JP4841891B2 - Image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

The present invention includes a plurality of the images processed when the pattern for the output prohibited image reading apparatus for reading an original image picture that includes a case that has been added, the pattern for the output prohibited document image image read is added The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus including an image processing apparatus that processes original image data and outputs the original image so that the content of the original document becomes an image that cannot be read although the original document can be recognized .

  2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, when banknotes and securities are copied using an image forming apparatus such as a color copying machine due to improvements in image processing and image forming technology, they can be copied so finely that they cannot be easily distinguished from real ones. Therefore, for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 propose an image forming apparatus that discriminates a special manuscript that is prohibited from copying, such as banknotes and securities, and prohibits copying in the case of a special manuscript. Yes.

  On the other hand, even in a general document, there are many documents that are prohibited from being copied from the viewpoint of the importance of the document contents and confidentiality. Therefore, Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4 propose to detect whether a document is marked as a confidential document. When a mark is detected, it is easy to prevent copying. However, in this case, if the image is read after covering the mark portion in advance, the image can be easily copied.

Therefore, in Patent Document 5, for the purpose of preventing a paper manuscript created by a user from being disclosed to an unspecified number of people, a specific pattern at the time of manuscript creation is printed on the manuscript and the specific pattern is included. When scanning a document, it has been proposed to output the read image data in an undecipherable form. This is realized by replacing the output data with a fixed value regardless of the input data in order to destroy the original data when a specific pattern is detected.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-125259 JP 2001-86330 A JP-A-7-36317 Japanese Patent No. 3078433 JP 2005-51733 A

  However, in the method according to the above-described prior art, since the input data is output after being replaced with a fixed value, it is natural that the printed document cannot be understood from the output document. For this reason, a user who prints without knowing that the document has a specific pattern printed on it may be confused as to which document was restricted from being printed. There were many.

The present invention has been made in view of such a state of the art, and its purpose is to make it impossible to recognize the contents of an original document when reading a document that is prohibited from being copied. The purpose is to allow the user to understand which manuscript is the original manuscript .

To achieve the above object, the first aspect of the present invention, an original image picture including if a specific pattern for output inhibition is added an image reading apparatus for reading by the image reading unit, the image reading apparatus together provided, as an output image of the image data by the images processing when the specific pattern is added to the image reading said original image read by the unit image, in which the original document from a plurality of documents An image processing apparatus that processes and outputs data of the original image generated by the image reading unit reading the original image so that the content of the original original can be read but the content of the original original can be recognized. , an image forming apparatus wherein the image processing apparatus includes a pattern detection unit for detecting the specific pattern embedded in the document image image, the pattern detection unit is the Japanese Pattern upon detection of, as processing of the data of the document image, and outputs it to the beginning of the predetermined number of lines set in advance in the data of the original image as the target pixel part filter coefficients 1, data of the original image And a filter processing unit that outputs all the remaining lines with a filter coefficient of 0 as a deleted pixel portion to a uniform value.

A second means is characterized in that, in the first means, the image processing apparatus removes a high-frequency component contained in the document image data when the image data is generated by the filter processing section .

The third means is characterized in that, in the second means, the filter processing section is constituted by a smoothing filter for removing the high frequency component .

According to a fourth means, in any one of the first to third means , the image processing apparatus includes a scaling unit for reducing the size of the data of the document image. To do.

According to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the image reading unit of the image reading apparatus has read a particular pattern is added to the original image picture, the image processing apparatus provided in the image reading apparatus of the image data by the image processing Document image data generated by reading the document image with the image reading unit so that the output image can be recognized as an original document from among a plurality of documents, but the content of the original document cannot be read. since processing and outputting, while the unrecognizable the original document content when the copy is performed to read a document that is prohibited, can understand the user which of the document is the original document, as a result In addition to preventing information leakage to a large number of unspecified people, it is possible to ensure document content traceability based on output image data.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral (MFR-Multi Function Periphery) according to the present embodiment. An MFP is an image forming apparatus in which a single device combines a so-called copy function, printer function, fax function, and the like. In FIG. 1, an MFP includes a reading unit 109, a sensor board unit (hereinafter referred to as SBU) 110, a compression / decompression and data interface control unit (hereinafter referred to as CDIC) 115, an image processing processor (hereinafter referred to as IPP). 117), video data control (hereinafter referred to as VDC) 116, and image forming unit 118 are the main components. The CDIC 115 is connected to the image memory access control unit (hereinafter referred to as IMAC) 102 via the parallel bus 108 so as to transmit data. A memory module (hereinafter referred to as MEM) 101, an external personal computer (hereinafter referred to as PC) 103, an operation unit 104, a ROM 105, a RAM 106, and a system controller 107 are connected to the IMAC 102. The reading unit 109, the SBU 110, the CDIC 115, the VDC 116, and the image forming unit 118 are connected to the process controller 112, the RAM 113, and the ROM 114 via the serial bus 111.

