JP2004056447A - Picture processor, picture processing method, computer readable storage medium and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To precisely realize a desired picture processing without preparing a large memory for restoring an original picture even if the processing of a picture straddling over a plurality of tiles is performed. <P>SOLUTION: An amount of stored tile picture data is detected. A specified order of tile picture data which is read from HDD 126 by CPU 121, is decided based on the detected amount of tile picture data. Stored tile picture data is read on a tile buffer part in a picture shift processing part 134 by the prescribed number of tiles in accordance with the decided specified order. The prescribed picture processing based on a picture processing condition which is set for the prescribed number of tile picture data that is read is performed, and new tile picture data is generated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

となるが、直行座標系で定義すれば、以下のような順番となる。
【００８２】
つまり、画像を分割して得られたタイル画像データの内で最も左上のものを（０，０）と表記し、最も左上のものの右隣のタイル画像データを（１，０）、最も左上のものの下隣のタイル画像データを（０，１）というように、直交座標系での座標によってタイル画像データを表記したときに、特定の順番とは、次の順番である。
【００８３】
（０，０）、（０，１）、（１，０）、（１，１）、（２，０）、（２，１）、（３，０）、……、（ｍ，０）、（ｍ，１）、
（０，１）、（０，２）、（１，１）、（１，２）、（２，１）、（２，２）、（３，１）、……、（ｍ，１）、（ｍ，２）、
（０，２）、（０，３）、（１，２）、（１，３）、（２，２）、（２，３）、（３，２）、……、（ｍ，２）、（ｍ，３）、
……、
（０，ｎ−２）、（０，ｎ−１）、（１，ｎ−２）、（１，ｎ−１）、（２，ｎ−２）、（２，ｎ−１）、（３，ｎ−２）、……、（ｍ，ｎ−２）、（ｍ，ｎ−１）、
（０，ｎ−１）、（０，ｎ）、（１，ｎ−１）、（１，ｎ）、（２，ｎ−１）、（２，ｎ）、（３，ｎ−１）、……、（ｍ，ｎ−１）、（ｍ，ｎ）．
なお、ここで、ｍおよびｎは自然数である。
【００８４】
つまり、一番左上のタイル画像データを先頭に、ジグザグの順番に右方向に転送して、一番右端まで転送したら、次は１つ下のタイル画像データをジグザグに転送するということを、一番右下のタイル画像データが転送されるまで繰り返すのである。
【００８５】
ＣＰＵ１２１は、画像に含まれるタイル数の情報から、上述のタイル座標の順番を計算して、あらかじめメモリ１２４やＨＤＤ１２６に格納しておくか、または、逐次計算して、この順番にタイル画像データをＨＤＤ１２６から画像シフト処理部１３４に転送するように制御する。
【００８６】
なお、図１１では、横方向８タイル、縦方向６タイルに分割された画像を例にしているが、異なるタイル数を持った別の画像に対しても同様な順番に転送する。
【００８７】
以上のような構成で、リーダ部１で読み取った原稿の画像データをタイル単位に分割してＨＤＤ１２６に格納し、画像シフト処理を施した後、プリンタ部２でプリント処理する手順を例にして、コア部１０における画像データの流れと画像シフトのためのデータ処理構成について以下に説明する。
【００８８】
まず、リーダ部１において前述のように原稿の読み取りが行われ、コア部１０に対して画像データが転送される。そして、画像データは、コア部１０のリーダＩ／Ｆ部１３５、内部バス１２２を介して画像・タイル変換処理部１３０に転送されて、タイル単位に分割される。
【００８９】
そうしてできたタイル画像データは、前述の通り、内部バス１２２を介して圧縮・伸長処理部１３１に転送されて、圧縮処理が施されタイル画像コードデータに変換され、内部バス１２２、ＨＤＤコントローラ部１２５を介して、ＨＤＤ１２６に格納される。
【００９０】
次に、ＣＰＵ１２１は、画像シフト処理部１３４のレジスタ部１４４に対して、画像シフト処理でのシフト量を画素単位で設定する。ここでは、横方向に３画素、縦方向に２画素シフトする場合を考える。ＣＰＵ１２１は、内部バス１２２を介して、図９で示すようなタイミングで、属性データとして「レジスタ」という値を持つレジスタ設定のデータ転送を画像シフト処理部１３４に対して行う。具体的には、レジスタ設定データの１番目の値として横方向のシフト量を表す「３」を、レジスタ設定データの２番目の値として縦方向のシフト量を表す「２」を、転送して、画像シフト処理部１３４のレジスタ部１４４のレジスタａの値を３に、レジスタｂの値を２に設定する。
【００９１】
次に、ＣＰＵ１２１は、タイル画像データの転送順序を生成し、メモリ１２４に格納する。実際の系においては、取り扱う画像データは横方向、縦方向ともに数千画素となることが多いが、ここでは説明のために、リーダ部１から読み取った原稿の画像データが横方向６４画素、縦方向４８画素であるとして説明する。このとき、この画像データをタイル分割すると、図１０のように横８タイル、縦６タイルの合計４８タイルに分割され、画像シフトのためのタイル画像データの転送順序は前述の通り、図１１で示すようなジグザグの順番となる。
【００９２】
ＣＰＵ１２１は、この順番をあらかじめメモリ１２４に格納しておく。そして、ＣＰＵ１２１は、メモリ１２４に格納した順番を参照しながら、ＨＤＤ１２６に格納されているタイル画像データを順番に読み出して、転送を行う。
【００９３】
つまり、ＨＤＤ１２６に格納されているタイル画像コードデータは、ＣＰＵ１２１の制御により、ＨＤＤコントローラ部１２５および内部バス１２２を介して、圧縮・伸長処理部１３１に転送され、伸長処理が施され、タイル画像データに変換される。
【００９４】
そして、タイル画像データは、内部バス１２２を介して画像シフト処理部１３４に転送され、画像シフト処理部１３４内のタイルバッファ部１４３に格納される。
【００９５】
このように、ＣＰＵ１２１の制御によって、図１１で示した特定の順番にタイル画像データが転送されて、タイルバッファ部１４３に次々に格納されることになる。そして、前述の通り、タイルバッファ部１４３にタイル画像データが４つ格納された時点で、画像シフト処理部１３４内のデータ出力部１４１はレジスタ部１４４内のレジスタａおよびレジスタｂの値、ここでは「３」と「２」、を使って、図６で示したように４つのタイル画像データに対する斜線部の位置を決め、斜線部に対応する画素をタイルバッファ部１４３から１画素ずつ読み出し、新たな１つのタイル画像データを生成し、内部バス１２２に対して図８で示したタイミングで転送する。
【００９６】
こうして生成された新たなタイル画像データは、内部バス１２２を介して圧縮・伸長処理部１３１に転送されて圧縮され、タイル画像コードデータに変換され、再度内部バス１２２を介してＨＤＤコントローラ部１２５に転送され、ＨＤＤ１２６に格納される。
【００９７】
ここで、画像シフト処理部１３４の処理にもう一度着目してみると、タイル画像データは次々に特定の順番で入力されること、４つのタイル画像データが格納されると１つの新たなタイル画像データを生成すること、およびその後タイルバッファ部１４３に格納されたもっとも古い２つのタイル画像データを破棄することによって、さらに２つのタイル画像データが入力されるごとに、新たな１つのタイル画像データが生成されて出力されるという動作が行われることがわかる。
【００９８】
したがって、図１１における１の矢印の最後のタイル画像データ、つまり、タイル座標（７，１）のタイル画像データ、まで入力されると、７つの新たなタイル画像データが生成・出力されることになる。
【００９９】
そして、次のタイル座標（０，１）のタイル画像データが入力されると、前述した通り、データ入力部１４２は、入力されたタイル画像データの属性のタイル座標（０，１）が、２つ前に入力されたタイル画像の属性のタイル座標（７，０）から計算して得られる期待値（８，０）と異なることを検知して、タイルバッファ部１４３内部に格納されているタイル画像データをすべて破棄して、新しく入力されたタイル座標（０，１）をその属性に持つタイル画像データのみをタイルバッファ部１４３に格納する。
【０１００】
このようなデータ処理構成によって、タイル座標がそれぞれ（７，０）、（７，１）、（０，１）、（０，２）となる図１１において隣り合わない４つのタイルから新たなタイル画像データを生成・出力してしまうことを回避し、隣り合った４つのタイル画像データからのみ新たなタイル画像データを生成・出力できるようになっている。
