JP2005311947A - Scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To optimize a preview resolution by carrying out a preview with an optimal resolution for each reading mode. <P>SOLUTION: In the case of an ordinary preview, the preview is carried out at high speed with the lowest resolution and when determining processing on the basis of a preview image, such as a fully automatic mode, a preview is carried out with a high resolution correspondingly thereto. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a scanner that is connected to a computer and transmits a read document image to the computer.

  A scanner is known as a device that reads an original image and inputs electronic image data to a computer. The scanner operates in accordance with instructions from the computer side and performs scanning while connected to the computer. Image data obtained by scanning is sent to a computer through an interface. The computer controls the scanner by software installed in the computer. When a user operates a computer and reads an original image using a scanner, the user must operate software included in the computer. The user controls the scanner through a graphical user interface displayed on the computer display. Various information is displayed on the user interface, and parameters relating to image reading are arranged in a changeable manner. The user can freely change these parameters and scan the image in fineness, brightness, color, etc. in a desired state (for example, see Patent Document 1).

Conversely, the user can leave the setting of reading parameters to the software (for example, see Patent Document 2). In that case, the user sets the document on the scanner and presses the automatic reading button, so that the scanner automatically previews the document, determines what kind of document it is, and performs the main scan with the optimum settings. be able to.
JP 2000-332966 A JP 2000-113173 A

  Incidentally, there is a reading resolution as a parameter for setting the fineness when reading an image. The reading resolution specifies how finely the original image is read. The higher the resolution, the larger the amount of image information that can be read, but the longer the time required for scanning. On the other hand, if the resolution is low, the information of the original can be roughly captured, but can be scanned at high speed. Therefore, in order to read a normal document image, first preview at a low resolution, and then look at the image and specify the area that is actually required, set the resolution, and perform the main scan. It is performed by a simple procedure. Also, when scanning in the automatic reading mode, a preview is first performed, the image is determined by the software, parameters and a reading area are set, and then a main scan is performed. As described above, even if scanning is performed in any reading mode, first, a preview is performed, and the operation is performed according to a procedure of performing a main scan based on the preview. Conventionally, the reading resolution at the time of preview has always been fixed. Since the purpose of the preview is to quickly obtain rough information, the preview is usually performed at the lowest resolution of the scanner. Recently, however, software functions have become more sophisticated and various reading modes have been provided, so there have been cases where a large amount of information is requested at the time of preview. For example, a function called the fully automatic mode reads the entire scanning range in the preview, and whether the type of document placed there is a photo document or text document, whether it is not tilted, how many documents are placed It is possible to read only a necessary area with an optimal setting value, and correct the inclination if there is an inclination until it is stored as image data. These are controlled by image discrimination processing based on the preview image data, but in order to execute the processing with high accuracy, it is better that the amount of data that is the basis of discrimination is larger. However, although the fully automatic mode is an effective means to easily perform the desired scanning, the user can still use the manual operation while confirming the preview image for free reading. Has been. Since the functions required for the preview have been diversified as described above, there has been a problem that the optimum preview cannot be performed for all modes if the resolution is fixed as in the prior art.

  In view of the above, the present invention makes the resolution at the time of preview variable.

  In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the resolution of the preview is changed depending on which mode the image is read.

(Function)
In the present invention, when a lot of information in the preview is unnecessary, the preview is performed at a low resolution, and when it is necessary to perform various processes based on the preview image information, the preview is increased as much as necessary. By performing this, the preview speed and the automatic reading process are optimized.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the preview is performed at a high speed when the user is in the manual reading mode, and the preview is performed with a high accuracy in the reading mode that requires a lot of information for the preview image such as the fully automatic mode. It is possible to perform a preview operation that is optimal for any mode in which the main scan is performed.

  Hereinafter, the content of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 shows a software configuration in the present embodiment. Reference numeral 201 denotes application software for image processing, which can edit various image files. In addition, an image can be read from an application by calling a scanner reading driver. A reading driver 202 is software that directly interfaces with a user when reading an image. In addition, the image data sent from the scanner is subjected to various image processing and full-level reading operation processing such as full automatic mode control. Reference numeral 203 denotes a low-level driver that actually communicates with the scanner and directly controls the functions of the scanner body. Reference numeral 204 denotes a scanner body.

