JP3054184B2 - Area editing device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an area editing apparatus, and more particularly to an area editing apparatus applicable to an image processing apparatus such as a copying machine.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a copying machine is provided with an area editing function for extracting or deleting a desired area from a document image.

Further, in a digital color copying machine, in addition to extracting and erasing a desired area, it is also possible to replace the inside of the desired area with a desired color, add color to a background, and invert light and shade. It is also desired to increase the number of areas that can be processed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, as the types of processing to be performed in one area increase and the number of areas to be processed increases, a large capacity is required to process the combination as desired. Memory and complicated hardware circuits were required, which led to a cost increase. In addition, software for controlling these hardware is also complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides an area editing apparatus capable of performing a desired complicated area editing process by a control method based on a simple and inexpensive hardware configuration and a simple logic. The purpose is to provide.

Means and Action for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an area editing apparatus applicable to an image processing apparatus, wherein a plurality of pieces of input area information are used as input addresses, and one more area information is input. It has a data conversion unit that uses the signal indicating the image source as an input address and edit processing information as output data, and an area editing unit that performs area editing according to the edit processing information from the data conversion unit. .

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an area editing apparatus applicable to an image processing apparatus, comprising: a first input unit for inputting a plurality of area information; and an area defined by the plurality of area information. A second input unit for inputting editing processing information to be performed on the image, dividing an image to be processed into a plurality of parts based on the plurality of pieces of area information, and a correspondence between the divided parts and the editing processing information Creating means for creating a table representing the relationship, and editing processing means for performing an editing process according to the data of the created table, wherein the plurality of parts are at least one of the areas defined by the plurality of area information , A part included only in the first area defined by the first area information, a part included only in the second area defined by the second area information, Characterized in that it is divided into a portion that is included in both of the second region and the region.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a digital color copying machine according to the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 201 denotes an image scanner, which reads an original and performs digital signal processing. Reference numeral 202 denotes a printer unit which prints out an image corresponding to the document image read by the image scanner unit 201 on a sheet in full color.

In the image scanner unit 201, reference numeral 200 denotes a mirror pressure plate, and reference numeral 203 denotes a platen glass (hereinafter, platen). The original 204 on the platen 203 is irradiated by a lamp 205, and the reflected light is guided to mirrors 206, 207, and 208, and an image is formed on a three-line sensor (hereinafter, referred to as a CCD) 210 by a lens 209. , Green (G) and blue (B) components to the signal processing unit 211. here,
The ramps 205 and 206 scan the entire surface of the document by mechanically moving at a speed v and the lamps 207 and 208 at a speed of 1/2 v in a direction perpendicular to the electrical scanning direction of the line sensor 210.

The signal processing unit 211 electrically processes the read signal, and outputs magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y),
The image is decomposed into black (Bk) components and output to the printer unit 202.

One component of M, C, Y, and Bk is processed by one scanning of the original in the image scanner unit 201, and is output from the signal processing unit 211 to the printer unit 202. Then, one printout is completed by a total of four document scans.

Next, in the printer unit 202, the laser driver 212 inputs the image signals of M, C, Y, and Bk sent from the above-described image scanner unit 201, and modulates the semiconductor laser 213 according to each image signal. Drive. This modulated laser light is
Irradiation is performed on the photosensitive drum 217 via the polygon mirror 214, the f-θ lens 215, and the mirror 216 to form an electrostatic latent image.

In the printer unit 202, reference numeral 218 denotes a rotary developing unit, which includes a magenta developing unit 219, a cyan developing unit 220, a yellow developing unit 221,
The developing unit 222 includes a black developing unit 222. The four developing units alternately contact the photosensitive drum 217 to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 217 with toner. Reference numeral 223 denotes a transfer drum, which winds a sheet fed from the sheet cassette 224 or 225, and transfers an image developed on the photosensitive drum 217 to the sheet.

After the four colors M, C, Y, and Bk are sequentially transferred in this manner,
The sheet passes through the fixing unit 226 and is discharged.

Next, the image processing system in this embodiment will be described below with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG.

