JP3512462B2 - Black isolated point removal device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a black isolated point removing device, and more particularly to a device for removing black isolated points such as stains in an image in an image reading device or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image reading apparatus such as a digital copier or a scanner has a filter means for removing black isolated points such as stains scattered in an image during image processing. As shown in FIG. 3, for example, a conventional black isolated point removal filter expresses a target black point pixel of an image to be processed in a 5 × 5 matrix, and analyzes the relationship with surrounding black points to isolate the black points. If it is determined that it is a point and then it is determined to be an isolated point, it is converted to white, or if it is a color, it is converted to the surrounding color to remove the black isolated point.

FIGS. 4A to 4I show some examples of black dot arrangement patterns in the case of processing by a 5 × 5 matrix. For example, the patterns shown in FIG.
When the same pattern is detected in the image to be processed, it is determined as a black isolated point, and the black point in the 5 × 5 area is converted to another color as described above. To do. Such processing is generally called a pattern matching method, and the processing accuracy is improved as the number of patterns to be stored increases.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the configuration of an apparatus for performing a black isolated point removal filter by a conventional pattern matching method, which comprises first to fourth 4-line buffers 1,
It is composed of a 5 × 5 matrix generation unit 2, a pattern matching data storage unit 3, and an attention area processing unit 4. In this example, nine pixels of g, h, i, l, m, n, q, r, and s in the central portion of the 5 × 5 matrix are processed as a region of interest, and the line data of the image is sequentially matrixed. The 5 × 5 matrix is formed by applying the image line data to the four lines in the four line buffer memories in order while applying the image line data to the lowest line. Each time the line data is input and a new 5 × 5 matrix is constructed, it is sent to the pattern matching data storage unit and compared with the black isolated point pattern data stored therein. At this time, if the arrangement of the black dots in the attention area matches at least one of the stored patterns, the attention area processing unit converts the black dots in the area into white, and the line data to be processed is sent to the processing unit in the next stage. The other data is sent to the matrix generator.

However, in the conventional black isolated point removing method, it is necessary to store more patterns shown in FIG. 4 in order to improve the accuracy of the black isolated point removing filter. However, if this number increases, the memory capacity for storing becomes large, the apparatus becomes expensive, and the processing time becomes long in order to compare with all patterns.

Explaining the pattern shown in FIG. 4, many other patterns are conceivable. For example, in FIG. 4 (B), two pixels are black dots, but in addition to this, as shown in FIGS. 4 (J) to 4 (P), there are 360 degrees at 45 degrees centering on m in the center of the matrix. There are seven possible patterns when rotated once. Moreover, since such modified patterns also exist for other (C) and (D), considering the case of storing all of them, the number of patterns to be stored becomes enormous. Also, all patterns
However, depending on the image reading resolution,
If the accuracy of the comparison process is low, there is a possibility that erroneous recognition may occur and the image quality may deteriorate.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention eliminates the problems of the black isolated point removing device in the conventional image reading apparatus as described above, has a simple circuit configuration, and is independent of the reading resolution. An object of the present invention is to provide an image reading device equipped with a point removal filter.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, in the first invention of the present application, a matrix generation unit for generating a matrix including a range of a region of interest, and data for each line of the matrix generated by the matrix generation unit are stored. , A line buffer that is applied to the lowest line of the matrix generation unit and forms a matrix while sequentially shifting the previous image line data to the line above it, and the determined black isolated point to white or another color It includes a region of interest processing unit for converting, an area setting unit for setting a range of the region of interest, and a black data count unit for counting the number of black pixels in the target region, the territory
For the range of the attention area set by the area setting unit
Te, the data processed by the attention area processing unit is input to the matrix generator, a further black isolation point removing device stored in said line buffer, said region of interest processing
The processing section has a predetermined number of counts of the black data counting section.
It is characterized in that it is determined as a black isolated point in the following cases . In the second invention, a matrix including the range of the attention area is generated.
And the matrix generator that generates
The data for each line of the matrix is stored in the matrix.
The image in the previous line
While moving in data in order to the line above it,
The line buffer that makes up the trix and the determined black
An attention area processing unit that converts isolated points into white or another color,
An area setting unit for setting the range of the attention area, and the attention area
A black data counting unit for counting the number of black pixels in the
Within the range of the attention area set by the area setting unit
On the other hand, the data processed by the attention area processing unit is
The line buffer is input to the matrix generation unit and further
A black isolated point removal device stored in
The area processing section is based on the count number of the black data counting section.
It is characterized in that the presence or absence of a black isolated point is determined based on the above.

