JP3247446B2 - Image processing apparatus and image processing method - 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 processing apparatus capable of recording a color image, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus having a function of adding specific information to a reproduced image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as the performance of color copiers and color printers has been improved, there has been a possibility that they may be illegally used. Then, it is almost impossible to specify which device has made the copy, or to limit the person who made the copy, based on the copied copy.

In order to prevent such illegal copying, data of an image pattern of a specific document is registered in a color copying machine or a color printer itself, and this pattern is identified by an image recognition circuit to force illegal copying. Prohibition is being considered. However, a circuit for determining a specific document such as an image recognition circuit is limited in the number of image patterns that can be registered, so that it is impossible to register all types of specific documents.

In a color copying machine or a color printer having an external interface, such a specific document judging circuit may not function. For example, if the image data on the external interface is a specification in which three primary color data of red, green, and blue are sent at the same time, the above-described specific original discriminating circuit is operable. If the data specifications are adapted to printer-specific characteristics, there are a plurality of types of combinations that can reproduce colors, so that a plurality of image patterns are required for determination, making determination for specific document detection extremely difficult. At the same time, the number of images that can be determined decreases.

Further, when the image data of each color component is sent in a frame-sequential manner for each color, the image data must be stored in a memory for image determination, which increases the cost of the apparatus and increases the cost of a specific original. A large expense is required for the judgment. Also, assuming that the above-described problem relating to the image signal from the external interface has been solved, even if the number of target specific documents is limited to a recognizable number and recognition is performed, the registered specific document is often not recognized. It is unavoidable that a similar picture is erroneously recognized as a specific original, or a dirty specific original is erroneously determined not to be a specific original.

Therefore, it is important to add a means for detecting a specific document to the apparatus itself. However, since the detection is limited, when a document which should not be copied is copied, the copying is performed. It is important to specify the copy machine or the person who made the copy. With such a background, a technique of adding information such as a copying apparatus or a person who has made a copy to a manuscript is being studied. As the technique, for example, among output color components of a copying machine (for example, magenta, cyan, yellow, and black), an output color component (for example, yellow) which is least noticeable to the human eye is used to output the output color component. It has been proposed by the present applicant that the image signal is modulated (for example, by adding a certain value), the number or code representing the serial number of the copying apparatus is struck small, and this is repeated at a certain interval.

In a color copying machine, a color original is color-separated, the image is read pixel by pixel, and the read image data is digitally processed and output to a color LBP (laser beam printer). Digital color copiers for obtaining copies are becoming widespread. This type of device has the advantage that image data can be digitally processed, so that the image output position can be moved (FIG. 18A), a desired image area can be extracted (FIG. 18B), Various types of image processing, such as color conversion of only a certain color in the area (FIG. 18 (c)), fitting of characters and images stored in a memory to a reflection original (FIG. 18 (d)), and the like. And these are mounted on the actual device.

[0008]

However, with respect to the above-mentioned conventional copying apparatus or the technique of adding information or the like which can specify a person who can perform a copying operation to a document image,
Even though yellow is the least visible output color component to the naked eye as described above, modulation of the image signal must be minimized. In particular, when a color copier is used for design purposes, it is troublesome to see a pattern that is not present in the document.

When a document is copied, even if the document has a uniform color, the image signal is not always uniform due to variations in the sensitivity of the CCD of the copying machine. However, when an image on a host computer is printed out using an external interface of a color copying machine, CG (computer graphics) can be directly output, so that a uniform area at the image signal level may be sufficient. . At that time, when the yellow component is modulated, the additional pattern becomes conspicuous particularly in a light gray or light blue uniform portion.

Further, in the conventional method of constructing an additional pattern by forming a small unit pattern of numerals or codes representing additional information and repeating the unit pattern at a constant interval, the unit pattern is small. inevitably conspicuous because, also, to the human eye and is easily recognized by people of regular patterns than the pattern of the random arrangement, when the unit pattern is arranged in a grid pattern,
It becomes noticeable. For this reason, there is a problem that the degree of modulation of the image signal must be reduced, and the additional information cannot be read depending on the specific document.

