JP2008092442A - Image processing apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately detect presence of dust at a reading position on a document and to remove a noise image caused thereby from a read image. <P>SOLUTION: On the basis of coordinate values, in an arbitrary color space, of pixels contained in image data, a dust detection circuit 90 detects an abnormal pixel from a change of a coordinate value, in a line direction, of each of a plurality of pixels contiguous in main scanning lines. A dot detection circuit 91 then pays attention to the number of abnormal pixels present within a predetermined range from a pixel of interest, for example, in order to extract pixels included in a dot image region and if the number exceeds a threshold, the dot detection circuit determines the relevant pixel as a pixel included in the dot image region. A dust determination circuit 92 determines a pixel which is detected as an abnormal pixel by the dust detection circuit 90 and is not determined by the dot detection circuit 91 not as a pixel included in the dot image region, as an abnormal pixel. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for detecting adhesion of dust at an image reading position for reading an image from a document and removing a noise image caused by the dust from a read image.

The image processing apparatus reads an image of a document conveyed by the conveying device through a platen glass using a line sensor such as a CCD at a predetermined reading position. However, if dust adheres to the reading position on the platen glass, a streak-like noise image caused by the dust enters the read image. In order to solve such problems, Patent Document 1 reads a background plate before reading a document, compares the density of the document image with the density of the background plate, detects a noise image caused by dust, A technique for removing this is disclosed. Patent Document 2 discloses a technique for detecting the presence of a noise image by second-order differentiation of image data.
JP-A-2005-64913 Japanese Patent No. 3554130

Since the technology described in Patent Document 1 detects the presence of a noise image based on the difference in density from the background board, the density of the background board and the density of the noise image, which are the comparison standards, are almost the same. Cannot detect noise images. For example, when a white background plate is used, white dust (for example, paper dust) may not be detected because the density difference from the background plate is extremely small. Further, in the method using the second derivative of Patent Document 2, there is a possibility that a streak-like noise image caused by dust cannot be distinguished from a line image originally associated with the document.
Further, in these techniques, when the original image includes a halftone image, the size of the halftone image itself or the area between the halftone images is very small, and the density difference between these is relatively large, There is a possibility that these areas are determined as noise images. In such a case, the halftone image is crushed by removing the noise image, and it is difficult to faithfully reproduce the color of the original image.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described background, and an object of the present invention is to more accurately detect the presence of dust at a reading position of a document and to remove a noise image resulting therefrom from the read image. .

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention reads an image on a document in units of scanning lines, and calculates each pixel in an arbitrary color space defined by a component related to lightness and a component related to hue or saturation. A calculation unit for obtaining a coordinate value, and a threshold value for a coordinate value of a pixel group existing within a predetermined range from the position of the own pixel based on the coordinate value of a component related to hue or saturation obtained by the calculation unit Detecting means that detects a predetermined number or less of pixels that have the coordinate values deviated as described above and are continuously arranged in the scanning line, and is included in a halftone image area existing in the image on the document Out of the pixels that are not extracted by the extracting unit that extracts pixels and the pixels that are not extracted by the extracting unit, the coordinate value of the pixel detected as an abnormal pixel by the detecting unit is closer to the coordinate value of the pixel group than the coordinate value. Providing a correction means for correcting a value, the image processing apparatus characterized by comprising an output means for outputting the image data including the coordinate value corrected by said correction means.

  Further, the present invention reads an image on a document in units of scanning lines, and calculates a coordinate value of each pixel in an arbitrary color space defined by a component related to lightness and a component related to hue or saturation. And a change in the coordinate value in the line direction of a group of pixels connected on each scanning line based on the coordinate values of the components related to hue or saturation obtained by the calculating means, and on each scanning line And having a coordinate value that deviates by more than a threshold with respect to the coordinate value of the pixel group existing within a predetermined range from the position of the own pixel, and not more than a predetermined number of pixels continuously arranged in the scanning line as abnormal pixels Detection means for detecting, extraction means for extracting pixels included in a halftone dot image area existing in the image on the original, and out of pixels not extracted by the extraction means, the detection means sets abnormal pixels. A correction unit that corrects the coordinate value of the detected pixel to a value closer to the coordinate value of the pixel group than the coordinate value, and an output unit that outputs image data including the coordinate value corrected by the correction unit. An image processing apparatus is provided.

  When the coordinate value of the component related to the brightness of the detected abnormal pixel is more than a threshold value on the low brightness side with respect to the coordinate value of the component related to the brightness of the pixel group, the detection means, It is desirable not to detect the abnormal pixel as an abnormal pixel.

  Further, the detection means may include an average value of coordinate values of a predetermined number of pixel groups continuously located on the front side in the scanning direction of a certain target pixel, and a coordinate value of a pixel located on the back side in the scanning direction of the target pixel, or An average value of coordinate values of a predetermined number of pixel groups continuously located on the back side in the scanning direction of the target pixel is calculated, and the coordinate value of the pixel group on the front side in the scanning direction is calculated. And the coordinate value of the pixel of interest deviates by more than the threshold value from the coordinate value of the pixel located on the back side in the scanning direction or the coordinate value of the predetermined number of pixel groups. If it is, the target pixel may be determined to be the abnormal pixel and detected.

  In addition, when the number of abnormal pixels detected within a predetermined range of the main scanning line from the position of a certain pixel of interest by the detection unit exceeds a threshold value, the extraction unit extracts the abnormal pixel as the halftone dot. You may make it extract as a pixel contained in an image area. Alternatively, an interval on the main scanning line of the abnormal pixel detected by the detection unit is detected, and when the detected interval is an equal interval, the abnormal pixel is extracted as a pixel included in the halftone image area You may make it do.

