JP2005275712A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processor for simply obtaining a read-out start address of a page memory in a variety of image inversions without having to perform complicated computing processing. <P>SOLUTION: The processor stores a necessary read-out start address in a register during image data writing onto the page memory in accordance with the presence or absence of the inversion processing set by an inversion processing setting key and the kinds of the inversion processing. In the case that normal processing not performing an inversion is set, the processor stores an address at storage of a first pixel of a first line [same as writing start address (1)] as the read-out start address. In the case that respective setting of horizontal, vertical, and vertical and horizontal inversion processing are set, the processor reads out an address (2) at storage of the final pixel of the first line, an address (3) at storage of the first pixel of the final line, and an address (4) at storage of the final pixel of the final line and stores them as read-out start addresses, respectively. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that outputs image data stored in a page memory by inverting it horizontally and / or vertically.

  In an image processing apparatus that processes image data, such as a facsimile machine, a digital copying machine, a printer, or a multifunction machine that integrates these functions, it reads image data read by itself or image data input from an external device. Some have a function of reversing left and right and / or up and down and recording on paper (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In an image processing apparatus that performs such inversion processing, when image data for one page is once written (stored) in the page memory and then recorded in a normal direction without being inverted, the writing at that time When the image data is read from the page memory using the start address as the read start address and recorded by performing left / right and / or up / down inversion, another address different from the write start address according to the type of inversion processing Is read out from the page memory as a read start address. Conventionally, the read start address when recording with left / right and / or up / down inversion is conventionally set to various parameters such as the write start address, the page width and number of lines of image data stored in the page memory, and the type of inversion. Based on this, it is obtained by a predetermined calculation.
JP-A-8-16768

  In the conventional image processing apparatus, since the read start address is obtained by a predetermined calculation based on various parameters, there is a problem that a complicated calculation process is necessary. In addition, it is necessary to provide an apparatus for performing such arithmetic processing, and there is a problem that an increase in the size and cost of the configuration cannot be avoided.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides an image processing apparatus capable of easily obtaining a read start address of a page memory at the time of various image inversions without performing complicated calculation processing. For the purpose.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus comprising: a page memory capable of storing at least one page of image data; and control means for controlling writing / reading of image data to / from the page memory. Setting means for setting inversion information related to inversion, and storage for storing a read start address of image data from the page memory corresponding to the inversion information set by the setting means during writing of image data to the page memory Means.

  In the image processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, while the image data is being written to the page memory, the write address is set to the start address at the time of reading according to the set inversion information (horizontal inversion, upside down inversion, etc.). When it arrives, the write address is stored in the storage means as the read start address. Therefore, a necessary read start address can be easily obtained without performing complicated calculation processing.

  According to a second invention, in the first invention, the control means controls reading of the image data from the page memory in accordance with a read start address stored in the storage means. Features.

  In the image processing apparatus of the second invention, the image data stored in the page memory is read from the read start address stored in the storage means. Therefore, the reading order matches the set inversion information (left-right inversion, upside-down inversion, etc.), and an image in a desired inversion mode is recorded.

  An image processing apparatus according to a third invention is characterized in that, in the first or second invention, the inversion information is information representing any inversion among left-right inversion, up-down inversion, and up-down left-right inversion.

  In the image processing apparatus according to the third aspect of the invention, the inversion information indicates any of left / right inversion, up / down inversion, and up / down / left / right inversion. Therefore, in any case of left-right inversion, up-down inversion, up-down, left-right inversion, a read start address suitable for each inversion mode can be easily obtained.

  In the present invention, since the start address at the time of reading corresponding to the set inversion information is stored while the image data is being written to the page memory, the set inversion is performed without performing complicated calculation processing. A read start address necessary for information can be easily obtained. Since the image data is read from the page memory according to the stored read start address, an image in a desired reverse mode can be easily recorded.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile composite apparatus 20 as an image processing apparatus of the present invention.

  The facsimile multifunction device 20 includes a control unit 1, a reading unit 2, a recording unit 3, a display unit 4, an operation unit 5, a ROM 6, a RAM 7, a codec unit 8, an image memory 9, a page memory 10, a register 11, a modem 12, an NCU ( Network Control Unit) 13, a PC interface unit 14 and the like. The facsimile multifunction device 20 reads a document by the reading unit 2 to obtain image data, read image data, image data received by facsimile communication, or image data corresponding to image data received from an externally connected PC. The recording section 3 has a recording function and a transmission function for facsimile transmission of the read image data or the received image data.