  A reading unit 109 that optically reads a document forms an image of reflected light of lamp irradiation on the document by a mirror and a lens on an imaging surface of a light receiving element such as a CCD, and performs photoelectric conversion.

The image signal converted into an electrical signal in the CCD is converted into a digital signal and then output from the SBU 110. An image signal output from the SBU 110 is input to the CDIC 115. The CDIC 115 controls all image data transmission between the functional device and the data bus. The CDIC 115 performs communication between the SBU 110, the parallel bus 108, and the IPP 117 regarding the image data, and communication between the system controller 107 that controls the entire image processing apparatus and the process controller 112 for the image data. The image signal from the SBU 110 is transferred to the IPP 117 via the CDIC 115, corrected for signal deterioration due to quantization of the optical system and the digital signal (referred to as signal deterioration of the scanner system), and output to the CDIC 115 again.

  In the MFP, there are a job for storing the read image in the memory and reusing it, and a job for not storing the read image in the memory. In each case, the flow of data output to the CDIC 115 is different. Each case will be described. As an example of storing in a memory, when copying a plurality of originals, there is a method in which the reading unit 109 is operated only once, stored in the memory, and the stored data is read out a plurality of times. As an example in which no memory is used, when only one original is copied, the read image can be reproduced as it is, so there is no need to perform memory access.

  First, when the memory is not used, the data transferred from the IPP 117 to the CDIC 115 is returned from the CDIC 115 to the IPP 117 again. The IPP 117 performs image quality processing for converting luminance data from the CCD into area gradation. The image data after the image quality processing is transferred from the IPP 117 to the VDC 116. A post-process relating to dot arrangement and pulse control for reproducing the dots are performed on the signal changed to the area gradation, and a reproduced image is formed on the transfer paper in the image forming unit 118.

  Next, the flow of image data in the case of performing additional processing such as rotation of the image direction, image composition, etc. when the image is stored in the memory and read out will be described. The data transferred from the IPP 117 to the CDIC 115 is sent from the CDIC 115 to the IMAC (image memory access control) 102 via the parallel bus. Here, based on the control of the system controller 107, access control of the image data and the MEM (memory module) 101, development of print data of the external PC (personal computer) 103, and compression / decompression of the image data for effective use of the memory are performed. The data sent to the IMAC 102 is stored in the MEM 101 after data compression, and the stored data is read out as necessary. The read data is expanded, returned to the original image data, and returned from the IMAC 102 to the CDIC 115 via the parallel bus 108.

  After the transfer from the CDIC 115 to the IPP 117, image quality processing and pulse control by the VDC 116 are performed, and a reproduced image is formed on the transfer paper in the image forming unit 118. Control of the image forming unit 118 is started when reading is started.

  In the above-described image data flow, the MFP functions are realized by the bus control by the parallel bus 108 and the CDIC 115.

  In a situation where a plurality of jobs, for example, a copy function, a FAX transmission / reception function, and a printer output function operate in parallel, the allocation of the right to use the reading unit 109, the image forming unit 118, and the parallel bus 108 to the job is performed by the system controller 107 and the process controller 112. Control with.

  The process controller 112 controls the flow of image data, and the system controller 107 controls the entire system and manages the activation of each resource. The ROM 114 is a device that stores a program processed by the process controller 112, and the RAM 113 is a device that is used as a work memory when the program is executed. The ROM 105 is a device that stores a program to be processed by the system controller 107, and the RAM 106 is a device that is used as a work memory when executing the program.

  The system controller 107 and the process controller 112 communicate with each other via the parallel bus 108, the CDIC 115, and the serial bus 111. Data format conversion for the data interface between the parallel bus 108 and the serial bus 111 is performed in the CDIC 115.

  The operation unit 104 is a part where the user selects a function of the MFP. In accordance with the function selected by the user, the image data is processed in the above-described flow of image data.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the CDIC 115. The CDIC 115 includes an image data input / output control unit 201, a command control unit 202, serial data I / Fs 203 and 204, a parallel data I / F 205, a data conversion unit 206, a data decompression unit 207, an image data output control unit 208, and an image data input. A control unit 209 and a data compression unit 210 are included. The image data input / output control unit 201 inputs the image data from the SBU 110 into the CDIC 115 and outputs the data to the IPP 117. In the image data input control unit 209, the data corrected by the scanner image by the IPP 117 is input. The data compression unit 210 compresses the input data in order to increase the transfer efficiency on the parallel bus 108. The compressed data is sent to the parallel bus 108 via the parallel data I / F 205.

