JP2001186290A - Image processor, image processing method and computer readable recording medium recording program to make computer execute image processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor which can perform the optimum control for an entire system. SOLUTION: An image data control unit 100 is connected to an image reading unit 101 and/or an image memory control unit 102 and/or an image processing unit 103 and/or an image writing unit 104, receives the 1st image data which are read out of the unit 101 and/or the 2nd image data which are read out of the unit 102 and/or the 3rd image data which are processed by the unit 103 and then transmits these received image data to the unit 102 and/or the unit 103 and/or the unit 104. Then a path is prepared to transmit the image data stored in an image memory to the unit 103 with no intervention of the unit 100.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus for performing image processing on digital image data, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus for performing image processing on image data in a digital multifunction peripheral having a combination of functions of a copier, a facsimile, a printer, a scanner and the like. The present invention relates to a processing method and a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, digital copiers for processing digital image data from analog copiers have appeared, and digital copiers have not only functions as copiers, but also have the functions of copiers. There are digital multifunction peripherals that combine functions such as facsimile functions, printer functions, and scanner functions.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral according to the prior art. FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the digital multifunction peripheral is formed by a series of components such as a reading unit 2201, an image processing unit 2202, a video control unit 2203, and a writing unit 2204, as well as a memory control unit 2205 and a memory module 2206. A part constituting the copying machine (copier part) and a motherboard 2211
Via the facsimile control unit 221
2. By connecting units such as the printer control unit 2213 and the scanner control unit 2214, each function as a digital multifunction peripheral has been realized.

Accordingly, in a copying machine portion that realizes a function as a copying machine, the components of the reading unit 2201, the image processing unit 2202, the video control unit 2203, and the writing unit 2204 are controlled by a system controller 2207, a RAM 2208, and a ROM 2209. While a series of operations of each component is controlled, a facsimile control unit 2212, a printer control unit 2213, a scanner control unit 2214
And the like realize the function of each unit by utilizing a part of a series of operations established in the copying machine.

In other words, the facsimile control unit 2212 and the printer control unit 22
13. By adding on the scanner control unit 2214, the function of the digital multifunction peripheral was realized. This is because the above-mentioned series of components are ASIC (App)
ligation Specific Integra
This is due to the background of emphasizing the processing speed (improving the processing speed) by using hardware such as a ted circuit.

Further, an image processing apparatus for optimizing image processing of a read signal, image storage in a memory, parallel operation of a plurality of functions, and image processing of each function (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-274986) is disclosed. In some cases, various types of image processing can be performed with one image processing configuration.

[0007]

However, in the digital multifunction peripheral according to the prior art, since the copier part is established as one system as described above, the facsimile control unit 2212, the printer control unit 2213, the scanner Control unit 22
For units such as 14 connected to the above-mentioned copying machine portion, there is a problem that a system must be constructed independently of the copying machine portion in order to realize each function.

Therefore, the memory modules required to realize the functions of each control unit must be configured so as to be provided in each unit. For this reason, each unit cannot effectively utilize the memory module 2206 provided in the copying machine portion, and the size and cost of the entire apparatus increase due to the provision of redundant memory modules for each unit. There was a problem that would invite.

Similarly, since the copying machine has been established as a single system, there has been a problem in that it is not possible to efficiently improve the functions of the peripheral units along with the performance thereof. Therefore, when it is desired to change only the reading unit 2201 and the writing unit 2204, more specifically, the reading unit 2 having a resolution of 400 dpi is changed.
201 or writing unit 2204 at 600 dp
When the user wants to change to i, there is a problem that the function of the entire apparatus cannot be easily improved by merely replacing the unit.

That is, since a series of systems have already been established so that the entire copying machine can be read / written at 400 dpi, a matrix for intermediate processing is required when the above units are converted. It is necessary to change the size, threshold, etc.
In some cases, the settings of other units must be changed so that reading / writing at 600 dpi can be performed.

[0011] Therefore, in the case of hardware such as ASIC, the hardware (customized IC, LSI, etc.) must be replaced.
Therefore, merely replacing the peripheral unit with the improvement of the performance of the peripheral unit cannot make the function of the entire apparatus easy.

[0012] These problems are not limited to peripheral units, but can also occur when improving the functions of a digital multifunction peripheral such as operability. That is, in order to improve the functions of the digital multi-function peripheral, it is necessary to change the entire contents of the above-described system, and not only the designer cannot easily improve the functions of the digital multi-function peripheral, The problem is that the latest algorithm cannot be easily provided to the user who uses the digital multi-function peripheral.

Further, since the components constituting the copying machine are established as a single system, there is a problem that the functions cannot be easily divided when the digital multifunction peripheral is used as a single scanner or a single printer. there were.

[0014] Further, depending on the content of the image processing performed by the image processing unit 2202, there is a request to directly refer to the image data in the image memory in response to the request of the image processing unit 2202. However, in the conventional digital multifunction peripheral, since the image processing unit 2202 indirectly reads the image data in units of lines (via the video control unit 2203), the pictographic image area separation processing that requires a large area information is performed. For example, when referring to image data of an area extending over a plurality of lines, the image processing unit 2202 needs to receive all of the plurality of lines.
If a large capacity memory is required in the image processing unit 2202 and there is no large capacity memory in the image processing unit 2202, there is a problem that image data received by the image processing unit 2202 is limited.

As described above, in the conventional digital multifunction peripheral, each resource in the system is effectively used, such as sharing modules and the like, improving functions by replacing each unit, and dividing a plurality of functions. There was a problem that an optimal control configuration was not constructed.

According to the present invention, an image processing apparatus and an image processing system capable of optimally controlling the entire system by effectively utilizing each resource in a system for realizing multi-functions in order to solve the above-described problems of the prior art. It is an object of the present invention to provide a processing method and a computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the method is recorded.

