Image processing device

• US 7,760,404 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Issued: 07/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Aoki, Kazuma
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon; King Y
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wills; Lawrence E
• Application Number:
  US10/898,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20050041262A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,184 Days
• Field of Search: 358/400, 358/401, 358/405, 358/406, 358/409, 358/448, 358/474, 358/488, 358/500, 358/501, 358/504, 358/505, 358/530, 382/318, 382/319
• US Class Current: 358/488
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00681 Detecting the presence, position or size of a sheet or correcting its position before scanning H04N1/047 takes precedence; mode signalling H04N1/333; skew detection or correction in image signals H04N1/3878
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00718 Skew
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00721 Orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00737 using the scanning elements as detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00748 Detecting edges, e.g. of a stationary sheet
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00758 using a prescan
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00761 using reference marks, e.g. on sheet, sheet holder or guide
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00769 Comparing, e.g. with threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00774 Adjusting or controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00785 Correcting the position of a sheet before scanning

Abstract

An image processing device is provided with a reference position determining system that determines a reference position based on image data of an original, an image scanning system that scans the original line by line, the line extending in a main scanning direction, an image storing system that stores a predetermined number of lines of image data scanned by the image scanning system, a compensation value determining system that determines a compensation value which is used to make at least a position of a point in the predetermined number of lines of image data stored in the image storing system coincide with the reference position, and a compensating system that compensates the position of the predetermined number of lines of image data in accordance with the compensation value determined by the compensation value determining system.

Claims

1. An image processing device, comprising:

a reference position determining system that determines a reference position along only one edge of an original image in a main scanning direction based on image data of the original image;

an image scanning system that scans the original image line by line, the line extending in the main scanning direction;

an image storing system that stores a predetermined number of plural lines of image data scanned by the image scanning system;

a compensation value determining system that determines a compensation value based on positions of points along only the one edge of the original image in the main scanning direction which is used to make at least a position of a point in the predetermined number of plural lines of image data stored in the image storing system coincide with the reference position; and

a compensating system that compensates the position of the predetermined number of plural lines of image data in accordance with the compensation value determined by the compensation value determining system;

wherein the image storing system stores the predetermined number of plural lines of image data as unit image data;

wherein the reference position determining system determines a reference position corresponding to n-th unit image data based on (n−

1)-th unit image data stored in the image storing system and a compensation value corresponding to the (n−

1)-th unit image data determined by the compensation value determining system;

wherein the reference position determining system determines a lower left position, in the main scanning direction, of first unit image data as a reference position corresponding to the first unit image data;

wherein the compensation value determining system determines a compensation value for the n-th unit image data by subtracting a value corresponding to an upper left position, in the main scanning direction, of the n-th unit image data from a value corresponding to a lower left position, in the main scanning direction, of the (n−

1)-th unit image data; and

wherein the reference position determining system determines the reference position corresponding to the n-th unit image data by adding the compensation value for the n-th unit image data to a value corresponding to a lower left position, in the main scanning direction, of the n-th unit image data.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising a pre-scanning system that roughly scans at least a part of the original image prior to the scanning executed by the image scanning system;

wherein the reference position determining system determines the reference position based on the image data obtained by the pre-scanning system.

3. The image processing device according to claim 1, further includes a scanning stopping system that stops scanning the original image when the compensation value does not satisfy a predetermined condition.

4. The image processing device according to claim 3, further includes a displaying system that displays that the scanning operation is stopped when the scanning stopping system stops scanning.

5. The image processing device according to claim 3, which is a multi-functional peripheral having at least one of a copier function and a facsimile transmission function.

6. The image processing device according to claim 1, further includes a scanning retrying system that retries to scan the original image when the compensation value does not satisfy a predetermined condition.

7. The image processing device according to claim 6, further includes a notifying system that notifies that the scanning is re-executed.

8. The image processing device according to claim 6, which is a multi-function peripheral connected with an external device, the image data being transmitted to and used by the external device.

