JPH0267865A - Picture reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the function of a section by defining the section by three elements of a break point to show the position of the section in a main scanning direction, a sequence pointer to show the position of a next pointer sequence and an attribute pointer to designate reading conditions and setting the elements freely. CONSTITUTION:A section processing circuit 11 to process the section when a picture is processed is equipped with a binarizing circuit 11, a pointer memory 13, a latch 14, a pattern memory 15 and a coincidence detecting circuit 16. The section is defined by three elements of the break pointer to show the position of the section in the main scanning direction, the sequence pointer to show the position of the pointer sequence and the attribute pointer to designate the reading conditions and the elements can be set freely. Thus, the section can be designated freely without limiting the number of sections by hardware and the function of the section can be improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an image reading device, and particularly to an image reading device in which a plurality of sections with different reading conditions can be set in a window.

(Prior Art) Today, image reading devices such as facsimile machines, scanners, and even digital copiers are required to have higher functionality as they become more widespread.

In response to this demand for higher functionality, a window function has emerged that allows an operator to designate an area to be read as a window within the document reading area, which is the maximum reading area of the image reading device.

This window function has a readable area X, as shown in FIG. The pixels are counted from , the enable signal is activated from Xl, the enable signal is made negative from X2, a window area is set, and reading is performed.

The window area has been set using a fixed hardware method in which X1 and X2 are set using a register, and an enable signal is generated based on the set value of this register.

Furthermore, recently there has been a demand for not only a window function but also a section designation function that can designate an area within a window with reading conditions different from the reading conditions of the window as a section.

The conventional section function specifies a section area using a configuration similar to that of the window function described above. That is, a register for setting the section area is provided, and an enable signal is generated based on the setting value of this register to specify the section area. Then, when a section area is specified, the reading conditions at that time are set, the image is read, and the section function is executed.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in such conventional image reading devices, the section area in the section function is fixedly specified by hardware using registers, etc. Once determined, the number of sections is uniquely determined.

As a result, it is difficult to expand the number of sections and reading conditions.
There was a problem with the lack of extensibility of the section function.

(Object of the Invention) Therefore, the present invention provides a section with a break pointer that indicates the position of the section in the main scanning direction, a sequence pointer that indicates the position of the next pointer sequence, and an attribute pointer that specifies the reading condition. By defining it with three elements and making each element freely configurable, the degree of freedom in the number of sections and their reading conditions can be expanded.
The purpose is to expand section functionality.

(Structure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 specifies an area to be read as a window within a document reading area that defines the maximum reading area, and scans the document within the window in main scanning and sub-scanning. In an image reading device capable of scanning and reading and specifying a plurality of areas as sections within the window to be read under reading conditions different from reading conditions of the window, the section is a break pointer indicating the position of the section in the main scanning direction. , a sequence pointer that indicates the position of the next pointer sequence, and an attribute pointer that specifies reading conditions. Each element can be freely set.

In addition, the invention according to claim 2 specifies an area to be read as a window within a document reading area that defines a maximum reading area, reads the document within the window by main scanning and sub-scanning, and reads the document within the window. In an image reading device capable of specifying a plurality of areas to be read under reading conditions different from the reading conditions of a window as sections, the sections include a break pointer indicating the position of the section in the main scanning direction and a position of the next pointer sequence. It is defined by three elements: a sequence pointer and an attribute pointer that specifies reading conditions, and each element can be freely set, and the reading conditions for the image specified by the attribute pointer can be freely set. It is characterized by

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained based on examples.

1 to 9 are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention, which is applied to a scanner device.

In FIG. 1, ``■'' is a scanner device, and the scanner device 1 is provided with a document table 3 on the upper part of its main body 2, and the document table 3 is made of contact glass. An operating section 4 is provided on the upper front surface of the main body 2, and the operating section 4 is provided with various operation keys. The main body 2 has a document presser 5.
is attached, and the document presser 5 presses the document set on the document table 3 against the document table 3.

Inside the main body 2, there is a photoelectric conversion means that illuminates a document set on the document table 3 and photoelectrically converts the reflected light, a sub-scanning means that moves the photoelectric conversion means in the sub-scanning direction, and a photoelectric conversion means that reads the document. Image processing circuits that process image data, especially
A section processing circuit that performs section processing according to the present invention, a control circuit that controls each part of the scanner device 1, and the like are housed.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a section processing circuit, in which the section processing circuit 11 includes a binarization circuit 12, a pointer memory 1
3, a latch 14, a pattern memory 15, a coincidence detection circuit 16, and the like.

