JP2008118426A - Image processing apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform simultaneous transmission of read images on both sides of an original by efficiently utilizing data transmission capacity of a data transmitting means of an image processing apparatus that can perform both-side reading of the original. <P>SOLUTION: Image data output from a first image reading means with a CCD 21 for reading an image on the surface of the original and second image data output from a second image reading means provided with a CCD 23 for reading an image on the backside of the original are multiplexed by using common clock timing, and the simultaneous transmission of images on both-side is performed through a data bus. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and a program.

  An image having a function of reading both sides of a document with two image pickup means, performing appropriate image processing on the image data, and outputting the image data (for example, outputting to a communication line or an electronic recording medium as print or image data) Processing devices are known. In such an image processing apparatus, both sides of a document are read by two imaging units and transmitted to an image holding apparatus that holds the image data. These techniques are described in Patent Documents 1 to 5, for example.

JP-A-2005-242917 JP 2005-260844 JP 2005-260845 A JP-A-2005-260846 JP-A-8-65454

  An object of this invention is to provide the technique which can utilize efficiently the data transmission capacity which can be transmitted of a data transmission means.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a first image reading unit that reads an image of one side of a document and generates image information thereof, and a first image reading unit that reads an image of the other side of the document and generates image information thereof. The second image reading means, the first image information output from the first image reading means, and the second image information output from the second image reading means using a common reference signal An image processing apparatus comprising line multiplexing means for multiplexing.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the resolution setting means for setting the resolution of the first image information and the resolution of the second image information, and the first image information or the second image information. Information transmission means capable of transmitting image information and having an information transmission capacity, and a sum of an information transmission capacity necessary for transmitting the first image information and an information transmission capacity necessary for transmitting the second image information However, multiplexing is performed when the resolution is set to a value that does not reach the information transmission capacity of the information transmission means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the information transmission capacity of the information transmission means is such that the resolution of the first image information and the resolution of the second image information are maximized. When set, it has a value capable of transmitting either the first image information or the second image information.

  The invention according to claim 4 is provided with determination means for determining whether or not multiplexing is possible in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 3, and this determination means is not capable of multiplexing. If it is determined, the determination unit determines whether or not the image reading unit includes a holding unit that holds image information of the captured image.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, determination means for determining whether or not multiplexing is possible, and image information of an image captured by the image reading means. Holding means for holding, and when the determining means determines that multiplexing is not possible, the determining means determines whether or not the holding means has a storage capacity capable of holding image information. .

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a computer is caused to read an image on one side of an original to generate first image information, and an image on the other side of the original is read to generate second image information. The first image information and the second image information are multiplexed using a common reference signal.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect of the invention, the first image information and the second image information are set to a predetermined resolution, and are necessary for transmitting the first image information. The multiplexing is performed when the resolution is set so that the sum of the information transmission capacity and the information transmission capacity necessary for transmitting the second image information does not reach the information transmission capacity of the information transmission means. To do.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first image information is determined when it is determined whether or not multiplexing is possible. Alternatively, the second image information is held.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first image information is determined when it is determined whether or not multiplexing is possible. Alternatively, it is determined whether there is a storage capacity capable of holding the second image information.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since image data can be multiplexed and simultaneously transmitted, the data transmission capacity that can be transmitted by the data transmission means can be used efficiently. In addition, since image data can be transmitted simultaneously, the transmission speed can be increased to increase productivity.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the image data is multiplexed by setting the resolution of the image data, the data transmission capacity that can be transmitted by the data transmission means can be used efficiently.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, even when the resolution is set to the maximum, the transmission means can transmit the image data of one side of the document.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when duplex image data cannot be multiplexed, it is possible to cope with this by determining whether or not image data can be sequentially transmitted.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when duplex image data cannot be multiplexed, it is possible to cope with this by determining whether or not image data can be sequentially transmitted.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the image data can be multiplexed and simultaneously transmitted by the computer, so that the maximum data transmission capacity of the data transmission means can be utilized. In addition, since image data can be transmitted simultaneously, the transmission speed can be increased to increase productivity.

  According to the seventh aspect of the invention, since the computer multiplexes the image data by setting the resolution of the image data, the data transmission capacity that can be transmitted by the data transmission means can be used efficiently.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, when duplex image data cannot be multiplexed, it can be coped with by determining whether or not the image data can be sequentially transmitted.

  According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, when duplex image data cannot be multiplexed, it is possible to cope with this by determining whether or not sequential transmission of image data is possible.

