Image processing device and image processing method

Abstract

An image processing device (5) comprises a first acquisition unit (51), a second acquisition unit (52), a third acquisition unit (53), and an image generation unit (54). The first acquisition unit (51) acquires first image data expressing a first image that includes a first surface of an original document placed on an original document placement section. The second acquisition unit (52) acquires second image data expressing a second image including a second surface of the original document placed on the original document placement section after the acquisition of the first image data. The third acquisition unit (53) acquires condition information expressing a condition for the output of the original document. The image generation unit (54) generates a combined image combining the first image and the second image on the basis of the first image data and the second image data. The image generation unit (54) determines the layout of the first image and the second image in the combined image on the basis of the condition information.

Description

Image processing device and image processing method

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing device and an image processing method.

[0002] As a related technique, there is known a document reading device that extracts document portions from image data obtained by reading the front and back sides of a document (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-222294).

[0003] JP 2023-33768 A

[0004] However, the above-mentioned related art has a problem in that it is not possible to generate an aggregated image that aggregates images on the front side (first side) and back side (second side) of a document in a layout intended by the user.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device and an image processing method that can easily generate an aggregated image that aggregates an image of the first side of a document and an image of the second side of the document in a layout intended by a user.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, an image processing device includes a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, a third acquisition unit, and an image generation unit. The first acquisition unit acquires first image data representing a first image from an image reading unit that reads a first image including a first side of a document placed on a document placement unit. After acquiring the first image data, the second acquisition unit acquires second image data representing a second image from the image reading unit that reads a second image including a second side of the document placed on the document placement unit. The third acquisition unit acquires condition information representing conditions for outputting the document. The image generation unit generates an aggregate image by aggregating the first image and the second image based on the first image data and the second image data. The image generation unit determines a layout of the first image and the second image in the aggregate image based on the condition information.

[0007] An image processing method according to another aspect of the present invention includes a first acquisition step, a second acquisition step, a third acquisition step, and an image generation step. In the first acquisition step, first image data representing a first image is acquired from an image reading unit that reads a first image including a first side of a document placed on a document placement unit. In the second acquisition step, after acquiring the first image data, second image data representing a second image is acquired from the image reading unit that reads a second image including a second side of the document placed on the document placement unit. In the third acquisition step, condition information representing output conditions of the document is acquired. In the image generation step, an aggregated image is generated by aggregating the first image and the second image based on the first image data and the second image data. In the image generation step, a layout of the first image and the second image in the aggregated image is determined based on the condition information.

[0008] According to the present invention, an image processing device and an image processing method can be provided that can easily generate an aggregated image that aggregates an image of the first side of a document and an image of the second side of the document in a layout intended by the user.

[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of an ADF and an image reading unit of the image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of operation of the image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a first example of an aggregate image generated by the image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a second example of an aggregate image generated by the image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second example of an aggregate image generated by the image processing apparatus according to an embodiment.

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following description will discuss preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The preferred embodiments are merely examples of the present invention and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0011] [1] Overall Configuration of Image Forming Apparatus First, an image forming apparatus 10 according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG.

[0012] In this embodiment, as an example, the image forming apparatus 10 is a multifunction peripheral that has multiple functions, such as a scanning function for acquiring image data from an original, a printing function for forming an image based on the image data, a facsimile function, a copy function, etc. Note that the image forming apparatus 10 may be a device other than a multifunction peripheral, as long as it has at least a scanning function.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the image forming apparatus 10 includes an ADF (automatic document feeder) 1, an image reading unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a paper feeding unit 4, an image processing device 5, an operation display unit 6, and a storage unit 7.

[0014] The image forming unit 3 is capable of electrophotographically forming an image on a sheet based on image data acquired by the image reading unit 2. Furthermore, when an aggregate image 8 (see FIG. 5 etc.) is generated by an image generating unit 54 described later, the image forming unit 3 is also capable of electrophotographically forming the aggregate image 8 on a sheet.

[0015] Here, the aggregate image 8 is an image obtained by aggregating a first image 81 (see FIG. 5, etc.) including the first side (here, the front side) of the document and a second image 82 (see FIG. 5, etc.) including the second side (here, the back side) of the document. In other words, the aggregate image 8 is an image in which an image of the front side of the document scanned by the image scanning unit 2 and an image of the back side of the document scanned by the image scanning unit 2 are arranged in a size that fits on a single surface. Therefore, by looking at one aggregate image 8, a user can at a glance confirm the front and back sides of the document. In this embodiment, the document is, for example, an ID card such as a driver's license or health insurance card, which is an identification card that lists personal information such as a photograph, name, and date of birth. Of course, the document is not limited to an identification card as long as some information is listed on both the first and second sides (i.e., the front and back sides).

