JP2001186329A - Picture processor, picture processing method and computer-readable recording medium with program for making computer perform the method thereon - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of ports for transmitting picture data and to efficiently transmit picture data in parallel. SOLUTION: This system is provided with a picture control 203 connected with a sensor board unit 202 and/or a picture memory access control 221 and/or a picture processor 204 and/or a video and data control part 205 and/or a facsimile control unit 224, and a system controller 231 for multiplexing competitive picture data when picture data transmitted to the part 203 is competitive. The part 203 receives the multiplexed picture data.

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 Copiers and scanners are known as devices for optically reading an original. The document reading methods of these apparatuses include a pressure plate method using a document reading unit and a method using a sheet-through document feeder (ADF).

FIG. 22 is a diagram schematically showing a reading mechanism of a general document reading unit. In the plate printing method, the original 11 to be read is a contact glass 12.
Put on top. Then, the irradiation lamp 13 and the mirror group 14
Is moved with respect to the document 11. As a result, reading of the document surface is performed.
The carriage 15 is driven by a stepping motor (not shown).

In the plate printing method, when reading an original,
The moving speed of the carriage 15 with respect to the document 11 is controlled. Thereby, the number of optical reading lines per unit distance is controlled in the moving direction of the carriage 15 (this is referred to as a sub-scanning direction).

More specifically, when an enlarged original is output with respect to the original 11, the carriage 15 is provided with a smaller size ratio than when the original 11 and the output original are 1: 1. Is also controlled to move slowly. Carriage 1
When 5 moves slowly, the number of read lines per unit distance in the sub-scanning direction increases.

When the original 11 is reduced, the carriage 15 is controlled to move quickly. As the movement of the carriage 15 increases, the number of read lines in the sub-scanning direction decreases. In this way, the magnification / reduction processing in the sub-scanning direction is performed. On the other hand, in a direction intersecting with the sub-scanning direction (this is called a main scanning direction), enlargement or reduction is performed by electrically scaling one line data.

Generally, a copying machine is provided with an electric document size sensor. The document size is detected by the document size sensor before the movement of the carriage 15 starts, that is, before the reading of the document 11 starts. Therefore, when the paper size scaling function is selected, the magnification from the document size to the paper size is calculated before the document reading is started.

[0008] For example, A
Even if originals of various sizes, such as 3, B4, A4, or B5, are placed in the vertical or horizontal direction, the process controller calculates parameters for scaling control before the carriage 15 starts moving. The moving speed of the carriage 15 is controlled based on the parameter.

FIG. 23 is a diagram schematically showing a reading mechanism using a general sheet-through document feeder. In this case, the document 11 to be read is conveyed by a sheet-through document feeder 16 having a document feed mechanism so as to automatically pass the reading position.

At this time, the carriage 15 remains fixed at the reading position. That is, in the case of the plate-press system, the carriage 15 is moved with respect to the stationary document 11, but when the sheet-through document feeder 16 is used, the carriage 11 is moved with respect to the stationary carriage 15.
Will move.

The moving speed of the original 11 is controlled by driving a stepping motor (not shown). When the original 11 is enlarged or reduced in the original feeding direction (this is referred to as a sub-scanning direction), the moving speed of the original 11 is controlled. That is, as in the case of the plate printing method, enlargement or reduction is realized by changing the relative speed with respect to the movement between the document 11 and the carriage 15.

When the sheet through document feeder 16 is used, the size of the original is detected by a mechanical sensor. In this case, the size of the document in the sub-scanning direction is detected when the reading of the document 11 is completed.
That is, at the point in time before the reading of the original 11 starts, the original 1
The size of No. 1 in the sub-scanning direction is unknown. Therefore, it is impossible to calculate a parameter for scaling control before the reading of the document 11 is started. Therefore, manuscript 11
Cannot be controlled according to the enlargement ratio or reduction ratio.

The same applies to a direction intersecting with the sub-scanning direction (this is called a main scanning direction). The document size in the main scanning direction is detected when the document 11 reaches the sensor position. Therefore, originals 1 of various sizes
When 1 is mixed, it is impossible to calculate a parameter for scaling control before starting the document reading process.

The image of the document 11 read using the sheet-through document feeder 16 has a mirror image relationship with the image obtained in the plate printing mode in the main scanning direction. Therefore, at the time of image output, a mirroring process for switching the left and right is performed.

Recently, digital copying machines have been used in addition to analog copying machines. The digital copying machine optically reads a paper document or the like, converts the read image signal into a digital image signal, and performs image processing. Further, among digital copying machines, there is a digital multifunction peripheral having a scanner function, a printer function, and a facsimile function in addition to a copying function.

In digital copiers and digital multifunction peripherals (hereinafter referred to as digital multifunction peripherals, etc.), instead of performing enlargement / reduction by mechanical control as described above, electrical scaling is performed on digital image signals. In some cases, enlargement / reduction is performed by performing processing.

As such a device, for example, Japanese Patent No.
No. 78560 “Image data scaling processing device” is known.
As a digital multifunction peripheral, an "image processing apparatus" relating to image processing of a read signal, image storage in a memory, and parallel operation of a plurality of functions is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-8-274.
No. 986.

However, in the document reading mechanism using a sheet-through document feeder, there has not been proposed a device capable of automatically copying a document of various sizes mixed while enlarging / reducing the document. The reason is that the conventional document reading mechanism cannot determine the size of the document before the reading of the document is started, and thus cannot determine the variable size.

[0019]

Here, in a document reading mechanism using the above-mentioned sheet-through document feeder, it is possible to automatically copy a document of various sizes mixed while enlarging / reducing it. One of the ways to realize a device that can
It is necessary to perform a parallel operation in each processing unit. In this case, there is a problem that the system configuration is complicated, for example, the number of ports for transmitting image data is increased in order to efficiently perform the parallel operation.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and the number of ports for transmitting image data can be reduced, so that image data can be transmitted efficiently during parallel operation. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a computer-readable recording medium that records a program for causing a computer to execute the method.

[0021]

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 transmitted to the image data control means conflicts Multiplexing control means for multiplexing the competing image data, wherein the image data control means receives the image data multiplexed by the multiplexing control means.

According to the first aspect of the invention, it is possible to multiplex competing image data when transmitting between units.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus for controlling image reading means for reading image data and / or image memory to write / read image data.
Image memory control means for reading and / or image processing means for performing image processing such as processing and editing on image data and / or image writing means for writing image data on transfer paper or the like and / or transmission and reception of image data to and from an external device First image data read by the image reading means and / or second image data read by the image memory control means and / or image processing by the image processing means. Receiving the third image data and / or the fourth image data received by the image data transmitting / receiving means, and applying the first image data and / or the second image data
Image data and / or the third image data and / or the fourth image data to the image memory control means and / or to the image processing means and / or to the image writing means and / or the image Image data control means for transmitting to the data transmission / reception means, and multiplexing control means for multiplexing the competing image data when the image data transmitted to the image data control means conflicts, the image data control Means for receiving the image data multiplexed by the multiplexing control means.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, competing image data can be multiplexed when transmitting between units including image data transmitting / receiving means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first or second aspect,
The multiplexing control means adds control data for controlling the multiplexed image data to the multiplexed image data.