An image reading unit 101 is a color sensor capable of independently obtaining analog color signals of R (red), G (green), and B (blue), an amplifier for amplifying the signal for each color, and a digital signal. It has an A / D converter for conversion and a shading correction unit, and further has a shift memory unit for correcting deviation between colors and between pixels.

Next, an 8-bit digital signal of R, G, B output from the reading unit 101 is sent to a logarithmic correction unit 102 for light density conversion. The densities Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan) output from the logarithmic correction unit 102 are output to the black generation unit 103.
And a black signal Bk is generated. Where the black signal Bk
Is generated by, for example, Min (Y, M, C).

Then, the masking / UCR unit 104 outputs the output of the black generation unit 103.
After the filter characteristics and toner density characteristics of the color sensor are corrected for the Y, M, C, and Bk signals, and the undercolor is removed,
One of the color signals to be developed is selected and output as an FC signal.

At the same time, the output of the logarithmic correction unit 102 is output to the ND signal generation unit 1
05, the FC signal output from the masking / UCR unit 104 is used for full-color copying of the original image, whereas the ND signal output from the ND signal generation unit 105 converts the original image to the desired monochrome image. Used to copy in.

The ND signal is generated by, for example, (Y + M + C) / 3.

The above FC signal and ND signal are input to the selector unit 106,
One of them is selected by the selection signal NDSEL and output as the IM1 signal. Next, when the selection signal NGSEL is "1" in the density inverting section 107 for inputting the IM1 signal, the density converting section 10 converts the IM2 signal obtained by inverting "0" and "1" for each bit.
Output to 8. In the density conversion unit 108, the density signal IM2
Is converted into the operator's desired density according to the selection signal TXSEL. When the signal TXSEL is “0”, the gradation is emphasized in accordance with the photo original, and when the signal TXSEL is “1”, conversion is performed so as to distinguish the background portion and the character portion in accordance with the character original. .

The density conversion unit 108 is configured as a look-up table as shown in FIG. 3 (A), and inputs the above-mentioned 8-bit density signal IM2 as an address (bit 0 to bit 7) of this table. The selection signal TXSEL is input as bit 8 of the address. Then, as shown in FIG. 3A, 256 bytes from address 0 to FF _HEX of the table are accessed as a photo original conversion table.

FIGS. 3B and 3C show examples of table data for photographs and characters, respectively. Here, FIG. 3 (B)
Has a smaller slope than (C) and guarantees gradation. On the other hand, FIG. 3 (C) has a larger slope than (B),
In addition, the output density is set to "0" up to a predetermined input density level in order to suppress the ground cover.

Note that the data of the table shown in FIG. 3A is written in advance by the CPU 100 shown in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 3 (B) and 3 (C), the table data (“+” side) having a larger inclination when the operator wants to make it darker, and has a smaller inclination when making the operator thinner. Table data ("-" side)
Is written by the CPU 100.

Next, the density-converted signal IM3 is sent to the selector unit 109 and the comparator unit 110. In the comparator unit 110,
The density signal IM3 is compared with a predetermined level BCSL set by the CPU 100, and when IM3 is smaller than BCSL, "1" is sent to the AND gate 111 as a comparison result. In the AND gate 111, when the comparison output of the comparator unit 110 and the selection signal BCSEL are both "1", the selector unit 109 sends the signal BC
ON (= 1) is output, and BCON (= 0) is output when at least one of the comparator output and the signal BCSEL is "0".

The selector unit 109 outputs the density signal IM3 as the signal IN4 when the signal BCON is “0”, and outputs the density signal IM3 when the signal BCON is “1”.
The fixed level BCLVL set by the CPU 100 is output as IM4.

In the present embodiment, by setting the predetermined level BCSL appropriately small, the comparator 110 and the AND gate
The background portion of the document can be converted to a desired density color by the base unit 111 and the selector unit 109 (base color processing).

In the next selector section 112, the signal IM4 is
And a predetermined level PTLVL set by the CPU 100, and outputs it as a signal IMS. That is, in the selector unit 112, it is possible to paint a desired portion with a desired color (paint processing).