  In addition, the correction unit may use the coordinate value of the abnormal pixel extracted by the extraction unit as the coordinate value of the pixel located in front of the abnormal pixel in the scanning direction or the coordinate value of the pixel located in the back of the abnormal pixel in the scanning direction. You may make it correct | amend.

  The present invention also provides a computer that reads an image on a document in units of scanning lines and coordinates values of each pixel in an arbitrary color space defined by a component related to lightness and a component related to hue or saturation. Based on the coordinate value of the component related to the hue or saturation obtained by the calculation means and the coordinate value of the pixel group existing within a predetermined range from the position of the own pixel, Detection means for detecting, as abnormal pixels, a predetermined number or less of pixels that are continuously arranged in the scan line, and pixels included in a halftone dot image area existing in the image on the original. Out of the pixels that are not extracted by the extracting means and the extracting means, the coordinate value of the pixel detected as an abnormal pixel by the detecting means is closer to the coordinate value of the pixel group than the coordinate value And correcting means for correcting the, to provide a program to function as output means for outputting the image data including the coordinate value corrected by said correction means.

  The present invention also provides a computer that reads an image on a document in units of scanning lines and coordinates values of each pixel in an arbitrary color space defined by a component related to lightness and a component related to hue or saturation. And a change in the coordinate value in the line direction of the pixel group connected on each scan line based on the coordinate value of the component related to the hue or saturation obtained by the calculation means, A pixel having a coordinate value that deviates by more than a threshold with respect to a coordinate value of a pixel group existing within a predetermined range from the position of the own pixel on the scanning line, and not more than a predetermined number of pixels continuously arranged on the scanning line. Detection means for detecting as an abnormal pixel, extraction means for extracting a pixel included in a halftone image area existing in the image on the original, and out of pixels not extracted by the extraction means, the detection means Correction means for correcting the coordinate value of the pixel detected as an abnormal pixel to a value closer to the coordinate value of the pixel group than the coordinate value, and output for outputting image data including the coordinate value corrected by the correction means A program that functions as a means is provided.

  According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to detect the presence of dust at a reading position of a document and remove a noise image resulting from the detection from the read image.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a CCD unit 1 is means for reading a document conveyed by a conveyance device (not shown). In the present embodiment, the CCD unit 1 is driven by a drive signal from the CCD drive circuit 2 so that three reading positions from the most upstream side reading position to the most downstream side reading position on the document conveyance path are obtained. The original image is read and analog image signals R, G, and B are output.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the document transport device and the configuration of the optical system from the reading position on the document transport path to the CCD unit 1. In FIG. 2, the document 13 is conveyed by the drawing roller 14 to the conveyance roller 15 one by one. The conveyance roller 15 changes the document conveyance direction and conveys the document 13 toward the contact glass 16. The document 13 conveyed in this manner is pressed against the contact glass 16 by the back platen 18 and is finally discharged from the conveying device by the discharge roller 19. The three reading positions from the upstream reading position to the downstream reading position are provided on the contact glass 16, respectively. Each original image at each reading position is changed by the first mirror 20, the second mirror 21, and the third mirror 22, and is reduced by the lens 23, and the three CCD line sensors 1 A constituting the CCD unit 1. 1B, 1C.

  Here, the CCD line sensor 1 </ b> C represents the B color components of N pixels arranged in a straight line in a direction (main scanning direction) across the document conveyance direction at the most upstream reading position C on the contact glass 16. The image signal B is output. Further, the CCD line sensor 1B is aligned in a straight line in the main scanning direction at a reading position B that has traveled downstream from the reading position on the most upstream side by a distance of two main scanning lines (hereinafter simply referred to as two lines). An image signal G representing the G color component of N pixels is output. Then, the CCD line sensor 1A detects the R colors of N pixels arranged in a straight line in the main scanning direction at the reading position A on the most downstream side further advanced by a distance corresponding to two lines from the reading position corresponding to the image signal G. An image signal R representing the component is output.

  In FIG. 1, a signal processing system A including a sample and hold circuit 3A, an output amplifier circuit 4A, an A / D conversion circuit 5A, and a shading correction circuit 6A, a sample and hold circuit 3B, and an output amplifier circuit are provided at the subsequent stage of the CCD unit 1. 4B, a signal processing system B composed of an A / D conversion circuit 5B and a shading correction circuit 6B, and a signal processing system C composed of 3C to 6C are provided. The signal processing systems A to C are signal processing systems respectively corresponding to the image signal R, the image signal G, and the image signal B obtained at the reading positions A, B, and C, respectively.

  Here, the analog image signals R, G, and B obtained from the CCD unit 1 are sampled by the sample hold circuits 3A to 3C, respectively, and then amplified to appropriate levels by the output amplifier circuits 4A to 4C. Digital image data R, G, and B are respectively converted by the D conversion circuits 5A to 5C. These digital image data R, G, and B are corrected by the shading correction circuits 6A to 6C in accordance with the sensitivity variations of the CCD line sensors 1A to 1C and the light quantity distribution characteristics of the optical system. The above is the outline of each signal processing system corresponding to the image signals R, G, and B.

  The output delay circuits 7B and 7C delay the image data G and B output from the shading correction circuits 6B and 6C by a delay time corresponding to 2 lines and 4 lines, respectively, and output them as image data in phase with the image data R. .

