JP3206510B2 - Machine readable recording medium recording image input device and program - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technology for capturing various objects such as documents and three-dimensional objects and inputting digital image data thereof. The present invention relates to a technique that is effective when a user inputs digital image data of an object at a desired resolution and stores the digital image data in a database.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to store documents, three-dimensional objects, and the like as digital image data in a database and use them in an electronic library, an electronic art museum, and the like, it is necessary to take an image of an input object with a scanner, a camera, or the like and digitize the image. Will be needed.

Conventionally, when digitizing a standard document, a method of digitizing the document with a scanner is generally used. When digitizing a three-dimensional object, a three-dimensional object is photographed with an ordinary camera. A method of generating digital image data from a film using a scanner and a method of photographing a three-dimensional object using a digital camera that directly generates digital image data have been generally used.

[0004]

[0005] By the way, the input target of digital image data in art museums and museums includes:
There are two-dimensional objects such as ancient documents and paintings, and three-dimensional objects such as sculptures, and their sizes are various. When inputting digital image data of an input object having such various shapes and sizes, the method using a scanner has a problem that it takes time and effort to input a three-dimensional object. That is,
In the case of inputting a three-dimensional object using a scanner, it is necessary to take an image of the three-dimensional object with a camera and to create a photograph that can be input with the scanner, so that the input is troublesome.

According to a method of inputting digital image data of an input object using a digital camera, a three-dimensional input object can be easily input. However, there is a problem that it takes time and effort to input various input objects with desired quality (resolution). For example, if it is necessary to input at a high resolution so that the pattern can be clearly recognized, such as an input object with a fine pattern on the surface, manually reduce the distance between the input object and the digital camera. If it is sufficient to input at a low resolution such as an input object with a plain surface, the distance between the input object and the digital camera is manually increased, such as by manually inputting a digital camera The distance to the object must be adjusted manually. Furthermore,
If the distance between the digital camera and the input object is shortened in order to input the input object with high resolution, the input object may not be able to fit within the field of view of the digital camera. Therefore, the digital camera and the input target must be relatively moved in the XY plane, and the input target must be divided into a plurality of areas and input.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-298242 discloses that
When using a camera to input a document image of a set document using a camera, a technology has been developed that automatically obtains a high-resolution document image by dividing the document document into multiple parts and inputting it. Has been described. However, this technique has a problem that a user cannot input a digital image having a desired resolution because a distance between a document document as an input target and a camera is fixed.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to enable a user to easily input digital image data having a desired resolution when inputting digital image data of an input object.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An image input apparatus according to the present invention achieves the above object and solves the problem based on the thickness of an input object.
In order to reduce errors in image resolution, the input range covering the input
Image input device for inputting digital image data
There are an image input unit for inputting the digital image data,
Relatively moving the image input unit and the input object
Moving part and the image input part are input at different positions.
First and second partial digital image data
The number of pixels between corresponding pixels of the data,
Based on the difference between the input positions of digital image data
Detects the resolution and instructs the detected resolution and the user
The image input unit and the input object based on a designated resolution
Whether the distance to the object in the Z-axis direction is controlled by the moving unit
Alternatively, the zoom ratio of the image input unit is controlled to control the image input.
The resolution of the digital image data input by the
After setting the resolution, the input object and the image input unit
Is relatively moved in the X and Y axis directions by the moving unit.
The partial digital image data of a part of the input range.
Is input by the image input unit.
The entire input range is obtained by the obtained partial digital image data.
Control means for performing until the body is covered.

[0009]

In this configuration, when the user instructs the resolution, the control means controls the distance between the image input unit and the input object in the Z-axis direction using the moving unit, or controls the distance between the image input unit and the image input unit. After controlling the zoom ratio to set the resolution of the digital image data input by the image input unit to the designated resolution, the input object and the image input unit are relatively moved in the X and Y axis directions using the moving unit, The process of inputting partial digital image data of a part of the input range using the image input unit,
The process is performed until the entire input range is covered by the input partial digital image data. Also, depending on the thickness of the input object,
To reduce the resolution error, the control means
Part input in different position of image input part overlaps
Corresponding pixels of first and second partial digital image data
Number of pixels between the first and second partial digital image data
Image input based on the input position difference
Detect data resolution and input using image input unit
When the resolution of digital image data is set to the specified resolution
The resolution actually detected by the resolution detector and the indicated resolution
Based on the distance between the image input unit and the input object in the Z-axis direction.
Control the separation or the zoom ratio of the image input section.
You.