(1) First embodiment
(Constitution)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an image processing apparatus using the invention. FIG. 1 shows an image processing apparatus 10. The image processing apparatus 10 has a function of reading both sides of a document with two imaging units, performing appropriate image processing on the image data, and outputting the image data (for example, printing or outputting the data as a communication line or an electronic recording medium). have.

  The image processing apparatus 10 includes an image reading unit 20, an image data transmission unit 30, an image processing unit 40, and an image output unit 50. The image reading unit 20 optically reads an image of a document and generates image data thereof. In this example, the image reading unit 20 has a function of reading images on the front and back sides of a document with one operation and generating image data on both sides. The image data transmission unit 30 transmits the image data output from the image reading unit 20 to the image processing unit 40 at the next stage. Since the image reading unit 20 and the image processing unit 40 are separated from each other due to the structure of the apparatus, the image data transmission unit 30 includes a parallel transmission cable, a serial transmission cable, an optical cable, or the like.

  The image processing unit 40 performs image processing on the received image data. The image output unit 50 has a function of outputting an image as printed matter, a function of outputting image data to a communication line, a function of outputting image data to a storage server or an appropriate storage device (for example, a hard disk device), or a plurality of these functions. It has the functions provided. The image reading unit 20 includes a CCD 21, a CCD controller 22, a CCD 23, a CCD controller 24, a video clock signal generation device 25, a buffer memory 26, a line multiplexer (Multiplexer) 27, and a resolution setting device 28.

  The CCD 21 is an imaging device that reads an image on the surface of a document. The CCD controller 22 controls the operation of the CCD 21 and generates image data based on the output of the CCD 21. The CCD 23 is an imaging device that reads an image on the back side of a document. The CCD controller 24 controls the operation of the CCD 23 and generates image data based on the output of the CCD 23. The video clock signal generator 25 generates a video clock signal (VCLK) that serves as a reference signal for transmission of image data, and outputs it to the CCD controllers 22 and 24.

  The CCD controllers 22 and 24 include a buffer memory (not shown) that can buffer a predetermined amount of data (for example, data in units of lines). Based on the video clock signal (VCLK) output from the video clock signal generation device 25, the output timing of the image data output from the CCD controllers 22 and 24 is adjusted by buffering the image data in these buffer memories. Can be matched. The buffer memory 26 temporarily holds image data of an image captured by the CCD 23.

  The line multiplexer 27 has a function of multiplexing the image data of the front image of the original and the image data of the back image of the original. The multiplexing mechanism will be described later. The image data multiplexed by the line multiplexer 27 is transmitted to a subsequent image processing system using a 32-bit data bus 31 described later. The resolution setting device 28 sets the resolution (gradation level) of the color image based on the image adjustment function of the image processing device 10 and outputs the set resolution setting data to the CCD controllers 22 and 24.

  The image data transmission unit 30 includes a 32-bit data bus 31 having a data transmission capacity capable of transmitting 32-bit data. The 32-bit data bus 31 is a data transmission path for transmitting a color image composed of YMCK basic colors, and has a capacity capable of transmitting 8-bit (256 gradation) gradation data as each basic color. ing. The 32-bit data bus 31 is additionally provided with a transmission path for transmitting a video clock signal (VCLK), a line sync signal (LS), and a page sync signal (PS) in addition to a 32-bit capacity.

  Here, the video clock signal (VCLK) is a clock signal that serves as a reference signal for transmission of image data, and the line sync signal (LS) is a signal that conveys information about the position of the line in the image data, and the page sync signal. (PS) is a signal that conveys information about the page position of image data. The line sync signal (LS) and page sync signal (PS) are generated based on the video clock signal (VCLK).

  The image processing unit 40 includes a line separation device (Diplexer) 41 and an image processing circuit 42. A line separation device (Diplexer) 41 separates the multiplexed image data on both sides into image data on each side. When only the image data on one side of the original is sent using the 32-bit data bus 31, no multiplexing is performed. In this case, image data is transmitted for each side using the 32-bit data bus 31. The image processing circuit 42 has a function of performing various types of image processing on the image data on one side of the read original output from the line separation device 41. This image processing includes color conversion processing, resolution conversion processing, enlargement / reduction processing, filtering processing, and the like.

(Operation when sequentially transmitting both-side image data)
Hereinafter, an example will be described in which the scanned image data is sequentially transmitted to the image processing unit 40 one side at a time in simultaneous reading of both sides of a document. FIG. 2 shows an operation mode when the image data on both sides of the document read by the image reading unit 20 is sent to the image processing unit 40 via the image data transmission unit 30 one by one in the image processing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram.

