JP2951960B2 - Image processing method - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing method for specifying a predetermined area of a target color image represented by a plurality of color component signals from an external device.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a color scanner, a drum scanner, and the like are known as image input information devices for transmitting image information to a host computer. However, in these apparatuses, a method of inputting the entire original or a part of the original by a mechanical structure and transferring the original to a host computer is adopted.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-described conventional example, in the case of a scanner that captures all images, unnecessary image information is also transferred to the host computer, and the transfer time and the memory on the host side are occupied. There was a disadvantage that it was bad.

The present invention reduces the amount of image data used to specify a predetermined area of a target color image, so that an external device can efficiently perform processing of specifying a predetermined area of a target color image. It is an object to provide an image processing method.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image processing method for designating a predetermined region of a target color image indicated by a plurality of color component signals from an external device, wherein the single color component signal relating to the target color image is Transfer to an external device, a region designation signal set based on the single color component signal, input from the external device, a plurality of the target color image, showing a color image in the region designated by the region designation signal It is characterized by reading a color component signal.

〔Example〕

In the embodiment of the present invention described below, as a method of transferring image information of a desired area from the image input means to the host computer, first, information from the image input means is transferred to the host computer.
In the case of digitized or color image information, this is converted into luminance information or monochromatic information and sent to the host computer, and then the host computer designates a desired area from these information, and re-images only the desired area. A method in which high-speed transfer is enabled by transfer will be described, but the present invention is, of course, not limited to such an embodiment.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an example of a schematic internal configuration of a color image forming system according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. A digital color image reading device (hereinafter, referred to as "color reader") 1 for reading a color image, a digital color image printing device (hereinafter, referred to as "color printer") 2 for printing and outputting a digital color image, and an image storage device 3 below. And an SV recording / reproducing device 31, a monitor television 32, and a host computer 33.

The color reader 2 of this embodiment is a device that reads color image information of a read document for each color and converts it into an electrical digital image signal by using a color separation unit described below and a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD. is there.

The color printer 2 is an electrophotographic laser beam color printer that limits a color image for each color in accordance with a digital image signal to be output, and transfers and records a plurality of times on a recording paper in a digital dot form. .

The image storage device 3 is a device that reads from the color reader 1, quantizes a digital image or an analog video signal from the SV recording / reproducing device 31, converts it into a digital image, and stores it.

The SV recording / reproducing device 31 is a device that captures an image with an SV camera, reproduces image information recorded in an SV floppy, and outputs it as an analog video signal. The SV recording / reproducing apparatus 31 can also record an SV floppy by inputting an analog video signal in addition to the above.

The monitor television 32 is a device that displays an image stored in the image storage device 3 and displays the content of an analog video signal output from the SV recording / reproducing device 31.

The host computer 33 has a function of transmitting image information to the image storage device 3 and receiving image information of the color reader 1 and the SV recording / reproducing device stored in the image storage device 3. Further, it controls the color reader 1 and the color printer 2.

 The details will be described below for each part.

<Description of Color Reader 1> First, the configuration of the color reader 1 will be described.

In the color reader 1 shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 999 denotes a document, reference numeral 4 denotes a platen glass on which the document is placed, and reference numeral 5 denotes a full-color full-color sensor for condensing a reflected light image from the document exposed and scanned by a halogen exposure lamp 10. 6 is a rod array lens for inputting an image. A rod scanning lens 5, a full-size full-color sensor 6, a sensor output signal amplifying circuit 7, and a halogen exposure lamp 10 constitute an original scanning unit 11 for scanning an original 999 in the direction of the arrow (A1). Manuscript 9
The 99 pieces of image information to be read are sequentially read line by line by exposing and scanning the original scanning unit 11. The read color separation image signal is amplified to a predetermined voltage by the sensor output signal amplification circuit 7 and then input to the video processing unit via the signal line 501, where the signal is processed. Note that the signal line 501 has a coaxial cable configuration to guarantee faithful transmission of a signal. A signal 502 is a signal line for supplying a drive pulse for the 1: 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 for white level correction and black level correction of an image signal, respectively.
By irradiating with, a signal level of a predetermined density can be obtained, and is used for white level correction and black level correction of a video signal.

Reference numeral 13 denotes a control unit which controls the entire color reader 1 of this embodiment having a micro computer, and controls display and key input on the scanning panel 20 via the bus 508, and controls the video processing unit 12. The signal lines 509 and 510 are output by the position sensors S1 and S2.
, The position of the original scanning unit 11 is detected.

Further, a stepping motor driving circuit 15 for pulse driving a stepping motor 14 for moving the scanning body 11 by a signal line 503 is controlled by an exposure lamp driver 21 via a signal line 504 to control ON / OFF of the pulse exposure lamp 10. , Light intensity control, digitizer 16 and internal key via signal line 505,
All the controls of the color reader unit 1 such as the control of the display unit are performed.

The color image signal read by the above-described exposure scanning unit 11 at the time of document exposure scanning is input to the video processing unit 12 via the sensor output signal amplification circuit 7 and the signal line 501.

Next, the details of the original scanning unit 11 and the video processing unit 12 will be described with reference to FIG.

The color image signal input to the video processing unit 12 is separated into three colors of G (green), B (blue), and R (red) by the sample / hold circuit S / H43. Each of the separated color image signals is subjected to analog processing in an analog color signal processing circuit 44 and then subjected to A / D conversion to become a digital color image signal.

In this embodiment, the color reading sensor 6 in the original scanning unit 11 is formed in a staggered shape divided into five regions as shown in FIG. Using the color reading sensor 6 and the FIFO memory 46, the reading position deviation between the 2,24 channel that is pre-scanning and the remaining 1,3,5 channel is corrected. F
The signal of the displacement correcting agent from the IFO memory 46 is input to the black correction circuit / white correction circuit, and the signal corresponding to the light reflected from the white plate 8 and the black plate 9 is used for the color reading sensor. The unevenness in darkness, the unevenness in the light amount of the halogen exposure lamp 10, the variation in the sensitivity of the sensor, and the like are corrected.

Color image data proportional to the amount of light input to the color reading sensor 6 is input to the video interface 101 and connected to the image storage device 3.

