JP2005080138A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus for aligning and synthesizing the image of a part of a manuscript read by a higher resolution with the read image of the whole manuscript to reproduce a synthesized image on paper. <P>SOLUTION: As for an image processing apparatus 1, the image of a manuscript is read at a predetermined resolution by a reading unit 2, and is applied to a predetermined image processing. A partial reading unit 3 has resolution higher than the one of the reading unit 2 and has resolution within the resolution range of image creating unit 8 having resolution higher than the reading unit 2. The image of a part of the manuscript in a predetermined reading region is read by the partial reading unit 3. The partial image read by the partial reading unit 3 is aligned at the section of the manuscript read by the partial reading unit 3 by a VDC 7, and synthesized with the whole manuscript image read by the reading unit 2. The synthesized image is recorded and printed on recording paper by an image formation unit 8. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus that reads an image by raster scanning and reproduces a copy of the image on a sheet.

  In recent years, two-dimensional barcodes have become widespread as barcodes. Two-dimensional barcodes can encode a larger amount of information than one-dimensional barcodes, and one-dimensional barcodes are generally used as identification codes. While it is used, it is expected to be used as a general-purpose data file. In particular, since there is no strict definition of symbol design in the two-dimensional bar code, an unlimited amount of information can be marked in an infinitely small area by using a printer with a high printing density. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, by incorporating the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 into the general document 100, it is expected that a large number of documents in which only the portion of the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 has an extremely fine design will appear. .

  In the case of a one-dimensional bar code, as shown in FIG. 9, characters called bar code numbers are written at the bottom of the bar code Bc1, and the bar code reader has failed to read the bar code design. However, the data can be complemented by manually entering the barcode number characters.

  On the other hand, in the case of a two-dimensional barcode, since there is a large amount of information that can be recorded, it is difficult to write a barcode number for all information.

  Therefore, although a mechanism for restoring data (for example, Reed-Solomon coding method or interleave method) is considered for 2D barcode even if part of the barcode design cannot be read, the entire design cannot be read. If it is deformed to the extent, it is difficult to restore the data.

  A document copied using an image processing apparatus such as a digital copying machine has a somewhat deteriorated image quality as compared with the original document. In recent years, improvements in hardware and software have progressed, and it has become possible to duplicate characters and designs written for human reading to an image quality comparable to that of the original document.

  However, as described above, when a two-dimensional barcode is frequently used in a general document, it is considered that a demand for accurate copying of each data cell in the two-dimensional barcode is strengthened.

  Generally, image quality deterioration due to copying operation occurs in the entire image except for ink and toner scattering, so that the entire barcode design is also deformed. That is, the image quality degradation due to the copying operation is not a type of degradation that can be solved by the above-described techniques such as the Reed-Solomon coding method and the interleaving method.

  Conventionally, one-dimensional barcodes have been widely used in the commercial field, and there are already many documents in which one-dimensional barcodes are mixed with characters and designs for human reading. For example, there is a utility bill receipt, an order slip, and a facility admission ticket. In the case of one-dimensional barcodes, there are some regulations in the design such as the line width of the bar and the size of the quiet zone (margin around the barcode), and in terms of printing density, the one-dimensional barcode has begun to spread. In those days, since photoelectric conversion devices with high reading performance as at present have not been supplied stably and inexpensively, they are fine enough to be replicated without problems with existing image processing apparatuses.

  Thus, barcode designs are often limited by the performance of peripheral devices.

  In recent years, high-quality digital cameras have become widespread, and as a result of the development competition between manufacturers, photoelectric conversion devices with high reading performance have come to be stably and inexpensively supplied. Furthermore, in response to the demand for camera-equipped mobile terminal phones, the miniaturization of devices and power savings have progressed, and the need to print beautiful images already taken. However, high definition and high image quality are progressing.

  Such a trend is expected to continue in the future, and since these devices have similar component configurations to barcode readers and barcode printers, similar progress is expected in the field of barcodes. That is, it is expected that the barcode design will become higher density and higher definition in the process of spreading 2D barcodes in the future.

  Since image processing apparatuses such as digital scanners and digital multi-function peripherals use a photoelectric conversion device such as a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) to sample an image discretely, the design of a two-dimensional barcode is If it is finer than the sampling period, accurate sampling cannot be performed. Conversely, if the sampling period of the image is increased, it can be sampled accurately. For example, the entire original document is sampled at a resolution that allows each data cell of a two-dimensional barcode to be identified one by one, and from that image, a portion of characters and figures written for human reading and a portion of barcode design To separate. Then, by performing image processing suitable for each and recombining, it is possible to achieve an image quality that is beautiful for humans and easy for a barcode reader to visually recognize, but it is not a good solution for the following reasons.

