JP2984418B2 - Color image processing system - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image processing system, and more particularly to a color image processing system which receives image data and obtains a color image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, with the spread of digital color copiers, a computer is connected to a computer, and a computer-generated CG image or a line image or a natural image read from a scanner is once taken into the computer and output. Such devices that output computer images have been commercialized. In such a system, the interface between the copying machine and the computer is established via a unit having a memory (hereinafter referred to as an IU), and the memory further stores a natural image or the like. It has a memory for multi-valued images and a memory for binary images for storing characters, line drawings, etc. to facilitate handling of multi-valued images and binary images which are data handled on a computer. In many cases, a multi-level image signal line and a binary image signal line are independently provided between a copying machine and an IU so as to perform optimal image processing. Furthermore, in such a system, it is natural that characters and line drawings edited on a computer are printed out with an arbitrary color.
In this case, it is not possible to add an arbitrary color only by the data of the binary image signal line alone. Therefore, before receiving the binary image signal, the coloration area and color information are received in advance from the computer, and the copier side receives the information. Data is set so as to add color to the value image data, and thereafter, a given binary signal is processed. The binary image data is used for the above processing, and when the image information read by the scanner of the copying machine and the binary image data are combined with the hair removal overlay, the area where the binary image data is given is the image information read by the scanner. In order to prohibit printing, the same data is sent from the IU for each color plane on the copying machine side.

On the other hand, recently, a device which outputs color binary data of characters and line drawings in a language called Postscript (hereinafter referred to as PS) of ADOBE, which uses PDL as a so-called DTP system, is also known. Due to the demands of stations and the like, such system products are increasing in number.

In this case, similarly to the above, in order to provide respective interfaces between the computer and the copying machine, the computer and the copying machine are connected via a unit having a memory (hereinafter referred to as PS-IU), Is converted into a raster image by an interpreter in the PS-IU and sent to a copying machine as a binary signal. In this case, unlike the above-mentioned IU, the same data is not sent for each color plane on the copying machine side, but the binary data corresponding to the color material of each plane is PS-I.
The configuration is sent from U.

[0005]

However, since each of the above-described devices has a different configuration of the binary image data as described above, it is necessary to use data from both devices with, for example, a copier. The above-mentioned IU or PS-I
The I / F for U must be used in the copying machine, and the software for controlling those sequences must also be changed, resulting in a problem that the configuration of the same copying machine is complicated.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system which has solved the above-mentioned problems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus constituting such a processing system.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned object, a color image processing system according to the present invention receives the same binary image data for each color plane from an external device via a predetermined line. A first mode in which predetermined color processing is performed in accordance with coloring information given in advance, and a plurality of binary image data of mutually different color components from an external device through the predetermined line for each color component. And a second mode for sequentially receiving.

[0009]

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

FIG. 1 shows an example of a schematic configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a computer which performs various image creation and image editing. Reference numeral 3 denotes a so-called copying machine, which includes an image reading unit (scanner) and an image forming unit (printer), and has an interface capable of outputting a scanner image to the outside or printing out image data from the outside. Provided.
In this embodiment, the copying machine 3 is a so-called frame-sequential printer in which Y, M, C, and the like are printed in a frame-sequential manner and overlapped.
For example, an electrophotographic system and a thermal transfer system can be used. Reference numeral 2 denotes an external device for interfacing the computer 1 and the copying machine 3, and the computer 1 is connected to four general-purpose interfaces (for example, GPIB, SCSI, RS232e).
tc). Further, the color copying machine 3 is connected by a so-called video interface 5 which is device dependent, and is constituted by a signal line capable of outputting an image in accordance with the scanning speed or printing speed of the copying machine.

FIG. 2 is a simple block diagram showing a main part of the external device 2. Image data created on a computer can be roughly classified into multi-valued data that handles natural images and two-dimensional data such as character and line drawings.
The external device 2 according to the present embodiment has a memory for a multi-valued image and a memory for a binary image respectively corresponding to the multi-valued data and the binary data so that the data can be easily handled. It is composed of