The video interface 101 has the functions shown in FIGS. That is, (1) a function of outputting a signal 559 from the black correction / white correction circuit to the image storage device 3 (FIG. 3), and (2) a logarithmic conversion circuit 86 of the image information from the image storage device 3.
(3) a function of outputting image information from the printer interface 56 to the image storage device 3 (FIG. 5), and (4) a signal 559 from the black correction / white correction circuit. , A function to be sent to the logarithmic conversion circuit 86 (FIG. 6). The selection of these four functions is switched by the CPU control line 508 as shown in FIGS.

<Explanation of Image Storage Unit 3> Next, reading (capture) control by the color reader 1 and storage control of the read image information in the image storage device 3 in this embodiment will be described.

The reading setting by the color reader 1 is performed by a digitizer described below. FIG. 7 shows an external view of the digitizer 16.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 427 denotes an entry key for transferring image data from the color reader 1 to the image storage device 3. The coordinate detection plate 420 is used to set an arbitrary area on a read document or to set a reading magnification and the like. Point pen 421 is used to specify the coordinates.

In order to transfer image data in an arbitrary area on the document to the image storage device 3, after pressing an entry key 427 in FIG.

This reading area information is sent to the video processing unit 12 via the communication line 505 in FIG. In the video processing unit 12, this signal is sent from the video interface 101 to the image storage device 3 via the CPU control line 508.

Also, if the reading position is not indicated by the point pen 421 after pressing the entry key 427 in FIG.
The color reader 1 detects the size of the original 999 by prescanning, and sends this information to the image storage device 3 via the video interface 101 as image reading area information.

A process of sending information of the designated area of the original 999 to the image storage device 3 will be described.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the address of the information (points A and B) of the area designated by the point pen 421 of the digitizer 16.

In addition to the area information, the video interface 101 outputs a VCLK signal, an ITOP 551, a signal 104 from the area signal generation circuit 51, and the like to the image storage device 3 together with image data. FIG. 9 shows the timing chart of these output signal lines.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the start button of the operation unit 20 is pressed, the stepping motor 14 is driven, and the original scanning unit 11 starts scanning and reaches the leading end of the original.
The ITOP signal 551 becomes "1", the original scanning unit 11 reaches the area designated by the digitizer 16, and the EN signal 104 becomes "1" while scanning this area. Therefore, the ▲ ▼ signal 104
Color image information (DATA105,106,10
7) should be imported.

As shown in FIG. 9, the image data transfer from the color reader 1 is controlled by controlling the video interface 101 as shown in FIG.
R data 105, G in synchronization with the control signal 04 and the VCLK signal
Data 106 and B data 107 are sent to the image storage device 3 in real time.

Next, based on the image data and the control signal, how the image storage device 3 specifically stores the image data is shown in FIG.
This will be described with reference to FIG.

The connector 4550 is connected to the video interface 101 of the color reader 1 via a cable,
Data 106 and B data 107 are 9430R, 9430G, 9430B respectively
Is connected to the selector 4250 via the. VCLK sent from video interface 101, ▲ ▼ signal 104, IT
OP551 is input directly to the system controller 4210 through the signal line 9450. Prior to reading the document, the area information designated by the digitizer 16 is input to the reader controller 4270 via the communication line 9460, and is read from the reader controller 4270 via the CPU bus 9610.

After the R data 105, G data 106, and B data 107 input to the selector 4250 via the 9430R, 9430G, and 9430B are selected by the selector 4250, the signal lines 9420R, 9420G,
It is output to 9420B and input to FIFO memories 4050R, 4050G, and 4050B.

 FIG. 11 shows a detailed configuration diagram of the selector 4250.

As shown in the figure, when storing image information from the color reader 1 to the image storage device 3, the control signal SELECT-A 9451A from the system controller 4210 is set to 1 and the select signal B-9451B is set.
Is set to 1, SELECT-C • 9451C is set to 0, and only the tri-state buffers 4251E, V, R, G, B are used, and the other tri-state buffers 4255E, V, R, G, B and 4256E, V , R, G, B are high impedance.

Similarly, among the control signals 9450, the VCLK and
Selected by signals 9451A, B, C. Now, when the image information from the color reader 1 is stored in the image storage device 3,
As shown in FIG. 11, the VCLK and ▲ ▼ signals are signals output from the color reader 1 and are tristate buffers.
Only 4251E, V is alive, and is inputted to the system controller 4210 through the signal line of CLKIN9456, ▲ ▼ 9457.

Also, the control signal ▲ ▼ 9455, ▲
9459452 is input directly to the system controller 4210 from the connector 4550.

Further, the selector 4250 has a function of averaging the image information from the color reader 1. Signals 9430R, 9430G, 9430B input from the color reader are signal lines 9421R, 9421
G, 9421B, and input to the FIFO memories 4252R, 4252G, 4252B.

The output from the FIFO memory 4252R, 4252G, 4252B is a signal of one main scanning delay with respect to the image information 9421R, 9421G, 8421B, passes through the signal lines 9422R, 9422G, 9422B and passes through the adder 4253.
Input to R, 4253G, 4253B. Adders 4253R, 4253
G, 4253B has the signal 9421 from the selector 4251R, 4251G, 4251B
R, 9421G, 9421B are input. Adders 4253R, 4253B, 4
253G, averages 2 pixels in the main scanning direction and 2 pixels in the sub-scanning direction, that is, 4 pixels, and outputs signal lines 9423R, 9423G, 9423B.
Output to

The selectors 4253R, 4253G, and 4253B are the image signals 9421R, 9421G, 9421B from the color reader 1 or the signals 9 that have been averaged.
Select 423R, 9423G, 9423B, and signal 9420R, 9420G, 9420
B is input to the FIFO memories 4050A-R, 4050A-G, and 4050A-B.

The image memory in this embodiment is of a slot-in type, and is composed of five memories A, B, C and D as shown in FIG. In the following description, only the memory A will be described.

The system controller 4210 includes selectors 4254R, 4254G,
Of the image data 9420R, 9420G, and 9420B from the 4254B, only the effective area of the image is stored in the FIFO memories 4050A-R, 4050A-G, and 4050A.
Transfer to -B. At this time, the system controller 4210 also performs a trimming process and a scaling process at the same time.

Further, the FIFO memories 4050A-R, 4050A-G, and 4050A-B absorb the difference in clock between the color reader 1 and the image storage device 3.

These processes of the present embodiment are described in the circuit diagram of FIG.
This will be described below with reference to the timing chart in FIG.

