JPH03224355A - image input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the need for a rotary encoder of rotary structure and to make a scanner section drastically small in size by detecting a moving position of an image sensor through the electric signal processing with scale information. CONSTITUTION:A scale body 10 is positioned and placed on an original face 30 so that a picture of an original face 30 to be read enters in a picture read window 2, and an operation section 22 is gripped and a scanner section 20 is moved along a guide hole 11. Picture information and scale information representing a pitch read from a scale 13 are stored tentatively in a RAM. After the end of read, a central processing unit reads the picture information (g) and the scale information (m) from the RAM and corrects the scale information (m) into scale information M of the original pitch (equal interval) based on a program of a program ROM and the picture information (g) is corrected into the original picture information G corresponding to the scale information M.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to an image input device used for manually scanning an image of a document or the like and directly inputting the image into a device such as a personal computer or a word processor.

[Conventional technology]

A manual scanning image input device, generally referred to as an image scanner, is equipped with a scanner section that manually scans the surface of a document. Conventionally, this scanner section includes an image reading section consisting of an optical system and an image sensor, and a It has a built-in rotary encoder as shown. This rotary encoder is built into the scanner section on the document surface side.
As the scanner section moves, the rubber roller 1 rotates on the surface of the document to read the image. This rotation is transmitted to the slit disk 3 via the rubber belt 2. A plurality of slits 3a are arranged radially and at equal intervals in the slit disk 3, and a transmission slit body 5 is provided in the slit disk 3.
A transmissive photointerrupter 4 is disposed opposite to the photointerrupter 4. The transmission type photo ink converter 4 has a slit disk 3
．． Based on the light pulses received through each slit of the transmission slit body 5, a detection signal representing the movement position of the scanner section is output. Then, in synchronization with this detection signal, the image information read by the image sensor of the image reading section is input to a device such as a personal computer. By synchronizing with the detection signal representing the moving position of the scanner section in this manner, image information can be input stably even when the scanning speed of the scanner section is not constant.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, since the rotary encoder is a mechanical rotation mechanism using the rubber roller 1, the slit disk 3, etc., the rubber roller 1 and the slit disk 3 may be affected by the expansion and contraction of the rubber belt 2 for transmitting the rotation, and when high resolution is achieved. Due to the decrease in the accuracy of the rotation ratio, the detection accuracy of the moving position is not high,
There is a drawback that image information cannot be entered very accurately. Furthermore, since the rotary encoder itself has a large volume, there is a problem that it is not suitable for a hand-held image scanner. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an image input device that can detect the moving position of a scanner section with high precision, and that can be simplified in configuration and significantly reduced in size.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the image processing apparatus of the present invention manually scans a scanner unit containing an image sensor along the surface of a document, and personalizes image information representing an image optically read by the image sensor. An image input device for inputting data to a device such as a computer, wherein the scanner section is a ruler having an image reading window extending in one direction on the bottom surface and having scales at a predetermined pitch on the edge of the image reading window. The image sensor is provided on the body so as to be movable along the direction in which the image reading window extends, with the image sensor facing the image reading window and the scale, and image information read by the image sensor through the image reading window. and a memory for temporarily storing scale information indicating the pitch read from the scale at the edge of the image reading window; The present invention is characterized by comprising an image correction processing means for correcting the image information in accordance with the correction of the image information. Preferably, the scale of the ruler is formed by a line inclined at a certain angle with respect to the direction in which the image reading window extends. Skate is scanner part Suka is C! ? ! It is preferable to provide a switch that is activated when the integrated scanner section moves to the end of the image reading window.