[0016] The image forming unit 3 includes a photosensitive drum, a charging roller, an optical scanning device, a developing device, a transfer roller, a cleaning device, a fixing device, and a paper discharge tray. Note that the image forming unit 3 may form an image (including the aggregate image 8) by other image forming methods such as an inkjet method.

[0017] The paper feed unit 4 supplies sheets to the image forming unit 3. The paper feed unit 4 includes a paper feed cassette and a plurality of transport rollers.

[0018] The image processing device 5 comprehensively controls the image forming device 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the image processing device 5 includes a CPU 5A, a ROM 5B, and a RAM 5C. The CPU 5A is a processor that executes various types of arithmetic processing. The ROM 5B is a non-volatile storage device that pre-stores information such as control programs for causing the CPU 5A to execute various types of processing. The RAM 5C is a volatile storage device used as a temporary storage memory (work area) for the various types of processing executed by the CPU 5A.

[0019] In the image processing device 5, the CPU 5A executes various control programs stored in advance in the ROM 5B. As a result, the image forming apparatus 10 is comprehensively controlled by the image processing device 5. The image processing device 5 may be configured with an electronic circuit such as an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The image processing device 5 may also be a control unit provided separately from a main control unit that comprehensively controls the image forming apparatus 10.

[0020] The operation display unit 6 is a user interface of the image forming apparatus 10. The operation display unit 6 has a display unit such as a liquid crystal display that displays various information in response to control instructions from the image processing apparatus 5, and an operation unit such as operation keys or a touch panel that inputs various information to the image processing apparatus 5 in response to user operations.

[0021] The storage unit 7 is a nonvolatile storage device, such as a flash memory, a nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM (registered trademark), a solid state drive (SSD), or a hard disk drive (HDD).

[0022] The ADF 1 transports a document from which image data is to be acquired by the image reading unit 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the ADF 1 includes a document tray 11, a plurality of transport rollers 12, a document guide 13, and a paper discharge unit .

[0023] In the ADF 1, each of the transport rollers 12 is driven by a motor (not shown), which causes the document placed on the document tray 11 to be transported along a document transport path formed inside the ADF 1. The document transported along the document transport path is guided by the document guide 13 onto the second contact glass 212 (see FIG. 1 ) of the document table 21, and then discharged to the paper discharge unit 14.

[0024] The image reading unit 2 is capable of reading an image from a document and acquiring image data including the image. Specifically, the image reading unit 2 is capable of acquiring image data from a document using a CCD (charge coupled device) system. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the image reading unit 2 includes a document table 21, a reading unit 22, two mirrors 23 and 24, an optical lens 25, and a CCD 26.

[0025] The document table 21 is provided on the top surface of a box-shaped housing that houses each component of the image reading unit 2. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the document table 21 includes a first contact glass 211 and a second contact glass 212. The first contact glass 211 is a flat glass plate on whose top surface a document is placed. In the image forming apparatus 10, documents of various sizes are placed on the first contact glass 211 in accordance with the placement reference position P1 shown in FIG. 2 . Multiple documents can also be placed spread out on the first contact glass 211. The second contact glass 212 transmits light emitted from the reading unit 22 toward the document transported by the ADF 1. The first contact glass 211 is an example of a document placement unit in the present invention.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2 , the ADF 1 is attached to the top surface of the document table 21 so as to be able to open and close relative to the first contact glass 211. As a result, the ADF 1 functions as a document cover for a document placed on the first contact glass 211. A pressure plate 15 is provided on the bottom surface of the ADF 1. The pressure plate 15 has a pressure surface 15A that presses the top surface of a document placed on the first contact glass 211 against the first contact glass 211 when the ADF 1 is closed. The pressure surface 15A is entirely covered with a solid white image. In other words, a solid white image is formed on the entire pressure surface 15A. Note that the pressure surface 15A may be partially or entirely covered with an image of a color other than white.

[0027] As shown in Fig. 1, the reading unit 22 is provided below the first contact glass 211 and the second contact glass 212. The reading unit 22 is configured to be movable in the sub-scanning direction D2 shown in Fig. 2 by a moving mechanism (not shown) having a drive unit such as a stepping motor. As shown in Fig. 1, the reading unit 22 includes a light source 221 and a mirror 222.

