JPH05333836A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain the image forming device of a color copying machine, etc., capable of printing binary image data sent from the outside in the desired tone and density. CONSTITUTION:By LUTb (look up table) 411, multi-valued image data is processed according to density data set by an operation part. Further, by the LUTa 404, the density data set by the operation part is outputted according to the print positional information and the print color information of the binary image data. By a selector b403, any one of the multivalued data processed by the LUTb 411 and the density data outputted from the LUTa 404 is selected according to the binary image data and outputted to a printer.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, for example, an image forming apparatus such as a color copying machine for forming a color image from binary image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of digital color copying machines in recent years, CG images and line drawings created on a computer, or natural images read from a scanner to the computer,
A system has been commercialized that outputs to a digital color copier connected to a computer.

In such a system, the copying machine and the computer are connected via a unit having a memory (hereinafter referred to as "IU"). The IU memory is divided into a multivalued image memory that stores natural images and the like and a binary image memory that stores characters and line drawings, etc., to facilitate handling of multivalued image data and binary image data. ing. In addition, a multi-valued image signal line and a binary image signal line are often provided independently between the copying machine and the IU in order to perform optimum image processing.

Further, in such a system,
Characters and line drawings edited on the computer can be printed out in arbitrary colors. However, since the copier cannot perform arbitrary color printing only with the data from the binary image signal line, the received binary image data can be printed in the designated color based on the designated color received in advance and the information of the color area. It was printed out.

In the case of the arbitrary color printing described above, or the image read by the scan scanner provided in the copying machine and the image of the binary image data are combined by removing the hair (the image read by the scan scanner to the area where the binary image data is given). When combining images without printing),
The IU sends the same binary image data for each color plane of the copying machine. In recent years, due to demands for presentations, so-called desktop publishing (hereinafter referred to as "DTP") systems, such as Adobe
Many devices that output character and line drawing data using a page description language (hereinafter referred to as "PDL") such as "PostScript (TM)" of the same company have been commercialized.

Even in such a DTP system, the computer and the copying machine are connected via a unit having a memory (hereinafter referred to as "PS-IU"). In such a DTP system, the PDL from the computer is converted into a raster image by the interpreter in the PS-IU and then sent to the copying machine as binary image data.

Unlike the above-mentioned IU, the PS-IU does not send the same binary image data for each color plane of the copying machine, but a binary image corresponding to the color material of each color plane of the copying machine. I was sending data.

[0008]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following problems. That is, the copying machine has converted the binary image data sent from the PS-IU according to the color material of each color plane into fixed multi-valued image data when printing. Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional example, it was not possible to change the density and tint of the binary image data to be printed.

Of course, even in the conventional example, the density and the color tone can be changed by the color balance and the density key provided in the copying machine, but the density and the color tone are changed even in the normal printing. However, there was a drawback that I had to set it again each time. Similarly, in the conventional example,
When printing a multi-valued image such as a natural image and a PDL-based binary image on the same recording paper, adjusting the density and tint of the binary image with color balance etc. will also affect the density and tint of the multi-valued image. There was a drawback that gave.

Further, in the case of IU, as described above, the copying machine receives color information for the binary image data in advance, so that the density and tint can be adjusted by the computer, but the color balance of the copying machine can be adjusted. If the density key and the density key are adjusted, there is a drawback that the desired density and tint cannot be obtained.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the above problems, and has the following structure as one means for solving the above problems. That is, setting means for setting the density data, first processing means for processing the first image data according to the first density data set by the setting means, and setting by the setting means Second processing means for processing the second image data according to the generated second density data and image formation information of the second image data; and image data output from the first processing means. The image forming apparatus includes a combining unit that combines the image data output from the second processing unit and a forming unit that forms an image from the image data output from the combining unit.

[0012]

According to the above construction, the first image data processed according to the first density data and the second image data processed according to the image formation information of the second density data and the second image data.
It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that forms an image that is combined with the image data of. For example, with the above configuration, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus such as a color copying machine that can print the binary image data transmitted from the outside with a desired tint and density.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0014]

First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a general image processing system. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a computer that creates and edits images and the like. Reference numeral 3 denotes a color copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is composed of a scanner for reading an image and a printer for forming an image.
In response to an instruction from the user, the image read by the scanner is output to the outside, or the image data input from the outside is printed by the printer. The printer constituting the color copying machine 3 of the present embodiment is a frame sequential printer that prints color images such as YMC in a frame sequential manner and superimposes them, and is, for example, a printer of an electrophotographic system or a thermal transfer system.

