JP2563841B2 - Color image processor - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a color image processing device using a spatial light modulator.

[Prior Art] As a device for creating, editing, and copying full-color images,
Color copiers are known.

Color copiers are generally classified into analog type and digital type, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

An analog color copier exposes an optical image,
Since a color copy is created by development, it is difficult to add image processing such as color correction and gradation processing. On the other hand, in a digital color copier, an original image is converted into a digital signal by an image scanner, and a color copy is made by a printer in accordance with the digital signal. Image processing and the like can be easily performed.

In the present specification, the term image processing means gradation processing (gamma correction, shading correction), sharpening (sharpness enhancement), area designation (trimming, masking), color processing (color reproduction, paint function, depending on color). It is used in a broad sense including processing such as cutout), movement (rotation), and editing processing (embedding composition, character composition).

Comparing the color copies made, analog color copiers have smooth image quality (resolution is
Although it is about 800 DPI), color masking (separation of black and chromatic colors) is not easy and color reproducibility is not very good.
Specifically, a black line drawing may be colored. On the other hand, a digital color copying machine is easy to color mask and has excellent color reproducibility, but it is difficult to achieve high definition.
When the resolution is increased and the number of read pixels is increased, the amount of data increases and a high-speed processor and a large-capacity memory are required, which is significantly disadvantageous in cost compared with the analog method.

From this point of view, the analog type color copier is advantageous when a large amount of copy processing is to be performed, and the digital type color copier is suitable for the production of design manuscripts where color reproducibility is important and simple printing. Be advantageous.

Table 1 shows the summary of the comparison between the analog color copying machine and the digital color copying machine.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, since the analog method and the digital method have advantages and disadvantages, respectively, the image type, the processing purpose,
It is used properly according to the purpose.

However, conventionally, there is no apparatus capable of performing both analog type and digital type processing with one apparatus, and it is necessary to prepare at least two apparatuses in the case of properly using them.

Further, conventionally, there has been no apparatus capable of executing a combination of excellent processing by analog method and excellent processing by digital method. Therefore, in order to create a high definition image quality with good color reproducibility, it is necessary to use a very expensive digital device.

Furthermore, conventionally, there has been no device capable of mixing an analog image and a digital image in one screen.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a color image processing apparatus capable of handling an image in which an analog image and a digital image are mixed and fused.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a color image processing apparatus which has high resolution and excellent color reproducibility and can be realized at low cost.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A feature of the present invention that achieves the above-mentioned object is that a photoconductor that constitutes an image writing plane, a P-type smectic A liquid crystal that is laminated on the photoconductor and has a memory function, and A spatial light modulator having electrodes sandwiching a photoconductor and a liquid crystal, an analog writing system for analogly writing an original image in the spatial light modulator, and two-dimensionally scanning a laser beam on the spatial light modulator. A digital reading system that digitally reads the image written in the spatial light modulator, a processing unit that performs image processing on the read image data, and an image that has been subjected to the above-described processing by two-dimensionally scanning a laser beam. A digital writing system that digitally writes data to the spatial light modulator and an analog image of the image written in the spatial light modulator It has an analog readout system.

[Operation] First, the original image is written in the spatial light modulator in an analog manner, and the image thus written in the spatial modulator is digitally read out for each pixel by the two-dimensionally scanned laser beam. Then, the read image data is digitally rewritten in the spatial light modulator by the two-dimensionally scanned laser beam after the desired image processing. Finally, the image is read out from the spatial light modulator in an analog manner.

Since the P-type smectic A liquid crystal having a memory function is used as the liquid crystal of the spatial light modulation element, the reading light can be emitted from either side of the spatial light modulation element. Therefore, the writing process and the reading process can be performed from the same side with respect to the spatial light modulator.

Embodiments Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the basic structure of a color image editing / outputting device as an embodiment of the present invention.

In the figure, 10 is a spatial light modulation element having an image writing plane, 11 is an analog writing system of an image to the spatial light modulation element 10, 12 is an analog reading system, 13 is a digital reading system, and 14 is a digital writing system. Shows.

