JPH02168355A - Picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve an operability by providing a picture scanner, a character code converting means, a mode setting means, a code adding means, a memory, an image searching means and picture data output equipment. CONSTITUTION:A code adding mode is set by a mode setting means 12, by individually reading the picture and a bar code by means of an picture scanner 2, a character code based on the bar code is added to picture data after binarized with a code adding means 16, and the data are stored into a memory 18. On the other hand, at the time of reading the necessary picture, after a picture searching mode is set by the mode setting means 12, when the bar code is read by the image scanner 2, the bar code is converted to the character code by a character code converting means 10a, an picture searching means 20 reads the picture data corresponding to the character code in the memory 18 based on the character code, and the necessary picture data are outputted by output equipment 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to an image processing device equipped with an image scanner.

<Prior Art> Conventionally, dedicated readers have been used to read information such as barcodes, OCR characters, mark cards, etc. attached to products, etc. In this case, the data associated with the barcode etc. is mainly information such as the name, type, and price of the item.

On the other hand, to read images, an image scanner using a solid-state image sensor (CCD) or the like is used. The image data obtained in this case is image information that has been subjected to processing such as binarization. In this way, information such as barcodes and image information have different information attributes, so conventionally there is no dual-purpose device that can read and process both information such as barcodes and image information (therefore, there is no dual-purpose device that can read and process both information such as barcodes and image information). However, there was no process of separately associating and adding information based on barcodes or the like.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> Therefore, in the conventional technology, when image information stored in an external storage device such as a floppy disk is read out and output to an output device such as a CRT monitor or printer, It was necessary to input the drawing numbers associated with the image information from the keyboard one by one. In this case, if the number to be input manually has a large number of digits, not only will the manual key operation become complicated, but it will also cause troubles such as incorrect key operation and entering a different number than the desired number, making it time-consuming to manually input the keys. was.

In order to save the effort of manual key operation, it is conceivable to connect a barcode reader and an image scanner to a host computer separately and store image information in association with each other, but with such a configuration, Barcode and OCR
A dedicated character reader and an image scanner must be used separately, which not only lacks operability but also makes the entire device expensive.

Means for Solving the Problems> The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is capable of reading information such as barcodes and reading image information with a single image scanner. Moreover, if you want to read out the desired image information by individually associating and adding information based on the barcode etc. to the read image information, you can read out the barcode etc. without using the keys manually. The purpose is to make it possible to retrieve image information just by reading the information.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following configuration.

The image processing device according to the first invention includes an image scanner and a main body processing section that processes data read by the image scanner, and the image scanner includes a CC
an imaging device such as D, a binarization circuit that binarizes the image data captured by the imaging device, a character code conversion device that converts the barcode captured by the imaging device into a character code;
and a mode setting means for respectively setting a code addition mode and an image search mode, while the main body processing section sets a bar on the binarized image data according to the code addition mode set by the mode setting means. a code adding means for adding a character code obtained based on the code; a memory for storing the output from the code adding means; a bar photographed by the imaging means according to the image search mode set by the mode setting means; The apparatus includes an image search means for searching and reading image data from the memory based on a code, and an output device for outputting the image data read by the image search means.

The image processing device according to the second invention includes an image scanner and a main body processing section that processes data read by the image scanner, and the image scanner includes a CC
An imaging means such as D, a binarization circuit that binarizes the image data taken by this imaging means, and an O image taken by the imaging means.
Character code conversion means for converting CR characters into character codes;
and a mode setting means for respectively setting a code addition mode and an image search mode, and the main body processing section performs OCR on the binarized image data according to the code addition mode set by the mode setting means. A code adding means for adding a character code obtained based on a character, a memory for storing the output from the code adding means, and an OCR photographed by the imaging means according to the image search mode set by the mode setting means. The apparatus includes an image search means for searching and reading image data from the memory based on characters, and an output device for outputting the image data read by the image search means.

