JP3313734B2 - Image processing apparatus and image processing method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for converting color information of an image into a pattern.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A color pattern conversion process in a conventional image processing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9A shows a manuscript, and a pie chart is arranged at the top of the manuscript using black or a color other than black (for example, orange) as an outline and painting the inside into red, blue, yellow, and green. Below that, a table that describes the classification of each color and has a colored (for example, black or purple) outline is arranged. In FIG. 9A, 1, 2, 3, 4
Indicates red, blue, yellow, and green areas, and 5, 6, 7, and 8 indicate red,
The blue, yellow, and green columns are shown. When this manuscript is copied,
As shown in (b), the pie chart having colors other than red, blue, yellow, and green, and even the outline of the table are subjected to color pattern conversion processing to become the areas 10 and 20, which is not a sophisticated image output. I want to. In FIG. 9B, reference numerals 11, 12, 13, and 14 denote areas in which red, blue, yellow, and green colors are patterned;
16, 17, and 18 are columns in which red, blue, yellow, and green colors are patterned.

[0003]

As described above, in the conventional image forming apparatus, the process of converting color information on an image original into a pattern at random is performed, so that various lines such as a solid line and a dotted line are formed. When an image is output after performing the pattern conversion process, the image is output with a blurred outline, which may be difficult to see.

That is, in a conventional image forming apparatus, color information on an image document, in particular, a portion composed of various lines such as a table and an underline, is subjected to a color pattern conversion process, so that a portion such as a thin colored line is obtained. In this case, a function equivalent to that on the original image document (for example, a function as an underline) cannot be exerted, and an image document output with a blurred outline is provided so as to have a content corresponding to the content on the original image document. However, the effect of the color pattern conversion process of converting the pattern into a pattern cannot be exhibited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent a thin line portion having a predetermined color in an original image from being converted into a pattern image to make it difficult to see. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processing apparatus and an image processing method that can perform the processing.

[0006]

[MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEMS] To achieve the above object
The present invention has a predetermined color in the original imageprocessingPlace
RegularcolorConvert to pattern imageColor patternConversion means;
Reference line width setting means for setting a reference line width;
Of the line images having a line width smaller than the reference line width
Fine line detection means for detecting an image,In the original imageSaidBase
For a line image having a line width smaller than the quasi line width, the line drawing
Even if the image is the predetermined color,colorConvert to pattern image
Control not to beHave a line width wider than the reference line width.
For a line image, the line image is converted to the color pattern image.
Thin line processing means to control to convert toHaving
It is characterized by. Also has a predetermined color in the original imageprocessing
Predetermined areacolorConvert to pattern imageColor patternconversion
Steps andReference line width setting step to set reference line width
Among the line images in the original image,
Fine line detection step of detecting a line image having a wide line width,
In the original imageSaidLine drawing with a line width narrower than the reference line width
For an image, even if the line image is the predetermined color,
colorControl not to convert to pattern imageAnd the criteria
For a line image having a line width wider than the line width, the line image
Fine line processing for controlling to convert
Management stepsIt is characterized by having.

[0007]

When performing the color pattern conversion processing of the color information on the image, the outline of the color information part of the image is left as a solid line, and the pattern conversion processing is performed only inside the outline. In other words, for lines thinner than a certain line width, even if the color pattern conversion processing is performed, a large effect cannot be obtained, or the color output pattern conversion processing may impair the constituent image of the image output. The reference line width for determining whether or not to perform the color pattern conversion process is set, and the color pattern conversion process is not performed for various lines thinner than the reference line width.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a general image forming apparatus. In FIG. 2, when an image document is placed on a platen glass 101 and a copy start key is pressed, the optical scanner unit 102 scans the image document, and the scan information is optically transmitted to a lens 106 via reflection mirrors 103 to 105. And the light is split into three colors of light of blue, green and red by the phase grating 107 for spectroscopy, and is irradiated on the CCD line sensors of the respective colors of the three-line CCD sensor 108 for color. Image document information of each color of blue, green, and red is converted into an electric signal. The image document information converted into the electric signal is subjected to image data processing, and then is projected as laser light from a laser transmitter 109,
An image is formed on the photoconductor 113 via the polygon mirror 110 and the reflection mirrors 111 and 112. Photoconductor 1
The image formed on the transfer paper stacking portion 117, 11
After being transferred to the transfer paper sent from the transfer belt 8 and sent to the fixing device 115 by the conveyor belt 114 to be fixed, the paper discharge unit 1
It is discharged from 16.

In the above apparatus, a display 21 as shown in FIG. 3 is provided as means for setting a reference line width for determining whether or not to perform the color pattern conversion processing. The display 21 of FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4 (FIGS. 4B, 4C, and 4D).
FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of a portion B, a portion C, and a portion D in FIG. 4A). The message display 21 on the operation unit is one of the setting modes of the color pattern conversion process. As a setting method, an input method such as an input using the arrow keys on the display 21 or a direct input using the ten keys 22 on the operation unit is also provided. When the reference line width is set in such a manner and copying is performed, the line width on the image document is detected by the reading system of the image forming apparatus, that is, the light receiving unit on the CCD line sensor 108, and the line width is detected. It is output as a signal for the corresponding pixel. This output signal is supplied to a fine line detecting means (not shown).
By converting to the width length through and comparing with the set value,
Line width can be classified. According to the above configuration, the color pattern conversion processing is improved as shown in the output example of FIG. FIG. 5A shows the original image original, which is the same as FIG. 9A, but FIG. 5B shows the image original after the color pattern conversion processing, and the outline blur as shown in FIG. Is not seen. FIG. 6 shows a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 30 denotes an image reading device for detecting various lines, which corresponds to reference numerals 101 to 108 in FIG. Reference numeral 40 denotes a line width setting device for setting a reference line width, and corresponds to the message display 21 of the operation unit in FIG. Reference numeral 50 denotes a storage device, and reference numeral 60 denotes a fine line processing unit, which are arranged near the laser transmitter 109. Fine line processing unit 60
Has a CPU 61 and an image processing device 62. An output device 70 corresponds to reference numerals 114 to 116 in FIG. The fine line processing unit 60 determines whether or not the width of the line detected by the image reading device is smaller than the reference line width.

