JP3320159B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for performing image processing according to the color of an input image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image processing apparatus that reads an image by a line sensor through a filter of a plurality of colors and performs a color discrimination process detects a mode for outputting an image in a specific color range and an area surrounded by a color marker. The same erroneous determination removal processing is performed in the same mode.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional image processing apparatus, in the mode for detecting the area surrounded by the color markers, the level of the erroneous determination removal processing is increased so that the erroneous determination of the color markers is eliminated. However, in a mode in which an image in a specific color range is output, there is a problem that a portion such as a character or a thin line of the image deteriorates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to eliminate erroneous determination of a color marker so as to eliminate erroneous determination of the color marker in a mode for detecting an area surrounded by the color marker. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of selecting a processing level and performing image processing faithful to a document.

[0005]

To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a reading means for reading a document image and outputting color image data, smoothing the color image data, and outputting smoothed color image data. An area surrounded by a color marker in the original image based on a result of the determination by the smoothing unit, a color determining unit that determines a color of the color image data based on the smoothed color image data, detects a marker processing mode for performing a predetermined process on the region color image data, based on the determination result of the color determination unit detects an image of a specific color range in the manuscript image, the color in a setting means for setting the color extraction mode for reproducing, and processing means for executing a mode set by the setting means, said smoothing means, the marker processing Depending set to or the color extraction mode is set to over-de, characterized by varying the degree of smoothing.

Here, the smoothing means performs smoothing based on a different number of pixels and weighting for each pixel depending on whether the mode is set to the marker processing mode or the color extraction mode. It is suitable.

[0007] It is also preferable that the color discriminating means changes the color discriminating condition depending on whether the mode is set to the marker processing mode or the color extraction mode.

Further, it is preferable that the apparatus further comprises an image forming means for forming an image based on the color image data on which the image processing has been performed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method comprising: setting a marker processing mode or a color extraction mode; reading a document image and outputting color image data A smoothing step of smoothing the color image data to different degrees depending on whether the marker processing mode is set in the setting step or the color extraction mode in the setting step, and outputting smoothed color image data; and A color discriminating step of discriminating a color of the color image data based on the color image data; and, if the marker processing mode is set in the setting step, the document based on a discrimination result of the color discriminating step. Detect an area surrounded by color markers in the image, perform predetermined processing on the color image data of the area,
When the color extraction mode is set in the setting step, a process of detecting an image in a specific color range in the original image based on the determination result of the color determination step and reproducing the image in that color. > A process step.

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

[0013]

[0014]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a copying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a copying apparatus main body 1 includes a document scanning unit 2, a paper feeding unit 3, an image recording unit 4, an intermediate tray unit 5, and the like. First, the configuration of the document scanning unit 2 will be described.

The controller section 2a of the document scanning section 2 is composed of means for generally controlling a copy sequence and image processing means for processing an image signal read by the CCD line sensor 20c. Power switch 2
b and the document exposure lamp 2c constitute a scanning mirror and an optical scanning system, and scan and move at a predetermined speed. Half mirror 20
a passes through the CCD imaging lens 20b and passes through the CCD
The signal is photoelectrically converted by the line sensor 20c and sent to the image processing means of the controller 2a as an image electric signal. The reflected light from the half mirror 20a is transmitted to a red filter 20d for removing red or a blue filter 2 for removing blue.
0e, or passes through a path that uses neither a filter nor a shutter, and is sent to the imaging lens 2b. The imaging lens 2b forms an image of the reflected light of the half mirror 20a on the photosensitive drum 11 of the image recording unit 4. That is, the copying apparatus according to the present embodiment performs analog image recording.

The buzzer 2e gives a warning of a copy mode error or the like set by the operation unit described later. The optical system drive motor 2f drives the optical scanning system and the like with high accuracy, and the paper feed unit 3 feeds the cut sheet SH into the image recording unit 4 by driving the paper feed rollers 3a and 3b. Next, the configuration of the image recording unit 4 will be described.

The registration roller 12 temporarily stops the leading edge of the cut sheet SH fed by the paper feeding rollers 3a and 3b in a state where the movement of the registration roller 12 is stopped, and synchronizes the leading edge of the image. The cut sheet SH is fed to the photosensitive drum 11 by rotating. The developing units 13a and 13b contain developers of different colors (red and black), respectively, and the solenoids 14a and 14b
, One of the developing units 13a and 13b is selectively disposed close to the photosensitive drum 11, and the other is retracted from the photosensitive drum 11. When multiple development is performed, the controller 2a is controlled by the solenoid 14
By controlling the driving of a and b, development of each color is performed.