[0009]

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a pattern matrix for explaining the present invention. In this example, an N × M matrix of N pixels in the vertical direction and M pixels in the horizontal direction is considered as the matrix, and a region of interest shown by hatching in the drawing is
It is represented by the parameters X ₁ , X ₂ , Y ₁ , and Y ₂ .
That is, as shown in the figure, in the vertical direction of the matrix, from the upper end pixel to X ₁ +1 pixel to the lower end pixel to X ₂
+1 pixel, and for the transverse direction and Y ₁ +. 1 to the region of interest the pixel area determined from the rightmost pixel by Y ₂ +1 from the left end pixel of the matrix. Thus parameter - when data _{X 1, X 2, Y 1} , Y 2 configuration, since the region of interest can be arbitrarily set freely, in accordance with the resolution in the image reading, the parameters - the value of the data If set, it is possible to perform accurate black isolated point removal processing regardless of the reading resolution.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided means (black data counting section) for counting the number of black dot pixels in the target pixel area set according to the image reading resolution as described above,
Based on the counting result, it is determined whether or not it is a black isolated point. According to this method, a large number of patterns as in the prior art - is not necessary to store down, moreover, stores the path data - since also comparison between the emission is unnecessary, enabling significant reduction in processing time Become. For example, when the number of black point pixels in the pixel area of interest is 4 pixels or less, the black point pixel is determined to be a black isolated point, and the black point pixel is converted to white or another necessary color. .

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a circuit configuration for carrying out the present invention. In this example, N-1 corresponding to the vertical pixel number N of the matrix shown in FIG. A line buffer 21 that stores image lines, a matrix generation unit 22 that can change a target pixel area, and a parameter X
Set the values of ₁ , X ₂ , Y ₁ , Y ₂ X ₁ , X ₂ , Y
₁ , a Y ₂ setting section 23, a black data counting section 24 for counting the number of black pixels in the attention area, and an attention area processing section 25. In this example, first, the values of the above parameters are set to X ₁ , X ₂ , Y ₁ , and Y _{2 in} advance according to the resolution of the reading device or the like.
It is set in the setting unit 23. In this state, after the image data to be processed is sequentially input to the matrix generation unit 22, the above-mentioned parameters in the N × M matrix are input.
The black data counting unit 24 counts the number of black pixels in the center region of interest determined by the data X ₁ , X ₂ , Y ₁ , and Y ₂ .

As a result of the coefficients, when the number of black pixels is, for example, 4 or less, it is determined that the pixel is a black isolated point, and among the pattern examples shown in FIG. 4, 4 or less (A) to (D). ) And many patterns obtained by rotating them with respect to the central pixel can be collectively determined as black isolated points. Moreover, since the number of matrix pixels in the attention area is variable, the optimum range and the number of pixels can be set according to the resolution of the reading device, etc., so that it is possible to determine a black isolated point regardless of the resolution. It is possible to prevent image deterioration due to erroneous recognition.

[0013]

As described above, according to the present invention, the number of pixels of the matrix used for the black isolated point determination can be arbitrarily set, the set pixel range is set as the attention area, and the number of black point pixels in the attention area is set. Since the black isolated point is determined by counting, it is not necessary to store a large number of patterns as in the conventional case, and therefore the memory capacity is small, and more patterns are used. The comparison processing with the input becomes unnecessary and the processing time can be shortened. Further, since the number of pixels of the attention area is changed according to the resolution of the image reading apparatus or the like, it is possible to accurately determine the black isolated point regardless of the resolution.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a matrix used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of a black isolated point removing device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a conventional matrix for black isolated point determination.

FIGS. 4A to 4I are matrix diagrams showing arrangement examples of black isolated points, and FIGS. 4J to 4P are diagrams showing other arrangement examples in the case of two black points. FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional black isolated point removing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 21 line buffer, 2, 22 matrix generation amount, 3 pattern matching data storage unit, 4,
25 attention area processing unit, 23 X ₁ , X ₂ , Y ₁ , Y ₂
Setting section, 24 Black data counting section.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A matrix generation unit for generating a matrix including a range of a region of interest, and data for each line of a matrix generated by the matrix generation unit is stored and applied to the lowest line of the matrix generation unit, and before that. Line buffer for forming a matrix while sequentially shifting the image line data of the above to the line above it, an attention area processing unit for converting the determined black isolated point into white or another color, and a range of the attention area. An area setting section for setting and a black data counting section for counting the number of black pixels in the attention area are provided, and the range of the attention area set by the area setting section is set.
On the other hand, in the black isolated point removing device, in which the data processed by the attention area processing unit is input to the matrix generation unit and further stored in the line buffer, the attention area processing unit includes the black data counting unit. Part of the cow
A black isolated point removing device, characterized in that it is judged as a black isolated point when the number of components is a predetermined number or less . 2. A matrix including a range of a region of interest is generated.
And a matrix generation unit for each line of the matrix generated by the matrix generation unit.
The lowest line of the matrix generator that stores data
To the previous image line data in that order.
Line to make up the matrix while shifting to the line
Buffer and the notable point of converting the determined black isolated point to white or another color
Area processing section, area setting section for setting the range of the attention area, and black data counting section for counting the number of black pixels in the attention area
And, in the range of the attention area set by the area setting unit
On the other hand, the data processed by the attention area processing unit is
The line buffer is input to the matrix generation unit and further
In the black isolated point removing device stored in the black area counting unit, the attention area processing unit is a counter of the black data counting unit.
The feature is to determine the presence or absence of black isolated points based on the number of points
Black isolation point removing device according to.