JP2007067971A - Image processing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image processing apparatus in which a user pastes paste data to target image data while being well balanced, even without largely adjusting their sizes. <P>SOLUTION: An image processing apparatus of the present invention comprises: an image data designating means for designating image data of a past destination and image data of a paste source; a recognition means for recognizing display sizes of the designated two pieces of image data; a paste data designating means for designating paste data to be pasted from the image data of the paste source; an enlargement processing means for enlarging the paste data in an enlargement scale based on the recognized display sizes of the image data of the paste destination and the paster source; and a pasting means for pasting the enlarged paste data to the target image data. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a function of pasting image data to other image data.

  In recent years, drawing software for editing image data on a personal computer has become widespread. The drawing software can perform image processing for pasting all or part of certain image data to other image data. To paste the image data, display the image data on the monitor, specify the paste data of the parts to be pasted from the displayed image data with a mouse, etc., and drag and drop the paste data onto the other image data. This can be done by moving it.

  The pasting of the image data by the drawing software is performed without changing the size of the pasted data regardless of the size of the pasted data and the pasted image data displayed or printed. Therefore, when the pasting data is larger than the image data at the pasting destination, the pasting data is displayed on the monitor so that it sticks out from the image data at the pasting destination, or when the pasting data is smaller than the past destination image data, the pasting data is pasted. The text may be displayed extremely small compared to the characters and figures included in the previous image data. Similarly, when the paste data is larger than the image data at the paste destination, the paste data is printed out of the image data at the paste destination, or when the paste data is smaller than the image data at the paste destination. The pasting data may be printed extremely small compared to the characters and figures included in the pasted image data.

In order to eliminate such problems, after pasting, the user himself / herself considers the size of the pasted data and the pasted image data on display or printing, and displays the pasted data on display or at the time of printing. The size of is adjusted.
JP-A-5-68161

  As described above, conventionally, the user has to adjust the size of the image data displayed or printed, and the pasting of the image data is time-consuming work for the user.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that pastes pasting data to pasting image data in a well-balanced manner without the user adjusting the size.

  An image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes image data designating means for designating paste destination image data and paste source image data, and paste data designating means for designating paste data to be pasted from the paste source image data. . Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention is based on the recognition means for recognizing the display size of the image data of the pasting source and the pasting destination and the recognized display size so that the pasting of the image data can be performed in a balanced manner. An enlargement processing unit is provided for enlarging the pasting data at an enlargement rate. The display size is a size displayed when printing or a size displayed on a monitor.

  As the enlargement ratio, for example, a ratio based on the display size ratio of the image data of the pasting source and the pasting destination can be used. For example, when the display size of the pasting image data is twice the display size of the pasting image data, the enlargement ratio is set to 200%.

  Using an enlargement ratio based on the ratio of the display size of the image data at the pasting source and pasting destination, the size of the pasting data for the entire pasting image data is the same as the pasting data size for the entire pasting image data. can do.

  The image processing apparatus of the present invention can perform facsimile transmission or printing of image data of a pasting destination to which pasting data is pasted. Facsimile transmission is usually performed by converting image data into a format corresponding to 600 dpi (dot per inch), 200 dpi, or the like. For this reason, when the pasting data is high-resolution image data, the pixels constituting the pasting data may be thinned out when the pasting destination image data to which the pasting data is pasted is transmitted by facsimile.

  When the image is enlarged or the pixels are thinned out, the image data becomes coarse. Therefore, when the facsimile data is transmitted, the paste data is enlarged by the enlargement processing means and the pixels are thinned and received. The user on the side may not be able to read.

  Therefore, an acceptable image quality when each image data is transmitted by facsimile may be determined, and if the pasted data does not satisfy the allowable image quality during facsimile transmission, the facsimile transmission may not be performed. Whether the pasted data satisfies the allowable image quality is determined based on the resolution of the image data to be transmitted in facsimile transmission and the enlargement ratio of the enlargement processing performed by the enlargement processing means.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even if a user does not adjust a magnitude | size, the image processing apparatus which pastes the image data of sticking object to the image data of a sticking destination with sufficient balance can be provided.

