Image display control apparatus and image display control method

An apparatus includes a determining unit configured to determine whether a malfunction of relative movement between a document and an image reading unit reading an image of the document occurs when the document is read by the image reading unit while at least one of the document and the image reading unit is moved, a specifying unit configured to specify a position in image data of the image read by the image reading unit corresponding to a position where the malfunction occurs if the determining unit determines that the malfunction of relative movement occurs, and a control unit configured to cause an image display unit to display an image based on the image data to enable a user to discriminate the position specified by the specifying unit.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image display control apparatus capable of displaying an image of a read document and an image display control method.

2. Description of the Related Art

An image display apparatus is known to display a preview of image data read by an apparatus, such as a digital multifunction peripheral (MFP), having an image reading function of a document. In the image display apparatus, a user checks image data of the read document by preview display, and properly enlarges and displays the data, thereby determining whether a reading malfunction occurs. However, the operation for checking whether the reading malfunction occurs requires checking of the entire image data, and thus takes a long time. In particular, if the image data of the large-sized document is checked, it tends to take a longer time to check the malfunction.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-35019 discusses an image forming apparatus that can enlarge and display a preview of a portion for additional processing of additional information or post-processing on a recording medium, such as punching or stapling, when outputting data subjected to the additional processing or post-processing.

However, in the image forming apparatus discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-35019, when checking the reading malfunction, the entire image data needs to be checked.

There is also the similar problem when the read image data is displayed on another display apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, an apparatus includes a determining unit configured to determine whether a malfunction of relative movement between a document and an image reading unit reading an image of the document occurs when the document is read by the image reading unit while at least one of the document and the image reading unit is moved, a specifying unit configured to specify a position in image data of the image read by the image reading unit corresponding to a position where the malfunction occurs if the determining unit determines that the malfunction of relative movement occurs, and a control unit configured to cause an image display unit to display an image based on the image data to enable a user to discriminate the position specified by the specifying unit.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when a malfunction occurs at a document conveyance speed or a movement speed of an image reading unit, the malfunction is detected and a position where the malfunction is detected is specified in the read image data. Thus, the user can easily check a position with high possibility at which a document reading malfunction occurs. Advantageously, it is possible to easily check the document reading malfunction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is described. According to the present exemplary embodiment, an image processing system inFIG. 1is described as an example.FIG. 1is a block diagram illustrating the entire configuration of the image processing system.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the image processing system includes a multifunction peripheral (MFP) having a reader unit100, a control unit110, a printer unit120, and a panel130, and a host computer140.

The reader unit100is an image input unit and includes a document feeding unit101that conveys a document, a scanner unit102that optically reads a document image, and an optical unit103that measures a document conveyance amount.

In the reader unit100, the document feeding unit101conveys the document, and the scanner unit102having a plurality of line sensors reads the document. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the scanner unit102includes the plurality of line sensors to increase a reading speed. However, the exemplary embodiment is not limited to this.

The optical unit103includes a function of reading a paper fingerprint, such as a sheet fiber pattern of the document. Based on the movement amount of the paper fingerprint, a document conveyance amount per unit time can be measured. The optical unit103includes a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit. Light is emitted from the light emitting unit to the document, and the reflected light from the document is received by the light receiving unit. The optical unit103uses a known technique of an optical pointing device, for example, discussed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-41111. Specifically, infrared light is emitted to the document from an infrared light emission diode as the light emitting unit, and the reflected light forms an image on an area sensor as the light receiving unit. The reflected light is digitized with proper resolution by sensor units in the area sensor, and a feature of the paper fingerprint of the document is stored in a memory204. The document movement amount is measured by comparing the position of the paper fingerprint of the document between samples stored in the memory204. As a consequence, the optical unit103calculates a conveyance speed from the document conveyance amount per unit time.

The printer unit120is an image output unit and includes a sheet feeding unit122that feeds a print medium, such as a roll sheet, a head unit121that records an image based on image data to the print medium by applying a recording agent, such as ink, while serially scanning the print medium, and a sheet discharge unit123that outputs the print medium, on which the printing is performed, outside the printer unit120.

When operating a copy function in the image processing system, the control unit110controls the reader unit100to read the image data of the document, and further controls the printer unit120to output the image based on the read image data to the print medium. When operating a scanner function, the control unit110controls the reader unit100to read the document image, converts the image data read from the reader unit100into code data, and transmits the data to the host computer140via a network. When operating a printer function, the control unit110converts code data received from the host computer140via the network into image data, and further controls the printer unit120to output the image based on the image data to the print medium.

The details of a configuration of the control unit110according to the present exemplary embodiment are described with reference toFIG. 2.FIG. 2is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the control unit110.