That is, the FIFO memory 4 from the selector 4253R, 4253G, 4253B
Prior to data transfer to 050A-R, 4050A-G, 4050A-B,
The effective area in the main scanning direction of the area designated by the digitizer 16 is written to the comparators 4232 and 4233 by the CPU bus 9610.

The start address of the area designated by the digitizer 16 in the main scanning direction is set in the comparator 4232, and the stop address is set in the comparator 4233.

Further, the sub-scanning direction of the area designated by the digitizer 16 is controlled by controlling the selector 4213 to select the CPU bus 9610 side to be valid, and “0” data is written in the valid area of the area designated by the RAM 4212, Write "1" data to the invalid area.

Scaling processing in the main scanning direction is rate multiplier
A scaling factor is set to 4234 via the CPU bus 9610. Further, the scaling process in the sub-scanning direction can be performed by data written to the RAM 4212.

FIG. 13 is a timing chart when a trimming process is performed. As described above, when only the area designated by the digitizer 16 is stored in the memory (trimming processing), the trimming position in the main scanning direction is determined by the comparator 4232.
In the sub-scanning direction, the selector 4213 is set to the CPU bus 9610 side, and the CPU writes the trimming position in the RAM 4212 ((example) trimming area sub-scanning 1000 to 3047,
Sub scanning 1000-5095).

The trimming section signal 9400A in the main scanning direction is
▼ The counter 4230 operates in synchronization with 9452 and CLKIN 9456. When the counter output 9103 becomes 1000, the output of the comparator 4232 becomes 1 and the flip-flop 4235
Output Q becomes 1. Subsequently, when the counter output 9103 becomes 3047, the output of the comparator 4233 becomes 1 and the output of the flip-flop 4235 changes from 1 to 0. In the timing chart of FIG. 13, the output of the rate multiplier 4234 is 1 because the unity magnification process is performed. FIFO memory 4050A-R, G, B by trimming section signal 9100A
Is input to Addresses 1000 to 3047 of the color image information are written to the FIFO memories 4050A-R, G, and B.

Also, from the comparator 4231 ▲ ▼ 94
In response to 52, a signal 9101 delayed by one pixel is output. Thus, ▲ ▼ input of the FIFO memory 4050A-R, G, B, ▲
▼ CLKIN9456 and CLK9453 input to FIFO memory 4050A-R, G, B by giving phase difference to input
Absorb the difference of the period.

Next, trimming in the sub-scanning direction is performed first by the selector 42.
13 is controlled, the counter 4214 is selected and enabled, and ▲
A section signal 9104 synchronized with ▼ 9455 and ▲ ▼ 9452 is output from the RAM4212. Section signal 9104
Is synchronized with the signal 9101 by the flip-flop 4211 and the FIFO
Input to reset read of memory 4050A-R, G, B. That is, the image information stored in the FIFO memories 4050A-R, G, B is
Only when the trimming signal 9170A is "0" is output (n 'to m').

In the above description, only the trimming process has been described, but the scaling process can be performed simultaneously with the trimming. To change the magnification in the main scanning direction, use the rate multiplier 4234 to set the magnification to CP.
Set via U bus 9610. In the sub-scanning, a scaling process can be performed by data to be written to the RAM 4212.

FIG. 14 shows a timing chart when the trimming process and the scaling process (50%) are performed.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example of a timing chart when the image data from the selectors 4254R, G, B is scaled down by 50% and transferred to the FIFO memories 4050A-R, G, B.

A set value of 50% reduction is set to the rate multiplier 4234 in FIG. 12 via the CPU bus 9610. At this time, the output of the rate multiplier 9106 has a waveform in which “0” and “1” are repeated for each pixel in the main scanning direction as shown in FIG. An AND signal 9100A of this signal 9106 and the section signal 9105 generated by the comparators 4232 and 4233 is used as a FIFO memory 4050A-R, G, B
The reduction is performed by controlling the write enable to the memory.

In the sub-scan, the write data to the RAM 4212 (read enable signal to the FIFO memories 4050A-R, G, B) is set to "1" (read prohibited) in the image data valid area as shown in FIG. As a result, only the image data reduced by 50% is sent to the image memories 4060A-R, G, B. In the case of FIG. 14, the read enable signal 9170A is reduced by 50% by alternately repeating "1" and "0" data.

In other words, trimming and scaling in the main scanning direction
FO memory 4050A-Controls the write enable of R, G, B, and trimming and scaling in the sub-scanning direction are performed by FIFO memory 4050A.
-Control R, G, B read enable.

Next, the transfer of image data from the FIFO memories 4050A-R, 4050A-G, and 4050A-B to the memories 4060R, 4060G, and 4060B is performed by the counter 0 (4080-0) and the control line 9170A.

The control line 9170A is a read enable signal for the FIFO memories, 4050A-R, G, B, and is also a write enable signal for the counter 4080A-0, and the memories 4060A-R, G, B.

When the control line 9170A is “0”, the FIFO memory 4050A-R, G,
The image data read from B is tri-state 9090A-
The data is input to the memories 4060A-R, G, and B through R, G, and B. At this time, the counter 4080-0 enable is also "0" and CL
The signal 9120A-0 counted up in synchronization with K9453 is output from the counter 4080A-0 and passed through the selector 4070A to the memory.
4060A-Input to ADR9110A of R, G, B.

At this time, the write enable ▲ ▼ of the memories 4060A-R, G, B is also “0”, so that the memories 4060A-R, G, B
Image data 9090A-R, G, B input to G, B are stored.

Since the memory capacity in this embodiment is 1 Mbyte for each color, 50% of the image data in the reading area in FIG.
As a result, the read image data is converted into data having the maximum memory capacity of the image storage device 3 and stored.

Further, in the above embodiment, the CPU 4360 calculates an effective area from the information of the area specified by the digitizer 16 of the A3 document,
The data corresponding to the comparators 4231 to 4233, the rate multiplier 4234 and the RAM 4212 are set.

In the present embodiment, since the data capacity of the read image is larger than the provided image memory capacity, a reduction process is performed, the data is converted into a storable capacity, and then stored in the image memory. However, when the data capacity of the read image is smaller than the provided image memory capacity, a plurality of screens can be stored in the image memory at the same time by setting the CLR signal 9171 in FIG. 15 to "1". In this case, comparators 4232 and 442 control writing to the memory in the area designated by digitizer 16.
233 is set to the trimming information data and the rate multiplier 4234 is set to the same size. In the data written to the RAM 4212, the image effective area is all set to “0”, and the other data is set to “1”, and is set to the same size.

