JP3559746B2 - Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and storage medium - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of transmitting input image data to various output devices and storage devices.Readable storage medium storing image processing method and image processing programIt is about.
[0002]
[Prior art]
There is an MFP (multifunction peripheral) as a system device having the functions of a scanner, a facsimile, a printer, and a copier. MFPs have the advantages of small space and high productivity, and have been widely used. In recent years, MFPs have been increasingly used by being network-connected to other MFPs, output devices such as printers, and PCs. Under such an environment, it is possible to use the read image data such as transmitting it to another output device (remote copy) or outputting it with a plurality of output devices (multiple copy). Further, the read image data can be transmitted to a storage device (RAM or HDD) in a PC or MFP, and can be stored and managed, and the stored image can be displayed on a display.
[0003]
However, in many cases, the output device connected to the network is of a model different from that of the MFP on the transmission side in the MFP as well as the printer. Moreover, even in the case of the same model, the use environment and the frequency are different. For this reason, these output devices have different output density characteristics, and if the read image data is transmitted as it is, an appropriate output image may not be obtained.
[0004]
In order to cope with this problem, there is a method in which, when transmitting image data, the image data read by the transmission-side device is corrected in the transmission-side device in accordance with the characteristics of the destination-side device and transmitted. .
[0005]
A specific example of a conventional image data correction method will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0006]
FIG. 7 shows the density characteristics of the output device. The vertical axis indicates the output density, where “0” indicates white and “255” indicates solid black. The horizontal axis indicates the input data value to be transmitted to the printer, where "0" is white and "255" is black. The broken line 700 shown in this graph is an ideal linear output density characteristic. This indicates that when the input data is linear, the output density characteristics when printed out are also linear.
[0007]
However, the density characteristics of the output device change like 701, 702, and 703 due to the influence of the environment and the frequency of use. Therefore, in order to make the density characteristics linear when output, it is necessary to correct the density data using a density correction table.
[0008]
A density correction table for correcting linearity will be described with reference to FIG. 8, the horizontal axis and the vertical axis are the same as in FIG. The characteristic 801 is for correcting the characteristic of the characteristic 701, and the characteristic 701 and the characteristic 801 are symmetrical with the linear characteristic indicated by the broken line as an axis. Similarly, a characteristic 802 is for correcting the characteristic 702, and a characteristic 803 is for correcting the characteristic 703. The density correction table is a table in which the values of these characteristics 801, 802, 803 are tabulated. By using these density correction tables, the linearity of output data can be corrected.
[0009]
Next, a description will be given of a correction method for transmitting one read image data to a plurality of output destinations connected to a network.
[0010]
For example, in FIG. 7, when the same input data as the characteristic 700 is transmitted to another printer, even if the MFP that transmits the data is the same model, the output density data does not correspond to the characteristic 701 depending on the frequency of use or the installed environment. Or the characteristic 702 in some cases. Further, if the printer model is different, the characteristic 703 may be obtained. Therefore, when image data is transmitted after being subjected to density correction using the density correction table of the characteristic 801, the output device having the characteristic 701 has a linear output characteristic. In some cases, the correction amount of the linearity is insufficient for each device, or the linearity may be strange.
[0011]
That is, if an image read from a specific MFP is subjected to density correction using the same image correction table to various output devices and then transmitted, the image correction suitable for each output device is not performed. An output image having density characteristics cannot be obtained.
[0012]
Therefore, there is a method of setting a correction table according to the density characteristics of each output device, correcting the read image using the correction table, and transmitting the corrected image. That is, first, when the read image is output to the output device having the characteristic 701, the density correction table is set in the correction table of the characteristic 801 to perform the density correction. The correction table is set and corrected, and then in the case of the characteristic 703, correction is performed using the correction table of the characteristic 803.
[0013]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-83800 is known as a prior art for transmitting image data after correcting the density of image data on the transmission side according to the density characteristics of the transmission destination device.