[0028] The light source 221 is a plurality of LEDs arranged along the main scanning direction D1 shown in Fig. 2. The light source 221 emits light for one line in the main scanning direction D1 toward the first contact glass 211 or the second contact glass 212. The light emitted from the light source 221 passes through the first contact glass 211 or the second contact glass 212 and is irradiated onto the document placed on the first contact glass 211 or the document being transported by the ADF 1. The mirror 222 reflects the light emitted from the light source 221 and reflected by the document to the mirror 23.

[0029] In the image reading unit 2, when image data is acquired from a document placed on the first contact glass 211, the reading unit 22 is moved in the sub-scanning direction D2 by the movement mechanism. As a result, light irradiated from the light source 221 onto the document is scanned in the sub-scanning direction D2. In addition, in the image reading unit 2, when image data is acquired from a document transported by the ADF 1, the reading unit 22 is moved to a position below the second contact glass 212 by the movement mechanism. As a result, light emitted from the light source 221 passes through the second contact glass 212 and is irradiated onto the document transported by the ADF 1.

[0030] The mirror 23 reflects the light reflected by the mirror 222 of the reading unit 22 to the mirror 24. The mirror 24 reflects the light reflected by the mirror 23 to the optical lens 25. The optical lens 25 collects the light reflected by the mirror 24 and makes it incident on the CCD 26.

[0031] The CCD 26 is an image sensor having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged along the main scanning direction D1. The CCD 26 outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the amount of light received. In the image reading unit 2, light emitted from a light source 221 and reflected by a document is incident on the CCD 26 via a mirror 222, a mirror 23, a mirror 24, and an optical lens 25. This causes the CCD 26 to output an analog electrical signal corresponding to the image of the document. The analog electrical signal output from the CCD 26 is converted into a digital electrical signal (image data) by an AFE (analog front end) circuit (not shown) and input to the image processing device 5.

[0032] The image reading unit 2 may be of a type that acquires image data from a document using a CIS (contact image sensor) method.

[0033] Incidentally, a user of an image forming device may have a desire to transmit image data representing an aggregate image that aggregates an image of a first side (here, the front side) and an image of a second side (here, the back side) of a document (here, an identification card) to a predetermined institution that requests the document, or to store the image data in a portable storage device such as a USB memory and carry it around. In order to meet such a user's desire, for example, it is conceivable to have the image forming device read the first and second sides of the document using an image reading unit, and generate an aggregate image based on the image data including the first side and the image data including the second side of the read document.

[0034] However, the image forming device cannot determine what kind of aggregate image the user wants simply by reading the first and second sides of the document with the image reading unit. Specifically, the image forming device cannot determine the layout and dimensions of the images on the first and second sides of the aggregate image intended by the user. As a result, the image forming device cannot generate an aggregate image that aggregates the images on the first and second sides of the document in the layout intended by the user.

[0035] In contrast, in this embodiment, the processing performed by the image processing device 5 of the image forming device 10 described below makes it possible to realize an image processing device 5 and an image processing method that can easily generate an aggregated image that combines an image of the first side of a document and an image of the second side of a document in a layout intended by the user.

[0036] Specifically, a program for causing the CPU 5A to execute an aggregate image generation process (see FIG. 4 ), which will be described later, is stored in advance in the ROM 5B of the image processing device 5. The program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD, a DVD, or a flash memory, and may be read from the recording medium and installed in the storage unit 7.

[0037] 3, the image processing device 5 includes a first acquisition unit 51, a second acquisition unit 52, a third acquisition unit 53, an image generation unit 54, and an image output unit 55. Specifically, the image processing device 5 executes the above-mentioned program stored in the ROM 5B using the CPU 5A. As a result, the image processing device 5 functions as the first acquisition unit 51, the second acquisition unit 52, the third acquisition unit 53, the image generation unit 54, and the image output unit 55.

[0038] The first acquisition unit 51 acquires first image data indicating a first image 81 including the first side (here, the front side) of a document placed on a document placement unit (here, the first contact glass 211) from the image reading unit 2, which reads an image from the document.