Further, in order to store the read image in the memory while keeping the aspect ratio (the ratio between the height and the width), the CPU 4360 first obtains the number of effective pixels “x” from the area information sent from the digitizer 167. Next, the maximum capacity “y” of the image storage information memory
Then, z is obtained by the following equation.

As a result, (1) When z ≧ 100, the setting of the rate multiplier 4234 is such that the entire effective image area is set to “0” in the 100% RAM 4212 and stored at the same magnification.

(2) When z <100, both the setting of the rate multiplier 4234 and the reduction of z% in the RAM 4212 are performed, and the data is stored in the maximum capacity of the memory while maintaining the aspect ratio.

Also in this case, as the data to be written to the RAM 4212, data of “1” and “0” may be written in a timely manner corresponding to the reduction rate “z”.

By controlling in this way, it is possible to easily perform any scaling process while maintaining the aspect ratio of the input image by controlling only the inside of the image storage device 3, and it is possible to effectively recognize the read image. Become. At the same time, the utilization efficiency of the memory capacity can be maximized.

<Explanation of the interface of the SV recording / reproducing machine>
It is also possible to store the video image from 31 in the image storage device 3 and output it to the monitor television 32 or the color printer 2. The image processing device 3 also handles the input image.

Hereinafter, a description will be given of how a video image from the SV recording / reproducing device 31 is loaded into the image storage device 3.

First, the control of taking in a video image from the SV recording / reproducing apparatus 31 into the image storage device 3 will be described below with reference to the block diagram of the image storage device 3 in FIGS. 10 (A) and 10 (B).

The video image from the SV recorder / player 31 is input in the form of an NTSC composite signal 9000 via an analog interface 4500, and separated by a decoder 4000 into separate R, G, B signals.
And the composite SYNC signal 9015R, G,
Separated into B.

Also, the decoder 4000 has an analog interface 45
The Y (luminance) / C (chroma) signal 9010 from 10 is also decoded together. 9020R, 9020 to selector 4010
The G, 9020B and 9020S signals are input signals in the form of separate R, G and B signals and a composite SYNC signal. A switch 4530 controls a selector 4010 for selecting and switching any one of the signals 9030R to 9015R to S. When switch 4530 is open, signal 9030R ~
Select S and select 9015R-S for the signal when closed.

The 9050R, 9050G, and 9050B signals as the separate R, G, and B signals selected by the selector 4010 are converted from analog to digital by the A / D converters 4020R, 4020G, and 4020B.

In addition, the selected composite SYNC signal 9050S
/ HV separation circuit 4030, and the TBC / HV separation circuit 4030 converts the composite SYNC signal 9050S to the clock signal 906.
0C, a horizontal synchronization signal 9060H and a vertical synchronization signal 9060V are generated. These synchronization signals are sent to the system controller 4210
Supplied to

TVCLK9 output from the TBC / HV separation circuit 4030 of the present embodiment
060C signal is 12.25MHz clock signal, ▲
▼ 9060H signal is a signal with a pulse width of 63.5 μS, ▲
The 9060V signal has a pulse width of 16.7 ms.

FIFO memory 4050A-R, 4050A-G, 4050A-B
▼ Reset by the 9060H signal, and from the address “0”, the data 9060A-R, 906 are synchronized with the TVCLK9060C signal.
Write 0A-G, 9060A-B. This FIFO memory 4050A-R,
The writing of 4050A-G and 4050A-B is performed when the ▼ signal output from the system controller 4210 is energized at 9100A.

This FIFO memory 4050A- by this ▲ ▼ signal 9100A-
The details of the write control of R, 4050A-G, and 4050A-B will be described below.

The SV recording / reproducing apparatus 31 in the present embodiment conforms to the NTSC standard. Therefore, when the video image from the SV recording / reproducing apparatus 31 is digitized, the screen capacity is 640 pixels (H) × 480 pixels (V). Therefore, first, the CPU 4360 of the image storage device 3 writes the set value to the comparators 4232 and 4233 so as to have 640 pixels in the main scanning direction. Next, the input of the selector 4213 is connected to the CPU bus 9610.
, And “0” for 480 pixels in the sub-scanning direction is written in the RAM 4213.

Also, 100% data is set in the rate multiplier 4234 for setting the magnification in the main scanning direction.

When storing the image information of the SV recording / reproducing apparatus 31 in the memories 4060A-R, G, and B, the system controller 4210 outputs ▲ ▼ 9060V, ▲ output from the TBC / HV separation circuit 4030.
▼ 9060H and TVCLK9060C are shown in Fig.12, ▲
▼ 9454, ▲ ▼ 9452, CLKIN9456
Connected to.

As described above, by setting the image control signal to the interface of the SV recording / reproducing apparatus, the A / D converters 4020R and 402
The data for one main scan of the video image of 9420R, 9420G, 9420B, which is the output signal from 0G, 4020B, is stored in the FIFO memory 4050A-.
R, 4050A-G and 4050A-B are stored at the same magnification.

On the other hand, the input SV video image is reduced
When storing in A-R, 4050A-G, and 4050A-B, the reduction rate is set in the rate multiplier 4234 and the data of the RAM 4212 in the image effective area is set to "1" according to the reduction rate. Reduction is possible.

FIFO4050A-R, 4050A-G, 4050A-B to 4060A-R, 4060
Data transfer to A-G and 4060A-B is the same as the above-described data write control from color reader 1 to 4060A-R, 4060A-G, and 4060A-B.

The SV recording / reproducing apparatus 31 according to the present embodiment is of the NTSC standard, and the aspect ratio of the digital image in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction is described as an example of 4: 3. It is possible to cope with the 16: 9 aspect ratio of the HDTV standard expected by rewriting the contents of the comparators 4232, 4233 and the RAM 4212 in FIG.

<Read processing from image storage device> Next, the memory 4060A-
A process of reading image data from R, 4060A-G, and 4060A-B will be described.

The instruction input when the image output from the memory is formed by the color printer 2 is mainly performed by the digitizer 6 shown in FIG.

A key 428 in FIG. 7 is an entry key for forming image data from the 4060A-R, 4060A-G, and 4060A-B by the color printer 2 according to the size of the recording paper. A key 429 is an entry key for forming an image at a position specified by the coordinate detection plate 420 of the digitizer 16 and the point pen 421.

First, an embodiment in which an image is formed in accordance with the size of a recording sheet, and then, an embodiment in which an image is formed in an area designated by a digitizer will be described.