Next, the operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIG. When the color pattern processing key 23 is turned on after the power switch of the apparatus is turned on (step S1), a display for color pattern conversion processing as shown in FIG. 3 is made. Next, a processing area is specified by a setting device such as a digitizer (step S2), and if it is necessary to set a reference line width, a set value is input by the line width setting device 40 (step S3).
S4), the set values are stored (step S5), and then copying is started (step S6). If there is no need to set the reference line width, copying is started immediately (step S6). Next, the image original on the original platen glass 101 (FIG. 2) is read by the image reading device 30 (step S7), and the fine line detecting means (CPU 61) of the fine line processing unit 60 is used.
Then, the width of the line of the read document is detected (step S8), and it is determined whether or not to correct the color information of the read document based on the width (step S9). If the line width of the read original is smaller than the reference line width, the color information of the line is recognized and the correction is performed (step S1).
0, S11), if it is larger than the reference line width, only the color information of the line is recognized (step S12). That is,
If the line width is larger than the reference line width, the color information of the image is directly subjected to color pattern conversion processing and output as an image original (steps S13 and S14). Instead, the information is treated as, for example, monochrome information, and the monochrome information is subjected to a color pattern conversion process and output. Therefore, the line is output in the same shape as the line (for example, a thin red line as a black thin line). Thus, regardless of the chromatic or achromatic color, the boundary line, underline, and the like are not subjected to pattern conversion in the case of a thin line having a width smaller than the reference line width. It is possible to prevent the area from being unclear as to whether it is a line or not, and to prevent the outline from being blurred.

In the first embodiment described above, the reference line width is set on the message display 21. However, the editor 24 shown in FIG. 7 is used, and the point pen 25 on the image original set on the editor is used. The first embodiment is to specify a point and an area, read a line with an image reading device indicated by 101 to 108 in FIG. 2, and set a line width for performing color pattern conversion processing based on the read line width. The same effect as the example can be provided. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 26 denotes a mode setting surface.

Further, as shown in FIG. 8, a bar code reading device 28 for reading a bar code (a bar code of a different pattern for each line width) 27 for setting a color pattern conversion process is provided, so that the first setting can be performed. The same effect as that of the embodiment can be obtained. According to the present invention, an interface unit for inputting a color image signal and outputting the color image signal to a printer may have the above function. It is also possible to pattern a solid black pattern.

[0015]

As described above, according to the present invention, a processing area having a predetermined color in an original image is converted into a predetermined color pattern image, and a line having a line width smaller than the reference line width in the original image is converted. For the image, control is performed so that the line image is not converted to a color pattern image even if the line image has a predetermined color, and is wider than the reference line width.
For line images with large line widths, the line image is
By controlling so as to convert the down image, because when the width of the line is smaller fine line reference line width can be used as it shapes the constituent images of the image output in the case of performing the color pattern conversion process Prevents loss, does not impair images such as table frames, borders, and underlines in documents, and prevents thin lines with a predetermined color in the original image from being converted into pattern images and becoming difficult to see it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram illustrating a general image forming apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a message display of an operation unit.

FIG. 4A is a panel diagram showing an operation unit.

FIG. 4B is a partially enlarged view of an operation unit.

FIG. 4C is a partially enlarged view of the operation unit.

FIG. 4D is a partially enlarged view of the operation unit.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing result in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the apparatus in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an editor.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a barcode and a barcode reader.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing a processing result in a conventional image forming apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 30 image reading device 40 line width setting device 50 storage device 60 fine line processing unit 61 CPU 62 image processing device 70 output device

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A color pattern conversion unit for converting a processing area having a predetermined color in an original image into a predetermined color pattern image, a reference line width setting unit for setting a reference line width, and a line in the original image. Lines smaller than the reference line width in the image
A thin line detection means for detecting a line image having a width, with respect to a line image having a narrow line width than the reference line width in the original image, even該線image said predetermined color the
Was controlled so as not to be converted to a color pattern image, the reference
For a line image having a line width wider than the line width, the line image
Fine line processing for controlling to convert
The image processing apparatus characterized by having a physical means. 2. A color pattern conversion step of converting a processing area having a predetermined color in an original image into a predetermined color pattern image, a reference line width setting step of setting a reference line width, and a line in the original image. Lines smaller than the reference line width in the image
A thin line detection step of detecting a line image having a width, with respect to a line image having a narrow line width than the reference line width in the original image, even該線image said predetermined color the
Was controlled so as not to be converted to a color pattern image, the reference
For a line image having a line width wider than the line width, the line image
Fine line processing for controlling to convert
An image processing method characterized by having a physical step.