  That is, looking at the form of bar code currently in widespread use, as shown in FIG. 10, it is rare that the symbol of the barcode Bc1 is printed on the entire original 101, and as shown in FIG. In most cases, a symbol of the barcode Bc1 is added to a part of 102, and this tendency is considered to be the same in the two-dimensional barcode Bc2.

  Therefore, when the entire original is read at a high resolution only for accurately sampling the barcode symbol, the capacity of the image data increases, and the memory utilization efficiency and performance such as image processing deteriorate. That is, generally, when the resolution is increased by n times vertically and horizontally, the capacity of the digital image data increases to the square of n.

  Therefore, the method of sampling the entire original as one image and separating the area where the barcode symbol is printed later from the area where the barcode symbol is not printed is a design with a low printing density such as a one-dimensional barcode. There is no problem even if it is applied, but it is not suitable for a design with a high printing density such as a two-dimensional barcode.

  In recent years, in image processing apparatuses such as digital copying machines, the number of image processing apparatuses having higher writing resolution than reading resolution has increased. In such image processing apparatuses, character outlines and image shading are increased. In order to express the image smoothly, the resolution is increased when printing.

  However, since there is no image information above the reading resolution, only limited processing can be performed. In this case, ideally, when the writing resolution is increased, the reading resolution should also be increased. However, as described above, a large load is imposed on the image processing apparatus, so that the configuration of the entire image processing apparatus becomes complicated and large. There is a problem of scaling up.

  Although the method of increasing the resolution at the time of printing has a certain effect in improving the image quality of a copied image, it cannot be said that the printing capability of the image processing apparatus is fully utilized.

  Conventionally, when a plurality of images from the image input means are pasted, a composite image is created by the image processing means, and this composite image is output by the output means, each image constituting the composite image is An image forming apparatus that automatically sets the input resolution according to the output resolution of the output means, the output image size, and the size of the original image to be input by the image input means or the number of image data of the image file. It has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

  Further, the present applicant has previously proposed an image reading apparatus that determines the type of a document and applies color correction processing to the image data obtained by reading the document according to the type of the document (Patent Document). 2).

JP 2002-77526 A JP 2002-247392 A

  However, in any of the conventional techniques described in the above publications, it is necessary to increase the reading resolution of the entire image in order to copy a portion with high print density locally in the document with good reproducibility. There is a problem that the configuration of the system becomes complicated and large-scale.

  Accordingly, the invention according to claim 1 reads an image of a document at a predetermined resolution by a reading unit, performs predetermined image processing, and then writes a higher resolution writing unit than the reading unit based on the image data. When recording and outputting an image on a sheet with a predetermined resolution, the partial reading unit only outputs an image in a predetermined reading area within a resolution range of the writing unit and higher in resolution than the reading unit. The partial image read by the partial reading unit is aligned with the original image read by the partial reading unit by the image synthesizing unit and combined with the entire image of the original read by the reading unit. Is recorded and output on the paper by the writing means, without increasing the reading resolution of the entire image, only the local portion in the document such as a two-dimensional barcode is read and recorded with an increased resolution, A single structure a and compact, and its object is to provide an image processing apparatus for reproducing good reproducibility local printing dense image such as a two-dimensional bar code.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the partial reading unit is configured such that the shape of the reading region to be read is a perfect circle, thereby aligning the partial image read by the partial reading unit with the image read by the reading unit. To provide an image processing apparatus that performs simple and easy image composition, and reproduces an image with high reproducibility, such as a two-dimensional barcode, with a simpler structure and at a lower cost and with a smaller size. It is an object.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the partial reading means performs a reading operation using the circular shape having the radius specified by the radius specifying means for specifying the radius of the circular reading area read by the partial reading means as the reading area. By adjusting the reading area in accordance with the size of the partial image to be read and synthesized by reading a two-dimensional barcode, etc., and combining the partial image read by the partial reading means with the image read by the reading means The purpose of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that performs a simpler and easier operation, and that reproduces an image with high reproducibility, such as a two-dimensional bar code, with a simpler structure and at a lower cost and in a smaller size. Yes.

  In the invention according to claim 4, the writing means includes a plurality of color sources for forming a color image, and the writing means reads the partial image read by the partial reading means in the composite image. When a partial image is a two-dimensional barcode by recording and outputting using only one color source of a plurality of color sources provided in the writing means, a barcode reader that reads the two-dimensional barcode is used. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus having good usability by taking a partial image with good visibility.

  In the invention according to claim 5, the writing means records and outputs the partial image read by the partial reading means using only the color source designated by the color source designation means for designating the color source for recording the partial image. Therefore, when the partial image is a two-dimensional barcode and the light source of the barcode reader that reads the two-dimensional barcode is different, the partial image is displayed with a color source that has good visibility when taken by the barcode reader light source. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus with even better usability.