The color space conversion circuit 8 performs gamma correction and conversion to the CIELAB color space for the image data R output from the shading correction circuit 6A and the image data G and B output from the output delay circuits 7B and 7C.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing input / output characteristics in gamma correction. The horizontal axis represents the density input value, and the vertical axis represents the density output value. The density is expressed by 256 gradations, and the density increases from 0 to 255. As shown in the figure, in the gamma correction of the present embodiment, the input / output characteristics draw a downward convex curve. That is, the density is corrected such that the higher the density, the greater the contrast. The CIELAB color space is a color space defined by components (coordinate values) L * related to lightness and components (coordinate values) related to hue (a *) or saturation (b *). In this conversion to the CIELAB color space, the color space conversion circuit 8 converts the density of each color after gamma correction by a matrix operation as shown in FIG. 10, for example, into three-component coordinate values L *, a * in the CIELAB color space. , B * and output image data representing these coordinate values.

  The dust detection circuit 9 is means for detecting a pixel affected by dust as an abnormal pixel based on the image data output from the color space conversion circuit 8 and outputting dust detection data indicating the location of the pixel. The noise removal circuit 10 is means for removing a noise image from the image data based on the dust detection data from the dust detection circuit 9 and outputting the image to the image processing circuit 11.

  The image processing circuit 11 performs, on the image data output from the noise removal circuit 10, image processing required by a device (digital copying machine, scanner, etc.) on which the image processing device is mounted, for example, enlargement / reduction processing, background removal Processing, binarization processing, etc. are performed. Then, the image processing circuit 11 outputs the image data subjected to these processes. Various processes such as image formation are performed based on the image data.

Next, the dust detection circuit 9 will be described with reference to FIG. The dust detection circuit 9 in this embodiment includes a dust detection circuit 90, a halftone dot detection circuit 91, and a dust determination circuit 92.
Here, an algorithm in which the dust detection circuit 90 detects abnormal pixels from image data will be described. First, the dust detection circuit 90 extracts the coordinate values L *, a *, and b * of each pixel connected to each scanning line from the image data output from the color space conversion circuit 8. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of changes in coordinate values in the main scanning direction. The horizontal axis in FIG. 4A represents the position in the main scanning direction, and the vertical axis represents the coordinate value a * (or b *). Further, the horizontal axis of FIG. 4B represents the position in the main scanning direction, and the vertical axis represents the coordinate value L *, each represented by 256 gradations. In (a), the distribution of the a * component in the pixel group k1 changes so as to be convex upward with respect to the surroundings, and the pixel group k2 changes so as to be convex downward. In (b), the distribution of the L * component in the pixel group k1 changes so as to be convex downward with respect to the surroundings, and the pixel group k2 changes so as to be convex upward. The purpose of the dust detection circuit 90 is that the coordinate value in the CIELAB color space changes significantly as compared to the surrounding pixels as shown in FIG. 4 and is continuously within a predetermined number (within 2 pixels in this embodiment). The purpose is to specify a group of pixels to be arranged. In the present embodiment, paper dust generated from recording paper is assumed as dust attached to the image reading position.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a method for detecting abnormal pixels. Here, first, processing for the a * component among the three components in the CIELAB color space will be described. In the figure, the horizontal axis represents the position in the main scanning direction, and the vertical axis represents the a * component in 256 gradations.
As shown in the figure, the dust detection circuit 90 pays attention to a certain pixel p1 on the main scanning line, and a group of pixels (here, in the scanning direction) located within a predetermined range on the front side in the scanning direction from the position of the target pixel p1. The average value a1 of the a * component of the 16 pixel groups Pf) located on the side is calculated. When the a * component x1 of the target pixel p1 deviates from the average value a1 of the a * component of the pixel group Pf by a threshold s1 or more, the dust detection circuit 90 determines that “there is a step of the a * component”. judge.

Next, the dust detection circuit 90 calculates the average value a2 of the a * components of the four pixel groups Pb connected from the pixel of interest p1 that is two pixels behind in the scanning direction. The dust detection circuit 90 compares the a * component x1 of the target pixel p1 with the average value a2 of the a * component of the pixel group Pb, and the a * component x1 of the target pixel p1 is the a * component of the pixel group Pb. If there is a deviation from the average value a2 of the threshold value s2 or more, it is determined that “the step of the a * component is present”.
In this way, the dust detection circuit 90 detects the target pixel p1 determined to have a step of the a * component with respect to the pixel group Pf on the front side in the scanning direction and the pixel group Pb on the back side in the scanning direction. It is determined as an “abnormal pixel” that does not accurately represent the color.

  Further, the dust detection circuit 90 calculates the a * component x2 of the adjacent pixel p2 existing one pixel behind the target pixel p1 determined to be an abnormal pixel, the average value a1 of the a * component of the pixel group Pf, and the pixel group. It is compared with the average value a2 of the a * component of Pb. As a result of this comparison, the a * component x2 of the pixel of interest p2 deviates from the average value a1 of the a * component of the pixel group Pf by a threshold value s1 or more, and the average value a2 of the a * component of the pixel group Pf exceeds the threshold value s2. If there is a divergence, the dust detection circuit 90 determines that the pixel of interest p2 is also an “abnormal pixel”. If the a * component x2 of the target pixel p2 does not satisfy these conditions, only the target pixel p1 is determined as an abnormal pixel.