Reference numeral 2 denotes an I / F unit which serves as an interface between the computer 1 and the color copying machine 3. I
The / F unit 2 and the computer 1 are connected by a general-purpose interface 4 (eg GPIB, SCSI, RS232, etc.), and the I / F unit 2 and the color copying machine 3 are device-dependent video interfaces. 5, the signal line of the video interface 5 is capable of data transfer corresponding to the scanning speed and printing speed of the color copying machine 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a structural example of a general I / F unit 2. The image data created on the computer 1 can be roughly classified into multi-valued data such as natural images and binary data such as characters and line drawings. Therefore, in order to facilitate the handling of these data, the I / F unit 2 comprises a memory for multi-valued data corresponding to multi-valued data and a memory for binary data corresponding to binary data. Has been done.

In FIG. 2, 200 is a computer I /
At F, handshake is performed with the general-purpose interface 4 connected to the computer 1. 205 is a video I / F,
The handshake is performed with the video interface 5 connected to the color copying machine 3. The video I / F 205 is a parallel interface, the signal lines 501 to 503 are for transferring multi-valued image data, the signal line 504 is for transferring binary image data, and the signal line 505 is for controlling. For example, it comprises a transfer control line for image data and a communication control line for exchanging information between the I / F unit 2 and the color copying machine 3.

Reference numeral 202 denotes a multi-valued memory, which is a memory for the above-mentioned multi-valued data, and is composed of, for example, three RGB planes. A binary memory 203 is a memory for the above-mentioned binary data. 206 is a PS interpreter, which is a CPU
Under the control of a CPU (not shown) via a bus (not shown), a raster image is constructed from the input PDL and binary data is output to the signal line 214.

Reference numeral 201 denotes a selector, which is controlled by a CPU (not shown) via a CPU bus (not shown) and a computer I / F 200, a multi-value memory 202 or a binary memory 203 (and a PS interpreter 206). Connect. Reference numeral 204 denotes a color correction circuit which converts the brightness data such as RGB input from the multi-valued memory 202 into the color copying machine 3
It is converted into density data such as YMC according to the color material of.

The computer I / F 200 receives the image data input from the computer 1 through the selector 201 under the control of a CPU (not shown) via a CPU bus (not shown), and outputs it to a binary memory 203 or a multivalued memory. 20
To the binary memory 2 through the selector 201.
03 and the image data sent from the multi-valued memory 202 are sent to the computer 1.

Further, to the computer I / F 200,
Data other than image data from the computer 1, for example,
Control commands for the color copying machine 3 and print information (information such as a print color of a binary image and coordinates for printing in the print color) are also input. Data other than these image data is stored in the CPU.
(Not shown), if necessary, it is sent to the video I / F 205 via the CPU bus (not shown) and transferred to the color copying machine 3 via the signal line 505 of the video interface 5.

The I / F unit 2 is frame-sequentially multi-valued memory 202 according to information indicating the printing operation of the printer of the color copying machine 3 sent through the signal line 505.
The multi-valued data output from the color correction circuit 204 is sent to the color copying machine 3 by the video I / F 205 via the signal line 501 and the like. In addition, I / F unit 2
Is output from the binary memory 203 or the PS interpreter 206 in synchronization with multi-valued data such as the signal line 501.
The value data is sent to the signal line 50 by the video I / F 205.
And sent to the color copying machine 3 via 4.

The signal lines 211 to 214 and 501 to 503 of this embodiment are signal lines capable of bidirectional data transfer. Therefore, the I / F unit 2 inputs the RGB image data or the like output by the scanner of the color copying machine 3 to the video I / F 205 via the signal lines 501 to 503, and makes the color correction circuit 204 through, for example. Thus, it can be stored in the multi-valued memory 202. Also, I / F
The unit 2 uses, for example, a video I / F 20 as needed.
An image data input from the color copying machine 3 to the video I / F 205 is transferred to a 2 by a comparator (not shown) in FIG.
It can be digitized and stored in the binary memory 203. Further, as described above, these multi-valued memories 202
The image data stored in the binary memory 203 is stored in the computer I / F 20 according to an instruction from the computer 1.
It is possible to output to the computer 1 according to 0.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the scanner 32 of the color copying machine 3 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a sensor, which is a line sensor in which a color separation filter is attached to a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD, and outputs an RGB image signal. The scanner 32 scans and reads a document (not shown) by moving the sensor 301 by a motor (not shown) or the like.

