Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Optical or pre-photocell system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-24
2001-02-27
Lee, John R. (Department: 2878)
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Optical or pre-photocell system
C358S400000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06194712
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a scanner for capturing the image of a subject and outputting image data representing the image, as well as to a method of controlling the scanner.
2. Description of the Related Art
A scanner is utilized to enter the image of a photograph or the like (the image of a subject) into a computer as image data. The image of the original is captured by a line sensor included in the scanner as an image sensing device. Image data representing the image of the original is output from the scanner via an output port and is then applied to the computer, where the data is stored.
A scanner capable of being connected to a computer exhibits its functionality by being connected to the computer. In general, such a scanner cannot read an original in a stand-alone mode upon being disconnected from the computer. For this reason, scanners are being developed that are equipped with a memory for storing image data so that the image data can be stored in the memory in addition to being delivered from the output port.
If it is possible to store image data in memory and to output the image data, one cannot tell at a glance whether image data representing an original being read is being stored in memory or output from the scanner.
Further, the storage capacity of the memory is comparatively small. When image data that has been acquired by sensing an image is stored in the memory, the amount of memory remaining decreases and it may become impossible at some point to store image data in the memory.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to arrange it so that one can tell at a glance whether image data representing an original being read in a scanner that is capable of storing image data in a memory and of outputting the image data is being stored in the memory or output from the scanner.
Another object of the present invention is to arrange it so that the number of originals whose image data obtained by image sensing can be stored in memory is capable of being verified in a scanner that is capable of storing image data in a memory and of outputting the image data.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, the foregoing objects are attained by providing a scanner comprising image sensing means (an image sensing device) for sensing the image of a subject and outputting image data representing the image of the subject; image-data storage means (an image-data storage device) for storing image data applied thereto; an external output port for outputting the applied image data externally of the scanner; first selecting means (a first selecting device) for selecting whether image data that has been output from the image sensing means is to be applied to the image-data storage means or to the external output port; a changeover switch for applying the image data, which has been output from the image sensing means, to the image-data storage means or to the external output port depending upon the selection made by the first selecting means; and a display device for displaying information as to whether application of the image data, which has been output from the image sensing means, to the image-data storage means or to the external output port was selected by the first selecting means.
The first aspect of the present invention provides also a control method applied to the above-mentioned scanner. Specifically, there is provided a method of controlling a scanner having image sensing means for sensing the image of a subject and outputting image data representing the image of the subject, image-data storage means for storing image data applied thereto, and an external output port for outputting the applied image data externally of the scanner, the method comprising the steps of: selecting whether image data that has been output from the image sensing means is to be applied to the image-data storage means or to the external output port; applying the image data, which has been output from the image sensing means, to the image-data storage means or to the external output port depending upon the selection made; and displaying information as to whether application of the image data, which has been output from the image sensing means, to the image-data storage means or to the external output port was selected.
In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention, image data obtained by sensing the image of a subject can be stored in the image-data storage means and it is also possible to output the image data from the external output port to a device external to the scanner. The external output port would be connected to an image data processing device (a computer), and the image data output from the external output port would be input to and stored in the computer.
Whether image data that has been obtained by image sensing is to be stored in the image-data storage means or output from the external output port is selected by the first selecting means. Depending upon the selection made, the image data obtained by image sensing is stored in the image-data storage means or output from the external output port.
Furthermore, information relating to the selection made by the first selecting means, namely whether the image data that has been obtained by image sensing is to be applied to the image-data storage means or to the external output port, is displayed on the display device. One can determine, merely by observing the display on the display device, whether the image data that has been obtained by image sensing is to be stored in the image-data storage means or output from the external output port.
In a preferred embodiment, the scanner is provided with mode setting means (a mode setting device) for setting an automatic mode. When the automatic mode has been selected by the mode setting means, changeover control of the changeover switch and display control of the display device is carried out based upon a predetermined order of priority.
The order of priority in the automatic mode is stipulated as set forth below, and changeover control in the changeover switch and display control of the display device is carried out based upon the order of priority.
When the image data storage means is a memory freely removable from the scanner and the memory has been loaded in the scanner, image data obtained by image sensing is stored in the memory. Even if the freely removable memory has been loaded in the scanner, image data obtained by image sensing will be applied to the external output port in a case where the scanner has been connected to a computer via the external output port and the image of a subject is sensed based upon a command from the computer.
When the scanner is of the type having a freely removable memory and the memory has not been loaded in the scanner, image data obtained by image sensing is applied to the external output port. If the memory has not been loaded in the scanner and, moreover, the computer has not been connected to the scanner, sensing of the image of the subject is halted.
In the case described above, the scanner would be provided with a switch for sensing that the memory has been loaded in the scanner and with means for sensing that the computer has been connected to the scanner.
In a preferred embodiment, the external output port is an input/output port capable of entering image data provided from outside the scanner into the scanner, and the changeover switch is capable of being changed over to make possible the transmission of image data between the input/output port and the image-data storage means. Whether image data that has been externally applied to the input/output port is to be applied to the image-data storage means or image data that has been stored in the image-data storage means is to be read out and applied to the input/output port is selected. Changeover control is carried out in dependence upon the selection so as to switch between application of image data, which has been applied to the input/output port, to the image-data storage means, and readout o
Nishijima Yasunori
Suemoto Kazunori
Fuji Photo Film Co. , Ltd.
Lee John R.
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