The digital read system 13 and the digital write system 14 are
It is electrically connected to a processing unit 15 that performs various image processing. A display 16 and a control unit 17 are connected to the processing unit 15.

The control unit 17 is mainly composed of a computer, and has the above-mentioned analog writing system 11 and analog reading system.
12, digital read system 13, and digital write system 14
Is electrically connected to In FIG. 2, white arrows represent an optical image by analog, black arrows represent an optical image by digital, and a broken line represents an electrical signal.

The spatial light modulation element 10 changes the transmittance distribution, the reflectance distribution, or the phase distribution according to the spatial intensity distribution (optical image) of the input light, so that the intensity distribution of the light, that is, the image Can be stored temporarily. When the spatial light modulation element storing the image is irradiated with other light, the transmitted light, the reflected light, the reflected light, or the like depending on the stored two-dimensional (spatial) image information.
Alternatively, the scattered light is modulated. By detecting or exposing the modulated transmitted light, reflected light, or scattered light, the written image is read.

The spatial intensity distribution of the light input to the spatial light modulator 10 may be an analog image which is an optical image, or a digital image which is obtained by two-dimensionally scanning a modulated laser beam. . Further, when reading from the spatial light modulation element 10, uniform light may be applied to the spatial light modulation element 10 to obtain an analog image, or a laser beam having a constant intensity may be two-dimensionally scanned and applied. It may be a digital image obtained by

The analog writing system 11 has a function of writing the optical image of the original image on the original document 18 into the spatial light modulation element 10.
It is mainly composed of a light source for illuminating and an optical system for forming an image on the optical image spatial light modulation element 10 of the original image obtained by the light source.

The analog reading system 12 has a function of projecting the optical image written in the spatial light modulation element 10 onto a recording paper 19 such as a photosensitive paper, and a light source for illuminating the spatial light modulation element 10 and a light source for illuminating the spatial light modulation element 10. Recording paper with the image of the spatial light modulator 10
It is mainly composed of an optical system for focusing on 19.

The digital reading system 13 has a function of reading the image written in the spatial light modulator 10 two-dimensionally with a laser beam and irradiating the image, thereby reading the image signal in time series. It is mainly composed of a scanning system and a light receiving system.

The digital writing system 14 has a function of writing a digital image in the spatial light modulation element 10 based on an image signal given from the processing unit 15, and is mainly composed of a laser light source, a laser beam scanning system, and a laser beam modulation unit. Has been done.

The processing unit 15 performs digital image processing on the image signal applied from the digital reading system 13 and outputs the processed image signal to the digital writing system 14. This processing unit 15
The result processed by is displayed on the display 16.

An image editing / outputting function can be obtained by combining all the above-mentioned configurations. Furthermore, an image editing function can be obtained by combining the spatial light modulator 10, the digital reading system 13, the processing unit 15, and the digital writing system 14. Also, the analog writing system 11, the spatial light modulator 10,
An image scanner function can be obtained by combining the digital reading system 13 and the digital reading system 13. Furthermore, the printer function can be obtained by combining the digital writing system 14, the spatial light modulator 10, and the analog reading system 12. Then, by combining the analog writing system 11, the spatial light modulator 10, and the analog reading system 12, an analog copying function can be obtained. Each of these functional modes is realized by the computer of the control unit 17.

FIG. 1 more specifically shows the configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG.

The analog writing system 11 shown in FIG. 2 has R (red),
Three light sources of G (green) and B (blue) (eg fluorescent lamp)
11a, 11b, 11c and the optical system represented by the lens 11d. The original document 18 is sequentially illuminated with uniform light from the light sources 11a, 11b, and 11c, so that the optical image of the original image is reduced and projected onto the writing plane of the spatial light modulator 10 by the lens 11d.

Color separation of a color image is performed in a frame sequential manner. For one original image, first, the R light source 11a is turned on, the optical image is written to the spatial light modulator 10, the image is read out, and then the G light source 11b is turned on to scan the optical image in space. After writing to the light modulation element 10 and reading the image, the same processing is performed on the B light source 11c.

In order to obtain a color separated image, there is a color filter system in addition to the above-mentioned light source switching system.