[0017]

Means for Solving the Problems To solve the above-mentioned problems,
In order to achieve the object, an image processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention includes an image reading unit that reads image data and / or an image memory control unit that writes and reads image data by controlling an image memory. Alternatively, it is connected to image processing means for performing image processing such as processing and editing on the image data and / or image writing means for writing the image data on transfer paper or the like, and the first image data and / or the first image data read by the image reading means are connected. Alternatively, receiving the second image data read by the image memory control means and / or the third image data subjected to image processing by the image processing means, and receiving the first image data and / or the third image data. The second image data and / or the third
Image data control means for transmitting the image data to the image memory control means and / or the image processing means and / or to the image writing means, and the image data control means for transmitting the image data stored in the image memory to the image data control means. Direct transmission means for transmitting to the image processing means without any intervening means.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the contents of the image memory can be referred to by the request of the image processing means, and the processing performance of the image data can be optimized.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the image processing unit stores the image data received by the direct transmission unit in a memory in the image processing unit. And a memory transmitting means for transmitting the data to the memory.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to effectively use the memory in the image processing means and to process the image data received by the direct transmission means at an arbitrary timing. Optimization can be achieved.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing method for performing different processes on image data, such as image data reading, storage, image (processing / editing), writing, and transmission / reception. An image data receiving step of receiving image data from any one of the plurality of types of processing units, and image data control information including information on the content of processing on the image data received in the image data receiving step. An image data control information acquisition step to be acquired, and a destination that determines a destination processing unit that transmits the image data received in the image data reception step based on the image data control information acquired in the image data control information acquisition step. A processing unit determining step, and a destination processing unit determined in the destination processing unit determining step. A transmission step of transmitting the image data to, characterized in that it contains, and any area image processing step of performing image processing by reading an arbitrary area from the image data stored in the storage processing unit.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the processing performance of image data can be optimized.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing method according to the third aspect, the arbitrary area image processing step includes the step of converting the image data of the arbitrary area read from the storage processing unit into an image. It is stored in a memory in the processing unit.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the memory in the image processing unit can be effectively used, and the processing of the stored image can be optimized.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to the third or fourth aspect is recorded, so that the program becomes machine-readable. The operation of claim 3 or 4 can be realized by a computer.

[0026]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the method will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Will be described in detail.

First, the principle of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a block diagram functionally showing the configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the image processing apparatus has a configuration including the following five units.

The five units include an image data control unit 100, an image reading unit 101 for reading image data, and an image memory control unit 102 for controlling an image memory for storing images and writing / reading image data. And an image processing unit 103 that performs image processing such as processing and editing on the image data, and an image writing unit 104 that writes the image data on transfer paper or the like.

Each of the above-described units includes an image reading unit 101, an image memory control unit 102, and an image processing unit 103 centering on the image data control unit 100.
And the image writing unit 104 are connected to the image data control unit 100, respectively.

(Image Data Control Unit 100) The processing performed by the image data control unit 100 is as follows.

For example, (1) data compression processing (primary compression) for improving data bus transfer efficiency, (2)
Transfer processing of primary compressed data to image data, (3) image synthesis processing (image data from a plurality of units can be synthesized, and also includes synthesis on a data bus), (4) image Shift processing (shifting of the image in the main scanning and sub-scanning directions), (5) image area expansion processing (the image area can be enlarged by an arbitrary amount to the periphery), and (6) image scaling processing (for example, 50% Or fixed magnification of 200%), (7) parallel bus interface processing,
(8) Serial bus interface processing (interface with process controller 211 described later), (9) format conversion processing of parallel data and serial data, (10) interface processing with image reading unit 101, (11) image processing Unit 10
3 and the like.

(Image Reading Unit 101) The processing performed by the image reading unit 101 is as follows.

For example, (1) reading processing of reflected light of a document by an optical system, (2) CCD (Charge Cou)
(3) digitization processing with an A / D converter, (4) shading correction processing (processing for correcting unevenness in illuminance distribution of a light source), (5) ) Scanner γ correction processing (processing for correcting the density characteristics of the reading system), and the like.

(Image Memory Control Unit 102) The processing performed by the image memory control unit 102 is as follows.

For example, (1) interface control processing with a system controller, (2) parallel bus control processing (interface control processing with a parallel bus), (3) network control processing, (4) serial bus control processing (a plurality of processes) External serial port control processing),
(5) Internal bus interface control processing (command control processing with the operation unit), (6) Local bus control processing (ROM and R for starting the system controller)
AM, font data access control processing), (7) memory module operation control processing (memory module write / read control processing, etc.), and (8) memory module access control processing (from a plurality of units). Arbitration of memory access requests), (9) data compression / expansion processing (processing to reduce the amount of data for effective use of memory), (10)
Image editing processing (clearing data in a memory area, rotating image data, synthesizing an image on a memory, and the like).

(Image processing unit 103) The processing performed by the image processing unit 103 is as follows.

For example, (1) shading correction processing (processing for correcting unevenness of illuminance distribution of a light source), (2) scanner γ correction processing (processing for correcting density characteristics of a reading system), (3) MTF correction processing, 4) smoothing, (5)
Arbitrary magnification processing in the main scanning direction, (6) density conversion (γ conversion processing: corresponding to density notch), (7) simple multi-value processing,
(8) Simple binarization processing, (9) Error diffusion processing, (10)
Dither processing, (11) dot arrangement phase control processing (rightward dot, leftward dot), (12) isolated point removal processing,
(13) Image area separation processing (color determination, attribute determination, adaptive processing), (14) density conversion processing, and the like.

(Image Writing Unit 104) The processing performed by the image writing unit 104 includes the following.

For example, (1) edge smoothing processing (jaggy correction processing), (2) correction processing for dot rearrangement,
(3) image signal pulse control processing, (4) parallel data and serial data format conversion processing, and the like.

(Hardware Configuration of Digital MFP)
Next, a hardware configuration when the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment forms a digital multifunction peripheral will be described. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

Referring to the block diagram of FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a reading unit 201, a sensor board unit 202, and an image data control unit 2.
03, an image processor 204, a video data control unit 205, and an imaging unit (engine) 206. In addition, a process controller 211, a RAM 212, and a ROM
213.

The image processing apparatus according to this embodiment includes an image memory access control unit 221 and a facsimile control unit 224 via a parallel bus 220, and further includes an image memory access control unit 221.
Module 222, a system controller 231, a RAM 232, and a ROM 2
33 and an operation panel 234. The image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a path 241 that can directly connect the parallel bus 220 to the image processor 204.
Is provided.

Here, the relationship between each of the above components and each of the units 100 to 104 shown in FIG. 1 will be described. That is, the reading unit 201 and the sensor board
The function of the image reading unit 101 shown in FIG. 1 is realized by the unit 202. Similarly, the function of the image data control unit 100 is realized by the image data control unit 203. Similarly, the image processor 204
Realizes the function of the image processing unit 103.

Similarly, the video data control unit 205
The image writing unit 104 is realized by the image forming unit (engine) 206. Similarly, the image memory access control unit 221 and the memory module 2
The image memory control unit 102 is realized by 22.

Next, the contents of each component will be described. The reading unit 201 that optically reads a document includes a lamp, a mirror, and a lens, and condenses the reflected light of the lamp irradiation on the document to a light receiving element by the mirror and the lens.

A light receiving element, for example, a CCD is a sensor
The image data that is mounted on the board unit 202 and converted into an electric signal by the CCD is converted into a digital signal and then output (transmitted) from the sensor board unit 202.