[Effect]

Image reading is performed as follows. First, a ruler is placed on the document and positioned so that the cut image to be read falls within the image reading window. Next, when the scanner unit is manually moved along the image reading window of the ruler, the image sensor sequentially optically reads the images in the image reading window as the scanner unit moves. At the same time, the scale attached to the edge of the image reading window is also read, and the read image information and scale information are temporarily stored in a memory. After the reading is completed, the image correction processing means performs signal processing to correct the scale information that has expanded or contracted due to variations in the moving speed of the scanner section to the original pitch, and also processes the image information in response to the correction of the scale information. Correct the expansion and contraction of. Therefore, the image information is accurately restored to its original state on the document surface. This restored image information is then manually input to a personal computer or the like. In this way, in this image input device, the moving position of the image sensor is detected by electrical signal processing using the scale information, so the detection accuracy is significantly higher than that by conventional mechanical mechanisms. increases. Additionally, since a rotary encoder with a rotating structure is not required, the scanner section can be significantly downsized. In addition, when the image reading window consists of a line inclined at a certain angle with respect to the extending direction, the scale of the ruler is corrected by returning the diagonal line read by the image sensor to the line at the original angle. , the correction accuracy of scale information increases. Therefore, the above image information is corrected with even higher precision. Further, when the scanner section or the ruler body is provided with a switch that is activated when the scanner section or the ruler moves to the end of the image reading window, the scanner section is scanned along the extending direction of the image reading window. Sometimes, it is detected that image reading is completed by turning the switch on or off. Therefore, the image reading procedure becomes simple.

