JP2873220B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image processing apparatus reads an image on a document placed on a document table or the like and performs a recording (copying) operation faithfully according to an instruction from an operator.

On the other hand, recent advances in copying technology, combined with the technology for colorizing image recording, have made it possible to output a copied image that is very close to a document image.

[0004]

Therefore, in the conventional apparatus, an object which is to be prohibited from being copied, such as money or securities, is placed on the document table by misuse or by "mischief". Even if copying is performed, since copying is performed as instructed by the operator, counterfeiting can be easily induced, and a large social problem may be caused.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus which can prevent processing of an image for which duplication is prohibited.

[0006]

For this purpose, the present invention provides:
Receiving means for receiving color image data from an external device;
An output unit for outputting color image data obtained by processing the image data received by the receiving unit, and by comparing the color image data with specific data prepared in advance,
Determining means for determining whether the color image data is data corresponding to an image for which duplication is prohibited; and control means for controlling output of the color image data by the output means according to the determination by the determining means. It is characterized by the following.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a schematic internal configuration of a digital color image processing system as an embodiment of the present invention. This system has a digital color image reading device (hereinafter, referred to as a color reader) 1 at an upper portion and a digital color image printing device (hereinafter, a color printer) 2 at a lower portion as shown in the figure. The color reader 1 reads color image information of a document for each color by using a color separation means described later and a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD, and converts it into an electric digital image signal. The color printer 2 is an electrophotographic laser beam color printer that reproduces a color image for each color in accordance with the digital image signal, and performs recording by transferring a digital dot form to a recording medium a plurality of times. .

First, the outline of the color reader unit 1 will be described.

Reference numeral 3 denotes an original, reference numeral 4 denotes a platen glass on which the original is placed, and reference numeral 5 denotes a light source for condensing a reflected light image from the original exposed and scanned by the halogen exposure lamp 10 and inputting the image to the 1: 1 full-color sensor 6. Rod lens array,
5, 6, 7, and 10 are integrated as a document scanning unit 11 to perform exposure scanning in the direction of arrow A1. The color separation image signal read line by line while exposing and scanning is amplified to a predetermined voltage by the sensor output signal amplification circuit 7 and then input to a video processing unit 12 to be described later via a signal line 501 for signal processing. Details will be described later. The signal line 501
Is as a coaxial cable to ensure a faithful transmission of the signal.

Reference numeral 502 denotes a signal line for supplying a drive pulse for the 1 × full color sensor 6, and all necessary drive pulses are generated in the video processing unit 12. Reference numerals 8 and 9 denote a white plate and a black plate used for white level correction and black level correction of an image signal, respectively. A signal level of a predetermined density is obtained by irradiating with a halogen exposure lamp 10, and this is converted into a video signal. Can be used for white level correction and black level correction.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a control unit having a microcomputer, which controls a display on the operation panel 20 via a bus 508, a key input control, a control of the video processing unit 12, a control of a bill / secures characteristic extracting circuit 52, and the like. Document scanning unit using position sensors S1 and S2
Detection of the position 11 via signal lines 509 and 510, control of the stepping motor drive circuit 15 for driving the stepping motor 14 for moving the scanning body 11 through the signal line 503, control of the stepping motor drive circuit 15 via the signal line 504 All controls of the color reader unit 1, such as ON / OFF control of the halogen exposure lamp 10 by the exposure lamp driver 21, light amount control, and control of the digitizer 16, internal keys, and display unit via the signal line 505 are performed.

A color image signal read by the above-described exposure scanning unit 11 at the time of document exposure scanning is input from the amplifier circuit 7 to the video processing unit 12 via a signal line 501, and various processings to be described later in the unit 12 are performed. Given
The data is sent to the printer unit 2 via the interface circuit 56.

Next, an outline of the color printer 2 will be described. A scanner 711 is a laser output unit for converting an image signal from the color reader 1 into an optical signal, a polygon mirror 712 of a polyhedron (for example, octahedron), a motor (not shown) for rotating the mirror 712, and an f / θ lens. (Imaging lens) 713 and the like. 714 is a reflection mirror for changing the optical path of the laser beam, and 715 is a photosensitive drum. The laser light emitted from the laser output unit is reflected by the polygon mirror 712,
The surface of the photosensitive drum 715 is scanned linearly (raster scan) through the lens 713 and the mirror 714 to form a latent image corresponding to the original image.