By the above processing, the signal IM5 is finally input to the gate 113, and is enabled when the gate signal IMSEL is "1", and
When EL is "0", it is prohibited, that is, the level is set to "0" (trimming process), sent to the print unit 124 as an image signal IM6 to be printed, and hard copied on a transfer material such as paper.

Next, the area signal generating section 115 generates an area signal to the LUT (lookup table) 114 for outputting each of the above selection signals, and is constituted by latches 119 and 120, counters 121 and 122, and flip-flop 123. .

The flip-flop 123 is a start bit counter 121.
The excisional by counting up-signal and is reset by the count up-signal end bit counter 122, and generates a region signal AR ₀ in the main scanning section with. The start counter 121 and the end counter 122 include a latch 119,
The counter value written in 120 is loaded in synchronization with the horizontal synchronizing signal HSYNC, and the pixel clock CLK is counted down using the clock as the clock.

The area signal generation sections 116, 117, and 118 have the same configuration as 115, and generate area signals AR1, AR2, and AR3, respectively.

That is, with the above configuration, it is possible to generate four completely independent area signals in a certain main scanning section. Note that these four area signals are, as described above,
Address A0, A1, A2, A3 of LUT114 for generating edit processing signal
Is entered as

Then, the above-described six editing processes, namely, selection of full color / single color, inversion of light and dark, selection of character / photo,
Six selection signals NDSEL, which determine whether to execute base color processing, paint processing, and trimming processing
Outputs ON / OFF of NGSEL, TXSEL, BCSEL, PTSEL, and IMSEL as LUT114 data.

Next, the concept of the LUT 114 will be described below with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 4A, two area areas 0 and 1 are defined on the document G.

As shown in FIG. 4 (B), as the document G is scanned,
The area signal AR0 indicates the area 0 in the sub-scanning sections II and III.
Becomes “1” in the main scanning section corresponding to, and the area signal AR1 becomes
The above-described area signal generators 115 and 116 shown in FIG. 1 are controlled so that the main scanning section “1” corresponding to the area 1 in the sub-scanning sections III and IV.

As a result of controlling the above-mentioned area signals AR0 and AR1 over the entire area of the original G as shown in FIG.
The input address of the LUT 114 shown in FIG. 1 is determined for each of the four parts shown in FIG. That is, in the document G, a portion not included in the area 0 or the area 1 includes the address “0000”, a portion included in the area 0 only includes the address “0001”, and a portion included only in the area 1 includes the address “0001”. The address “0010” corresponds to the overlapping part of the area 0 and the area 1 and the address “0011” corresponds to the overlapping part.

Therefore, if edit data as shown in FIG. 5, for example, is written in the LUT 114 at these four addresses,
An edit processing signal output shown in FIG. (C) is obtained, and as a result,
A copy output as shown in FIG. 4 (D) is obtained.

That is, the area 0 is subjected to the light / dark reversal processing and the area 1 is subjected to the base color processing. However, in the diagram shown in FIG. 4 (C), other editing processing signals which are not relevant for the moment are omitted.

Next, the processing in this embodiment will be described below with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS.

FIG. 6 shows a processing procedure when a copy operation is performed by setting data in the look-up table 114, and FIG. 7 shows an area M in the RAM.
(0), ..., M (3), C (0), C (3), B (0), ..., B
(3), a processing procedure for setting processing modes corresponding to P (0),..., P (3). Here, 0,..., 3 correspond to the area NO.

In M (j), j = 0 to 3, 6-bit data having the same bit configuration as the output data of the lookup table 114 shown in FIG. 1 is set.

That is, bit 0 is “1” for single color, “0” for full color, bit
1 is “1” when light / dark inversion is performed, “0” is not performed, bit 2 is “1” for text, “0” for photos, bit 3 is “1” when base color processing is performed, “0” when not performed, bit 4 Is “1” when paint processing is performed, “0” when not processed, bit 5 is “1” when image output is performed, and “0” when not processed
It is.