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

Further, the image input apparatus of the present invention allows the input object to be as large as possible within the size of the digital image data designated by the user. It is possible to input the data size and the image input unit in one input operation.
The number of times of inputting the digital image data in the input range is obtained based on the size of the digital image data that can be input, and the input range is divided into the same number of partial areas as the number of times of input, and the field of view of the image input unit is obtained. The position of the image input unit in the Z-axis direction is controlled by the moving unit based on the relationship between the size of the image input unit and the position of the image input unit in the Z-axis direction, and the size of the partial region. The size of the field of view is made equal to the size of the partial area, and thereafter, the input object and the image input unit are relatively moved in the X and Y axis directions using the moving unit. To input the digital image data of each of the partial areas by using.

In this configuration, the control means controls the size of the digital image data to be input and the digital image data which can be input by one input operation of the image input unit. The number of inputs when inputting digital image data in the input range is determined based on the size of the input range, the input range is divided into the same number of partial areas as the number of inputs, and the size of the field of view of the image input unit and the Z of the image input unit The position of the image input unit in the Z-axis direction is controlled by the moving unit based on the relationship with the position in the axial direction and the size of the partial region so that the size of the field of view of the image input unit becomes equal to the size of the partial region. Then, the input object and the image input unit are moved between X and Y using the moving unit.
It is relatively moved in the axial direction, and digital image data of each partial area is input using the input unit.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a technique on which the present invention is based .
It is a block diagram for. The image input device shown in FIG.
An image input unit 101 such as a digital camera for taking an input object as digital image data, a support 102 for mounting the input object, and the image input unit 101 with respect to the support 102 in the Z-axis direction (height direction). ), An XY movement unit 104 for moving the support base 102 in the X and Y axis directions, a control unit 300 including a computer for controlling each unit of the apparatus, and a recording medium 500.
And an input unit 501 such as a keyboard and a mouse, and a display unit 502 such as a CRT.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the control means 300. As shown in FIG.
A system control unit 301 that controls the entire operation of the apparatus, and in accordance with a zoom setting instruction from the system control unit 301, outputs an instruction signal 202 for setting the zoom ratio of the image input unit 101 to that specified by the zoom setting instruction. ,
When inputting an image of an input object, an instruction signal 20 for determining an optimal aperture and focus at that time, and instructing the aperture and focus of the image input unit 101 to be determined as described above.
2 based on the X and Y coordinate values of the support 102 and the current X and Y coordinate values of the support 102 specified by the system control unit 301. An XY-axis control signal 203 for moving the support base 102 in the X and Y-axis directions by the calculated amount of movement in accordance with the amount of movement is output, and the Z coordinate value of the image input unit 101 and the image designated by the system control unit 301 are output. The amount of movement in the Z-axis direction is obtained based on the current Z coordinate value of the input unit 101 and the image input unit 1
01, a Z-axis control signal 201 for moving the Z-axis direction by the calculated amount of movement, and a digital image data 204 output from the image input unit 101.
And an image storage unit 304 for storing the same. The recording medium 500 is a magnetic disk, a semiconductor memory, or another recording medium, and stores a program for controlling the operation of the control unit 300. The program recorded on the recording medium 500 is read by the control means 300, and by controlling its operation, the system control unit 301, the image input control unit 302, the movement control unit 30
Constituting No. 3.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the image input apparatus shown in FIG. 1, with reference to the drawings will be described below operate.

When inputting a digital image of an input object, the user first places the input object on the support 102 (FIG. 3, S31).

Thereafter, the user inputs a desired resolution (designated resolution) by using the input unit 501 and designates an image input range (S32). The input range of the image is specified, for example, by displaying the display image 40 captured by the image input unit 101 and displayed on the display unit 502 as shown in FIG.
Based on 0, the user specifies a rectangular area using a pointing device such as a mouse. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes an input object placed on the support base 102; 402, an input range of an image designated by the user;
Reference numeral 3 indicates a mouse cursor.

When the user specifies the resolution and the input range of the image, the system control unit 301 sets a combination of the Z coordinate value and the zoom ratio of the image input unit 101 to set the resolution of the digital image data as the specified resolution. ,
Further, while passing the Z coordinate value to the movement control unit 303,
The zoom ratio is passed to the image input control unit 302 (S3
3).

Thus, the movement control unit 303 compares the Z coordinate value passed from the system control unit 301 with the image input unit 10.
1 is calculated based on the current Z coordinate value, and a Z-axis control signal 201 for moving the image input unit 101 in the Z-axis direction by the calculated movement amount is transmitted to the Z-moving unit. Output to 103. The Z-axis moving unit 103
The image input unit 101 is moved in the Z-axis direction according to the axis control signal 201.

