JP2005051510A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus capable of performing conversion which prevents discrimination from being difficult to visually discriminate when a monochromatic image is converted into a color image. <P>SOLUTION: When a color has been already assigned to some regions (S8:Yes), one of the regions to which the color has been assigned is selected (S9), and whether the region adjoins a region to which attention is paid this time or not is confirmed (S10). If the region adjoins (S10:Yes), a fundamental color which corresponds to its conversion color (selected color) is stored in the predetermined region of a RAM 14, to proceed to S12. Also, when it is judged in S10 that the region does not adjoin, the step proceeds to S12, and whether there are already-colored other regions or not is confirmed. If there are any unused fundamental colors (S13:Yes), one out of the unused fundamental colors is selected, and a selection color belonging to the fundamental color is selected (S14) to proceed to S16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus capable of converting a monochrome image into a color image and outputting the color image.

Conventionally, in a color copying machine or the like, a monochrome image area and a black portion in the area are converted to a designated color. In the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-284866, monochrome image data is converted into a color image based on a correspondence code between monochrome pattern data and color.
JP-A-11-284866

  However, since the invention described in Patent Document 1 determines the pattern of each part of the monochrome image data and uniformly changes to a color corresponding to the pattern, the part to be emphasized becomes unclear, It may be difficult to see because the hues obtained by converting adjacent patterns are similar.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an image processing apparatus capable of performing conversion so that it is not difficult to visually distinguish a monochrome image into a color image. For the purpose.

In order to achieve this object, an image processing apparatus according to claim 1 is an image processing apparatus for converting monochrome image data into color image data, wherein a monochrome image of one screen formed by the monochrome image data is included. Graphic area detection means for detecting a plurality of existing graphic areas;
Basic color data storage means for storing basic color data indicating a plurality of predetermined basic colors, and one of the plurality of graphic areas converted from monochrome image data to color image data is used for the conversion. Used basic color data storage means for storing used basic color data indicating a basic color, and used for the conversion based on the stored contents of the basic color data storage means and the used basic color data storage means. A determination means for determining whether or not there is unused basic color data indicating a non-existing basic color; and when the determination means determines that there is unused basic color data, the unused basic color data indicates Is assigned to the graphic area that has not been converted from monochrome image data to color image data, and when it is determined that there is no unused basic color data, The basic color indicated by the spent basic color data stored in the serial spent basic color data, and a means for assigning the diagram area which is not converted from the monochrome image data into color image data.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 2 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the assigning unit has no unused basic color data by the determination unit for the graphic area detected by the graphic area detection unit. If determined, a basic color different from the basic color assigned to the graphic area adjacent to the graphic area is assigned.

  The image processing device according to claim 3 is the image processing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the allocating unit uses the determining unit to store unused basic color data for the graphic region detected by the graphic region detecting unit. If it is determined that there is no basic color, a basic color different from the basic color assigned to the graphic area adjacent to the graphic area is assigned.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect, the allocating unit has no unused basic color data by the determining unit for the graphic region detected by the graphic region detecting unit. If it is determined that the basic color is different from the basic color assigned to the graphic area adjacent to the graphic area, the basic color with the smallest number assigned is assigned.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 5 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the assigning unit includes all the basic regions in the graphic region adjacent to the graphic region detected by the graphic region detection unit. When colors are assigned, basic colors with the smallest number assigned are assigned.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 6 is an image processing apparatus that converts monochrome image data into color image data, and stores a correspondence relationship between a plurality of basic colors and a plurality of selected colors belonging to each of the basic colors. Color data storage means, graphic area detection means for detecting a plurality of graphic areas existing in a monochrome image of one screen formed by the monochrome image data, and a color image from monochrome image data among the plurality of graphic areas Used basic color data storage means for storing used selected color data indicating the selected color used for the conversion of the data converted into data, the basic color data storage means, and the used basic color data storage means Determination means for determining whether there is unused basic color data indicating a basic color that is not used in the conversion, based on the stored content of For the graphic area detected by the area detecting means, if the determining means determines that there is an unused basic color, the selected color stored in the basic color data storage means belonging to the basic color is used as the graphic area. Allocating means for allocating to the graphic area detected by the detecting means.

