JP2001157044A - Image-forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image-forming device having a forgery inhibiting function which is applied also to newly issued paper moneies. SOLUTION: This image-forming device provided with a reading part 1 for reading an object image as data and an image-forming part 2 for forming an image on a paper form image data is provided with a feature extracting part 3 for extracting the feature of the image from the read image data, a registering feature storing part 4 for registering features extracted from image data obtained by reading a specific object image and an inhibiting part 9 for comparing the feature of the object image with the feature of the registered specific object image and inhibiting image formation in accordance with this comparison result.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus for reading a target image and forming the image on paper, and more particularly to an image forming apparatus having a forgery prohibition function applied to newly issued banknotes. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, counterfeiting of banknotes and securities using a color copying machine (including a facsimile machine) has occurred, which has become a social problem. In order to prevent such a case, it is desired that the color copying machine be provided with a forgery prohibition function. The forgery prohibition function is to automatically recognize a copy of a specific image for which copying is prohibited and to disable copying. As an image recognition technique for realizing the forgery prohibition function, for example, there is a technique in which image data of a specific image is stored in advance and image data of a target image read at the time of copying is checked by pattern matching. Also, a method of extracting image features from image data has been considered in order to solve the huge amount of stored data, which is a drawback of pattern matching. For example, there is a method in which a density histogram for each color is extracted for the entire image data, and the similarity between the pattern of the histogram of the target image and the pattern of the histogram of the specific image is compared. In the case of comparison using the density histogram for each color, the inclination of the image has no effect, and this also compensates for the drawback of pattern matching.

[0003]

However, in order to determine that the read target image is not limited to the above-described pattern matching or the density histogram for each color, the color copier must use the data of the specific image (image data). , Features, etc.)
Must be held. Conventionally, data of a specific image is fixedly written in a ROM or the like. If a new bill is issued, the new bill data is
Since it is not written in M, copying becomes possible. Updating the ROM when issuing a new bill requires enormous effort.

It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide an image forming apparatus having a forgery prohibition function applied to newly issued banknotes.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a reading section for reading a target image as data; and an image forming section for forming an image on paper from image data. A feature extraction unit that extracts features of an image from read image data, a registered feature storage unit that registers features extracted from image data obtained by reading a specific target image, and a specific target in which features of the target image are registered. A prohibition unit for prohibiting image formation in accordance with the comparison result with the feature of the image.

There is a feature registration mode for reading a specific target image and registering the extracted features, and a normal processing mode for reading the target image and comparing the extracted features with the registered characteristics of the specific target image. Is also good.

[0007] A fixed feature storage unit in which the features of the specific target image are fixed in advance, the features of the target image are compared with the features of the fixed specific target image, and a duplicate image is formed in accordance with the comparison result. May be prohibited.

[0008]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention has a reading section 1 for reading a target image as data.
Forming unit 2 for forming an image on paper from image data
A feature extracting unit 3 for extracting features of the image from the read image data; a registered feature storage unit 4 for registering features of the entire image extracted from the image data obtained by reading the specific target image; A fixed feature storage unit 5 in which features are fixedly stored in advance, a read feature storage unit 6 that stores features of the entire target image read for copying, and image data of the target image is converted into image data for image formation. An image processing unit 7, an image memory 8 for storing image data for forming the image, and comparing the characteristics of the target image with the characteristics of the registered specific target image, and prohibiting the image formation according to the comparison result. And a CPU 10 for controlling each unit.

The reading unit 1 is, for example, a scanner that causes a line image sensor to run on a document placed on a glass plate. The document may be run on a stationary image sensor. The scanner scans the target image
Three types of density signals (red), G (green), and B (blue) are read and digitized.

The image forming section 2 is, for example, an ink jet printer for sub-scanning ink nozzles on a running paper, but need not be an ink jet printer as long as it can form a color image. Ink jet printers have Y (yellow), M stored in the image memory.
The ejection control of the ink nozzles of each color is performed according to four types of signals (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black).

The feature extracting section 3 extracts, for example, density histograms for each of R, G, and B as quantities indicating the color features of the image, but the feature quantity is not a density histogram for each color. Is also good. The density histogram for each color is obtained by counting the number of pixels for each density for all the pixels constituting the image data.

The registered feature storage unit 4 is composed of a nonvolatile memory such as a flash memory.

The fixed feature storage unit 5 is composed of a ROM (read only memory). The characteristics of all bills in circulation at the time of manufacturing the image forming apparatus are written in the ROM.

The read feature storage section 6 is composed of a RAM (random access memory).

The image processing section 7 mainly converts RGB information into Y
This is converted into MCK information. In addition, shading distortion removal and edge enhancement are also performed.

The image memory 8 stores image data for image formation, that is, print data based on YMCK information.

The prohibition unit 9 includes an image forming unit 2 and an image memory 8.
Is prohibited from forming an image from the image data, but the image data is processed so that the color tone is different from the read target image instead of preventing the image from being recorded on the paper at all. For example, an image painted black is formed. Alternatively, by prohibiting printing of only one color from the YMCK information and printing only the remaining colors,
The colors of the images should be distinctly different even though they have the same shape.
The YMCK information may be processed so that the image is printed with color inversion.