Therefore, in all output images, modulation is difficult to identify when viewed by the naked eye, but is inconsistent with certain contradictory conditions that it can be surely identified by a certain method in a target copy such as a specific original. , Patterns and so on. A first object of the present invention is to provide a method of adding information for specifying a copying machine or a person who operates the same to an original image in a pattern that is as inconspicuous as possible.

Further, in this type of copier, when performing the processing described above as a conventional example, if the pattern addition is performed before the processing, the pattern is affected by the processing, and as a result, the pattern may not be read. There is. That is, a second object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of performing pattern addition without being affected by such processing.

Further, when performing a synthesizing process with an external device in a color copying machine having an external interface, if pattern processing is performed at a stage prior to the synthesizing process, the pattern is affected by the synthesizing process, and the synthesized portion is May disappear. That is, a third object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus for performing pattern addition which is not affected by the synthesis processing.

[0014]

In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention receives an image signal .
Input means, processing means for performing processing on the image signal , and a plurality of processing means for forming an image in the image signal.
Color components that are difficult to recognize by the human eye
Information superimposing means for superimposing predetermined additional information on the image signal , wherein the processing by the processing means,
Performed at a stage prior to the superimposition process by the information superimposition unit, the information superimposition unit superimposes the predetermined information on the processed image signal.

Further, according to the present invention for achieving the above object,
The image processing method according to the input step of inputting an image signal,
A processing step of performing processing on the image signal;
A plurality of color components for forming an image in the image signal;
In other words, image signals corresponding to color components that are difficult to discern
Information superimposing step of superimposing predetermined additional information as
The processing by the processing is performed by superimposing the information.
Performed at a stage prior to the superimposition process by
The tatami mating step is performed on the processed image signal as described above.
Constant information is superimposed.

[0016]

According to the above arrangement, a plurality of image signals can be formed.
Predetermined based on color components that are difficult for human eyes to recognize among color components
Is added. Further, processing is performed at the stage before the process of superimposing predetermined additional <br/> information, predetermined additional information is superimposed on the processed image signal.

[0017]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following embodiments, a copying machine will be described as an application example of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to various other devices without departing from the gist of the present invention. . [First Embodiment] A first embodiment according to the present invention will be described. [Explanation of Appearance of Apparatus] FIG. 2 is an external configuration diagram of a copying machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 201 denotes an image scanner unit, which is 400 dpi (dots / inch).
And performs digital signal processing at the original resolution. Reference numeral 202 denotes a printer unit which prints out an image corresponding to the document image read by the image scanner 201 on a sheet at a resolution of 400 dpi in full color.

In this image scanner 201, 2
Reference numeral 00 denotes a mirror surface pressure plate, and a document 204 on a platen glass (hereinafter, referred to as a platen) 203 is irradiated by a lamp 205, and its reflected light is guided to mirrors 206, 207, and 208. , CC
(Referred to as D). Then, it is sent to the signal processing unit 211 as full-color information red (R), green (G), and blue (B) components. The lamp 20
5, mirror 206 is at speed v, and mirrors 207 and 2
Reference numeral 08 denotes a speed of 1/2 v, and the entire surface of the document is scanned (sub-scanning) by mechanically moving the line sensor in a direction perpendicular to the electrical scanning (main scanning) direction.

The signal processing unit 211 electrically processes the read image signal, decomposes the image signal into magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) components. Send to 202. Further, M, C,
One component of Y and Bk is sent to the printer unit 202, and one printout is completed by a total of four document scans.

The M, C, Y, and Bk image signals sent from the image scanner unit 201 are transmitted to the laser driver 21.
2, the laser driver 212 modulates and drives the semiconductor laser 213 in accordance with the transmitted image signal. The laser beam from the semiconductor laser 213 scans the photosensitive drum 217 via the polygon mirror 214, the f-θ lens 215, and the mirror 216.

The rotary developing device 218 includes a magenta developing unit 21.
9, the cyan developing section 220, the yellow developing section 221, and the black developing section 222. These four developing sections alternately contact the photosensitive drum 217, so that the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum is formed with toner. develop. The transfer drum 223 winds the paper supplied from the paper cassette 224 or 225 around the drum, and
The image developed on 7 is transferred to paper.