9. An image processing device, comprising:

a scanning system that scans an original image placed on an original table line by line, the line extending in a main scanning direction, an origin being defined as a point on the original table at a point on a boundary between an area the scanning system can scan and another area the scanning system cannot scan;

an image storing system that stores unit image data consisting of a predetermined number of plural lines of image data;

a first reference position determining system that determines a first reference position indicative of a first end position on only one edge of the original image in a main scanning direction, with respect to the origin, within a first area defined in first unit image data stored in the image storing system;

a second reference position determining system that determines a second reference position indicative of a second end position on only the one edge of the original image in a main scanning direction, with respect to the origin, within a second area defined in second unit image data successive to the first unit image data and stored in the image storing system;

a compensation value determining system that determines a compensation value based on positions along only the one edge of the original image in the main scanning direction for each unit image data, the compensation value being used to make a position, in the main scanning direction, of the first reference position, and another position, in the main scanning direction, of the second reference position coincide with each other; and

a compensating system that compensates for the position of the second unit image data based on the compensation value determined by the compensation value determining system for the second unit image data;

wherein the first area is an area storing image data of a line located on a scanning end position within the first unit image data;

wherein the second area is an area storing image data of a line located on a scanning end position within the second unit image data;

wherein the first reference position determining system determines the first reference position as a lower left position, in the main scanning direction, at which, within the first unit image data, a difference of values of adjoining pixels exceeds a predetermined threshold value;

wherein the second reference position determining system determines the second reference position as a position at which, within the second unit image data, a difference of values of adjoining pixels exceeds a predetermined threshold value;

wherein the compensation value determining system determines a compensation value for the second unit image data by subtracting a value corresponding to an upper left position, in the main scanning direction, of the second unit image data from a value corresponding to a lower left position, in the main scanning direction, of the first unit image data; and

herein the second reference position determining system determines the second reference position corresponding to the second unit image data by adding the compensation value for the second unit image data to a value corresponding to a lower left position, in the main scanning direction, of the second unit image data.

10. The image processing device according to claim 9, further comprising a pre-scanning system that roughly scans at least a part of the original image prior to the scanning executed by the image scanning system;

wherein the compensation value determining system determines the compensation value in accordance with the image data obtained by the pre-scanning system.

11. The image processing device according to claim 9, further including a scanning stopping system that stops scanning the original image when the compensation value does not satisfy a predetermined condition.

12. The image processing device according to claim 11, further including a displaying system that displays that the scanning operation is stopped when the scanning stopping system stops scanning.

13. The image processing device according to claim 11, which is a multi-functional peripheral having at least one of a copier function and a facsimile transmission function.

14. The image processing device according to claim 9, further including a scanning retrying system that retries to scan the original image when the compensation value does not satisfy a predetermined condition.

15. The image processing device according to claim 14, further including a notifying system that notifies that the scanning is re-executed.

16. The image processing device according to claim 14, which is a multi-function peripheral connected with an external device, the image data being transmitted to and used by the external device.

17. A computer-readable recording medium that stores a control program for controlling a computer provided with a scanner to:

determine a reference position along only one edge of an original image in a main scanning direction based on image data of the original image;

scan the original image line by line, the line extending in the main scanning direction;

store a predetermined number of plural lines of image data scanned by the scanner;

determine a compensation value based on positions of points along only the one edge of the original image in the main scanning direction which is used to make at least a position of a point in the predetermined number of plural lines of image data as stored coincide with the reference position; and

compensate for the position of the predetermined number of plural lines of image data in accordance with the compensation value determined by the compensation value determining system;

wherein the image storing system stores the predetermined number of plural lines of image data as unit image data;

wherein the reference position determining system determines a reference position corresponding to n-th unit image data based on (n−

1)-th unit image data stored in the image storing system and a compensation value corresponding to the (n−

1)-th unit image data determined by the compensation value determining system;

wherein the reference position determining system determines a lower left position, in the main scanning direction, of first unit image data as a reference position corresponding to the first unit image data;

wherein the compensation value determining system determines a compensation value for the n-th unit image data by subtracting a value corresponding to an upper left position, in the main scanning direction, of the n-th unit image data from a value corresponding to a lower left position, in the main scanning direction, of the (n−

1)-th unit image data; and

wherein the reference position determining system determines the reference position corresponding to the n-th unit image data by adding the compensation value for the n-th unit image data to a value corresponding to a lower left position, in the main scanning direction, of the n-th unit image data.