<Image Forming Process Corresponding to the Size of Recording Paper> In this embodiment, the color printer 2 has two cassette trays 735 and 736 as shown in FIG. 1, and two types of recording paper are set. In this case, A4 size recording paper is set in the upper part, and A3 size recording paper is set in the lower part. The selection of the recording paper is input by the liquid crystal touch panel of the scanning unit 20. The following description is for the case where a plurality of images are formed on A4 size recording paper.

First, prior to image formation, by inputting read image data from the color reader 1 to the image recording device 3 described above,
Image memories 4060A-R, 4060A to be described later from the color reader 1.
For example, as shown in FIG. 16, a total of 16 image data of "image 0" to "image 15" are stored in -G, 4060A-B.

Next, the entry key 428 of the digitizer 16 is pressed. As a result, the CPU (not shown) detects this key input and automatically sets the image forming position on A4 size recording paper. In the case of forming 16 images shown in FIG. 16, for example, the image forming position is set as shown in FIG.

The details of the above image forming processing in this embodiment will be described below with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 10 and the timing chart shown in FIG.

ITOP sent from the color printer 2 to the color reader 1 via the printer interface 56 shown in FIG.
511 is input to the video interface 101 in the video processing unit 12 and sent to the image storage device 3 from here. The image storage device 3 starts the image forming process in response to the ITOP signal 551. Each image sent to the image storage device 3 is formed under the control of the system controller 4210 shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B in the image storage device 3.

In FIGS. 10A and 10B, the counter 0 (4080A
The output of (−0) is selected by the selector 4070A, and the memories 4060A-R, 4060A-G, 406 are selected by the memory address line 9110A.
0A-B is accessed for reading. With this access, the image data stored in each of the memories 4060A-R, 4060A-G, and 4060A-B is read, and the read image signals 9160A-R, 9160A-G, and 9160A-B from each memory are stored in a lookup table ( LUT) 4110A-R, 4011A-G, 4110A-B,
Here, logarithmic conversion is performed to match the relative luminous efficiency characteristics of the human eye. Conversion data 9200A-R, 92 from each LUT
00A-G and 9200A-B are masking / black extraction / UCR circuit 4120
Entered into A. And this masking / black extraction / UCR
The circuit 4120A performs color correction of the color image signal of the image storage device 3, and performs UCR / black extraction when recording black.

And these continuous masking /
The image signal 9210A from the black extraction / UCR circuit 4120A is
The image data is separated for each image by 4130, and each FIFO memory 4140-
0 to 3 are input. Until now, each image arranged sequentially can be processed in parallel by the operation of the FIFOs 4140-0 to 3140-3.

The read image signals 9160A-R, 9160A-
G, 9160A-B and parallel output image information 9260-0 from each FIFO
The relationship with (1) to (3) is shown in the upper part of FIG. As shown in the figure, 9260 corresponding to the read image information of the “0” line of “Image 0” to “Image 3” necessary for forming an image of one line in the main scanning direction.
−0 to 3 are all in a state where parallel processing is possible.

These parallel image signals 9260-0 to 9260-3 are input to the next enlargement / interpolation circuits 4150-0 to 4150-3. The enlargement and interpolation circuits 4150-0 to 4150-3 are
The layout of each image is controlled as shown in FIG.
Enlargement / interpolation is performed like signals 9300-0 to 9300-3 shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, a primary interpolation method is used.

The interpolated signals 9300-0 to 9300-3 are input to the selector 4190, and the image data processed so far in parallel is converted into a serial image data signal again. The image signal 9330 converted into serial image data by the selector 4190 is subjected to edge enhancement and smoothing (smoothing) processing by an edge filter circuit 4180. Then, the signal passes through the LUT 4200 and is input to the selector 4250 via the signal line 9380.

The signal input to the selector 4250 passes through tri-state gates 4256R, G, B and 4255R, G, B, and passes through a signal line 9430.
Output to the connector 4550 via R, G, B.

Similarly, output from the system controller 4210
▼ 9454, CLK9453 also tri-state gate 425
The signal is output to the connector 4550 through the signal line 9450 through 6E, V and 4255E, V.

At this time, the control lines SELECT-A 9451A, SELECT-B 9451B,
SELECT-C 9451C is set to “0”, “0”, “1”.

Hereinafter, when the formation of all the image data of “image 0” to “image 3” is completed, next, “image 4” to “image 7”, “image 8” to “image 11”, and “image 12” to “image 12” Images are sequentially formed in the order of “Image 15”, and “Image 0” to “Image 15” shown in FIG.
Are formed.

<Image Formation by Combining Layout of Arbitrary Position and Reflective Document> The above description has described the control for developing an image so that it can be automatically formed and forming an image as shown in FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to the above example, and an arbitrary image can be developed at an arbitrary position, formed into an image, and combined with a reflective original and output.

Hereinafter, as an example of this case, “image 0” to “image 0” shown in FIG.
A case will be described in which “Image 3” is developed as shown in the figure, combined with a reflection original, and then an image is formed.

First, by the same control as the image input control to the memory described above, the four pieces of image information read from the color reader 1 are stored in the image memories 4060A-R, 4060A-G, and 4060A-B.
Then, as shown in FIG. Next, when the entry key 429 of the digitizer 16 is pressed, input of a designated position to form an image of the read image from the digitizer 16 is awaited.

Then, the user operates the point pen 421 to designate and input a desired development position from the coordinate detection plate 420. For example, the deployment area
Enter as shown in Figure 20.

The image forming process in this case is shown in FIGS. 10 (A), (B),
This will be described below with reference to the block diagram of FIG. 3C and the timing charts shown in FIGS. 21 and 22.

FIG. 21 is a timing chart at the time of image formation on the “l ₁ ” line shown in FIG. 20, and FIG. 22 is a timing chart at the time of image formation on the “l ₂ ” line in FIG.

The ITOP signal 551 is output from the printer 2 in the same manner as described above, and the system controller 4210 starts operating in synchronization with this signal.

In the image layout shown in FIG. 20, “image 3” is obtained by rotating the image from the color reader 1 by 90 degrees.

This image rotation processing is performed in the following procedure. First, the DMAC (Direct Memory Access Controller) 4380 in FIG. 10 controls the 4060A-R, 4060A-G, and 4060A-
The image is transferred from B to the work memory 4390. Then CPU436
After performing a known image rotation process in the work memory 4390 by 0, the DMAC 4380 outputs the work image from the work memory 4390.
Transfer the image to 4060A-R, 4060A-G, 4060A-B,
Image rotation processing is performed.

