JPH09116710A - Edit area setting device and image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To set an edit area as desired on an original while reading an image on the original without damaging the original. SOLUTION: A scanning position detection circuit 3 generates a position coordinate on an original. A position adjustment circuit 2100b generated an adjustment parameter by adjusting a marking position of a slide resistor matching an edit area. A coordinate arithmetic circuit 2500 inputs both end coordinates by turning on/off the switch of a detection designation circuit 2100a and calculates the edit position coordinate point according to the adjustment parameter from the position adjustment circuit 2100b. An edit coordinate memory 2200 stores the calculated edit position coordinate point. An edit area generating circuit 2300 generates an edit area from the stored edit position coordinate pint. A segmentation circuit 2400 reads image data in the edit area via an image data bus from the image memory according to the edit area.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an editing area setting device for scanning an original and setting an editing area for editing a read image, and an image reading device for reading the editing area.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method of editing an original image, a region to be edited is directly written with a marker pen, read by a scanner or the like, and then the editing region is detected based on the marker coloring region. I was cutting out. (For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-294156).

[0003]

However, the above conventional configuration has the following problems.

The method of directly writing the edit area on the original document spoils the original original document. For example, in the method of coloring a document with a marker, the document to be stored becomes dirty.
Once colored, there is a problem that the marker cannot be designated again.

Further, the method using a marker pen is inefficient in working efficiency. This is a procedure in which a marker pen is used to write in a designated area on a document with a pen and then read with a scanner, which requires time and effort. Furthermore, auxiliary tools such as marker pens are always needed.

As another editing area setting method which does not damage an original without using an auxiliary device, a method of calculating a scanning position from an output of an encoder which generates a pulse with rotation of a wheel (for example, Kaisho 62-15
964), a method of calculating the scanning position each time a region is set can be considered.

However, this method has a problem in that it is not possible to freely set an editing area in a desired area because the scanning position is only detected from a limited locus on the document.

Further, since the scanning position is calculated by counting the pulses of the encoder which are sequentially detected with the scanning start position as the reference point, there is a problem that a cumulative position error occurs due to mechanical precision, wheel slippage and the like.

When the cumulative position error of the detected scanning position becomes large, a large position error occurs between the wheel and the regular scanning position on the original which is actually scanned by the wheel. (Hereinafter, this position error is referred to as position shift).

The positional deviation not only deteriorates the editing accuracy, but also affects the image to be edited. For example, if the coordinate position of the image data read from the sensor of the hand scanner is calculated based on the misaligned scanning position and stored at a predetermined address in the image memory, it is possible to obtain a large planar image connected to the image memory. Image distortion occurs.

Image distortion of a plane image due to this positional shift will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 19B, the case where the hand scanner 1004 freely scans the original 1000 will be described. As shown in FIG. 19C, a small-sized hand scanner that reads only one direction cannot read a large screen on the original 1000. However, since the image data is stored in the image memory in the reading range of the sensor in one direction, the connection shift does not occur.

As shown in FIG. 19D, in a hand scanner that reads a large screen on the original 1000 by reciprocal scanning with one stroke, when image data is stored in an image memory based on the misaligned scanning position, the image is read. The connection part of is misaligned and the image is distorted. Particularly, in a scanner that generates a cumulative position error, the wider the scanning range, the more the position shift becomes, and the image itself cannot be read.

Therefore, even if an edit area such as a cutout is set for a read image whose position has been shifted, the desired image position and the actual image position are different, so that it is not possible to specify an accurate edit position. is there.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The first object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and it is a first object of the present invention to provide an editing area setting device capable of efficiently setting an editing area without damaging an original document. A second object is to provide an editing area setting device capable of accurately setting an editing area for an image to be combined, and a third object is to provide an image reading device capable of efficiently editing.

[0016]

In order to achieve the above object, an editing area setting device and an image reading device according to the present invention have the following configurations.

In order to achieve the first object, the editing area setting device of the present invention has the following first configuration.

In the first configuration, the detection designation means for designating the coordinate detection position on the document, the position detection means for detecting a plurality of position coordinates at the coordinate detection position, and the editing position for setting the editing area Position adjusting means for adjusting the setting position of the coordinate point, coordinate calculating means for generating the edit position coordinate point based on the plurality of position coordinates and the setting position, and the coordinate detection position is designated by the detection designating means. Each time, the storage unit stores the edit position coordinate point generated by the coordinate calculation unit, and the edit area generation unit generates an edit area from the stored edit position coordinate point.

Next, in order to achieve the second object, the editing area setting device of the present invention has the following second structure.

In the second configuration, the image data read by scanning the original image and the scanning position corresponding to the image data are sequentially input, and the image data is stored in the image memory based on the scanning position. The image processing means detects a positional deviation of the scanning position from the image data and the storage data stored in the image memory in the overlapping scanning area for overlapping scanning, and outputs a correction amount for correcting the positional deviation. An image processing unit including a correction unit, a correction unit that corrects the scanning position based on the correction amount, and a mapping unit that stores the image data in the image memory based on the corrected scanning position; Area setting means for setting an editing area based on the scanned position.

Next, in order to achieve the third object, the image reading apparatus of the present invention has the following third configuration.

In the third structure, a sensor for scanning an original to generate image data, a scanning position detecting means for detecting the scanning position of the sensor, and the image data stored in the image memory based on the scanning position. Storage means, an editing area setting means for setting an editing area, and an output means for reading out the image data in the editing area stored in the image memory.

[0023]

According to the first configuration of the present invention, by designating a coordinate detection position on a document, a plurality of position coordinates are detected at the coordinate detection position and an edit position coordinate point for setting an edit area is set. By adjusting the set position, the edit position coordinate point can be set at an arbitrary position by calculation from a plurality of position coordinates. Therefore, the edit position coordinate point can be set at a desired position on the original without damaging the original.

Further, according to the second configuration of the present invention, the image processing means allows the image data and the stored data in the overlapping scanning area to be scanned redundantly even if the input scanning position includes a positional error. The positional deviation of the scanning position can be detected from the image information, and the positional deviation can be corrected. Since the area setting means sets the edit area based on the corrected scanning position, it is possible to set the edit area with high accuracy for the combined image.

Further, according to the third configuration of the present invention, the editing area can be set while reading the image on the original. Therefore, the editing work efficiency is improved.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to examples. Before describing the present invention, first to third
The image processing apparatus and the image reading apparatus, which are the basics of this embodiment, will be described.

(First Embodiment) First, an image processing apparatus used in the editing area setting apparatus and the image reading apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image processing apparatus A used in an editing area setting apparatus and an image reading apparatus and an image reading unit B for reading and scanning an original image according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

The line image sensor 1 generates image data by manually scanning the original 9 and reading the original image. The read image data is output to the image buffer 4. As shown in FIG. 16, an image reading unit B that reads and scans a document image includes a case 1 of the hand scanner body to which the line image sensor 1 is attached.
In the line 04, two wheels 31 and 32 are provided at both ends of the line image sensor 1, and encoders 2a and 2b for detecting the rotation of the wheels are attached to the wheels 31 and 32, respectively.

Each of the encoders 2a and 2b generates a two-phase A-phase pulse and a B-phase pulse whose phases are different by 90 degrees depending on the rotation angles of the wheels 31 and 32. The rotation directions of the wheels 31, 32 are detected using the A-phase pulse and the B-phase pulse. Since the A-phase pulse and the B-phase pulse are 90 degrees out of phase with each other, the level of the A-phase pulse detected by the rising of the B-phase pulse is classified into "H" level and "L" level depending on the rotation direction of the wheel. The identified signal 341,
When the “L” level of 361 is the forward direction of the wheel (UP direction), the “H” level is the reverse direction of the wheel (DOWN direction). The position counters 33 and 35 have signals 341,
When 361 is at "L" level, the count value is increased according to the number of B-phase pulses, and when it is at "H" level, the count value is subtracted according to the number of B-phase pulses. Position coordinate detection circuit 37
Is a count value 331 from the position counters 33 and 35,
351 is input and each wheel 3 considering the rotation direction of the wheel 3
The moving distances of 1 and 32 are detected. Next, the scanning position detection circuit 37 determines the wheels 31, 3 based on the moving distance of the wheels.
The coordinates on the second document are calculated. Further, the scanning position detection circuit 37 converts the coordinates of the wheels 31 and 32 into the coordinates of the read pixels at both ends of the line image sensor 1 and outputs the coordinates as the scanning position coordinates 300. Scan position detection circuit 3
Details of the operation of the scanning position detection circuit 3 including the position counter 33, the position counter 33, and the position counter 35 will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the position shift detection circuit 7 is
The correlation value between the densified image data 500 from the mapping circuit 5 and the stored data stored in the image memory 6 is calculated. Further, the positional deviation detection circuit 7 corrects the scanning position coordinate 300 using the position correction amount calculated based on this correlation value, and outputs the corrected position coordinate 710 to the mapping circuit 5. The mapping circuit 5 performs pixel density conversion on the image data 400 and outputs a densified image signal 500. Further, the mapping circuit 5 uses the corrected position coordinates 710 to generate the address of the image memory 6. The mapping circuit 5 stores each pixel data of the densified image data 500 in the image memory 6 via the bus 600. Details of the operations of the position shift detection circuit 7 and the mapping circuit 5 will be described later.