In FIG. 5, the values of the a * components x1 and x2 of the target pixels p1 and p2 are lower than the average values a1 and a2 of the a * components of the pixel groups Pf and Pb, that is, the distribution of the a * components is below. Although an example in which the projection is convex is shown, even when the projection is upward, the target pixels p1 and p2 are determined to be abnormal pixels if the above condition is satisfied. That is, in FIG. 4A, the a * component of the pixels included in the pixel groups k1 and k2 changes significantly with respect to the surrounding pixels and satisfies the above-described abnormal pixel detection condition. It is determined that the pixel is abnormal.
The above is the content of the processing for the a * component.

When the process for the a * component is completed, the process for the b * component is subsequently performed. The content of the process for the b * component is the same as the process for the a * component. That is, the following processing is performed on the b * component.
The dust detection circuit 90 includes an average value b1 of b * components of a pixel group (here, 16 pixel groups Pf located on the front side in the scanning direction) located within a predetermined range on the front side in the scanning direction from the position of the target pixel p1. Is calculated. When the b * component y1 of the pixel of interest p1 deviates from the average value b1 of the b * component of the pixel group Pf by a threshold s3 or more, the dust detection circuit 90 determines that “there is a step of the b * component”. judge.

Next, the dust detection circuit 90 calculates the average value b2 of the b * components of the four pixel groups Pb connected from the pixel of interest p1 that is located two pixels behind in the scanning direction. The dust detection circuit 90 compares the b * component y2 of the pixel of interest p1 with the average b2 of the b * components of the pixel group Pb, and the b * component y1 of the pixel of interest p1 is the b * component of the pixel group Pb. If there is a deviation from the average value b2 of the threshold value s4 or more, it is determined that “there is a step of b * component”.
In this way, the dust detection circuit 90 detects the target pixel p1 determined to have a step of the b * component with respect to the pixel group Pf on the front side in the scanning direction and the pixel group Pb on the back side in the scanning direction. It is determined as an “abnormal pixel” that does not accurately represent the color.

  Further, the dust detection circuit 90 calculates the b * component y2 of the adjacent pixel p2 existing one pixel behind the target pixel p1 determined as an abnormal pixel, the average value b1 of the b * component of the pixel group Pf, and the pixel group. The average value b2 of the b * component of Pb is compared. As a result of the comparison, the b * component y2 of the target pixel p2 deviates from the average value b1 of the b * component of the pixel group Pf by a threshold value s3 or more, and the average value b2 of the b * component of the pixel group Pf exceeds the threshold value s4. If there is a divergence, the dust detection circuit 90 determines that the target pixel p2 is also an “abnormal pixel”. If the b * component y2 of the target pixel p2 does not satisfy these conditions, only the target pixel p1 is determined as an abnormal pixel.

As in the case of the a * component, if the distribution of the b * component is convex downward or convex upward, the pixels p1 and p2 are determined to be abnormal pixels if the above condition is satisfied.
The above is the content of the processing for the b * component.
The a * component and b * component in the CIELAB color space are components related to hue or saturation. That is, a change in hue or saturation of the document image is detected by the above processing.

When the process for the b * component is completed, the process for the L * component is subsequently performed. This process is performed on the pixels determined to be abnormal pixels by the process for the a * component or the b * component.
The dust detection circuit 90 is an average value L1 of L * components of a pixel group (here, 16 pixel groups Pf located on the front side in the scanning direction) located within a predetermined range on the front side in the scanning direction from the position of the target pixel p1. Is calculated. When the L * component z1 of the target pixel p1 deviates from the average value L1 of the L * component of the pixel group Pf to the low brightness side by a threshold value s5 or more, the dust detection circuit 90 determines that the “L * component low It is determined that there is a step toward the lightness side.

Next, the dust detection circuit 90 calculates the average value L2 of the L * components of the four pixel groups Pb connected from the pixel of interest p1 that is two pixels behind in the scanning direction. The dust detection circuit 90 compares the L * component z1 of the pixel of interest p1 with the average value L2 of the L * components of the pixel group Pb, and the L * component z1 of the pixel of interest p1 is the L * component of the pixel group Pb. If there is a deviation from the average value L2 to the low lightness side by the threshold s6 or more, it is determined that “there is a step on the low lightness side of the L * component”.
The dust detection circuit 90 determines that the pixel of interest p1 determined to have a step to the low brightness side of the L * component with respect to the pixel groups on the front side and the back side in the scanning direction is “not an abnormal pixel”. To do. That is, of the pixels determined to be abnormal pixels by the processing for the a * component or the b * component, the pixels determined to have a step to the low brightness side of the L * component are excluded from the abnormal pixels.

  Further, the dust detection circuit 90 uses the L * component z2 of the adjacent pixel p2 existing one pixel behind the target pixel p1 as the average value L1 of the L * component of the pixel group Pf and the L * component of the pixel group Pb. Compare with the mean value L2. As a result of this comparison, the L * component z2 of the pixel of interest p2 deviates from the average value L1 of the L * component of the pixel group Pf to the low brightness side by a threshold s5 or more, and the average value L2 of the L * component of the pixel group Pb If the threshold value s6 is not less than the threshold value s6, the dust detection circuit 90 determines that the target pixel p2 is “not an abnormal pixel”. That is, in FIG. 4B, the distribution of the L * component changes to the high brightness side for the pixel group k1, but changes to the low brightness side for the pixel group k2. Therefore, the dust detection circuit 90 determines that the pixels included in the pixel group k1 are abnormal pixels, but determines that the pixels included in the pixel group k2 are not abnormal pixels. In this way, the dust detection circuit 90 extracts abnormal pixels and outputs dust detection data indicating the position on the main scanning line.

