JP2002320084A - Imaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: Provided is an image pickup apparatus in which a reading time for reliably reading an image is reduced. A reading unit for reading an image, a storage unit for storing a plurality of images read by the reading unit, a detection unit for detecting a moving amount of the image from the plurality of images read by the reading unit, And synthesizing means 3 and 4 for synthesizing a plurality of images stored in the storage means into one image when the movement amount of the image detected by the detection means is equal to or less than a predetermined value. .

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an imaging device for reading an image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, an image scanner for reading a still image can only be started by reading from an attached reading start button or an instruction such as a command from an external device such as a personal computer. Some digital cameras can read both moving images and still images, but reading of the still images has been performed only by the reading start button of the operator.

[0003] In recent years, the resolution of imaging devices has been increased, but it is expected that an increase in the reading time will be an important issue in the future. The method of reading by moving the one-dimensional line sensor enables high-resolution reading, but the exposure time is maintained, and reading is performed while moving the optical system with a high accuracy of about 2,000 lines (A4, 200 dpi). Has limitations.

On the other hand, the two-dimensional area sensor does not need to move the optical system, but the resolution does not reach A4 or 200 dpi, and a high-resolution one becomes expensive.
Also, a method of reading in parallel using a plurality of two-dimensional area sensors having a low resolution and increasing the resolution by synthesizing them, or a method of moving the reading position by several hundred pixels or more with one area sensor a plurality of times is used. There are a method of performing reading and combining, and a method of performing reading and combining a plurality of times while changing the pan / tilt and zoom. However, there is a problem that the reading optical system becomes large correspondingly.

[0005] Further, as an optical system that can be made smaller than these systems, the position of image formation of incident light from an imaging optical system on an image sensor as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-244932 is set in the horizontal and vertical directions. There is a method that uses an imaging camera that can be displaced within one pixel, performs reading multiple times while shifting it within one pixel, and combines the multiple image data to obtain one high-resolution image. Has also been.

[0006] However, this imaging camera enables high resolution, but requires reading of a plurality of images, and therefore cannot contribute to speeding up.

Therefore, from the viewpoint of the user interface, reading has been conventionally started after the user has instructed to start reading, but reading may be performed before the instruction to start reading.

For example, although not an image scanner, in a video conference system or the like, an image processing apparatus that detects the amount of movement of a document with a document camera and determines that the image has stopped and changes the zoom of the document camera to read the image is disclosed in 9-465
No. 91) has been proposed.

Further, reading is always performed using the one-dimensional sensor, and until one image is read, the previously read image is displayed on the display device. When the user confirms the displayed image and presses the save switch, the current reading is performed. Image processing apparatus for storing an image that has been read, not an image that has been read or is to be read (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-154153)
Has been proposed.

[0010]

However, the image processing apparatus (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-46591) sets an input condition after judging that the image is stopped, and sets (input time for changing the zoom + reading position). (Time required for panning / tilting + reading time) x number of acquired images + time for combining. Also, since the movement amount of the document cannot be detected within this time, even if the document is moved during this time, it cannot be reflected.

In this case, it is necessary to confirm whether or not the image has moved from the previously captured image when resuming the detection of the moving amount of the document after the completion of the image synthesis. So already
You have to wait for one reading time. further,
Therefore, if the document is moving, it is necessary to make a stop determination again from this point, and even if the document is stationary at this point, reading is delayed by one time.

In the video conference system, there is no switch or the like for instructing the start of reading, and the read image is always transmitted. Therefore, even if the image arrives with a slight delay, it does not matter much. However, in the image scanner, the period from when the reading start instruction switch is pressed to the end of reading is clear, and the reading time becomes prominent.

An image processing apparatus as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-154153 is a one-dimensional line sensor which is always reading, and when a user presses a save switch, an image is read. Is required, and the user needs to confirm the display image. Since the image scanner may continuously read images one after another, it is difficult for the user to check the displayed image every time. In addition, although reading is always performed by a one-dimensional line sensor, the reading start position (0th line) is not related to the moving amount of the document. Cannot return to the reading start position (0th line). Therefore, the reading time is often longer than the method of reading from the reading start position (0th line) when the document stops.

An object of the present invention is to provide an imaging apparatus in which the reading time for reliably reading an image is reduced.

