Scanner device and control method thereof, and image input system

• US 6,233,059 B1
• Filed: 02/18/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Izumi, Yohei, Kodaira, Takanori
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, II, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US09/025,398
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 358/494, 358/496, 358/498, 358/497, 358/487, 358/506, 358/1.9
• US Class Current: 358/1.9
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00795 Reading arrangements details of scanning heads H04N1/024; scanning arrangements therefor H04N1/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00801 according to characteristics of the original
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00819 Self-calibrating reading means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/02409 Focusing, i.e. adjusting the focus of the scanning head
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/121 Feeding arrangements transporting sheets to or from the scanning position H04N1/0057; control or error compensation of sub-scanning velocity H04N1/0473
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/56 Processing of colour picture signals H04N1/52 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/6094 depending on characteristics of the input medium, e.g. film type, newspaper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0406 Scanning slides
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0408 Scanning film strips or rolls
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0416 Performing a pre-scan

Abstract

In order to accurately perform correction of focal distance and color of film before pre-scanning, the image at the generally center area of the first frame of film is read in a first pre-scan, auto-focusing and judgment between negative/positive is made, exposure parameters are set in a second pre-scanning, and the image is read in main scanning.

Claims

1. A control method for a scanner device which has reading means for reading an original image while performing relative scanning of said original image, said control method comprising the following steps:

a first scanning step for reading a portion of the original image in order to detect an attribution of said original image;

a second scanning step for reading the original image under a condition corresponding to the detected attribution and setting an exposure adjusting condition for reading the original image; and

a third scanning step for reading the original image under the exposure adjusting condition set in the second scanning step.

2. A control method for a scanner device according to claim 1, wherein in said first scanning step, only the generally center portion of the first frame of said original image is read.

3. A control method for a scanner device according to claim 2, wherein in said first scanning step, the concentration of the image is detected from the first frame of said original image, thus judging whether or not said original image is a negative film or a positive film.

4. A control method for a scanner device according to claim 2, wherein in said first scanning step, the focal distance from the first frame of said original image is set as the condition corresponding to the detected attribution.

5. A control method for a scanner device according to claim 3, wherein in said first scanning step, the focal distance from the first frame of said original image is set as the condition corresponding to the detected attribution.

6. A control method for a scanner device according to claim 1, wherein in said second scanning step, parameters relating to exposure from said original image are set as the exposure adjusting condition.

7. A control method for a scanner device according to claim 3, wherein in the event that said original image is judged to be negative film in said first scanning step, a certain filter is set to perform color correction.

8. A control method for a scanner device according to claim 1, wherein said original image is developed 135 mm film.

9. A scanner device which has reading means for reading an original image while performing relative scanning of said original image, said scanner device comprising:

first scanning means for reading a portion of the original image in order to detect an attribution of said original image;

second scanning means for reading the original image under a condition corresponding to the detected attribution and setting an exposure adjusting condition for reading the original image;

third scanning means for reading the original image under the exposure adjusting condition set by the second scanning means; and

control means for controlling said first, second and third feeding means to operate sequentially.

10. Computer-readable memory storing program code for controlling a scanner device which has reading means for reading an original image while performing relative scanning of said original image, said computer-readable memory comprising:

code for a first scanning step for reading a portion of the original image in order to detect an attribution of said original image;

code for a second scanning step for reading the original image under a condition corresponding to the detected attribution and setting an exposure adjusting condition for reading the original image;

code for a third scanning step for reading the original image under the exposure adjusting condition set in the second scanning step; and

code for a control step for controlling said first, second and third scanning steps to operate sequentially.