JP2008042341A - Image processing system and image acquisition apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing system which sends data at a high speed from an image acquisition apparatus to an image processor. <P>SOLUTION: The image processing system comprises: the image acquisition apparatus for scanning an object, acquiring the image signals of the object and converting the image signals to image data; the image processor for executing prescribed image processing to the image data; and a high-speed external bus for connecting the image acquisition apparatus and the image processor. The image acquisition apparatus includes: an image acquisition part for scanning the object and acquiring the image signals of the object; a data conversion part for converting the image signals to the image data; and a first interface part connected to the high-speed external bus for outputting the image data to the high-speed external bus. The band speed of the high-speed external bus is higher than the transfer speed of the image data from the data conversion part to the first interface part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing system and an image acquisition device.

Conventionally, an image processing system in which a personal computer and a scanner are connected via a printer has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this image processing system, the scanner and the printer are connected by an external bus (IEEE 1394 or USB), and the printer and the personal computer are connected by a network cable.
JP 2002-158819 A

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, the bandwidth speed of the external bus tends to be slower than the data transfer speed inside the scanner. As a result, even if the scanning speed of the object in the scanner is increased or the resolution of the image signal of the object obtained by scanning is increased, the bandwidth of the external bus and the network cable is slow, so the scanner is connected to the personal computer. It tends to be difficult to send image data at high speed. In particular, when the bandwidth speed of the network cable is slower than the bandwidth speed of the external bus, it is necessary to temporarily store the data sent from the scanner with a printer, making it more difficult to send image data from the scanner to a personal computer at high speed. There is a risk.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system and an image acquisition device that can send image data from the image acquisition device to the image processing device at high speed.

  An image processing system according to a first aspect of the present invention includes an image acquisition device that continuously scans an object to acquire an image signal of the object, converts the image signal into image data, and the image data. An image processing device that performs predetermined image processing; and a high-speed external bus that connects the image acquisition device and the image processing device. The image acquisition device scans the object and outputs an image signal of the object An image acquisition unit that acquires the image signal, a data conversion unit that converts the image signal into image data, and a first interface unit that is connected to the high-speed external bus and outputs the image data to the high-speed external bus, The bandwidth speed of the high-speed external bus is faster than the transfer speed of the image data from the data conversion unit to the first interface unit.

  An image acquisition apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention includes an image acquisition unit that continuously scans an object to acquire an image signal of the object, a data conversion unit that converts the image signal into image data, A first interface unit connected to the high-speed external bus and outputting the image data to the high-speed external bus, wherein the transfer rate of the image data from the data conversion unit to the first interface unit is the high-speed external bus It is characterized by being slower than the bandwidth speed of the bus.

  According to the present invention, image data can be sent from an image acquisition device to an image processing device at high speed.

  An image processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image processing system according to the first embodiment.

  The image processing system 1 includes a scanner 10, a PC (Personal Computer) 20, and a high-speed external bus 30.

  The scanner 10 and the PC 20 are connected by a high-speed external bus 30. As a result, data can be transferred from the scanner 10 to the PC 20 via the high-speed external bus 30.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the scanner 10 will be described.

  The scanner 10 includes a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) 11, an A / D converter 12, a first interface 13, an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) 14, and an input unit 15.

  The CCD 11 is connected to the A / D converter 12 and the FPGA 14. The A / D converter 12 is connected to the CCD 11, the first interface 13, and the FPGA 14. The first interface 13 is connected to the high-speed external bus 30, the A / D converter 12, and the FPGA 14. The first interface 13 is, for example, a serial interface compatible with the serial ATA method (S-ATA method). The FPGA 14 is connected to the CCD 11, the A / D converter 12, and the first interface 13. A program for controlling the CCD 11, the A / D converter 12 and the first interface 13 is written in the FPGA 14. The input unit 15 is connected to the FPGA 14.

  A plurality of papers, which are objects to be scanned, are installed by a user on an auto seed feeder (not shown). Predetermined characters and figures are drawn on the paper. A transport system is provided between the auto seed feeder and a position where the CCD 11 can scan (hereinafter referred to as a scanning position).