[0014]
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-83800, characteristic data at the time of density reproduction of a destination device is acquired, a luminance / density conversion table is created based on the data, and luminance / density conversion is performed according to the destination.
[0015]
As described above, according to the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-83800, it is possible to perform optimal density correction for the transmission partner device.
[0016]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in some cases, it is required to transmit image data to a PC or HDD, but in this case, the transmitting side device cannot understand whether the transmitted image is to be displayed on a display or output to paper.
[0017]
Therefore, when the density correction for outputting to paper is performed, and the corrected data is displayed on a display, an image with reduced linearity is obtained. Conversely, the density correction for displaying on the display is performed, and the corrected data is output. When an image is output on paper based on data, there is a drawback that the linearity is lost even in that case.
[0018]
The present invention is to solve the above-described conventional problem, and can display or output a high-quality image with a certain degree of linearity at a destination even when a PC or HDD is selected as a destination. It is intended to provide an image processing device.
[0019]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, in an image processing apparatus according to the present invention, input means for inputting image data and input / output characteristics of the image data input by the input means are provided.Based on the correction tableConversion means for converting;In the conversion meansConvert the converted image dataIn the output sectionOutput means for outputting,An output unit different from the output unit through the network, the image data converted by the conversion unit, orTransmitting means for transmitting to the storage unit, selecting means for selecting a correction table of the converting means according to an output destination of image data or a destination,An image processing apparatus havingThe conversion means outputs the outputDepartmentA first correction table determined according to the output characteristics ofA second correction table determined in accordance with an output characteristic of an output unit different from the output unit, a third correction table in which the first correction table and the input / output characteristics are determined from a linear correction table,Wherein the selecting unit outputs image data to the output unit.IsSelect the first correction table and save the image dataSelect the second correction table when transmitting to an output unit different from the output unit via a network, and select the third correction table when transmitting image data to the storage unit via a network. DoIt is characterized by the following.
[0020]
Further, in the image processing method of the present invention, an inputting step of inputting image data;ByinputWas doneI / O characteristics of image dataBased on the correction tableA conversion step of converting;In the conversion stepConvert the converted image dataIn the output sectionAn output process for outputting,An output unit different from the output unit for the image data converted in the conversion step via a network, orA transmitting step of transmitting to the storage unit;An image data output method, or a selection step of selecting a correction table used in the conversion step according to a transmission destination, wherein the conversion step is performed in accordance with an output characteristic of the output unit. A first correction table to be determined, a second correction table to be determined according to output characteristics of an output unit different from the output unit, and a correction table in which the first correction table and the input / output characteristics are linear. A third correction table to be determined, wherein the selecting step selects the first correction table when outputting image data to the output unit, and outputs the image data to the output unit via a network. When the image data is transmitted to a different output unit, the second correction table is selected. When the image data is transmitted to the storage unit via a network, the third correction table is selected. And butterflies.
[0021]
In addition, the present inventionComputer readableThe storage medium is a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for an image processing method,Was doneI / O characteristics of image dataUsing the correction tableA conversion code to be converted,In the conversion stepConverted image dataIn the image output sectionOutput code to output,Via a network, the image data converted by the conversion code, an output unit different from the image output unit, orA transmission code to be transmitted to the storage unit,And a selection code for selecting a correction table used by the conversion code according to an output destination or a transmission destination of the image data, wherein the conversion code is determined according to an output characteristic of the output unit. A correction table, a second correction table determined in accordance with an output characteristic of an output unit different from the output unit, and a third correction table in which the first correction table and the input / output characteristics are determined from a linear correction table. Using a correction table, the selection code selects the first correction table when outputting image data to the output unit, and transmits the image data to an output unit different from the output unit via a network. In this case, the second correction table is selected, and when the image data is transmitted to the storage unit via a network, the third correction table is selected.
[0022]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0023]
First, an outline of data transmission performed in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0024]
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing data transmission according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an environment in which devices are connected to a network in the present embodiment.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 1, a case where image data is transmitted from one MFP to various output devices such as another MFP and a printer, and a storage device such as a PC and a built-in HDD of the MFP will be described.
