JP2022146701A - Image forming apparatus, control unit, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

To avoid color mixture with original data when performing CMYK conversion during output in a printer.SOLUTION: An image forming apparatus performs CMYK conversion of RGB images in an image forming unit and outputs the resultant images, and comprises: an identification unit that identifies a print request color from print request instructions; and an editing unit that removes image data at a printing point regarding colors other than the identified print request color and edits printing regarding the print request color.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, control device and program.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in an image forming apparatus, it is being considered to pass an RGB 24-bit (frame sequential) image received from a scanner from a controller to a printer, and the printer converts the image into CMYK and outputs the image.

However, when the RGB 24-bit (frame sequential) image from the controller is converted to CMYK by the printer and output, the image at the controller stage is in RGB space, so the printer edits as requested and converts to CMYK before output. Then, there is a problem that the color of the original image is mixed with the color of the original image and the output color is not as intended.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image forming apparatus, a control apparatus, and a program capable of avoiding color mixture with original data when CMYK conversion is performed at the time of output from a printer. do.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, the present invention provides an image forming apparatus that converts an RGB image to CMYK in an image forming unit and outputs the image forming apparatus, wherein an identification unit identifies a print request color from a print request instruction; and an editing unit that deletes image data at a print location for colors other than the identified requested print color and performs print editing for the requested print color.

According to the present invention, it is possible to avoid color mixture with the original data when CMYK conversion is performed at the time of output from a printer.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of a hardware configuration of an MFP according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the software configuration of the MFP. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation example of image editing (print editing) of the MFP. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the MFP. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing image editing (print editing) functions in the IMH. FIG. 6 is a flowchart schematically showing the flow of image editing (print editing) in IMH. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of bitmap data. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of logical operation.

Exemplary embodiments of an image forming apparatus, a control device, and a program will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

This embodiment will explain an example in which a multifunction peripheral (MFP: Multifunction Peripheral (hereinafter referred to as MFP)) is applied as an image forming apparatus. A multifunction device is a device having at least two functions out of a copy function, a scanner function, a facsimile function, and a printer function.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of MFP 1 according to the embodiment.

MFP 1 includes control unit 11 , operation panel 12 , scanner 13 , printer 14 , primary storage unit 15 , secondary storage unit 16 , and external communication unit 17 .

The control unit 11 is an arithmetic device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) that controls the operation of the entire MFP 1 .

The operation panel 12, which is a display unit, is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) equipped with a touch sensor. The operation panel 12 accepts operations such as a copy processing request and a facsimile processing request from the user, and displays various information such as information corresponding to the received input, information indicating the operation status of the MFP 1, and information indicating the setting status. . The operation panel 12 may be composed of an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display device equipped with a touch sensor. Further, the operation panel 12 may be provided with an operation section such as hardware keys and a display section such as a lamp.

The scanner 13 reads an original and generates image data. The scanner 13 then outputs the generated image data to the temporary storage unit. The printer 14 is an image forming unit that forms an original image on a recording medium such as paper and outputs the image.

The primary storage unit 15 is, for example, a volatile memory. The primary storage unit 15 is a storage area that functions, for example, as a work area for developing an input image and temporarily holds the developed image data.

The secondary storage unit 16 is a storage area that holds image data.

The external communication unit 17 is a communication interface that connects to other information processing apparatuses such as other MFPs via a network.

Next, the software configuration of the MFP 1, which is an example of the image forming apparatus according to this embodiment, will be described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an example of the software configuration of MFP1. The MFP 1 comprises an application layer 100 , a service layer 200 , a handler layer 300 and a hardware layer 400 . The service layer 200 , the handler layer 300 and the hardware layer 400 are collectively called a platform 500 .

The application layer 100 includes software that organizes control according to each application. The application layer 100 implements application functions by receiving instructions and setting requests from the operation screen and making requests to the platform 500 . The application layer 100 includes a printer application 101, a copy application 102, a fax application 103, a scanner application 104, a net file application 105, other applications 106 such as a user authentication application, and a gateway-application program (GW-API). Interface) 107. A printer application 101 is an application for a printer. The copy application 102 is an application for copying. A fax application 103 is an application for facsimile. A scanner application 104 is an application for a scanner. The netfile application 105 is a netfile application for sharing various files on the network. The GW-API 107 receives processing requests from various applications of the application layer 100 using predefined functions.