  First, both sides of the document are imaged while being scanned simultaneously by the CCD 21 and the CCD 23 (of course, the timing may be slightly shifted). Then, image data on the front side of the document is generated by the CCD controller 22, and image data on the back side of the document is generated by the CCD controller 24.

  Here, first, image data on the front side is transmitted using the image transmission unit 30, and then image data on the back side is transmitted. For this purpose, first, image data (surface-side image data) is sent from the CCD controller 22 to the image processing circuit 42 via the 32-bit data bus 31. Note that the video clock signal (VCLK), the line sync signal (LS), and the page sync signal (PS) of the image data are transmitted via a transmission path provided alongside the 32-bit data bus 31. At this time, the multiplexing function of the line multiplexer 27 and the separating function of the line separator 41 do not function.

  On the other hand, image data (back side image data) output from the CCD controller 24 is temporarily stored in the buffer memory 26, and waits until transmission of the image data (front side image data) from the CCD controller 22 is completed. To do. When the transmission of the image data (front-side image data) is completed, the image data (back-side image data) from the CCD controller 23 buffered in the buffer memory 26 is transferred via the 32-bit data bus 31 to the image processing circuit. 42. At this time, the video clock signal (VCLK), the line sync signal (LS), and the page sync signal (PS) of the image data are transmitted via a transmission path provided alongside the 32-bit data bus 31.

  In this way, image data on the front and back sides of the document is sequentially transmitted from the image reading unit 20 to the image processing unit 40. In the transmission of the front and back image data, each basic color of YMCK can be transmitted as 8-bit (256 ways) gradation data. That is, it is possible to transmit image data that maximizes the line capacity of the 32-bit data bus 31.

(Operation when transmitting image data on both sides simultaneously)
Hereinafter, an example in which the scanned image data is simultaneously transmitted to the image processing unit 40 in both-sided scanning of the document will be described. In this case, each image on the front and back surfaces is an image in which each basic color of YMCK is expressed by a gradation of about 3 bits or less. That is, the number of bits of image information of an image to be transmitted is lowered at a lower resolution, and the resulting free space of the 32-bit data bus 31 is used to reduce the image of the other side (the number of bits of image information of this image is also reduced Need to transmit). Thereby, compared with the case where all 8 bits are used, the resolution is lowered, but the image data on both sides can be transmitted simultaneously.

  A specific example will be described below. Here, as an example, a case will be described in which each basic color of YMCK in the front and back image data is 1-bit data. That is, an example in which the resolution is set to 1 bit will be described. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing an operation mode when image data on both sides of a document read by the image reading unit 20 is simultaneously sent to the image processing unit 40 via the image data transmission unit 30 in the image processing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. FIG.

  In this case, both sides of the document (not shown) are read by the CCDs 21 and 23. The read image data of the front and back images is output from the CCD controllers 22 and 24. At this time, the video clock signal (VCLK) generated from the video clock signal generator 25 is used to ensure the synchronization of the output timing of both image data.

  Image data output from the CCD controllers 22 and 24 are multiplexed in an image multiplexer (Multiplexer) 27. This multiplexing is performed as follows. In this case, since the YMCK data of the surface image data output from the CCD controller 22 is 1 bit, the 32-bit data bus 31 is empty. Using this empty portion, YMCK data of the back side image data output from the CCD controller 24, and its line sync signal (LS) and page sync signal (PS) are transmitted. At this time, the image data output from the CCD controllers 22 and 24 are synchronized with a common video clock signal (VCLK), and therefore can be simultaneously transmitted on the 32-bit data bus 31.

  The double-sided image data transmitted via the 32-bit data bus 31 is separated into front-side image data and back-side image data by a line separation device (Diplexer) 41. The separated image data is taken into a buffer memory (not shown) in the image processing circuit 42 and then subjected to image processing.

  In the example shown in FIG. 3, since the number of bits of each basic color image in the front and back image data is 1 bit, the 32-bit data bus 31 capable of transmitting 8 bits of each basic color has an empty capacity. In this example, since the single-sided line sync signal (LS) and page sync signal (PS) are transmitted using a part of the 32-bit data bus 31, all 32 bits cannot be allocated to YMCK. The number of bits allocated to the front and back images may not be equal.

