9) is energized.
2) is kept away from the surface of the digitizer (52).

In addition, by operation from the operation panel (55), the illumination switching circuit (102) switches between the transmission light source (53) in the frame (51) or the reflection light source (6) on the lower surface of the head (60).
8) Turn on one of the lights. Needless to say, this is switched depending on whether the original image to be processed is a transmission type or a reflection type.

The image sensor (74) or (81) outputs the coordinate value data of the image contour line via the A/D converter (103) and the image memory (104) according to each of the above-mentioned embodiments. Similarly, according to the above method, the CPU
Processed in step (100), contour data surrounding the target image area is input and stored in memory (105).

Similarly to the previous embodiment, the contour line data stored in the memory (105) can be transferred to an external storage means (106) such as a floppy disk as necessary.

After creating the contour data of the desired image area.

Remove the original picture from the digitizer (52) and attach beer-off film. Peel-off film, as is well known, consists of a transparent base and a beer layer, which is either a light-shielding film or a translucent film with a safe light color such as red.

It is laminated so that it can be easily peeled off, and there are 3 beer layers.
By cutting it into a desired shape and peeling it off, it is possible to form a transparent portion in a desired shape, and it is widely used in photolithography and the like to create a cutout mask.

A peel-off film is attached to the digitizer (52), and the memory (tOS
) or based on the contour line data stored in the external storage means (106), the head (60) is moved along the desired contour shape via the drive control circuit (101), and the solenoid of the cutter device is moved. (91) is de-energized and the cutter blade (92) is brought into pressure contact with the peel-off film surface by the spring (89) to cut the beer layer. At this time, the cutter blade (92) is always connected to the head (60).
The rotation of the motor (86) is controlled so that it faces directly in the direction of movement of the motor (86). This rotation control may be performed in accordance with the method of controlling the direction of the linear image sensor described above.

Note that since the image sensor device and the cutter device are located at different positions on the head (60), the cutting position of the peel-off film is from the position of the outline of the original image.

Basically, if the shape of the cutout mask formed on the peel-off film matches the shape of the desired image area, the mask on the peel-off film will be deviated by the distance separating both devices. can be matched to the desired image area, so there is no practical problem.

Alternatively, the positions of the image sensor device and the cutter device may be matched by shifting the mounting position of the peel-off film from the mounting position of the original by an amount corresponding to the distance between the image sensor device and the cutter device.

In addition, if the dimensions of the original image and peel-off film are close to the size of the digitizer, and there is not enough room to deviate and mount the film, the memory (105) or By adding the required correction amount to the coordinate value data stored in the external storage means (106) and controlling the position of the head (6o), a cutout mask can be formed at the same position as the outline of the original image. .

In other words, as shown in Figure 9, when the cutter device is arranged apart from the image sensor device in the Y-axis direction, the Y-coordinate value of the accumulated coordinate value data is modified in a manner corresponding to the distance between the two devices. Add the amount (ΔY or -ΔY),
The position of the head (6o) may be controlled.

The device of the third embodiment described above can create image outline data and create a cutout mask based on the data using one device, and both are driven by the same control system. , it is possible to create extremely accurate cropping masks.

Note that the thirteenth illustrated control system is provided with a communication interface (107). This is useful when increasing work efficiency by creating contour line data and cutout masks using separate devices installed in parallel.
105) or data stored in an external storage means (106) can be transferred to, or received from, the other communication line (108). The present invention is also applicable to cases in which contour line data is directly transferred to a color scanner and only a desired image area is recorded during scanning and recording of an original image.

[Additional Examples] FIGS. 14 to 16 are explanatory diagrams showing examples of inconveniences that are expected to occur when image contour data is created by the apparatus of the present invention, and countermeasures.

Figure 14 shows the point (Pa) (Pb) (Pc) (Pd) (Pe) where the center of the matrix image sensor is plotted with the stylus pen or cursor.
(Pf) and detects the image outline projected within the area of the image sensor at each position. In this case, the pitch between plot points (Pa) and (pb) and the pitch between each plot point below (Pc) are set smaller than the area size of the image sensor, so that the area of the image sensor at each position is set smaller than the area size of the image sensor. Since they overlap appropriately, one image contour can be detected seamlessly, but since the interval between plot points (pb) and (Pc) is larger than the area size of the image sensor,
A cut will occur at this part.

In this case, the intermediate plot point (Px) is set by interpolation based on the coordinate value data of the preceding and succeeding plot points, and is processed in the same way as other plot points to create seamless image contour line data. All you have to do is create .

Next, FIG. 15 shows countermeasures when the image sensor cannot detect the contour because there is no difference in density or color tone between the images on both sides of the target contour, or the difference is small. This can be done by inputting the coordinate values of plot points on the monitor (
22) Or, by making use of the fact that the contour line is displayed in (62), the display state on the monitor screen is made different between the part where the contour line was detected by the image sensor and the part where the contour line could not be detected. Configure it to do so. For example, as shown in Figure 15, the detected areas are displayed with solid lines and the undetected areas are displayed with dotted lines, the undetected areas are blinked or the brightness is changed, or a color CRT is used as a monitor. Various means can be applied, such as changing the display color by applying . in this case,
For the contours that could not be detected, the operator interpolates the data by operating the cursor on the digitizer.

All you have to do is confirm.