According to the third aspect of the invention, multiplexed image data can be transmitted reliably.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the third aspect, the control data is information and / or information on a multiplexing method of the multiplexed image data. The multiplexed image data includes information on a destination of each of the multiplexed image data.

According to the present invention, the multiplexed image data can be reliably transmitted, and each image data can be easily extracted from the multiplexed image data. Can be.

The image processing method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention performs different processing on image data, such as image data reading processing, storage processing, image (processing / editing) processing, writing processing, and transmission / reception processing. Data receiving step of receiving multiplexed image data from any one of the plurality of types of processing units, and processing of the multiplexed image data received in the image data receiving step. An image data control information obtaining step of obtaining image data control information including information; and a transmission of transmitting the image data received by the image data receiving step based on the image data control information obtained by the image data control information obtaining step. A destination processing unit determining step of determining a destination processing unit; and A transmitting step of transmitting the image data that has been said multiplexed to the destination processing unit is characterized by including the.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, it is possible to multiplex competing image data when transmitting between units.

According to the image processing method of the present invention, different processing such as reading processing, storage processing, image (processing / editing) processing, writing processing, transmission / reception processing of image data is performed. Data receiving step of receiving multiplexed image data from any one of the plurality of types of processing units, and processing of the multiplexed image data received in the image data receiving step. An image data control information obtaining step of obtaining image data control information including information; and a transmission of transmitting the image data received by the image data receiving step based on the image data control information obtained by the image data control information obtaining step. A destination processing unit determining step of determining a destination processing unit, and each of the multiplexed image data An extraction step of leaving, characterized in that including a transmission step of transmitting the image data extracted by said extracting step to the destination processing unit determined by the destination processing unit decision step.

According to the invention described in claim 6, it is possible to multiplex competing image data at the time of transmission between units, and to extract each image data from the multiplexed image data.

In the image processing method according to the present invention, different processes for the image data, such as a reading process, an accumulation process, an image (processing / editing) process, a writing process, and a transmission / reception process, are performed. An image data receiving step of receiving image data from any one of the plurality of processing units, and an image including information relating to the content of processing on the multiplexed image data received in the image data receiving step. An image data control information obtaining step of obtaining data control information, and a destination processing unit for transmitting the image data received by the image data receiving step based on the image data control information obtained by the image data control information obtaining step. A destination processing unit determining step of determining; a multiplexing step of multiplexing the image data; Characterized in that it includes a transmission step of transmitting the image data multiplexed by the multiplexing step to the destination processing unit determined by the physical unit determining step.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, competing image data can be multiplexed when transmitting image data to another unit.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to any one of claims 5 to 7,
The program becomes machine-readable, whereby the operation described in any one of claims 5 to 7 can be realized by a computer.

[0036]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
Preferred embodiments of an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a computer-readable recording medium that records a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to the present invention 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.

This image processing apparatus includes an image data control unit 100, an image reading unit 101, an image memory control unit 102, an image processing unit 103, and an image writing unit 104. Image reading unit 1
01, the image memory control unit 102, the image processing unit 103, and the image writing unit 104 are connected to the image data control unit 100.

The image reading unit 101 is a unit for reading a document and obtaining image data. The image memory control unit 102 is a unit for writing or reading image data to or from an image memory for storing image data. The image processing unit 103 is a unit for performing image processing such as processing and editing on image data. Image writing unit 1
Reference numeral 04 denotes a unit for writing image data on transfer paper or the like.

(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), (6) image scaling processing (for example, 50% or (200% fixed magnification), (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 following processing is performed by the image reading unit 101.

For example, (1) reading processing of reflected light of an original by an optical system, (2) conversion processing to an electric signal by a light receiving element, (3) digitization processing by an A / D converter,
(4) shading correction processing (processing for correcting illuminance distribution unevenness of a light source), (5) scanner γ correction processing (processing for correcting density characteristics of a 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 (data clearing of a memory area, rotation processing of image data, image synthesis processing on a memory, etc.), and the like.

(Image Processing Unit 103) The following processing is performed by the image processing unit 103.

For example, (1) shading correction processing (processing for correcting illuminance distribution unevenness 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.

The image processing apparatus according to this embodiment includes a reading unit 201, a sensor board unit 20
2, image data control unit 203, image processor 2
04, a video data control unit 205 and an image forming unit (engine) 206. The image processing apparatus includes a serial bus 210, a process controller 2
11, a RAM 212 and a ROM 213.

The reading unit 201, the sensor board,
Unit 202, image data control unit 203, video / data control unit 205, imaging unit (engine) 206,
The process controller 211, the RAM 212, and the ROM 213 are mutually connected via the serial bus 210. The image processor 204 is connected to the image data control unit 203 and the video data control unit 205.

Further, the image processing apparatus comprises a parallel bus 22
0, image memory access control unit 221, memory
Module 222 and facsimile control unit 22
4 is provided. Image memory access control unit 22
1. The facsimile control unit 224 and the image data control unit 203 are mutually connected via a parallel bus 220.

The memory module 222 is connected to the image memory access control unit 221. The image memory access control unit 221 is connected to an external PC (personal computer) 223. The facsimile control unit 224 is connected to a public line (PN) 225.

The image processing device includes a system controller 231, a RAM 232, a ROM 233, and an operation panel 234. The system controller 231, the RAM 232, the ROM 233, and the operation panel 234 are connected to the image memory access control unit 221.

Here, the components 201 to 20 shown in FIG.
6, 221, 222 and each unit 100- shown in FIG.
The correspondence relationship with the 104 will be described. Reading unit 2
01 and the sensor board unit 202 have a function as the image reading unit 101 (see FIG. 1) as a document reading unit. Further, the image data control unit 203 includes the image data control unit 100 (see FIG. 1).
As a function. Further, the image processing processor 204 has a function as the image processing unit 103 (see FIG. 1).

The video data control unit 205 and the image forming unit (engine) 206 have a function as the image writing unit 104 (see FIG. 1) as an output unit. The image memory access control unit 221 and the memory module 222 have a function as the image memory control unit 102 (see FIG. 1).
The memory module 222 has a function as a storage unit.

Next, the contents of each component of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 2 will be described. Although not shown, the reading unit 201 for optically reading an original includes, for example, a lamp, a mirror, and a lens. Reading unit 2
Reference numeral 01 denotes a configuration in which reflected light of lamp irradiation on a document is condensed on a light receiving element by a mirror and a lens.

The light receiving element is, for example, a CCD (Charge).
It is composed of a Coupled Device (charge coupled device). CCD is a sensor board unit 20
2 is installed. The CCD converts a light signal reflected by the original into an electric signal. Sensor board unit 2
Reference numeral 02 converts the image data converted into an electric signal into a digital signal and outputs the digital signal to the image data control unit 203.

The image data control unit 203 controls transmission of image data between the functional device (processing unit) and the data bus. An image data control unit 203 is a system controller that controls the data transfer between the sensor board unit 202, the parallel bus 220, and the image processing processor 204, the process controller 211 for the image data, and the overall control of the image processing apparatus. 231 is performed. RA
M212 is used as a work area of the process controller 211. The ROM 213 stores a boot program of the process controller 211 and the like.