The transfer charger 15 includes a developing unit 13a,
13b is transferred to the cut sheet SH, and after the transfer, the photosensitive drum 1 is
1 and the cut sheet SH is separated. Pre-exposure lamp 1
7 neutralizes the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 11 and prepares for primary charging. The cleaner device 18 includes a cleaning blade and a cleaning roller, and collects toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11. Further, the fixing device 19 fixes the toner image transferred to the cut sheet SH by heat and pressure. Then, the transport roller 20 transports the cut sheet SH that has completed the fixing process to the discharge tray 24.

In the case of multiple copying, the flapper 21 is switched to the position shown by the dotted line by the operation of a solenoid (not shown), and the cut, fed, transferred, separated, and fixed cut sheet SH is transferred to the transport path 22. Through the transport direction 22
a. After the paper is detected by the sensor S5, based on the detection results of the sensors S6 and S8,
A lateral registration is performed by a solenoid (not shown) for horizontal registration.

The registration roller 12 is driven by a copy start command from the operation unit 41, and the cut sheet S
Send H. Thereafter, the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 24 in the same manner as the above-described operation. In the case of double-sided copying, the cut sheet SH is partially sent out by the discharge roller 23 in the same manner as in the normal copying operation, and after the rear end of the cut sheet SH has passed through the flapper 21,
3, the cut sheet SH is guided by the flapper 21 and conveyed to the conveyance path 22. This paper discharge roller 23
Is driven by a solenoid (not shown) that switches between forward and reverse rotation. The subsequent operation is the same as in the above-described multiple copy.

As described above, in the case of double-sided copying, the cut sheet SH is once taken out of the apparatus from the paper discharge roller 23, and is turned upside down by the reverse rotation of the paper discharge roller 23 and is sent in the transport direction 22a. Can be Above, multiple copies of one copy,
And double-sided copying has been described, but in the case of multiple copies or double-sided copying, the intermediate tray unit 5 is used. As shown in FIG. 1, the intermediate tray unit 5 is provided with an intermediate tray 30 for temporarily storing cut sheets SH on the transport path 31. In the case of multiple copies of a plurality of sheets, the cut sheet SH having been fixed is partially discharged by the discharge rollers 23 under the same control as that for the two-sided copy of the single copy, and then the discharge rollers 23 are discharged. By driving in the reverse direction, the intermediate tray 3 is transported through the transport path 22, the flapper 32, and the transport path 36.
0 is stored.

The above operation is repeated, and after the first side is entirely stored in the intermediate tray 30, the next copy command causes
On the surface, the pickup roller 35 and the feeding roller 33 are driven, and the second surface copy is executed. On the other hand, in the case of a plurality of double-sided copies, the same control as in the case of the single-sheet multiple copy is performed by the flapper 21 from the fixing device 19 to the transport path 22,
36, and stored in the intermediate tray 30.

The subsequent operation is the same as that of the above-described multiple copy, and will not be described. The scanner motor 25 is
The rotary polygon mirror is rotated at a predetermined speed to deflect the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 26. The scanner motor 25, the semiconductor laser 26 and the like constitute a digital scanning unit, emit a laser beam corresponding to the digital image information input from the image processing means of the controller unit 2a, and obtain an image obtained by the above-described analog image recording. When the analog image is recorded, the latent image area recorded on the photosensitive drum 11 is irradiated with a laser beam to selectively erase the latent image. .

The exposure shutter 27 is a part of the reflected image light,
Alternatively, the whole is shut off and the latent image area is suppressed. Reference numeral 28 denotes a primary charger. Further, reference numerals S1 to S in FIG.
15, S19 to S23 indicate sensors, and the sensor S
1 detects the home position of the optical system serving as an analog scanning unit, and stops the optical system at this position while the apparatus is in standby. The sensor S2 detects that the optical system has moved to a position corresponding to the leading end position of the document image, and controls the timing of the copy sequence based on the sensor output. The sensor S3 detects a limiter position (reversal position) at the time of maximum scanning.

