JP3354629B2 - Image processing device - 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 used for a printer, a digital copier, and the like, and more particularly, to an arbitrary image processing (area processing) in a designated area of input target image data. ) And outputs to the outside.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image processing apparatus such as a digital copying machine,
In normal copying, image processing is performed uniformly on the entire scanned document. For example, in image processing on a document with a mixture of patterns, characters, and photographs, and image processing for obtaining special effects, it is necessary to specify the scanned document. Image processing different from the other areas is performed on the area. In such a case, the closed area (area) to be processed is specified in the image processing apparatus, the image processing content (area data) is specified, and the image of the specified content is compared with the image in the closed area. Processing (area processing) is performed.

As such an image processing apparatus, for example,
There is an "image processing apparatus" disclosed in JP-A-59-45765. In this apparatus, switching information corresponding to ON / OFF of processing is stored in a bit map memory in advance, and during image processing, data in the bit map memory is sequentially read out according to a raster scanning signal to perform processing. It is configured to be used for on / off control.

However, since the data stored in the bitmap memory is directly linked to the on / off control of the image processing, the bitmap memory is increased in the depth direction as the type of image processing to be controlled increases. And there is a disadvantage that a large capacity memory is required. Therefore, there is an inconvenience that switching control of a plurality of types of image processing cannot be performed substantially.

To solve this problem, a bit map memory for storing the contents of the area processing for the target image data as area data having a predetermined length in the main scanning direction is provided. Has proposed an image processing apparatus that performs an area process according to the type of the area data on a portion sandwiched between the same type of area data. According to this device, switching control of a plurality of types of area processing can be performed for a rectangular or non-rectangular area without particularly requiring a large-capacity memory.

[0006]

However, according to the above-mentioned prior art, since the area data has a predetermined length in the main scanning direction, the intersections and vertices of the areas and the proximity of the areas are not considered. When writing area data to the bitmap memory, the area data to be newly written overlaps with the existing area data already written on the bitmap, and the area data to be newly written overwrites the existing area data. There was a problem that it disappeared. In other words, there is a problem that the area processing of the content specified by the existing area data may not be performed.

Also, in order to execute area processing in the order of appearing area data in the main scanning direction of one line on the bit map memory, when a plurality of areas are specified by a plurality of area data, the area processing is performed. When there is an overlapping area in a plurality of areas, there is a problem that an output subjected to a desired area processing may not always be obtained.

Further, according to the above-mentioned conventional technique, although a plurality of types of area processing can be performed on a designated area, the area is designated as a rectangular or non-rectangular area. Area processing cannot be selectively performed only within an arbitrary closed loop of
There was a problem that the usability was poor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and it is a first object of the present invention to be able to surely execute designated area processing even at intersections and vertices of areas and near areas between areas.

Further, the present invention has been made in view of the above, and in a case where a plurality of areas are designated, a second designated area is given priority to obtain a processed image output. Aim.

Further, the present invention has been made in view of the above, and by acquiring contour line information from image data read in advance before area processing, an arbitrary area can be defined within the contour (closed loop). A third object is to enable processing.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a bit for storing the contents of area processing for target image data as area data having a predetermined length in the main scanning direction. An image processing apparatus having a map memory and performing an area process according to the type of the area data on a portion sandwiched between the same type of area data in one line. Determining means for determining whether or not the area data to be written in the area data overlaps with the existing area data already written on the bit map; and when the determining means determines that the area data overlaps with the existing area data, A writing position correcting means for correcting the position of newly written area data in the main scanning direction based on the position of There is provided a management device.

In addition to the above-described structure, when a plurality of areas are designated by a plurality of area data, if there is an overlapping area in the designated plurality of areas,
An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus provided with area data selecting means for selecting area data having the highest priority as area processing for an overlapped area based on priorities set in advance for each area data.

A bit map memory for storing the contents of the area processing for the target image data as area data having a predetermined length in the main scanning direction;
In an image processing apparatus for performing an area process according to the type of area data on a portion sandwiched between the same type of area data in a line, binarized data of a target image is fetched into the bitmap memory, and Contour extracting means for performing contour tracing processing on the binarized data and extracting contour information; contour storing means for storing contour information extracted by the contour extracting means; After the extraction of the outline information by the extraction means, the bitmap memory is cleared and area data writing means for writing area data to the bitmap memory based on the outline information stored in the outline storage means. And an image processing apparatus having the same.

