JP2002218164A - Image reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: Provided is an image reading device capable of easily obtaining desired image data. A reading scanner unit for acquiring image data by reading and digitizing a document, and an HD control unit for storing a plurality of image data read by the reading scanner unit.
And a memory control unit 50 for storing a plurality of reading modes
2 and a memory 502a, and a main CPU 40 that controls the reading scanner unit 204, the HD control unit 503, and the memory control unit 502 based on the setting of the reading mode.
When the CPU 401 obtains image data, the CPU 401 obtains a plurality of image data corresponding to each of a plurality of reading modes from the reading scanner unit 204, and stores each of the plurality of image data in the HD 503a. Is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus capable of obtaining a plurality of digitized image data from a document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, copiers have been digitized, and a single machine has a plurality of functions such as an image reading function, a printer function, a facsimile function, and a network connection function. It has become. In particular, due to the evolution of computer network technology, the number of cases where a computer network is used while connected to a computer network is increasing.

A multi-function device connected to a computer network is used, for example, in such a manner that a document is read using its image reading function, and the obtained image data is taken in by a computer connected to the computer network. Further, not only the image reading function of the multifunction peripheral, but also a single image reading device is similarly used.

In this image reading device, the read image data is stored in a storage device composed of a semiconductor memory or the like, and the image data is transmitted to a computer or other device by connecting to a computer network at a required timing. In some cases, by providing control means capable of reducing the number of functions required for devices connected to a computer network and reducing traffic.

Further, the image reading device performs the reading at the maximum resolution, stores the obtained image data, and converts the resolution if necessary, thereby easily obtaining the image data of the desired resolution. Some are equipped with

[0006] Such an image reading apparatus according to the type of the original, such as whether the original to be read is a photograph, a black-and-white original that is not a color, a handwritten character original, or a shade of the original. Alternatively, a plurality of reading modes are often provided depending on applications such as for holding as digital image data that does not deteriorate or for simply using for copying.

For example, a personal computer (personal computer (PC)) connected to a computer network by reading handwritten characters written in thin characters
In the case where character data is obtained by performing character recognition by inputting to a scanner, the PC issues a reading mode instruction for a handwritten original written in thin characters to the scanner, and scans the original based on the instruction. Get that digital data,
The digital data is transmitted to a PC via a computer network, and the PC receiving the data performs character recognition.
Procedures such as converting characters into data are performed.

[0008]

However, in the conventional image reading apparatus, the operator often realizes that the set reading mode is not suitable after actually performing character recognition on a PC. However, there is a problem that it is necessary to set again.

This problem occurs not only in character recognition, but also in other types of originals and other applications, and in any case, desired image data can be obtained. Until then, the reading mode had to be reset.

In the resetting of the reading mode,
There is a problem that it takes time to read the document again.

Further, a PC connected to a computer network and a scanner section of an image reading apparatus are often installed at remote locations. Therefore, if you take the document to the scanner unit for each reading and perform the reading, and bring it back to the PC and then set the reading mode again, you must scan the document every time you set the reading mode again. There was a problem that it was necessary to bring to the department. If the original is left in the scanner section to solve this problem, another operator cannot use the scanner section until reading is completed.

The present invention has been made in order to solve such a problem, and when reading by an image reading apparatus, a plurality of image data are read based on a plurality of preset reading modes, image processing is performed, and the image data is stored. By doing so, when the reading mode is reset, predetermined image data can be used from among the stored image data, and the trouble of re-reading can be omitted. As a result, desired image data can be easily obtained. It is an object to provide an image reading device that can be obtained.

[0013]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus comprising: image input means for obtaining image data by reading a document and performing digitization; and electrically connected to the image input means; Storage means capable of storing a plurality of data, and control means for controlling the entire apparatus including the image input means based on the setting of the reading mode, wherein the control means, when obtaining image data, the image input means And obtains a plurality of image data corresponding to each of the plurality of reading modes, and stores the plurality of image data in the storage means.

According to the present invention, image data of different qualities according to a plurality of image reading modes can be automatically obtained from the image input means and can be stored in the storage means.

Further, the control means controls the image input means to read and digitize the document by the number of times corresponding to the number of the selected reading modes, so that a plurality of image data having different reading modes are provided. May be obtained.

In this case, the image input means reads the document a plurality of times in accordance with the plurality of reading modes, obtains image data of different qualities, and stores the image data in the storage means.