Further, 717 is a primary charger, 718 is a full-surface exposure lamp, 723 is a cleaner section for collecting residual toner not transferred, and 724 is a pre-transfer charger, and these members are provided around the photosensitive drum 715. It is arranged.

Reference numeral 726 denotes a photosensitive drum 715 by laser exposure.
731Y, 731M, 731C, 731Bk are developing sleeves for directly developing in contact with the photosensitive drum 715, 730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk
732 is a toner hopper for holding the spare toner, and 732 is a screw for transferring the developer.
The developing unit 726 is constituted by 731Y to 731Bk, the toner hoppers 730Y to 730Bk and the screw 732, and these members are arranged around the rotation axis P of the developing unit. For example, when a yellow toner image is formed, yellow toner development is performed at the position shown in the figure, and when a magenta toner image is formed, the developing unit 726 is rotated about the axis P in the figure. The developing sleeve 731M in the magenta developing device is disposed at a position in contact with the photoconductor 715. The development of cyan and black is performed in the same manner.

Reference numeral 716 denotes a transfer drum for transferring the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 715 to paper, 719 denotes an actuator plate for detecting the movement position of the transfer drum 716, and 720 denotes the actuator plate 719 A home position sensor for detecting that the transfer drum 716 has moved to the home position position due to the proximity, a transfer drum cleaner 725, a static eliminator 728 and a transfer charger 729, and these members 719, 720, 725, 727, 729 It is arranged around.

On the other hand, reference numerals 735 and 736 denote paper feed cassettes for storing paper (sheets) as recording media, 737 and 738 denote paper feed rollers for feeding paper from the cassettes 735 and 736, and 739, 740 and 74.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a timing roller for setting the timing of sheet feeding and conveyance.The sheet fed and conveyed via these rollers is guided by a paper guide 749 and wrapped around the transfer drum 716 while the leading end is held by the gripper, thereby forming an image. Move to

A drum rotation motor 550 rotates the photosensitive drum 715 and the transfer drum 716 synchronously. 75
Reference numeral 0 denotes a peeling claw that removes the sheet from the transfer drum 716 after the image forming process is completed, 742 denotes a transport belt that transports the removed sheet, and 743 denotes an image fixing unit that fixes the sheet transported by the transport belt 742. The image fixing unit 743 has a pair of heat and pressure rollers 744 and 745.

A printer controller 700 controls each section of the printer section 2 and has a PWH circuit 778 which performs pulse width modulation of image information transferred from the reader section 1 and supplies it to the scanner 711.

Next, the control unit 13 of the reader unit 1 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

(Control Unit) The control unit 13 includes a CPU 22 in the form of a microcomputer. In order to obtain a desired copy, in addition to controlling video signal processing, a lamp driver 21 for exposure and scanning, a stepping motor driver 15, a digitizer 16. The control of the operation panel 20 is performed organically in accordance with the contents stored in the program ROM 23, RAM 24, and RAM 25 via signal lines 508 (bus), 504, 503, 505, and the like. It is assumed that the nonvolatile nature of the RAM 25 is guaranteed by the battery 31. Reference numeral 505 denotes a generally used signal line for serial communication, which is input by an operator from the digitizer 16 according to a protocol between the CPU 22 and the digitizer 16. That is, the signal line 505 is a signal line for inputting coordinates, an area instruction, a copy mode instruction, a magnification change instruction, and the like in editing, for example, moving, synthesizing, and the like of the original. A signal line 503 is a signal line for instructing the motor driver 15 on the scanning speed, distance, forward movement, backward movement, and the like from the CPU 22. The motor driver 15 sends a predetermined pulse to the stepping motor 14 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU 22. Input and give motor rotation operation. Serial interface (I / F) 29, 30 is a serial interface such as Intel 8251
It is a general one realized by an I / F LSI or the like. Although not shown, the digitizer 16 and the motor driver 15 also have similar circuits.

S1 and S2 are sensors for detecting the position of the original exposure scanning unit (indicated by reference numeral 11 in FIG. 1), and the home position is detected at S1, and white level correction of the image signal is performed at this position. . S2 is a sensor for detecting the presence of the document exposure scanning unit at the leading end of the image, and this position is the reference position of the document.

