JP3279348B2 - Color image processing equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image processing apparatus in a color image forming apparatus such as a digital color copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a general digital color copying machine,
R (red), G (green), and B (blue) data of a document image are simultaneously input in parallel and converted into Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) data. The color image is formed by converting the data and processing each data in a frame-sequential manner. In this case, since each signal of YMCK is output in a plane sequence, four scans are performed at the time of image formation.

In such a color image processing apparatus of a digital color copying machine, for example, color shadowing processing and hollowing processing are performed by processing RGB data in parallel, and black and white shadowing processing and hollowing processing are performed. Conventionally, when performing this type of color image processing, a memory for storing at least three lines of RGB data for three lines is provided, and processing is performed using a storage area of this memory. I do.

[0004]

However, the above-described conventional color image processing apparatus requires a memory for storing three lines of RGB data, so that the memory capacity and hardware are increased. There is a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described conventional problems, and has as its object to provide a color image processing apparatus capable of performing a shadowing process and a blanking process with a memory capacity and hardware having a simple configuration.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a first means is to convert R, G, B color data into Y, M, C,
Color compensator that converts to black color data and outputs this data in order
Correcting means , binarizing means for binarizing each of R, G, and B data into one bit and converting the data into a total of three bits, and converting the data binarized by the binarizing means into a color code Conversion means, a line memory for storing the color code converted by the conversion means, and a contour extraction means for extracting contour data including a color component being output based on the color code stored in the line memory. A blank image data based on the contour data extracted by the contour extracting means.
And output means for combining the output data with the output data from the color correction means and outputting Y, M, C and black blank image data. It should be noted that in the embodiments described later,
Means that the color correction means is in the color correction section 203 and the binarization means is binary.
To the color code generation unit 501,
The ku extraction means is provided to the thinning processing units 520 to 522,
Corresponds to the hollow generation unit 530 and the synthesis unit 403, respectively.
I do.

The second means is a color correction means for converting the R, G, B color data into Y, M, C, black color data and outputting the data in order, and R, G, B color data. A binarizing means for binarizing the data into 1 bit and converting the data into a total of 3 bits; a converting means for converting the data binarized by the binarizing means into a color code; A line memory for storing a color code stored therein, first extracting means for extracting data including a color component being output from the color code stored in the line memory, and a color code other than white from the color code stored in the line memory. A second extraction unit for extracting data including the color component, and an output unit for combining when the first and second extraction units both extract the color component, and outputting the combined data as hollow image data. It is characterized by the following. In an embodiment described later, the color correction unit is a color correction unit.
203, the binarizing unit is the binarizing unit 213, and the converting unit is
In the color code generation unit 501, the first and second extraction means
Output means is narrowed to code decoding units 510 to 514
Each of the processing units 520 to 522 and the blanking generation unit 530
Corresponding.

The third means is characterized in that, in the first means, an extraction condition by the contour extracting means can be changed.

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

In the first means, each of the R, G, and B data is binarized into one bit and converted into a total of three bits by the above configuration, and this data is converted into a color code and stored in the line memory. Therefore, the capacity of the line memory can be reduced when the color image is subjected to the blanking process.

In the second means, each of R, G, and B data is binarized into one bit and converted into a total of three bits, and this data is converted into a color code and stored in a line memory. In addition, the capacity of the line memory can be reduced when the color image is subjected to the blanking processing.

In the third means, since the contour extraction condition by the contour extracting means can be changed, the color image can be hollowed out at an arbitrary size.

[0015]

[0016]

[0017]

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a color image processing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a color digital copying machine to which the color image processing apparatus of FIG. 1 is applied, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the image editing unit in FIG. 3, FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the processing / editing unit in FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the line memory of FIG. 1, FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the shadowing unit of FIG. 1, and FIG. 8 is a detailed configuration of the shadow processing unit "1" of FIG. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the shadow processing unit "2" in FIG. 7, and FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration of the thinning processing unit in FIG. Figure 5
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a blanking generation unit.
FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the synthesizing unit in FIG.
Is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the image processing in FIG. 1, FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline extraction pattern, FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a three-dimensional shadow, FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a plain shadow, and FIG. FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation of generating a shadow, FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a hollowing process in a white mode, and FIGS. 20 and 21 show a hollowing process in a color mode. FIG. 22 is an explanatory view showing a case where white mode hollowing processing and three-dimensional shadowing processing are performed. FIG. 23 is an explanatory view showing color mode hollow processing and flat shadowing processing. FIG. FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing the case where the in-mode blanking process and the shadow shading process are performed.
Is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between RGB data and colors, and FIG.
FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing expanded data of B data, FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing a conversion code of RGB data in the color code generation unit of the hollow portion shown in FIG. 5, and FIGS. 28 to 30 are diagrams of a shadowing unit shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a conversion code of RGB data in a color code generation unit.