【０１０１】
したがって、こうしたデータ処理構成により、図１１で示す入力されるタイル画像データに対して、図１２の斜線部で示す新たな３５個のタイル画像データＴＤ１〜ＴＤ３５が図で示した番号順に生成・出力されることとなる。これらのタイル画像データＴＤ１〜ＴＤ３５によって構成される画像データは、元の図１０で示した画像データＩＤを左方向に３画素、上方向に２画素シフトしたものとなっている。
【０１０２】
なお、生成された画像シフト後の画像データは横方向および縦方向にタイル数が１つずつ減って小さな画像データとなるため、シフト後に必要となる画像サイズよりも右と下に１タイルずつ大きなサイズの画像データを元画像データとして用意する必要がある。最終的に、すべての転送が終了した時点で見ると、ＨＤＤ１２６内に図１２で示した１から３５までのタイル画像データＴＤ１〜ＴＤ３５を圧縮したタイル画像コードデータが格納された状態となる。
【０１０３】
次に、ＣＰＵ１２１は、ＨＤＤ１２６内のタイル画像コードデータを図１２で示した番号順に読み出し、ＨＤＤコントローラ部１２５、内部バス１２２を介して圧縮・伸長処理部１３１に転送して伸長処理を施しタイル画像データに変換し、再度内部バス１２２を介して画像・タイル変換処理部１３０に転送し、プリントすることのできるページ画像データに変換して、内部バス１２２、プリンタＩ／Ｆ部１２９を介して、プリンタ部２に画像データを転送してプリント出力を得る。
【０１０４】
ここまで述べたように、ＣＰＵ１２１の制御により、画像シフト処理部１３４に対して、処理対象のタイル画像データを特定の順番に転送することによって、ページメモリやバンドメモリ等の大きなサイズのメモリを用意することなく、画素単位での画像シフト処理が実現できる。
【０１０５】
図１３は、本発明に係る画像処理装置におけるデータ処理手順の一例を示すフローチャートである。なお、（１）〜（８）は各ステップを示す。
【０１０６】
まず、リーダ部１において前述のように原稿の読み取りが行われ、コア部１０に対して画像データが転送される。そして、画像データは、コア部１０のリーダＩ／Ｆ部１３５、内部バス１２２を介して画像・タイル変換処理部１３０に転送されて、タイル単位に分割される（１）。
【０１０７】
そうしてできたタイル画像データは、前述の通り、内部バス１２２を介して圧縮・伸長処理部１３１に転送されて、圧縮処理が施されタイル画像コードデータに変換され、内部バス１２２、ＨＤＤコントローラ部１２５を介して、ＨＤＤ１２６に格納される（２）。
【０１０８】
次に、ＣＰＵ１２１は、画像シフト処理部１３４のレジスタ部１４４に対して、画像シフト処理でのシフト量を画素単位で設定する（３）。具体的には、レジスタ設定データの１番目の値として横方向のシフト量を表す「３」を、レジスタ設定データの２番目の値として縦方向のシフト量を表す「２」を、転送して、画像シフト処理部１３４のレジスタ部１４４のレジスタａの値を３に、レジスタｂの値を２に設定する。
【０１０９】
次に、ＣＰＵ１２１は、格納されたタイル画像データの量を検知してタイル画像データの転送順序を生成し（４）、メモリ１２４に格納する。そして、ＣＰＵ１２１は、この順番をあらかじめメモリ１２４に格納しておく。そして、ＣＰＵ１２１は、メモリ１２４に格納した順番を参照しながら、ＨＤＤ１２６に格納されているタイル画像データを順番に読み出して、転送を行う。
【０１１０】
つまり、ＨＤＤ１２６に格納されているタイル画像コードデータは、ＣＰＵ１２１の制御により、ＨＤＤコントローラ部１２５および内部バス１２２を介して、圧縮・伸長処理部１３１に転送され、伸長処理が施され、タイル画像データに変換される。
【０１１１】
そして、タイル画像データは、内部バス１２２を介して画像シフト処理部１３４に転送され、画像シフト処理部１３４内のタイルバッファ部１４３に格納される。
【０１１２】
このように、ＣＰＵ１２１の制御によって、図１１で示した特定の順番にタイル画像データが転送されて、タイルバッファ部１４３に次々に格納されることになる。そして、前述の通り、タイルバッファ部１４３にタイル画像データが４つ格納された時点で（５）、画像シフト処理部１３４内のデータ出力部１４１はレジスタ部１４４内のレジスタａおよびレジスタｂの値、ここでは「３」と「２」、を使って、図６で示したように４つのタイル画像データに対する斜線部の位置を決め、斜線部に対応する画素をタイルバッファ部１４３から１画素ずつ読み出し、新たな１つのタイル画像データを生成し（６）、内部バス１２２に対して図８で示したタイミングで転送する。
【０１１３】
こうして生成された新たなタイル画像データは、内部バス１２２を介して圧縮・伸長処理部１３１に転送されて圧縮され、タイル画像コードデータに変換され、再度内部バス１２２を介してＨＤＤコントローラ部１２５に転送され、ＨＤＤ１２６に格納される（７）。
【０１１４】
したがって、こうしたデータ処理構成により、図１１で示す入力されるタイル画像データに対して、図１２の斜線部で示す新たな３５個のタイル画像データＴＤ１〜ＴＤ３５が図で示した番号順に生成・出力されたかどうかを判断して（８）、ＹＥＳならば処理を終了し、ＮＯならばステップ（５）へ戻る。
【０１１５】
これにより、タイル画像データＴＤ１〜ＴＤ３５によって構成される画像データは、元の図１０で示した画像データＩＤを左方向に３画素、上方向に２画素シフトしたものとなってＨＤ１２６に格納される。
【０１１６】
以下、図１４に示すメモリマップを参照して本発明に係る画像処理装置で読み出し可能なデータ処理プログラムの構成について説明する。
【０１１７】
図１４は、本発明に係る画像処理装置で読み出し可能な各種データ処理プログラムを格納する記憶媒体のメモリマップを説明する図である。
【０１１８】
なお、特に図示しないが、記憶媒体に記憶されるプログラム群を管理する情報、例えばバージョン情報，作成者等も記憶され、かつ、プログラム読み出し側のＯＳ等に依存する情報、例えばプログラムを識別表示するアイコン等も記憶される場合もある。
【０１１９】
さらに、各種プログラムに従属するデータも上記ディレクトリに管理されている。また、各種プログラムをコンピュータにインストールするためのプログラムや、インストールするプログラムが圧縮されている場合に、解凍するプログラム等も記憶される場合もある。
【０１２０】
本実施形態における図１３に示す機能が外部からインストールされるプログラムによって、ホストコンピュータにより遂行されていてもよい。そして、その場合、ＣＤ−ＲＯＭやフラッシュメモリやＦＤ等の記憶媒体により、あるいはネットワークを介して外部の記憶媒体から、プログラムを含む情報群を出力装置に供給される場合でも本発明は適用されるものである。
【０１２１】
以上のように、前述した実施形態の機能を実現するソフトウエアのプログラムコードを記録した記憶媒体を、システムあるいは装置に供給し、そのシステムあるいは装置のコンピュータ（またはＣＰＵやＭＰＵ）が記憶媒体に格納されたプログラムコードを読出し実行することによっても、本発明の目的が達成されることは言うまでもない。
【０１２２】
この場合、記憶媒体から読み出されたプログラムコード自体が本発明の新規な機能を実現することになり、そのプログラムコードを記憶した記憶媒体は本発明を構成することになる。
【０１２３】
プログラムコードを供給するための記憶媒体としては、例えば、フレキシブルディスク，ハードディスク，光ディスク，光磁気ディスク，ＣＤ−ＲＯＭ，ＣＤ−Ｒ，磁気テープ，不揮発性のメモリカード，ＲＯＭ，ＥＥＰＲＯＭ等を用いることができる。
【０１２４】
また、コンピュータが読み出したプログラムコードを実行することにより、前述した実施形態の機能が実現されるだけでなく、そのプログラムコードの指示に基づき、コンピュータ上で稼働しているＯＳ（オペレーティングシステム）等が実際の処理の一部または全部を行い、その処理によって前述した実施形態の機能が実現される場合も含まれることは言うまでもない。
【０１２５】
さらに、記憶媒体から読み出されたプログラムコードが、コンピュータに挿入された機能拡張ボードやコンピュータに接続された機能拡張ユニットに備わるメモリに書き込まれた後、そのプログラムコードの指示に基づき、その機能拡張ボードや機能拡張ユニットに備わるＣＰＵ等が実際の処理の一部または全部を行い、その処理によって前述した実施形態の機能が実現される場合も含まれることは言うまでもない。
【０１２６】
【発明の効果】
以上説明したように、本発明によれば、格納されたタイル画像データの量を検知し、該検知されるタイル画像データの量に基づき、タイル画像データ格納手段から読み出すタイル画像データの特定の順番を決定し、該決定された特定の順番に従い、格納されたタイル画像データを所定タイル数メモリ上に読み出して、該読み出された所定数のタイル画像データに対して設定される画像処理条件に基づく所定の画像処理を行い新たなタイル画像データを生成するので、画像を小さな複数のタイル単位に分割して扱うタイル分割方式において、画像シフト処理のように複数のタイルにまたがった画像処理を施す場合にも、元画像を復元するために大きなメモリを用意することなく、所望の画像処理を正確に実現することが可能となる優れた効果を奏する。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明の一実施形態を示す画像処理装置のシステム構成を示すブロック図である。
【図２】本発明に係る画像処理装置におけるリーダ部及びプリンタ部の構成を示す縦断面図である。
【図３】本発明に係る画像処理装置におけるリーダ部の内部構成を示すブロック図である。