In addition to the above-described configuration, the image processing apparatus further includes image thickening processing means for performing thickening processing on the binarized data, and the binarized data of the target image to be taken into the bitmap memory is processed after the thickening processing. It is assumed to be image data.

When extracting the contour information from the binarized data in the bitmap memory, the contour extracting means determines the position of the contour from the position where the contour is broken. An image existing in the bitmap memory in a predetermined direction and a predetermined range is detected, and the contour tracing process is continued from the detected position.

When extracting the contour information from the binary data in the bitmap memory, the contour extracting means detects the contour length of the contour and compares it with a predetermined threshold value. If the contour length is smaller than the threshold value, the detected contour information is discarded, another contour is newly detected, and the contour information is extracted.

When extracting the contour information from the binary data in the bitmap memory, the contour extracting means determines whether the contour being tracked is an inner contour or an outer contour. If the detected contour is an outer contour, the detected contour information is discarded, another contour is newly detected, and the contour information is extracted.

Further, the area data writing means corrects the writing position so as to be on the contour line when writing the area data to the bit map memory.

[0020]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when writing area data to a bitmap memory, it is determined whether or not area data to be newly written overlaps existing area data already written on a bitmap. And if it overlaps with the existing area data, the position of the newly written area data is corrected in the main scanning direction based on the position of the existing area data, so that the existing area data is not lost. , And surely store it in the bitmap memory.

Further, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention (claim 2)
When multiple areas are specified by multiple area data, if there are overlapping areas in the specified areas, the area for the overlapping area is determined based on the priority set in advance for each area data. A desired area process is realized by selecting the area data having the highest priority as the process.

Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention (claim 3)
Captures the binarized data of the target image into a bitmap memory, performs contour tracing processing on the binarized data on the bitmap memory, extracts contour line information, and stores it in a predetermined memory. Thereafter, the bitmap memory is cleared, and area data is written into the bitmap memory based on the stored contour information, thereby acquiring the inside of the contour information (within a closed loop) as an area.

Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention (claim 4)
Obtains correct outline information by subjecting the binarized data of the target image to be taken into the bitmap memory to a fattening process.

Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention (claim 5)
When extracting contour information from the binary data in the bitmap memory, if the contour is interrupted in the middle,
An image existing in the bitmap memory in a predetermined direction and a predetermined range is detected from the position where the outline is interrupted, and the outline tracking processing is continued from the detected position to correctly obtain outline information.

Further, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention (claim 6)
Is used to detect the contour length of the contour when extracting the contour information from the binarized data in the bitmap memory, compare the contour length with a predetermined threshold value, and determine if the contour length is smaller than the threshold value. Is to discriminate the isolated points in the binarized data and obtain correct contour information by discarding the detected contour information, extracting another contour line and extracting the contour information. I do.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention (claim 7)
Detects edge information from the binary data in the bitmap memory, detects whether the tracked edge is an inner edge or an outer edge. The desired closed loop (contour information) is correctly obtained by discarding the detected contour information, detecting another contour and extracting the contour information.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention (claim 8)
When writing the area data to the bitmap memory, the area is properly learned even near the contour by correcting the writing position to be on the contour.

[0028]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital copying machine to which the image processing apparatus of the present embodiment is applied. The digital copying machine includes an image reading unit 101 that reads a document and outputs raster scan type image data, and includes area processing. An image processing unit 102 as an image processing apparatus of the present embodiment for performing various image processing;
It comprises an image recording unit 103 for outputting image data after image processing to recording paper, a digitizer 104 for inputting coordinates for area designation in area processing, and a system control unit 105 for controlling the above-mentioned units.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the image processing unit 102.
A filter processing unit 201 for performing a spatial filter process on the image data input from the image reading unit 101; and processing of the image data input from the filter processing unit 201 in the order of shadowing, hollowing (outline extraction), and negative / positive inversion. A processing unit 202 that performs processing; a halftone processing unit 203 that performs processing on image data input from the processing unit 202 in the order of density adjustment, dithering, and erasing; 400/1 which inputs the digitized data (image data) and converts it into binary data of 100 dpi
A bit map memory 205 for storing the contents of area processing for image data as area data having a predetermined length (4 bits in this embodiment) in the main scanning direction; Memory 205
Processing control unit 2 for controlling writing of area data to the area and controlling area processing based on the area data
06, and also a RAM 207 as contour storage means for storing contour information extracted by contour tracking processing in a closed loop mode described later.