When the zoom ratio is passed from the system control unit 301, the image input control unit 302
An instruction signal 202 indicating the zoom ratio is output to 01, and the zoom ratio of the image input unit 101 is set to be indicated by the zoom ratio.

Here, the combination of the Z coordinate value and the zoom ratio of the image input unit 101 for setting the resolution of the digital image data to the designated resolution is, for example, an approximate function shown in (a) below or shown in FIG. The zoom ratio and the Z coordinate value for each resolution are determined using a table in which the values are set. In the following (a), R is the resolution, Z is the zoom ratio, and H is the Z coordinate value of the image input unit 101.

R = Z ² × 100 / H (a)

It should be noted that the zoom ratio and Z for changing the resolution to the specified resolution are obtained by using the approximate function (a) and the table shown in FIG.
When a combination of coordinate values is obtained, each zoom ratio “1”,
For each of "2", "3",..., A Z coordinate value for setting the resolution to the designated resolution is obtained. Any of the plurality of combinations can be used . For example , the image input unit 101 can be moved to a position indicated by the Z coordinate value when the zoom ratio is “1”. If so, a combination of the zoom ratio "1" is used, and if the camera cannot be moved, a combination of the zoom ratio "2" is used .
Can be

When the Z coordinate value and the zoom ratio are controlled in step S33, the system control unit
The input range designated at 32 is divided into a plurality of rectangular areas (S34).

The processing in S34 will be described in detail below. First, based on the number of effective pixels (view size) in the X and Y axes directions of the image input unit 101 and the specified resolution specified by the user, the image input unit 101 can perform input in one input operation. Find the size (inputable size). For example, if the number of effective pixels of the image input unit 101 is 40
00 × 4000 pixels and the indicated resolution is 400 dpi (d
ots per inch), the inputtable size is 10 inches square.

Thereafter, the system control unit 301 proceeds to S32
The input range specified by is divided into a plurality of rectangular areas. The size of this rectangular area must be smaller than the inputtable size, and is determined by the accuracy of the mechanical movable parts such as the Z moving part 103 and the XY moving part 104. That is, if the precision of the mechanical movable part is high, the size of the rectangular area is increased, and if the precision is low, the size of the rectangular area is reduced.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which the size of the rectangular area 412 is set to 80% of the size of the inputtable range 411. As described above, by dividing the input range 410 into a plurality of rectangular regions 412 and inputting digital image data in a state where the center of each rectangular region 412 matches the center of the field of view of the image input unit 101, each input region is input. Covers the entire input range 410 in a partially overlapping manner.

Next, the system control unit 301 passes the coordinate value of the first image input position (for example, the coordinate value of the center of the upper left rectangular area shown in FIG. 6) to the movement control unit 303 (S35). . Accordingly, the movement control unit 303 obtains the amount of movement in the X and Y directions from the current position to the first image input position, and moves the support base 102 in the X and Y directions by the amount of movement. 203, and the XY moving unit 104 outputs the support base 10 according to the XY axis control signal 203.
2 is moved to the first image input position.

After the movement is completed, the system control unit 301 instructs the image input control unit 302 to input an image (S3).
6). Accordingly, the image input control unit 302 outputs the instruction signal 202 to the image input unit 101, and instructs the optimum focus and aperture at that time, and then instructs image input. The focus and aperture designated for the image input unit 101 are, for example, selected from fixed values determined from the distance between the image input unit 101 and the input object, zoom settings, and illumination settings, and meet the conditions at that time. Are determined by selecting Further, the image input unit 101 may be provided with an automatic focus / aperture mechanism as used in a general camera. In this case, the process of determining the focus and aperture by the image input control unit 302 and the process of instructing the image input unit 101 to perform focus and aperture by the image input control unit 302 become unnecessary.

The image input unit 101 includes an image input control unit 30
After adjusting the focus and aperture in accordance with the instruction signal 202 from the second, an image at the first image input position is taken in, and digital image data 204 is output. The digital image data 204 is stored in the image storage unit 30 in the control unit 300.
4 is stored as partial digital image data.

