JPH0225348A - Image output device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make possible the indication of a region where the color of recorded data prepared for monocolor needs to be changed and the subsequent simple preparation and output of multi-color data based on monocolor data by providing a region designation device which designates a region where image data color is specified and color information and a device which outputs the appropriate color information for the corresponding image data to the region. CONSTITUTION:When a printing data and a control command are entered from a host computer 108, these are stored in a document memory 113 sequentially by the action of CPU 110 to complete the storage of a single page of documentary data. Next, the CPU 110 sequentially develops character codes from a memory 113 to pattern data, referring to a character pattern generator 103 and then stored the pattern data in either one of frame memories 106 or 107. The selection between both frame memories for storage depends upon the designation of a color region for the document information then. If a single page of pattern data is developed in the frame memory, the CPU instructs an interface section 105 to transfer image data from the memories 106, 107 to a printer section 109.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image output device that outputs pattern information such as document information and image information to a multicolor display device such as a color printer or a color display.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, recorded data output from a document processing device such as a word processor to a printing device has often been monochrome (particularly black). In addition, in a document processing device that outputs document data that is printed in multiple colors, for example, character data is printed in black,
Form data such as ruled lines are printed in other colors, and such color designation is uniquely determined when creating document data.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] Therefore, for example, if document data created for monochrome output is to be printed in multiple colors, it is necessary to change the document data itself. In particular, when it is desired to output a specific part of a standard document in color, it is troublesome to change the output data.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional example, and it is possible to easily create and output multi-color data from monochrome data by specifying the area in which the color of recording data created for single color is desired to be changed. This relates to output devices.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, an image output device of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, an image output device that inputs image data and outputs it to a multicolor display output device, comprising: a color designation region of the image data, region designation means for designating color information of the region, and a region designation device corresponding to the color designation region. and output means for outputting image data with corresponding color information added thereto.

[Operation] In the above configuration, the area specifying means specifies the color specified area of the image data and the color information of the area, and outputs the image data corresponding to the color specified area with the corresponding color information attached. It is working.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Description of Document Output Device (FIG. 1) FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a document output device 100 according to an embodiment.

In the figure, 100 is the main body of the document output device, and 101 is a control unit that controls the entire device. For example, a ROM 111 that stores control programs and various data for CPUll01 CPUIIO such as a microprocessor, and a ROM 111 that is used as a work area for CPUll0 and stores various data. It includes a RAM 112 and the like that temporarily stores the designated color area. A document memory 113 is provided in the RAM 112 and stores document data.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a switch panel section which is equipped with a keyboard etc. for specifying a color designated area on the paper surface to be printed, and a display section for displaying various messages etc. to the operator. 103 is a character pattern generator that develops character codes input from the host computer 108 into pattern data. Both 106 and 107 are frame memories for storing one page of image data as pattern data; here, 106 stores black data and 107 stores red pattern data.

104 is an interface circuit for inputting document information from the host computer 108; 105 is for converting dot image data from frame memories 106 and 107 into a serial signal for turning on/off the laser of a printer section 109, which is a laser beam printer; Printer section 1
This is a printer interface unit that outputs to 09.

Reference numeral 109 denotes a printer section, which in this embodiment is comprised of a laser beam printer capable of recording in two colors, as shown in FIG.

With the above configuration, when print data and control commands are input from the host computer 108 through the interface circuit 104, the RA
It is stored in the document memory 113 of M112. Thus 1
When the document data for pages is stored in the document memory 113,
Document memory 113 with reference to character pattern generator 103
Character codes and the like are sequentially developed into pattern data and stored in the frame memory 106 or 107.

When developing this pattern data, which frame memory to store the pattern data in is determined by
The determination is made based on whether the color area of the document information is specified. When one page of pattern data is developed in the frame memory in this way, the printer interface section 105 is instructed to transfer the image data of the frame memories 106 and 107 to the printer section 109.

As a result, the printer interface unit 105 outputs a paper feeding instruction to the printer unit 109. For example, if the printer unit 109 is a laser beam printer, the printer interface unit 105 outputs a paper feeding instruction to the printer unit 109. For example, if the printer unit 109 is a laser beam printer, each dot data in the frame memories 106 and 107 is sequentially outputted when the laser is turned on. /Convert to OFF signal and output.

[Description of the Printer Unit (FIGS. 2 and 3)] The second is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of the recording unit of the printer unit 109 of the embodiment.

200 is a photosensitive drum, which rotates in the direction of the arrow. 20
1 is a polygon mirror that rotates in the direction of the arrow to scan the laser beam. 204 is a first color video signal, here a black video signal; 205 is a second color video signal, here a red video signal. 202 and 203 are semiconductor lasers that input video signals of corresponding colors and output laser beams, and 206 is a reflecting mirror. 207 is an electrostatic latent image formed by the first color video signal, and 208 is an electrostatic latent image formed by the second color video signal.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing printing timing in the recording section shown in FIG. 2.

300 and 301 are horizontal synchronization signals of the first and second color video signals formed by beam detect signals (not shown), respectively; 302 and 303 are the first and second color video signals (304, 305), respectively; ) is a video clock synchronized to

304 is a video signal of the first color (black), and 306 shows an image formed on the recording paper 310 by this signal. 3
05 is a video signal of the second color (red), and 307 shows an image formed on the recording paper 310 by this signal.

[Explanation of Area Indication (Figs. 4 and 5)] Fig. 4 is an external view of the switch panel section 102 of this device, and Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an operation flowchart for specifying an area from this switch panel 102. .