  The image processing apparatus according to claim 7 is the image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the assigning means detects the figure area detecting means when the determining means determines that there is no unused basic color. The selected color stored in the basic color data storage means belonging to the basic color other than the basic color to which the selected color assigned to the graphic area adjacent to the displayed graphic area belongs is assigned to the graphic area.

  The image processing device according to claim 8 is the image processing device according to claim 6, wherein the assigning means detects the graphic area detecting means when the determining means determines that there is no unused basic color. The selected color stored in the basic color data storage means belonging to the basic color with the smallest number of the basic colors other than the basic color to which the selected color assigned to the graphic area adjacent to the displayed graphic area belongs Are assigned to the graphic area.

The image processing device according to claim 9 is the image processing device according to claim 6, wherein the assigning means assigns a graphic area detected by the graphic area detecting means to a graphic area adjacent to the graphic area. The selected color stored in the basic color data storage means that belongs to the basic color that is different from the basic color to which the selected color belongs and belongs to the basic color with the smallest number is allocated.
The image processing device according to claim 10 is the image processing device according to claim 6, wherein the assigning unit includes all the basic regions in the graphic region adjacent to the graphic region detected by the graphic region detecting unit. When the selection color belonging to the color is assigned, the selection color stored in the basic color data storage means belonging to the basic color with the smallest number assigned is assigned.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the first aspect, when a monochrome image graphic area is detected, if there is an unused basic color, the basic color is assigned. Therefore, by selecting colors that are not similar to each other as basic colors, there is an effect that it is possible to automatically perform coloring that is easy to understand visually.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the second aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the image processing apparatus of the first aspect, when there is no unused basic color, the basic color used in the adjacent region is different. Assign a basic color. Therefore, even if the basic color has already been assigned to one of the areas, the same basic color is not assigned to the adjacent areas, and it is possible to perform easy coloring.

  According to the image processing device of the third aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the image processing device of the first aspect, when there is no unused basic color, the most unassigned basic color is assigned. There is an effect that the same basic color is rarely assigned to the matching area.

  According to the image processing device of claim 4, in addition to the effect produced by the image processing device of claim 1, the image processing device has a basic color different from the basic color assigned to the adjacent graphic area, and is assigned the most Since the same basic color is not assigned to adjacent graphic areas, the basic color with a smaller number is assigned at the same time. There is an effect that it can be assigned.

  According to the image processing device of the fifth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the image processing device according to the first aspect, when all the basic colors are assigned to adjacent graphic regions, the image processing device is assigned most. Since a small number of basic colors are assigned, even if the same basic colors are assigned in adjacent areas, it is possible to assign a relatively easy-to-identify basic color.

  According to the image processing device of claim 6, the plurality of selected colors belong to any one of a plurality of basic colors, and if the basic colors are different, they are not similar to each other and are not used in the storage unit. If there is a basic color, an assigning means for assigning a selected color belonging to the basic color to the graphic area detected by the detecting means is provided. Therefore, even if the basic color to which the selected color already assigned to any area belongs, the selected color belonging to the same basic color is not assigned to the adjacent area, and easy-to-understand coloring is performed. There is an effect that can be done. When automatically selecting from among a large number of selection colors and assigning them to a graphic area, since selection colors belonging to unused basic colors are assigned, there is an effect that similar selection colors do not adjoin each other.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the seventh aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the image processing apparatus of the sixth aspect, in the case where there is no unused basic color in the storage means, the graphic area detected by the detection means Since the selected color belonging to the basic color other than the basic color assigned to the adjacent graphic area is assigned to the graphic area, even if the basic color to which the selected color already assigned to one of the areas belongs is adjacent The selected colors belonging to the same basic color are not assigned to the areas, and an easy-to-understand coloring can be performed.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the eighth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the image processing apparatus of the sixth aspect, when there is no unused basic color in the storage means, the graphic area detected by the detection means Since the selection color belonging to the basic color with the smallest number of basic colors other than the basic color to which the selection color assigned to the adjacent graphic area belongs is assigned, the selection belonging to the same basic color in the adjacent area There is an effect that colors are rarely assigned.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the ninth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the image processing apparatus of the sixth aspect, the basic color is different from the basic color to which the selected color assigned to the adjacent graphic area belongs. Thus, since the selected colors stored in the correspondence table belonging to the basic color with the smallest number assigned are assigned, there is an effect that the selected colors belonging to the same basic color are rarely assigned to adjacent areas.