In this embodiment, when it is determined that there is a step to the low brightness side of the L * component, the pixel is excluded from the abnormal pixel. The reason is as follows.
When dust such as paper dust adheres to the image reading position, streaky noise is generated. This noise appears as a lighter color line than the original image. When the noise-generated image is represented by three components of the CIELAB color space, the coordinate values of the a * component and the b * component may both increase or decrease at the noise generation position. On the other hand, the coordinate value of the L * component cannot change to the low brightness side, that is, the dark side. In view of this fact, in this embodiment, when it is determined that there is a step on the low brightness side of the L * component, the pixel is excluded from the abnormal pixel. As a result, a pixel determined to be an abnormal pixel by the process for the a * component or the b * component is determined to be an abnormal pixel only when L * changes to the high brightness side or when there is no change in L *. The

In the present embodiment, a pixel group of two or less pixels arranged in a row is determined as an abnormal pixel. The reason is as follows.
As described above, in the present invention, paper dust generated from recording paper is assumed as dust adhering to the image reading position. For example, when the reading resolution of the CCD unit 1 is 600 dpi, the size of the paper powder is approximately within 2/600 inch. For this reason, when two pixels arranged in a row in the scanning direction satisfy the above conditions as compared with the surrounding pixel group, the pixel group is determined as an “abnormal pixel”. Therefore, even if three pixels arranged continuously in the scanning direction satisfy the above conditions, the pixel group is not determined to be an abnormal pixel. There are cases where the image on the document contains a low-density line segment image (for example, a whitish line segment is drawn in a relatively dark background image). The thinnest line segment image is only about 3 pixels thick. In order to distinguish between such a low-density thin line segment image and a noise image, the dust detection circuit 90 determines that the pixel is abnormal if the number of continuous pixels satisfying the above conditions is within two pixels, If the number of continuous pixels satisfying the above density condition is 3 pixels or more, it is not determined as an abnormal pixel. In this embodiment, since the resolution at the time of image reading is 600 dpi, the maximum number of continuous pixels determined as abnormal pixels is two pixels. However, if the resolution at the time of image reading changes, the number of continuous pixels determined as abnormal pixels. Will also change. Further, in an image that does not include a thin line segment image, the number of continuous pixels that are determined as abnormal pixels may be larger than two pixels. Therefore, the number of continuous pixels that is a criterion for determining an abnormal pixel may be appropriately determined in consideration of the resolution at the time of image reading, the content of the image, the size of paper dust generated from the paper used, and the like. In particular, since the size of the paper dust depends on the type of paper used for the document, the number of continuous pixels serving as a criterion for determining abnormal pixels may be appropriately changed according to the type of paper.

  The halftone dot detection circuit 91 extracts pixels included in the halftone dot image area from the main scanning line. The image formed on the paper is reproduced by halftone dots of fine color materials such as yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, and such halftone dots are used to determine various colors and densities. The size and density are appropriately specified. However, when a plurality of halftone dots are densely located and the width between the halftone dots becomes minute, pixels located in the range between the halftone dots are abnormal by the dust detection circuit 90. In some cases, the pixel detection condition is satisfied.

  More specific description will be given with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a halftone dot image. The white arrow portion indicates the main scanning line W. As shown, halftone dots A1, A2, A3,... Formed at equal intervals with a color material such as ink or toner are included in an area determined to be a “halftone dot image” on the document. An and portions where these halftone dots are not formed, that is, background portions B1, B2, B3,..., Bn-1 indicating the color (or background color) of the sheet itself exist. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the noise image C exists so as to overlap the halftone dot A4 and a part of the noise image is located on the main scanning line W. In the following, when there is no need to distinguish each halftone dot, it is simply referred to as “halftone dot A”. Similarly, the background portion is also expressed as “background portion B”.

  As shown in FIG. 6, on the main scanning line W, the background portion B is minute relative to the size of the halftone dot A, and the coordinate values L *, a *, The difference in b * is relatively large. Therefore, the background portion B may satisfy the detection condition of the abnormal pixel by the dust detection circuit 90 described above. In this case, the pixel of the background portion B together with the noise image C is determined as an abnormal pixel. Therefore, the halftone dot detection circuit 91 extracts pixels included in the halftone dot image region so that pixels that are not originally abnormal pixels are not erroneously determined as abnormal pixels.

Next, an algorithm in which the halftone dot detection circuit 91 extracts pixels included in the halftone dot image region will be described taking the case of the main scanning line W shown in FIG. 6 as an example.
First, the value of the a * component of the pixel located on the main scanning line W calculated by the color space conversion circuit 8 is shown in FIG. 7A, and the value of the L * component is shown in FIG. 7B. In addition, illustration is abbreviate | omitted about b * component. Originally, when the dust detection circuit 90 detects abnormal pixels, only the abnormal pixel group located in the noise image C should be detected. However, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the a * component of the pixel group included in the background portion B is higher than the surrounding pixels (that is, the pixel located at the halftone dot A). It changes so that it may become convex, the L * component changes so that it protrudes downward, and the pixels located in the background portions B1, B2,. If they are satisfied, they are all detected as abnormal pixels.

