JP3855980B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus having a configuration for performing encoding processing on acquired image data.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a conventional image processing apparatus. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 50 denotes a multi-function machine as a conventional image processing apparatus. The multi-function device 50 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 53 that controls the operation of the entire apparatus, and the CPU 53 controls each part of the hardware constituting the multi-function device 50 connected via the system bus 51. Yes.

  The system bus 51 includes a ROM 54 that stores various control programs necessary for the operation of the entire apparatus, a RAM 55 that temporarily stores data generated when various control programs are executed by the CPU 53, and a document image that is read. CODEC 56 that encodes image data, system memory 58 that stores image data encoded by CODEC 56 and image data received from an external device, and USB (Universal Serial Bus) for connection to an external computer An interface 59, an NCU (Network Control Unit) 60 that controls connection to the public telephone line network L, a modem 61 that modulates and demodulates signals for facsimile communication, a liquid crystal display (LCD), and the like. Display unit 62 and the text necessary for operating the multi-function device 50. An operation unit 63 having a key and various function keys is connected to a recording unit 64 that records an image based on image data stored in the system memory 58 on a recording sheet.

  The multi-function device 50 includes an image bus 52 to which a scanner unit 65 that reads image data from a document image and an image memory 66 that temporarily stores image data read by the scanner unit 65 are connected. The CODEC 56 connected to the system bus 51 is also connected to the image bus 52. The multi-function device 50 is provided with an interface 57 for connecting the system bus 51 and the image bus 52, and signals can be transmitted and received between the system bus 51 and the image bus 52 via the interface 57. The scanner unit 65 includes a monochrome reading unit 65a that reads a document image as monochrome image data, and a color reading unit 65b that reads a document image as color image data.

  Further, the multi-function device 50 incorporates a DMA controller 51 a in the CODEC 56 for controlling the bus right during DMA (Direct Memory Access) transfer processing in the system bus 51, and has the bus right during data transfer processing in the image bus 52. A bus controller 52 a for controlling is built in the scanner unit 65.

  In the multi-function device 50 having the configuration described above, the CODEC 56 is a CODEC for monochrome image data, and executes an encoding process when the multi-function device 50 is operated as a facsimile apparatus. Specifically, in the multi-function device 50 operating as a facsimile machine, the monochrome reading unit 65a of the scanner unit 65 reads the document image as monochrome image data and stores it in the image memory 66. In accordance with the control from the CPU 53, the monochrome image data read from the image memory 66 is input to the CODEC 56, encoded by the CODEC 56, and stored in the system memory 58. Further, the monochrome image data read from the system memory 58 according to the control from the CPU 53 is transmitted by facsimile from the modem 61 and the NCU 60 to an external facsimile machine or the like via the public telephone line network L.

  On the other hand, when the multi-function device 50 is operated as a scanner, in the multi-function device 50, the color reading unit 65 b of the scanner unit 65 reads the original image as color image data and stores it in the image memory 66. Further, the color image data read from the image memory 66 is input to and stored in the system memory 58 via the interface 57 and the system bus 51 in accordance with control from the CPU 53. Further, the color image data read from the system memory 58 is transmitted to an external computer via the USB interface 59 in accordance with control from the CPU 53.

As described above, in the multi-function device 50 including the inexpensive CODEC 56 for encoding monochrome image data to be transmitted by facsimile communication, the image data to be transmitted to an external computer without being encoded is stored in the CODEC 56. By providing a configuration in which the system memory 58 is stored via the interface 57 without inputting, it is not necessary to provide a CODEC corresponding to the color image data, and the cost of the multi-function device 50 can be reduced. The following Patent Document 1 discloses an apparatus having a configuration for performing an encoding process on input data and outputting the data, and a configuration for allowing the input data to pass through as it is.
JP-A-11-55716