The image data output (transmitted) from the sensor board unit 202 is transmitted to the image data control unit 203.
Is input (received). Functional device (processing unit)
The transmission of image data between the data buses is controlled entirely by the image data control unit 203.

The image data control unit 203 transfers data between the sensor board unit 202, the parallel bus 220, and the image processor 204, and processes the image data with the process controller 21 for the image data.
1 and a system controller 231 that controls the entire image processing apparatus. RAM2
Reference numeral 12 is used as a work area of the process controller 211, and the ROM 213 stores a boot program and the like of the process controller 211.

The image data output (transmitted) from the sensor board unit 202 is transmitted to an image data control unit 203.
(Transmit) to the image processor 204 via
Then, the signal deterioration due to the quantization into the optical system and the digital signal (referred to as the signal deterioration of the scanner system) is corrected and output (transmitted) to the image data control unit 203 again.

The image memory access control unit 221 comprises:
It controls writing / reading of image data to / from the memory module 222. In addition, the parallel bus 220
Controls the operation of each component connected to. Also, RAM
232 is used as a work area of the system controller 231, and the ROM 233 stores a boot program and the like of the system controller 231.

The operation panel 234 inputs a process to be performed by the image processing apparatus. For example, the type of process (copying, facsimile transmission, image reading, printing, etc.), the number of processes, and the like are input. Thereby, the input of the image data control information can be performed. The contents of the facsimile control unit 224 will be described later.

Next, a job to be stored in the memory module 222 and reused for the read image data,
There are jobs that are not stored in the memory module 222, and each case will be described. As an example of storing in the memory module 222, when copying a plurality of sheets of one document, the reading unit 201 is operated only once, and the image data read by the reading unit 201 is stored in the memory module 222. There is a method of reading stored image data a plurality of times.

As an example in which the memory module 222 is not used, when only one document is copied, the read image data may be reproduced as it is. Therefore, the memory module 222 by the image memory access control unit 221 is used. You do not need to access to.

First, when the memory module 222 is not used, the data transferred from the image processor 204 to the image data controller 203 is returned from the image data controller 203 to the image processor 204 again. The image processor 204 performs image quality processing for converting luminance data by the CCD in the sensor board unit 202 into area gradation.

The image data after the image quality processing is transferred from the image processing processor 204 to the video data control unit 205. The post-processing relating to the dot arrangement and the pulse control for reproducing the dots are performed on the signal changed to the area gradation, and then the reproduced image is formed on the transfer paper in the image forming unit 206.

Next, a description will be given of the flow of image data when additional processing, such as rotation in the image direction, synthesis of images, and the like are performed at the time of reading out images stored in the memory module 222. The image data transferred from the image processor 204 to the image data control unit 203 is sent from the image data control unit 203 to the image memory access control unit 221 via the parallel bus 220.

Here, the system controller 23
1, control of access to image data and the memory module 222, expansion of print data of the external PC (personal computer) 223, and compression / expansion of image data for effective use of the memory module 222. .

The image data sent to the image memory access control unit 221 is stored in the memory module 222 after data compression, and the stored image data is read as needed. The read image data is decompressed, restored to the original image data, and returned from the image memory access control unit 221 to the image data control unit 203 via the parallel bus 220.

After the image data is transferred from the image data control unit 203 to the image processor 204, image quality processing and video / video processing are performed.
The data control unit 205 performs pulse control, and the image forming unit 206 forms a reproduced image on transfer paper.

In the flow of image data, the function of the digital multi-function peripheral is realized by the bus control by the parallel bus 220 and the image data control unit 203. The facsimile transmission function performs image processing on the read image data by the image processor 204, and executes the image data control unit 2.
03 and the facsimile control unit 224 via the parallel bus 220. The facsimile control unit 224 performs data conversion to a communication network, and transmits the data to a public line (PN) 225 as facsimile data.

On the other hand, the received facsimile data is
Line data from the public line (PN) 225 is converted into image data by the facsimile control unit 224 and transferred to the image processor 204 via the parallel bus 220 and the image data control unit 203. In this case, no special image quality processing is performed, the dot rearrangement and the pulse control are performed in the video data control unit 205, and the reproduced image is formed on the transfer paper in the image forming unit 206.

In a situation where a plurality of jobs, for example, a copy function, a facsimile transmission / reception function, and a printer output function operate in parallel, allocation of the right to use the reading unit 201, the imaging unit 206, and the parallel bus 220 to the job is performed by the system controller. 231 and the process controller 211.

The process controller 211 controls the flow of image data, and the system controller 231
Controls the entire system and manages the activation of each resource. In addition, the function selection of the digital multi-function peripheral is selectively inputted on the operation panel (operation unit) 234, and the processing contents such as the copy function and the facsimile function are set.

The system controller 231 and the process controller 211 communicate with each other via the parallel bus 220, the image data control unit 203, and the serial bus 210. Specifically, communication between the system controller 231 and the process controller 211 is performed by performing data format conversion for the data interface between the parallel bus 220 and the serial bus 210 in the image data control unit 203.

(Image Processing Unit 103 / Image Processor 204) Next, an outline of the processing in the image processing processor 204 constituting the image processing unit 103 will be described. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an outline of processing of the image processor 204 of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In the block diagram of FIG. 3, the image processor 204 includes a first input I / F 301, a scanner image processing unit 302, a first output I / F 303, and a second
An input I / F 304, an image quality processing unit 305, and a second output I / F
/ F306.

In the above configuration, the read image data is sent to the first processor of the image processor 204 via the sensor board unit 202 and the image data controller 203.
The data is transmitted from the input interface (I / F) 301 to the scanner image processing unit 302.

The scanner image processing unit 302 has the purpose of correcting the deterioration of the read image data, and specifically, includes shading correction, scanner γ correction, MTF
Make corrections, etc. Although not a correction process, a scaling process for enlargement / reduction can also be performed. When the correction processing of the read image data is completed, the image data is transferred to the image data control unit 203 via the first output interface (I / F) 303.

When outputting to transfer paper, image data from the image data control unit 203 is received from the second input I / F 304, and the image quality processing unit 305 performs area gradation processing. The image data after the image quality processing is output to the video data control unit 205 or the image data control unit 203 via the second output I / F 306.

The area gradation processing in the image quality processing unit 305 includes density conversion processing, dither processing, error diffusion processing and the like, and the main processing is area approximation of gradation information. Once the image data processed by the scanner image processing unit 302 is stored in the memory module 222, various reproduced images can be confirmed by changing the image quality processing by the image quality processing unit 305.