The image data control unit 203 transfers the image data sent from the sensor board unit 202 to the image processor 204. The image processor 204 corrects signal degradation (referred to as signal degradation of a scanner system) due to quantization into an optical system and a digital signal. Therefore, the image processor 204 has a function as an image processing unit.
After correcting the signal deterioration, the image processor 204 transfers the image data to the image data control unit 203 again.

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

The operation panel 234 is for inputting processing to be performed by the image processing apparatus. For example,
The type of processing (copying, facsimile transmission, image reading, printing, etc.), the number of processings, and the like are input via the operation panel 234. Thereby, the input of the image data control information is performed. Therefore, the operation panel 234 has a function as a magnification specifying unit.

Here, the job executed by the image processing apparatus includes the read image data in the memory module 22.
2 and a job that is not stored in the memory module 222. Each job will be described.

As an example of a job stored in the memory module 222, there is a job for copying a plurality of sheets for one document. In this case, the reading unit 201 operates only once, and the document is read only once. The obtained image data is stored in the memory module 222.
Then, the stored image data is read a plurality of times.

On the other hand, as an example of a job that does not use the memory module 222, there is a job for copying only one original sheet. In this case, the image data read by the reading unit 201 is
Will be played back. Therefore, the image memory access control unit 221 does not access the memory module 222.

The image data is stored in the memory module 222.
The flow of data will be described for each of the job stored in the memory module and the job not using the memory module 222. First, a job that does not use the memory module 222 will be described.

The data transferred from the image processor 204 to the image data controller 203 is transferred from the image data controller 203 to the image processor 204 again. The image processor 204 performs image quality processing for converting luminance data from the CCD of the sensor board unit 202 into area gradation.

After the image quality processing is completed, the image data is sent from the image processor 204 to the video data controller 20.
5 is transferred. The video data control unit 205 performs post-processing related to dot arrangement and pulse control for reproducing dots with respect to the signal changed to the area gradation. Thereafter, a 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 in the case where image data is stored in the memory module 222 and additional processing is performed when the image data is read out, for example, rotation of the image direction or synthesis of images is performed. 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.

The image memory access control unit 221 comprises:
Based on the control of the system controller 231, access control of the image data and the memory module 222, development of print data of the external PC (personal computer) 223, and image data for effective use of the memory module 222 are performed. Perform compression / decompression.

The image data sent to the image memory access control unit 221 is stored in the memory module 222 after data compression. The stored image data is read out to the image memory access control unit 221 as necessary. The image memory access control unit 221 expands the read image data and returns the read image data to the original image data.
Then, the image data is transferred from the image memory access control unit 221 to the image data control unit 203 via the parallel bus 220.

The data transferred to the image data control unit 203 is transferred to the image processor 204. The image data subjected to the image quality processing in the image processor 204 is transferred to the video data control unit 205. The video data control unit 205 performs pulse control on the image data. Thereafter, a reproduced image is formed on the transfer paper in the image forming unit 206.

In the flow of the image data, the functions of the digital multi-function peripheral are realized by the bus control by the parallel bus 220 and the image data control unit 203. In the facsimile transmission function, the read image data is subjected to image processing by the image processor 204 and transferred to the facsimile control unit 224 via the image data control unit 203 and 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, with respect to the received facsimile data, facsimile control unit 224 converts line data from public line (PN) 225 into image data. The changed image data is transferred to the image processor 204 via the parallel bus 220 and the image data control unit 203. Image processing processor 204
Transfers image data to the video data control unit 205 without performing special image quality processing. The video data control unit 205 performs dot rearrangement and pulse control on the image data. Then, the imaging unit 2
At 06, a reproduced image is formed on the transfer paper.

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, the assignment 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 system. It is controlled by the 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 234 of the operation unit, 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 a data format conversion for a data interface between the parallel bus 220 and the serial bus 210 in the image data control unit 203.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the configuration of a controller unit that performs system control and memory control. The controller unit has a configuration in which a system controller 231, a memory module 222, an image memory access controller 221 and various bus interfaces (I / F) that control the operation of the entire image processing apparatus are integrated. .

Various bus interfaces, for example, parallel bus interface 301, serial bus interface 302, local bus interface 30
3 and the network interface 304 are connected to the image memory access control unit 221. The controller unit is connected to related units via a plurality of types of buses in order to maintain independence in the entire image processing apparatus.

The system controller 231 controls other functional units via the parallel bus 220. The parallel bus 220 is used for transferring image data. The system controller 231 issues an operation control command to the image data control unit 203 to cause the memory module 222 to store the image data. This operation control command is sent via the image memory access control unit 221, the parallel bus interface 301, and the parallel bus 220.

In response to the operation control command, the image data is sent from the image data control unit 203 to the image memory access control unit 221 via the parallel bus 220 and the parallel bus interface 301. Then, the image data is stored in the memory module 222 under the control of the image memory access control unit 221.

On the other hand, the controller unit shown in FIG. 3 functions as a printer controller, a network controller, and a serial bus controller when called from a PC (personal computer) 223 as a printer function. In the case of a connection via a network, the image memory access control unit 221 receives print output request data via the network interface 304.

In the case of a general-purpose serial bus connection, the image memory access control section 221 receives print output request data via the serial bus interface 302. The general-purpose serial bus interface 302 supports a plurality of standards, for example, a USB (Univ.
(Serial Serial Bus), 1284, or 1394.

The print output request data is developed into image data by the system controller 231. The expansion destination is an area in the memory module 222. Font data necessary for development is obtained by referring to a font ROM (included in the ROM 233 in FIG. 2) via the local bus interface 303 and the local bus. The local bus is connected to the ROM 233 and R
Connect to AM232.

As for the serial bus, besides an external serial port for connection with a PC (personal computer) 223, there is also an interface for transfer with an operation panel 234 which is an operation unit of the image processing apparatus.
This is not the print development data, but the system controller 2 via the image memory access control unit 221.
31 to receive a processing procedure, display a system state, and the like.

Data transmission / reception between the system controller 231, the memory module 222, and various buses is performed via the image memory access control unit 221. Jobs using the memory module 222 are centrally managed in the entire image processing apparatus.

In the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment, the performance related to data access is changed only by replacing the controller unit shown in FIG. In addition, regarding the adaptation according to the performance of the controller unit, by appropriately selecting the performance of the system controller 231 alone, the memory capacity of the memory module 222 and the access speed of the memory, both the cost and the performance required for the image processing apparatus can be improved. The optimal unit is constructed from.

FIG. 4 shows an image memory access control unit 2
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an outline of a block configuration of No. 21; The image memory access control unit 221 includes an access control unit 401,
Memory control unit 402, compression / decompression module 403,
An image editing module 404, a system interface 405, a local bus controller 406, a parallel bus controller 407, a serial port controller 408, a serial port 409, and a network controller 410 are provided.

The compression / decompression module 403, the image editing module 404, the parallel bus control unit 407, the serial port control unit 408, and the network control unit 410
Are connected to the access control unit 401 via DMACs (direct memory access control) 411, 412, 413, 414, and 415, respectively.

The system interface 405 sends and receives commands or data to and from the system controller 231 (see FIG. 3). Basically, the system
The controller 231 controls the entire image processing apparatus.
Further, the system controller 231 manages memory resource allocation. Control of other units is performed in the parallel bus 220 via the system interface 405 and the parallel bus control unit 407.