  The image processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention reads an image of a document at a predetermined resolution by a reading unit, converts it into digital data, stores it in a data storage unit, performs predetermined image processing, and then converts the image data into the image data. Based on the above, in an image processing apparatus for recording and outputting an image on a sheet with a predetermined resolution by a writing unit having a higher resolution than the reading unit, the resolution is within the range of the resolution of the writing unit and higher than the reading unit. A partial reading unit that reads only an image of a predetermined reading region of a part of the document, and the partial reading unit that reads the partial image read by the partial reading unit on the entire image of the document read by the reading unit. Image synthesizing means for aligning and synthesizing with the read original portion, and by recording and outputting the synthesized image synthesized by the image synthesizing means on a sheet by the writing means It has achieved the above object.

  In this case, for example, as described in claim 2, in the partial reading unit, the shape of the reading region to be read may be a perfect circle shape.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 3, the image processing apparatus includes a radius designating unit that designates a radius of a reading area of a circular shape read by the partial reading unit, and the partial reading unit includes the radius The reading operation may be performed using a perfect circle shape having a radius specified by the specifying means as a reading area.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 4, the image processing apparatus includes a plurality of color sources for the writing unit to form a color image, and the writing unit includes the portion of the composite image. The partial image read by the reading unit may be recorded and output using only one color source among a plurality of color sources provided in the writing unit.

  Further, for example, as described in claim 5, the image processing apparatus includes a color source designating unit for designating a color source for recording the partial image among a plurality of color sources of the writing unit, The image capturing unit may record and output the partial image read by the partial reading unit using only the color source specified by the color source specifying unit.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the first aspect of the present invention, an image of a document is read at a predetermined resolution by a reading unit, subjected to predetermined image processing, and then higher in resolution than the reading unit based on the image data. When recording and outputting an image on a sheet with a predetermined resolution by the writing means, only an image in a predetermined reading area of a part of the document having a higher resolution than the reading means within the resolution range of the writing means is obtained. The partial image read by the partial reading means, and the partial image read by the partial reading means is aligned with the original image read by the partial reading means and combined with the whole image of the original read by the reading means. Since the composite image is recorded and output on the paper by the writing means, only the local portion of the original such as a two-dimensional barcode is read and recorded without increasing the reading resolution of the entire image. It can be, a simple structure and compact, can be reproduced with good reproducibility local printing dense image such as a two-dimensional bar code.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the second aspect of the present invention, since the partial reading means is assumed to have a perfect circular reading area, the portion read by the partial reading means is the image read by the reading means. Image composition that aligns and synthesizes images can be performed easily and easily. Reproduce images with high reproducibility, such as two-dimensional barcodes, that are cheaper and smaller with a simpler configuration. can do.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the third aspect of the invention, the partial reading means reads the circular shape having the radius specified by the radius specifying means for specifying the radius of the circular reading area read by the partial reading means. The reading area is adjusted according to the size of the partial image to be read and synthesized, and the partial image read by the partial reading means is aligned with the image read by the reading means. Image synthesis can be performed more easily and easily, and it is possible to reproduce images with high reproducibility, such as two-dimensional barcodes, with low cost and small size with a simpler configuration. Can do.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the writing means includes a plurality of color sources for forming a color image, and the writing means reads the partial reading means of the composite image. Since the partial image is recorded and output using only one color source of the plurality of color sources included in the writing means, when the partial image is a two-dimensional barcode, the two-dimensional barcode is A partial image with good visibility can be formed by taking the barcode reader to be read, and the usability can be improved.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the fifth aspect, the writing means reads the partial reading means using only the color source specified by the color source specifying means for specifying the color source for recording the partial image. Since the partial image is recorded and output, when the partial image is a two-dimensional barcode and the light source of the barcode reader that reads the two-dimensional barcode is different, the visibility of the light source of the barcode reader is good. A partial image can be formed with a color source, and the usability can be further improved.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, since the Example described below is a suitable Example of this invention, various technically preferable restrictions are attached | subjected, However, The scope of the present invention limits this invention especially in the following description. As long as there is no description of the effect, it is not restricted to these aspects.

  1 to 7 are diagrams showing an embodiment of an image processing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of an image processing apparatus 1 to which an embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention is applied. is there.

  In FIG. 1, an image processing apparatus 1 includes a reading unit 2, a partial reading unit 3, a sensor board unit (SBU) 4, a compression / decompression and data interface control unit (CDIC) 5, an image processing processor (IPP) 6, a video processor Data control unit (VDC) 7, image forming unit 8, process controller 9, RAM (Random Access Memory) 10, ROM (Read Only Memory) 11, image memory access control unit (IMAC) 12, memory group (MEM) 13, A system controller 14, an operation panel 15, an external serial port 16, a RAM 17, a ROM 18 and the like are provided. A reading unit 2, a partial reading unit 3, SBU4, CDIC5, IPP6, VDC7, an image forming unit 8, a process controller 9, a RAM10, and the like ROM 11 to serial bus 19 IMAC12, CDIC5 and VDC7 is a parallel bus 20, IMAC12, RAM17 and ROM18 are connected to the local bus 21.