  A scanning command for starting scanning is input to the input unit 15 by the user. The FPGA 14 receives a scan command from the input unit 15 and activates a program related to the scan command. The FPGA 14 controls the transport system according to the program and sequentially transports the paper set in the auto seed feeder to the scanning position. Then, the CCD 11 is controlled by the FPGA 14 and continuously scans the paper transported to the scanning position, and acquires a predetermined character or figure image drawn on the paper as a paper image signal (analog signal). . The CCD 11 supplies the image signal (analog signal) to the A / D converter 12.

  The A / D converter 12 converts an image signal (analog signal) into image data (digital signal). The A / D converter 12 supplies the image data (digital signal) to the first interface 13. At this time, the data transfer rate from the A / D converter 12 to the first interface 13 is, for example, 2 Gbps. The first interface 13 sends image data to the PC 20 via the high-speed external bus 30. At this time, the transfer rate of data sent from the first interface 13 to the high-speed external bus 30 is the same as the transfer rate of data from the A / D converter 12 to the first interface 13 and is, for example, 2 Gbps.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the PC 20 will be described.

  The PC 20 includes a main body B, an input unit 50, and a display unit 40.

  The input unit 50 and the display unit 40 are each connected to the main body B.

  The main body B includes a second interface 21, a CPU 22, a GPU 23, an HDD 25, a main memory 26, and a high-speed internal bus 28.

  The second interface 21, the CPU 22, the GPU 23, the HDD 25, the main memory 26, the input unit 50, and the display unit 40 are connected to each other via a high-speed internal bus 28. The high-speed internal bus 28 adopts, for example, a PCI-Express system with 16 parallel connections in a portion from the second interface 21 to the GPU 23. The bandwidth speed (bandwidth) of the high-speed internal bus 28 is, for example, 2.5 Gbps × 16 = 40 Gbps in the portion from the second interface 21 to the GPU 23. The second interface 21 is further connected to the high speed external bus 30. The second interface 21 is, for example, a serial interface compatible with the S-ATA method. The HDD 25 stores an image processing program and the like.

  The second interface 21 receives image data from the scanner 10 via the high-speed external bus 30. The second interface 21 supplies the image data to the GPU memory via the high-speed internal bus 28 and the GPU 23. The GPU memory stores image data. The second interface 21 supplies image data to the CPU 22, HDD 25, and main memory 26 as necessary.

  The CPU 22 displays the image indicated by the image data temporarily stored in the main memory 26 on the display unit 40. A command related to image processing is input to the input unit 50 by the user who has viewed the image displayed on the display unit 40.

  The GPU 23 receives an instruction related to image processing via the high-speed internal bus 28 and starts an image processing program that is transferred from the HDD 25 to the memory in the GPU and stored in advance. The GPU 23 refers to the GPU memory and performs predetermined image processing on the image data stored in the GPU memory according to the image processing program. Here, as the predetermined image processing, for example, the processing disclosed in JP-A-2005-150837 may be performed. That is, the GPU 23 performs image processing designated in advance for each color on the image data stored in the GPU memory. For example, the GPU 23 performs dropout for converting the registered color to white or color enhancement for converting to black or dark color on the image data. For example, the GPU 23 recognizes an area indicated by a registered color with respect to image data, and cuts out or masks the area. The GPU 23 supplies the image data subjected to such image processing to the CPU 22, HDD 25, main memory 26, and the like.

  Next, the configuration and operation of the high-speed external bus 30 will be described.

  The high-speed external bus 30 connects the first interface 13 of the scanner 10 and the second interface 21 of the PC 20. The high-speed external bus 30 is a bus adopting, for example, a serial ATA method (S-ATA method).

  Here, in the technique of Patent Document 1, a bus adopting the IEEE 1394 system is used as an external bus for connecting a scanner and a printer. In this case, the bandwidth speed (bandwidth) of the external bus is, for example, 800 Mbps. That is, if the data transfer speed inside the scanner is 2 Gbps, the bandwidth speed (bandwidth) of the external bus is slower than the data transfer speed inside the scanner. This may make it difficult to send data from the scanner to the personal computer at high speed.

