JP2009218809A - Image processing apparatus, method, and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce power consumption during execution of image processing operation. <P>SOLUTION: When allowable delay conditions determined on the basis of image data information and in the state of an image processing apparatus to execute image processes of this image data tend to be in the intensified state, transfer clock frequency to read image data is set to the trend to make the delay smaller and the image data stored in a memory card 27 are read in the preset transfer clock frequency. For example, the transfer clock frequency is set to a smaller one by totally considering the cases, etc. where: the image is not converted in the vertical and longitudinal directions; image data are developed to the developed data and it is not required to generate printing data from this developed data; size of the image data is smaller; printing speed is slower; and buffer capacity is larger. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

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

Conventionally, an image processing apparatus switches from a first clock number necessary for data communication to a second clock number necessary for receiving a communication start request smaller than the first clock number when the power saving mode condition is satisfied. Thus, a device that further saves power has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2003-248525 A

  However, in the image processing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, more power is saved by reducing the number of communication clocks when the power saving condition is satisfied. It was desired to plan for electricity.

  The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and has as its main object to provide an image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program thereof that can further reduce power consumption when executing image processing. To do.

  The present invention adopts the following means in order to achieve the above-mentioned object.

The image processing apparatus of the present invention
An image processing apparatus for reading out image data stored in a storage medium,
When the delay tolerance state determined based on at least one of the information of the image data and the state of the image processing apparatus that executes the image processing of the image data tends to be stronger, the operation of reading the image data in a tendency to become smaller An operation clock setting means for setting the number of clocks;
Data acquisition means for reading the image data from the storage medium at the set number of operating clocks;
It is equipped with.

  In this image processing apparatus, when the delay allowable state determined based on at least one of the information of the image data and the state of the image processing apparatus that executes image processing of the image data tends to be stronger, it tends to be smaller. The number of operation clocks for reading image data is set, and the image data stored in the storage medium is read with the set operation clock. As described above, the image processing is executed in order to set the number of operation clocks for reading out the image data so as to become smaller on the basis of the information of the image data and the state of the image processing apparatus that executes the image processing of the image data. Power consumption can be further reduced.

  The image processing apparatus of the present invention includes a print execution unit that converts the acquired image data into print data, and prints the print medium based on the converted print data, and the operation clock setting unit includes the image clock setting unit. A state in which the conversion process from the image data to the print data is further reduced as a stronger tendency of the delay allowable state determined based on the information of the data and the state of the image processing apparatus that executes the image processing of the image data In this case, the number of operation clocks may be set so as to become smaller. In this way, it is possible to further reduce the power consumption when executing the image processing when the conversion processing from the image data to the print data is further reduced. Here, “the state in which the conversion processing from image data to print data is further reduced” means, for example, when there is no vertical / horizontal conversion of the image, or when the image data is expanded into expanded data and the print data is converted from the expanded data. When there is no need to generate.

  The image processing apparatus of the present invention includes a print execution unit that converts the acquired image data into print data, and prints the print medium based on the converted print data, and the operation clock setting unit includes the image clock setting unit. As a stronger tendency of the delay allowable state determined based on the state of the image processing apparatus that executes image processing of data, when the print processing speed by the print execution unit is slower, the number of operation clocks tends to be smaller. It may be set. In this way, when the print processing speed is slower, it is possible to further reduce power consumption when executing image processing. Here, when “the printing process is slower”, the printing process speed of the printing execution unit itself is slower than the printing execution unit of another model, or the type of printing process to be executed, for example, “fine printing” Is included.

  In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the operation clock setting unit stores the image data as a stronger tendency of a delay allowable state determined based on a state of the image processing apparatus that performs image processing of the image data. However, when the capacity of the secured buffer is larger, the number of operation clocks may be set so as to become smaller. As described above, when the entire image data can be buffered at a time and the capacity of the buffer, which is a state in which the frequency of reading the image data is reduced, is larger, the power consumption when executing the image processing can be further reduced. it can.

  In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, the operation clock setting means has a tendency that the operation clock number tends to become smaller when the image size is smaller, as a stronger tendency of the delay allowable state determined based on the information of the image data. May be set. As described above, when the entire image data can be buffered at one time and the image size is small, in which the frequency of reading the image data is small, the power consumption when executing the image processing can be further reduced.