The service layer 200 controls various functions of the MFP2. The service layer 200 controls the input function/output function/external communication function as each function of the MFP1. The service layer 200 includes NCS (Network Control Service) 201, OCS (Operation panel Control Service) 202, FCS (FAX Control Service) 203, MCS (Memory Control Service) 204, and ECS (Engine Control Service) 205. , DCS (Delivery Control Service) 206 , CCS (Certification Control Service) 207 , LCS (Log Control Service) 208 , UCS (User Control Service) 209 , and SCS (System Control Service) 210 .

The NCS 201 mediates between the network and each application of the application layer 100 . The NCS 201 distributes data received by each protocol from the network side to each application, and mediates when data is transmitted from each application to the network 5 side. Specifically, the NCS 201 has server daemons such as ftpd, httpd, lpd, snmpd, telnetd, smtpd, and client functions of the same protocol.

The OCS 202 controls the operation panel 12 that receives various operations from the user. The OCS 202 performs processing for notifying the user of key operations, processing for providing library functions for each application to construct a GUI (Graphical User Interface), processing for managing the constructed GUI information for each application, and processing on the operation panel 12 . Performs display processing, etc.

The FCS 203 provides APIs for facsimile transmission/reception using the PSTN/ISDN network, registration/citing of various facsimile data managed by BKM (backup SRAM), facsimile reading, facsimile reception printing, and fusion transmission/reception.

MCS 204 performs memory control. Specifically, the MCS 204 acquires and releases image memory, compresses and decompresses image data, and the like.

The ECS 205 controls engine units 403 such as the scanner 13 , the printer 14 , and other hardware resources 402 . The ECS 205 performs image reading, printing operation, status notification, jam recovery, and the like. Specifically, the ECS 205 sequentially issues print requests to the SRM 301 according to the job mode designation received from each application, thereby realizing a series of copy, scan, and print operations.

The DCS 206 transmits and receives image files stored in the secondary storage unit 19 and memory on the controller using SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) and FTP (File Transfer Protocol).

The CCS 207 performs processing related to user authentication using the MFP 1 .

LCS 208 controls log information of data processed by MFP 1 .

The UCS 209 is a control service that manages user information registered by users.

The SCS 210 manages activation and termination of each application of the application layer 100 .

The handler layer 300 controls writing and reading of data in the primary storage unit 15 and the secondary storage unit 16, and controls editing functions. Also, the handler layer 300 controls each part (hardware device) belonging to the hardware layer 400 . More specifically, the handler layer 300 controls the engine section 403 to control input and output of image data. In addition, handler layer 300 controls and communicates with other hardware resources 402 . Handler layer 300 includes SRM (System Resource Manager) 301 , FCUH (Facsimile Control Unit Handler) 302 , IMH (Imaging Memory Handler) 303 , and MEU (Media Edit Utility) 304 .

SRM 301 performs system control and resource management together with SCS 210 . The SRM 301 arbitrates and controls execution according to requests from upper layers that use hardware resources. Specifically, SRM 301 determines whether the requested hardware resource is available and, if so, informs the upper layers that the requested hardware resource is available. In addition, the SRM 301 may schedule the use of hardware resources in response to a request from a higher layer and directly implement the content of the request.

FCUH 302 manages the facsimile control unit.

The IMH 303 manages a memory that temporarily stores image data.

The MEU 304 controls hardware that performs image conversion processing, and performs image conversion.

The hardware layer 400 controls the engine unit 403 to input and output image data, and controls other hardware resources 402 to communicate with the outside. A RAPI (Remote Application Programming Interface) 401 mediates between the handler layer 300 and the engine section 403 .