(2) Second embodiment
(Constitution)
FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an example of an image processing apparatus using the invention. The image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 4 has a configuration in which a control device 29 is added to the image processing apparatus 10 shown in FIG. The configuration other than the control device 29 is the same as that of the image processing device 10 shown in FIG. The control device 29 controls the CCD controllers 22 and 24, the image multiplexer (Multiplexer) 27, and the line separation device 41.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an outline of the control device 29. The control device 29 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 61, a read only memory (ROM) 62, a random access memory (RAM) 63, and an interface unit 64. The CPU 61 has a function of executing an operation procedure described later. The ROM 62 stores an operation program for executing an operation procedure described later and data necessary for the operation. This data includes selection conditions used in an operation procedure described later.

  The RAM 63 functions as a working area for temporarily storing program data and various data during execution of an operation procedure described later, and a storage unit for storing various data obtained in the operation procedure described later. The RAM 63 also includes a non-volatile memory, and necessary data is retained even when the power is turned off. The interface unit 64 outputs the result of the processing executed by the CPU 61 to the CCD controllers 22 and 24, the image multiplexer (Multiplexer) 27 and the line separation device 41 in FIG. take in.

(Operation example)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a mode selection processing procedure of the image processing apparatus having the configuration illustrated in FIG. An operation program for executing the processing procedure shown in the flowchart of FIG. 6 is stored in the ROM 62 of FIG.

  In this example, when the mode selection process is started (step S601), the resolution level set by the resolution setting device 28 is acquired (step S602). After step S602, a process of determining whether or not image data can be multiplexed is executed (step S603). The criterion for this determination is obtained in advance based on a predetermined resolution and the amount of data necessary to realize the resolution, and is stored in the ROM 62.

  In this determination, whether or not the sum of the data transmission capacity necessary for transmitting the image data on the front surface and the data transmission capacity necessary for transmitting the image data on the back surface is a value that does not reach the data transmission capacity of the 32-bit data bus 31; Is determined. As an example, let us consider a case where the resolution of image data output from the CCD controllers 22 and 24 is set to a resolution that requires 4-bit data as the gradation of each basic color of YMCK. In this case, the sum of the data transmission capacity necessary for transmitting the image data on the front surface and the data transmission capacity necessary for transmitting the image data on the back surface is (4 bits × 4) × 2, and the value is a 32-bit data bus. The data transmission capacity of 31 (32 bits) has been reached (and above), and the determination in step S603 is NO.

  As another example, consider a case where the resolution of image data output from the CCD controllers 22 and 24 is set to a resolution that requires 3 bits of data as the gradation of each basic color of YMCK. In this case, the sum of the data transmission capacity necessary for transmitting the image data on the front surface and the data transmission capacity necessary for transmitting the image data on the back surface is (3 bits × 4) × 2, and the value is a 32-bit data bus. The data transmission capacity (32 bits) of 31 has not been reached (is less), and the determination in step S603 is YES.

  Note that multiplexing is impossible when the sum of the data transmission capacity necessary for transmitting the image data on the front surface and the data transmission capacity necessary for transmitting the image data on the back surface is equal to the data transmission capacity of the 32-bit data bus 31. It is determined that there is a YMCK data because the line sync signal (LS) and page sync (PS) of the image data on one side are transmitted using an empty line of the 32-bit data bus 31 at the time of multiplexing. This is because all the lines of the 32-bit data bus 31 cannot be occupied.

  If the image data can be multiplexed, the setting for the double-sided transmission mode is performed (step S604), and the mode selection process is completed (step S609). Here, the double-sided transmission mode is the image data transmission mode shown in FIG. If the determination in step S603 is no, the process proceeds to step S605. In step S605, a process for determining whether or not there is the buffer memory 26 shown in FIG. 4 that temporarily holds image data of the captured image is executed. If there is the buffer memory 26, the process further proceeds to step S606, and processing for determining whether or not there is a memory capacity capable of holding image data is executed.

  If the capacity of the buffer memory 26 is sufficient, the setting for the single-sided transmission mode is performed (step S607), and the mode selection processing is completed (step S609). Here, the single-sided transmission mode is a mode in which the image data on the front and back sides of the document shown in FIG. 2 is sequentially transmitted from the image reading unit 20 to the image processing unit 40. If the determination in step S606 is NO, the setting for single-sided reading mode is made (step S608), and the mode selection process ends (step S609). In the single-sided scanning mode, both sides of the original are not read simultaneously but are read one by one. First, one-sided image data read by the image reading unit 20 is transmitted to the image processing unit 40 via the image data transmission unit 30, and then the remaining surface is read.

