JP2005277661A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus capable of easily realizing start of immediate reading of image data at a proper timing during writing the image data into a page memory. <P>SOLUTION: A wanted reading start address is stored in a register 11 during writing image data into the page memory 10, depending on the presence or absence of inverse processing set in an inversion processing setting key 5a and the types of the inversion processing (horizontal inversion, vertical inversion). In storing this wanted reading start address into the register 11, a trigger signal generator 12 generates a trigger signal indicating that the reading start address is decided. This trigger signal is used as a interruption signal to start reading of the image data from the page memory 10 in the set inversion processing, and the image data reading processing is performed according to the reading start address stored in the register 11. <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 (accumulated) in a 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 upside down and / or upside down inversion, another address different from the write start address according to the type of inversion processing Is read out from the page memory. Conventionally, the read start address in the case of recording with right / left and / or up / down inversion includes 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.

By the way, in order to shorten the processing time required for writing / reading image data, reading of written image data is started before writing of image data for one page is completed, that is, during writing of image data. It has also been done. In this case, conventionally, the number of lines of image data stored in the page memory is monitored, and reading is started after image data for a certain number of lines has been accumulated (written).
JP-A-8-16768

  The conventional image processing apparatus has a problem that a process for monitoring the number of lines of image data stored in the page memory and a means for executing the process are necessary. In addition, since reading is started after a certain number of lines of image data has been accumulated, there is a problem that a time lag of the reading execution occurs and the reading cannot be started quickly.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and even with simple processing and configuration, it is possible to quickly start reading image data at a correct timing while writing image data to the page memory. An object is to provide an image processing apparatus.

  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, and generating means for generating a signal at a timing for storing the read start address in the storage 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.) Upon arrival, the write address is stored in the storage means as a read start address, and a signal indicating that the read start address has been determined is generated. Therefore, the timing at which the read start address corresponding to the inversion information is determined is promptly notified.

  An image processing apparatus according to a second invention is the image processing apparatus according to the first invention, wherein the control means stores the reading of the image data from the page memory using the signal generated by the generating means as a trigger in the storage means. It starts according to the read start address.

  In the image processing apparatus according to the second aspect of the invention, the image data stored in the page memory is read from the read start address stored in the storage means based on the signal generation timing in the generation means. Therefore, reading is started immediately after the reading start address is determined. Further, 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 of left-right inversion and up-down inversion.

  In the image processing apparatus of the third invention, the inversion information indicates either left-right inversion or up-down inversion. Therefore, in either case of horizontal reversal or vertical reversal, reading can be started immediately after the read start address is determined.

  In the present invention, while writing image data to the page memory, a read start address corresponding to the set inversion information is stored, and a signal is generated at the timing when the read start address is stored (determined). As described above, it is possible to easily realize the quick start of reading of image data at the correct timing during the writing of the image data to the page memory. As a result, the time required for writing / reading image data in the reversal process can be shortened.

  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 composite apparatus 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, and a trigger signal generation unit 12. , A modem 13, an NCU (Network Control Unit) 14, a PC interface unit 15 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 constituted by a CPU, and is connected to the hardware units as described above of the facsimile multifunction apparatus 20 via the bus 16. 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 to perform image data inversion processing using the page memory 10 as a function key, and sets whether to perform inversion processing of left-right inversion processing or up-down inversion processing. It has a process setting key 5a. 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, an image obtained by subjecting the original image to the left / right inversion process or the up / down inversion process can be printed out on a sheet by the recording unit 3. .

  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)).

  In such writing / reading of image data to / from the page memory 10, for example, in the case of horizontal reversal processing, the read start address is the address ((2)) when the last pixel of the first line is written, so one line It is possible to start reading the image data after the time point when the writing of the image data for the minute is completed. Similarly, for example, in the case of upside down processing, since the read start address is the address ((3)) when the first pixel of the last line is written, after the end of the writing of the image data up to that point, It is possible to start reading image data. In such a case, since the reading of the image data can be started even when the writing of the image data for one page to the page memory 10 is not completed, that is, during the writing of the image data, the writing process In addition, the reading process can be performed in parallel, and the time required for writing / reading can be shortened.

  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 processing is performed when the writing address reaches the start address at the time of reading according to the set inversion information during the writing processing of the image data to the page memory 10, and the writing address at that time is read out. It is stored in the register 11 as a start address. Since only the necessary read start address corresponding to the presence / absence and type of inversion processing need be stored, only one register 11 is required.

  The trigger signal generation unit 12 is in the process of writing image data to the page memory 10, and the timing at which the read start address corresponding to the set inversion information is stored in the register 11, that is, at the time of reading in the inversion process A trigger signal is generated at a timing when a necessary read start address is determined. Then, reading of image data from the page memory 10 is started in accordance with the generation timing of the trigger signal.