Next, the characteristic functions of the MFP 1 of this embodiment will be described.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation example of image editing (printing editing) of the MFP 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the control unit 11 of the MFP 1 controls the printer 14 to avoid color mixture when converting the RGB 24-bit (frame sequential) image received from the scanner 13 to the printer 14 when outputting the image. By removing the image information, it is possible to output the print request color as intended.

According to the conventional technique, since only OR synthesis is performed on the target color plane, there is a possibility that the color will be mixed with the image information of the non-target color plane and the intended color will not be obtained. For example, when red printing (R element) is OR-combined with white (R, G, B)=(255, 255, 255) in the RGB space, it becomes white (255, 255, 255). The output result is white. To achieve red, red (R, G, B) = (255, 0, 0).

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, in the MFP 1 of the present embodiment, the target color plane (for example, the R plane) is OR-combined, and the non-target color plane (for example, the G/B plane) is inverted. By performing AND synthesis, image information other than the target color plane is dropped. As a result, the printer 14 can print solid on the original image.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of MFP1. FIG. 4 shows functions related to the operation of main modules involved in the copy operation.

The copy application 102 outputs the setting contents set by the user through the operation panel 12 to the ECS 205 as a request for job information. Here, the job information is all information set via the operation panel 12 including the number of copies.

The ECS 205 converts the job information output by the copy application 102 into page-by-page process information and outputs the request to the SRM 301 .

The SRM 301 performs arbitration processing between the engine unit 403 such as the scanner 13, the printer 14, other hardware resources 402, and the handler layer 300 according to the request output by the ECS 205. FIG.

The IMH 303 is a module that handles image data by image input/output based on set process information, and performs image editing (print editing) in accordance with the set process information. The operation contents of the IMH 303 for image editing (print editing) related to this embodiment will be described below.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing image editing (print editing) functions in the IMH 303. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 5, the IMH 303 functions as a control device that includes an identification section 3031 and an editing section 3032 .

The identification unit 3031 identifies the print request color from the print request instruction. For example, when the R plane is specified as the print request instruction, the identification unit 3031 identifies the print request color as the R plane.

The identification unit 3031 identifies the requested print color based on the CMYK density information. More specifically, the identification unit 3031 converts the CMYK densities set as print request colors into RGB densities according to the following conversion formulas. Colors that are not "0" with respect to RGB densities after conversion are target colors, and colors that are "0" are non-target colors.
R=min(1,1-CK)
G=min(1,1-M-K)
B=min(1,1-YK)

The editing unit 3032 OR-combines the image of the requested print color with the RGB image based on the requested print color identified by the identification unit 3031, and reverses the print content of the image other than the requested print color with respect to the RGB image. After that, perform AND synthesis.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart schematically showing the flow of image editing (print editing) in the IMH 303. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 6, first, the IMH 303 confirms the print request and determines whether or not to execute print processing (step S1). When the IMH 303 determines to execute print processing (Yes in step S1), the IMH 303 adjusts the print position and angle according to the print settings (step S2).

Next, the identification unit 3031 of the IMH 303 identifies the print request color from the print request instruction (step S3).

Next, the editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 determines a composition method based on the identified print request color (step S4). In the case of printing other than black, the editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 OR-combines the image (R image) of the requested print color (target color) with the RGB image, and generates an image of the color (non-target color) other than the requested print color ( G/B image) is reversed and then AND-combined with the RGB image. Details of this point will be described later.

Finally, the editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 synthesizes according to the print setting size and the like (step S5).

Here, a detailed description will be given of a method for determining a composition method based on the print request color in step S4.

In order to prevent color mixture, the editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 reverses the non-target color and performs AND synthesis on the RGB image for the purpose of deleting the image data at the printed portion. By doing so, the contents of the image are output as they are for the non-printed portions, and the intended color planes for the printed portions are set to "1" for the target color plane and "0" for the non-target color plane. color can be achieved.

The print data at the time of print synthesis is bitmap data. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of bitmap data. As shown in FIG. 7, the bitmap data has data of "0" even in portions other than the print content to be displayed. Therefore, IMH 303 needs to perform synthesis as shown below.