When the partial digital image data of the first image input position is stored in the image storage unit 304, the system control unit 301 transfers the coordinate value of the second image input position to the movement control unit 303 to support it. 2nd table 102
The image data is moved to the second image input position (S35). After the movement is completed, an image input instruction is issued to the image input control unit 302, so that the partial digital image data at the second image input position is stored in the image storage unit 304. It is accumulated (S36).
Thereafter, the processing of S35 and S36 is repeated until there is no uninput portion, so that the entire input range specified by the user is stored in the image storage unit as a set of partial digital image data input at the resolution specified by the user. 304.

FIG. 7 illustrates another technique on which the present invention is based .
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a main part for performing the control, and shows a configuration example of a control means 300a used in place of the control means 300 shown in FIGS. That the control unit 300a is different from the control unit 300 is a point having a point where the image synthesizing unit 305 is added, the system control unit 30 1 a in place of the system control unit 301. 1 and 2 represent the same parts.

The system control unit 301a stores, in addition to the functions of the system control unit 301, the partial digital image data of each input object into the image storage unit 304.
A function to manage the coordinates of the input position of the partial digital image data,
When an image synthesis instruction including information indicating an input target to be subjected to image synthesis is input from the input unit 501, the image synthesis unit 30
5 has a function of starting and transmitting management information (the storage position of the partial digital image data and the coordinate value of the input position of the partial digital image data) on the input object to the image synthesizing unit 305. The image synthesizing unit 305 includes an image storage unit 304
A plurality of partial digital image data (partial digital image data for a certain input object) stored in
On the basis of the input position of each partial digital image data to create a single digital image data. System control section 301a, image input control section 302, movement control section 303, image synthesis section 305
Is the recording medium 5 read by the control means 300a.
00 is stored in the control unit 300a.
Is realized by controlling

In this base technology , the operation until the partial digital image data is stored in the image storage unit 304 is the same as the base technology shown in FIG. Only processing for synthesizing digital image data for one sheet from data will be described.

When a user creates a composite image of a certain input object, the user inputs an image synthesis instruction including information indicating the certain input object from the input unit 501.

When an image synthesis instruction is input, the system control unit 301a passes management information on the input object to which the image synthesis has been instructed to the image synthesis unit 305.

The image synthesizing unit 305 includes the system control unit 30
When the management information is passed from 1a, each partial digital image data indicated by the storage position in the management information is sequentially read out from the image storage unit 304, and the read partial digital image data and the coordinate value of the input position in the management information are converted into The digital image data for one image is synthesized based on the image data.

The synthesizing process will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The image synthesizing unit 305 includes the system control unit 30
When the management information is passed from 1a, as shown in FIG. 8, an image area 420 having a size slightly larger than the input range of the input target is prepared on a work area (not shown) provided inside. I do. Thereafter, the partial digital image data 421 corresponding to the first input position is extracted from the image storage unit 304 based on the storage position in the management information,
It is copied to the upper left part of the image area 420.

Thereafter, the partial digital image data 422 corresponding to the second input position is extracted from the image storage unit 304, and is shifted from the storage position of the partial digital image data 421 by the coordinate value moved at the time of image input. Copy to location. At this time, if a deviation occurs due to an accuracy error or the like by the XY moving unit 104, a conventionally known pattern matching method, for example, an SSD
The bonding is performed by a method A or the like at a position where the error is minimized.

As described above, by sequentially performing the joining processing of the partial digital image data, one digital image data representing the entire input range of the input object specified by the user can be synthesized. The synthesized digital image data is sent from the image synthesis unit 305 to the image storage unit 304 and stored.

FIG. 9 shows still another technique which is a premise of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a main part block diagram for explaining a control unit 300 used in place of the control unit 300 shown in FIGS.
3 shows a configuration example of b. The control unit 300b is different from the control unit 300 in that an input range determination unit 306 is added and a system control unit 301b is provided instead of the system control unit 301. In addition, other FIG.
The same reference numerals denote the same parts. System control unit 3
01b, the image input control unit 302, the movement control unit 303, and the input range determination unit 306 are realized by controlling the control unit 300b by a program recorded on the recording medium 500 read by the control unit 300b.

The prerequisite technique shown in FIG. 9 is characterized in that an input range determination unit 306 is provided. Assumptions shown in Figure 1
In the technology , the method of specifying the input range on the screen using a mouse has been described.However, in general, the input range of digital image data is not limited to a part of the range that covers the input target, but may indicate the entire range. Many. Input range determination unit 3
In step 06, the input range is automatically determined when the range covering the entire input object is set as the input range. That is, the input range determination unit 306 determines whether the background digital image data (stored in advance) when the input object does not exist and the image input unit 1
01 is used to determine the input range based on the difference from the input digital image data.