In a color digital copying machine to which the present embodiment is applied, as shown in FIG.
0, is converted into R, G, B digital data. The R, G, B digital data is processed by an image processing unit 101 as shown in detail in FIG. Converted to each data. Then, in the image recording section 102, each signal of YMCK is scanned in a plane-sequential manner, and a color image is formed on transfer paper.

In FIG. 3, R, G, and B digital data read by the image reading unit 100 are first data.
The gray balance is adjusted by the γ correction unit 201, and the logarithmic data is converted into the density data.
Are output in parallel to the filter 202 and the smoothing filter 212. The first filter 202 performs MTF correction of the image reading unit 100 on this data, and the color correction unit 203 converts R, G, and B data into Y, M, C, and K data using a first-order masking equation. I do. Here, since the YMCK signals are scanned in the image recording unit 102 in a frame sequential manner, the color correction unit 203 sequentially outputs one of the Y, M, C, and K data. The multi-value magnification unit 204 changes the magnification in the main scanning direction at the time of magnification, and outputs the result to a processing / editing unit 205 as shown in detail in FIG. On the other hand, the smoothing filter 212 independently smoothes the RGB data from the first γ correction unit 201, and the binarization unit 213 performs a binarization process on the RGB data according to the visual sensitivity. , 7 colors in total (RGBYMC
K). In this case, the output is one bit for each of the RGB data, for a total of three bits. The binary scaling unit 214 independently scales the RGB binary data in the main scanning direction during scaling, and performs processing and editing. Output to the unit 205.

The processing / editing unit 205 performs image processing such as mirroring, shadowing, and hollowing using multi-value data of YMCK and binary data of RGB, and a second filter 206 smoothes the image processing data. And sharpening processing. Next, the second γ correction unit 207 performs correction in accordance with the γ characteristics of the image recording unit 102, and the gradation processing unit 208 performs halftone processing using a dither or density pattern method and outputs the result to the image recording unit 102.

Referring to FIG. 4, the processing / editing unit 205 includes a known mirror / italic unit 301 and a hollow / shadow unit 302 according to the present invention. The mirror / italic unit 301 has a memory capable of accumulating image data and binary data for one line or two lines. When the read start address of the memory is changed, shift processing and italic processing can be realized. When the address is read in reverse, a mirror image (mirror) process can be realized.

Referring to FIG. 1, the detailed configuration of the hollowing / shading unit 302 will be described. The hollowing / shading unit 302 is configured to perform hollowing / shading processing based on a combination of RGB binary data, and synthesize the result into multi-value data of YMCK. As shown in FIG. 25, the image data is white when both the RGB data are “H” and the density is the highest for both YMCK when the RGB data is “L”.

The hollowing section 401 and the shadowing section 402 respectively perform hollowing processing and shadowing processing using memories 404 and 405 of n (= 8) bits × 1 line as shown in detail in FIG. The data Nin and Kin of the combining unit 40
At 3, it is combined with the multi-value data Pin of YMCK. The configuration of the blanking unit 401 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. First, the color code generation unit 501 converts the color codes into color codes C0 and C1 corresponding to RGB binary data,
As data Mout0 and Mout1.

Here, the relationship between the input data Min0 to Min7 and the output data Mout0 to Mout7 for the line memory 404 is such that the output code C0 of the color code generator 501 corresponds to the output data Mout0, and the output code C1 is the output data Mout0.
out1 and the input data Min0 to Min5 correspond to the output data Mout2 to Mout7, respectively.
The line memory 404 stores output codes C0 and C1 for four lines. The output OUT1 of the hollow generation unit 530 indicates the hollow area, and the output OUT0 indicates the outline.

The color code decoders 510 to 514 develop the color codes C0 and C1 into data Y0 to Y2 (D0 to D4) as shown in FIG. 26 in the color mode, the white mode and the designated color mode. Decode). Then, as shown in detail in FIG. 10, the thinning processing units 520 to 522 provide the color code decoding units 510 to 51
4, an outline is extracted from the data D0 to D4 decoded, and the outline generation unit 530 generates an outline region in the outline as shown in FIG. 11 in detail, and outputs the region to the synthesis unit 403 shown in FIG. .