The image processing apparatus further includes a connection unit for connecting to a computer network, and a conversion unit for converting the image data into data having a smaller amount of information. The control unit stores the image data in the storage unit. The image data may be converted into data with a small amount of information by the conversion means and transmitted to a device connected to a computer network via the connection means.

In this case, for a plurality of image data read by the image reading device, the image data is transmitted to the device in order to confirm what kind of image data is present by the device connected to the computer network. At this time, the image data can be converted into data having a smaller amount of information than the image data and then transmitted.

Further, the apparatus further comprises a connection means for connecting to the computer network, and a reception means for receiving instruction information from a device connected to the computer network, wherein the control means is stored in the storage means. One or a plurality of image data may be extracted from the image data according to the instruction information.

In this case, for a plurality of image data read by the image reading device and stored in the storage means,
A selection instruction can be given from a device connected to the computer network.

Further, the type of the reading mode actually used for obtaining the image data may be set in advance.

In this case, the reading mode actually used can be set.

[0023]

Next, an embodiment of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an image reading apparatus mounted on a digital multifunction machine as an embodiment of the image reading apparatus of the present invention.

The image reading apparatus is mounted on a digital multifunction peripheral 30. An automatic document feeder 35 is provided on a document table 34 made of transparent glass in the digital multifunction peripheral 30. The automatic document feeder 35 is a device that automatically feeds a plurality of documents set on a document set tray onto the document table 34 one by one.

A document reading device 31 provided with a scanner 40 is arranged below the document table 34. The scanner 40 is an image input unit that scans and reads an image of a document placed on a document table 34, and includes a lamp reflector assembly 41 that exposes the surface of the document and a photoelectric conversion element that reflects a reflected light image from the document. In order to lead to CCD44,
A first scanning unit 40a including a first reflection mirror 42a for reflecting light reflected from the original, a second reflection mirror 42b for guiding a reflected light image from the first reflection mirror 42a to the CCD 44, and A second scanning unit 40b having a third reflecting mirror 42c mounted thereon; a reflected light image from a document is taken in through each of the above-described reflecting mirrors 42a to 42c and converted into an electric image signal; An optical lens 43 for forming an image on the CCD 44, and the above-mentioned CCD 44 for converting the reflected light image from the original into an electric image signal.

The scanner 40 reads an image of a document automatically conveyed by the automatic document feeder 35 at a predetermined exposure position in conjunction with the automatic document feeder 35.

The image of the original read by the scanner 40 is sent as image data to an image data input unit, where the image data is subjected to predetermined image processing and then temporarily stored in a memory of the image processing unit. Is done. Then, predetermined image data in the memory is read out in accordance with a later output instruction, and transferred to the laser writing unit 46.

The laser writing unit 46 includes a semiconductor laser light source that emits laser light in accordance with image data read from a memory or image data transferred from an external device, a polygon mirror that deflects laser light at an equal angular velocity, The laser beam deflected at a constant angular velocity is applied to the image forming unit 32.
Has an f-θ lens and the like that corrects the light to be deflected at a constant angular speed on the photosensitive drum 48 constituting the above.

The image forming unit 32 includes a charger around the well-known photoconductor drum 48 for charging the photoconductor drum 48 to a predetermined potential, and a toner on the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 48. And a transfer unit for transferring a toner image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 48 onto recording paper, a cleaning unit for collecting excess toner, and a static eliminator.

The original image read by the scanner 40 is temporarily stored in an image memory and then read out, and is formed as an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 48 by scanning a laser beam by a laser writing unit 46. The toner image is visualized by the toner in the developing device to form a toner image. The toner image is electrostatically transferred by a transfer device onto recording paper as a sheet, and then sent to a fixing unit 49.

On the discharge side of the image forming unit 32, besides the fixing unit 49, a switchback path 5 for reversing the front and back of the recording paper in order to form an image again on the back of the recording paper.
6, and a post-processing device 33 that performs stapling and the like on the recording paper on which the image is formed and has a lifting tray 60. The recording paper, on which the toner image has been fixed by the fixing unit 49, is transferred to the switchback path 5 as necessary.
6, the sheet is guided to the post-processing device 33 by the sheet discharging roller 57, where the sheet is subjected to predetermined post-processing and then discharged.

The paper feed unit is disposed below the image forming unit 32, and includes a manual feed tray 54, a duplex unit 55,
A multi-stage paper feed tray section provided with paper cassettes 51, 52, 53, and a transfer position of a paper fed from these paper cassettes 51, 52, 53 and a manual feed tray 54 in the image forming unit 32 where a transfer unit is arranged. Transport means for transporting the paper. In addition, the duplex unit 55
It is connected to a switchback path 56 for reversing the recording paper, and is used when forming an image on both sides of the recording paper.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the overall configuration of various units and an image processing unit constituting the digital multi-functional peripheral shown in FIG. The figure shows a state in which the operation is managed by a device (CPU) 401 while cooperating with a sub CPU mounted in each unit.

