JPH07170436A - Picture input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the time required for setting of image pickup parameters by simplifying the setting of the parameters depending on an image pickup condition of an object. CONSTITUTION:The device is made up of an image pickup means 2 picking up an image of an object, an image pickup parameter setting means 30 to set an image pickup parameter of the image pickup means 2 depending on 4 the image pickup condition of the object, a storage means storing the image pickup parameter set by the image pickup parameter setting means 30 depending on the plural image pickup conditions, a storage operation means 50 storing each of plural individual image pickup parameters for the plural image pickup conditions to the storage means and a read operation means 50 storing the image pickup parameter set by the image pickup parameter setting means 30 to the storage means by the storage operation means 50 and reading selectively the parameter depending on the plural image pickup conditions from the storage means.

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,
In particular, in an image input device for shooting a printed document or the like with a camera and converting it into information such as a video signal, the shooting parameters of the camera can be selectively stored and read out for a plurality of shooting conditions. The present invention relates to a technique for simplifying the setting of the shooting parameters and saving the time required for setting the shooting parameters.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Information on a document printed by printing characters on paper or the like is converted into an image signal such as a video signal for recording as electrical information or for displaying on a television screen or the like. There is an image input device as the device. This image input device is composed of, for example, a document table, an illuminating device for illuminating the document, a camera for photographing the document, and a part for adjusting imaging conditions of the camera. In such an image input device, a document placed on a document table is illuminated by a lighting device to an appropriate brightness, and the document is taken as an object by adjusting image pickup conditions such as exposure and focus of the camera. You are getting a signal.

However, the shooting conditions for shooting an original with a camera actually vary depending on the type of the original, illumination, and the like. For example, the material of the original is paper, OH
There are transparent films for P, etc., and the color of the paper is various. In addition, the information recorded in the manuscript is characters,
Since there are pictures, photographs, etc., and the ratio of characters etc. to the area of the original document is different, the brightness of the paper surface of the original document is different. Furthermore, the original is not limited to a flat one, and the original may be thick such as one page of a book being bound. Therefore, in order to capture an image of an original with high quality with a camera, shooting parameters such as the brightness of the camera, white balance, color correction, and focus must be appropriately set according to the shooting conditions of each original. I won't.

[0004]

However, in the conventional image input apparatus, when a plurality of originals are photographed one after another, first the photographing parameters are set according to the photographing conditions of one original, and then the photographing is performed. When shooting the next document, the shooting parameters had to be newly set according to the shooting conditions of the document. Therefore, when the photographing conditions of the original document vary depending on the original document, it is troublesome and time-consuming to set a number of photographing parameters each time, which causes a reduction in the efficiency of image input work. Further, if the complicated setting of the photographing parameters is omitted in order to improve the work efficiency of the image input, there is a disadvantage that the quality of the obtained video signal image is deteriorated.

Further, in a conventional image input apparatus, shooting parameters of specific shooting conditions are stored in a storage device, and the shooting conditions of a document to be shot are similar to the stored shooting conditions. In some cases, it is considered that the image capturing parameter data of the specific image capturing condition stored is read from the storage device to set the image capturing parameter of the image input signal. But as I said before,
Since there are various types of actual originals, it is not practical to store actual one type of shooting parameters because it is not possible to deal with actual original shooting.

Further, in the conventional image input apparatus capable of storing the photographing parameters, after the photographing parameters are stored in the storage means, the photographing parameters are read out again from the storage means, and whether the photographing parameters are surely stored. I had to confirm. However, since the read operation for confirmation is not directly related to the document photographing operation and takes time, it causes a time loss in the image input operation of the document and reduces the work efficiency.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to simplify the setting of shooting parameters according to shooting conditions in an image input device, and to set appropriate shooting parameters easily in a short time.

Another object of the present invention is obtained by photographing by facilitating the setting of the photographing parameters of the image input device so that the photographing parameters optimum for the photographing conditions of the original can be surely set. It is to improve the quality of the image signal.

Still another object of the present invention is to make it easy to confirm whether or not the photographing parameters are reliably stored in the image input device, simplify the operation of storing the photographing parameters, and photograph the original for a short time. It is to be able to do it efficiently.