[0039] For example, the first acquisition unit 51 executes a process to acquire first image data when an instruction to execute a double-sided reading process to read both sides of a document is input by a user's operation on the operation display unit 6. In this process, the operation of each unit of the image reading unit 2 is controlled, and the image reading unit 2 reads a first image 81 including the first side of the document placed on the upper surface of the first contact glass 211. Then, the first acquisition unit 51 acquires first image data indicating the first image 81 read by the image reading unit 2.

[0040] After acquiring the first image 81, the second acquisition unit 52 acquires second image data indicating a second image 82 including the second side (here, the back side) of the document placed on the document placement unit (here, the first contact glass 211) from the image reading unit 2.

[0041] For example, during the double-sided reading process, the second acquisition unit 52 executes a process to acquire the second image data after executing a process to acquire the first image data. This process may be executed, for example, when an execution instruction is input by a user's operation on the operation display unit 6. In this process, the operation of each unit of the image reading unit 2 is controlled, and the image reading unit 2 reads a second image 82 including a second side of a document placed on the upper surface of the first contact glass 211. Note that the user turns the document over, so that the second side of the document is placed on the upper surface of the first contact glass 211. Then, the second acquisition unit 52 acquires second image data indicating the second image 82 read by the image reading unit 2.

[0042] The third acquisition unit 53 acquires condition information indicating conditions for outputting the original. Here, the condition information is information indicating how the original (here, the aggregate image 8) is to be output. In particular, in this embodiment, the condition information is information indicating settings different from settings that directly specify the layout. The condition information includes, for example, information indicating the size of the image to be output (hereinafter referred to as "output size") or information indicating whether a cropping function is enabled. Here, "outputting the original" includes transmitting image data indicating the aggregate image 8 or saving image data indicating the aggregate image 8 in a storage device.

[0043] The cropping function is a function that cuts out the surface of a document as a document area and converts the cut-out document area into a single image. For example, when the cropping function is enabled and the front side (first side) of an identification card (document) is read by the image reading unit 2, the image reading unit 2 detects and cuts out the front side of the identification card as the document area, thereby reading an image (first image 81) cut out of the front side of the identification card. The same applies when the back side of the identification card is read by the image reading unit 2.

[0044] For example, the third acquisition unit 53 executes a process to acquire condition information when an instruction to execute a double-sided reading process to read both sides of a document is input by a user's operation on the operation display unit 6. In this process, the third acquisition unit 53 may acquire the condition information by reading out condition information that is pre-stored in the storage unit 7 through input by the user on the operation display unit 6 before the execution of the double-sided reading process. Also, in this process, the third acquisition unit 53 may acquire the condition information that the user inputs on the operation display unit 6 while the double-sided reading process is being executed.

[0045] The image generation unit 54 generates an aggregate image 8 by aggregating the first image 81 and the second image 82 based on the first image data and the second image data. Then, when generating the aggregate image 8, the image generation unit 54 determines the layout of the first image 81 and the second image 82 in the aggregate image 8 based on the condition information. In other words, the image generation unit 54 not only aggregates the first image 81 and the second image 82 into one image, but also determines the layout of the first image 81 and the second image 82 by referring to the condition information, and generates the aggregate image 8 according to the determined layout. A specific example of generating the aggregate image 8 will be described in detail in "[2. Example of Operation of Image Processing Device]" below.

[0046] The image output unit 55 displays the aggregate image 8 as a preview image on a display unit (here, the operation display unit 6) that displays various information. That is, the image output unit 55 displays the aggregate image 8 on the operation display unit 6 before outputting (transmitting or saving in a storage device) the aggregate image 8 generated by the image generation unit 54. This allows the user to check whether the aggregate image 8 intended by the user has been generated by looking at the aggregate image 8 displayed on the operation display unit 6.

[0047] For example, when image generation unit 54 generates aggregate image 8, image output unit 55 may execute a process of automatically displaying aggregate image 8 as a preview image on operation display unit 6. Furthermore, for example, when image generation unit 54 generates aggregate image 8 and the user inputs an instruction to display a preview image on operation display unit 6, image output unit 55 may execute a process of displaying aggregate image 8 as a preview image on operation display unit 6.

[0048] [2] Example of Operation of Image Processing Device Below, an example of the image processing method of this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 4, along with an example of the processing procedure executed by the image processing device 5 in the image forming apparatus 10. Here, steps S11, S12, ... represent the numbers of the processing procedures (steps) executed by the image processing device 5. This processing starts when a command to execute a double-sided reading process for reading both sides of a document is input by a user's operation on the operation display unit 6.

