Image processing method and apparatus for processing oversized original images and for synthesizing multiple images

• US 5,465,163 A
• Filed: 03/05/1992
• Issued: 11/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Yoshihara, Kunio, Sakai, Masanori, Kuboki, Keiju, Tanabe, Ritsushi, Nimura, Mitsuo, Hirooka, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Rogers, Scott A.
• Application Number:
  US07/846,585
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 358/450, 358/451, 358/452, 358/453, 358/462, 358/464, 358/443, 358/448, 358/444, 382/16, 382/19, 382/22, 382/30, 382/61, 382/44, 382/45, 382/47
• US Class Current: 358/444
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/4038 Image mosaicing, e.g. composing plane images from plane sub-images
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/04 Scanning arrangements , i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versaH04N1/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1013 with sub-scanning by translatory movement of at least a part of the main-scanning components H04N1/107 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/12 using the sheet-feed movement or the medium-advance or the drum-rotation movement as the slow scanning component, e.g. arrangements for the main-scanningsheet-feed movement by translatory movement of a flat picture-bearing surface H04N1/1008; main-scanning using oscillating or rotating mirrors H04N1/113; using multi-element arrays H04N1/19
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/128 using a scanning head arranged for linear reciprocating motion
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1911 Simultaneously or substantially simultaneously scanning picture elements on more than one main scanning line, e.g. scanning in swaths
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/193 using electrically scanned linear arrays , e.g. linear CCD arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/3876 Recombination of partial images to recreate the original image
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0414 Scanning an image in a series of overlapping zones

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes an input unit for inputting images, and storage units for storing the images input from the input unit. The storage units store a plurality of images having common partial images. The apparatus further includes a determination unit for determining positions of the respective overlapped common partial images of the plurality of images stored in the storage units, a synthesis unit for forming an image by synthesizing the plurality of images according to a result of the determination by the determination unit, and an output unit for outputting the image synthesized by the synthesis unit.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

input means for inputting images;

storage means for storing the images input from said input means, said storage means storing a plurality of images having common partial images;

characteristics extraction means for extracting characteristics of images input from the input means;

determination means for determining positions of respective overlapped common partial images of the plurality of images stored in said storage means based on the image characteristics extracted in said characteristics extraction means;

synthesis means for forming an image by synthesizing said plurality of images according to a result of the determination by said determination means; and

output means for outputting the image synthesized by said synthesis means.

2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the characteristics extracted by said characteristics extraction means comprise an image depicted by a specific color.

3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the characteristics extracted by said characteristics extraction means comprise a contour of the image.

4. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mount for mounting an original, and wherein said input means comprises a scanner for reading an image of the original mounted on said mount, and wherein said output means comprises a printer for recording an image on a sheet.

5. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a mount for mounting an original, and wherein said input means performs a plurality of read operations in order to read the entirety of an image of the original which is larger than said mount.

6. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input means performs a plurality of read operations in order to read a plurality of images.

7. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said characteristics include a mark made by a marker pen.

8. An image processing apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising removing means for removing said mark.

9. A method for forming an image comprising the steps of:

sequentially inputting a plurality of images having common partial images;

storing a plurality of images;

extracting characteristics of images input in the input step;

determining positions of respective overlapped common partial images of the plurality of images stored in said storing step based on the image characteristics extracted in said extracting step;

forming an image by connecting and synthesizing said plurality of images according to a result of determination; and

outputting the image formed in said image forming step.

10. A method for forming an image according to claim 9, wherein the characteristics extracted in said extracting step comprise an image depicted in a specific color.

11. A method for forming an image according to claim 9, wherein the characteristics extracted in said extracting step comprise a contour of an image.

12. A method for forming an image according to claim 9, further comprising a step of mounting an original on a mount, and wherein said plurality of images having common partial images are sequentially input by a scanner for reading an image of the original mounted on said mount, and wherein said image formed in said image forming step is output by a printer for recording an image on a sheet.

13. A method for forming an image according to claim 9, further comprising a step of mounting an original on a mount, and wherein said inputting step includes a plurality of read operations performed in order to read an entirety of an image of the original which is larger than said mount.

14. A method for forming an image according to claim 9, wherein said inputting step includes a plurality of read operations in order to read the plurality of images.

15. A method for forming an image according to claim 9, wherein said characteristics include a mark made by a marker pen.

16. A method for forming an image according to claim 15, further comprising a step of removing said mark.

17. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

input means for inputting a predetermined amount of image data;

first storage means for storing the predetermined amount of image data input by said input means;

extraction means for extracting certain characteristics according to the predetermined amount of image data input by said input means;

second storage means for storing the characteristics extracted by said extraction means;

control means for controlling repetition of operations of said input means, said first storage means, said extraction means, and said second storage means;

connection means for connecting at least two of the predetermined amount of image data obtained by said control means according to characteristics corresponding to each of the predetermined amount of image data; and

output means for outputting image data obtained by the connection by said connection means.

18. An image processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said certain charasteristics comprise an edge.

19. An image processing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein an apparatus as an output target of said output means comprises a printing apparatus.

20. An image processing method, comprising the steps of:

inputting a predetermined amount of image data;

storing, in a first storage means, the predetermined amount of image data input in said input step;

extracting certain characteristics according to the predetermined amount of image data input in said input step;

storing, in a second storage means, the characteristics extracted in said extracting step;

controlling repetition of operations of an input means, said first storing means, an extracting means, and said second storing means;

connecting at least two predetermined amounts of image data obtained in said controlling step according to characteristics corresponding to each of the predetermined amounts of image data; and

outputting image data obtained by the connection in said connecting step.

21. An image processing method according to claim 20, wherein, in said extracting step, said certain characteristics being extracted include an edge.

22. An image processing method according to claim 20, wherein, in said outputting step, image data is output to a printing apparatus.

23. An image processing apparatus comprising:

reading means for reading a plurality of times an entire image of an original having a size larger than a mount for mounting the original;

storing means for storing read images;

pattern matching means for performing a pattern matching of the plurality of images stored in said storing means;

determining means for determining positions of respective overlapped common partial images of the plurality of stored images in accordance with a result of the pattern matching of said pattern matching means;

processing means for connecting and synthesizing said plurality of images in accordance with a result of the determination of said determining means; and

outputting means for outputting the image processed by said processing means.

24. A method for forming an image comprising the steps of:

reading a plurality of times an entire image of an original having a size larger than a mount for mounting the original;

storing read images;

performing a pattern matching of the plurality of stored images;

determining positions of respective overlapped common partial images of the plurality of stored images in accordance with a result of the pattern matching;

forming an image by connecting and synthesizing said plurality of images in accordance with a result of the determination; and

outputting the image formed in said image forming step.

25. An image processing apparatus, comprising:

a mount for mounting an original;

reading means for reading the original mounted on said mount, said reading means reading the original a plurality of times in order to read an entire image of the original which is larger than said mount; and

image synthesis means for synthesizing a plurality of images read by said reading means into a synthesized image corresponding to the entire image of the original.

26. An image processing apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising reducing means for reducing the synthesized image.

27. An image processing method, comprising the steps of:

mounting an original on a mount;

reading the original mounted on said mount, said reading step including reading the original a plurality of times in order to read an entire image of the original which is larger than said mount; and

synthesizing a plurality of images read in said reading step into a synthesized image corresponding to the entire image of the original.

28. An image processing method according to claim 27, further comprising a step of reducing the synthesized image.