[0026]
It is assumed that the network is a ring type as shown in FIG. 4 and various output devices and PCs are connected. Although the present embodiment has been described with reference to the ring connection, the present invention is not limited to this, and the same configuration as that of FIG. 1 can be applied to a network connected in a bus or a network connected in a star. It goes without saying that it is possible.
[0027]
In FIG. 1, an MFP 100 is an MFP that transmits image data, and has a function of connecting a scanner, a printer, and a network. For the reading function, it is assumed that an image can be read in both monochrome and color, and for the printer function, only monochrome output can be performed.
[0028]
Further, the MFP 100 is configured to be able to output the scanned data to its own printer, and to transmit the data to another printer connected to the network, an output device such as an MFP, and a storage device such as a PC.
[0029]
Further, the MFP 100 includes a built-in HDD 103 in the apparatus, stores the read image, and can display the stored image data on a display of a PC connected to a network.
[0030]
The MFP 101 and the MFP 102 are the same type of MFP as the MFP 100, are connected to a network, and are installed at a location away from the MFP 100 that transmits data.
[0031]
The MFP 106 is an MFP different from the MFPs 100, 101, and 102 and connected to a network.
[0032]
It is also assumed that the printer 105 is also connected to the network.
[0033]
The PC 104 is connected to a network, and the transmitted image data is stored in a storage device such as an HDD or a RAM in the PC 104.
[0034]
The built-in HDD 103 of the MFP 100 is a storage device that stores image data read by the MFP 100 or image data transmitted via a network.
[0035]
In MFP 100 that transmits image data, the transmitted image data may be binary or multi-valued, and may be luminance data or density data. In this embodiment, it is assumed that a color image is transmitted as multi-valued luminance data, and a monochrome image is transmitted as binary density data.
[0036]
Here, the difference between binary image data and multi-valued image data will be described. The binary image data is 1-bit image data including two values “0” and “1”, and can be transmitted with a smaller data amount than multi-valued data. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that MFP 100 can transmit binary density data to all output devices and storage devices.
[0037]
The multi-valued image data is image data having a value of 3 or more, and in the present embodiment, is 8-bit image data having a value from “0” to “255”. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that a color image is transmitted as multi-valued luminance data. After transmission, the multi-valued luminance data can be corrected according to the characteristics of various output devices and display devices. That is, the multi-valued luminance data can be transmitted to the output device without performing the correction, corrected on the output device side, and output. Similarly, when transmitting to the PC, the multi-value luminance data that is not corrected is transmitted to the PC. The PC stores multi-valued luminance data, and when outputting the multi-valued luminance data, the characteristics can be corrected in the PC.
[0038]
Further, in the present embodiment, multi-valued luminance data (color image) is subjected to γ correction in MFP 100 and can be transmitted.
[0039]
An operation performed by the user when performing gamma correction on multi-valued luminance data will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 shows a state in which a user mode (not shown) is selected from the operation unit (not shown), then a common use setting shown in 901 is selected, and a “gamma value for color transmission” shown in 902 is selected. It represents.
[0040]
By selecting “γ1.0”, “γ1.4”, “γ1.8”, and “γ2.2” in the “gamma value of color transmission” frame 902 shown in FIG. The configuration is such that a γ characteristic or a γ characteristic that emphasizes printout can be selected.
[0041]
The case where “γ2.2” in FIG. 9 is selected corresponds to the case where the display on the display is emphasized. Further, the case where “γ1.0” is selected corresponds to the case where emphasis is placed on observing the printout. The middle one of these is “γ1.4” or “γ1.8”. “Γ1.8” is for display display in consideration of printout, and “γ1.4” is for printout in consideration of display display. When transmitting multi-valued luminance data, the user can select and transmit on the screen described above.