  According to the image processing device of the tenth aspect, in addition to the effect produced by the image processing device according to the sixth aspect, when all the basic colors are assigned to the graphic region adjacent to the graphic region, the most assigned Since the selected colors stored in the correspondence table belonging to a small number of basic colors are assigned, there is an effect that adjacent figures are rarely set to the same basic color.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a multifunction machine 1 as an image processing apparatus of the present invention.

  A multifunction device 1 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a public communication network provided by a communication carrier by a wired line via a telephone line, and transmits and receives image data obtained by digitizing images composed of characters, figures, and the like. A fax communication function, an image reading function for optically reading a document on which an image is formed and converting it into digital data, and an image copying function for forming an image of the document read by the image reading function on a recording medium The apparatus is a combined function type apparatus equipped with a printer function for printing print data input from a personal computer (PC).

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the multifunction machine 1. An operation panel 4 having a plurality of keys such as command input keys for inputting numerical values and characters and an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) 5 is provided on the front surface of the main body 1a. The LCD 5 is a display that displays a process executed by the multifunction device 1 and a communication state with a PC 35 connected to the multifunction device 1 or a partner device connected via the telephone line 26. It consists of When the multifunction device 1 is operated by a command input key provided on the operation panel 4, the operation state, operation procedure, and the like are displayed on the LCD 5. Since the LCD 5 is composed of a touch panel, commands can be input from the screen, and a command input button for inputting a command is displayed on the screen.

  On the upper surface of the main body 1a, a document feeder 1e having a document insertion port 1c and a document discharge port 1d is provided. A document to be copied is inserted into the document insertion slot 1c with the document surface facing downward. The document inserted into the document insertion slot 1c is sent to the reading unit of the multifunction machine 1 by the document feeder 1e, and the document image is image data by a scanner (CCD line sensor) 22 provided in the multifunction machine 1. Is read from the document discharge port 1d.

  The cover 1h on the upper surface of the main body 1a has a back side as a support shaft, and a glass plate (not shown) that covers the inner upper surface of the main body 1a in a substantially horizontal direction is fixed inside the cover 1h lifted from the front surface of the main body 1a. Has been. A scanner 22 for reading an image of an original placed on a glass plate with a photodiode and converting it into digital data is provided below the glass plate surface. The scanner 22 scans a document placed in a glass plate shape while moving the lower surface of the glass plate in the left-right direction (sub-scanning direction) of the main body 1a with the front-rear direction (main scanning direction) of the main body 1a as the line direction. . The scanner 22 corresponds to a reading unit.

  On the other hand, a lower portion of the main body 1a is provided with a paper feed tray 1f on which a plurality of recording sheets can be stacked and pulled out to the front. From the paper feed tray 1f, recording paper for printing the read image data is supplied to the inside of the main body 1a by driving a conveyance motor for conveying the recording paper, that is, an LF motor (not shown). ing. Also, the printed recording paper is discharged from a recording paper discharge port 1g provided on the side surface of the multifunction device 1.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the multifunction machine 1 and the PC 35. The MFP 1 includes a CPU 12, a ROM 13, a RAM 14, an EEPROM 15, an image memory 17, a network control unit (hereinafter simply referred to as “NCU”) 19, a modem 20, a buffer 21, a scanner 22, an encoding unit 23, and a decoding unit. A unit 24, a printer 25, an operation panel 4, an LCD 5, an amplifier 27, and an interface 30 a are provided, and these are connected to each other via a bus line 29.