The position information of each image laid out and input by the digitizer 16 is stored in the video processing unit 12 shown in FIG.
Is sent to the image storage device 3 via. System controller 4210 that has received the development position information for each image
Generates operation permission signals 9320-0 to 9320-3 for the enlargement / interpolation circuits 4150-0 to 3150 corresponding to each image.

In the layout at an arbitrary position in the present embodiment, for example, the counter 0 (4080A-0) is in the image 0, the counter 1 (4080A-1) is in the image 1, and the counter 2 (4080A-
2) operates corresponding to the image 2 and the counter 3 (4080A-3) operates corresponding to the image 3.

Control at the time of image formation on the “l ₁ ” line shown in FIG. 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

“Image 0” is read from the image memories 4060A-R, 4060A-G, and 4060A-B by the counter 0 (4080A-0) from the address “0” to the address “0.5M” (“Image 0” shown in FIG. 19). "
Up to the storage area). This counter 4080A-0
Switching of the outputs of (3) to (3) is performed by the selector 4070A.

Similarly, the reading of “image 1” is performed by the counter 1 (4080).
According to A-1), the addresses from “0.5M” to “1M” (the storage area of “image 1” shown in FIG. 19) are read. The timing of this reading is shown as 9160A-R, G, B in FIG.

Here, the counter 4080A-2 and the counter 4080A-3
Does not operate according to the counter enable signals 9130A-2 and 9130A-3 from the system controller 4210.

The data of “image 0” and “image 1” are LUT4110A-R,
It is sent to a masking / black extraction / UCR circuit 4120A via 4110A-G and 4110A-B, where it becomes a frame-sequential color signal 9210A.
This plane-sequential color signal 9120A is parallelized by the selector 4130, divided for each pixel, and stored in the FIFO memory 4140-0.4140.
-1. Then, an operation permission signal from the system controller 4210 to the enlargement / interpolation circuits 4150-0 and 4150-1.
When 9320-0,9320-1 is enabled, the enlargement / interpolation circuit 4150-0,4150-1 causes the FIFO read signal 9280-0,9280-
1 is enabled, and read control is started.

The FIFO memory 4140-0,4140-1 outputs the signal 9280-0,92
At 80-1, transfer of image data to the enlargement / interpolation circuits 4150-0 and 4150-1 is started. Then, the enlargement / interpolation circuits 4150-0 and 4150-1 perform layout and interpolation calculations according to the area designated by the digitizer 16 previously.
This timing is shown in FIG. 21 at 9300-0,9300-1.

The “image 0” and “image 1” data that have been laid out and interpolated are selected by the selector 4190 and then input to the LUT 4200 through the edge filter circuit 4180.
Subsequent processes up to the connector 4550 are the same as those described above, and a description thereof will be omitted.

Next, the timing of the “l ₂ ” line shown in FIG. 20 will be described with reference to FIG.

Expanded from image memory 4060A-R, 4060A-G, 4060A-B
The processing up to the interpolation circuits 4150-1 and 4150-2 is substantially the same as described above.

However, since “image 1” and “image 2” are output on the “l ₂ ” line, the counter 1 (4080A−
1) and counter 2 (4080A-2), FIFO4140A-1,4140A
-2, the enlargement / interpolation circuits 4150-1 and 4150-2 operate. These controls are performed according to control signals from the system controller 4210.

As shown in FIG. 20, on the “l ₂ ” line, “image 1” and “image 2” overlap. In this overlapped portion, either one of the images or both of the images can be selected by a control signal 9340 from the system controller 4210.

 The specific control is the same as in the case described above.

The signal from the connector 4550 is connected to the color reader 1 by a cable. Therefore, the color reader 1
The video interface 101 selects and outputs the image signal 105 from the image storage device 3 to the printer interface 56 through the signal line path shown in FIG.

The details of the process of transferring the image information from the image storage device 3 to the color reader 1 in the image formation in the above-described embodiment will be described below with reference to the timing chart of FIG.

As described above, when the start button of the operation unit 20 is pressed, the printer 2 starts operating and starts transporting the recording paper. When the recording paper reaches the tip of the image forming section,
The signal 551 is output. This ITOP signal 551 is transmitted to the image storage device 3 via the color reader 1.
Are the respective image memories 4060A-R, 406 under the set conditions.
After reading out the image data stored in 0A-G and 4060A-B and performing the processing such as the layout, enlargement and interpolation described above, the processed image data is sent to the video processing unit 12 of the color reader 1.

As described above, the image is read from the image storage device 3 in synchronization with the ITOP signal 551 of the color printer 2, and at the same time, the color reader 1 also reads the reflection original 999 by the full color sensor 6 in synchronization with the ITOP signal 551. To start. Since the processing of the color reader 1 is the same as described above, the description is omitted.

The combination of the image information from the image storage device 3 and the image information from the color reader 1 will be described below with reference to the timing chart of FIG.

FIG. 24 is a timing Chiya over preparative synthesized signals from the reflective original 999 and the image storage unit 3 at l ₁ of Figure 20.

Color reader 1 read out in synchronization with ITOP signal 551
Image information is output signals 559, 560, 56 of the black correction / white correction circuit.
It becomes ₁ and is output in synchronization with HSYNC at l1 in FIG. Further, the image information 105, 106,
107 outputs only the area designated by the digitizer 16. These two kinds of image information are video interface
The area other than the area input to the digitizer 101 and indicated by the digitizer 16 is output from the black correction / white correction circuit 85 as shown in FIG.
0,561 becomes the input signals 562,563,564 of the logarithmic conversion circuit 86.
In the area designated by the digitizer 16, the information 105, 106, 107 from the image storage device 3 becomes the input signals 562, 563, 564 of the logarithmic conversion circuit 86 as shown in FIG. This is the second
Figure 4 shows.

In the present embodiment, M, C, Y, and Bk are sequentially output in a plane sequence.
The above operation is repeated four times in the order of M, C, Y, and Bk to form an image.

<Printer Unit> The configuration of the color printer 2 for printing out the image signal processed by the video processing unit 12 as described above is a first example.
This will be described with reference to the drawings.