Reference numeral 302 denotes an A / D converter, which is a sensor 30.
The analog RGB image signal input from 1 is converted into a digital RGB image signal. Reference numeral 303 denotes a shading circuit, which outputs RGB signals input from the A / D converter 302 in accordance with unevenness of light amount at the time of reading a document and characteristics of the sensor 301.
Correct the image signal. Reference numeral 304 denotes a sensor color correction circuit that determines the spectral characteristics of the color separation filter of the sensor 301 to a color space or NT.
To meet the SC standard, the shading circuit 30
The RGB image signal input from 3 is corrected.

A logarithmic conversion circuit 305 converts the RGB image signal of the luminance signal input from the sensor color correction circuit 304 into
Convert to a density signal such as YMC. A printer color correction circuit 306 corrects the YMC image signal or the like input from the logarithmic conversion circuit 305 according to the spectral reflection characteristics of the color material of the printer 33. Further, the printer color correction circuit 306
The image data input in parallel is transferred to the signal line 3 in a frame sequential manner.
Output to 11.

The sensor 301 repeatedly scans the document and reads the document as many times as the number of color materials used in the printer 33. Therefore, the printer color correction circuit 306
Image data that is repeatedly read by the sensor 301 is input to. The printer 33 is capable of full-color printing by superimposing basic color materials of several colors. The printer 33 uses, for example, four types of CMYK as color materials, but the number of color materials is not limited to four.

An image editing circuit 307 is for performing image processing and image editing, and is an essential part of this embodiment. Although the details will be described later, the image editing circuit 307 programmably processes and edits the image data input from the printer color correction circuit 306 according to a code number obtained from an area code generator described later. 308 is the printer I
/ F, the image data input from the image editing circuit 307 is output to the printer 33.

The above is the flow of image data when the color copying machine 3 operates as a normal copying machine. Next, a case where image data is input / output between the color copying machine 3 and the I / F unit 2 will be described. First, in the case of outputting the read image data to the I / F unit 2, the scanner 32 includes the sensor color correction circuit 304 from the sensor 301.
Up to the above, substantially the same processing is performed. Sensor color correction circuit 30
The RGB image data output from 4 is the video I / F 3
09, and is sent to the I / F unit 2 via the signal lines 501 to 503.

When the image data is input from the I / F unit 2, the scanner 32 inputs the multi-valued data sequentially input from the I / F unit 2 to the video I / F 309 via the signal line 501. , Through the signal line 312 to the image editing circuit 307. In addition, Sukiyana 32 is I
/ F unit 2 through signal line 504 to video I / F 3
09, the binary data input for each color plane,
It is input to the image editing circuit 307 via the signal line 313.

In this case, image position information and print designation color information such as characters and line drawings are previously input from the I / F unit 2 to the video I / F 309 via the signal line 505. The scanner 32 causes the image editing circuit 307 to perform image processing and image editing according to the information. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the image editing circuit 307.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 401 denotes a selector a, which inputs multivalued image data from the printer color correction circuit 306 to the input terminal A via the signal line 311 and inputs it to the input terminal B via the signal line 312. Input multi-valued image data from the I / F unit 2. The selection signal is input from the register 409 to the selection terminal S of the selector a 401. Data is set to the register 409 via the CPU bus 410 in the color copying machine 3.

For example, the selector a 401 is the scanning device 3
When synthesizing the multi-valued image data read in step 2 and the multi-valued image data from the I / F unit 2, the above-mentioned input from the computer 1 to the color copying machine 3 via the I / F unit 2 in advance is performed. The input image data is selected and output according to a selection signal according to position information or a switching instruction.

Reference numeral 402 denotes an area code generator, which determines each area based on the area information input from the CPU bus 410 and the above-mentioned position information and the print position information output in real time in synchronization with the printing operation of the printer 33. Output the area code corresponding to the area. A look-up table LUTa 404 is composed of, for example, a RAM, and has an area code input from the area code generator 402.
For example, 8-bit data corresponding to the 2-bit color select signal 405 indicating the color material being printed by the printer 33 is output. In addition, CP to LUTa 404
I / F from the computer 1 in advance via the U-bus 410
The YMCK data corresponding to the print designation color information input to the color copying machine 3 via the unit 2 is preset. The color select signal 405 is set to "0" when the printer 33 is printing the Y component, for example.
The signal is 1 '.