The computer interface 200
A handshake with a general-purpose I / F 4 from a computer is performed. A binary image or a multi-valued image is transmitted to a binary memory 203 or a multi-valued memory 202 through a selector 201 under the control of a CPU via a CPU bus (not shown). It performs input and output. In the computer interface, control commands for the color copying machine 3 other than image data and printing information (for example, coloring information for a binary image and information on coordinates to be colored) are controlled. The information is output to 205 and the above-mentioned control command and the above-mentioned coordinate information can be notified to the color copying machine 3 via a line 505 described later. The multivalued image data stored in the multivalued memory 202 is converted by the color correction circuit 204 from R, G, and B luminance data into density data of each toner component as a color material of a color copying machine. The signal is sent to the color copier along with the control line 505 via the R component signal lines 211 and 501. The data of the signal lines 211 and 501 are data in which color data such as Y, M, and C are output in a frame-sequential manner in accordance with a frame-sequential printing operation of a color copying machine. 2
The binary image data stored in the value memory 203 is similarly
The data is sent to the color copier 3 via the video interface 205 in parallel with the multi-valued image data through signal lines 14 and 504. Note that lines 211 to 213 and 501 to 503 in the present embodiment are bidirectional data lines, and when a scanned image read by a scanner unit of a color copying machine is stored in the memory 202, R and G are used. , B respectively 501, 502, 50
The image data from the R, G, and B scanners is stored in the multi-value memory 202 through the color correction circuit 204 through the video interface 205 from the signal line 3. At this time, if necessary, for example, image data from the scanner is output by a comparator (not shown) provided in the video interface 205.
It can be converted into a value and stored as binary data in the binary memory 203 via the selector 201. Further, these stored binary data or multi-valued data can be output to the computer side according to an instruction from the computer 1. The control line 505 includes a transfer control line for image data described later and a communication control line for exchanging information with the color copying machine 3.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a scanner unit constituting the color copying machine. Reference numeral 301 denotes a line sensor in which a color separation filter is attached to a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD. At the time of reading an image, a color image can be read by moving the sensor 301 with respect to a document (not shown) using a motor or the like.

Next, the output image signal from the sensor 301 is
The R, G, and B signals are input to an A / D conversion circuit indicated by reference numeral 302, and are converted into digital RGB signals. A /
The RGB digital signal output from the D converter 302 is subjected to shading correction by a shading correction circuit 303 in order to correct unevenness in light amount and output characteristics of pixels.
Next, the corrected image signal is obtained by converting the spectral characteristics of the color separation filter of the sensor 301 into a color space or an NTSC standard compatible R
The color is corrected by a sensor color correction circuit 304 in order to correct the data into GB data. Next, at 305, RGB data which is luminance data
Are respectively logarithmically converted into density data, and color correction is performed in 306 in accordance with the spectral reflection characteristics of the toner, which is the color material of the printer. The color-separated image data input in parallel is converted into plane-sequential image data here. Although the description has been made before and after, when printing the image data from the sensor 301, the original is repeatedly read by the number of times corresponding to the number of color materials used in the printer. Therefore, the color separation image data generated by repeated reading is input to 306. In this embodiment, when printing in full color by a printer, full-color print output is possible by overlapping several basic color materials, and C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), Bk (Black) is used, but the number of color materials may be three or another number.

A signal output from the printer color correction circuit 306 is input to an image processing and image editing circuit 307 which is a main part of the present embodiment. This allows image processing and editing to be performed programmatically by using a code number obtained from an area code generator described later. The signal 314 output from the image editing circuit 307 is output to the printer interface 308.
Is output to the printer via the printer and printed.

The above is the flow of image data when a normal color copying machine is used. Next, image data from an external device will be described.

When the scanner image is output to an external device, the processing up to the sensor color correction circuit 304 is performed in the same manner as described above, and the R and R are respectively converted to the NTSC standard.
The GB signal is input to the video interface 309,
The signals are output on signal lines 501, 502, and 503 and stored in the memory 202 or 203 of the external device.

On the other hand, the multivalued image data and the binary image data stored in the memory in the external device pass through the image editing circuit 307 through 501 and 504 for each color plane.
And is controlled according to the designated mode and output to the printer. In this case, the position information of the input image and the color information of coloring of characters and the like are sent in advance through the control line 505 from the external device, and are controlled by the image editing circuit 307 based on the information. You.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the image editing circuit 307. The selector 401 is a circuit for selecting either the sensor output image 311 obtained by scanning the document or the multi-value data 312 sent from the external device 2. The selector 401 combines the image from the scanner with the multi-value data from the external device. Receives the coordinate information for the above-mentioned composition from a computer via the external device 2 in advance, and performs image switching by a select signal according to the coordinate information. Alternatively, a simple switching command may be used instead of the above-described coordinate information. The output data of the selector 401 is input to the selector 403 through 408. On the other hand, the area code generation circuit 402 outputs in real time in synchronization with the coordinate information of the area previously sent from the computer via lines 4 and 5 in FIG. 1 and the CPU bus 410 in the copying machine and the printing operation of the color printer. The area code corresponding to each area is generated from the information indicating the print position to be executed.
And the contents of the selected register (8b
it) is output.

Further, the LUT corresponding to the area code is added to the binary image previously sent from the computer via the CPU bus 410 on the basis of arbitrary coloring data, and Y, M, C, Bk corresponding to the coloring data. Data is written, and the color select signal 405 causes Y,
The contents of the registers for M, C, and Bk can be selected. Note that the color select signal is a 2-bit signal indicating a color component being formed by the color printer of the above-described frame-sequential system, and is, for example, "01" when the Y component is printed by the printer. Signal.

As described above, the 8-bit data addressed by the area code 406 and the color select signal 405 and the output of the selector 401 are input to the selector 403, selected by a binary signal from an external device, and stored in each area. Can be given an arbitrary color.

FIG. 5 is an example of a sample in which binary data from an external device is printed. Characters A, B, C, and D are provided from the top of the paper feed, and red, cyan, yellow, and black are respectively provided. Is colored.

