Method and apparatus for supporting user's operation of image reading apparatus

• US 8,970,886 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PFU Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: PFU Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Takabatake, Masanari
• Primary Examiner(s): Cammack, David S
• Application Number:
  US13/830,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20130329247A1
• Time in Patent Office: 719 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0426 tracking fingers with respect to a virtual keyboard projected or printed on the surface virtual keyboards on touch screens G06F3/04886
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00241 using an image reading device as a local input to a computer input via network, e.g. network scanners H04N1/00225
• 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 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

A write operation supporting apparatus 1 includes a camera 3 that images a placed document 10 as a reading target within an imaging area 6 and a projector 4 that displays information toward the imaging area 6. A control device 5 of the write operation supporting apparatus 1 displays, by the projector 4, operation supporting information for supporting an information writing operation using the document 10 toward the imaging area 6, based on positional information of the document 10 on the imaging area 6 acquired by the camera 3, with relative position relation with the medium 10 on the imaging area 6 maintained.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

an imaging unit that images a placed medium as a reading target within an imaging area;

a display unit that displays information toward the imaging area;

a memory storing computer executable instructions; and

a central processing unit configured to execute the instructions to perform following steps;

detecting positional information of the medium on the imaging area based on an image from the imaging unit;

identifying a type of the placed medium by analyzing the image;

selecting operation supporting information based on the identified type of the medium;

generating the operation supporting information for supporting an operation using the medium; and

controlling the display unit to display the operation supporting information toward the imaging area with relative position relation with the medium on the imaging area maintained.

2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when the medium moves on the imaging area, a display position of the operation supporting information on the imaging area follows the movement of the medium.

3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation supporting information is an emphasized display of a selected area on the medium that is set corresponding to a type of the medium.

4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation supporting information is an emphasized display of a selected area on the medium that is designated by an operator'"'"'s fingertips.

5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, when at least a part of the medium protrudes from the imaging area, the display unit displays warning information on the imaging area.

6. An image reading apparatus comprising:

an image reading unit that reads at least a part of a medium based on operation supporting information; and

the image processing apparatus according to claim 1.

7. The image reading apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, when the medium moves on the imaging area during a reading operation performed by the image reading unit, the display unit displays information if need arises.

8. An image processing method for an image processing apparatus, wherein the image processing apparatus includes an imaging unit that images a placed medium as a reading target within an imaging area, a display unit that displays information toward the imaging area, a memory storing computer executable instructions and a central processing unit configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory, the image processing method comprising:

imaging a placed medium as a reading target within the imaging area, through the imaging unit;

detecting positional information of the medium on the imaging area based on an image from the imaging;

identifying a type of the placed medium by analyzing the image;

selecting operation supporting information based on the identified type of the medium;

generating the operation supporting information for supporting an operation using the medium based on the positional information; and

displaying operation supporting information for supporting an operation using the medium toward the imaging area by the display unit, with relative position relation with the medium on the imaging area maintained.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores therein an image processing program for an image processing apparatus, wherein the 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, a memory storing computer executable instructions and a central processing unit configured to execute the instructions stored in the memory, the image processing program causing the image processing apparatus to execute:

imaging a placed medium as a reading target within the imaging area through the imaging unit;

detecting positional information of the medium on the imaging area based on an image from the imaging;

identifying a type of the placed medium by analyzing the image;

selecting operation supporting information based on the identified type of the medium;

generating the operation supporting information for supporting an operation using the medium based on the positional information; and

displaying operation supporting information for supporting an operation using the medium toward the imaging area by the display unit, with relative position relation with the medium on the imaging area maintained.