As can be seen from this block diagram, the digital multifunction peripheral 30 is located roughly at the upper right of the drawing, and is located at the upper left of the drawing, and the operation panel board 100 for managing and controlling the operation panel. A machine control board 200 for managing and controlling each unit;
A CCD board 300 which is located substantially at the lower left of the drawing and electrically reads the original image and uses it as electronic data; A main image processing board 400 for performing predetermined image processing, a sub-image processing board 500 for further performing predetermined image processing on image information processed in the main image processing board 400, and FAX connected to the sub-image processing board 500 via an interface
It comprises a board 600, a network board 700 and the like.

The contents managed and controlled for each board will be described below.

First, the operation panel board 100
Will be described.

The operation panel board 100 is basically controlled by the sub CPU 101. The operation panel board 100 is provided with a display screen of an LCD (liquid crystal display) display unit 104 arranged on the operation panel 103, and an operation for inputting instructions regarding various modes. An operation input from the key group 105 is managed.

A memory 102 is provided for storing various control information on the operation panel, such as data input from the operation key group 105 and information to be displayed on the LCD screen.

In this configuration, the sub CPU 101
Performs control data communication with the main CPU 401,
The operation instruction of the digital MFP 30 is issued.

The main CPU 401 transfers control signals and data indicating the operation state of the digital multi-function peripheral 30 to the sub CPU 101, thereby allowing the operation panel 10 to operate.
3, an operation state of the apparatus at present, or information such as image data is displayed.

Next, the machine control board 200 will be described.

The entire machine control board 200 is controlled by a sub CPU 201,
(Autmatic Document Feeder) · RADF (Recirculat)
an automatic document feeder (shown as "ADF / RADF" in the figure) 203, a reading scanner unit 204 for reading a document image, a process unit 205 for reproducing image information as an image, and an image recording unit. Feeder unit 206 for sequentially transporting paper from the storage unit to the process unit; a duplex unit 207 for reversing and transporting the paper on which an image is recorded so as to form an image on both sides of the paper; And a finisher 208 for performing post-processing such as stapling on a sheet on which an image is recorded. The memory 202 stores various control information for controlling the machine.

Next, the CCD board 300 will be described.

The CCD board 300 includes a CCD 301 (CCD 4 in FIG. 1) for electrically reading an original image.
4), a CCD gate array (CCD G / A) 302 as a circuit for driving the CCD 301, an analog circuit 303 for adjusting the gain of analog data output from the CCD 301, and the like, and the analog output of the CCD 301 is converted into a digital signal. A / D output as electronic data
It is composed of a converter 304 and the like.
This is performed by U401.

Next, the main image processing board 400 will be described.

The main image processing board 400 is controlled by the main CPU 401, and the CCD board 300
Correction, density correction, area separation, filter processing, MTF, etc., based on the electronic data of the original image sent from
(Modulation Transfer Function) correction, resolution conversion,
A multi-value image processing unit 40 that performs processing in the state of multi-value image data such as electronic zoom (magnification processing) and gamma correction
2. A memory 403 for storing processed image data or various control information such as management of processing procedures, and a laser writing unit (LSU) 46 side for reproducing an image with the processed image information. And a laser control 404 for controlling data transfer.

Next, the sub image processing board 500 will be described.

The sub-image processing board 500 is connected to the main image processing board 400 via a main image processing board-side connector 405 and a sub-image processing board-side connector 505. Controlled. The sub-image processing board 500 includes a binary image processing unit 501, multi-valued image information performed by the multi-valued image processing unit 402 on the main image processing board 400, or a binary image processed by the binary image processing unit 501. Memory 502a and memory 502 for storing and managing information
a hard disk (HD) 503a and a hard disk (H) for storing and managing image information of a plurality of originals for the same image processing.
D) a control unit 503, a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) interface (PCI-I / F) 504 for connecting a network board and the like, and
An image compression processing unit 505 that performs processing such as thinning processing, interpolation processing, and format conversion processing so that image data can be compressed to reduce the amount of information.

The binary image processing unit 501 includes a processing unit for converting multivalued image information into a binary image, a processing unit for rotating the image, and a binary magnification (zoom) for performing a scaling process on the binary image. )
It is composed of a processing unit and the like, and further has a fax interface (FAX-I / F) so that a fax image can be transmitted and received via communication means.