  The image processing apparatus 1 has various mode functions such as a scanner mode, a copy mode, and a printer mode. In the image processing apparatus 1, in the scanner mode or the copy mode, the reading unit (reading unit) 2 irradiates the reading light from the light source onto the original, and provides the reflected light from the original to the SBU 4 via the mirror and the lens. The light is condensed on a line sensor having a plurality of CCD (Charge Coupled Device) and other light receiving elements, and photoelectrically converted by the line sensor, whereby the original is scanned and an image of the original has a predetermined resolution, for example, , 600 dpi, and the image signal is digitally converted by SBU 4 and output to the CDIC 5 as a digital image signal.

  The partial reading unit (partial reading means) 3 is for optically reading a part of a document, and is, for example, a handy unit that a user can hold and operate as shown in FIG. The partial reading unit 3 brings the head 3a of the unit into close contact with the reading portion of the original, irradiates a part of the original with reading light from the head 3a, and reflects the reflected light from the original with a mirror or lens such as a CCD The light is collected on a light receiving element provided in the SBU4, and photoelectrically converted by the light receiving element, the original is scanned, the image of the original is read at a predetermined resolution, for example, 1200 dpi, and the image signal is digitally converted by the SBU4. It outputs to CDIC5 as a digital image signal.

  The CDIC 5 controls all image data transmission between the functional device and the data bus, and performs data transfer among the SBU 4, the parallel bus 20, and the IPP 6. Further, the CDIC 5 performs communication between the system controller 14 that controls the entire image processing apparatus 1 and the process controller 9 that performs processing control on image data.

  Then, the CDIC 5 transfers the image signal from the SBU 4 to the IPP 6, and the IPP 6 corrects the signal deterioration due to the quantization to the optical system and the digital signal (signal deterioration of the scanner system) and outputs it again to the CDIC 5. .

  The CDIC 5 transfers the digital image signal transferred from the IPP 6 to the IMAC 12 via the parallel bus 20. The IMAC 12 compresses / decompresses the digital image data, and the image read by the partial reading unit 3 is read by the reading unit 2. The region specifying process for specifying the position of the image read in step S1 and the access to the MEM 13 are performed.

  The MEM (storage means) 13 is a module for the IMAC 12 to store digital image data and its additional information, and the image data read by the reading unit 2 and the partial reading unit 3 is accumulated.

  When the digital image data read from the MEM 13 by the IMAC 12 is the image data of the image read by the reading unit 2, the image processing apparatus 1 transfers the digital image data from the IMAC 12 to the IPP 6 via the parallel bus 20 and the CDIC 5. If the digital image data read from the MEM 13 by the IMAC 12 is the image data of the image read by the partial reading unit 3, the digital image data is transferred from the IMAC 12 to the VDC 7 via the parallel bus 20. The IPP 6 optimizes the frequency characteristics, gradation characteristics, etc. for the transferred digital image data and transfers them to the VDC 7.

  Since the image data transferred from the IPP 6 to the VDC 7 is the image data read by the reading unit 2, the resolution is 600 dpi, and the image data transferred from the IMAC 12 to the VDC 7 is read by the partial reading unit 3. Therefore, the resolution is 1200 dpi. The VDC 7 converts the resolution of the image data transferred from the IPP 6 from 600 dpi to 1200 dpi, synthesizes the images, and transfers the images to the image forming unit 8.

  The image forming unit (writing means) 8 forms a reproduced image on the recording paper according to the transferred image data by a predetermined image forming method, for example, an electrophotographic method. In the case of the present embodiment, the writing is performed at 1200 dpi. Has resolution.

  The image processing apparatus 1 realizes a function as the image processing apparatus 1 by storing data in the MEM 13 and performing various transfer processes by bus control by the parallel bus 20 and the CDIC 5.

  The IMAC 12 is connected to a system controller 14, an operation panel 15, an external serial port 16, and the like. The system controller 14 controls the entire image processing apparatus 1. The operation panel 15 is provided with various keys for performing various instruction operations on the image processing apparatus 1, a display unit, and the like, and the system controller 14 performs various sections of the image processing apparatus 1 in accordance with the instruction operations on the operation panel 15. To perform basic processing and memory control processing as the image processing apparatus 1.