[0042]
However, in consideration of the actual situation of use of the MFP, it is often preferable to transmit binary density data in the sense that the output is a monochrome image, that is, binary density data, and that no load is imposed on the apparatus. When transmitting a read image after converting it into binary image data, the image data cannot be corrected on the destination device side, and the multi-valued density data before binarization is stored in the source MFP. Can only be done for
[0043]
Therefore, in the present embodiment, the multi-valued density data is corrected using three density correction tables in accordance with the type and use of the transmission destination, and then binarized and transmitted.
[0044]
First, there is a correction table 1 in a case where the output is performed by the printer function of the MFP 100 itself to be transmitted. In the MFP 100 in which the scanner and the printer are integrated, the output characteristics of the read data can be grasped in advance. How to determine the values of the correction table 1 based on the output characteristics will be described with reference to FIG.
[0045]
In FIG. 10, the vertical and horizontal axes are the same as in FIGS. It is assumed that the output characteristic of the printer unit 205 of the MFP 100 is the characteristic 1002 in FIG. Therefore, the MFP 100 corrects the characteristic 1002 with a characteristic 1003 symmetric to the characteristic 1001 indicating a linear characteristic. The correction table 1 is a table of the characteristic 1003.
[0046]
As described with reference to FIG. 8, the density correction table can be changed according to the environment in which the printer is placed, the state of consumption of the drum, and the like, so that linear characteristics can always be obtained.
[0047]
The second is a correction table 2 for transmitting to other output devices such as the MFPs 101, 102, and 106 and the printer 105 connected via the network. The MFP 101 and the MFP 102 are the same type of MFP as the MFP 100, but are installed at a location away from the MFP 100. For this reason, the density characteristics of the MFP changed due to the installed environment, the consumption state of the drum, and the like cannot be grasped.
[0048]
Similarly, the printer 105 and the MFP 106 of a different model cannot know the density characteristics. In the present embodiment, when transmitting an image to these output devices, a table of a characteristic curve obtained as an average of the density characteristics of a plurality of output devices is converted into an average correction curve that can correspond to various output devices. It is set in advance as a table (not shown). By using this table as the correction table 2 and using this correction table, an appropriate output image can be obtained to some extent in any output device.
[0049]
The third is a correction table 3 for transmitting to a storage device such as the PC 104 or the HDD 103 of the MFP 100, which is the point of the present embodiment. When transmitting to the storage device such as the PC 104 or the built-in HDD 103 of the MFP 100, the method of displaying the image in the storage device using the display of the PC 104 or the MFP 100 and transmitting the image to the output device for printing out are described. There are two possible uses.
[0050]
In the present embodiment, when transmitting data to a storage device such as the PC 104 or the built-in HDD 103 of the MFP 100, the data is corrected and transmitted using the density correction table determined based on the characteristics shown in FIG.
[0051]
FIG. 11 shows a characteristic curve for correction, and the vertical and horizontal axes are the same as those in FIGS. The characteristic 1102 is a characteristic curve suitable for output, and in the present embodiment, the characteristic 1102 is the same as the characteristic 1003 of the correction table 1 and is used when outputting by the printer unit of the MFP 100 itself. A characteristic line 1101 is a characteristic line suitable for display, that is, a characteristic line without correction. At this time, the characteristic 1103 is determined by taking the average value of the characteristic 1102 suitable for output and the characteristic 1101 suitable for display. A table obtained from the characteristics 1103 is referred to as a correction table 3.
[0052]
The density correction table 3 can be rephrased as a correction table in which the average value of the correction table 1 and the correction table having a linear characteristic is obtained.
[0053]
Using the correction table 3, image data corresponding to both output and display of image data can be generated.
[0054]
By switching these three density correction tables according to the transmission destination device and correcting the image data, it is possible to obtain an output image having somewhat appropriate characteristics from any of various network-connected output devices and display devices. Made it possible.
[0055]
Next, the configuration of MFP 100 that transmits image data will be described.
[0056]
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of MFP 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0057]
The image reading unit 209 includes a lens 201 that collects reflected light from the document 200, a CCD sensor 202 that inputs light input through the lens 201 and converts the light into an electric signal, and a signal output from the CCD sensor 202. An analog signal processing unit 203 for processing is provided.