[0015]

According to the present invention, there is provided a reading means for reading an image, a storage means for storing a plurality of images read by the reading means, and a method for retrieving an image from the plurality of images read by the reading means. Detecting means for detecting movement, and synthesizing means for synthesizing a plurality of images stored in the storage means into one image when the movement of the image detected by the detecting means is equal to or less than a predetermined value. An imaging apparatus characterized in that:

According to the present invention, the synthesizing unit rearranges the plurality of images stored in the storage unit by interpolating a pixel of the next image between one pixel of the image and the next pixel. An imaging apparatus characterized in that the image is synthesized by combining.

According to the present invention, there is provided a reading means for reading an image, a first storage means for storing the image read by the reading means,
A second storage unit capable of storing an image stored in the first storage unit; a transfer unit capable of transferring an image stored in the first storage unit to a second storage unit; and the reading unit Detecting means for detecting whether the image read in step 2 is in a moving state or a stationary state, and instructing the transfer means based on the result determined by the detecting means to store the image stored in the first storage means in a second storage means And a determination instructing means for controlling whether or not the image data is transferred to the imaging device.

[0018]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a first embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the imaging apparatus includes a camera unit 10 including a camera head 11 for reading a document 13 on a document table 12, and an image processing unit 9 for performing image processing on an image read by the camera unit 10.

The camera head 11 has a CCD area sensor mounted thereon, and is capable of displacing an image forming position of incident light from the image pickup optical system on the image pickup element in a horizontal and vertical direction from within one pixel to a plurality of pixels. Imaging camera. In the present embodiment, one image placed on the document table 12 from the camera head 11 supported by the support 15 on the document table 12 has 0 pixels in the horizontal direction in units of 2/3 pixels.
2/3 pixel (2/3 pixel shift once), 4/3 pixel (2
(3 times shifted by 3 pixels) Three pieces of acquired image data at the shifted image forming position are obtained. Then, in the same manner as above, nine image data are acquired by performing reading in the same manner in the vertical direction by shifting by 0 pixel, 2/3 pixel, and 4/3 pixel. The acquired image data is sent to the image processing unit 9.

The image processing unit 9 includes an image memory 1 for storing nine images, a motion detecting unit 2 for detecting the amount of movement of the image from the two images, and an image processing unit 9 when the amount of movement of the image is equal to or less than a predetermined value. A counting unit 3 that starts counting the number of acquired images, and a combining unit that performs combining processing from the nine pieces of image data stored in the image memory 1 when the count value reaches a predetermined value to generate one piece of image data It comprises a unit 4 and an imaging control unit 5.

The imaging control unit 5 controls the position of the incident light from the imaging optical system of the camera head on the imaging device. For control of the imaging control unit 5 and the imaging camera, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-244932 (the imaging control unit and the imaging unit control means are the same), and a description thereof will be omitted. Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-244932, the imaging position is displaced by 1/2 pixel, but the same applies to 2/3 pixel.

Next, the motion detecting section 2 will be described with reference to FIG. In general, the amount of motion of an image can be determined by using two or more images captured at different times and calculating the difference between the images. Here, a method with a small circuit scale is proposed. The document table 12 of the camera unit 11 (FIG. 1) is painted black, and when the document 13 is placed on the document table 12, the edges of the document 13 generally have many white. After the binarization process, the platen 12 is black,
The edge area of the document 13 is white.

Further, since the reading range is inside the document table 12, if the line is viewed line by line after binarization, the line where the document 13 does not exist will be black for one line, and the line where the document 13 exists will be black. The run length and the end run length are considered to be black. Therefore, in order to check the movement amount of the document 13, the start run length and the end run length of the line are stored for each line, and the start run length and the end run length of each line of the image data acquired after a certain time are stored. The amount of motion of the image can be detected from the difference of.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the embodiment of the motion detecting section 2 shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the image data input to the motion detection unit 2 is binarized by a comparator 21 by comparing it with a value (threshold) of a register 20. Here, the image data is 8 bits (0
To 255), the black side is 0, and the white side is 255. Assuming that the value (threshold) of the register 20 is 128, the image data is binarized as “0” when the image data is higher than the threshold (white side) and “1” when the image data is equal to or less than the threshold (same or black side). It is conceivable that the threshold value is not a fixed register value but an average value (floating threshold value) of surrounding image data. Floating threshold binarization is common and will not be described.