The control unit110includes a central processing unit (CPU)200, a scanned image processing unit201, and a printer image processing unit202. The control unit110includes a read-only memory (ROM)203, the memory204, a scanner interface (I/F)205, a printer interface (I/F)206, a panel interface (I/F)207, and a network controller208.

The ROM203stores a program, and the program is loaded into the memory204. The CPU200is operated by the program loaded into the memory204, and controls the entire operation of the control unit110. An operation for interpreting page description language (PDL) code data received from the host computer140and rasterizing the data to raster image data is described to the program stored in the ROM203. The CPU200executes processing such as the interpretation of the code data and rasterization of the image data.

The scanner I/F205is connected to the reader unit100to receive the image data input from the reader unit100and transfer the image data to the memory204and the scanned image processing unit201.

The scanned image processing unit201performs predetermined image processing of the image received from the scanner I/F205. The image processing includes interlinear correction for correcting positional deviation of the plurality of line sensors, and shading correction for correcting the sensitivity unevenness of the line sensors.

The printer I/F206is connected to the printer unit120, outputs the image data to the head unit121of the printer unit120, and further outputs control data to the sheet feeding unit122and the sheet discharge unit123.

The panel I/F207communicates data with the panel130. The panel130includes a liquid crystal display and a plurality of hard keys. The hard key may be a touch panel arranged to overlap the liquid crystal display. A signal input by the hard key is transmitted to the CPU200via the panel I/F207. The liquid crystal display of the panel130displays the data sent from the panel I/F207. The liquid crystal display of the panel130displays a preview image and information for operating the MFP.

The network controller208is connected to the host computer140via an external network, and is used for PDL data reception from the host computer140and transmission of the scanned image to the host computer140.

The printer image processing unit202includes a function of inputting the raster image data from the memory204and outputting data performed image processing to the memory204. The printer image processing unit202includes a function for converting the data received from the scanned image processing unit201and the host computer140into binary data of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black (YMCK) and transferring the converted data to the head unit121. The image processing includes processing of decoding, input gamma, resolution conversion, color space, output gamma, error diffusion, and halftone dot.

When the document is conveyed and the image of the document is read by the reader unit100, the document conveyance malfunction may occur. If the document conveyance malfunction occurs, an error may be generated between a document conveyance amount to be required to read the image data and an actual document conveyance amount, and may influence on an image quality.

The document conveyance malfunction includes a slip between a roller portion of the document feeding unit101and the document at the scanning operation of the scanner unit102while the document feeding unit101conveys the document. In particular, a large-format MFP uses a document with various thicknesses or materials, and the malfunction of the scanned image due to the type of the document may be easily caused. The slip may occur due to deterioration of the roller portion of the document feeding unit101or an adhered material to the roller portion.

Another document conveyance malfunction may occur in addition to the document slip. When the scanning operation and another processing are performed in parallel, for example, a print job from the host computer140is performed during the scanning operation, the document conveyance may be suspended due to an excessive processing load of the control unit110, the shortage of an interface data transfer band, or a memory capacity. If the document conveyance is suspended, the malfunction of the scanned image may occur due to a discontinuous state at the boundary after and before the suspension.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the document conveyance malfunction is detected, the position of the document conveyance malfunction is specified in the read image data, and the position is displayed to enable the check. As a consequence, the user can easily check a portion in which the reading may not be accurately performed in the read image data.

Image display control according to the present exemplary embodiment is described with reference toFIGS. 1,3, and4A and4B.FIG. 3is a flowchart illustrating a processing flow when the reader unit100reads a document image to perform preview display in copy processing. The flowchart illustrates the processing flow for loading the program stored in the ROM203into the memory204and executing the program by the CPU200.FIGS. 4A and 4Billustrate the preview display of the panel130.

A document is set to the reader unit100inFIG. 1and the scanner unit102starts the scanning operation of the document at the same time when the document feeding unit101conveys the document. In the scanning operation, the optical unit103measures a document conveyance amount per unit time, that is, a conveyance speed. A measurement result is stored in the memory204with a time stamp.

The CPU200determines whether the conveyance amount per unit time falls within the range of a prescribed value stored in advance to the memory204. That is, if the conveyance speed measured by the optical unit103is outside the prescribed value range, the CPU200detects the document conveyance malfunction. If the conveyance speed is outside the prescribed value range, the position is managed as a history. That is, in the read image data, the position where the conveyance speed is outside the prescribed value range is specified and managed.