[0058]
As a result, the document image formed on the CCD sensor 202 via the lens 201 is converted by the CCD sensor 202 into an analog electric signal. The image information thus converted is input to the analog signal processing unit 203, sampled and held, subjected to dark level correction and the like, and then subjected to analog / digital conversion (A / D conversion) and output as a digital image signal. Is done. The digital image signal thus output is input to the image processing unit 204.
[0059]
In the image processing unit 204, correction processing necessary for a reading system such as shading correction and gamma correction including points of the present embodiment, smoothing processing (not shown), edge enhancement processing (not shown), binarization Processing, other processing, processing, and the like are performed, and the processed image data is input to the printer unit 205 or the network 214.
[0060]
The printer unit 205 is, for example, a printer device such as a laser beam printer or an LED printer. For example, in the case of a laser beam printer, an exposure control unit (not shown) including a semiconductor laser and an image forming unit (not shown) And a transfer control unit for the transfer paper, and records an image on the transfer paper based on the input image signal.
[0061]
The network 214 is connected to output devices such as the printer 105 and the MFPs 101, 102, and 106 in FIG. 1 and storage devices such as a RAM and an HDD, and image data output from the image processing unit 204 is transmitted via the network 214. , And can be transmitted to these output devices and storage devices.
[0062]
The CPU circuit section 210 is a CPU 206, a ROM 207 for storing a control program executed by the CPU 206, various data, and the like, and is used as a work area during processing by the CPU 206, and temporarily holds various data and correction table values corresponding to transmission destinations. A RAM 208 for controlling the image reading unit 209, the image processing unit 204, the printer unit 205, the operation unit 213, and the like, and totally controls the control sequence of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment. Further, it controls whether output data from the image processing unit 204 is output by the printer 205 or transmitted through the network 214.
[0063]
The operation unit 213 includes a RAM 211 that displays characters on the touch panel of the MFP 100 and temporarily stores information set by the user, and a ROM 212 that stores information.
[0064]
Information set by the user on the operation unit 213 is transmitted to the image reading unit 209, the image processing unit 204, the printer 205, and the like via the CPU circuit unit 210.
[0065]
Next, details of the image processing unit 204, which is a main part of the present embodiment, will be described with reference to FIG.
[0066]
The digital image signal output from the analog signal processing unit 203 in FIG. 2 is input to the shading correction unit 301.
[0067]
The shading correction circuit unit 301 corrects the variation of the sensor that reads the original and the light distribution characteristics of the original illumination lamp, and inputs the corrected image data to the γ correction unit 302.
[0068]
When the image data to be transmitted is multi-valued luminance data, the γ correction unit 302 adjusts the luminance data by γ correction. If the image data to be transmitted is binary density data, the gamma correction unit 302 is skipped.
[0069]
The luminance / density conversion unit 303 converts the image data output from the γ correction unit 302 from a luminance signal to a density signal by Log conversion.
The conversion formula in the Log conversion is as follows.
D = −255 × LOG (in / 255) ÷ Dmax (1)
In the above equation, in is the luminance signal of the output image data from the γ correction unit 302, D is the converted density signal output from the luminance / density conversion unit 303, and Dmax is the maximum density. Determined from concentration. Since input and output are assumed to be 8 bits, they are clipped at 0,255. Here, the conversion formula for the concentration is not limited to the formula (1), and another conversion formula may be used.
[0070]
The image data subjected to the brightness / density conversion is input to the density correction unit 304. The density correction unit 304 performs a correction process of the density characteristics of the density data whose luminance and density have been converted. This is a table and is composed of a memory of 8 bits for input and 8 bits for output. As specific table values, data values such as the characteristics 1101, 1102, and 1103 shown in FIG. 11 are stored.
[0071]
By an operation described later, the CPU circuit 210 sets a different density correction table for the transmission destination in the density correction unit 304 according to the setting of the operation unit 213.
