JPS60182849A - Image data processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain properly the reproduction of an image for a serial input of various image signals to be processed at the same time by separating transmitted image data of different kinds at each data and applying image reproducing processing. CONSTITUTION:B, G, R signals are outputted sequentially from a host 10 at each picture element and added to a digital color printer 8. A separating device 1 of the digital color printer 8 rearranges a serial signal into a parallel, separates the signals into B, G, R colors, gives them to a picture signal processing circuit 2, where a known processing such as UCR and masking is applied. Then each signal converted into yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C and a black BK is stored in separate memories 3-6 respectively, a each color reproducing picture is enerated on each drum of a 4-drum laser beam printer 7 at each color signal and all the colors are transferred on one sheet of paper while taking color resist timing.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Technical Field] The present invention relates to image data processing systems such as digital color copying systems.

[Prior art]

For example, in a digital color copying machine, each color signal obtained by reading a document using a CCD, etc. is sent to a signal processing circuit through separate signal lines corresponding to the color, and processes such as γ correction (gradation correction) and masking (color correction) are performed. , one that reproduces full-color images is conceivable. However, if the COD and the image reproduction unit are located far apart, a large number of signal lines are required for each color over long distances, and arranging the signal lines increases the cost and is inconvenient. In particular, it is difficult to transmit an analog color signal from a COD over a long distance via a telephone line, receive it, and reproduce a full-color image.

〔the purpose〕

In view of the above points, an object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system that can transmit and process image data using a small number of transmission lines regardless of the type of image data to be processed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image data processing system capable of appropriately achieving image reproduction for serial input of image signals of various colors to be processed simultaneously. On the other hand, there are systems that simultaneously process each color data to reproduce a color image.

The present invention also resides in a system that separates and processes each data from a serial image signal in which various image data are repeated, and synthesizes the data to reproduce an image.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image data processing system that separates basic color data from a serial digital color signal in which basic color data is repeated and outputs it in parallel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a color processing system that can appropriately separate each color signal from an input digital color signal and store each color signal in a memory.

An object of the present invention is to provide a color processing system having a network mechanism for transmitting digital color signals.

An object of the present invention is to provide a color processing system that can receive and output appropriate color signals regardless of the transmission format.

An object of the present invention is to provide a system capable of processing image data from an image reader such as a document or from an external terminal in response to human power.

〔Example〕

The present invention separates each color signal sent serially in time through one signal line, arranges them in parallel as a predetermined color signal, and processes them for color reproduction and output. It also performs masking processing on each color signal simultaneously in parallel, performs background color removal (UCR) processing, etc., performs real-time playback output processing, or stores them in page memory for each color. This will be described in detail below with reference to one drawing.

Below B, G, R, Y, M, C, BK are blue green,
The colors are red, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

FIG. 1 shows this embodiment.

1 is a color separator, 2 is an image signal processing circuit such as masking, 3.4.5.6 is a memory Y for processing and storing signals in Y, M, CB+, memory M1 memory C1 memory B
K, 7 is a four-drum laser beam printer, which forms Y, M, C, and BkO images on each drum, and sequentially transfers the images to paper by taking a color resist. 8 is a digital color printer composed of 1 to 7, and 10 is a host computer. Note that 7 does not need to be 4 drums.

For example, the second signal sent from the host IO
As shown in the figure, the blue image signal B2 in one pixel, then the green image signal G1, and then the red image signal R1 are sent, followed by the blue image signal 8 in the next pixel.
1st green image signal 01st red image signal R
1 is sent, it is sent out serially in time onto the telephone line as always. Note that BL, G, and R in one pixel may be the same point, or one pixel may be composed of three points, B, G, and R.

Upon receiving this signal, the digital color printer 8 uses a separator 1 to rearrange the serially sent signals in parallel for each pixel as shown in Fig. 3, and separates them into each color of B, G, and R, and outputs an image signal. The signal is sent to the processing circuit 2, subjected to well-known processing such as UCR and masking, and stored in the memory Y (3-person memory M (4), memory C, (!5), memory Bk, (6)), and each color signal is A reproduced image of each color is created on each drum of a 4-drum laser beam printer (F, B printer) 7, and all of each color is transferred onto a sheet of paper with the alignment timing. It is also effective for 1-pit serial data.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of separator l. The B, G, and R signals are each composed of 8 bits and have gradation data. Therefore 1
Assume that a digital signal consisting of 3×8→24 pits per pixel is sent as data D. 20-22 is 8
Each color data of B, G, )l is stored in a bit register. 23 to 25 are 8-bit latch circuits for sending the data in the register to the processing circuit 2, and 26 is a counter for controlling this register and latch, which counts the clock φ at the same speed as the transmission speed of D. 27 is an inverter for causing the latch to output at the falling edge of the 24th bit signal of the counter 26.

