JP3260772B2 - Image processing apparatus and 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 and method capable of adding predetermined additional information to an input image so that it is difficult for human eyes to identify the additional information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, as copy machines have been improved in image quality and color, there has been a risk of forgery of specific documents such as banknotes and securities. As a countermeasure against the forgery, for example, a serial number unique to the device is stored in advance in the image reading device and the output device, and the serial number is added to the input image as a specific pattern that is hard to be identified by human eyes and output. The technology has been proposed by the present applicant as Japanese Patent Application No. 3-60248. According to this technique, the device can be specified by analyzing the output image.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, only information for specifying the own apparatus can be added to the input image. Therefore, it is necessary to know from the output image to the status of peripheral devices of the apparatus. Could not.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for processing an input image, which can specify an external connection status of the apparatus based on the processed image. The purpose is to: At the same time,
It is an object of the present invention to enable an image processed by this device to be handled in the same manner as an original input image.

[0005]

According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an image processing apparatus connected to an external device (corresponding to the external device 101). Generation means (also image scanner unit 2)
01) and identification information generating means (image scanner unit 201) for generating identification information capable of identifying the external device.
And an adding unit (corresponding to the printer unit 202) for adding the identification information to the image at a constant cycle so that it is difficult for the human eyes to identify the identification information. In order to achieve the above object, the image processing method of the present invention
The method has the following configuration. In other words, connect to external devices
Image processing method in an apparatus for generating an image
Generating identification information capable of identifying the external device,
It is difficult for human eyes to identify the identification information for an image.
Are added at regular intervals.

[0006]

According to this configuration, an image is generated and connected.
Generates identification information that can identify the external device
The identification information for the image is fixed so that it is difficult for human eyes to identify
It operates so as to be added periodically.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the following embodiments, an example of a copying apparatus is shown as an application example of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to other various apparatuses. Further, in each device applicable to the present invention, a specific manuscript such as a banknote or a securities is targeted for forgery prevention.

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a system to which a copying apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied. In the figure,
101 is an external device such as a host computer, 102 is a relay device (interface) for relaying between the external device 101 and the image scanner unit 201, and 100 is a copying device of the present embodiment. The copying apparatus 100 includes an image scanner unit 201 and a printer unit 202. In the above system, the recognition information of the external device 101 is recognized by the relay device 102. The relay device 102 communicates the recognition information to the image scanner unit 201, and
The basic operation of the second embodiment is to add the recognition information of the external device 101 received via the image scanner unit 201 to the output image.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the copying apparatus according to the present embodiment. In the same figure, the image scanner unit 2
Reference numeral 01 denotes a portion that reads a document at a resolution of 400 dpi (dots / inch) and performs digital signal processing. Further, the printer unit 202 includes the image scanner unit 2.
01, the image corresponding to the original image read by
This is a portion for printing and outputting in full color on paper at a resolution of 00 dpi. In the image scanner unit 201, reference numeral 200 denotes a mirror surface pressure plate, and a document 204 on a platen glass (hereinafter, referred to as a platen) 203 is irradiated with a lamp 205, guided to mirrors 206, 207, and 208 to form a lens 2.
In step 09, an image is formed on a three-line sensor (CCD) 210 and sent to the signal processing unit 211 as full-color information red (R), green (G), and blue (B) components. Note that 206 and 206 are speeds v and 207 and 2
Reference numeral 08 scans the entire surface of the document (sub-scanning) by mechanically moving the line sensor in the direction perpendicular to the electrical scanning (main scanning) direction at a speed of 1/2 v.

In a signal processing section 211, the read image signal is electrically processed, decomposed into components of magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (Bk). Send to 202. Further, M, C,
One component of Y and Bk is sent to the printer unit 202, and one printing operation 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 2.
12 is sent. The laser driver 212 modulates and drives the semiconductor laser 213 according to the transmitted image signal. The laser beam scans on the photosensitive drum 217 via the polygon mirror 214, the f-θ lens 215, and the mirror 216.

Reference numeral 218 denotes a rotary developing unit, which includes a magenta developing unit 219, a cyan developing unit 220, and a yellow developing unit 22.
1. The black developing section 222 is composed of four developing sections which alternately contact the photosensitive drum 217 to develop the electrostatic development formed on the photosensitive drum with toner. Reference numeral 223 denotes a transfer drum, which winds a sheet supplied from a sheet cassette 224 or 225 around the transfer drum 223, and transfers an image developed on the photosensitive drum to the sheet.

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

<Image Scanner> FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of the image scanner unit 201 according to this embodiment. In the figure, 210-1, 210-2, 210
-3 are CCDs (solid-state imaging devices) having red (R), green (G), and blue (B) spectral sensitivity characteristics, respectively.
This is a sensor and outputs 8-bit signals 0 to 255 after A / D conversion. Sensors 210-1, 210-2, 210-3 used in this embodiment
Are arranged at a fixed distance, the spatial displacement of the delay elements 401 and 402 is corrected.