FIG. 3 shows the data structure of area data used for area processing. In the present embodiment, the area data is composed of 4 bits, the first one bit is "1" to indicate the start of the area data, and the last three bits can specify eight types of area numbers. This area number indicates an area designation order.

Accordingly, the coordinates of the first bit of the area data are made to coincide with the coordinates of the bit for starting the area processing in the bitmap memory 205, and the area data is written using 4 bits including the first bit. Also,
Since the area data has a length of 4 bits, if the first bit of the existing area data exists within a range of 3 bits before and after the write position (coordinate) of the first bit, the write position of the area data is Will overlap.

FIG. 4 shows a method of designating an area (area) to be subjected to area processing. As shown in the figure, designation is made in four modes of a rectangular mode, a right polygon mode, a polygon mode, and a closed loop mode. Is possible. In the rectangular mode, as shown in FIG. 11A, the order of specifying two points (,) is arbitrary, and a rectangle on the diagonal line of the two specified points is input as an area. In the right-angled polygon mode, as shown in FIG. 4B, the position of the starting point () and the specified rotation direction are arbitrary, and each point is a right-angled vertex in the specified order (-). Is input as an area. In the polygon mode, the position of the starting point () and the specified rotation direction are arbitrary, and a polygon connecting each point with a straight line in the specified order (~) as shown in FIG. Is entered. Here, the input of each point is performed via the digitizer 104. Note that the points (1) to (4) are called area designation points.

In the closed loop mode, as shown in FIG. 3D, after a point (x in the figure) in the closed loop on the document is designated via the digitizer 104, the document image is binary-coded by pre-scanning. A closed loop is recognized by inputting the data as coded data and further extracting a contour line, and the inside of the closed loop is input as an area.

In the above configuration, (1) rectangular mode, rectangular polygon mode, polygon mode area input (2) area data output (3) closed loop mode area input (3-1) start point detection processing ( 3-2) Contour tracking processing (3-3) Isolated point / inner closed loop detection processing The operation will be described in detail in the following order.

(1) Area Input in Rectangular Mode, Right-Angle Polygon Mode, and Polygon Mode FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of area input in the rectangular mode, right-angle polygon mode, and polygon mode. First, after specifying an area process via an operation unit (not shown), the coordinates of an area designated point are input by using a digitizer 104 as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (c). Then, an area to be processed is designated (S501).

The area processing control unit 206 calculates the coordinates of the contour of the area to be subjected to the area processing based on the coordinates of the area designated point (S502), and based on the obtained coordinates and the area designation order, the bit map. An area data writing process for writing area data to the memory 205 is executed (S503). It is assumed that the bitmap memory 205 has been cleared (all bits are set to “0”) before starting the area designation.

FIG. 6 shows a detailed flow of the area data writing process in step S503. Area processing control unit 2
06, when area data is written to the bitmap memory 205, first, is there any existing area data (area data already written) in the bitmap memory 205 at the write position of the target area data to be written? It is determined whether or not it is (S601). Specifically, since the area data has a length of 4 bits,
A search is performed to determine whether or not the first bit of the existing area data exists within a range of three bits before and after the writing position of the first bit of the area data of interest. Is determined, that is, existing area data exists.

If it is determined in step S601 that there is existing area data, the writing position of the area data of interest is set within the range of ± 4 dots in the main scanning direction based on the coordinates of the first bit of the existing area data. The writing position is moved to correct the writing position (S602). Here, the correction of the writing position of the attention area data is performed if the attention area data is written with the coordinates as it is, the existing area data is overwritten and the existing area data is erased, or the area data is erased. This is because the contents of the data may be changed. When moving in the main scanning direction within the range of ± 4 dots, the area data is
This is because it is composed of dots. In this embodiment, the writing position of the area of interest data is corrected. However, it goes without saying that either the writing position of the area of interest data or the writing position of the existing area data may be corrected.