  In the present embodiment, the image processing apparatus 100 of the present invention is applied to a multi-function peripheral having printing, a scanner function, a facsimile communication function, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includes a main body 101 and a plan cover 102 attached above the main body 101. A document table 103 is provided on the upper surface of the main body 101, and the document table 103 is opened and closed by a platen cover 102. The platen cover 102 is provided with an automatic document feeder 104, a placing table 105, and a sheet discharging table 109.

  The automatic document feeder 104 includes a document conveyance path 108 formed in the platen cover 102, a pickup roller 106 and a conveyance roller 107 provided in the platen cover 102, and the like. The document conveyance path 108 is a document conveyance path that leads from the placement table 105 to the sheet discharge table 109 via a reading position P where reading is performed by the reading unit 110 provided in the main body 101.

  The automatic document feeder 104 draws each document placed on the placement table 105 into the conveyance path 108 by the pickup roller 106, passes the drawn document through the reading position P, and discharges the document to the sheet discharge table 109. To do. When the document passes the reading position P, the document is read by the reading unit 110.

  The reading unit 110 is provided below the document table 103. The reading unit 110 images a light source 111 that illuminates the document table 103 in the main scanning direction, mirrors 112, 113, and 114 that guide light from the document table 103, and light guided by the mirrors 112, 113, and 114. The image sensor 115 is configured.

  When the automatic document feeder 104 conveys a document, the light source 111 moves to a position where the reading position P can be irradiated and emits light. Light from the light source 111 is reflected by a document that passes through the document table 103 and passes through the reading position P, and is guided to the image sensor 115 by mirrors 112, 113, and 114. The image sensor 115 captures the received light to generate image data of the document.

  The reading unit 110 can read not only the document conveyed by the automatic document feeder 104 but also the document placed on the document table 103. When reading a document placed on the document table 103, the reading unit 110 moves the light source 111 in the sub-scanning direction while emitting light, and irradiates the entire document table 103. In order to guide the reflected light from the document table 103 to the image sensor 115, the mirror 112 moves together with the light source 111, and in order to make the optical path length from the light source 111 to the image sensor 115 constant, the mirrors 113 and 114 The mirror 112 moves at half the speed. The image sensor 115 reads the image data of the document placed on the document table 103 based on the light guided to the mirrors 112, 113, 114 in the same way as the document conveyed to the automatic document feeder 104. Generate.

  A printing unit 120 that prints image data is provided below the reading unit 110 of the main body 101. The printing method performed by the printing unit 120 employs an electrophotographic method, and the printing unit 120 includes a photosensitive drum 121, a charger 122, an exposure device 123, a developing device 124, a transfer roller 125, and the like. For printing by the printing unit 120, paper stored in the paper feed cassettes 132, 133, and 134 provided below the printing unit 120 and paper placed on the manual feed tray 131 provided on the side surface of the main body 110 are used. Used. The sheet on which the image is printed by the printing unit 120 passes between the fixing roller 129 and the pressure roller 128 and is discharged to the discharge tray 135.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 100 includes a communication control unit 202 that performs facsimile communication. The communication control unit 202 transmits the image data stored in the image data storage unit 201 by facsimile, prints the received image data using the printing unit 120, or stores the image data in the image data storage unit 201.

  The image data storage unit 201 transmits image data received by facsimile, image data generated by the reading unit 110, or a terminal 190 such as a personal computer connected to the image processing apparatus via a LAN (Local Area Network). Stored image data.

  The image data stored in the image data storage unit 201 is associated with an allowable image quality that must be maintained at the minimum when the facsimile transmission is performed. In the present embodiment, there are two levels of allowable image quality: high image quality and low image quality. The allowable image quality associated with the image data is low by default. The allowable image quality can be changed by the user performing the following operation.

