JP3960136B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus that performs signal processing and image processing including transmission of an optical signal through an optical transmission medium.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In image processing apparatuses that handle digital signals, such as digital copying machines, various image processing apparatuses that synthesize and output a plurality of images have been proposed. For example, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-308508, one or more original images are stored in a storage unit as a background pattern, and the background pattern is input as a format image from an image input unit such as a scanner. There has been proposed an image processing apparatus that combines with a document image and outputs the combined result by output means. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-23438 has proposed an image processing apparatus that synthesizes an image input from a scanner and an image input from an external device such as a computer. Further, in the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-22568, when a confidential document is distributed as a conference material or the like, different characters such as serial numbers are printed on a plurality of copies of the same manuscript, and the combination of the recipient and the character An apparatus has been proposed that keeps secrets and keeps secret information by ascertaining the source of the leakage. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-18767 discloses an image processing apparatus that selects a desired one from a plurality of types of pre-registered stamp images and prints the selected stamp image superimposed on a read image. Has been proposed.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above conventional technique, the circuit for synthesizing the input image such as the original image and the other input image such as the format image, the character, or the stamp image is composed of a logic circuit, so that the signal speed can be increased. As a result, generation of electromagnetic noise (EMI) becomes a problem. Further, every time the number of image input means to be connected increases, a large number of connection connectors and harnesses are required, which raises a problem of an increase in the cost of the connection means. Furthermore, as the number of connected image input devices increases, the circuit scale of the circuit that performs synthesis increases.
[0004]
In view of the above circumstances, the present invention provides a low-cost image processing apparatus that reduces electromagnetic noise and does not increase the circuit scale while speeding up signals when image processing is performed using an optical transmission method. Objective.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention combines an input image data to synthesize a plurality of images and outputs image data based on an electrical signal corresponding to the synthesized image. In It is one of an optical coupler that transmits an optical signal and an optical sheet medium that is formed into a sheet and transmits an optical signal, Input from each of multiple image data sources Represents the pixel location and density on the image A transmission medium for synthesizing a plurality of images by optical calculation for synthesizing each of the image data based on the plurality of input optical signals, and a combined image obtained by synthesizing the images by the transmission medium. And an optical signal receiving means for transmitting the received optical signal to an image output device for converting the received optical signal into image data by an electrical signal and outputting the image data as image data. And
[0006]
In the present invention, the image processing apparatus combines a plurality of images by combining the input image data, and outputs image data based on an electrical signal corresponding to the combined image. In the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, a plurality of images are synthesized by optical computation that synthesizes image data based on optical signals input from each of a plurality of image data sources in a transmission medium. In the transmission medium, the optical signal from the image data source may be input from a transmission path such as an optical fiber connected to a combining unit that combines image data based on the input optical signal. Further, an optical signal may be input directly to the transmission medium. The optical signal synthesized by the optical calculation is received by the optical signal receiving means, and at the same time, the received optical signal is converted into image data by an electrical signal. Image data corresponding to the combined image of the optical signals combined by this optical calculation is transmitted to the image output device.
[0007]
As a result, even if the signal speed is increased, computation by image processing can be achieved by optical computation using an optical signal, so that generation of electromagnetic noise can be suppressed, and the circuit scale can be increased even if the number of connected image data sources increases. Is not increased, and an increase in cost can be suppressed.
[0008]
As the transmission medium, any one of an optical coupler that transmits an optical signal and an optical sheet medium that is formed in a sheet shape and transmits an optical signal can be adopted. By adopting either one of the optical coupler and the optical sheet medium, the optical signal is optically calculated only by being propagated through the optical coupler or the optical sheet medium, thereby simplifying the synthesis process as image processing.
[0009]
The transmission medium is a predetermined part of the synthesis process. The light calculation is not limited to being applied to all image processing, and can be applied to part of the processing. For example, it is possible to adopt the optical calculation only for processing with a large calculation load. By doing in this way, the freedom degree of the application range of image processing can be increased.
[0010]
The image data represents pixel positions and densities on the image. Some image data represents an image in units of pixels, that is, so-called bitmap data representing the position and density of a pixel on the image, and some represents the image by the image data itself by processing the entire image. In this case, by representing the position and density of the pixel on the image, the image data can be synthesized in units of pixels, and a plurality of images can be processed by simple synthesis in units of pixels.
[0011]
The image output apparatus may employ a printing apparatus that prints an image based on the image data. In the printing apparatus, there is a case where image processing for inserting and printing an insertion image or a format image is executed as the preceding processing. Therefore, by adopting a printing device as the image output device, it is possible to synthesize a plurality of images with the printed matter that is the output, and it is possible to synthesize and print a user-specified or predetermined image. .
[0012]
At least one of the image data sources can include an optical signal transmission unit that converts image data input as an electrical signal into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal.
[0013]
In the image processing apparatus, a plurality of images can be combined by image processing such as combining image data based on input electrical signals, and image data based on electrical signals corresponding to the combined images can be output. Therefore, a plurality of optical signal transmission means are provided. Each of the optical signal transmitting means converts image data based on an electrical signal input from an image data source such as an image input device for inputting image data based on an electrical signal into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal. As a result, at least one electrical signal input as image data is transmitted as an optical signal in the optical signal transmission means, and a plurality of images are synthesized by an optical operation for synthesizing the plurality of optical signals by the transmission medium.