On the other hand, when it is determined in step S601 that there is no existing area data, and in step S602
After correcting the write position of the area of interest data, the area of interest data is written to the bitmap memory 205 (S603). Thereafter, steps S601 to S603 are repeated until the writing of all the area data is completed, and the process ends (S604). The area processing control unit 206
Assigns an area number in accordance with the area designation order and writes the area data, and stores the contents of the area processing as a table in the internal memory in correspondence with the area number.

(2) Output of Area Data Next, the output processing of area data by the area processing control unit 206 will be described. The area processing control unit 206
The area data written in the bitmap memory 205 is read out one line at a time (sub-scanning direction), and the area data is detected by searching one dot at a time in the main scanning direction.
According to the area number in the area data, the content of the area processing is specified by referring to the table created at the time of writing the area data.
2. Control the halftone processing unit 203 to execute image processing according to the content of the area processing.

FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of the area data output processing. First, it is determined whether or not there is area data in which the area (area) overlaps in the line of interest (one line) (S701), and the area overlaps. If there is area data, each area data (area number) is compared, and area data having a higher priority is selected for overlapping parts (S702), and the process proceeds to step S703. Here, the area data having the larger area number is the area specified later, and in this embodiment, the priority of the area data having the larger area number is assumed on the assumption that the area specified later is processed preferentially. Shall be high.

On the other hand, if there is no overlapping area data, area processing for one line is executed in step S703 based on the area data.

Thereafter, steps S701 to S7 are repeated until all the lines in the bitmap memory 205 are completed.
03 is repeated, and the process ends (S704).

(3) Area Input in Closed Loop Mode Next, the area input in the closed loop mode which is a main part of the present invention will be described. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the area input processing in the closed loop mode. For the area input of the closed loop mode, a closed loop mode is designated using an operation unit (not shown), and one point (designated point) in a closed loop on the document is designated.
Is specified via the digitizer 104, and is executed by the area processing control unit 206.

First, the original image is scanned by prescanning.
The data is input as valued data (S801). Next, the start point (coordinates) of the contour for detecting a closed loop is determined by the start point detection processing (S802), and the contour is extracted by the contour tracking processing (S803). ), In the isolated point / inner closed loop detection processing, after confirming that the contour is not an isolated point (character or the like) or an inner closed loop existing in the target closed loop (S804), the area of the closed loop is determined, and the area data is determined. In the writing process, the area data is written to the bitmap memory 205 based on the coordinates of the closed loop (S
805).

In the input of the binary data in step S801, the original is pre-scanned, read as a binary image (resolution 400 dpi) by the original reading unit 101, and read.
Through the / 100 conversion unit 204, OR processing of 4 × 4 pixels is performed to convert the data into binary data of 100 dpi, and stored in the bitmap memory 205. As a result, the binarized data is thickened as a result.
Even if a line break occurs in the read binary image, a certain line break width (line break width of a maximum of 3 pixels, about 0.178)
(Equivalent to 5 mm) is automatically corrected.

(3-1) Start Point Detection Processing Next, the start point detection processing of step S802 in FIG. 8 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, based on the coordinates of the designated point designated via the digitizer 104, binarized data of the coordinate position of the designated point is input from the bitmap memory 205 (S901), and it is determined whether or not the pixel of the designated point is black. (S902).

If the pixel at the designated point is black, an error code is output to the system control unit 105 as an error (S903), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if the pixel at the designated point is not black, that is, if it is a white pixel, the pixel at the designated point is set as the target pixel (S904), and it is determined whether the pixel to the left of the target pixel is black. (S905). Here, if the pixel on the left of the target pixel is black, the pixel on the left is set as the start point, the coordinates are stacked (S906), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if the pixel on the left of the target pixel is white,
Until a black pixel is detected, the pixels on the left are sequentially examined. If no black pixel is detected up to the address corresponding to the left end of the A3 size memory (S907), an error code is output to the system control unit 105 as an error (S908). ), End the process.