(Printer Interface) The signals ITOP, BD, VCLK, VIDEO, HSYNC, and SRCOM (511 to 516) in FIG.
These are signals for the interface between the color printer unit 2 and the reader unit 1 in FIG. All the image signals VIDEO 514 read by the reader unit 1 are sent to the color printer unit 2 based on the above signals. ITOP is a synchronizing signal in the image feed direction (hereinafter referred to as sub-scanning direction), and is transmitted once for one screen, that is, four colors (yellow, magenta, cyan,
The Bk) image is sent once each, for a total of four times. This is because the leading edge of the transfer paper wound on the transfer drum 716 of the color printer unit 2 is contacted with the photosensitive drum 715 to form the toner image. When receiving the transfer, the image is synchronized with the rotation of the transfer drum 716 and the photosensitive drum 715 so as to match the position of the image at the leading end of the document, is sent to the video processing unit in the reader 1, and is further interrupted by the CPU 22 in the controller 13. (Signal 511).

The CPU 22 performs image control in the sub-scanning direction for editing or the like based on the ITOP interrupt. BD512 is a synchronizing signal in a raster scan direction (hereinafter, referred to as a main scanning direction) generated once per rotation of the polygon mirror 712, that is, once per raster scan, and is an image signal read by the reader unit 1. Are sent out to the printer unit 2 one line at a time in the main scanning direction in synchronization with the BD signal. VCLK 513 is a synchronizing clock for transmitting an 8-bit digital video signal 514 to the color printer unit 2. For example, as shown in FIG.
Send 4

The HSYNC 515 is a main scanning direction synchronization signal generated in synchronization with the VCLK 513 from the BD signal 512, has the same period as the BD signal, and the video signal 514 is strictly transmitted in synchronization with the HSYNC 515. This is because the BD signal 512 is generated in synchronization with the rotation of the polygon mirror, so that there is a lot of jitter of the motor that rotates the polygon mirror 712. This is because the HSYNC 515 generated in synchronization with the jitter-free VCLK is required.

SRCOM is a signal line for half-duplex bidirectional serial communication, and as shown in FIG. 3C, an 8-bit serial clock between synchronization signals CBUSY (command busy) sent from the reader unit. A command CM is transmitted in synchronization with SCLK, and a status ST is returned from the printer unit in synchronization with an 8-bit serial clock between SBUSY (status busy). Instructions from the reader unit to the printer unit,
For example, the mutual exchange of information such as color mode, cassette selection, and status information of the printer unit, for example, jam, no paper, weight, etc., is all performed via this communication line SRCOM.

FIG. 3A shows one full-color image of four colors in IT
A timing chart for transmitting based on OP and HSYNC is shown. ITOP511 is generated once every one or two rotations of the transfer drum 716, and is yellow at the time, magenta at the time, cyan at the time, and Bk at the time.
Is transmitted from the reader unit 1 to the printer unit 2 to form a full-color image of four-color superposition on transfer paper. For example, if the image density in the feed direction is 16 pel / mm with respect to the A3 image longitudinal direction 420 mm, HSYNC is 420 × 16 = 67
It will be sent 20 times. This is simultaneously input to the clock input to the timer circuit 28 in the controller circuit 13, which counts a predetermined number and then interrupts the CPU 22.
HINT517 is to be applied. This allows the CPU 22
Performs image control in the feed direction, for example, control of extraction and movement.

(Bill / Securities Feature Extraction Circuit) The operation of the bill / securities feature extraction circuit 52 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing an example of the configuration of the video processing unit 12 including the bill / secures characteristic extracting circuit 52. The color image signal read by the exposure scanning unit 11 shown in FIG.
Is input to the video processing unit 12 via the. In the unit 12, the input is received by the video receiver circuit 60, and then the video preprocessing circuit 61 performs pixel shift for each color,
Corrects shading and outputs as r, g, b signals.

The preprocessed video signal is input to a bill / secures feature extraction circuit 52, and is converted from a luminance signal to a density signal by a LOG conversion circuit 62.
The circuit 63 performs masking and UCR (under color removal) processing. Next, a signal line is passed through an italic / mirror image processing circuit 64, a color balance circuit 65, a color conversion circuit 66, a magnification conversion circuit 67, a texture processing circuit 68, an edge emphasis smoothing circuit 69, a video signal synthesis circuit 70, and a video driver circuit 71. Vi
It is sent to the color printer 2 via deo8.

Each processing circuit in the video processing unit 12 is connected via an internal bus VUBUS, and further connected to the CPU 22 via a CPU bus transceiver 72 and a signal line 508.

