JPS63316563A - Picture reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To release an operator from complex specification work and to easily and errorlessly execute specification and processing by putting marks for specifying image signal processing areas and image signal processing sorts on an original and reading out these marks to execute their corresponding processing. CONSTITUTION:A picture reading part 1 scans an original 12 and stores an image signal in a line memory 2. The marks 15 for specifying the image signal processing areas and the sorts of image signal processings such as an halftone image processing and binarization image processing which are put on the original 12 are discriminated by a mark discriminating part 3 based on the stored contents. Area specification in the memory 2 through a CPU 4 and specification processing based upon a processing part 5n are automatically controlled. Consequently, the operator can be released from complex specification work and required specification processing can be easily and errorlessly executed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to an image reading device that processes an image signal obtained by reading an image on a document.

"Prior Art" There are many known devices that electronically process images, such as information processing devices, copying machines, printing devices, and others.

An image line sensor or the like is usually used to manually input image signals to such devices. When the image on the document is read by this, it is converted into an electrical signal.

When an operator wants to capture all the images drawn on a document as image signals, he can simply scan the document as it is in a plane with an image line sensor to obtain read image signals.

However, there are cases where it is desired to read only part of the image on the document. Conventionally, in such cases, various methods have been developed for specifying a specific area on the document and reading the area. The most common method is to use a tablet or a coordinate specification key to specify the reading area using coordinate values on the document surface, input this manually to the image reading device, and then control the reading based on the coordinate values. It's a method.

However, the work of specifying the reading area is relatively complicated and takes a long time, resulting in an excessive burden on the operator. Therefore, a method has been introduced in which a mark is attached to the periphery of the document to identify that area, and when the document is read, the mark is recognized, the reading area is determined, and the desired image signal is obtained. Publication No. 61-108258).

-Problems to be Solved by the Invention'' Incidentally, some devices of this type are known that process the image signal differently depending on the type of image read. For example, if the image is a gradation image such as a photograph, halftone signal processing such as dithering is performed. In addition, in the case of images created only with documents such as text,
It is common to perform binarization processing on image signals. Furthermore, the image may be inverted in black and white, or may be enlarged or reduced at the request of the operator.

In this case, before starting image reading, the operator is required to determine what kind of image the document contains and to specify the type of image signal processing in advance.

However, when documents such as characters and images with gradation such as photographs coexist on a document, different image signal processing must be specified for each area. The task of specifying such processing is extremely complicated. When the task of specifying the type of image signal processing is added to the already complicated task of specifying a region, specification errors become more likely to occur.

The present invention has been made with the above points in mind; it frees the operator from complicated specification work, and enables the specification of the image reading area and the type of image signal processing to be performed easily and without error. The purpose of this invention is to provide a reading device.

"Means for Solving the Problems" The image reading device of the present invention has a designation mark that designates the image signal processing area and the type of image signal processing on the side parallel to the main scanning direction and on the side parallel to the subscanning direction. an image reading section that reads the designated mark attached to the document and the image on the document; a mark identification section that identifies the meaning of the read designated mark; The present invention is characterized in that it has a processing unit that selects designated image signal processing from two or more types of processing for each region and executes the processing.

``Operation'' When using the image reading device described above, the operator only has to place the specified mark directly on the periphery of the document, and the image reading device automatically takes care of the meaning of the specified mark for each area. Select and execute the image signal processing to be performed.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image reading device of the present invention.

The apparatus shown in the figure includes an image reading section 1, a line memory 2 that temporarily stores the image signal obtained by reading the image, and a mark identification section that extracts and identifies a specified mark from the read image signal and determines the specified content. 3, a microprocessor (CPU) 4 that controls these, and a processing section 5 that processes image signals output from the line memory 2.

The processing section 5 includes a selector circuit 6 that selectively sends the image signal output from the line memory 2 to various processing circuits according to the type of image signal processing, a dither processing circuit 7, and a binarization processing circuit. 8, a black and white inversion circuit 9, an enlargement processing circuit 10, and a reduction processing circuit 11.

Image reading unit 1: Consists of an image line sensor, etc., reads the image on the document pixel by rask,
It is a known device for converting into electrical signals. line memory 2
is a storage circuit that temporarily stores several rusks of image signals obtained by the image reading section 1. The mark identification unit 3 is a circuit that compares the image signal stored in the line memory 2 with a pattern of a designated mark prepared in advance, and identifies the content of the designated mark. The mark identification unit 3 also receives a selection signal 3 that controls the selection operation of the selector circuit 6 of the processing unit 5.
This is a circuit that outputs a. CPU4 is line memory 2
: From the contents of the specified mark among the stored image signals,
This circuit outputs only the image signal of a designated area to the processing unit 5.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the original document 12 used in the image reading apparatus of the present invention.