Next, the processing for outputting these samples will be described step by step. First, an operation in the case where the above-mentioned device called IU is connected as the external device 2 in FIG. 1 will be described.

A, via the external device from the computer,
Area information surrounding B, C, and D and color information in the area are sent. Based on these information, the coordinate information of A to D and the area code are set in advance in the area code generation circuit 402 of FIG. Since information indicating the real-time printing position is input to the area code generation circuit 402, each area code is generated in synchronization with the reading of the binary image data from the binary memory 203 in FIG. To Next, assuming that the area for A is area 0, since A is red in each register of area 0, Y = FF _H , M = FF _H , C = 00, Bk = 0
Set 0. Since B is cyan, Y = 00 in area 1
_H , M = 00 _H , C = FF _H , and Bk = 00 are set.
Similarly, data is set in the CD area. After the above settings are made, the computer issues a print operation instruction to the color copier, and the printer starts operating.

FIG. 6 (i) is a timing chart at that time, and ITOP is a synchronization signal of a color plane for each plane sequentially generated from the printer. When an image is sent from the rising edge, printing is performed from the leading edge of the transfer paper. I have.

In the M cycle, magenta is selected in the LUT of FIG.
The contents of the M registers in areas 3 (A to D) are sequentially output in accordance with the print position. When a binary signal (shown at 313 in FIG. 4) from an external device is "1", it is selected and A Magenta is transcribed only for The same applies to C
Only B in the cycle, A and C in the Y cycle, Bk
In the cycle, only D is transferred by each toner, and the output of FIG. 5 is obtained.

Next, the external device 2 shown in FIG.
An operation in the case where a device called -IU is connected will be described.

On the other hand, FIG. 6 ii) is a timing chart when binary data corresponding to a color material such as color postscript is sent from an external device. In this case, the CPU sets the area code generation circuit 402 in advance so that data designating the area 0 of the LUT is always generated regardless of the real-time printing position, and the CPU sets, for example, in each register of the area 0 via the bus 410. Y =
FF _H , M = FF _H , C = FF _H , and Bk = FF _H are set so that each toner is transferred to all the binary data sent in each color cycle.

In this embodiment, the data set in each register may be other data than "FF".

In this embodiment described above, binary image data is received from an external device that generates binary image data,
A color image forming apparatus for forming a color image, comprising: a first mode in which the same binary image signal is received for each color plane and color processing is performed on a receiving side; The printer has a second mode for receiving plane-sequential binary image data indicating each color plane corresponding to the type of material, and the printer has a second mode for performing binary printing for each plane accordingly. Alternatively, a mode according to each of the instructions is selectively executed on the binary image data from the external device by an instruction unit for instructing the second mode.

In the present embodiment, the processing of the above-mentioned different binary signals can be set by the operation unit 3-1 of the color copying machine 3, for example, in the service mode, At the time of printing a binary signal, the control is switched according to the information of the service mode.

The selection of these types can also be notified in communication between the color copying machine and the external device. That is, the above-described two types may be selected on the color copying machine side by determining the characteristics of each apparatus via the line 505 shown in FIG. Line 5 as described above
05 may not be used. For example, an unused signal line can be pulled up or pulled down on the external device side on the connector connecting the color copying machine and the external device, and the color copying machine side can make the determination.

[0033]

According to the present invention, the same binary image data for each color plane is received from an external device via a predetermined line, and predetermined color processing is performed in accordance with predetermined coloring information. 1 mode and a second mode in which a plurality of binary image data of mutually different color components are sequentially received for each color component from the external device via the predetermined line. With a simple hardware configuration without increasing, information of different formats such as information for performing predetermined color processing according to coloring information and information for sequentially receiving a plurality of dot images of different color components for each color component, This has the effect of receiving and processing appropriately. In particular, according to the present invention, in both the first and second modes, the image data from the external device is converted into binary data, so that high-speed data transfer becomes possible.
In this mode, by transferring the same binary image data for each color plane, the capacity of the storage means for storing binary image data for a plurality of planes can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the external device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a scanner of the color copying machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the image editing circuit shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing output samples.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a timing chart when receiving data from an IU and a timing chart when receiving data from a PS-IU.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-1-184144 (JP, A) JP-A-63-253381 (JP, A) JP-A-63-117565 (JP, A) JP-A-1-184144 184140 (JP, A) JP-A-2-29659 (JP, A) JP-A-3-61965 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) G06T 1/00 G06T 11 / 00-11/80 H04N 1/46-1/64 B41J 2/525

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for each color from an external device via a predetermined line.
A first mode in which the same binary image data is received for each lane and a predetermined color process is performed in accordance with coloring information given in advance; and a color mode different from each other via an external device via the predetermined line. A second mode for sequentially receiving a plurality of binary image data for each color component. 2. The color image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising switching means for switching between said first mode and said second mode in accordance with a manual operation. 3. The color image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising switching means for switching between the first mode and the second mode based on a result of communication with an external device. 4. The color image according to claim 1, wherein the second mode is a mode in which a plurality of dot images of one screen each having a color component different from each other are sequentially received for each color component. Processing system.