Next, the FAX board 600 will be described.

The FAX (facsimile) board 600 is
The document image read by the scanner 40 of the digital multi-function peripheral 30 can be transmitted to the destination, or the image information sent from the destination can be output from the printer unit of the digital multi-function peripheral 30.

Next, the network board 700 will be described.

The network board 700 is connected to the sub-image processing board 500 by the PCI-I / F 504, and the network board 7 is controlled by the sub CPU 701.
00 is controlled and managed, and enables the image reading apparatus to be connected to an external computer network via a network interface (network I / F) 702.

When the image reading apparatus is connected to an external computer network, the original image read by the scanner 40 of the digital multi-function peripheral 30 is transmitted to a device connected to the computer network, or connected to the computer network. The image information sent from the connected device can be output from the printer unit of the digital MFP 30.

Further, by bridging the control data communication between the device connected to the network and the main CPU 401, an operation instruction is given from the device connected to the network to the digital multi-function peripheral 30, or the digital multi-function device is operated. By transferring a control signal indicating the operation state of the device 30 to a device connected to the network, the operation state can be confirmed by the device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the configuration when the digital multifunction peripheral 30 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a computer network.

The computer network 10 includes, in addition to the digital multifunction peripheral 30 equipped with an image reading device,
The network server 20 and the PCs 21 and 22 are connected, and data and control information can be exchanged between the connected devices via the computer network 10.

In the computer network 10, the network server 20 monitors and controls traffic, but an instruction to start reading from the PC 21 to the digital multi-function peripheral 30 is first sent to the network server 20 by the P.
A transfer request is made from C21, and the network server 20 checks the traffic state of the computer network 10,
The status of the digital multi-function peripheral 30 is checked, and if the instruction information transfer preparation is completed, this is acknowledged, and the instruction information is transferred from the PC 21 to the digital multi-function peripheral 30.

Similarly, the digital multifunction peripheral 30 transmits the
To transfer data to the network, the digital multi-function peripheral 30 makes a transfer request to the network server 20, and the network server 20 transmits the data to the PC 21 or the computer network 10.
Is confirmed, and if ready, the transfer is permitted and the data is transferred.

After issuing the read instruction, the PC 21 takes a state in which image data can be received until image data is transferred, and informs the network server 20 that transfer preparation is ready. On the other hand, when the digital multi-function peripheral 30 is not operating, it informs the network server 20 that it is ready to receive the instruction information, and after receiving the read instruction, notifies that the instruction information is not ready to be received. The image data is transmitted to the network server 20, and when the reading is completed and the image data to be transferred is ready, the fact is transmitted to the network server 20.

Next, the PC 21 connected to the computer network 10 will be described in more detail.

The PC 21 issues an instruction to the digital multifunction peripheral 30 to read an original placed in the automatic document feeder 35 of the digital multifunction peripheral 30, and a hard disk controlled by the main CPU 401 of the digital multifunction peripheral 30. Software for instructing the main CPU 401 to transfer desired image data from devices such as the control unit and the hard disk 503 and receiving image data from the digital MFP 30 is incorporated. I have.

When the PC 21 receives image data read by the digital MFP 30 and compressed by the image compression processing unit 505, the software displays the image data on the display unit 800 of the PC 21. It has a function to operate. Further, in the present embodiment, since a plurality of image data in different reading modes are read, each of the compressed image data is transferred from the digital MFP 30 to the computer network 10.
Through the display images 801 and 8 as shown in FIG.
02, 803, and 804 are displayed on the display unit 800. When an image 802 is selected from the displayed images, for example, the hard disk control unit 503 of the digital multi-function peripheral 30 instructs the computer to extract uncompressed image data corresponding to the image 802 stored and managed on the hard disk 503a. It has a function of outputting through the network 10.

When the image data specified by the PC 21 is extracted from the hard disk 503a by the hard disk control unit 503, the image data is transferred to the P through the network board 700 and the computer network 10.
Sent to C21. By having such a configuration, desired image data and only all image data read with a reduced amount of information are transmitted without transmitting all the read image data to the computer network 10. Thus, traffic on the computer network 10 can be reduced.

On the other hand, the operation panel board 100
The software stored in the memory 102 for controlling the operation panel 103 also includes software that realizes the same functions as the software incorporated in the PC 21. The provided software also realizes a function of displaying image data and giving an instruction to each unit of the digital MFP 30.