  The image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes power storage means for supplying power to the image processing apparatus, and the operation clock setting means is determined based on a state of the image processing apparatus that performs image processing of the image data. As a stronger tendency of the delay allowable state, when the remaining capacity of the power storage unit is smaller, the number of operation clocks may be set to be smaller. By doing so, it is possible to further reduce the power consumption when executing the image processing when the remaining amount of power storage is smaller, and thus it is possible to execute the processing for a longer time.

The image processing method of the present invention includes:
An image processing method for reading image data stored in a storage medium,
(A) When the delay allowable state determined based on the information of the image data and the state of the image processing apparatus regarding the image processing of the image data tends to be stronger, the number of operation clocks for reading the image data is set to be smaller And steps to
(B) reading the image data from the storage medium at the number of operating clocks set in step (a);
Is included.

  In this image processing method, as in the image processing apparatus described above, it is possible to further reduce power consumption when executing image processing. In this image processing method, various aspects of the above-described image processing apparatus may be adopted, and steps for realizing each function of the above-described image processing apparatus may be added.

  The program of the present invention is for causing one or more computers to implement each step of the above-described image processing method. This program may be recorded on a computer-readable recording medium (for example, hard disk, ROM, FD, CD, DVD, etc.), or from a computer via a transmission medium (communication network such as the Internet or LAN). It may be distributed to another computer, or may be exchanged in any other form. If this program is executed by a single computer or if each step is shared and executed by a plurality of computers, each step of the above-described image processing method is executed, so that the same effect as the image processing method can be obtained. It is done.

  Next, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a printer 20 as an embodiment embodying the present invention. The printer 20 is configured as a multifunction printer having a scanner function, a printer function, and a copy function, and includes a controller 21 that controls the entire apparatus and a memory card 27 that is a portable storage medium mounted in a slot 26. A memory card controller 25 that reads and writes stored data, a scanner unit 30 that includes a scanner ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 32 that is an IC chip that controls the scanner mechanism 31, and a printer mechanism 41 The printer unit 40 includes a printer ASIC 42 that is an IC chip to be controlled, and an operation panel 50 that can display information to an operator and can input an operator's instruction. The controller 21, memory card controller 25, scanner unit 30, printer unit 40, and operation panel 50 are electrically connected by a bus 29.

  The controller 21 is configured as a microprocessor having a CPU 22 as a center, and includes a ROM 23 that stores various processing programs and a RAM 24 that temporarily stores data. The RAM 24 has a scanner buffer 24 a for storing image data read by the scanner unit 30, an image buffer 24 b for storing image data read by the memory card controller 25, and a print buffer 24 c for storing print data to be output to the scanner unit 30. Such storage areas are dynamically secured. The memory card controller 25 has a function of exchanging data with the memory card 27 with the maximum number of clocks determined for the memory card 27 as the maximum operation clock and the number of operation clocks being variable. The scanner mechanism 31 is a so-called flatbed type, and includes a glass surface 33 on which an original M for reading an image is placed, a reading sensor 34 that separates and reads reflected light after being emitted toward the original M into each color, and an original M And a moving unit 36 that scans the reading sensor 34 at the time of reading. The printer mechanism 41 includes an ink tank 44 that individually stores ink of each color, a print head 45 that applies pressure to each ink supplied from the ink tank 44, and ink that is pressurized by the print head 45 on the recording paper S. The nozzle 46 which discharges and the conveyance roller 48 which conveys the recording paper S are provided. The ink tank 44 may be a so-called on-carriage type that is a removable cartridge, or an off-carriage type that supplies ink from a cartridge provided on the housing side by a tube. The print head 45 may pressurize the ink by deformation of the piezoelectric element or pressurize the ink by bubbles generated by the heat of the heater. The operation panel 50 is a device for an operator to input various instructions to the printer 20, and includes a display unit 52 configured by a color liquid crystal panel on which characters and images corresponding to the various instructions are displayed, An operation unit 54 including a determination button and a cancel button that are pressed when performing various operations is provided. The memory card 27 is a nonvolatile memory in which data can be written and erased, and a plurality of image data in a predetermined image format (for example, data in an image format such as BitMap or JPEG) captured by a capturing device such as a digital camera. Etc. are saved.