Referring to FIG. 10, thinning processing sections 520-5.
22 will be described in detail. Registers 1100-11
03 is used to delay pixels, and the 4-bit up counters 1104 and 1105 are, for example, LS163 manufactured by Texas Instruments. The counter 1104 is input from the register 1100 (/ LD)
(Hereinafter, "/" is used for the inverted signal.)
, The output RC becomes “H” when the input (/ LD) is “H” and three pixels continue for three pixels. The counter 1105 outputs R when the input (/ LD) is "L".
When C becomes "L" and the input (/ LD) is "H" and five pixels continue, the output RC becomes "H". The contour pattern in this case is data as shown in FIG.

Counters 1104 and 1105 shown in FIG.
Is the thinned data as shown in FIG. 13B, and the output MD of the register 1103 is
This is shift correction data obtained by shifting binary data as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 11, the hollowing-out generating section 530 is configured to realize various combinations by the selectors 1201 to 1203, and its output is data as shown in FIG. Here, the signal EN shown in FIG. 5 is a hollow-out permission signal, and when "H", the hollow-out processing is performed, and when "L", the hollow-out processing is prohibited. That is,
When “L”, the color code generation unit 501 and the blank generation unit 5
The outputs of all 30 are "0".

Next, the detailed configuration of the shadowing section 402 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, the color code generation unit 701 processes the RGB binary data in FIGS.
The codes S and M as shown in FIG. Selector 70
Reference numerals 4 and 705 select the codes S and M or the output Sout of the shadow processing unit 702 shown in detail in FIG. 9 based on a predetermined value, and output them to the shadow processing unit 703 shown in FIG.

In the shadow processing unit 703 shown in FIG. 8, the shadow width as shown in FIG. 15 is set in advance in the shadow width register 801 for solid shadow, and all 0 is fixed in advance in the all 0 register 802 for solid shadow. Is set by The decrement calculator 803 receives the input A (Min0 to Min) from the line memory 405.
Min3) is decremented by one, and "L" is output from the output terminal S when the input A is "0", and "H" is output when the input A is other than "0". The shadow selector for solid shadow 804 receives the input S
2 is “H”, the shadow width of the stereoscopic shadow width register 801 is selected, and when the input S2 is “L” and S1 is “L”, the data of the stereoscopic shadow 0 register 802 is selected. Is "L" and S1 is "H", the output S of the decrement calculator 803 is selected and output to the selector 820.

The selector 820 selects the output of the shadow width register for stereoscopic shadow 801 in the case of stereoscopic shadowing, and selects the input Min0 to Min3 in the case of stereoscopic shadowing, and outputs it to the register 822. The register 822 stores the input data for one pixel and outputs outputs Mout0 to Mout4.

Further, the shadow detector for solid shadow 805 receives the input A
When (Min0 to Min3) is "0", "L" is output,
"H" is output when the value is other than "0". Then, the selector 810 selects an arbitrary line of the input Min0 to Min3 to generate a shadow as shown in FIG. 16, and the selector 821 selects the shadow detector 805 for the stereoscopic shadow in the case of stereoscopic shadowing.
Is selected, and in the case of shading, the shading selector 81 is selected.
Select an output of 0. The input D0 is main data for shadowing, and the input D1 is auxiliary data for shadowing.

The configuration of the shadow processing section 702 will be described with reference to FIG. The difference from the shadow processing unit 703 is that the selector 9
23, and other detailed description is omitted. This selector 923 is controlled to select the output of the plan shadow selector 910 only when the hollow shadow is selected, and in other cases, it is controlled to select the output of the selector 921. The output signal Sout is applied to input terminals C and B of selectors 704 and 705 shown in FIG. When the signal EN shown in FIG. 7 is “H”, the shadowing process is permitted, and when the signal EN is “L”, the shadowing process is prohibited, and the outputs of the color code generation unit 701 and the shadow processing units 702 and 703 are all “ L ".

Next, the detailed configuration of the synthesizing unit 403 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. First, data such that the output becomes white is set in the erase data register 1300 in advance, and in the color data register 1301 in advance.
The color data of the area corresponding to the main binary data is set, and the color data of the area corresponding to the hollow data is set in the color data register 1302 in advance.
03 is set in advance with the color data of the area corresponding to the main shadow data, the color data register 1304 is set in advance with the color data of the area corresponding to the sub-binary data, and the color data register 1305 is set in advance. The color data of the area corresponding to the sub shadow data is set.

In each mode, the selector 132
0 is the image data Pin or erase data register 13
The selector 1321 selects the image data Pin or the data of the color data register 1301 and outputs it to the buffer 1311. The selector 1322 selects the input Nin1 or Kin0 and selects the data of the buffer 1311. The selector 1323 outputs the image data Pin or the color data register 13
04 is selected and output to the buffer 1314.