  In contrast, in the invention according to the first embodiment, the scanner 10 and the PC 20 are connected by a high-speed external bus 30. The high-speed external bus 30 is a bus adopting, for example, a serial ATA method (S-ATA method). In this case, the bandwidth speed (bandwidth) of the high-speed external bus 30 is, for example, 3 Gbps. That is, if the data transfer speed inside the scanner is 2 Gbps, the bandwidth speed (bandwidth) of the high-speed external bus 30 is faster than the data transfer speed inside the scanner. As a result, data can be sent from the scanner to the personal computer at high speed.

  Next, the flow of processing in which the image processing system processes an image will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In step S1, the CCD 11 of the scanner 10 acquires an image signal.

  That is, a plurality of sheets, which are objects to be scanned, are installed by a user on an auto seed feeder (not shown) of the scanner 10. Predetermined characters and figures are drawn on the paper. A transport system is provided between the auto seed feeder and a position where the CCD 11 can scan (hereinafter referred to as a scanning position).

  A scanning command for starting scanning is input to an input unit (not shown) by the user. The FPGA 14 receives a scan command from the input unit and starts a program related to the scan command. The FPGA 14 controls the conveyance system according to the program, and sequentially conveys the paper set in the auto seed feeder to a position where the CCD 11 can scan. Then, the CCD 11 is controlled by the FPGA 14 and continuously scans the paper transported to the scanning position, and acquires a predetermined character or figure image drawn on the paper as a paper image signal (analog signal). .

  In step S2, the A / D converter 12 converts the image signal into image data.

  That is, the CCD 11 of the scanner 10 supplies an image signal (analog signal) to the A / D conversion unit 12. The A / D converter 12 converts an image signal (analog signal) into image data (digital signal).

  In step S <b> 3, data transfer (internal transfer) is performed inside the scanner 10.

  That is, the A / D converter 12 supplies the image data to the first interface 13. At this time, the transfer rate of the image data from the A / D converter 12 to the first interface 13 is, for example, 2 Gbps in serial conversion.

  In step S4, data transfer (transfer between devices) is performed between the scanner 10 and the PC 20.

  That is, the first interface 13 sends image data to the PC 20 via the high-speed external bus 30. At this time, the transfer rate of data sent from the first interface 13 to the high-speed external bus 30 is the same as the transfer rate of data from the A / D converter 12 to the first interface 13 and is, for example, 2 Gbps. On the other hand, the bandwidth speed (bandwidth) of the high-speed external bus 30 is, for example, 3 Gbps.

  Here, the bandwidth speed of the high-speed external bus 30 is faster than the transfer speed of the image data from the A / D conversion unit 12 to the first interface unit 13. That is, the bandwidth speed of the high-speed external bus 30 is faster than the transfer speed of the image data sent from the first interface 13 to the high-speed external bus 30. As a result, the high-speed external bus 30 can send image data to the PC 20 at almost the same speed as the transfer speed from the scanner 10. That is, image data can be sent from the scanner 10 to the PC 20 at high speed.

  In step S5, data transfer (internal transfer) is performed inside the PC 20.

  That is, the second interface 21 receives image data from the scanner 10 via the high-speed external bus 30. The second interface 21 supplies the image data to the GPU memory via the high-speed internal bus 28 and the GPU 23. The GPU memory stores image data. The second interface 21 supplies image data to the CPU 22, HDD 25, and main memory 26 as necessary.

  In step S6, the GPU 23 performs image processing.

  That is, a command related to image processing is input to the input unit 50. The GPU 23 receives an instruction related to image processing via the high-speed internal bus 28 and starts an image processing program that is transferred from the HDD 25 to the memory in the GPU and stored in advance. The GPU 23 refers to the GPU memory and performs predetermined image processing on the image data stored in the GPU memory according to the image processing program. Here, as the predetermined image processing, for example, the processing disclosed in JP-A-2005-150837 may be performed. That is, the GPU 23 performs image processing designated in advance for each color on the image data stored in the GPU memory. For example, the GPU 23 performs dropout for converting the registered color to white or color enhancement for converting to black or dark color on the image data. For example, the GPU 23 recognizes an area indicated by a registered color with respect to the image data, and cuts out or masks the area. The GPU 23 supplies the image data subjected to such image processing to the CPU 22, HDD 25, main memory 26, and the like.