[0010]

In order to solve the above problems, in the image input apparatus of the present invention, a photographing means for photographing an image of a subject and a photographing of the photographing means according to the photographing condition of the subject. Shooting parameter setting means for setting parameters, storage means capable of storing shooting parameters set by the shooting parameter setting means according to a plurality of shooting conditions, and shooting parameters for the plurality of shooting conditions are individually described above. A storage operation means for storing in the storage means, and a shooting parameter set by the shooting parameter setting means, stored in the storage means by the storage operation means, and then selected from the storage means according to the plurality of shooting conditions. Read operation means for selectively reading.

[0011]

With such a configuration, first, in order to capture an image of a document as a subject by the image capturing means, the image capturing parameter of the image capturing means is set to an appropriate value by the image capturing parameter setting means according to the image capturing conditions of the document. To do. The shooting parameters are, for example, image brightness, white balance, color correction gain, focus, etc., and change depending on the type of document or illumination. The shooting parameters set by the shooting parameter setting means are stored and registered in the storage means. Since the storage means can store the shooting parameters for a plurality of shooting conditions, the shooting parameters corresponding to the respective shooting conditions of the originals having different paper colors, the density of characters, the size of the originals, and the like are stored separately. You can register.

When the photographing parameters are stored in the storage means, the photographing operation parameters are individually set for each photographing condition by the storage operation means so that the stored photographing parameters can be selectively read out later. To the storage means. Therefore, when reading the registered shooting parameters, the individually stored shooting parameters can be selectively read.

Furthermore, immediately after the operation of storing the photographing parameter in the storage means is performed by the storage operating means, the photographing parameter stored in the storage means immediately before is read out from the storage means by the reading operation means. Therefore, it can be confirmed that the shooting parameters stored in the storage unit are automatically read by the read operation unit and the shooting parameters are stored in the storage unit. The photographing parameters read by the reading operation means can be displayed by the monitor, the LED, or the like used when setting the photographing parameters.

As described above, the image input device can store the photographing parameters corresponding to a plurality of photographing conditions and selectively read them. Therefore, for example, if the shooting parameters of typical shooting conditions are stored and registered, even when manuscripts with different shooting conditions are taken one after another, the similar shooting conditions registered according to each manuscript It is possible to read and set the shooting parameters of. Even if the shooting parameters are not exactly the same as the stored shooting parameters, only the shooting parameters with different shooting conditions can be adjusted and set using the read shooting parameters, which simplifies the setting of shooting parameters. The time required to set the parameters can be shortened. Further, when the work of setting the shooting parameters is simplified, the shooting parameters suitable for the shooting conditions can be stably set, and the quality of the resulting image can be improved.

Further, since it is possible to confirm that the stored photographing parameters are automatically read and stored at the time when the storing operation of the photographing parameters in the storage means is completed, the photographing parameter registration operation is simplified. It

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image input device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image input device 1 is
A photographing unit 2 for photographing a document, and a console 3 for setting photographing parameters of the photographing unit 2 according to the photographing conditions of the document.
Consists of. A plurality of switches, which will be described in detail later, are arranged on the console 3, and a storage device (not shown) is built therein. Further, the image input device 1 is connected to a monitor device 4 for monitoring the image pickup state of a document and an image processing device 5 for performing image processing of a document image picked up by the image input device 1.

The switches on the console 3 are roughly classified into three types. First, a shooting parameter setting switch group 30 for setting shooting parameters for controlling the shooting state of the shooting means, a storage instruction switch group 40 for instructing an operation of storing data of the set shooting parameters in a storage device, and a setting. It is a storage area selection switch group 50 for selecting an area for storing the data of the shooting parameters being stored in the storage device.

The shooting parameter setting switch group 30 includes
Six shooting parameter setting switches 31a, 31b, 3
1c, 32a, 32b, 32c. Of these six switches, the shooting parameter setting switches 31a, 31
The data of the photographing parameters set in b and 31c are not stored in the storage device and are always initialized when the power of the image input device is turned on. The remaining shooting parameter setting switch 3
Once stored, the shooting parameter data set in 2a, 32b, and 32c is continuously stored regardless of whether the power is on or off. Also, the storage area selection switch group 5
0 is three storage area selection switches 51a, 51b, 5
It consists of 1c.