In order to extract pixels erroneously detected as abnormal pixels for the above reasons, for example, the halftone dot detection circuit 91 focuses on a pixel on the main scanning line W and exists within a predetermined range from the position of the target pixel. The number of abnormal pixels to be detected is detected. Here, “within a predetermined range” means, for example, that there are M pixels from the target pixel to the front and back in the main scanning direction. Thereby, in the range on the main scanning line W, the dust detection circuit 90 detects the number of abnormal pixels based on the pixel group included in the background portion and the abnormal pixel group located in the noise image C. Therefore, the number of detected abnormal pixels increases according to the number of background portions B in the range, and therefore, the number of detected abnormal pixels in the range is relatively large in the area where the halftone image is formed.
However, since what is assumed as a noise image is caused by dust such as paper dust at the reading position of the reading means, the number of abnormal pixels caused by dust existing on one line becomes enormous. There is almost no. Therefore, when the halftone dot detection circuit 91 determines that the number of abnormal pixels in the above range is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold T, it determines that these are pixels included in the halftone image area. On the other hand, when the halftone dot detection circuit 91 determines that the number of abnormal pixels in the range is less than the threshold value T, it determines that they are abnormal pixels.

In the case of FIG. 6, the halftone dot A is minute and the background portion B is relatively large, and the halftone dot A changes to a low brightness with respect to surrounding pixels (that is, pixels included in the background portion B). In such a case, the pixel located at the halftone dot A may be detected as an abnormal pixel. Even in such a case, since the halftone dots A are periodically arranged in the main scanning direction, if attention is paid to the main scanning lines W, the halftone detection circuit 91 is similarly included in the halftone dot image region. Pixels can be extracted.
FIG. 6 shows an example in which the halftone dots A (and the background portion B) are arranged at equal intervals in the main scanning direction. However, when the halftone dots are not parallel to the main scanning direction, A halftone image in which a plurality of halftone dots of different sizes are mixed is often used. In such a case, the sizes of the halftone dots and the background portion are not constant with respect to the main scanning direction, and the coordinate values a *, b *, and L * may change in a complicated manner with respect to the main scanning direction. is there. However, as described above, since the halftone image is regularly formed within a certain range, if attention is paid to the main scanning direction, periodicity often appears, and pixels included in the halftone image region are not detected. Can be extracted.

  The dust determination circuit 92 generates dust detection data based on the extraction result of the pixels included in the halftone image area by the halftone detection circuit 91 and outputs the dust detection data. For the pixels determined by the halftone dot detection circuit 91 not to be included in the halftone dot image area by the method described above, dust detection data representing the determination result by the dust detection circuit 90 is output. On the other hand, regarding the pixel determined to be a pixel included in the halftone image area by the halftone dot detection circuit 91, the pixel is not an abnormal pixel regardless of the dust detection data output from the dust detection circuit 90. The dust detection data indicating that is output.

In this embodiment, the dust detection circuit 9 is provided after the color space conversion circuit 8. The reason is as follows.
When gamma correction and color space conversion are performed on R, G, and B image data, streaky noise may be emphasized. As shown in FIG. 9, in general, in gamma correction, correction is performed such that the higher the density, the greater the contrast. Therefore, streak-like noise is enhanced as the density of the document image increases. In the conversion to the CIELAB color space, the absolute values of the coefficients constituting the matrix shown in FIG. For example, when the absolute value of the coefficient of B exceeds 1, B color is emphasized, and as a result, noise appears as a bluish line. The color of the noise image is often represented by any one of R, G, and B and rarely includes all three of these colors, so conversion to the CIELAB color space enhances the noise image It can be an effective means for this. Even if noise detection processing is performed on image data before gamma correction and color space conversion, noise that is not detected by this processing may become apparent due to gamma correction and color space conversion. obtain. In the present invention, the dust detection circuit 9 is provided after the color space conversion circuit 8 in order to detect noise enhanced by gamma correction and color space conversion.

  Next, the noise removal circuit 10 will be described. The noise removal circuit 10 identifies the position of the abnormal pixel based on the dust detection data output by the dust detection circuit 9, and sets the coordinate value of the abnormal pixel in the CIELAB color space to the pixel groups Pf and Pb from the coordinate value. The noise image is removed from the image data L *, a *, b * by correcting to a value close to the coordinate value. Here, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the contents of the process for noise removal performed by the noise removal circuit 10. As shown in the figure, the noise removal circuit 10 replaces the coordinate value of the pixel of interest p1 extracted as an abnormal pixel with the coordinate value of the pixel p1 ′ located on the front side in the scanning direction, and extracts the pixel of interest extracted as an abnormal pixel. The coordinate value of the pixel p2 is replaced with the coordinate value of the pixel p2 ′ located on the far side in the scanning direction. If only one pixel of interest p1 is extracted as an abnormal pixel, it may be replaced with the coordinate value of the pixel p1 ′ located on the front side in the scanning direction, or the coordinate of the pixel p2 ′ located on the far side in the scanning direction It may be replaced with a value. Such processing is executed for all abnormal pixels indicated by the dust detection data, so that streak-like noise images caused by dust are removed from the image data output from the color space conversion circuit 8. Then, the image data from which the noise is removed is sent to the image processing circuit 11.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, in a given color space, coordinate values relating to hue or saturation are significantly different from the surrounding pixel groups, and pixels whose brightness is not low with respect to the surrounding pixel groups. Are extracted as abnormal pixels. Next, the pixels included in the halftone dot image area are extracted, the abnormal pixels and the pixels included in the halftone dot image area are classified, and the coordinate values of the abnormal pixels are appropriately corrected. Conventionally, abnormal pixels having the same density as the background plate could not be detected because the abnormal pixels were detected based on the density difference from the background plate. However, according to the present embodiment, in any color space, Since abnormal pixels are found by paying attention to the difference in coordinate values, even abnormal pixels affected by white dust such as paper dust can be accurately detected.