This color filter system is a system in which R, G, and B color filters are provided between the lens 11d and the spatial light modulator 10, and these are sequentially switched to obtain a color separation image. Specifically, the R, G, and B color filters are attached to, for example, a rotator and rotated to sequentially switch the color filters. In the color filter method, a white light source such as a halogen bulb is used as a light source.

In the light source switching method and the color filter method, three colors of cyan, yellow, and magenta may be used instead of the three colors of R, G, and B.

The digital readout system 13 has a laser light source 13a, a laser beam scanning system 13b, a condenser lens 13c, and a light receiving element 13d. A laser beam with a constant light intensity emitted from the laser light source 13a is applied to the laser beam scanning system 13b and deflected in the vertical and horizontal directions. As a result, the laser beam two-dimensionally scans the spatial light modulator 10. The transmitted light, the reflected light, or the scattered light modulated according to the image information of the pixel corresponding to the laser beam spot is applied to the light receiving element 13d via the lens 13c and photoelectrically converted.
In this way, the image information written on the spatial light modulator 10 can be read out in time series. In order to obtain color image information, such a read operation is performed by R,
This is performed for each color separated image of G and B. The read image information is sent to the processing unit 15.

As the laser light source 13a, a semiconductor laser or a gas laser such as He-Ne (helium-neon) is used. Since the semiconductor laser is small, the entire device can be made compact. Further, since the gas laser has good coherence, the spot diameter of the laser beam can be made small, which can further improve the reading resolution.

The laser beam scanning system 13b is mainly composed of a main scanning unit and a sub-scanning unit. The main scanning unit scans the spatial light modulation element 10 for one row with respect to the laser beam spot. The sub-scanning unit scans the laser beam spot in a direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction. That is, when the main scanning of one row is completed, the spot is moved to the next row. In this way, the laser beam spot is two-dimensionally scanned on the spatial light modulator 10 by the main scanning unit and the sub-scanning unit.

The main scanning unit is composed of a hologram scanner, a rotary polygon mirror, an ultrasonic deflector, a galvanometer, or the like. Also,
The sub-scanning unit is composed of a hologram scanner, a galvanometer, or the like. This sub-scan may be performed by mechanically moving the spatial light modulator 10.

The light receiving element 13d can be composed of a high speed photodiode. If the laser beam has a slit shape extending in the sub-scanning direction in order to read image information for several lines (sub-scanning direction) at one time, a diode array or CCD is used as the light receiving element.
(Charge-coupled device) may be used.

The digital writing system 14 includes a laser light source 14a (3a) and a laser beam scanning system 14b which are also used with the digital reading system 13.
(13b), and further has a laser modulation circuit 14c.

A signal is applied from the processing unit 15 to the laser modulation circuit 14c, and the intensity of the laser beam generated from the laser light source 14a (13a) is modulated according to the signal. Laser light source
When a semiconductor laser is used as 14a (13a), it can be directly modulated by modulating its drive current, but when a gas laser is used, a modulator (not shown) that externally modulates the emitted laser beam is used. is necessary.

The modulated laser beam is emitted by the laser beam scanning system 14b.
It is applied to (13b) and is deflected vertically in the left and right directions. As a result, the laser beam scans the spatial light modulator 10 two-dimensionally. The laser beam spot on the spatial light modulator 10 corresponds to one pixel, and its light intensity represents the gradation of the pixel.

Laser modulation circuit 14c and laser beam scanning system 14b (13b)
Operate in synchronization with each other, and write a digital image in the spatial light modulator 10 based on the signal given from the processing unit 15. In order to handle color image information, such a writing operation is performed for each color of R, G and B.

The analog reading system 12 has three light sources of R, G, and B (for example, fluorescent lamps) 12a, 12b, 12c and an optical system indicated by a lens 12d. The image written in the spatial light modulator 10 is sequentially illuminated with uniform light from the light sources 12a, 12b, 12c, so that the recording paper 19 is recorded by the lens 12d.
Projected on top.

When the R image is written in the spatial light modulator 10, the R light source 12a is turned on to illuminate the spatial light modulator 10, and the recording paper 19 is exposed by the reflected light. The same process is sequentially repeated for G and B color separation images. The recording paper 19 on which the R, G, and B images have been exposed in this manner
However, a color hard copy is obtained by being developed.