Next, FIG. 16 shows a case where a plurality of contour images are simultaneously projected onto the image sensor at a branching portion of the image contour, a portion where a plurality of contour lines are close to each other, or the like. When the image sensor positions are raJ and rbJ, a contour line branching into rAJ and rBJ is detected.

At this stage, both contour line data are written into memory. When the image sensor moves to the position rcJ, one contour line rBJ is removed from the image sensor and is no longer detected. Therefore, it determines that "B" is not the contour line that should be detected, and uses the data written in memory to determine the contour line rBJ. Delete data.

Further, at the 1st position rcJrdJreJ, two contour lines rcJrDJ that are branched into one are detected. In this case, both of the two contour lines do not fall outside the image sensor area, and the position re
'', it is difficult to automatically discriminate and erase unnecessary contour lines, so both contour lines are displayed on a monitor screen and unnecessary contour data is erased based on the judgment of the five workers.

[Effects of the invention] (1) The position of a point on the image contour line selected visually is
When inputting using an X-Y digitizer, you can accurately detect the x-y coordinate values of the target point by simply placing the stylus pen or cursor roughly on the outline, so no skill is required. Accurate image contour data can be easily created.

(2) Since only a small area or short local image region is detected by the image sensor, the amount of data to be processed is small and the processing process in hardware and CPU is simple.

(3) Therefore, the trowel can be implemented using a simple device, and the equipment cost is low.

(4) By arranging a cutter device in parallel with the image sensor and controlling the position of the cutter using the created image axis outline data, a cutout mask can be created automatically and accurately.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the main parts of a device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the control system of the device;
The figure shows a state in which an image outline is projected onto a matrix image sensor, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the main parts of a device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 shows a movement trajectory of a linear image sensor. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing means for determining the contour projection position in a linear image sensor, and FIG.
The figure is a graph showing the output state of the linear image sensor, FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the control system of the device of the second embodiment, and FIG. 9 is an external perspective view of the device of the third embodiment of the present invention.
10 and 11 are respectively a sectional view of the image sensor device of the same device, FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the cutter device of the same device, and FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the control system of the third embodiment device. 14 to 16 are explanatory diagrams showing countermeasures against defective detection of image contour lines. (1)...Image department, (2)...Original picture,
(3)... Transparent digitizer, (4)... Stylus pen, (5)... Mount,
(6)...Guide shaft, (7)...Drive screw, (8)...Imaging lens, (9)...Matrix type image sensor, (11)
...Interface, (12) ...CPU, (1
3)...Motor drive circuit, (14) (15)...
・Motor, (16)...Image processing section, (17)
...Amplifier, (18) ...A/D converter, (19)
...image memory, (20) ...operation panel,
(21)... Memory, (22)... CRT monitor, (23)... External storage device, (31)... Frame,
(32)... Guide shaft, (33)... Drive screw, (34)... Rotating shaft, (35)...
Case, (36)...Imaging lens, (37)
・・・Linear image sensor, (3g) (40)・
...Gear, (39) ...Motor. (41)...Motor drive circuit, (42)(43)
···motor. (51)...Frame, (52)...Digitizer, (53)...Transmission light source, (54)...
・Cursor, (55)...Operation panel, (56)
... Frame, (57) ... Drive screw, (58)
... Guide rail, (59) ... Drive screw,
(60)...head, (62)...CRT monitor, (68)...reflection light source. (69)...Window, (70)...Lens, (72)...Bearing, (73)...Case, (74)...Linear image sensor, (77)
(78)... Gear, (79)... Motor, (81)... Matrix type image sensor, (82
)...Bearing, (83) (85)...Gear, (86)...Motor, (87)...
Lifting axis, (88)...Parallel key, (89)...
・Spring, (90)...Plunger, (91
)...Solenoid, (92)...Cutter blade. K31 closed and CPU high input V5 area 171 pieces v81 thought Q)'(J/X's ¥121] jl!, 731ri

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A digitizer that outputs the X-Y coordinate values of the set position by setting a coordinate value indicating means such as a stylus pen or a cursor; a light source that irradiates the original image to be processed attached to the digitizer; and the digitizer. an image sensor that moves in both X and Y directions parallel to the plane of the digitizer; an image processing means for outputting the position of as an X-Y coordinate value in the image sensor; a movement control means for moving the image sensor; an X-Y coordinate value outputted by the setting of the coordinate value indicating means; and an X-Y coordinate value of a point on the image contour line in the image sensor; a calculation processing means that converts the position of a point into an X-Y coordinate value on the digitizer and outputs it; and a calculation processing means that converts the position of a point into an X-Y coordinate value on the digitizer and outputs the result. An image contour data creation device comprising a storage means for storing and accumulating X-Y coordinate values of each point sequentially output. (2) Image contour according to claim (1), characterized in that a matrix image sensor in which a plurality of photoelectric elements are arranged in a grid is moved in parallel in both the X and Y directions. Line data creation device. (3) A patent claim characterized in that a linear image sensor in which a plurality of photoelectric elements are arranged in one direction is moved in the X-Y direction and rotated within the X-Y plane. The image contour data creation device according to scope (1). (4) Attach the mask sheet material to the digitizer surface,
A processing means for the mask sheet material is installed so as to be movable in the X-Y directions parallel to the digitizer surface, and the processing is performed while controlling the position of the processing means using image contour data stored in the storage means. An image contour line data creation device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a cutout mask matching a desired image contour is created.