JPH057290A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make coordinate systems in both prescanning and main scanning coincide with each other and to accurately perform image processing to a designated area with the main scanning. CONSTITUTION:In an image processor detecting an arbitrary designated area on an original with a first scan and performing a planned processing in the designated area with a second scan following the first scan, a black mark 22a having constant relative position to the original 20 is provided within a reading range 26 by an optical system, and at the time of second scanning, the coordinate system is corrected so that the coordinates of the black mark 22a detected in the first scanning can coincide with those of the black mark 22a detected in the second scanning.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus having an editing function for designating an arbitrary area on a document and extracting or erasing image information in the area. is there.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Without cutting and pasting an original, only an image in a desired area on the original is extracted and selectively copied, or an original in which only the image in the area is selectively erased is created. 2. Description of the Related Art A copying machine having an editing function and a facsimile machine having an editing function for selectively transferring only extracted images are widely used.

In an apparatus having such a structure, the method of specifying the area to be extracted or erased and the method of detecting the area have a great influence on the ease of use and accuracy of the apparatus.

Up to now, the target area is designated by once reading a document and outputting it on a display device, and then using appropriate means such as a cursor, a light pen and a mouse, at four corners of the area or at two opposite corners. However, due to the complicated operation, various methods have been proposed in recent years.

For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. Sho 58-194462, a desired designated area is designated by partitioning it into a color of a wavelength having a relatively low energy level such as blue, and the detection thereof is performed at the time of image reading. A method has been proposed which is performed by detecting a read signal corresponding to a wavelength having a low energy level.

Further, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-159570, a desired designated area is designated by partitioning or painting with a line marker or the like, and the detection is performed by detecting the image density of each part of the document and detecting the density. If is included in the predetermined range, a method of determining the area surrounded by the density as the designated area is proposed.

On the other hand, in order to specify a desired designated area on the original with a marker pen and selectively extract or erase only the image information of the designated area, the area surrounded by the marker pen is used. Scan to identify (below,
Prescan) and scanning for detecting the image information in the identified area and executing the scheduled processing (hereinafter, referred to as
At least two scans (referred to as main scan) are required.

Hereinafter, a method of performing a scheduled process on the image information in the designated area by scanning twice will be briefly described.

An optical system provided with a halogen lamp for exposing a document and a line sensor for detecting the reflected light thereof is
The sub-scanning is performed by driving the stepper motor, and the sub-scanning position is the first position for detecting the supply pulse to the stepper motor.
Monitored by the address counter. The main scanning position of the line sensor is monitored by the second address counter.

In such a configuration, when a marker pen designating a designated area is detected during prescan,
The count values of the first and second address counters that represent the coordinates are stored.

During the main scan, the coordinates given by the first and second address counters are compared with the stored coordinates. If they match, the image information at that time is the image information in the designated area. Recognize that there is and execute the scheduled process.

Regarding performing the scanning twice in the image processing, for example, before the main scanning,
A technique for executing a prescan for detecting the document size is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-194246.

[0013]

As described above, in the method of detecting the designated area by the pre-scan and detecting the image information of the detected designated area by the main scan, in each scan, the sub-scanning position and the first scan position are detected. Must be in agreement with the sub-scanning position given by the count value of the address counter.

Therefore, in the prior art, a physical reference point of the optical system which can be detected by the sensor is set, and the first and second address counters count with reference to the reference point.

However, the stepper motor for driving the optical system may be out of order or out of step for some reason, or due to looseness of the drive system due to deterioration over time, etc., the reference point may be recognized at the pre-scan and main scan positions. When the shift occurs, there is a problem that the image information of the designated area is not accurately extracted or erased.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art and to provide an image processing apparatus capable of accurately editing image information in a designated area.

[0017]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, an arbitrary designated area on a document is detected by a first scan, and the designated area is detected by a subsequent second scan. In an image processing apparatus for performing scheduled processing, a reference point having a constant relative position with respect to a document is provided within the reading range of the image information conversion means, and the coordinates of the reference point detected during the first scan and the second scan. At the time of the second scan, the coordinate system was corrected so that the coordinates of the reference point detected at the same time coincided with each other.

[0018]

According to the above construction, since the coordinate systems in the first and second scans are the same, the designated area in the second scan can be accurately identified.

[0019]

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a document placing portion of a copying apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, a frame 22 is provided on the platen glass 21 so as to cover the periphery thereof,
The optical system for detecting image information is scanned from the left side to the right side in the drawing as indicated by the arrow, and the detection range is the area surrounded by the dotted line 26 in the drawing.

On the back side of the frame 22 near the sub-scanning start end,
A black mark 22a serving as a reference point, which will be described in detail later, is provided, and the black mark 22a corresponds to the platen glass 21.
Can be detected by an optical system. Manuscript 2
The position 0 is positioned at the corner of the frame 22 where the black mark 22a is provided.

On the original 20, as shown in FIG. 3, a designated area 25 to be edited such as erased or extracted.
, Is filled with a marker pen having a predetermined color and density that can be distinguished from the image information.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the copying apparatus.