[0050] to explain the operation to the next.

When inputting digital image data of an input object, the user places the input object on the support base 102 and places the input unit 50 in the same manner as in the prerequisite technique shown in FIG.
Enter the desired resolution from 1. After that, the user
If you want to determine the input range to the image itself, and before the predicate
If an input range is specified on the screen using a mouse or the like as in the base technology, and an input range of an image is to be determined using the input range determination unit 306, an input range determination instruction is input from the input unit 501. .

When the input range is designated by a mouse or the like, the system control unit 301b executes the processing in S33 to S3 described above.
6 (see FIG. 3).

On the other hand, when the input range determination instruction is input, the system control unit 301b captures the digital image data of the entire photographable area. In particular,
When digital image data of the entire photographable area can be input by one photographing, first, the movement control unit 303, XY
Using the moving unit 104, the image input unit 101
The support base 102 is moved in the XY axis directions so as to be located at the center of. Next, the position of the image input unit 101 is controlled using the movement control unit 303 and the Z movement unit 103 such that the distance between the image input unit 101 and the support 102 is maximized. After that, using the image input control unit 302, the zoom of the image input unit 101 is set to the widest angle side, and an input instruction is given to the image input control unit 302. This allows
Digital image data covering the entire photographable area is stored in the image storage unit 304.

When digital image data covering the entire photographable area is stored in the image storage unit 304, the system control unit 301b activates the input range determination unit 306.

Thus, the input range determining unit 306 determines whether the stored background digital image data and the image
Then, a difference image is obtained by taking the difference between the corresponding pixels of the digital image data stored in No. 4. In the difference image, fine points may appear due to noise, but the fine points are removed by a noise removal method of normal image processing. Thereafter, the input range determination unit 306 determines the maximum value and the minimum value Xmax of the X coordinate value of the input object based on the difference image.
Xmin and the maximum and minimum values of Y coordinate values Ymax, Ym
in, and the coordinate value of the upper left vertex is calculated as (Xmin, Ym
ax), the coordinate value of the lower right vertex is (Xmax, Ymin)
The system control unit 30 determines that the rectangular area
1b. Upon receiving this instruction, the system control unit 301b performs the same processing as S33 to S36 (see FIG. 3) described above.

On the other hand, when digital image data of the entire photographable area cannot be input in one photographing operation, the distance between the image input unit 101 and the support 102 is maximized. After the zoom of the image input unit 101 is set to the widest angle, the field of view of the image input unit 101 is matched with the partial image area 431 shown in FIG. Area 43
The support base 102 is moved in the XY axis directions so as to coincide with the upper left of 0). Then, the input instruction is sent to the image input control unit 3.
02, the partial digital image data of the upper left partial image area 431 is stored in the image storage unit 304.

Thereafter, the system control unit 301b uses the movement control unit 303 and the XY movement unit 104 to place the input object 401 such that the center of the field of view of the image input unit 101 moves on the movement path 432. While moving the support base 102 in the XY axis directions, an input instruction is output at a predetermined cycle. As a result, a plurality of partial digital image data covering the entire photographable area 430 is stored in the image storage unit 304. The predetermined period is determined based on the moving speed and the moving path of the support base 102.

When a plurality of partial digital image data covering the entire photographable area are stored in the image storage section 304, the system control section 301b activates the input range determination section 306. As a result, the input range determination unit 306 takes out one of the plurality of partial digital image data stored in the image storage unit 304, and stores the stored background digital image data in the image storage unit 304. A difference image is obtained by taking the difference between the corresponding pixels of the digital image data. FIG. 11 shows an example of the difference image 441. In FIG. 11, reference numeral 442 denotes an input object.

Thereafter, the input range determination unit 306 obtains the maximum and minimum values of the X coordinate value and the maximum and minimum values of the Y coordinate value of the input object 442 based on the difference image. Hereinafter, the input range determination unit 306 performs the same process on all the partial digital image data stored in the image storage unit 304, and obtains the maximum and minimum values of the X coordinate value of the input object 442, and the Y value. Find the maximum and minimum coordinate values.