The image data read by the photoelectric conversion means is input to the binarization circuit 12, and the comparison signal from the pattern memo January 5 is also input, and the binarization circuit 12 converts the image data into a comparison signal. Binarize based on

The pattern memory 15 is RAM (Random Acc
ess Memory), and as shown in Figure 3, seven attribute blocks At0-A
It is divided into t6. Each attribute block A
tO to At6 consists of 256 bytes, and each attribute block At0 to At6 contains the reading conditions of the image data, such as simple binarization processing, dither processing, dither processing with gamma correction, gray mask processing, and halftone processing. Data necessary for binarizing image data based on multiplication processing and the like is stored. Each attribute block At
0-At6 consists of 256 bytes, which is 8×
This is because it is necessary to generate pattern data for a dither matrix of 8. Therefore, for example, in the case of simple black-and-white binarization processing, 256 bytes of the same comparison reference value may be written.To change the density, it is sufficient to change the data value. Furthermore, when it is desired to change the gamma curve with a dither pattern, it is sufficient to write the dither pattern data after gamma correction as 7-tribute data. Designation of the attribute blocks AtO to At6 in the pattern memory 15 is performed by an attribute selection signal from the pointer memory 13. This reading condition data (pattern data) can be rewritten as necessary and can be downloaded from an external device (for example, a host device such as a personal computer) or a memory separately prepared within the scanner device 1. .

Pointer memory I3 is formed by RAM, and the fourth
As shown in the figure, 64 pointer blocks P0 to P
It is divided into 63 parts. Each pointer block P0~P
uff is 4 section descript bytes (section pointer) SDB6 as shown in Figure 4.
It is formed of ~5DBff, and each section descript byte SDB, ~SDB, is formed of 1 byte. Therefore, each pointer block P0~P
63 is formed by 4 bytes, and the pointer memory 13 is 25
It has a capacity of 6 bytes. Section descript byte 5DBo is an attribute byte (attribute pointer), and the pattern memo U
15 attribute blocks At0-At6 are specified. Therefore, the contents of section descript byte 5DBO are output to the pattern memory 15 as an attribute selection signal to select the image data reading conditions. Section descript byte 5DBI is a sequence byte (sequence pointer),
Pointer block P to which section descript byte 5DBI belongs. Pointer blocks P0 to P6 to which the section following the breakpoint (end in the main scanning direction) of the section ~Pb3 belongs are specified. Section descript byte 5DB2 and section descript byte 5DB2 are break pointers;
Specify the breakpoint of the section to which byte 5DB2 and SDB belong. These section descript bytes SDB, , SDB, are the section descript bytes 5.
Two bytes of DB2.5DB3 are used, and the contents are output to the latch 14 as point data. Here, section descript byte 5DBO~S
D B :l is summarized as follows.

5DB (1: Attribute byte (attribute pointer) SDB, sequence byte (sequence pointer) S D Bz, S D 83: Break pointer This pointer memory 13 contains a match from the minus number construction circuit 16. Signals, IPR data, and point data from a control section (not shown) are input, and these coincidence signals, IPR data, and point data will be described later.

The latch 14 latches the point data from the pointer memory 13 and outputs it to the coincidence detection circuit 16, and the number output circuit 16 compares this point data with a main scanning counter signal input from a control section not shown. do. The main scanning count result is a signal that is output by the main scanning counter built in the control section counting and outputting the number of pixels in the main scanning direction of the image data for each line. - When the data match, a match signal is output to the pointer memory 13. When a coincidence signal is input from the coincidence detection circuit 16, the pointer memo January 3 switches the pointer blocks P0 to P63. That is,
Move to the next pointer block P0 to P63 specified by section descript byte 5DB1.

Next, the action will be explained.

Now, as shown in FIG. 5, a case will be described in which two sections Sl and S2 are set in a superimposed manner within the window W.