<For target color>
The editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 sets the "1" portion of the print data to "1" regardless of the image data. This is to output the printed content in the intended color. On the other hand, the editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 leaves the "0" portion of the print data as image data.

<For non-target colors>
The editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 sets the "1" portion of the print data to "0" regardless of the image data. This is to delete the original data information so as not to mix the printed contents. On the other hand, the editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 leaves the "0" portion of the print data as image data.

Next, a detailed description will be given of logical operations for realizing the above-described synthesis. Here, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of logical operation.

<For black printing>
As shown in FIG. 8(a), the editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 reverses and combines the target color planes. On the other hand, the editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 outputs the original image as it is when the print request is "0". Therefore, where the print request is "1", the result is 0 (black (R, G, B)=(0, 0, 0)). The editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 can realize the intended color by inverting the print content of the target color plane and AND-combining it with the RGB image.

<For printing other than black>
As shown in FIG. 8B, the editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 performs OR synthesis on the target color planes. On the other hand, the editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 outputs the original image as it is when the print request is "0". Therefore, where the print request is "1", the result is "1". The editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 can realize the intended color by inverting the print content of the target color plane and OR-combining it with the RGB image.

As shown in FIG. 8(c), the editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 reverses and combines the non-target color planes. On the other hand, the editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 outputs the original image as it is when the print request is "0". Therefore, where the print request is "1", the result is "0". The editing unit 3032 of the IMH 303 can realize the intended color by inverting the print contents of the non-target color plane and performing AND synthesis on the RGB image.

In the case of printing other than black, as shown in FIGS. 8(b) and 8(c), only the target plane information remains at the printed portion, so the intended output result is obtained without color mixing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, in order to avoid color mixture with the original data when the printer 14 outputs an RGB 24-bit (frame sequential) image received from the scanner 13, when the printer 14 outputs the image, in order to avoid color mixture with the original data, By dropping the image information, it is possible to output the print request color as intended.

A program executed by the MFP 1, which is the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, is a file in an installable format or an executable format and is stored on a CD-ROM, a flexible disk (FD), a CD-R, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc), or the like. provided on a computer-readable recording medium.

Alternatively, the program executed by the MFP 1, which is the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, may be stored in a computer connected to a network such as the Internet, and provided by being downloaded via the network. Further, the program executed by the MFP 1, which is the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, may be provided or distributed via a network such as the Internet.

Further, the program executed by the MFP 1, which is the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, may be configured to be pre-installed in a ROM or the like and provided.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the image forming apparatus of the present invention is applied to a multifunctional machine having at least two functions out of a copy function, a printer function, a scanner function and a facsimile function will be described. , printers, scanners, facsimile machines, and other image forming apparatuses.

1 image forming apparatus 14 image forming unit 303 control device 3031 identification unit 3032 editing unit

JP 2011-259308 A

Claims (6)

In an image forming apparatus that converts an RGB image to CMYK in an image forming unit and outputs the image,
an identification unit that identifies the print request color from the print request instruction;
an editing unit that deletes the image data at the print location for colors other than the identified requested print color and edits the print for the requested print color;
An image forming apparatus comprising: In the case of printing other than black, the editing unit OR-synthesizes the image of the requested print color with the RGB image, reverses the print content of the image of the color other than the requested print color with respect to the RGB image, and then performs AND-composition.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: In the case of black printing, the editing unit inverts the printing content of the image of the printing request color with respect to the RGB image, and then performs AND synthesis.
2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: The identification unit identifies the print request color based on CMYK density information.
4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: In a control device that controls an image forming apparatus that converts an RGB image to CMYK in an image forming unit and outputs the image,
an identification unit that identifies the print request color from the print request instruction;
an editing unit that deletes the image data at the print location for colors other than the identified requested print color and edits the print for the requested print color;
A control device comprising: A computer that controls an image forming apparatus that converts an RGB image to CMYK in the image forming unit and outputs the image,
identification means for identifying the print request color from the print request instruction;
Editing means for deleting image data at a print location for colors other than the identified requested print color and performing print editing for the requested print color;
A program to function as

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