By the above processing, for example, FIG.
The portion indicated by reference numeral 1001 of the original image in FIG.
As shown in (b), when the data is fetched as binary data on the bitmap memory 205 and a position indicated by X is designated as a designated point in a closed loop, the pixel on the left of the designated point is sequentially examined. , The pixel at the end of the closed loop, which is a black pixel, is obtained as the starting point.

(3-2) Contour Tracking Process Next, the contour tracking process (step S803 in FIG. 8) will be described in detail with reference to FIG. First, the start point is set to the target pixel (S1101), and it is determined whether the pixel on the left of the target pixel is white or black (S110).
2).

If the pixel is a white pixel in step S1102, the first black pixel of eight adjacent pixels is detected counterclockwise starting from the pixel on the left of the target pixel as a starting point (S110).
3). If the pixel is a black pixel in step S1102, a black pixel before the first white pixel of the eight neighboring pixels is detected clockwise starting from the pixel on the left of the target pixel as a starting point (S111).
0).

Step S1103 or step S1
At 104, if the detection of a black pixel is not successful, that is, if all eight neighboring pixels are all white pixels, or if all eight black pixels are black pixels (S1105), an error is sent to the system control unit 105 as an error. Output the code (S
1106), the process ends. However, in this case, it is assumed that a pixel once detected as a black pixel (the previous target pixel or the previous previous target pixel) is not detected again as a black pixel.

If the detection of the black pixel is successful (S1105), a chain code is obtained from the relative position between the detected black pixel and the pixel of interest, and the coordinate value of the black pixel and the chain code are used as outline information. It is stacked on the RAM 207 (S1107), and a predetermined counter is counted up to count the total number of pixels since the start of the contour tracking process (S1108). Next, the detected pixel is set as a new target pixel (S1109), and the steps from step S1102 are repeated until the new target pixel matches the start point. When the new target pixel matches the start point, the process ends. (S1110).

In the above-described contour tracing process, for example, as shown in FIG. 12A, when a designated point is designated in a region inside a closed loop and a start point is obtained from the designated point, an arrow , The closed-loop contour is tracked as indicated by the traveling direction, and the closed loop is acquired as the contour.

However, FIG. 12B or FIG.
As shown in (c), if there is a character or an inner closed loop (closed loop inner closed loop) between the closed loop originally desired to be detected and the designated point, the character or the black pixel of the inner closed loop is detected in the start point detection processing. In order to detect the start point, the contour tracing process may sometimes trace the contour of a character or an inner closed loop. Therefore, an isolated point / inner closed loop detection process is executed after the contour tracking process to determine whether a character and an inner closed loop are detected.

(3-3) Isolated Point / Inner Closed Loop Detection Processing Next, the isolated point / inner closed loop detection processing (step S804 in FIG. 8) will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
First, a chain code of a pixel having the same Y coordinate as the start point is detected (S1301), and it is determined whether or not the chain code is downward (S1302). Here, when the chain code is in the downward direction, the lower right, lower left,
Indicates that a black pixel has been detected in any of the following directions.
In other words, an error code is output to the system control unit 105 as an error to indicate that the designated point exists outside the detected closed loop (S1303), and the process ends.

On the other hand, if the chain code is not downward, the pixel count value (the total number of pixels since the start of the contour tracking process: the number of contour pixels) is compared with a predetermined threshold value (S1304). If the pixel count value is equal to or less than the threshold value, it is regarded as an isolated point and an error
05 is output (S1305), and the process ends.

If no error is detected in the isolated point / inner closed loop detection processing, the area processing controller 206 determines that the closed loop has been correctly detected, and clears the bit map memory 205 first, and then the RAM 207. The area data is corrected based on the outline information stacked in the area data so that the area data is on the outline, that is, the first bit of the area data is overlapped with the position of the black pixel on the outline. Write to the map memory 205. Note that the area data writing process at this time is basically the same as the flowchart of FIG. 6, and a description thereof will be omitted.