Each unit of the image processing apparatus is basically connected to the parallel bus 220. Therefore, the parallel bus control unit 407 controls transmission and reception of data to and from the system controller 231 and the memory module 222 by controlling bus occupation.

Network control section 410 controls connection with a LAN (local area network). The network control unit 410 manages transmission and reception of data to and from an external extension device connected to the network. Here, the system controller 231 does not participate in the operation management of the connected device on the network, but controls the interface in the image memory access control unit 221. Although not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, control for 100 BASE-T is added.

The serial port 409 connected to the serial bus has a plurality of ports. The serial port control unit 408 has a number of port control mechanisms corresponding to the types of buses provided. Although not particularly limited, in the present embodiment, port control for USB and 1284 is performed. In addition to the external serial port, control of transmission / reception of data related to command reception or display with the operation unit is performed.

The local bus control unit 406 has a system
RAM is required to activate the controller 231
232, a ROM 233, and a local serial bus to which a font ROM for expanding printer code data is connected.

The operation is controlled by the system interface 4
From 05, command control by the system controller 231 is performed. Data control manages memory access from external units, centering on the memory module 222. The image data is transferred from the image data control unit 203 (see FIG. 2) to the image memory access control unit 221 via the parallel bus 220. Then, the image data is taken into the image memory access control unit 221 by the parallel bus control unit 407.

The memory access of the fetched image data is separated from the management of the system controller 231. That is, the memory access is performed by direct memory access control independently of system control. Regarding access to the memory module 222, the access control unit 401 arbitrates access requests from a plurality of units. Then, the memory control unit 402 controls the access operation of the memory module 222 or the reading / writing of data.

From the network to the memory module 2
When accessing the memory 22, the data taken into the image memory access control unit 221 from the network via the network control unit 410 is transferred to the memory module 222 by direct memory access control. The access control unit 401 arbitrates access to the memory module 222 for a plurality of jobs. The memory control unit 402 includes the memory module 2
Read / write of data to / from the memory 22 is performed.

From serial bus to memory module 2
22 is accessed, the serial port control unit 408
The data fetched into the image memory access control unit 221 via the serial port 409 is transferred to the memory module 222 by direct memory access control. The access control unit 401 arbitrates access to the memory module 222 for a plurality of jobs. The memory control unit 402 reads / writes data from / to the memory module 222.

The print output data from the personal computer 223 connected to the network or the serial bus is developed by the system controller 231 into the memory area in the memory module 222 using the font data on the local bus.

The interface with each external unit is managed by the system controller 231.
Regarding data transfer after being taken into the image memory access control unit 221, each DMAC 41
1, 412, 413, 414, and 415 manage memory access. In this case, each DMAC 411, 412,
Since the 413, 414, and 415 execute data transfer independently of each other, the access control unit 401 performs a job collision regarding access to the memory module 222 or prioritizes each access request.

Here, each of the DMACs 411, 412, 413, 4 is accessed to access the memory module 222.
14 and 415, the access from the system controller 231 via the system interface (system I / F) 405 for bitmap expansion of the stored data is also included.

In the access control unit 401, the DMAC permitted to access the memory module 222
Data, or data from the system interface 405, is transferred directly to the memory module 222 by the memory controller 402.

The image memory access control unit 221 comprises:
It has a compression / decompression module 403 and an image editing module 404 for data processing inside. The compression / decompression module 403 compresses and decompresses data so that image data or code data can be effectively stored in the memory module 222. The compression / decompression module 403 controls an interface with the memory module 222 by the DMAC 411.

The image data once stored in the memory module 222 is transferred from the memory module 222 to the memory controller 4 by direct memory access control.
02, called by the compression / decompression module 403 via the access control unit 401. Then, the converted image data is controlled by direct memory access control.
The data is returned to the memory module 222 or output to an external bus.

The image editing module 404 includes a DMAC4
12 controls the memory module 222 and performs data processing in the memory module 222.
More specifically, the image editing module 404 performs not only the clearing of the memory area, but also the rotation processing of the image data and the combining of different images as data processing. The image editing module 404 performs editing for converting data to be processed by address control on the memory.

The image editing module 404 has a memory
The processing is performed on the bitmap image developed on the module 222. The image editing module 404 cannot edit the compressed code data or printer code data. Therefore, image compression for effective memory storage is performed on data after image editing.

Now, the interpolation function will be described. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining an outline of an interpolation function. The sampling of the analog signal is performed at a repetition frequency twice or more the maximum frequency included in the continuous time signal based on the sampling theorem, and no aliasing distortion occurs.

For scaling the image data, necessary data is interpolated by resampling the sampled signal. When a convolution operation is performed on the digitized sample signal using the sampling function h (r) shown in FIG. 5, a continuous signal is completely restored. In the enlargement process, many resampling points are set, and data is reconstructed. At the time of reduction, the sampling interval is widened and the sampling data is reduced.

For the digitized data, the sampling point r takes a discrete value, but the difference sampling point r ′ need not be an integer. The digitized input data is expressed as f
(R), if the resampling data is g (r), g
(R) is calculated by the following equation.

G (r) = f * h (r) where "*" indicates a convolution operation. It is the sum of the products with the surrounding data.

Although FIG. 5 shows one-dimensionally, the gain characteristic relating to the distance r is maintained even in a two-dimensional plane. Although not shown, if it is shown, it will be a three-dimensional solid figure.

There are several approximation methods for generating the interpolation data in addition to the calculation based on the sampling function. In particular, an approximate expression is often used due to restrictions on the hardware configuration. For example, there is a closest pixel replacement method as one of the approximation methods. In addition, there are a linear distribution method between adjacent pixels, a cubic function convolution operation method relating to a sampling function, and the like.

The nearest pixel replacement method is a method of replacing with the original input data closest to the resampling point. The linear distance distribution method between adjacent pixels is a method of distributing a density level according to a distance between a resampling point and an adjacent pixel of original image data. The cubic function convolution operation method is a method of approximating a sampling interval based on a trigonometric function by a cubic function, and using the approximation for interpolation of density distribution of adjacent pixels to a resampling position. This is an approximate calculation for hardware, and is based on a trade-off between the image quality and the amount of hardware components.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are diagrams for explaining the outline of interpolation for resampling positions in one and two dimensions, respectively. In the arithmetic processing using the arithmetic processor and the controller, the approximation restriction on the hardware configuration described above is eliminated. Although the compensation range of the calculation accuracy with respect to the calculation time is restricted, the calculation accuracy is improved in a programmable configuration. However, the preprocessing circuit in the image data control unit 203 has a hardware configuration, and does not always have the same calculation accuracy as the programmable calculation process.

In FIG. 6, white circles are original image data, and the density at the position j is represented by S [j]. The black triangle is the interpolation data E [k] at the resampling point k.
E [k] is obtained by multiplying S [j] by a weight coefficient h (r) based on the distance r from k, and obtaining the sum of the values in a range where the pixel correlation is eliminated.

In FIG. 7, the original image S [i, j] is sampled at equal intervals in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. If the interpolated pixel E [k, l] at a certain resampling point is indicated by a black triangular point, E [k, l] becomes E [k, l]
Weighting factor h based on the distance r from to S [i, j]
(R), and the sum is obtained in a plane range where the pixel correlation is eliminated.