The optical system reciprocates at a scan length and a scan speed in accordance with the cassette size and magnification specified by the operation unit described later. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the controller 2a of the copying apparatus shown in FIG. Here, the same components as those of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals. In FIG. 2, an operation unit 41 is provided with a key for setting a copy mode (single-sided, double-sided, multiple, and the like), and a key for all originals fed from an automatic document feeder (ADF).
A key for setting a first recording mode for superimposing digital information stored in advance by the digital scanning unit; a digital information stored in advance by the digital scanning unit for a specific document fed from the automatic document feeder; A key for setting a second recording mode for superimposing the image, a key for setting a color extraction mode for extracting an image in a specific color range and reproducing the image in that color, and detecting an area surrounded by a color marker. It has a key and the like for setting a marker processing mode for performing a predetermined process on the image of the area.

The control unit (controller) 42 includes a CPU 4
2a, ROM 42b, RAM 42c, etc.
The overall control of the copy sequence is performed based on the control program stored in the OM 42b. Further, the editor 43 inputs an area designation for a predetermined area of the document. The shutter section 44 includes the exposure shutter 27 and a solenoid.

The laser section 45 includes a semiconductor laser 26, a scanner motor 25, and the like. AC driver 46
Supplies AC power to an AC load 47 such as the document exposure lamp 2c. Further, the motor control unit 48 controls driving of the motor unit. The DC load control unit 49 includes the solenoid 14
a, 14b, drive of a clutch, a fan, and the like. The feeder control unit 50a controls the driving of the original feeding unit, and the sorter 50b discharges the cut sheet SH discharged by driving the discharge roller 23 to a specified discharge bin.

The high-voltage unit HVT applies a predetermined potential voltage to the charging system and the developing sleeves of the developing units 13a and 13b. The DC power supply DCP has a control voltage (+5
V) to the controller 2a and the like. When the power switch 2b is turned on, first, the heater in the fixing device 19 is energized, and waits until the fixing roller reaches a predetermined temperature at which fixing can be performed (wait time). When the fixing roller reaches a predetermined temperature, the main drive motor MM is driven for a certain period of time to drive the photosensitive drum 11, the fixing device 19 and the like to set the rollers in the fixing device 19 to a uniform temperature (weight release rotation). .

Thereafter, the main drive motor MM is stopped,
Stand by in a copy-enabled state (standby state). Here, the main drive motor MM drives the photosensitive drum 11, the fixing device 19, the developing units 13a and 13b, and various transfer paper conveying rollers. When a copy command is input from the operation unit 41, a copy sequence (copy sequence) is started. [Operation During Image Recording] Next, the operation during image recording in the copying apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described in detail.

During normal image recording, the optical filter 20
A latent image is formed on the drum 11 without using d and 20e. At this time, the semiconductor laser 26 can also irradiate a laser beam to an arbitrary region in an image that is set in advance, and erase a part of the image. When the red-based color erasing mode is selected, the optical red filter 20d is set in the path of the reflected light from the document, and the red-based color is erased to record an image. Similarly, in the case of blue erasing, the erasing is performed using the optical blue filter 20e.

The following is an example of processing when the red, black, and automatic color separations are performed, including the formation of a latent image of a black image, the development of a black image, the formation of a latent image of a red image, the development of a red image, and the marker processing. It will be described in order. 1. First, as a pre-operation for forming a latent image of a black image, the optical red filter 20d is set in front of the imaging lens 2d. The original 999 including the red information is sent to the original exposure lamp 2c.
The original exposure lamp 2c and the scanning mirror are moved in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 1 by an optical system driving motor (optical motor) 2f.

The reflected light from the original 999 is reflected by the half mirror 20a, and then input to the optical red filter 20d. The optical red filter 20d erases red information in the original 999. Then, the reflected light from the original 999 from which the red information has been deleted passes through the imaging lens 2d and forms an image on the photosensitive drum 11. Thus, the photosensitive drum 11
A latent image of the document 999 excluding the red information is formed thereon. 2. Developing Black Image The cut sheet SH is fed by the feed rollers 3a and 3b and fed into the image recording unit 4. The latent image excluding the red information on the photosensitive drum 11 is developed by the black developing unit 13a and is transferred to the cut sheet SH. After the transfer, the cut sheet SH is separated from the photosensitive drum 1 by the separation charger 16.
Separated from 1. Further, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 is collected by the cleaner 18.

