Image scanning apparatus

Abstract: An image scanning apparatus comprises an input image scanner (1, 2, 3) for scanning an input image area with a beam of radiation and deriving from an image (20) on at least part of the input image area a digital signal representing the image, and an output image scanner (8, 9, 10) for reproducing from said signal an output image on at least part of an output image area (21). The input image scanner and the output image scanner are arranged to scan the input and output image areas respectively simultaneously at a fixed relative rate, and the output and input images are represented as a series of pixels arranged in orthogonal directions at fixed resolutions. Means (6) in the data path between the input and output scanners process the digital signal to change the size of the output image relative to the input image, and include a data store (5) whose data capacity is substantially less than that required to hold data corresponding to an image covering the whole of the input image area.

Description: This invention relates to an image scanning apparatus, for example for producing half-tone images from a continuous tone original and/or producing colour separations, on an enlarged or reduced scale relative to the original. Existing scanners are capable of enlarging or reducing an original and producing one or more separations at a time, but are complex and expensive. Typically, an input drum carries an original picture which may be transparent or reflective. The original is illuminated by a light spot, and the transmitted or reflected light is converted into an electronic signal which represents the density of the original at the instantaneous position of the spot. In the case of a colour scanner, three such signals are derived, representing the red, green and blue densities at that spot. The input drum rotates, and the input illuminator and analyser traverse axially along the drum so as to scan the whole of the original in a spiral or raster format. An output drum is rotated at the same speed as the input drum (or at a known and fixed speed relationship), and has mounted on it a film which is exposed by a modulated light source to form the desired representation of the original. The exposing system may generate a continuous tone image, or may comprise an electronic dot generating system to produce half-tone images. The exposing light is traversed axially along the drum at a fixed rate to expose every portion of the image. The enlargement or reduction of the image is carried out in the axial direction by moving the input analyser axially at a rate equal to the output axial rate divided by the enlargement required. In the circumferential direction, enlargement is achieved by digitising the input signal at a rate A, temporarily storing at least one circumferential line, and reading the stored signal out to the modulator at rate B, where A/B is the desired enlargement. Other signal processing may be carried out, for example to change the picture gradation, apply colour correction and to improve sharpness. An alternative form of input scanner has the original carried on a flat platten, and a lens focuses an image of the original onto a line array of photodiodes or CCD elements. The original is illuminated either over its entire surface or along the line of the original which is targetted onto the array. The platten and array are moved relative to each other, and the output from the array is a stream on electrical signals representing the density seen by each array element in turn. In the case of a colour scanner using an array, the filter carrying red, green and blue filters may be interposed between the original and the array and arranged to rotate in sequence with each line of data. Since the array size is fixed, enlargement can be achieved by optically focusing the required line width of the original on the array, using a turret or zoom lens to cover the required range. At the same time, the relative motion between the platten and the array is scaled to achieve the required enlargement in this direction. Such a scheme is necessarily complex both mechanically and optically. An alternative would be to store the entire image and to process this, using known image processing techniques, to the required scale. Such techniques are expensive, requiring large quantities of expensive memory (an A4 image at 300 1pi in colour contains over 25 Mbytes), and are also time-consuming since the input, the processing, and the output are consecutive. It is known from GB-A-1166091 and GB-A-2037532 to use input and output rotatable drums, in association with a line store, in image scanning apparatus, to effect enlargement or reduction of an image. With such apparatus, the image data is processed, line-by-line, to effect a change in the size of an output image relative to the input image. It has now been found that the processing of image data in real time (i.e. with simultaneous input and output) surprisingly results in the need for very little intermediate memory when effecting enlargement or reduction of an image i.e. the data store need only have the capacity to store data representative of that part of the output image area (as opposed to output line with the prior art apparatus) awaiting scanning. The resulting economy in memory makes possible the construction of an enlarging or reducing scanner at a cost which cannot be achieved conventionally, which is simple mechanically, and which is quick. The present invention provides an image scanning apparatus, comprising an input image scanner for scanning an input image area with a beam of radiation and deriving from an image, on at least part of the input image area, a digital signal representing the image, an output image scanner for reproducing from said signal an output image on at least part of an output image area, wherein the input image scanner and the output image scanner are arranged to scan the input and output image areas respectively simultaneously at a fixed relative rate, the output and input images are represented as a series of pixels arranged in orthogonal directions at fixed resolutions, the apparatus includes processing means in the data path, between the input and output scanners, for processing the digital signal to change the size of the output image relative to the input image, the processing means include a data store, and the scanning of the input image area is completed before the scanning of the output image area, when effecting an increase in the size of the output image relative to the input image, data representative of that part of the output image area awaiting scanning are stored in the data store for completion of the output image by the output image scanner. The present invention also provides an image scanning apparatus, comprising an input image scanner for scanning an input image area with a beam of radiation and deriving from an image, on at least part of the input image area, a digital signal representing the image, an output image scanner for reproducing from said signal an output image on at least part of an output image area, wherein the input image scanner and the output image scanner are arranged to scan the input and output image areas respectively simultaneously at a fixed relative rate, the output and input images are represented as a series of pixels arranged in orthogonal directions at fixed resolutions, the apparatus includes processing means in the data path, between the input and output scanners, for processing the digital signal to change the size of the