The distance r is decomposed in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, and can be expressed by the product of a sampling function in the main scanning direction and a sampling function in the sub-scanning direction.
The vector information related to the distance is divided, weight calculation is performed based on the sampling function for each axis direction, and the product is obtained. By performing weight calculation on the original image in the range where the pixel correlation reaches, and calculating the total sum,
Interpolation data is calculated.

A resampling position is calculated in enlargement and reduction, weight calculation is performed based on a sampling function, and convolution operation is performed. When a programmable processor is used for the calculation range, calculation restrictions due to hardware restrictions do not occur, and resampling calculation with high accuracy can be performed.

Next, an outline of processing for reading a document using a sheet-through document feeder in this embodiment will be described. FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing the flow of data when documents of different sizes are read using a sheet-through document feeder in the present embodiment.

In FIG. 8, reference numeral 13 denotes the irradiation lamp 1.
Reference numeral 14 denotes a mirror group, and reference numeral 16 denotes a sheet-through document feeder. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of reading a document of a different size using a sheet-through document feeder according to the present embodiment.

Generally, as shown in FIG. 8, a sheet-through document feeder is provided with A4 horizontal, A4 vertical, B5
When originals of completely different sizes such as landscape or A3 landscape are mixed, even if the original size changes, the setting of the scaling mode is not initialized. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, all originals are read at the same magnification (step S901). Then, the read image data of the document is stored in the memory module 222 (step S902).

At this time, the size information of the read document is detected and stored in the memory module 222 together with the corresponding image data. For example, the size information is extracted by a mechanical sensor of the document feeder. The extracted size information is added as an index. Alternatively, the original size is detected based on the difference from the background density on the original reading surface, and the original size is added as an area signal.

Subsequently, in order to calculate a desired magnification,
The size information added to the image data is extracted from the memory module 222 (Step S903). Then, a magnification is calculated based on the document size (step S904). The setting of the magnification is based on two types of designation methods. One of the settings is a setting corresponding to the paper-specified scaling (step S905).

In the case of paper-specified magnification, the magnification of main scanning and sub-scanning from the read original size is calculated so as to conform to the paper size specified as the output destination. Another setting is a scaling ratio setting by designation from the operation panel 234 of the operation unit or the like (step S906).

After calculating the magnification, the magnification control parameter is set in the processing module at the magnification, and the image data is complemented, and the magnification processing is performed (step S907). For example, in the case of 50% reduction in the main and sub directions, pixels are resampled one pixel at a time in each direction. If the enlargement is 200% in the main and sub directions, resampling is performed at a pixel pitch of 1/2 in each direction.

Next, the electric scaling process (first example) of the present embodiment will be described in detail. FIG. 10 is a diagram schematically showing a data flow in the electric scaling process according to the present embodiment. The image processing processor 204 has a built-in convolution operation module for performing scaling processing in the one-dimensional direction. This convolution operation module is configured by a programmable method.

Therefore, the image processor 204
Has a function as relocation data calculation means (magnification means). The image data control unit 203 performs only the data interface function. The image memory access control unit 221 controls the memory access control and 90
Degree rotation. Therefore, the image memory access control unit 221 has a function as an image rotating unit.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the electric scaling process (first example) according to the present embodiment. In the sensor board unit 202, all originals are read at the same magnification (step S1101). At this time, shading correction is performed by the sensor board unit 202, and image deterioration due to uneven illuminance is corrected in advance.

The read image data is stored in an image memory
The data is stored in the memory module 222 managed by the access control unit 221 (step S1102). At this time, the document size is detected, and the document size is stored as additional information in the memory module 222 together with the image data.

Subsequently, the image data is read (step S1103). At that time, the image memory / access control unit 221 rotates the read image data by 90 degrees. When an original is read using a sheet-through document feeder, the image is rotated 90 degrees after mirroring the left-right inverted image.

The rotated image data is transferred to the image processor 204 via the image data control unit 203.
Then, the image processor 204 performs an interpolation operation on the resampling position, and performs a scaling process in the sub-scanning direction (step S1104). The parameters of the interpolation calculation are calculated by the process controller 211 based on the storage of the image data and the zoom range,
Desired settings in the image processor 204 are completed in advance. Therefore, the process controller 211 has a function as a scaling factor calculation unit.

The image data subjected to the interpolation calculation processing is stored again in the memory module 222 controlled by the image memory access control unit 221 via the image data control unit 203 (step S1105). At that time, the MTF correction processing in the same direction as the zooming direction can be performed.

The image data (magnified only in the sub-scanning direction) stored in the memory module 222 is read out again for magnification in the main scanning direction (step S110).
6). The read image data is stored in step S1103.
Because the data is rotated 90 degrees at
The access control unit 221 rotates the image 90 degrees in the reverse direction. That is, the orientation of the original is the same.

Subsequently, the image data is transferred to the image processor 204 via the image data controller 203,
The image processor 204 performs scaling processing in the main operation direction (step S1107). The scaling process is performed by downloading a setting value for main scanning scaling from the process controller 211 and calculating image data based on the interpolation calculation process.

The image processing such as MTF correction or gradation processing is performed on the image data that has been subjected to the electric scaling processing in both the main and sub scanning directions by a programmable arithmetic processor, and necessary processing procedures are downloaded from the process controller 211. (Step S1108). Then, the data on which the image processing has been completed is
Is output to the outside (step S1109). When outputting image data to transfer paper, the video data control unit 2
05, pulse control is performed, and the image forming unit 20
At 6, an image is formed.

As described above, according to the first example, an original having an uneven size is read by the reading unit 201 and the sensor board unit 202, and the read image data is temporarily stored in the memory module 222. Since the electrical magnification process is performed in both the main and sub scanning directions, even if originals of different sizes are mixed, the originals can be read using the sheet-through document feeder. Therefore, there is no need for a mechanical zoom mechanism for controlling the document feeding speed as in the related art.

Further, according to the first example described above, the image processor 204 performs the scaling process in the one-dimensional direction, and the image memory access controller 221 rotates the image data by 90 degrees. Because
The zoom mechanism can be integrated in one place. Therefore, the processing module can be effectively used.

FIG. 12 is a diagram schematically showing a data flow in another electric scaling process (second example) of the present embodiment. The second example is different from the first example in that the image data control unit 203 has a built-in module 501 for performing a scaling process in the sub-scanning direction, and the module 501 performs a scaling process in the sub-scanning direction. The image processor 204 performs the scaling process in the main scanning direction, and the image memory access controller 221 does not perform the rotation control of the image data.

Therefore, in the second example, the module 501 has a function as the first relocation data calculation means, and the image processor 204 has a function as the second relocation data calculation means. Have. The other configuration is the same as that of the first example, and thus the overlapping description will be omitted, and only different points will be described below.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the electric scaling process of the third example. The original is read at the same magnification even when the sheet-through document feeder is used or in the press mode (step S130).
1). The read image data is stored in the image data control unit 203.
And stored in the memory module 222 via the image memory access control unit 221 (step S1).
302).