  The NCU 19 is for line control, and the multi-function device 1 is connected to the telephone line 26 via the NCU 19. The NCU 19 receives a calling signal and various signals transmitted from the exchange, and transmits a dial signal at the time of transmission corresponding to the operation of the input key on the operation panel 4 to the exchange, or when the telephone line 26 is closed. Facsimile data is transmitted and received.

  The CPU 12 controls each unit connected to the bus line 29 based on various signals transmitted / received via the NCU 19 to execute a facsimile operation, a printer operation, and the like. The ROM 13 is a non-rewritable memory that stores a control program executed by the multifunction device 1, and the program of the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 is stored in the ROM 13.

  As the control program, a program for controlling a facsimile operation and a printer operation executed by the multifunction device 1 and a data communication operation between the multifunction device 1 and the PC 35 are stored.

  The RAM 14 is a memory for temporarily storing various data. As shown in FIG. 3, the RAM 14 is used for an image storage memory 14a, a selection color memory 14b for storing used selection colors, and a graphic area. A region information memory 14c for storing the selected color and the coordinates of the region. The image storage memory 14 a is a memory that temporarily stores image data read by the scanner 22.

  The EEPROM 15 is a rewritable nonvolatile memory, and the data stored in the EEPROM 15 is retained even after the power is turned off. The EEPROM 15 is a memory for storing various data and setting values set or registered by the operator in a nonvolatile manner, and includes a telephone directory memory 15a and a setting value memory 15b. The multi-function device 1 can display an input screen for inputting various data and setting values on the LCD 5 by a predetermined operation, and the data input on the input screen is stored in the telephone directory memory 15a. It has become.

  The phone book memory 15a is a memory for storing the facsimile number of the counterpart device. Each data stored in the telephone directory memory 15a can be read out when necessary, such as during facsimile operation.

  The setting value memory 15b is a memory for storing setting values necessary for wireless communication between the main body 1 and the PC 35. Data communication between the main body 1 and the PC 35 is performed by wireless communication, and a medium used for the wireless communication is a radio wave. For this reason, security is necessary to prevent such interception. That is, when performing wireless communication, it is necessary to set in advance so that only the main body 1 and the PC 35 can communicate with each other, and the setting value set here is stored in the setting value memory 15b. . During wireless communication, communication is performed based on the setting value stored in the setting value memory 15b.

  Specifically, the setting values stored in the setting value memory 15b are the channels of the interfaces 30a and 30c and the Extended Service Set ID (hereinafter simply referred to as “ESSID”). The channel is a path for invisible data, and in order for the wireless interfaces 30a and 30c to communicate with each other, the interfaces 30a and 30c provided in the communicating devices are not set to the same channel. Must not. For this reason, the channel of the main body 1 and the PC 35 are set to the same channel, and the value is stored in the set value memory 15b as a set value. The ESSID is a character string for distinguishing individual networks in a wireless network. This ESSID is determined by the user and set for each apparatus.

  The image memory 17 is a memory for storing image data (image data), and is composed of a large capacity DRAM. When the multifunction device 1 receives facsimile data, the facsimile data is once stored in the image memory 17 and then output to the printer 25 and recorded if the printer 25 is operating normally. . The output facsimile data is erased from the image memory 17 after being printed on the recording paper by the printer 25. When the facsimile data is image data, the amount of data is generally large. However, since the facsimile data is erased on condition that the facsimile data is printed, the image memory 17 should be used effectively. Can do. Further, the image memory 17 stores image data input from the PC 35 as an image data file. The image data input from the PC 35 is held in the image memory 17 until erasure processing is performed by a predetermined operation.

  The modem 20 modulates and demodulates image data, and transmits and receives various procedure signals for transmission control. The buffer 21 temporarily stores encoded facsimile data transmitted / received to / from other facsimile apparatuses.