  Next, the operation of the printer 20 of the present embodiment configured as described above, particularly the operation of reading out image data from the memory card 27 and performing printing processing will be described. Here, the printer 20 has a scan mode in which image data obtained by reading the document M by the scanner unit 30 is input, a copy mode in which the document M is read by the scanner unit 30 and printed by the printer unit 40, and image data stored in the memory card 27. The memory card mode in which is read out and printed by the printer unit 40 can be designated as the operation mode, and the case where the memory card mode is designated will be mainly described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image data transfer processing routine. This routine is stored in the ROM 23 and is repeatedly executed by the CPU 22 after the printer 20 is turned on. When this routine is started, the CPU 22 first determines whether or not the memory card mode is designated as the operation mode by the user (step S100). If the memory card mode is not designated by the user, the routine is terminated as it is. . On the other hand, when the memory card mode is designated by the user, the CPU 22 secures a buffer corresponding to the operation mode in the RAM 24 (step S110). In the memory card mode, for example, in the memory card mode, the scanner buffer 24a is omitted and the image buffer 24b is mainly used, and the print buffer 24c for converting the read image data into print data is secured in the RAM 24. . In the scan mode, the print buffer 24c is omitted and the scanner buffer 24a is mainly used, and the image buffer 24b for converting the read data into the image data is secured in the RAM 24. In the copy mode, the scanner buffer 24a, The image buffer 24b and the print buffer 24c are secured in the RAM 24.

  Next, the CPU 22 waits until the memory card 27 is inserted into the slot 26 (step S120). Whether or not the memory card 27 has been inserted into the slot 26 is determined by communication with the memory card controller 25. When the memory card 27 is inserted into the slot 26, the maximum clock frequency (for example, 48 MHz) supported by the memory card 27 is acquired by communication with the memory card controller 25 (step S130). Next, the CPU 22 waits until image data is designated by the user (step S140). Here, a thumbnail image acquired from the memory card 27 via the memory card controller 25 is displayed on the display unit 52 by an image display routine (not shown), and it is determined whether any image is designated by the operation of the operation unit 54. Judgment was made. When the image data is designated by the user, the CPU 22 displays information on the designated image data, for example, information such as the image format (JPEG, etc.), data size, and whether the image is horizontally long or vertically long. (Step S150).

  Next, the CPU 22 sets a transfer clock frequency for performing data transfer between the memory card controller 25 and the memory card 27 based on the delay allowable state (step S160). This delay allowance state is a printer that executes image processing of image data such as image data information such as image format, image size, vertical / horizontal change of image data to be transferred, buffer capacity of RAM 24, printing speed of printer mechanism 41, and the like. It is determined by 20 states. This transfer clock frequency is set to the maximum clock frequency of the memory card 27, and when the image data read from the memory card 27 is processed and printed by the printer unit 40, the printing operation in the printer unit 40 is stopped. It was determined empirically in such a range as not to be staggered. Here, the transfer clock frequency is set to a smaller value when the delay allowable state is stronger. For example, when the image format is BitMap data rather than JPEG data that needs to be developed once, the transfer clock frequency is set to a smaller value because the delay tolerance is stronger. Further, when the image size is smaller, it can be stored in the image buffer 24b by one reading, so that the transfer clock frequency is set to a smaller value, assuming that the delay tolerance is stronger. Further, when the image data is not changed vertically or horizontally, that is, when the image data can be printed by the printer unit 40 in the same direction, it is not necessary to replace the pixel position of the read image data, so that the delay allowable state is further increased. As a strong one, a smaller transfer clock frequency is used. Further, when the buffer capacity secured in the RAM 24 is larger, it is easy to store image data in the image buffer 24b by one reading. Therefore, the transfer clock frequency is set to a smaller value because the delay tolerance is stronger. In addition, when the printing speed of the printer unit 40 is slower, for example, when the printing speed of the printer mechanism 41 is slower than that of other models or when the printing mode is slow for fine printing such as photo printing, the image data Since the need for quick reading is low, it is assumed that the delay tolerance is stronger, and the transfer clock frequency is set to a smaller value. When these states are considered comprehensively, when the allowable delay state is stronger, the tendency is to set a smaller transfer clock frequency. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of setting the transfer clock frequency. Here, as shown in the middle of FIG. 3, when the image data is BitMap data, it is slower than the JPEG data that needs to be expanded, and when it is a vertical image, it is more than the horizontal image that is converted to the vertical side during printing. On the low speed side, the number of transfer clocks is set so that when the image size is small, the transfer clock number is lower than when the image size is large. As shown in the upper and lower stages of FIG. 3, the buffer capacity is large when the buffer capacity is small. The number of transfer clocks is set so as to be slower than that. Although not shown, the same applies when the printing speed is low. Here, assuming that the memory card 27 has a maximum transfer clock frequency of 48 MHz and 12 MHz is the minimum transfer clock frequency at which the printing operation in the printer unit 40 does not stop, for example, the low speed of FIG. The medium and high speed can be set to 36 MHz and the high speed to 48 MHz.