The operation of the scanning position detecting circuit 3 will be described in more detail below. FIG. 2 is an operation explanatory diagram of the position detection circuit 3. In FIG. 2, the thick line indicates the locus of movement of the two wheels. The coordinates indicating the positions of the two wheels when the line image sensor 1 reads the pixel data of the i-th line are P0 _i (X0 _i , Y0 _i ),
Let P1 _i (X1 _i , Y1 _i ). Now, P0 _i-1 and P1 _i-1
The coordinates of P0 _i and P1 _i are
It can be approximately calculated using (Equation 1).

[0032]

(Equation 1)

Here, · is an operation for multiplication and / is an operation for division. Hereinafter, · will be described as an operator for multiplication and / will be described as an operator for division. L0
_i-1 is the distance traveled by the wheel from the start of reading until the reading of the i-1th line. △ L0
_i is the distance traveled by the wheel from the reading of the i-1th line to the reading of the i-th line. The moving distance can be a negative value because the rotation direction of the wheel is taken into consideration. Also, the moving distance of the wheel on the original is
It can be obtained by calculating P × N from the number of pulses N of the encoders 2a and 2b shown in FIG. 16 and the resolution P (inch / one pulse) of one pulse. Position coordinate detection circuit 3 of FIG.
7 is the count values 331, 3 of the position counters 33, 35.
51 is read in synchronization with the reading cycle of the sensor, and based on the difference between the count values detected on the i-th line and the (i-1) th line, the moving distance ΔL0 _i on the original including the rotation direction of the wheels.
Is detected. D is the distance between the two wheels. (Equation 1) is Δθ = | θ _i −θ _i−1 | = | ΔL0 _i −ΔL1 _i |
This is an approximate calculation with / D set to 0. Δθ means a change angle of the line image sensor 1 during one line scanning time of the line image sensor 1. By using (Equation 1), if the coordinates of the two wheels at the start of reading are determined, those coordinates can be calculated from the movement distances of the two wheels.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the calculation of the coordinates of the pixels read at both ends of the line image sensor 1. The coordinates of the wheel 31 are P0 (X0, Y0), and the coordinates of the wheel 32 are P1 (X1,
Y1). The coordinates Ps (Xs, Ys) and Pe (Xe, Ye) of the pixels at both ends of the line image sensor 1 can be calculated by (Equation 2).

[0035]

(Equation 2)

Where D is the distance between the wheels 31 and 32,
d1 is the distance from the wheel 31 to the read pixel Ps, d2
Is the distance from the wheel 31 to the read pixel Pe.

The scanning position detecting circuit 3 has wheels 31, 32 obtained from the two-phase pulses from the encoders 2a and 2b.
Calculations of (Equation 1) and (Equation 2) are performed based on the movement distance of (1), and the coordinates of the read pixels at both ends of the line image sensor 1 are output as the scanning position coordinates 300 in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the scanning area of the line image sensor 1. The movement of the line image sensor by manual scanning when the reading area width of the document 9 is larger than the length of the line image sensor 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In order to read a document, an operator manually scans the document 9 while reciprocating the document 9 while bringing the hand scanner body into contact with the document by hand. At this time, the two wheels attached to the main body rotate, and the encoders 2a and 2b output two-phase pulses. FIG. 4 shows a reading area on the original read by the line image sensor 1.

Since the line image sensor 1 cannot scan the entire width of the original 9, the reading unit B in FIG.
Reads the entire document by the reciprocating motion of the line image sensor 1. Although FIG. 4 shows only the positions of pixels at both ends of the image sensor, the image sensor 1 reads an image on a line connecting the pixels at both ends. For example, when the pixels at both ends of the line image sensor 1 are points A and B, respectively, the line image sensor 1 is reading on the line connecting the points A and B. (Hereafter, this is read position A-
B).

In FIG. 4, the line image sensor 1 uses the reading position AB as the scanning start position and the reading position C as the scanning position.
Scan to -D. The image data obtained by reading the reading area ABDC surrounded by the points A, B, D, and C is newly stored in the image memory 6. Such an area is hereinafter referred to as a new scanning area.

Next, the line image sensor 1 scans from the reading positions CD to EF in the returning direction. C
An area CDGE surrounded by points, D points, G points, and E points is an area where images are read in an overlapping manner. Hereinafter, the overlapping read area is referred to as an overlap scanning area. Point D,
The area DGF surrounded by the points G and F is a new scanning area. Each pixel in the read image data of the area ABCD is
The image data is stored in the image memory 6 by the mapping circuit 5 based on the scanning position coordinates from the position detection circuit 3. Next, the line image sensor 1 moves in the return direction, and the reading position C-
Scan from D to E-F. At this time, there are three scanning areas: the overlapping scanning area CDGE, the new scanning area ABGEC, and the new scanning area DFG.

If there is no position error in the scanning position coordinate 300 from FIGS. 1 and 4, each pixel of the read image data can be mapped and stored in the image memory 6 based on the scanning position coordinate 300. That is, even if the read image data of the overlapping scanning area is overwritten in the image memory, the new scanning area ABGEC and the overlapping scanning area CDGE are overlapped.
There is no deviation in the read image in the image memory at the seam portion of. However, due to the precision of the mechanical design of the hand scanner, the slip between the wheel and the original, the sinking of the wheel into the original, the effect of the wheel width during manual scanning of the curve, etc., the scanning position coordinate 3
00 includes a position error. Further, the scanning position detection circuit 3
Since the two-phase pulses output from the encoders 2a and 2b are counted to obtain the moving distance of the encoder, the position error is accumulated. Therefore, when the image data 400 is mapped to the image memory 6 using the scanning position coordinates 300, the image shift occurs at the joint portion. Here, the operation of storing the read image data in a predetermined address of the image memory is called mapping.

In order to eliminate this image shift, the position shift detection circuit 7 uses the image data stored in the image memory 6 of the overlap scanning area CDGE and the densified image data 500, and a correlation value indicating the degree of correlation between them. To calculate. Further, the position shift detection circuit 7 calculates the position correction amount for correcting the scanning position coordinates based on this correlation value. Further, the position shift detection circuit 7 corrects the scanning position coordinates 300 according to this position correction amount and outputs the corrected position coordinates 710 to the mapping circuit 5. The mapping circuit 5 generates an address for mapping each pixel in the densified image data 500 to the image memory 6 according to the corrected position coordinate 710, and stores the address in the image memory 6. The extraction of the overlap scanning area will be described later.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the image memory 6. The bit configuration of each pixel of the image memory 6 includes a storage bit (bit 7) of a write flag that holds scanning position information of image data and a storage bit (bits 0 to 6) of image data. Here, the number of storage bits of the image data is not specified and may be designed according to the required number of gradations.
In this embodiment, an image with 128 gradations is handled, and 7 bits per pixel are secured in the image memory in order to store the grayscale data having a value of 0 to 127. The write flag of bit7 is "0" when the image data 6 is not written in the image memory (unstored state) and "1" when the image data is already written (stored state).
become. In this way, by sharing the memory for storing the image data and the memory for storing the scanning position information, the address generation and the memory control unit can be simplified, and the simultaneous access allows the access speed to be increased.
The memory for storing the image data and the memory for storing the scanning position information may be separately configured, and the scanning position information may be in block units instead of pixel units. It suffices if the scanning position information that can specify the storage position of the image data can be stored.

Next, the operation of the position shift detection circuit 7 will be described. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the displacement detection circuit 7. Before the reading scan of the line image sensor 1 of FIG. 1 is started, all the data in the image memory 6, the position correction amount 703 of the correction amount calculation circuit 73, and the correlation table in the image correlation circuit 72 are “0”. Is initialized to. After this initialization, the scanning position coordinate 300 is changed to the position correction circuit 74 every time the line image sensor 1 reads a line.
Are corrected and output to the mapping circuit 5 as corrected position coordinates 710. Since the position correction amount 703 is “0” at the time when the reading of the line image sensor 1 is started, the scanning position coordinate 300 and the correction position coordinate 710 have the same coordinate value.

The mapping circuit 5 densifies the image data 400 by a pixel density conversion process to obtain a densified image signal 500.
Generate Further, the mapping circuit 5 uses the input corrected position coordinates 710 to calculate the storage address ADRn of each pixel data Pn of the densified image signal in the image memory 6. Details of the operation of the mapping circuit 5 will be described later. The mapping circuit 5 reads the pixel data Pn stored in the address ADRn of the image memory 6 via the bus 600 according to the address ADRn, and reads the pixel data Pn from the bus 600 via the bus 600.
The pixel data Pn is output to the overlapping area detection circuit 71.

