Document Association in Multi-Crop Scanning via Platen Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional image processing systems face challenges in accurately associating front and back sides of documents during multi-crop scanning, especially when documents of different sizes or with partial overlapping are scanned, leading to errors and increased user operation load.
Innovation Solution
An image processing apparatus with a platen that allows for the placement of documents without overlapping, featuring an image input unit, individual image extraction unit, and selection unit to determine and select images within set areas, ensuring correct association and reduction of user operation load by performing two reading processes to extract and associate front and back sides of documents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multi-crop scanning is performed on documents of different sizes or with partial overlapping, then the reading speed and productivity are improved, but errors occur in extracting and associating image data of individual documents
Solution Approach 1:
The platen surface is divided into multiple predetermined areas, with each area designed to accommodate one document. This segmentation approach allows the system to process multiple documents simultaneously while maintaining clear boundaries for individual document identification and extraction, thereby preserving both productivity and reliability.
2Ease of operation
If documents are placed at specific fixed positions on the platen, then the complexity of document placement is reduced, but the adaptability to different document sizes and placement positions is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The platen is divided into multiple predetermined areas that can accommodate different document sizes. Each area serves as a designated placement zone, guiding users to place documents in specific regions while allowing flexibility in terms of document dimensions and types.
Solution Approach 2:
Each predetermined area on the platen is optimized for specific document sizes or types. The system assigns different characteristics or capacities to different areas, allowing local adaptation to various document requirements while maintaining overall system simplicity.
3Productivity
If the system allows partial overlapping or close placement of documents, then the productivity is improved by scanning more documents at once, but errors occur in associating front and back sides of documents
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the platen into multiple predetermined areas with clear boundaries, the system prevents overlapping between documents while maximizing the number of documents that can be scanned simultaneously. Each document is confined to its designated area, ensuring accurate identification and association.
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-defines multiple areas on the platen before scanning begins, establishing clear spatial zones for document placement. This preliminary arrangement ensures that documents are properly positioned and can be accurately associated with their corresponding front and back sides during the scanning process.
Data Source
AI summary
An image processing apparatus includes a platen on which a document to be read is placed, an image input unit configured to read, at a time, one or a plurality of documents placed on the platen, an individual image extraction unit configured to extract individual images of the one or the plurality of documents read at a time, an individual image location judgment unit configured to determine whether the extracted individual images are each located within one of areas set in a reading area of the platen depending on the number of documents to be read, and an individual image selection unit configured to, in a case where one or a plurality of the extracted individual images are located within a particular area, select one individual image as an image to be captured in the area based on a predetermined selection criterion.