【図４】本発明に係る画像処理装置におけるコア部の内部構成を示すブロック図である。
【図５】本発明に係る画像処理装置における画像シフト処理部の内部構成を示すブロック図である。
【図６】本発明に係る画像処理装置における画像シフト処理部の画像シフト処理での画像処理内容を示す図である。
【図７】図５に示したタイルバッファ部に展開されるタイル画像データ例を示す図である。
【図８】本発明に係る画像処理装置における内部バスのタイル画像データ転送時のタイミングチャートである。
【図９】本発明に係る画像処理装置における内部バスのレジスタ設定データ転送時のタイミングチャートである。
【図１０】本発明に係る画像処理装置におけるタイル画像データに分割した画像全体を示す図である。
【図１１】本発明に係る画像処理装置におけるタイル画像データの転送順序を示す図である。
【図１２】本発明に係る画像処理装置における画像シフト処理部の出力タイル画像データとその出力順序を示す図である。
【図１３】本発明に係る画像処理装置におけるデータ処理手順の一例を示すフローチャートである。
【図１４】本発明に係る画像処理装置で読み出し可能な各種データ処理プログラムを格納する記憶媒体のメモリマップを説明する図である。
【符号の説明】
１　リーダ部
２　プリンタ部
３　画像入出力制御部
４　ファクシミリ部
５　ネットワークインタフェース部
６　コンピュータインタフェース部
１０　コア部
１３０　画像・タイル変換処理部
１３１　圧縮・伸長処理部
１３２　コンピュータＩ／Ｆ部
１３３　回転・反転処理部
１３４　画像シフト処理部
１３５　リーダＩ／Ｆ部
１３６　メモリ[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method for performing predetermined image processing on image data divided into a plurality of small tile image units, a computer-readable storage medium, and a program.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Generally, image data handled by office image equipment such as a facsimile and a copying machine is obtained by reading an A4 or A3 size document at a resolution of several hundreds of dpi (dot per inch: the number of pixels per inch). Therefore, the image data has several thousands of pixels in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and tens of millions to 100 million pixels in total number of pixels, and the data amount is enormous.
[0003]
In recent years, in office image equipment, there has been a demand for switching from a black-and-white image to a color image for an image to be handled. However, the amount of data per pixel in a color image is several times to several tens times that of a black-and-white image. As a result, the data size of images handled by office imaging equipment has explosively increased.
[0004]
Under such a background, a mechanism for handling large image data without using an expensive large-capacity memory device has been considered.
[0005]
This is a method of storing an image in an HDD (hard disk drive) device which has a large capacity but is less expensive than a memory device, or a method of compressing and storing the entire image. Also, a tile division method that manages an image in units of tiles by dividing the entire image into small rectangular or square units consisting of tens or hundreds of pixels called tiles without treating the entire image as a single data block. May be taken.
[0006]
Here, the size of the tile includes 8 pixels horizontally and 8 pixels vertically, 32 pixels horizontally and 32 pixels vertically, and the number of pixels handled at a time falls within the range of hundreds to thousands. In this method, huge image data read by a reader or huge image data received by a facsimile machine is once divided into small tiles and converted into many small tile image data, and the small tile images are converted into image equipment. Treat with. Therefore, a storage device such as a memory or an HDD need only have an area in small tile units, that is, it is not necessary to prepare a large continuous area in page units, and an expensive memory can be reduced in size.
[0007]
Considering general software processing that executes several processes simultaneously, a considerably large memory is required for multiple programs to use multiple large images at the same time. By dividing the data so that it can be processed in small data units, a large amount of memory is not required even if a plurality of programs open a plurality of tile images.
[0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, even in the tile division method in which one large image is divided into a plurality of pieces and managed, for example, an image processing that extends over a plurality of tiles with respect to the original , It is necessary to restore the original large image and then perform the desired image processing on the entire image, and as a work area for restoring the original image data once, a large enough area to store the entire image Image processing cannot be performed without a memory area. Therefore, there is a possibility that the merit of the tile division method that the memory size can be reduced may be lost.