output image relative to the input image, the processing means include a data store, part of the input image area is scanned by the input image scanner before scanning of the output image area is started, when effecting a reduction in the size of the output image relative to the input image, data representative of the scanned part of the input image area are stored in the data store for use by the output image scanner, and the scanning of the input and output image areas is completed at the same time. The present invention further provides a method of scanning an image comprising the steps of scanning an input image area with a beam of radiation to obtain a digital signal representing an input image; scanning an output image area simultaneously with, and at a fixed relative rate to, the scanning of the image area, the scanning of the input image area being completed before the scanning of the output image area, when effecting an increase in the size of an output image relative to the input image; storing data representative of that part of the output image area awaiting scanning to enable completion of the output image to be effected; processing the digital signal to effect the increase in size of the output image relative to the input image; and reproducing from the digital signal, an output image on the output image area. The present invention further provides a method of scanning an image comprising the steps of scanning an input image area with a beam of radiation to obtain a digital signal representing an input image; scanning an output image area simultaneously with, and at a fixed relative rate to, the scanning of the input image area, the scanning of the input and output image areas being completed at the same time, when effecting a reduction in the size of an output image relative to the input image, part of the input image area being scanned before scanning of the output image area is started; storing data representative of the scanned part of the input image area for use in the production of the output image; processing the digital signal to effect the reduction in the size of the output image relative to the input image; and, reproducing from the digital signal, the output image on part of the output image area. In some circumstances, the data capacity of the store may be as little as about 15% of that required to hold data corresponding to an image covering the whole of the input image area. The data path may include other signal processing means, for example for enhancing sharpness, colour correction (in the case of a colour scanner), and dot generation. The foregoing and other features according to the present invention will be better understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a scanning apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the effect of enlargement of an image using an apparatus in accordance with the invention; and Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the effect of reduction of an image using an apparatus in accordance with the invention. Referring to Figure 1, the apparatus comprises a movable platten 1 upon which the original may be mounted. The platten moves beneath a lens 2 and a CCD array 3 serving to scan the original image as it passes beneath. The resultant signal is passed to an analogue-to-digital converter 4 and thence to a processing stage 6, to which is connected a store 5. After an optional correction and dot generation stage 7, the output from the processing stage 6 is used to control an LED array 8 which includes a lens 9 to focus the beams from the LED as the array is moved along the surface of a rotating drum 10 bearing a light sensitive film. The LED array 8 and the platten 1 are rigidly connected so as to move together. To change the output image size, an image transformation is carried out by the processing stage 6. This involves the creation of a new set of image pixels, typically by interpolation. The signal processing stage 6 can also include sharpness enhancement. To produce a halftone image, dot generation may be carried out electronically in stage 7. Consideration of Figure 2 illustrates the storage capacity required in the store 5. As illustrated, an original image 20 is to be enlarged to the size of the whole of the output image 21. Although enlargement is discussed, similar considerations apply for reduction. The maximum image size is X by Y. The enlargement is e. The original is smaller than the required output and contains fewer pixels (since the enlargement is reproduced at the same resolution as that at which the original is scanned). The output data must be created by expanding the original pixels, creating new ones by duplication or interpolation. Since both the input and the output scans proceed at the same rate in the X direction, the input scan will be complete before the output, and sufficient data must be stored to finish the output. Note that both the input and the output start together. When the input is complete, the output will have a distance (X-X/e) to travel, where X is the maximum traverse direction and e is the enlargement. The output image area remaining is thus: Y x (X-X/e). The input contains fewer pixels and the corresponding area is: Y/e x (X-X/e)/e This corresponds to a required storage capacity of: rY/e x r(X-X/e)/e input pixels, where r is the resolution. Thus storage = r² XY (1/e² - 1/e³) = V (1/e² - 1/e³) where V = r² XY = the volume of data in the whole picture. Differentiating with respect to the enlargement factor to find the maximum storage capacity required: d/de (storage) = V(-2/e³ + 3/e⁴) = 0 when 3/e = 2 or e = 1.5. Using this value, the storage = V ((2/3)² - (2/3)³) = 0.148V Thus, for any degree of enlargement the necessary storage capacity is less than 15% of that required for the required picture. In practice the enlargement capability will be limited by the increasing coarseness of the enlarged pixels. However, the application for which this system is most suited, the scanning of reflection copy originals, does not require a high degree of enlargement. A range of 20% reduction to 2 or 3 times enlargement is sufficient. Figure 3 shows the equivalent situation for a reduction of an input image 22 covering the whole of the input image area to a smaller output image 23, the reduction being 1/e. It can be shown similarly that the maximum data storage capacity required is identical for that in the enlargement case, but in this case output pixels are stored. Although the travel of the input and output scanners across the input and output image areas proceed together, the output image must be stored until the travel reaches a point such that the output image will not be finished before all the input image has been scanned, if the input image covers the whole input image area this can only be achieved by positioning the output image at the end of the output image area, as shown. In practice a slightly larger store than the minimum will be necessary to allow for processing time and synchronisation. Although the description above assumes that equal resolution is applied in the X and Y directions, and also equal input and output resolutions, it will be apparent that this is not necessarily the case. For example, it may be advantageous if higher enlargement is a requirement to use a CCD or photodiode array that has a higher resolution in the Y direction than that of the output. Equally, samples may be taken more frequently in the X direction. Either if these will improve the apparent output resolution, but will also increase the storage required.