In FIG. 4, 40 is a display unit, and 41 is a device 1.
00 is a ready LED indicating that input is possible. 4
2 is a delete key that deletes the most recently input value when inputting numbers using the numeric keys. Reference numeral 43 indicates an input key for instructing input of data. Reference numeral 44 indicates an area specification key for inputting area specification. 47 is an online switch, and 48 is an LED indicating that it is in the online state. 45 is the printer section 109
A paper ejection switch 46 instructs to eject the paper, and a paper ejection LED 46 indicates that the paper is being ejected.

To explain based on the flowchart of FIG. 5, first, when the area designation key 44 is pressed in step S1, step S2
” to indicate the input of the X coordinate value of the starting point of the area designation.
5TART

The coordinate values are input using the numeric keys, delete key, etc. on the panel 102, and are sequentially displayed on the display 40 each time each key is input. This also applies to the subsequent manual key processing. Once the desired coordinate values have been input in this manner, the input key 43 is pressed. This means that the X coordinate (xl) of the starting point of the area has been input.

In step S4, 5TART Y is displayed on the display 40.
=" is displayed, and the Y coordinate (yl) of the starting point is input.

In step S5, display 4]: m”END
=" and input the end point (7) X coordinate value (x2). Similarly, in step S6, the display 40 displays '
END Y=” is displayed and the Y coordinate value of the end point (y2
).

In step S7, in order to confirm the input area, "'(x+, y+)-(X2, y
z) OK? ''' is displayed to instruct the operator to confirm the area. Then, in step S8, when the input key 43 indicating confirmation is pressed, the area is stored in RAM 1.
12 area storage units.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing pattern development processing by CPUll0, and a processing program for executing this processing is stored in ROM 111.

First, it is determined in step SIO whether one page of document data is stored in the document memory 113, and step SIO is performed.
The character code is read from the document memory 113 with ll. Then, in step S12, the character code is expanded into pattern data with reference to the character pattern generator 103.

Then, the process proceeds to step S13, and it is determined whether a region has been designated. If a region has been designated, it is checked in step S12 whether or not the pattern data developed as a pattern corresponds to that region. This determination is made by detecting the position where the character code is expanded based on the address information of the character code stored in the document memory 113 when the pattern is expanded to the frame memory, and determining whether the character is included in the specified area. Judgment will be made based on whether or not. Note that when address information is not included, the position on the page where the character code is to be developed may be determined based on the character size, line pitch, character pitch, etc. of the document information to be developed.

If the expanded character code corresponds to the area, the process advances to step S14 and is stored in the frame memory 107 as red data. On the other hand, if there is no area designation or if the currently developed portion of the pattern does not fall within that area, the process proceeds to step S15, and the pattern data is stored in the frame memory 106. In addition,
In step S14 or step S15, blank data "'0"' is written to the other frame memory in which no pattern data is stored. Step 31
At step 6, it is checked whether the pattern development of all the data in the document memory 113 has been completed. If not, the process returns to step Sll and the above-described operations are repeated until the pattern development of one page of document data is completed.

[Explanation of a specific example of area designation (Figs. 7 and 8) Fig. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a designated area in which a region is designated according to this embodiment, and Fig. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a designated region recorded based on this region designation. It is a figure showing an example of a document.

70 is recording paper, 71 is maximum effective printing area (OO) - (1
879, 2709). 72 indicates a color specified area designated by this example, where the start coordinates are (1600, 2510) and the end coordinates are (180, 2510).
0,2700). In this way, the rectangular area 72 designated by the start point and end point becomes the color designated area.

An example of the document recorded in this manner is shown in FIG. 8, in which 'page3' corresponding to the color designation area 72 is recorded in red.

Although this embodiment describes the case where document data is developed into pattern data and output, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the same can be done in the case of image data as well.

Furthermore, although the explanation has been given on the case where the output is output to a printer and printed in multiple colors, it is of course applicable to display output on a color display or the like.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the printer unit was explained as a page printer such as a laser beam printer.
Of course, a sequential printer can also do the same thing. Furthermore, although this embodiment has been described in the case of two colors, it is also possible to further increase the number of designated colors.

Furthermore, although this embodiment has been described with reference to the case where the number of color designation areas is one, a plurality of color designation areas may be provided, and furthermore, the designated color may be changed for each color designation area.

Furthermore, although the area designation is performed using coordinate values from the keyboard, it may also be performed using a mouse, light rail, etc. on the actual output image.

As explained above, according to this embodiment, monochromatic recording data can be easily displayed and output in multiple colors by specifying the color index region.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, multi-color data can be easily created and output from monochrome data by specifying the area in which the color of recorded data created for single color is to be changed. There is an effect that can be done.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the schematic configuration of the image output device of the embodiment, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the recording section of the printer section, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the timing of the recording section in FIG. 2, and FIG. Figure 5 is an external view of the switch panel of this embodiment, Figure 5 is a flowchart showing region designation operation, Figure 6 is a flowchart showing pattern development processing of the document output device of this embodiment, and Figure 7 is the area according to this embodiment. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of instructions, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of printing according to the embodiment. In the figure, 40...Display, 43...Enter key-4
4... Area specification key 70... Recording paper, 71...
Effective printing area, 72... Color specification area, 100... Document output device, 102... Switch panel section, 103...
...Character pattern generator, 104...Interface section, 105...Printer interface section, 10
6゜107...Frame memory, 108...Host computer, 109...Printer section, 110...
CPU, 111...ROM, 112...RAM, 1
13...Document memory. Patent applicant Canon Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] An image output device that inputs image data and outputs it to a multicolor display output device, comprising: a color designation region of the image data and region designation means for designating color information of the region; An image output device comprising: output means for outputting image data corresponding to a specified area with color information corresponding to the image data attached thereto.