The cut sheet SH on which development and separation have been performed is fixed by a fixing device 19 with the black toner image of the cut sheet SH by heat and pressure. The cut sheet SH on which the black information is recorded is conveyed by the flapper 21 to the conveyance path 22 for performing the next development. And
The cut sheet SH is transported from the transport path 22 to the registration roller 12 via the transport path 22a. 3. Determination of Red Image In order to determine a red image, the shutter 27 is closed.
By closing the shutter 27, light information from the imaging lens is cut off.

The original 999 is the original exposure lamp 2c.
The original exposure lamp 2c and the scanning mirror are illuminated by an optical system driving motor (optical motor) 2f.
It moves in the direction of arrow a in FIG. The reflected light from the original 999 passes through the half mirror 20a,
At b, an image is formed on the CCD line sensor 20c. FIG.
CCD line sensor 2 in copying apparatus according to the present embodiment
It is a schematic diagram which shows the structure of 0c. As shown in FIG.
A red optical filter and a cyan optical filter are alternately fitted into the CD line sensor 20c, and the reflected light of the document passes through the lens 20b and is separated in two directions by a prism (not shown). . One of them passes through a cyan filter, and the other passes through a red filter to form an image on the CCD line sensor 20c.

Then, the electric charge accumulated for a predetermined time in the CCD line sensor 20c is transferred to a shift register (not shown) in a lump for all pixels, and is output as an image signal by a shift clock CLK. The image signal from the CCD line sensor 20c is input to the controller 2a as an analog electric signal. FIG. 5 is a configuration block diagram of an image processing unit in the controller unit 2a. In the figure, image signals (R signal and C signal) from the CCD line sensor 20c are converted from analog to digital by the A / D converter 100, and each becomes 8-bit digital information. The output from the A / D converter 100 is input to a shading circuit 110, which corrects variations in the sensitivity of the CCD line sensor 20c, unevenness in the light amount of the document exposure lamp 2c, and the like.

The output 280 of the shading circuit 110
Is input to the interpolation calculation pixel matching circuit 120, where:
The above-described position correction of the red pixel and the cyan pixel is performed. That is, the red pixels (R0, R1, R2
..) Are obtained from the cyan pixel (C0, C1, C2...), And the virtual pixel (c0, r1, r2,...) Is obtained.
c1, c2...) are obtained.

As described above, rn = (3Rn + Rn + 1) / 4 or rm for each red virtual pixel.
= (Rm-1 + 3Rm) / 4, and
Similarly, for each cyan virtual pixel, cn = (Cn +
3Cn + 1) / 4 or cm = (3Cm-1 + C
m) / 4 weighting operation is performed. Where n = 0,
1, 4,... And m = 1, 3, 5,.

As described above, the information of one pixel is obtained from the information of the two pixels of the line sensor 20c by the linear interpolation calculation by weighting, and the number of pixels is doubled. While the pixel position is corrected, the resolution of the image is doubled at the same time. Further, the interpolation calculation pixel matching circuit 12
0 realizes the same MTF for red and cyan without causing a difference in MTF (spatial frequency transfer characteristic) that tends to occur due to the interpolation operation.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram showing the configuration of the interpolation calculation pixel matching circuit 120. The shading circuit 110
8 bit image signal 280 from R
The signal and the C signal are sent alternately, and the D flip-flop 5
10, 520, 530, and 540 are sequentially input and four pixels are latched. And these latch signals are
Further, D flip-flops 550, 560, 570,
580.

These D flip-flops 550 and 56
0, 570, and 580 are synchronized with a frequency-divided signal 710 obtained by dividing the clock signal 700 by a D flip-flop 640, and among the image information, red image information is latched by D flip-flops 550 and 560, and cyan Are latched by the D flip-flops 570 and 580.
Then, for the red image information 720a, 720b latched by the D flip-flops 550, 560, A = 720a + 720b × 3 (1) B = 720a × 3 + 720b (2) The lower 2 bits are discarded to 1/4 and input to the selector 590. The same operation is performed on the cyan image information 720c and 720d, and the result is input to the selector 600.

