JP3279327B2 - 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 method for processing an image with a digital signal, and more particularly to an image processing method suitable for use in a high-speed facsimile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a prior art relating to a digital image processing method , for example, a document “Mitsubishi Integrated Circuit <Digital AS
SP> M66330SP / FP Provisional Materials The technologies described in pages 19 to 21 and the like are known.

According to this prior art, when performing image editing processing such as enlarging or reducing an original received by a facsimile apparatus so as to match the recording paper size of a printer, first, received code data is temporarily stored in an image memory, and The size conversion is performed while decoding the reception code data stored in the image memory, and the data is coded again and stored in the image memory. When printing the received code data, the code data is output to the printer while decoding the code data stored in the image memory after the size conversion.

[0004] Further, in the prior art, when a character such as a sender name and a transmission time is to be added to read image data to be transmitted, the image data of the character input from the MPU bus is encoded and encoded. The character is added to the beginning or end of the transmission original.

[0005]

According to the above prior art, the received image data is subjected to size conversion for adjusting to the size of recording paper and density conversion for adjusting to recording density.
Alternatively, when recording with a margin added to the top, bottom, left, and right of the recorded image, the received image data is once decoded, the size and density of the image data are converted, and the image data is returned to the coded data again. There is a problem that the encoded data cannot be recorded while converting the size and density.

[0006] Further, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, when additional information such as a character is to be added to image data even when printing is performed at a transmission source, the additional information must be encoded before being added to the image data. Additional information such as a character cannot be added. To realize this, it is necessary to temporarily store read image data in an image memory, add a character to this, and then encode it.

[0007] For this reason, the prior art requires an editing process on an image memory to perform an image editing process at the time of transmitting a read image and at the time of recording a received image, and performs high-speed image transmission. Alternatively, there is a problem that it is difficult to record a received image at high speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to perform image editing processing at the time of input to an encoding unit or at the time of output from a decoding unit, thereby achieving high-speed processing. Image processing method that enables editing processing
Is to provide a law .

[0009]

According to the present invention, an object of the present invention is to provide a method for performing size conversion, density conversion, and margin addition processing of image data while transmitting or recording image data. Direction conversion number, the number of input pixels in the main scanning direction, the number of output pixels in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, and means for setting each of the number of upper margin pixels and the number of left margin pixels. This is achieved by controlling the image output period and the margin output period based on the one-page input end signal so that the image input speed follows the image output speed.

Another object of the present invention is to add a character from a microprocessor (hereinafter, referred to as MPU) to an output image when transmitting an image stored in a code memory. Means for notifying the end of output, and setting of a character addition position from the MPU for the output image data stored in the output image line memory, and setting of the character in the character double-width setting unit, thereby achieving a desired output on the output image line memory. Means for adding a character to a position at a target magnification.

Further, the object is to add a character while directly transmitting or recording a read image or recording a received image and to store a character to be added in advance, and a position for setting the character. This is achieved by providing a setting unit and a control unit that outputs a character on a memory when the output of image data for transmission or recording reaches the set position.

[0012]

The size conversion, density conversion, and margin addition processing for the binary image input in the image editing unit is started when the image processing permission signal is given from the MPU. The white line corresponding to the set value is output. During that time, no input request for image data is made. The left margin addition outputs white pixels for the left white pixel count setting value,
Next, this is executed by outputting image input requests for the number of input pixels in the main scanning direction to the image data supply circuit.

When the size conversion is performed and the output of the image data for one main scanning line is completed, the image editing unit thereafter outputs white pixels until the output pixel number set value in the main scanning direction is reached. The processing of the next line is started by outputting the line synchronization signal. The image editing unit repeatedly executes the image processing in the main scanning direction, and when a one-page input end signal is input, outputs a white line from the next line until the output pixel number set value in the sub-scanning direction is reached, A one-page output end signal is output simultaneously with the output of the last main scanning line.

In the process of adding a character to an output image from the MPU, the MPU first sets the number of output lines up to the line to which a character is added, and sets image processing permission. The image editing unit stops image output when a line to which a character is to be added is stored in the output line memory, and outputs an output end signal. This allows the image editing unit to
When the character addition position is set from U, the address of the character addition pixel position is output to the line memory,
The character request is output to the MPU. MP that received this
U writes over the line memory at the original position on the line memory by performing processing such as overwriting the character, reading and changing the image data, and the like.