After the four colors of M, C, Y, and Bk are sequentially transferred in this manner, the sheet passes through the fixing unit 226, where the toner is fixed on the sheet and then discharged. [Image Scanner] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the image scanner unit 201 shown in FIG. In the figure,
210 is R (210-1), G (210-
2) and B (210-3) are CCD sensors having spectral sensitivity characteristics. The output from the CCD sensor is subjected to A / D conversion and S / H by the A / D conversion and sample hold unit 101, and then output to 8 respectively. It is output as a signal of bit output 0-255. Further, shading correction and black correction are performed by the shading correction unit 102.

In the connection correction unit 103, since the sensors 210-1 to 210-3 used in the present embodiment are arranged at a fixed distance, the R signal and the G signal are delayed so that the spatial displacement thereof is reduced. Has been corrected. The input masking unit 104 corrects the NTSC signal,
The OG unit 105 converts the luminance signal into a density signal. The masking / UCR unit 106 includes a well-known masking and U
This is a CR (under color removal) circuit.
Each signal of magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) for output is output with a predetermined bit length (for example, 8 bits) sequentially in each reading operation. Reference numeral 107 denotes a known scaling processing circuit, which performs scaling in the main scanning direction. As a specific hardware configuration, for example, the size is reduced by thinning out the write enable of the FIFO, and the size is expanded by thinning out the read clock. The magnification in the sub-scanning direction is optically performed.

The gamma correction circuit 108 is, for example, a ROM or R
It is realized by AM and its peripheral circuits. Also, MTF
In the correction circuit 109, edge enhancement or smoothing is performed. The pattern adding circuit 110 is a part for adding a pattern that cannot be identified by human eyes to the copied image. [Pattern Adding Circuit] FIG.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. Referring to FIG.
Is a sub-scanning counter, 302 is a main scanning counter, and 3
03 is a look-up table RAM (hereinafter referred to as LUT), 304, 307, 309 are AND gates, 305
Denotes a flip-flop, 306 denotes an inverter, 308 denotes a register, and 310 denotes an adder.

In the sub-scanning counter 301, the main scanning synchronizing signal HSYNC and in the main scanning counter 302, the pixel synchronizing signal CLK are each 7 bits wide, that is, 128 bits.
Count repeatedly at intervals. Further, LUT 303
Is a random access memory (hereinafter, referred to as a RAM) holding a pattern to be added, and is composed of 4 bits obtained by removing the least significant bit from the lower 5 bits of the count value of each of the sub-scanning counter 301 and the main scanning counter 302. Is entered.

The output of LUT 303 refers to only one bit, and this one bit is
The logical product is calculated with each of the upper two bits of the main scanning counter 301 and the sub-scanning counter 302. This result is synchronized with the CLK signal by the flip-flop 305, and
In the D gate 307, the 2-bit CNO signal “0”
ANDed with both CNO signal "1" and ANO
It is sent to the ND gate 309. These CNO “0”, C
NO “1” indicates a CPU (central control unit), not shown.
M → 0,0, C → 0,1, Y → 1,
0, Bk → 1, 1 are set respectively. here,
A valid signal is generated only when CNO = 2, that is, when the image is currently printed in yellow.

Here, the level (modulation amount) of the pattern to be added is stored in advance in a register 308 in which data is set by a CPU (not shown).
At the gate 309, it becomes effective only when CNO = 2 (at the time of the yellow surface).
Is added to It should be noted that the additional pattern is added only with yellow toner so that it is difficult for human eyes to identify,
This is based on the fact that human eyes have weak discriminating ability with respect to a pattern drawn with yellow toner.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an additional pattern in the first embodiment. The LUT 303 in FIG.
A dot pattern as shown in FIG. 4, that is, an additional pattern is held. In FIG. 4, one cell of the lattice corresponds to one bit held in the LUT 303, where white represents 0 and black represents 1. The horizontal direction in the figure corresponds to the lower 4 bits of the address, and the vertical direction corresponds to the upper 4 bits of the address. The additional pattern is constituted by a total of 256 bits.

The line where the upper 4 bits of the address of the pattern shown in FIG. 4 are 0 (the uppermost line) is a mark indicating the reference position. In the left part of FIG. 4, the shaded portions indicate that the upper 4 bits of the address are 2, 3, and 8,
There are six lines of 9, E and F, which are lines on which dots are placed, and are used every two lines. In each of these two lines, as shown on the right side of FIG. 4, one or two 2.times.2 bit dots are printed at predetermined positions to represent a total of 16 types of information. That is, each two lines represent four bits of information. Since these two lines are three below the mark, a total of 12 bits of information can be represented. The two lines are separated from each other without approaching each other because, for example, when two lines of the same dot or an approximate dot arrangement such as “BBB” and “123” are continuous, This is to prevent the additional pattern from being conspicuous due to being connected in an oblique direction.