As described above, in the digital multi-function peripheral 30,
The scanner 40, the automatic document feeder 35, a CCD board for controlling these components, a multi-value image processing unit 402, and the like constitute an image input unit. The image input means is input by the CPU 401 of the main screen processing board 400, the sub CPU 201, and the like. Control means for controlling the means is configured, and storage means for storing image data read by the hard disk 503a and the hard disk control unit 503 and the like is configured.

Next, the image reading function of the digital MFP 30 including the image reading apparatus of the present invention will be described in more detail.

The main image processing is performed on the control information for the control data communication performed by the main CPU 401 with the sub CPU (that is, another CPU) and the control information for the main CPU 401 to directly manage and control. Board 40
In the memory 403 of 0, combinations of control information as shown in FIG. 5 are stored as reading modes in a number corresponding to the number of control contents and the number of control content combinations.

The reading mode is one per mode.
Numbered mode number 901, sub C to operate the part connected to the machine control board
Machine control board instruction contents 902 containing instruction contents given to the PU 201, CCD hardware control information 903 for controlling devices on the CCD board 300, instructions for processing the input image data by the multi-value image processing unit 402 It consists of multivalued image processing instruction information 904 as information.

The mode number 901 is an address number of the memory 403 in which information of each mode is stored.

Machine control board instruction content 902
Is a machine language including control information related to an instruction to the machine control board regarding reading. For example,
The machine control board instruction content 902 includes a sub CPU 201 when the scanning units 40a and 40b are operated at a certain speed with respect to the reading scanner unit 204.
Instruction program to be included. It also includes an instruction program for controlling the lamp reflector 41 and, for example, giving the sub CPU 201 when controlling the amount of lamp light.

The CCD hardware control information 903 includes a CCD 301, a CCD gate array 302, an analog circuit 303, an A / D (analog-
This is a machine language that describes control information of the (to-digital) converter 304. These CCD 301, CCD-G
/ A302, analog circuit 303, A / D converter 304
Is controlled, the signal output from the CCD board can be changed even when the same amount of light enters, and adjustment can be performed.

The multi-valued image processing instruction information 904 includes a machine language describing instruction information for the multi-valued image processing unit, numerical values of operation parameters for various operation processes, and the like. Shading correction, density correction, area separation, filter processing, MTF (Mo
dulation Transfer Function) by controlling processing such as correction, resolution conversion, electronic zoom, and gamma correction,
From the data before entering the multi-valued image processing unit, it is possible to adjust image data such as increasing the lightness, which is a data value, or increasing the difference in lightness between a white image portion and a black image portion.

Next, an example of the reading mode will be described.

First, the control method of the image input means when a certain reference original can be read most clearly is a standard reading mode, and the control method is described in machine language at the address of the memory 403 represented by the mode number 901. Machine control board instruction contents 902, CCD hardware control information 903 also described in machine language, and multi-valued image processing instruction information 904 similarly described in machine language are used as control contents in the standard reading mode. It is remembered.

Then, in this standard reading mode, when a handwritten character manuscript on which “Aueo” is written relatively thinly is read, the thin portions (“I” and “E”) in the character are read.
Is not read and is lost, resulting in image data in which only some characters remain. This image data is converted to an image compression processing unit 5
When the PC 21 receives the compressed image data at 05 and displays the compressed image data on the display unit 800, it feels as if only some of the characters can be read as in the display image 801.

Here, the reading mode when the instruction content 902 of the machine control board is changed will be described.

When the light amount of the lamp 41 of the scanner unit 31 in the reading scanner unit 204 is changed, the quality of the read image data changes. Decreasing the lamp light intensity increases the density, and increasing the light intensity decreases the density. For example, when the reading mode is changed so that the light amount is set lower than that in the standard reading mode, the image data finally obtained is black in the periphery of the character which is darker than the original background (the original color of the original). Floating. Similarly to the image data described above, when the compressed data is displayed on the display unit 800, an image like the image 804 shown at the lower right in FIG. 4 is obtained.

Next, the reading mode when the CCD hardware control information 903 is changed will be described.

The gain of the analog circuit 303 can be adjusted by changing the CCD hardware control information 903. By setting the gain adjustment value low, the input signal to the A / D converter changes to a higher density side for the same output value from the CCD, and conversely, the gain adjustment value is set higher. As a result, the concentration changes to the lighter side. When the mode is set so that the gain adjustment value setting is increased by changing the CCD hardware control information 903 from the reading mode in which the compressed image becomes the image 804, the image data finally obtained is 80
In the case of No. 4, the density around the character which has been blackened becomes relatively light. As a result, characters emerge in some parts. When the compressed data is displayed on the display unit 800 in the same manner as the image data described above, an image 803 shown in the lower left of FIG. 4 is obtained.