  In the above-described multi-function device 50, it is possible to realize an inexpensive multi-function device 50 by including only the CODEC 56 for monochrome image data. There is a need. On the other hand, the CODEC 56 is configured to perform a predetermined encoding process on input data. A mode for executing the encoding process and a mode for not executing the encoding process can be provided. When a CODEC provided with a mode in which processing is not executed is used, it is possible to output image data input to the CODEC as it is, so that the CODEC can be operated as a through path. Therefore, when such a CODEC is used, the interface 57 for connecting the system bus 51 and the image bus 52 becomes unnecessary, and there is a problem that the circuit scale increases due to such an unnecessary circuit.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances. When the acquired image data is monochrome image data, the encoding means for encoding the monochrome image data acquires the acquired image data as color image data. In this case, by passing through the color image data without encoding, the monochrome image data to be encoded and the color image data that does not need to be encoded can be processed through the same path. An object is to provide an apparatus.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention is connected to an acquisition unit that acquires image data via a first bus, and is connected to an output unit that outputs image data to the outside via a second bus. In an image processing apparatus comprising a control means for controlling the operation of an encoding means, a first memory for storing image data obtained by the obtaining means is provided on the first bus, and image data to be output by the output means. A second memory for storing is provided on each of the second buses, and the control means selects a monochrome image or a color reading of the original image, and monochrome reading by the selection means. If you choose to, said encoding means, the encoding process is run for the first image data stored in the memory, and means for storing in said second memory, said If you choose to color reading at-option means, said encoding means, a means for directly stored in the second memory without executing an encoding process on the image data stored in said first memory It is characterized by providing.

In the case of the present invention, when the monochrome image data is acquired by the acquisition unit, the control unit causes the encoding unit to execute the encoding process on the acquired image data, and when the acquisition unit acquires the color image data. , by through without an encoding process on image data obtained can be processed through a monochrome image data to be encoded, the same path and unnecessary color image data to be encoded. Further, it is not necessary to separately provide an interface for passing through color image data that does not need to be encoded.

That is, since color image data can be passed through an inexpensive CODEC for monochrome image data, it is not necessary to separately provide an interface for passing color image data that does not need to be encoded.

The image processing apparatus according to the present invention, prior SL via a first bus, a first bus controller for controlling the transfer to the encoding means of the image data sent from the acquisition unit via the second bus And a second bus controller for controlling transfer of the image data sent from the encoding means to the output means.

According to the present invention, controls the transfer to the encoding means of the image data acquisition means has transmitted to acquire images data by the first bus controller, transfer to the output means of the image data coding means is sent Is controlled by the second bus controller, data transfer processing via the first bus and the second bus can be performed independently, and high-speed data transfer processing can be realized.

  According to the present invention, when monochrome image data is acquired and the first condition is selected, the encoding unit performs an encoding process on the acquired monochrome image data, and color image data is acquired to obtain the second condition. Is selected, the encoding means passes through the acquired color image data without performing the encoding process, so that the monochrome image data to be encoded and the color image data that does not need to be encoded are It is possible to transfer in the same path via the encoding means, and it is not necessary to provide an interface for passing through color image data that does not need to be encoded, and unnecessary circuits can be reduced. Further, by controlling the transfer processing for inputting the acquired image data to the encoding means and the transfer processing for inputting the image data sent from the encoding means to the output means, respectively, by using different controllers, the respective data Transfer processing can be performed at high speed.

  Hereinafter, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating an embodiment of a multifunction machine. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a multifunction peripheral according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 3 denotes a multifunction peripheral as an image processing apparatus according to the present invention. The multi-function device 3 includes a CPU 10 that controls the operation of the entire apparatus. The CPU 10 controls the following hardware components that make up the multi-function device 3 connected via a system bus (second bus) 1. is doing. In addition to the CPU 10, the system bus 1 includes a ROM 11, a RAM 12, a CODEC 13, a system memory 14, a USB interface 15 for connecting to an external computer, an NCU 16, a modem 17, a display unit 18, an operation unit 19, a recording unit 20, and the like. Is connected.

  The ROM 11 stores various control programs necessary for the operation of the multifunction machine 3 in advance. The RAM 12 is configured by SRAM, flash memory, or the like, and temporarily stores data generated when the control program is executed by the CPU 10. The modem 17 is a fax modem capable of facsimile communication, and is directly connected to the NCU 16. The NCU 16 is connected to the public telephone line network L, connects the modem 17 to the public telephone line network L as necessary, and performs facsimile communication with other facsimile apparatuses via the public telephone line network L. It is possible.

  The display unit 18 is configured by a liquid crystal display (LCD) or the like, and displays the operation status of the multifunction machine 3, data to be notified to the user, characters input from the operation unit 19, and the like. The operation unit 19 is a numeric keypad necessary for operating the multifunction device 3, for example, a fax button when using the multifunction device 3 as a facsimile device, a scanner button when using the multifunction device 3 as a scanner, and various functions. Keys are provided. In addition, it is also possible to substitute a part or all of the various keys of the operation unit 19 by using the display unit 18 of a touch panel type. The recording unit 20 is, for example, an electrophotographic printer device, and an image based on the image data stored in the system memory 14 is displayed as a hard copy in A3 portrait, B4 portrait, A4 portrait, B5 landscape, A5 landscape, etc. The optimum size is selected from the recording paper or OHP (Over Head Projector) sheet.

