Photocopying – Projection printing and copying cameras – Identifying – composing – or selecting
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-03
2001-11-13
Adams, Russell (Department: 2851)
Photocopying
Projection printing and copying cameras
Identifying, composing, or selecting
C355S027000, C355S028000, C355S029000, C355S040000, C355S407000, C352S159000, C352S166000, C352S180000, C352S184000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06317194
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, an image processing system, an image reading method, and an image processing method. More particularly, the present invention relates to an image reading apparatus, an image processing system, an image reading method, and an image processing method in which images recorded on a photographic photosensitive material are read.
2. Description of the Related Art
In some conventional laboratory systems in which images recorded on a photographic photosensitive material (hereinafter referred to merely as a photographic film) such as a photographic film are processed, first, preliminary reading (hereinafter referred to as pre-scan) in which an image is read at a relatively high speed and with low precision is carried out. Based on image data obtained by the pre-scan, photometric conditions for a main scan (hereinafter referred to as fine scan), in which an image is read at a relatively low speed and with high precision, and processing conditions of image processings for image data to be obtained by the fine scan are determined. Further, fine scan is performed based on the determined photometric conditions, and image processings are carried out, based on the determined processing conditions, on the image data obtained by the fine scan.
In some image reading apparatuses used for reading images recorded on a photographic film in this type of laboratory system, two photometric systems each having a CCD sensor for reading an image are provided for the purpose of achieving high speed image reading processing. By performing pre-scan and fine scan using these different photometric systems, pre-scan and fine scan are performed concurrently.
However, the above-described image reading apparatus having two photometric systems has a drawback in that, when pre-scan and fine scan are performed at different processing speeds, the processing speed of the one scan performed at the higher speed needs to be made to correspond to the processing speed of the other scan performed at the lower speed, thereby causing the overall image-reading speed to be low. This drawback will be described below more concretely.
Namely, as described above, since pre-scan is generally performed to read images at a relatively high speed and with low precision, the speed at which an image is read by the pre-scan is higher than that of the fine scan in which an image is read at a relatively low speed and with high precision.
On the other hand, in a case in which, after pre-scan, photometric conditions, for the fine scanning on the basis of the data obtained by pre-scan, and processing conditions, of the image processings on the image data obtained by fine scanning, are determined, time for determining the conditions is required. In this case, the processing time for pre-scan is the sum of the image reading time and the time required for the aforementioned determination. When the processing time for pre-scan is different from that for fine scan, the processing time for the scan performed at the faster speed needs to be made to correspond to the processing time for the scan performed at the lower speed, thereby causing the overall image-reading speed to be low.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been devised in order to solve the above-described drawback, and an object thereof is to provide an image reading method and apparatus which allow reading of images at a high speed.
In order to achieve the above-described object, there is provided an image reading apparatus according to a first aspect of a first invention, which comprises: a conveying device for conveying a photographic photosensitive material on which an image is recorded so that the image passes sequentially through a first reading position and a second reading position; a first photometric system which reads the image at the first reading position and outputs the image as image data; a second photometric system which reads the image at the second reading position under photometric conditions determined on the basis of image data outputted from the first photometric system, and outputs the image as image data; a loop region provided on a conveying path along which the photographic photosensitive material is conveyed by the conveying device and between the first photometric system and the second photometric system, the loop region being provided to form a loop in the photographic photosensitive material; and a control device which effects control such that the first photometric system and the second photometric system operate independently in a state in which the length of the loop of the photographic photosensitive material in the loop region is within a predetermined range.
According to the image reading apparatus of the first aspect, the photographic photosensitive material on which an image is recorded is conveyed by the conveying device so that the image passes sequentially through the first reading position and the second reading position.
Further, the image is read at the first reading position and outputted as image data by the first photometric system, and under a photometric condition determined based on image data outputted from the first photometric system, the image is read at the second reading position and outputted as image data by the second photometric system.
Here, during the above-described image reading by the first photometric system and the second photometric system, in the loop region provided on the conveying path of the photographic photosensitive material and between the first photometric system and the second photometric system and further provided to form the loop in the photographic photosensitive material, the control device is provided to control so that the first and second photometric systems operate independently in the state in which the length of the loop of the photographic photosensitive material is set within a predetermined range.
The loop formed in the photographic photosensitive material in the aforementioned loop region can function to eliminate a difference in the processing speed between the first and second photometric systems in the state in which the length of the loop is set within the predetermined range. Accordingly, as described above, generally, a speed at which an image is read at pre-scan is higher than that at fine scan. For this reason, when the pre-scan is performed by the first photometric system of the present invention and the fine scan is performed by the second photometric system of the present invention, the first and second photometric systems can be provided to operate independently in the state in which the length of the loop is set within the predetermined range.
Namely, in the image reading apparatus of the first aspect, the loop region is provided between the first and second photometric systems so as to eliminate the difference in the processing speed between these photometric systems, and therefore, respective operations of the first and second photometric systems can be performed independently and the time the operation of one of the photometric systems is stopped due to reasons of another one can be reduced. As a result, an image reading cycle (that is, a cycle at which an image is read for each image, which shall apply hereinafter) can be shortened and the speed at which an image is read can be made higher.
Further, an image reading apparatus of a second aspect is characterized in that, in the image reading apparatus of the first aspect, the control device detects a predetermined mark on the photographic photosensitive material at a starting end portion of the loop region, and thereafter, detects the predetermined mark at a terminal end portion of the loop region to thereby obtain an amount by which the photographic photosensitive material is conveyed from the starting end portion to the terminal end portion, and based on the amount by which the photographic photosensitive material is conveyed, the control device detects a length of the loop of the photographic photose
Ishizaka Hideo
Ozawa Yoshio
Suzuki Kenji
Adams Russell
Brown Khaled
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
LandOfFree
Image reading apparatus, image processing system, image... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Image reading apparatus, image processing system, image..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Image reading apparatus, image processing system, image... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2595144