The banknote / securities feature extraction circuit 52 determines whether or not it matches the preset banknote / securities features based on the input r, g, b signals. The determination result is returned to the CPU 22 via the. The CPU 22 makes a final determination as to whether it is a banknote or a security based on the determination results for some features, and if an affirmative determination is made, a specific processing circuit via the VUBUS is used to faithfully follow the original image. A conversion parameter is set so that image formation is not performed.

The matching determination process performed by the banknote / securities feature extraction circuit 52 includes, for each of the input signals r, g, and b, comparing the color spectrum distribution of the original with data previously registered in a ROM or the like. To make a judgment,
ROM for the comprehensive image pattern of part or all of the manuscript
For example, the determination may be made by comparing with pattern data registered in advance, or the like, or a combination of such processing may be performed. Further, in addition to the feature extraction performed on the content of the read image data, a circuit for identifying the size, magnetic pattern, watermark pattern, etc. of the document is added, and the data from these is sent to the CPU 22. And appropriate processing can be performed.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a parameter conversion processing procedure performed by the CPU 22 based on some feature determinations obtained by the feature extraction circuit 52 as described above. This procedure can be stored in the ROM 23.

First, in step S1, various judgment results are input from the above-described circuit 52 and others. Next, in step S3, it is finally determined whether or not the evaluation is a banknote or securities. Then, according to the calculation result, step
In S5, the conversion parameters are set in the processing circuit 63 and the like.

Next, an embodiment of the contents of the parameter conversion will be described.

The following equations (a) to (d) are examples in which the color is changed when it is determined that the bill is a banknote or securities.
This is performed by changing the masking / UCR parameters for the R processing circuit 63.

[0038]

[Table 1]

[0039]

[Table 2]

Equation (a) is an example of ordinary masking. On the other hand, the color is converted and output by changing the matrix [m _ij ] as shown in equation (b). Because it changes completely, what is recorded is no longer valid as banknotes or securities. However, the contents of the securities can be recorded.

Formula (C) is an example in which a specific color is used for printing. Equation (d) is an example of printing in black and white.

(Second Embodiment) FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment.

Reference numeral 50-2 denotes a bill / secures recognition circuit. In this embodiment, a CPU is provided for performing control according to the judgment of bills and the like.

Reference numeral 80 denotes a signal for controlling the color output to the masking / UCR processing circuit. Others have the same function as FIG.

In the case of performing a normal copying operation, FIG.
As shown in the figure, in order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, the video is synchronized with the iTOP signal output from the printer 2.
Although the masking / UCR processing circuit 63 is controlled so that o8 is switched, when the bill / securities recognition circuit 50-2 determines that the original is a bill or securities, it is shown in FIG. 7 (b). The color of the printed image is changed by shifting the color switching order as described above.

As described above, by directly controlling the masking / UCR processing circuit from the bill / secures recognition circuit 50-2,
Since the process of changing colors can be performed independently of CPU22, CPU2
The second program is not complicated, and forgery can be more reliably prevented even if the program for the CPU 22 is changed.

(Third Embodiment) FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment of the present invention.

Here, reference numeral 81 denotes a bus switching signal for controlling a bus transceiver with the CPU bus 508. The bill / secures recognition circuit 50-3 operates independently of the CPU 22, and outputs video signals r, g, b is constantly monitored. If it is determined that the original is a bill or securities, the CPU bus transceiver 72 is closed and the VU
By occupying the BUS, for example, by writing specific parameters in the italic / mirror image processing circuit 64, it is possible to print in italic as shown in FIG. 9 (a).

By forcibly performing such conversion, a printed image that is clearly distinguished from the real one is output, so that forgery can be prevented.

FIGS. 9B to 9C show another example in which the processing is forcibly performed.

FIG. 7B shows an example in which an italic / mirror image processing circuit 64 is controlled to output a mirror image, FIG. 7C shows an example in which a magnification processing circuit 67 is controlled to reduce and output, and FIG. ) Is an example in which the magnification processing circuit 67 is controlled to perform independent vertical / horizontal scaling and output. FIG. (E) controls the video signal synthesizing circuit 70 and the character pattern generating circuit 73 to add-on the character “copy”. This is an example of output.