[0009]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to detect the amount of stored tile image data, and based on the detected amount of tile image data, to determine a tile image. A specific order of the tile image data to be read from the data storage means is determined, and the stored tile image data is read out onto a predetermined tile number memory in accordance with the determined specific order, and the read predetermined number of tiles is read. By performing predetermined image processing based on image processing conditions set for image data and generating new tile image data, an image shift process is performed in a tile division method in which an image is divided into a plurality of small tile units. When performing image processing that spans multiple tiles as in (1), the desired image processing can be performed correctly without preparing a large memory for restoring the original image. In that the image processing apparatus and image processing method, and a computer to implement to provide a storage medium and a program reading.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
A first invention according to the present invention is an image processing apparatus that performs predetermined image processing on image data divided into a plurality of small tile image units, and a tile image data storage unit that stores a plurality of tile image data (Corresponding to the HDD 126 shown in FIG. 4), setting means (corresponding to the CPU 121 shown in FIG. 4) for setting image processing conditions for the tile image data stored in the tile image data storage means, and the tile image data storage means Detecting means (corresponding to the CPU 121 shown in FIG. 4) for detecting the amount of tile image data stored in the tile image data, and a tile image read from the tile image data storing means based on the amount of tile image data detected by the detecting means. Determining means (corresponding to the CPU 121 shown in FIG. 4) for determining a specific order of data; Reading the tile image data stored in the tile image data storage means into a predetermined tile number memory in accordance with the order of the image processing, and performing image processing set by the setting means on the read predetermined number of tile image data. The image processing apparatus further includes a generation unit (corresponding to the image shift processing unit 134 illustrated in FIG. 4) that performs predetermined image processing based on a condition to generate new tile image data.
[0011]
A second invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the predetermined image processing is an image shift processing of shifting the tile image data in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction by a designated number of pixels according to the image processing condition.
[0012]
In the third invention according to the present invention, the specific order is such that a predetermined number of tile image data obtained by dividing the image data, the tile image data being adjacent to the predetermined direction in the predetermined direction with reference to the upper leftmost one in the rectangular coordinate system. It is characterized by the order in which tile image data is arranged.
[0013]
A fourth invention according to the present invention is an image processing method in an image processing apparatus for performing predetermined image processing on image data divided into a plurality of small tile image units, wherein the image data is stored in a tile image data storage unit. A setting step (step (3) shown in FIG. 13) for setting image processing conditions for a plurality of tile image data, and a detecting step (FIG. 13) for detecting the amount of tile image data stored in the tile image data storage means. (4)) and a determining step of determining a specific order of the tile image data to be read from the tile image data storage unit based on the amount of the tile image data detected by the detecting step (the step shown in FIG. 4)) and stored in the tile image data storage means according to the specific order determined in the determining step. Read out the tile image data into a predetermined number of tiles memory, perform predetermined image processing on the read out predetermined number of tile image data based on the image processing conditions set in the setting step, and obtain new tile image data. (Step (6) shown in FIG. 13) for generating
[0014]
A fifth invention according to the present invention is characterized in that the predetermined image processing is an image shift processing for shifting the tile image data in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction by a designated number of pixels according to the image processing condition.
[0015]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, the specific order is such that a predetermined number of tile image data obtained by dividing the image data and which are adjacent in a predetermined direction with respect to a tile image data obtained by dividing the image data at the upper left corner in the rectangular coordinate system. It is characterized by the order in which tile image data is arranged.
[0016]
A seventh invention according to the present invention is a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for realizing the image processing method according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects.
[0017]
An eighth invention according to the present invention is a program for realizing the image processing method according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects.
[0018]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0019]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0020]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a reader unit which reads a document image and outputs image data corresponding to the document image to an image input / output control unit 3 described later. Reference numeral 2 denotes a printer unit that records an image corresponding to image data from the image input / output control unit 3 on a recording sheet. Reference numeral 3 denotes an image input / output control unit, which is connected to the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2, and comprises a facsimile unit 4, a network interface unit 5, a computer interface unit 6, a computer unit 10, and the like.
[0021]
The facsimile unit 4 expands the compressed image data received via the telephone line 11, transfers the expanded image data to the core unit 10, and compresses the image data transferred from the core unit 10 to compress the image data. The compressed image data is transmitted via the telephone line 11.
[0022]
The network interface unit 5 is an interface between the local area network or wide area network (LAN / WAN) 12 and the core unit 10.
[0023]
The computer interface unit 6 is an interface between the personal computer or workstation (PC / WS) 13 and the core unit 10.
[0024]
The core unit 10 controls the flow of data among the reader unit 1, the printer unit 2, the facsimile unit 4, the network interface unit 5, and the computer interface unit 6.
[0025]
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the configuration of the reader unit 1 and the printer unit 2 shown in FIG.
[0026]
In FIG. 2, a document feeder 101 of the reader unit 1 feeds a document one by one from a last page onto a platen glass 102, and discharges the document on the platen glass 102 after the reading operation of the document is completed. is there.
[0027]
When the document is conveyed onto the platen glass 102, the lamp 103 is turned on, the movement of the scanner unit 104 is started, and the document is exposed and scanned. The light reflected from the original at this time is guided to a CCD image sensor (hereinafter, referred to as a CCD) 109 by mirrors 105, 106, 107 and a lens 108. The image of the document thus scanned is read by the CCD 109. The image data output from the CCD 109 is transferred to the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3 after performing a predetermined process.
[0028]
The laser driver 201 of the printer unit 2 drives the laser light emitting unit, and causes the laser light emitting unit to emit laser light corresponding to the image data output from the core unit 10. The laser beam is applied to the photosensitive drum 202, and a latent image corresponding to the laser beam is formed on the photosensitive drum 202. A developer is attached to a portion of the latent image on the photosensitive drum 202 by a developing device 203.
[0029]
Then, at a timing synchronized with the start of the laser beam irradiation, the recording paper is fed from one of the upper paper feed cassette 204 and the lower paper feed cassette 205, conveyed to the transfer unit 206, and developed by the photosensitive drum 202. Transfer the agent to recording paper. The recording paper to which the developer has been transferred is transported to the fixing unit 207, and the developer is fixed to the recording paper by the heat and pressure of the fixing unit 207.
[0030]
The recording paper that has passed through the fixing unit 207 in this way is discharged by discharge rollers 208, and the sorter 211 sorts the recording paper by storing the discharged recording paper in each bin 212.
[0031]
Note that the sorter 211 stores the recording paper in the uppermost bin 212 when the sorting is not set. When double-sided recording is set, the recording paper is conveyed to the discharge roller 208, the rotation direction of the discharge roller 208 is reversed, and the recording paper is guided to the re-feeding conveyance path 210 by the flapper 209.
[0032]
When multiplex recording is set, the recording paper is guided to the re-feeding conveyance path 210 by the flapper 209 so as not to be conveyed to the discharge roller 208. The recording paper guided to the re-feeding conveyance path 210 is conveyed to the transfer unit 206 at the timing described above.
[0033]
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the reader unit 1 shown in FIG.
[0034]
In FIG. 3, reference numeral 109 denotes a charge imaging device (CCD), which photoelectrically converts a reflection image of light projected on a document placed on the platen 102 into an electric signal. Reference numeral 110 denotes an A / D conversion / shading correction unit (hereinafter, referred to as an A / D / SH unit).