The hit B register 20 has a count number of 1 by the counter 26.
.about.8, data D is stored, and 8-bit data of the B signal in data D is stored. The next G signal is stored in the white register 21 with a count number of 9 to 16, and the next R signal is stored in the R register 22 with a count number of 17 to 24. By storing in each register, each latch 23-25 latches 8 bits of each color data. Then, in response to the completion of storage of 24 bits, that is, the fall of the count 24 pulse by the counter, latches 23 to
25 simultaneously outputs B, G, and R data in parallel. After that, the counter repeats the count from 0 to 23,
B, G, and R data related to the next pixel are stored in each register. This is repeated, and B, G, and R data are simultaneously output in parallel for each pixel, and the conversion processing circuit 2 performs γ correction, masking, and UCR processing on the processed outputs of B, G, and R. C.

The signals are converted into BK signals and each signal is dithered to reproduce gradations. It becomes possible to store it in the memories 3 to 6 or output it to a printer.

Note that the counter 26 receives B, which is transmitted as shown in FIG.

It is reset and starts counting by a command signal sent at the beginning of G and R data. The latch is counter 2
Since the signals are simultaneously output only at the falling edge of the 24th pulse of count 6, there is little error in the processing circuit 2. If Y, M,
In the case of a 1-pixel, 4-dot type printer that can simultaneously output C and BK, the memories 3 to 6 are unnecessary. The masking process and OCR process may be performed in any order, and BK is Y.

It is output based on the M, , and C nominal levels and the dB, G, and R maximum levels.

Next, the format of data transmission will be explained. FIG. 5, like FIGS. 2 and 3, is a diagram showing the signal format. As mentioned above, in addition to color data, command data (
control code) is added. Fig. 5(a) To explain K, the control code is the control signal (L)
It has information on the number of lines (M) and the number of pixels (N). Next, control No. 11 (L) will be explained. Control signal (L) is data format (A), C
It has a 0LOR signal (D), a monochromatic black signal (C), and a start signal (K). In this embodiment, the start signal (K) is "1.1.1". Also, black monochrome signal (C
) is ``1'' if the color is monochrome black. (A) is O+ 0"% if the unit of transmission data is pixel unit; 0,1" if the unit of transmission data is line unit.
, if it is a frame unit, it is "1, 0'. Also, C
The 0LO signal (D) is ``0,0'' for 几, ``0.1'' for G, ``1.0'' for B, and 1.1'' for 几, G, and B. It has become.

Next, the 2-in number (M) is data that indicates how many lines of data to send from now on, and the number of pixels (N) indicates how many pixels in the data to send from now on (number of pixels/2 inches). There is.

In Fig. 5(b), the data format (A) is in pixel units υ, and the C0LO signal is 几・U−B in 1 line N.
It shows the transmission form for sending pixels. Similarly, Figure 5 (C)
This shows a transmission form in which a B (BLU13) signal is sent line by line with N pixels per line.

In (d), it is the same as (C), but in each line, 几・G−
This shows a transmission form in which the B signal is sent by N pixels in one line.

In FIG. 5(e), the B signal is transmitted to M lines (
1 frame, M lines, 1 line, N pixels). (f) in Figure 5.

This shows a form in which R-G-B signals are transmitted in the same manner as in (e). It should be noted that a signal indicating the end of transmission is further provided to start the transmission.

FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of a color processing system that can also accommodate various transmission formats as partially shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 shows that the control code explained in FIG. 5 is judged and
7 is a control flowchart of the CPU 100 for storing and outputting data to the memories 102', 103, and 104 in FIG. 6. FIG.

First, if the terminal is R, EADY, in step 1, the CPU 100 inputs the data received by the selector 1 (101) in FIG. 6 to the command register 106 as well.

Then, in step 4, if you count 8 clocks, the CPU is 10.
0 takes in the 8-bit data stored in the command register 106 in step 5.

If the upper 3 bits of the input command data are '1.1.1' as explained in FIG. As explained in Fig. 5, the data format (A), C0LOR signal (D), and black monochrome signal (C) are detected.
Recognize control signals with Next step 8
In step 11, the number of lines and the number of pixels are recognized. In step 12.13, it is determined whether to shift to white/black mode, whether the data is pixel by pixel, or frame by frame. In FIG. 7, only the case of line-by-line transmission will be explained from step 14 onwards.

In step 14, the oscillator 105 is restarted (synchronizing signal) in the same manner as described above.

In steps 16 to 18, 8 bits of the R signal are taken into the R register 107 via the port v of the selector 101, and the memory R102 is selected.
Data R is written in parallel in the memory box 102 using the WRUI'I'E signal from the CPU 100. This process continues until it is detected in step 1B that a predetermined number of lines have been transmitted.

Next, in steps 19 to 22, the selector 1
Memo IJ from G register 108 via W port of 01
Data G is written to G 103 in parallel.

Similarly, in steps 23 to 26, data B of the memory B 1041c is written in parallel from the B register 109 via the X bit of the selector 101.

In step 27, if the above-mentioned steps for the predetermined M lines have been performed, the process ends.

Note that in FIG. 6, explanations of the output section (printer 7) and image processing circuit 2 are omitted.