In the selectors 590 and 600, the above A, B
Are alternately selected by a signal 710 and input to D flip-flops 610 and 620 for waveform shaping. The D flip-flop 630 is used to match the timing of the pixels of the R signal and the C signal. In this way, the interpolation calculation pixel adjustment is performed, and a red signal 290R and a cyan signal 290C are output. Then, this output signal 290
R and 290C are, as shown in FIG. 5, a main scanning smoothing circuit 130 and inverter circuits 130R and 130C.
Is input to

The main scanning smoothing circuit 130 removes noise components in the main scanning direction in image information by performing smoothing processing of each pixel for the red signal 290R and the cyan signal 290C, thereby preventing erroneous color discrimination. Things. For example, the calculation in the 5-pixel smoothing process includes d, b, a, c,
When there is pixel data in the order of e, weights are set to 1, 2, 2,
2, 2, and 1, and the value of the target pixel a is a = (d + 2b +
2a + 2c + e) / 8.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a configuration of the main scanning smoothing circuit 130. The smoothing process is
Since the R signal and the C signal perform independent common processing, the case of the R signal will be described here.
In three-pixel smoothing, the interpolation calculation pixel matching circuit 120
Is output to the flip-flops 820, 830, and 840 of the main scanning smoothing circuit 130 in synchronization with the clock 700, and three pixels are latched. Then, these latched data are weighted as 1,1,1 and added by an adder 890 to further reduce the data to 1/3. The output of the adder 890 is adjusted in timing by a D flip-flop 870 via a selector 880 and output as an image signal 300R.

In the 5-pixel smoothing, the red signal 290R output from the interpolation calculation pixel matching circuit 120 is synchronized with the clock 700 by the main scanning smoothing circuit 130.
Flip-flops 810, 820, 830, 840,
850, and 5 pixels are latched. And
These latched data include 1, 2, 2,
The weighting of 2,1 is performed, and the result is added by the adder 860.
The lower 3 bits are discarded to 1/8. The output of the adder 860 is supplied to a D flip-flop 87 via a selector 880.
The timing is adjusted to 0 and output as an image signal 300R.

In the nine pixel smoothing, the red signal 290R output from the interpolation pixel matching circuit 120 is
By synchronizing the clock 700, the flip-flops 790, 800, 810, 8 of the main scanning smoothing circuit 130
20, 830, 840, 850, 910, and 920, and nine pixels are latched. Then, 1, 2, 2, 2, 4, 2, 2, 1, 1,
Weighting of 1 is performed, the result is added by an adder 860, and the lower 4 bits are discarded to 1/16. The output of the adder 860 is supplied to a D flip-flop 870 via a selector 880.
, And output as an image signal 300R.

The result of the 3, 5, and 9 pixel smoothing is selected by a selector 880 controlled by the CPU 42a. As a result, the level of erroneous determination removal can be changed, and the optimum level of erroneous determination removal for a document can be selected. The CPU 42a extracts an image in a specific color range, reproduces the image in that color range, and detects a region surrounded by color markers, and a marker processing mode in which a predetermined process is performed on the image in the region. Switches the level of the erroneous determination removal processing. In the color extraction mode for outputting an image in a specific color range, the output of the adder 890 is selected by the selector 880 in order to perform three-pixel smoothing without deteriorating characters, fine lines, and the like of the image. In the marker processing mode for detecting an area surrounded by the color markers, the output of the adder 900 is selected by the selector 880 in order to perform nine-pixel smoothing without erroneous determination of the color markers.

In the case of cyan, the image signal 30
0 is smoothed and output. The output signals 300R and 300C from the main scanning smoothing circuit 130 processed as described above are input to the color determination circuit 140. The color discrimination circuit 140 outputs color discrimination signals 310A, 310B, 310C from the inputted red digital information 300R (8 bits, 256 gradations) and cyan digital information 300C (8 bits, 256 gradations). .

FIGS. 8 and 9 show the color discriminating process in the color discriminating circuit 140. FIG. That is, FIG. 8 is a look-up table (LUT) for generating the red determination signal 310A and the black determination signal 310C, and FIG. 9 is a look-up table for generating the blue determination signal 310B and the black determination signal 310C. This is an up table (LUT). For example, when the red signal 300R is “200” and the cyan signal 300C is “100”, in the LUT of FIG. 8A, this value is in the red region, so the red discrimination signal 310A is “1”. ".