In the figure, the control means 19 outputs pulse signals Sa and Sb instructing sub-scanning and main scanning. The sub-scanning coordinate detecting means 18a and the main-scanning coordinate detecting means 18b count the pulse signals Sa and Sb, and store the coordinates in the sub-scanning direction and the main scanning direction as count values.

The image information converting means 10 converts the document information into image information, and the image information is output to the image processing means 11, the designated area detecting means 12 and the reference point detecting means 13.

The designated area detecting means 12 outputs a read signal to the designated area storage means 14 when the image information converting means 10 reads the marker with which the designated area is filled during the prescan. When the reading signal is input, the designated area storage means 14 stores the count values of the sub-scanning coordinate detecting means 18a and the main scanning coordinate detecting means 18b at that time as the coordinates of the marker.

The reference point detecting means 13 is the image information converting means 1.
When 0 reads the black mark 22a, a read signal is output to the reference point storage means 15 during the prescan and is output to the rewriting means 16 during the main scan. When the read signal is input, the reference point storage unit 15 stores the count value of the sub-scanning coordinate detection unit 18a as the coordinate of the black mark 22a.

When the read signal is input, the rewriting means 16 rewrites the count value of the sub-scanning coordinate detecting means 18a with the count value stored in the reference point storage means 15.

The judging means 17 is a sub-scanning coordinate detecting means 18a and a main scanning coordinate detecting means 18b at the time of main scanning.
Coordinate determined from the count value of and the designated area storage means 1
The coordinates obtained from the count value stored in 4 are compared to determine whether or not the current reading position is within the designated area, and the image processing means 11 is controlled based on the determination result.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the image processing for selectively copying only the image information of the designated area filled with the marker is used as an example of the present embodiment. Will be explained.

When a document whose designated area is filled with a marker is placed on the platen glass and image processing is started,
In step S10, the control unit 19 outputs the pulse signals Sa and Sb for the sub-scanning and the main scanning, and the pre-scanning for detecting the designated area is started.

At this time, the pulse signals Sa and Sb are counted by the sub scanning coordinate detecting means 18a and the main scanning coordinate detecting means 18b, respectively.

In step S11, the document information is converted into image information by the image information conversion means 10, and in step S12
Then, the reference point detection unit 13 determines whether or not the converted image information represents the black mark 22a.

The detected image information is the black mark 22a.
In step S13, the count value of the sub-scanning coordinate detection means 18a is the reference point storage means 15 in step S13.
Memorized in.

In step S14, the image information conversion means 10
Whether or not the image information converted by means of the designated area detection means 12 is determined by the designated area detection means 12, and if it represents the marker, in step S15, the sub-scanning coordinate detection means 18a and the main scanning are performed. The count value of the coordinate detection means 18b is stored in the designated area storage means 14.

In step S16, it is determined whether or not the prescan has been completed, and the above-mentioned step S1 is executed until it is completed.
The processes from 1 to S15 are repeated.

When the prescan is completed, step S1
7, the main scan is started, and step S18
Then, the document information is converted into image information again by the image information conversion means 10.

In step S19, it is again determined whether the image information converted by the image information converting means 10 again represents the black mark 22a or not.
It is judged by.

If the image information represents the black mark 22a, the rewriting means 16 rewrites the count value of the sub-scanning coordinate detecting means 18a with the count value stored in the reference position storing means 15 in step S20.

That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the coordinate of the black mark 22a in the sub-scanning direction is "1" in the prescan.
When it is determined that the count is 0 ", the designated area is" 12 ".
It is recognized that it is between the "count" and the "20" count. However, the black mark 22 is detected in the main scan.
When it is determined that the count value of the sub-scanning coordinate detection means 18a indicating the sub-scanning direction coordinate of a is "12", the designated area is erroneously recognized as between "14" count and "22" count. Will end up.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the count value "12" of the sub-scanning coordinate detecting means 18a is set to the reference position storing means 1
The count value stored in 5 is rewritten to "10".

By doing so, the coordinate systems of both the pre-scan and the main scan after the black mark 22a is detected coincide with each other.

In step S21, the determination means 17 compares the coordinates obtained from the count values of the sub-scanning coordinate detection means 18a and the main scanning coordinate detection means 18b with the coordinates obtained from the count values stored in the designated area storage means 14. To be done.

As a result, if the current coordinates are stored in the designated area storage means 14, it is determined that the current read coordinates are within the designated area, and the edit signal is the image processing means 1.
It is output to 1. As a result, the image information detected at that time is directly output and copied.

If the current read coordinate is not stored in the designated area storage means 14, it is determined that the current read coordinate is outside the designated area. Therefore, the editing process is performed in step S22, and it is detected at that time. The displayed image information is deleted.

In step S23, it is determined whether or not the main scan is completed, and the main scan is executed until the main scan is completed.
The processing from 18 to S22 is repeated.

According to this structure, since the count values of the sub-scanning coordinate detecting means 18a at the time of detecting the black mark 22a in the pre-scan and the main scan are the same, the coordinate systems in the pre-scan and the main scan are the same. The specified area can be accurately identified in the main scan.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a copying apparatus which is an embodiment of the present invention, and the same symbols as those used above represent the same or equivalent portions.