  The image processing apparatus 1 also has a function of processing a plurality of jobs, for example, a copy function and a printer output function in parallel. When the plurality of jobs are operated in parallel, the reading unit 2 and the image forming unit 8 and the parallel bus 20 are allocated to the right-of-use job, and the allocation is controlled by the system controller 14 and the process controller 9.

  The process controller 9 controls the operation of the reading unit 2, the partial reading unit 3, the SBU 4, the CDIC 5, and the IPP 6 and the flow of image data, performs necessary settings for each, and monitors activation, termination, processing progress, and the like.

  The system controller 14 controls the entire system of the image processing apparatus 1 and manages the activation of each resource. The function selection of the image processing apparatus 1 is performed by a key operation on the operation panel 15, and processing contents such as a copy function and a fax transmission / reception function are set by a key operation on the operation panel 15.

  The system controller 14 and the process controller 9 communicate with each other via the parallel bus 20, the CDIC 5, and the serial bus 19, and perform data format conversion for data interface between the parallel bus 20 and the serial bus 19 in the CDIC 5. .

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel (radius designation means, color source designation means) 15 uses a liquid crystal touch panel, displays various information necessary for the user to use the image processing apparatus 1, and also displays the user information. Various settings can be made by touching the display screen.

  The system controller 14 controls the operation of the IMAC 12 and the operation panel 15, performs necessary settings for each, and monitors activation, termination, processing progress, and the like.

  The RAM 17 and the ROM 18 connected to the IMAC 12 by the local bus 21 store information necessary for the system controller 14, the IMAC 12, the operation panel 15, and the MEM 13 to perform processing. Bitmap data at the time of display, design and font data at the time of image composition by the IMAC 12, total capacity and remaining capacity that can be accumulated by the MEM 13, and the like are stored. The ROM 18 also stores a program describing the operation of the processor in the IMAC 12 and the system controller 14.

  The RAM 10 and the ROM 11 connected to the serial bus 19 accumulate information necessary for the reading unit 2, the partial reading unit 3, the SBU 4, the CDIC 5, the IPP 6, and the process controller 9 to perform processing. For example, the image size read by the reading unit 2 and the partial reading unit 3, the optical characteristics of the CCD, the parameters of image processing executed by the IPP 6, and the like are stored. The ROM 11 also stores a program describing its operation when a processor is installed in the reading unit 2, the partial reading unit 3, the SBU 4, the CDIC 5, the IPP 6, and the process controller 9.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described. First, an example of operation when copying the original 100 to which the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 shown in FIG. 8 is applied will be described.

  First, the user uses the liquid crystal touch panel of the operation panel 15 to select either the operation for reading the entire document or the operation for reading the barcode Bc2, as indicated by a thick line in FIG.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 8, since the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 is printed on the upper and lower portions of the document 100, first, the barcode design of the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 using the partial reading unit 3 is performed. The reading operation is repeated twice, and finally, the reading operation of the entire document is performed once using the reading unit 2. The order of the reading operation using the partial reading unit 3 and the reading operation using the reading unit 2 may be reversed.

  When a barcode design reading operation of the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 is performed, a reading radius is designated as shown in FIG. 3 as a reading size setting. This is because, as shown in FIG. 4, the partial reading unit 3 reads an image with a perfect circle as the reading area Ar, and the reading size of the reading area Ar is determined by designating the radius.

  At this time, in order to reduce the reading size as much as possible and to suppress the capacity of the digital image data, the radius is set to just fit the barcode design of the two-dimensional barcode Bc2. However, since the image around the barcode design is scarcely included, when the region determination process is performed, it becomes difficult to make a determination or to make an erroneous determination. On the other hand, when the radius of the reading size is increased, since the image around the barcode design is read, the area determination process becomes easy, but the capacity of the digital image data increases.

  When performing the reading operation of the two-dimensional barcode Bc2, the color to be reproduced on the recording paper is also designated. That is, the image processing apparatus 1 reproduces an image read by the partial reading unit 3 on a recording sheet using one of the color sources provided in the image forming unit 8, so that the operation panel 15 shown in FIG. Using the liquid crystal touch panel, one color (color source) of one color (color source) of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black is designated.

  When the setting necessary for the barcode design reading operation is completed, the user brings the head of the partial reading unit 3 into close contact with the barcode design of the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 to be read, on the liquid crystal touch panel of the operation panel 15. Touch the start button (see FIG. 3) displayed on the screen.

  When the start button is pressed, the image processing apparatus 1 drives the partial reading unit 3 to read a perfect circle region having a set radius with a resolution of 1200 dpi, and transfers the image data to the SBU 4. The SBU 4 digitally converts the barcode design image of the two-dimensional barcode Bc 2 read by the partial reading unit 3, outputs it to the IPP 6, performs desired image processing by the IPP 6, and then passes through the CDIC 5 and the parallel bus 20. And transfer to the IMAC 12. In addition to processing for correcting image quality deterioration due to optical system characteristics and image information quantization, the IPP 6 is an image that is easily visible to a barcode reader when a two-dimensional barcode Bc2 is recorded on recording paper. For example, image processing for converting the image into a binary image (an image expressed in two ways with or without color) is performed. Note that conversion to a binary image by the image processing in the IPP 6 also has an effect of reducing the volume of digital image data and increasing the storage efficiency of MEM.