To specify the area of window W, the entire area of document table 3 is the maximum readable area, and within this maximum readable area (document reading area), size specification such as A4, A5.85, etc., and the upper left coordinates and lower right coordinates of the area are specified. This is done by specifying coordinates, etc. In addition, the area specification for sections S, , S, is the fifth
As shown in the figure, this is done by specifying the upper left and lower right coordinates of each section S+ and Sz. When the reading conditions for window W and sections Sl and S2 are set, the control unit of scanner device 1 develops a pointer in pointer memory 13 based on the coordinate information and attribute information. That is, now the window W is specified from the upper left corner Qo (0, O) of the document reading area to the point Q at the coordinates (E, E), and the section S,
As Ql (x+, y) and Q+z (Xz, Vt
) as section S2, Qi (X, +, ys
) and Ql. When (x4.y4) is specified, the control unit of the scanner device 1 converts the input coordinate information into all coordinates for each point Q0゜Q, -Q, □, and QE, as shown in Fig. 6. is read, necessary point data is output to the pointer memo January 3 based on the coordinates, and the pointer is developed in the pointer memory 13 as shown in FIG.

That is, in Fig. 7, “
The numbers from ``°0''' to ``6'' indicate pointer numbers, and the names P0 to P of the pointer block shown on the left side indicate the rank of 3 (P0 to Pb in the illustration). There is. Each pointer block 20-P63 has its section descript byte SDB, -3D
Similar to what is shown in Fig. 4, B is the attribute byte SDB, sequence byte S from the bottom.
DB, break pointer 5DBz, indicating 5DBs.

When the start button on the operation unit 4 is pressed to start reading the image of the original, the control unit sends a message to the pointer memory 13.
IPR data (initial pointer register data) is entered manually. This IPR data is output based on the count result of a counter built in the control unit, and the counter is output from the window W and section St.
, St is set based on the set y coordinate. Therefore, the IPR data indicates the position of the set window W and section S1°82 in the sub-scanning direction, that is, the y-coordinate position. In the pointer memory 13, pointer blocks P0 to P6° to be processed are designated by this IPR data, and at the start, this IPR data designates pointer block P0. When IPR data specifying pointer block P0 is input, the pointer memory 13 stores the section descript byte S of the specified pointer block P0.
An attribute selection signal indicating reading condition A is output from DB to the pattern memory 15, and point data is output from section descript bytes 5DB2 and 5DB3 to the latch 14. The pattern memo January 5 outputs the pattern data specified by the attribute selection signal to the binarization circuit 12 as a comparison signal, and the binarization circuit 12 compares this comparison signal with the image data and selects the first pixel. The binarization process is started from the image data. That is, the binarization process of image data is started from point Q0 according to reading condition A, and now the section descript byte (break pointer) SDB of pointer block P0
, ,SDB, is set as (MAX), so
Point (0, E
). When the process progresses to this point (to), E), the process moves to the next line. IPR data is the 6th
There is no change until the process reaches the line shown as Qo+ in the figure, and the entire area of window W is processed under reading condition A from point Q0 to Qo+ in the sub-scanning direction (y direction).

Next, point Q. When the processing is completed up to one line before I and the sub-scanning advances to yl, the IPR data is switched to P, °'' and the pointer memo January 3 is stored in the pattern memory 15 based on the pointer block P, reading conditions. While outputting the attribute selection signal of “A”,
Point data for displaying is output to latch 14.

Therefore, the binarization circuit 12 continues the binarization process under the reading condition "8"°. Now, section descript hide (sequence byte) of pointer block P1
Since "°2'°" is displayed in the SDB, if the processing progresses to +1 in the main scanning direction with the reading condition "A", that is, the point data and the main scanning counter signal match. When a signal is input from the match detection circuit 16, the pointer memory 13 moves to the pointer block P2 specified by the section descriptor (high) SDB of the pointer block P, and performs the descriptor based on the pointer block P2. While outputting the attribute selection signal of reading condition "C" to the pattern memory 15,
Point data for displaying is output to latch 14.

Therefore, from the position in the main scanning direction "S", the reading condition "C"
Binarization processing using ++ is started. When the processing progresses to "x2" in the main scanning direction, a match signal is output from the -number output circuit 16, and when the match signal is manually input to the pointer memory 13, the section descript byte SDB of the pointer block P2, pointer block P specified by
3, the attribute selection signal of reading condition “A” specified by pointer block P3 is transferred to pattern memory 1.
At the same time, the point data for displaying "M A
E Perform processing under reading condition "A" up to 11.