The LUT 303 shown in FIG. 3 is provided so that a dot pattern can be written from a CPU (not shown), and specifies the source of a copy document, such as information for specifying a copying machine. Is written in a state where the information is converted into additional pattern data. In addition, since the data excluding the least significant bit of the main scanning counter 302 and the sub-scanning counter 301 in FIG. 3 is input to the LUT 303, one bit in the LUT 303 is 2 in the copy.
It corresponds to four pixels of × 2. This is because, in the printer unit 202 of the copying machine according to the present embodiment, for example, a well-known 200 line process is performed in the image area, and it may be difficult to read the pattern by adding a pattern in units of one pixel. [Explanation of Copy Result] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a copy result by the copying machine according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the effect of image processing according to the present embodiment.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes an added pattern, and the contents held in the LUT 303 are added as an image. In the example shown in FIG. 5, a pattern meaning “3FC” is added in a pattern of 32 pixels × 32 pixels so that it is difficult for the human eyes to recognize, and is repeated every 128 pixels in the main scan and 125 lines in the sub-scan. . Therefore,
By setting this as a production number unique to the machine or a pattern obtained by encoding the production number, it is possible to identify a device that has copied the copy by checking the copy.

In this embodiment, the interval at which a pattern is added is set to 128 pixels in the main scan (or 128 pixels in the sub-scan).
However, since the copying machine according to the present embodiment has a resolution of 400 dpi (dot / inch) as described above, a pattern is added about every 8 mm. This is an interval at which the additional pattern is reliably placed on a watermark or a surrounding margin of a bill which is easy to read.

In the method using such an additional pattern, as shown in FIG. 6B, the image signal is modulated as shown in FIG. By using a method using a pattern as shown, the number of pixels to be modulated can be reduced and the additional pattern can be made less noticeable. As described above, according to the present embodiment, as a pattern for limiting devices and the like in a copy, a specific additional pattern including a mark indicating a position reference and one or more dots is printed on the copy. The number of pixels to be modulated is reduced by recording
Since the additional pattern can be made less noticeable, image quality degradation due to the addition of the pattern can be reduced.

Further, since a type of encryption is performed by converting the additional pattern into a dot arrangement pattern,
There is an effect that the pattern is hardly manipulated intentionally by a third party. Further, since the scaling circuit is located at a stage preceding the pattern adding circuit, a pattern can be added which does not depend on the scaling process, in other words, a pattern can be generated which does not depend on the scaling factor. When the copy is performed at the magnification, the possibility of erroneous reading of information increases, and especially when the copy is a specific original, the purpose of adding a pattern may not be achieved, or (2) the enlargement ratio is, for example, 400%. In this case, the problem that the dot area becomes 16 times larger and the pattern becomes visible to the user can be avoided. <Modification 1> Modification 1 of the first embodiment will be described. In the first modification, a copying machine capable of performing a texture process as a processing process will be described.

Texture processing is, as shown in FIG. 8, an addition, subtraction, or multiplication of an original image (FIG. 8B) by a signal of a pattern (FIG. 8A) stored in a memory or the like in advance. The output image (FIG. 8 (c)) is obtained by performing such an operation. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an image scanner unit of a copying machine capable of performing texture processing according to the present modification. In the figure, the same components as those of the image scanner unit according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 7, known masking and UC
Masking / UCR unit 10 for performing R (under color removal) processing
The texture processing unit 801 is located at the next stage of the sixth.
This texture processing unit is composed of a memory, a memory and an operation unit (not shown) of a video signal, and outputs an image as shown in FIG. By adopting such a configuration, in the copying machine according to the present modification, pattern addition independent of texture processing, for example, the additional pattern is modulated during texture processing to enhance the pattern, which is identified by the human eye Can be avoided. <Modification 2> In Modification 2, a copier capable of performing color conversion processing as processing will be described.