The overlap area detection circuit 71 checks the write flag (bit7) of the pixel Pn to determine whether the image data has been stored at the address ADRn of the pixel data Pn. When the bit 7 of the pixel data Pn is 1, it indicates that the image data has already been stored in the address ADRn by the reading scan of the sensor, and thus it can be determined that the pixel data Pn is included in the overlap scanning region. When bit7 is 0, it can be determined that the pixel data Pn is included in the new scanning area. The overlapping area detection circuit 71 outputs the determination signal 701 to the image correlation circuit 72 and the mapping circuit 5. Here, the determination signal 70
1 is a signal which becomes "0" when the pixel data Pn is included in the new scanning area and "1" when the pixel data Pn is included in the overlapping scanning area.

The image correlation circuit 72 performs the correlation value calculation process for the pixel data Pn when the determination signal 701 is "1", and does not perform the correlation value calculation process when the determination signal 701 is "0". The mapping circuit 5 stores the densified pixel data Pn in the image memory 6 when the determination signal 701 is “0”. Further, the mapping circuit 5 does not store Pn in the image memory 6 when the determination signal 701 is “1”. This series of processing operations for each pixel is performed for all the pixel data of one line of the densified image data 500.

At the time when the above processing of the high-density image data 500 for one line is completed, the image correlation circuit 72 creates a correlation table created by performing the correlation value calculation processing only for the pixels included in the overlap scanning area. The position shift direction of the scanning position coordinate 300 is detected by using this. further,
The image correlation circuit 72 outputs an offset value 702 for canceling the positional deviation to the correction amount calculation circuit 73.
When the densified pixels of all one line are included in the new scanning area, the correlation table of the image correlation circuit 72 remains the initial value "0". At this time, the offset value 7
02 is 0 (no displacement).

The correction amount calculation circuit 73 uses the offset value 70
The position correction amount 703 is output by adding 2 to the cumulative value of the correction amount held inside. The position correction circuit 74 adds the scanning position coordinates 300 of the image data of one line to be processed next and the position correction amount 703, and outputs it as corrected position coordinates 710 to the mapping circuit 5. After that, the series of processes described above is sequentially repeated for each line.

Next, the operation of the mapping circuit 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6, 7 and 9. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the mapping circuit 5,
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the image memory 6, and FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of pixel density conversion.

The pixel density conversion circuit 51 uses the image data 40.
3 interpolated pixels are generated for 1 pixel data in 0, and 2
The densified image data 500 that has been doubled in density is output.

First, a method of generating interpolation pixels will be described with reference to FIG. P _{i, j} represents the j-th pixel data of the image data of the i-th line in the image data 400. Black dots are coordinate points of each pixel data. FIG. 9A shows four adjacent pixels in the image data 400. A case where three interpolation pixels are generated for the pixel data P _{i, j} in the image data 400 will be described. FIG. 9B
In, Q _{i, j} , R _{i, j} and S _{i, j} are interpolated pixels.
Each interpolation pixel data is calculated by (Equation 3).

[0054]

(Equation 3)

Next, the coordinate value calculation circuit 52 will be described. The coordinate value calculation circuit 52 includes the line image sensor 1
Corrected position coordinates 710, which are the coordinate values after the correction of pixels at both ends of
Is entered. The coordinate value calculation circuit 52 uses the corrected position coordinates 7
10, the coordinate value 520 of each pixel of the densified image data 500 is calculated. As shown in FIG. 7, the coordinates (correction position coordinates 710) of both end pixels Ps _i and Pe _i of the line image sensor 1 are (Xs _i , Ys _i ) and (X
The operation of the coordinate value calculation circuit 52 in the case of e _i , Ye _i ) will be described. The suffix i is the i of the image data 400.
Indicates that the coordinates are the corrected position coordinates of the line. Here, the read pixel density of the line image sensor 1 is set to 8 pixels / m.
m, the pixel density of the image stored in the image memory 6 is 8 pixels /
mm, Xs _i , Ys _i , Xe _i and Ye _i are real values in units of 1/8 mm.

When the number of read pixels in one line of the line image sensor 1 is Nd and the pixel number in one line is j _, the coordinates (XP _{i, j} , YP _{i, j} ) of the pixel data P _{i, j} are ( It is calculated using Equation 4).

[0057]

(Equation 4)

Coordinates (XQ _{i, j} , YQ) of three interpolated pixel data Q _{i, j} , R _{i, j} , S _{i, j} corresponding to the pixel data P _{i, j
i, j} ), (XR _{i, j} , YR _{i, j} ), (XS _{i, j} , YS _{i, j} )
Is calculated using (Equation 5).

[0059]

(Equation 5)

The coordinate value calculation circuit 52 calculates the coordinate value 520 of each pixel in the high density image signal 500 by performing the arithmetic processing of (Expression 4) and (Expression 5).

The integer conversion circuit 53 calculates the coordinate value 5 which is a real value.
20 is converted into an integer, and an integer coordinate value 530 is output. Coordinate value 520 of the real number is (X _real , Y _real ), integer coordinate value 530
Is (X _int , Y _int ), the integer coordinate value is (Equation 6)
Is calculated using.

[0062]

(Equation 6)

In [Equation 6], [] indicates an operation for rounding off the decimal point. Performing the fractional part truncation processing after adding 0.5 is equivalent to rounding.

The address generation circuit 54 uses the integer coordinate value 5
30 is converted into the address 540 of the image memory 6. FIG.
0 shows the address arrangement of the image memory 6. Image memory 6
Is a page memory having M pixels in the X direction and N pixels in the Y direction. The address of the upper left pixel of the image memory is 0, the upper right address is M-1, and the lower right address is MN-1. If the integer coordinate value 530 is (X _int , Y _int ), the address ADR of the image memory is calculated by (Equation 7).

[0065]

(Equation 7)

The error calculation circuit 55 has a real coordinate value 52.
0 and an integer coordinate value 530 are input, and a coordinate error 550 that occurs because the coordinate value 520 is converted into an integer is output. When the coordinate error in the X direction is Ex and the coordinate error in the Y direction is Ey, the coordinate error (Ex, Ey) is calculated by (Equation 8).

[0067]

(Equation 8)

Here, || is an operation that takes an absolute value. Hereinafter, || will be described as an operator that takes an absolute value. Ex and Ey take values of 0 to 0.5.

The comparison circuit 56 compares Ex and Ey of the coordinate error 550 with a predetermined value. The comparison circuit 56 outputs a signal 560 which becomes “1” when both Ex and Ey are smaller than the above values.

The access circuit 57 accesses the image memory 6 via the bus 600. The address of the image memory 6 is designated by the address 540. Access circuit 5
In order to store the high-density image signal 500 in the image memory 6 according to 7, the determination signal 701 is “0” and the signal 560 is “1”
Control so that only when is. That is, the mapping of a pixel in the high-density image signal 500 onto the image memory 6 is performed only when the pixel is a pixel included in the new scanning area and the coordinate error is smaller than a predetermined value. Pixels that do not satisfy the above conditions are not mapped to the image memory 6. By controlling the memory so that no new image data is stored in the stored area on the image memory 6, even if the scanning position including the accumulated position error is input, the scanning is sequentially repeated by the one-stroke writing reciprocating by the manual scanning. In this case, since the image data having a small cumulative position error is preferentially stored in the image memory 6, the image memory 6
An image with a small scanning position error can always be stored on the top. If this stored data is used for positional deviation detection, a connected composite image with small distortion can be obtained, and the quality of the planar image can be improved.

FIG. 11 shows the densified image data 50 of FIG.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of a mapping operation of 0 to the image memory 6. FIG.
(A) shows the densified image data 500. FIG.
In (a), the black dot indicates the coordinate value of each pixel. The minimum pixel density of the high-density image data 500 is 16
Pixels / mm. FIG. 11B shows pixels of the image memory 6. In FIG. 11B, the black dot indicates the coordinate value of the pixel W. The distance U indicates a predetermined value used in the comparison circuit 56 of the comparison circuit 4. The image memory 6 stores image data having a pixel density of 8 pixels / mm. FIG.
FIG. 11C is an example in which the high-density image data (FIG. 11A) and the pixels of the image memory (FIG. 11B) are overlapped in the same coordinate system. In the case of FIG. 11C, since the coordinate values of the pixels P, Q, R, and S of the high-density image data are outside the area T, all the pixels P, Q, R, and S are the pixels W of the image memory. Will not be mapped to. In other words, in the image memory 6, there are pixels that are not imaged (image missing pixels) even though they are the original reading area.

When image-defective pixels occur, white streaks are noticeable in a solid black area, and the image quality is significantly deteriorated. In addition, when the mapping missing pixel occurs in the character area, the character product is remarkably deteriorated such as a white streak in the character.

The mapping missing pixels can be eliminated by expanding the area T. However, if the area T is widened, the coordinate error at the time of mapping becomes large, so that the distortion of the image mapped in the image memory becomes large. From the viewpoint of image distortion, the smaller the area T, the better.

The limit value U _max of the distance U for eliminating mapping missing pixels can be expressed by (Equation 9) using the pixel pitch of the image memory as a unit. In the case of this embodiment, since the pixel density of the image memory is 8 pixels / mm, the unit is 1/8 mm.

[0075]

(Equation 9)

By setting the distance U to 0.35, it is possible to eliminate mapping missing pixels. If the priority is to allow the occurrence of image-missing pixels to some extent and reduce the image distortion, the distance U may be set in the range of 0.3 to 0.35. When the distance U is set to 0.3 or less, image-missing pixels occur frequently, and the image quality of a reproduced image significantly deteriorates.

