A reading method guidance apparatus includes a receiving unit, an acquisition unit, and a guidance unit. The receiving unit receives a document size that is a size of a document as a reading target. The acquisition unit acquires an image of at least a partial area in the document. The guidance unit provides an operator with guidance about a reading procedure when the document is read by a first reading apparatus in plural batches, using a feature amount obtained from the acquired image, the received document size, and a readable size that is a size of an area readable by the first reading apparatus.

A document size detecting apparatus includes a first acquisition unit, a second acquisition unit, and a detector. The first acquisition unit acquires a first image that is an image of an entire document as a reading target. The second acquisition unit acquires a second image that is an image of a part of the document read by a first reading apparatus. The detector detects a size of the document using a result of a matching process between the first image and the second image and a read size that is a size of the second image read by the first reading apparatus.

A viewing aid includes a camera, a viewing surface within a field of view of the camera, a memory, a display, and software programmed to track a tracking element within the field of view. Viewing material is placed on the viewing surface. The camera, viewing surface, and material all remain substantially stationary. The camera captures and stores an initial image of the material in the memory. The software then tracks the location of a tracking element within the field of view then maps the location to a portion of the initial image in memory using an X-Y coordinate system, and/or identifies character elements of the material adjacent the tracking element then maps the character elements to corresponding character elements of the initial image in memory. An enhanced image is then displayed on the display corresponding to the mapped portion of the initial image.

An image processing apparatus obtains image data by photographing a document which is put on a document plate. The apparatus includes an obtaining unit and a correction unit. The obtaining unit photographs the document plate and obtains calibration image data. The correction unit uses the calibration image data obtained by the obtaining unit, so as to correct the image data obtained by photographing the document which is put on the document plate.

Disclosed is a video processor for a magnifier camera. In particular, the disclosure relates to a video processor that eliminates the use of a frame buffer. This, in turn, reduces the latency otherwise present in the video signal. The disclosed video processor also allows selected portions of the display to be shaded. This highlights the non-shaded portions of the display while at the same time allowing the entire object to be perceived by the user.

An image reading device includes a reading member and a skew detector. The reading member reads an image of a passing document at a read position preset in a document transport path. The skew detector detects a skew of the document by selecting one of a first skew detection mode and a second skew detection mode based on information that specifies a method for detecting the skew of the document. The first skew detection mode is a mode in which the skew of the document relative to a transport direction is detected based on an image of a leading-edge section, in the transport direction, read by the reading member. The second skew detection mode is a mode in which the skew of the document relative to the transport direction is detected based on an entire image read by the reading member.

A viewing aid includes a camera, a viewing surface within a field of view of the camera, a memory, a display, and software programmed to track a tracking element within the field of view. Viewing material is placed on the viewing surface. The camera, viewing surface, and material all remain substantially stationary. The camera captures and stores an initial image of the material in the memory. The software then tracks the location of a tracking element within the field of view then maps the location to a portion of the initial image in memory using an X-Y coordinate system, and/or identifies character elements of the material adjacent the tracking element then maps the character elements to corresponding character elements of the initial image in memory. An enhanced image is then displayed on the display corresponding to the mapped portion of the initial image.

An image capture unit and computer readable medium used in combination therewith. The image capture unit includes an image capturing sensor, a visual display, an instance of the computer readable medium, and circuitry for integrating functionalities thereof. The computer readable medium causes sensor data received from the image capturing sensor to be processed. The sensor data includes a plurality of image tiles and position indicating data defining a respective relative position of each one of each image tiles. Each one of each image tiles includes data representing a discrete portion of visual content. The computer readable medium causes a feedback image be displayed on the visual display. Displaying the feedback image includes correlate the relative position of each one of each image tiles with at least one other image tile that has been previously generated and displayed.

A viewing aid includes a camera, a viewing surface within a field of view of the camera, a memory, a display, and software programmed to track a tracking element within the field of view. Viewing material is placed on the viewing surface. The camera, viewing surface, and material all remain substantially stationary. The camera captures and stores an initial image of the material in the memory. The software then tracks the location of a tracking element within the field of view then maps the location to a portion of the initial image in memory using an X-Y coordinate system, and/or identifies character elements of the material adjacent the tracking element then maps the character elements to corresponding character elements of the initial image in memory. An enhanced image is then displayed on the display corresponding to the mapped portion of the initial image.

An image reading device includes a reading member and a skew detector. The reading member reads an image of a passing document at a read position preset in a document transport path. The skew detector detects a skew of the document by selecting one of a first skew detection mode and a second skew detection mode based on information that specifies a method for detecting the skew of the document. The first skew detection mode is a mode in which the skew of the document relative to a transport direction is detected based on an image of a leading-edge section, in the transport direction, read by the reading member. The second skew detection mode is a mode in which the skew of the document relative to the transport direction is detected based on an entire image read by the reading member.