The color data registers 1303, 130
5 are output to buffers 1313 and 1315, respectively. The signal NAKA is “H” when performing the hollowing process.
And becomes "L" when not performed. Then, the buffers 1310 to 1315 output the signal "H" at the control terminal G.
In this case, the input A is output as the output Y, and when the input signal of the control terminal G is "L", nothing is output as the output Y.

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

[Centering Process] In the centering process, the centering unit 401 shown in FIGS. 1, 5, 10 and 11 operates, and the shadowing unit 402 does not operate. Therefore, the shadowing unit 40
2 (input Kin of the synthesizing unit 403) are all “L”.

1. White mode The processing in the white mode will be described with reference to FIG.
In this example, images are formed in the order of Y, M, C, and K. Note that the present invention is not limited to this order, and the same applies to other modes and other processing described below. In the white mode, the color code decoding unit 5 shown in FIG.
The data Y0 as shown in FIG.
Y2, the output C0 of the color code generation unit 501
Becomes the same as the data Y0, and the output C1 becomes the same as the data Y1. That is, the data C0 and Y0 become “H” when the current color component being formed is included, and the data C1 and Y1 become “H” when other than white.

The operation of the blanking generation unit 530 is shown in FIG.
The output OUT of the selector 1201 will be described.
At 0, the input D1 is selected and the output O of the selector 1203 is selected.
In the UT1, the input D1 is selected. The selector 12
Since the output Dout of 02 is output to the shadowing unit 402, the description is omitted.

In the synthesizing unit 403, as shown in FIG.
Select data of 0. Here, the selector 1321 determines whether the image data Pin or the register 132
One color data is selected. The case where the color data is selected will be described. Since this color data is white and the selector 1322 is a blanking process, the input Nin1 is selected.

1-1. At the time of Y image formation At the time of Y image formation, an area including the Y component and an area other than white are subjected to the centering processing. When a region other than white is subjected to the centering process on the input image as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 19C, when only the Y component region is synthesized, the state becomes as shown in FIG.
That is, the Y component of the other area is not imaged.

1-2. At the time of M image formation At the time of M image formation, a region including an M component and a region other than white are subjected to a centering process. When a region other than white is subjected to the centering process on the input image as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 19D, when only the area of the M component is synthesized, the state becomes as shown in FIG.
FIG. 19D shows the image formation result of Y and M two times in total.

1-3. At the time of C image formation At the time of C image formation, a region including the C component and a region other than white are subjected to the centering processing. When a region other than white is subjected to the centering process on the input image as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 19E, when only the C component region is combined, an image forming state of Y, M, and C is obtained.

1-4. At the time of K image formation At the time of K image formation, the region including the K component and the region other than white are subjected to the centering processing. When a region other than white is subjected to the centering process on the input image as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 19 (f), when only the K component region is synthesized, an image forming state of Y, M, C and K is obtained.

Therefore, the image recording unit 102
In FIG. 19, when the signals of Y, M, C, and K are scanned four times in a frame-sequential manner to form an image, the image forming state of the contours of Y, M, C, and K as shown in FIG. Become. Also, the synthesizing unit 40
In 3, when the selector 1320 selects the image data Pin, the image data Pin is fitted into the outline shown in FIG.

2. The color mode will be described with reference to FIGS. 20 and 21. In this color mode, the color code generation unit 501 shown in FIG.
The codes C0 and C1 as shown in FIG. 7 are generated, and the color code decoders 510 to 514 generate the data Y as shown in FIG.
Decode to 0 to Y2. In this case, the codes C0, C1
Are generated such that both become "L" or only one becomes "H", and the data Y0 to Y2 are determined by a combination in a case where the data includes a Y component.

As shown in FIG. 11, the selector 1201 selects the input D0 and outputs the output OUT0. The selector 1203 selects the input D0 and outputs the output OUT1. Is input D
Select 0 to output the output Dout. Note that the combining unit 40
3 operates in the same manner as in the white mode, and a description thereof will be omitted.

2-1. At the time of Y image formation As shown in FIGS. 20 (a) and 20 (b), R system including Y component, B system
The system and Y system colors are independently extracted, and the extracted data is independently subjected to the centering process, and the centered data is output to form an image as shown in FIG. No other components are imaged.

2-2. At the time of M image formation As shown in FIG.
The colors of the system are independently extracted, the extracted data are individually subjected to the centering process, and the centering data is output to form Y and M as shown in FIG. No other components are imaged.