Further, the photographing parameter setting switch group 3
0, storage instruction switch 40, storage area selection switch group 5
LEDs 33, 42, and 52 indicating the valid states of the respective operation switches are arranged above the 0 operation switches.

The operation of the image input apparatus 1 having the above-mentioned structure will be described. First, the power source of the image input device 1 is turned on, and the document image photographed by the photographing means 2 is displayed on the monitor device 4. The image pickup state of the image pickup means 2 at this time is L of the operation console 3.
It can be confirmed by the ED 9 or the monitor device 4.
Based on the image pickup state of the image pickup means 2, the brightness of the image,
The shooting parameter setting switches 31a and 31 of the shooting parameter setting switch group 30 are used to adjust the shooting conditions of the shooting unit 2 according to the shooting conditions of the document such as the magnification of the image.
b, 31c, 32a, 32b, 32c are operated to set shooting parameters. Of the shooting parameters, those that require setting at other stages such as white balance and color correction can be dealt with by assigning a plurality of switches. When setting these shooting parameters,
It is not always necessary to display the original image on the monitor device 4.

Next, when the photographing parameters suitable for the photographing conditions of the original have been set and the photographing parameters are to be stored and registered, the storage operation switch 41 and the storage area selection switches 51a, 51b, 51c are selected. By operating any one of them in combination, the shooting parameters set at that time can be stored in the storage device inside the console 3. Specifically, after the setting of the photographing parameters is completed, the storage instruction switch 41 is operated, and then one of the storage area selection switches 51a, 51b, 51c is selected.
By operating one of them, the shooting parameter can be stored in association with the operated storage area selection switch. When the shooting parameters stored here are read, the data of the corresponding shooting parameters can be read by operating the storage area selection switch that was operated when storing.

When the storage of the shooting parameters is completed by operating the storage instruction switch 41 and any one of the storage area selection switches 51a, 51b, 51c, the data of the shooting parameters stored at that time is
It is automatically read from the storage device. The read data is displayed on the LED 33 or the monitor device 4. Therefore, since the shooting parameters stored in the storage device are automatically read from the storage device and displayed, it can be confirmed that the set shooting parameters are stored and registered in the storage device.

As described above, the shooting parameters set according to the shooting conditions can be selectively stored and registered by the plurality of storage area selection switches, and can be selectively read out as needed. Therefore, by storing the shooting parameters according to a plurality of shooting conditions, when setting the shooting parameters of the shooting conditions of the document to be newly shot, the data of the registered shooting parameters is read and the shooting is performed. Since the image pickup state of the means 2 can be set, the setting of the photographing parameters of the photographing means 2 can be greatly simplified.

The image input apparatus according to this embodiment having the above-mentioned features will be described more specifically with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. 2A and 2B show the entire image input device according to this embodiment, FIG. 2A is an external perspective view of the image input device, and FIG. 2B is a device sectional view showing an optical path in the image input device. In FIG. 2A, the image input apparatus 1 includes a document table section 6 and a head section 7. From the main body of the image input apparatus 1, an operation console 3 for setting shooting parameters is connected by a cable. . As shown in FIG. 2B, a mirror 10 and a camera 11 are housed in the document table section 6,
A light source 8 and a mirror 9 are housed in the head section 7. Light is emitted from the light source 9 to the upper portion of the document table portion 6, and the light from the document table portion 6 is returned by the mirror 9 of the head portion 7 to the lens of the camera 11 via the mirror 10 of the document table portion 6. To reach.

