JP2861845B2 - Image scanner with outline function - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image scanner, and more particularly, to an image scanner having a whiteout function.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image scanner is a device for reading an image such as a picture, a photograph or a figure by an image sensor, converting the image into binary data, and outputting the binary data. And Image scanners are used in various fields.In particular, simple image scanners have recently been put into practical use for inputting images into personal computers and word processors, and can easily input pictures and photographs into a personal computer. I can do it.

[0003]

However, the conventional image scanner has only a basic function of faithfully reading and outputting an original image. The same solid figure is input to a personal computer or the like. For this reason, when an illustration is to be created for a figure having only the outline portion of the original figure, that is, an outlined figure, it is necessary to input the entered figure as figure data into figure creation software of a personal computer and process the figure into a outlined figure. Required separately.

The present invention has been proposed in order to release the user from the operation of processing such a white figure, and the purpose of the present invention is to make the white figure already processed at the time of output. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image scanner capable of obtaining an image.

As an apparatus for processing an image read by an image sensor without outputting the image as it is, an apparatus as disclosed in JP-A-63-224473 is known. However, this device is a digital copier,
Naturally, a solid figure is converted into a shaded figure and output, which is fundamentally different from the present invention in which a white figure is processed and output.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems] white function image scanner of the present invention, a reading device that reads the density of each pixel of the two-dimensional image by the image sensor, the reading device
Converts the density of each pixel read in to binary data
An instruction for instructing whether to enable the whiteout function in an image scanner having a binarization processing device for outputting
Means and binarized data output from the binarization processing device, and the binarized data of a pixel surrounded by black pixels in the original two-dimensional image is converted into a value indicating a white pixel and outputs binarized data and white processing apparatus for outputting it, said indicating means white features other pixels
Is output as an image sensor output to the outside when the instruction is valid, and when the instruction is not valid, the binary data is output from the binarization processing apparatus.
Binarized data output from the camera as an image sensor output
And an output device for outputting to the outside .

[0007] The whitening processing device includes a shift register for an (i-1) -th row, a shift register for an (i) -th row, which holds a binarized data string of an (i-1) -th row, an i-th row, and an (i + 1) -th row of a two-dimensional image. Register, i + 1 row shift register, i-1 row shift register, i row shift register, i + 1
A three-pixel capacity shift register for the previous row, a shift register for the row of interest, a shift register for the next row, and binary data of a two-dimensional image connected between the serial output terminal and the serial input terminal of the row shift register Each time is input for one row, the input binary data string for one row is stored in the i-1
In the row shift register, the binary data sequence held in the (i-1) th row shift register is stored in the i-th row shift register, and the binary data sequence held in the i-th row shift register is stored in the row shift register. The shift register for the (i-1) -th row, the shift register for the i-th row, and the shift register for the i-th row are shifted into the shift register for the (i + 1) -th row, respectively, and until the next one row of binary data is input. a shift controller for synchronizing the contents of the shift register for the (i + 1) th row through the preceding row shift register, the noted row shift register, and the following row shift register in a synchronized manner; Three 2 shifted into register
The middle binarized data of the binarized data is set as a target pixel, and held in the shift register for the previous row, the shift register for the target row, and the shift register for the rear row.
The logical product of the binarized data of the pixels surrounding the target pixel is obtained, and according to the result, the binarized data of the target pixel is converted to the binary data of the white pixel and output, or And a pattern determination unit that determines whether to output the state as it is.

[0008]

[0009]

In the image scanner with a whitening function according to the present invention, when the density of each pixel of a two-dimensional image is read by an image sensor and converted into binary data and output, the whitening processing device uses the binary processing device. Binarized data is input, and the binarized data of a pixel surrounded by black pixels on the original two-dimensional image is converted into a value indicating a white pixel and output, and the binarized data of other pixels is output. Is output as it is, and the output device outputs the binary data output from the whitening processing device to the outside as an image scanner output.

In the whitening processing apparatus, every time one line of binary data of a two-dimensional image is input, the input binary data sequence of one row is shifted to an i-1 row shift register. The binarized data sequence held in the (i-1) -th row shift register is stored in the i-th row shift register, and the binarized data sequence stored in the i-th row shift register is stored in i +
By shifting into the one-row shift register, binary data strings for a total of three consecutive rows are held. By the time the binary data for the next one row is input, the contents of the shift register for the (i-1) th row, the shift register for the i row, and the shift register for the (i + 1) th row are synchronized, and The data is shifted through the row shift register, the row shift register of interest, and the shift register for the subsequent row until one cycle is completed. During this time, the pattern determination unit sets the middle binarized data of the three binarized data shifted into the target row shift register as the target pixel, and sets the preceding row shift register, the target row shift register, and the rear The logical product of the binarized data of the pixels around the target pixel (for example, front, rear, left and right) held in the row shift register is obtained, and the binarized data of the target pixel is converted to the white pixel according to the result. It is determined whether to convert the data into binary data and output the data, or to output the data in its original state.