2-3. At the time of C image formation As shown in FIG.
The colors of the system are independently extracted, the extracted data are individually subjected to the centering process, and the centering data is output to form Y, M, and C as shown in FIG. 21 (g). No other components are imaged.

2-4. At the time of K image formation As shown in FIG.
The extracted data is individually subjected to the blanking process, and the blanked data is output to form Y, M, C, and K as shown in FIG. 21 (i). No other components are imaged.

Therefore, by scanning Y, M, C, and K four times in total in this manner, it is possible to perform the blanking process in the color mode. In this case, by changing the data of the color code generation unit 501 and the color code decoding units 510 to 514, it is possible to perform the hollowing-out processing with a complementary color.

[Shading process] In this case, the hollow portion 40
1 does not operate, and the shadowing unit 402 shown in FIGS.
Works. That is, the output OUT of the hollow portion 401,
Dout becomes "L".

1. Plane shadow mode The color code generation unit 701 in the shadowing unit 402
8, the code M becomes “H” when the color component including the color component currently being imaged is output, and the code S does not include the color component currently being formed and is other than white. It becomes "H" in the case of data. Also, the selector 704 shown in FIG.
705 both select the input A, and the shadow processing unit 70 shown in FIG.
In 3, the selector 820 selects the input B, and the shadow selector for plan shadow 810 selects from the inputs D0 to D3 of the number of lines corresponding to the delay amount.

In the synthesizing unit 403, in FIG. 12, both the selectors 1320 and 1321 have the image data Pin (input A).
And the selector 1322 selects the shadowing processing signal Kin0
(Input B) is selected. Further, the hollow signal NAKA becomes “L”.

1-1. At the time of Y image formation Referring to FIG. 18, R system including Y component, G system
The colors of the system and the Y system are moved, and the colors of data (C system, M system, B system, and K system) that do not include the Y component and are not white are moved. That is, Y is set so that a shadow as shown in FIG. 18B is generated for data as shown in FIG.
A solid line and a broken line are formed in the image for the component, and a solid line is formed in the color data register 1 shown in FIG.
An image is formed with color data (high density data) 302, a dashed line is formed with color data for sub-shadow (low density data) of the color data register 1305, and other areas are formed as image data.

1-2. At the time of M image formation The R system, B system, and M system colors including the M component are moved with respect to the data as illustrated in FIG. , Y system, G system, and K system) to form an image of M by moving the colors, and synthesize Y and M as shown in FIG.

1-3. At the time of C image formation The colors of G system, B system, and C system including the C component are moved with respect to the data as shown in FIG. , Y system, R system, and K system) to form a C image by moving the colors, and synthesize Y, M, and C as shown in FIG.

1-4. At the time of K image formation, the color of the K system including the K component is moved with respect to the data as shown in FIG. 18A, and the data other than the white which does not include the K component (Y system, M system, C system) , B-system, G-system, and R-system), the image of K is formed by moving the colors, and Y, M, C, and K are combined as shown in FIG.

[0062] 2. The three-dimensional shadow mode is different from the plain shadow mode in that the shadow processing unit 70 shown in FIG.
Since these operations are steps 2 and 703, only this point will be described.
In the shadow processing unit 703, as shown in detail in FIG. 8, the movement amount is set in the shadow width register 801 for three-dimensional shadow, and the selector 820 selects the input A. The shadow processing unit 70
9, the selector 923 selects the input A, and the selectors 920 and 921 and the delay register 922 are connected to the selectors 820 and 8 shown in FIG.
21 and the same value as the delay register 822 are selected.

That is, the code M output from the color code generation unit 701 of the shadowing unit 402 shown in FIG. 7 becomes “H” when the color component currently being imaged is included, and the code S becomes the code S currently being imaged. It becomes “H” when the data does not include a color component and is other than white. Further, when data is moved, the codes M and S move only by a set width from the last data, but when the data is a moving pixel with respect to the code M, the code S is present. , Stop moving and do not move thereafter. Of course, when the code M becomes "H", the movement is restarted.

Similarly, in the case of a moving pixel for the code S, if the code M exists, the movement is interrupted, and thereafter, no movement is performed. When the code S becomes "H", the movement is restarted. Therefore, this operation can prevent color interference. FIG. 17 shows the state of Y image formation (b), M
FIG. 18 shows the respective combined image forming results at the time of image formation (c), at the time of C image formation (d), and at the time of K image formation (e), and the processing is the same as that at the time of plane shadow generation shown in FIG.