Reference numerals 403, 404, and 405 denote log converters, each of which is constituted by a look-up table ROM or RAM, and converts a luminance signal into a density signal. Reference numeral 406 denotes a known masking and UCR (under color removal) circuit.
Although a detailed description is omitted, magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) signals for output are sequentially read out every time each reading operation is performed. The data is output with a predetermined bit length, for example, 8 bits.

Here, CN which is a 2-bit field sequential signal
The O signal will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the CNO signal is used as a control signal indicating the order of the four reading operations for performing masking and switching operation conditions of the UCR circuit 406.

Reference numeral 407 denotes a known spatial filter circuit.
Corrects the spatial frequency of the output signal. Reference numeral 408 denotes a density conversion circuit that corrects the density characteristics of the printer unit 202, and includes a ROM or RAM similar to the log converters 403 to 405. Reference numeral 410 denotes a pattern adding circuit for checking the model of the copying apparatus and adding a specific pattern that is invisible to the output image. The above-mentioned CNO signal is also input to this pattern adding circuit 410.

Reference numeral 414 denotes a micro computer (hereinafter referred to as a “CPU”) which controls the apparatus, and
Receiving identification information (hereinafter referred to as “IDIF”) from
The operation to output to the pattern adding circuit 410 is also included. 414
a is a ROM which stores a program for operating the CPU 414. A RAM 414b is used as a work area of the program in the ROM 414a.

<Pattern Adding Circuit> FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of the pattern adding circuit 410 according to the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 901 denotes a sub-scanning counter; 902, a main scanning counter; 903, a lookup table (hereinafter referred to as "LUT"); 905, a flip-flop;
3 is an AND gate, 906, 907, 908, and 909 are registers storing different specific patterns,
910 is a 4 to 1 selector, 911 is an AND gate, 9
12 is an adder.

The operation of the above configuration will be described. First, the sub-scanning counter 901 outputs the main scanning synchronizing signal HSYNC,
The main scanning counter 902 repeatedly counts the CLK of the pixel synchronization signal with a width of 9 bits, that is, 512 cycles. Further, the LUT 903 is a RAM, and the relay device 10
IDINF of the external device 101 sent from the
14 and store it. Also, this LUT 903
The lower 6 bits of the count value of each of the sub-scanning counter 901 and the main scanning counter 902 are input. L
The output of the UT 903 refers to only one bit, and
The gate 904 performs an AND operation with the upper 3 bits of the main scanning counter 901 and the upper 3 bits of the sub-scanning counter 902, and is synchronized with the CLK signal at the flip-flop 905. After it is ANDed with both signals CNO “0” and CNO “1”, it is sent to an AND gate 911. The output of the LUT 903 is a signal representing a specific pattern that is valid in the AND gate 913 only when CNO = 3, that is, only when the image is currently printed in yellow.

On the other hand, registers 906, 907, 908,
909 holds different values P1, P2, P3, and P4 for indicating the level of the specific pattern. A pattern level selection signal (hereinafter, referred to as a “PS signal”) for selecting one of P1 to P4 is output from the CPU 414 to the selector 910.
The PS signal is, for example, a signal having a value corresponding to the degree of similarity between the input image and the specific image. The higher the degree of similarity, the higher the density of the pattern. This allows one of P1 to P4 to be used only when printing in yellow.
The signal is sent to an adder 912 via an AND gate 911, and is added to the input signal V as level information of a specific pattern. The result of the addition is output as V '. Therefore, C
Only when NO = 3, that is, when printing is currently performed in yellow, the specific pattern held in the LUT 903 is repeatedly read and added to the signal V to be output.

Here, the relationship between the pattern levels stored in the registers 906 to 909 is set as P1 <P2 <P3 <P4. When s = 00 (binary number), Y = as = 01 (binary number), Y = bs = 10 (binary number), Y = cs = 11 (binary number) ), The switching setting of the input terminals a, b, c, and d corresponding to the PS signal input to the s terminal is performed so that Y = d. Therefore, the relationship between the input signal V and the output signal V ′ is as follows: When PS = 00 (binary number), V ′ = V + P1 When PS = 01 (binary number), V ′ = V + P2 PS = 10 (binary number) ), V ′ = V + P3 When PS = 11 (binary number), V ′ = V + P4. Thus, the specific pattern addition condition is set.

Here, the specific pattern to be added is added only with the yellow toner so that it is difficult for the human eye to identify it. And that the discrimination ability is weak.

In this embodiment, the level of a pattern to be added is made variable in accordance with the possibility that a specific document exists in an input image. Almost no distinction is made, and as the possibility of the existence of the specific document increases, a pattern and a pattern are added.