  When changing the allowable image quality, first, the user sets the allowable image quality key 151 displayed on the initial screen (see FIG. 3) of the operation panel 150 constituting the operation unit 140 (see FIG. 1) provided on the upper portion of the main body 101. Press. When the allowable image quality key 151 is pressed, the allowable image quality determination unit 210 displays an image data selection screen (see FIG. 4) on the operation panel 150. On the image data selection screen, the file names of all the image data stored in the image data storage unit 201 are displayed.

  When the image data selection screen is displayed, the user selects a file name of image data whose allowable image quality is to be changed. This file name is selected by touching the area where the file name whose allowable image quality is to be changed is displayed with a finger, and pressing the start key 142 composed of a hard key provided adjacent to the operation panel 150. Do.

  When the file name is specified, the allowable image quality determination unit 210 acquires the image data with the specified file name from the image data storage unit 201, and as shown in FIG. 5, the acquired image data 501 and the high image quality key are acquired. 502, a low image quality key 503 is displayed on the operation panel 150. When the high image quality key 502 is pressed, the allowable image quality determination unit 210 displays the image data 501 with an image quality corresponding to the high image quality of the allowable image quality, and when the low image quality key 503 is pressed, the allowable image quality is reduced to the low image quality. Display with the corresponding image quality.

  When the screen shown in FIG. 5 is displayed, the user presses the high image quality key 502 or the low image quality key 503 to display image data with an image quality corresponding to the desired allowable image quality, and presses the start key 142.

  When the start key 142 is pressed in a state where image data is displayed with high image quality, the allowable image quality determining unit 210 changes the allowable image quality associated with the image data for which the file name is designated to high image quality, When the start key 142 is pressed while the image data is displayed, the allowable image quality associated with the image data for which the file name is designated is changed to a low image quality.

  The image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment pastes a part or all of one piece of image data (image data to be pasted) stored in the image data storage unit 201 to another image (image data to be pasted). Image processing can be performed. When performing pasted image processing, the user first presses the image processing key 152 displayed on the initial screen (see FIG. 3) of the operation panel 150.

  When the image processing key 152 is pressed, the image data specifying unit 203 causes the user to select the pasting source image data and the pasting destination image data from the image data stored in the image data storage unit 201. A selection screen (see FIG. 6) is displayed on operation panel 150. In the image data selection screen shown in FIG. 6, a file name list window 601, paste source key 602, paste destination key 603, display fields 604 and 605 for displaying the paste source image data and the paste destination image data file names are displayed. The The file name list window 601 displays the file names of all image data stored in the image data storage unit 201.

  When the image data selection screen shown in FIG. 6 is displayed, the user designates the image data of the pasting source and pasting destination (S101 in FIG. 11). The image data of the pasting source is designated by pressing the pasting source key 602 and touching the area where the file name of the pasting source image data is displayed from the file name displayed in the file name list window 601 with a finger. It can be carried out. The designation of the image data of the pasting destination is performed by pressing the pasting destination key 603 and touching the area where the file name of the pasting destination image data is displayed with a finger in the same manner as the designation of the pasting image data. Can do.

  The image data designation unit 203 recognizes the file name where the area displayed after the pasting source key 602 is pressed as the file name of the pasting image data, and is displayed after the pasting key 603 is pressed. The file name touched in the area is recognized as the file name of the pasted image data. The image data designation unit 203 displays the recognized pasting source and pasting image data file names in the display columns 604 and 605.

  When the file name is displayed in the display fields 604 and 605, the user presses the start key 142. When the start key 142 is pressed, the image data designating unit 203 acquires from the image data storage unit 201 the image data of the pasting source and pasting destination and the allowable image quality of the pasting source image data. The image data designating unit 203 inputs the pasting source and pasting destination image data to the recognition unit 204 and the enlargement processing unit 205, and inputs the allowable image quality of the pasting source image data and the pasting destination image data to the pasting unit 207.