The next counter 22 counts the run length, stores the start run length and the end run length for one line in the memory 23 for each line, and stores the start run for each line of the previously acquired image. The length and the end run length are read from the memory 23, and the start run end length and the end run length of the current image and the previous image are respectively subtracted by the subtracter 24.
, And the difference is compared with the allowable value in the main scanning direction stored in the register 25 by the comparator 26. If the difference is equal to or smaller than the allowable value in the main scanning direction, the continuous line number counter 2
7 is reset.

If the allowable value in the main scanning direction is equal to or larger than the allowable value, the continuous line number counter 27 is incremented by one. Since the shift of the image forming position is 2/3 pixel, even if the image is not moving, the shift by 2/3 pixel is shifted. That is,
It is necessary to set the permissible values in the main and sub scanning directions to values larger than the amount of shift of the imaging position. Here, the allowable value is assumed to be two pixels.

Next, the comparator 29 compares the value of the continuous line number counter 27 with the permissible value in the sub-scanning direction stored in the register 28. If the value exceeds the permissible value in the sub-scanning direction, the original moves. It is judged that there is, and if it is below the allowable value,
It is determined that the document has stopped. Here, "1" indicates that there is a movement.
The stop is output to the counter unit 3 as “0”.

Next, FIG. 4 shows the configuration of an embodiment of the counter section 3 of FIG. In FIG. 4, the counter unit 3 starts counting the number of acquired images when the signal from the motion detection unit 2 (FIG. 1) is stopped ("0"). Camera unit 10
, The counter 31 counts a frame signal that stands during the image data transfer period of one image for each image (becomes “1”). This counter is used to wait for the nine image data after the stop to be stored in the image memory 1 (FIG. 1).
In the image data of one sheet, the signal of the motion detection unit 2 is stopped “0”
Are stored in the image memory 1 at the time when the image data is output, so that it is sufficient to wait for the remaining seven image data to be stored.

The value of the counter 31 is compared with the value "7" of the register 32 storing the required acquired image numerical value by the comparator 33. If the value of the counter 31 becomes larger, the camera unit 10 Since the transfer of the image data for seven sheets has been completed, "1" is output to the synthesizing unit 4 (FIG. 1). here,
When the value of the counter 31 becomes larger, the counter 3
1 update is stopped. Further, when the signal from the motion detecting section 2 becomes a motion ("1"), the counter 31 is reset.

Next, FIG. 5 shows the configuration of the embodiment of the synthesizing unit 4 shown in FIG. 5, the synthesizing unit 4 includes a synthesizing starting unit 41.
And a rearranging unit 42 and a memory unit 43. The output from the counter unit 3 (FIG. 1) of the combining start unit 41 is “0”.
Only when it changes from “1” to “1”, the instruction to the reordering unit 42 and the memory unit 43 is instructed to combine and store the data. Then, after generating one image, the combination starting unit 41 outputs the combination start signal “1” unless the output from the counter unit 3 (FIG. 1) changes from “0” to “1” again. do not do. In other words, after the document is stopped, the synthesizing process is performed only once and stored in the memory unit 43, and the stored image is held in the memory unit 43 unless the document is moved again.

The reordering unit 42 retrieves the acquired images from the image memory 1 (FIG. 1), reorders the nine images for each pixel, and stores them in the memory unit 43.

FIG. 6 shows an example of rearrangement in the rearrangement section 42 of FIG. FIG. 6 shows an example of synthesizing using nine images. With reference to FIG. 6, a method of rearranging the nine images for each pixel will be described. FIG. 6 (a)
Indicates a pixel area of 3 pixels × 3 pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions of the first image. FIG. 6B shows a pixel area of 3 pixels × 3 pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions obtained by combining the first image and the second image. Reference numeral 1 denotes an area of 3 × 3 pixels in the vertical and horizontal directions of the first image, and the second image indicates an image forming position of the incident light from the imaging optical system on the image sensor by one image. The image is read at a position shifted horizontally by 2/3 pixels from the eyes, and the pixels are shifted to the right by 1/2/3 pixels, and the pixels are placed at a position indicated by 2 in this example.