When the maximum and minimum values of the X coordinate value and the maximum and minimum values of the Y coordinate value of the input object 442 are obtained for all the partial digital image data, the maximum value and the minimum value are obtained. Choose out. The maximum and minimum values Xmax and Xmin of the X coordinate value and the maximum and minimum values Y of the Y coordinate value
When max and Ymin are selected, the coordinate value of the upper left vertex is (Xmin, Ymax) and the coordinate value of the lower right vertex is (X
The system controller 301b is instructed to set a rectangular area of (max, Ymin) as the input range. Upon receiving this instruction, the system control unit 301b performs the same processing as described above.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a main part of one embodiment of the present invention, and shows a configuration example of a control means 300c used in place of the control means 300 shown in FIGS. The control unit 300c of this embodiment differs from the control unit 300 in that a resolution detection unit 307 is added and a system control unit 301c is provided instead of the system control unit 301. The same reference numerals as in FIG. 2 indicate the same parts. A system control unit 301c, an image input control unit 302,
The movement control unit 303 and the resolution detection unit 307
The program recorded on the recording medium 500 read by the control unit 00c is realized by controlling the control unit 300c.

In this embodiment, a resolution detector 3 for determining the resolution of digital image data input by the image input unit 101
07, digital image data having a resolution designated by the user can be obtained regardless of the thickness of the input object.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, except that the following processing is performed instead of the processing of S33 shown in the flowchart of FIG.
Performs the same processing as the technology .

When the designated resolution and the input range are designated, the system control unit 301c calculates the Z coordinate value and the zoom ratio of the image input unit 101 for setting the resolution to the designated resolution in the same manner as described above. The image input unit 101 is moved to the position indicated by the Z coordinate value, and the zoom ratio is set to the calculated zoom ratio.

After that, the system control unit 301c gives an input instruction to the image input unit 101, and outputs the first instruction including the input object.
Is input. The first digital image data is stored in the image storage unit 304.

Next, the system control unit 301c uses the movement control unit 303 and the XY movement unit 104 to move the input object by a predetermined movement amount ΔL. Thereafter, an input instruction is given to the image input unit 101, and the second digital image data including the input target is stored in the image storage unit 304. When the first and second digital image data are stored in the image storage unit 304, the system control unit 301c activates the resolution detection unit 307 and passes the movement amount ΔL. The first and second digital image data need to partially overlap.

Thus, the resolution detecting section 307 obtains the number G of pixels between corresponding pixels in the first and second digital image data, and obtains the resolution G / ΔL based on the obtained number of pixels and the moving amount ΔL. Is calculated.

The system control unit 301c determines whether or not the error between the resolution obtained by the resolution detection unit 307 and the resolution specified by the user is within a predetermined allowable error range.

If it is determined that the error is within the allowable error range, the process proceeds to S34 (FIG. 3). On the other hand, if it is determined that the resolution is not within the allowable error range, the system control unit 301c changes the position or the zoom ratio of the image input unit 101, and then obtains the resolution again using the resolution detection unit 307. . If the resolution falls within the allowable error range, the process proceeds to S34. If the resolution does not fall within the allowable range, the same process is performed again.

Here, a process for making the error between the resolution and the designated resolution fall within the allowable error range will be described with reference to FIG.

If the resolution specified by the user is a and the resolution first determined by the resolution detection unit 307 is b-0, the system control unit 301c increases the zoom ratio of the image input unit 101, or Image input unit 101 and support 1
Control is performed so as to increase the resolution by reducing the distance between the image data and the image data 02. The resolution detected at this stage is b-1
Then, the system control unit 301c controls the zoom ratio or the distance based on the ratio between the indicated resolution a and the resolutions b-0 and b-1 to bring the resolution closer to the indicated resolution a. The resulting resolution is b-
In the case of 2, the resolution a and the resolution b-1, b-2
Control is performed according to the ratio between the two. By repeating this, the error between the resolution and the indicated resolution a can be set within the allowable error range.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. This embodiment is realized by performing the processing shown in the flowchart of FIG. 14 in the image input device shown in FIG.

This embodiment has been described with reference to FIGS.
The functions provided in the image input device as a premise of the present invention include:
When the size of the digital image data to be input is specified by the user, a function is added to enable the input object to be accommodated in the size as large as possible. This function is particularly effective when, for example, it is desired to easily manage image data under the condition that information of a strict size is not emphasized in a museum exhibit or the like and the surface pattern should be seen as good as possible. Become.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. In order to allow the input object to be as large as possible within the designated size of the digital image data, the user first determines the vertical and horizontal sizes of the digital image data by using the input unit 5.
Input from 01. Thereafter, the user specifies an input range using a mouse or the like.

System control section 301 in control means 300
Receives the size of the digital image data and the input range (FIG. 14, S141 and S142), and inputs the digital image data in the input range based on the size and the size of the digital image data output from the image input unit 101. In order to do so, it is determined how many times the input process must be performed (S143). For example, if the size of the digital image data specified by the user is 2000 × 20
00 pixels and the size of the image input unit 101 is 1000 × 1
In the case of 000, the number of inputs is four.

