JPH04172754A - Image scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To adjust the density to an optimum density in a short time by storing a picture data read once as a contrast picture and obtaining a picture with an optimum density while varying a binarizing level of the stored data. CONSTITUTION:An image scanner 1 is driven by depressing a read start button 57 and read contrast information is stored in a contrast picture RAM 65. Then a data stored in a binary picture RAM 64 is read and displayed on a display device 62 via a display control circuit 15. The operator confirms a picture displayed on the display device 62 and when the density is not proper, a density adjustment dial 58 is turned and a re-display switch 66 is depressed, a half tone processor 56 binarizes and outputs a digital picture data including contrast information read from the contrast picture RAM 65 and gives it to the binary picture RAM 64, in which the data is stored. Then the data is read and fed to the display device 62 via a display control circuit 15, in which the data is displayed.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image scanner that captures drawings, characters, etc. as image data and displays them. [Prior Art] Various image scanners that capture drawings, characters, etc. as image data have been proposed. In this method, a drawing or document is illuminated by a light source, and the reflected light is converted into an analog image signal by an image sensor, for example.
The analog image signal is converted into a binary signal (digital signal) at an appropriate level inside the image scanner,
The digital signal is transferred to a host computer and displayed on a display or stored in a storage device. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such conventional devices, if the binarization level of the captured image is not appropriate, the level must be reset based on the operator's intuition and experience, and the binarization level must be set again based on the operator's intuition and experience. The image is captured and the image quality is checked, and if the image is still not suitable, it is necessary to repeat the level adjustment and image capture until the image is suitable. A possible solution to this problem is to transfer the analog signal as an analog signal to the host computer without converting it into binarization using an image scanner, and to adjust the binarization level using its internal program. However, with this method, the data to be transferred to the host computer, for example in the case of 256 gradations, is eight times the size of the binarized data, so it takes time to transfer, and the host computer requires a special program.
There remains the issue of poor connectivity with existing application cages. The present invention has been made in view of this situation, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image scanner that does not require re-capturing an image when readjusting the level. [Means for Solving the Problems] The image scanner of the present invention includes an image data reading means for reading information written on a manuscript as image data, an image data storage means for storing the read image data, and an image data storage means for storing the read image data. A binarization means for binarizing image data, a binarization level setting means for setting the binarization level of the binarization means to an arbitrary value, and displaying the data that has been binarized by the binarization means. The present invention is characterized by comprising a display means for displaying. [Operation] In the image scanner configured as described above, the image data read by the image data reading means is stored in the image data storage means, the stored data is binarized by the binarization means, and can be displayed by the display means. . If the binarization level of the image displayed at this time is inappropriate, the binarization level can be changed by the binarization level setting means, so the stored image data is read out and a new binarization level is set. By binarizing, the readjusted image can be displayed without having to re-capture the image. [Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the image scanner according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes an image scanner, the tip of which is wider than the main body 50, a window 40 for checking the read image is provided on the upper surface of the tip, and an image sensor 51 is installed inside. It is provided. A display device 6 for displaying captured images is provided on the top surface of the main body 50.
2 is provided. There is a capture start button 5 on the side of the main unit.
7, and a density adjustment dial 58 is provided at the rear of the main body. The image scanner 1 configured in this way is, for example, R3.
The image scanner 1 is connected to a host computer 70 by a 232C connection cable 61, and images captured by the image scanner 1 can be displayed on a display screen 60a of a display 60. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the state in which the image scanner 1 is connected to the host computer 70 via the interface port B, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the cordless image scanner. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the image scanner 1. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, 51 is an image sensor that is an image data reading means for reading information such as figures or characters written on a manuscript as image data, 53 is a light source that illuminates the manuscript, and 30 is a signal output from the image sensor 51. An amplifier 31 is a switch that switches between the concentration adjustment signal outputted in conjunction with the adjustment of the concentration adjustment dial 58 and the output of the amplifier 30. A binarization level setting unit 59 digitizes the analog image signal supplied from the amplifier 30 and supplies it to the grayscale image RAM 65, which is an image data storage unit, and also sets the -binarization level to an arbitrary level. This is an A/D conversion circuit that digitizes a density adjustment signal outputted in conjunction with the density adjustment dial 58 and supplies it to the latch circuit 32. The latch circuit 32 stores the digitized density adjustment signal described above and supplies the stored data to the CPU 52 which performs overall control. The halftone processor 56 that binarizes the image data is configured to binarize the image data supplied from the grayscale image RAM 65 according to the z-value level supplied from the latch circuit 32 via the CPU 52. . 34 is a pass line, which includes an input interface circuit 33, a display control circuit 15, a binary image RAM 64, and a program ROM.
