Facsimile and static presentation processing – Facsimile – Specific signal processing circuitry
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-29
2003-01-14
Grant, II, Jerome (Department: 2624)
Facsimile and static presentation processing
Facsimile
Specific signal processing circuitry
C382S284000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06507415
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing device and an image processing method, and in particular to an image processing device and an image processing method for inputting a plurality of images, joining the respective images, and outputting a joined image.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In image processing devices such as copy machines, facsimiles, etc., a conventional method of reading an original document whose size exceeds the maximum image size readable by the reading device such as a scanner (the scanner size), is to read the original document in at least two scans, join together the partial images and output a joined image from an output device such as a printer.
Specifically, in such an image processing device, after reading the original document which exceeds the scanner size in a plurality of scans, each of which includes domains which overlap with adjacent scans, these overlap domains are detected, and, by performing processing to join the partial images, the original image is recreated and outputted in accordance with the paper size.
An example of an image processing device capable of performing such processing for joining images is the image processing device disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-314263/1992 (Tokukaihei 4-314263). This image processing device reads partial images of an original document larger than the maximum size readable by the reading device, binarizes the partial images and detects edges thereof, and then performs pattern matching and joins the partial images together.
Further, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-131631/1995 (Tokukaihei 7-131631), for example, discloses a digital copying device provided with an image editing function which enables copying, as a single image, of the image of an original document larger than the maximum size supportable by the original placement stand.
This publication discloses a processing method for joining images, in which the digital copy machine reads the original image in a plurality of scans, and then uses pattern matching processing to recognize features of domains where the different partial original images meet, reduces the partial original images, and recreates them as a single original image.
Since the foregoing conventional image processing devices join images by binarizing the images, extracting edges, and performing pattern matching, the images can be joined provided they are text images of written characters, etc.
However, with halftone dot images or photographic images, even if binarized and differential-processed feature points are used, large areas of the image are similar, and thus the precision of matching is greatly impaired, and it is often impossible to join the images.
Further, digital copy machines which use conventional image joining processing methods have problems such as the following.
For example, an A2-size original placed on the original stand is read in two scans as two partial original images of A3 size.
Then the respective partial original images read as images of A3 size, as well as pattern matching images corresponding to areas where the respective partial original images meet, are temporarily stored in an image memory as image data.
Then, by pattern matching of the pattern matching images corresponding to the areas where the respective partial original images meet, the respective partial original images read as images of A3 size are joined together.
When two partial original images of A3 size are joined together in this way using pattern matching, A3-size image data is processed, and thus all processing, including moving the image data, data transfer, etc., takes a long time.
Further, as mentioned above, the original of A2 size placed on the original stand is read in two scans as two partial original images of A3 size. Thus, the respective partial original images read as images of A3 size, as well as the pattern matching domains corresponding to the areas where the respective partial original images meet, are stored in the memory as a large quantity of image data.
For this reason, the image memory for storing and handling this image data must be of large capacity, and another problem is that a long time is required for transfer of partial original image data and pattern matching images. Therefore, it takes a long time to join the two partial original images of A3 size using pattern matching.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention was created in order to solve the foregoing problems, and its object is to provide an image processing device and an image processing method which are able to join images with precision and perform joining processing at high speed, regardless of whether the images are written characters, halftone dots, or photographs, and, further, which are able to recreate as a single image an original larger in size than an original placement stand, using as little memory capacity as possible and without requiring a long processing time.
In order to attain the foregoing object, a first image processing device according to the present invention has an input section, which reads a plurality of images and inputs each image as multivalue digital image data; a matching data producing section, which produces matching data for joining the inputted images; a binarizing section, which binarizes the multivalue digital image data inputted by the input section, thus obtaining binary data corresponding to image data of each inputted image; a joining section, which, on the basis of the matching data produced by the matching data producing section, synthesizes the inputted images into a single image by joining the binary data for the respective inputted images, obtained by the binarizing means; and an output section, which outputs the single image synthesized by the joining section; in which the matching data producing section produces the matching data on the basis of the multivalue digital image data inputted by the input section.
With the foregoing structure, since the matching data for joining the images is produced on the basis of the inputted images, and the binarized image data is joined on the basis of the matching data, joining of images can be performed according to the data of the inputted images. Accordingly, even with an original, such as a halftone dot image or photographic image, for which binarizing produces large areas of similar images, the matching data is produced on the basis of the multivalue inputted image data prior to binarizing, and thus matching points necessary for joining images can be accurately extracted. Consequently, images of whatever type can be joined with high precision.
In order to attain the foregoing object, a second image processing device according to the present invention has an original image scanning input section, which inputs an original image as a plurality of partial original images by scanning the original image in a plurality of scans; a matching determining section, which, on the basis of predetermined edge domains of the respective partial original images inputted by the original image scanning input section, determines a matching relationship between the respective partial original images; and an image recreating section, which recreates a single original image from the partial original images on the basis of the matching relationship between the partial original images determined by the matching determining section; in which the matching determining section matches two partial original images using a predetermined edge domain image of one partial original image as a standard, by moving a predetermined edge domain image of the other partial original image in a longitudinal direction of the edge domain, and then, in an area of misalignment created by the movement, adds white image data to the matching relationship between the two partial original images.
With the foregoing structure, two partial original images are matched using a predetermined edge domain image of one of the partial original images as a standard, by moving a predetermined edge domain im
Iwasaki Akihiko
Murakami Takeshi
Nakai Yoshiyuki
Narukawa Atsushi
Nishimachi Takashi
Conlin David G.
Dike Bronstein, Roberts & Cushman IP Group, Edwards & Angell, LL
Grant II Jerome
Hartnell, III George W.
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
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