Image processing apparatus, image reading apparatus, image processing method, and image processing program

• US 8,964,259 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: PFU Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: PFU Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Takabatake, Masanari
• Primary Examiner(s): Cordero, Marivelisse Santiago
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yip, Kent
• Application Number:
  US13/829,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20130321858A1
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 358/474, 358/497, 399/365, 399/377, 399/379
• US Class Current: 358/474
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/005 Input arrangements through a video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00381 Input by recognition or interpretation of visible user gestures manual input means, e.g. digitisers, writing tablets H04N1/00392; gesture input to computers G06F3/017; recognition algorithms G06V40/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00408 Display of information to the user, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/19594 using a television camera or a still video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/38 Circuits or arrangements for blanking or otherwise eliminating unwanted parts of pictures H04N1/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0081 Image reader H04N2201/0091 - H04N2201/0094 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0436 Scanning a picture-bearing surface lying face up on a support H04N2201/0434 takes precedence; using cylindrical picture bearing surfaces H04N1/06; with manual scanning H04N1/107

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes an imaging unit that images a placed medium as a reading target within an imaging area, and a display unit that displays information toward the imaging area in an overlapping manner. Operation supporting information used for supporting an operation using the placed medium is selected based on information relating to a state of the image processing apparatus or information acquired by the imaging unit, and the selected operation supporting information is displayed toward the imaging area by the display unit.

Claims

1. An image reading apparatus comprising:

a first image reader configured to read an imaging area in which a medium is placed, for forming an image of the imaging area;

a projector configured to project information on a projection area that overlaps the imaging area;

a second image reader configured to read the medium for forming an image of the medium; and

a controller configured to;

select one of operation supporting items based on the image of the imaging area, the operation supporting items being stored in advance for supporting an operator to image the medium with the second image reader;

control the projector to project the information on the projection area based on the selected operation supporting item;

control the second image reader to read the medium based on the selected operation supporting item for forming the image of the medium;

detect a position of an operator'"'"'s finger or hand based on the image of the imaging area,

control the projector to project an operation input sign around the operator'"'"'s finger or hand, the operation input sign being associated with a predefined operation of the image reading apparatus;

determine whether the operator selects the operation input sign based on the image of the imaging area; and

perform the predefined operation associated with the operation input sign when the operator selects the operation input sign.

2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation supporting items are associated with types of mediums to be read, respectively.

3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to obtain from the image of the imaging area, information on a movement, a position, or a shape of the operator'"'"'s finger.

4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect a selection of an area on the medium by the operator'"'"'s fingertip, based on the image of the imaging area, and control the projector to indicate the area on the medium.

5. The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to control the second image reader to read the area selected by the operator.

6. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

the first image reader is a camera configured to record the image of the imaging area, and

the second image reader is a scanner configured to scan the medium.

7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the projection area is arranged within the imaging area.

8. An image processing method for an image reading apparatus which comprises a first image reader configured to read an imaging area in which a medium is placed, for forming an image of the imaging area, a projector configured to project information on a projection area that overlaps the imaging area, and a second image reader configured to read the medium for forming an image of the medium, the image processing method comprising:

selecting one of operation supporting items based on the image of the imaging area, the operation supporting items being stored in advance for supporting an operator to read the medium with the second image reader;

controlling the projector to project the information on the projection area based on the selected operation supporting item;

controlling the second image reader to read the medium based on the selected operation supporting item for forming the image of the medium;

detecting a position of an operator'"'"'s finger or hand based on the image of the imaging area;

controlling the projector to project an operation input sign around the operator'"'"'s finger or hand, the operation input sign being associated with a predefined operation of the image reading apparatus;

determining whether the operator selects the operation input sign based on the image of the imaging area; and

performing the predefined operation associated with the operation input sign when the operator selects the operation input sign.

9. A non-transitory tangible computer readable storage medium storing therein a program for an image processing method of operating an image reading apparatus which comprises a first image reader configured to read an imaging area in which a medium is placed, for forming an image of the imaging area, a projector configured to project information on a projection area that overlaps the imaging area, and a second image reader configured to read the medium for forming an image of the medium, the image processing method comprising:

selecting one of operation supporting items based on the image of the imaging area, the operation supporting items being stored in advance for supporting an operator to read the medium with the second image reader;

controlling the projector to project the information on the projection area based on the selected operation supporting item;

controlling the second image reader to read the medium based on the selected operation supporting item for forming the image of the medium;

detecting a position of an operator'"'"'s finger or hand based on the image of the imaging area;

controlling the projector to project an operation input sign around the operator'"'"'s finger or hand, the operation input sign being associated with a predefined operation of the image reading apparatus;

determining whether the operator selects the operation input sign based on the image of the imaging area; and

performing the predefined operation associated with the operation input sign when the operator selects the operation input sign.