63, a halftone processor 56, and a CPU 52. Reference numeral 54 denotes a position detection encoder, which generates a distance signal by moving the image scanner 1 on the paper surface. 66 is a redisplay switch, and by pressing this switch, the binary image RAM 6
The image data stored in 4 is read out, and the display control circuit 1
5 on a display device 62 serving as a display means. Note that the switch 31 is connected to the opposite position as shown in the figure when the redisplay switch 66 is pressed. Note that symbol 13 is R for transferring data to the host computer.
3232C driver/receiver and program RO
M63 stores a program for controlling the entire sequence. The operation of the image scanner configured as described above is as follows. When the image scanner 1 is slid by pressing the capture start button 57 (FIG. 2), information on the document illuminated by the light source 53 is detected by the image sensor 51 and output as an analog signal. This signal is transmitted to the amplifier 30
The signal is then supplied to the A/D conversion circuit 59 via the switch 31 and converted into a digital signal. This digital signal is a digitized version of the analog signal and includes grayscale information, and the signal is supplied to the grayscale image RAM 65 and stored there. Initially, an appropriate binary level stored in the latch circuit 32 (this level is the level stored immediately before) is supplied to the halftone processor 56 via the CPU 52. Halftone processor 56 adds 2 to this value.
A digitization level is set, and the image data stored in the grayscale image R and AM 65 is binarized at this binarization level and supplied to the binary image RAM 64 via the pass line 34. Binary image RAM 64 stores image data from halftone processor 56 along with distance pulses from encoder 54. Thereafter, the data stored in the binary image RAM 64 is read out and displayed on the display device 62 via the display control circuit 15. The operator checks the image that has been completely displayed on the display device 62, and if the density is not appropriate, that is, the binarization level is too high, turn the density adjustment dial 58 in a direction that lowers the density of the image, and then binarize the image. If the level is too low, turn it toward the direction that increases the image density. When the redisplay switch 66 is then pressed, the switch 31 is connected to the opposite position as shown in the figure, and the density adjustment signal output corresponding to the adjustment position of the density adjustment dial 58 is digitized by the A/D conversion circuit 59. and stored in the latch circuit 32. This signal is then output via the CPU 52,
Set the binarization level of halftone processor 56. As a result, the halftone processor 56 uses R for grayscale images.
The digital image data including gradation information read out from the AM 65 is binarized and output, and supplied to the binary image RAM 64 for storage. This data is then output one after another and supplied to the display device 62 via the display control circuit 15, where it is displayed. Therefore, the image displayed here will have a different density from the first time. If the density of this image is still inappropriate, the user adjusts the density adjustment dial 58 and presses the re-display switch 66 again.The binarization level is changed by the above-described operation, and the density of the displayed image is changed. By repeating this operation, a binarized image at the optimum level can be obtained, but since the image at this time reads and uses the data stored in the grayscale image RAM 65, it is necessary to import the image data each time the density is changed. do not have to. [Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the image scanner of the present invention, the image data captured at -degrees is stored as a grayscale image, and the optimal density is obtained by changing the binarization level for the stored data. Since the image is obtained, even if the density of the captured data is not appropriate, it is possible to adjust the density to the optimum density in a short time without re-capturing the image.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the image scanner of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams of other embodiments. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration. l...Image scanner, 31...Switch, 32
...Latch circuit, 51... Image sensor, 52.