In B (j), j = 0 to 3, a color code required when base color processing is performed on area j is set.

In P (j), j = 0 to 3, a color code required for performing a paint process on the area j is set.

In C (j), j = 0 to 3, a color code required in areas other than the base color processing and the paint processing of the area j is set.

FIG. 8 shows a processing procedure for determining the above-mentioned color code.

Here, the color code is defined such that bit 0 is magenta, bit 1 is cyan, bit 2 is yellow, and bit 3 is black.
Therefore, in blue, bit0 and bit1 are “1” and the head is bi.
t0 and bit2 are "1", and green has bit1 and bit2 "1". In the full color, all bits are "1".

Now, the processing for setting the processing code in each area described above will be described below with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG.

First, the area mode M, which is the area on the RAM described above.
(J) and area colors C (j), B (j), P (j) j
= 0 to 3 are all cleared to "0" (steps S701, S70
1). Then, "0" is set in area j on the RAM indicating the area NO (step S703).

Next, it is determined whether or not the area j is masked, that is, whether the image is to be erased (step S704).
Since bit 5 of (j) is "0", nothing is performed and step S717 is performed.
If NO, it is determined whether or not area j is a paint process (step S705). If "YES" here, "1" is set to bit5 and bit4 of M (j), and a processing color code of the paint processing is determined according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. Set (Step
S706).

“110000 _B ” shown in step S706 means a binary expression.

If NO in the above step S705, the area j
Is determined to be a base color process (step S707),
If YES, "1" is set to bit 3 of M (j), the processing color code of the base color processing is determined according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. 8, and set to B (j) (step S70).
8). Here, the expression “M (j) | = 10100 in step S708
0 _B "is the logical sum of the contents of M (j) and 001000 _B
(J).

Hereinafter, similarly, the processing for the area j is determined, and the corresponding processing code is set. That is, when performing character processing (step S709), "1" is set to bit 2 of M (j) (step S710), and when performing light / dark inversion processing on area j (step S711), M (j) "1" is set in bit 1 of step (step S712), and when monochrome processing is performed on area j (step S713), "1" is set in bit 0 of M (j) (step S714). Finally, "1" is set to bit 5 of M (j) to output an image (step S715). Apart from the processing color code of the base color processing, the output of the document information is performed according to the processing procedure shown in FIG. The color code is set to C (j) (step S716).

The above-described set processing of M (j), C (j), B (j), and P (j) is repeated until j = 0 to 3 (steps S717 and S71).
8), end.

Next, the data set procedure of the look-up table 114 during the entire copy operation will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

First, a copy mode is input by an operator's operation or the like (step S601), and the processing shown in FIG. 7 is executed, and the area mode M (j) and the area colors C (j), B (j), P
(J) is set (step S602).

Next, RA indicating the developed color code when performing the copy operation
The initial value "0001 _B " is set in the area k on M (step S603). This code, as described above, means to copy first in magenta.

When the above-mentioned initialization processing is completed, the contents of the table 114 shown in FIG. 1 are all cleared to "0" (step S60).
Four). The contents of the table are represented by T (i), and
Indicates a table address. After clearing i to "0" (step S605), the RAM area j indicating the area number is also cleared to "0" (step S606).

In this embodiment, since the number of areas is defined as a maximum of four, the table address i is also expressed by four bits, and it has already been described in FIGS. 4 and 5 that each bit corresponds to each area. .

Therefore, the fact that bitj of the table address i is "1" means that the table contents T corresponding to the address i
(I) indicates the processing content of the area j.

Here, if bitj of address i is "1" (step S6
07), C (j), B indicating the development color required for area j
It is checked whether at least one of (j) and P (j) requires the current development color (step S608). In addition,
The expression “K & (C (j) | B (j) | P” in step S608
(J) "indicates that the logical sum of C (j), B (j), P (j) and K is taken.

As a result of the check, when the area j requires the current development color, the processing mode M (j) of the area j is set in the table contents T (i) (step S609).