  Subsequently, the CPU 22 transfers the image data at the set transfer clock frequency, that is, reads the image data from the memory card 27 via the memory card controller 25 (step S170), and ends this routine. The CPU 22 stores the read image data in the image buffer 24b, converts it into print data, stores it in the print buffer 24c, outputs it to the printer ASIC 42, and prints it on the recording paper S by the printer mechanism 41. Is done.

  Here, the correspondence between the components of the present embodiment and the components of the present invention will be clarified. The memory card 27 of this embodiment corresponds to the storage medium of the present invention, corresponds to the CPU 22 operation clock setting means and data acquisition means, the recording paper S corresponds to the print medium, and the printer unit 40 corresponds to the print execution means. . In the present embodiment, an example of the image processing method of the present invention is also clarified by describing the operation of the printer 20.

  According to the printer 20 of the present embodiment described in detail above, the delay allowable state determined based on the information of the image data and based on the state of the image processing apparatus that performs image processing of the image data tends to be stronger. In some cases, the transfer clock frequency for reading out image data tends to be smaller, and the image data stored in the memory card 27 is read out at the set transfer clock frequency. As described above, the image processing is executed in order to set the number of operation clocks for reading out the image data so as to become smaller on the basis of the information of the image data and the state of the image processing apparatus that executes the image processing of the image data. Power consumption can be further reduced. Also, as a stronger tendency of the delay tolerance state, when there is no vertical / horizontal conversion of the image or when it is not necessary to develop the image data into the decompressed data and generate the print data from the decompressed data, the image data is converted to the print data When the conversion process is further reduced, it is possible to further reduce the power consumption when executing the image process. Furthermore, as a stronger tendency of the delay allowable state, it is possible to further reduce power consumption when executing image processing when the printing processing speed by the printer unit 40 is slower. Furthermore, when the entire capacity of the image data can be buffered and the capacity of the buffer, which is a state where the frequency of reading out the image data is reduced, is large, the power consumption when executing the image processing can be further reduced. . Then, when the entire image data can be buffered at one time and the image size is smaller, which is a state in which the frequency of reading the image data is small, it is possible to further reduce power consumption when executing image processing. In this way, when the delay tolerance tends to be stronger, by setting the transfer clock frequency to be smaller, radiation noise generated by the high-speed clock frequency can be further reduced, and more stable operation can be achieved. Can be secured. In addition, when the delay allowable state tends to be stronger, the timing margin can be secured more by setting the transfer clock frequency so as to become smaller, so that a problem during reading can be further reduced.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes as long as it belongs to the technical scope of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the transfer clock frequency is set by inclining the overall image format, vertical / horizontal conversion, print processing speed, buffer capacity, image size, etc. as the allowable delay state. One or more of these may be arbitrarily combined, that is, one or more of these may be omitted to set the transfer clock frequency. Even in this case, it is possible to further reduce power consumption when executing image processing.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printer 20 is described as not being carried. However, a mobile printer having a battery as a power storage unit is configured, and the delay tolerance state determined based on the state of the printer that executes image processing has a stronger tendency. When the remaining capacity of the battery is smaller, the transfer clock frequency may be set so as to become smaller. By doing so, it is possible to further reduce power consumption when executing image processing when the remaining capacity of the battery is smaller, and thus it is possible to execute image processing for a longer time.