The color conversion processing here is performed by the circuit shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, this circuit includes window comparators 1013, 1014, 1015, an AND gate 1016, selectors 1020, 1021, 1022.
It is composed of The window comparator 1013 has the red input signals Rin, reg1 (upper limit) and re
When g2 (lower limit) is input and the value of the red input signal Rin is between reg1 and reg2, the output of the window comparator 1013 becomes logic "1".

Similarly, window comparator 1014
The value of the green input signal Gin input to
When the value is between (upper limit) and reg4 (lower limit), the blue input signal Bin which is an input to the window comparator 1015 is reg5 (upper limit) and reg6.
When it is between (lower limit values), the outputs of the respective window comparators 1014 and 1015 become logic “1”.

As a result, selectors 1020, 1021,
From 1022, reg7 (converted color R), reg8 (converted color G), and reg97 (converted color B) are output Rout, Gout, Bout (1004, 100), respectively.
5,1006). The above reg1-r
eg9 is a value set in each of the registers 1 to 9 (not shown) by the CPU (not shown).

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a scanner unit that performs a color conversion process in a copying machine according to the present modification. In the scanner unit shown in the figure, the same components as those of the image scanner unit according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. The color conversion unit 1101 shown in FIG. 10 operates to perform the color conversion processing described with reference to FIG. As a result, it is possible to avoid such a problem that a color is not detected due to the addition of a pattern that does not depend on the color conversion processing, for example, the addition of the pattern, and the dots are raised. Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 12 is an external structural view of a copying machine according to the second embodiment. In the copying machine shown in the figure, the same components as those of the copying machine according to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In the copying machine shown in FIG. 12, reference numeral 111 denotes an interface with an external device 228, which interfaces video signals, synchronization signals, signals used for communication, and the like. This interface is connected to, for example, an external device 228 (here, a reader) having the same function as the image scanner 201 and is connected to the signal processing unit 211 by a cable or the like.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of the image scanner unit 201 constituting the copying machine according to the present embodiment.
Also in this figure, the same components as those of the image scanner unit according to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. In FIG. 11, the synthesis processing unit 107 ′ selects an input signal A (input from the reader 201) or an input signal B (input from the reader 228) based on the signal 117 generated by the area signal generation unit 112. , Which are output from terminal Y. Here, when the selection signal S = 0, Y = A, and when S = 1, Y = B
Becomes [Explanation of Image Signal Output to External Device] Here, a signal flow when an image signal is sent to the external device (here, an image scanner) 228 is shown.

The signal read by the CDD 210 is A /
A / D conversion and S in D conversion / sample hold unit 101
/ H, RGB 8-bit outputs 0 to 255, respectively
Is output as a signal. These signals are further subjected to shading correction by a shading correction unit 102, correction by a joint correction unit 103, and correction by an input masking unit 104, and are converted from a luminance signal to a density signal by a LOG unit 105.

In the masking / UCR section 106,
Magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) signals are generated in a plane-sequential manner. These C, M, Y, and Bk signals are input to the terminal C of the bus selector 113, and the output mode from the terminal C to the terminal A is set in a register in the bus selector 113 by a CPU (not shown). In this output mode, output from terminal A is performed to external interface 111 via signal line 115. At this time, the frequency conversion unit 114 reads the read enable signal 116 generated by the area generation unit 112.
To disable. [Explanation of Image Signal Input from External Device] The frame sequential C, M, Y, and Bk signals input from the external interface 111 set in the input mode are transmitted through the signal line 116.
The frequency converter 114 synchronizes with the main scanning synchronization signal and the image clock in the image scanner 201.

Further, this signal is input to the terminal A of the bus selector 113, is output from the terminal B by the mode setting of the register in the bus selector by the CPU (not shown), and then is input to the synthesis processing unit 107 '. . [System Operation During Compositing] The main-scanning synchronizing signal and the sub-scanning synchronizing signal output from the printer unit 202 are transmitted to another image via the scanner / printer interface 227, the image scanner 201, and the external interface 111. The data is sent to the scanner 228 to synchronize the system, and a color-in-color composite image is obtained.