Next, it is checked whether or not the processing color for the base color processing of the area j requires the current development color (step S610). Here, when it is not necessary, the bit 3 corresponding to the base color processing of the table contents T (i) is set to "0".
Clear (step S611), and base color processing is not performed with the current developed color.

Similarly, it is checked whether or not the processing color for the paint processing of the area j requires the current development color (step S612). If not, the bit corresponding to the paint processing of T (i) is determined. 5 is cleared to "0" (step S61).
3) The masking process is performed without performing the paint process with the current developed color.

For a certain table address i and its contents T (i), the above processing of steps S607 to S612 is repeated four times, that is, from j = 0 to 3, so that the contents T of the address i in which a plurality of areas overlap are obtained. Regarding (i), the process with the larger area No. is prioritized (steps S614 and S615).

For example, the T (i) corresponding to i = 0011 _B, once the processing mode M (0) in area 0 is written, processing mode M (1) in area 1 is overwritten.

By associating with areas 0, 1, 2, and 3 in the order specified by the operator, area processing that is intuitive and easy to understand becomes possible, and it is not necessary to check the two-dimensional complicated positional relationship of multiple areas. The processing for the overlapping part can be easily executed.

As described above, the processes in steps S606 to S615 are executed for all table addresses, and when all the look-up table settings are completed (steps S616 and S617), a copy operation is performed with this developed color k (step S618), and a copy operation is performed. After the end, the content of k is doubled, that is, shifted by one bit to the left so as to indicate the next developed color (step S619), and the above-described processing after step S604 is repeated.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the developing colors k are 0001 _B (magenta), 0010 _B (cyan), 0100 _B (yellow), and 1000 _{b.
After B} (black) has been updated four times, one copy operation ends when it reaches 10,000 _B , that is, when it reaches 16 (step S620).

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the use of the lookup table for inputting the area signals corresponding to a plurality of areas as addresses and outputting a combination of various processing signals corresponding to each area allows for a complicated operation. Region processing can be executed with simple hardware, and control of overlapping portions of a plurality of regions can be performed with a very simple logic.

<Modification 1> In the present embodiment, only the area signal corresponding to each area is supplied as the address input of the lookup table 114. As a modification, a signal indicating the development color is added to the area signal in addition to the area signal. The case of supplying as input will be described below.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing an editing signal generator according to a modification. In the figure, reference numerals 115 to 118 denote area signal generators similar to those shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 114 denotes a lookup table, and reference numeral 100 denotes a CPU. And 125 is an I / O port,
The two output signals COL0 and COL1 correspond to addresses A4 and A in table 114, respectively.
5 is entered. The output signals COL0 and COL1 are controlled by the CPU 100, and when the developing color is magenta, COL = 0, COL1 =
0, COL0 = 1, COL1 = 0 for cyan, CO for yellow
When L0 = 0, COL1 = 1 and black, COL0 = 1 and COL1 = 1.

Next, a copy example in this case will be described below with reference to FIGS. 10 (A) to 10 (E).

First, FIG. 10 (A) is a diagram showing a finally desired output result, wherein area 0 is full-color processing, area 1
Is a red paint process, area 2 is full-color character processing of original information, blue base color processing is performed on the background, and area 3 is light and dark reversal processing and is processed in a single green color. FIGS. 10B to 10E are views showing the editing state in each developing color.

FIG. 10 (B) is a diagram showing processing of each area during magenta development. First, for area 0, the M
The magenta component is developed, the paint density PTLVL set in the selector 112 by the CPU 100 described in FIG.
The larger of the component and the base color density BCLVL set in the selector 109 by the CPU 100 is developed. For area 3, since magenta is not used in the green single-color processing, masking processing is performed so that magenta is not used.
That is, development is performed at the density “0”.

FIG. 10 (C) is a diagram showing processing of each area during cyan development. As shown in the figure, area 0 is the C (cyan) component of the document, area 1 is 0 in density, area 2 is the larger of the C (cyan) component of the document and the base color density BCLVL, and area 3 is Each of the originals is developed with a single-color density component (expressed as an ND component in the figure), for example, (M component + C component + Y component) / 3.