Claims: An image scanning apparatus, comprising an input image scanner (1,2,3) for scanning an input image area with a beam of radiation and deriving from an image (20,22), on at least part of the input image area, a digital signal representing the image, an output image scanner (8,9,10) for reproducing from said signal an output image (21,23) on at least part of an output image area, wherein the input image scanner (1,2,3) and the output image scanner (8,9,10) are arranged to scan the input and output image areas respectively simultaneously at a fixed relative rate, the output and input images are represented as a series of pixels arranged in orthogonal directions at fixed resolutions, the apparatus includes processing means (6) in the data path, between the input (1,2,3) and output (8,9,10) scanners, for processing the digital signal to change the size of the output image relative to the input image, the processing means (6) include a data store (5), and the scanning of the input image area is completed before the scanning of the output image area, when effecting an increase in the size of the output image (21) relative to the input image (20), data representative of that part of the output image area awaiting scanning are stored in the data store (5) for completion of the output image (21) by the output image scanner (8,9,10). An image scanning apparatus, comprising an input image scanner (1,2,3) for scanning an input image area with a beam of radiation and deriving from an image (20,22), on at least part of the input image area, a digital signal representing the image, an output image scanner (8,9,10) for reproducing from said signal an output image (21,23) on at least part of an output image area, wherein the input image scanner (1,2,3) and the output image scanner (8,9,10) are arranged to scan the input and output image areas respectively simultaneously at a fixed relative rate, the output and input images are represented as a series of pixels arranged in orthogonal directions at fixed resolutions, the apparatus includes processing means (6) in the data path, between the input (1,2,3) and output (8,9,10) scanners, for processing the digital signal to change the size of the output image relative to the input image, the processing means (6) include a data store (5), part of the input image area is scanned by the input image scanner (1,2,3) before scanning of the output image area is started, when effecting a reduction in the size of the output image (23) relative to the input image (22) data representative of the scanned part of the input image area are stored in the data store (5) for use by the output image scanner (8,9,10), and the scanning of the input and output image areas is completed at the same time. An image scanning apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that, the required data capacity of the data store (5) is less than 15% of that required to hold data corresponding to an image covering the whole of the input image area. An image scanning apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, the input image scanner (1,2,3) comprises a scanning head (3), a flat carrier (1) for receiving an original bearing an input image, and means for producing relative scanning movement between the scanning head (3) and the flat carrier (1). An image scanning apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, the reproducing means comprises a rotatable drum (10) having a surface for receiving a sheet of light-sensitive material, means (8,9) for directing at least one light beam on to the material and for moving the beam or beams axially of the drum, and means for modulating the or each light beam in accordance with the output image data. An image scanning apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, the input image scanner (1,2,3) includes a scanning head (3) extending across the input image area, in a direction transverse to the direction of scan. An image scanning apparatus as claimed in Claim 6, characterised in that, the scanning head (3) is a CCD array, and in that the input image scanner (1,2,3) includes a lens (2) interposed between the scanning head (3) and the input image area. A method of scanning an image comprising the steps of scanning an input image area with a beam of radiation to obtain a digital signal representing an input image (20); scanning an output image area simultaneously with, and at a fixed relative rate to, the scanning of the image area, the scanning of the input image area being completed before the scanning of the output image area, when effecting an increase in the size of an output image (21) relative to the input image (20); storing data representative of that part of the output image area awaiting scanning to enable completion of the output image (21) to be effected, processing the digital signal to effect the increase in size of the output image (21) relative to the input image (20); and, reproducing from the digital signal, an output image on the output image area. A method of scanning an image comprising the steps of scanning an input image area with a beam of radiation to obtain a digital signal representing an input image (22); scanning an output image area simultaneously with, and at a fixed relative rate to, the scanning of the input image area, the scanning of the input and output image areas being completed at the same time, when effecting a reduction in the size of an output image (23) relative to the input image (22), part of the input image area being scanned before scanning of the output image area is started; storing data representative of the scanned part of the input image area for use in the production of the output image (23); processing the digital signal to effect the reduction in the size of the output image (23) relative to the input image (22); and, reproducing from the digital signal, the output image on part of the output image area. A method of scanning an image as claimed in Claim 8 or Claim 9, characterised in that, the stored data is less than 15% of the data corresponding to an image covering the whole of the input image area.

Inventors: NEILSON PETER JOHN, NEILSON, PETER JOHN
Applicants: DICK CO AB, A.B. DICK COMPANY
Application year: 1990
Main classification: H04N1
IPC codes: H04N1