Further, the instructing means instructs whether or not to enable the whiteout function in accordance with the operation of the user, and the output device outputs the whiteout processing device only when the whiteout function is instructed to be effective. Is output to the outside as an image sensor output, and when it is not instructed to be valid, binarized data that is not subjected to whitening processing is output.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a main part of an image scanner with a whitening function according to the present invention. In FIG.
The density of each pixel of a two-dimensional image such as a figure or a character drawn above is determined by a light source 4, an optical system 5 such as a mirror or a lens, and a CCD.
The image is read by a reading device 7 including an image sensor 6. This reading is performed by, for example,
This is performed by a raster scan method in which a main scan for scanning a dimensional image from left to right and a sub-scan for scanning from top to bottom are alternately repeated. The density of each pixel read by the reading device 7 is input to the binarization processing device 8 as serial data, where it is converted into binary data. In this binarized data, a black pixel is expressed as "1" and a white pixel is expressed as "0", for example. The binarized data output from the binarization processing device 8 is input to the whiteout processing device 1 and the output device 2.

The whitening processing device 1 converts the binary data of a pixel surrounded by black pixels on the original two-dimensional image into a value indicating a white pixel on the basis of the input binary data. Then, the data is output to the output device 2, and the binarized data of the other pixels is directly output to the output device 2.

The output device 2 is connected with an instruction means 9 comprising a manual switch or the like for instructing whether or not to enable the whitening function.
Indicates that the outline function is valid, the outline processing device 1
Is output to the outside as an image sensor output, and if not valid, binarized data not subjected to whitening processing, that is, the output of the binarization processing device 8 is output as an image sensor output to the outside. Output to

Hereinafter, the outline processing apparatus 1 which is the most important feature of the present invention will be described in detail.

In this embodiment, the whitening processing device 1 includes a buffer register 11 and a first shift register group 1.
2, the second shift register group 13, the pattern determination unit 14
And a shift control unit 15.

The buffer register 11 stores the read 2
The shift register has a capacity to store the binarized data for one row of the dimensional image. The binarized data output from the binarization processing device 8 is temporarily stored in the buffer register 11. Note that the buffer register 11 is reset in an initial state, and its contents are all binary data indicating white pixels.

The first shift register group 12 holds binary data of three consecutive rows of the read two-dimensional image. The first shift register group 12 includes the (i-1) -th row, the i-th row, and i + 1 of the two-dimensional image.
It has a shift register 121 for the (i-1) -th row, a shift register 122 for the i-th row, and a shift register 123 for the (i + 1) -th row that hold the binarized data string of the row. Each of the shift registers 121 to 123 is capable of parallel input / output and serial input / output. The parallel input source of the i-1 row shift register 121 is the buffer register 11, and the parallel output destination is i.
The row shift register 122 has a parallel input source i-1 row shift register 121 and a parallel output destination i + 1 row shift register 1
The parallel input source of the shift register 123 for the (i + 1) -th row is the shift register 122 for the i-th row. In addition,
The initial contents of each of the shift registers 121, 122, and 123 are all binary data indicating white pixels.

The second shift register group 13 includes a rectangle of 3 × 3 in which the size in the row direction and the size in the column direction is set to 3 pixels on the read two-dimensional image. It holds the binarized data of nine pixels, and has a shift register 131 for the previous row, a shift register 132 for the target row, and a shift register 133 for the rear row each having a capacity of three pixels. Each of the shift registers 131 to 133 is capable of serial input / output, and is connected between the serial output terminal and the serial input terminal of the i-1 row shift register 121, the i row shift register 122, and the i + 1 row shift register 123, respectively. Have been.
Also, the middle binarized data held in the preceding row shift register 131 and the following row shift register 133,
All the binarized data held in the target row shift register 132 has been output to the pattern determination unit 14. Note that the initial state of each of the shift registers 131 to 133 is binary data indicating a white pixel.