  Specifically, the control unit 1 is configured by a CPU, and is connected to the above-described hardware units of the facsimile multifunction device 20 via the bus 15. The control unit 1 controls them and is stored in the ROM 6. Various software functions are executed according to the control program. The reading unit 2 reads a document with an optical system using a CCD image sensor, for example, and outputs the read image data.

  The recording unit 3 is an electrophotographic printer device, and is an image corresponding to image data of a document read by the reading unit 2, image data received by facsimile communication, image data sent from an external PC, and the like. On the paper. The display unit 4 is a display device such as a liquid crystal display device or a CRT display. The display unit 4 displays an operation state of the facsimile multifunction device 20, displays a screen for prompting an operation input to the user, and reads an image of a document read for transmission. Data, image data transmitted from other facsimile machines or PCs, etc. are displayed.

  The operation unit 5 includes character keys, numeric keys, abbreviated dial keys, one-touch dial keys, various function keys, and the like necessary for operating the facsimile composite apparatus 20. The operation unit 5 sets whether or not to perform image data reversal processing using the page memory 10 as a function key, and performs any reversal processing among horizontal reversal processing, vertical reversal processing, and vertical and horizontal reversal processing. A reversal processing setting key 5a is set for setting whether to perform. In addition, it is also possible to substitute a part or all of the various keys of the operation unit 5 by using the display unit 4 as a touch panel system.

  The ROM 6 stores in advance various software programs necessary for the operation of the facsimile composite apparatus 20. The RAM 7 is composed of SRAM, flash memory, or the like, and stores temporary data generated when software is executed. The codec unit 8 encodes and compresses image data and decodes the image data that has been encoded and compressed. The image memory 9 stores image data encoded by reading a document, image data received and encoded from another facsimile machine or PC, and the like.

  The page memory 10 is composed of, for example, an SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory), and image data for one page read by the reading unit 2 or one page received from another facsimile machine or PC. Accumulate image data. One page worth of image data accumulated and developed in the page memory 10 is read out by the recording unit 3, and an image corresponding to the image data is recorded. At this time, by changing the read start address of the image data from the page memory 10, the recording unit 3 displays an image that has been subjected to left / right inversion processing, up / down inversion processing, or up / down / left / right inversion processing on the original image. Print out on paper.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between various inversion processes and read start addresses. FIG. 2A shows one page of image data stored in the page memory 10, and the write start address is an address when storing the first pixel of the first line (( 1)). In FIG. 2A, since the image data is sequentially written from the left end to the right in each line going downward from the upper end line (first line), the order of writing the image data to the page memory 10 is as follows. , (1) in the upper left corner, (2) in the upper right corner, (3) in the lower left corner, and (4) in the lower right corner. When the read start address is set to be the same as the write start address ((1)) and the image data is read in the same order as that at the time of writing, the normal processing without inversion is performed (FIG. 2B). By reading the image data using the address ((2)) when accumulating the last pixel of the first line as the read start address, the horizontal reversal process can be performed (FIG. 2 (c)). In addition, the upside down process can be performed by reading out the image data using the address ((3)) when accumulating the first pixel of the last line as the read start address (FIG. 2 (d)). Further, the image data is read using the address ((4)) when accumulating the final pixel of the final line as the read start address, so that the up / down / left / right inversion processing can be performed (FIG. 2 (e)).

  The register 11 stores a read start address. Specifically, the register 11 stores a necessary read start address according to the presence / absence of the inversion processing set by the inversion processing setting key 5a and the type of the inversion processing. This storage process is performed when the write address reaches the start address at the time of reading according to the set inversion condition during the process of writing the image data to the page memory 10, and the write address at that time is the start of reading. Stored in the register 11 as an address. Therefore, since only the necessary read start address corresponding to the presence / absence and type of inversion processing needs to be stored, only one register 11 is required.

  The modem 12 is connected to the bus 15 and is composed of a facsimile modem capable of facsimile communication. Similarly, the modem 12 is directly connected to the NCU 13 connected to the bus 15. The NCU 13 is hardware that performs operations of closing and opening the line L1 with a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and connects the modem 12 to the PSTN as necessary. The facsimile composite apparatus 20 is connected to other facsimile apparatuses by PSTN so that normal facsimile communication can be performed. The PC interface unit 14 is connected to an external PC via a communication line L2 such as a LAN, and exchanges data with the PC. Various image data created and edited by an external PC are transmitted to the facsimile multifunction apparatus 20 (PC interface unit 14) via the communication line L2, and an image corresponding to the transmitted image data is transmitted to the facsimile multifunction apparatus 20. The data is printed out on a sheet at (recording unit 3).