  Next, the entire reading operation of the document 100 will be described. When the entire original 100 is read, the user sets the original 100 at a predetermined position in the same manner as an existing digital scanner or digital copying machine, for example, on the liquid crystal touch panel screen of the operation panel 15 in FIG. Then, necessary information such as the size of the original image and the image quality of the copied image is input and the start button is touched.

  When the start button is pressed, the image processing apparatus 1 drives the reading unit 2 to read the entire original 100 with a resolution of 600 dpi, and transfers the image data to the SBU 4. The SBU 4 digitally converts the image of the original 100 read by the reading unit 2, outputs it to the IPP 6, performs desired image processing by the IPP 6, and transfers the image to the IMAC 12 via the CDIC 5 and the parallel bus 20. The IPP 6 mainly performs a process of correcting image quality deterioration due to optical system characteristics and image information quantization as image processing. As will be described later, since there is an opportunity for the IPP 6 to perform image processing on the image data read by the reading unit 2 again, the image processing apparatus 1 performs the remaining processing necessary for making a copy image. Is performed in later image processing.

  As described above, in order to individually read the barcode design of each two-dimensional barcode Bc2 and read the entire original 100, the path for transferring the image data from the IPP 6 to the MEM 13 is different for each reading. There is an advantage that it can be used in common. If both reading operations are performed simultaneously, the amount of data that needs to be processed at a time increases, which increases the circuit scale of each module.

  Note that the image processing apparatus 1 does not read the barcode design of the two-dimensional barcode Bc2, but only reads the entire document 100, and copies the copied image onto the recording paper, as in a normal digital copying machine. However, it is not possible to reproduce the copied image on the recording paper by only reading the barcode design of the two-dimensional barcode Bc2.

  Then, when the reading operation of the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 and the entire original 100 in the image processing apparatus 1, that is, all the reading operations are completed, the user touches the reading end button on the touch panel of the operation panel 15, This is notified to the image processing apparatus 1.

  The image processing apparatus 1 temporarily accumulates each digital image data transferred to the IMAC 12 in the MEM 13 and continues to accumulate until all reading operations performed on one document 100 are completed. In the case of the original 100, two images obtained by reading the barcode design of the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 and one image obtained by reading the entire original 100 are stored in the MEM 13.

  When the reading end button on the touch panel of the operation panel 15 is touch-operated and it is confirmed that all the images are prepared, the IMAC 12 specifies where the barcode design is located in the document 100 by the pattern matching method. . At this time, as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the IMAC 12 performs pattern matching with the image read by the reading unit 2 while rotating the image read by the partial reading unit 3. That is, when the original 100 is read using each of the reading unit 2 and the partial reading unit 3, the reading is not always performed at the same angle. This is because, since the document 100 is read at least twice in use, the angle at which the document 100 is read is shifted even if the user does not intend.

  If it is determined that the two patterns are equal, the IMAC 12 corrects the image read by the partial reading unit 3 to an image of the rotation angle at that time.

  Since the reading area Ar read by the partial reading unit 3 has a perfect circle shape, the image read by the partial reading unit 3 remains in a perfect circular shape even when rotated. Therefore, when pattern matching is performed while rotating the image, there is an advantage that the shape does not change even if the image itself changes, and coordinates management or the like in pattern matching can be easily performed. However, if the reading area of the partial reading unit 3 is not a perfect circle but a different shape, for example, a rectangle, as shown in FIG. 6, when the image is rotated to perform pattern matching, the pattern matching is performed according to the rotation angle. The region to be subjected to changes changes, and control such as coordinate management becomes difficult.

  The image read by the reading unit 2 has a resolution of 600 dpi, whereas the image read by the partial reading unit 3 has a resolution of 1200 dpi. Therefore, the image processing apparatus 1 does not perform strict pattern matching. . In particular, when there are a plurality of similar barcode designs, there is a possibility that the individual barcode designs cannot be distinguished by the resolution of the reading unit 2. Therefore, the image processing apparatus 1 performs loose pattern matching using the outline of the barcode design of the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 and a part of the general document located in the vicinity. Accordingly, a part of the general document located around the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 is important information. However, as described above, when the reading size (radius of a perfect circle) of the partial reading unit 3 is reduced, the two-dimensional bar code A part of the general document around the code Bc2 is difficult to enter as a read image, which is disadvantageous for the area determination process, and when the reading size is increased, a part of the general document around the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 is easily included as a read image. This is advantageous for area determination processing.