Next, the reading mode when the multi-level image processing instruction information 904 is changed will be described.

Density correction, filter processing, MTF correction, γ
By changing the parameters of the processing such as correction, the density can be increased, the density can be reduced, and the parameters can be set to emphasize the boundaries of the characters, and the characters can be sharpened. This makes it possible to show natural pictures and the like beautifully by blurring. As mentioned above,
When the mode is changed from the reading mode in which the compressed image becomes the image 803 to change the multi-level image processing instruction information 904 so as to reduce the density and make the characters clear, the finally obtained image data is black. Characters come out clearly even in the crushed part. Similarly to the image data described above, when the compressed data is displayed on the display unit 800, an image 802 shown in the upper right in FIG. 4 is obtained.

Incidentally, the actual reading mode is not limited to the above four reading modes.
More reading modes can be set depending on the control content and degree, combinations of the modes, and the like.

After a document is set at a predetermined position of the automatic document feeder 35 of the digital MFP 30 having such a plurality of reading modes, a reading instruction input on the operation panel 103 or a connection to the computer network is made. The reading instruction issued by operating the PC 21 is displayed together with the selection instructions of all the selected reading modes, together with the operation panel board 10 described above.
0 or through the network board 700 to the CPU 401 of the main image processing board 400.

When the main CPU 401 receives the reading instruction, the main CPU 401
3 is read out of the read mode 900 selected and designated from the read modes 900 stored in
Machine control board instruction contents 902 in it
To the CPU 201 of the machine control board 200. This machine control board instruction content 902
In response, the original is supplied from the automatic image transport device 35 onto the original mounting table 34 of the single-sheet scanner unit 40. Further, among the reading modes 900 taken out earlier,
The control of the CCD board 300 is performed using the D hardware control information 903, the document is sequentially read by the scanner 40 described above, and the digitized image data is transferred to the main image processing board 400.

The image data transferred to the main image processing board 400 is subjected to processing such as shading correction and density correction based on the multi-valued image processing instruction information 904, and the memory control unit 502 and the memory Transferred to 502a, stored and managed.

After the above operation is continued until the image data of one document is read, the image data of one document stored and managed in the memory 502a of the sub-image processing board 500 is stored in the hard disk control unit 503 and the hard disk. The data is sent to the 503a and stored and managed. As described above, by using the hard disk 503a for storing image data, a large amount of data can be stored, and a plurality of image data corresponding to each of the selected reading modes can be stored.

After that, the main CPU 401 sets the reading mode selected and instructed by using the operation panel 103 or the PC 21 from among the plurality of reading modes and the reading mode having the different mode number 901 for the same original. From the memory 403 in the same manner. And
Using the machine control board instruction contents 902, CCD hardware control information 903, and multi-value image processing instruction information 904 corresponding to the new reading mode,
The reading operation and the image processing are executed again. Image data for one document obtained by such an operation is stored and managed again in the hard disk 503a.

According to such a procedure, a plurality of image data are automatically read for a plurality of reading modes 900 stored in the memory 403. Then, a plurality of image data corresponding to each reading mode is stored in the hard disk 5.
03a is stored and managed.

For this reason, the image reading apparatus classifies each reading mode on the basis of the effect of reading an image in the reading mode and the type of a document suitable for reading. Board 1
The display mode is displayed using software for controlling the operation panel 103 stored in the memory 102 on the PC 00 or software of the PC 21 connected to the computer network 10 so that the reading mode can be more easily selected. It has a function such as For example, as a feature of the reading mode, it is possible to set such that the handwritten character document is enlarged to 150% and made two levels deeper than the standard (or the characters are emphasized).

For example, if the software specifies only a handwritten character document as the specification of only the document type, the software also has a function of selecting all reading modes suitable for the handwritten character document from a plurality of reading modes. It is feasible. Then, it has a function of sending an instruction to execute reading only in the selected reading mode to the main CPU 401 of the digital multi-function peripheral 30.

In addition, a variety of reading modes, such as changing the density, are prepared. If the density can be set in five levels, that is, two levels for the darker and two levels for the lighter than the standard reading mode, the reading mode is set. The control method written in the CCD hardware control information 903 of the 900 is changed from the standard reading mode so that only the shading changes stepwise from the standard reading mode. deep. And
If the operator specifies to change the density-only reading mode before reading, an instruction that only the set five reading modes are valid reading modes is given to the main of the digital MFP 30. Sent to CPU 401.