When all the binarized data of the front, rear, left and right pixels of the center pixel of 3 × 3 pixels held in the second shift register group 13 indicate black pixels, the pattern determination unit 14 determines that the center pixel is The binarized data is converted into a value indicating a white pixel and is output. Otherwise, the binarized data of the center pixel is output as it is.
32, two binary data excluding the middle binary data out of the three binary data, and the middle binary value output from the preceding shift register 131 and the following shift register 133. Gate 141 for calculating the logical product of a total of four binarized data with the binarized data, and the middle binarized data output from the target row shift register 132 as the target pixel, and the output of the AND gate 141 is logical. When “1” (when the input binarized data is all black pixels), the binarized data of the target pixel is converted into white pixel binarized data and output to the output device 2, and the AND gate 141 is output. Is a logical "0" (when all the input binary data are not black pixels), the gate group 142 outputs the binary data of the target pixel to the output device 2 as it is.

The shift control section 15 controls the buffer register 11, the first and second shift register groups 12, 13 based on a clock signal and a timing signal supplied from a control circuit (not shown) for controlling the entire image scanner.
This is the part that controls the shift. This shift control unit 15
Represents the binarized data output from the binarization processing device 8 as 1
Each time the buffer register 11 is shifted in over the row, the input binary data string of one row is converted to i-1
The binarized data string held in the (i-1) -th row shift register 121 is stored in the i-th row shift register 122, and the i-th row shift register 1 is stored in the i-th row shift register 122.
Control is performed to shift the binarized data string held in 22 into the (i + 1) th row shift register 123, respectively. Then, at a predetermined speed, i-line data is output until the next one line of binary data is input to the buffer register 11.
One row shift register 121, i row shift register 1
22 and the contents of the i + 1 row shift register 123 are
Synchronously, the previous row shift register 131, the target row shift register 132, and the subsequent row shift register 13
Then, a shift control is performed to make a single round through the line 3. Note that the shift control unit 15 controls the output device 2
It also has a function of outputting a valid period signal indicating a period during which the output of the outline processing device 1 is valid.

The whitening processing apparatus 1 configured as described above operates as follows.

When the binarized data sequence of the first row of the two-dimensional image is stored in the buffer register 11, the shift control unit 1
5 transfers it to the i-1 row shift register 121,
When the binarized data sequence of the next second row is accumulated in the buffer register 11, the binarized data sequence of the first row is transferred from the (i-1) th row shift register 121 to the i-th row shift register 122, and Then, the binarized data sequence in the second row is transferred from the buffer register 11 to the (i-1) th row shift register 121. Then, the shift registers 121 to 123, 131
To 133 are serially shifted by two pixels, the valid period signal for the output device 2 is turned on, and the shift registers 121 to 123 and 131 to 133 are further shifted, and the last pixels of the shift registers 121 to 123 are shifted. At the time when the binarized data is shifted into the middle of the shift registers 131 to 133 and processed, the valid period signal to the output device 2 is turned off, and the shift is further continued by two pixels.
The shift registers 121 to 123 and 131 to 133 are returned to the state immediately before the start of the shift.

In the pattern determining section 14, the AND gate 1
41, the two binarized data excluding the middle binarized data of the three binarized data output from the target row shift register 132 and the previous row shift register 13
1, the logical product of a total of four binary data with the middle binary data output from the shift register 133 for the succeeding row is obtained, and the gate group 142 outputs the output of the AND gate 141 to the logical "1". , The target row shift register 13
2 is converted into white pixel binarized data and output to the output device 2. When the output of the AND gate 141 is logic “0”, the binarized data of the pixel of interest 2 is output.
The quantified data is output to the output device 2 as it is. As a result, in order from the left pixel to the last pixel of the first row of pixel columns, pixels in which all of the front, rear, left, and right pixels are surrounded by black pixels are changed to white pixels. However, in the processing of the first row, all of the zeroth row are processed as white pixels.

When the instruction means 9 indicates that the whitening function is valid, the output device 2 outputs the binary value output from the pattern determination section 14 during the period when the valid period signal from the shift control section 15 is ON. Input the converted data and output to the outside.

Next, when the binarized data string of the third row is accumulated in the buffer register 11, the shift control unit 15
The binarized data string of the row is shifted from the i-th row shift register 122 to the (i + 1) th row shift register 123, and the binarized data string of the second row is shifted from the (i-1) th row shift register 121 to the i-th row shift register 122. Then, the binarized data string in the third row is transferred from the buffer register 11 to the (i-1) th row shift register 121. Then, shift control is performed on the shift registers 121 to 123 and 131 to 133 as described above. Thereby, the pattern determination unit 1
In 4, the pixels whose front, rear, left and right pixels are all surrounded by black pixels are sequentially changed to white pixels from the left pixel to the last pixel of the second row of pixel columns.