[0072]
The corrected image data is binarized from multi-valued density data into binary density data by the binarization unit 305, and then output from the image processing unit 204 and input to the printer 205 or the network 214. ,It is processed.
[0073]
Although the image data has been described as a case where binary density data is transmitted, when transmitting multi-valued luminance data, the luminance / density conversion unit 303, the density correction unit 304, and the binarization unit 305 Through.
[0074]
Next, details of the operation unit 213 related to the image processing unit 204 will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0075]
Reference numeral 500 denotes the entire operation unit on the MFP 100, and what is displayed in a frame 501 is a list of MFPs, printers, PCs, and the like that can transmit. This is managed by items such as a transmission destination indicated by 502 and an IP address indicated by 503.
[0076]
The check of 504 means that the read image data is transmitted to the MFP 100.
[0077]
Reference numeral 506 denotes an enlargement ratio when reading an image, 507 denotes an image size to be read, and 508 denotes the number of read images. Reference numeral 505 denotes a data transmission state, and a message is displayed when transmission fails.
[0078]
The devices displayed in the frame indicated by 501 are output devices and storage devices connected to the network in a ring as shown in FIG.
[0079]
Checks 504, 600, 601, and 602 of the transmission destination in FIG. 6 correspond to the arrows 504, 600, 601, and 602 in FIG. 4, respectively.
[0080]
The devices connected to the network in this way are registered in advance in the MFP 100 that is the sender of the data, and at the same time, the correction tables 1, 2, and 3, which are the default density correction table values required for each device, are also registered in advance. It is registered. These registration data are held in the RAM 211, the ROM 207, and the RAM 208 in FIG.
[0081]
In the following, the flow of processing from reading a document when a plurality of destinations are selected and transmitting the check, as shown on the operation unit in FIG. 6, will be described.
[0082]
FIGS. 12 and 13 are flowcharts illustrating the flow of processing when transmitting multi-valued luminance data and binary density data, respectively. First, the case of transmitting multi-valued luminance data will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0083]
First, as shown in FIG. 6, a device to be output is set as a check 504, 600, 601 or 602 in a frame 501 (S1201).
[0084]
In the case of multi-valued luminance data, the γ value is set as necessary as shown in FIG. Next, it is determined whether there is still an output destination (S1202). If there is, an image is read by the image reading unit 209 (S1203).
[0085]
The read image is subjected to shading correction by the shading correction circuit unit 301, and correction is performed by the gamma correction unit 302 using a table according to the setting of the user (S1204). After that, the luminance / density conversion unit 303, the density correction unit 304, and the binarization unit 305 pass the data through to each output device (S1205).
[0086]
Next, the process returns to S1202, and the processing is performed in the same procedure. When all data has been transmitted to the selected transmission destination, the process ends.
[0087]
Next, a flow of processing in transmitting binary density data, which is a point of the present embodiment, will be described with reference to FIGS.
[0088]
First, in the same manner as in the case of transmitting multi-valued luminance data, a device to be output is set as 504, 600, 601 and 602 in a frame 501 in FIG. 6 (S1301).
[0089]
When transmitting the binary density data, it is assumed that the setting of the γ value as shown in FIG. 9 cannot be performed. Next, the presence or absence of an output destination is determined (S1302), and if there is, an image is read (S1303).
[0090]
The read image is subjected to shading correction by the shading correction circuit unit 301 in FIG.
[0091]
Up to this point, the process is the same as the case of transmitting multi-valued luminance data, but from the next step, the processing that is the point of the present embodiment is performed. First, the output data of the shading correction circuit unit 301 is passed through the γ correction unit 302, and the luminance / density conversion unit 303 converts the multivalued luminance data into multivalued density data (S1304).
[0092]
Next, whether the transmission destination is the output from the printer unit of the MFP 100 itself (504), the storage device such as the PC 105 or the HDD 103 built into the MFP 100 (600, 602), or the printer 105 or the MFP 101 (601). Then, different processing is performed on the multi-valued density data (S1305).