FIG. 6C shows a pixel area obtained by combining the first image and the second image with the third image. The third image is 2/3 pixels further down to 2
This is an image read at an imaging position shifted to the right by 分 pixel for 4/3 pixel compared to the first sheet, and similarly from 1 to 4
Pixels are placed at the position marked 3 shifted to the right by / 3 pixels. As described above, only the horizontal direction has been described from FIG. 6A to FIG. 6C, but the same applies to the vertical direction.

FIG. 6D shows a combination of the fourth image, in which a pixel indicated by 4 is placed at a position shifted by 2/3 pixel from 1 below. On the fifth sheet, a pixel indicated by 5 is placed at a position shifted by 2/3 pixels downward from 2 as shown in FIG. 6E. The sixth sheet is 3 as shown in FIG.
The pixel marked 6 is placed at a position shifted by 2/3 pixel from the pixel. 7th to 9th sheets are 2/3 further down
6 (g) to 6 (i).
It becomes as shown in. When storing the data in the memory, there is no address shifted by 2/3 pixel, so that the address is stored at the tripled address. The rearrangement is general, and the method of realizing it is not specifically described.

As described above, the camera unit 10 using the camera head 11 capable of displacing the image forming position of the incident light from the image pickup optical system on the image pickup device in the horizontal and vertical directions from one pixel to a plurality of pixels, and Motion detector 2 for detecting the amount of movement
A counting unit 3 for counting acquired images; an image memory 1 for storing a plurality of image data; and a combining unit 4 for combining one image from the stored plurality of image data.
Can be realized from the imaging control unit 5.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of a second embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 7, an imaging position determining unit 6 is provided instead of the counting unit 3 in FIG. 1, and the imaging position information sent from the imaging control unit 5 to the camera unit 10 is always taken in. The first imaging position information in which the amount of movement of the original in step (1) becomes lower than a predetermined value is detected. Then, it is determined whether or not the current image position information is included in the first image position information for obtaining the number of images necessary for the composition based on the detected image position information, and the current image position information is used for the composition. When the first imaging position information for obtaining the required number of images is reached, the synthesizing unit 4 starts synthesizing. The means for obtaining the first imaging position information for obtaining the number of images required for the composition based on the detected imaging position information can be realized by a table. The detected imaging position information may be used as an address, and the first imaging position information for obtaining the number of images required for the corresponding combination may be stored at the address.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of a third embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. 8, a timer unit 7 is provided instead of the counting unit 3 in FIG.
When the moving amount of the original at the time is smaller than the predetermined value, the timer unit 7
Activate and measure the passage of time. Then, it is determined whether or not the time for obtaining the number of sheets required for the combination has elapsed, and if the time for obtaining the number of sheets required for the combination has elapsed, the fact that the time has elapsed is output to the combining unit 4. Then, the synthesizing unit 4 starts synthesizing.

In an apparatus for performing reading using motion detection as in the present invention, a switch for instructing the start of reading may not be particularly necessary. In that case, it is kind to inform the user of the start of reading. Conversely, the fact that the document cannot be read because the document is moving is sometimes useful information for the user.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of a fourth embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 9, the output of the motion detection unit 2 in FIG.
02 is supplied to the switch 101 for lighting, and the LED light source 102 is turned on when the output of the motion detecting unit 2 is “0” (when the moving amount of the document is not less than the predetermined value). Conversely (when the moving amount of the document is equal to or less than a predetermined value), the LED light source 1
02 may be turned on. Further, the lighting method of the LED light source 102 may be made to blink. Also, a plurality of LED light sources of different colors are used, such as turning on a blue LED light source when the movement amount of the document is less than a predetermined value, and turning on a red LED light source when the movement amount of the document is not less than a predetermined value. The LED light sources of different colors may be turned on or off in response to the case where the movement amount of the document is not less than the predetermined value. Further, it is useful information that the user is kindly notified that one image has been generated, and that the user can know the state of waiting for the next reading.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a fifth embodiment of the imaging apparatus of the present invention. 10 includes a timer unit 8 and a control unit 103 as compared with FIG. When the combining is completed by the combining unit 4, the notifying unit 100 is notified. When the number of acquired images reaches a certain value in the counting unit 3, the timer unit 8 waits for the time necessary for rearrangement of the synthesizing unit 4 from that point and sends it to the control unit 103. In the control unit 103, the synthesizing unit 4
The lighting control of the LED light source 102 is performed according to the output of the timer unit 8 corresponding to the end of the rearrangement storage processing and whether or not the movement amount of the document is equal to or more than the predetermined value by the motion detection unit 2.