  Here, the CODEC 13 is also connected to an image bus (first bus) 2, and a scanner unit 21 and an image memory 22 that stores image data read by the scanner unit 21 are connected to the image bus 2. ing. The scanner unit 21 operates as an acquisition unit that acquires an image data by reading a document with a scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device), for example, and temporarily acquires the acquired image data via the image bus 2. Remember me. The scanner unit 21 in the multifunction machine 3 according to the present embodiment reads a document image as monochrome image data and acquires a monochrome binary data, and reads the document image as color image data. And a color reading unit 21b for acquiring data.

  The image memory 22 is composed of a DRAM or the like, temporarily stores image data read by the monochrome reading unit 21a or the color reading unit 21b, and reads the stored image data to the CODEC 13 at a predetermined timing. . The CODEC 13 operates as an encoding unit that performs encoding processing on input monochrome image data (binary data), and encodes image data read from the image memory 22 according to control from the CPU 10, or The data is stored in the system memory 14 via the system bus 1 without being encoded. The system memory 14 is composed of a DRAM or the like, and stores image data acquired from the CODEC 13 via the system bus 1. The CODEC 13 encodes monochrome binary data by a method such as MH, MR, MMR, JBIG, or the like.

  In the MFP 3 configured as described above, when the user performs facsimile communication using the MFP 3 as a facsimile apparatus, the user places a document on a predetermined document placement table (not shown), Operate the button. In this case, the multifunction machine 3 reads the original image as monochrome image data by the monochrome reading unit 21a of the scanner unit 21, and stores the uncompressed monochrome image data (binary data) temporarily stored in the image memory 22 in the CODEC 13. Are encoded and stored in the system memory 14. The encoded monochrome image data read from the system memory 14 according to the control from the CPU 10 is transmitted to an external facsimile apparatus by facsimile communication using the modem 17 and the NCU 16 as output means.

  On the other hand, when the user uses the multifunction machine 3 as a scanner and transfers the read image data serially or in parallel to an external computer, the user places a document on a predetermined document table and operates the scanner button of the operation unit 19. To do. In this case, the multifunction machine 3 reads the original image as color image data by the color reading unit 21b of the scanner unit 21, and stores the uncompressed color image data (multi-valued data) once stored in the image memory 22 in the CODEC 13. Thus, the data is stored in the system memory 14 in an uncompressed state without being encoded. Further, unencoded color image data read from the system memory 14 according to the control from the CPU 10 is transmitted to an external computer using the USB interface 15 as an output unit. When the monochrome image data read from the document image is used by an external computer, the monochrome image data read by the monochrome reading unit 21a is stored in the system memory 14 without being encoded by the CODEC 13, and the USB is read. What is necessary is just to transmit to the external computer from the interface 15.

  Here, as described above, for example, the CPU 10 performs the first reading condition (first reading condition) for reading the document image by the monochrome reading unit 21a based on the operation of a predetermined button (fax button or scanner button) of the operation unit 19 by the user. 1 condition) or a second reading condition (second condition) for reading a document image by the color reading unit 21b, and the image data read from the image memory 22 according to the selected reading condition is CODEC13. It operates as a control means for controlling whether or not to encode. Specifically, the CPU 10 inputs to the CODEC 13 an instruction signal indicating whether or not to instruct the image data read from the image memory 22 to execute the encoding process. The CODEC 13 follows the instruction signal from the CPU 10. It is determined whether or not to perform the encoding process, and the encoding process is performed on the image data to be subjected to the encoding process.

  The multifunction machine 3 of the present embodiment includes a DMA controller (second bus controller) 1a for performing DMA transfer processing in the system bus 1 incorporated in the CODEC 13, and the DMA controller 1a is provided from the CPU 10. By acquiring the right to use the system bus 1, data transfer via the system bus 1 can be performed at high speed. Also in the image bus 2, the scanner unit 21 includes a bus controller (first bus controller) 2 a for controlling the bus right during data transfer processing transferred via the image bus 2. By this bus controller 2a, data transfer processing via the image bus 2 can be performed efficiently.

