SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING IMAGE SIZE
RATIO OF DATA FOR PRESENTATION OF
PROPER SIZE ON DISPLAYS OR PRINTERS
FROM OPTICAL STORAGE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image information processing apparatus which is adapted for retrieving image information by using an optical memory. More specifically, the invention relates to an image information processing apparatus which is capable of printing image information retrieved from the optical memory.
An image information processing apparatus, such as a document filing apparatus, is used for storing and retrieving image information of an original document to on and from an optical memory. In the document filing apparatus of the type described above, image information of documents is read by a two-dimensional scanner and such image information is stored in the optical memory. Also, the desired image information among the various image information stored in the optical memory is retrieved and read out to be reproduced visually by an output device, such as a CRT display or a printer.
In such image processing apparatus, for example, when the size of the image retrieved from the optical memory differs from the size of the image outputted from the CRT display or the printer, the retrieved image is enlarged or reduced using an enlarging/reducing ratio in accordance with the size of the outputted image. An image processing apparatus of this type is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,468,755.
However, for example, when the size of the image retrieved from the optical memory differs greatly from the size of the recording paper outputted from the printer, for example, the size of the retrieved image is A2 size and the size of the recording paper is A4 size, the processing time for reducing the size of the retrieved image is too long. Therefore, in the conventional apparatus, the printer may not reproduce the hard copy of the retrieved image due to a timing error.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved image information processing apparatus which may output a large-sized image retrieved from an optical memory.
In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing object and others are achieved by providing an image information processing apparatus including first memory means for storing image information, means for retrieving the image information from the first memory means, second memory means for storing the image information retrieved by the retrieving means, means for converting a size of the image information stored in the second memory means, means for outputting the image information converted by the converting means, means for determining a first size converting ratio corresponding to the size of the retrieved image information and the outputted size of the image information and having means for ascertaining whether or not the size converting ratio is within a predetermined range and means for setting a second size converting ratio which is within the predetermined range, when the first size converting ratio is outside the predetermined range, and means for controlling the converting means and having first means for supplying the size-converted image in
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formation to the outputting means when the converting means converts the size of the image information by the first converting ratio and second means for supplying the size-converted image information to the second 5 memory means when the converting means converts the size of the stored image information by the second converting ratio.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
10 A more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be readily obtained by reference to the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 15 FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of an image information processing apparatus applied to a document filing apparatus with an optical memory according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a view showing a format of retrieval data 20 recorded in the magnetic disk;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an enlarge/reduction circuit shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram useful in explaining the operation of the enlarge/reduction circuit shown in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram useful in explaining the operation of the enlarge/reduction circuit shown in FIG. 3;
30 FIG. 6 is a flow chart useful for explaining the registration operation of the image information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and
FIGS. 7A and 7B are flow charts useful for explaining the retrieving and printing operation of the image
35 information processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown an image
40 information processing apparatus applied to a document filing apparatus having an optical memory according to the present invention. The image information processing apparatus has a control module 10, a memory module 12, an image processing module 14, a communica
45 tion control module 16, a two-dimensinal scanner 18, an optical memory (an optical disk) 20, and an optical disk drive 22, a keyboard 23, a CRT display 24, a printer 25, a magnetic disk 26, and a magnetic disk drive 27, a pointing device (mouse) 29, a system bus 30 and an
SO image bus 32.
Control module 10 includes a CPU 34 which may perform various control operations for storing and retrieving image information, and an interface circuit 36 coupled to optical disk drive 22 and magnetic disk drive
55 26. Also, CPU 34 is connected to keyboard 23 and mouse 29.
Memory module 12 includes a main memory 38, a page memory 40, a display memory 42 and a display controller 44. Main memory 38 stores various programs
60 for executing image storing and retrieving operation, management information, etc. Page memory 40 has a memory area corresponding to at least one unit of image information, i.e., one page of image information on an Al size original document, and a buffer memory area
65 40a, and temporarily stores the image information read by scanner 18 or retrieved from optical disk 20 therein. Display memory 42 stores the image information for displaying on CRT display 24 through page memory 40.
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Image processing module 14 includes a size conversion circuit (an enlarge/reduction circuit) 46, a rotation circuit 48, a compression/expansion circuit (CODEC) 50, a scanner interface circuit 52 and a printer interface circuit 54. 5
Enlarge/reduction circuit 46 performs an expansion operation, a reduction operation and a strike-through operation in which an (enlarge/reduction ratio=0%) in response to a control signal from CPU 34 through system bus 30. Thus, enlarge/reduction circuit 46 is pro- 10 vided with predetermined size conversion ratio data from CPU 34 and enlarges or reduces the image information to a predetermined size so as to adapt the image information for CRT display 24 or printer 25. Rotation circuit 48 performs a vertical-horizontal conversion of 15 the image information. Compression/expansion circuit (CODEC) 50 performs a signal compressing and expanding operation based on the MH (Modified Hoffman) conversion or inverse conversion. Also, scanner 18 and printer 25 are coupled to compression/expansion 20 circuit 50 via scanner interface 52 and printer interface 54, respectively.
Communication control module 16 includes a communication interface 58, such as a business communication processer (BCP), which serves as an interface for a 25 local area network (LAN).
