JP3386551B2 - Digital imaging system diagnostic 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 diagnostic device in an image system device, and more particularly to an image input / output device using the image storage device not only for original image signal storage but also for diagnosis.
The present invention relates to a diagnostic device for a digital image system device capable of diagnosing and correcting an image processing circuit and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a digital image processing apparatus that does not have an image storage apparatus, that is, in a digital image processing apparatus that processes images in a time series, the state of the image output apparatus depends on the item to be determined. The main method is to output a reference pattern inside the image processing device by an image output device and diagnose the output result visually or with an external measuring device. Each item (main scanning direction (In-Out) unevenness, Sub scanning direction unevenness, density reproducibility,
Color reproducibility, highlight reproducibility, resolving power, reduction ratio, various alignments, etc.) are troublesome and at the same time highly accurate diagnosis cannot be performed. In addition, depending on the above items, there is also a diagnostic processing circuit (1-line memory + arithmetic circuit, etc.) that is provided and the output result from the image output device is input for diagnostics. In order to make such a diagnosis for a plurality of items, a hardware processing circuit for each item is required, resulting in a complicated structure (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 63-153139 and 63-63).
183461 publication). Although some digital copying machines have an image storage device, they are simply used to store image data, and the diagnosis is performed as described above.

In addition, in a digital copying machine having an image storage device, its storage performance is used as a timing buffer of an image output device. Also, in order to reduce the storage capacity, image signals are processed to significantly reduce the amount of information (in the model "Riala" manufactured by Ricoh Co., Ltd., 8 bits are dropped to 2 bits after dither processing.
The memory is for absorbing only the amount of timing deviation of the YMC signal).

Performance evaluation and diagnosis of a single image input device in a digital copying machine is performed by an evaluation tool having an external image storage device by branching the image processing circuit. Two-dimensional evaluation and diagnosis of the main scanning and sub-scanning of the image input device, for example, unevenness of the entire reading surface,
Dimensional frequency analysis, optical system alignment, etc. are performed by an evaluation tool that is composed of an image data memory and a computer having an image processing function. However, most of the A3 size 8-bit image memory is the size of the evaluation tool. , The evaluation tool size was large, and it was not mobile.

In order to confirm the operation of each processing portion of the image processing circuit, an arbitrary electric signal is input before the system is assembled into the system, and its output is evaluated by an external measuring device. Further, in a digital copying machine, a built-in pattern is generated, a downstream processing unit is set to a non-processing parameter, and operation confirmation, performance, and diagnosis are performed by output from an image output device.

[0006]

Thus, the two-dimensional evaluation and diagnosis of the image input device and the image processing circuit are as follows.
An evaluation tool having an external image memory is required, and since the tool is large in size, it is not mobile and cannot be brought into a general office. Therefore, maintenance is limited to confirming operation. Therefore, in a general office, a system such as an image input device alone cannot be divided into individual components for diagnosis, and evaluation and diagnosis cannot be performed at the system installation location, and adjustments and parts replacement cannot be performed on the spot. . Further, since the method of diagnosing the image output device is mainly a visual method, it takes a lot of time to perform the diagnosis and a highly accurate diagnosis cannot be performed, and a diagnostic processing circuit is provided so that an output result from the image output device is provided. In the case of diagnosing a plurality of items by inputting, a hardware processing circuit for each item is required and the configuration is complicated. Further, in the conventional digital copying machine, the history of the machine is diagnosed by the hard copy and the numerical data, but the history of the system constituent elements based on the image signal level cannot be saved. The present invention is for solving the above problems, and can perform highly accurate diagnosis and correction without visual inspection, and without using an external measuring instrument, and is also easy to increase the number of diagnostic items. It is an object of the present invention to provide a diagnostic device for a digital image system device capable of supporting the above.

[0007]

According to the present invention, there is provided a diagnostic device for a digital image system device comprising an image input device, an image processing circuit, an image storage device and an image output device, without processing the processing parameters of the image processing circuit. It is characterized in that the setting, the reference chart is read, the image signal stored in the image storage device is taken out to the diagnosis device, and the image input device is diagnosed. Further, according to the present invention, the internally generated image signal generated by the image processing circuit is output from the image output device, the output result is read from the image input device, and is corrected based on the diagnostic result of the image input device. It is characterized by performing the diagnosis of. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the parameter adjusting function provided in the image output device is adjusted based on the diagnosis result of the image output device. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the processing parameter for the image output device provided in the image processing circuit is set based on the diagnosis result of the image output device. Further, in the present invention, in a diagnostic device of a digital image system device including an image input device, an image processing circuit, an image storage device, and an image output device, the parameters other than the target processing of the image processing circuit are set to no processing The internally generated image signal generated by the image processing circuit is stored in the image storage device and taken out to the diagnostic device,
It is characterized in that the image processing circuit is diagnosed.