【Example】

Hereinafter, the image input device of the present invention will be explained in detail using examples. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 respectively show a plane and a longitudinal section of a scanner section and a ruler that constitute an image input device of one embodiment.
The figure shows the signal processing system of the human-powered image device. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ruler 10 has a rectangular box shape that is long from side to side, and has a guide hole 11 on the top surface and an image reading window 12 on the bottom surface along the longitudinal direction. It is being A movement position detection scale 13 is provided on the edge of the image reading window 12 in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The pitch (i.e. resolution) of scale 13 is 1m
m, and the full scale is 50 mm. The scanner section 20 is installed in the upper part of the casing 21 or in the kite hole 1.
1 is an operating section (portion to be grasped by the operator) 22 that protrudes to the outside and is attached to the ruler 10 so as to be movable along the nozzle hole 11. Inside the scanner unit 20, there is a light emitting diode 23 for projecting light. An optical reading mechanism consisting of a condensing lens 24 and an image sensor 25 for reading an image is disposed so as to face the image in the image reading window 12 and the scale 13 . The signal processing system shown in FIG.
There are 8. CPU26 is a program ROM
The entire device is controlled according to a program stored in 27, which will be described later. Furthermore, the light emitting diode 23 is turned on at regular intervals to irradiate the image of the document surface 30 with modulated light, and the image of the document surface 30 and the scale 13 on the edge of the optical reading window 12 of the ruler 10 are visualized. The sensor 25 is made to read optically. The RAM 28 is the image sensor 25
It is possible to temporarily store image information representing the image read from the document surface 30 and scale information representing the pitch read from the scale 13. This image input device generally operates as follows. First, the operator positions the ruler 10 and places it on the document surface 30 so that the edge image to be read on the document surface 30 falls within the image reading window 12 . Subsequently, the user grasps the operating section 22 and moves the scanner section 20 along the guide hole 11 to the right in FIG. 2. Then, as the light emitting diode 23 moves, the modulated light from the light emitting diode 23 is reflected by the document surface 30 within the image reading window 12, and the reflected light corresponding to the image on the document surface 30 is focused by the lens 24. This reflected light is captured by the image sensor 25 in synchronization with the light emission of the light emitting diode 23 under the control of the CPU 26, and the image within the image reading window 12 is sequentially read and scanned optically. At the same time, the scale 13 is read in the same way, and the image information and scale information representing the pitch read from the scale 13 are temporarily stored in the RAM 28. Specifically, the scanner unit 20 or the ruler body 1
When scanning from the left end of 0 to the right, as shown in FIG.
(corresponding to the image line) is read (step S). Then, it is determined whether the read portion of the scale 13 is white or black (step S2). When it is determined that it is black, the process returns to step S1 and one line of image data is read again, while when it is determined that it is white, the count n is set to 0 (step S3). The count n represents the number of scales that have been scanned among the scales 13, and a full scale of 50 mm is n-50.
corresponds to Next, the CPO 26 reads one line of image data in synchronization with the built-in system clock, in other words, regardless of the scanning speed of the scanner section 20 (step S4
). Subsequently, this image data is stored in the RAM 2B (step S5), and it is determined whether the read portion of the scale 13 is white or black (step S6). If it is determined that it is white, the process returns to step S4 and one line of image data is read again. On the other hand, when it is determined that the image is black, one line of image data is read in synchronization with the system clock at a point where the scanner section 20 has advanced in scanning (Step S7), and this image data is stored in the RAM 28 ( Step SO). Then, it is determined whether the read portion of the scale 13 is white or black (step S8). When it is determined that it is black, the process returns to step S7 and one line of image data is read again, while when it is determined that it is white, 1 is added to the value of count n (step S, ). Next, determine whether the count n is 50 or more (
Step S1. ), when n is 50, the process returns to step S4 to read the next line of image data, while n
When ≧50, it is determined that scanning is completed and reading is terminated. Here, as shown in FIG. 4(a), the image information g and scale information m temporarily stored in the RAM 28 are expanded or contracted due to variations in the scanning speed of the scanner unit 20, and are different from the original information. It has been transformed. For example, as shown in FIG. 5(a), the m=5th black area of the scale information m is counted as the number of image lines and is C-1! , only the duty continues. Further, on the right side of the above-mentioned black area, the white area continues for (l = Q, the number of books, and the black area at m = 6th continues for the length of Q - 123 books. 26 is RAM
The image information g and scale information m are read out from 28, and based on the program in the program ROM 27, the scale information m is corrected to the original pitch information M (equally spaced) as shown in FIG. 4(b). Along with this scale information M
Corresponding to this, the image information g is corrected to the original image information G as shown in FIG. 4(b). Specifically, when reading is completed, as shown in FIG. 7, a count n and a count Q are initialized (set to zero) (step 512).
). Note that the value of Q here represents the number of image lines whose contents have been determined. Next, it is determined whether the content of the scale information m of the image line at address O is white or black (step 513). When it is determined that the color is black, advance the address of the image line by one and add 1 to the value of Q.
Tough 4-17 Nino 1 Tuba Button nV, L* Spindle - β Mountain Tsuyuki will be judged. This judgment is made until one black area is reached.
That is, the process continues until the content of the scale information m of the image line is determined to be white (step 514). When it is determined that the content of scale information m is white, the value of C at that time (denoted as Qol) is divided by lO, and the quotient is converted into an integer (rounded down to the nearest decimal point) to obtain an integer value. 1
Find nt(f2o/10) (Step S1.). Here, the number "10" by which the value of Q is divided is set to C-10 by counting the pi-nochi of the scale information M after correction using image lines, as shown in FIG. 5(b). It corresponds to that. Once, the value of the above quotient (Q0/10) is
It represents how many times the scale information m or the scale information M has increased. Next, step S1 in FIG.
As shown in 6, the content has been determined. Among the image lines of the book, the image information g of the image line whose address corresponds to a multiple of the above-mentioned integer value 1 nt (C./10) is saved, while the image information g of the remaining image lines is erased (step S, 6). That is, by thinning out the image information g that is extended with respect to the scale information m or the scale information M, the corrected image information G is obtained.
It constitutes. Next, the value of the count g is initialized (step sl□). Then, regarding the white area following the black area of the scale information m, the image information g is corrected in exactly the same procedure as for the black area to form image information G (steps S18 to S521). When the correction of one black area of scale information m and one white area following this black area (and correction of image information g) is completed, 1 is added to the value of count n and the count θ is initialized. do(
Step S, 2). At this point, it is determined whether the value of n is 50 or more (step 523), and if n<50, the process returns to step S13 to correct the next black area of the scale information m, while n When the value becomes ≧50, image correction is ended. In this way, the image information G can be accurately restored to its original state. The restored image information G can be input as is into a personal computer or the like. This image input device is the image sensor 25.
Since the movement position is detected by electrical signal processing using the scale information, it can be detected with much higher precision than detection using a conventional mechanical mechanism. Further, a rotary encoder having a rotating structure can be eliminated, and the scanner section 20 can therefore be significantly downsized. Note that the pitch of the scale 13 is 1 m as shown in Figure 1.
m, but is not limited to this. If the pitch is made denser than 1 mm, image information can be corrected with even higher precision. In addition, the scale 13 is attached to the image reading window 12 so as to form a line diagonal to the image reading window 12 at an angle of 45 degrees, as shown by the dashed line 113 in FIG. By performing correction to return to the original line, image information can be corrected with extremely high precision. The pitch and inclination of the scale 13 at this time may be appropriately selected according to the specifications of the apparatus. Further, as shown in FIG.
A switch 40 may be provided that is activated when moved to the end of 2. When this switch 4° is located at both the left and right ends of the scanner section 20 or the kite hole 11, the contact piece 40a is released and turned off, while when it is located at the center of the scanner section 20 or the kite hole 11, the contact piece 40a or the kite hole is turned off. 11 edge 11a
It is designed to turn on when it comes into contact with. In this case, the image reader +1 [ji shown in FIG. 6 can be simplified as shown in FIG. 9. That is, first, the CPU 26 determines whether the switch 40 is on or off (step S
,o,). Then, one line of imager is read only when switch 40 is on (step, switch).
, , ), the read imesitator is stored in the RAM 28 (step 5lo3). Next, switch 40
When the switch 40 is on, reading of the imagetator is continued, while when the switch 40 is off (i.e., when the scanner unit 20 comes to the right end of the kite hole 11) ) finishes reading. In this way, you can read images with simple steps. Note that the switch 40 may be provided in the scanner section 20, but is not limited thereto. For example, a limit, a tosui, and a chi may be provided at both left and right ends of the ruler 1o, and the limits, toss, and chi may be turned off (or turned on) only when the scanner section 20 or the left and right ends of the guide hole 11 are reached. good.

