JP3214511B2 - Image synthesis device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image synthesizing apparatus for synthesizing a plurality of original images by fitting, superimposing, etc., and outputting as a single image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a color copying machine is provided with a developing device for each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (BK). And the like, and output as one image. Such an image synthesizing apparatus is disclosed in, for example, JP-A-64-25673 and JP-A-63-125.
No. 054.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-25673 discloses a four-drum digital color copying machine as an embodiment. This copying machine uses a delay memory for synchronizing data with a frame when synthesizing an image. Used as a memory. Then, a color original is read by a scanner and stored in a frame memory, and then a monochrome original is read by a scanner, and color data is read from the frame memory and superimposed on the black and white data. Therefore, the number of times of replacing the original is two, and the number of scans is also two.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-25673 discloses a one-drum type digital color copying machine as an embodiment. When copying an image, this copying machine arranges a color original and a black-and-white original to each color component. Read four times. And
A transfer paper is wound around a drum called an intermediate transfer drum,
An image is transferred to the transfer paper for each color. Therefore,
The number of times of replacing the document is one (none), and the number of times of scanning is four.

[0005]

However, in the former digital color copying machine, the number of times of replacing the original is two.
Since the number of scans is two and the number of scans is two, there is a problem in that the synthesis time including the time for exchanging the original becomes long. Also, in the latter digital color copying machine, the number of times of replacing the document is one, so the document replacement time is shorter than that of the former digital color copying machine, but the number of scans is four, so that the reading time becomes longer. There is a point.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, an object of the present invention is to provide an image synthesizing apparatus capable of shortening the time required for synthesizing a color original image and a black-and-white original image.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a first means stores reading means for reading an original image for each color component, and image data of at least half of a reading area of the reading means. A printer capable of forming a color image read in one scan by the reading unit with a delay according to a color component;
One after the color image data of the first half read by scanning stored in said memory, up color image data of the first half of the memory and monochrome <br/> image data of the second half of the read area
Synthesizing means for synthesizing the lint start signal by delaying the lint start signal and outputting to the printer.

The second means reads an original image for each color component.
Reading means to take and a reading area of the reading means
Can store image data of at least half the area of each
Two memories and one reading by the reading means.
Delays color images read by scanning according to color components
A printer that to form a detection means for the image data of the reading region of the first half read in a single scan to detect whether monochrome document or color document, read in a single scan
The first half of the color image data stored in the memory
Thereafter, when the detection unit detects a color original, the black- and- white image data of the latter half of the reading area and the color image data of the first half of the memory are synthesized by being output to the printer with a delay with respect to a print start signal , When the detecting means detects a black and white original,
The color image data and the black data generated from the color image data in the first half of the memory are matched with the print start signal.
And synthesizing means for synthesizing the output by delaying the output to the printer.

[0009]

In the first means, the first half of the color original image and the second half of the black-and-white original image read by one scan are combined with each other, so that the time required for combining the color original image and the black-and-white original image is reduced. be able to.

In the second means, whether the image data in the first half of the reading area is a black-and-white document or a color document is detected.
Since a composite image of the color original image and the black and white original image is generated according to the arrangement order of the black and white original and the color original, the user can synthesize the black and white original and the color original in a short time without considering the arrangement.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the image synthesizing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the printer in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the system controller in FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of arranging a document in the image synthesis mode, FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the sequencer in FIG. 3, FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing control timing of the sequencer in FIG.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the memory unit in FIG.

In FIG. 1, a scanner 101 optically scans and reads a document image and outputs R, G, and B color signals. The image processing unit 102 performs gamma correction of the R, G, and B color signals read by the scanner 101 and performs complementary color Y,
Color correction for obtaining M, C and black and white BK, and printer 10
The gamma correction and gradation processing (area gradation processing such as dither) of the complementary colors Y, M, C and black and white BK according to the output characteristic of No. 3 are performed, and output to the 4-drum printer 103 as shown in FIG. . The memory unit 104 is used for synthesizing a color original image and a black-and-white original image, and the system controller 105 performs image synthesizing control as described later according to information from the operation unit 106.