As with the analog writing system 11, the analog reading system 12 may use a color filter system in addition to the light source switching system. Further, three colors of cyan, yellow and magenta may be used instead of R, G and B.

The processing unit 15 is mainly composed of a computer including a microprocessor, a memory, etc., and has a light receiving element 13d.
The image signal photoelectrically converted in is received and subjected to image processing, that is, gradation processing (gamma correction, shading correction), sharpening (sharpness enhancement), area designation (trimming,
Digital processing such as masking), color processing (color reproduction, paint function, cutout by color), movement (rotation), and editing processing (brush composition, character composition) are performed. The processing result is displayed on the display 16, and the processing can be performed interactively while confirming the result. The processed image signal is output to the laser modulation circuit 14c.

Note that the control unit 17 shown in FIG. 2 is omitted in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a spatial light modulator which is a main component of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing one configuration example of 10.

In the figure, 10a and 10b are glass plates arranged at both ends, and electrodes are formed on the entire inner surfaces of these glass plates 10a and 10b.
10c and 10d are laminated respectively. A photoconductor 10e is laminated inside the electrode 10c. Electrode 10d and conductor 10e
A spacer 10f is inserted between and, and a liquid crystal is formed in the space formed by the electrode 10d, the conductor 10e, and the spacer 10f.
10g is injected and sealed. The electrodes 10c and 10d include
Power supply 10h is connected.

The electrodes 10c and 10d are transparent electrodes, and are preferably composed of an indium tin oxide (ITO) film.

As the photoconductor 10e, cadmium sulfide (CdS), cadmium telluride (CdTe), selenium (Se), zinc sulfide (Zn
S), bismuth silicate crystal (BSO), amorphous silicon, or organic photoconductor is used. When handling color images, it is best to use amorphous silicon as the photoconductor. This is because the wavelength sensitivity of amorphous silicon is flat over the entire visible light.

The photoconductor 10e changes the molecular orientation of the liquid crystal according to the input light, and other materials of the photoconductor whose resistance changes with light can be used. For example, a material that generates a voltage by light (for example, a solar cell), a material that generates heat by light, a material that changes its structure by light (for example, a photochromic compound), and the like. The material that generates heat by light and the material whose structure is changed by light have a function of directly changing the molecular orientation of liquid crystal without using electricity.

The glass plates 10a and 10b are transparent and function as substrates for sealing the liquid crystal 10g. Therefore, a transparent plastic plate or a transparent ceramic plate may be used instead of the glass plate.

A P-type smectic A liquid crystal having a memory effect is used as the liquid crystal 10g.

In the smectic liquid crystal, the long axes of the molecules are aligned in one direction, and the center of gravity of the molecules has a layered structure. Therefore, the smectic liquid crystal exhibits a very high viscosity. The thickness of the layer is equal to the length of the molecules constituting the layer or twice the length thereof.

A P-type smectic A liquid crystal is doped with negative ions. The molecules of this smectic liquid crystal are aligned in the direction perpendicular to the electrode surface (homeotropic alignment). In this homeotropic alignment, the liquid crystal is in an optically transparent state.

When a DC voltage or an AC voltage is applied to this liquid crystal, the negative ions in the liquid crystal move. As a result, the liquid crystal molecules that are regularly arranged in one direction are disturbed, and the refractive index is spatially disordered and scattered (focal conic state). In this focal conic state, the liquid crystal is optically opaque.

Since smectic liquid crystals have high viscosity, this state is maintained and stored even when the electric field is removed.

To change the liquid crystal molecules to the focal conic state,
It is necessary to apply a voltage equal to or higher than the threshold voltage Vth _{(H → F)} . Vth _{(H → F)} is expressed by the following equation (1).

Vth _{(H → F)} = 2π · K ₁₁ · d / {ε ₀ ε _‖ (1-δ _‖ / δ _⊥ ) λ} (1) where K ₁₁ is the elastic coefficient against spread and d is the cell thickness. , Ε _‖ and δ _‖ are relative permittivity and conductivity in a direction parallel to the molecule, ε _⊥ and δ _⊥ are relative permittivity and conductivity in a direction perpendicular to the molecule, and ε ₀ is a permittivity in vacuum.