Also, CPU 34 of control module 10 is coupled to main memory 38, page memory 40, display memory 42, expansion/reduction circuit 46, rotation circuit 48, compression/expansion circuit 50 and communication 30 interface 58 via system bus 30. Moreover, page memory 40 is coupled to display memory 42, expansion/reduction circuit 46, rotation circuit 48 and communication interface 58 via image bus 32.
Two-dimensional scanner 18 is coupled to CPU 34 35 through scanner interface 52 and system bus 30. Scanner 18 performs two-dimensional scanning of original documents ranging from an A5 to Al size to obtain a video signal corresponding to image information on documents. Printer 25 is coupled to CPU 34 through 40 printer interface 54 and system bus 30. Printer 25 reproduces a hard copy of image information obtained from scanner 18 or read out from optical disk drive 22 through page memory 40. Optical disk drive 22, a large capacity storage device, is coupled to CPU 34 through 45 interface circuit 36 and system bus 30. Optical disk drive 22 sequentially stores image information obtained from scanner 18 in optical disk memory 20. Keyboard 23 and mouse 29 are connected to CPU 34. Keyboard 23 is used to enter various operating instructions and title 50 information for individually identifying image information to be stored or retrieved. Also, mouse 29 is used to move a cursor displayed on the screen of CRT display 24. Magnetic disk drive 27 is coupled to CPU 34 through interface circuit 36 and system bus 30 and 55 stores retrieval data corresponding to the document information in magnetic disk 26. Each of the retrieval data includes various index data. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the various index data includes a title code, which has twenty digits divided into a maximum of five 60 items, and an address code of five digits. The address code has a 1-digit data length L (i.e., track No.), a 1digit sector address S.ADR and a 1-digit document size S. The document size can be, for example, A4, B4, etc.
FIG. 3 shows a detailed circuit construction of enlar- 65 ge/reduction circuit 46. In enlarge/reduction circuit 46, for example, image information of one line read out of page memory 40 is supplied to a data input terminal 400.
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The image information of one line is assumed to consist of 2,048 bits in this case. The image information supplied to terminal 400 is supplied to a RAM 401 and a latch 406 of six-bits. RAM 401 is a 2Kx 1 bit memory and the address thereof is designated by the output of a counter 413. In enlarge/reduction circuit 46, five RAMs 401 to 405 and seven latches 406 to 412 are provided. These RAMs 401 to 405 and latches 406 to 412 are all operated by a clock signal supplied from a main clock generator 414 through a signal path shown by a solid line or a signal line shown by a two-dot line. The signal path shown by the solid line is used when the circuit of FIG. 3 acts as an enlarge/reduction circuit and the signal path shown by the two-dot line is for a size expansion circuit.
Thus, under the address control of counter 413, a first one line image information of 2,048 bits is stored in first RAM 401. Then, when a first bit of a second line image information is supplied to RAM 401 the first bit of the first line image information stored in RAM 401 is read out therefrom and latched at latch 406, while the first bit of the second line is stored in the first memory location of RAM 401. Then, the second bit of the second line is stored in RAM 401 and the second bit of the first line is read out and latched in latch 406. At the same time, the first bit of the first line latched at latch 406 is sent to second RAM 402 and stored therein. In this way, when the last (2,048th) bit of the second line is stored in RAM 401, the first one line image information data of 2,048 bits is shifted to second RAM 402. Thus, each one line image information of 2,048 bits is sequentially shifted in RAMs 401 to 405. At last, first to fifth line image information is respectively stored in RAMs 405 to 401 and first bits of each first to fifth line image information are latched at latch 406 to be sent to latch 407 at the same time together with a first bit of sixth line image information supplied to terminal 400.
When a second bit of the sixth line is supplied to terminal 400, each first bit of the first to sixth lines latched at latch 407 is sent to next latch 408 and each second bit of the first to sixth lines is latched at latch 407. In a similar manner, when a seventh bit of the sixth line image information is supplied to terminal 400, the first bit of each first to sixth line is latched at latch 412, the second bit of the same is latched at latch 411, the third bit at latch 410, the fourth bit at latch 409, fifth the bit at latch 408, and the sixth bit at latch 407. Thus, if the respective bits latched in latches 407 to 412 are rearranged in a matrix array, the original image is reproduced as the dot image as shown in FIG. 4, wherein the black dots represent "1" bits and white dots represent "0" bits. Thus, a local image information of 6 bits (X direction) by 6 lines (Y direction) is supplied to an arithmetic ROM 415 from the latches 407 to 412.
Two adders 416 and 417, two latches 418 and 419, a comparator 420 and counter 413 form a distance calculating circuit 430 in the X direction, and two adders 421 and 422, two latches 423 and 424, a comparator 425 and a counter 426 constitute a distance calculating circuit 431 in the Y direction. These distance calculating circuits 430 and 431 are used for calculating an image dot position of a size-converted image in both the X and Y directions. The size conversion (expansion or reduction) rate setting data in the X, Y, directions supplied from CPU 34 is supplied to adders 416, 417, 421 and 422. In enlarge/reduction circuit 46, a reduction ratio data is shown as an example. The integer part of the reduction rate is supplied to adders 416, 421 and a de
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