Reference numeral 411 denotes an LUTb, which is composed of, for example, a RAM having a memory capacity of 256 bytes / color × 4 colors, and outputs the image data input from the selector a 401 and the data corresponding to the color select signal 405. LU
Although any conversion data can be set in the table of Tb411 via the CPU bus 410, this conversion data is usually obtained by adjusting the color balance of the operation unit 31 shown in FIG. It is set so that the print result of the density and the density can be obtained.

Reference numeral 403 is a selector b, which is L to the input terminal A.
The output of UTb411 is input to input terminal B by LUTa404
Output from the I / F unit 2 is input to the selection terminal S via the signal line 313. The selector b403 selects and outputs the image data of the input terminal A when the binary image data input to the selection terminal S is “0” and the data of the input terminal B when the binary image data is “1”. That is, 2 input to the selection terminal S
When the value image data is “1”, the data corresponding to the color plane at that time is output from the selector b403.

The output of the selector b403 is the output of the image editing circuit 307. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which the binary image data from the I / F unit 2 is printed by the printer 33, and “A”, “B”, “C”, which are arranged in the order of paper feeding.
The letter "D" is printed in red, cyan, yellow, and black, respectively. Next, the process of outputting the print result of FIG. 5 will be described step by step. In the following description, area 0 corresponds to the area surrounding the character “A”. Area 1
Corresponds to the character "B", area 2 corresponds to the character "C", and area 3 corresponds to the area surrounding the character "D".

First, the I / F unit 2 shown in FIG.
The case of operating as the aforementioned IU will be described. Area information of areas 0 to 3 and color information of each area are sent from the computer 1 to the color copying machine 3 via the I / F unit 2. Based on this information, the color copying machine 3 first sets the data to be described later in the table of the LUTa 404 shown in FIG. 4 via the CPU bus 410, and then the area code generator shown in FIG. The area information is sent to 402, and the area code corresponding to each area information is output. However, the area code output from the area code generator 402 is the timing at which the binary data is read from the binary memory 203 shown in FIG. 2 according to the print position information input to the area code generator 402 described above. Synchronize with.

For each register of area 0 of LUTa 404, since the color information of the corresponding area is red, for example, Y = F
Set F, M = FF, C = 0, K = 0. Similarly, since the color information of the area corresponding to each register in area 1 is cyan, for example, Y = FF, M = 0, C = 0,
Set K = 0. For each register in area 2, since the color information of the corresponding area is yellow, for example, Y = 0, M =
Set 0, C = FF, K = 0. Since the color information of the corresponding area is black, the registers of area 3 are set to Y = 0, M = 0, C = 0, K = FF, for example.

After making the above settings, the color copying machine 3 starts printing when it receives a printing instruction from the computer 1. FIG. 6 shows an example of a timing chart when printing is performed in this embodiment. The signal ITOP shown in FIG.
Is a frame-sequential synchronizing signal output from the printer 33, and the image data sent at the rising edge of the signal ITOP is printed on the leading edge of the recording paper.

In FIG. 6A, in the M cycle, the M of the LUTa 404 is changed by the color select signal 405.
When the register is selected, the data in the M registers of area 0 to area 3 (character "A" to character "D") are sequentially output according to the print position. When the binary data input from the I / F unit 2 is “1”, the output data of the M register is selected by the selector b403 and sent to the printer 33. In this example, only the character “A” is output. The color material M is printed. Similarly, only the character “B” is printed with the color material C in the C cycle, the characters “A” and “C” are printed with the color material Y in the Y cycle, and only the character “D” is printed with the color material K in the K cycle. The printing result shown in FIG. 5 is obtained.

Next, the I / F unit 2 shown in FIG.
A case of operating as the above-mentioned PS-IU will be described. In this case, the I / F unit 2 to the color copying machine 3
Since the binary data corresponding to the color material is sent to, the timing chart is as shown in FIG. 6 (b). In this case, the area code generator 4 is connected via the CPU bus 410.
02 is always LUTa404 regardless of the print position information.
Of the LUTa 404 is set to output an area code indicating the area 0, and Y = FF, M = FF, C = FF, K = FF are set in each register of the area 0 of the LUTa 404. That is, the printer 33 prints all the binary image data sent in each color cycle with each color material.