For example, by changing (changing) the density of the reproduced image or changing the number of lines of the dither matrix, the atmosphere of the reproduced image can be easily changed. At this time, it is not necessary to read the image again from the reading unit 201 every time the processing is changed, and by reading the stored image data from the memory module 222, the same image data can be read.
Different processes can be quickly performed many times.

In the case of a single scanner, scanner image processing and gradation processing are performed together and output to the image data control unit 203. The processing content can be changed programmably. Switching of processing, change of processing procedure, and the like are managed by the command control unit 307 via the serial I / F 308.

Next, the internal configuration of the image processor 204 will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of the image processor 204 of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the block diagram of FIG.
The image processing processor 204 includes a plurality of input / output ports 401 for data input / output with the outside, and can set data input and output arbitrarily, respectively.

A bus switch / local memory group 402 is internally provided so as to be connected to the input / output port 401.
The memory control unit 403 controls a memory area to be used and a data bus path. The input data and the data for output are allocated to the bus switch / local memory group 402 as a buffer memory, stored in each of them, and the I / F with the outside is controlled.

Bus switch / Local memory group 4
The processor array unit 404 performs various processes on the image data stored in the image data 02 and stores the output result (processed image data) in the bus switch / local memory group 402 again. The processing procedure and parameters for processing in the processor array unit 404 are stored in the program RAM 405 and the data RAM
An exchange is performed with the 406.

Program RAM 405, Data RAM 4
06 is transmitted from the process controller 211 to the host buffer 407 through the serial I / F 408.
Downloaded to The serial I / F 408 is the same as the serial I / F 308 in FIG. In addition, the process controller 211
The contents of the AM 406 are read and the progress of the process is monitored.

When the contents of the processing are changed or the processing form required by the system is changed, the contents of the program RAM 405 and the data RAM 406 referred to by the processor array unit 404 are updated.

Further, the image processor 204 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The image processor 204 is a SIMD type arithmetic processing unit 500
A bus switch 502 for controlling connection of a plurality of data input / output buses 501; and a plurality of memories (RAM1, RAM
2, RAM3, RAM4) 503 and bus switch 5
02, SIMD type arithmetic processing means 500, and memory 503
And a plurality (three in this embodiment) of memory controllers 504, 505, and 506 for controlling the memory 503, and a plurality of memories 503.
And a memory switch 507 for performing the connection control.

The SIMD type arithmetic processing means 500 includes a register file 516 composed of m sets of n registers as one set, and an ALU which is an arithmetic unit connected in parallel to the register file 516 by n pieces. (Arithmetic logic operation unit) 517. ALU51
Reference numeral 7 denotes a unit that inputs two pixel data and performs addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, logical operation, and the like.
At the same time, n ALUs 517 perform the same operation. The operation result is written back to the register file 516.

The image processor 204
From the memory module 222 to the image memory access control unit 221, the parallel bus 220, the path 241
Parallel data I / F 51 for inputting image data of an arbitrary area directly to the register file 516 via the
8 is provided. That is, the image processor 2
Reference numeral 04 designates not only the input of image data for each line via the image data control unit 203 but also the image data control unit 2.
It is possible to input image data of an arbitrary area at the request of the image processor 204 without going through the interface 03.

The image processor 204
Has two auxiliary arithmetic processing units 500A and 500B, each of which can operate individually, as a plurality of auxiliary arithmetic processing units, for example, the auxiliary arithmetic processing unit 1 and the auxiliary arithmetic processing unit 2. The memories 508 and 509 are provided between the auxiliary arithmetic processing means 500A and the SIMD type arithmetic processing means 500.
And memory controllers 510 and 511 for the memories 508 and 509 are provided. Between the auxiliary processing means 500B and the SIMD type processing means 500, the memories 512 and 513 and the memories 5 and 513 are provided.
12,513 memory controllers 514,51
5 are provided.

In FIG. 5, symbols DI1 and DI2 indicate image data input via the data input / output bus 501, and the image data DI1 and DI2 are bus switches 502 according to a control program (not shown). ,
The data is loaded into the memory 503 via the memory controllers 504 to 506 as necessary. At this time, a predetermined memory 503 is set by a memory switch 507.
(RAM1 to RAM4).

Memory controllers 504 to 506
Is the SI determined by the program
The image data is transferred to the designated register file 516 of the MD type arithmetic processing means 500. Then, when certain data is accumulated in the register file 516, the SIMD type operation processing means 500 starts the operation.

The SIMD type arithmetic processing means 500 sends the image data to the auxiliary arithmetic processing means 500A and 500B via the register file 516 as necessary, and converts the image data processed by the auxiliary arithmetic processing means 500A and 500B. Received from register file 516. After the operation is completed, the memory controllers 504 to 506 receive the image data from the register file 516, and if necessary, via the memory 503, the bus switch 50.
2 to output image data to the outside.

For example, the memory controller 50
4 uses the bus switch 502 and the memory switch 507 to connect the data input / output bus 501 of the image data DI1 and the RAM 1 to input the image data DI1, and saves the image data DI1 in the RAM 1.

Next, the memory controller 504
Connects the RAM1 and the SIMD-type processing means 500 using the memory switch 507 to transfer the image data DI1 from the RAM1 to the SIMD-type processing means 500, and transfers the image data DI1 from the RAM1 to the SIMD-type processing means 500. Flow to

The memory controller 504 uses the memory switch 507 to output image data from the SIMD type arithmetic processing means 500.
Type operation processing means 500 and RAM 1
The image data DI1 from the pattern arithmetic processing means 500
Save to 1.

Next, the memory controller 504
Uses the memory switch 507 and the bus switch 502 to transfer image data from the RAM 1 to the data input / output bus 501.
1 and the image data flows from the RAM 1 to the data input / output bus 501.

In this embodiment, the number of memory controllers is three (memory controllers 504 to 50).
6) Since there is, “data input / output bus 501 for image data DI1” → “RAM1” → “SIMD type arithmetic processing means 500”, “data input / output bus 501 for image data DI2” → “RAM2 → SIMD type operation” Processing means 50
0 "," SIMD arithmetic processing means 500 "→" RAM
3 "→" DI1 data input / output bus 501 "," S
IMD type arithmetic processing means 500 "→" RAM4 "→" DI
Four data input / output operations of the "two data input / output buses 501" can be performed in parallel.

The memory controllers 504-
By selectively connecting a plurality of memories (RAM1 to RAM4) 503 with the memory switch 506 and the memory switch 507, the memory capacity can be variably set, and the storage of a plurality of input image data can be flexibly handled.

The bus switch 502 and the memory switch
Controllers 504 to 506 and memory switch 5
07, a plurality of data input / output buses 501 and a plurality of memories (RAM1 to RAM4) 503 can be controlled to variably set a data transfer width to the memory 503, and a plurality of processing data for a plurality of functional operations can be flexibly set. Can input and output.