At this time, the document size is detected, and information on the document size is stored in the memory module 222 together with the corresponding image data as an index.
Further, the process controller 211 calculates a parameter for arithmetic processing from the size information regarding the index and the instruction condition regarding the scaling, and sets the parameter for the image data control unit 203 and the image processor 204.

Subsequently, the image data stored in the memory module 222 is read (step S130).
3). For the read image data, the image data control unit 203 performs a scaling process in the sub-scanning direction (step S1304). After that, the image data is transferred to the image processing processor 204, where a scaling process in the main scanning direction is performed (step S1305).

The image data that has undergone the scaling process in both the main and sub scanning directions is processed by the arithmetic processor of the image processor 204 based on another image processing program set by the process controller 211 to obtain a predetermined image. Processing is performed (step S1306). Thereafter, the image-processed data is transferred to the image processor 204.
Is output to the outside (step S1307).

As described above, according to the second example, the image data control unit 203 performs the scaling process in the sub-scanning direction,
Since the image processor 204 is configured to perform scaling processing in the main scanning direction, scaling processing in the sub-scanning direction and scaling processing in the main scanning direction can be performed in parallel. Therefore, it is possible to cope with the parallel operation of the system without deteriorating the processing performance, so that the efficiency of the parallel operation can be controlled.

More specifically, for example, when two originals are read, the magnification processing in the sub-scanning direction for the first original that has been read is completed, and the image data is transferred to the image data control unit 203. To image processor 204
, The image data control unit 203 can immediately execute the scaling process in the sub-scanning direction on the second document read later.

When the image memory / access control unit 221 is configured to control the rotation of image data as in the first example, the image processing processor 204 performs image processing on the first document. During the execution, in the image data control unit 203, the image data after the scaling process in the sub-scanning direction is transferred again to the image memory access control unit 221, where the image data is rotated by 90 degrees and then again. The image data control unit 203 may perform scaling processing in the main scanning direction.

FIG. 14 is a diagram schematically showing a data flow in another electric scaling process (third example) of the present embodiment. The third example differs from the first example in that the image memory / access control unit 221 does not perform rotation control.
That the image processor 204 does not perform the scaling process and that the system controller 231 performs the plane scaling process by the coordinate control performed for resampling and the memory access control by the image memory access control unit 221. .

Therefore, in the third example, the image memory
The access control unit 221 and the system controller 231 have a function as a scaling unit. The other configuration is the same as that of the present embodiment, and thus the duplicate description will be omitted, and only different points will be described below.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the electric scaling process of the third example. The original is read at the same magnification (step S1501). The read image data is transferred to the image data control unit 203 and the image memory access control unit 2
21 and is stored in the memory module 222 (step S1502).

At this time, the document size is detected, and information on the document size is stored as an index in the memory module 222 together with the corresponding image data.
Then, the system controller 231 calculates the read pixel position for resampling from the index relating to the image size and the scaling designation condition (step S1503).

Subsequently, the original image data is read from the memory module 222 in the two-dimensional arrangement (step S1504). The arithmetic processing by the system controller 231 and the memory access control by the image memory access control unit 221 programmably perform the arithmetic processing for the plane scaling process (step S1505).

The image data after the scaling process is transferred to the image processor 204 via the image data controller 203, where the image processing is performed by the arithmetic processor (step S1506). Thereafter, the image data is output to the outside of the image processor 204 (step S1).
507).

According to the above-described third example, the system controller 231 and the image memory access control unit 221 perform plane scaling processing, and the image processing processor 204 performs image processing such as MTF correction and gradation processing. Since the division and the sharing processing are performed, the performance of the system can be maintained in the pipeline processing of the image data.

The system division of the parallel operation is performed by the system controller 231 and the process controller 2.
11 can be controlled. Therefore, the processing load is dispersed, and the overall processing efficiency is improved.

FIG. 16 is a diagram schematically showing a data flow in another electric scaling process (fourth example) of the present embodiment. Embodiment 4 is different from Embodiment 4 in that the image memory access control unit 221 does not perform rotation control and that the system controller 231 calculates read coordinates for calculating resampling data. It is.

Therefore, the system controller 2
Reference numeral 31 has a function as reference data reading means. Other configurations are the same as in the first example.
A duplicate description will be omitted, and only different points will be described below.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the electric scaling process of the fourth example. The original is read at the same magnification (step S1701). The read image data is transferred to the image data control unit 203 and the image memory access control unit 2
21 and is stored in the memory module 222 (step S1702).

At this time, the document size is detected, and information on the document size is stored as an index in the memory module 222 together with the corresponding image data.
The information on the image size is used for calculating the magnification at the time of the paper designated magnification. Subsequently, the system controller 231 calculates the address of the reference pixel for calculating the resampling data from the scaling designation condition (step S1703).

Then, based on the address, the image memory / access control section 221 reads out the image data at the target address, and transfers it to the image processor 204 via the image data control section 203 (step S1704). Here, the image memory access control unit 221 also has a function as reference data reading means together with the system controller 231.

In the image processor 204, the weight coefficient for the required pixel is assigned to the process controller 211.
Then, the image is downloaded and the scaling process is performed by the arithmetic processor (step S1705). That is, the plane magnification for the main scan and the sub-scan is developed in each axis direction,
Perform a convolution operation. After performing predetermined image processing on the image data after the scaling processing (step S170)
6). The image data is output to the outside of the image processor 204 (step S1707).

According to the above-described fourth example, since the processor is a calculation-only processor using a SIMD or sequential DSP, high-speed processing can be performed. A configuration in which a system controller 231 calculates an address of a reference pixel for calculating resampling data, controls a memory access by an image memory access control unit 221, and performs a scaling process and an image process by an image processor 204. Therefore, each processing can be shared by a completely optimum processing means. Therefore, the processing speed is improved.

Next, the contents of the parallel operation of the image data processing will be described. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of a plurality of image data processes of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG. 18A shows the flow of image data when reading out image data stored in the memory module 222 to form a reproduced image. On the other hand, FIGS. 18B and 18C show the flow of image data when facsimile transmission with mixed paper sizes is performed.

In FIG. 18A, the parallel operations of the process of forming the read / reproduced image of the image data stored in the memory module 222 and the process of performing the facsimile transmission with mixed paper sizes are shown in FIGS. ) Or the flow of the image data of (a) and (c). Here, for example, the path a1 from the image memory access control unit 221 to the image data control unit 203 is always used during the operation of reading out the image data stored in the memory module 222 and forming a reproduced image.

In the case of FIG. 18B, the image memory access control unit 221 sends the image data control unit 20
The path b5 to 3 is used when transferring the image after the 90 ° rotation to the image data control unit 203. In the case of FIG. 18C, similarly, the image memory access control unit 221
The path c3 from to the image data control unit 203 is used for performing sub-scanning magnification.

In these cases, a plurality of image data are multiplexed under the control of the system controller 231 as multiplexing control means. Thereby, the parallel operation can be achieved without increasing the number of ports of the parallel bus 220 between the image memory access control unit 221 and the image data control unit 203.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a data configuration of multiplexed image data and control data of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 19, information 1901 relating to a multiplexing method and information 1902 relating to a transfer destination of image data are added to image data 1900 to be multiplexed.

