JPH0423073A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To read the images at a high speed and with high reliability by photographing the documents and slips produced in a large quantity in a microfilm at a high speed and then converting these photographed documents and slips into a medium like an optical disk, etc. CONSTITUTION:The output signals of an image reading element 16 are stored in a bit map memory 22 and then sent to a data extracting circuit 23. Then the signals covering the time point when a bar code signal is detected out of a digital signal through the rear end of one line are sent to a bar code decoder 24 and analyzed there. If the same data is detected repetitively in the decided frequency after the preceding processing is repeated for each line, the detected data is held as the read data. When a reading operation equivalent to one frame of a microimage is over, the data are read out of the memory 22 for each line and compressed. These compressed data are recorded in a disk 27. Then the recorded data are sampled and therefore a bar code is surely read out.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image processing device for storing and archiving a single document.

[Prior art] Conventionally, in order to reduce the storage space for documents, etc., which are generated in large violets, image information has been stored on microfilm or magnetic/
The information is stored on a magneto-optical disk or the like.

By the way, from an information management perspective, it is necessary to input an index corresponding to each piece of information in order to enable easy access (search) to this stored information at a later date. I was spending a huge amount of time working on it.

Therefore, as a means to solve this problem, a method is known in which code information to be used as an index is given to the sentence S''2, and this code information is read by a scanner, and at the same time the document is photographed.

Scanners used include bar food scanners for reading bar codes, MICR5 for reading magnetic characters, and OCR for reading general characters.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a simple example of an apparatus employing such a conventional method.

In this device, an original 100 such as a document with a barcode attached as index information is transferred to rollers 101 and 1.
02 and 103 and a belt 104, the sheets are transported one by one toward the paper discharge tray 108, and the barcode scanner 105 reads the index information.

The camera 107 captures the image of the document 100 that has reached the photographing unit 106.
Photographed and recorded on microfilm.

Here, the read index information is transferred to the computer.

At this time, as shown in FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b), the frame number of each image frame 110 of the microfilm 109 and the read index information are recorded in the memory of the computer as index data so that they correspond to each other for each document. is,
By using index data recorded in this memory.

At a later date, it becomes possible to easily and reliably search for the desired image frame on the microfilm.

Incidentally, as an example of this, U.S. Patent No. 4゜283.6
There is No. 21.

-On the other hand, electronic file devices that use a COD as an image reading element in the photographing section and an optical disk as a recording device have been attracting attention in recent years.

Here, if we compare the processing speeds of the following devices, generally speaking.

Micro camera〉Code scanner≧Electronic file device becomes.

Problems that IJI from R-IJI is trying to solve] Therefore, 1. For example, in the conventional device shown in Figure E16, there is a difference between the reading speed of the barcode scanner and the speed of photographing the document with the rotary camera. . This difference depends on the size of the document, but in general.

Micro camera-scanner x (2-3).

Therefore, the processing speed of a microfilm device with a scanner is determined by the scanner.

Further, with a scanner having a normal reading speed, the method of reading a barcode and confirming the data is as follows: (1) Scan the /<- code two or more times and confirm when the data matches.

(2) Scan the barcode three or more times and confirm when two consecutive images match.

(3) Scan the barcode three or more times and confirm by majority logic.

etc. to improve reliability.

On the other hand, since most high-speed scanners determine data in one scan, the reliability or correct reading rate of read data is low.

Currently, it is difficult to obtain highly reliable code scanners that have the same processing power as rotary micro cameras. Moreover, even if it is available, it is expensive.

Also, when comparing the reading speeds of image scanners and code scanners, it is not possible to make a definitive conclusion as it varies depending on various conditions, but it is a trend.

It becomes a code scanner and an image scanner. However, if the code scanner is a pen scanner,
There is a possibility of reversal.

By the way, when comparing microfilm and optical discs, it can be said that microfilms generally allow high-speed input and are suitable for long-term storage, while optical discs are dry processed and easy to use.