The threshold voltage Vth _{(H → F)} depends on the type of liquid crystal, the dopant, the temperature, and the like. In a normal smectic liquid crystal, Vth _{(H → F)} = 50 to 80V.

When changing the above with a pulse signal of 10 to 80 msec, a voltage 3 to 4 times the threshold voltage Vth _{(H → F)} is applied.

In order to return the liquid crystal in the focal conic state to the original homeotropic alignment, a high frequency electric field above the cutoff frequency at which the movement of negative ions does not follow is applied. The threshold voltage Vth _{(F → H) at} this time is expressed by the following equation (2).

Vth _{(F → H)} = 2π · K ₁₁ · d / {ε ₀ (ε _‖ −ε _⊥ ) λ} (2) At normal smectic temperature, Vth _{(F → H)} = 30 to 4
It is 0V.

When such a liquid crystal is used as the liquid crystal 10g of the spatial light modulator 10, it operates under the following control.

The initial state of the liquid crystal 10g before writing is set to homeotropic alignment.

Then, a power source 10h is connected between the electrodes 10c and 10d, and a DC voltage or a low frequency AC voltage of about several 100 Hz is applied.
Considering the life of the liquid crystal, the AC voltage is more suitable.

In this state, the photoconductor 10 forming the image writing plane is
When an optical image is incident on e, a resistance distribution is generated in the photoconductor 10 according to the light intensity distribution. As a result, an electric field having the same distribution as the resistance distribution is applied to the liquid crystal 10g,
The orientation of the liquid crystal molecules changes, the input image is captured, and writing is performed.

That is, the resistance of the photoconductor 10e in the light-exposed portion is reduced, and a voltage is applied to the liquid crystal 10g to change to the focal conic state. On the other hand, the photoconductor of the part that was not exposed to light
10e remains high resistance, and liquid crystal 10g remains homeotropic alignment.

When writing is completed, the power supply 10h is shut off and the electrode 1
The written image is stored by short-circuiting between 0 and 10d.

The same applies when writing a digital image.
And a laser beam is applied to the photoconductor 10e with a DC voltage or a low-frequency AC voltage of about several hundreds Hz applied between 10 and 10d. The alignment state of the liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal in the spot portion changes according to the light intensity distribution of the laser beam.

When reading from the spatial light modulator 10, it is possible to read the written information by applying light to the liquid crystal from the outside and capturing the scattered light, reflected light, or transmitted light. A laser beam is emitted from the digital readout system and the scattered light, etc. is received by the light receiving element, and a uniform light is emitted from the analog readout system to form an image of the scattered light on the recording paper. By doing so, reading is performed.

When a liquid crystal having a memory function as in the present invention is used, writing is not performed unless both light and voltage are applied to the photoconductor at the same time. That is, the written image does not change when the reading laser beam or uniform light is applied to the photoconductor. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a light-shielding film between the liquid crystal and the photoconductor to prevent light from being applied to the photoconductor at the time of reading, and the reading optical system can be a transmissive type. Moreover, the laser beam for reading may be applied from the glass plate 10a side or the glass plate 10b side. Further, a light-shielding film may be provided to make it a reflection type.

In particular, as shown in FIG. 1, if a laser beam for reading is applied from the same side as that for writing, most of the optical system can be shared by the digital writing system and the digital reading system. .

In order to erase the entire image written in the spatial light modulation element 10, uniform light is applied to the entire surface of the photoconductor 10e with a high-frequency AC voltage higher than the cutoff frequency applied between the electrodes 10c and 10d. Just irradiate. As a result, the liquid crystal 10g returns to the homeotropic alignment.

Next, the overwriting operation of the image by analog writing and the image by digital writing will be described.

In the case where the digital image does not have gradation and R, G, and B are represented by binary values, the analog image may be written and the digital image may be overwritten as it is. Or conversely, the analog image may be overwritten as it is after the digital image is written.