[0049] <Step S11> First, the first acquisition unit 51 of the image processing device 5 acquires first image data. Specifically, the first acquisition unit 51 acquires the first image data from the image reading unit 2 by having the image reading unit 2 read a first image 81 including a first side (here, the front side) of a document placed on a document placement unit (here, the first contact glass 211).

[0050] <Step S12> Next, the second acquisition unit 52 of the image processing device 5 acquires second image data. Specifically, the second acquisition unit 52 acquires the second image data from the image reading unit 2 by having the image reading unit 2 read a second image 82 including a second side (here, the back side) of the document placed on the document placement unit (here, the first contact glass 211). Note that before executing step S12, the document placed on the upper surface of the first contact glass 211 is turned over by the user.

[0051] <Step S13> Next, the third acquisition unit 53 of the image processing device 5 acquires condition information. Specifically, the third acquisition unit 53 acquires condition information input by the user on the operation / display unit 6 during execution of the double-sided reading process. Note that the third acquisition unit 53 may acquire the condition information by reading out condition information pre-stored in the storage unit 7. Also, step S13 may be executed before steps S11 and S12, or may be executed in parallel with steps S11 and S12.

[0052] <Step S14> Next, when generating the aggregate image 8, the image generation unit 54 of the image processing device 5 determines the layout of the first image 81 and the second image 82 in the aggregate image 8 based on the condition information. Specifically, the image generation unit 54 first determines the layout based on whether or not the cropping function is enabled. Then, if the cropping function is enabled, the image generation unit 54 determines the layout based on the output size. Below, an example of determining the layout based on the condition information, particularly an example of determining the layout when the cropping function is enabled, will be described.

[0053] (1) First Example: In the first example, the condition information indicates that the output size is the same as the document size. In this case, the image generation unit 54 determines a layout in which a first image 81 and a second image 82, which are cropped from the document area by the cropping function, are arranged without any margins, as shown in FIG.

[0054] Here, "arranging the first image 81 and the second image 82 without any margins" means arranging the first image 81 and the second image 82 so that there is no gap between them, in other words, so that the gap between the first image 81 and the second image 82 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined dimension. Also, "arranging the first image 81 and the second image 82 without any margins" means arranging the first image 81 and the second image 82 so that there is no gap between the periphery of the aggregated image 8 and the first image 81 and between the periphery of the aggregated image 8 and the second image 82, in other words, so that the distance between the periphery of the aggregated image 8 and the first image 81 and between the periphery of the aggregated image 8 and the second image 82 is equal to or smaller than a predetermined dimension.

[0055] As shown in Figure 5, the aggregate image 8 is an image in which a first image 81 showing the first side (here, the front side) of a document (here, an identification card) and a second image 82 showing the second side (here, the back side) of the document are arranged vertically with no margins.

[0056] (2) Second Example The second example is an example of determining a layout when the condition information indicates that the output size is a standard size, in other words, a standard size (e.g., "A3," "A4," or "B4") previously set by the image processing device 5, or further, a size of the aggregate image 8 that can be generated by the image processing device 5. In this case, the image generating unit 54 determines a layout in which the first image 81 and the second image 82 cut out from the document area by the cropping function are arranged in the first area A1 and the second area A2, which are half the standard size, respectively, as shown in FIGS.

[0057] Here, in the second example, the condition information further includes position information indicating the positions of the first image 81 and the second image 82. The position information is, for example, "center" or "top right." When the position information is "center," the first image 81 is positioned in the center of the first area A1, and the second image 82 is positioned in the center of the second area A2. When the position information is "top right," the first image 81 is positioned in the top right corner of the first area A1, and the second image 82 is positioned in the top right corner of the second area A2. Note that the position information may be information that individually sets the position of the first image 81 in the first area A1 and the position of the second image 82 in the second area A2, for example.

[0058] 6 shows an example in which the standard size is "A3" and the position information is "center." In this case, the first area A1 is "A4" size, which is half the standard size, and is the upper area in the aggregate image 8. The second area A2 is also "A4" size, which is half the standard size, and is the lower area in the aggregate image 8. The image generation unit 54 then determines a layout in which the first image 81 is placed in the center of the first area A1 and the second image 82 is placed in the center of the second area A2.

