JPH04222161A - Image input device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input device for inputting image information using an image sensor.

0002

[Prior Art] Image input devices use a method of converting an input object into an electrical signal through photoelectric conversion of an image sensor, and extracting and inputting image information to be input from the obtained image information. . FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional device, in which 1 is an input section, 2 is a position detection section, and 3 is an image information conversion section. FIG. 7 shows a configuration example of the input section 1, in which 4 is an image sensor, 5 is an input object, 6 is a conveyor belt, and 7 is a conveyance direction.

The conventional method will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. The conveyor belt 6 conveys the input object 5 in a conveyance direction 7 at a constant speed. On the other hand, two-dimensional information on the input object 5 is obtained by scanning the image sensor 4 on the line at a constant speed in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction 7. In this way, the information input by the image sensor 4 will include information that is not the input object if the input object 5 is tilted or deviated in parallel. Therefore, the position detection section 2 extracts the position information of the image part to be input from the information input by the image sensor 4, that is, the coordinates and the tilt angle, and the image information conversion section 3 extracts the coordinates for each pixel. The image information obtained as a result of the conversion is stored in a database. As a method for extracting an input target image, a method is often used in which the conveyor belt 6 is made into a black and white pattern so that the input object 5 and the conveyor belt 6 behind can be distinguished.

0004

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, the image
The image sensor 4 extracts irregular parts of the black and white pattern from the information input, uses the extracted information to extract the edges of the input image, and calculates the coordinates and tilt angle of the input image, so it takes time to input. , which had the disadvantage of not being able to handle high speeds.

An object of the present invention is to realize a high-speed image input device by detecting the coordinates and inclination angle of an input object using a sensor.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The image input device of the present invention includes a position detection unit including an image sensor, a conveyance device, first and second detection sensors, and a tilt angle detection sensor; and an image information conversion section that uses the information to obtain input target image information.

[0007]

[Operation] In this invention, first and second detection sensors for detecting the coordinates of the input image and a tilt angle detection sensor for detecting the tilt angle are provided in front of the image sensor, and the obtained information is used to detect the image sensor. It is characterized by extracting a necessary input target image from an input image. This can significantly reduce the time required for image input.

[0008]

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an image input device according to the present invention, FIGS. 5 shows the state of the input object being conveyed and its relationship with the detection sensor. In FIG. 1, 1 is an input section, 2 is a position detection section, and 3 is an image information conversion section. In Figures 2 and 3,
4 is an image sensor, 5 is an input object, 6 is a conveyor belt,
7 is a conveyance direction, 8 is a first detection sensor, 9 is a second detection sensor, 10 is two tilt angle detection sensors in the vertical direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction, 11 is a conveyance guide, 12 is a support, and 13 is this support. A support arm is attached to 12 and supports the conveyance guide 11, 14 is a drive roller, and 15 is a presser roller. Note that the drive roller 14 and presser roller 15 are omitted in FIG. 2, and the conveyance guide 11, support column 12, and support arm 13 are omitted in FIG. 4 and 5, L is the length of the input image in the x direction, h is the tilt angle detection sensor 10, 1
0, m is the difference in the y direction detected by the tilt angle detection sensor 10, △x is the deviation in the x direction, △y is the deviation in the y direction, θ
indicates the inclination angle.

The operation of the embodiment of the present invention will be explained below using FIGS. 1 to 5. As shown in FIG. 1, in the present invention, the input section 1 and the position detection section 2 perform processing independently, and the image information conversion section 3 performs extraction of input target information and coordinate transformation based on the obtained position information. First, the input object 5 is
It is conveyed by the conveyor belt 6 driven by the roller 14 and reaches the inclination angle detection sensor 10. The tilt angle detection sensor 10 is composed of two sensors in the vertical direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction, and calculates the tilt angle θ based on the difference in detection timing. That is, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, from the moving distance (difference in the y direction) of the input image obtained from the distance h between the tilt angle detection sensors 10 and the detection time difference between the two tilt angle detection sensors 10,
The inclination angle θ is expressed as tanθ=m/h. Therefore, θ
= tan-1 m/h. The second detection sensor 9 detects the distance between the input object 5 being conveyed and the conveyance guide 11, and defines this as a deviation Δx in the x direction. in particular,
It consists of a mechanical switch pushed out from the conveyance guide 11 toward the input object 5 by a spring, and a simple image sensor that detects the edges of the input image. First detection sensor 8
The image sensor 4 detects the tip of the input object 5.
The tilt angle detection sensor 10
Using the information on the inclination angle θ, in the example shown in Fig. 4, Δy=0
, in the example shown in Figure 5, △y=mL/(m2 +h2)1
/2. The configuration of the first detection sensor 8 is such that a laser beam is emitted from one conveyance guide 11, and a light receiving section is attached to the other conveyance guide 11.

[0010] The deviation △x in the x direction obtained by these
, the displacement Δy in the y direction, and the tilt angle θ, the image information conversion unit 3 converts the pixels in the x-y coordinate system shown by the solid line in FIGS. 4 and 5 into the coordinate system X-Y shown by the broken line. do. The relationship between these coordinate systems is shown by the following equation.

[0011]

[Equation 1] X=x× cosθ−y× sinθ−△xY
= x x sin θ + y x cos θ - △y In this example,
Although a line sensor is used as the image sensor 4, the present invention is not limited to this, and an area sensor can also have similar effects.

0012

As explained above, the present invention uses three types of detection sensors, the first detection sensor, the second detection sensor, and the tilt angle detection sensor provided in the position detection section, to detect coordinates and tilt angles. Since the detection is performed, it is easy to extract the necessary input target image from the input image and transform the coordinates, and it has the advantage that the time required for image input can be significantly reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of an image input device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a configuration example of an input section and a position detection section in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the state of an input object being conveyed and its relationship with a detection sensor.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the state of an input object being conveyed and its relationship with a detection sensor.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a conventional device.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a configuration example of an input section in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Input section 2 Position detection section 3 Image information conversion section 4 Image sensor 5 Input object 6 Conveyance belt 7 Conveyance direction 8 First detection sensor 9 Second detection sensor 10 Two inclination angle detection in the vertical direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction Sensor 11 Conveyance guide 12 Post 13 Support arm 14 Drive roller 15 Presser roller L Length of input image in x direction h Distance between tilt angle detection sensors m Difference in y direction detected by tilt angle detection sensors △x
Displacement in x direction △y Displacement in y direction θ Inclination angle

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image sensor that captures an image of an input object as an input object, a conveyance device that conveys the input object, a first detection sensor that performs detection in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction, and an image sensor that captures an image of an input object that is an input object, a first detection sensor that performs detection in a horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction, and a Position detection that detects displacement in the x direction, displacement in the y direction, and tilt angle using a second detection sensor that detects distance and tilt angle detection sensors arranged on both sides of the conveyance device that performs vertical detection perpendicular to the conveyance direction. Department,
The first detection sensor and the second detection sensor of this position detection section cause a shift in the input image in the y direction, the second detection sensor causes a shift in the input image in the x direction, and the difference in detection timing of the tilt angle detection sensor causes a tilt. The present invention is characterized by comprising an image information conversion unit that detects corners, extracts input target image information based on the x-direction deviation, y-direction deviation, and tilt angle of the input image of the image information conversion unit, and performs coordinate conversion. image input device.