  When the area determination processing is completed, the image processing apparatus 1 transfers the image data read by the reading unit 2 from the IMAC 12 to the IPP 6 via the parallel bus 20 and the CDIC 5, and the image read by the partial reading unit 3 The result of the area determination process is transferred from the IMAC 12 to the VDC 7 via the parallel bus 20.

  The IPP 6 performs image processing for the purpose of converting an image of the entire document 100 read by the reading unit 2 transferred from the IMAC 12 into an image that is human-looking and beautiful, for example, a character portion or a line portion. The image processing is performed to clear the image and smooth the pattern part.

  In other words, since the original 100 on which the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 is printed in a general document is a reader, the human and the barcode reader are required to perform processing to bring the image quality close to that of each reader. .

  The VDC 7 simply divides one pixel of the image data (resolution is 600 dpi) transferred from the IPP 6 into four pixels, and converts the resolution to 1200 dpi. Next, the VDC 7 performs edge processing as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B to correct the outline of characters, lines, or patterns. When only reading of the entire document 100 is performed, the VDC 7 transfers the image data after the edge processing to the image forming unit 8, and in addition to the entire document 100, the barcode design of the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 is performed. If reading has been performed, the image data (1200 dpi) of the barcode design of the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 transferred from the IMAC 12 is overwritten on the image data of the entire document 100 after the edge processing. To do.

  Further, as described above, since the area read by the partial reading unit 3 is a perfect circle, the image data transferred from the IMAC 12 to the VDC 7 is always a perfect circle, and an area overwritten on the entire image of the original 100 by the composition process is also included. It is always a perfect circle, and coordinate management can be performed easily and easily, and the result of the region determination process can be expressed by two types of center coordinates and radius of a perfect circular region to be combined, and management is easy. However, if the area read by the partial reading unit 3 is not a perfect circle but has another shape, for example, a rectangle, the image read by the partial reading unit 3 is rotated and overwritten on the entire image of the original 100. FIG. As shown in FIG. 4, the shape of the area to be overwritten changes depending on the rotation angle, and control such as coordinate management becomes difficult.

  The image forming unit 8 has a writing resolution of 1200 dpi, and reproduces an image on a recording sheet according to the image data transferred from the VDC 7. At this time, since the image forming unit 8 includes various colors in the image read by the reading unit 2 (the region not overwritten by the image read by the partial reading unit 3), the image forming unit 8 uses four color sources. The image is reproduced at an appropriate density and reproduced on the recording paper. The image read by the partial reading unit 3 (the area overwritten on the image read by the reading unit 2) is a monochromatic image using one of the color sources. Therefore, only one color source is output.

  The reason why only the portion of the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 is output in a single color is that the data cell can be output on the recording paper with the highest accuracy when the output is performed in a single color. That is, when a color image is printed on a recording paper, a color is created by superimposing cyan, magenta, yellow, and black dots. If a plurality of colors are superimposed, there is a concern about problems such as color misregistration. In this case, each color may be intentionally shifted and output, but there is a problem that the size of one point becomes large anyway.

  For example, a barcode reader that is now widely used irradiates the barcode with monochromatic light and reads the barcode design with or without reflection. That is, it is sufficient if there are two types of colors that reflect monochromatic light and non-reflective colors. If one of them is the color of paper (usually a color that reflects monochromatic light), the other type is color. By representing the source and forming the barcode design, the barcode design can be appropriately formed. In addition, the four types of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black have characteristics that absorb light with different wavelengths, so if any color can be selected, various barcode readers with different light source wavelengths A highly visible barcode design can be output.

  As described above, the image processing apparatus 1 according to the present exemplary embodiment reads the image of the original 100 with the reading unit 2 at a predetermined resolution, performs predetermined image processing, and then performs the predetermined image processing on the basis of the image data. When recording and outputting an image on a recording sheet with a predetermined resolution by the high-resolution image forming unit 8, the image forming unit 8 has a higher resolution than the reading unit 2 and has a higher resolution than the reading unit 2. Only the image in the predetermined reading area is read by the partial reading unit 3, and the partial image read by the partial reading unit 3 is read by the partial reading unit 3 by the VDC 7 on the entire image of the original 100 read by the reading unit 2. The synthesized image is recorded on the recording paper by the image forming unit 8 after being aligned with the original portion and synthesized.

  Therefore, it is possible to read and record only a local portion in the document 100 such as the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 with an increased resolution without increasing the reading resolution of the entire image, and with a simple configuration and a small size, the two-dimensional bar code An image having a high local printing density such as the code Bc2 can be reproduced with high reproducibility.