[0059] 7 shows an example in which the standard size is "A3" and the position information is "top right." In this case, the first area A1 is "A4" size, which is half the standard size, and is the upper area in the aggregated image 8. The second area A2 is also "A4" size, which is half the standard size, and is the lower area in the aggregated image 8. The image generating unit 54 then determines a layout in which the first image 81 is placed in the upper right corner of the first area A1 and the second image 82 is placed in the upper right corner of the second area A2.

[0060] <Step S15> Next, the image generation unit 54 of the image processing device 5 generates the aggregate image 8. Specifically, the image generation unit 54 generates the aggregate image 8 in accordance with the layout determined in step S14.

[0061] <Step S16> Next, the image output unit 55 of the image processing device 5 displays the aggregate image 8 generated by the image generation unit 54 as a preview image on the display unit (here, the operation display unit 6). Specifically, when the image generation unit 54 generates the aggregate image 8, the image output unit 55 automatically displays the aggregate image 8 as a preview image on the operation display unit 6. Note that, after the image generation unit 54 generates the aggregate image 8, if the user inputs an instruction to display a preview image on the operation display unit 6, the image output unit 55 may display the aggregate image 8 as a preview image on the operation display unit 6.

[0062] As described above, the image processing device 5 according to this embodiment determines the layout of the first image 81 and the second image 82 in the aggregate image 8 based on the condition information. Therefore, the image processing device 5 according to this embodiment can determine the layout by referring to the condition information that is thought to reflect the user's intention, and generate the aggregate image 8 according to the determined layout, making it easy to generate the aggregate image 8 in the layout intended by the user.

[0063] For example, if the condition information is not referenced, the image processing device 5 cannot determine whether to generate the aggregate image 8 in the layout shown in Fig. 5 or in the layout shown in Fig. 6. In this case, even though the user intends the layout shown in Fig. 5, the image processing device 5 may generate the aggregate image 8 in the layout shown in Fig. 6, and the aggregate image 8 intended by the user cannot be generated.

[0064] In contrast, the image processing device 5 according to this embodiment refers to the condition information, and therefore can generate the aggregate image 8 in a layout intended by the user. For example, if the user intends the layout shown in Fig. 5, the intention is reflected in the condition information, and therefore the image processing device 5 can generate the aggregate image 8 in the layout intended by the user, as shown in Fig. 5.

[0065] In particular, in the image processing device according to this embodiment, the condition information is information indicating settings that are different from settings that directly specify a layout. Therefore, even if the user does not directly specify a layout, the aggregate image 8 intended by the user can be easily generated by referring to the condition information, so the user does not need to directly specify a layout, which saves the user time and effort.

[0066] [3] Modification In the present embodiment, the condition information is information indicating a setting different from a setting that directly specifies a layout, but is not limited to this. For example, the condition information may be information indicating a setting that directly specifies a layout.

[0067] The image processing device 5 does not need to refer to all of the condition information, such as information indicating whether the cropping function is enabled, information indicating the output size of the image, and position information indicating the positions of the first image 81 and the second image 82. For example, the image processing device 5 may determine the layout without referring to the position information, or may determine the layout without referring to the position information and the information indicating the output size of the image.

[0068] The image processing device 5 does not need to include the image output unit 55. In this case, the image processing device 5 outputs (transmits or stores in a recording device) the aggregate image 8 generated by the image generation unit 54 without displaying the aggregate image 8 on the display unit (here, the operation display unit 6) as a preview image.

[0069] [Supplementary Notes on the Invention] The following is a summary of the invention extracted from the above-described embodiment. Note that the configurations and processing functions described in the following supplementary notes can be selected and combined as desired.

[0070] <Supplementary Note 1> An image processing device comprising: a first acquisition unit that acquires first image data indicating a first image including a first side of a document from an image reading unit that reads an image from the document placed on a document placing unit; a second acquisition unit that acquires second image data indicating a second image including a second side of the document placed on the document placing unit after acquiring the first image data from the image reading unit; a third acquisition unit that acquires condition information that indicates conditions for outputting the document; and an image generation unit that generates an aggregate image by aggregating the first image and the second image based on the first image data and the second image data, wherein the image generation unit determines a layout of the first image and the second image in the aggregate image based on the condition information.

[0071] <Supplementary Note 2> The image processing device according to Supplementary Note 1, wherein the condition information is information indicating a setting different from a setting that directly specifies the layout.

[0072] <Supplementary Note 3> The image processing device according to Supplementary Note 2, wherein the condition information includes information indicating whether a cropping function is enabled for each of the first image and the second image, which crops out a corresponding surface of the document as a document area and combines the cropped document area into a single image, and the image generation unit determines the layout based on whether the cropping function is enabled.