... CPU, 59 ... A/D conversion circuit, 62 ... display device, 64 ... RAM for binary image, 63 ... program ROM 166 ... redisplay switch. Patent Applicant: OMRON Co., Ltd. Agent Patent Attorney: Yoshio Inamoto No. 2 Procedural Amendment Letter July 31, 1991 2, Name of the Invention Image Scanner Representative Mio Shigeishi 6, Statement of Contents of the Amendment 1, Invention Name Image Scanner 2, Claims Image data reading means for reading the information described in the manuscript as image data; Image data storage means for storing the read image data; Binarizing the stored image data. binarization means;
A binarization level setting means for setting the binarization level of the binarization means to an arbitrary value, and a display means for displaying the data that has been binarized by the binarization means, wherein the data is displayed on the display means. An image scanner characterized in that the binarization level is set to a desired level by the binarization level setting means while viewing the binarized data. 3. Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image scanner that captures drawings, characters, etc. as image data and displays them. [Prior Art] Various image scanners that capture drawings, characters, etc. as image data have been proposed. In this case, a drawing or document is illuminated by a light source, and the reflected light is converted into an analog image signal by, for example, an image sensor.
The analog image (No. 5) is converted into a binary signal (digital signal) at an appropriate level inside the image scanner, and the digital signal is transferred to a host computer and displayed on a display or stored in a storage device. [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such conventional devices, if the binarization level of the captured image is not appropriate, the level must be set based on the intuition and experience of the operator. If the image is still not suitable, you will need to repeat the level adjustment and import the image until the image is correct. Solve this problem. It is conceivable to transfer the analog signal to the host computer as an analog signal without converting it into binarization using an image scanner, and then adjust the binarization level using the internal program.However, with this method, the data transferred to the host computer is, for example, 256 In the case of gradation, the size is eight times that of binary data, so it takes time to transfer, and a special program is required on the post computer.
There remains the issue of poor connectivity with existing applications. The present invention has been made in view of this situation, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an image scanner that does not require re-capturing an image when readjusting the level. [Means for Solving the Problems] The image scanner of the present invention includes an image data reading means for reading information written on a manuscript as image data, an image data storage means for storing the read image data, and an image data storage means for storing the read image data. A binarization means for binarizing image data, a binarization level setting means for setting the binarization level of the binarization means to an arbitrary value, and displaying the data binarized by the binarization means. and a display means for displaying the two values by the binarization level setting means while viewing the binarized data displayed on the display means.
It is characterized by setting the value conversion level to a desired level. [Function] In the image scanner having the above configuration, the image data read by the image data reading means is stored in the image data storage means, the stored data is binarized by the binarization means, and is displayed by the display means. Ru. At this time, if the binarization level of the image displayed on the display means is inappropriate, the binarization level can be changed by the binarization level setting means, so the stored image data is read out and a new binarization level is created. By binarizing depending on the encoding level,
The readjusted image is displayed without having to re-capture the image. [Embodiment] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the image scanner according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, 1 is an image scanner, the tip of which is wider than the main body 50, a window 40 for checking the read image is provided on the upper surface of the tip, and an image sensor 51 is installed inside. It is provided. A display device 6 for displaying the captured image is provided on the upper surface of the main body 5o.
2 is provided. There is a capture start button 5 on the side of the main unit.
7, and a density adjustment dial 58 is provided at the rear of the main body. The image scanner 1 configured in this way is, for example, R5.
The image scanner 1 is connected to a host computer 70 through a 232C connection cable 61, so that images captured by the image scanner 1 can be displayed on the display screen 60a of the display 60. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the state in which the image scanner 1 is connected to the host computer 7° via the interface port B, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the cordless image scanner. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the electrical configuration of the image scanner 1. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, 51 is an image sensor that is an image data reading means for reading information such as figures or characters written on a manuscript as image data, 53 is a light source that illuminates the manuscript, and 30 is a signal output from the image sensor 51. 31 is a switch that switches between the concentration adjustment signal outputted in conjunction with the adjustment of the concentration adjustment dial 58 and the output of the amplifier 30. 59 is a binarization level setting means for digitizing the analog image signal supplied from the amplifier 30 and supplying it to the grayscale image RAM 65, which is an image data storage means, and setting the z-value conversion level to an arbitrary level. This is an A/D conversion circuit that digitizes a density adjustment signal output in conjunction with a certain density adjustment dial 58 and supplies it to the latch circuit 32. The latch circuit 32 stores the digitized density adjustment signal described above and supplies the stored data to the CPU 52 which performs overall control. The halftone processor 56 that binarizes the image data binarizes the image data supplied from the grayscale image RAM 65 according to the binarization level supplied from the latch circuit 32 via the CPU 52. ing. 34 is a pass line, which includes an input interface circuit 33, a display control circuit 15, a binary image RAM 64, and a program ROM.