Figure 8 is another example, a memo of Figure 1! J (Y) a s
Memory (M) 4, Memory (C) 5, Memory (BK) 6
3 is a diagram in which the part shown in FIG. 1 is replaced with an optical disk or a magneto-optical disk 3. Since this optical disc is removable, the received color data can be reproduced by a digital color printer and stored semi-permanently.

It can also be done by switching the connection of CCD color league to X and Y in Figure 1 and inputting B, G and R.

In that case, it is necessary to make the processing speed of the processing circuit 2 correspond to the output speed of the reader. FIG. 9 shows an external view of a part of a color system to which the present invention is applicable, in which the printer 7 and the printer 7 are connected. E is a reader, B-1 is an operating section of the reader, 11 is a document cover, and 12 is a document table. Furthermore, I
D1 is provided with keys for editing, such as storing each data in memory.

As mentioned above, the reader does not need to be provided at the X-Y position in FIG. 1, but is placed at the front end (
(proximity distance) K may also be provided.

In this case, data from the reader is serially input to the printer 8 in the same way as signals from the host. In this case as well, the system can be configured with an external view reader and a printer similar to that shown in FIG. 1st
Figure 2 shows its configuration.

201 is a league, 202 is a key for inputting the date, hour, etc., and 203 is an ASCII encoder.

In other words, as a series of image data sent from the host 10 in FIG. 1, a document image is compressed and encoded by an MH encoder 200.
There is a combination of H code data and ASCII code data in which management data indicating date and time is encoded using ASCII code. If they are sent repeatedly and periodically every one line or every frame, these two types of code data can be transmitted using one data line. In this case, the two code data can be separated (separator 21O) using the same register and counter configuration as described above. The separated MH code data is sent to the MH decoder M.
The data is input to the H decoder 207, where it is converted into the original document image data, that is, bit image data represented by 1 bit.The ASCII code data is input to the character generator 208, which converts it into numerical values indicating the date and time. Symbol management image data, that is, converted into bit image data similar to the above. One document image of the data converted into bit image data in parallel in this way is subjected to halftone reproduction processing such as dithering. , the print is played back. The other management image data is displayed on the display of the system shown in Fig. 9, which is capable of receiving data from the host. 209) It is also possible to print out dots on a sheet of paper (printer 211). This is because management data is sent periodically between one frame of document image data, so when printing one frame on a sheet of paper, the date of the management data is written near the bottom corner of this paper.

Pages, transmission charges, etc. are added and printed. For this purpose, a memory 206 is provided for storing data obtained by converting the ASCII code into a bit image, and this memory data is output near the end of print reproduction of the document image. and synthesize. Note that the MH described above may be performed using other compression methods such as MR, and the A3C1t code is not limited to this.

In this regard, in an example of terminal selection and polling, as shown in FIG. , shows a block diagram of a color processing system capable of outputting color images. FIG. 11 shows a flowchart of data reception control by the CPU 100. Below, FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 will be explained. In step 1 of Figure 11,
First, the selector 2 (110) is switched and selected by the select signal 2 of the CPU 100, and the external terminals (116 to 11
5) Perform polling. Next, in step 2, a READY signal is sent from the external terminal to the selected external terminal. In step 5.6, the printer side 8 receives the signal from the selected external terminal.

Also, in steps 2 and 7, there is no transmission request from the external terminal, and the transmission is from the league 116 (LOCAL transmission).
If requested, use stitch knob 9 to R, EADII.
Step 10: Send the HADY signal to C. In step II, the printer side 8 receives a signal from the league.

In the above explanation, the printer side had the control unit, but
The ADEFL 116 may have a control unit and receives data from the outside via the EADER.

The information may be configured to be sent to the printer side.

It is also possible to transmit data read by the reader to another external terminal.

〔effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, image data can be transmitted through a small number of transmission lines, regardless of the type of image data to be processed.

Moreover, we were able to provide a system that can process the image data.

Furthermore, it was possible to provide a color processing system having a network mechanism for transmitting digital signals.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a color processing system which can achieve the above-mentioned objects and can appropriately output a color image in response to serial manual input of digital color signals.

Furthermore, it was possible to provide a color processing system that can appropriately select image data input from an image reader such as a document or from an external terminal, and process the image data accordingly.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a color processing system to which the present invention is applied, Figs. 2 and 3 are signal form diagrams, Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram of separator l in Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 shows the signal form. Figure, 6th
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a color processing system showing another embodiment to which the present invention is applied, and FIG. 7 is a control flowchart for determining a control code and controlling the system. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another embodiment. Figure g9 is an external view of the color system. FIG. 1O is a block diagram of a color processing system to which the present invention is applied.1 shows a separator, 3.4.5.
6.102.103.104 is memory, 100 is CPU
116, B is the leader, 111°112, 113,
114 and 115 are external terminals, and 8 is a digital color printer. Applicant Canon Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) A transmission means for transmitting different types of image data as serial signals, a separation means for separating the image data signals transmitted by the transmission means into each data, and an image data signal based on the signal from the separation means. An image data processing system comprising processing means for performing reproduction processing.