[0008]

According to the present invention, a diagnostic device is connected to an image storage device of a digital image system device, and an image signal stored in the image storage device is taken out so that diagnosis can be performed. With respect to the above, it is possible to diagnose and correct the states of the image input device alone, the image processing circuit, and the image output device at the system installation location.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a diagnostic device for a digital image system device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of an embodiment of a diagnostic apparatus for a digital image system apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an image reading device,
Reference numeral 2 is an image processing circuit, 3 is an image storage device, 4 is an image output device, 5 is a diagnostic device, 6 is a document, 7 is a hard copy, and 8 is a stored image signal. Image system device body is CCD
An image reading device 1 including an image sensor, an image processing circuit 2 for performing image processing such as shading correction, color correction, CCD gap correction of an image reading device, color correction of an image output device, MTF correction, and γ correction, at least read. The image storage device 3 includes a memory capable of storing one screen of image data, and an image output device 4 for outputting the stored image data or the read image data to obtain a hard copy. The present embodiment further includes a diagnostic device 5 for taking out the image signal 8 accumulated in the image accumulating device 3 so that it can be observed and performing a diagnostic process.
In a normal image forming operation, the image signal of the document 6 input from the image reading device 1 is subjected to various kinds of processing in the image processing circuit 2 and stored in the image storage device 3. afterwards,
The accumulated image signal 8 is sent to the image output device 4 and output as a hard copy 7.

Next, several items regarding the diagnostic operation of the image system apparatus will be described. Example 1 [Main scanning direction (In-Out) unevenness or sub scanning direction
Unevenness ] First, the image reading device 1 for inputting the output image 7 from the image output device 4 is calibrated. This corresponds to the calibration of the densitometer, and as a specific method, as shown in FIG. 2, the reference chart 9 for detecting unevenness (constant density of entire surface ... blank sheet or the like) is input from the image reading apparatus 1. If the image reading device 1 has reading density unevenness in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, the density unevenness occurs in the image data of the reference chart, and the information is stored in the image storage device 3. At this time, since the data of the image reading apparatus alone is required, the parameters (parameters without processing) are set so that the image processing circuit 2 does not perform the processing. Next, as shown in FIG. 3, the built-in pattern (entire constant density pattern) generated in the image processing circuit 2 is output from the image output device 4 as a hard copy. At this time, the image storage device 3 stores a constant density pattern signal on the entire surface. Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the hard copy obtained in step 1 is read from the image reading device 1, and correction is performed based on the unevenness information of the image reading device 1 stored in the image processing circuit 2, and the image output device The overall density information of No. 4 is stored in the image storage device 3. The density information stored in step 2 is taken out to the diagnostic device 5 connected to the image storage device shown in FIG. 2, and diagnostic processing is performed according to the item to be judged. For example, with respect to unevenness in the main scanning direction (In-Out), averaging processing is performed over the entire area in the sub-scanning direction for each constant area of In-Out, and comparison is performed to obtain the density gradient of In-Out, and whether the density is an allowable level or not is determined. According to the judgment or the gradient level, the adjustment is performed by the In-Out adjustment function (parameter adjustment function such as the charger cavity adjustment mechanism) provided in the image output device. Further, regarding the unevenness in the sub-scanning direction, frequency analysis of the stored density information is performed to specify an abnormal portion for each element forming the image output device. Example 2 [Reduction Ratio] First, as in Example 1, the image reading apparatus 1 is calibrated. As the reference chart used at this time, a pattern having a certain interval in the main scanning direction or the sub scanning direction is used. However, the calibration in this case is slightly different from that in Example 1, and the read data is taken out to the diagnostic device 5 connected to the image storage device 3 and the coordinate processing is performed to store the reduction ratio information of the image reading device 1. Next, as in Example 1, a hard copy with a built-in pattern (the same as the pattern) is read from the image reading device 1, and the same processing as that performed in is performed in consideration of the reduction ratio information of the image reading device. Perform and judge.

As can be seen from Examples 1 and 2, according to the present invention, diagnosis and correction of the image output device can be performed using the image signal stored in the image storage device.

Further, according to the present invention, by using the two-dimensional image signal stored in the image storage device 3, the entire area read by the image reading device 1 is a two-dimensional image of the image reading device alone and the image processing circuit. Can be evaluated and diagnosed. Further, by storing the accumulated image signals, the state and history of the image system can be stored in a database, and the system state can be managed in a general office.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The configuration of the diagnostic system is the same as that shown in FIG. In the case of performance evaluation and diagnosis of the image reading device alone, as shown in FIG. 5, the image processing circuit 2 is set to the non-processing parameter and the diagnostic parameter (described later), and the output of the image reading device alone is sent to the image storage device 3. accumulate. The stored two-dimensional image data in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction is taken out to the diagnosis device 5 connected to the image storage device 3, and evaluation and diagnosis are performed at an arbitrary place. For example, in the case of read image signal unevenness, an original with uniform density on the whole surface, an original with a gray scale patch for tone reproducibility, an original with a density level changing sinusoidally for MTF, and a color patch original for color reproduction. Is used for two-dimensional evaluation and diagnosis.