The printer 103 includes developing drums 202Kb, 202Cb, 2 for black Bk, cyan C, magenta M, and yellow Y arranged at predetermined intervals as shown in FIG.
The image forming apparatus of the fixing device 205b is provided with an image of each color, which is read in one scan, and superimposed on transfer paper.
And a color copy is formed by fixing.

As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the system controller 105 controls the main scanning direction clock signal CL from the reference signal generator 401 except for the data lines.
K and a sub-scanning direction clock (horizontal synchronization signal) LSYNC, a scanner start signal SST of the scanner 101,
The IP start signal IPST of the image processing unit 102, C,
A memory write signal MW for storing the M and Y color data in the memory unit 104, and developing drums 202Kb and 202
The memory read signals MRC, M, and Y of each color for reading the color data of C, M, and Y from the memory unit 104 with a delay by the arrangement interval of Cb, 202Mb, and 202Yb, and the start signal PST of the printer 103 are output. It is configured as follows.

Next, the operation in the image synthesis mode will be described. In this case, as shown in FIG.
For example, the first document in color is arranged in the sub-scanning direction of the scanner 101 so as to be read before the second document in black and white, and is read by one scan. In this case, the sequencer 402, as shown in FIGS.
When the print key of the operation unit 106 is turned on, the scanner start signal SST (step S21), the IP start signal IPST (step S22), and the memory write signal MW
(Step S23) are sequentially output, and the sub-scanning direction clock LSYNC is counted by half of the reading area of the scanner 101 to read each color data of the first color original and stored in the memory unit 104 (Step S24).

Next, reading of the black and white data BK in the latter half of the reading area of the scanner 101 is started,
A printer start signal PST is output (step S2).
5), cyan memory read signal MRC (step S2)
6), a magenta memory read signal MRM (step S
27), and sequentially outputs a yellow memory read signal MRY (step S28).

FIG. 7 shows the memory 9 included in the memory unit 104.
03 and its control circuit are shown. The counter 901 receives the memory read signal MW and the memory read signals MRC,
The clock signal CLK is cleared by the logical sum signal of M and Y
And outputs the address of the memory 903. Further, the JK flip-flop 902 switches read / write (R / W) of the memory 903, input of the data output circuit 904, and output of the data input circuit 905 in accordance with the IP start signal IPST and the printer start signal PST. Therefore, according to the first embodiment, two originals, a color original and a black-and-white original, are read and combined by one scan, so that the combining time can be reduced.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an image processing unit in the second embodiment, FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram showing a detailed configuration of the black data judging unit in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a detailed diagram of the luminance / color separator in FIG. FIG. 11 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram showing a memory control circuit in the second embodiment.

The image processing unit 10 according to the second embodiment
2a, a black data determination unit 1002 is provided at a stage subsequent to the RGB gamma correction unit 1001, and the black data determination unit
Numeral 02 is configured to automatically detect whether the original in the first half is a monochrome original or a color original. As in the first embodiment, the color correction unit 1003 corrects the RGB data into complementary colors Y, M, C and black and white BK, and the YMCBK gamma correction unit 1004 corrects the complementary colors Y, M according to the output characteristics of the printer 103. , C and gamma of black and white BK are corrected, and gradation processing 10
05 performs an area gradation process such as dithering, and
Output to In this embodiment, memories for the first half and the second half are used.

In the black data determination unit 1002, as shown in detail in FIG. 9, a luminance / color separator 1101 converts RGB data into YIQ data,
105 compares the I data and Q data from the luminance / color separator 1101 with predetermined values ITHR and QTHR, respectively. Then, the counters 1106 and 1107 at the next stage count the number of cases where the I data and Q data from the luminance / color separator 1101 are larger, respectively.
When the number is smaller than the predetermined values Ic and Qc, a high-level black discrimination signal BLK is supplied to the register 1110.
Is set. The predetermined values ITHR, QTHR, Ic,
Qc may be applied by the system controller 105 or may be a fixed value.