【Effect of the invention】

As is clear from the above, the image sensor of the present invention detects the moving position of the image sensor only by electrical signal processing, and therefore has much higher detection accuracy than detection using conventional mechanical mechanisms. Even when the resolution is high, accurate input images can be stably obtained. Furthermore, since a rotary encoder having a rotating structure is not required, the scanner section can be significantly downsized, and the cost can be reduced due to the simplification of the configuration. In addition, when the image reading window consists of a line inclined at a certain angle with respect to the extending direction, the scale of the ruler is corrected by returning the diagonal line read by the image sensor to the line at the original angle. It is possible to improve the accuracy of correction of scale information. Therefore, image information can be corrected with even higher precision. Furthermore, if the scanner section or the ruler is provided with a switch that is activated when the scanner section moves to the end of the image reading window, the completion of image reading can be detected by turning the switch on or off. , it is possible to simplify the image reading procedure.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a scanner section and a ruler body constituting an image input device according to embodiments of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the scanner section and ruler body, and FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the above image input device A block diagram showing the signal processing system of
) and (b) are diagrams showing image information and scale information before and after correction, respectively. Figures 5 (a) and (b) are diagrams showing the state in which scale information is corrected. Figure 6 is a diagram showing image reading. 7 is a diagram showing a procedure for correcting image information, FIG. 8' is a diagram showing a modified example of the scanner section and ruler body, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a modified example of the scanner section and ruler body of the above modified example. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a moving position detecting means of a conventional image input device. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Ruler, 11... Guide hole, 12... Image reading window, 13... Movement position detection scale, 20... Scanner section, 21... Casing, 22. Operation section, 23
...Light emitting diode, 24...Condensing lens,
25...image sensor, 26...cpu. 27...Program ROM, 28...RAM. 30・Document surface, 40・Switch, 113...diagonal line.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) An image input device that manually scans a scanner unit containing an image sensor along the surface of a document and inputs image information representing an image optically read by the image sensor to a device such as a personal computer. , The scanner unit is configured to attach the image sensor to a ruler body having an image reading window extending in one direction on the bottom surface and having scales at a predetermined pitch on the edge of the image reading window. The image reading window is provided so as to be movable along the extending direction of the image reading window while facing the scale, and the image sensor reads the image information read through the image reading window and from the scale on the edge of the image reading window. a memory for temporarily storing scale information representing a pitch; and an image for correcting the scale information stored in the memory so as to represent a predetermined pitch, and correcting the image information in accordance with the correction of the scale information. An image input device comprising a correction processing means. (2) The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the scanner section or the ruler body is provided with a switch that is activated when the scanner section moves to an end of the image reading window.