On the other hand, when writing a digital image with gradation,
First, an analog image is written, and then a digital image is written after erasing a portion where a digital image is written. Before the digital image is written, it is necessary to partially erase the portion where the digital image is written to the initial state.

 This partial erasure is performed as follows.

With a high-frequency AC voltage higher than the cutoff frequency applied between the electrodes 10c and 10d, a laser beam having a constant light intensity is two-dimensionally scanned and uniformly applied to a portion where a digital image is to be written. As a result, the resistance of the photoconductor 10e in the portion irradiated with the laser beam is lowered, and a high frequency voltage is applied only to the liquid crystal in that portion to form a homeotropic alignment.

Then, as in the case described above, the laser beam is scanned while a DC voltage or a low-frequency AC voltage of about several hundreds Hz is applied between the electrodes 10c and 10d, and a digital image is written in that portion.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart schematically showing a part of a computer control program provided in the control unit 17 shown in FIG. This program is for color image editing
The output function mode is executed, and when this mode is designated, the computer operates as follows.

First, in step S1, a flag n for switching between R, G and B is initialized to n ← 0. Next, in step S2, it is determined whether or not n = 0.

If n = 0, the analog writing system 11 is executed in step S3.
The light source 11a is turned on, and in step S4, the
An optical image of uniform light from the light source 11a is written in the spatial light modulator 10 via the lens 11d.

If n = 0 is not satisfied in step S2, it is determined in step S5 whether n = 1. In the case of n = 1, the G light source 11b is turned on in step S6, and in the next step S4, an optical image of the uniform light from the G light source 11b of the document 18 is transmitted through the lens 11d to the spatial light modulator. Write to 10. If n = 1 is not satisfied, the light source 11c of B in step S7
Is turned on, and in the next step S4, the B light source 11c of the document 18 is
An optical image of uniform light from is written in the spatial light modulator 10 via the lens 11d.

In the next step S8, the digital read system 13 is activated. That is, the spatial light modulator 10 is two-dimensionally scanned with the laser beam emitted from the laser light source 13a,
By applying the transmitted light, reflected light, or scattered light to the light receiving element 13d, the image information written on the spatial light modulation element 10 is read.

Next, in step S9, the processing unit 15 is operated to perform various image processing on the read image information.

In the next step S10, the digital writing system 14 is activated. That is, the signal from the processing unit 15 is converted into the laser conversion circuit 14
applied to c to modulate the laser beam and spatial light modulator 1
0 is two-dimensionally scanned and writing is performed. At the time of this digital writing, the digital image may be written on the entire spatial light modulation element 10, or the digital image may be written on a part thereof. As a result, an analog image and a digital image are mixed and it is possible to obtain a fused image.

In step S11, it is determined whether or not the image processing by the processing unit 15 is completed, and if not, steps S8 to S10.
Is repeatedly executed.

In the next step S12, it is determined whether or not n = 0. If n = 0, the process proceeds to step S13 to turn on the R light source 12a of the analog reading system 12. Then, in the next step S14, the image information written on the spatial light modulator 10 is read by the uniform light from the R light source 12a, and the optical image is exposed on the recording paper 19 via the lens 12d. .

If n = 0 is not true in step S12, step SS15
In, it is determined whether or not n = 1. In the case of n = 1, the G light source 12b is turned on in step S16, and in the next step S14, the image information written on the spatial light modulator 10 is converted into uniform light from the G light source 12b. Read out, and the optical image is exposed on the recording paper 19 through the lens 12d. If n = 1 is not satisfied, the light source 12c of B in step S17
Is turned on, and in the next step S14, the image information written on the spatial light modulator 10 is read out by the uniform light from the B light source 12c, and the optical image thereof is recorded on the recording paper 19 via the lens 12d. To expose.

Next, in step S18, n is incremented by n ← n + 1, and then in step S19, it is determined whether or not n = 3. In the case of n = 3, this program is terminated assuming that the processing of all the colors of R, G, B has been completed. n = 3
If not, the process returns to step S2 to repeat the above-mentioned processing.

When the color image editing function mode is designated, the computer executes only the processes of steps S8 to S11 of the program shown in FIG. However, the processes of steps S8 to S11 are repeatedly executed for all R, G, and B colors.