On the other hand, in the LUT of FIG. 9A, the area corresponding to the value is an area other than cyan, and the cyan discrimination signal 310B is "0". FIGS. 8A and 8B change the discrimination color range depending on the mode. Usually, the color discrimination is performed in FIG. 8A, and in the marker area discrimination mode, pale red and blue are discriminated. The CPU 42a controls so as to use (b).

The LUT shown in FIG. 8 is used for red / black discrimination in the color extraction mode or the marker mode.
The UT is used for cyan / black discrimination, but the contents of the table, particularly how to determine the boundaries of the discrimination areas, are not limited to those shown in FIGS. For example, in FIG. 8, if the area determined to be red is increased, the range of the hue determined to be red is also expanded. Therefore, a plurality of tables having different boundaries may be selected even for the same red / black discrimination according to the user's preference.

In FIG. 5, an interpolation calculation pixel matching circuit 12
Red signal 290R and cyan signal 29 output from 0
0C means the inverter circuits 130R, 130R, respectively.
The signals are inverted by C to become signals 320B and 320A. Of these, the signal 320B is a signal obtained by inverting the red luminance signal 300R and thus becomes a cyan density signal. The signal 320A is a signal obtained by inverting the cyan luminance signal 300C and thus is a red density signal. Becomes That is, these density signals 320A and 320B do not perform the main scanning smoothing process in order to perform faithful binarization.

The selectors 150 and 160 shown in FIG.
Is controlled by an I / O port (not shown) of the CPU 42a as described above, and when performing red-based color separation for discriminating the red-based color of a document and reproducing the original in red, the control line Is set to “0”, and when cyan color separation of reproducing the cyan color by discriminating the cyan color of the document is performed,
The control line is set to “1”. That is, when red-based color separation is selected, the signal 310A is selected as the signal 330, and the signal 320A is selected as the signal 340.

Therefore, the case where the red color separation is performed, that is, the case where the control line is "0" will be described hereinafter. The red density signal 340 selected by the selector 150 is input to the X terminal of the selector 170,
A fixed value (here, “32”) is input to the terminal.
The red region signal 330 is input to the control terminal S of the selector 170. As shown in FIG. 10, for example, if the signal level input to the control terminal S is "1", the red region signal 330 is input to the X terminal. If the signal level is "0", a fixed value input to the Y terminal is selected and output.

FIG. 12A shows an image on a document, and FIG. 12B shows a red signal 290 on a scanning line of the document.
It is a figure showing R and cyan system signal 290C. FIG. 12C is a diagram illustrating a red-based signal 300R and a cyan-based signal 300C obtained by smoothing the signal illustrated in FIG. 12B by the main scanning smoothing circuit 130. Further, FIG. 12 (d) shows the red signal 30
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a red region signal 310A and a cyan region signal 310B as a result of inputting 0R and cyan signals 300C to the LUTs of FIGS.

FIG. 12E shows the red signal 340 and the red area signal 330 selected by the selector 160. FIG. 12F shows the red signal 340 selected by the selector 170. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a signal 350 as a result of the operation. As described above, the main scanning smoothing circuit 13
If the erroneous determination removal level of 0 is switched, (c) in FIG.
Of the signals 300R and 300C of FIG. By changing the position of the boundary of the discrimination area of the color discrimination circuit 140, FIG.
The shape of the signals 310A and 310B of FIG. 2 (d) also changes.

With such a configuration, only the erroneous determination level of the main scanning smoothing circuit 130 may be switched according to the color extraction mode or the marker mode, or only the boundary position of the determination area of the color determination circuit 140 may be changed. May be changed, or both may be changed. The output signal 350 from the selector 170 is output to the edge enhancement circuit 1
80 and input to the averaging circuit 190. The edge emphasizing circuit 180 is composed of an edge emphasizing filter.
The edge of the 0 image is emphasized. Further, the averaging circuit 190 averages the signal 350 in a 9 × 9 matrix of a target pixel. Then, the edge enhancement circuit 180
The output signals 360 and 370 of the averaging circuit 190 are input to the next-stage binarization circuit 200, respectively.