[0035]
An image processing unit 111 performs various image calculation processes. 112 is an interface (I / F), 113 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and controls image processing using a work area secured in the memory 115. An operation unit 114 displays instructions of various image processing modes and displays the current system state.
[0036]
In FIG. 3, the image data output from the CCD 109 is subjected to analog / digital conversion processing by the A / D / SH section 110 and shading correction processing. The image data processed by the A / D / SH unit 110 is transferred to the core unit 10 of the image input / output control unit 3 via the image processing unit 111 and the interface (I / F) 112.
[0037]
A CPU (Central Processing Unit) 113 controls the image processing unit 111 and the interface 112 according to the settings set by the operation unit 114. For example, when a copy mode in which a copy is performed by performing a trimming process using the operation unit 114 is set, a trimming process is performed in the image processing unit 111, and control according to the mode set with the image data from the interface 112 is performed. The command is transferred to the core unit 10. When the facsimile transmission mode is set on the operation unit 114, the interface unit 112 transfers image data and a control command corresponding to the set mode to the core unit 10.
[0038]
Such a control program of the CPU 113 is stored in the memory 115, and the CPU 113 performs control while referring to the control program in the memory 115. The memory 115 is also used as a work area of the CPU 113.
[0039]
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of the core unit 10 shown in FIG.
[0040]
In FIG. 4, the reader unit 1 is connected to a reader I / F unit 135, and can exchange image data and control commands.
[0041]
The printer unit 2 is connected to the printer I / F unit 129, and can exchange image data and control commands. Similarly, the facsimile unit 4 is connected to the FAX I / F unit 127, the network interface unit 5 is connected to the network I / F unit 128, and the computer interface unit 6 is connected to the computer I / F unit 132. Can be exchanged. Within the core unit 10, a number of processing units are connected to the internal bus 122 so that data can be exchanged with each other.
[0042]
Here, the many processing units include the CPU 121, the memory controller 123, the HDD (hard disk drive) controller 125, the FAX I / F 127, the network I / F 128, the printer I / F 129, the image / tile. A conversion processing unit 130, a compression / decompression processing unit 131, a computer I / F unit 132, a rotation / inversion processing unit 133, an image shift processing unit 134, and a reader I / F unit 135.
[0043]
Each of the processing units connected to the internal bus 122 can be connected to any other processing unit, and transfers data to a target processing unit under the control of the CPU 121 during an actual operation. The function of each processing unit will be described below.
[0044]
The CPU 121 is a central processing unit, and controls the entire core unit 10. The memory controller 123 controls the directly connected memory 124. The memory 124 stores a control program for the CPU 121 and is used as a work area of the CPU 121. The HDD controller 125 controls a directly connected HDD (hard disk drive) 126, and the HDD 126 is used to store image data. The image / tile conversion processing unit 130 uses the memory 136 to divide large image data into a plurality of small tile units, or collects a plurality of small tile image data and converts them into large image data.
[0045]
The compression / expansion processing unit 131 generates tile code data by compressing the tile image data, or generates tile image data by expanding the tile code data. The rotation / inversion processing unit 133 performs image rotation / inversion processing on the tile image data. The image shift processor 134 shifts the tile image data. Details of this shift processing will be described later.
[0046]
Next, the flow of image data centering on the core unit 10 will be described.
[0047]
The image data from the reader unit 1 is transferred to the image / tile conversion processing unit 130 via the reader I / F unit 135 and the internal bus 122. The image / tile conversion processing unit 130 divides the input image data into tiles while using the memory 136 as a work area, converts a series of page image data into a large number of tile image data, Output. The output tile image data is transferred to the compression / decompression processing unit 131 via the internal bus 122, becomes tile image code data subjected to compression processing, and is again transmitted to the HDD controller unit 125 via the internal bus 122. The data is transferred and stored in the HDD 126.
[0048]
The tile image code data stored in the HDD 126 is output to an output device such as the printer unit 2, facsimile unit 4, network interface unit 5, or computer interface unit 6 under the control of the CPU 121.
[0049]
Here, a procedure output to the printer unit 2 will be described. Under the control of the CPU 121, the tile image code data stored in the HDD 126 is transferred to the compression / decompression processing unit 131 via the HDD controller 125 and the internal bus 122, subjected to decompression processing, and converted into tile image data. The tile image data is again transferred to the image / tile conversion processing unit 130 via the internal bus 122 and temporarily stored in the memory 136 under the control of the CPU 121. This process is performed on all tile image data under the control of the CPU 121. When a predetermined amount of tile image data is stored in the memory 136, the image / tile conversion processing unit 130 starts reading image data from the memory 136.
[0050]
Then, tile / image conversion is performed, and the image data is transferred to the printer I / F unit 129 via the internal bus 122. The image data transferred to the printer I / F unit 129 is further transferred to the printer unit 2 and the printer unit 2 performs print processing. The same procedure is used when outputting to the facsimile unit 4 or the network interface unit 5, but instead of transferring the image data to the printer I / F unit 129, the FAX I / F unit 127 or The image data is transferred to the network I / F unit 128 and output processing is performed.
[0051]
In the above, the case where image data is input from the reader unit 1 has been described. However, when image data is input from the facsimile unit 4, the network interface unit 5, or the computer interface unit 6, image data is input in the same procedure. The image data is input via the FAX I / F unit 127, the network I / F unit 128, and the computer interface unit 6 and transferred to the image / tile conversion processing unit 130 via the internal bus 122. You.
[0052]
That is, the code data representing the image input from the telephone line 11 to the facsimile unit 4 is developed into image data in the facsimile unit 4. The developed image data is transferred to the image / tile conversion processing unit 130 via the FAX I / F unit 127 and the internal bus 122.
[0053]
The image data input from the LAN / WAN 12 to the network interface unit 5 is transferred to the image / tile conversion processing unit 130 via the network interface unit 5, the network I / F unit 128, and the internal bus 122. Further, code data representing an image input from the PC / WS 13 to the computer interface unit 6 is developed into image data in the computer interface unit 6. The developed image data is transferred to the image / tile conversion processing unit 130 via the computer interface unit 6 and the internal bus 122.
[0054]
The image / tile conversion processing unit 130 divides the input image data into tiles while using the memory 136 as a work area, converts a series of page image data into a large number of tile image data, Output to
[0055]
Then, the output tile image data is transferred to the compression / decompression processing unit 131 via the internal bus 122, becomes compressed tile image code data, and is again transmitted to the HDD controller unit via the internal bus 122. 125, and stored in the HDD 126. Thus, similarly to the case where image data is input from the reader unit 1, the image data is divided into tiles, compressed, and stored in the HDD 126. Image data can be output from the HDD 126 to the printer unit 2, facsimile unit 4, and network interface unit 5 in the same procedure as described above.
[0056]
Here, before outputting the tile image code data stored in the HDD 126 to the printer unit 2, the facsimile unit 4, the network interface unit 5, or the computer interface unit 6, the image rotation / inversion and image Image processing such as shift processing can be performed.
[0057]
The tile image code data stored in the HDD 126 is transferred to the compression / decompression processing unit via the HDD controller unit 125 and the internal bus 122 under the control of the CPU 121, subjected to the decompression processing, and is subjected to the uncompressed tile image data. After that, the image data is transferred to the rotation / reversal processing unit 133 or the image shift processing unit 134 via the internal bus 122 again.