Thereafter, the system control section 301 divides the input range into the same number of partial areas as the number of times of input obtained in S143 (S144). In the example described above, the input range is divided into four equal-sized partial regions.

Thereafter, the system control unit 301 determines the Z axis of the image input unit 101 based on the relationship between the size of the field of view of the image input unit 101 and the position of the image input unit 101 in the Z axis direction and the size of the partial area. The position in the direction is controlled so that the size of the field of view of the image input unit 101 becomes equal to the size of the partial area (S145).

Thereafter, the image input unit 1 is moved while the input object and the image input unit 101 are relatively moved in the X and Y axis directions.
01, the digital image data of each partial area is input (S146). The digital image data is stored in the image storage unit 304.

Note that instead of accepting the input range specified by the user in S142, the input range determination unit 3 shown in FIG.
The input range obtained in step 06 may be accepted.

[0080]

As described above, according to the present invention, the distance between the input object and the image input unit in the Z-axis direction or the zoom of the image input unit is controlled based on the indicated resolution specified by the user. Since the resolution of the digital image input by the image input unit is made to match the designated resolution, the user can easily input a digital image having a desired resolution.

Further, since the present invention is provided with an image synthesizing unit for synthesizing a plurality of partial digital image data based on the input position, it is possible to obtain a single large digital image data from the plurality of partial digital image data. Can be.

Further, the present invention provides an input range determining unit for determining an input range based on a difference between background digital image data when there is no input object and digital image data actually input using the image input unit. , The input range can be automatically determined for input objects of various sizes.

According to the present invention, the resolution of digital image data input by the image input unit is actually detected based on the first and second partial digital image data input at different positions by the image input unit. A resolution detection unit is provided, and the position or zoom of the image input unit is controlled based on the detection result of the resolution detection unit, so that input objects of various thicknesses can be accurately input at the indicated resolution specified by the user. can do.

Further, according to the present invention, the number of times of inputting the digital image data in the input range based on the size of the digital image data input by the user and the size of the digital image data output by the image input unit Is obtained, the input range is divided into partial areas having the same value as the number of times of input, and the movement is performed based on the relationship between the size of the field of view of the image input unit and the position in the Z-axis direction of the image input unit and the size of the partial area The position of the image input unit in the Z-axis direction is controlled by the unit so that the size of the field of view of the image input unit is equal to the size of the partial area. Thereafter, the input object and the image input unit are relatively moved in the X and Y axis directions. The digital image data of each partial area is input and the digital image data of each partial area is input. It can be obtained Tal image data.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining a technique which is a premise of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control unit 300.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a processing example of the base technology of FIG . 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of an input range indicating method.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the contents of a table showing a relationship among a resolution, a zoom ratio, and a Z coordinate value.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of dividing an input range.

FIG. 7 is a main part block diagram for explaining another technique which is a premise of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method of synthesizing partial digital image data.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining still another technique which is a premise of the present invention.
It is a principal part block diagram for the same.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a method of determining an input range.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a method of determining an input range.

12 is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an example of a method for setting a resolution to a designated resolution.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a processing example of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Description of Signs] 101 image input unit 102 support table 103 Z moving unit 104 XY moving units 300, 300a, 300b, 300c control means 301, 301a, 301b, 301c system control unit 302 image input control Unit 303: Movement control unit 304 ... Image storage unit 305 ... Image synthesis unit 306 ... Input range determination unit 307 ... Resolution detection unit 500 ... Recording medium 501 ... Input unit 502 ... Display unit