This document 12 has, for example, a first reading range 1 in the upper left corner thereof.
A photograph is drawn at 3, and characters are drawn at the second reading range 14 at the lower right. Two types of two sets of designation marks A, B, E, and F are attached to the upper edge of the document 12 parallel to the main scanning direction 16. On the other hand, two types of two sets of designation marks C, D, and GXH are attached to the left edge of the document 12 parallel to the sub-scanning direction 17. The first designation marks A, BSC, and D are all in the form of a bar code consisting of three parallel lines, as shown in FIG. 3a. In addition, the second designation marks E, F
, GSH is in the form of a barcode consisting of two parallel lines as shown in FIG.

Then, a straight line parallel to the sub-scanning direction 17 is drawn along the right edge of the first designation marks A and B, and the first designation marks C and D are drawn.
If you draw a straight line parallel to the main scanning direction 16 along the lower edge of
The first reading range 13 can be surrounded and specified. The first designation marks A, B, C, and D designate that the image signal in the first reading range 13 is to be subjected to dither processing.

Also, a straight line parallel to the sub-scanning direction 17 is drawn along the right edge of the second designation marks E and F, and a straight line parallel to the main scanning direction 16 is drawn along the lower edge of the second designation mark C and D. When pulled, the second reading range 14 can be surrounded and specified. The second designation marks E, FSG, and H designate that the image signal in the second reading range is to be binarized.

The image reading apparatus of the present invention having the above configuration operates as follows.

As shown in FIG. 4, the image reading section I main-scans the original 12 in several rasters and stores the image signal in the line memory 2 (step 2). Next, the mark identification section 3 recognizes the first designation marks Δ, B and the second designation marks E, F on the upper edge of the document 12. Thereby, the reading range in the main scanning direction and the type of image signal processing thereof are recognized (step 2). A few more raster main scans are performed (step ■), and the presence or absence of a designated mark (barcode) is detected (step ■). Here, if the designated mark is not recognized, it is assumed that it is outside the designated reading area, and the process proceeds to reading the next few rasters (step ■).

By repeating this operation, when the specified mark is detected, the mark identification section 3 recognizes the reading range in the sub-scanning direction and the type of image signal processing (step ■).
a is output, and the select circuit 6 selects the dither processing circuit 7 (step ■). Thereafter, the image signal in the line memory 2 is processed by the dither processing circuit 7 and output to the subsequent circuit (step 2).

When all the image signals stored therein are output from the line memory 2, the image reading section 1 scans several rusks again (step 2), and the image signal processing (step 2) is repeated. After this, when a designated mark (barcode) is detected (step ■), it is determined whether processing for all reading ranges has been completed (step ■), and the process moves to detection of the next designated mark (go to step ■). In this way, manuscript 12
The reading of the upper reading range 13 and the reading range 14 and the image signal processing thereof are executed, and all processing is completed.

For example, if the designation mark not only designates binarization processing but also designates enlargement processing, the select circuit 6 selects the selection when the image signal for the rask has completed the binarization processing. It operates to switch and send the binarized image signal to the enlargement processing circuit 10.

Note that in the above embodiment, the recognition of the specified mark and the processing of the image signal thereof were executed alternately, but it is possible to read a certain caulked document at high speed, recognize the specified mark, and then read the image again. ! You can also strain it. In this case, it goes without saying that a memory is provided to store the reading range and the type of image signal processing. In addition, we have shown an example in which the specified mark is a barcode, but this can also include characters, symbols, etc.
(You may replace it with any type of mark that is easy to recognize or write on.) Where to place this designated mark: Well, it can be anywhere on the document, or it can be placed on a frame or transparent film overlaid on the document. If a wide variety of designation marks are available, it is okay to specify three or more types of image signal processing with one designation mark51.
゜"Effects of the Invention" If the image reading device of the present invention described above is used to output a processed image signal to a subsequent circuit, the host workstation or the like can execute this type of processing. The burden of doing so will be reduced. In addition, since the reading range and image signal processing instructions are displayed directly on the periphery of the document using designation marks, the operator can visually check this while specifying the work content, making the specified work easy and reliable. be able to.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the image reading device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a document used therein, FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an example of its designation mark, and FIG. It is a flowchart for explaining the operation. ■...Image reading section, 3...Mark identification section, 12...Document, 13.14...Reading range, 15... Designated mark. Applicant: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Agent

Claims (1)

[Claims] A document with a designation mark that specifies the image signal processing area and type of image signal processing attached to the side parallel to the main scanning direction and a side parallel to the subscanning direction, and the designation mark attached to the document and the document an image reading unit that reads the image; a mark identification unit that identifies the meaning of the read specified mark; and a mark identification unit that identifies the meaning of the read specified mark, and based on the identification results, processes the image specified from two or more types of processing for each specified area. An image reading device comprising a processing section that selects signal processing and executes the processing.