As described above, by allowing the reading mode to be actually used to be specified from inside or outside the image reading apparatus, reading in a plurality of reading modes that are not necessary at all can be avoided. And the storage capacity can be saved.

Further, for example, when it is desired to finely adjust the density, the reading mode stored in the memory 403 alone is not sufficient. Therefore, if it is desired to add a reading mode,
The operator may input a machine language written as the CD hardware control information 903. First, the information of the standard reading mode stored in the memory 403 is stored in the same memory 4.
03, this mode information is copied to the readable / writable address portion, and the CCD hardware control information 90 inputted by the operator is copied.
Only in the case of No. 3, the reading mode can be added by a procedure of sending the instruction and the information so that the copied information is overwritten. Then, in order to select the read mode using the readable / writable address portion, an instruction may be given to the main CPU 401. In this manner, not only the reading mode stored in the memory 403 in advance but also the reading mode required by the operator can be added. On the other hand, the memory control unit 502
The image data of one document stored and managed by the memory 502a is stored and managed by the hard disk control unit 503 and the hard disk 503a, and is also sent to the image compression processing unit 505 to perform the thinning process, the interpolation process, and the format. Processing such as conversion processing is performed, and PCI-I
After being transferred to the network board 700 via the / F 504, the data is transmitted to the PC 21 which is a device connected to the computer network 10, or the operation panel 1
03 is sent. The PC 21 or the operation panel 10
If there is an instruction from 3, the image data for one document stored and managed by the memory control unit 502 and the memory 502a is transferred to each.

Next, an example of the operation of the digital multi-function peripheral 30 including the image reading device of the present embodiment will be described.

When operating the digital multi-function peripheral 30,
The operator previously sets a document on which handwritten characters are written in the automatic document feeder 35 of the digital multi-function peripheral 30. Thereafter, the operator operates the operation panel 103 of the digital multi-function peripheral 30.
Is used to input a read operation instruction as described above.
At this time, the item of reading the handwritten manuscript is selected.
Thereby, the CPU 10 of the operation board 100
1 instructs the main CPU 401 to start reading and further instructs to select a plurality of reading modes suitable for reading a handwritten document.

When the document is automatically read in all of the designated reading modes, notification information indicating that reading has been completed is displayed on the operation panel 103. When the operator confirms this notification, the document is collected and the PC 21 is removed. Move to an operable position.

At the time of reading, the digital multi-function device 30 transmits the compressed image data to the P through the computer network 10 in accordance with a plurality of designated reading modes.
Send to C21. The compressed images of the plurality of image data according to all the reading modes are displayed on the display unit 8 by executing software incorporated in the PC 21.
00 is displayed in a state as shown in FIG.

Subsequently, from these images, the operator designates an image determined to have the best reading quality.
For example, when the operator selects an image 802 that can be determined to have the best reading quality in FIG. 4, an instruction to extract and transmit image data corresponding to the image 802 from the hard disk control unit 503 and the hard disk 503 a of the digital MFP 30 Is transmitted to the digital MFP 30. In response to this instruction, the digital multifunction peripheral 30 extracts the corresponding uncompressed image data and transmits it to the PC 21. The PC 21 receives this image data and terminates the reading.

As described above, in the image reading apparatus of the present invention, the original data is read in advance in all the reading modes adapted to the original, and the desired image data is extracted from the PC 21 located at a position distant from the digital MFP 30. Therefore, when using the PC 21 after using the digital multi-function peripheral 30, even after reading an image in accordance with one selected reading mode, the PC 21
In the case where image data of sufficient quality has not been obtained, it is not necessary to perform the same work again using the digital multi-function peripheral 30 and re-read the image data. In addition, high-quality image data can be obtained by performing only one operation required for reading.

Further, unlike the conventional image reading apparatus, the original is not left on the digital MFP 30 in anticipation of re-reading. Even in the case of sharing a reading device (digital multifunction peripheral), an image reading operation can be performed efficiently without waiting for a worker who is going to use next for a long time.

[0103]

According to the image reading apparatus of the present invention, image input means for obtaining image data by reading and digitizing a document, and electrically connected to the image input means, for storing a plurality of the image data. Storage means, and control means for controlling the entire apparatus including the image input means based on the setting of the reading mode, wherein the control means controls the image input means when obtaining image data. A plurality of image data corresponding to each of the plurality of reading modes is obtained and stored in the storage unit. According to the present invention, image data of different qualities corresponding to the plurality of image reading modes is obtained. Since the data can be automatically obtained from the image input means and stored in the storage means, image data of a desired quality can be automatically obtained from the image input means. For this purpose, it is only necessary to retrieve the image data from the image data stored in the storage means, and it is not necessary to operate the image input means again to obtain the image data.