For example, the controller 103 blinks the LED light source 102 when the movement of the document exceeds a predetermined value, and turns on the LED light source 102 when the document stops and the combining unit 4 finishes combining images. When the movement of the document exceeds a predetermined value, the LED light source 102 is turned on. When the document stops and the combining unit 4 finishes combining the images, the LED light source 102 is turned off. Also, when the movement of the original exceeds a predetermined value, the LED
When the light source 102 is turned off and the document stops and the synthesizing unit 4 finishes synthesizing the image, the LED light source 102 is turned on.

When the movement of the original exceeds a predetermined value,
When the red LED is turned on and the blue LED is turned off, the document stops and the synthesizing unit finishes the image synthesis, a plurality of LED light sources of different colors are used, such as turning off the red LED and turning on the blue LED. It is also conceivable to perform lighting and / or extinguishing correspondingly. Here, the control of turning on and off the LED is well-known and will not be described.

As described above, the compositing unit terminates the compositing of the image (when the compositing is completed). However, the present invention is not limited to this. When the transfer of the composite image is completed, the writing of the composite image to the memory is completed, or the display of the composite image is performed. At the end, or at the end of recognition of a character or the like existing in the composite image, it is also conceivable.

In this embodiment, the LED light source is shown to notify the user by light. However, the user may be notified by a sound such as an alarm, or the sound may be sound.

At present, the image scanner is provided with a reading start button for instructing the user to start reading, and reading is started after the reading start button is pressed. Therefore, before the user presses the reading start button, the reading is automatically started when the moving amount of the document becomes equal to or less than a predetermined value.
In some cases, it is desired to start reading after pressing the reading start button.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of a sixth embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 11, the camera section 10 of FIG. 1 is provided with a read start button 14 and a prefetch permission button 15. If the motion detection unit 2 determines that the document is stationary,
The OR circuit 90 performs an OR logic on whether or not the button 4 has been pressed, and in either case, capture of an image is started.

When the pre-reading permission button 15 is ON, the mode is set in which the amount of movement of the document is detected before the reading start button 14 is pressed and the reading is automatically started. Then, when the reading start button 14 is pressed, if the reading and the combining are completed at that point (an image desired by the user is generated), the combined image is displayed on a display unit (not shown). When the reading start button 14 is pressed, if the reading and / or the combining are in progress, the processing is continued, and after the image desired by the user is generated, the image which has been combined is illustrated. Display on a display device that is not

If the original is moving at the time when the reading start button 14 is pressed, and the reading has not started yet, the moving amount of the original is equal to or less than a predetermined value (original stationary).
Reading and synthesizing without waiting for. Then, similarly, after generating the image desired by the user, the image that has been combined is displayed on the display device. On the other hand, if the pre-reading permission button 15 is OFF, the reading is not performed even if the document stops, and the reading is started after the reading start button 14 is pressed.

The read-ahead permission button 15 is turned on every time,
Switching off is considered to be rare. Therefore, it is useful for the user to know the current state of the prefetch permission button 15.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the configuration of an image pickup apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 12, the state of the prefetch permission button 15 is notified via the selector 9 to the notification unit 10.
When the pre-reading permission button 15 is ON, the LED light source 102 is turned on, and when the pre-reading permission button 15 is OFF, the LED light source 102 is turned off.

The notification unit 100 is not limited to the LED light source, and may notify the user using light or sound, or display the ON / OFF state of the prefetch permission button on the display device. It is also useful information to notify the user whether reading has been completed or image composition has been completed.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of an eighth embodiment of the imaging apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 13, FIG.
, An LED light source 200 is provided as a means for notifying that reading has been completed or image composition has been completed,
For example, the signal of the synthesizing starting unit in the synthesizing unit 4 is
Used to input 00.