[0073] <Supplementary Note 4> The image processing device according to Supplementary Note 3, wherein the condition information further includes information indicating an output size of an image, and when the cropping function is enabled, the image generation unit determines the layout based on the output size.

[0074] <Supplementary Note 5> The image processing device according to Supplementary Note 4, wherein, when the condition information indicates that the output size is the same as a size of an original, the image generation unit determines the layout to be one in which the first image and the second image cut out from the original area are arranged without margins.

[0075] <Supplementary Note 6> The image processing device according to Supplementary Note 4, wherein, when the condition information indicates that the output size is a predetermined standard size, the image generation unit determines the layout in which the first image and the second image cut out from the document area are arranged in a first area and a second area that are half the standard size, respectively.

[0076] <Supplementary Note 7> The image processing device according to Supplementary Note 6, wherein, when the condition information includes position information indicating positions of the first image and the second image, the image generation unit determines a position of the first image in the first area and a position of the second image in the second area based on the position information.

[0077] <Supplementary Note 8> The image processing device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 7, further comprising an image output unit that displays the aggregated image as a preview image on a display unit that displays various information.

[0078] <Supplementary Note 9> The image processing device according to any one of Supplementary Notes 1 to 8, wherein the document is an identification card on which personal information is written.

[0079] <Supplementary Note 10> An image processing method including: a first acquisition step of acquiring first image data indicating a first image including a first side of a document placed on a document placing section from an image reading section that reads an image from the document; a second acquisition step of acquiring second image data indicating a second image including a second side of the document placed on the document placing section from the image reading section after acquiring the first image data; a third acquisition step of acquiring condition information that indicates conditions for outputting the document; and an image generation step of generating an aggregated image by aggregating the first image and the second image based on the first image data and the second image data, wherein in the image generation step, a layout of the first image and the second image in the aggregated image is determined based on the condition information.

Claims

1. An image processing device comprising: a first acquisition unit that acquires first image data representing a first image including a first side of a document placed on a document placing unit from an image reading unit that reads an image from the document placed on the document placing unit; a second acquisition unit that acquires second image data representing a second image including a second side of the document placed on the document placing unit after acquiring the first image data from the image reading unit; a third acquisition unit that acquires condition information that indicates conditions for outputting the document; and an image generation unit that generates an aggregate image that aggregates the first image and the second image based on the first image data and the second image data, wherein the image generation unit determines the layout of the first image and the second image in the aggregate image based on the condition information.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the condition information is information indicating settings different from settings that directly specify the layout.

3. The image processing device described in claim 2, wherein the condition information includes information indicating whether a cropping function is enabled for each of the first image and the second image, which cuts out the corresponding surface of the document as a document area and combines the cut-out document area into a single image, and the image generation unit determines the layout based on whether the cropping function is enabled.

4. The image processing device according to claim 3, wherein the condition information further includes information indicating an output size of the image, and the image generation unit determines the layout based on the output size when the cropping function is enabled.

5. The image processing device according to claim 4, wherein, when the condition information indicates that the output size is the same as the size of the original, the image generation unit determines the layout to be one in which the first image and the second image cut out from the original area are arranged without any margins.

6. The image processing device of claim 4, wherein, when the condition information indicates that the output size is a predetermined standard size, the image generation unit determines the layout in which the first image and the second image cut out from the document area are arranged in a first area and a second area, respectively, which are half the standard size.

7. The image processing device described in claim 6, wherein, when the condition information includes position information indicating the positions of the first image and the second image, the image generation unit determines the position of the first image in the first area and the position of the second image in the second area based on the position information.

8. The image processing device according to claim 1, further comprising an image output unit that displays the aggregated image as a preview image on a display unit that displays various information.

9. The image processing device according to claim 1, wherein the document is an identification card on which personal information is written.

10. An image processing method comprising: a first acquisition step of acquiring first image data representing a first image including a first side of a document placed on a document placing section from an image reading section that reads an image from the document; a second acquisition step of acquiring second image data representing a second image including a second side of the document placed on the document placing section from the image reading section after acquiring the first image data; a third acquisition step of acquiring condition information representing conditions for outputting the document; and an image generation step of generating an aggregated image that aggregates the first image and the second image based on the first image data and the second image data, wherein in the image generation step, a layout of the first image and the second image in the aggregated image is determined based on the condition information.