In the case of the performance evaluation and diagnosis of the image processing circuit 2, various evaluation originals may be used as shown in FIG. It is possible to generate the same as the original document and store the two-dimensional image data in the image storage device 3 and take it out to the diagnostic device 5 to perform performance evaluation and diagnosis of only the image processing circuit. Further, in the case of performing performance evaluation and diagnosis of each process of the image processing circuit, the parameters other than the target process are set to non-process or diagnostic parameters, and the two-dimensional image data of the process result is stored in the image storage device. It is accumulated in 3 and similarly evaluated and diagnosed two-dimensionally. For example, when the original conversion characteristic such as gamma correction is as shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the conversion table parameter is set to the lowest value up to a certain value, and above it is set to the highest value, and if the pass / fail judgment is made at the rising edge of the characteristic, the converted data is converted. Will directly show pass / fail, so
The diagnostic limit can be easily determined. Also, FIG.
As shown in (c), if the conversion table parameters are set to output the lowest value in a certain range and the highest value in other ranges, and those within a certain range are within the allowable specifications, the same applies. Then, it becomes possible to directly determine the allowable specifications based on the converted data.

An external computer, for example, a laptop personal computer, may be used as the above-mentioned diagnostic device, and by connecting it to the image storage device 3 and the image processing circuit 2 of the digital image processing device, the above-mentioned operation is performed. By evaluating and diagnosing as described above and rewriting the value of the parameter memory of the image processing circuit 2 based on the result, it is possible to supply appropriate parameters to the system at the system installation location. In addition, in the case of evaluation and diagnosis that require a large amount of calculation such as color correction, the image data in the image storage device of the system is temporarily stored in the external storage device of the external computer, or a network such as a line is used. It is also possible to send the data via a host computer to be processed. Further, it becomes possible to manage and maintain the system by storing the system state and history in the state of the image signal and creating a database.

[0016]

In the conventional digital copying machine, it is difficult to diagnose by diagnosing each element constituting the system, that is, the image reading device, the image processing circuit, and the image output device, and the maintenance is performed mainly in the image output device. However, according to the present invention, the entire area read by the image reading device is used by utilizing the two-dimensional image signal stored in the image storage device although the diagnostic work of the image output device is complicated. With regard to the image reading device itself, the image processing circuit, and the image output device, it is possible to diagnose the conditions at the system installation location and make corrections at the same time. The status and history of the processing system can be stored in a database, and the status of the system in general offices can also be managed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a diagnostic device for an image system device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image reading device.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of outputting a built-in pattern.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating image output device unevenness diagnosis.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining unevenness evaluation and diagnosis of the image reading apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating diagnosis of an image processing circuit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating diagnostic parameters.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image reading device, 2 ... Image processing circuit, 3 ... Image storage device, 4 ... Image output device, 5 ... Diagnostic device, 6 ... Original document,
7 ... Hard copy, 8 ... Image accumulation signal.

Continuation of the front page (56) Reference JP-A-4-273650 (JP, A) JP-A-6-14144 (JP, A) JP-A-7-212594 (JP, A) JP-A-64-61172 (JP , A) (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H04N 1/00-1/00 108 H04N 1/40-1/409

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A digital image system device comprising an image input device, an image processing circuit, an image storage device, and an image output device.
In the diagnostic device , the processing parameter of the image processing circuit is set to no processing, the reference chart is read, the image signal stored in the image storage device is taken out to the diagnostic device, and the image input device is diagnosed. Diagnostic device for digital image system device. 2. An internally generated image signal generated by an image processing circuit is output from an image output device, the output result is read from an image input device and corrected based on the diagnostic result according to claim 1, A diagnostic device for a digital image system device, which is characterized in that it is adapted to diagnose 3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a parameter adjusting function provided in the image output apparatus is adjusted based on a diagnosis result of the image output apparatus. 4. The diagnostic device for a digital image system device according to claim 2, wherein processing parameters for the image output device provided in the image processing circuit are set based on a diagnostic result of the image output device. 5. A digital image system device comprising an image input device, an image processing circuit, an image storage device, and an image output device.
In this diagnostic device , the parameters other than the target processing of the image processing circuit are set to no processing, the internally generated image signal generated by the image processing circuit is stored in the image storage device, and is taken out to the diagnostic device. A diagnostic device for a digital image system device, characterized in that