Next, transmission and reception of image data between the SIMD type arithmetic processing means 500 and the auxiliary arithmetic processing means 500A and 500B will be described. SIMD type arithmetic processing means 5
The image data output from the register file R2 of 00 is stored in the memory 508 via the memory controller 510.

After or during the accumulation operation, the auxiliary operation processing means 500A receives the image data from the memory 508 via the memory controller 510, and stores the operation result in the memory 509 by the memory controller 511. Thereafter, the SIMD type arithmetic processing means 500 receives the image data in the memory 509 from the memory controller 511 in the register file R1.

The image data output from the register file R4 of the SIMD type arithmetic processing means 500 is
The memory 51 via the memory controller 514
2 is stored. After or during the accumulation operation, the auxiliary processing unit 500B receives the image data from the memory 512 via the memory controller 514, and stores the operation result in the memory 513 by the memory controller 515. After that, the SIMD type arithmetic processing means 500 starts the memory controller 515
From the memory 513 to the register file R3.

The image data from the register files R2 and R4 are stored in the auxiliary arithmetic processing means 500A and 500B.
It is also possible to directly send the image data of the auxiliary arithmetic processing means 500A and 500B to the register files R1 and R3. In either case, the operation is determined by a control program (not shown). You.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing flow of the image processor 204 of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the processing of the image processor 204, line 1 and line 2 are transmitted via the image data control unit 203.
To image data in the order of line N
04 is input. For example, when performing processing for referring to image data of three lines in the sub-scanning direction, the RAM
1. Image data (line data) of each line in RAM2
Is stored and delayed, and image processing is performed when all three lines are aligned.

As shown in FIG. 7, when processing is to be performed by referring to image data of minute areas 1 and 2 such as several pixels in the sub-scanning direction and several pixels in the main scanning direction, that is, in the sub-scanning direction, When processing is to be performed by referring to image data in a narrow area in the main scanning direction over a plurality of lines,
Are fetched via the parallel data I / F 518, and are processed simultaneously with the line data when the line data is completed. In addition, separately from the line data, only the image data of the minute areas 1 and 2 can be processed.

Here, as shown in FIG. 8, the parallel data I / F 518 and the memory controllers 504-5
A path 801 for storing the image data captured via the parallel data I / F 518 in the RAM 503 may be provided between the RAM 503 and the image data 06. As a result, the captured image data can be used at an arbitrary timing, and the flexibility of image processing can be increased. The memory controllers 504 to 506 store the parallel data I
When fetching parallel data via the / F 518, the switch connected to the normal bus switch 502 is switched to the parallel data I / F 518 to switch the control so that parallel data can be input.

FIG. 9 shows an image processor 2 provided with a path 801 for storing image data fetched via the parallel data I / F 518 in the RAM 503.
It is explanatory drawing which shows the flow of operation of 04. In this example, the image processor 204 first retrieves image data of an arbitrary area from the memory module 222, stores the image data in the RAM 3 via the path 801 and stores the image data of the arbitrary area stored in the RAM 3 before the line data is aligned. Perform data processing. Thereafter, the image data of the processed arbitrary area is processed simultaneously with the line data when the line data is completed.

(Image data control unit 100 / image data control unit 203) Next, the image data control unit 1
The outline of the processing in the image data control unit 203 constituting 00 will be described. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of processing of the image data control unit 203 of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In the block diagram of FIG. 10, an image data input / output control unit 1001 inputs (receives) image data from the sensor board unit 202 and outputs (transmits) image data to the image processor 204. I do. That is, the image data input / output unit 1001 is a component for connecting the image reading unit 101 and the image processing unit 103 (image processing processor 204), and sends the image data read by the image reading unit 101 to the image processing unit 103. It can be said that it is a dedicated input / output unit only for transmission.

Further, the image data input control unit 1002
The image data corrected by the scanner image by the image processor 204 is input (received). The input image data is subjected to data compression processing in the data compression unit 1003 in order to increase the transfer efficiency in the parallel bus 220. After that, the data is passed through the data converter 1004 and the parallel bus 220 via the parallel data I / F 1005.
Sent to

The parallel data I from the parallel bus 220
Since the image data input via the / F 1005 is compressed for bus transfer, the data conversion unit 1004
The data is sent to the data decompression unit 1006 via the. The decompressed image data is transferred to the image processor 204 in the image data output control unit 1007.

The image data control section 203 also has a function of converting parallel data and serial data. The system controller 231 transfers data to the parallel bus 220, and the process controller 211 transfers data to the serial bus 210. The image data control unit 203 performs data conversion for communication between the two controllers.

The serial data I / F is a first serial data I / F 1008 for exchanging data with the process controller via the serial bus 210.
And a second serial data I / F 1009 used for exchanging data with the image processing processor 204.
By providing one system independently of the image processor 204, the interface with the image processor 204 can be smoothed. Further, the command control unit 1010 controls the operation of each component and each interface in the image data control unit 203 described above according to the input command.

(Image Writing Unit 104 / Video Data Control Unit 205) Next, an outline of the processing in the video data control unit 205 forming a part of the image writing unit 104 will be described. FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of processing of the video data control unit 205 of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In the block diagram of FIG. 11, the video / data control unit 205
Additional processing is performed according to the characteristics of the image forming unit 206. That is, the edge smoothing processing unit 1101 performs the dot rearrangement processing by the edge smoothing processing, the pulse control unit 1102 performs the pulse control of the image signal for dot formation, and forms the image data on which the above processing has been performed. Output to the unit 206.

In addition to the image data conversion, the video data control unit 205 is provided with a format conversion function for parallel data and serial data.
Communication can be supported. That is, a parallel data I / F 1103 for transmitting and receiving parallel data and a serial data I / F 110 for transmitting and receiving serial data
4 and a data conversion unit 1105 for mutually converting data received by the parallel data I / F 1103 and the serial data I / F 1104, thereby converting the formats of both data.

(Image memory control unit 102 / image memory access control unit 221) Next, the image memory
The outline of the processing in the access control unit 221 will be described. FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of processing of the image memory access control unit 221 of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

In the block diagram of FIG. 12, an image memory access control unit 221 manages an interface of image data with the parallel bus 220, and accesses image data to the memory module 222, that is, stores (writes). / Readout control, and mainly controls expansion of code data input from the external PC 223 into image data.

For this purpose, the image memory access control unit 221 includes a parallel data I / F 1201, a system controller I / F 1202, a memory access control unit 1203, a line buffer 1204,
The configuration includes a video control unit 1205, a data compression unit 1206, a data decompression unit 1207, and a data conversion unit 1208.