In the figure, the CPU 41 outputs a switching signal SG1 which becomes "H" level during prescan and "L" level during main scan, and a CLK signal for exposure scanning.

The image scanner 60 converts the read document information into image information and outputs it. Address counter 4
Reference numeral 2 counts the CLK signal from the CPU 41 and stores a count value corresponding to the sub-scanning position.

The designated area recognition circuit 44 recognizes the designated area based on the detected image information, and outputs specific information indicating that the designated area.

The black pixel detection circuit 48 uses the black mark 2
When 2a is detected, its output is set to "H" level. The image processing circuit 43 executes a scheduled editing process during the main scan. The page memory 46 stores information from the designated area recognition circuit 44 at each coordinate at the time of prescan.

The register 47 stores the count value of the address counter 42 when the black pixel detection circuit 48 detects the black mark 22a during the prescan.

The address decoder 45 generates an address signal for the page memory 46 from the output signal of the address counter 42.

In such a configuration, when the designated area recognition circuit 44 identifies the designated area during the prescan, the page memory 46 stores the specific information at the address designated by the address counter 42.

At this time, when the black pixel detection circuit 48 detects the black mark 22a, its output signal becomes "H" level and the output signal of the gate circuit 50 also becomes "H" level, so that the register 47 is enabled. The count value of the address counter 42 is stored in the register 47.

On the other hand, during the prescan, the information stored at the address designated by the address counter 42 is sequentially output to the image processing circuit 43. If the information is the specific information, the image processing circuit 43 causes the image information to be displayed. Apply the scheduled processing to.

At this time, when the black pixel detection circuit 48 detects the black mark 22a, the output signal thereof becomes "H" level and the output signal of the gate circuit 49 becomes "L" level, so that it is stored in the register 47. The count value that has been output is output to the address counter 42, and the address counter 4
The count value of 2 is rewritten to the count value of the register 47.

According to this embodiment, since the count values of the address counter 42 at the time of detecting the black mark 22a in the prescan and the main scan are the same, the coordinate systems of the prescan and the main scan are the same,
The image processing for the designated area in the main scan can be performed accurately.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a copying machine according to another embodiment of the present invention, and the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 4 represent the same or equivalent portions.

In the figure, in the first register 51, the black pixel detection circuit 48 has a black mark 22a at the time of prescan.
Is detected, the count value of the address counter 42 at that time is stored. When the black pixel detection circuit 48 detects the black mark 22a during the main scan, the second register 52 stores the count value of the address counter 42 at that time.

The third register 53 stores the difference between the count value stored in the first register 51 and the count value stored in the second register 52, which is obtained by the subtractor 54 during the main scan.

During the main scan, the adder 55 adds the count value of the address counter 42 and the count value of the third register 53, and outputs the added count value to the page memory 46 via the address decoder 45.

According to this embodiment, the adder 55 is used when the black mark 22a is detected in the prescan and the main scan.
Since the count values output from the two are the same, the coordinate systems of the two are the same in the prescan and the main scan, and the image processing for the designated area in the main scan can be performed accurately.

In the above-described embodiment, the black mark 22a is provided on the back surface of the frame body to determine the reference point. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the document edge is not limited thereto. It is also possible to detect a portion and use the end of the document as a reference point, or to provide a black mark on the back surface of the document pressing plate and use this as the reference point.

That is, the reference point may be provided at any position within the reading range of the image scanner, as long as the relative position with respect to the document is constant. The present invention can also be applied to a facsimile machine having a structure of being scanned with respect to.

In the above embodiment, the page memory is used to store the designated area in which the marker is drawn, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the marker is detected. A register or the like for storing the coordinate may be used.

Furthermore, although the present invention is applied to the copying apparatus in the above-described embodiments, the present invention is not limited to this, and only image information in a designated area or image information outside the designated area is used. The present invention can also be applied to a facsimile device that selectively transfers a.

[0069]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, since the coordinate systems of the prescan and the main scan are the same, the image processing for the designated area in the main scan can be accurately performed. Become.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a document placing portion of a copying apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a document.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a copying apparatus that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a copying apparatus that is another embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

20 ... Original, 21 ... Platen glass, 22 ... Frame, 22
a ... Black mark, 25 ... Designated area, 54 ... Subtractor, 55
… Adder

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. An image processing apparatus for detecting an arbitrary designated area on a document by a first scan and performing a predetermined process on the designated area by a second scan following the exposure. Image information converting means for converting document information scanned and read into image information, means for providing a reference point having a constant relative position with respect to the document, which is provided within the reading range of the image information converting means, and image information reading position A read coordinate detecting means for detecting the coordinate;
And a reference point detection unit that detects the reading of the reference point by the image information conversion unit during the second scan, and a coordinate detected by the reading coordinate detection unit when the reading of the reference point is detected during the first scan. A reference point coordinate storage means for storing the second;
An image processing apparatus comprising rewriting means for rewriting the detected coordinates by the read coordinate detecting means with the coordinates stored in the reference point coordinate storing means when the reading of the reference points is detected during the scanning.