10 (D) and 10 (E) are diagrams showing the processing of each area at the time of each development of yellow and black. here,
Since yellow is not necessary for the blue base color in the area at the time of yellow development, development is performed only with the Y (yellow) component of the document.

FIG. 11 shows a configuration of a look-up table capable of executing the above-described processes and performing copy output as shown in FIG. 10 (A). In the figure, the column (A) in FIG.
0 indicates the upper 2 bits of the input address generated,
Column (B) shows the lower 4 bits of the address generated by the area signal. Therefore, column (C) is output data during magenta development, and columns (D), (E), and (F) are output data during cyan, yellow, and black development, respectively.

In addition, ↑ (arrow) shown in FIG. 11 is a symbol indicating that the data is the same as the upper data.

As described above, by inputting a signal capable of distinguishing a developed color as an input address of the lookup table, all the edit processing data can be set before the copying operation is started. This is very effective in a system where the non-image time between developed colors is extremely short and there is no room for data setting each time, or in a system where the order of developed colors changes randomly.

<Modification 2> Next, an example of checking the output of the above-described look-up table and detecting an error will be described below with reference to a block diagram shown in FIG.

In the figure, a CPU 100, area signals 115, 116, 117 and 118, and a lookup table 114 are the same as those in the above-described embodiment.

As shown in FIG.
The bit (bit 6) output is extracted as a signal ILGL, and the CPU 100
Is configured to be read and checked via the I / O port 126.

In the above-described embodiment, in order to obtain a copy output as shown in FIG.
Since only one set is used, as shown in FIG. 5, 12 data corresponding to addresses “0100 _B ” to “1111 _B ” where addresses A ₂ and A ₃ of the table are “1” are: All are set to “000000”.

Therefore, in this example, one bit of bit 6 is added as output data, and “1000000 _B ” is set from addresses “0100 _B ” to “1111 _B ” as shown in FIG. When an error occurs in the circuit or the bus circuit around the lookup table and the operation that cannot occur is performed, the CPU 100 reads the ILGL signal via the I / O port 126 to detect an abnormal situation. Becomes possible.

<Modification 3> Next, another means of processing for the above-described overlapping portion of a plurality of areas will be described.

In the above-described embodiment, for example, the processing of the area 1 designated later in time with respect to the overlapping portion of the area 0 and the area 1 shown in FIG. At this time, the same data as the address "0010 _B " corresponding to the priority area 1 was set in the address "0011 _B " of the table shown in FIG.

However, as a new function, if the area 0 is subjected to light / dark reversal processing and the area 1 is subjected to base color processing, it may be defined that the two processings are performed together on the overlapping portion. In this case, by adopting a configuration similar to that of the above-described embodiment, it is possible to handle only the software without making any change to the hardware. It is possible to provide a low-cost and high-performance device which is executed by the selection of an operator.

FIG. 14 (A) shows the output result described above.
In this example, unlike the case of FIG. 4 (D), the portion of the character "M" is subjected to inversion processing, and the background portion after the inversion processing is subjected to base color processing. FIG. 14B is a diagram showing table data. The contents of the address “0011 _B ” are the data “101000” of the address “0001 _B ” corresponding to the area 0.
_B ”and data“ 10 at address “0010 _B ” corresponding to area 1
It can be seen that the logical sum is “101010 _B ” with “001 _B ”.

Another Embodiment Next, another embodiment according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing a configuration in another embodiment,
As shown in the drawing, as an address input of the lookup table 114, a signal indicating an image source is input together with the area signal.

In the drawing, reference numerals 100 to 124 have the same structure as that of FIG. 1, and a block 101 for outputting a full-color image signal FC.
Blocks 104 to 109 and blocks 109 to 111 for base color processing are shown as one block.

In the above configuration, the device is connected to the host computer 133 via the connector 132, for example.
The image signal EX-VDO from the host computer 133 can be received. The CPU 100 is a serial communication control unit 131
And serial communication with the host computer 133 via the signal line SRAL.