The binarizing circuit 200 includes the edge emphasizing circuit 18
The 8-bit output signal 360 from 0 and the averaging circuit 190
And outputs a 1-bit red signal 380. The size of the filter that performs edge enhancement and smoothing is, of course, not limited to the above example. As described above, since the edge-enhanced image is binarized using the average value as a threshold value, more faithful binarization can be performed. 4. The output signal from the red image latent image formation binarization circuit 200 is output to the next-stage scaling circuit 2.
A predetermined enlargement or reduction process is performed according to an instruction from the operation unit 41. Also, this scaling circuit 250
Is output to the laser driver circuit 260 and becomes a signal for driving the semiconductor laser 26.
The semiconductor laser 26 is a laser driver-circuit 26
The electrical signal 440 from 0 is converted into optical information, and the optical information is reflected by the rotating polygon mirror 25a, and forms a latent image of red information on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11. 5. Development of Red Image Red information latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 11 by the semiconductor laser 26 is developed by the red developing unit 13b.
After the black development is completed, the cut sheet SH that has been transported to the registration roller 12 is transported when the document is started, and the red toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 11 is transferred thereto. When the transfer of the red toner image is completed, the cut sheet S
H is separated from the photosensitive drum 11 by the separation charger 16, and then the red toner image on the cut sheet SH is fixed by heat and pressure by the fixing device 19.

The cut sheet SH on which the black information and the red information are recorded is discharged to the discharge tray 24 by the flapper 21. Next, a procedure of the entire multiple development process executed by the copying apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. First, an image in which the red analog image in the original 999 is deleted is reproduced. That is, in order to separate the red image from the black image, the red filter 20d is set before the imaging lens 2d (step S10).

Next, the original 999 is placed on the original illumination lamp 2c.
Is reflected by the scanning mirror, and the reflected light is
d, the remaining image information from which only the red image information in the original 999 has been erased passes through the imaging lens 2d to form an image on the photosensitive drum 11, and a latent image corresponding to the image excluding the red image Is formed (step S11). Then, the latent image is developed into black by the developing unit 13b (Step S12).

Subsequently, based on the electrophotographic process, the developed black image is transferred to the cut sheet SH to be conveyed. Thereafter, the cut sheet SH is separated from the photosensitive drum 11 by the separation charger 16 and fixed. The black developer is heated and pressed by the device 19 to be fixed. The conveying direction of the cut sheet SH on which the black image information is recorded is controlled by the flapper 21, and passes through the conveying paths 22 and 22 a forming a multiplex bus for registration of the next image. It is transported to the twelve arrangement positions. Then, in preparation for the next red image recording (digital image recording), the exposure shutter 27 disposed in front of the photosensitive drum 11 is used.
Is closed (step S13). As a result, optical information from the imaging lens 2d is not formed on the photosensitive drum 11.

Next, the original 999 is placed on the original illumination lamp 2c.
The reflected light forms an image on the line sensor 20c through the half mirror 20a and is read (step S14). In this manner, the electric signal photoelectrically converted by the line sensor 20c is
In step a15, red color separation is performed as described above (step S15). The separated red image information is input to the laser driver 260. The laser driver 260 modulates and drives the semiconductor laser according to the red image information. The laser from the semiconductor laser is scanned by the polygon mirror 25a and A latent image for red is formed thereon (step S16).

Next, after the image is developed into red by the developing unit 13a (step S17), the image is transferred to the re-fed cut sheet SH. The cut sheet SH after the transfer of the red developer is separated from the photosensitive drum 11 by the separation charger 16, and the developer is fixed by the fixing device 19. In this manner, the cut sheet SH in which the image information is compositely recorded in black and red in a multiplexed manner is discharged to the discharge tray 24 by the flapper 21, and the present processing is completed. 6. Marker Processing In a marker processing mode in which a region surrounded by color markers is detected and a predetermined process is performed on an image of the region, FIG.
As shown in (2), the CPU 42a receives the color area signals 310A, 310B, 310C from the color determination circuit 140,
Recognize the area enclosed by the markers. In a masking mode in which an image in a region surrounded by a red marker is erased and other images are reproduced, a document is prescanned and an image is input from a CCD. The CPU 42a receives the red region signal 310A from the color determination circuit 140 and recognizes a region surrounded by the red marker.

Thereafter, the CPU 42a selects the signal 410 by the signal 400, scans the document again, and inputs an image from the CCD. Then, in the region surrounded by the red marker recognized by the prescan, the fixed value Y of the selector 170 is
To select. In addition, in a region other than the above area, the signal 340 is selected by the signal 410. Thus, the marker processing mode is executed.

