JP3210006B2 - Color image transmission device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image transmitting apparatus for transmitting color image data to a receiving apparatus.

[Related Art] To copy a color image, first, a color original is read by an optical scanner, stored as image data, and then subjected to shading correction, color correction, color conversion, density correction, black generation, and the like, and then output to a printer or the like. It is common.

When input image data is output to a monitor or the like, black generation and density correction are not required in the above processing.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The content of the required image processing differs depending on the type of the device that outputs the color image thus read. Therefore, for example, when outputting image data transmitted to a monitor on the assumption that the image data is output to a printer, it is necessary to perform some inverse conversion processing so as to match the output of the monitor.

However, image processing performed by conventional color scanners, color printers, color copiers, image processing devices and the like is based on a unique method, and output data of image processing performed by a certain device is output to another device. Does not work well with reverse processing. Therefore, for example, it is extremely difficult to faithfully reproduce and output data processed and received for printer output on a monitor or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to be able to arbitrarily transmit color image data before and after a black generation process so that a receiving device can reproduce colors with high accuracy.

Still another object of the present invention is to enable a user to easily set a color conversion processing condition capable of realizing a desired color reproduction so that a user can reproduce a color desired by the receiving device.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a color image transmitting apparatus for transmitting color image data to a receiving apparatus, wherein a color conversion processing is performed on input color image data. Conversion processing means, display means for displaying a result of the color conversion processing, color conversion condition setting means for manually setting color conversion processing conditions of the color conversion processing, and color image data on which the color conversion processing has been performed. Black generation processing means for performing black generation processing on the image data, and black generation processing setting means for setting whether or not to perform the black generation processing on the color image data on which the color conversion processing has been performed. Features.

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

FIG. 1 is a hardware block diagram of an image transmission apparatus embodying the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), which controls the operation of the entire image transmission apparatus of the present embodiment in accordance with a program stored in a ROM 2. The image to be transmitted is read by the scanner 3. The scanner is controlled by an instruction from the CPU 1 by the scanner controller 4. The read image is temporarily stored in the RAM 5, and image signal encoding / restoring processing, communication processing, and the like are performed through the RAM. A part of the area of the RAM 5 is also used for temporarily storing processing data of the CPU 1. Reference numeral 6 denotes an image processing unit for performing image processing on the read image data. The image processing unit 6 includes a color conversion color correction processing unit 6-1 for performing color processing by, for example, a 3 × 3 matrix operation, and a black generation processing unit (UCR). 6-2, a density conversion section 6-3, a binarization / multi-value processing section 6-4, and the like. When an image read from the scanner is displayed on the CRT 7, data obtained by subjecting the input image to color conversion and correction processing is input to the video signal generator 8. Reference numeral 9 denotes an HD controller, which controls the storage of image data in the HD 10 in accordance with an instruction from the CPU. The data stored in the HD is subjected to color coding processing (for example, multi-valued color compression such as ADCT or other binary compression) through 11 coding / decoding devices, and is transmitted from the communication control unit 12 to the line as it is. It is in a state where it can be done. The data received from the line is temporarily stored in the HD 10 and then decoded by the encoder / decoder. The data is subjected to multi-level processing, black generation processing, and density conversion processing in the image processing unit 6. Output from the printer. The printer controller 14 controls the printer operation while synchronizing with the operation of the image processing unit in response to a command from the CPU. Reference numeral 15 denotes an operation panel on which the operator inputs a transmission instruction, a received document output instruction, and the like. A system bus 16 is a bus through which control signals are exchanged between the processing units described above, and an image bus 17 is a bus through which image data is exchanged by the processing units.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control sequence of the image transmission process. The transmission process starts when the detection of the presence or absence of a transmission operation is performed in step S1. When a transmission request is detected, an operator's instruction is input regarding image processing conditions in the next step S2. The processing so far is performed by the operation panel 15 and is input to the CPU. The image processing conditions input in S2 are used for processing selection in the image processing unit 6 described later. When the input from the operation panel is completed, the flow advances to step S3 to instruct the scanner controller 4 to start scanning the original. When the scanner receives the instruction and starts outputting the image data, the data is stored in the RAM 5 in step S4. Whether to perform color conversion and color correction on image data in RAM is S5
If it is determined based on the image processing conditions input earlier and processing is to be performed, the process proceeds to step S6. It is also possible to perform color conversion and color correction while accepting the operator's request from the operation panel.By displaying the scan image and the result of color conversion and correction on the CRT 7 as needed, Processing can also be performed. If these processes are not performed, the process proceeds directly to the next step S7. In step S7, as in S5, it is checked whether or not black generation and density conversion processing are to be performed on the transmission data from among the previously input image processing conditions, and the processing is selected. If an instruction to perform these processes has been given, the process proceeds to step S8; otherwise, the process proceeds to S9. The processing in step S8 is performed by passing the image data through the black generation processing unit 6-2 and the density conversion unit 6-3 in the image processing unit. In step S9, the encoding process of the image data is performed by the encoding / decoding device 11. The encoded data is transmitted by the communication control unit 12 to the line so that the
Instruct in S10. In the next step S11, it is determined whether or not there is any remaining document to be scanned. If there is, the processes in steps S3 to S10 are repeated, and if not, the transmission process ends.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing an implementation example in which the processing selection of steps S5 and S7 is performed by a control signal. In this figure, a control signal A serves as a selection signal for use of a color correction / color conversion circuit, and a control signal B serves as a selection signal for use of a black generation / density conversion circuit. Control signal A
Is turned on, the image signal is not output from the AND gate in front of the color correction and color conversion circuit, and the image signal input from the gate below it is output as it is. Control signal A
Is turned off, the image signal flows from the upper AND gate, is processed by the color correction and color conversion circuit, and is output to the next line. The same applies to the control signal B. When the control signal B is turned on, the image signal is output without passing through the black generation and density conversion circuit. The converted image signal is output. A circuit as shown in FIG. 3 is added to the image processing section 6 so that the states of the control signals A and B can be set by an instruction from the CPU, thereby realizing the processing of this embodiment.