For this reason, a composite system employing both microfilm and optical disks has been proposed. In other words, microfilm is used for storage, and optical discs are used for searching and other purposes.

As mentioned above, it is considered effective to combine microfilm, optical disc, and code scanner, but
If they are simply combined, the processing speed of the device will be determined by the processing speed of the slowest device due to the difference in processing speed as mentioned above.If you try to avoid this, each device will be expensive. turn into.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device that can easily combine microfilms, optical discs, etc. and read them at high speed and with high reliability.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a reading means for reading a microfilm on which an original is photographed, a digital image signal processing means for signal processing an image read by the reading means, and an image processed by the processing means. The present invention is characterized by comprising a signal extracting means for extracting code data from a signal, a decoding means for decoding the signal extracted by the signal extracting means, and a recording means for recording the data decoded by the decoding means.

The present invention also provides a reading means for reading the microfilm on which the original is photographed, a digital image signal processing means for signal processing the image read by the reading means, and a code data from the image signal processed by the processing means. A signal extraction means for extracting a signal, a decoding means for decoding the signal extracted by the signal extraction means, a data compression means for compressing the image signal from the signal processing means, and an image data compressed by the data compression means. It is characterized by having a first recording means for recording on a recording medium, and a second recording means for recording data decoded by the decoding means.

[Operation J] In the present invention, documents generated in large quantities are microfilmed using a high-speed rotary camera. After the development process has been completed, the microfilm is sent to a microfilm scanner and read electronically. This electronic signal is subjected to appropriate processing and recorded on, for example, an optical disc.

In this way, in the present invention, the processing can be separated before and after recording on microfilm and conversion processing on optical disc etc., and there is no need for the recording means and the reading means to be temporally continuous, so high-speed reading and Highly reliable reading becomes possible.

Although the total processing time is shorter than the conventional method, unmanned operation is possible because the code can be read after converting it to a medium that is easier to handle than paper itself.

In addition to shortening the actual processing time, it can also save labor.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image recording system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The basic structure consists of a photographing section A that records the original on microfilm and a reading section B that reads the code from the microfilm.
It consists of

In FIG. 1, a document P is given code information l (for example, a barcode).

The photographing section A is provided with a paper feed section 2 on which a document P is loaded. Further, in a position adjacent to the paper feed section 2, there is provided a conveying means for conveying the documents P on the paper feed section 2 one by one from the bottom to the photographing section 5. This conveyance means includes rollers 3a and 3b.
The stretched belt 4 contacts the roller 3a (reverse rotation)
It consists of roller 3C.

On this conveying means, there is a photographing camera 6 as a recording means for photographing the original P in the photographing section 5 onto a film 7.
is installed. On the downstream side of the conveying means in the conveying direction, a paper discharge stacker 8 for placing photographed originals P is provided.

The photographed/developed microfilm is shown as F in Figure 2. This microfilm 9 includes a reduced image of the original P (
An image) 10 and a mark 11 called a blip for specifying the image position are recorded. Of course, the code information 1 is also recorded as the reduced image 12.

Is the photographed/developed microfilm worth 1M? In order to make the process as unmanned as possible, it is loaded into a cartridge as shown by C in Figure 1. The microfilm loaded in the magazine is then attached to the medium converting section B.

The medium conversion section B consists of a film transport means, a film image reading means, a code decoding means, and an image recording means.

The microfilm conveyance means includes a roller for sending out the microfilm 9, a glass pressure plate (both not shown), a take-up reel 13 for winding up the film, and the like.

The microfilm image reading means includes a light source 14 that illuminates the microfilm 9 and a condenser lens (not shown).
, a projection lens 15, an image reading element I6, an A/D signal processing circuit 21, a bitmap memory 22, and the like.

The code decoding means includes a data extraction circuit 23 and a decoder 24.
The image recording means includes an image data compression circuit 2
5. Disk control circuit 26. It consists of disk 27.

Further, the entire system is controlled by a microcomputer 28.

Each of the circuits and functional means 21 to 28 except for the disk 27 is connected to a pass line 29.

FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional configuration diagram of the microfilm scanner section in the medium conversion section B. As shown in FIG.

In this medium converting section B, the microfilm 9 is transferred until the blip marks 11 are detected by the sensor 17, and by sequentially counting the blip marks 11, a count corresponding to the desired micro image IO is obtained.

Then, when the count number corresponding to the desired micro image 10 is obtained, the micro film 9 is stopped, and the rotation axis L continues to be reflected once until the upper end of the micro image 10 is projected onto the image reading element 16. (indicated by a broken line) as the axis. Subsequently, the reflecting mirror 30 rotates in the opposite direction and scans the micro image 10.

The scanned micro image signal is amplified by an amplifier 18, converted from an analog signal to a digital signal by an A/D converter 19, and then subjected to image processing such as edge enhancement in an image signal processing section 20, and then processed by a pass line. Sent on 29th. This process is approximately synchronized with the rotational angular velocity of the rotating reflecting mirror 30.

In the case of this embodiment, sub-scanning is performed using one rotating mirror 30, but there are many methods of combining two mirrors, and the present invention is not limited to the use of other methods. .

Next, the output signal of the image reading element 16 is stored in the bitmap memory 22. This signal is also sent to the data extraction circuit 23 at the same time.

When the extraction circuit 23 detects a signal that seems to be a barcode from among the digital signals, it sends the signal from that point to the rear end of one line to the eight-code decoder 24 for signal analysis. is a white run, a black run, a white run, and the first white run is three times the black run or more.

If this condition is met, one character is decoded according to a predetermined rule using the black run as the length reference, and if this is successful, the decoding is continued,
If it fails, the above-mentioned barcode-like signal is detected again, and decoding is repeated until the end of the line. This process is repeated for each line, and if the same data is detected a predetermined number of times, reading date
It is retained as a data file. When the reading of one frame of the microimage is completed, the data is read line by line from the bitmap memory 22, data is compressed according to rules determined by the compression circuit 25, and this compressed data is recorded on the disk 27. Further, data held in the decoder 24 before and after this is also recorded and becomes index data.

For example, in the case of a standard barcode with a narrow bar of 0.31 squares, the frequency is set to twice the frequency of the narrow bar (1 square square divided by 0.3 layers) in consideration of image deterioration due to microfilm.

1mm÷0.3mmX2=6.67pe1.

By adding the well-known sampling theorem to this, it becomes possible to reliably read barcodes at a sampling frequency twice as high as 6.67pe1.

Therefore, it can be seen that in this example, if an image sensor equivalent to 16 pels is used, it is sufficiently possible to read the code information from the micro image.

In this embodiment, the code added to one document is described as a barcode, but the code is not limited to this, and OCR characters can be similarly applied. However, in the case of OCR characters, it is difficult to extract them from a single document, so the location where the OCR characters are recorded is decided in advance, and the above extraction circuit sends the data at that location to the decoder (OCR). become.

In addition, in the case of the above embodiment, the barcode is located parallel to the longitudinal direction of a horizontally long document such as a slip, and the long side and the conveyance direction are at right angles, and the image scanning direction and the barcode are located at right angles to each other as shown in FIG. The direction in which the cords are lined up is parallel. However, in the case of a vertically long document (for example, A4 vertical type), the barcode is usually positioned parallel to the short side, and as in the first embodiment, the long side is perpendicular to the conveyance direction, and the image scanning direction and the barcode are positioned parallel to each other. The direction in which they are lined up is at right angles.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the conveyance direction and the barcode arrangement direction.

This figure shows the state in which a document is conveyed to the photographing unit 5 by the belt 4, where arrow X represents the conveyance direction, and FIG. 5(a) is an example of a slip in the first embodiment.
FIG. 5(b) is an example of an A4 size document.

Barcode reading is not possible in the state shown in FIG. 5(b).

Therefore, in the second embodiment, such inconvenience is solved.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an image recording system according to a second embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a three-dimensional representation of a microfilm scanner section in the second embodiment.