[0093]
First, when the output is performed by the printer unit 205 of the MFP 100 itself (504), the CPU circuit unit 210 retrieves the density correction table corresponding to the MFP 100 (IP address 150.72.22.2) selected in 504 from the ROM 207 or the RAM 208. Then, the density correction table is set in the density correction unit 304 (S1306). Here, since the MFP 100 outputs the output by the MFP itself, as described above, the correction table 1 in which the characteristic 1102 shown in FIG. 11 is tabulated is set. The multi-value density data is density-corrected by the correction table 1.
[0094]
Further, the multivalued density data subjected to the density correction processing is binarized by the binarization unit 305 (S1309), and the binarized density data is transmitted to the printer unit 205 (S1310).
[0095]
Next, in the case of output by the MFP 101 or the printer 105 (600, 602), first, the CPU circuit section 210 reads out the above-described average density correction table 2, sets it in the correction section 304, The density data is corrected for density (S1307).
[0096]
Then, the corrected multi-value density data is binarized in S1309 and transmitted to the output device (S1310).
[0097]
If the transmission destination is a storage device such as the PC 104 or the HDD 103 with a built-in MFP, the multi-valued density data is corrected by the density correction table 3 corresponding to the above-described transmission to the storage device (S1308), and is binarized (S1308). S1309), and transmitted to the storage device (S1310).
[0098]
If any of these processes is performed according to the transmission destination, the process returns to S1302 again, and if there is still a transmission destination, the process proceeds to S1303 to perform processing such as image reading, correction, transmission, and the like. Ends the processing.
[0099]
In the present embodiment, an image is read for each transmission destination, and each time the image is read, the CPU circuit unit 210 sets a necessary density correction table in the density correction unit 304. That is, in the present embodiment, since four destinations are selected, image reading is performed four times, and the density correction table is set four times for each image reading.
[0100]
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the image data can be corrected by changing the density correction table according to the transmission destination device. In particular, when transmitting to a storage device such as a PC or HDD, The density data is corrected by an intermediate table between the linear correction table and the correction table corresponding to the output characteristic, and the data is transmitted. Then, the data can be displayed on a display or output to an output device such as a printer or an MFP. Even in the case of selection, there is an effect that a high-quality image with a certain degree of linearity at the transmission destination can be displayed or output on paper.
[0101]
The present invention is not limited to the device of the above-described embodiment, and may be applied to a system including a plurality of devices or an apparatus including one device. A storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments is supplied to a system or apparatus, and a computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus reads and executes the program code stored in the storage medium. It goes without saying that it will be completed by doing so.
[0102]
In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the function of the above-described embodiment, and the storage medium storing the program code constitutes the present invention. As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, and a ROM can be used. When the computer executes the readout program code, not only the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized, but also the OS or the like running on the computer performs the actual processing based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that a case where some or all of the processes are performed and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing is also included.
[0103]
Furthermore, after the program code read from the storage medium is written in the memory provided in the function expansion board inserted into the computer or the function expansion unit connected to the computer, based on the instruction of the next program code, It goes without saying that the CPU of the expansion board or the expansion unit performs the expansion function and performs part or all of the actual processing, and the processing realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments.
[0104]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a linear correction table can be obtained even when the subsequent usage or output destination such as transmitting a read image to a storage device such as an internal HDD of an MFP or an HDD of a PC is unknown. By correcting and transmitting the image with a correction table in the middle of the correction table corresponding to the output characteristics, it is possible to obtain a display without discomfort on the display and obtain image data suitable for output to paper to some extent. effective.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of data transmission in an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an MFP according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an image processing unit of the MFP according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an environment in which devices are connected to a network in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit of the MFP according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a case where a plurality of transmission destinations are selected on the operation unit of the MFP according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a graph showing density characteristics of various output devices.
8 is a graph showing a characteristic curve for correcting the density characteristic of FIG.
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an operation unit when performing gamma correction in the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a graph for explaining how to determine the correction table 1;
FIG. 11 is a graph for explaining how to determine the correction table 3;
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing when transmitting multi-valued luminance data in the present embodiment.