That is, the RGB data includes R light, G light, and B light.
Since the reflectance differs with respect to light and each data includes a luminance component Y and color components I and Q, the black data determination unit 10
In 02, the predetermined values ITHR, QTHR, Ic, and Ic are utilized by utilizing the fact that "black has few I and Q components" to detect black.
By setting Qc, a monochrome original can be detected. Here, the relationship between the RGB data and YIQ can be expressed by equation (1), but Y = 0.299R + 0.587G + 0.114B I = RY (1) Q = BY The luminance component Y is (2) ) Can be approximated.

Y = 0.299R + 0.587G + 0.114B = 0.3125R + 0.5625B + 0.125B (2) = (2-2 + 2-4) R + (2-1 + 2-4) + 2-3B Therefore, the luminance / color separator The separation circuit 1101Y of the luminance component Y of 1101 can be configured by adders 1401 to 1404 as shown in FIG.
Each of the separation circuits 1101I and 1101Q for the color components I and Q is an adder 1405, 14 as shown in FIG.
06.

When the black discrimination signal BLK is at a low level, that is, when the original in the first half of the reading area of the scanner 101 is a color original, the color image data stored in the memory for the first half is read out. FIG.
As shown in the upper part of FIG. 1, the operation is the same as that of the first embodiment.
In this case, in the control circuit of the memory shown in FIG.
Is output via.

On the other hand, when the black discrimination signal BLK is at a high level, that is, when the first half of the original read by the scanner 101 is a black and white original, as shown in the lower part of FIG.
The second half image is stored in the second half memory. FIG.
In the memory control circuit shown in FIG.
a, C and M from the first half of the image are compared, and M and Y are compared by the comparator 1301b.
01c, C, M, Y
Among them, the data having the smallest value is output as black data BK via the multiplexer 1302 and the selector 1303.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, the black data determination unit 1002 determines whether the original in the first half is a black-and-white original or a color original. can do. Also, the first
In the same manner as in the first embodiment, two originals, a black-and-white original and a color original, are read and combined by one scan, so that the combining time can be reduced.

[0026]

As described above , the first aspect of the present invention is configured as described above, so that the first half color image and the second half black and white image read by one scan are combined. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the time required to combine the color document image and the black and white document image. The second aspect of the present invention is configured as described above, so that the user can perform composition in a short time without considering the arrangement of the black-and-white document and the color document.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an image synthesizing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing the printer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a system controller of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a method of arranging a document in an image synthesis mode.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the sequencer of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing control timings of the sequencer in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of the memory shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an image processing unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a black data determination unit in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a circuit diagram showing a detailed configuration of a luminance / color separator of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a circuit diagram illustrating a memory control circuit according to a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 101 Scanner 102 Image processing unit 103 Printer 104 Memory unit 105 System controller 202Kb, 202Cb, 202Mb, 202Yb Developing drum 1002 Black data judgment unit

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] A reading unit for reading a document image for each color component; a memory capable of storing image data of at least a half of a reading region of the reading unit; A printer that forms a color image with a delay according to a color component, and stores the first half color image data read in one scan in the memory, and then stores the black and white image data in the second half reading area. up the color image data of the first half of the memory
Synthesizing means for synthesizing by delaying a lint start signal and outputting the delayed signal to the printer. (2)Scans the original image for each color component
Means, At least half of the reading area of the reading means.
Memory that can store image data of each area, Read by the scanning means in one scan
A printer that forms a color image with a delay according to a color component
When,  The image of the first half of the reading area read by one scan
Image data is black and white originalSquidDetection means for detecting whether the original is a color original
When, First half color image data read in one scan
After storing in the memory, The detecting means is a color original
Is detected, the second half of the reading areaBlack and whiteimage data
And the first half of the color image data of the memoryPrint studio
To the alert signalDelayed output to the printer
And the detection means detects a black and white original.
In the second half of the reading areaColorImage data and the memory
Black data generated from the color image data in the first half ofStep
For lint start signalDelayed output to the printer
Compose by forceCombining means; With Image synthesis device.