Automatic Book Page Cropping Using Board Detection
Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging to precisely read or copy a thick book document with high image quality due to its thickness, leading to misalignment, distortion, and wastage of ink or toner.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus that includes a scan control unit and an output unit, capable of automatically cropping the target page from a thick book document by interposing a board on the back side of the page during scanning, without requiring user input for designating the cropping region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a thick book document is scanned without cropping control, then the scanning process is simple, but the reading precision and copying accuracy deteriorate due to inclusion of unwanted thick parts
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects the book document position and performs cropping without requiring manual user input. The scan control unit autonomously identifies the platen glass end position and calculates the cropping region based on the detected position, enabling the system to serve itself rather than requiring user intervention for each scanning operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical cropping operations with an automated image processing system. Instead of requiring users to physically adjust or crop images manually, the system uses automatic detection algorithms and image processing to identify and crop the target page, substituting mechanical user actions with automated computational processes.
2Productivity
If manual cropping designation is required for each scan, then cropping accuracy improves, but the operation time and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of the book document position and pre-calculates the cropping region before the actual scanning completes. By detecting the position in advance and preparing the cropping parameters beforehand, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming manual cropping designation during the scanning process, thereby improving overall scanning efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The scan control unit autonomously performs the cropping designation without requiring user input. The system detects the book document position, calculates the appropriate cropping region, and executes the cropping automatically, enabling the scanning process to serve itself and eliminating the time users would spend on manual cropping operations.
3Loss of substance
If the entire scanned area including thick parts is copied, then no cropping is needed, but ink or toner is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines and executes cropping to exclude unwanted thick parts before copying. The scan control unit detects the book document position, calculates the precise cropping region that excludes the thick parts, and performs the cropping automatically, thereby preventing ink wastage without requiring users to manually adjust cropping settings for each copy operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual cropping adjustment with automated image processing. Instead of requiring users to manually set cropping parameters to avoid wasting ink, the system uses automatic detection and calculation to determine the optimal cropping region, substituting manual mechanical adjustment with automated computational processes that eliminate ink wastage.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus, has: a scan control unit which conducts control to scan a scan target; and an output unit which, even in a case where there is no operation of designating a cropping region from a user, crops, from an image obtained by scanning in a state where a book document and a board are placed on a platen glass, a portion obtained by deleting a part on an opposite side to the board in a portion corresponding to the book document, and outputs the cropped portion.