  The modem 13 is connected to the bus 16 and is composed of a facsimile modem capable of facsimile communication. Similarly, the modem 13 is directly connected to the NCU 14 connected to the bus 16. The NCU 14 is hardware that performs operations for closing and opening a line L1 with a public switched telephone network (PSTN), and connects the modem 13 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 15 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 15) 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.

  In addition, when the necessary read start address is stored in the register 11, the trigger signal generation unit 12 generates a trigger signal indicating that the read start address corresponding to the set inversion information has been determined. This trigger signal becomes an interrupt signal, and reading of the image data from the page memory 10 in the set inversion processing is started, and the reading processing of the image data is performed according to the reading start address stored in the register 11. Therefore, it is possible to start reading of image data promptly without delay after the read start address is determined, and a desired inversion process set by the inversion process setting key 5a 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 the read address has not been reached (S3: NO), the operation proceeds directly to step S6. 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 trigger signal from the trigger signal generating unit 12 (Step S5), the operation proceeds to S6.

  The control unit 1 determines whether or not writing of all image data for one page up to the last pixel of the last line is completed (S6), and if not completed (S6: NO), the operation proceeds to S2. Return and continue the write process. When the writing of the image data for one page is completed (S6: 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 determines whether or not a trigger signal has been generated from the trigger signal generation unit 12 (step S11), and when it has not been generated (S11: NO), continues to monitor the generation. When the trigger signal is generated (S11: YES), the control unit 1 acquires the read start address stored in the register 11 (step S12), and reads image data from the page memory 10 according to the read start address. Is started (step S13).

  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 has been completed (step S14). If not completed (S14: NO), the operation is S13. Return to, and continue the reading process. When reading of image data for one page is completed (S14: YES), the operation ends.

  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.

  Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the above-described embodiment, one necessary read start address is stored in the register 11 according to the type of inversion processing set by the inversion processing setting key 5a, and a trigger signal is generated according to the storage timing. Reading of the image data from the page memory 10 is started by using this trigger signal as an interrupt signal. However, in other embodiments described below, all kinds of inversions that may be performed are described. Is stored in the register 11, a trigger signal is generated according to the storage timing of each candidate, and a trigger signal based on the type of inversion processing set by the inversion processing setting key 5a is generated as an interrupt signal. As a result, reading of image data from the page memory 10 is started.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation procedure of image data writing processing to the page memory 10 in the facsimile multifunction peripheral 20 according to another embodiment.

  The controller 1 starts a process for writing image data to the page memory 10 (step S21). The control unit 1 determines whether or not the write address has reached an address that can be a read start address in normal processing or various inversion processing, specifically, any one of the addresses (1) to (3) in FIG. However (step S22), if not reached (S22: NO), the operation proceeds directly to step S25. On the other hand, when the address that can be the read start address is reached (S22: YES), the control unit 1 stores the write address at that time in the register 11 as a read start address candidate (step S23), and the trigger signal generation unit 12 After generating the trigger signal from (Step S24), the operation proceeds to S25.

  The control unit 1 determines whether or not writing of all the image data for one page up to the last pixel of the last line is completed (S25). If not completed (S25: NO), the operation proceeds to S21. Return and continue the write process. When the writing of the image data for one page is completed (S25: YES), the operation ends.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an operation procedure of image data reading processing from the page memory 10 in the facsimile multifunction peripheral 20 according to another embodiment.

  The control unit 1 determines whether or not a trigger signal has been generated from the trigger signal generation unit 12 (step S31), and when it has not been generated (S31: NO), continues to monitor the generation. When the trigger signal is generated (S31: YES), the control unit 1 determines whether the generated trigger signal is a valid trigger signal based on the inversion information set by the inversion processing setting key 5a, that is, starts reading. It is determined whether or not the trigger signal indicates address determination (step S32). If it is not a valid trigger signal (S32: NO), the operation returns to S31 and the generation of the next trigger signal is monitored.

  When the generated trigger signal is a valid trigger signal (S32: YES), the control unit 1 acquires the write address (read start address candidate) stored in the register 11 at that time as the read start address (step S1). In step S33, image data reading processing from the page memory 10 is started according to the reading start address (step S34).

  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 has been completed (step S35), and if not completed (S35: NO), the operation is S34. Return to, and continue the reading process. When reading of image data for one page is completed (S35: YES), the operation ends.

  Although the facsimile complex apparatus has been described as an example, 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. 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 12 trigger signal generator 20 facsimile compound apparatus (image processing apparatus)

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 relating to inversion of the image, and storing the read start address of the image data from the page memory corresponding to the inversion information set by the setting means during the writing of the image data to the page memory An image processing apparatus comprising: storage means for generating a signal; and generating means for generating a signal at a timing for storing the read start address in the storage means.   The control means starts reading image data from the page memory in accordance with a read start address stored in the storage means, triggered by the signal generated by the generating means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inversion information is information representing inversion of either left-right inversion or up-down inversion.

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