JP2001007991A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader which automatically changes a light guide means in accordance with the size of a document. SOLUTION: A photographic film 22 is irradiated from an LED 64 through a diffusing box 70 and a Fresnel lens 72B. Side faces 71A to 71D of the diffusing box 70 are inclined in accordance with the classification of the photographic film 22 to change a light diffusion range, and the Fresnel lens 72B (72A) is replaced to change a light condensation range. Thus, an entire image frame of the photographic film 22 is surely irradiated, and the image is satisfactorily read by an area CCD 30. Further, it is unnecessary to replace the diffusing box 70 or the like, and the work efficiency is improved.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for reading image information of an original with high accuracy by light transmitted or reflected by the original.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a frame image recorded on an original such as a photographic film is photoelectrically read by a reading sensor such as a CCD, and digital image data obtained by the reading is subjected to image processing such as enlargement / reduction and various corrections. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a technique of performing processing and forming an image on a recording material by a laser beam modulated based on digital image data on which image processing has been performed.

As described above, in the technique of digitally reading a frame image using a reading sensor such as a CCD, the frame image is preliminarily read (so-called pre-scan) and the density of the frame image is read in order to realize accurate image reading. Reading conditions (for example, the amount of light applied to a frame image and CC
D, etc.), and the frame image is read again under the determined reading conditions (so-called fine scan).

In the above-described image reading system, as a light source, a halogen lamp, which is widely used for printing exposure and the like, is conventionally used, and a light beam from which infrared rays have been removed by a filter is converted into three primary colors (R, G, B). An image of a document is read by a CCD provided with a filter so as to respond to each color. At this time, the light from the light source is diffused and illuminated on the original in order to reduce the influence on the image reading due to dust or scratches attached to the original.

In this case, the light from the halogen lamp is guided to the vicinity of the document while being diffused by a diffusion box or the like, is condensed by a condenser lens, and is irradiated on the entire image frame of the document. As a result, the entire image frame is irradiated with light, and the image can be read without unevenness.

[0006]

In the above image reading apparatus, since the size of an image frame differs depending on the type of the original, a mirror box for guiding light to the image frame,
Alternatively, the condensing lens had to be replaced according to the type of the original.

[0007] The present invention has been made in order to solve the above disadvantages.
An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus that can automatically respond to the type of a document.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a light source for irradiating a document with light and an irradiation range of the light emitted from the light source on the document are changed in accordance with a reading range of the document. A light guide means for causing the light to pass therethrough, and an image reading means for reading image information when light transmitted or reflected through the irradiation area enters.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, image reading is performed by irradiating light to the reading range of the document.

At this time, since the light guiding means changes the irradiation range in accordance with the type of the document (reading range), the light emitted from the light source is surely applied to the entire reading range. Therefore, even if the type of the original is changed, the frame image information can be accurately read.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the light guide means diffuses light from the light source into the inside from the entrance surface and exits the original from the exit surface. Wherein the diffusion box changes an area of the emission surface in accordance with the reading range.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the area of the exit surface of the diffusion box can be changed according to the type of the original, so that the entire reading range can be reliably irradiated with light. In addition, the light incident from the incident surface is diffused evenly over the entire exit surface, and the light amount from the light source can be used effectively (without wasting).

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the first or second aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of lenses which are arranged on an optical path from a light source to a document and have different magnifications, and wherein the lenses correspond to the reading range. Characterized by having a lens exchange means for exchanging the lens.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the lens changing means has lenses of different magnifications, and by changing lenses according to the type of the original, the diffused light can be read regardless of the type of the original. Light can be reliably collected and irradiated over the whole.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a moving means for moving a light source in an optical axis direction corresponding to the irradiation range. I do.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the light amount of the light source can be effectively emitted by moving the light source closer to or away from the document in accordance with the irradiation range of the light guide means.

[0017]

1 and 2 show a schematic configuration of a digital lab system 10 according to the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the digital lab system 10 includes an area CCD scanner 14, an image processing section 16, a laser printer section 18, and a processor section 20. The processing unit 16 is integrated as the input unit 26 shown in FIG.
Are integrated as an output unit 28 shown in FIG.

The area CCD scanner 14 is for reading a frame image recorded on a photographic film such as a negative film or a reversal film.
5 size photographic film, 110 size photographic film, and photographic film with a transparent magnetic layer (24
0 size photographic film: so-called APS film), 12
Frame images of photographic film of size 0 and size 220 (Brownie size) can be read. The area CCD scanner 14 reads the above-mentioned frame image to be read by the area CCD 30, performs A / D conversion in the A / D converter 32, and outputs image data to the image processing unit 16.