18. A computer-readable recording medium that stores a control program for controlling a computer provided with a scanner to:

scan an original image placed on an original table line by line, the line extending in a main scanning direction, an origin being defined as a point on the original table at a point on a boundary between an area the scanner can san and another area the scanner cannot scan;

store unit image data consisting of a predetermined number of plural lines of image data in an image storing system;

determine a first reference position indicative of a first end position on only one edge of the original image in a main scanning direction, with respect to the origin, within a first area defined in first unit image data stored in the image storing system;

determine a second reference position indicative of a second end position on only the one edge of the original image in a main scanning direction, with respect to the origin, within a second area defined in second unit image data successive to the first unit image data and stored in the image storing system;

determine a compensation value based on positions along only the one edge of the original image in the main scanning direction for each unit image data, the compensation value being used to make a position, in the main scanning direction, of the first reference position, and another position, in the main scanning direction, of the second reference position coincide with each other; and

compensate for the position of the second unit image data based on the compensation value determined by the compensation value determining system for the second unit image data,

wherein the first area is an area storing image data of a line located on a scanning end position within the first unit image data;

wherein the second area is an area storing image data of a line located on a scanning end position within the second unit image data;

wherein the first reference position determining system determines the first reference position as a lower left position, in the main scanning direction, at which, within the first unit image data, a difference of values of adjoining pixels exceeds a predetermined threshold value;

wherein the second reference position determining system determines the second reference position as a position at which, within the second unit image data, a difference of values of adjoining pixels exceeds a predetermined threshold value;

wherein the compensation value determining system determines a compensation value for the second unit image data by subtracting a value corresponding to an upper left position, in the main scanning direction, of the second unit image data from a value corresponding to a lower left position, in the main scanning direction, of the first unit image data; and

wherein the second reference position determining system determines the second reference position corresponding to the second unit image data by adding the compensation value for the second unit image data to a value corresponding to a lower left position, in the main scanning direction, of the second unit image data.

19. An image processing device, comprising:

a reference position determining system that determines a reference position along only one edge of an original image in a main scanning direction based on image data of the original image;

an image scanning system that scans the original image line by line, the line extending in the main scanning direction;

an image storing system that stores a predetermined number of plural lines of image data scanned by the image scanning system;

a compensation value determining system that determines a compensation value based on positions of points along only the one edge of the original image in the main scanning direction which is used to make at least a position of a point in the predetermined number of plural lines of image data stored in the image storing system coincide with the reference position; and

a compensating system that compensates the position of the predetermined number of plural lines of image data in accordance with the compensation value determined by the compensation value determining system;

wherein the image storing system stores the predetermined number of plural lines of image data as unit image data;

wherein the reference position determining system determines a reference position corresponding to n-th unit image data based on (n−

1)-th unit image data stored in the image storing system and a compensation value corresponding to the (n−

1)-th unit image data determined by the compensation value determining system;

wherein the reference position determining system determines a lower right position, in the main scanning direction, of first unit image data as a reference position corresponding to the first unit image data;

wherein the compensation value determining system determines a compensation value for the n-th unit image data by subtracting a value corresponding to an upper right position, in the main scanning direction, of the n-th unit image data from a value corresponding to a lower right position, in the main scanning direction, of the (n−

1)-th unit image data; and

wherein the reference position determining system determines the reference position corresponding to the n-th unit image data by adding the compensation value for the n-th unit image data to a value corresponding to a lower right position, in the main scanning direction, of the n-th unit image data.