Here, the parallel data I / F 1201
Manages an interface of image data with the parallel bus 220. Also, the memory access control unit 12
Reference numeral 03 controls access of image data to the memory module 222, that is, storage (writing) / reading.

The input code data is stored in the local area in the line buffer 1204. The code data stored in the line buffer 1204 is transmitted to the system controller I / F.
The video controller 12 based on the expansion processing command from the system controller 231 input via the
At 05, it is developed into image data.

The expanded image data or the image data input from the parallel bus 220 via the parallel data I / F 1201 is stored in the memory module 222. In this case, the image data to be stored is selected in the data conversion unit 1208, and the data compression unit
In step 06, data compression is performed to increase the memory usage efficiency, and the image data is stored (written) in the memory module 222 while the address of the memory module 222 is managed by the memory access control unit 1203.

For reading the image data stored (stored) in the memory module 222, the memory access control section 1203 controls the read destination address, and the read image data is expanded in the data expansion section 1207. When transferring the decompressed image data to the parallel bus 220, the parallel data I / F 1201
Perform data transfer via.

(Contents of Image Processing) Next, the contents of image processing of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a scanner (an example of a spatial filter) of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The MTF correction function is realized by a configuration of a spatial filter.

In FIG. 13, when the two-dimensional spatial filter is configured with the filter coefficients A to Y, the input image data is subjected to the same arithmetic processing for all the images. ing. For example, when spatial filtering is performed with input image data (i-th row, j-th column) as the center, arithmetic processing with corresponding coefficients is performed on the i-th row, j-th column image, respectively.
The pixel of (i, j) performs the calculation with the coefficient value M, and (i, j +
The pixel of 1) performs an operation with the coefficient value N, and the calculation result in the filter matrix indicates that the pixel of interest (i,
It is output as the processing result of j).

When the pixel of interest is (i, j + 1), (i, j + 1)
The pixel of (j + 1) performs an operation with the coefficient value N, and (i,
The pixel of (j + 2) performs an operation with the coefficient value O, and the calculation result in the filter matrix indicates that the pixel of interest (i, j +
It is output as the processing result of 1).

The input image data is different, and the processing parameters are common. In this spatial filtering, the values of the coefficient values A to Y are not fixed,
The value can be arbitrarily changed according to the characteristics of the input image and the desired image quality. In addition, if it cannot be changed, the flexibility of the image processing function may not be secured.

The implementation in the image processor 204 is
Even if the coefficient value is downloaded from the process controller 211 and the configuration of the reading unit is changed, and the characteristics of the read image deterioration are changed, it is possible to cope with the change of the system by changing the content of the data to be loaded.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the shading correction of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of shading data of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. Shading correction is for correcting non-uniformity of reflected light characteristics based on the illuminance distribution of the illumination system.Before reading a document, a reference white board with uniform density is read, and reference data for shading correction is generated.・
Based on the data, the reflection distribution depending on the reading position of the read image is normalized.

As shown in FIG. 15, the shading data has a different reflection distribution depending on the document reading position n. At the end of the document reading position, a white board of uniform density is read dark. Sn indicates the white board read signal level at the read position n, and the larger the Sn, the brighter the read was.

The shading correction corrects unevenness in the light amount distribution of the lamp by performing the same process on the read image data for the data depending on the position. The S data shown in FIG. 14 is shading data generated by reading the white board shown in FIG.
The D data shown in FIG. 14 is read image data of each read line. Further, n indicates a reading position.

The C data is data after shading correction of the D data, and is normalized by Cn = A * (Dn / Sn). Here, A is a normalization coefficient.

In the image processor 204, the S data is stored in the local memory, and the input D data is corrected between the corresponding Dn and Sn.

(Data Flow) Next, processing for storing an image in the memory module 222 will be described.
FIG. 16 and FIG. 17 are explanatory diagrams showing a data flow of the image processing apparatus as a digital multi-function peripheral that has a process of storing images in the memory module 222 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 16 shows the flow from the reading unit 201 to the memory module 222, and FIG. 17 shows the flow from the memory module 222 to the image forming unit 206. Each process is performed by the image data control unit 20.
This is performed by controlling the data flow between the bus and the unit under the control of (3).

In FIG. 16, the reading unit 201 and the sensor board unit 202 perform reading control (step S1601). Next, the image data control unit 203 performs input processing and output control of image data (step S1602). Next, the image processor 204 performs input I / F control processing (step S1603), performs the above-described scanner image processing (step S1604), and performs output I / F processing (step S1605).

Next, again, the image data control unit 203
Performs input processing of image data (step S16).
06), data compression (step S1607) and data conversion (step S1608) are performed.
/ F control processing is performed (step S1609).

Next, the image memory access control unit 2
21 performs parallel I / F control processing (step S1610), performs data conversion (step S1611) and further compresses data (step S1612), and performs memory access control on the memory module 222 (step S1613). . Thereby, the image data is stored in the memory module 222 (step S1614).

In FIG. 17, the image data stored in the memory module 222 (step S1)
701), the image memory access control unit 221
Performs memory access control (step S1).
702), data expansion (step S1703) and data conversion (step S1704), and parallel I / F control processing (step S1705).

Next, the image data control unit 203 performs a parallel I / F control process (step S170).
6) Data conversion (step S1707) and data decompression (step S1708) are performed, and image data output control is performed (step S1709).

Next, the image processor 204
An input I / F control process is performed (step S171).
0), image quality processing is performed (step S1711), and output I / F control processing is performed (step S1712).

Next, the video / data control unit 205
An edge smoothing process is performed (step S1713), and a pulse control is performed (step S1714).
The image forming unit 206 performs an image forming process (step S
1715).

The scanner image processing by the image processor 204 is executed independently for the read image data, and the image quality processing by the image processor 204 is executed independently for the image data to be output to the image forming unit 206.

Further, the scanner image processing and the image quality processing can be operated in parallel, the read image is executed for facsimile transmission, and the image data stored in the memory module 222 in advance is read in parallel with the contents of the image processing. Can be output to the transfer paper while changing.

FIGS. 18 and 19 are explanatory diagrams showing the data flow of the image processing apparatus as a single printer which has a process of storing images in the memory module 222 according to the present embodiment. FIG.
19 shows a flow from the memory module 222 to the image forming unit 206. FIG.

In FIG. 18, the PC 223 outputs image data (step S1801), and the image memory access control unit 221 holds the image data in a line buffer (step S1802), performs video control (step S1803), Conversion (Step S180
4) and perform data compression (step S1805), and perform memory access control on the memory module 222 (step S1806). Thereby, the image data is stored in the memory module 222 (step S1807).