The image processing section 16 stores image data (scanned image data) output from the area CCD scanner 14.
Is input, and image data obtained by photographing with the digital camera 34 or the like, a document (for example, a reflection document, etc.)
Data obtained by reading the image with a scanner 36 (flat bed type), image data generated by another computer and recorded in a floppy disk drive 38, MO drive or CD drive 40, and received via a modem 42 The communication image data and the like (hereinafter, these are collectively referred to as file image data) can be input from the outside.

The image processing section 16 stores the input image data in the image memory 44, and performs a color gradation processing section 46, a hypertone processing section 48, and a hyper sharpness processing section 50.
Image processing such as various corrections and the like, and outputs the image data to the laser printer unit 18 as recording image data. Further, the image processing unit 16 outputs the image data subjected to the image processing to an external device as an image file (for example, outputs the image data to a storage medium such as an FD, an MO, a CD, or to another information processing device via a communication line). Transmission, etc.).

The laser printer section 18 includes R, G, and B laser light sources 52, and controls a laser driver 54 to record image data (temporarily stored in an image memory 56) input from the image processing section 16. Is applied to the photographic printing paper, and scanning exposure (in the present embodiment, mainly the polygon mirror 58 and the fθ lens 60) is performed.
An image is recorded on the photographic paper 62 by an optical system using the same. Further, the processor unit 20 includes a laser printer unit 18.
The photographic paper 62 on which an image has been recorded by scanning exposure is subjected to color development, bleach-fixing, washing, and drying.
Thus, an image is formed on the printing paper.

(Configuration of Area CCD Scanner) Next, the configuration of the area CCD scanner 14 will be described. FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of an optical system of the area CCD scanner 14.

This optical system includes a light emitting diode (hereinafter, referred to as LED) 64 as a light source. LED64
Has a plurality of LED elements 64R, 64G, and 64B that emit red, green, and blue (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as R, G, and B) lights, respectively, arranged in an array on a substrate 66. Therefore, each LED element 64R, 64R
By turning on G and 64B alone, red, green, and blue light can be applied to the photographic film 22.

The LED elements 64R, 64G and 64B are arranged on the substrate 66 in a vertical and horizontal mosaic. By arranging in this manner, unevenness of light of each color is suppressed.

The LED 64 is engaged with the end of the piston rod 88 of the cylinder 86, and is movable in the direction of the optical axis L by driving the cylinder 86.

Between the LED 64 and the photographic film 22,
A diffusion box 70 for guiding light to the photographic film 22 while reflecting light on the inner surface, and a Fresnel lens 7 for condensing light emitted from the diffusion box 70 into a frame image of the photographic film 22
2A and 72B are provided.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the diffusion box 70 includes rectangular side plates 70A to 70D and side plates 70A to 70D.
It is a cylindrical body composed of side plates 71A to 71D that are continuous with the side plates 70D to 70D, and is configured to internally reflect light incident from the incident surface 70E and emit the light to the outside from the output surface 70F. As shown in FIG. 5, the side plates 71A to 71D are configured to be rotatable around the ends on the side plates 70A to 70D side in a direction approaching / separating from the optical axis L. Therefore, the substantial area of the exit surface 70F can be increased or decreased, that is, the range in which light is guided (irradiated) toward the photographic film 22 can be changed.

The Fresnel lenses 72A and 72B are provided on a turret 82. The turret 82 is configured such that the driving force of the motor 80 is transmitted via the timing belt 84 and rotates. Therefore, photographic film 2
According to the two types, the motor 80 is driven to arrange the Fresnel lens 72A or 72B on the optical axis L.

With this configuration, the LED
The light of each color emitted from the elements 64R, 64G, and 64B is irradiated on the frame image of the photographic film 22 while suppressing unevenness by diffusion.

The photographic film 22 is a film carrier 7
8 and is stopped at a predetermined position. When a frame image is read, it is transported by the image frame pitch.

On the opposite side of the photographic film 22 from the LED 64, a lens unit 74 for forming an image of the light transmitted through the photographic film 22 and an area CCD 30 provided at the image forming position are arranged in this order.

The area CCD 30 is a monochrome image sensor, and reads an image of each color by sequentially illuminating the LED elements 64R, 64G, 64B for each color.

Note that shading correction data corresponding to the type of the photographic film 22 is set in advance and stored in the image memory 44.

The operation of the embodiment according to the present invention will be described below.

First, a prescan is performed. An operator inserts the photographic film 22 into the film carrier 78, and operates the photographic film 2 using the keyboard 16K of the image processing unit 16.
If two types are set, for example, 135 sizes, the optical axis L
A predetermined Fresnel lens 72A is arranged above. That is, when the photographic film 22 is 135 size (hereinafter, referred to as photographic film 22A), the motor 80 is driven to rotate the turret 82, and the 135 size Fresnel lens 72A is arranged on the optical axis L (FIG. 3, see FIG. 4).