The host computer 133 can request a print of an image signal from the host in real time by controlling the EX-IN signal. The EX-IN signal is output from the table 11
Input to bit 4 of address 4. In addition, bit 5 of the output data of the table 114 is input to the selector 130 as an EX-SEL signal. Here, when the EXSEL signal is “0”, the selector 130 reads the image signal FC obtained by reading the original image CCD.
Is output, and when the EXSEL signal is “1”, an external input image E
The X-VDO is output via the speed adjustment circuit 134.

By temporarily loading a control signal different from the area signal into the table, the CPU 100 can control the external image signal by software in the same dimension as the area editing. In addition, it is possible to use the host to control the switching of the image source or to make the determination on the copier side, depending on the case.

16 and 17 are diagrams for explaining a specific editing example, in which FIG. 16 (A) shows a document image and FIG. 16 (B) shows a host image. FIG. 16 (C) is a diagram showing a combined copy output.

In this example, the whole original area is defined as area 0, and two areas, area 1 and area 2, are defined therein. The host image is inserted into area 1 and the area 2 is defined as area 2. Indicates that a document image and a host image are combined and output.

A table for providing this output is shown in FIG. 17, in which column A shows the lower 4 bits of the address,
Column B shows the upper one bit, column C shows the processing data when the EX-IN signal is "0", and column D shows the processing data when the EX-IN signal is "1". FIGS. 16 (D) and 16 (E) are timing charts of data output in accordance with this data. FIG. 16D shows an address state and output data on the main scanning line P, and FIG. 16E shows an address state and output data on the main scanning line Q.

In other words, the host computer 133 can output the host image instead of the original image by setting the EX-IN signal in the entire area to “1” in area 1, and synchronize with the host image signal in area 2. By controlling the EX-IN signal in this way, it is possible to perform synthesis in pixel units.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, a desired complicated area editing process can be performed by a simple and inexpensive hardware configuration and a control method based on simple logic.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a full-color copying machine of the present embodiment, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a density conversion table in the present embodiment, (A) to (D) are diagrams for explaining an area editing process in the present embodiment, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the contents of a look-up table in the present embodiment, and FIGS. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure in the example, FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration in the first modification, FIGS. 10 (A) to 10 (E) are diagrams for explaining each processing in the first modification, FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the contents of a look-up table in Modification 1, FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the configuration in Modification 2, FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the contents of a look-up table in Modification 2, FIG. 14 (A) is a view showing an output result in the third modification, and FIG. 14 (B) is a view showing an output result. FIG. 15 is a diagram showing the contents of a look-up table in embodiment 3, FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing a configuration in another embodiment, FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining an area editing process in another embodiment, FIG. FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the contents of a look-up table in another embodiment.

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. An area editing apparatus applicable to an image processing apparatus, comprising: a plurality of input area information as input addresses;
A signal indicating one or more image sources as an input address, a data conversion unit that uses editing processing information as output data, and an area editing unit that performs area editing according to the editing processing information from the data conversion unit. Area editing device to do. 2. The area editing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said data conversion means outputs error information in response to an input other than predetermined information. 3. An area editing apparatus applicable to an image processing apparatus, comprising: first input means for inputting a plurality of area information; and editing processing information to be performed on an image of an area defined by the plurality of area information. Second input means for inputting the information, and creating means for dividing an image to be processed based on the plurality of area information into a plurality of parts, and creating a table representing a correspondence relationship between the divided parts and the editing processing information And editing processing means for performing an editing process in accordance with the data of the created table, wherein the plurality of portions are not included in at least any of the regions defined by the plurality of region information; Part included only in the first area defined by the area information, part included only in the second area defined by the second area information, and the first area and the second area. Both Region editing apparatus characterized by being divided into a part included in. 4. The editing processing means according to claim 1, wherein said first and second areas include a first area and a second area.
4. The area editing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein both the editing processing for the area and the editing processing for the second area are performed. 5. The editing processing means according to claim 1, wherein said first and second areas include a first area and a second area.
4. The method according to claim 3, wherein both the editing process for the region and the editing process for the second region are performed according to an instruction from the operator. Area editing device as described.