Here, when the selector 1310 shown in FIG. 12 selects the white data of the erase data register 1300, the white image data can be erased in FIGS. 17 (e) and 18 (e). FIG.
17 (e) and 18 (e) when the color data of the color data registers 1303 and 1305 are set to the same color.
In the area of Y ′, M ′, C ′ is formed in the same color,
Therefore, shadowing processing can be performed by designating a color.

Further, the selector 132 shown in FIG.
1, 1323 are color data registers 1301, 1
When the data 304 is selected, FIG.
In (e), the Y area is formed with a high density of Y, the M area is formed with a high density of M, and the C area is formed with a high density of C. Also, when the color data of the color data registers 1301 and 1304 is set to the same color, FIG.
In (e), the regions of Y ', M', and C 'are formed in the same color, and therefore, the color can be designated and the shadowing process can be performed. Further, color data registers 1302 and 1304
By setting the data value in reverse, a shadow of a complementary color can be generated.

[Punching / Shadow Processing] Next, the operation in the case where the hollowing processing and the shadowing processing are performed in combination with each other as described above will be described. First, in the case of the hollowing processing, the output Dout of the selector 1202 in the hollowing generation unit 530 shown in detail in FIG.

In the shadowing process, the selectors 704 and 705 both select the input B in the shadowing unit 402 in detail in FIG. 7, and the shadow processing unit 702 selects the selector 923 in the shadow processing unit 702 in FIG. Selects the input B, and the selector 910 selects the same line as the delay amount of the blanking processing. In the present embodiment, the selector 910 determines whether the input D
1 to not generate sub-shadow data.

Finally, in the synthesizing unit 403, the selector 1320 shown in FIG. 12 selects the white data of the register 1300, the selector 1321 selects the data of the register 1301, the selector 1322 selects the signal Nin1, and the selector 1323 Select the image data Pin. Note that different data according to a mode described later is set in the registers 1301 to 1304, and the register 1302 is not used in a mode described later.

1. Empty white mode + shadow mode Registers 1301 and 130 of the synthesis unit 403 shown in FIG.
4 is set with erase data, the register 1302 is set with the outline outline color data,
3 is set with shadow color data. Then, the selector 1202 shown in FIG. 11 selects the input D0. Here, unless otherwise described, it is the same as the above-described case of the hollow white mode or the shading.

First, at the time of Y image formation, the region including the Y component and the region other than white are subjected to the centering process, and only the region including the Y component is combined with the centered processing region other than the white. Then, the hollowing process is Y
By outputting the component parts, Y and Y 'images as shown in FIG. 22B are created from the image shown in FIG. Here, the data for the sub-shadow data is not output so that the image to be formed is shaded only by Y and Y '.

Next, when M is similarly imaged, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 22C, a combined image of Y and M is obtained. When C is similarly formed, as shown in FIG.
When K is formed in the same manner as in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, a composite image of Y, M, C, and K is obtained. When the selector 1202 shown in FIG. 11 selects the input D1, the designated color can be shaded and can be combined with a three-dimensional shadow.
As shown in (e), the designated color and the solid shadow can be combined.

2. Here, in the hollow designation color mode, the color codes Y0 to Y2 are as shown in FIG. That is, code C0 is Y2
And the code C1 is the same as Y1. Therefore, the codes C0 and Y2 are “H” when the color component currently being imaged is included, and the codes C1 and Y2 are “H” when the color component is not white. H ".

Further, in the blanking generation section 530 shown in FIG. 5, the selector 1201 shown in FIG. 11 selects the input D2, and the selector 1203 selects the input D0. At the time of shadowing, the selector 1202 selects the input D0. Also, the registers 1301 and 1304 of the synthesizing unit 403 shown in FIG.
, Erase data is set in the register 1302, color data of a hollow outline is set in the register 1302,
Is set with shadow color data. Unless otherwise described, the operation is the same as that at the time of the shading described above.

Therefore, if an image is formed in the order of Y, M, C, and K, an image can be formed in the designated hollow mode and the shadowing mode as shown in FIG.

3. Hollow color mode + shading mode The selector 1202 shown in FIG. 11 selects the input D1, erase data is set in the registers 1301 and 1304 shown in FIG. 12, and color data of the hollow outline is set in the register 1302. The register 1303 sets shadow color data. Unless otherwise described, the operation is the same as that at the time of the shading described above.