At this time, in the diffusion box 70, FIG.
As shown in (A), the side plates 71A to 71D are substantially parallel to the optical axis L corresponding to the size of the image frame 90 in the photographic film 22A. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the piston 86 is extended by driving the cylinder 86, and the LED 64 is advanced to a connection position (hereinafter, referred to as a middle bending position) between the side plates 70A to 70D and the side plates 71A to 71D of the diffusion box 70. Let it.

Subsequently, when the start of frame image reading is instructed from the keyboard 16K, the pre-scan is executed in the film carrier 78 by the intermittent conveyance stopped at the image frame pitch of the photographic film 22A.

For the photographic film 22A once stopped, first, only the LED element 64R is turned on to emit red light. The red light is emitted from the LED 64 disposed inside the diffusion box 70, and is emitted from the emission surface 70F to be diffused evenly in the entire area of the image frame 90. Further, the light is condensed in the image frame direction by the Fresnel lens 72A, so that the entire image frame 90 is reliably and efficiently irradiated with red light. As a result, the transmitted light of the image frame 90 is incident on the area CCD 30, and
Is read. Similarly, the G and B image data are read. The area CCD scanner 14 reads not only the frame image but also various data outside the image recording area of the photographic film 22A. The read image is displayed on the monitor 16M.

Next, based on the result of the pre-scan of each frame image, the reading conditions at the time of the fine scan (LE for each color)
The output of the D elements 64R, 64G, and 64B and the accumulation time of the area CCD 30 for each color are set for each frame image.

When the setting of the reading conditions at the time of the fine scan for all the frame images is completed, the photographic film 22 is set.
A is intermittently conveyed in the direction opposite to the prescan, and fine scan of each frame image is performed.

First, R, G, and B image data are read from the photographic film 22A once stopped in the same manner as in the prescan.

At this time, since the photographic film 22A is being conveyed in the direction opposite to that in the pre-scan, the fine scan is sequentially performed from the last frame to the first frame. In addition, at the time of pre-scanning, the image state (for example, captured image aspect ratio, under, normal, over,
Since the shooting state such as super-over and the presence / absence of flash shooting are recognized, it is possible to read under appropriate reading conditions.

The RGB image data read as described above is subjected to shading correction by the shading correction value for the photographic film 22A (135 size) stored in the image memory 44. Further, the image processing section 16 performs other image processing, so that good image reading is performed.

By inserting the LED 64 inside the diffusion box 70, the LED 64 can be brought close to the photographic film 22A, and the light can be effectively irradiated with a small amount of light.

Subsequently, when an image is read from a different type of photographic film 22, for example, the type of photographic film is changed from 135 size to brownie size (220 size).
(Hereinafter, a brownie-sized photographic film is referred to as a photographic film 22B) will be described.

When the photographic film is input in the form of brownie from the keyboard 16K, the motor 80 is driven and the turret 82 is rotated. As a result, the optical axis L
A Fresnel lens 72B for a brownie size larger than the Fresnel lens 72A is disposed on the upper side.

As shown in FIG. 7 (B), the diffusion box 70 is formed so that the side plates 71A to 71D are positioned at a predetermined angle to the (The light is more diffused). That is, when the side plates 71A to 71D of the diffusion box 70 open outward, the area of the emission surface 74F is substantially enlarged, and the entire image frame 92 of the photographic film 22B can be irradiated.

Further, the diffusion box 70 is lowered to the position of the entrance surface 70E by driving the cylinder 86 to contract the piston rod 88. This is because, when the LED 64 is irradiated with the LED 64 arranged at the bent position, the diffusion box 7
This is because the 0 side plates 71A to 71D are open outward (inclined), so that the light cannot be sufficiently diffused and density unevenness may occur. Therefore, LED6
4 to the position of the entrance surface 70E, and the cylindrical body (side plates 70A to
After the light is sufficiently diffused inside 70D) to eliminate unevenness, the irradiation range is widened by the side plates 71A to 71D.

In this state, pre-scan and fine scan are performed. Therefore, after the light is sufficiently diffused by the side plates 70A to 70D, the light irradiation range is expanded by the side plates 71A to 71D, and the light is diffused evenly in the entire image frame 92. Further, light diffused more than in the case of the 135 size is condensed by the Fresnel lens 72B for the brownie size, and the entire image frame 92 is reliably and efficiently irradiated. The image is read by the transmitted light of the image frame 92.