  When the image data of the pasting source and pasting destination is input, the recognizing unit 204 recognizes the size (hereinafter referred to as display size) when each image data is printed (S102 in FIG. 11). Here, it is assumed that the display size of the pasted image data is A4, and the display size of the pasted image data is B5. When the display size of the image data of the pasting source and the pasting destination is recognized, the recognition unit 204 inputs the display size of the image data of the pasting source and the pasting destination to the enlargement processing unit 205.

  The enlargement processing unit 205 receives the image data of the pasting source and the pasting destination from the image data specifying unit 203, and when the display size of the image data of the pasting source and the pasting destination is inputted from the recognition unit 204, The display size ratio of the image data of the pasting destination with respect to is calculated (FIG. 11, S103). In the present embodiment, since the display size of the image data of the pasting source is A4 and the display size of the image data of the pasting destination is B5, the display size ratio is 87%.

  When the enlargement processing unit 205 calculates the display size ratio, the enlargement processing unit 205 displays a pasting execution screen (see FIG. 7) on the operation panel 150. As shown in FIG. 7, the pasting execution screen includes parameters indicating the range of pasting image data 701 and pasting image data 702, and the pasting area range pasted to pasting image data among pasting image data. A, B, C, D, parameters E and F indicating positions on the image data (hereinafter referred to as pasting positions) to which image data (hereinafter referred to as pasting data) included in the pasting area is pasted, and enlargement A rate 705 is displayed.

  The parameters A, B, C, D, E, and F are 0 by default. Parameters A, B, C, and D represent the positions of the left end, right end, upper end, and lower end of the pasting area. Parameters E and F represent the vertical and horizontal positions of the pasted image data. The enlargement ratio 705 is the display size ratio calculated above.

  The user can change parameters A, B, C, D, E, and F to change the pasting area and pasting position. When changing a parameter, the user touches the area where the parameter to be changed is displayed with a finger, inputs a numerical value with the numeric keypad 141, and presses the start key 142.

  When an area in which any of parameters A, B, C, and D is displayed is touched, the pasting data designation unit 206 is activated, and the pasting data designation unit 206 includes a parameter displayed on the touched area, a numeric keypad, The numerical value input in 141 is stored, and when the start key 142 is pressed, the stored parameter is changed to the numerical value input in the ten key 141. When an area in which one of the parameters E and F is displayed is touched, the pasting position designation unit 209 is activated, and the pasting position designation unit 209 is input with the parameters displayed in the touched area and the numeric keypad 141. When the start key 142 is pressed, the stored parameter is changed to the value input with the numeric keypad 141.

  When the parameters A, B, C, and D are changed from the default, the pasting data specifying unit 206 displays the pasting area 711 specified by the parameters A, B, C, and D on the pasting image data 701. When the parameters E and F are changed from the default, the pasting position specifying unit 209 displays the pasting position 712 specified by the parameters E and F on the pasting image data 702.

  When the user changes the parameters A, B, C, and D so that the desired pasting area 711 and the pasting position 712 are specified, the user presses the start key 142 (FIG. 11, S104).

  When the start key 142 is pressed, the pasting data designation unit 206 notifies the enlargement processing unit 205 of the pasting area 711 specified by the parameters A, B, C, and D, and the pasting position designation unit 209 receives the parameters E, The pasting position 712 specified by F is notified to the pasting means 207. When the pasting area 711 is notified, the enlargement processing unit 205 extracts the pasting data included in the pasting area 711 notified from the pasting image data, and the pasting data is displayed at the enlargement rate 705 displayed on the pasting execution screen. It is enlarged (FIG. 11, S105). When enlarging the image data, the enlargement processing unit 205 inputs the enlarged pasting data and the enlargement ratio 705 to the pasting unit 207.