Therefore, if an image is formed in the order of Y, M, C, and K, an image can be formed in the hollow color mode + shadow mode as shown in FIG. When the shadow data is set to the designated color, the color code generator 701 shown in FIG. 7 outputs codes M and S as shown in FIG. 30, and the selectors 704 and 705 shown in FIG. This can be realized by performing

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the first embodiment, the hollowing-out process and the shadowing process are performed at the same time, but the memory amount can be reduced by configuring to be able to process only independently. That is, if the line from the output Dout of the hollow portion 401 to the input in to the shadow portion 402 is omitted in FIG. 1, the hollow portion 2601 and the shadow portion 2602 are completely connected in parallel as shown in FIG. Also, as shown in FIG. 32, the stage of the output Dout is omitted from the circuit shown in FIG. 11 in the hollowing generation unit 530a.

Then, as shown in FIG. 33, the shadow casting section 2602 and the selector 70 shown in FIG.
4 and 705 are omitted, and the combining unit 26 shown in FIG.
At 03, as shown in FIG.
5 and the buffer 1315 are omitted.

The operation of the second embodiment will be described.

[Punching Process] Although the description is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description is omitted, but the image can be formed in the punching designation mode.

[Shadow Processing] The hollow part 2601 does not operate, and only the shadow part 2602 operates. That is, the outputs of the hollow portion 2601 are all "L".

1. Shading mode The color code generation unit 1001 shown in FIG. 33 outputs codes M and S as shown in FIG. That is, the code M outputs “H” when the color component currently being formed is included, and the code S outputs “H” when the data does not include the color component currently being formed and is data other than white.

In the synthesizing unit 2603 shown in FIG. 34, the selector 1420 selects the data from the register 1400,
The selector 1421 selects the image data Pin, and the selector 1422 selects the signal Kin0. The shadow processing unit 1003 shown in FIG. 33 is the same as the shadow processing unit 703 shown in FIG. The hollow signal NAKA becomes “L”.

1-1. During Y image formation R, G, and Y colors including the Y component are moved. Therefore, the data shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 34B, a solid line and a broken line are formed in the image for Y, and a solid line is formed in the color data register 1402 shown in FIG. ), And the dashed line is formed as white.

1-2. At the time of M image formation M is formed by moving the colors of R system, G system and M system including the M component, and Y and M as shown in FIG. 18C are formed.

1-3. At the time of C image formation C is imaged by moving the colors of the G system, B system, and C system including the C component, and Y, M, and C as shown in FIG.

1-4. At the time of K image formation K is formed by moving the color of the K system including the K component, and Y, M, C, and K as shown in FIG. 18E are formed.

2. The stereoscopic shadow mode is different from the plain shadow mode in that the shadowing unit 260 shown in FIG.
Only the operation of the second shadow processing unit 1003, and the other operations are the same as the operations in the above-described stereoscopic shadow mode. That is, the code M outputs “H” when the currently formed color component is included, and the code S outputs “H” when the data does not include the currently formed color component and is data other than white. When data is moved, the code M moves only by the set width from the last data "H". However, in order to prevent color interference, if there is a code S during the movement of data, the movement is interrupted and the movement is not performed thereafter. Of course, when the code M becomes "H", the movement is restarted.

Here, when the selector 1420 shown in FIG. 34 selects the erase data, the selector 1420 shown in FIG.
In (e), the area where the white data occurs becomes whitish image data, which can be prevented by the processing of the binarization unit 213.

The color code generator 100 shown in FIG.
When 1 is configured to output codes M and C which are the reverse of the case of FIG. 30 as shown in FIG. 29, shadow portions Y ′, M ′ and C in FIGS. 17 (e) and 18 (e) are output. 'Becomes the same color, and designated shadowing is possible. Further, if the color code generation unit 1001 is configured to output codes M and C as shown in FIG. 28, it is possible to generate complementary color shadow data.

Next, a third embodiment will be described. Here, as examples of various functions of the color copying machine, by switching the coefficients of a primary masking equation for color correction,
A color conversion function that converts one color in the document to another color for copying, an undercolor function that adds a color to the background of the document and copies, and a color selection function that copies in full color or mono color can be given. .

However, when these processes are performed, the shadowing process and the blanking process according to the present invention are affected.
For the color conversion, the binarization unit 213 can perform the binarization process in consideration of the color conversion, thereby solving the problem. Further, in the case of simply performing color conversion from R to B, the code may be converted by the code generation unit in the shadowing process and the blanking process. However, in the case where white is subjected to color conversion of another color, it can be dealt with by the same processing as that of the under color processing described later, without conversion, that is, leaving white.

That is, for the undercolor processing, for example, the erase data of the register 1300 shown in FIG. 12 is set to the undercolor color, and in particular, the area which is converted to white by the hollow processing is converted to this color. I can deal with it. Finally, the color selection can be handled in the designated color mode in both the shadowing process and the blanking process.