The character double-width setting unit has a function of enlarging the character in the main scanning direction, and the character is added to the line memory at the set magnification. When it is desired to add characters continuously, it is not necessary to set a new character addition position, and this can be performed by automatically increasing the address value output to the line memory. When the addition of the character to one line is completed, the MPU sets the number of lines up to the line to which the next character is added in the image editing unit, and restarts the image processing output.

The process of adding a character while outputting image data to a high-speed recording device such as a laser printer is performed by storing characters to be added to an output image in a character memory in advance and setting a character addition position setting unit. This is performed by setting the coordinates for adding each character and the number of pixels of the character in advance. This processing is performed in the output of the margin addition and size density conversion processing.
When the pixel position matches the character addition coordinates,
The output is switched to the character memory side to output a character, whereby a plurality of characters can be added to an arbitrary position in one page.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the image processing method according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an image processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an entire image processing apparatus that executes a method . In FIG. 1, 1 is an image processing apparatus, 2 is a reading binarizing unit, 3 and 5 are selectors, 4 is an image editing unit, 6 is a scanner, 7 is a receiving unit, 8 is a decoding unit, and 9 is an encoding unit. ,
Reference numeral 10 denotes a printer, 11 denotes a transmission unit, and 12 denotes a code memory. An embodiment of the present invention is an example in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile machine.

An embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is an image processing apparatus 1 composed of a reading binarizing section 2, an image editing section 4, and selectors 3 and 4, and an illustration connected to the processing apparatus 1. Various functional units and M (not shown) for controlling the whole of these units
PU. Then, this embodiment operates as follows when reading and transmitting an image.

The scanner 6 reads an image document to be transmitted, reads the image signal, and outputs the image signal to the binarization unit 2. The reading and binarizing unit 2 converts the received image signal into binary image data, and outputs the binary image data to the encoding unit 9 via the selector 5 when not editing the image data. On the other hand, when editing an image, the binary image data output from the reading binarizing unit 2 is output to the image editing unit 4 via the selector 3. In this case, the image editing unit 4
Performs editing processing such as size conversion, density conversion, and character addition on input binary image data, and outputs the edited image data to the encoding unit 9 via the selector 5. The encoding unit 9 encodes the binary image data, and
Output to 1.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 operates as follows when receiving and recording image data.

The receiving section 7 outputs the code data of the received image to the decoding section 8. The decoding unit 8 converts the code data into 2
The data is decoded into value image data and output to the image editing unit 4 via the selector 3. The image editing unit 4 performs editing processing such as size conversion and character addition on the input binary image data, and outputs the result to the printer 10.

The illustrated embodiment operates as follows when the read image is temporarily stored in the memory and transmitted.

The code data generated by the coding unit 9 is output to the code memory 12, and the code memory 12 stores this code data and outputs it to the decoding unit 8 when transmitting. The decoding unit 8 restores the coded data to binary image data and outputs it to the image editing unit 4 via the selector 3. The image editing unit 4 performs editing processing such as size conversion and character addition on the binary image data, and outputs the result to the encoding unit 9 via the selector 5. The encoding unit 9 encodes the binary image data and outputs it to the transmission unit 11.

Further, in the illustrated embodiment, a copying operation is also possible. In this case, the following operation is performed.

The scanner 6 reads an image document to be copied, reads the image signal, and outputs the read image signal to the binarization unit 2. The reading and binarizing unit 2 converts the image signal into binary image data and outputs it to the image editing unit 4 via the selector 3.
The image editing unit 4 performs editing processing such as size conversion according to the size of the recording paper and pixel density conversion according to the recording density on the binary image data, and outputs an edited image signal to the printer 10.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram for explaining the contents of the image editing unit 4. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 21 denotes a size / density conversion processing unit, 22 denotes a margin addition processing unit, and 23 denotes a character addition processing unit.

In FIG. 2, the size / density conversion processing unit 2
1 performs size conversion such as enlargement and reduction of the input image data and pixel density conversion to match the pixel density of the recording unit, and outputs the converted image data to the margin addition processing unit 22. The margin addition processing unit 22 adds a margin of an arbitrary length to the top, bottom, left, and right sides of the image data to which the size and density conversion processing has been performed, and
Output to 3. The character addition processing unit 23 performs a character addition for adding an arbitrary character, a symbol, or the like at an arbitrary position to the image data to which the margin is added, and an image change for rewriting the pixel data. Output to the encoding unit 9 or the printer 10.