  The scanner 22 is for reading an image of a document inserted into the document insertion slot 1c and corresponds to a reading unit. The encoding unit 23 encodes a document image read by the scanner 22. The decryption unit 24 reads the received data stored in the buffer 21 and decrypts the received data. The decrypted data is printed on a recording sheet by the printer 25. The printer 25 has a plurality of color inks such as black (K), magenta (M), yellow (Y), cyan (C), and performs color printing. The operation panel 4 is for the operator to perform various operations such as setting of the multifunction machine 1 as described above. The amplifier 27 is used to ring a speaker 28 connected to the amplifier 27 and output a ringing tone or the like.

  The interfaces 30a and 30c are for connecting the multi-function device 1 and the PC 35. The interfaces 30a and 30c are the specifications of the contacts in data communication between different devices, and are electrical standards. As the interfaces 30a and 30c used in the present embodiment, a Bluetooth interface that is a general-purpose wireless communication standard is used. Bluetooth is an interface that uses 2.45 GHz radio waves that can be used without a license and can communicate at a speed of 1 Mbps or higher. This Bluetooth generally has low power consumption and low manufacturing costs, and can perform data communication even if there is an obstacle as long as the distance between the devices is within 10 m.

  The PC 35 is an external device that is configured by a personal computer and executes data communication with the multifunction device 1. For this reason, the PC 35 can transmit the data (input) held by the PC 35 to the multi-function device 1, and can receive image data transmitted from the multi-function device 1 and execute processing on the data. It can be done.

  The PC 35 includes a CPU 36, a ROM 37, a RAM 38, a hard disk 39, an input / output port 41, a keyboard 42, an LCD 43, and an interface 30c. The CPU 36 controls each unit connected by the bus line 40 based on fixed values stored in the ROM 37, various programs, or various signals transmitted / received via the interface 30c. The ROM 37 is a non-rewritable memory that stores a control program executed by the PC 35. The RAM 38 is a memory for temporarily storing various data.

  The hard disk 39 is a rewritable non-volatile memory, and is a memory for storing programs installed as necessary and various data. Specifically, the hard disk 39 stores a program for transmitting data created by the PC 35 to the multifunction device 1, a program for processing image data transmitted from the multifunction device 1, and the like.

  The keyboard 42 is an input device for inputting characters. When each key provided on the keyboard 42 is pressed, a character or the like associated with each key is input. The input characters are displayed on the LCD 43.

  The interface 30c is an interface of the same standard as the interface 30a mounted on the multifunction device 1, and is configured by Bluetooth. The PC 35 is connected to the multifunction device 1 through the interface 30c. Accordingly, the PC 35 can receive image data and the like input from the multifunction device 1. The received data is stored in the RAM 38, and the stored data is displayed on the LCD 43 by a predetermined output operation.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the CPU 36, ROM 37, and RAM 38 described above are connected to each other via a bus line 40, and the bus line 40 is also connected to an input / output port 41. In addition to the bus line 40, the input / output port 41 is connected to a hard disk 39, a keyboard 42, an LCD 43, and an interface 30c.

  Next, in the MFP 1 configured as described above, monochrome image data is stored in the image storage memory 14a by the scanner 22 and converted into a color image in detail with reference to FIGS. explain.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process for extracting a monochrome image pattern included in the read monochrome image data and performing assignment so that colors assigned to adjacent areas are not similar to each other. FIG. 5 shows that a storage area (basic color data storage means according to claim 1) for storing a correspondence relationship between a plurality of basic colors and selected colors belonging to each of the basic colors and used selection colors are used. FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a selection color memory 14b including a storage area (used basic color data storage unit) that stores used selection color data in which is stored.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram schematically illustrating a region information memory 14c that stores the converted selection color and region information representing the region of the detected monochrome image pattern region.

  In this figure, the selected color of blue 1 is assigned to the first image pattern, the area occupied by the image pattern is a rectangle, and the coordinates of the four corners of the rectangle are stored. Similarly, red 1 is assigned as the selection color to the second image pattern, yellow 1 is assigned as the selection color to the third image pattern, and the coordinates of the four corners of the rectangular area that each occupies are stored. Has been.