  In the above-described embodiment, the printer 20 as a multifunction printer has been described as the image processing apparatus of the present invention. However, a FAX apparatus having a FAX function or a printer without the scanner unit 30 may be used. The printer mechanism 41 is an ink jet type mechanism, but may be an electrophotographic type, thermal transfer type, dot impact type color printer, or a monochrome printer of these. The image processing apparatus according to the present invention has been described as a printer. However, the present invention is not particularly limited as long as the image data stored in the storage medium is exchanged. For example, a picture viewer or an image that displays image data is displayed. It may be a digital camera, a digital video, a mobile phone, a television that displays image data, a video device (including a DVD-HDD recorder), or a portable or home game device. Furthermore, although described in the form of the printer 20, it may be an aspect of an image processing method or a form of a program of this method.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating an outline of a configuration of a printer 20. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image data transfer processing routine. It is explanatory drawing of the setting of a transfer clock frequency.

Explanation of symbols

  20 Printer, 21 Controller, 22 CPU, 23 ROM, 24 RAM, 24a Scanner buffer, 24b Image buffer, 24c Print buffer, 25 Memory card controller, 26 Slot, 27 Memory card, 29 Bus, 30 Scanner unit, 31 Scanner mechanism, 32 Scanner ASIC, 33 Glass surface, 34 Reading sensor, 36 Moving unit, 40 Printer unit, 41 Printer mechanism, 42 Printer ASIC, 44 Ink tank, 45 Print head, 46 Nozzle, 48 Transport roller, 50 Operation panel, 52 Display unit , 54 Operation unit, M document, S recording paper.

Claims (8)

An image processing apparatus for reading out image data stored in a storage medium,
When the delay tolerance state determined based on at least one of the information of the image data and the state of the image processing apparatus that executes the image processing of the image data tends to be stronger, the operation of reading the image data in a tendency to become smaller An operation clock setting means for setting the number of clocks;
Data acquisition means for reading the image data from the storage medium at the set number of operating clocks;
An image processing apparatus. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1,
Print execution means for converting the acquired image data into print data and performing print processing on a print medium based on the converted print data,
The operation clock setting means changes the image data from the image data to the print data as a stronger tendency of a delay allowable state determined based on the information of the image data and the state of the image processing apparatus that performs image processing of the image data. An image processing apparatus that sets the number of operation clocks so as to be smaller when the conversion process is reduced. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
Print execution means for converting the acquired image data into print data and performing print processing on a print medium based on the converted print data,
The operation clock setting unit has a stronger tendency of a delay allowable state determined based on a state of the image processing apparatus that executes image processing of the image data, and when the print processing speed by the print execution unit is slower, An image processing apparatus that sets the number of operation clocks so as to decrease.   The operation clock setting means has a capacity of a buffer secured for storing the image data as a stronger tendency of a delay allowable state determined based on a state of the image processing apparatus that executes image processing of the image data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when it is larger, the number of operation clocks is set to be smaller.   The operation clock setting means sets the number of operation clocks so as to become smaller when the image size is smaller as a stronger tendency of the delay allowable state determined based on the information of the image data. 5. The image processing apparatus according to any one of 4 above. Power storage means for supplying power to the image processing apparatus,
The operation clock setting means becomes smaller when the remaining capacity of the power storage means is smaller as a stronger tendency of the delay allowable state determined based on the state of the image processing apparatus that performs image processing of the image data. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of operation clocks is set in a tendency. An image processing method for reading image data stored in a storage medium,
(A) When the delay allowable state determined based on the information of the image data and the state of the image processing apparatus regarding the image processing of the image data tends to be stronger, the number of operation clocks for reading the image data is set to be smaller And steps to
(B) reading the image data from the storage medium at the number of operating clocks set in step (a);
An image processing method including:   A program for causing one or more computers to realize each step of the image processing method according to claim 7.

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