  When the pasting data is input, the pasting unit 207 pastes the pasting data so that the representative point of pasting data (here, the upper left point 713 shown in FIG. 7) is pasted to the pasting position 712 of the pasting image data. It is pasted on the image data of the pasting destination (FIG. 11, S106).

  As described above, in the image processing apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the enlargement process is performed based on the display size of the image data of the pasting source and the pasting destination. The pasting data is pasted in a size corresponding to the display size.

  When the image data is pasted, the output unit 211 displays a process selection screen that allows the user to select whether to paste the image data to be pasted to the operation panel 150, to print it, or to store it in the image data storage unit 201. Display (see FIG. 8).

  For example, when performing facsimile transmission, the user presses the facsimile transmission key 801 displayed on the process selection screen. When the facsimile transmission key 801 is pressed, the output unit 211 acquires the image data of the pasting destination, the allowable image quality of the image data of the pasting source, and the enlargement ratio from the pasting unit 207 and inputs them to the communication control unit 202 ( FIG. 12, S201).

  The communication control means 202 displays on the operation panel 150 a screen (see FIG. 9) that prompts the user to input a FAX number when the image data of the pasting destination, the allowable image quality of the pasting image data, and the enlargement ratio are input. . When the screen prompting the user to input the FAX number is displayed, the user inputs the FAX number using the numeric keypad 141 and presses the start key 142 (FIG. 12, S202).

  When the start key 142 is pressed, the communication control unit 202 establishes a line with the communication partner of the input FAX number. When establishing a line, the communication control means 202 determines the resolution of the image data for facsimile transmission according to the request from the communication partner in accordance with the protocol of the facsimile communication (FIG. 12, S203). In the present embodiment, there are two types of resolutions required by the communication partner, 200 dpi and 600 dpi.

  When the resolution is determined, the communication control unit 202 converts the image data at the pasting destination into a format corresponding to the determined resolution when the line is established when the allowable image quality input from the output unit 211 is low. Then, facsimile transmission is performed (FIG. 12, S204 → S209). On the other hand, when the allowable image quality is high, the communication control unit 202 inputs the determined resolution, allowable image quality, and enlargement ratio to the determination unit 208. When the resolution, the allowable image quality, and the enlargement ratio are input, the determination unit 208 determines whether the image quality when the image data is transmitted satisfies the allowable image quality based on the resolution and the enlargement ratio (FIG. 12, FIG. 12). S204 → S205).

  As illustrated in FIG. 10, the determination unit 208 holds a determination table 1001, and determines that the allowable image quality is satisfied when the input resolution and enlargement ratio satisfy the conditions described in the determination table 1001. In other words, when the resolution is 200 dpi, the enlargement ratio is 200% or less, and when the resolution is 600 dpi, if the enlargement ratio is 600% or less, the determination unit 208 determines that the allowable image quality is satisfied.

  If it is determined that the allowable image quality is satisfied, the determination unit 208 issues a transmission permission to the communication control unit 202 (FIG. 12, S206). If there is a transmission permission, the communication control unit 202 converts the image data of the pasting destination into a format corresponding to the determined resolution and transmits it by facsimile as in the case where the allowable image quality is low (FIG. 12, S209). .

  If it is determined that the allowable image quality is not satisfied, the determination unit 208 displays on the operation panel 150 that the allowable image quality is not satisfied, and also displays that the user is inquired whether to transmit the image without satisfying the allowable image quality. When there is a display to the effect of the inquiry, the user inputs to the operation panel 150 whether or not to transmit with an image quality that does not satisfy the permissible image quality (FIG. 12, S207). When transmission is input, the determination unit 208 issues a transmission permission to the communication control unit 202, and when the transmission control is permitted, the communication control unit 202 transmits the image data of the pasting destination by facsimile as described above ( FIG. 12, S206 → S209).