  In the “used / unused” column of the selection color memory in FIG. 5, corresponding to FIG. 6, the basic color is blue 1 which is the first selection color of blue and the basic color is the first selection color of red. A certain red 1 and a yellow 1 which is a selection color having a basic color of yellow are stored as “used”, and the other selected colors are stored as “unused”.

  Next, a processing procedure will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  When the reading mode of the scanner is set to the monochrome mode by the command input key provided on the operation panel 4, and the start of reading is instructed, the scanner reads the image in the monochrome mode (S1). The read image data is stored as color image data in the memory 14a (S2). Actually, only the black area of the read image data is stored as black (K). Next, a graphic region which is a closed region is searched from the read image data (S3), and it is confirmed whether there is a graphic region which has not been processed (S4). If an unprocessed graphic area exists (S4: Yes), it is confirmed whether or not the graphic area is a registered pattern (S5). The registered pattern is a pattern that performs color conversion, and a pattern that is set not to perform color conversion is excluded from the registered pattern. The registered pattern may be set by registering a pattern that the user has determined not to perform color conversion in advance, and performing color conversion for an unregistered pattern.

  If it is determined that the pattern is a registered pattern (S6: Yes), it is checked whether a color has already been assigned to the pattern (S7). If a color has already been assigned (S7: Yes), S16 Proceed to the process.

If no color has been assigned to the pattern in the process of S7 (S7: No),
It is confirmed whether or not a color has already been assigned in any region (S8).

  If a color has already been assigned to any area (S8: Yes), one of the areas to which that color has been assigned is selected (S9), and that area is adjacent to the area of interest this time. (S10). If adjacent (S10: Yes), the basic color corresponding to the converted color (selected color) is stored in a predetermined area of the RAM 14, and the process proceeds to S12. If it is determined in S10 that they are not adjacent to each other, the process proceeds to S12, and it is confirmed whether there is another area that has already been colored. If there is still an area, the process returns to S9, and if all the colored areas are confirmed (S12: No), there is an unused basic color from the basic colors stored in the predetermined memory of the RAM 14. (S13).

  If there is an unused basic color (S13: Yes), one basic color is selected from the unused basic colors, a selected color belonging to the basic color is selected (S14), and the process proceeds to S16.

  On the other hand, if there is no unused basic color in S13 (S13: No), the selection color of the basic color that is least frequently used is selected (S15), and the process proceeds to S16.

  The image data of the area focused on the selected selection color is converted (S16), the coordinates of the vertex of the area are stored in the area information memory, and whether or not the selected color selected in the selection color memory is used. Remember as.

  In the above embodiment, a plurality of selected colors belong to each of a plurality of basic colors. However, if one selected color belongs to each of a plurality of basic colors, the basic color and the selected color are the same. . Claims 1 to 5 correspond to the embodiment in such a case.

  In the present embodiment, the graphic region detecting means according to claim 1 corresponds to the processing of S3 in the flowchart of FIG. 4, and the basic color data storage means and the used basic color data storage means correspond to the RAM 14, The determination means corresponds to the process of S13 in the flowchart of FIG. 4, and the assignment means corresponds to the processes of S14 and S15.

  The present invention has been described above based on the above embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various improvements and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It can be easily guessed.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the multifunction apparatus is described as an example of an apparatus that performs image processing. However, the apparatus includes an image reading apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, and a scanner apparatus, and an image processing apparatus. There may be.

  In the above embodiment, the monochrome image is read by the scanner. However, the monochrome image may be received by a facsimile and the received monochrome image may be converted into a color image.

  Even when data for associating a monochrome image with a pattern and color of a monochrome image is received by facsimile, the present invention is applied to the remaining patterns according to the association data for some patterns. The color may be automatically assigned.

  In the above embodiment, a color is assigned to each pattern of the graphic area. However, if the area of the graphic area is calculated and smaller than a predetermined area value, the assignment may not be performed.

  Further, in the above-described embodiment, it has been described that the presence / absence of use is stored corresponding to the selected color. However, the selected color data is provided separately in a storage area and an area for storing used selected color data. As an alternative, the assigned selection color may be stored.