The image processing device according to the third invention includes an image scanner and a main body processing section that processes data read by the image scanner, and the image scanner includes a CC
An imaging means such as D, a binarization circuit that binarizes the image data captured by this imaging means, a mark position detection means that detects the position of the mark card marked R by the imaging means, and this mark position detection means. The main body processing section includes a character code converting means for converting the position information of the mark card detected by the mark card into a character code, and a mode setting means for respectively setting a code addition mode and an image search mode. A code addition means for adding a character code obtained based on a mark card to image data after binarization according to a set code addition mode; a memory for storing the output from the code addition means; and a memory for storing the output from the code addition means; an image search means for searching and reading out image data from the memory based on a mark card photographed by the imaging means according to an image search mode set by the setting means; and image data read out by the image search means. It is equipped with an output device that outputs.

Effects> In the image processing apparatus according to the first invention, after setting the code addition mode by the mode setting means, the image and the barcode are read individually by the image scanner, and the code addition means converts the image after binarization. A character code based on a barcode is added to the image data, and the data is stored in memory. On the other hand, if you want to read out a desired image, set the image search mode using the mode setting means, read the barcode with the image scanner, convert this barcode into a character code with the character code conversion means, and then Since the image search means reads out the image data corresponding to the character code in the memory based on this character code, the desired image data is outputted by the output device.

Further, in the image processing device according to the second aspect of the invention, by individually reading the image and the OCR characters using the image scanner, a character code based on the OCR characters is added to the image data and stored in the memory. Also,
When desired image data is to be read out, an OCR character is read, and image data corresponding to this OCR character is read out.

Further, in the image processing device according to the third aspect of the invention, by reading the image and the mark card individually with the image scanner, a character code based on the mark card is added to the image data and stored in the memory.

Furthermore, if desired image data is to be read out, a mark card is read and the image data corresponding to this mark card is read out.

<Embodiment> 11 Disturbances FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to the first invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates the entire image processing apparatus, 2 is an image scanner, and 4 is a main processing unit that processes data read by the image scanner 2.

The image scanner 2 includes an imaging means 6 such as a CCD, a binarization circuit 8 that binarizes the image data taken by the imaging means 6, and a character code that converts the barcode imaged by the imaging means 6 into a character code. A code conversion means 10a, a mode setting means 12 comprising a setting switch that outputs a mode setting signal for respectively setting a code addition mode, an image search mode, and a parameter registration mode; Code conversion means 1
A switching section 14 is provided for switching the connection between Oa and a code adding means 16, which will be described later.

On the other hand, the main processing unit 4 is composed of a data buffer, etc., which adds a character code obtained based on a barcode to the binarized image data according to the code addition mode set by the mode setting means 12. code adding means 16,
Memory 1 for storing the output from this code adding means 16
8. An image search means 20 for searching and reading out image data from the memory 18 based on the barcode photographed by the imaging means 6 according to the image search mode set by the mode setting means 12; Output device 22 such as a CRT monitor or printer that displays the output image data
, and control for executing parameter registration processing in accordance with the output from the mode setting means 12, switching and controlling the switching section 14, and controlling the operations of the binarization circuit 8, the code adding means 16, and the image searching means 20. 24.

Next, regarding the operation of the image processing apparatus l having the above configuration, a second
This will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in the figure and FIG.

When barcode information is individually added to an image and stored, it is necessary to set parameters such as magnification, shading, and halftone display of the image read by the image scanner 2 in advance. To this end, first, when the power is turned on, a flag is set to "l" (step 91), and then a parameter registration mode setting signal is output from the mode setting means 12. This parameter registration mode setting signal is given to the control section 24. The control section 24 sends a switching signal to the switching section 14 in response to this parameter registration mode setting signal, and connects the binarization circuit 8 to the character code conversion means 10a (steps 82 to S4). Next, the image scanner 2 reads information on various parameters such as the magnification rate, shading, and halftone display of the barcoded image (
Step S5). The barcode information is converted into binary image data by the binarization circuit 8 and then sent to the character code conversion means 10a via the switching section 14. and,
The character code conversion means 10a converts the information of the read barcode into a corresponding character code for parameter setting. This character code data is then transferred to the control section 24 of the main body processing section 4 (step S6). The control unit 24 recognizes parameters such as image magnification and shading based on this character code (step S7).