  Image data input from the parallel data bus 108 via the parallel data I / F 205 is compressed for bus transfer and is expanded by the data expansion unit 207. The expanded image data is transferred to the IPP 117 in the image data output control unit 208. An example of an encoding method used for compression / decompression here is a method in which the codeword length suitable for the MFP is fixed. The fixed-length encoding method can reproduce only the image of an arbitrary portion because the position of the image before encoding is known in the code state. It is also suitable for image processing and editability.

  The CDIC 115 also has a conversion function for parallel data and serial data. The system controller 107 transfers data to the parallel bus 108, and the process controller 112 transfers data to the serial bus 111. Serial data is taken into the CDIC 115 via the serial data I / F 204, and data conversion is performed by the data conversion unit 206. Data conversion is performed for communication between the two controllers. The serial data I / F 203 has one more system for the IPP 117, and the IPP 117 performs I / F.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the IMAC 102. The IMAC 102 includes a system controller I / F 301, a line buffer 302, a video control unit 303, a data compression unit 304, a parallel data I / F unit 305, a memory access control unit 306, a data expansion unit 307, and a data conversion unit 308. Yes. The parallel data I / F unit 305 manages an image data interface with the parallel bus 108. The IMAC 102 controls storage / reading of image data to / from the MEM 101 and development of code data input from the external PC 103 into image data. An example of the MEM 101 here is a semiconductor memory, a hard disk, or both. The input code data is stored in the local area in the line buffer 302.

  The code data stored in the line buffer 302 is developed into image data by the video control unit 303 based on a development processing command from the system controller 107 input via the system controller I / F 301. The developed image data or image data input from the parallel bus 108 via the parallel data I / F 305 is stored in the MEM 101. In this case, the data conversion unit 308 selects image data to be stored, the data compression unit 304 performs data compression to increase the memory usage efficiency, and the memory access control unit 306 manages the address of the MEM 101 while managing the address of the MEM 101. The image data is stored in. As an example of the encoding method used for the compression / decompression here, there is a highly efficient encoding method suitable for saving the area of the MEM 101. This is an efficiency-oriented coding system, unlike the function-oriented coding system required for the CDIC 115 described above. When reading out the image data stored in the MEM 101, the memory access control unit 306 controls the read destination address, and the data expansion unit 307 expands the read image data. When the decompressed image data is transferred to the parallel bus 108, the data is transferred via the parallel data I / F 305.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the IPP 117. The IPP 117 includes output I / Fs 401 and 406, input I / Fs 402 and 408, a scanner image processing unit 403, a specific pattern detection unit 404, a command control unit 405, and an image quality processing unit 407. It is assumed that a specific pattern is embedded as an image in the document image. The scanned image is transmitted from the input I / F 402 of the IPP 117 to the scanner image processing unit 403 via the SBU 110 and the CDIC 115. Here, as for the input image data, the original scanner image processing 403 is performed, and at the same time, the image data is branched to the pattern detection unit 404 to detect a specific pattern in the image data. The detected information is notified to the process controller 112 via the command control unit 405. The specific pattern detection unit 404 does not change the image data only by detection.

  Upon receiving the pattern detection notification, the process controller 112 determines parameters for image processing performed by the scanner image processing unit 403. If the image processing is realized by ASIC, the determined parameters are set. Set ASIC registers. The same applies to the case where it is realized by middleware instead of ASIC. This parameter is determined by characteristics such as the size and resolution of the input image. Thereafter, the input image data is processed by the scanner image processing unit 403 and output to the CDIC 115 via the output I / F 401.

  Normally, in the scanner image processing pass, the target image shading correction, scanner γ correction, MTF correction, and the like are performed to correct the deterioration of the read image signal. Although not correction processing, enlargement / reduction scaling processing is also performed. After the read image data correction processing is completed, the image data is transferred to the CDIC 115 via the output I / F 401.

  In the present embodiment, deterioration correction of the read image signal is not intended, but a part of the read image signal is used to reduce the image data to a level at which the original document can be recognized and cannot be read. The image processing algorithm to be used may be the same as that normally used, and image data of a level at which the original document can be recognized and cannot be read is created by the parameters.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the VDC 116. The VDC 116 includes a parallel data I / F 501, a data conversion unit 502, a serial data I / F 503, an edge smoothing processing unit 504, and a pulse control unit 505. The VDC 116 performs additional processing on the input image data according to the characteristics of the image forming unit 118. The edge smoothing unit 504 performs dot rearrangement processing by edge smoothing processing, and the pulse control of the image signal for dot formation is performed by the pulse control unit 505, and the image data is output to the image forming unit 118. The In addition to the conversion of image data, the VDC 116 has a parallel data and serial data format conversion function, and can support communication between the system controller 107 and the process controller 112 even with a single VDC. In the conversion, it is only necessary to receive the data serially and serially transmitted by the parallel data I / F 501 and the serial data I / F 503 and perform the conversion by the data conversion unit 502.

  FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the scanner image processing unit 403 in FIG. The scanner image processing unit 403 includes a filter processing unit 601 and a scaling processing unit 602.

 A case will be described in which when a specific pattern is detected by the scanner image processing unit 403, a part of the image information is deleted and the original document can be recognized but output as an unreadable image. In this case, only the first few lines are output, and the remaining lines are deleted. There are several possible ways of realization, but the filter processing unit 601 may perform control so that only the first few lines output the input data as it is, and the remaining lines output all the output values at a uniform value. To output the input data as it is, it can be realized by setting only the target pixel portion of the filter coefficient to 1. In order to make all the output data uniform values, if all the filter coefficients are set to 0, 0 is always output. The process controller 112 that has received the notification of the specific pattern detection by the IPP 117 sets the filter processing unit 601 to perform the above processing. As a result, it is possible to generate image data at a level at which the original document can be recognized and cannot be read.

  When a part of the image information is deleted, the high-frequency component included in the image is removed without changing the vertical / horizontal size of the image, so that the original document can be recognized and cannot be read. You can also. That is, the filter processing unit 601 uses a smoothing filter (not shown). By applying the smoothing filter to the read image data, blurred image data is output. The process controller 112 that has received the notification of the specific pattern detection by the IPP 117 determines the parameters so that the smoothing filter is applied to the read image data in the filter processing unit 601, so that the read image data is smoothed. become. By using the smoothing filter, it is possible to generate image data at a level where the original document can be recognized and cannot be read without changing the vertical and horizontal sizes of the read image data. As a result, when a document with a specific pattern is read, a scanned image and image data of the same size as a document of the same size without a specific pattern can be obtained, which is easy for the user to handle. An effect will be obtained.

  Further, when a part of the image information is deleted, it is possible to output the image by reducing the size so that the original document can be recognized and cannot be read. In order to make this unreadable image data, the scaling processing unit 602 may perform a reduction process. In other words, the reduction processing is realized by processing such as thinning out pixels from the read image data or setting an average of several pixels to a pixel value to be output. The process controller 112 that has received the notification of the specific pattern detection by the IPP 117 controls the path so as to perform the reduction process. By performing the reduction process, it becomes impossible to read the characters of the read image due to being crushed, but the rough structure of the image (arrangement of the character area / arrangement of the photographic area) can be understood from the resulting data. As a result, by changing the vertical and horizontal sizes of the read image data, it is possible to generate image data at a level at which the original document can be recognized and cannot be read. In this way, when a document with a specific pattern added is printed, an image having a smaller size than that of the original can be obtained, so that it can be distinguished from a document of the same size without a specific pattern added. The effect that it becomes easy is acquired.

  For output to the transfer paper, image data from the CDIC 115 is received from the input I / F 408, and area gradation processing is performed in the image quality processing unit 407. The data after the image quality processing is output to the VDC 116 via the output I / F 406. The area gradation processing includes density conversion, dither processing, error diffusion processing, and the like, and mainly performs area approximation of gradation information. Once the scanner image processed image data is stored in the memory, various reproduced images can be confirmed by changing the image quality processing. For example, the atmosphere of the reproduced image can be changed by changing the density of the reproduced image or changing the number of lines of the dither matrix. At this time, it is not necessary to read the image again from the reading unit 109 every time the processing is changed, and if the stored image is read from the MEM 101, different processing can be performed on the same data any number of times. In the case of a single scanner, scanner image processing and gradation processing are performed together and output to the CDIC 115.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the scanned image data is printed has been described. However, it is not always necessary to print the data from which a part of the image is deleted. For example, the monitor screen of the PC 103 (not shown) ) May be displayed.

  The reading unit 109 in FIG. 1 is configured by a scanner as shown in FIG. 7, for example. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically showing the overall configuration of the scanner. The scanner 1200 includes an automatic document feeder (ADF) 1201 that feeds a document on a document table glass 1203, an optical scanning unit 1204 that optically scans a document on the document table glass 1203, and the optical scanning unit 1204. And a CCD unit 1207 for generating an image data signal on the basis of the light. The optical scanning unit 1204 includes a document illumination lamp 1205 made of, for example, a halogen lamp, and a plurality of scanning mirrors 1206. The CCD unit 1207 includes an imaging lens 1208 that forms an image of reflected light from a document on the CCD, an image sensor 1209 that includes the CCD, and an AD converter 1210 that performs AD conversion on an image signal output from the image sensor 1209. ing. The CCD unit 1207 includes three CCDs, R (red), G (green), and B (blue).