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image input device for inputting digital image data in an input range covering an input object, wherein an image input unit for inputting digital image data, and the image input unit and the input object are relative to each other. And the number of pixels between corresponding pixels of the first and second partial digital image data, which are partially overlapped at different positions input by the image input unit, and the first and second The resolution is detected based on the difference between the input positions of the partial digital image data, and the Z-axis direction between the image input unit and the input object is determined based on the detected resolution and the designated resolution designated by the user. The distance is controlled by the moving unit or the zoom ratio of the image input unit is controlled to set the resolution of the digital image data input by the image input unit to the designated resolution, and then the input object A process of relatively moving an object and the image input unit in the X and Y-axis directions by the moving unit and inputting partial digital image data of a part of the input range by the image input unit; Control means for performing until the entire input range is covered by image data. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the input range based on a size of the digital image data designated by the user and a size of the digital image data which can be input by one input operation of the image input unit. Determine the number of inputs when inputting digital image data, divide the input range into the same number of partial areas as the number of inputs, and set the size of the field of view of the image input unit and the position of the image input unit in the Z-axis direction. And the position of the image input unit in the Z-axis direction is controlled by the moving unit based on the relationship of the partial region and the size of the partial region so that the size of the field of view of the image input unit is equal to the size of the partial region. Then, the input object and the image input unit are relatively moved in the X and Y axis directions by using the moving unit, and the digital image data of each of the partial areas is moved by using the image input unit. The image input apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a structure for inputting. 3. An image input device for inputting digital image data in an input range covering an input object, wherein an image input unit for inputting digital image data, and the image input unit and the input object are relatively positioned. And a distance in the Z-axis direction between the image input unit and the input object is controlled by the moving unit based on an instruction resolution instructed by a user, or a zoom ratio of the image input unit is adjusted. After controlling the resolution of the digital image data input by the image input unit to the designated resolution, the input object and the image input unit are relatively moved in the X and Y axis directions by the moving unit, The process of inputting the partial digital image data of a part of the input range by the image input unit is not performed by the input partial digital image data. And a digital image in the input range based on the size of the digital image data designated by the user and the size of the digital image data which can be input in one input operation of the image input unit. The number of inputs when inputting data is obtained, the input range is divided into the same number of partial areas as the number of inputs, and the relationship between the size of the field of view of the image input unit and the position of the image input unit in the Z-axis direction. And, based on the size of the partial region, the position of the image input unit in the Z-axis direction is controlled by the moving unit so that the size of the field of view of the image input unit is equal to the size of the partial region. ,
The input object and the image input unit are relatively moved in the X and Y axis directions using the moving unit, and digital image data of each of the partial areas is input using the image input unit. An image input device comprising: a control unit. 4. A recording medium storing a program for inputting digital image data of an input range covering an input object by a computer, wherein the program is input to a computer by an image input unit at a different position. A step of detecting a resolution based on the number of pixels between corresponding pixels of the first and second partial digital image data, which partially overlap, and a difference between input positions of the first and second partial digital image data Controlling the distance in the Z-axis direction between the image input unit and the input target based on the detected resolution and the instruction resolution instructed by the user, or controlling the zoom ratio of the image input unit. A step of setting the resolution of the digital image data input by the image input unit to the designated resolution; relatively moving the input object and the image input unit in the X and Y axis directions And performing a process of inputting partial digital image data of a part of the input range by the image input unit until the entire input range is covered by the input partial digital image data. A machine-readable recording medium on which a program to be recorded is recorded. 5. The program according to claim 1, wherein the program inputs the size of the digital image data to the computer based on a size of the digital image data designated by a user and a size of the digital image data which can be input in one input operation of the image input unit. A step of obtaining the number of inputs when inputting digital image data of a range; a step of dividing the input range into the same number of partial regions as the number of inputs; a size of a field of view of the image input unit and a Z axis of the image input unit And controlling the position of the image input unit in the Z-axis direction based on the relationship with the position in the direction and the size of the partial region so that the size of the field of view of the image input unit is equal to the size of the partial region. Moving the input object and the image input unit relatively in the X and Y axis directions, and using the image input unit to read digital image data of each of the partial areas. Machine-readable recording medium having recorded the program <br/> beam according to claim 4, characterized in that to execute the steps, to be input. 6. A recording medium for recording a program for inputting digital image data in an input range covering an input object by a computer, the program storing the image in a computer based on an instruction resolution designated by a user. Controlling the distance in the Z-axis direction between the input unit and the input object or controlling the zoom ratio of the image input unit to set the resolution of the digital image data input by the image input unit to the designated resolution; The input partial digital image is processed by relatively moving the input object and the image input unit in the X and Y axis directions and inputting partial digital image data of a part of the input range by the image input unit. Steps to be performed until the entire input range is covered by the data, the size of digital image data specified by the user and the A step of obtaining the number of inputs when inputting digital image data in the input range based on the size of digital image data that can be input in one input operation of the image input unit; A step of dividing the image input unit into the same number of partial regions; a relationship between a size of a field of view of the image input unit and a position in the Z-axis direction of the image input unit; A step of controlling the position in the direction by the moving unit so that the size of the field of view of the image input unit is equal to the size of the partial area; and moving the input object and the image input unit in the X and Y axis directions A relative movement, and a step of inputting digital image data of each of the partial areas using the image input unit. Recording media.