Image analysis – Image sensing – Optical
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-02
2002-07-16
Johnson, Timothy M. (Department: 2623)
Image analysis
Image sensing
Optical
C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06421470
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to image processing apparatus for printing, with optically readable audio code images added, images acquired with silver salt type cameras, image data handling digital still cameras, image reading scanners and the like.
BACKGROUND ART
Images photographed with various image acquiring devices are printed on printing paper by the silver salt photographic method, or on paper or film by using an ink jet printer, thermal printer or the like. Thus, over long years, information on photographic objects has been transmitted in the form of still images relying on the sense of sight across wide areas and in a timeless way.
Recently, with the advent of the multimedia age, vigorous attempts have been made to use the sense of hearing in the transmission of information, instead of relying solely on the sense of sight. Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., which is one of the joint applicants in this application, also has proposed new media for providing not only visible but audible information in Japanese Patent Laying-Open Publication H6-231466 and Japanese Patent Laying-Open Publication H7-181606, for example. According to this technique, recording media include sound converted into optically readable dot codes (audio code images) which are printed along with pictures, photographs or characters on the same paper, the dot codes being read with a special scanner. These new media are suited to various applications including language teaching materials for use in repeating pronunciation practice, illustrated reference books for recording animal cries, picture books which emit sound, and photographs for recording memorial events such as wedding, coming-of-age ceremony and celebration for children.
With the above new media technique, audio-coded photographs with audio code images corresponding to a plurality of image information (still images such as photographs) and a plurality of audio information may be made, for example, by recording animal cries on animal photographs, or recording voices of a plurality of people on snapshots of these people simultaneously with or after the photo taking. These photographs provide a salient improvement upon conventional photographs in enhancing the realism and communicable information of acquired images. However, what is important here is to associate pieces of information accurately when recording both image information and audio information on prints or other recording media.
A detailed disclosure concerning the association of such image information and audio information is not given in Patent Laying-Open Publication H6-231466 noted above, or in other publications disclosing recording on recording media of both image information and encoded audio information, such as Japanese Laying-Open Publication S56-5600, Japanese Laying-Open Publication S60-244146, Japanese Patent Laying-Open Publication H5-224320 and Japanese Patent Laying-Open Publication H7-181606.
Why association is important is that, since audio code images on finished audio-coded photographs themselves cannot be confirmed visually, a situation could arise, depending on an arrangement of visual images and audio code images, where it is impossible to determine which one of a plurality of visual images corresponds to a given audio code image. Such collation is difficult particularly with audio-coded photographs having audio code images arranged en bloc in a particular area to facilitate scanning and reading of audio codes with a scanner.
An object of this invention is to provide an image processing apparatus for simply and reliably handling two different types of information, i.e. audio and image, as associated with each other, and audio-coded photographs for allowing audio and image to be collated easily even where the audio-coded photographs have a plurality of visual images and a plurality of audio code images arranged thereon.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
To fulfill the above object, an image processing apparatus according to this invention comprises image input means for inputting image information, audio input means for inputting audio information, link processing means for setting link information to link said image information and said audio information, code converting means for converting said audio information into an optically readable audio code image, and a printing device operable based on said link information for recording a visual image corresponding to said image information and said audio code image on a predetermined recording medium.
In this construction, link information is set for linking image information and audio information. Based on this link information, a visual image corresponding to the image information and an audio code image corresponding to the audio information may be recorded as linked to each other on a predetermined recording medium. The recording medium here refers to any of various hard copy materials such as ordinary printing paper and printing film, or photosensitive materials such as printing paper and film (negative and positive).
In one preferred embodiment of this invention, said code converting means comprises compressing and encoding means for compressing and encoding said audio information, and audio code image generating means for converting said audio information compressed and encoded, into an optically readable audio code image. Thus, the audio information may be converted into an optically readable audio code image compactly and reliably.
Further, in one preferred embodiment of this invention, said code converting means is operable to convert both of said audio information and said link information into an optically readable audio code image. Thus, the audio information may be reproduced only by decoding the code data read. The relationship between the image information and audio information may be grasped reliably.
As a preferred embodiment of this invention, said link information includes layout information showing an arrangement of said visual image and said audio code image to be recorded on said recording medium. The layout information may be grasped only by decoding the audio code image read. This is advantageous particularly when making duplicates. Further, said link information may include source address information showing image information or a source storage of said visual image and audio information or a source storage of said audio code image to be recorded on said recording medium. Then, original data may be located with ease to simplify a duplicating operation.
Further, said link information may be a recognition sign applied commonly to said image information and said audio information and showing a correspondence therebetween, and said printing device may be operable to visibly display and record said recognition sign. Then, the relationship between the image information and audio information may be grasped visually and reliably.
In another preferred embodiment of this invention, said printing device is operable to record said audio code image in a blank region outside a visual image recording region or on the back of said recording medium. Then, the recording position of the code image may be separated from the recording region of the image information to allow the image information to be grasped reliably and the audio code image read to be decoded effectively. Said printing device may be operable to record said audio code image in superimposition on said visual image. Then, the audio code image may be recorded without reducing the size of the visual image recording region.
Said printing device may be operable to combine and record said visual image and said audio code image. Then, the audio code image may be recorded without reducing the size of the visual image recording region.
Said printing device may be operable to record said visual image and said audio code image on a print recording medium. Then, information recorded in the image information and audio code image may be grasped by using an inexpensive and handy print recording medium. This new print recording medium may be diffused widely.
Fur
Imade Shinichi
Nozaki Iwao
Yoshioka Kenji
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
Johnson Timothy M.
Noritsu Koki Co., Ltd.
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