The data flow will be described with reference to FIG.

The image data based on the RGB information read by the reading unit 1 is sent to the feature extracting unit 3 and the image processing unit 7. The feature extraction unit 3 extracts a density histogram for each color from the image data. At the time of registration, the extracted features are registered in the registered feature storage unit 4. When performing normal copying, the extracted features are stored in the read feature storage unit 6.

When performing normal copying, all the features stored in the fixed feature storage unit 5 and the features registered in the registered feature storage unit 4 are compared with the features stored in the read feature storage unit 6. . As a result of the comparison, if the characteristics match, the target image to be copied is a specific target image, that is, a banknote that has been circulating before the image forming apparatus is manufactured, or a banknote newly issued after the manufacturing. to decide.

On the other hand, the image processing unit 7
The GB information is converted into YMCK information, and the image data (print data) is stored in the image memory 8. If the target image to be copied is not a specific target image, the image data in the image memory 8 is sent to the image forming section 2 as it is. However, if the target image to be copied is a specific target image, it is prohibited to print the duplication prohibited image as it is.

Next, the flow of processing at the time of registration will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the operator selects a registration mode from the operation panel, and the image forming apparatus checks whether the registration mode is selected. If the registration mode is not selected, the operation is normal. In the registration mode, the operator sets, for example, a newly issued bill in the reading unit and performs an operation of starting image input. The image forming apparatus performs reading, and extracts features of the entire image from the read image data. The image forming apparatus registers the extracted features in the registered feature storage unit 4. Here, it is assumed that a plurality of regions are provided in the original image, and features can be extracted by dividing the regions. Therefore, when feature extraction is completed for one region, it is checked whether feature extraction has been completed for all regions. If not, feature extraction is started for the next region. After extracting the features of the whole image,
The feature is stored in the registered feature storage unit 4.

Next, the flow of processing during normal operation will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the normal operation of performing copying, the operator sets a document on the reading unit and performs an operation of starting image input. The image forming apparatus performs reading,
The features of the entire image are extracted from the read image data.
The image forming apparatus stores the extracted features in the read feature storage unit 6.

The feature of each area in the read feature storage unit 6 is compared with the feature of one specific target image in the registered feature storage unit 4 to check whether the images are the same. If the images are the same, the determination result is “matched” and the process proceeds to the printing process in the case of matching. If the images are not the same, the comparison is repeated for another specific target image in the registered feature storage unit 4. When the check on the registered feature storage unit 4 is completed without any match, the process proceeds to the check on the fixed feature storage unit 5.

In the fixed feature storage unit 5, features of the entire image extracted in advance in the same manner as at the time of registration are fixedly stored for various specific target images. Therefore, similarly to the check on the registered feature storage unit 4, the feature of one specific target image is compared to determine whether the images are the same image. If the images are the same, the determination result is “matched” and the process proceeds to the printing process in the case of matching. If they are not the same image,
The comparison is repeated for another specific target image in the fixed feature storage unit 5. If the check on the fixed feature storage unit 5 is completed without any match, the judgment result is “mismatch”, and the process shifts to a normal print process. In normal print processing,
Print the image exactly as it was read. However, in the print processing when the determination result is “match”, an image (for example, an image painted black) in which formation of a duplicate image is prohibited is printed. Therefore, if the document set by the operator is a document irrelevant to the bill, a copy of a faithful color is created, and if the set document is a bill, the image in which the formation of a duplicate image is prohibited is processed. Printed.

Although the case where the specific target image is a banknote has been described, features can be registered not only for banknotes but also for stocks and securities. It is recommended that registration be performed when stock certificates or securities are newly issued or the face design is changed.

[0030]

The present invention exhibits the following excellent effects.

(1) Since the characteristics of a specific image can be registered,
By registering when issuing a new bill, copying can be prohibited, and the forgery prohibition function is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a data flow chart in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a process at the time of registration in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process during a normal operation in the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 reading unit 2 image forming unit 3 feature extracting unit 4 registered feature storing unit 5 fixed feature storing unit 6 reading feature storing unit 7 image processing unit 8 image memory 9 prohibiting unit

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a reading unit that reads a target image as data; and an image forming unit that forms an image on paper from image data, a feature extracting unit that extracts features of the image from the read image data. A registered feature storage unit for registering features extracted from image data obtained by reading a specific target image, and comparing the features of the target image with the registered features of the specific target image, and forming an image based on the comparison result. An image forming apparatus comprising: a prohibition unit for prohibiting the image forming apparatus. 2. A feature registration mode for reading a specific target image and registering extracted features;
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a normal processing mode for comparing the extracted features with the features of the registered specific target image. 3. A fixed feature storage unit in which characteristics of a specific target image are fixed in advance, wherein the characteristics of the target image are compared with the characteristics of the fixed specific target image, and a duplicate image is generated in accordance with the comparison result. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the formation of the image is prohibited.