Returning to the description of the operation of the positional deviation detection circuit 7 shown in FIG. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the correlation table. The image correlation circuit 72 of FIG. 16 will be described mainly using FIG.
FIG. 8A is an explanatory diagram of a correlation position that is a target of correlation processing,
FIG. 8B is an explanatory diagram of the correlation table. FIG. 1
6, the scanning position coordinate 300 of the i-th line input to the position correction circuit 74 is set to P10 (X1, Y1), P20 (X2,
Y2), and the position correction amount 703 is ΔXoffset _i , ΔYoff
Set _i . The position correction circuit 74 uses the scanning position coordinates 300.
From the (Equation 10), P11 of the correction position coordinate 710
(X3, Y3) and P21 (X4, Y4) are calculated.

[0078]

(Equation 10)

As shown in FIG. 5, the overlap area detection circuit 71
The image correlation circuit 72 calculates the correlation value for the pixel to be processed and updates the correlation table only when the determination signal 701 from 1 is “1”, that is, when the pixel to be processed is included in the overlapping scanning region. The pixel Pn in the image memory 6 corresponding to the coordinates of the pixel to be processed is the pixel of interest. To calculate the correlation value,
This is performed by calculating the difference value between the pixel data in the image memory and the pixel data of the pixel to be processed, which corresponds to the coordinate in which the coordinate of the pixel to be processed is increased or decreased by a small amount.

The coordinates of the pixel Pn of interest are (Xn, Yn)
When the minor coordinate values are Δhx and Δhy, the phase of the pixel to be processed is
Coordinates (Xh_mn,
Yh _mn) Is calculated by (Equation 11).

[0081]

[Equation 11]

Here, m is -1, 0, 1, n is -1,
It takes the values 0 and 1. Also, [] is a rounding operation of the decimal part.

In FIG. 8A, P12 to P22 are m
1 shows the position of one line for calculating the correlation value when = 1 and n = 1. When the correlation table corresponding to the target coordinates for this correlation value calculation is h (m, n), the correlation table shown in FIG. 8B can be created.

If the pixel number in one line of the high-density image signal 500 is j, the data value is Dn _j , and the pixel data for which the correlation value is to be calculated in the image memory 6 is Dh _jmn , the values in each correlation table are shown. h (m, n) is calculated by (Equation 12). Here, ho (m, n) is the pixel number j-1.
It is the value of the correlation value table generated by the correlation value calculation up to. Before the calculation of the correlation value for one line is started, the values in the correlation table are all initialized to zero.

[0085]

(Equation 12)

The image correlation circuit 72 of FIG. 5 completes the correlation table by performing the above correlation value calculation for all the pixels of one line in the high density image signal. Also,
The target coordinates for calculating the correlation value are the corrected position coordinates 710 based on (Equation 10).

The image correlation circuit 72 searches for (m _min , n _min ) holding the minimum value of h (m, n) at the time when the calculation of the correlation value of one line is completed, and outputs it as the offset value 702. To do. There are multiple minimum values in the correlation table,
When the minimum value includes (m _min , _nmin ) = (0, 0), the minimum value of (0, 0) is preferentially used. The fact that the correlation value h (m _min , _nmin ) in the correlation table is the smallest means that when the minute value of (Δhx × m _min , Δhy × n _min ) is added to the coordinates of each pixel and mapped, The image in the image memory and the image of the line to be mapped are
It shows the best match. Further, when there are a plurality of minimum values and the minimum value includes the center of the correlation window, the offset value 702 is set to 0. For example, if a 3 × 3 correlation window is set, h (0,0) becomes the center of the correlation window. Here, m takes a value of -1, 0, 1, and n takes a value of -1, 0, 1.

The correction amount calculation circuit 73 in FIG. 5 performs the calculation shown in (Equation 13) using the offset value 702 (m _min , _nmin ). Here, the offset value 702 is defined as △ X = △ h
Let x × m _min and ΔY = Δhy × n _min .

[0089]

(Equation 13)

In (Equation 13), the suffix i is
A position correction amount 703 when the correlation table of the i-th line of the densified image data 500 is completed is shown. The position correction circuit 74 of FIG. 5 displays the scanning position coordinates 300 at (ΔXoffset _i , ΔYoff
The scan position coordinate 300 is corrected by adding set _i ) and the corrected position coordinate 710 is output.

In this embodiment, the correlation target pixel position is set to 9
However, if the positional deviation amount is large, more correlation target pixel positions may be increased to widen the correlation range. Further, the correlation table may be created at N (N> 1) scanning line intervals, and the positional deviation may be corrected at N (N> 1) scanning line intervals. For example, N = 8 may be set.

As described above, according to the image processing apparatus used in the editing area setting apparatus and the image reading apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention, even if the input scanning position includes a position error, it is duplicated. The positional deviation of the scanning position can be detected from the image information of the image data and the stored data in the overlapping scanning area to be scanned, and the positional deviation can be corrected. By storing the image data in the image memory based on the corrected scanning position, it is possible to prevent the connection deviation of the image caused by the position error of the scanning position and reduce the image distortion of the planar image connected in the image memory.

(Second Embodiment) Next, as a second embodiment of the present invention, a process when the offset value 702 corresponding to the positional deviation detected by the image correlation circuit 72 of FIG. 5 is large will be described. .

When the offset value 702 corresponding to the positional deviation detected by the image correlation circuit 72 is large, the position correction amount 7
03 greatly changes at the position where the offset value 702 is added, and as a result, the corrected position coordinate 710 largely changes at the corrected position. The storage state of data in the image memory 6 when the correction position coordinate 710 largely changes will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram of a data storage state in the image memory 6. In FIG. 15, (i-
1) The line-th line is a line for image correlation detection, and the i-th line is a line for position correction. Also, (i-1)
The pixels on both ends of the line are described as Ps _i-1 and Pe _i-1 , and the pixels of both ends on the _i- th line are described as Ps _i and Pe _i .

As shown in FIG. 15, according to the correction position coordinates 710 at the position where the amount to be corrected changes greatly,
When the mapping circuit 5 stores image data in the image memory 6,
An area in which no data is stored (a mapping missing area due to position correction) occurs between the (i-1) th line and the i-th line.

A method of suppressing the generation of the area in which the data is not stored will be described with reference to FIGS. 12, 13 and 14. 12 is a block diagram of the positional deviation detection circuit 7 including the division control circuit 75, FIG. 13 is a timing chart of the division control circuit 75, and FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the difference between the position correction amount 703 and the division position correction amount 705. Is.

12 is different from the block diagram of the positional deviation detection circuit 7 of FIG. 5 in that the offset value 702 of the image correlation circuit 72 is not directly input to the correction amount calculation circuit 73. The offset value 702 is a division offset value 704 for preventing a mapping missing area by the division control circuit 75.
Is input to the correction amount calculation circuit 73.

A register N 754 has a parameter N for dividing the offset value 702 so as to prevent a mapping missing area.
Hold B. The offset value 702 is divided by the division number NB held in the register 754 by the divider 751, and the switch 752 turns ON / OFF the output of the divider 751 by the control output of the switch control 753. "O
In the case of "N", the output of the divider 751 becomes the division offset value 704, and in the case of "OFF", the division offset value 704 becomes "0" (no offset value). If the number of divisions NB is 2 ⁿ , the divider 751 can be configured by n-bit shift. The division number NB is not specified and is set by the maximum value that the offset value 702 can take.

The operation of the division control circuit 75 will be described with reference to a timing chart in FIG. Here, the number of divisions NB
Will be described as 4. Further, it is assumed that the line position where the image correlation is first performed is i-th and the image correlation detection is performed at intervals of 8 lines. In FIG. 13, the i-th line is 0, (i +
8) The line number is indicated as 8 and only the number is described.

The mapping circuit 5 outputs a line synchronization signal for one line to the division control circuit 75 and the image correlation circuit 72 when all the image signals for one line read by the line sensor 1 are mapped via the bus 600. To do.

The image correlation circuit 72 sets the first line position where the scanning is started to the initialization line position (i = 0 line position), counts the line synchronization signal from the initialization line position, and sets the count number i to 8 When the remainder divided by is 0, image correlation detection is performed (excluding the initialization line position of i = 0), and the offset value 702 is synchronized with the line synchronization signal before the reading of the next line position is started. And update. When the image correlation detection is completed, the correlation completion signal is sent to the bus 6
Switch control 753 of the division control circuit 75 via 00
Output to The switch control 753 controls the image correlation circuit 72.
The next line position that receives the correlation end signal of 1 is set to 1 as the count value, and counting of the line synchronization signal is started from the next line position. Corresponding to the division number NB of the register 754, the switch control 753 turns ON the switch 752 when “1 ≦ count value ≦ 4” and turns OFF when “count value> 4”.

The correction amount calculation circuit 73 inputs the divided division offset value 704, and receives the position correction amount 70 for one line before.
Accumulated value of register 731 storing 5 and offset value 7
04 is added by the adder 732, and the position correction amount 705 subjected to division control is output.