  Documents fed from the automatic document feeder 1201 are sequentially set at predetermined positions on the document table glass 1203, and the document 1202 set on the document table glass 1203 is exposed by a document illumination lamp 1205. Reflected light from the document is guided to the CCD unit 1207 by a plurality of scanning mirrors 1206. An image signal output from the image sensor 1209 is converted into, for example, 8-bit digital RGB image data by the AD conversion unit 1210 and then transmitted to the SBU 110 in FIG. 1 via the image output I / F 1211.

  The image forming unit 118 in FIG. 1 is configured by a printer shown in FIG. 8, for example. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the printer. The printer 1300 includes a laser unit 1303 as an exposure unit, a photosensitive drum 1302 that forms an electrostatic latent image, a color developer 1305 that converts the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1302 into a toner image, and transfer paper. The paper feeding unit 1308 to be accommodated and a fixing device 1309 for fixing the toner image on the transfer paper are mainly configured. Each of these components is housed in a housing 1301. Around the photosensitive drum 1302, a primary charger 1304 for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum 1302, a transfer charger 1306 for transferring a toner image on the photosensitive drum 1302 to a transfer sheet, and a photosensitive member A cleaner 1307 for cleaning the surface of the drum 1302, a static elimination lamp 1312 for neutralizing the photosensitive drum 1302, and the like are provided.

  Image data from the VDC 116 is input from the image input I / F 1313, and the write data conversion unit 1314 converts the image data from the VDC 116 into image data for the writing unit. On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 1302 is neutralized by a neutralization lamp 1312 in preparation for image formation. The laser unit 1303 is composed of a semiconductor laser device or the like, and sequentially exposes magenta, cyan, yellow, and black images on the photosensitive drum 1302 with a laser beam (LB) based on the image processed image data. Form an image. The developing unit 1305 is rotated by an M developing unit that develops with magenta toner, a C developing unit that develops with cyan toner, a Y developing unit that develops with yellow toner, and a K developing unit that develops with black toner. It is attached to the drum. Developers of these developing units are sequentially attached to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1302 in accordance with the charge amount. The paper feed unit 1308 feeds transfer paper into the apparatus by driving the paper feed rollers 310, and takes the timing of writing out the image formed on the photosensitive drum 302. The transfer charger 1306 transfers the toner image developed on the photosensitive drum 1302 to the fed transfer paper. A conveyance belt 1311 conveys the transfer sheet after the transfer process to the fixing device 1309 and fixes it by heat and pressure.

1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of CDIC of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of IMAC of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the IPP of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of VDC of FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a scanner image processing unit in FIG. 4. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an overall configuration of a scanner. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating an overall configuration of a printer.

Explanation of symbols

102 Image memory access controller (IMAC)
109 Reading unit 110 Sensor board unit (SBU)
115 Compression / decompression and data interface controller (CDIC)
116 Video Data Control (VDC)
117 Image processing processor (IPP)
118 Image Making Unit 403 Scanner Image Processing Unit 404 Specific Pattern Detection Unit 601 Filter Processing Unit 602 Scaling Processing Unit

Claims (4)

An image reading apparatus for reading by the image reading unit the original picture image including a case where a specific pattern for output inhibition is added, along with provided in the image reading apparatus, the document image image read by the image reading unit wherein an output image of the image data by the images processing when a specific pattern is added, the level can not read the contents of the original document as it can recognize the original document is any from among a plurality of document as the image, meet the image forming apparatus comprising an image processing device to which the image reading unit, and outputs the processed data of the document image generated by reading the document image, and
The image processing apparatus includes a pattern detection unit for detecting the specific pattern embedded in the document image image, when the pattern detection unit detects the specific pattern, as processing of the data of the original image, the A predetermined number of leading lines in the document image data are output as they are as a target pixel portion with a filter coefficient of 1, and all the remaining lines in the document image data are made uniform values as a deleted pixel portion with a filter coefficient of 0. And an output processing unit. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1.
The image processing apparatus is characterized in that the filter processing unit removes a high frequency component contained in the document image data when the image data is generated. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2.
The image forming apparatus, wherein the filter processing unit includes a smoothing filter that removes the high-frequency component. The image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The image processing apparatus includes a scaling unit that reduces the data size of the document image.

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