This process is repeated up to one line before the sub-scanning direction ")'3", and the sub-scanning reaches point Q. 2, the IPR data switches to "I P 411." When the IPR data switches to P4', the pointer memory 13 outputs an attribute selection signal for the reading condition "A" to the pattern memory 15 based on the pointer block P4, and latches point data to display "X". Therefore, the binarization circuit 12 performs the binarization processing up to the main scanning direction "X3" according to the reading condition "A", and when the processing progresses to X,°,
- A match signal is input from the number output circuit 16 to the pointer memory 13, and the signal is transferred to the pointer block P specified by the section descript byte SDB of the pointer block P4. Pointer Memo January 3 is a pointer memo.
It outputs the attribute selection signal of the reading condition ``B++'' specified in block P to the pattern memory 15, and also outputs the section descript byte 5DBz, 5
Point data indicating ",+" of DB3 is output to latch 14.

Therefore, in the main scanning direction
Until then, binarization processing is performed under the reading condition "B"°, and when the processing progresses to the main scanning direction "X41'", the section
The process moves to the pointer block P specified by the descript byte SDB. Pointer memo January 3 section descriptor of pointer block P6 l-3D
The reading conditions specified by B.

The attribute selection signal of “A” is stored in the pattern memory 15.
At the same time, point data indicating ``MAX'' of section descript byte 5DBz, SDB:l is output to latch 14.

Therefore, processing is performed under the reading condition "A" from the main scanning direction X to the right end "E++" of the window W. This process is repeated up to one line before the sub-scanning direction ``y41'', and when the sub-scanning advances to point Q, . . . ``y4'', the IPR data becomes ``P''.

Hereafter, the above points I-Q. Similarly to the area from point 1 to point Q and 2, the area from point QOw+ to point Qo4 is processed. Furthermore, when the processing progresses to point Qoa, the same processing as that for the area from point Q0 to point Q-+ is performed at point Q0.
4 to point Qos.

In this way, the section area and reading conditions for each section can be specified using pointers, so the number of sections is not limited by the hardware, and sections can be specified with flexibility. Can be done. Therefore, the number of sections and reading conditions can be expanded, and the expandability of section functions can be improved. Furthermore, since the pattern data in the pattern memory 15 can be downloaded, the expandability of reading conditions can be further improved.

In the above embodiment, two overlapping rectangular sections S82 are used in the window W as sections, but the invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. Three large and small sections S3. Sl, S, one section S3 contains another section S4, and the other section S
, may partially overlap these two sections Sl and S, or may be a section S6 having a slope as shown in FIG. 9, and furthermore, although not shown, It may be circular. This slope or circular section can be created by finely setting the pointer blocks P0 to P6 formed by the pointer memory 13 each time the coordinate position in the main scanning direction changes. Alternatively, an accumulator may be used to dynamically add or subtract point data.

(Effects) According to the present invention, the number of sections is not limited by hardware, and sections can be specified with a degree of freedom. Therefore, the section function can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 9 are views showing one embodiment of the image reading device of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the image reading device, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image reading device.
The figure is a circuit block diagram of the section processing circuit, Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the attribute block of the pattern memory, Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of the pointer structure of the pointer memory, and Figure 5 is a diagram of the pointer structure set in the window. Figure 6 is a diagram showing the coordinates and points of the window and section, Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the pointer structure of the section corresponding to Figure 6, and Figures 8 and 9 are section settings. It is a figure showing other examples. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional section designation method. ■...Scanner device, 3...Original table, 11...Section processing circuit, 12...
・Binarization circuit, 13...Pointer memory, 14...Latch, 15...Pattern memory, 16...-Number construction circuit.

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) Specify the area to be read as a window within the document reading area that defines the maximum reading area, scan the document within the window by main scanning and sub-scanning, and set the area within the window to be different from the reading conditions of the window. In an image reading device capable of specifying a plurality of areas to be read as sections according to reading conditions, each section includes a break pointer indicating the position of the section in the main scanning direction, and a sequence pointer indicating the position of the next pointer sequence;
An image reading device defined by three elements: an attribute pointer for specifying reading conditions, and each element can be freely set. (2) Claim 1 characterized in that reading conditions for the image designated by the attribute pointer can be freely set.
The image reading device described.