The embodiment described above can be modified as follows.
In the embodiment, the pixel group Pf located within a predetermined range on the near side in the scanning direction from the position of the target pixel p1 is 16 pixels, but the number of pixels is not limited thereto. Similarly, in the embodiment, the pixel group Pb positioned within a predetermined range on the back side in the scanning direction from the position of the target pixel p1 is four pixels, but the number of pixels is not limited thereto. The pixel group Pf is desirably a relatively large number of pixels for the purpose of confirming that the image is distributed at a relatively high density as described above, but the pixel group Pb is at least one. Also good. When the pixel (group) Pb is composed of one pixel, the dust detection circuit 9 does not have to calculate the average value of the pixel (group) Pb, and compares the density of the pixel itself with the density of the target pixel. Good.
The determination by the dust detection circuit 9 may be a method other than that shown in the embodiment. For example, if there is a pixel in which the a * component x1 of the target pixel p1 is larger than a1 + α and the a * component is smaller than a1 + β on the far side in the scanning direction of the target pixel p1, there is a “a * component step difference. May be determined. However, a1 is an average value of a * components of the pixel group Pf, and α and β are constant values.

  In the embodiment, the halftone dot detection circuit 91 detects the number of abnormal pixels existing within a predetermined range from the position of the target pixel, and when the number of abnormal pixels exceeds the threshold value T, the target pixel is a halftone image. Although it is determined that the pixel is included in the region, the occurrence interval of the abnormal pixel may be detected, and the abnormal pixel distributed at equal intervals may be determined as the pixel included in the halftone image region. In other words, abnormal pixels that appear periodically in the main scanning direction are determined as pixels included in the halftone image area. As described above, in FIG. 6, the halftone dots A having the same size are arranged at equal intervals in the main scanning direction, and such a format is obtained within a certain size range of the image. There are many cases. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, if attention is paid to the coordinate values a * and L * in the main scanning direction by the halftone dot A and the background portion B, these values change with periodicity in the main scanning direction. Yes. Therefore, if the halftone dot detection circuit 91 determines that the abnormal pixels distributed at equal intervals are pixels included in the halftone dot image region, the dust determination circuit 92 determines that only abnormal pixels having no periodicity are abnormal pixels caused by dust. Is determined. In this way, it is possible to accurately classify whether the pixel is included in the halftone image area or an abnormal pixel.

  In the embodiment, the image data converted into the CIELAB color space by the color space conversion unit 8 is supplied to the dust detection circuit 9 and the noise removal circuit 10. However, the image supplied to the noise removal circuit 10 is used. The data may be RGB format image data. In this case, in the circuit of FIG. 1, the image data supplied to the noise removal circuit 10 includes image data R output from the shading correction circuit 6A, and image data G and B output from the output delay circuits 7B and 7C. This is realized by providing such a bus. In this way, since noise removal processing is performed based on the image data R, G, B, conventional noise removal means can be applied as it is.

  In the above-described embodiment, detection and removal of abnormal pixels are performed by hardware (circuit), but this may be realized by software (computer program). That is, the image processing apparatus includes a large-capacity image memory capable of storing image data, and stores software in a storage unit (not shown). When the CPU executes the software, processing equivalent to that of the dust detection circuit 9 and the noise removal circuit 10 described above is performed on the image data stored in the image memory. In other words, this software allows the computer to read the image on the original in units of scan lines, and to set the coordinates of each pixel in an arbitrary color space defined by a component related to lightness and a component related to hue or saturation. Based on the coordinate value of the component relating to the hue or saturation obtained by the calculation means obtained by the calculation means, and the coordinate value of the pixel group existing within a predetermined range from the position of the own pixel, the threshold value or more Detection means for detecting a predetermined number or less of pixels having a deviated coordinate value and continuously arranged in the scanning line as abnormal pixels, and pixels included in a halftone image area existing in the image on the original Out of the pixels that are not extracted by the extracting means, and the coordinate value of the pixel detected as an abnormal pixel by the detecting means is more than the coordinate value of the pixel group. And correcting means for correcting a value close to target values so that they appear as an output means for outputting the image data including the coordinate value corrected by said correction means. The software is recorded on a recording medium such as a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, a floppy (registered trademark) disk, an optical recording medium, a magneto-optical recording medium, a CD (Compact Disk) -ROM, a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk) -RAM. In such a state, the image processing apparatus can be provided. It is also possible to provide the image processing apparatus via a network such as the Internet.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an optical system from a document conveying device and a document reading position to a CCD unit. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a dust detection circuit. It is a figure which shows an example of the coordinate value in a main scanning direction. It is a figure explaining the detection method of an abnormal pixel. It is a schematic diagram which shows an example of the main scanning line containing a halftone image. It is a figure which shows an example of the coordinate value of the main scanning line containing a halftone image. It is a figure which shows the content of the process which correct | amends an abnormal pixel. It is a figure which shows the input / output characteristic in a gamma correction. It is a figure which shows the matrix used by color space conversion.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... CCD part, 2 ... CCD drive circuit, 7B, 7C ... Output delay circuit, 8 ... Color space conversion circuit, 9 ... Dust detection circuit, 10 ... Noise removal circuit, 11 ... Image processing circuit, 90 ... Dust detection circuit, 91... Halftone dot detection circuit, 92.