That is, the RGB binary data is not subjected to color correction processing, but by setting conditions in accordance with the color correction result, shadowing processing and hollow processing can be performed in color.

[0096]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color correction means for converting R, G, and B color data into Y, M, C, and black color data and sequentially outputting the data. And
A binarizing unit that binarizes each of the R, G, and B data into 1 bit and converts the data into a total of 3 bits; and a converting unit that converts the data binarized by the binarizing unit into a color code. A line memory for storing a color code converted by the converting means, a contour extracting means for extracting contour data including a color component being output based on the color code stored in the line memory; Generating hollow image data based on the outline data extracted by the means ,
Combined with the output data from the color correction means , Y, M,
C, so and output means for outputting a draft image data in the black can Rukoto reduce the capacity of the line memory when the hollowed handle color images.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color correction means for converting R, G, and B color data into Y, M, C, and black color data and sequentially outputting the data, and R, G, and B color correction means. A binarizing means for binarizing each of the data into 1 bit and converting the data into a total of 3 bits; a converting means for converting the data binarized by the binarizing means into a color code; A line memory for storing the converted color code, first extraction means for extracting data including a color component being output from the color code stored in the line memory, and a color code stored in the line memory. The second extraction means for extracting data containing a color component other than white, and the first and second extraction means combine the color components when they are extracted, and
And output means for outputting as image data.
Color image can Rukoto reduce the capacity of the line memory when the hollowed handle.

[0098] According to a third aspect, since the extraction conditions of contour extraction means according to claim 1 Symbol placement can be changed, can be hollowed processing color image in an arbitrary size.

[0099]

[0100]

[0101]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a color image processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a color digital copying machine to which the color image processing apparatus of FIG. 1 is applied.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of an image processing unit in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a processing / editing unit in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a hollow portion in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of the line memory of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a shadowing unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a shadow processing unit “1” in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a shadow processing unit “2” in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a detailed configuration of a thinning processing unit in FIG. 5;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a hollowing-out generation unit in FIG. 5;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of a combining unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the image processing in FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a contour extraction pattern.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a three-dimensional shadow.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a shadow.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of generating a three-dimensional shadow.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an operation of generating a shadow.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a blanking process in a white mode.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a blanking process in a color mode.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a blanking process in a color mode.

FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a case where a hollowing process and a three-dimensional shadowing process are performed in a white mode.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing a case in which a blanking process and a shadow shading process are performed in the color mode.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing a case where a blanking process and a shadow shading process are performed in a color mode.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between RGB data and colors.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing expanded data of RGB data.

FIG. 27 is an explanatory diagram showing conversion codes of RGB data in the color code generation unit of the hollow part shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 28 is an explanatory diagram showing a conversion code of RGB data in a color code generation unit of the shadowing unit shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram showing a conversion code of RGB data in a color code generation unit of the shadowing unit shown in FIG. 7;

30 is an explanatory diagram showing a conversion code of RGB data in a color code generation unit of the shadowing unit shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 31 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a block diagram illustrating a hollow combining unit according to the second embodiment;

FIG. 33 is a block diagram illustrating a shadowing unit according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a block diagram illustrating a synthesis unit according to the second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 213 Binarization section 401 Hollow section 402 Shadow section 403 Synthesis section 404, 405 Line memory

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. Color correction for converting R, G, and B color data into Y, M, C, and black color data and sequentially outputting the data.
Means , binarizing means for binarizing each data of R, G, and B into 1 bit and converting the data into a total of 3 bits; and converting the data binarized by the binarizing means into a color code. A conversion unit, a line memory storing the color code converted by the conversion unit, and a contour extraction unit extracting contour data including a color component being output based on the color code stored in the line memory. Based on the contour data extracted by the contour extracting means
To generate the hollow image data and output from the color correction means.
Output means for outputting Y, M, C, and black hollow image data by combining the image data with force data . 2. Color correction for converting R, G, and B color data into Y, M, C, and black color data and sequentially outputting the data.
Means , binarizing means for binarizing each data of R, G, and B into 1 bit and converting the data into a total of 3 bits; and converting the data binarized by the binarizing means into a color code. A conversion unit; a line memory storing the color code converted by the conversion unit; a first extraction unit extracting data including a color component being output from the color code stored in the line memory; A second extraction unit for extracting data including a color component other than white from the color code stored in the memory, and a combined image when the first and second extraction units both extract the color component; A color image processing apparatus, comprising: output means for outputting data as data. 3. A color image processing apparatus according to claim 1 Symbol placement, wherein the extraction condition by the outline extraction unit can be changed.