[Other Embodiments] In this embodiment, the processing selection condition is input by the operation. However, the state of the control signal shown in FIG. 3 may be directly determined by hardware using a dip switch. . Further, the switch by the AND gate in front of the color correction and color conversion circuit shown in FIG. 3 may be omitted, and these processes may always select only the processes of black generation and density conversion.

In the present embodiment described above, the color encoding / decoding process may be either multi-level color compression or binary color compression.

In this embodiment, the line transmitted from the communication control unit may be a digital line or an analog line.

In the present embodiment, black generation, color correction, and density conversion have been described as examples of color image processing. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and other color processing may be used.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, color reproduction desired by a user can be performed with high accuracy by a receiving device.

Since color image data before and after the black generation processing can be arbitrarily transmitted so that the receiving device can perform high-precision color reproduction, high-precision color reproduction can be performed by the receiving device. Further, it is possible to easily set a color conversion processing condition that can realize a desired color reproduction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a hardware block diagram of an image transmission device embodying the present invention, FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a control sequence of an image transmission process, and FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram which realizes a process selection by a control signal. . 1 is a CPU, 2 is a ROM, 3 is a scanner, 4 is a scanner controller, 5 is RAM, 6 is an image processor, 7 is a CRT, 8 is a video signal generator, 9 is an HD controller, 10 is HD, and 11 is a code. Decoding decoder, 12 is a communication control unit, 13 is a printer, 14 is a printer controller, 15 is an operation panel, 16 is a system bus, and 17 is an image bus

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/46-1/64

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A color image transmitting apparatus for transmitting color image data to a receiving apparatus, comprising: color conversion processing means for performing color conversion processing on input color image data; and display means for displaying a result of the color conversion processing. Color conversion condition setting means for manually setting color conversion processing conditions of the color conversion processing; black generation processing means for performing black generation processing on the color image data on which the color conversion processing has been performed; A color generation apparatus for setting whether or not to perform the processing on the color image data subjected to the color conversion processing.