In FIG. 19, the memory module 2
22 (step S190).
In contrast to 1), the image memory access control unit 221
Memory access control is performed (step S190
2), data decompression (step S1903) and data conversion (step S1904) are performed, and the parallel I / O
An F control process is performed (step S1905).

Next, the video / data control unit 205
An edge smoothing process is performed (step S1906), and a pulse control is performed (step S1907).
The image forming unit 206 performs an image forming process (step S
1908).

As described above, the code data from the PC 223 is converted into image data, and is temporarily stored in the memory module 22.
If the number of copies is stored in 2, when printing a plurality of copies, the data development time is only one time, so that the printing performance is improved as compared with a controller that performs development processing every time.

In the image data read from the memory module 222, the contents of post-processing by the video data control unit 205 are changed to form a reproduced image on a transfer sheet in a plurality of variations for the same image. it can. Further, edge smoothing processing of the video data control unit 205,
It is not necessary to expand the code data into the image data every time the parameters of the pulse control process are changed.

(Configuration of SIMD Processor) FIG.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a schematic configuration of a SIMD type processor. SIMD (Single Instruction)
The Multiple Data stream is for executing a single instruction on a plurality of data in parallel, and is composed of a plurality of PEs (processor elements).

Each PE has a register (Reg) 2001 for storing data, a multiplexer (MUX) 2002 for accessing a register of another PE,
Barrel Shifter (Shift Expand) 200
3. A logical operation unit (ALU) 2004, an accumulator (A) 2005 for storing a logical result, and a temporary register (F) 2006 for temporarily saving the contents of the accumulator 2005.

Each register 2001 is connected to an address bus and a data bus (a read line and a word line), and stores an instruction code defining a process and data to be processed. The contents of the register 2001 are input to the logical operation unit 2004, and the result of the operation processing is stored in the accumulator 2005. In order to retrieve the result outside the PE, the result is temporarily saved in the temporary register 2006. By extracting the contents of the temporary register 2006, a processing result for the target data is obtained.

The instruction code is given to each PE with the same contents, and the data to be processed is given in a different state for each PE.
The contents of the register 2001 of E are stored in the multiplexer 20.
By referring to 02, the calculation result is processed in parallel and output to each accumulator 2005.

For example, if the contents of one line of image data are arranged in the PE for each pixel and arithmetic processing is performed using the same instruction code, the processing result for one line can be obtained in a shorter time than in the case of sequentially processing one pixel at a time. can get. In particular, the spatial filter processing and the shading correction processing can be performed in common for all PEs, with the instruction code for each PE being the operation expression itself.

(Series of Processing of Image Processing Method) Next, the contents of a series of processing in the image processing method according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating the sequence of a series of processes in the image processing method according to the present embodiment.

In the flowchart of FIG. 21, first,
The image data control unit 203 determines whether image data has been received from another component (unit) (Step S).
2101). Here, if the image data is received after waiting for the reception of the image data (Yes at Step S2101),
Next, it is determined whether there is image data control information on the received image data (step S210).
2).

The image data control information is information on what kind of processing (control) is performed on the received image data. As described above, the type of processing (copying, facsimile transmission, image reading) , Print, etc.) and the number of processes, etc. in the case of print etc. are stored. Usually, the image data control information is input by an input operation by the operator, but even without the input operation,
Due to the unique characteristics of image data, such as the type of image data,
It can be determined that "image data control information exists".

If there is no image data control information at step S2102 (No at step S2102), an input request for image data control information is made (step S2).
103). The input request includes, for example, the operation panel 2
Displaying that effect on 34 or the like prompts the operator to input image data control information.

Thereafter, it is determined whether or not an input of image data control information from the operator (for example, pressing of an operation button on operation panel 234, etc.) has been made (step S210).
4) If no image data control information is input (step S
In the case of 2104 (No), the flow shifts to step S2103 to make an input request until image data control information is input.
On the other hand, if there is an input request (Yes at Step S2104), or if there is image data control information at Step S2102 (Yes at Step S2102), the process moves to Step S2105.

In step S2105, the image data control information is obtained. Thereafter, based on the acquired image data control information, it is determined whether the destination of the received image data is the image memory access control unit 221 or the facsimile control unit 224 (step S2106).

In step S2106, the destination of the received image data is the image memory access control unit 2
21 or the facsimile control unit 224 (Yes at Step S2106), the image data is transmitted to the parallel bus 220 (Step S2108). After that, the flow shifts to step S2101 to wait for reception of new image data.

On the other hand, in step S2106, if the destination of the received image data is other than the image memory access control unit 221 or the facsimile control unit 224 (No in step S2106), then the received image data It is determined whether or not the transmission destination is the image processor 204 (step S210)
7).

In step S2107, the destination of the received image data is the image processor 204
Is satisfied (Yes at Step S2107), the image data is transmitted to the image processor 204 (Step S2109). After that, the flow shifts to step S2101 to wait for reception of new image data.

On the other hand, in step S2107, the transmission destination of the received image data is
If it is not 4 (No at Step S2107), it is determined that the image data is data to be written, and transmitted to the video data control unit 205 (Step S211).
0). After that, the flow shifts to step S2101 to wait for reception of new image data. In this manner, the image data control unit 203 repeatedly performs the transmission and reception processing of the image data.

As described above, the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment can refer to the image data stored in the image memory (page memory) at the request of the image processing processor. Even without increasing the memory, the realization range of image processing is widened, and high image quality can be achieved. In addition, it is possible to optimize the processing performance of the image data,
Effective use of each resource in the system when realizing multi-functions is achieved, and optimal control as a whole system is possible.

Further, the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment can effectively utilize the image memory, optimize the processing of the stored image, and provide the image memory control to the input / output device. Adaptation can be controlled. Further, the image processing of the image data can be optimized, and the adaptation of the image processing to the input / output device can be controlled.

Further, by changing the program,
It can easily respond to changes in system specifications and addition of functions. Further, since the image processing means is constituted by a SIMD type processor, image processing can be performed by high-speed arithmetic processing.

In the image processing method described in the present embodiment, a program prepared in advance is stored in a personal computer.
It can be realized by executing on a computer such as a computer or a workstation. This program is for hard disk, floppy disk, CD
-The program is recorded on a computer-readable recording medium such as a ROM, an MO, and a DVD, and is executed by being read from the recording medium by the computer. This program can be distributed via the recording medium and a network such as the Internet.