<Copy Result> FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a copy result in this embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1001 denotes a specific pattern according to the present embodiment, to which the content held in the LUT 903 is added. In the example shown in FIG.
A pattern of BCD1234 ″ is added in a pattern of 64 × 64 pixels so that it is difficult for a human eye to recognize, and is repeated for each of 512 pixels in the main scan and 512 lines in the sub-scan. By encoding the number or the serial number, the copy can be identified and the type of external device from which the copy data is output can be specified (or limited).

As described above, according to this embodiment,
As a method for limiting the apparatus in a copy, a specific pattern (for example, a banknote) that should not be copied is copied by adding a specific pattern that is difficult to be recognized by human eyes. Can be used as a key for limiting what kind of external device the image data is output from.

Further, in this embodiment, the pitch to which a pattern is added is set every 512 pixels (or lines) in the main operation, but in this embodiment, 400 dpi (dots / dots) is used.
inch), a pattern will be added about every 32.5 mm. On the other hand, the width in the short direction of banknotes (Bank of Japan note) is about 76 mm, and the width in the short direction of banknotes in major countries is also approximately between 60 mm and 120 mm. In this case, this pattern is always added to the inside of the copied bill. Therefore, even if only the bill portion is taken out and abused, the copy number used for copying can be limited by examining the copy and reading the added pattern. .

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, in the present embodiment, as the specific pattern to be added, a device-specific manufacturing number or a coded version thereof is added. However, the information is not limited to this as long as it is information for limiting the device. The limitation information may be, for example, information for limiting the device, such as the date of manufacture of the device, the lot number of the device, and the version of the device.

In the above-described embodiment, the copied device is specified (or limited). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the copied person is specified (or limited).
May be used. In this case, for example, a device that requires insertion of an ID card for restricting users and a device that requires input of an ID number are already known when using the device. In the apparatus, the recognized ID number or its encoded ID number can be added as a specific pattern.

Further, according to the present invention, a date copied or an encoded date may be added as a specific pattern.

From the above-described modification, the specific pattern is repeatedly added with a pitch shorter than the length of the banknote in the width direction, so that even if the copy is partially misused and misused, Is always added with a specific pattern, and by judging this, it is possible to identify or narrow down the copied device or copied person. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the description has been given with respect to an external device that can provide IDINF to the present apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an image output request from an external device that does not provide IDINF is provided. The copying operation may be stopped.

Further, the present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. It is needless to say that 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.

As described above, according to the present invention, not only the identification information of its own device but also the identification information of the external device are added to the input image as in the prior art. An external connection status can be specified based on the image. Further, since the identification information is added so that it is difficult for the human eyes to identify, the processed image can be treated in the same manner as the original input image.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing a system to which a copying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the copying apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image scanner unit 201 according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a pattern adding circuit 410 according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of a copy result in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a CNO signal according to the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 101 external device 102 relay device 210-1 to 210-3 CCD 200 mirror pressure plate 201 image scanner unit 202 printer unit 203 platen 204 document 205 lamp 206, 207, 208 mirror 209 lens 210 3 line sensor 211 signal processing unit 212 laser driver 213 Semiconductor laser 214 Polygon mirror 215 f-θ lens 216 Mirror 217 Photosensitive drum 218 Rotary developing device 219 Magenta developing unit 220 Cyan developing unit 221 Yellow developing unit 222 Black developing unit 223 Transfer drum 224, 225 Paper cassette 226 Fixing units 401, 402 Daylay 403 to 405 Log converter 406 Masking / UCR circuit 407 Spatial filter 408 Density conversion circuit 410 Pattern addition circuit 414 C U 414a ROM 414b RAM 901 sub-operation counter 902 main-scan counter 903 LUT 904,911 AND gates 905 flip-flops 906 to 909 register 910 selector 912 adder 1001 specific pattern

Continuation of front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/38-1/393 G06T 1/00 500

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus connected to an external device, comprising: an image generating unit configured to generate an image; an identification information generating unit configured to generate identification information capable of identifying the external device; An image processing apparatus comprising: an adding unit that adds identification information at a constant cycle so that identification information is difficult to be identified by human eyes. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising image forming means for forming an image to which identification information has been added by said adding means. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the identification information is a serial number of the external device. Wherein said identification information, the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the manufacturing date of the external device. 5. An image processing method in an apparatus connected to an external device, the method comprising: generating an image; generating identification information capable of identifying the external device; An image processing method characterized in that the image is added at a constant cycle so as to be difficult to identify. 6. The image processing method according to claim 5 , further comprising forming an image to which the identification information is added. 7. The image processing method according to claim 5 , wherein the identification information is a serial number of the external device. 8. The image processing method according to claim 5 , wherein the identification information is a date of manufacture of the external device.