Since the pattern adding circuit according to the present embodiment and the copy result by the same are the same as those in the first embodiment, their description is omitted. As described above, according to the present embodiment, by locating the synthesis processing unit before the pattern adding circuit, the image signal from the external device generated when the synthesis processing unit is positioned after the The problem of not being added can be eliminated, and the synthesis process can proceed smoothly. <Modification 1> Next, Modification 1 of the second embodiment will be described.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an external configuration of a copying machine according to this modification. In the copying machine shown in the figure, the same components as those of the copying machine according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 12 are denoted by the same reference numerals. Is connected to the signal processing unit 802 via the external interface 907. [Image Scanner] FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the image scanner unit 201 shown in FIG. In the image scanner unit shown in FIG. 11, the same components as those of the image scanner unit shown in FIG. 11 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted. Then, in the image scanner unit shown in FIG.
The output to 1) is not C, M, Y, Bk, but R, G, B
Performed synchronously.

Hereinafter, the flow of an image signal to an external device in this embodiment will be described. The signal read by the CDD 210 is subjected to A / D conversion and S / H by the A / D conversion and sample hold unit 101, and then output as RGB 8-bit outputs 0 to 255, respectively. These signals are further subjected to shading correction by a shading correction unit 102, correction by a joint correction unit 103, and correction by an input masking unit 104, and are then subjected to signal lines 901 to 903.
Is input to the terminal C of the bus selector 906. In this bus selector, the output mode from terminal C to terminal A is set by a CPU (not shown), so that the signal input to terminal C is sent to external interface 907 via signal lines 115, 904, and 905. Is output.

In the masking / UCR section 106,
Magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) signals are generated in a plane-sequential manner. These C, M, Y, and Bk signals are input to the terminal C of the bus selector 113, and the output mode from the terminal C to the terminal A is set in a register in the bus selector 113 by a CPU (not shown). In this output mode, output from terminal A is performed to external interface 111 via signal line 115. At this time, the frequency conversion unit 114 reads the read enable signal 116 generated by the area generation unit 112.
To disable.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing the internal configuration of the memory unit 801. This unit has a function of storing an external image signal in the image memory 1004, synchronizing with an external device (here, the image scanner unit 201), and outputting the data stored in the image memory to the external device. Have. [Write to Image Memory] The RGB signal input from the external interface 1001 set in the input mode is input to the frequency conversion unit 1 via signal lines 1017 to 1019.
002. The frequency converter synchronizes with the image clock in the memory unit 801 (the main scanning signal used is that of the image scanner unit 201), and the output signals 1010 to 1012 output from the data converter are output from the data controller. The data is written to the image memory 1004 via the interface 1003. Here, the memory has a capacity of a total of 24 bits of RGB for one pixel, and the control of the address and the memory control signal at this time is performed by an address control.
This is performed at LA1005. [Image Output to External Apparatus] The RGB data generated by the printer unit 202 receives the main scan synchronization signal and the sub-scanning signal input from the external interface 1001 of the external apparatus 801 via the reader / printer interface 227 and the external interface 907. The address is read from the image memory 1004 by the address generated by the address controller 1005 based on the scanning synchronization signal.

The RGB signals are supplied to signal lines 1014 to 1014.
The signal is converted from a luminance signal into a density signal by a LOG unit 1006 via the signal 16. And the masking / UCR section 1007
Then, a known masking UCR is applied, and after the γ correction in the γ correction unit 1008, the data controller 10
The signal is output from the external interface 1001 set to the output mode via the signal line 03 and the signal line 1009.

To obtain one composite image, C, M, Y,
Since four colors of Bk are required, in this operation, reading from the image memory 1004 is performed four times in one operation, and C, M,
Y and Bk data are sent in a frame sequence. <Modification 2> FIG. 16 is an external structural view of a copying machine according to this modification. The copying machine shown in FIG. 13 differs from the copying machine shown in FIG.
A host computer 1103 connected to the memory unit 1101 by a cable is included as a component.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the memory unit 1101. Here, the difference from the memory unit shown in FIG.
A function that allows image data to be taken into the image memory 1205 from 03 is added. [Writing Data from Host to Image Memory] The host computer 1103 sends to the CPU 1203, for example,
Image data sent by GPIB or the like is stored in a memory (not shown) in the CPU via the external interface 1102 and the signal line 1201. Then, the address controller 1005, the data controller 1207, and the selector 1206 are controlled to write data from the host computer into the image memory 1205.