Further, the control means controls the image input means to read and digitize the document by the number of times corresponding to the number of the selected reading modes, so that a plurality of image data having different reading modes are provided. In this case, the image input unit may read the document a plurality of times according to a plurality of reading modes,
Since image data of different qualities can be obtained and stored in the storage means, in order to obtain image data of a desired quality, it is only necessary to take out the image data stored in the storage means, without having to read again. You may.

Further, the apparatus further comprises a connection means for connecting to a computer network, and a conversion means for converting the image data into data having a smaller amount of information, wherein the control means is stored in the storage means. The image data may be converted into data having a small amount of information by the conversion unit, and may be transmitted to a device connected to a computer network via the connection unit,
In this case, for a plurality of image data read by the image reading device, it is necessary to transmit the image data to the device in order to confirm what kind of image data is present by the device connected to the computer network. However, at this time, since the image data can be converted into data having a smaller amount of information than the image data and then transmitted, the traffic on the computer network can be reduced.

Further, the apparatus further comprises connection means for connecting to a computer network, and reception means for receiving instruction information from a device connected to the computer network, wherein the control means is stored in the storage means. One or a plurality of image data may be extracted from the image data according to the instruction information. In this case, the plurality of image data read by the image reading device and stored in the storage unit may be extracted. Can be given a selection instruction from a device connected to the computer network, so that only the selected image data, not all the image data, can be transmitted to the device connected to the computer network. As a result, traffic on the computer network can be reduced.
In addition, since image data can be selected from a device connected to a computer network, it is not necessary to operate the image reading device, and it is not necessary to move the image reading device to a position where the image reading device can be operated for selecting an image. Can be omitted.

The type of the reading mode actually used for obtaining the image data may be set in advance. In this case, the reading mode to be actually used can be set. Time and storage capacity of image data can be saved. In addition, since the reading mode can be set directly, the image reading apparatus can be finely controlled.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an image reading device mounted on a digital multifunction peripheral as an embodiment of the image reading device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an overall configuration of various units and an image processing unit included in the digital multifunction peripheral illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a configuration in a case where the digital multi-function peripheral illustrated in FIG. 1 is connected to a computer network.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an image displayed on a display unit of a personal computer connected to a computer network together with the digital multifunction peripheral shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a reading mode stored in a memory of a main image processing board constituting the digital multi-functional peripheral shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 31 Document reading device 40 Scanner 40a First scanning unit 40b Second scanning unit 43 Optical lens 44 CCD 100 Operation panel board 200 Machine control board 300 CCD board 400 Main image processing board 500 Sub image processing board 600 FAX board 700 Network board

Continued on the front page F term (reference) 5B047 AA01 AB02 BB02 BC11 BC14 BC18 BC23 CA01 CA19 CB18 DA01 DB01 DC13 5C062 AA05 AA29 AB02 AB11 AB17 AB25 AB30 AB41 AB42 AC02 AC22 AC24 AC25 AC34 AE04 AE16 5C072 AA01 EA05 EA05 UA13 UA17 XA01

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image input unit for obtaining image data by reading and digitizing a document; a storage unit electrically connected to the image input unit, capable of storing a plurality of the image data; And control means for controlling the entire apparatus including the image input means based on the setting, wherein the control means controls the image input means when obtaining image data and responds to each of a plurality of reading modes. An image reading apparatus for acquiring a plurality of pieces of image data and storing the acquired data in the storage unit. 2. The control unit controls the image input unit to read and digitize a document by the number of times corresponding to the number of selected reading modes.
2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of image data in different reading modes are acquired. 3. The image processing apparatus further comprises: a connection unit for connecting to a computer network; and a conversion unit for converting the image data into data having a smaller amount of information. The control unit stores the image data in the storage unit. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is converted into data having a small amount of information by the conversion means, and is transmitted to a device connected to a computer network via the connection means. 4. A computer further comprising: a connection unit for connecting to a computer network; and a reception unit for receiving instruction information from a device connected to the computer network, wherein the control unit is stored in the storage unit. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or a plurality of pieces of image data are extracted from the image data according to the instruction information. 5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a type of a reading mode actually used when obtaining the image data can be set in advance.