In the above-described embodiment, when an error is detected in the contour tracking processing and the isolated point / inner closed loop detection processing, an error code is output to the system control unit 105 and the processing is terminated. The control unit 206 may correct the position of the pixel of interest for which contour tracing is performed according to the content of the error, and execute the contour tracing process again.

In the contour tracing process according to the above-described embodiment, if the detection of the black pixel is not successful in steps S1105 and S1106, the process is terminated as an error. Since the outline of the data may be cut off in the middle, for example, as shown in FIG. 14, a bit map in a predetermined direction and a predetermined range is determined from a position where a black pixel is not successfully detected (the target pixel at that time). By detecting pixels existing in the memory 205 and continuing the contour tracing process from the position of the black pixel when a black pixel is detected, the contour tracing process is performed when the contour is cut within a predetermined range. Without stopping the operation, a closed loop can be detected. In FIG. 14, the direction in which a pixel is detected is set to the forward direction including the left and right of the past traveling direction of the target pixel, and pixels up to three pixels away from the target pixel are detected.

In the contour tracing process, when extracting the contour line information from the binarized data on the bitmap memory 205, the presence or absence of an image around the target pixel and the white / black of the binary data around the target pixel are determined. In addition, write / prohibit information of area data is generated according to the contour directions before and after the pixel of interest, and the prohibition / permission information is stored in RAM along with the contour information.
207, and in the area data writing process,
When writing the area data to the bitmap memory, the writing position of the area data may be corrected based on the prohibition / permission information.

[0065]

As described above, the image processing apparatus of the present invention has a bit map memory for storing the contents of area processing on target image data as area data having a predetermined length in the main scanning direction. An image processing apparatus for performing an area process according to the type of area data on a portion sandwiched between the same type of area data in one line, wherein an area to be newly written when the area data is written to a bit map memory is provided. Determining means for determining whether or not the data overlaps with the existing area data already written on the bitmap; and when the determining means determines that the data overlaps with the existing area data, the position of the existing area data is determined. Writing position correction means for correcting the position of newly written area data in the main scanning direction based on the Intersections and vertices, and also in the proximity of each other area, it is possible to reliably perform the specified area process.

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, when a plurality of areas are designated by a plurality of area data, if there is an overlapping area in the designated plurality of areas, the area is set in advance for each area data. An area data selecting means for selecting the area data having the highest priority as the area processing for the overlapping area based on the priority is provided, so that when a plurality of areas are specified, the area specified later is given priority. A processed image output can be reliably obtained.

Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention is provided with a bit map memory for storing the contents of the area processing for the target image data as area data having a predetermined length in the main scanning direction. In an image processing apparatus that performs an area process according to the type of the area data on a portion sandwiched between the same type of area data, the binary data of the target image is fetched into the bitmap memory and Contour extracting means for performing contour tracing processing on the binarized data to extract contour information, contour storing means for storing contour information extracted by the contour extracting means, and contour extracting means After the completion of the extraction of the contour information, the bit map memory is cleared, and the area is stored based on the contour information stored in the contour storage means. Since area data writing means for writing data to a bit map memory is provided, by obtaining contour line information from image data read before area processing, arbitrary area processing can be performed on the inside of the contour (closed loop). Can be applied. Further, it is possible to simplify the designation of the area processing and improve the usability of the area processing.

Since the image processing apparatus of the present invention takes in the image data after the fattening process into the bitmap memory, even if the outline of the original image is thin or interrupted, the outline is within a certain range. Can be extracted, contour line information can be correctly detected, and appropriate area processing can be performed.

In the image processing apparatus of the present invention, when the contour information is extracted from the binarized data in the bit map memory, if the contour is interrupted on the way, the position is determined from the position where the contour is interrupted. In order to detect an image existing in the bitmap memory in a predetermined direction and a predetermined range, and to continue the contour tracing process from the detected position, even if the outline of the original image is interrupted, extraction of the outline in a certain range is performed. Thus, the contour line information can be correctly detected, and appropriate area processing can be performed.

When extracting the contour information from the binary data in the bit map memory, the image processing apparatus of the present invention detects the contour length of the contour and compares it with a predetermined threshold value. If the contour length is smaller than the threshold value, the detected contour information is discarded, and another contour is detected to extract the contour information. Even when there is an image that is not an image, it is possible to learn correct outline information and perform appropriate area processing.

Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention, when extracting contour information from the binary data in the bitmap memory, determines whether the tracked contour is an inner contour or an outer contour. If it is detected and it is an outer contour, the detected contour information is discarded, and another contour is newly detected to extract the contour information. Even if there are other closed loops,
It is possible to learn correct outline information and perform appropriate area processing.

Further, the image processing apparatus of the present invention corrects the writing position to be on the contour line when writing the area data to the bitmap memory, so that the arbitrary position can be set inside the closed loop according to the obtained contour line information. When performing the area processing described above, it is possible to obtain an image output that has been subjected to appropriate area processing even near the contour line.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a digital copying machine to which an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment is applied.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an image processing unit which is an image processing apparatus of the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a data structure of area data used for area processing.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a method of designating an area (area) to be subjected to area processing.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of area input in a rectangular mode, a right-angle polygon mode, and a polygon mode.

FIG. 6 is a detailed flow of an area data writing process.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an area data output process.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an area input process in a closed loop mode.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a start point detection process.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of detecting a start point.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a contour tracking process.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a contour tracking process.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of an isolated point / inner closed loop detection process.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing continuation of the contour tracking process when the contour is cut off in the middle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Image reading part 102 Image processing part 103 Image recording part 104 Digitizer 105 System control part 201 Filter processing part 202 Processing part 203 Halftone processing part 204 400/100 conversion part 205 Bitmap memory 206 Area processing control part 207 RAM

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G06T 3/00 400 G06T 1/00 450 H04N 1/387 JICST file (JOIS)

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A bit map memory for storing the contents of area processing for target image data as area data having a predetermined length in the main scanning direction, wherein a portion sandwiched between similar area data in one line is provided. In contrast, in an image processing apparatus that performs area processing according to the type of the area data, when writing the area data to the bitmap memory, the area data to be newly written is already written on the bitmap. Determining means for determining whether or not the data overlaps with the area data; and, if the determining means determines that the data overlaps with the existing area data, the position of the area data to be newly written is determined based on the position of the existing area data. An image processing apparatus comprising: a writing position correcting unit that corrects in a direction. 2. When a plurality of areas are designated by a plurality of area data, if there are overlapping areas in the designated plurality of areas, the overlapping areas are determined based on a priority set in advance for each area data. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising area data selecting means for selecting area data having the highest priority as the area processing for the area. 3. A bit map memory for storing the content of area processing for target image data as area data having a predetermined length in the main scanning direction, wherein a portion sandwiched between similar area data in one line is provided. In response to this, in an image processing apparatus that performs area processing according to the type of the area data, the binarized data of the target image is fetched into the bitmap memory, and the outline data is stored in the bitmap memory. Contour extraction means for performing a tracking process to extract contour information, contour storage means for storing contour information extracted by the contour extraction means, and completion of contour information extraction by the contour extraction means Thereafter, the bit map memory is cleared, and the area data is stored in the bit map memory based on the contour information stored in the contour storage means. An image processing apparatus comprising: an area data writing unit for writing. 4. An image fattening means for subjecting the binarized data to fattening processing, wherein the binarized data of the target image to be taken into the bitmap memory is image data after fattening processing. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein 5. The contour line extracting means, when extracting contour line information from the binary data in the bitmap memory, if the contour line is interrupted in the middle, from the position where the contour line is interrupted, 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein an image existing in the bitmap memory in a predetermined direction and a predetermined range is detected, and the contour tracing process is continued from the detected position. 6. The contour line extracting means detects a contour length of a contour line when extracting contour line information from the binarized data in the bitmap memory, and compares the contour length with a predetermined threshold value. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein when the contour length is smaller than a threshold value, the detected contour information is discarded, and another contour is detected to extract the contour information. Image processing device. 7. When extracting contour information from the binary data in the bitmap memory, the contour extracting means determines whether the tracked contour is an inner contour or an outer contour. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the detected contour information is discarded if the detected contour is an outer contour, and another contour is detected to extract the contour information. . 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said area data writing means corrects the writing position so as to be on the contour line when writing the area data to the bitmap memory.