Image processing device selecting arrangement method for generating arranged image data

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9811877-B2
Application number	US-201615071560-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 16, 2016
Priority date	Mar 17, 2015
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

An image processing device acquires first and second image data respectively representing first and second images. The first image includes an object image showing a part of an object. The second image shows another part of the object. The first image and the object image respectively include an edge and an object-image edge with respect to a direction. The first image includes first pixels that is located between the edge and the object-image edge and not included in the first object image. The device selects one of arrangement methods according to a condition that the number of first pixels continuously arranged in the direction is larger than a prescribed level. The device determines a relative position between the first and second images using the selected method. The device generates arranged image data representing an arranged image in which the first and second images are arranged according to the relative position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An image processing device comprising:
a processor; and
a memory storing computer-readable instructions therein, the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causing the image processing device to perform:
acquiring first image data representing a first image and second image data representing a second image, the first image including a first object image showing a part of a target object, the second image including a second object image showing another part of the target object, the first image including a first edge with respect to a first direction, the first object image including a first object-image edge with respect to the first direction, the first image including a plurality of first pixels located between the first edge and the first object-image edge, and the plurality of first pixels not being included in the first object image;
selecting a first arrangement method when a specific condition is met, otherwise, selecting a second arrangement method when the specific condition is not met, the specific condition including a first condition indicating that the number of the plurality of the first pixels continuously arranged in the first direction is larger than a prescribed level;
determining a relative position between the first image and the second image by using the selected one of the first arrangement method and the second arrangement method; and
generating arranged image data representing an arranged image in which the first image and the second image are arranged according to the relative position so that the arranged image shows the target object.

2. The image processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the selecting includes:
identifying a pixel in the first image as the first pixel when a value of the pixel satisfies a determination condition;
counting the number of the first pixels that satisfies a continuous condition, the continuous condition being such that prescribed number of first pixels are continuously arranged in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction; and
determining whether the first condition is met by using the number of the first pixels satisfying the continuous condition.

3. The image processing device according to claim 2 , wherein the first image includes a plurality of lines, each of the lines including a plurality of pixels arranged along the second direction;
wherein the selecting further includes counting number of specific lines arranged in the first direction between the first edge and the first object-image edge from among the plurality of the lines, each of the specific lines including the first pixels satisfying the continuous condition, the number of the first pixels in the each of the specific line being greater than or equal to a threshold value; and
wherein the determining of the first condition is made by using the number of the specific lines as the number of the first pixels satisfying the continuous condition.

4. The image processing device according to claim 3 , wherein the plurality of the lines includes target lines between the first edge and the first object-image edge and includes a first end line neighboring the first edge and a second end line neighboring the first object-image edge,
wherein the selecting further includes determining whether each of the target lines is one of the specific lines in a sequential order from the first end line to the second end line; and
wherein the determining of the first condition is made by using the number of the specific lines continuously arranged in the first direction.

5. The image processing device according to claim 2 , wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the image processing device to further perform rotating the first object image so that the first edge is parallel to the first object-image edge.

6. The image processing device according to claim 1 , wherein the second image including a second edge with respect to a third direction, the second object image including a second object-image edge with respect to the third direction, the second image including a plurality of second pixels, the plurality of the second pixels being included in the second object image and located between the second edge and the second object-image edge;
wherein the specific condition further includes a second condition indicating that number of the plurality of the second pixels continuously arranged in the third direction is a relatively large;
wherein the selecting of the first arrangement method is made when both the first condition and the second condition are met; and
wherein the selecting of the second arrangement method is made when none of the first condition and the second condition is met.

7. The image processing device according to claim 6 , wherein the first direction and the third direction are predetermined directions;
wherein the selecting of the second arrangement method is made when one of the first condition and the second condition is met and the other of the first condition and the second condition is not met; and
wherein the arranged image data is generated so that the first object-image edge and the second object-image edge are located in a center portion of the arranged image in a specific direction.

8. The image processing device according to claim 6 , wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the image processing device to further perform selecting a specific combination of a first specific edge as the first object-image edge and a second specific edge as the second object-image edge, the specific combination being selected from among combinations of each of edges in the first object-image and each of edges in the second object image;
wherein determinations with respect to the first condition and the second condition are made for the specific combination so as to select one of the first arrangement method and the second arrangement method,
wherein the selecting of the first arrangement method is made when both the first condition and the second condition are met for the specific combination;
wherein the selecting of the second arrangement method is made when none of the first condition and the second condition is met for the specific combination;
wherein none of the first arrangement method and the second arrangement method is selected when one of the first condition and the second condition is met and the other of the first condition and the second condition is not met for the specific combination;
wherein when one of the first arrangement method and the second arrangement method is selected for the specific combination, the arranged image data is generated so that the first specific edge and the second specific edge are located in a center portion of a specific direction; and
wherein when none of the first arrangement method and the second arrangement method is selected for the specific combination, another specific combination is selected from among the combinations, and the determinations with respect to the first condition and the second condition are made for the another combination so as to select one of the first arrangement method and the second arrangement method.

9. The image processing device according to claim 6 , wherein the first direction and the third direction is dynamically determined,
wherein the computer-readable instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the image processing device to further perform selecting a specific combination of a first specific edge as the first object-image edge and a second specific edge as the second object-image edge, the specific combination being selected from among combinations of each of edges in the

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Hasegawa Tomohiko
• Ozawa Ryohei
• Shimahashi Takuya

Classifications

• G06T7/30

  Determination of transform parameters for the alignment of images, i.e. image registration · CPC title

• G06T3/0068 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06T2207/10008

  from scanner, fax or copier · CPC title

• G06T2207/30176

  Document · CPC title

• G06T2200/32

  involving image mosaicing · CPC title