Information 1901 relating to the multiplexing method stores information on how the multiplexing is performed, for example, in page units, pixel units, line units, and the like.
The multiplexing method can be determined based on the type of image data to be multiplexed, the capacity of the image data, the usage status of each unit, and the like. Further, the multiplexing method may be determined by an instruction from the operation panel 234 by the operator.

Information 1 on the destination of image data
Reference numeral 902 stores information on a unit to which image data is to be transmitted. As the transmission destination, the image data control unit 203, the image processing processor 204, the image memory access control unit 211, the video data control unit 2
05, facsimile control unit 224, etc.

Next, the contents of the image data multiplexing process will be described. FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating the content of the multiplexing process of the image data of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the flowchart of FIG. 20, when transmitting image data to another unit, it is determined whether or not there is image data that is another image data and has the same transmission destination (step S2001). If there is no image data with the same destination (No at step S2001),
The process moves to step S2003 without doing anything.

On the other hand, in step S2001, if there is image data with the same destination (step S2001)
Affirmative) multiplexes the image data (step S2002). Then, in step S2003,
The image data is transmitted to a predetermined destination (step S20)
03).

Next, the contents of the transfer control processing of the multiplexed image data will be described. FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating the procedure of the transfer control process of the multiplexed image data by the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. FIG.
In the flowchart of (1), first, image data is received from another unit (step S2101). here,
It is determined whether the received image data is multiplexed data (step S2102).

In step S2102, if the received image data is not multiplexed data (step S2102).
2102 is negative), without doing anything, step S2106
Move to. On the other hand, if the received image data is multiplexed data (Yes at Step S2102), it is determined whether the received unit requires image processing in the unit (Step S2103).

If it is determined in step S2103 that image processing is not necessary (step S2103: No)
Next, it is determined whether the transfer destinations of the multiplexed image data are the same (step S2104). Here, when the transfer destination is the same (Yes at Step S2104), the process proceeds to Step S2105. On the other hand, if the transfer destinations are different (No at Step S2104), each image data is extracted (demultiplexed) from the multiplexed image data (Step S2105). Thereafter, in step S2106, the image data is transferred to a predetermined transfer destination (step S2106).

When it is determined in step S2103 that image processing is necessary (step S2103)
Extracts (demultiplexes) each image data from the multiplexed image data (step S2107), and performs necessary image processing on the extracted image data (step S2108). Thereafter, step S20 shown in FIG.
Move to 01.

As described above, multiplexed data is used in the case of parallel operation, and non-multiplexed data is used in the case of non-parallel operation.
Image processing (such as electrical scaling) can be performed efficiently without increasing the number of ports on the bus.

As described above, the image memory access control unit 22 for controlling the reading unit 201, the sensor board unit 202, and / or the image memory for reading and writing image data to read / write image data.
1 and / or an image processor 204 for performing image processing such as processing / editing on the image data and / or a video data control unit 2 for writing the image data onto transfer paper or the like
05. An image forming unit 206 and / or a facsimile control unit 224 for transmitting and receiving image data to and from an external device
, The first image data read by the reading unit 201, the sensor board unit 202, and / or the second image data read by the image memory access control unit 221 and / or the image processing processor 204. Image data and / or facsimile control unit 22 subjected to image processing by
Receiving the first image data and / or the second image data and / or the third image data and / or the fourth image data in an image memory Access controller 22
1 and / or the image data transmitted to the image processor 204 and / or the video data controller 205 and / or the facsimile control unit 224 and the image data transmitted to the image data controller 203 compete with each other. The system controller 231 for multiplexing the competing image data, and the image data control unit 204 receives the multiplexed image data. Can be multiplexed, which
The number of ports for transmitting image data can be reduced, and image data can be transmitted efficiently during parallel operation.

Further, according to the present embodiment, since control data for controlling the multiplexed image data is added to the multiplexed image data, the multiplexed image data is reliably transmitted. be able to.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the control data includes information on the multiplexing method of the multiplexed image data and / or information on the respective transmission destinations of the multiplexed image data. Therefore, transmission of multiplexed image data can be reliably performed, and
Each image data can be easily extracted from the multiplexed image data.

Further, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of types of processing 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. Receiving the multiplexed image data from any of the processing units, obtaining image data control information including information on the content of processing on the received multiplexed image data, and obtaining the obtained image data control information A destination processing unit for transmitting the received image data based on the received image data, and transmitting the multiplexed image data to the determined destination processing unit. Can be multiplexed, whereby the number of ports for transmitting image data can be reduced. It can be transmitted efficiently.

Further, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of types of processing 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. Receiving the multiplexed image data from any of the processing units, obtaining image data control information including information on the content of processing on the received multiplexed image data, and obtaining the obtained image data control information Based on, to determine the destination processing unit to transmit the received image data, to extract the multiplexed respective image data, to transmit the extracted image data to the determined destination processing unit, It is possible to multiplex competing image data when transmitting between units and to extract respective image data from the multiplexed image data. Kill.

Further, according to the present embodiment, a plurality of types of processing for performing different processing on image data, such as image data reading processing, storage processing, image (processing / editing) processing, writing processing, transmission / reception processing, and the like. Of the units, receiving image data from any of the processing units, obtaining image data control information including information on the content of processing on the received multiplexed image data, based on the obtained image data control information, Determining a destination processing unit for transmitting the received image data, multiplexing the image data, and transmitting the image data to another unit to transmit the multiplexed image data to the determined destination processing unit; In this case, competing image data can be multiplexed.

In the image processing method described in the present embodiment, a program prepared in advance
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 or as a transmission medium via a network such as the Internet.

[0184]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the multiplexing control means conflicts with the image data transmitted to the image data control means, the multiplexing control means deletes the competing image data. Multiplexing, and the image data control means receives the image data multiplexed by the multiplexing control means, so that competing image data can be multiplexed when transmitting between the units. The number of ports for transmitting the image data can be reduced, and an image processing apparatus that can efficiently transmit image data during the parallel operation can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the multiplexing control means multiplexes the competing image data when the image data transmitted to the image data control means conflicts, and The means is also connected to image data transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving image data to / from an external device, and for receiving image data multiplexed by the multiplexing control means, when transmitting between units including the image data transmitting / receiving means. An image processing apparatus capable of multiplexing competing image data, thereby reducing the number of ports for transmitting image data, and efficiently transmitting image data during parallel operation Is obtained.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the multiplexing control means adds the multiplexed image data to the multiplexed image data. Since control data for control is added, transmission of multiplexed image data can be reliably performed, thereby reducing the number of ports for transmitting image data. An effect is obtained that an image processing apparatus capable of efficiently transmitting image data is obtained.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the control data includes information on a multiplexing method of the multiplexed image data and / or the multiplexing. Since the information about each transmission destination of the multiplexed image data is included, it is possible to surely transmit the multiplexed image data, and
Each image data can be easily extracted from the multiplexed image data, thereby reducing the number of ports for transmitting the image data, and transmitting the image data during the parallel operation. And an image processing apparatus capable of efficiently performing the above is obtained.