  Note that a scan command for causing the scanner 10 to start scanning may be input to the input unit 50 of the PC 20 instead of being input to the input unit 15 of the scanner 10. In this case, the scan command is supplied from the input unit 50 to the FPGA 14 via the high-speed internal bus 28, the second interface 21, the high-speed external bus 30, and the first interface 13. The scanner 10 may include a CPU instead of the FPGA 14.

  Next, an image processing system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of an image processing system according to the second embodiment. Below, it demonstrates centering on a different part from 1st Embodiment, and abbreviate | omits description about the same part.

  The basic configuration of the image processing system 100 is the same as that of the first embodiment. However, the image processing system 100 includes a scanner 110 instead of the scanner 10 and a high-speed external bus group 130 instead of the high-speed external bus 30. Different from one embodiment.

  The scanner 110 includes a first scan unit 110a and a second scan unit 110b. The first scanning unit 110 a includes a CCD 111 a instead of the CCD 11. The second scanning unit 110 b includes a CCD 111 b instead of the CCD 11. The CCD 111a and the CCD 111b are arranged to face each other with a scanning position in between. As a result, the CCD 111a and the CCD 111b can scan the front surface and the back surface of the paper when the paper as the object is conveyed to the scanning position.

  The high-speed external bus group 130 includes a first high-speed external bus 130a and a second high-speed external bus 130b. A first high-speed external bus 130a connects the first scan unit 110a and the PC 20, and a second high-speed external bus 130b connects the second scan unit 110b and the PC 20. Here, the relationship between the internal data transfer speed of the first scanning unit 110a and the bandwidth speed of the first high-speed external bus 130a is the same as the internal data transfer speed of the scanner 10 and the bandwidth speed of the high-speed external bus 30 in the first embodiment. It is the same as the relationship. The relationship between the internal data transfer rate of the second scanning unit 110b and the bandwidth rate of the second high-speed external bus 130b is also the relationship between the internal data transfer rate of the scanner 10 and the bandwidth rate of the high-speed external bus 30 in the first embodiment. It is the same.

  Therefore, even with such an image processing system 100, image data can be sent from the scanner 110 to the PC 20 at high speed.

1 is a configuration diagram of an image processing system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing in which an image processing system performs image processing. The block diagram of the image processing system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1,100 Image processing system 10,110 Scanner 20 PC
30,130 High-speed external bus

Claims (4)

An image acquisition device that continuously scans an object to acquire an image signal of the object, and converts the image signal into image data;
An image processing apparatus for performing predetermined image processing on the image data;
A high-speed external bus connecting the image acquisition device and the image processing device;
With
The image acquisition device includes:
An image acquisition unit that scans the object and acquires an image signal of the object;
A data converter for converting the image signal into image data;
A first interface connected to the high-speed external bus and outputting the image data to the high-speed external bus;
Including
The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein a bandwidth speed of the high-speed external bus is faster than a transfer speed of the image data from the data conversion unit to the first interface unit. The image processing apparatus includes:
A second interface connected to the high-speed external bus and receiving the image data;
A storage unit for storing the image data;
A processing unit that performs predetermined image processing on the image data stored in the storage unit;
The transfer rate of the image data from the second interface unit to the storage unit is faster than the transfer rate of the image data from the data conversion unit to the first interface unit. The image processing system described in 1. The high-speed external bus includes a serial ATA bus,
The image acquisition device includes a scanner,
The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus includes a computer. An image acquisition unit that continuously scans the object and acquires an image signal of the object;
A data converter for converting the image signal into image data;
A first interface connected to the high-speed external bus and outputting the image data to the high-speed external bus;
Including
The image acquisition apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a transfer speed of the image data from the data conversion section to the first interface section is lower than a band speed of the high-speed external bus.

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