It should be noted that not all of the above-described processes in the image editing unit 4 need to be performed, and only the necessary processes need to be performed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining input / output signals transferred between the image editing unit 4 and various functional units connected thereto. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 36 denotes an MPU, and other reference numerals are the same as those in FIG.

In FIG. 3, when an image of a document is read and transmitted as image data, the following signals are transmitted and received between the functional units.

The MPU 36 outputs an image processing start signal to the image editing unit 4. The image editing unit 4 sends an input request signal to the reading / binarization unit 2 based on the image processing start signal. After that, the reading binarizing section 2 outputs an input permission signal to the image editing section 4 and outputs the read image data in synchronization with the data transfer clock. The image editor 4 outputs an output request signal to the encoder 9 in units of 8 pixels while editing the image data. The encoding unit 9 outputs an output permission signal to the image editing unit 4 in response to the output request signal. The image editing unit 4 outputs image data to the encoding unit 9 in response to the output permission signal.

The above-described processing is continuously executed for the image input of one page of the document. Then, when the data of the last main scanning line of the image data for one page is input, the reading binarization unit 2 inputs a page end signal to the image editing unit 4. The image editing unit 4 recognizes the end of the input for one page based on the page end signal from the read binarizing unit 2, and outputs the one-page processing end signal when outputting the data of the last line after the editing process. Output to Further, when the output of one page to the encoding unit 9 is completed, the image editing unit 4 outputs a one-page processing end signal to the MPU 36.

When the image data is received and output to the printer 10, the following signals are transmitted and received between the functional units.

The MPU 36 outputs an image processing start signal to the image editing section 4. Thus, the image editing unit 4 outputs an input request signal to the decoding unit 8. The post-decoding unit 8
An input permission signal and image data are output to the image editing unit 4 in response to an input request from the image editing unit 4. The image editor 4 edits the input image data and outputs the edited image data in synchronization with the data transfer clock output of the printer 10.

The input request from the image editing unit 4 to the decoding unit 8 is made continuously for each image input of one page of the document. Then, the decoding unit 8 sends a page end signal to the image editing unit 4 when the data of the last main scanning line of the image data for one page is input. The image editing unit 4 recognizes the end of input of one page based on the page end signal, and outputs a one-page processing end signal to the MPU 36 when the output of one page of image data to the printer 10 is completed. . Further, even when the output of the data of the last line after the editing process is completed, the image editing unit 4 outputs the white data when the transfer clock output from the printer 35 continues.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the size density conversion processing section 21 and the margin addition processing section 22 of the image editing section 4.
FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the margin addition processing unit 22. In FIG. 4, reference numeral 62 denotes an image input device;
Reference numerals 63 to 66 and 72 denote parameter setting units, 67 denotes an image processing start permission setting unit, 68 denotes a size margin control unit, 69 denotes a size and density conversion unit, 70 denotes a selector, and 71 denotes an image output device. Note that the image input device 62 is the reading binarizing unit 2 or the decoding unit 8 in FIG. 1, and the image output device 71 is the encoding unit 9 or the printer 10.

In FIG. 4, a size / density conversion processing section 21 is constituted by a main / sub size conversion rate setting section 72 and a size / density conversion section 69, and other functional sections in the image editing section 4 are used. A margin addition processing unit 22 is configured. Before the size margin processing is started in the illustrated image editing unit 4, the parameter setting units 63 to 66, 7
2, the following parameters are set by the MPU 36.

The number of output pixels for one main scanning line and the number of output lines in the sub-scanning direction are set in the main and sub-scanning output pixel number setting section 63, and the image output is set in the upper white line number setting section 64. The number of margin lines on the upper side of the sub-scan to be added sometimes is set. The left-side white pixel number setting section 65 sets the number of pixels of a left margin line on the main scanning to be added at the time of image output. The main scanning input pixel number setting section 66 sets the main scanning pixels input from the image input device 62. The number is set. In addition, the main and sub-scanning size conversion rate setting unit 72 includes an enlargement rate of the input pixel data,
The reduction ratio is set.

After completing the setting of the parameters in the parameter setting sections, the MPU 36 sets the image processing start permission setting section 67 to start the image processing. When the start of the image processing is set in the setting unit 67, the size margin control unit 68
The white image data for the number of lines set in the upper white line number setting section 64 is output to the image output device 71.
This processing can be realized by selecting ground as an input of the selector 70 by a size density conversion permission signal which is a control signal to the selector 70.