In the configuration of the printer 2 in FIG. 1, reference numeral 711 denotes a scanner, 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), and the polygon mirror 712 is rotated. It has a motor (not shown), an f / θ lens (imaging lens) 713, and the like. Reference numeral 714 denotes a reflection mirror for changing the optical path of the laser beam from the scanner 711 indicated by a one-dot chain line in the figure, and 715 denotes a photosensitive drum.

The laser light emitted from the laser output unit is reflected by the polygon mirror 712, and the f / θ lens 713 and the reflection mirror 714
Scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 715 linearly (raster scan) to form a latent image corresponding to the original image.

Also, 717 is a primary charger, 718 is an overall exposure lamp, 723
Is a cleaner section for collecting the residual toner not transferred,
724 is a pre-transfer charger, and these members are the photosensitive drum 7
It is located around 15. Reference numeral 726 denotes a developing unit for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 715 by laser exposure, and includes 731Y (for yellow) and 731M.
(For magenta), 731C (for cyan), 731Bk (for black) are developing sleeves that directly contact the photosensitive drum 715, and 730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk are toner hoppers that hold spare toner, and 732 is developing It is a script that performs the phase of the agent. The developing unit 726 is composed of the sleeves 731Y to 731Bk, the toner hoppers 730Y to 730Bk, and the screw 732. These members are disposed around the rotation axis P of the developing unit 726.

For example, when forming a yellow toner image, yellow toner development is performed at the position shown in FIG. To form a magenta toner image, the developing unit 726 is rotated about the axis P in the drawing, and disposed on the developing sleeve 731M in the magenta developing unit at a position in contact with the photoconductor 715. Similarly, development of cyan and black is performed by rotating the developing unit 726 about the axis P in the drawing.

Reference numeral 716 denotes a transfer drum that transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 715 to paper, and 719 denotes a transfer drum 716.
721 is a position sensor for detecting that the transfer drum 716 has moved to the home position by approaching the actuator plate 719, 725 is a transfer drum cleaner, and 727 is a paper drum. Press roller, 728 is a static eliminator, 729 is a transfer charger,
These members 719, 720, 725, 727, 729 are disposed around the transfer roller 716.

On the other hand, reference numerals 735 and 736 denote paper feed cassettes for collecting paper (sheets), 737 and 738 denote paper feed rollers for feeding paper from the cassettes 735 and 736, and 739, 740 and 741 denote timing rollers for feeding and transporting timing. The paper fed and conveyed via these is guided by a paper guide 749 and wrapped around the transfer drum 716 while the leading end thereof is carried by a gripper described later, and proceeds to an image forming process.

A drum rotation motor 550 rotates the photosensitive drum 715 and the transfer drum 716 synchronously. 750 is a peeling claw that removes the paper from the transfer drum 716 after the image forming process is completed,
Reference numeral 743 denotes a conveyance belt for conveying the removed sheet, and 743, an image fixing unit for fixing the sheet conveyed by the conveyance belt 742;
The rotational force of the motor 747 attached to the 48
Is transmitted to the pair of heat pressure rollers 744 and 745 to fix an image on a sheet conveyed between the heat pressure rollers 744 and 745.

The printout process of the printer 2 having the above configuration will be described below with reference to the timing chart of FIG.

First, when the first ITO 550 comes, a Y latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 715 by the laser beam, and this is
The image is developed by 31Y, then transferred to a sheet on a transfer drum, and magenta print processing is performed. And
The developing unit 726 rotates around the axis P in the figure.

Next, when the ITOP 551 arrives, an M latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum by the laser beam, and cyan print processing is performed by the same operation. This operation is similarly performed for C and Bk corresponding to the following ITOP 551, and yellow print processing and black print processing are performed. In this way, when the image forming process is completed, the sheet is peeled by the peeling claw 750, the image is fixed by the image fixing unit 743, and the printing of a series of color images is completed.

<Description of Monitor TV Interface> As shown in FIG. 1, the system of this embodiment can output the contents of the image memory in the image storage device to the monitor TV 32. It is also possible to output a video image from the SV recording / reproducing device 31.

This will be described in detail below. Image memory 4060A-R, 4060A-
The video image data stored in G, 4060A-B is DMA
Readout by C4380, display memory 4410R, 441
0G, 4410B and stored. Display memory
The video image data stored in 4410R, 4410G, 4410B is L
D / A converter 4430R, 4430 through UT4420R, 4420G, 4420B
G, 4430B, where the display controller 444
Analog R signal 4590 in synchronization with SYNC signal 4590S from 0
The signals are converted into R and G signals 4590G and B signals 4590B and output.

On the other hand, from the display controller 4440, the SYNC signal 9600 is synchronized with the output timing of these analog signals.
Is output. This analog R signal 4590R and G signal 4590
By connecting the G and B signals 4590B and the SYNC signal 4590S to the monitor 4, the contents stored in the image storage device 3 can be displayed.

In this embodiment, the displayed image can be trimmed by sending a control command from the host computer 33 to the image storage device 3.

The CPU 4360 controls the display memories 4410R, 4410G, and 4410B from the image memories 4060A-R, 4040 based on the area information instructed and input by the host computer 33, in the same control as described above.
Trimming is possible by transferring only the effective area to 60A-G and 4060A-B.

In accordance with the area instruction information from the host computer 33, data is set in the comparators 4232, 4233 and the RAM 4212 of FIG. 12 in the same manner as described above, and the image is again transmitted from the color reader 1 or the SV recording / reproducing device 31. By inputting the data, the trimmed image data can be converted to 4060A-R, 406.
0A-G, 4060A-B.

Reference numeral 4400 denotes a volume for adjusting the color tone of the color image displayed on the monitor television 32. CPU436
In the case of 0, the resistance value (set value) of the volume 4400 is read, and the output adjustment correction data is set in the tables of the LUTs 4420R, 4420G, and 4420B from the set value. Also, when recording by the color printer 2, the adjustment correction data in the table of the LUT 4200 is changed in conjunction with the set value of the volume 4400 in order to match the display color of the monitor 4 with the color to be recorded.

Next, when a plurality of images are stored in the image memories 4060A-R, 4060A-G, and 4060A-B, the layout of each image at the time of recording by the color printer 2 also uses the monitor television 32 and the host computer 33. It is possible.

First, the size of the recording paper is displayed on the monitor television 32, and the layout information of each image is input by the host computer 33 while watching this display, whereby the layout of each image to be recorded by the color printer 2 is possible. .