When the image scanner function mode is designated, only the processes of steps S1 to S8 of the program shown in FIG. 4 are executed. Also in this case, it is repeatedly executed for all the colors of R, G, and B. That is, the process is repeated until n = 3.

When the printer function mode is instructed, step S20 of the program of FIG. 4 is first executed, and image information is input from the control unit 17 or other external device. Next, the processing of step S10 and subsequent steps is executed. However, these processes are repeatedly executed for all R, G, and B colors.

When the analog copy function mode is instructed, the processing is executed so that the program always jumps from step S4 to step S12 in FIG.

According to the present embodiment, analog processing or digital processing can be selectively used depending on the type of image. For example, in a line drawing or a character-centered image, a smooth line can be reproduced by instructing the analog copy function mode and performing analog processing. Further, for an image in which color is emphasized, color correction can be performed by instructing a color image editing / output function mode, and color can be faithfully reproduced.

Area separation of an image, which is difficult with analog processing, can be easily processed by instructing the color image editing / output function mode or the color image editing function mode and performing digital processing such as partial erasing. Further, it is possible to obtain a fused image by mixing an analog image and a digital image such as embedding an analog image in a digital image, embedding a digital image in an analog image, and overwriting a digital image in an analog image.

Further, it is also possible to gradually reduce the resolution by making the scanning interval or the sampling interval of the light receiving element rough during the read scanning from the spatial light modulator.
Further, if the scanning intervals are made closer than usual and the images are displayed at regular intervals during image display, a zoomed-in image can be obtained. By making the area of the spatial light modulator sufficiently large, it is possible to avoid deterioration of the image quality of the zoomed-in image. This zoom-up function can be performed without moving the document or moving the optical lens in order to obtain a zoom-up image of an arbitrary magnification at an arbitrary place.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, a photoconductor forming an image writing plane, a P-type smectic A liquid crystal laminated on the photoconductor and having a memory function, and the photoconductor. A spatial light modulation element having electrodes sandwiching a liquid crystal and a liquid crystal, an analog writing system for writing an original image into the spatial light modulation element in an analog manner, and a spatial light by two-dimensionally scanning a laser beam on the spatial light modulation element. A digital reading system for digitally reading the image written in the modulator, a processing unit for performing image processing on the read image data, and a space for storing the image data subjected to the above-described processing by two-dimensionally scanning a laser beam. A digital writing system that digitally writes to the light modulation element and an analog reading that reads the image written to the spatial light modulation element in analog Since it has a projection system, it can handle images in which analog images and digital images are mixed and fused, and can reproduce images with high resolution and good color reproducibility and at low cost. A processing device can be realized.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic structure of a color image editing / outputting apparatus as one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the embodiment of FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the spatial light modulator, and FIG. 4 is a flow chart schematically showing a part of the control program of the computer of the embodiment of FIG. 10 …… Spatial light modulator, 11 …… Analog writing system, 11
a, 11b, 11c, 12a, 12b, 12c ... Light source, 11d, 12d, 13c
...... Lens, 12 ...... Analog readout system, 13 ...... Digital readout system, 13a, 14a ...... Laser light source, 13b, 14b ......
Laser beam scanning system, 13d ... Light receiving element, 14 ... Digital writing system, 14c ... Laser modulation circuit, 15 ... Processing section, 16 ... Display, 17 ... Control section, 18 ... Original,
19 …… Recording paper.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A spatial light modulator comprising a photoconductor forming an image writing plane, a P-type smectic A liquid crystal laminated on the photoconductor and having a memory function, and an electrode sandwiching the photoconductor and the liquid crystal. And an analog writing system for writing the original image into the spatial light modulator in an analog manner, and a digital image of the image written in the spatial light modulator by two-dimensionally scanning a laser beam on the spatial light modulator. , A processing unit for performing image processing on the read image data, and a digital writing system for digitally writing the processed image data on the spatial light modulator by two-dimensionally scanning a laser beam. And an analog reading system for reading an image written in the spatial light modulator in an analog manner. Over image processing apparatus.