[0058]
Then, after the image processing is performed in each processing unit, the image data is transferred to the compression / decompression processing unit 131 again via the internal bus 122, and then subjected to a compression process, and converted into compressed tile image code data. Then, the data is transferred to the HDD controller 125 via the internal bus 122 and stored in the HDD 126.
[0059]
The CPU 121 performs the above-described control in accordance with the control program stored in the memory 124, the control command transferred from the reader unit 1, and the control command transferred together with the image data. As described above, it is possible to perform processing combining functions such as reading of a document image, printing of an image, transmission and reception of an image, and input / output of data from / to the PC / WS 13, centering on the core unit 10.
[0060]
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the image shift processing unit 134 shown in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the structure of tile image data handled by the image shift processing unit 134 shown in FIG. is there.
[0061]
In FIG. 6, a and b are the values of the register a and the register b, respectively, and represent the shift amount of the image. These are set in the register section 144 by the CPU 121 in advance. Also, here, one tile is a square composed of eight pixels horizontally and eight pixels vertically, and the register values are a = 3 and b = 2.
[0062]
In FIG. 5, 141 is a data output unit, 142 is a data input unit, 143 is a tile buffer unit, and 144 is a register unit. The register section 144 has a register x and a register y inside, and the CPU 121 can set values to these registers via the internal bus 122 and the data input section 142. The image data transferred via the internal bus 122 is input to the data input unit 142, and the image data is stored in the tile buffer unit 143.
[0063]
The data output unit 141 starts a data output operation to the internal bus 122 when the number of tiles stored in the tile buffer unit 143 becomes four.
[0064]
Here, the tile image data to be output is tile image data for one tile in the range of the hatched area shown in FIG. 6 among the original four tile image data. When the output of the tile image data for one tile is completed, the data output unit 141 interrupts the data output process, discards the two tile image data on the left side of the four tile image data from the tile buffer unit 143, and re-enters the data. Wait for one tile image data to be stored. The data output unit 141 repeats the above processing.
[0065]
As described above, when the tile image data is transferred from the internal bus 122, the data input unit 142 stores it in the tile buffer unit 143. However, four tile image data are already stored in the tile buffer unit 143. In this case, the data transfer request from the internal bus 122 is temporarily suspended so that the data size of the tile image data to be stored does not exceed the size of the tile buffer 143, and the attribute of the input tile image data is The tile coordinates (x, y) are monitored, and if different from the expected value (ex, ey), the tile image data stored in the tile buffer unit 143 is discarded. Here, the expected value (ex, ey) is calculated as (ex, ey) = (xx−1, y), where the tile coordinates of the tile image data input two previous times are represented as (xx, yy). A set of possible values.
[0066]
That is, the data input unit 142 stores the coordinate data of the tile image data input two and one before, and calculates the expected value of the tile coordinates of the tile image data input next. Then, the value is compared with the value of the tile coordinates of the tile image data actually input. The tile coordinates of the attribute of the tile image data will be described later.
[0067]
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of tile image data developed in the tile buffer unit 143 shown in FIG.
[0068]
In FIG. 7, a small square is a pixel, and one tile image data is composed of a total of 64 pixels, that is, 8 pixels horizontally and 8 pixels vertically. Each pixel is a minimum unit constituting an image and has three numerical values of R, G, and B. Each numerical value is a number in the range of “0” to “255”, the numerical value of R represents the luminance of the red component of the pixel, the numerical value of G represents the luminance of the green component of the pixel, and the numerical value of B represents It represents the luminance of the blue component of the pixel.
[0069]
The numbers in the figure are given for convenience of description, and represent pixel numbers in the tile image data that are not related to the values of R, G, and B.
[0070]
8 and 9 are timing charts when the tile image data by the data output unit 141 shown in FIG.
[0071]
As shown in FIG. 8, the tile image data is transferred separately into attribute data and pixel data. In synchronization with the clock signal, the attribute data of the tile image data and the pixel data of the tile image data are transferred in this order in accordance with the transfer start signal.
[0072]
Here, the first value “image” of the attribute data is a flag indicating that this transfer is transfer of tile image data. This flag may take a value "register" indicating that the transfer is for setting the register section. In this case, the register setting value is transferred as shown in FIG.
[0073]
Further, the second value “RGB” of the attribute data indicates that the tile image data to be transferred is an image having three values of RGB. This may take other values such as "ND" representing black and white data.
[0074]
The third and fourth values “x” and “y” of the attribute data are values representing the tile coordinates of the tile image data.
[0075]
Here, the tile coordinates of the tile image data are a set of two numerical values as shown in FIG.
[0076]
FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of tile coordinates of tile image data handled by the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
[0077]
FIG. 10 shows a case where the entire image is composed of 64 pixels in the horizontal direction and 48 pixels in the vertical direction, that is, a case where the entire image can be divided into 8 tiles in the horizontal direction and 6 tiles in the vertical direction. At this time, the tile coordinate is a set of the x coordinate and the y coordinate such that the tile coordinate of the upper left tile image data is (0, 0), and the right neighbor is (1, 0).
[0078]
After the attribute data, the pixel data of the tile image data is transferred. The transfer order is the order of the pixel numbers of the tiles shown in FIG. 7, and the tiles are sequentially transferred from 1 to 64 in units of pixels.
[0079]
FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining an example of image data shift processing in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention. In the case where the image obtained by dividing the tile-divided image shown in FIG. It is a figure showing the order which transfers tile image data.
[0080]
Here, when performing image shift processing on an image divided in units of tiles, the tile image data stored in the HDD 126 is specified to the image shift processing unit 134 via the internal bus 122 under the control of the CPU 121. Must be transferred in this order. FIG. 11 shows the order. This indicates that tile image data is transferred in ascending order of the numbered arrows, and the order is expressed as tile coordinates as follows.
[0081]

However, if defined in the orthogonal coordinate system, the order is as follows.
[0082]
That is, among the tile image data obtained by dividing the image, the upper left one is denoted by (0, 0), the tile image data to the right of the upper left one is (1, 0), and the upper left When tile image data is represented by coordinates in a rectangular coordinate system such as (0, 1) for the tile image data next to the object, the specific order is the following order.
[0083]
(0,0), (0,1), (1,0), (1,1), (2,0), (2,1), (3,0),..., (M, 0) , (M, 1),
(0, 1), (0, 2), (1, 1), (1, 2), (2, 1), (2, 2), (3, 1),..., (M, 1) , (M, 2),
(0, 2), (0, 3), (1, 2), (1, 3), (2, 2), (2, 3), (3, 2), ..., (m, 2) , (M, 3),
……,
(0, n-2), (0, n-1), (1, n-2), (1, n-1), (2, n-2), (2, n-1), (3 , N-2), ..., (m, n-2), (m, n-1),
(0, n-1), (0, n), (1, n-1), (1, n), (2, n-1), (2, n), (3, n-1), ..., (m, n-1), (m, n).
Here, m and n are natural numbers.
[0084]
In other words, it is necessary to transfer the tile image data to the right in the zigzag order starting from the top left tile image data, and to transfer the next lower tile image data to the zigzag after the transfer to the rightmost end. This is repeated until the lower right tile image data is transferred.
[0085]
The CPU 121 calculates the order of the above-described tile coordinates from the information on the number of tiles included in the image and stores the order in advance in the memory 124 or the HDD 126 or calculates the order in order, and converts the tile image data in this order. Control is performed so that the image data is transferred from the HDD 126 to the image shift processing unit 134.