1 is a perspective view showing a multifunction machine as an image processing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the multifunction peripheral and an external device. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a storage area of a RAM 14. FIG. It is the flowchart which showed the automatic color allocation process. It is the figure which showed the selection color memory. It is the figure which showed area | region information.

Explanation of symbols

1 MFP (image processing device)
4 Operation panel 14a Image storage memory 14b Selected color memory (basic color data storage means and used basic color data storage means)
22 Scanner

Claims (10)

In an image processing apparatus that converts monochrome image data into color image data,
Graphic area detection means for detecting a plurality of graphic areas existing in a monochrome image of one screen formed by the monochrome image data;
Basic color data storage means for storing basic color data indicating a plurality of predetermined basic colors;
Of the plurality of graphic regions, used basic color data storage means for storing used basic color data indicating a basic color used for the conversion of monochrome image data to color image data;
A determination unit that determines whether there is unused basic color data indicating a basic color that is not used for the conversion, based on the storage contents of the basic color data storage unit and the used basic color data storage unit;
If the determining means determines that there is unused basic color data, the basic color indicated by the unused basic color data is assigned to the graphic area that has not been converted from monochrome image data to color image data. If it is determined that there is no unused basic color data, the basic color indicated by the used basic color data stored in the used basic color data is not converted from monochrome image data to color image data. An image processing apparatus comprising: an assigning unit that assigns the graphic area.   The assigning means assigns a graphic area detected by the graphic area detecting means to a graphic area adjacent to the graphic area when the determining means determines that there is no unused basic color data. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a basic color different from the basic color is assigned.   When the determining unit determines that there is no unused basic color data for the graphic region detected by the graphic region detecting unit, the allocation unit has the smallest number of basic colors allocated. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a basic color is selected.   The assigning means assigns a graphic area detected by the graphic area detecting means to a graphic area adjacent to the graphic area when the determining means determines that there is no unused basic color data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a basic color that is different from a basic color and is assigned the smallest number is assigned.   In the case where all the basic colors are allocated to the graphic area adjacent to the graphic area of the graphic area detected by the graphic area detecting means, the allocating means selects the basic color with the smallest number allocated. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is assigned. In an image processing apparatus that converts monochrome image data into color image data,
Basic color data storage means for storing a correspondence relationship between a plurality of predetermined basic colors and a plurality of selected colors belonging to each basic color;
Graphic area detection means for detecting a plurality of graphic areas existing in a monochrome image of one screen formed by the monochrome image data;
Of the plurality of graphic regions, used basic color data storage means for storing used selected color data indicating a selected color used for the conversion from monochrome image data to color image data;
A determination unit that determines whether there is unused basic color data indicating a basic color that is not used for the conversion, based on the storage contents of the basic color data storage unit and the used basic color data storage unit;
For the graphic area detected by the graphic area detection means, if the determination means determines that there is an unused basic color, the selected color stored in the basic color data storage means belonging to the basic color is An image processing apparatus comprising: allocation means for assigning to a graphic area detected by the graphic area detection means.   If the determining means determines that there is no unused basic color, the basic color to which the selected color assigned to the graphic area adjacent to the graphic area detected by the graphic area detecting means belongs The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the selected color stored in the basic color data storage unit belonging to a basic color other than is assigned to the graphic area.   If the determining means determines that there is no unused basic color, the basic color to which the selected color assigned to the graphic area adjacent to the graphic area detected by the graphic area detecting means belongs The selected color stored in the basic color data storage means belonging to the basic color with the smallest number of basic colors other than the basic colors is allocated to the graphic area. Image processing device.   The assigning means is a basic color different from the basic color to which the selected color assigned to the graphic area adjacent to the graphic area belongs to the graphic area detected by the graphic area detecting means, and is assigned the most. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a selection color stored in the basic color data storage means belonging to a small number of basic colors is assigned.   The assigning means, for the graphic area detected by the graphic area detecting means, if the selected colors belonging to all the basic colors are assigned to the graphic area adjacent to the graphic area, the number assigned most is 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a selection color stored in the basic color data storage means belonging to a small number of basic colors is assigned.

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