[0162]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the image data control means controls the image reading means for reading the image data and / or the image memory to write / read the image data. And / or image processing means for performing image processing such as processing and editing on the image data and / or image writing means for writing the image data onto transfer paper or the like. Receiving the first image data and / or the second image data read by the image memory control means and / or the third image data subjected to image processing by the image processing means; The image data and / or the second image data and / or the third image data to the image memory control means. / Or the sending to the to and / or said image writing means the image processing means, directly transmitting means,
Since the image data stored in the image memory is transmitted to the image processing unit without passing through the image data control unit, the content of the image memory can be referred to by the request of the image processing unit, and the processing performance of the image data can be improved. This makes it possible to effectively utilize each resource in the system when realizing multi-functions, and to obtain an image processing apparatus capable of optimally controlling the entire system.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the image data received by the direct transmitting means is transferred to the memory transmitting means of the image processing means. Since the data is transmitted to the memory, the memory in the image processing means can be effectively used, and the image data received by the direct transmission means can be processed at an arbitrary timing, and the processing of the stored image can be optimized. Thus, there is an effect that each resource in the system can be effectively used for realizing the multi-function, and an image processing apparatus capable of performing optimal control as a whole system can be obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the image data receiving step includes image data reading processing, storage processing, image (processing / editing) processing, writing processing, transmission / reception processing, and the like.
Among the plurality of types of processing units for performing different processing on image data, image data is received from any one of the processing units, and the image data control information obtaining step includes processing of the image data received in the image data receiving step. Acquiring image data control information including information about the contents, the destination processing unit determining step, based on the image data control information acquired by the image data control information acquiring step, the image data received by the image data receiving step A destination processing unit to be transmitted is determined, the transmitting step transmits the image data to the destination processing unit determined by the destination processing unit determining step, and an arbitrary area image processing step is stored in the storage processing unit. Reads an arbitrary area from the image data and performs image processing. It is possible to optimize processing performance, thereby effectively utilizing each resource in the system when realizing multi-functions, and obtaining an image processing method capable of optimally controlling the entire system. .

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the arbitrary area image processing step includes the step of: storing the image data of the arbitrary area read from the storage processing unit in the image processing unit. Since the image data is stored in the memory, the memory in the image processing unit can be used effectively, and the processing of the stored image can be optimized. The effect that a device is obtained is produced.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to the third or fourth aspect is recorded, so that the program becomes machine-readable. There is an effect that a recording medium capable of realizing the operation of item 3 or 4 by a computer is obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram functionally showing a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a process performed by an image processor of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of an image processor of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating another internal configuration of the image processor of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing flow of an image processing processor of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing another processing flow of the image processing processor of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating another internal configuration of the image processor of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another processing flow of the image processing processor of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of a process of an image data control unit of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of processing of video data by the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an outline of processing of an image memory access control unit of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a scanner (an example of a spatial filter) of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing shading correction of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of shading data of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data flow of image data of the image processing device according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the data flow of the image data of the image processing device according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the data flow of the image data of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing another example of the data flow of the image data of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a SIMD type processor used in the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of a series of processes in the image processing method according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a digital multifunction peripheral according to the related art.

[Explanation of symbols]

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 Image data control unit 101 Image reading unit 102 Image memory control unit 103 Image processing unit 104 Image writing unit 201 Reading unit 202 Sensor board unit 203 Image data control unit 204 Image processing processor 205 Video data control unit 206 Image formation Unit (engine) 210 Serial bus 211 Process controller 212,232 RAM 213,233 ROM 220 Parallel bus 221 Image memory access control unit 222 Memory module 223 Personal computer (PC) 224 Facsimile control unit 225 Public line 231 System Controller 234 Operation panel 241, 801 Pass 301, 303, 304, 306 Interface Source (I / F) 302 scanner image processing unit 305 image quality processing unit 307 command control unit 500 SIMD type arithmetic processing unit 501 data input / output bus 502 bus switch 503 memory (RAM1, RAM2, RAM3, R
AM4) 504, 505, 506 Memory controller 507 Memory switch 508, 509, 512, 513 Memory 510, 511, 514, 515 Memory controller 518, 1005, 1103, 1201 Parallel data I / F 1001 Image data input / output control Unit 1002 image data input control unit 1003 data compression unit 1004 data conversion unit 1006 data decompression unit 1007 image data output control unit 1101 edge smoothing processing unit 1102 pulse control unit 1104 serial data I / F 1105 data conversion unit 1202 system controller I / F 1203 Memory access control unit 1204 Line buffer 1205 Video control unit 1206 Data compression unit 1207 Data decompression unit 1208 Data conversion 2001 register (Reg) 2002 multiplexer (MUX) 2003 barrel shifter (Shift Expan
d) 2004 Logical operation unit (ALU) 2005 Accumulator (A) 2006 Temporary register (F)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hideto Miyazaki 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinya Miyazaki 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Sugitaka Shikogi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Company Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takeharu Tone 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Co., Ltd. Inside Ricoh (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Kawamoto 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Rie Ishii 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72 ) Inventor Takusho Fukuda 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Fumio Yoshizawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Association Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yasuyuki Nomizu 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term (reference) 5C062 AA02 AA05 AA13 AB43 AB44 AC07 AC22 AC24 AC25 AC43 AF11 BA00 5C073 AA01 AA06 AB04 BA06 BB04 BC04 CE02 5C076 AA21 AA24 BA03 BA04 BA06 CA12 CB04

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image reading means for reading image data and / or an image memory control means for controlling image memory to write / read image data and / or an image processing for performing image processing such as processing and editing on image data. Means and / or image writing means for writing image data onto transfer paper or the like, and the first image data read by the image reading means and / or the second image read by the image memory control means. Receiving data and / or third image data on which image processing has been performed by the image processing means, and converting the first image data and / or the second image data and / or the third image data to Images to be sent to image memory control means and / or to said image processing means and / or to said image writing means An image processing apparatus comprising: a data control unit; and a direct transmission unit configured to transmit the image data stored in the image memory to the image processing unit without passing through the image data control unit. . 2. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said image processing means has a memory transmission means for transmitting image data received by said direct transmission means to a memory in said image processing means. apparatus. 3. One of a plurality of types of processing units for performing different processing on image data, such as image data reading processing, storage processing, image (processing / editing) processing, writing processing, transmission / reception processing, etc. An image data receiving step of receiving image data from a unit; an image data control information obtaining step of obtaining image data control information including information on a content of a process for the image data received in the image data receiving step; Based on the image data control information obtained in the information obtaining step, a destination processing unit determining step of determining a destination processing unit that transmits the image data received in the image data receiving step, and A transmitting step of transmitting the image data to the determined destination processing unit; Image processing method characterized by including the optional area image processing step of performing image processing by reading an arbitrary area from the image data stored in the unit. 4. The image processing method according to claim 3, wherein in the optional area image processing step, the image data of the optional area read from the storage processing unit is stored in a memory in the image processing unit. 5. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 3 or 4 is recorded.