  On the other hand, if it is input that transmission is not to be performed, the determination unit 208 issues a transmission stop instruction to the communication control unit 202, and if there is a transmission stop instruction, the communication control unit 202 does not transmit the image data of the pasting destination by facsimile ( FIG. 12, S208).

  As described above, if the allowable image quality of the image data of the pasting source is high, if it is determined that the allowable image quality is not satisfied, the user does not input that transmission is performed even if the allowable image quality is not satisfied. Facsimile transmission is not performed. Therefore, if the image data of the pasting source is changed to high image quality, if the image quality of the pasted data deteriorates due to enlargement processing at the time of pasting or conversion to a format corresponding to the resolution at the time of facsimile transmission, Can be prevented from being transmitted by facsimile without the user's knowledge.

  When the print key 802 is pressed on the process selection screen illustrated in FIG. 8, the output unit 211 acquires the image data of the pasting destination from the pasting unit 207 and prints it using the printing unit 120.

  When the facsimile transmission key 801 or the print key 802 is pressed on the process selection screen shown in FIG. 8, the output unit 211 inputs or prints the pasted image data into the communication control unit 202 and stores the image data. The data is stored in the means 201. Since the image data storage unit 201 stores the image data of the pasting destination before the pasting data is pasted, the output unit 211 displays the pasting destination when the facsimile transmission key 801 or the print key 802 is pressed. A screen is displayed on the operation panel 150 asking the user whether the image data is to be overwritten or stored as another image data. The output unit 211 overwrites and saves the pasted image data when the user selects to save, and outputs the pasted image data to another image when the user selects to save as another image data. Save as data.

  When the save key 803 is pressed on the process selection screen shown in FIG. 8, the output unit 211 does not input or print the paste destination image data to the communication control unit 202, and the facsimile transmission key 801. Or the same storage process as when the print key 802 is pressed.

  In addition, the communication control unit of the present embodiment functions as a resolution determination unit and a transmission unit because it determines the resolution of image data transmitted by facsimile and performs facsimile transmission as described above.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. 1 is a functional block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment. The schematic diagram of an operation part when the initial screen is displayed on the display panel. The schematic diagram of an operation part when the image data selection screen is displayed on the operation panel. The schematic diagram of an operation part. The schematic diagram of an operation part when the image data selection screen is displayed on the operation panel. The schematic diagram of a pasting execution screen. The schematic diagram of an operation part when the process selection screen is displayed on the operation panel. The schematic diagram of an operation part. The conceptual diagram of a judgment table. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the image processing of sticking. The flowchart which shows the procedure of facsimile transmission.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 Image processing apparatus 110 Reading part 120 Printing part 201 Image data storage means 202 Communication control means 203 Image data designation means 204 Recognition means 205 Enlargement processing means 206 Pasting data designation means 207 Pasting means 208 Judging means 209 Pasting position designation means 210 Permissible image quality Determination means 211 Output means

Claims (2)

Image data designating means for designating the pasting image data and pasting image data,
Recognition means for recognizing the display sizes of the two specified image data;
Pasting data designating means for designating pasting data to be pasted from the image data of the pasting source,
An enlargement processing means for enlarging the pasting data at an enlargement rate based on the recognized pasting destination and the display size of the image data of the pasting source;
An image processing apparatus comprising: pasting means for pasting the enlarged pasting data to the pasted image data. An acceptable image quality determining means for determining an acceptable image quality when the image data of the pasting source is transmitted by facsimile;
Resolution determining means for determining the resolution of image data transmitted by facsimile;
Based on the determined resolution and the enlargement ratio, a determination means for determining whether or not the image quality at the time of facsimile transmission of the pasted data is equal to or higher than the allowable image quality of the pasted image data;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a transmission unit that facsimile-transmits image data of a pasting destination to which the pasting data is pasted when it is determined that the image quality is higher than an allowable image quality.

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