Next, in the correction amount calculation circuit 73, the position correction amount 703 generated by inputting the offset value 702 is input.
The difference between (without division control) and division position correction amount 705 (with division control) generated by inputting the division offset value 704 will be described with reference to FIG.

Similar to FIG. 12, it is assumed that the image correlation detection is performed by setting the first line position to be the i-th line and performing image correlation at 8-scan line intervals. In FIG. 14, the i-th line is 0
The (line position) and (i + 8) th line are referred to as 8 (line position), and only the numbers are described. Further, since the offset value 702 for canceling the positional deviation is the same in both the X direction and the Y direction, only one of the X directions will be described as an example. Further, at the i-th line position, the cumulative value of the register 731 of the correction amount calculation circuit 73 is “0”, and the division number of the register 754 of the division control circuit 75 is four.

In FIG. 14, the i-th line and (i + 8)
Since the image correlation detection is performed at the line, the offset value 702 from the image correlation circuit 72 is the (i + 1) th line (offset value = Δhx × m) and the (i + 9) th line (offset value = −Δhx × m). ) Is output.

In the case of "without division control", the correction amount calculation circuit 7
3 receives the offset value 702 and obtains a signal 703 in which the cumulative value (cumulative value = 0) of the register 731 and the offset value Δhx × m are added at the next (i + 1) th line. Similarly, on the (i + 9) th line, the cumulative value of the register 731 (cumulative value = Δhx × m) and the offset value of −Δhx × m
A position correction amount 703 obtained by adding is obtained.

In the case of "with division control", the correction amount calculation circuit 7
3 inputs the division offset value 704, and the next (i + 1)
A division position correction amount 705 is obtained by adding the cumulative value of the register 731 (cumulative value = 0) and the offset value Δhx × (m / 4) to the line. In the (i + 2) th line, the division position correction amount 705 is obtained by adding the cumulative value (cumulative value = Δhx × (m / 4)) of the register 731 and the offset value Δhx × (m / 4). Thereafter, the division position correction amount 70 is sequentially increased by Δhx × (m / 4) up to the (i + 4) th line.
Get 5. From the (i + 4) th line to the (i + 8) th line, since the division offset value 704 is 0, there is no change. Similarly, the division position correction amount 70 obtained by adding the cumulative value (cumulative value = Δhx × m) of the register 731 and the offset value −Δhx × (m / 4) to the line (i + 9)
5 is obtained, and thereafter, sequentially from the (i + 9) th line to (i + 1
2) A division position correction amount 705 that decreases by −Δhx × (m / 4) is obtained up to the line. From the (i + 13) th line, the division offset value 704 becomes 0, so there is no change.

In the case of "no division control", when a large offset value 702 is detected, the position correction amount 703 greatly increases between the (i-1) th line for which image correlation detection is performed and the next i-th line. Decrease. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 15, an area where no data is stored (a mapping missing area due to correction) occurs between the (i-1) th line and the i-th line.

In the case of "with division control", even if a large offset value 702 is detected, the division control circuit 75 divides the offset value 702 line by line, so that the (i-1) th line for image correlation detection is performed. , The division position correction amount 705 gradually increases or decreases at the next i-th line. Therefore,
As illustrated in FIG. 15, the hi-th line set by the division control is set between the (i−1) -th line and the i-th line in the case of “no division control”, and (i−1) An area where no data is stored is prevented from occurring between the line of the line i and the line of the line i. Here, in the hi-th line, both end pixels are described as Ps _hi and Pe _hi .

Further, when the correlation target range is widened, the scanning position is corrected with a large offset value, so that an area where data is not stored (a mapping missing area due to correction) frequently occurs. In this case, by using “with division control”, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of an area in which data is not stored in the image memory 6 (a mapping missing area due to correction), and improve the positional deviation detection accuracy when performing image correlation detection. it can. As a result, the quality of the image reproduced on the image memory 6 can be improved.

In addition, "a method of increasing the number of pixels by densifying the input image data and then mapping only pixels with few coordinate errors during mapping to the image memory" and "with division control" are described. By using it, it is possible to largely eliminate unmapped pixels in the image memory. Further, the distortion of the read reproduction image due to the coordinate conversion error at the time of mapping can be significantly reduced. In addition, the image quality on the image memory 6 can be further improved without increasing the number of pixels of the image sensor or reducing the maximum manual scanning speed.

As described above, according to the image processing apparatus used in the editing area setting apparatus and the image reading apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the correction value for correcting the positional deviation is variably controlled at a predetermined ratio, and the steps are performed. The scanning position is corrected based on the corrected correction value and the image data is stored in the image memory based on the corrected scanning position data. Therefore, the image data in the image memory that is caused by the correction of the scanning position is stored. It is possible to prevent the generation of the unprotected area.

Since there is no abrupt correction of the scanning position,
The detection range of the correlation value when detecting the positional deviation from the image information of the image data and the stored data can be reduced, and the circuit scale can be reduced.

Furthermore, since the occurrence of a region (image missing) in the image memory where the image data is not stored is prevented, the positional deviation is detected from the image information of the image data and the stored data in the overlapping scanning region. The error of the correlation value at that time can be reduced, and the accuracy of the positional deviation detection can be improved.

As a result, the quality of the image reproduced in the image memory can be improved. In addition, if the image processing apparatus used in the editing area setting apparatus and the image reading apparatus of the present invention is configured with hardware, it is possible to sequentially process each line, so that the circuit scale can be reduced and further real-time processing can be performed.

The image data 500 obtained by densifying the input image data 400 is used to increase the number of pixels.
Although only pixels having a small coordinate error at the time of mapping are mapped to the image memory, the image data 400 that does not have a high density may be used. In this case, the area that is not mapped can be prevented by "with division control". When the determination of the coordinate error at the time of mapping is 0.5, the input image data 400
Of the image data 500 densified with (P _{i, j} ), R _{i, j} generated between scanning lines may be always stored and mapped to the image memory. As a result, even if a scan line has an unacceptable interval, it is possible to prevent storage failure of image data and prevent the generation of a non-imaged area (image-missing area).

(Third Embodiment) As described above, in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, the positional deviation detection for the X component and the Y component of the scanning position has been described. However, the positional deviation of the scanning position in the rotational direction is described. The case where detection is further added will be described below.

The factor that causes the positional error of the rotational component at the scanning position will be described by taking as an example the case where the original is manually scanned by two wheels.

The position error factor in the configuration shown in FIG.
Slippage of the wheels 31, 32 on the document, accuracy error of wheel diameter,
There are errors in the accuracy of the distance D between the wheels, sinking of the wheels 31 and 32 into the document, and the center of rotation when rotating by manual scanning is affected by the wheel width. Therefore, by adding the position error for the rotation component to the correction target, it is possible to accurately correct the position shift.

In the third embodiment to be described below, a case will be described with reference to FIGS. 16, 17, and 18 in which the positional deviation detection for the rotation component is further added to correct the rotation component.

The image reading section B shown in FIG. 16 is the same as that of the first embodiment. Further, in FIG. 16, the difference from the first embodiment is that a coordinate rotation conversion circuit 8 for detecting the positional deviation with respect to the rotational component is added, and further, a delay circuit for improving the accuracy of the positional deviation detection. 9 is added. The delay circuit 9 has a first
The embodiment and the second embodiment also have the effect of improving the positional deviation correction accuracy. This effect will be described later.

The image processing apparatus used in the editing area setting apparatus and the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 16 has a scanning position coordinate 300 obtained in line units from the image reading unit B.
And the image data 400 corresponding to the scanning position are sequentially input.

The analog output of the line sensor 1 is the amplifier 1
Amplified by 02 and converted into digital image data by the A / D converter 103. The digital image data is temporarily stored in the image buffer 4. The image buffer 4 outputs the corresponding image data 400 in synchronization with the scanning position coordinate 300.

The correction amount calculation circuit 73 is the image correlation circuit 72.
The offset value 702 from is accumulated and held.

The position correction circuit 74 corrects the positional deviation of the scanning position coordinate 300 with the position correction amount 703 and outputs the corrected scanning position coordinate 710.

The delay circuit 9 delays the corrected scanning position coordinates 710 and the image data 400 in units of scanning lines.

The mapping circuit 5 calculates the memory address 62 (ADRn) of each pixel data 61 (Pn) of one scanning line from the delayed coordinate data 92 of the corrected scanning position coordinates 710.
Of the delayed image data 91 in the storage area (memory 65) of the plane image data of the image memory 6
The pixel data 61 (Pn) to be mapped is stored.

Here, if the image memory 6 is configured as shown in FIG. 7 as in the first embodiment, the storage bit (bit 7) of the write flag for holding the scanning position information of the image data is stored in the memory 66. Correspondingly, the storage bits (bits 0 to 6) of the image data correspond to the memory 65. Therefore, the overlapping area detection circuit 71 determines from the scanning position information stored in the memory address 62 (ADRn) of the memory 66,
The overlapping area to be scanned overlappingly is determined, and the determination signal 701 of the overlapping scanning area is output.