In FIG. 11 described above, when the pre-reading permission button 15 is ON, the reading start button 14
It has been described that if the original is moving at the time when is pressed and the reading has not started yet, the reading and combining are performed without waiting for the moving amount of the original to be equal to or less than a predetermined value (original stationary). However, it is considered that a useful image desired by a user cannot be generated in many cases even by combining moving images.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the configuration of the ninth embodiment of the imaging apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 14, FIG.
Is provided with a prefetch priority mode button 400. When the read-ahead priority mode button 400 is turned on, the document is moving at the time when the reading start button 14 is pressed, and if the reading has not started yet, the moving amount of the document is equal to or less than a predetermined value (document stationary). ), Reading and synthesizing are performed, an image desired by the user is generated, and then the user is notified that reading or image generation is completed. This notification is similar to that described with reference to FIG.
It is conceivable to notify by. Further, the read and generated image may be displayed on the display device 300 for notification.

Although the read-ahead permission button and / or the reading start instruction button are described as hardware here, there is no particular limitation as long as the user can instruct the user to do so. May be. Here, the method of realizing the image processing unit 9 by hardware is described, but it is also possible to realize the image processing unit 9 by software.

Until now, pixel shifting has been performed, a plurality of images have been obtained, and high-definition images have been synthesized or rearranged. However, a high-definition camera will be realized in one frame in the future. Can be considered. In that case, the reading time can be shortened because one frame can be stored in the image memory 1. However, if the read image is to be transferred to another device, for example, a PC, the transfer speed is considered to be a bottleneck. Normally, reading is started by pressing the reading start button and data is transferred, so that it takes time. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Hei 8
Although there is Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 154153, this method always reads and transfers data, so that the processing load on the CPU is large. Therefore, the system may become unstable. Next, an embodiment in which image shifting is not performed will be described.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration of a tenth embodiment of the imaging apparatus of the present invention. Here, no pixel shift is performed. Since a high-definition image can be read in one frame, there is no synthesizing unit. In the present embodiment, the image memory 1
Assuming that the motion detection unit 2, the determination instruction unit 500, and a separate device, here a PC, are connected, the display device 3 on the PC side
00, a memory 600 on the PC side, and a CPU 700.

The image picked up by the camera head is always input to the image memory 1 and the motion detecting section 2. In the transfer, the moving amount has become smaller than a predetermined value since the moving image. Only the case is detected by the motion detection unit 2,
A transfer instruction is issued to the determination instruction unit 500, and the read image stored in the image memory 1 is transferred to the memory 600 on the PC side.

At this time, the image memory 1 needs to stop the overwriting of the image. By doing so, the image is transferred only when the image is stationary, so that the CPU load on the PC is small. Of course, since the transfer is performed only when the image stops, the transfer speed can be increased by the time from when the user sets the document and when the document stops to when the reading start button is pressed.

When the reading start button is pressed,
If the read image has been transferred to the memory 600 on the PC side,
The read image stored in the memory 600 is immediately sent to the display device 300 to display the image. If the transfer is in progress, the image is displayed on the display device 300 after the transfer is completed. When the original is moving, the image is read and the image memory 1 is read.
Is transferred to the memory 600 and displayed on the display device 300. Here, the determination instruction unit 500 determines whether the transfer instruction from the motion detection unit 2 and the reading start button
The R circuit outputs a transfer instruction to the transfer unit 800.

The transfer unit 800 sets the next one frame image to P
The data is transferred to the memory 600 on the C side. If the reading start button 14 has been pressed, the display is displayed on the display device 300. If the reading start button 14 is not pressed, the display is waited for and pressed on the display device 300.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing the configuration of the determination instruction section 500 of FIG. The determination instructing section 500 issues a transfer instruction only when the motion detecting section 2 determines that the image has transitioned from the moving state to the stationary state. If the document is moving, a signal of “1” from the motion detecting unit 2 enters the determination instructing unit 500, is inverted to “0”, and resets the FF 501.

When the document is stationary, "0" enters the determination instructing section 500 from the motion detecting section 2 and is inverted to enable "1". The FF 501 latches Vcc and outputs "1". When the reading start button 14 is pressed, the operation enters the AND circuit 502. At this time, when the FF 501 is “0”, since the image has not been transferred by the stillness determination yet, it needs to be transferred, and the output of the AND circuit 502 becomes “1”. When it is “1”, since the transfer has already started, the output of the AND circuit 502 has a logic of outputting “0”.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the configuration of the transfer section 800 of FIG. The transfer unit 800 stores the image memory only when the signal from the determination instruction unit 500 changes from “0” to “1”.
The first image is transferred to the PC side memory 600.