  On the other hand, in the case of an image processing apparatus that does not include the buffer memory 26 shown in FIG. 4, the determination in step S605 is NO, setting for single-sided reading mode is performed (step S608), and the mode selection process ends (step S608). Step S609).

(3) Third Embodiment In the case of an image processing apparatus including the buffer memory 26 shown in FIG. 4 or not including the buffer memory 26, a process for setting the single-sided reading mode set in step S608 of FIG. Is a process for reducing the resolution level so that the duplex transmission mode is selected in step S603 in FIG. 6 when it is possible to multiplex the image data, and a mode selection process procedure for starting the mode selection process again. Good. In other words, the processing for reducing the resolution to the level at which duplex transmission can be performed is executed, and the resolution is sacrificed, but duplex transmission may be performed.

  In addition, in the case of the image processing apparatus 10 including the buffer memory 26 illustrated in FIG. 4, if there is a memory capacity capable of holding the image data in the process for setting the single-sided reading mode set in step S608 in FIG. In step S606, the mode selection processing procedure may be used in which the resolution level is lowered so that the single-sided transmission mode is selected and the mode selection processing is started again. In other words, the processing for reducing the resolution to the resolution capable of buffering for sequentially transmitting the image data for each side is executed, and the resolution may be sacrificed, but the image may be reliably transmitted. .

  In the above description, the program for executing the flowchart shown in FIG. 6 and other programs for executing the operations described in the specification are not only stored in the ROM in the apparatus, but also other It can be provided by being stored in an appropriate storage medium such as a semiconductor memory, an optical disk storage device, a magnetic disk storage device, or a magneto-optical disk storage device.

  The present invention can be used for an image processing apparatus such as a color printer, a FAX, a color copying machine, or a multifunction machine of these.

It is a block diagram which shows an example of the image processing apparatus using invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the operation | movement form in the case of transmitting image data of both surfaces sequentially with the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the operation | movement form at the time of transmitting the image data of both surfaces simultaneously with the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. It is a block diagram which shows an example of the image processing apparatus using invention. It is a block diagram which shows the outline | summary of a control apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows an example of a mode selection process sequence.

Explanation of symbols

  10 Image processing apparatus.

Claims (9)

First image reading means for reading an image on one side of a document and generating image information thereof;
Second image reading means for reading an image on the other side of the document and generating image information thereof;
Line multiplexing for multiplexing the first image information output from the first image reading means and the second image information output from the second image reading means using a common reference signal An image processing apparatus comprising: means. Resolution setting means for setting the resolution of the first image information and the resolution of the second image information;
Information transmission means capable of transmitting the first image information or the second image information and having an information transmission capacity;
With
The resolution is set to a value in which the sum of the information transmission capacity necessary for transmitting the first image information and the information transmission capacity necessary for transmitting the second image information does not reach the information transmission capacity of the information transmission means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the multiplexing is performed when the image processing is performed. The information transmission capacity of the information transmission means is the first image information or the second image information when the resolution of the first image information and the resolution of the second image information are set to maximum values. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus has a value capable of transmitting any of the following. Determining means for determining whether the multiplexing is possible;
When the determination means determines that the multiplexing is not possible,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether or not the image reading unit includes a holding unit that holds image information of a captured image. Determining means for determining whether the multiplexing is possible;
Holding means for holding image information of the captured image in the image reading means,
When the determination means determines that the multiplexing is not possible,
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit determines whether the holding unit has a storage capacity capable of holding image information. On the computer,
First image information is generated by reading an image on one side of the document,
Reading the image on the other side of the document to generate second image information;
A program for multiplexing the first image information and the second image information using a common reference signal. The first image information and the second image information are set to a predetermined resolution,
The resolution is set to a value in which the sum of the information transmission capacity necessary for transmitting the first image information and the information transmission capacity necessary for transmitting the second image information does not reach the information transmission capacity of the information transmission means. The program according to claim 6, wherein the multiplexing is performed in a case where it is performed. Determine whether the multiplexing is possible,
The program according to claim 6 or 7, wherein when it is determined that the multiplexing is not possible, the first image information or the second image information is held. Determine whether the multiplexing is possible,
When it is determined that the multiplexing is not possible,
The program according to claim 6 or 7, further comprising: determining whether or not there is a storage capacity capable of holding the first image information or the second image information.

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