The decision signal 701 is obtained by checking the write flag (bit7) of the pixel Pn to determine the pixel data 61.
It is determined whether the image data has been stored in the address 62 (ADRn) of (Pn). When the bit 7 of the pixel data 61 (Pn) is 1, it indicates that the image data is already stored in the memory address 62 (ADRn) by the reading scan of the sensor.
It can be determined that (Pn) is included in the overlap scanning area. When bit7 is 0, pixel data 61 (P
It can be determined that n) is included in the new scan area. The overlapping area detection circuit 71 outputs the determination signal 701 to the image correlation circuit 72 and the mapping circuit 5. Here, the determination signal 701
Is a signal that becomes “0” when the pixel data 61 (Pn) is included in the new scanning area and becomes “1” when it is included in the overlapping scanning area.

The mapping circuit 5 stores the pixel data Pn in the memory 65 when the determination signal 701 is "0". The mapping circuit 5 does not store the pixel data Pn in the memory 65 when the determination signal 701 is “1”. This series of processing operations for each pixel is performed by the image data 91 of one scanning line.
For all pixels.

The coordinate rotation conversion circuit 8 uses the corrected scanning position coordinates 7
With respect to 10 [Ps-Pe], correlation coordinates 800 in the tilt direction with a slight angle Δφ are output to the image correlation circuit 72 in units of one scanning line.

The image correlation circuit 72 uses the coordinate data of the correlation coordinates 800 to determine the target pixel P for each correlation detection of one scanning line.
The correlation detection address 63 of n is generated, the stored data 64 is read from the storage area (memory 65) of the plane image data of the image memory 6, and at the same time, the scanning position information corresponding to the stored data 64 is read from the memory 66. It is output to the overlap area detector 71.

The overlap area detection circuit 71 uses the scanning position information stored in the correlation detection address 63 of the memory 66 as
The overlapping area to be scanned overlappingly is determined, and the determination signal 701 of the overlapping scanning area is output.

The image correlation circuit 72 performs the correlation value calculation process for the pixel Pn when the determination signal 701 is "1", and does not perform the correlation value calculation process when the determination signal 701 is "0".

As shown in FIG. 17, the image correlation circuit 7
2, the correlation coordinate [Ps-Pe (± Δ] in the tilt direction in which the minute angle Δφ is shaken with respect to the scanning position coordinate 300 [Ps-Pe].
φ)] or correlation detection processing of correlation coordinates [Ps (± Δφ) −Pe] is performed, the positional deviation of the rotation component can be detected, and more accurate positional deviation correction can be realized. it can.

In this case, the correlation test of the first embodiment of the present invention is performed.
When combined with the table value h (m, n), the correlation table
The value is h (l, m, n). l is the value of -1, 0, 1
Take. 27 in total, 3 in the angular direction and 9 in the positional direction
Can create a correlation table. Minimum value in correlation table
Is h (l, m, n), the angle correction amount Δφoffset _i
Is generated by calculating l · Δφ. Where Δφ is an example
For example, 0.2 degrees. Note that l, m, and n are specified
Not. The larger the value, the wider the area for correlation.
Therefore, the correction accuracy can be improved. Therefore, the required position
It is a value set by the correction accuracy of these.

As shown in FIG. 16, in order to detect the rotational component of the positional deviation, the coordinate of the corrected scanning position coordinate 710 is rotationally converted on the coordinate by the coordinate rotation conversion circuit 8, and the scanning position coordinate 300 [Ps- The correlation coordinates 800 [Ps-Pe (± Δφ)] or the correlation coordinates 800 [Ps (± Δφ) -Pe] in the tilt direction obtained by swinging the minute angle Δφ with respect to Pe] are output.

The image correlation circuit 72
Correlation coordinates 80 in each tilt direction with a slight angle Δφ
According to 0, 27 kinds of correlation tables 67 are created by repeating the operations of (Expression 10) to (Expression 12). Here, l, m, and n are assumed to take values of -1, 0, and 1, respectively.

An offset value 702 for correcting the positional deviation is detected from this correlation table 67.

The image correlation circuit 72 determines each corner of one scanning line.
When the calculation of the correlation value for the degree is completed, h (l,
hold the minimum value of (m, n) (l_min, M_min, N_min)
Is output and is output as an offset value 702. Correlation
There are multiple minimum values in the table, and the minimum value is (l
_min, M_min, N_min) = (0,0,0) is included
In this case, the minimum value of (0,0,0) is preferentially used. phase
Correlation value h (l _min, M_min, N_min) Is the highest
Is smaller than (Δφ × l_min, △ hx ×
m_{mi n}, △ hy × n_min) Is added to the coordinates of each pixel
Then, the data stored in the image memory and the future
Image information with the image data of the line to be mapped,
It shows the best match. Also, multiple minimums
If a value exists and its minimum contains the center of the correlation window
Indicates that the X component and Y component of the offset value 702 are 0.
For example, if a 3 × 3 correlation window is set, h (l, 0,0)
Is the center of the correlation window. In addition, the swing angle of the rotation angle is 0
Prioritize the correlation value of.

The correction amount calculation circuit 73 uses the offset value 70
The calculation shown in (Equation 14) is performed using 2 (l _min , _mmin , _nmin ). Here, the offset value 702 is ΔX = Δ
hx × m _min , ΔY = Δhy × n _min , ΔΨ = Δφ × l
_min .

[0142]

[Equation 14]

In (Equation 14), the suffix i is
The position correction amount 703 when the correlation table of the i-th line of the image data 400 is completed is shown.

The position correction circuit 74 uses the scanning position coordinates 300.
Is added to (ΔXoffset _i , ΔYoffset _i , Δφoffset _i ) to correct the scanning position coordinate 300 and output the corrected position coordinate 710.

The scanning position coordinate 300 of the i-th line input to the position correction circuit 74 is converted into Ps (Xs, Ys), Pe (X
e, Ye), and the position correction amount 703 is ΔX offset _i , Δ
Yoffset _i, and △ φoffset _i. The position correction circuit 74 is
Based on (Formula 15) from the scanning position coordinate 300, Psh (Xsh, Ysh) and Peh (Xe) of the correction position coordinate 710 are obtained.
h, Yeh) is calculated.

[0146]

(Equation 15)

Here, the center of rotation on the coordinate is always the coordinate P.
s. Also, asin [] is a function for calculating the arc sine. Nd is the number of read pixels of one line of the line image sensor 1. The center of rotation on the coordinates may be the coordinates Pe or both. By performing both, the positional deviation corresponding to both wheels can be detected.

As described above, the correction of the positional deviation with respect to the rotation direction caused by the factors such as the slip of the wheels, the accuracy error of the diameter between the wheels, the accuracy error of the distance between the wheels, and the sinking of the wheels into the original document. By adding, it is possible to accurately correct the position error of the scanning position coordinate 300.

Next, a method of improving the positional deviation correction accuracy by the delay circuit 9 will be described with reference to FIGS. 14, 16 and 18. FIG. 18 is an operation explanatory diagram of the delay circuit 9 shown in FIG.

In the position correction amount 705 shown in FIG. 14, the correction value corresponding to the offset 702 changes stepwise as compared with the position correction amount 703, so that the position from the image correlation detection position is variably controlled. The necessary correction amount is insufficient in the scanning area corresponding to the number of scanning lines. If the correction amount is insufficient, connection deviation remains at the position deviation detection position.

In order to avoid the situation where the correction amount is insufficient, the scanning circuit 710 and the image data 400 are delayed by the delay circuit 9.
The delay corresponding to the number of scanning lines while the position correction amount 705 is variably controlled is delayed so that the mapping position of the mapping circuit 5 is different from the detection position of the positional deviation detected by the correlation circuit 72.

In FIG. 14, the position where the positional deviation is detected and the position where the position correction amount 705 is the same as the position correction amount 703 are four.
Since the lines are deviated, the delay circuit 9 delays the scanning position 710 and the image data 400 by four lines. Due to the delay, at the mapped position in the mapping circuit 5, the same position correction amount 703 as the position correction amount 703 is obtained. As a result, the correction value for canceling the positional error is secured, and the positional deviation correction accuracy can be further improved.

Further, as shown in FIG. 18, the reading area of the line sensor 1 has three states, that is, area a, area b, and area a and area b are mixed at the position where the scanning is performed manually. In the new scanning area, it is always in the state of area b,
In the area where the overlapping scanning area and the new scanning area are mixed, the area a
And area b are mixed, and only overlapping scan area is area a.

Here, in the area a, the storage state of the image data of the image memory 65 is the state 1 at the position in the correlation detection window when the position shift is detected. In the state 1, since there is stored data in the periphery of the pixel position of interest, the correlation value for detecting the positional deviation can be detected.

On the other hand, in the area b, the storage state of the image data of the image memory 65 is the state 2 at the position in the correlation detection window when detecting the displacement. In the state 2, the position where the stored data exists and the position where the stored data does not exist are mixed around the target pixel position. Therefore, if the positional deviation is detected in the correlation detection window, the correlation values are biased. Because at the position where the stored data exists, the correlation value can be generated from the image data and the image information of the stored data, but at the position where the stored data does not exist, since there is no stored data, it is possible to use the initialized data and the image data. This is because the correlation value is generated. When the positional deviation is detected from the correlation value generated based on the different data, a detection error occurs.