In this case, a configuration in which the image memory 1 is inserted but the image memory 1 is not provided is also conceivable.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing the configuration of the eleventh embodiment of the imaging apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 18 shows a configuration without an image memory. The motion detection unit 2 always captures an image and performs stillness determination. When the image is frozen, the image to be read next is transferred to the memory 600 on the PC side. Here, the time for capturing one image is shifted from the time when it is determined that the image is stationary, but there is no problem.

Further, a configuration using a camera unit having a camera head for reading while shifting the imaging position touched earlier within one pixel or less, and when the original is moving, the user is notified that the original is moving. 15 and 18 may be provided with means for notifying the user that the image has stopped, means for notifying the user of the completion of reading (transfer of the read image to the PC-side memory).

If there is a conflict between activation of reading or transfer of a read image by determining whether the original is stationary, and activation of reading or transfer of the read image by pressing the read start button 14, which is to be given priority. It is conceivable to provide a possible priority button. For example, one or two or more priority buttons are provided, and the reading start button is normally set in a pressing priority mode. When the document is stationary, the reading or the read image is transferred, and even when the document is moving, the reading start button is pressed. When the button 14 is pressed, the reading or the read image is transferred.

When the priority button is set to the stillness determination priority mode, when the original is stationary, the read or read image is transferred, and even if the read start button is pressed, if the original is still moving, the reading or reading is waited. Transfer the scanned image.
In addition, by providing a mode in which the stationary state is not determined, the reading is not performed even when the document is stationary, and the reading or the read image is transferred only by pressing the reading start button. These buttons may be separated, may be switched in accordance with one button, or may be separated into one and two buttons. It is also conceivable to provide all or a part of them in FIGS.

[0070]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an imaging apparatus in which the reading time for reading a still image reliably is reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a first embodiment of an imaging apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating stopping of an image in a motion detection unit 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a motion detection unit 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a counter unit 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a synthesizing unit 4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of rearrangement in a rearrangement unit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a ninth embodiment of the imaging apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to a tenth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a configuration of a determination instruction unit 500 of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a configuration of a transfer unit 800 of FIG.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus according to an eleventh embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image memory, 2 ... Motion detection part, 3 ... Counting part, 4
... Synthesizing section, 5 ... Imaging control section, 6 ... Image forming position determining section, 7 ...
Timer section, 8: Timer section, 9: Selector, 10: Camera section, 11: Camera head, 12: Document platen, 13: Document, 14: Read start button, 15: Read-ahead permission button, 90: OR circuit, 100 ... Notification unit, 200 ... LED
Light source, 300 display device, 400 prefetch priority mode button, 500 determination instruction section, 600 memory, 700
CPU, 800: transfer unit.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Keisuke Nakajima 7-1-1, Omika-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Within Hitachi Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd. F-term in the Information Equipment Division of Hitachi, Ltd. (Reference) BB09 BD01 CA02 5C076 AA13 AA19 AA21 BA03 BB13 BB40

Claims (3)

[Claims] A reading means for reading an image; a storage means for storing a plurality of images read by the reading means; a detecting means for detecting movement of an image from the plurality of images read by the reading means; An image capturing apparatus comprising: a combining unit that combines a plurality of images stored in the storage unit into one image when the movement of the image detected by the detection unit is equal to or less than a predetermined value. 2. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the synthesizing unit converts the plurality of images stored in the storage unit into a pixel of the next image between one pixel of the image and the next pixel. An image pickup apparatus characterized by performing interpolating rearrangement and synthesizing. 3. A reading means for reading an image, a first storage means for storing an image read by the reading means, and a second storage means capable of storing an image stored in the first storage means. Transfer means for transferring the image stored in the first storage means to the second storage means; detection means for detecting whether the image read by the reading means is in a moving state or a stationary state; and the detection means Determination instruction means for instructing the transfer means on the basis of the result of the determination to control whether or not to transfer the image stored in the first storage means to the second storage means. Imaging device.