[0086]
Although FIG. 11 shows an example of an image divided into 8 tiles in the horizontal direction and 6 tiles in the vertical direction, the image is transferred in the same order to another image having a different number of tiles.
[0087]
With the above configuration, an example of a procedure in which image data of a document read by the reader unit 1 is divided into tiles, stored in the HDD 126, subjected to image shift processing, and then printed by the printer unit 2 will be described as an example. The flow of image data and the data processing configuration for image shift in the core unit 10 will be described below.
[0088]
First, a document is read in the reader unit 1 as described above, and image data is transferred to the core unit 10. Then, the image data is transferred to the image / tile conversion processing unit 130 via the reader I / F unit 135 of the core unit 10 and the internal bus 122, and is divided into tile units.
[0089]
As described above, the tile image data thus obtained is transferred to the compression / decompression processing unit 131 via the internal bus 122, subjected to compression processing, converted into tile image code data, and The data is stored in the HDD 126 via the unit 125.
[0090]
Next, the CPU 121 sets the shift amount in the image shift processing in the register unit 144 of the image shift processing unit 134 in pixel units. Here, it is assumed that the pixel is shifted by 3 pixels in the horizontal direction and by 2 pixels in the vertical direction. The CPU 121 performs data transfer of register setting having a value of “register” as attribute data to the image shift processing unit 134 via the internal bus 122 at a timing as shown in FIG. Specifically, “3” representing the horizontal shift amount is transferred as the first value of the register setting data, and “2” representing the vertical shift amount is transferred as the second value of the register setting data. , The value of the register a of the register unit 144 of the image shift processing unit 134 is set to 3, and the value of the register b is set to 2.
[0091]
Next, the CPU 121 generates the transfer order of the tile image data and stores the transfer order in the memory 124. In an actual system, image data to be handled is often thousands of pixels in both the horizontal and vertical directions. However, here, for the sake of explanation, the image data of a document read from the reader unit 1 is 64 pixels in the horizontal direction and vertical. The description will be made assuming that there are 48 pixels in the direction. At this time, when this image data is divided into tiles, it is divided into a total of 48 tiles of 8 horizontal tiles and 6 vertical tiles as shown in FIG. 10, and the transfer order of the tile image data for image shift is as shown in FIG. The zigzag order is as shown.
[0092]
The CPU 121 stores this order in the memory 124 in advance. Then, the CPU 121 sequentially reads out and transfers the tile image data stored in the HDD 126 while referring to the order stored in the memory 124.
[0093]
That is, the tile image code data stored in the HDD 126 is transferred to the compression / decompression processing unit 131 via the HDD controller unit 125 and the internal bus 122 under the control of the CPU 121, subjected to the decompression processing, and Is converted to
[0094]
Then, the tile image data is transferred to the image shift processing unit 134 via the internal bus 122 and stored in the tile buffer unit 143 in the image shift processing unit 134.
[0095]
In this way, under the control of the CPU 121, the tile image data is transferred in the specific order shown in FIG. 11 and stored in the tile buffer unit 143 one after another. Then, as described above, when four tile image data are stored in the tile buffer unit 143, the data output unit 141 in the image shift processing unit 134 sets the values of the registers a and b in the register unit 144, here, By using “3” and “2”, the position of the hatched portion with respect to the four tile image data is determined as shown in FIG. 6, and the pixels corresponding to the hatched portion are read out from the tile buffer unit 143 one pixel at a time. One tile image data is generated and transferred to the internal bus 122 at the timing shown in FIG.
[0096]
The new tile image data generated in this way is transferred to the compression / decompression processing unit 131 via the internal bus 122, compressed, converted into tile image code data, and again transmitted to the HDD controller unit 125 via the internal bus 122. The data is transferred and stored in the HDD 126.
[0097]
Here, focusing again on the processing of the image shift processing unit 134, tile image data is sequentially input in a specific order, and when four tile image data are stored, one new tile image data is stored. Is generated, and thereafter, the oldest two tile image data stored in the tile buffer unit 143 are discarded, so that each time two more tile image data are input, one new tile image data is generated. It can be seen that the operation of being performed and output is performed.
[0098]
Therefore, when the last tile image data of the arrow 1 in FIG. 11, that is, the tile image data of the tile coordinates (7, 1) is input, seven new tile image data are generated and output. Become.
[0099]
Then, when the tile image data of the next tile coordinate (0, 1) is input, the data input unit 142 sets the tile coordinate (0, 1) of the attribute of the input tile image data to 2 as described above. Detecting that it is different from the expected value (8, 0) obtained from the tile coordinates (7, 0) of the attribute of the tile image input immediately before, the tile stored in the tile buffer unit 143 is detected. All the image data is discarded, and only the tile image data having the newly input tile coordinates (0, 1) as its attribute is stored in the tile buffer unit 143.
[0100]
With such a data processing configuration, new tiles are obtained from four non-adjacent tiles in FIG. 11 in which the tile coordinates are (7, 0), (7, 1), (0, 1), and (0, 2), respectively. The generation and output of image data is avoided, and new tile image data can be generated and output only from four adjacent tile image data.
[0101]
Therefore, with such a data processing configuration, for the input tile image data shown in FIG. 11, 35 new tile image data TD1 to TD35 shown by hatching in FIG. 12 are generated and output in the numerical order shown in the figure. Will be done. The image data composed of the tile image data TD1 to TD35 is obtained by shifting the original image data ID shown in FIG. 10 by three pixels to the left and by two pixels upward.
[0102]
Note that the generated image data after the image shift becomes small image data by reducing the number of tiles by one in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction, and thus is larger by one tile to the right and below the image size required after the shift. It is necessary to prepare image data of the size as original image data. Finally, when all transfer is completed, the HDD 126 stores tile image code data obtained by compressing the tile image data TD1 to TD35 of 1 to 35 shown in FIG.
[0103]
Next, the CPU 121 reads the tile image code data in the HDD 126 in the order of the numbers shown in FIG. 12 and transfers the tile image code data to the compression / decompression processing unit 131 via the HDD controller 125 and the internal bus 122 to perform the decompression processing, and The data is converted into data, transferred to the image / tile conversion processing unit 130 again via the internal bus 122, converted into page image data that can be printed, and is converted via the internal bus 122 and the printer I / F unit 129. The image data is transferred to the printer unit 2 to obtain a print output.
[0104]
As described above, a large-sized memory such as a page memory or a band memory is prepared by transferring the tile image data to be processed to the image shift processing unit 134 in a specific order under the control of the CPU 121. The image shift processing in pixel units can be realized without performing the processing.
[0105]
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention. (1) to (8) indicate each step.
[0106]
First, a document is read in the reader unit 1 as described above, and image data is transferred to the core unit 10. Then, the image data is transferred to the image / tile conversion processing unit 130 via the reader I / F unit 135 of the core unit 10 and the internal bus 122, and is divided into tile units (1).
[0107]
As described above, the tile image data thus obtained is transferred to the compression / decompression processing unit 131 via the internal bus 122 and subjected to compression processing to be converted into tile image code data. It is stored in the HDD 126 via the unit 125 (2).
[0108]
Next, the CPU 121 sets the shift amount in the image shift processing in the register unit 144 of the image shift processing unit 134 in pixel units (3). Specifically, “3” representing the horizontal shift amount is transferred as the first value of the register setting data, and “2” representing the vertical shift amount is transferred as the second value of the register setting data. , The value of the register a of the register unit 144 of the image shift processing unit 134 is set to 3, and the value of the register b is set to 2.