  In the following, a process of transmitting image data read from a document image by the scanner unit 21 to the outside in the multifunction machine 3 having the above-described configuration will be described. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing a transmission processing procedure by the multifunction machine 3 according to the present invention. In the multifunction machine 3, when a document is set on a predetermined document placement table and a predetermined button of the operation unit 19 is operated, the CPU 10 uses one of the monochrome reading unit 21 a or the color reading unit 21 b of the scanner unit 21. Image data is read from the image, and the read image data is stored in the image memory 22 in an uncompressed state via the image bus 2 (S1). Specifically, when the fax button of the operation unit 19 is operated (when monochrome fax transmission is instructed), the CPU 10 reads the original image as monochrome image data by the monochrome reading unit 21a of the scanner unit 21. When the scanner button of the operation unit 19 is operated (when color scanning is instructed), the original image is read as color image data by the color reading unit 21 b of the scanner unit 21 and stored in the image memory 22. Let

  Next, the CPU 10 determines whether or not the monochrome image reading process has been executed in step S1 (S2). If the monochrome image reading process has been executed (S2: YES), the CODEC 13 performs the encoding process. An instruction signal for instructing execution is input, and uncompressed monochrome image data read from the image memory 22 is encoded by the CODEC 13 and stored in the system memory 14 in a compressed state (S3). Further, the CPU 10 reads the image data (compressed data) stored in the system memory 14 and transmits the read image data to the designated destination facsimile apparatus by facsimile communication via the modem 17 and the NCU 16 ( S4).

  On the other hand, when the monochrome image reading process is not executed in step S2 (S2: NO), that is, when the color image reading process is executed, the CPU 10 instructs the CODEC 13 not to execute the encoding process. A signal is input, that is, an instruction signal for instructing the CODEC 13 to pass through the image data is input, and the uncompressed color image data read from the image memory 22 is directly encoded without being encoded by the CODEC 13. It is stored in the system memory 14 (S5). Further, the CPU 10 reads out uncompressed color image data from the system memory 14 and transfers the read-out image data serially or in parallel to a computer connected via the USB interface 15 (S6).

  In the above-described processing, the system bus 1 in the transfer processing for transferring the image data output from the CODEC 13 to the system memory 14 and the transfer processing for transferring the image data read from the system memory 14 to the modem 17 or the USB interface 15. By controlling the bus right from the CPU 10 by the DMA controller 1a that has acquired the right to use the system bus 1, high-speed data transfer processing can be executed. Also in the image bus 2, the image bus 2 in the transfer process for transferring the image data read by the scanner unit 21 to the image memory 22 and the transfer process for transferring the image data read from the image memory 22 to the CODEC 13. High-speed data transfer processing can be executed by controlling the bus right by the bus controller 2a.

  As described above, color image data that cannot be encoded by the monochrome CODEC 13 is stored in the system memory 14 through the CODEC 13 that connects the system bus 1 and the image bus 2, so that it is necessary to encode the image data ( The CODEC 13 can process monochrome image data for fax transmission) and image data that does not need to be encoded (color image data that is serially or parallel transferred to an external computer) via the same path. It is not necessary to provide a separate interface for passing through unencoded image data, and unnecessary circuits can be reduced.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a multifunction machine according to the present invention. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a transmission processing procedure by the multifunction peripheral according to the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structural example of the conventional image processing apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

1 System bus (second bus)
2 Image bus (1st bus)
3 MFP (image processing device)
10 CPU (selection means, control means)
13 CODEC (encoding means)
21 Scanner section (acquisition means)
1a DMA controller (second bus controller)
2a Bus controller (first bus controller)

Claims (2)

Control for controlling the operation of the monochrome encoding means connected to the acquisition means for acquiring the image data via the first bus and connected to the output means for outputting the image data to the outside via the second bus. In an image processing apparatus comprising means,
A first memory for storing image data acquired by the acquisition unit is provided on the first bus, and a second memory for storing image data output by the output unit is provided on the second bus. And
The control means includes
Selecting means for selecting whether to scan the original image in monochrome or color;
Means for causing the encoding means to execute an encoding process on the image data stored in the first memory and storing it in the second memory when the selection means selects monochrome reading ;
Means for causing the encoding means to store the image data stored in the first memory as it is in the second memory without executing the encoding process when the selection means selects color reading; An image processing apparatus comprising: A first bus controller for controlling the transfer of image data sent from the acquisition means to the encoding means via the first bus;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a second bus controller that controls transfer of image data sent from the encoding unit to the output unit via the second bus.

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