In addition, the color balance may be controlled by controlling the color balance processing circuit 65 so as to greatly change the color balance, or the color conversion circuit 66 may be controlled to output a specific color (mono color). The color conversion circuit 66 may be controlled to output a monotone image. Further, the texture processing circuit may be controlled to output a mosaic texture, or the edge emphasizing / smoothing processing circuit 69 may be controlled to eliminate fine lines by filtering or to perform a blurring process. In addition, the LOG conversion circuit 62 may be controlled to perform negative / positive conversion and output.

As described above, forgery prevention processing is performed inside the video processing unit 12, so that forgery prevention can be hardly broken.

(Fourth Embodiment) FIG. 10 shows an example in which a forgery prevention device is provided on the printer 2 side as a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

Here, 50-4 is the printer controller 700.
This is a bill / securities recognition circuit provided therein, monitors a video signal input in a frame-sequential manner, and controls the video conversion circuit 51 when it is judged as a bill or securities in the same manner as described above.
Then, the image to be printed is largely changed from the original by performing appropriate processing such as thinning out the image, thinning the line, thickening the line, shading, and adding on characters.

FIG. 11 shows an example of a video conversion circuit 51 for performing thinning. Here, reference numeral 801 denotes a selector, and 802 denotes an AND gate. Reference numeral 803 denotes a JK flip-flop, which performs thinning-out by selecting each pixel.

FIG. 12 shows an example of a video conversion circuit 51 'for thinning (or thickening). Where 810,811
And 813 are D-type flip-flops, and 812 is a selector. Reference numeral 814 denotes a comparator. If the selector 812 selects a smaller (or larger) value, thinning (or thickening) can be performed in the main scanning direction.

Although an example of a processing circuit is not shown in the shading process, a fine pattern such as a bill may be moire by subjecting a video image to a dot processing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, by incorporating a forgery prevention device into the printer, forgery prevention can be effectively performed even when reading is performed by a reader having no forgery prevention device.

It should be noted that the circuit for identifying bills and securities is not limited to the above examples, but may be of any type. Also, the printer section may be of various types, in addition to the electrophotographic type as in the above-described example.

[0061]

According to the present invention, color image data is received from an external device by a receiving means, and based on the received color image data, output of the color image data, determination of whether or not the image is prohibited from being copied, and determination of this image are performed. Control of image data output based on the received color image data, even if there is no configuration in the external device to determine whether or not data of a specific image whose duplication such as banknotes or securities is prohibited is output. Since it is possible to determine whether or not the color image data is prohibited from being copied based on the output and control the output, for example, it is possible to realize a process of prohibiting the copy, such as stopping the output or converting the color image data.

Further, if the external device has a configuration for making the above determination, even if a determination error occurs, the determination is also made in the image processing apparatus of the present invention. Can be reduced.

Further, in the case of a configuration in which the signal for determination and the signal for output are generated by separate generating means, the determination may be disabled by modifying the data generating means for determination, and the prohibited image may be output as it is. On the other hand, since the received color image signal is used for both output and determination, it is possible to prevent such a problem from occurring.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control unit provided in the reader unit.

FIGS. 3A to 3C are explanatory diagrams for explaining the operation.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a bill / secures recognition circuit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of an image change processing procedure according to a recognition result.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating another configuration example of the bill / securities recognition circuit.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an image change mode according to the configuration of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing still another configuration example of the bill / secures recognition circuit.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an aspect of image change by the configuration shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an image processing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.

11 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a video conversion circuit in FIG.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the video conversion circuit in FIG. 10;

[Explanation of symbols]

 12 Video processing unit, 50-2 to 50-4 Banknote / securities recognition circuit, 51 Video conversion circuit, 52 Banknote / securities feature extraction circuit, 60 Video receiver, 61 Video preprocessing, 62 LOG conversion circuit, 63 Masking / UCR circuit, 64 italic / mirror image conversion circuit, 65 color balance conversion circuit, 66 color conversion circuit, 67 magnification conversion circuit, 68 texture conversion circuit, 69 edge circuit / smoothing circuit, 70 video synthesis circuit, 71 video driver circuit, 73 characters・ Pattern generation circuit. 700 Receiver (Printer Controller)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A receiving unit that receives color image data from an external device; an output unit that outputs color image data obtained by processing the image data received by the receiving unit; and specific data that prepares the color image data in advance. A comparison unit that determines whether the color image data is data corresponding to an image for which duplication is prohibited, and controls an output of the color image data by the output unit in accordance with the determination by the determination unit An image processing apparatus comprising: a control unit.