[0109]
Next, the CPU 121 detects the amount of the stored tile image data, generates a transfer order of the tile image data (4), and stores the transfer order in the memory 124. Then, the CPU 121 stores this order in the memory 124 in advance. Then, the CPU 121 sequentially reads out and transfers the tile image data stored in the HDD 126 while referring to the order stored in the memory 124.
[0110]
That is, the tile image code data stored in the HDD 126 is transferred to the compression / decompression processing unit 131 via the HDD controller unit 125 and the internal bus 122 under the control of the CPU 121, subjected to the decompression processing, and Is converted to
[0111]
Then, the tile image data is transferred to the image shift processing unit 134 via the internal bus 122 and stored in the tile buffer unit 143 in the image shift processing unit 134.
[0112]
In this way, under the control of the CPU 121, the tile image data is transferred in the specific order shown in FIG. 11 and stored in the tile buffer unit 143 one after another. Then, as described above, when four tile image data are stored in the tile buffer unit 143 (5), the data output unit 141 in the image shift processing unit 134 outputs the values of the registers a and b in the register unit 144. Here, using “3” and “2”, the positions of the hatched portions with respect to the four tile image data are determined as shown in FIG. It reads out and generates one new tile image data (6) and transfers it to the internal bus 122 at the timing shown in FIG.
[0113]
The new tile image data generated in this way is transferred to the compression / decompression processing unit 131 via the internal bus 122, compressed, converted into tile image code data, and again transmitted to the HDD controller unit 125 via the internal bus 122. The data is transferred and stored in the HDD 126 (7).
[0114]
Therefore, with such a data processing configuration, 35 new tile image data TD1 to TD35 indicated by hatched portions in FIG. 12 are generated and output in the order of the numbers shown in the figure for the input tile image data shown in FIG. It is determined whether or not the process has been performed (8). If YES, the process is terminated. If NO, the process returns to step (5).
[0115]
As a result, the image data composed of the tile image data TD1 to TD35 is obtained by shifting the original image data ID shown in FIG. 10 by 3 pixels to the left and by 2 pixels upward and is stored in the HD 126. .
[0116]
Hereinafter, the configuration of a data processing program that can be read by the image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to a memory map shown in FIG.
[0117]
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the image processing device according to the present invention.
[0118]
Although not shown, information for managing a group of programs stored in the storage medium, for example, version information, a creator, and the like are also stored, and information dependent on the OS or the like on the program reading side, for example, a program is identified and displayed. Icons and the like may also be stored.
[0119]
Further, data dependent on various programs is also managed in the directory. In addition, a program for installing various programs on a computer or a program for decompressing a program to be installed when the program to be installed is compressed may be stored.
[0120]
The functions shown in FIG. 13 in this embodiment may be performed by a host computer by a program installed from the outside. In this case, the present invention is applied even when a group of information including a program is supplied to the output device from a storage medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory, or an FD, or from an external storage medium via a network. Things.
[0121]
As described above, the storage medium storing the program codes of the software for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to the system or the apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or the apparatus stores the storage medium in the storage medium. It goes without saying that the object of the present invention is also achieved by reading and executing the program code thus obtained.
[0122]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium implements the novel function of the present invention, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention.
[0123]
As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, hard disk, optical disk, magneto-optical disk, CD-ROM, CD-R, magnetic tape, nonvolatile memory card, ROM, EEPROM, or the like may be used. it can.
[0124]
When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (Operating System) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a part or all of the actual processing is performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.
[0125]
Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written into a memory provided on a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a CPU or the like provided in the board or the function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.
[0126]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the amount of the stored tile image data is detected, and based on the detected amount of the tile image data, the specific order of the tile image data read from the tile image data storage unit is determined. Is determined, and the stored tile image data is read out onto a predetermined number of tiles memory in accordance with the determined specific order, and the image processing conditions set for the read out predetermined number of tile image data are determined. Image processing is performed based on predetermined tile-based image processing to generate new tiled image data. Therefore, in a tile division method in which an image is divided into a plurality of small tile units, image processing is performed over a plurality of tiles, such as image shift processing. Even in such a case, it is possible to achieve an excellent effect that desired image processing can be accurately realized without preparing a large memory for restoring the original image. To.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a system configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a configuration of a reader unit and a printer unit in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a reader unit in the image processing device according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a core unit in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of an image shift processing unit in the image processing device according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating image processing contents in an image shift process of an image shift processing unit in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of tile image data developed in a tile buffer unit illustrated in FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a timing chart at the time of transferring tile image data of an internal bus in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a timing chart at the time of transferring register setting data of an internal bus in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an entire image divided into tile image data in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a transfer order of tile image data in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating output tile image data of an image shift processing unit in the image processing device according to the present invention and an output order thereof.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a data processing procedure in the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating a memory map of a storage medium that stores various data processing programs that can be read by the image processing apparatus according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Reader section
2 Printer section
3 Image input / output control unit
4 Facsimile part
5 Network interface
6 Computer interface
10 Core part
130 Image / Tile Conversion Processing Unit
131 Compression / decompression processing unit
132 Computer I / F
133 rotation / reversal processing unit
134 Image shift processing unit
135 Reader I / F
136 memory

Claims (8)

An image processing apparatus that performs predetermined image processing on image data divided into a plurality of small tile image units,
Tile image data storage means for storing a plurality of tile image data;
Setting means for setting image processing conditions for tile image data stored in the tile image data storage means;
Detecting means for detecting the amount of tile image data stored in the tile image data storage means;
Determining means for determining a specific order of tile image data to be read from the tile image data storage means, based on an amount of tile image data detected by the detection means;
In accordance with the specific order determined by the determining means, the tile image data stored in the tile image data storing means is read onto a predetermined tile number memory, and the read predetermined number of tile image data is Generating means for performing predetermined image processing based on image processing conditions set by the setting means to generate new tile image data;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined image processing is an image shift processing of shifting the tile image data in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction by a designated number of pixels according to the image processing condition. The specific order is an order in which a predetermined number of tile image data adjacent in a predetermined direction are aligned with reference to the upper leftmost one in the rectangular coordinate system among the tile image data obtained by dividing the image data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: An image processing method in an image processing apparatus that performs predetermined image processing on image data divided into a plurality of small tile image units,
A setting step of setting image processing conditions for a plurality of tile image data stored in the tile image data storage means;
A detecting step of detecting an amount of tile image data stored in the tile image data storage unit;
A determining step of determining a specific order of tile image data to be read from the tile image data storage unit based on an amount of the tile image data detected by the detecting step;
In accordance with the specific order determined in the determining step, the tile image data stored in the tile image data storage unit is read onto a predetermined tile number memory, and the read predetermined number of tile image data is A generation step of performing predetermined image processing based on the image processing conditions set by the setting step to generate new tile image data;
An image processing method comprising: 5. The image processing method according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined image processing is an image shift processing of shifting the tile image data in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction by a designated number of pixels according to the image processing condition. The specific order is an order in which a predetermined number of tile image data adjacent in a predetermined direction are aligned with reference to the upper leftmost one in the rectangular coordinate system among the tile image data obtained by dividing the image data. The image processing method according to claim 4, wherein: A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for implementing the image processing method according to claim 4. A program for realizing the image processing method according to any one of claims 4 to 6.

Images