Information processing apparatus for obtaining a reading image of a reading target, method for controlling the same, and storage medium

• US 9,398,182 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2014
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Ayutthaya Limited (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Arai, Tsunekazu
• Primary Examiner(s): WASHINGTON, JAMARES
• Application Number:
  US14/507,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20150098115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.18, 358/1.12, 358/3.24, 358/505, 358/488
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00782 Initiating operations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00809 Orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00811 according to user specified instructions, e.g. user selection of reading mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00816 Determining the reading area, e.g. eliminating reading of margins
• 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

There is provided an information processing apparatus that can improve operability for reading a reading target including a plurality of objects. In the information processing apparatus, when the reading target placed on a reading plate on which a plurality of objects can be placed is read, a completion level of the reading target including one or more objects placed on the reading plate is determined based on an image obtained by an imaging unit that captures an image of the reading plate from above. A timing of executing the reading of the reading target is controlled based on the completion level of the reading target determined by a determination unit.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus configured to execute reading of a reading target placed on a reading plate on which a plurality of object can be placed, the information processing apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory that is coupled with the at least one processor and that stores instructions executable by the at least one processor;

wherein the at least one processor executes the instructions to implement;

a detection unit configured to detect two or more objects placed on the reading plate;

a setting unit configured to set, from among a plurality of predetermined waiting times that are gradually different in length, a waiting time according to at least a relationship that a length of the waiting time to be set decreases as a total number of objects among a layout of the two or more objects, detected by the detection unit, on the reading plate increases; and

a reading control unit configured to instruct an imaging unit to perform image capturing to generate reading data in which the two or more objects are the reading target, when the layout of the two or more objects detected by the detection unit is maintained for the waiting time set by the setting unit.

2. An information processing apparatus configured to execute reading of a reading target placed on a reading plate on which a plurality of objects can be placed, the information processing apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory that is coupled with the at least one processor and that stores instructions executable by the at least one processor;

wherein the at least one processor executes the instructions to implement;

a detection unit configured to detect one or more objects placed on the reading plate;

a setting unit configured to set a waiting time according to at least a layout of the one or more objects, detected by the detection unit, on the reading plate;

a reading control unit configured to cause an imaging unit to perform image capturing to generate reading data in which the one or more objects are the reading target, when the layout of the one or more objects detected by the detection unit is maintained for the waiting time set by the setting unit; and

a determination unit configured to determine a completion level of the one or more objects as the reading target, based on at least the layout of the one or more objects detected by the detection unit, and wherein the setting unit is configured to set the waiting time according to the completion level determined by the determination unit.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein when the layout of the one or more objects detected by the detection unit, on the reading plate changes within the waiting time set by the setting unit, the setting unit is further configured to set a waiting time determined according to the changed layout.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the setting unit is configured to set the waiting time to be shorter in a case where the completion level of the reading target is determined to be a first value, than the waiting time in a case where the completion level is determined to be a second value smaller than the first value.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit is configured to determine the completion level at least based on an occupancy rate as a rate of an area occupied by the one or more objects with respect to an area of an upper surface of the reading plate.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the occupancy rate is acquired based on a number of objects having a same size as one of the one or more objects most recently placed on the reading plate, which can be disposed in a vacant portion on the reading plate.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit is configured to determine a completion level that increases as an object is further disposed on the reading plate to reduce a vacant portion on which an object forming the reading target on the reading plate can be placed.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit is configured to further identify an operation performed on the object placed on the reading plate, and change the determined completion level by a value corresponding to the identified operation.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit is configured to change the completion level to be higher, when the object placed on the reading plate is moved.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit is configured to change the completion level to be higher, when the object placed on the reading plate is removed.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit is configured to change the completion level to be higher, when the object placed on the reading plate is changed.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit is configured to determine a reference of the waiting time before the reading of the reading target is executed, based on a time interval of an operation of sequentially placing the one or more objects on the reading plate.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the determination unit is configured to acquire the time interval of the operation of sequentially placing the one or more objects on the reading plate, based on a duration time of a motionless state on the reading plate until the object is last placed on the reading plate.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the reading control unit is configured to cause the imaging unit to perform the image capturing to generate the reading data in which the one or more objects are the reading target, when the object placed on the reading plate remains motionless for the waiting time set by the setting unit.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the reading control unit is configured to execute the reading at a timing at which an execution instruction specifically input by a user is received, even when the timing is within the waiting time set by the setting unit.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the determination unit is configured to determine the completion level of the one or more objects as the reading target, based on both of the layout of the one or more objects detected by the detection unit and the vacancy rate on the one or more objects.

17. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing a program read and executed by a computer to cause the computer to function as an information processing apparatus configured to execute reading of a reading target placed on a reading plate on which a plurality of objects can be placed, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a detection unit configured to detect one or more objects placed on the reading plate;

a setting unit configured to set a waiting time according to at least a layout of the one or more objects, detected by the detection unit, on the reading plate; and

a reading control unit configured to cause an imaging unit to perform image capturing to generate reading data in which the one or more objects are the reading target, when the layout of the one or more objects detected by the detection unit is maintained for the waiting time set by the setting unit; and

a determination unit configured to determine a completion level of the one or more objects as the reading target, based on at least the layout of the one or more objects detected by the detection unit, and wherein the setting unit is configured to set the waiting time according to the completion level determined by the determination unit.

18. A method for controlling an information processing apparatus configured to read a reading target placed on a reading plate on which a plurality of objects can be placed, the method comprising:

detecting two or more objects placed on the reading plate;

setting, from among a plurality of predetermined waiting times that are gradually different in length, a waiting time according to at least a relationship that a length of the waiting time to be set decreases as a total number of objects among a layout of the two or more objects, detected by the detecting, on the reading plate increases; and

instructing an imaging unit to perform image capturing to generate reading data in which the two or more objects are the reading target, when the layout of the two or more objects detected by the detecting is maintained for the waiting time set by the setting.

19. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storing a program read and executed by a computer to cause the computer to function as an information processing apparatus configured to execute reading of a reading target placed on a reading plate on which a plurality of objects can be placed, the information processing apparatus comprising:

a detection unit configured to detect two or more objects placed on the reading plate;

a setting unit configured to set, from among a plurality of predetermined waiting times that are gradually different in length, a waiting time according to at least a relationship that a length of a waiting time to be set decreases as a total number of objects among a layout of the two or more objects, detected by the detection unit, on the reading plate increases; and

a reading control unit configured to instruct an imaging unit to perform image capturing to generate reading data in which the two or more objects are the reading target, when the layout of the two or more objects detected by the detection unit is maintained for the waiting time set by the setting unit.