The data set in the area 0 of the LUTb 404 is desired by the color balance adjustment of the operation unit 31 shown in FIG. 1 and the like, almost in the same manner as the color balance stored in the table of the LUTb 411 described above. It can be set so that the print result of color and density can be obtained. FIG. 7 shows an example of the operation screen of the operation unit 31 for setting the density of each color.
When the key 702 displayed on the LCD 701 is operated, L
Instructions are input by a substantially transparent touch panel provided on the CD 701. The density of each color can be set in 1% pitch, for example, and the set value is displayed on the LCD 701.

For example, if the density is 100%, the data'F
F'and 50% density correspond to data '80'. Further, in the density setting shown in FIG. 7, data may be directly input. Further, these set values are retained even when the power source of the color copying machine 3 or the like is cut off, and it is not necessary to set them each time the power source is turned on. As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the data set in the LUTa 404 can be adjusted from the operation unit 31, the binary image data sent from the I / F unit 2 to the color copying machine 3 is desired. You can print in color and density.

Further, according to this embodiment, the color copying machine 3 is used.
The color balance and the density in the case of performing a normal copying operation are LUTb 411 independent from the processing of the binary image data.
Since it is set to, the normal copying operation is not affected by the tint and the density set according to the binary image data. Similarly, according to the present embodiment, when a multi-valued image such as a natural image and a binary image of PDL are printed on the same recording paper, they are independently image-processed and then combined, so that the binary image is processed. The tint and the density of the multi-valued image are not influenced by the tint and the density set according to the data.

[0046]

[Second Embodiment] Next, a color copying machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second and first embodiments, the configuration of the image editing circuit 307 shown in FIG. Different, other configurations are substantially the same. Therefore, substantially the same configurations are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the image editing circuit 307 of the second embodiment. The second shown in FIG.
In the structure of the embodiment and the structure of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 4, substantially the same structures are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 8, the selector b40
3, the binary image data input to the selection terminal S is
When it is '0', the selector a40 input to the input terminal A
The output of 1 is L input to the input terminal B in the case of "1".
The output of the UTa 404 is selected and output to the LUTc 412. That is, when the binary image data input to the selection terminal S is “1”, the data corresponding to the color plane at that time is output from the selector b403.

The LUTc 412 is composed of, for example, a RAM having a memory capacity of 256 bytes / color × 4 colors, and outputs the image data input from the selector b403 and the data corresponding to the color select signal 405. In addition,
Although arbitrary conversion data can be set in the table of the LUTc 412 via the CPU bus 410, this conversion data is usually obtained by adjusting the color balance of the operation unit 31 shown in FIG. It is set so that the print result of the density and the density can be obtained.

The output of the LUTc 412 becomes the output of the image editing circuit 307. As described above, according to this embodiment, the same effect as that of the first embodiment can be obtained, and the data set in the LUTa 404 can be adjusted from the operation unit 31, so that the I / F unit 2 to the color copying machine 3 can be adjusted. The sent binary image data can be printed with desired tint and density.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of a single device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0051]

As described above, according to the present invention, an image obtained by combining the first image data processed according to the first density data and the second image data processed according to the second density data It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that forms the image.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a general image processing system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a general I / F unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a scanner of a color copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image editing circuit of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example in which binary image data from the I / F unit of this embodiment is printed.

FIG. 6 is an example of a timing chart when printing is performed in this embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an example of an operation screen of an operation unit for setting the density of each color according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an image editing circuit according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Computer 2 I / F Unit 3 Color Copier 301 Sensor 302 A / D Converter 303 Shading Circuit 304 Sensor Color Correction Circuit 305 Logarithmic Conversion Circuit 306 Printer Color Correction Circuit 307 Image Editing Circuit 308 Printer I / F 401, 403 Selector 402 Area Code generator 404, 411 LUT

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. Setting means for setting density data; first processing means for processing first image data according to the first density data set by the setting means; and the setting means. Output from the first processing means, and second processing means for processing the second image data according to the second density data thus set and the image forming information of the second image data. An image forming apparatus comprising: a combining unit that combines the image data and the image data output from the second processing unit, and a forming unit that forms an image from the image data output from the combining unit. .. 2. A setting means for setting density data, a processing means for processing the first image data according to the first density data set by the setting means, and an image of the second image data. Output means for outputting the second density data set by the setting means in accordance with the formation information; image data output from the processing means in response to the second image data and output from the output means An image forming apparatus comprising: a selecting unit that selects one of the selected density data and a forming unit that forms an image from the data selected by the selecting unit.