Claims (9)

A calculation unit that reads an image on a document in units of scanning lines, and calculates a coordinate value of each pixel in an arbitrary color space defined by a component related to lightness and a component related to hue or saturation;
Based on the coordinate value of the component related to hue or saturation obtained by the calculation means, the coordinate value deviates by more than a threshold from the coordinate value of the pixel group existing within a predetermined range from the position of the own pixel. And detecting means for detecting a predetermined number or less of the pixels continuously arranged in the scanning line as abnormal pixels;
Extracting means for extracting pixels included in a halftone dot image area existing in the image on the original;
Correction means for correcting the coordinate value of a pixel detected as an abnormal pixel by the detection means among the pixels not extracted by the extraction means to a value closer to the coordinate value of the pixel group than the coordinate value;
An image processing apparatus comprising: output means for outputting image data including the coordinate values corrected by the correction means. A calculation unit that reads an image on a document in units of scanning lines, and calculates a coordinate value of each pixel in an arbitrary color space defined by a component related to lightness and a component related to hue or saturation;
Based on the coordinate value of the component related to hue or saturation obtained by the calculation means, a change in the coordinate value in the line direction of the pixel group connected on each scan line is detected, and the own pixel on each scan line is detected. Detection that detects a predetermined number or less of pixels that have a coordinate value that deviates by more than a threshold from the coordinate value of a pixel group existing within a predetermined range from the position of the pixel as abnormal pixels. Means,
Extracting means for extracting pixels included in a halftone dot image area existing in the image on the original;
Correction means for correcting the coordinate value of a pixel detected as an abnormal pixel by the detection means among the pixels not extracted by the extraction means to a value closer to the coordinate value of the pixel group than the coordinate value;
An image processing apparatus comprising: output means for outputting image data including the coordinate values corrected by the correction means. When the coordinate value of the component related to the brightness of the detected abnormal pixel is more than a threshold value on the low brightness side with respect to the coordinate value of the component related to the brightness of the pixel group, the detection means, The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the abnormal pixel is not detected as an abnormal pixel. The detection unit is configured to obtain an average value of coordinate values of a predetermined number of pixel groups continuously located on the front side in the scanning direction of a certain target pixel and a coordinate value of a pixel located on the back side in the scanning direction of the target pixel or the target An average value of coordinate values of a predetermined number of pixel groups continuously located on the back side in the scanning direction of the pixel, and an average value of coordinate values of the pixel group in which the coordinate value of the target pixel is located on the near side in the scanning direction When the coordinate value of the target pixel deviates from the value by a threshold value or more, and deviates by more than the threshold value from the coordinate value of the pixel located at the back side in the scanning direction or the average value of the coordinate values of the predetermined number of pixel groups The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the target pixel is detected by determining that the target pixel is the abnormal pixel. When the number of the abnormal pixels detected within a predetermined range of the main scanning line from the position of a certain pixel of interest by the detection unit exceeds a threshold value, the extraction unit identifies the abnormal pixel as the halftone dot image region. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus extracts pixels as pixels included in the image processing apparatus. The extraction unit detects an interval on the main scanning line of the abnormal pixel detected by the detection unit, and when the detected interval is an equal interval, the abnormal pixel is included in the halftone dot image region. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is extracted as a pixel. The correction unit corrects the coordinate value of the abnormal pixel extracted by the extraction unit to the coordinate value of the pixel located in front of the abnormal pixel in the scanning direction or the coordinate value of the pixel located in the back of the abnormal pixel in the scanning direction. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is an image processing apparatus. Computer
A calculation unit that reads an image on a document in units of scanning lines, and calculates a coordinate value of each pixel in an arbitrary color space defined by a component related to lightness and a component related to hue or saturation;
Based on the coordinate value of the component related to hue or saturation obtained by the calculation means, the coordinate value deviates by more than a threshold from the coordinate value of the pixel group existing within a predetermined range from the position of the own pixel. And detecting means for detecting a predetermined number or less of the pixels continuously arranged in the scanning line as abnormal pixels;
Extracting means for extracting pixels included in a halftone dot image area existing in the image on the original;
Correction means for correcting the coordinate value of a pixel detected as an abnormal pixel by the detection means among the pixels not extracted by the extraction means to a value closer to the coordinate value of the pixel group than the coordinate value;
A program that functions as an output unit that outputs image data including coordinate values corrected by the correction unit. Computer
A calculation unit that reads an image on a document in units of scanning lines, and calculates a coordinate value of each pixel in an arbitrary color space defined by a component related to lightness and a component related to hue or saturation;
Based on the coordinate value of the component related to hue or saturation obtained by the calculation means, a change in the coordinate value in the line direction of the pixel group connected on each scan line is detected, and the own pixel on each scan line is detected. Detection that detects a predetermined number or less of pixels that have a coordinate value that deviates by more than a threshold from the coordinate value of a pixel group existing within a predetermined range from the position of the pixel as abnormal pixels. Means,
Extracting means for extracting pixels included in a halftone dot image area existing in the image on the original;
Correction means for correcting the coordinate value of a pixel detected as an abnormal pixel by the detection means among the pixels not extracted by the extraction means to a value closer to the coordinate value of the pixel group than the coordinate value;
A program that functions as an output unit that outputs image data including coordinate values corrected by the correction unit.

Images