Note that since the second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, only the differences will be emphasized in the explanation.

As described above, as a result of the barcode and the document conveyance direction being parallel to each other, a film as shown by F in FIG. 3 is produced.

If this film were to be read as is, the scanning direction and the direction in which the barcodes are lined up would be at right angles, making decoding impossible. After being stored in the map memory 22a, perform an image rotation process;
Rotate the recorded image data on the bitmap memory.

Image data rotation formula.

Y=cosA*y-si　nAax X=sinAay+cosA@x , especially when rotated by 90 degrees, Y=-x, X=y becomes.

The rotationally scanned image signal is stored in the bitmap memory 2.
It is stored in 2b. From here, one line at a time, the decoder 24
The signal is sent to the station for signal analysis. At the same time, it is sent to the compression circuit 25.

The subsequent steps are the same as in the first embodiment.

Note that whether the signal before vertical/horizontal conversion is used as image data or the signal after conversion is used as image data is preferably determined depending on the direction in which the document can be observed in its normal position.

In addition, in the second embodiment, if data is obtained by decoding without performing rotational scanning, the bitmap memory 2
The content of 2a is processed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and if data cannot be obtained, it is processed as in the second embodiment.Furthermore, poems for which data cannot be obtained are processed as having no barcode. It is also possible to do By doing so, it becomes possible to process originals containing slips/documents.

Further, in the first and second embodiments, the image information and code data are recorded on the same recording medium, but it is also effective to record them on separate media.

For example, recording a large amount of image data requires a large number of disks, so in order to see the entire disk, it is desirable to record code data as index data on a separate medium from the image data.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, documents/slips that are generated in large quantities are first photographed at high speed on microfilm, and then converted from the microfilm to a medium such as an optical disk, thereby achieving high-speed photographing/unmanned conversion and significant improvements. Rationalization can be achieved.

Furthermore, it is possible to construct a document management system that approaches the ideal by storing data on microfilm and utilizing optical discs. Note that this method is also effective when only creating an index file without converting to an optical disc or the like.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an image recording system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional configuration diagram of the microfilm scanner section in the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an image recording system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a three-dimensional configuration diagram of the microfilm scanner section in the second embodiment. FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b) are schematic diagrams showing the relationship between the microfilm transport direction and the barcode arrangement direction in each of the above embodiments. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a device δ employing a conventional method. FIG. 7(a) is a schematic diagram showing the microfilm in the above conventional example. FIG. 7(b) is a schematic diagram showing the correspondence between piece numbers and index information in the conventional example. 1...Barcode, 5...Photography department, 9...Microfilm, 11...Blip, 14...Light source. 15... Projection lens, 16... Image reading element, 17... Blip sensor. 18...Amplifier, 19...A/D conversion base, 0...Image processing grip, 2...Bitmap memory, 3...Data extraction circuit, 4...Decoder. 5...Data compression circuit, 6...Disk control unit. 7... Optical disk, 8... Micro pro sensor, 9... Pass line, O... Rotating reflector. l... Image rotation circuit.

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A reading means for reading the microfilm on which the original is photographed; A digital image signal processing means for signal-processing the image read by this reading means; A signal for extracting code data from the image signal processed by this processing means An image processing apparatus comprising: an extracting means; a decoding means for decoding the signal extracted by the signal extracting means; and a recording means for recording the data decoded by the decoding means. (2) A reading means for reading the microfilm on which the original was photographed; A digital image signal processing means for signal-processing the image read by this reading means; A signal for extracting code data from the image signal processed by this processing means extraction means; decoding means for decoding the signal extracted by the signal extraction means; data compression means for compressing the image signal from the signal processing means; storing the image data compressed by the data compression means on a recording medium. An image processing apparatus comprising: first recording means for recording; and second recording means for recording data decoded by the decoding means. (3) The image processing apparatus according to claim (2), further comprising a rotation means for rotating the image information read by the reading means.