  In the facsimile multifunction apparatus 20 having such a configuration, during the image data writing to the page memory 10 according to the presence / absence of the reversal process set by the reversal process setting key 5a and the type of the reversal process, A necessary read start address is stored in the register 11. Specifically, when normal processing without inversion is set, the address (the same as the write start address, (1) in FIG. 2) when accumulating the first pixel of the first line is set as the read start address. Is stored in the register 11. When the left / right reversal processing is set, the address ((2) in FIG. 2) when accumulating the last pixel of the first line is stored in the register 11 as the read start address. If the upside down process is set, the address ((3) in FIG. 2) when accumulating the first pixel of the last line is stored in the register 11 as the read start address. Further, when up / down / left / right inversion is set, an address ((4) in FIG. 2) when accumulating the last pixel of the last line is stored in the register 11 as a read start address. Therefore, a necessary read start address can be easily obtained and stored in the register 11 according to the presence / absence and type of inversion processing.

  When the image data is read from the page memory 10, the read start address stored in the register 11 is read, and the image data is read according to the read start address, which is set by the inversion processing setting key 5a. The desired reversal process can be performed.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation procedure of image data writing processing to the page memory 10 in the facsimile multifunction device 20. The control unit 1 detects the key input of the inversion processing setting key 5a, acquires the inversion information indicating the presence / absence of the inversion processing and the type of the inversion processing (step S1), and then writes the image data to the page memory 10 The process is started (step S2).

  The control unit 1 determines whether or not the read start address corresponding to the inversion information has been reached (step S3). If not reached (S3: NO), the operation proceeds directly to step S5. On the other hand, when the corresponding read start address is reached (S3: YES), the control unit 1 stores the write address at that time in the register 11 as the read start address (step S4), and the operation proceeds to S5.

  The control unit 1 determines whether or not writing of all the image data for one page up to the final pixel of the final line is completed (S5), and if not completed (S5: NO), the operation proceeds to S2. Return and continue the write process. When the writing of the image data for one page is completed (S5: YES), the operation ends.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation procedure of the image data reading process from the page memory 10 in the facsimile multifunction device 20. The control unit 1 reads and acquires the read start address stored in the register 11 (step S11), and then starts the image data read processing from the page memory 10 according to the read start address (step S12).

  The control unit 1 determines whether or not reading of all image data for one page up to the last pixel of the last line is completed (step S13), and if not completed (S13: NO), the operation is S12. Return to, and continue the reading process. When the reading of the image data for one page is completed (S13: YES), the operation ends.

  In the present invention, only the necessary read start address is stored in accordance with the set inversion information, so that storage can be handled with one register without waste.

  In the above-described example, the inversion information is set before starting the image data writing process. However, the inversion information may be set during the image data writing.

  In the above-described example, the image data reading process is started after the writing process of all the image data for one page is completed. However, if the reading start address is stored, one page is stored. The image data reading process may be started before all the image data writing processes are completed.

  In addition, the facsimile composite apparatus has been described as an example, but it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to all image processing apparatuses that can invert image data, such as a facsimile apparatus, a digital copying machine, and a printer.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus (facsimile multifunction apparatus) according to the present invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between various inversion processes and a read start address. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation procedure of image data writing processing to a page memory in the facsimile multifunction peripheral. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation procedure of image data reading processing from a page memory in the facsimile composite apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Control part 3 Recording part 5 Operation part 5a Inversion process setting key 6 ROM
7 RAM
10 page memory 11 register 20 facsimile compound device (image processing device)

Claims (3)

An image processing apparatus comprising: a page memory capable of storing image data for at least one page; and a control unit that controls writing / reading of image data to / from the page memory.
Setting means for setting inversion information related to image inversion, and storing the read start address of image data from the page memory corresponding to the inversion information set by the setting means during writing of image data to the page memory And an image processing apparatus.   The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls reading of image data from the page memory in accordance with a read start address stored in the storage unit. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inversion information is information indicating any inversion among left / right inversion, up / down inversion, and up / down / left / right inversion.

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