The document conveyance speed is predetermined depending on the setting of the resolution of the scanned image. As the resolution is higher, the document conveyance speed is lower. As the resolution is lower, the document conveyance speed is higher. However, the document conveyance speed may not be uniquely determined depending on the resolution of the scanned image. Therefore, the prescribed value of the document conveyance speed may be set to fall within a predetermined range of the predetermined document conveyance speed. If the document conveyance speed is “0”, that is, if the document conveyance is suspended, it is determined that the document conveyance speed is outside the prescribed value range.

After ending the scanning, the user checks the scanned image before storing the image data or printing the data.

In step S401inFIG. 3, the CPU200checks the history of the document conveyance speed.

In step S402, the CPU200checks whether there is any document conveyance speed outside the prescribed value range. If there is any document conveyance speed outside the prescribed value range (YES in step S402), the processing advances to step S403. If there is not any document conveyance speed outside the prescribed value range, that is, all the document conveyance speeds are within the prescribed value range (NO in step S402), then in step S410, the entire scanned image is displayed and the processing advances to step S411.

In step S403, the panel130displays the entire scanned image to specify a position where the document conveyance speed is outside the prescribed value range, that is, a position where the document conveyance malfunction occurs. The entire scanned image (hereinafter, also referred to as a “preview image500”) is displayed by processing the image data of the read document by the scanner unit102by the scanned image processing unit201and transmitting the data to the panel130. The CPU200specifies the position where the document conveyance malfunction occurs by the size (horizontal and vertical lengths) of the document image and the timing at which the document conveyance malfunction occurs.

The position (the portion) where the document conveyance speed of the preview image500is outside the prescribed value is specified by a thick-bordered box501as illustrated inFIG. 4A. According to the present exemplary embodiment, a user is notified that there may be a scanning malfunction in a display area502. That is, according to the present exemplary embodiment, the user is notified the position of the document conveyance malfunction as a “portion with high possibility of the reading malfunction” since the position where the document conveyance malfunction occurs has a high possibility of the reading malfunction. Specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 4A, the display area502displays that ‘a portion of the scanned image in the thick-bordered box may be detective. Press “YES” if you want to enlarge the read image to check result, or press “NO” if you want to start post-processing without the check.’

In step S404, the CPU200checks whether there is an input via the key when displaying the entire scanned image. If there is the input via the key (YES in step S404), in step S405, it is determined whether the user selects checking of the enlarged scanned image. According to the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 4A, a “YES” key503and a “NO” key504are provided for the user to select whether to enlarged display the position with the malfunction possibility of the scanned image, i.e., the position at which the document conveyance malfunction occurs on the panel130. If the user checks the enlarged image, the user selects the “YES” key503on the panel130. If the user does not check the enlarged image, the user selects the “NO” key504on the panel130. If the “YES” key503on the panel130is pressed, the checking of the enlarged image is selected (YES in step S405), and the processing advances to step S406. On the other hand, if the “NO” key504on the panel130is pressed, the checking of the enlarged image is not selected (NO in step S405), and the processing advances to step S411.

In step S406, the enlarged scanned image is displayed. Specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 4B, the panel130preview-displays the scanned image in the thick-bordered box501with a predetermined enlargement rate. According to the present exemplary embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 4B, arrow keys600and601are arranged to check the scanned image enlarged at a predetermined enlargement rate in the horizontal direction with scrolling in the horizontal direction. A display area605on the panel130displays a checking message about whether re-scanning is performed. As illustrated inFIG. 4B, the display area605displays ‘press “OK” if there is no problem. Press “re-scan” for re-scanning.’

In step S407, the CPU200checks whether there is an input via the key when displaying the enlarged scanned image. If there is the input via the key (YES in step S407), in step S408, it is determined whether the user selects the re-scanning. The user checks the enlarged preview display604. If there is not any problem in the check result (i.e., the re-scanning is not to be performed), the user selects an OK key602. If performing the re-scanning, the user selects a re-scan key603. If the user presses the re-scan key603on the panel130(YES in step S408), the processing advances to step S409. If the user presses the OK key602on the panel130(NO in step S408), which means that the user does not select the re-scanning to be performed, the processing advances to step S411.

In step S409, the document feeding unit101conveys the document to a reading start position, and the re-scanning is performed.

In step S411, processing subsequent to the scanning operation continues. If operating the scanning function, the CPU200stores the read scanned image in a storage medium designated by the user. If operating the copy function, the printer unit120prints the read scanned image.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, if the malfunction of the document conveyance speed occurs, the CPU200detects the conveyance speed malfunction and specifies the detected malfunction position in the image data to be stored. Further, the panel130displays the position for enabling the checking thereof in the preview display. Thus, the user can easily check the malfunction position in the document conveyance speed, i.e., a position with high possibility of the scanning malfunction. As mentioned above, the image processing system properly controls the preview display, and thereby the user easily checks the scanning malfunction. The malfunction of print result is reduced, thereby reducing costs without unnecessarily using the print medium.

The exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been described. The basic configuration of the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the optical unit103measures the document conveyance amount. However, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this, and may be embodied by a known method. For example, a roller containing a high-friction material, such as rubber, may be made contact with the document to measure the document conveyance amount by an encoder converting rotation of the roller into an electrical signal.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the document conveyance malfunction is determined by the document conveyance amount. The conveyance malfunction may be detected without the document conveyance amount being measured. The control unit110may observe the document feeding unit101and, if the document conveyance is suspended, it may be determined that the document conveyance malfunction occurs.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the panel130includes a touch-panel type display, and the display and a function of the selection key can be changed for each display. However, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the panel130may not have the selection key and the selection key may be arranged outside the panel130.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the scanned image is displayed on the panel130. However, the device that displays the scanned image is not limited to this, and the scanned image may be displayed on a display unit of the host computer140.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the image is enlarged and displayed after displayed as the entire scanned image. If the document conveyance malfunction occurs, the document conveyance malfunction position may be enlarged and displayed without the entire scanned image being displayed.

The image processing system may not have the unit that selects whether to check the enlarged scanned image. In this case, if the CPU200detecting the conveyance malfunction, the user is notified that the malfunction of the scanned image may occur. Then, the conveyance malfunction position may be automatically enlarged and displayed. The enlargement and display may be performed before the preview display or after the preview display. Similarly to the foregoing, only the corresponding portion may be checked without the preview display that displays the entire scanned image.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, if the document conveyance malfunction occurs, it is selected whether to check the enlarged image. Alternatively, it may be configured that the enlarged image is not checked. It may be selected at the initial setting whether to check the enlarged image. If selected at the initial setting that the enlarged image is not checked, the enlargement and display may be skipped.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, the document conveyance speed is outside the prescribed value range at one position. Even if the document conveyance speed is outside the prescribed value range at a plurality of positions, the image display may be controlled by the similar method. If the document conveyance speed is outside the prescribed value range at a plurality of positions, in other words, there is a plurality of positions where the document conveyance malfunction is detected, the enlarged images may be sequentially displayed. Specifically, if the document conveyance malfunction is detected, on the preview display of the entire scanned image, a position where a first document conveyance malfunction occurs is displayed for enabling the checking. Then, with a method similar to that according to the present exemplary embodiment, the enlarged image at the first position is checked. After ending the checking of the enlarged image at the first position, if the malfunction of the scanned image does not occur, the entire scanned image is preview-displayed again. If the malfunction of the scanned image occurs, the re-scanning is performed. On the second preview display of the entire scanned image, the position of the second conveyance malfunction is indicated by the thick-bordered box501. Then, the user may check the image with the preview image by performing the similar operation to that of the checking of the enlarged image at the first position. By sequentially performing processing in steps S403to S409and S411at each position where the document conveyance speed is outside the prescribed value range, the exemplary embodiment may deal with a case where the document conveyance malfunction is detected at a plurality of positions. If there is a plurality of positions where the document conveyance malfunction is detected, all the positions may be displayed on the preview display in step S403and the position for checking the enlarged image may be sequentially selected by the user. Further, the enlarged image may be displayed and checked on a plurality of malfunction basis.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the document feeding unit101in the reader unit100conveys the document, and the scanner unit102reads the document. Further, the present exemplary embodiment may be applied to a configuration in which an image reading unit is movable relative to the document. With a configuration in which the reader unit100reads a fixed document by scanning the document by the scanner unit102, the similar advantage may be obtained. With the apparatus, in place of detecting the malfunction of the document conveyance speed, a malfunction of the movement speed of the scanner unit102may be detected.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the enlargement and display are performed, after ending the scanning, on a image at the position of the document whose movement malfunction is detected. Alternatively, the enlargement and display may be performed, in real time during the scanning, on the position of the document whose movement malfunction is detected. In this case, each time when the movement malfunction is detected, the scanning result may be displayed and the scanning may stop. If enlarging and displaying, after entirely ending the scanning, the position of the document whose movement malfunction is detected, it may be possible to prevent, without deterioration in throughput, the troublesomeness that the user checks the scanned image many times for one-time scanning.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the CPU200executes the program to execute the flowchart inFIG. 3. However, the present exemplary embodiment is not limited to this. Instead of the CPU200executing all processing, hardware, such as application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), may cause the units inFIG. 5to execute the flowchart. Alternatively, the hardware may cause a part of the units inFIG. 5to execute the flowchart. Alternatively, software may cause a part of the units inFIG. 5to execute the flowchart.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-063663 filed Mar. 21, 2012, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.