63, a halftone processor 56, and a CPU 52. Reference numeral 54 denotes a position detection encoder, which generates a distance lII signal by moving the image scanner 1 on the surface of the paper. 66 is a redisplay switch, and by pressing this switch, the binary image RA
The image data that has been completely stored in M64 is output one after another and is displayed on display device 62, which is a display means, via display control circuit 15. Note that the switch 31 is connected to the opposite position as shown in the figure when the redisplay switch 66 is pressed. Note that symbol 13 is R for transferring data to the host computer.
5232C driver/receiver and program RO
M63 stores a program for controlling the entire sequence. The operation of the image scanner configured as described above is as follows. When the image scanner 1 is slid by pressing the capture start button 57 (FIG. 2), information on the document illuminated by the light source 53 is detected by the image sensor 51 and output as an analog signal. This signal is transmitted to the amplifier 30
The signal is then supplied to the A/D conversion circuit 59 via the switch 31 and converted into a digital signal. This digital signal is a digitized version of the analog signal and contains grayscale information, and the signal is supplied to the grayscale image RAM 65L.
I can remember it there. Initially, an appropriate binary level stored in the latch circuit 32 (this level is the level stored immediately before) is supplied to the halftone processor 56 via the CPU 52. Halftone processor 56 adds 2 to this value.
A digitization level is set, and the image data stored in the grayscale image RAM 65 is binarized at this binarization level and supplied to the binary image RAM 64 via the pass line 34. ,
Binary image RAM 64 stores image data from halftone processor 56 along with distance pulses from encoder 54. Thereafter, the data stored in the binary image RAM 64 is read out and displayed on the display device 62 via the display control circuit 15. The operator checks the image displayed on the display device 62, and if the density is not appropriate, that is, the binarization level is too high, turn the density adjustment dial 58 in a direction that lowers the image density, and then binarize the image. If the level is too low, turn it toward the direction that increases the image density. After that, when the redisplay switch 66 is pressed, the switch 31 is connected to the opposite position as shown in the figure, and the density adjustment number 48 output corresponding to the adjustment position of the density adjustment dial 58 is output from the A/D.
It is digitized by the conversion circuit 59 and stored in the latch circuit 32. This signal is outputted via the CPU 52 and sets the binarization level of the halftone processor 56. As a result, the halftone processor 56 uses R for grayscale images.
The digital image data including gradation information read from the AM 65 is binarized and output, and is supplied to the binary image RAM 64 for storage. This data is then output one after another and supplied to the display device 62 via the display control circuit 15, where it can be displayed. Therefore, the image displayed here will have a different density from the first time. If the density of this image is still inappropriate, the user adjusts the density adjustment dial 58 and presses the re-display switch 66 again.The binarization level is changed by the above-described operation, and the density of the displayed image is changed. By repeating this operation, a binarized image at the optimum level can be obtained, but since the image at this time reads and uses the data stored in the grayscale image RAM 65, it is necessary to import the image data each time the density is changed. do not have to. [Effects of the Invention] As described above, the image scanner of the present invention stores and displays captured image data as a gray scale image,
By changing the binarization level for the stored display data to obtain an image with the optimal density, even if the density of the imported data is not appropriate, there is no need to re-import the image. This has the effect that the optimum concentration can be adjusted in a short time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of one embodiment of the image scanner of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams of other embodiments. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration. 1... Image scanner, 31... Switch, 32
- Latch circuit, 51... Image sensor, 52...
- CPU, 59... A/D conversion circuit, 62... Display device, 64... RAM for binary image, 63... Program ROM, 66... Re-display switch. Patent applicant: OMRON Co., Ltd. Representative: Patent attorney: Yoshio Inamoto

Claims (1)

[Claims] Image data reading means for reading information written on a manuscript as image data; image data storage means for storing the read image data; and binarization for binarizing the stored image data. means, and the above-mentioned 2
An image characterized by comprising: binarization level setting means for setting the binarization level of the binarization means to an arbitrary value; and display means for displaying the data binarized by the binarization means. scanner.