The RGB image data read as described above is subjected to shading correction by the shading correction value for the photographic film 22B (220 size) stored in the image memory 44. Further, the image processing unit 16 performs other image processing based on the image data subjected to the shading correction.

The LED 64, the diffusion box 70, the turret 82 (Fresnel lenses 72A and 72B), the lens unit 74, and the area CCD 30 can be independently moved in the optical axis direction, and can be automatically moved in accordance with the focal length and the irradiation range. Is adjusted.

As described above, the Fresnel lenses 72A and 72B are automatically exchanged according to the type of the photographic film, and the irradiation range of the diffusion box 70 (side plates 71A to 71A)
By automatically changing the tilt angle of 71D),
Light can be evenly applied to the entire image frame even for different types of photographic films 22. Therefore, the operator does not need to replace the diffusion box 70 every time the type of the photographic film 22 is changed, and the work efficiency is improved.

In this embodiment, an LED is used as a light source.
Since the H.64 is used, the size can be reduced as compared with the halogen lamp, and the cut filter and the dimming filter are not required, so that the structure is simplified and the cost is reduced.

Moreover, the side plates 71A-71 of the diffusion box 70
By changing the inclination angle of 71D corresponding to the type of the photographic film 22 (the size of the image frame), the light of the LED 64 having a smaller amount of light than the halogen lamp can be efficiently (without wasting) the photographic film. It can irradiate 22 image frames.

Since the LED 64 can be inserted along the optical axis L to the inside of the diffusion box 70, when the light diffusion degree is small, the LED 64 is brought close to the photographic film 22 to reduce the light amount. Thus, light can be effectively irradiated.

Further, the shading correction data is set in accordance with the type of the photographic film 22, and each image data is subjected to the shading correction based on the shading correction data. It is not necessary to set the value, and work efficiency is improved.

In this embodiment, the photographic film 2
Although the target is a transmission film as in the case of No. 2, the present invention can be applied to reading of a reflection original.

In this embodiment, the area CCD is adopted as the image reading means, but a line CCD may be used.
In this case, the irradiation range does not have to be the entire frame image but only the reading range.

Further, in this embodiment, there are only two types of interchangeable Fresnel lenses. However, more types of Fresnel lenses can be exchanged, and it can be configured to be applicable to various types of films.

[0061]

As described above, the image reading apparatus according to the present invention automatically changes the range in which the light guide means guides the light in accordance with the reading range of the original, thereby covering the entire reading range of the original. Light is reliably emitted. Therefore, there is no need to manually replace the diffusion box according to the type of the document, and the image can be read efficiently.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a digital laboratory system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external view of a digital laboratory system.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an optical system of the area CCD scanner.

FIG. 4 is a side plate diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical system of the area CCD scanner.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an optical system of the area CCD scanner.

FIG. 6 is a side plate diagram showing a schematic configuration of an optical system of the area CCD scanner.

FIG. 7A is an explanatory view showing a state of a 135-size photographic film and a diffusion box, and FIG. 7B is an explanatory view showing a state of a brownie-size photographic film and a diffusion box.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 digital lab system 14 area CCD scanner 22 photographic film (original) 30 area CCD (image reading means) 64 light emitting diode (light source) 70 diffusion box (light guiding means) 72A, 72B Fresnel lens (lens) 80 motor (lens changing means) ) 82 Timing belt (lens exchange means) 84 Turret (lens exchange means) 86 Cylinder (light source moving means)

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H01L 33/00 H04N 1/00 G 5C072 H04N 1/00 G06F 15/64 310 5F041 320F 325G F term (Reference) 2H106 AA06 AA12 AA33 AA41 BH00 2H109 AA03 AA12 AA26 AA34 AA51 AA95 2H110 CD02 5B047 AA05 AB04 BA01 BB04 BC05 BC11 CA19 CB11 5C062 AA05 AB03 AB17 AE03 BA00 5C072 AA01 BA03 CA05 DB08

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A light source for irradiating a document with light, and an irradiation range of the light emitted from the light source on the document,
An image reading apparatus comprising: a light guide unit configured to change the reading range according to a reading range of a document; and an image reading unit configured to read image information when light transmitted or reflected through the irradiation range enters. 2. The light guide means is a diffusion box in which light from the light source enters inside from an incident surface and is emitted to an original from an exit surface, and the diffusion box corresponds to the reading range. 2. The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein an area of the light exit surface is changed. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of lenses arranged on an optical path from the light source to the document and having different magnifications, and having a lens exchange means for exchanging the lenses in accordance with the reading range. 2. The image reading device according to 2. 4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a moving unit that moves a light source in an optical axis direction according to the irradiation range.