According to the fifth 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 processes on the image data, the multiplexed image data is received from any one of the processing units, and the image data control information obtaining step includes the multiplexing process received by the image data receiving step. Acquiring image data control information including information on the contents of processing on the converted image data, wherein the transmitting operation processing unit determining step determines the image data based on the image data control information acquired in the image data control information acquiring step. Determine a destination processing unit to transmit the image data received by the receiving step, the transmitting step, to transmit the multiplexed image data to the destination processing unit determined by the destination processing unit determining step, Competing image data can be multiplexed when transmitting between units, which allows Data it is possible to reduce the number of ports for transmitting an effect that the image processing method which is able to transmit the image data at the time of parallel operations efficiently can be obtained.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 6, the image data receiving step includes the steps of reading, storing, image (processing / editing), writing, and transmitting / receiving processing of image data.
Among the plurality of types of processing units for performing different processes on the image data, the multiplexed image data is received from any one of the processing units, and the image data control information obtaining step includes the multiplexing process received by the image data receiving step. Acquiring image data control information including information on the contents of processing on the coded image data, and determining a destination processing unit based on the image data control information acquired in the image data control information acquiring step. A destination processing unit for transmitting the image data received by the receiving step is determined, an extracting step extracts the multiplexed image data, and a transmitting step is determined by the destination processing unit determining step. To transmit the image data extracted in the extraction step to the destination processing unit, Multiplexing of competing image data at the time of transmission and extracting each image data from the multiplexed image data, thereby reducing the number of ports for transmitting the image data. In addition, there is an effect that an image processing method capable of efficiently transmitting image data during the parallel operation can be obtained.

According to the seventh 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 a 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 the multiplexed image received by the image data receiving step. Acquiring image data control information including information on the content of processing on the data, the destination processing unit determining step receives the image data control information based on the image data control information acquired in the image data control information acquiring step, and receives the image data control information. Multiplexing the image data, and multiplexing the image data to the destination processing unit determined by the destination processing unit determining step. When transmitting image data to other units to transmit multiplexed image data An image processing method capable of multiplexing competing image data, thereby reducing the number of ports for transmitting image data, and efficiently transmitting image data during parallel operation Is obtained.

According to the invention described in claim 8, by recording a program for causing a computer to execute the method described in claims 5 to 7, the program becomes machine-readable, whereby the program can be read. There is an effect that a recording medium capable of realizing the operations of the items 5 to 7 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 diagram illustrating a configuration of a controller unit that performs system control and memory control of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing a block configuration of an image memory access control unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an outline of an interpolation function.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for describing an outline of interpolation for a resampling position in one dimension.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an outline of interpolation for a resampling position in two dimensions.

FIG. 8 is a diagram schematically showing a flow of data when documents of different sizes are read using a sheet-through document feeder in the present embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a process of reading documents of different sizes using a sheet-through document feeder according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a flow of data in the electric scaling process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of an electric scaling process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a data flow in another electric scaling process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of another electric scaling process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a data flow in another electric scaling process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of another electric scaling process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a data flow in another electric scaling process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of another electric scaling process according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing a flow of a plurality of image data processes of the image processing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of a data configuration of multiplexed image data and control data of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the content of the multiplexing process of the image data of the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of transfer control processing of multiplexed image data by the image processing apparatus according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a reading mechanism of a general document reading unit.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing a reading mechanism using a general sheet-through document feeder.

[Explanation of symbols]

201, 202 Document reading means (reading unit, sensor board unit) 204 Magnification means (image processing processor) 204 Relocation data calculation means (image processing processor) 204 Image processing means (image processing processor) 205, 206 output means (Video data control unit, image forming unit) 211 Magnification calculation unit (process controller) 221 Image rotation unit (image memory access control unit) 222 Storage unit (memory module) 234 Magnification designation unit (operation panel) 203 Magnification means (image data control unit) 204 Second relocation data calculation means 501 First relocation data calculation means 221, 231 Magnification means (image memory access control unit, system controller) See 221, 231 Data reading means ( Image memory access control unit, the system controller) 1900 image data 1901 information about destinations of the information 1902 the image data relating to multiplexing method

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yasuyuki Nomizu 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Sugitaka Inoki 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Kawamoto 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Rie Ishii 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Shinya Miyazaki 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Takeharu Tone 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 In Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Hatsuka 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo F-term in Ricoh Company (reference) 5B057 BA02 BA26 CA02 CA08 CA12 CA16 CB02 CB08 CB12 CB16 CD04 CD06 CE08 CG01 CH11 CH14 CH18 DA17 5C073 AA03 BA02 CC01 CD12 CD22 CE01 CE04 CE09 5C076 AA12 AA14 AA17 AA21 AA22 AA24 AA27 AA32 BA01 BA03 BA04 BA05 BB22 BB25 BB31 CB01 CB02

Claims (8)

[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 the data and / or the third image data subjected to the image processing by the image processing means, and receiving the first image data and / or the second image data and / or the third image data;
Image data control means for transmitting the image data to the image memory control means and / or to the image processing means and / or to the image writing means, and the image data transmitted to the image data control means conflicts And a multiplexing control unit for multiplexing the competing image data, wherein the image data control unit receives the image data multiplexed by the multiplexing control unit. 2. 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 / editing on image data. Means and / or image writing means for writing image data on a transfer paper and / or image data transmitting / receiving means for transmitting / receiving image data to / from an external device, and the first image data and / or Alternatively, 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 / or the fourth image data received by the image data transmission / reception means Receiving image data and receiving the first image data and / or the second image data; And / or said third image data and / or said fourth image data to said image memory control means and / or to said image processing means and / or
An image data control unit for transmitting to the image writing unit and / or the image data transmitting / receiving unit; and a multiplexing unit for multiplexing the competing image data when the image data transmitted to the image data control unit conflicts. An image processing apparatus, comprising: a multiplexing control unit; and the image data control unit receives image data multiplexed by the multiplexing control unit. 3. The multiplexing control means according to claim 1, wherein control data for controlling said multiplexed image data is added to said multiplexed image data.
Or the image processing device according to 2. 4. The control data includes information on a multiplexing method of the multiplexed image data and / or information on a destination of each of the multiplexed image data. The image processing device according to claim 3. 5. Any one of a plurality 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 multiplexed image data from the unit; and image data control information for obtaining image data control information including information on the content of processing on the multiplexed image data received in the image data receiving step. An obtaining step, based on the image data control information obtained in the image data control 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, The multiplexed image to the destination processing unit determined by the destination processing unit determination step A transmitting step of transmitting data; and an image processing method comprising: 6. 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 multiplexed image data from the unit; and image data control information for obtaining image data control information including information on the content of processing on the multiplexed image data received in the image data receiving step. An acquiring step, based on the image data control information acquired in the image data control information acquiring 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, An extracting step of extracting each of the multiplexed image data; and determining the destination processing unit. Image processing method characterized by including a transmission step, the transmitting image data extracted by said extracting step to the destination processing unit which is determined by the extent. 7. 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 the unit, and an image data control information obtaining step of obtaining image data control information including information on the content of processing on the multiplexed image data received by the image data receiving step, Based on the image data control information obtained in the image data control 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, A multiplexing step of multiplexing, and a destination processing determined in the destination processing unit determining step Image processing method characterized by including a transmission step of transmitting the image data multiplexed, the by the multiplexing process to knit. 8. A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for causing a computer to execute the method according to claim 5 is recorded.