As described above, according to this embodiment,
By changing the number of smoothing pixels and weighting factors and switching the level of erroneous discrimination removal in the mode that outputs an image in a specific color range and the mode that detects the area surrounded by color markers, , Two colors of black can be copied. In the above embodiment, the developing unit 13
If a filter color for color separation can be selected in accordance with the development color set in a, an image corresponding to the development color can be combined with an analog image as a digital image and recorded. That is, if a blue developer is set in the developing unit 13a, two-color printing of black and blue can be performed, and three-color printing of black, red, and blue, or multicolor printing in which a developing color is further added is performed. You can also. <Modification> A modification of the above embodiment will be described.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an inline sensor coated with three color filters of red (R), green (G) and blue (B) in a copying apparatus according to a modification of the above embodiment. In the positional deviation correction of each color pixel in the line sensor shown in the figure, first, in order to align R and B with the position of G1, R1 ′ = (2R1 + R2) / 3 (3) B1 = (B0 + 2B1) / 3 ( 4) Interpolation calculation is performed.

Then, as in the above-described embodiment, smoothing is performed at the preceding stage of the color discrimination circuit by using this operation value as a multi-valued image signal, thereby reducing erroneous discrimination. At the same time, using an image signal without smoothing, 2
Perform value conversion. The operation of the entire apparatus according to this modification is the same as that of the above-described embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0068]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Smooth according to marker processing mode or color extraction mode
Changes the degree of
Color discrimination of images can be performed, and thus high quality images
Processing can be performed. More specifically, marker processing
If the mode is set, strong degree of smoothing
The marker color is determined from the color image data subjected to
The marker area can be determined with high accuracy. Meanwhile, color
When the extraction mode is set, the
From color image data that has been weakly smoothed
Since images in a specific color range are determined, characters and fine lines
Any part can be determined well.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a copying apparatus that is an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of a controller unit 2a of the copying apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a document scanning system according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a CCD line sensor 20c in the copying apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing unit of a controller unit according to the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an interpolation calculation pixel matching circuit in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram showing a hardware configuration of a main scanning smoothing circuit in the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an LUT for generating a red determination signal and a black determination signal in the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an LUT for generating a blue determination signal and a black determination signal in the embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a selection process of a density signal in the embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a multiple development process in the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining signals in the image processing unit shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an in-line sensor to which an RGB three-color filter according to a modification of the embodiment is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Copier main body 2 Original scanning part 2a Controller part 3 Paper supply part 4 Image recording part 120 Interpolation calculation pixel matching circuit 130 Main scanning smoothing circuit 140 Color discrimination circuit

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI H04N 1/46 H04N 1/46 Z (58) Investigated field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/40-1 / 409 H04N 1/46

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] A reading unit that reads a document image and outputs color image data; a smoothing unit that smoothes the color image data and outputs smoothed color image data; A color discriminating unit for discriminating a color of the image data; detecting a region surrounded by a color marker in the document image based on a discrimination result of the color discriminating unit; Setting means for setting a marker processing mode for performing processing, and a color extraction mode for detecting an image in a specific color range in the document image based on the determination result of the color determining means, and reproducing the image in that color ; Processing means for executing the mode set by the setting means, wherein the smoothing means is set to the marker processing mode or is set to the color extraction mode. Depending whether it is a constant, the image processing apparatus characterized by varying the degree of smoothing. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the smoothing means performs smoothing based on a different number of pixels and a weight for each pixel depending on whether the mode is set to the marker processing mode or the color extraction mode. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. An image according to claim 1, wherein said color discriminating means changes a color discriminating condition depending on whether said marker processing mode is set or said color extraction mode is set. Processing equipment. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising image forming means for forming an image based on the color image data on which the image processing has been performed. 5. A setting step of setting a marker processing mode or a color extraction mode; a reading step of reading a document image and outputting color image data; and a step of setting the marker processing mode in the setting step.
A smoothing step of smoothing the color image data to different degrees depending on whether the color extraction mode is set, and outputting a smoothed color image data; and determining a color of the color image data based on the smoothed color image data. A color discriminating step, when the marker processing mode is set in the setting step, an area surrounded by a color marker in the document image is detected based on a discrimination result of the color discriminating step, A predetermined process is performed on the color image data, and when the color extraction mode is set in the setting step, an image of a specific color range in the document image is determined based on the determination result of the color determination step. And a processing step of detecting the color and reproducing the color .