When photographing a document, the document to be photographed is placed on the document table 6 and illuminated by the light source 8, and the image of the document by the camera 11 is displayed on a monitor device (not shown) for operation. The table 3 is used to set shooting parameters most suitable for the shooting conditions of the document. When photographing a plurality of originals, the originals on the original table 6 are replaced one after another, and the photographing parameters are set on the console 3 according to the photographing conditions of the respective originals.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the operation panel of the operation console 3 shown in FIG. 2 (a). The switches arranged on the console 3 are divided into three switch groups surrounded by a chain line. Each switch functionally corresponds to the three switch groups 30, 40, 50 of FIG. 1, and is a shooting parameter setting switch for setting shooting parameters for controlling the shooting state of the camera according to shooting conditions. A group 60, a storage instruction switch group 70 for storing set shooting parameters, and a storage area selection switch group 80 for selecting shooting parameters according to shooting conditions. Some of these switches have LEDs built therein, and they are turned on by operating the switches.

The shooting parameter setting switch group 60 includes
It includes the following switches: "Camera output" switch 61a for displaying the image captured by the camera, "White balance" switch 6 for automatically setting the white balance of the image
2a, a "sharpness" switch 62b for enhancing the contour of the image, and a "sensitivity x 2" switch 6 for increasing the sensitivity by 6 dB.
2c, "red gain" switches 62d and 62e for adjusting the red strength / weakness of the screen, "blue gain" switches 62f and 62g for adjusting the blue strength / weakness of the screen, adjustment of the overall gain strength / weakness of the screen "Total gain" switch 6
2h and 62i, "black level" switches 62j and 62k for adjusting the black level of the screen, "brightness" switches 62l and 62m for adjusting the screen brightness, and "focus" switch for focusing the camera. 62n and 62o, and "zoom" switches 62p and 62q for enlarging or reducing the size of the original image on the screen.

The storage instruction switch group 70 includes a screen setting memory switch 71, which corresponds to the storage instruction switch 41 of FIG. The storage area selection switch group 80 includes a switch A81a, a switch B81b, and a switch C81c, which are switches 41a and 4 in FIG.
It corresponds to 1b and 41c. These switches are
When the switch is pressed, the operation corresponding to each switch is started, and at the same time, the internal LED blinks to indicate that the switch is operating.

The operation table 3 having the above-mentioned switches is used to set and store the photographing parameters as follows.
Read out.

First, the "camera output" switch 61a and the other photographing parameter setting switches 62a to 62q are operated in order to set the image capturing condition of the document based on the image of the document by the camera 11 (FIG. 2). Adjust the shooting parameters. The original is photographed when the appropriate photographing parameters are set, but the following operation is performed when the set photographing parameters are to be stored and registered. First, the screen setting memory switch 71 is pressed. By pressing this switch, the shooting parameter writing mode is entered, and the LED inside the switch blinks. Next, any one of the preset switch A81a, the preset switch B81b, and the preset switch C81c, for example, the preset switch A81a is pressed. As a result, the shooting parameter data set at that time is stored in the storage area of the internal storage device corresponding to the preset switch A81a, and the LED of the screen setting memory switch 71 stops blinking. However, the shooting parameter data stored here relates to the states of the shooting parameter setting switches 62a to 62q, and the "camera output" switch 61 is used.
No data is stored regarding the state of a. The state of the "camera image output" switch 61a is not continuously stored but is always initialized when the power is turned on.

The same operation can be performed on the preset switch B81b or the preset switch C81c. Therefore, it is possible to store the shooting parameter data of different shooting conditions in association with each preset switch. As described above, since the operation console 3 is provided with the three preset switches, it is possible to store shooting parameters corresponding to up to three kinds of shooting conditions.

When the previously stored photographing parameters are called, the preset switch A81a, the preset switch B81b, and the preset switch C81 are used.
By pressing any one of c independently, the shooting parameter of the shooting condition corresponding to the pressed switch can be read. The read shooting parameters are stored in the camera 11
It is set as the imaging condition (FIG. 2).

Therefore, even when a plurality of originals having different shooting conditions are shot one after another, for example, up to three types of shooting parameters of typical shooting conditions are stored and the most similar shooting conditions are used when shooting a document. Since it is possible to select and read the shooting parameters of (1) and set the shooting conditions of the camera, it is possible to simplify the setting of the shooting parameters.