The above operation is continued until the binarized data sequence of the last row output from the binarization processing device 8 is processed. At the stage of transferring the binarized data string of the last row to the i-th row shift register 122, the contents of the buffer register 11 are returned to the initial state, so that i-1
The row shift register 121 stores binary data of all white pixels.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a two-dimensional image to be read and an example of an image obtained by subjecting the two-dimensional image to white-out processing according to the present embodiment. Reference numeral A in the same figure is the original image, and reference numeral B in the same figure.
Is an image represented by the binarized data sequence after the whitening processing. Note that a mesh is drawn to indicate the size of one pixel, but this is not included in the original image. As shown in the figure, among the pixels of the original image, all the pixels whose front, rear, left and right are black pixels are converted into white pixels, thereby obtaining a white figure.

In the above embodiment, when four pixels in front, rear, left and right are black pixels, the periphery is surrounded by black pixels. However, a total of eight pixels in front, rear, left and right and oblique directions are used. In the case of a black pixel, the periphery may be surrounded by a black pixel. In this case, the AND gate 141 of the pattern determination unit 14 includes the shift registers 131 to 131 except for the binarized data of the middle pixel of the shift register 132.
A total of eight pieces of binarized data stored in 133 are input.

[0031]

According to the image scanner with a whitening function of the present invention described above, the following effects can be obtained.

Since the image which has been whitened out is automatically output from the image scanner, it is not necessary to rework the white figure. Therefore, illustration creation and the like can be easily performed.

As another configuration for realizing the whitening function by the image scanner, a configuration is also conceivable in which all the binarized data is temporarily stored in a memory and then subjected to whitening processing by software processing and output. Large-scale hardware is required, and the processing time is long. According to the configuration of the whitening processing apparatus according to the second aspect, the processing can be realized with a small amount of hardware, and high-speed processing can be realized.

According to the configuration of the third aspect, the user can freely select whether the whitening function is valid or invalid.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a main block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an original image and an image after whiteout processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... White processing apparatus 11 ... Buffer register 12 ... First shift register group 121 ... i-1 row shift register 122 ... i row shift register 123 ... i + 1 row shift register 13 ... 2nd shift register group 131 ... Front row shift register 132... Noted row shift register 133... Back row shift register 14... Pattern determining section 141. AND gate 142. Gate group 15. Shift control section 2. Output device 3. Optical system 6 Image sensor 7 Reading device 8 Binarization processing device 9 Instruction means

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A and reader that reads the density of each pixel of the two-dimensional image by the image sensor, read by said reader
The density of each taken pixel is converted into binary data and output.
In an image scanner having a binarization processing device, an instruction means for instructing whether or not a whitening function is to be effective, and binarization data output from the binarization processing device are input, and the original A whitening processing device that converts binarized data of a pixel surrounded by black pixels in a two-dimensional image into a value indicating a white pixel and outputs the converted value, and binarized data of other pixels is output as it is; When the instructing means instructs that the whitening function is valid, the binarized data output from the whitening processing device is imaged.
Output to the outside as a sensor output and if it is not indicated as valid
If the binarized data output from the binarization processing device
An image scanner with a whitening function, comprising: an output device that outputs an image sensor output to the outside . 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the whitening processing device comprises: a shift register for an (i−1) -th row, a shift register for an (i) -th row that holds a binarized data string of an (i−1) -th row, an i-th row, and an (i + 1) -th row of the two-dimensional image. Register, a shift register for the (i + 1) -th row, a shift register for the (i + 1) -th row, a shift register for the (i-1) -th row, and a three-pixel capacitor connected between the serial output terminal and the serial input terminal of the shift register for the (i + 1) -th row. A shift register for the previous row, a shift register for the row of interest, a shift register for the next row, and each time the binary data of the two-dimensional image is input for one row, the input binary data sequence for one row Is stored in the shift register for the i-1 row, the binary data sequence held in the shift register for the i-1 row is stored in the shift register for the i row, and 2 The valued data sequence is expressed as i + 1 The i-1 row shift register and the i-1 row shift register are shifted into the row shift register, respectively, until the next one row of binary data is input.
A shift control unit for synchronizing the contents of the row shift register and the (i + 1) th row shift register through the previous row shift register, the noted row shift register, and the subsequent row shift register in a synchronized manner; The middle binarized data among the three binarized data shifted into the target row shift register is set as a target pixel, and the preceding row shift register, the target row shift register, and the rear row shift register are used as the target pixel. The logical product of the binarized data of the pixels around the pixel of interest held in the shift register is obtained, and the binarized data of the pixel of interest is converted into the binary data of the white pixel according to the result. 2. The image scanner with a whitening function according to claim 1, further comprising: a pattern determination unit that determines whether to output the image data in the original state or to output the image data in the original state.