The above operation is repeated for all C, M, Y, and Bk data (here, the image memory has a total of 32 bits of C, M, Y, and Bk for one pixel). Note that the above writing may be performed using DMA. [Output of Image Data to Image Scanner] The C, M, Y, and Bk data generated by the printer unit 202 are input from the external interface 1102 of the memory unit 1101 via the reader / printer interface 227 and the external interface 111. Address controller 10 based on the main-scanning synchronization signal and the sub-scanning synchronization signal.
05, the image memory 1205
Is read from. These C, M, Y, and Bk data are output to the external interface 1102 via a data controller 1207 in a frame-sequential manner.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to a case where the present invention is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Recognize human eyes among the multiple color components that make up the image signal.
By adding predetermined additional information to difficult color components,
Additional information is superimposed on image signals so that it is difficult for human eyes to discern
In addition to the above, it is possible to remove the adverse effect of the processing and the synthesis processing on the specific pattern by superimposing the specific pattern on the image signal as additional information after performing the processing and the synthesis processing on the image signal, for example, There is an effect that a problem that the pattern is affected by the processing and the pattern cannot be read as a result can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image scanner unit 201 constituting a copying machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external configuration diagram of the copying machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a pattern adding circuit 110.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining an additional pattern in the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a copy result obtained by the copying machine according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an effect of image processing according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of an image scanner unit of a copying machine capable of performing texture processing according to a first modification.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a texture process.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a color conversion process according to a second modification.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a scanner unit that performs a color conversion process in a copying machine according to a second modification.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an image scanner unit 201 constituting a copying machine according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an external configuration diagram of a copying machine according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating an external configuration of a copying machine according to a first modification.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the image scanner unit 201 shown in FIG.

FIG. 15 is a block diagram showing an internal configuration of a memory unit 801 according to a second modification.

FIG. 16 is an external configuration diagram of a copying machine according to a second modification.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a memory unit 1101 according to a second modification.

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an example of image processing in a conventional color copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 A / D conversion / sample hold unit 102 Shading correction unit 103 Joint correction unit 104 Input masking unit 105 LOG unit 106 Masking / UCR unit 108 γ correction circuit 109 MTF correction circuit 110 Pattern addition circuit 201 Image scanner unit 202 Printer unit 210 CCD Sensor

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-6-70134 (JP, A) JP-A-59-170865 (JP, A) JP-A-1-302958 (JP, A) JP-A 55-170 76480 (JP, A) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/38-1/393 G06T 1/00 500

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] An input unit for inputting an image signal; a processing unit for processing the image signal; and a human eye among a plurality of color components for image formation in the image signal. Information superimposing means for superimposing predetermined additional information on an image signal corresponding to a color component which is difficult to distinguish, wherein the processing by the processing means is performed at a stage prior to the superimposing processing by the information superimposing means. The image processing apparatus, wherein the information superimposing unit superimposes the predetermined information on the processed image signal. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional information is information represented by an arrangement of dispersed dots.
An image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the additional information includes apparatus identification information. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the dots are obtained by modulating image signals of one pixel or a plurality of adjacent pixels. 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein yellow is used as the color component that is difficult for humans to recognize. 6. The processing includes scaling, color conversion, MTF
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image processing apparatus is at least one of correction, modulation, and synthesis. 7. An image processing apparatus comprising: a connection portion for connecting an external device for inputting an image signal; and reading means for reading a document image, wherein a first image signal input from the external device is Synthesizing means for synthesizing the second image signal read by the reading means to generate a third image signal; and a human image among a plurality of color components for image formation in the third image signal. Information superimposing means for superimposing predetermined additional information on an image signal corresponding to a color component which is difficult to identify to the eyes, wherein the generation of the third image signal is performed before superimposition processing by the information superimposing means. An image processing apparatus characterized in that the processing is performed in stages. 8. An inputting step of inputting an image signal, a processing step of processing the image signal, and a human eye among a plurality of color components for image formation in the image signal. An information superimposing step of superimposing predetermined additional information on an image signal corresponding to a color component that is difficult to distinguish, wherein the processing in the processing is performed at a stage prior to the superimposing in the information superimposing. Performing the information superimposing step, the predetermined information is superimposed on the processed image signal.