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing when transmitting binary density data in the present embodiment.

Claims (12)

Input means for inputting image data;
Conversion means for converting the input / output characteristics of the image data input by the input means based on a correction table ,
Output means for outputting the image data converted by the conversion means to an output unit,
Via a network, transmitting means for transmitting the image data converted by the converting means to an output unit different from the output unit, or a storage unit,
A selection unit that selects a correction table of the conversion unit according to an output destination of image data or a transmission destination;
An image processing apparatus having
It said conversion means includes a first correction table is determined according to the output characteristics of the output section, and a second correction table is determined according to the output characteristics of the different output portion and said output portion, the first A first correction table and a third correction table whose input / output characteristics are determined from a linear correction table ,
Said selecting means, when outputting the image data to the output unit selects the first correction table, when transmitting image data to an output unit that is different from the output unit via the network the second An image processing apparatus comprising: selecting a correction table; and selecting the third correction table when transmitting image data to the storage unit via a network . The input means,
Reading means for reading an image and generating luminance data;
A brightness / density conversion unit for converting the brightness data into density data;
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conversion means converts input / output characteristics of density data. Wherein the storage unit, the image processing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a storage unit of the information processing device connected via a network has. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the value of the second correction table is an average value of output characteristics of a plurality of output units different from the output unit. 5. . The value of the third correction table, according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the input-output characteristics as the first correction table is characterized in that the average value of the linear correction table Image processing device. An input step of inputting image data;
A conversion step of converting the input / output characteristics of the image data input in the input step based on a correction table;
An output step of outputting the image data converted in the conversion step to an output unit,
Via a network, a transmission step of transmitting the image data converted in the conversion step to an output unit different from the output unit, or a storage unit,
A selection step of selecting a correction table used in the conversion step according to an image data output destination or a transmission destination;
An image processing method having
The conversion step includes: a first correction table determined according to an output characteristic of the output unit; a second correction table determined according to an output characteristic of an output unit different from the output unit; And a third correction table whose input / output characteristics are determined from a linear correction table.
The selecting step selects the first correction table when outputting image data to the output unit, and selects the second correction table when transmitting image data to an output unit different from the output unit via a network. An image processing method comprising: selecting a correction table; and selecting the third correction table when transmitting image data to the storage unit via a network. The input step includes:
A reading step of reading an image and generating luminance data;
A brightness / density conversion step of converting the brightness data into density data;
7. The image processing method according to claim 6, wherein the conversion step converts an input / output characteristic of density data. 8. The image processing method according to claim 6, wherein the value of the second correction table is an average value of output characteristics of a plurality of output units different from the output unit. 9. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein a value of the third correction table is an average value of the first correction table and a correction table having a linear input / output characteristic. 10. Image processing method. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for an image processing method,
A conversion code for converting input / output characteristics of input image data using a correction table,
An output code for outputting the image data converted in the conversion step at an image output unit, and transmitting the image data converted by the conversion code to an output unit different from the image output unit or a storage unit via a network. Transmission code
A selection code for selecting a correction table used by the conversion code according to an output destination of image data or a transmission destination;
Has,
A first correction table determined in accordance with an output characteristic of the output unit; a second correction table determined in accordance with an output characteristic of an output unit different from the output unit; Using a first correction table and a third correction table whose input / output characteristics are determined from a linear correction table,
The selection code selects the first correction table when outputting image data to the output unit, and selects the second correction table when transmitting image data to an output unit different from the output unit via a network. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for an image processing method, wherein a correction table is selected and the third correction table is selected when image data is transmitted to the storage unit via a network. 11. The computer according to claim 10, wherein the value of the second correction table is an average value of output characteristics of a plurality of output units different from the output unit. A readable storage medium. 12. The image processing method according to claim 10, wherein the value of the third correction table is an average value of the first correction table and the correction table having a linear input / output characteristic. Is stored in the computer Readable storage medium.

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