After the output of the number of upper white lines is completed, M
The PU 36 outputs the white pixels of the number of pixels set in the left white pixel number setting unit 65 from the next line, and thereafter outputs an input request to the image input device 62. This input request is output for the set value of the main scanning input pixel number setting unit 66. The image input device 62 outputs the image data to the size / density converter 69 in response to the input request.

The size / density conversion unit 69 operates according to the set value set in the main / sub-scan size conversion ratio setting unit 72.
Conversion processing such as enlargement and reduction of the image data is performed, and the image data is output to the image output device 71 via the selector 70. At this time, even if the output of the image data for the set value set in the main scan input pixel number setting unit 66 is completed, the main scan output pixel number set in the main scan sub pixel If not, the size margin control unit 68 outputs white pixels for the remainder.

The above-described processing for one main scanning line is performed until a one-page input end signal is output from the image input device 62 to the size / margin signal section 68. Further, the margin processing unit 68 outputs a white line for an amount less than the set value of the sub-scanning output pixel number setting unit 63 when the one-page input end signal is input. When outputting the last image data of one page, a one-page output end signal is output to the image output device 7.
1 to terminate the series of outputs.

When the above processing is interrupted, the MPU
The stop may be set in the image processing start permission setting section 67 from 36, whereby the size margin control section 68 interrupts the processing, outputs a one-page output end signal, and ends the processing.

According to the configuration of the embodiment of the present invention described above, for example, when outputting postcard size image data to the central portion of A4 size recording paper, the size of one page is changed before the density conversion. By simply setting a control parameter from the MPU, a margin can be automatically added and image data can be output to the central portion of the recording paper. Therefore, the image data is expanded once, and white pixels are added to the top, bottom, left, and right sides. A bit map page memory is unnecessary, and high-speed image processing can be performed because the MPU does not intervene in line units.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the character addition processing section 23 in the image editing section 4, and FIG. 7 is a view for explaining the operation of the character addition processing. In FIG. 6, 8
2 is a character addition position setting unit, 83 is a character double size setting unit, 84 is a character addition control unit, 85 is a size margin processing unit, 86 is a sub-scanning output line number setting unit, 87 is a selector, and 88 is a line memory. The size margin processing unit 85 has been described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 6, a character addition position setting unit 82 is a means for setting a pixel position to which a character is added on a main scanning line, and sets a memory address of a line memory 88 in which one main scanning line is accumulated. Is done. The character double-width setting unit 83 is means for enlarging a character to be added to the image output data to a size of 1 ×, 2 ×, 4 × or the like. The character addition control unit 84 controls the MPU3
6, when the character addition position is set in the character addition position setting section 82, the input of the selector 87 is switched to the character side, the character addition address is output to the line memory 88, the character request is output to the MPU 36, and the character Control the addition of When adding characters continuously, the character addition position is set to M each time.
There is no need to set from the PU 36, and the address output to the line memory 88 is automatically updated for each character setting.

Next, the operation of the character addition processing section 23 will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG.

The MPU 36 sets the number of image output lines until the character addition line is accumulated in the line memory 88 in the size margin processing section 85, and then sets image processing permission. The size margin processing unit 85 outputs the image data to the image output device 71 via the line memory 88, and outputs an output end signal to the MPU 36 after the output of the set number of lines is completed. At this time, lines to which characters are added are stored in the line memory 88.

The MPU 36 is a character addition processing unit 23
The character addition position is set in the character addition position setting section 82 in the box. The character addition control unit 84 outputs a memory address corresponding to the character addition position to the line memory 88, and outputs a character request signal to the MPU 36. Thus, the MPU 36 sets the character in the character addition control unit 84. In this case, MP
The U36 can read the image data in the line memory 88, change the image data, and write the image data to the line memory 88 again. The character addition processing unit 84 performs double-width control and writes the character to the line memory. When characters are continuously set, the memory address output is automatically updated.

When the character addition processing on the line is completed as described above, the MPU 36 again instructs the size margin processing unit 85 to start image processing and the number of image output lines until the next character addition line comes on the line memory. Set permission and restart output to line memory.