For example, when it is not necessary to strictly set the photographing conditions of the original, it is possible to set the photographing parameters that are suitable for the photographing conditions to some extent by simply selecting and pressing one of the preset switches. An original image can be obtained. Further, even when a high-quality image is required, that is, when the shooting conditions need to be strictly adjusted, it is possible to set appropriate shooting conditions by partially correcting the read shooting parameters. Therefore, it is possible to simplify the setting of the imaging parameter when photographing the document, reduce the time required to set the imaging parameter, and improve the efficiency of the imaging work. Furthermore, since the setting of the photographing parameters is simplified and the originals having different photographing conditions can always be photographed with the appropriate photographing parameters, a high quality image signal can be obtained as a result.

Immediately after the operation of storing the image-taking parameter data by operating the screen setting memory switch and the preset switch, the stored image-taking parameters are automatically read from the storage device. The ~ 62q LED lights up or the read data is displayed on the monitor screen. Therefore, unlike the conventional image input device, there is no need to perform an operation for reading and confirming again after storing the shooting parameters, and the work of setting the shooting parameters is simplified and the complexity of the work of setting the shooting parameters is eliminated. As a result, the work efficiency of photographing the document can be improved.

Although the image input apparatus of this embodiment is provided with three storage area selection switches for selectively storing the shooting parameters according to the shooting conditions, if necessary, more storage area selection switches are provided. Can be provided.

In this embodiment, the image input device for obtaining the image signal by photographing the reflected light from the original with the camera is described. However, the image input device of the present invention takes the image with the transmitted light of the original. Device, or an image input device for obtaining an image signal by capturing an optical image of a three-dimensional object instead of a two-dimensional document.

Further, in the image input apparatus of this embodiment, when setting the photographing parameters, the memory instruction switch and the memory area selection switch are used in combination to individually store the photographing parameters for a plurality of photographing conditions and selectively. Although the reading is performed, other means may be used as long as the shooting parameters for a plurality of shooting conditions can be individually stored and selectively read.

[0039]

As described above, according to the present invention, shooting parameters at the time of shooting a document are individually stored according to a plurality of shooting conditions, and the stored shooting parameters are selectively read out to enable the camera to store the shooting parameters. Since the imaging conditions can be set, it is possible to greatly simplify the operation of setting the shooting parameters when shooting a document. Therefore, even when continuously photographing originals having different photographing conditions, appropriate photographing parameters can be quickly set by reading and using similar photographing parameters, so that the efficiency of document photographing can be improved. . Further, since the shooting parameters can be easily set, as a result, it is possible to always set the shooting parameters most suitable for the shooting conditions of the original, so that a high-quality original image can be obtained.

Further, since the stored photographing parameters are automatically read at the time when the storing operation is completed, it is not necessary to perform an operation for confirming whether the photographing parameters are surely stored. Therefore, the operation of storing and registering the photographing parameters is greatly simplified, and the efficiency of the document photographing work can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

2A and 2B show an entire image input device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2A is an external perspective view, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view showing the inside of the image input device and its optical path.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an operation panel of an operation console of the image input device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 image input device 2 photographing means 3 operation console 4 monitor device 5 image processing device 6 document table 7 head section 8 light source 9, 10 mirror 11 camera 30, 60 photographing parameter setting switch group 40, 70 storage instruction switch group 50, 80 storage Area selection switch group 31a, 31b, 31c Shooting parameter setting switch 32a, 32b, 32c Shooting parameter setting switch 33, 42, 52 LED 41 Storage instruction switch 51a, 51b, 51c Storage area selection switch 61a "Camera output" switch 62a- 62q shooting parameter setting switch 71 screen setting memory switch 81a preset switch A 81b preset switch B 81c preset switch C

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A photographing means for photographing an image of a subject, a photographing parameter setting means for setting a photographing parameter of the photographing means according to a photographing condition of the subject, and the photographing parameter setting means. Storage means for storing shooting parameters according to a plurality of shooting conditions; storage operation means for individually storing shooting parameters for the plurality of shooting conditions in the storage means; Read operation means for selectively reading the set shooting parameters from the storage means by the storage operation means, and then selectively reading the storage parameters from the storage means according to the plurality of shooting conditions. Image input device.