When it is desired to add information such as a barcoded drawing number to the image data read by the imaging means 6, a code addition mode setting signal is generated from the mode setting means 12 and given to the control section 24 (step 5IO). , the control unit 24 is
It is determined whether the flag is "0" (step 5ll).

If the flag is "1", the connection of the switching unit 14 is switched in response to the code addition mode setting signal, and the binarization circuit 1
4 to the code adding means 16 (step 512).
.

Next, the image is read by the imaging means 6 of the image scanner 2 (step 513). After the image data is converted into binary image data by the binarization circuit 8, the switching unit 14
is transferred to the code adding means 16 on the main body processing section 4 side (step 514).

At this time, the control unit 24 controls the code adding means 16 to
The digitized image data is temporarily stored in the code addition means 16. Furthermore, the control unit 24 sets the flag to "0" (step S15).

Subsequently, the control section 24 determines whether the flag is "0" or not (step 5it), and if the flag is "0", switches the connection of the switching section 14 to switch the binarization circuit +4 to the character code conversion means 10a side. (step 516). Therefore, when the barcode is next read by the imaging means 6 of the image scanner 2 (step 517), the barcode is converted into binary image data by the binarization circuit 8, and then converted into character data via the switching unit 14. It is sent to the code conversion means 10 and converted into a corresponding character code. Then, the data of this character code is transferred to the code adding means 16 on the main body processing section 4 side (step S!8). In accordance with the timing, the control section 24 gives a code addition command to the code addition means 16, so that the code addition means 16 responds to this command.
A character code corresponding to the read barcode is added to the image data (step 519). The image data to which this character code has been added is stored in the next stage memory 18 by the control section 24.

On the other hand, when it is desired to read out desired image data using a barcode, the mode setting means 12 outputs an image search mode setting signal. When the control unit 24 recognizes this signal (step 520), the control unit 24 switches the switching unit 1 in response to this signal.
In step 521), the binarization circuit 8 is connected to the character code conversion means 10a. Next, when the barcode is read by the imaging means 6 of the image scanner 2 (step 522), the information of the barcode is converted into binary image data by the binarization circuit 8, and then
It is sent to the character code conversion means 10a via the switching section 14. Then, the character code conversion means 10a converts the information of the read barcode into a corresponding character code for parameter setting. The data of this character code is then transferred to the main body processing section 4. Depending on this timing, the control unit 24 gives a start command to the image search means 20, and in response, the image search means 20 generates image data corresponding to the character code in the memory 18 based on the input character code. is searched for (step 523).

Then, if image data corresponding to the character code exists, the image search means 20 reads out the image data (step 524), and sends the image data to the output device 22.
Transfer to. As a result, an image corresponding to the barcode read by the image scanner 2 is output to the output device 22 (step 525).

Embodiment 2 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to the second invention. The difference in configuration from the first embodiment is that a character code converting means 10b is provided for converting OCR characters imaged by the imaging means 6 of the image scanner 2 into character codes. Since the configuration of other parts is the same as in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1, and explanation of the configuration of each part will be omitted.

In the image processing apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
By reading information on various parameters such as enlargement ratio, shading, and halftone display of images that have been converted into OCR characters,
The control unit 24 can be made to recognize the parameters (step S4--step 87'').In addition, by reading the image and OCR characters individually with the image scanner 2, the image data can be recognized as 0Cr (based on the characters). Character codes are individually added and stored in the memory 18 (step SiO to step 519).

Further, when desired image data is to be read out, as in the case of the first embodiment, when an OCR character associated with the image is read, image data corresponding to this OCR character is read out (steps 320 to 32). 525).

Embodiment 3 FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to the third invention. The difference in configuration from the first embodiment is that the mark position detection means 9 detects the position of the mark card imaged by the image pickup means 6 of the image scanner 2;
A character code converting means 10c is provided for converting the position information of the mark card detected in the character code into a character code.