To eliminate the detection error, the scanning position information of the memory 66 is used. At the position in the correlation detection window from the scanning position information, in the state 2 in which there is an unstored pixel even at one position,
Do not generate correlation value. The determination signal 701 detected by the overlapping area detection circuit 71 is used to determine the unstored pixels. As a result, it is possible to eliminate the bias of the correlation values and improve the accuracy of the positional deviation detection.

By using the delay circuit 9 shown in FIG. 16, the mapping position and the misregistration detection position are made different, and the misregistration detection position is preceded with respect to the moving direction of the line sensor 1. The accuracy of deviation correction can be improved.

In the real-time processing, if the mapping processing and the positional deviation detection are processed in parallel, pixels newly mapped and stored around the pixel of interest frequently occur, so the correlation value is affected by the new mapped pixel. . If the detection position moves back and forth due to camera shake during manual scanning or the like, the influence of the new mapped pixel becomes greater, and the detection accuracy of the positional deviation decreases.
Therefore, by making the mapping position different from the position where the positional deviation is detected and allowing the position where the positional deviation is detected to precede the moving direction of the line sensor 1, the influence of the new mapped pixel is reduced and the positional deviation detection accuracy is improved. Can be made. As described above, according to the image processing apparatus used in the editing area setting device and the image reading device of the third embodiment of the present invention, wheel slippage, wheel diameter accuracy error, wheel distance accuracy error, The positional error can be accurately corrected by detecting the positional deviation of the rotational component and causing the positional deviation of the rotational component, which is caused by factors such as the wheel sinking into the document, to be corrected.

Further, by delaying the scanning position 710 and the image data 400 by the delay circuit 9 so that the mapping position and the detection position of the positional deviation are different, a correction amount for correcting the positional error at the mapping position is secured, and the positional deviation is corrected. The correction accuracy of can be further improved. Further, it is possible to prevent the data of the line mapped immediately before from affecting the correlation value, and improve the accuracy of detecting the positional deviation.

(Fourth Embodiment) An editing area setting device and an image reading device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of the image processing section A, the image reading section B, and the editing area setting section C in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The scanning position detection circuit 3 also serves as the position detection circuit of the editing area setting section C.

The blocks in the areas A and B shown in FIG.
This is the same as the first embodiment. First in FIG. 22
The difference from the above embodiment is that a detection designation circuit 2100a for detecting the coordinate detection position on the document and a position designation circuit 2100 including a position adjustment circuit 2100b for adjusting the set position of the editing position coordinate point are added. Each time a point and an edit position are designated, an edit coordinate memory 2200 for sequentially storing the edit position coordinate point is added, and an edit area generation circuit 230 for generating an edit area from the stored coordinate data.
0 is added, and a cutout circuit 2400 that cuts out image data from the generated edit area is added.

As shown in FIG. 22, the scanning position detecting circuit 3
Is the scanning position coordinate 300 as both end position coordinates of the sensor 1.
Generate (Hereinafter, the scanning position coordinate 300 will be referred to as both end position coordinate 300).

The detection designating circuit 2100a is provided with a switch 2001 as shown in FIG. 23. The switch 2001 generates a signal of "ON" when the switch is once pushed, and a signal of "OFF" when the switch is released. (Hereinafter, this series of operations is referred to as "ON" and "OFF").

The detection designation circuit 2100a is provided with the switch 20.
When 01 is turned “ON” and “OFF”, the detection pulse 2101
a is output to the position designation signal 2101.

The position adjusting circuit 2100b has a slide resistance 2
002, and as shown in FIG.
The set position is adjusted according to the position of the mark 2003 in 02. In this embodiment, the slide resistor 2002 is a mark 200.
The resistance value changes depending on the position of 3. This change in resistance value corresponds to the set position. In this embodiment, the coordinates of both ends of the slide resistor 2002 are shared by the scanning position coordinates 300 detected by the image processing section A, and the positional relationship of attachment is taken into consideration to calculate from the scanning position coordinates 300 by calculation. To do.

The position adjustment circuit 2100b outputs the adjustment parameter 2101b to the position designation signal 2101. The position designation circuit 2100 includes a detection designation circuit 2100a and a position adjustment circuit 2100b, and a position designation signal 2101 including parameters 2101a and 2101b output from the detection designation circuit 2100a and the position adjustment circuit 2100b, respectively.
Is output.

The coordinate calculation circuit 2500 uses the position designation signal 2
When 101 is received, both end position coordinates 300 of the sensor 1 are fetched and the adjustment parameter 2 in the position designation signal 2101 is read.
The edit position coordinate point 2501 is calculated based on 101b,
It is stored in the edit coordinate memory 2200. Coordinate operation circuit 25
The details of the operation of 00 will be described later.

The editing area generating circuit 2300 is used for editing position coordinate point data 220 stored in the editing coordinate memory 2200.
The edit area data 2301 is generated based on each coordinate point 1.

The clipping circuit 2400 uses the editing area data 2301 to read each pixel data in the editing area from the image memory 6 via the bus 600.

Next, the operation of the coordinate calculation circuit 2500 will be described in more detail. The coordinate calculation circuit 2500 is
First, the detection pulse 21 included in the position designation signal 2101
01a is received, and both end position coordinates 300 of the sensor 1 at the designated position are fetched. Coordinates of both ends captured 3
00 and the adjustment parameter 2101b included in the position designation signal 2101 are used to calculate the edit position coordinate point 2501.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of the coordinate calculation of the editing position coordinate point in the position adjusting circuit 2100b. In FIG. 24, the coordinates of both ends of the slide resistor 2002 corresponding to the coordinates 300 of both ends of the sensor 1 are Psa (Xsa, Ysa) and Psb (Xsb, Ysb). Position adjustment circuit 2100
When the adjustment parameter 2101b generated by b is ED, the edit position coordinate point Pedit (Xedit, Yedit) can be calculated by the following (Equation 16).

[0173]

(Equation 16)

Here, R is the maximum value of the slide resistance 2002, and R1 is the resistance value corresponding to the distance from the editing position coordinate point Pedit to the end point coordinate Psa of the slide resistance.

The coordinate calculation circuit 2500 calculates the above (Formula 16) from the coordinates Psa (Xsa, Ysa) and Psb (Xsb, Ysb) of both ends of the slide resistor 2002 corresponding to the scanning position coordinate 300 of the sensor 1. , Coordinates Pedit (Xedi
t, Yedit) is output as the edit position coordinate point 2501.

Next, setting of the editing position and generation of the editing area will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 25, the length of the slide resistor 2002 corresponds to the reading range of the image sensor 1, and the position of the mark 2003 in the slide corresponds to the editing position coordinate point.

In FIG. 25, the hand scanner 1004
The case of freely scanning the original 1000 will be described.

In FIG. 25, first, when a certain position P1 is designated as the editing position, the switch 2 is set at the position P1.
001 is turned “ON”. At this time, both end position coordinates a and b of the sensor 1 are detected, and the mark 2 of the slide resistance 2002 is detected.
The edit position coordinate point C is generated from the position 003 by calculation. By repeating the above operation, each editing position coordinate point A, B, C, D, E, F is sequentially generated.

Each designated editing position coordinate point A, B, C,
D, E, and F form an edit area ABCDEF in the image area by the edit area generation circuit.

As described above, according to the configuration of the editing area setting device of the present embodiment, the area to be edited can be designated while reading, and the work efficiency can be improved. Further, the coordinate point can be set at any desired position by moving the position of the mark 2003 of the slide resistor 2002. Further, at the same time as reading, the edit area can be designated at a desired position.

(Fifth Embodiment) Next, an editing area setting device and an image reading device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram of the image processing section A, the image reading section B, and the edit area setting section C in the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

The blocks in the dotted line area A and the dotted line area B shown in FIG. 26 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the blocks in the dotted line area C are the same as those in the fourth embodiment. . 26 is different from the fourth embodiment in that the position shift detection circuit 7 is added to the image processing unit A and the position data taken in by the coordinate calculation circuit 2500 is not obtained from the scanning position detection circuit 3. This is a point received from the position shift detection circuit 7.

As shown in FIG. 26, the coordinate calculation circuit 250.
When 0 receives the position designation signal 2101, the correction scanning position data 710 is fetched from the position shift detection circuit 7 instead of the both end position coordinates 300, and the edit position coordinate point 2 is read based on the adjustment parameter 2101b in the position designation signal 2101.
501 is calculated and stored in the editing coordinate memory 2200.

As described above, according to the structure of the image reading apparatus of the present embodiment, the scanning position detecting circuit 3 is obtained by fetching the corrected scanning position data 710 from the positional deviation detecting circuit 7.
Even if the both-end position coordinates 300 of the sensor 1 generated by the position error include a position error, the edit position coordinate point 2 in which the position shift is corrected
501 can be generated, and a more accurate editing area can be set.