At this time, the reading control of the stored information from the image memories 4060A-R, 4060A-G, and 4060A-B to the color printer 2 and the recording control in the color printer 2 are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and thus the description is omitted. .

<Explanation of Computer Interface> The system of the present embodiment has a host computer 33 as shown in FIG. The interface with the host computer 33 will be described with reference to FIG.

The interface with the host computer 33 is performed by a GPIB controller 4310 connected by a connector 4580. The GPIB controller is connected to the CPU 4396 via the CPU bus 9610.
It is connected to 60 and can exchange commands with the host computer 33 and transfer image data according to a predetermined protocol.

<Transfer of Image Information to Host Computer> In this embodiment, the image of the original 999 is read by the full color sensor 6 from the color reader 1 and the image information of the original 999 is stored in the image memories 4060A-R, -G, -G of the image storage device 3. Store it in B.

The CPU 4360 includes the memory G4060A-G
Is transferred to the host computer 33 by the GPIB controller 4310 via the CPU bus 9610.

The host computer 33 displays the image information sent from the GPIB controller 4310 on a monitor display (not shown) in the host computer 33. The transmitted image information is trimmed by an instruction means (mouse keyboard or the like) in the host computer. This is shown in FIG. The inside of the broken line in FIG. 25 is the trimmed image.

The host computer uses the upper left corner of the monitor display as the reference position to trim the coordinate positions of the α and β points.
CPU 436 in the image storage device 3 via the GPIB interface
Notify 0.

The CPU 4360 sets data in the comparators 4232 and 4233 and the RAM 4212 in the system controller 4130 from the coordinate positions of the α and β points.

The host computer 33 sends the start command of the color reader 1 to the image storage device 3 again. The image storage device 3 communicates with the color reader 1 through the reader controller 4270, and starts reading of the color reader 1. Image information from the color reader 1 is a video interface 101
Through the system controller 4210 in the image storage device 3.
The control signals 9100A and 9170A for trimming are generated, and the image information input to the signal lines 9420R, G, B is trimmed and stored in the image memories 4060A-R, -G, -B.

The CPU 4360 stores the contents of the image memories 4060A-R, -G, -B.
The color image information trimmed by the host computer 33 is transferred via the CPU bus 9610.

In the present embodiment, only the information of the G signal component of the image information of the original 999 was transferred in the first scan. However, the luminance component Y is calculated from the contents of the image memories 4060A-R, -G, and -B, and the host computer It is also possible to transfer to.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the image from the color scanner is taken into the host computer, the color scanner is pre-scanned and the image information is converted to monochrome or transferred to the host computer in a single color, and the monochrome image is transferred to the host computer. Alternatively, trimming is performed on a monochrome image.
By sending the trimming information to the color scanner, the host computer can capture the desired trimming area as a color image during the main scan. Since the image transfer at the time of prescan is performed in monochrome or monochrome, there is an effect that the transfer time is short and a wasteful memory is not used.

〔The invention's effect〕

According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the amount of image data used to specify a predetermined area of a target color image,
Processing for designating a predetermined area of a target color image from an external device can be efficiently performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of one embodiment according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of a color reader 1 of the present embodiment, and FIGS. 3 to 6 are video interfaces of the color reader 1 of the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of switching control of the face part, FIG. 7 is an external view of the digitizer of the present embodiment, FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating address information specified by the digitizer of the present embodiment, FIG. FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are detailed block diagrams of the image storage device according to the present embodiment, and FIGS. 11A and 11B are block diagrams showing output timings from the interface unit to the image storage device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 12 is a detailed diagram of a selector unit of the image storage device of the present embodiment, FIG. 12 is a detailed diagram of a system controller unit and a FIFO memory of the image storage device of the present embodiment, and FIG. Data stored in the FIFO memory of the system controller FIG. 14 is a timing chart at the time of data storage, and FIG. 14 is a timing chart at the time of data storage in the FIFO memory of the system controller unit at the time of the scaling process of the present embodiment. FIG. 15 is a system controller of the image storage device of the present embodiment. FIG. 16 is a detailed diagram of a section and an image memory-related configuration, FIG. 16 is an image information arrangement diagram in an image memory of the image storage device of the present embodiment, FIG. 17 is an image forming layout diagram of the present embodiment, and FIG. 19 is a timing chart of an image forming process according to the image forming layout of FIG. 19, FIG. 19 is a layout diagram of image information in a memory of another image storage device of the present embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 21 is a timing chart at the time of image formation on the “l ₁ ” line shown in FIG. 20, FIG. 21 is a timing chart at the time of image formation on the “l ₂ ” line in FIG. 20, FIG. 23 is a timing chart of the image forming process of the present embodiment, FIG. 24 is an image synthesizing timing chart of the present embodiment, and FIG. 25 shows an area where image information from the color reader 1 is trimmed by the host computer. , In the figure, 1 ... color reader, 1A ... video equipment, 2 ...
Color printer, 3 ... Image storage device, 31 ... SV recording / playback machine, 32 ... Monitor television, 33 ... Host computer,
11… Original scanning unit, 12… Video processing unit,
3 ... Control unit, 16 ... Digitizer, 20 ...
... operation unit, 4050, 4140, 4252 ... FIFO memory, 56 ... printer interface, 101 ... video interface, 420 ... coordinate detection board, 421 ... point pen, 4000 ...
… Decoder, 4010,4070,4130,4190,4213,4250,4253 ……
Selector, 4020, 4430 A / D converter, 4060A Image memory, 4080, 4214, 4230 Counter, 4410, 4200, 4220
… LUT, 4120 …… Masking / black extraction / UCR circuit, 4150…
… Enlargement / interpolation circuit, 4210 …… System controller, 42
12… RAM, 4270 …… Reader controller, 4360 …… CP
U, 4380 ... DMAC, 4400 ... volume, 4410 ... display memory, 4440 ... display controller.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Toshihiro Kadowaki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Inside Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Naoto Arakawa 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon (56) References JP-A-62-40870 (JP, A) JP-A-63-138873 (JP, A) JP-A-62-196465 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H04N 1/38-1/393

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] An image processing method for designating, from an external device, a predetermined area of a target color image represented by a plurality of color component signals, wherein a single color component signal relating to the target color image is transferred to the external device; The area designation signal set based on the single color component signal
An image processing method comprising: inputting from the external device; and reading a plurality of color component signals indicating a color image in an area of the target color image specified by the area specifying signal.