With the above-described configuration and operation, the embodiment of the present invention only needs to have a line memory for one main scanning line when adding a character to image data, and can add an arbitrary character to an arbitrary position. Can be set.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the character addition processing section 23 in the image editing section 4, and FIG. 9 is a view for explaining an example of data set in the character addition position setting section. In FIG. 8, reference numeral 96 denotes a character memory. The illustrated example is a configuration example in which the addition of a character from the MPU is not required during the processing of one page, and is effective when, for example, adding a character while outputting to a laser printer.

In FIG. 8, a character addition position setting section 82 is a means for receiving and setting the pixel positions for all the characters to be added on one page of image output from the MPU 36. Information as shown in FIG. 9 is set. Character memory 9
Reference numeral 6 denotes a memory in which characters to be added to the image output are stored in advance, and each character is set by setting the main scanning character by the length of the sub-scanning character continuously on the character memory address shown in FIG. Is done. This setting is required before starting image editing for one page.
36 is set.

When the image data input from the size margin processing unit 85 reaches the character addition coordinates set in the character addition position setting unit 82, the character addition control unit 84 changes the input of the selector 97 to the character memory 96.
Side, and outputs the data in the character memory 96 to the image output device 71.

The character addition control unit 84 recognizes the main scanning pixel coordinates and the sub-scanning pixel coordinates of the image data output from the size margin processing unit 85, and sets these coordinates and the character addition position setting unit 82. Main scanning,
When the coordinates of the sub-scan match, the input of the selector 97 is automatically switched to the character memory 96 side, and when the output of the character for the main scanning character length is completed, the input of the selector 97 is automatically switched to the image data side, that is, Since the size is switched to the size margin processing unit 85, the image data to which the character is added can be output to the image output device 71 without interrupting the image output for one page.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image editing process is executed in the process of transferring image data from the reading binarization unit to the transmission unit or from the reception unit to the recording unit. It is possible to perform high-speed image editing without requiring an image memory. Also, since there is no need for the MPU to perform control during the image processing of one page, the MP
The processing load on U can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 illustrates an image processing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.
1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the entire image processing apparatus .

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating the contents of an image editing unit 4.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating input / output signals transferred between an image editing unit and various functional units.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a size density conversion processing unit and a margin addition processing unit.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart illustrating an operation of a margin addition processing unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a character addition processing unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an operation of a character addition process.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating another configuration example of the character addition processing unit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of data set in a character addition position setting unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 image processing device 2 reading binarizing unit 4 image editing unit 6 scanner 7 receiving unit 8 decoding unit 9 encoding unit 10 printer 11 transmitting unit 12 code memory 21 size and density conversion processing unit 22 margin addition processing unit 23 character addition Processing unit 36 MPU 62 Image input device 63 to 66, 72, 83, 84 Parameter setting unit 67 Image processing start permission setting unit 68 Size margin control unit 69 Size / density conversion unit 71 Image output device 82 Character addition position setting unit 83 Character Double-width setting unit 84 Character addition control unit 85 Size margin processing unit 86 Sub-scanning output line number setting unit 88 Line memory

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Yasuyuki Kojima 4026 Kuji-cho, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd.Hitachi Laboratory (72) Inventor Kazuhiko Takaoka 216 Totsuka-cho, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi, Ltd. (56) References JP-A-63-59063 (JP, A) JP-A-2-70575 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/38 -1/393 G06T 1/00

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] An image reading unit, an image printing unit,
Encoding unit for image data to be transmitted and image data to be received
An image processing apparatus provided with a decoding unit and an image editing unit.
In the image processing method, the image editing unit, when transmitting the image data, before encoding,
Edits are performed in synchronization with the image reading speed,
When receiving image data, after decoding, it matches the print speed of the image.
An image processing method characterized by performing an editing process in anticipation . 2. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the editing process is at least one of a size conversion process, a density conversion process, a margin addition process, and a character addition process. 3. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the editing process is controlled in units of pages of the image data by a set value and an end signal instructed by a microprocessor. 4. The size conversion process, the density conversion process, and the margin addition process include a main / sub-scan size conversion ratio, a main / sub-scan output pixel number, an upper margin pixel number, a left margin pixel number, and a main scan input pixel number. 4. The image processing method according to claim 2, wherein the setting is controlled by each of the set values and a one-page input end signal of the image data. 5. The character adding process adds a character previously stored in a memory to an arbitrary position in an image area on which a size conversion process, a margin adding process has been performed, or an image region on which these processes have not been performed. 3. The image processing method according to claim 2, wherein the processing is performed.