  Further, in the image processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the partial reading unit 3 is assumed to have a perfect circular reading area.

  Therefore, it is possible to easily and easily perform image composition for aligning and synthesizing the partial image read by the partial reading unit 3 with the image read by the reading unit 2. An image having a high local printing density such as the dimensional barcode Bc2 can be reproduced with high reproducibility.

  Furthermore, in the image processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the partial reading unit 3 performs a reading operation using a perfect circle shape with a radius specified on the operation panel 15 as a reading area.

  Accordingly, the reading area is adjusted according to the size of the partial image to be read and synthesized such as the two-dimensional barcode Bc2, and the partial image read by the partial reading unit 3 is aligned with the image read by the reading unit 2. Image composition to be synthesized can be performed more easily and easily, and an image with a simpler structure can be reproduced with low reproducibility and with high reproducibility, such as a two-dimensional barcode Bc2, with low cost and small size. it can.

  In the image processing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, the image forming unit 8 includes a plurality of color sources for forming a color image, and the image forming unit 8 reads the partial reading unit 3 in the composite image. The partial image is recorded and output by using only one color source among the plurality of color sources provided in the image forming unit 8.

  Therefore, when the partial image is the two-dimensional barcode Bc2, it is possible to form a partial image with good visibility by taking a barcode reader that reads the two-dimensional barcode Bc2, and to improve the usability. it can.

  Further, in the image processing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, when the color source for recording the partial image is designated by the operation panel 15 in the image forming unit 8, the partial reading unit 3 using only the designated color source. Is recorded and output.

  Therefore, when the partial image is the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 and the light source of the barcode reader that reads the two-dimensional barcode Bc2 is different, the partial image is a color source that has good visibility when taken by the light source of the barcode reader. An image can be formed, and usability can be further improved.

  The invention made by the present inventor has been specifically described based on the preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Needless to say.

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that reads an entire image and a partial image of a document and forms an image by superimposing the partial image on the entire image, and particularly, an image processing that forms an image by superimposing a partial image having a reading resolution different from that of the entire image. It can be applied to the device.

1 is a circuit block diagram of a main part of an image processing apparatus to which a first embodiment of the image processing apparatus of the present invention is applied. The perspective view of the partial reading unit of FIG. The top view which shows the example of 1 display of the touch panel of the operation panel of FIG. The figure which shows the reading area | region of the two-dimensional barcode by the reading unit of FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which an image of a two-dimensional barcode read by a reading unit is rotated by pattern matching with the VDC in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a state in which a read image is rotated by pattern matching when the reading area of the reading unit in FIG. Explanatory drawing of the resolution conversion and edge process of an image. The top view of an example of the document to which the two-dimensional barcode is added. The figure which shows an example of a one-dimensional barcode. The top view of an example of the original document to which the one-dimensional barcode is added to the whole. FIG. 5 is a plan view of an example of a document in which a one-dimensional barcode is added only to a part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing apparatus 2 Reading unit 3 Partial reading unit 4 SBU (sensor board unit)
5 CDIC (compression / decompression and data interface controller)
6 IPP (image processor)
7 VDC (Video Data Control Unit)
8 Image forming unit 9 Process controller 10 RAM
11 ROM
12 IMAC (Image Memory Access Control Unit)
13 MEM (memory group)
14 System Controller 15 Operation Panel 16 External Serial Port 17 RAM
18 ROM
19 Serial bus 20 Parallel bus 21 Local bus

Claims (5)

  An image of the original is read at a predetermined resolution by the reading means, digitally converted and stored in the data storage means, subjected to predetermined image processing, and then a document having a higher resolution than the reading means is obtained based on the image data. An image processing apparatus for recording and outputting an image on a sheet with a predetermined resolution by a loading unit, and having a higher resolution than the reading unit within a resolution range of the writing unit and a predetermined reading area of a part of the document The partial image read by the partial reading means and the partial image read by the partial reading means are aligned and combined with the whole image of the original read by the reading means. An image synthesizing unit, and the combined image synthesized by the image synthesizing unit is recorded and output on a sheet by the writing unit.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the partial reading unit has a circular shape in a reading area to be read.   The image processing apparatus includes a radius designating unit for designating a radius of a reading area having a perfect circular shape read by the partial reading unit, and the partial reading unit reads a perfect circular shape having a radius designated by the radius designating unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a reading operation is performed as a region.   The image processing apparatus includes a plurality of color sources for forming a color image by the writing unit, and writing the partial image read by the partial reading unit out of the composite image to the writing unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein only one color source is used for recording and output. The image processing apparatus includes a color source designating unit that designates a color source for recording the partial image among a plurality of color sources of the writing unit, and the writing unit is designated by the color source designating unit. 5. An image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein only the color source is used to record and output the partial image read by the partial reading means.

Images