  FIG. 3 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 301 denotes a display device that displays the processing contents of the computer. Reference numeral 302 denotes a computer apparatus body. Reference numeral 303 denotes a keyboard device for the user to input commands to the computer. Reference numeral 304 denotes an interface cable for connecting the computer and the scanner. Reference numeral 305 denotes a scanner body. As shown in the figure, the scanner 305 is connected to the computer apparatus 302, and the reading driver for driving the scanner 305 is activated in the computer apparatus 302. Place the document on the platen glass and operate the scanning driver to scan.

  FIG. 4 is a screen display on the personal computer display of the reading driver. Reference numeral 201 denotes a preview button, 202 denotes a main scan button, and 203 denotes a fully automatic scan button that leaves all to the personal computer. Reference numeral 204 denotes an area for displaying a preview image. When reading manually, the preview button 201 is first pressed to display an image in the preview image display area 204. Next, the user can read the usable image data by selecting a necessary range while viewing the image, adjusting the resolution and image quality, and then pressing the main scan button 202. When scanning in the fully automatic mode, simply press the fully automatic scan button 203, and then the scanning driver automatically previews and automatically adjusts the effective image range and optimal image quality adjustment based on the preview. Set to, and execute the main scan. A color mode setting button 205 is used to select full color, gray scale, binary image, or the like. Reference numeral 206 denotes a resolution setting button. Reference numerals 207 and 208 denote areas for setting the width and height of the read image in the main scan, respectively. The user can specify a range by entering a numerical value here. It is also possible to designate a range of the image in the preview image display area 204 with a pointing device, and in this case, a numerical value is automatically displayed. Reference numeral 209 denotes a brightness setting bar for adjusting the brightness of the image. Reference numeral 210 denotes a contrast setting bar, which adjusts the contrast of the image. Reference numeral 211 denotes a gamma setting bar for adjusting gamma correction.

  FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of this embodiment. The user activates the reading driver in step S101, and sets the reading operation mode in step S102. In step S103, the driver software confirms whether or not the preview button has been pressed, and if so, performs preview at a low resolution in step S104. Thereafter, in step S105, the user manually sets for the main scan while confirming the image displayed in the preview image display area. When the main scan button is pressed in step S106, the main scan is performed in step S107. If the preview button is not pressed in step S102 and the fully automatic button is pressed in step S108, the scanner enters the fully automatic scan mode. In step S109, a preview resolution for the fully automatic reading mode is set, and in step S110, a preview is performed. In step S111, it is determined what kind of document is based on the preview image data. If it can be determined, the process proceeds to S112, and parameters corresponding to the document are automatically set. There are various types of originals to be read, such as text originals, photographs, and color documents, and optimum setting values are different for each. For this reason, the driver software discriminates the type of document based on information such as a histogram and density change of the image data obtained in the preview, and performs an actual scan by setting optimum parameters for each. For example, when the original is a normal text original, the low resolution monochrome mode is sufficient. If the original is a photographic original, high-resolution full-color reading is set, and brightness, contrast, gamma, and the like are set based on the histogram information so that the photographic original is read with high image quality. Furthermore, even in the multi-photo mode in which a plurality of photos are read simultaneously, reading is performed with an optimal setting. In this way, parameters are set based on the preview images read at the optimum resolution for each, and the main scan is performed in step S107. If the document type is not determined in step S111, the resolution is set higher in step S113, and the preview is performed again.

  Further, in step S114, the main scan button is pressed before the preview, and the main scan is performed with the default setting without performing the operation of preview.

It is a flowchart which shows the processing operation of this invention. It is a figure which shows the simple structure of the software of an Example. It is a system configuration diagram of an embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation screen on the personal computer display of an Example.

Claims (3)

Preview means for capturing image data in order to obtain rough information of the manuscript;
A main scanning means for capturing image data for storage;
Means for setting an operation mode of the main scan;
An image scanner comprising:
An image scanner comprising: means for changing the reading resolution of the preview for each operation mode of the main scan. Preview means for capturing image data in order to obtain rough information of the manuscript;
A main scanning means for capturing image data for storage;
Means for setting an operation mode of the main scan;
An image scanner comprising:
An image scanner comprising fully automatic reading means for automatically performing a main scan based on image data captured by the preview means. 3. An image scanner according to claim 2, further comprising means for previewing again at a higher resolution when the image captured by the preview means cannot be discriminated.

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