In the embodiment of the present invention, two rotary encoders are used which generate a pulse in accordance with the rotation of a pair of wheels integrally attached to both ends of the line sensor for input image data and scanning position coordinates. Although the input is made from the hand scanner, the tablet or the sheet on which the reference grid is printed may be used as the auxiliary device to detect the positions of both ends of the line sensor to obtain the scanning position coordinates and the image data. (For example,
Already known USP4, 260, 979, USP4,5
81, 761).

Further, in the present embodiment, the edit area setting device for processing the signal from the hand scanner using the line image sensor and the image processing device used for the image reading device have been described, but the invention is not limited to the hand scanner. Absent. For example, an image signal from an image input device using an area image sensor may be processed.

The same processing as that of the embodiment of the present invention may be realized by software using a personal computer, MPU (microprocessor unit) or DSP (digital signal processor).

Further, as shown in FIG. 19A, the image processing apparatus used in the editing area setting device and the image reading device of the present invention inputs an image by a small input device 1004 having a limited reading range. , A partial image on the original 1000 is connected and combined to create a large-screen plane image. Therefore, by mounting the image processing device used in the editing area setting device and the image reading device of the present invention on the portable device 1001, it is possible to input an image of a large document even on a portable device having a small input device 1004. For example, cell phone F
Most suitable for AX, personal digital assistants, mobile scanners, etc. As shown in FIG. 20, the input device 1004
Since it can be made small, it can also be used by being integrated with the main body of a mobile device. Further, if a personal computer is used instead of the mobile device 1001, a small-sized input device 1004 capable of inputting a large screen can be realized, and operability can be improved. Here, the input device 1004 is, for example, as shown in FIG.
6 is a scanner having a configuration of a two-dot broken line area B shown in FIG.

Further, as shown in FIG. 19E, the image processing apparatus used in the editing area setting apparatus and the image reading apparatus of the present invention corrects while accumulating the positional deviation of the detected scanning position coordinates. Even with the input device 1004 having a large cumulative position error, it is possible to correct the positional deviation and generate an image with no connection deviation. Therefore, as in the case of the present embodiment, the effect is further enhanced when it is mounted on a hand scanner that uses two rotary encoders that generate pulses in accordance with the rotation of a pair of wheels integrally attached to both ends of the line sensor. large. Compared to a hand scanner that uses a tablet or a sheet on which a reference grid is printed as an auxiliary device, it does not require an expensive auxiliary device and is compact.
The portability and operability are remarkably good. Furthermore, it can read thick books. Here, the input device 1004
Is, for example, a scanner having a configuration of a two-dot broken line area B shown in FIG.

In the fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention,
Although the switch 2001 is used for the detection designating circuit 2100a, any other method may be used instead of the switch, as long as it has a function of generating a pulse. For example, it may be clicked with a mouse.

In the fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention,
Although the slide resistor 2002 is used for the position adjusting circuit 2100b, any device that can adjust the position and change the adjustment parameter may be used. For example, the adjustment parameter may be changed by setting a switch at a desired mark position by providing a plurality of marks and arranging a switch at each mark position. Alternatively, the plurality of switches may be combined into one and the adjustment parameter may be changed depending on the number of times of “ON” and “OFF”.

In the fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention,
Although the switch 2001 of the detection designation circuit 2100a and the slide resistor 2002 of the position adjustment circuit 2100b are separately arranged, the switch 2001 is also used as the mark 2003 of the slide resistor 2002, and the mark 2003 is “ON” or “OFF”.
By doing so, the operability can be further improved.

In the fourth and fifth embodiments of the present invention,
In the setting of the editing area, an example of setting a multi-point to generate a polygonal area is used, but the area may be set using a diagonal point and the diagonal area determined by the diagonal point may be used as the editing area. .

[0195]

As described above, according to the present invention, a plurality of position coordinates are detected at the coordinate detection position by designating the coordinate detection position on the original, and the setting position of the editing position coordinate point is adjusted to thereby detect a plurality of positions. An edit position coordinate point can be set at an arbitrary position by calculation from position coordinates. Therefore, there is an effect that the edit position coordinate point can be set at a desired position on the document.

Further, as compared with the method of directly writing on the original with a marker pen or the like, there is an effect that the editing position can be designated without damaging the original original.

Further, even if the input scanning position includes a positional error, the positional deviation of the scanning position is detected from the image information of the image data and the stored data in the overlapping scanning area for overlapping scanning, and the positional deviation is detected. Can be corrected. Since the area setting means sets the editing area based on the corrected scanning position, there is an effect that the editing area can be set with high accuracy for the combined image.

Further, the editing area can be set while reading the image on the original. Therefore, there is an effect that the editing work efficiency is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an image processing unit A according to a first embodiment of the present invention,
And block diagram showing an image reading unit for reading and scanning a document image

FIG. 2 is a position detection circuit 3 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Operation explanation diagram

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing calculation of coordinates of pixels read at both ends of the line image sensor 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a scanning area of the line image sensor 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a positional deviation detection circuit 7 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a mapping circuit 5 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the image memory 6 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a correlation table according to the first embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of pixel density conversion in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an image memory 6 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
Address layout

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of a mapping operation of the densified image data 500 onto the image memory 6 in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a positional deviation detection circuit 7 including a division control circuit 75 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a timing chart of the division control circuit 75 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a position correction amount 7 in the second embodiment of the present invention.
03 and the explanatory diagram for explaining the difference between the division position correction amount 705

FIG. 15 is an image memory 6 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
Diagram of data storage status in

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of an image processing unit A and an image reading unit B that reads and scans a document image according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of angle correction according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an operation explanatory diagram of the delay circuit 9 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of connection deviation of read images due to positional deviation of scanning positions in the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a mobile terminal device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the mobile terminal device according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing an image processing unit A, an image reading unit B for reading and scanning an original image, and an editing area setting unit C in a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a switch 20 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
01, slide resistance 2002, a perspective view showing a mark 2003

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram of the principle of the position adjusting circuit 2100b according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram of an editing operation according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is a block diagram showing an image processing unit A, an image reading unit B that reads and scans a document image, and an edit area setting unit C according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Line Image Sensor 2a, 2b Encoder 3 Scanning Position Detection Circuit 4 Image Buffer 5 Mapping Circuit 6 Image Memory 7 Position Deviation Detection Circuit 8 Coordinate Rotation Conversion Circuit 9 Delay Circuit 31, 32 Wheels 33, 35 Position Counter 37 Position Coordinate Detection Circuit 51 Pixel density conversion circuit 52 Coordinate value calculation circuit 53 Integer conversion circuit 54 Address generation circuit 55 Error calculation circuit 65, 66 Memory 67 Correlation table 71 Overlap area detection circuit 72 Image correlation circuit 73 Correction amount calculation circuit 74 Position correction circuit 75 Division control circuit 1001 Main body of mobile terminal 1004 Input device 1007 IC card slot 1008a, 1008b Lock pin 1009a, 1009b Pin insertion hole 2001 Switch 2002 Slide resistance 2003 Mark 2100 Position designation circuit 2100a Detection designated times Path 2100b Position adjustment circuit 2200 Edit coordinate memory 2300 Edit area generation circuit 2400 Cutout circuit 2500 Coordinate operation circuit

Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification number Internal reference number FI Technical display location G06F 15/64 340A (72) Inventor Akiyuki Naka 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A detection designation unit for designating a coordinate detection position on a document, a position detection unit for detecting a plurality of position coordinates at the coordinate detection position, and an edit position coordinate point for setting an edit area. Position adjusting means for adjusting the position, the editing position coordinate point, the coordinate calculating means for generating based on the plurality of position coordinates and the setting position, every time the coordinate detection position is designated by the detection designating means, An editing area comprising: storage means for storing the editing position coordinate point generated by the coordinate calculating means; and editing area generating means for generating an editing area from the stored editing position coordinate point. Setting device. 2. The position detecting means detects the plurality of position coordinates by two detecting means.
The editing area setting device described. 3. The editing area according to claim 2, wherein the detecting means includes a wheel that rotates in contact with the document surface and an encoder that outputs a pulse corresponding to the rotation of the wheel. Setting device. 4. The editing area setting device according to claim 3, wherein the encoder outputs pulses of two systems having different phases. 5. In an image processing for sequentially inputting image data read by scanning an original image and a scanning position corresponding to the image data, and storing the image data in an image memory based on the scanning position, A misregistration correction unit that detects a misregistration of the scanning position from the image data and the storage data stored in the image memory in an overlapping scanning area that scans in an overlapping manner, and outputs a correction amount that corrects the misregistration. An image processing unit including a correction unit that corrects the scanning position based on the correction amount, and a mapping unit that stores the image data in the image memory based on the corrected scanning position, and the corrected scanning unit. An editing area setting device comprising: an area setting means for setting an editing area based on a position. 6. The editing area setting device according to claim 5, wherein the area setting means is the editing area setting device according to claim 1. 7. A sensor for scanning an original to generate image data, a scanning position detecting means for detecting a scanning position of the sensor, and a storing means for storing the image data in an image memory based on the scanning position. An image reading apparatus comprising: an editing area setting unit that sets an editing area; and an output unit that reads out image data in the editing area stored in the image memory. 8. The image reading apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the area setting means is the editing area setting apparatus according to claim 1 or 5.