Since the configuration of other parts is the same as in the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the parts corresponding to those in FIG. 1, and explanation of the configuration of each part will be omitted.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the control unit 24 recognizes the parameters by reading information on various parameters such as image enlargement rate, shading, and halftone display written on the mark card. (Step S4-1 to Step S7-'). Further, by reading the image and the mark card individually with the image scanner 2, character codes based on the mark card are individually added to the image data and stored in the memory 18 (steps SIO to S19). ).

Further, if desired image data is to be read out, the mark card is read and the image data corresponding to this mark card is read out (steps 920 to 525).

<Effects of the Invention> According to the present invention, since a single image scanner can be used to read barcodes, OCR characters, mark cards, etc. and to read image information, it is possible to use a dedicated barcode reader and an image scanner. It is possible to construct a system that is superior in operability and is inexpensive compared to the case where the two are provided separately. Moreover, information based on barcodes, etc. is stored in memory in association with the read image information, so if you want to read out the desired image information, you can read the barcode, etc. with an image scanner without having to manually press a key. Image information can be retrieved instantly. Therefore, the complexity of manual key operation is reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show embodiments of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing device according to the first invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the device in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a procedure for outputting image data of the apparatus. 4 is a block diagram of an image processing device according to the second invention, FIG. 5 is a flowchart explaining the operation of the device in FIG. 4, and FIG.
The figure is a block diagram of an image processing device according to the third invention;
This figure is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. l...Image processing device, 2...Image scanner, 4
- Main body processing unit, 6... Imaging means, 8... Binarization circuit, 9... Mark position detection means, l Oa, l Ob
, l Oc character code conversion means, 12... Mode setting means, 14... Switching section, 16... Code adding means, 18... Memory, 20... Image searching means, 22.
...Output device. Figure 3

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Consists of an image scanner and a main processing unit that processes data read by the image scanner, and the image scanner includes an imaging means such as a CCD, and binarizes the image data taken by the imaging means. A binarization circuit, a character code converting means for converting a barcode imaged by the imaging means into a character code, and a mode setting means for setting a code addition mode and an image search mode, respectively; , a code addition means for adding a character code obtained based on a barcode to the binarized image data according to the code addition mode set by the mode setting means; and an output from the code addition means. an image search means for searching and reading out image data from the memory based on a barcode photographed by the imaging means according to an image search mode set by the mode setting means; An image processing device comprising an output device that outputs read image data. (2) Consisting of an image scanner and a main processing unit that processes data read by the image scanner, the image scanner includes an imaging means such as a CCD, and binarizes the image data taken by the imaging means. A binarization circuit, a character code converting means for converting OCR characters imaged by the imaging means into a character code, and a mode setting means for respectively setting a code addition mode and an image search mode; , a code addition means for adding a character code obtained based on OCR characters to the binarized image data according to the code addition mode set by the mode setting means; an output from the code addition means; a memory for storing image data, an image search means for searching and reading out image data from the memory based on OCR characters photographed by the image pickup means according to an image search mode set by the mode setting means; An image processing device comprising an output device that outputs read image data. (3) Consisting of an image scanner and a main body processing unit that processes data read by the image scanner, the image scanner includes an imaging means such as a CCD, and binarizes the image data taken by the imaging means. a binarization circuit, a mark position detection means for detecting the position of the mark card imaged by the image pickup means, a character code conversion means for converting the position information of the mark card detected by the mark position detection means into a character code; The main processing unit includes a mode setting means for respectively setting a code addition mode and an image search mode, and the main body processing section marks the binarized image data according to the code addition mode set by the mode setting means. a code addition means for adding a character code obtained based on the card; a memory for storing the output from the code addition means; a mark photographed by the imaging means according to the image search mode set by the mode setting means; An image processing device comprising: an image search unit that searches and reads image data from the memory based on a card; and an output device that outputs the image data read by the image search unit.