[0014]
As a result, even if the electrical signal speeds up, the calculation by image processing can be achieved by the optical calculation by the optical signal, so it is possible to suppress the generation of electromagnetic noise, and the circuit even if the number of connected image input means increases The scale does not increase and the increase in cost can be suppressed.
[0015]
At least one of the image data sources can use an image reading device that converts a document image into image data based on an electrical signal using a photoelectric conversion element in order to convert the document image into a digital image. As an example of the image reading apparatus, there is an apparatus that converts a document image into a digital image using a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD, and processing for easily combining the digital image that has been read and converted can be performed.
[0016]
At least one of the image data sources may employ a controller device that is connected to a network configured to exchange image data and that performs at least one process of editing, processing, and storing image data. As a device that requests image processing, there is a controller device that edits or processes image data and stores the result. If this controller device is used as an image data source, it is possible to easily perform image processing, which is composition processing. This controller device includes a controller device that receives image data handled by a personal computer or the like via a network and edits, processes, and stores the image data.
[0017]
At least one of the image data sources can use an image storage device that stores image data in a storage means. For example, by employing an image storage device that stores image data using a storage unit such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory, the image data can be easily taken out and stored.
[0018]
At least one of the image data sources can employ a facsimile apparatus that outputs communication data received from a communication line as electronic image data as image data. A facsimile apparatus is an apparatus that receives and transmits an image via a communication line. By adding another image, for example, a format image, to the image to be received or transmitted, an added value can be added to the image to be received or transmitted.
[0019]
At least one of the image data sources is at least one image processing block that outputs image data based on electrical signals among a plurality of image processing blocks that perform image processing on image data based on electrical signals. The image data source is not limited to one device. That is, one image processing block when image processing is classified into a plurality of functions can be associated. Thereby, the optical calculation can be adopted for any arbitrary image processing block among the plurality of image processing blocks.
[0020]
A plurality of the image processing blocks are provided as the image data source, and the plurality of image processing blocks are image processing blocks having the same image processing function and executing different image processing with different operation parameters. . Even if the image processing block has the same function, different image processing may be performed by changing the operation parameter. Therefore, the degree of freedom of image processing can be increased by associating image processing blocks having the same image processing function and executing different image processing with different operation parameters with the image data source.
[0021]
A plurality of the image processing blocks are provided as the image data source, and the plurality of image processing blocks are image processing blocks having different image processing functions. Image processing apparatuses often have different image processing functions. Therefore, by combining an image processing block that executes different image processing functions with an image data source, it is possible to perform composition by arbitrary image processing.
[0022]
The image output device is an image processing block that performs image processing on image data based on electrical signals. The image data obtained by combining as described above is not limited to a device that only outputs an image, and may be processed further downstream. Therefore, by using an image processing block as the image output device, it is possible to easily transmit image data to downstream processing.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0024]
[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an image system 10 including an image processing apparatus using an optical transmission medium according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0025]
The image system 10 includes a plurality of image input devices (image data sources) 12A to 12N of the same type or different types for inputting image data, and the plurality of image input devices 12A to 12N are connected to the image processing device 14. It is connected. The image processing apparatus 14 includes an optical signal transmitter 16, a sheet-like optical transmission medium 22, and an optical signal receiver 28. The optical signal transmission unit 16 includes optical signal transmission units 16A to 16N corresponding to the number including at least the number of inputs of the plurality of image input devices 12A to 12N, and the optical signals from these optical signal transmission units 16A to 16N Are combined in the optical transmission medium 22 and supplied to the optical signal receiver 28. The optical signal receiving unit 28 is connected to an image output device 34 for outputting image data.
[0026]
Examples of the image input device include an image reading device such as a scanner that reads an image of a document and outputs image data, an image receiving device such as a facsimile device that receives an image as image data and outputs the image data, There is a calculation processing device such as a computer that outputs stored or received image data. Examples of the image output apparatus include an image forming apparatus that forms an image based on image data, such as a printing apparatus or a printing apparatus, and an image transmission apparatus that transmits image data to another apparatus.
[0027]
In the present embodiment, image data is output as an electrical signal in the image input device, and the electrical signal is converted into an optical signal in the optical signal transmission unit and incident on the optical transmission medium. Is not limited to this. For example, an image data source that directly emits an optical signal may be used as the image input device. That is, the image input device is not limited to outputting image data as an electrical signal, but may function as an image data source that outputs image data as an optical signal. In this case, in order to input an optical signal from the image data source to the optical transmission medium, an input unit (a transmission node to be described later) may be directly provided in the optical transmission medium, and an optical transmission line such as an optical fiber is provided in the optical transmission medium. May be connected to form an input unit (an optical transmission line connected to a transmission node described later).
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 2, the image processing apparatus 14 includes an optical signal transmission unit 16, an optical transmission medium 22, and an optical signal reception unit 28. On one end face of the optical transmission medium 22 (left end face in FIG. 2), there are formed a plurality of transmission nodes 24A to 24N, which are areas responsible for incidence of signal light to be input to the optical transmission medium 22. On the other end face of the transmission medium 22 (right end face in FIG. 2), a reception node 26 that is an area responsible for emission of signal light to be output from the optical transmission medium 22 is formed. Each of the plurality of transmission nodes 24A to 24N corresponds to each of the optical signal transmission units 16A to 16N, and the reception node 26 corresponds to the optical signal reception unit 28. As a result, the image data from the image input device 12 is changed from an electrical signal to an optical signal by the optical signal transmission unit, and after being transmitted through the optical transmission medium 22, is converted from the optical signal to the electrical signal by the optical signal reception unit 28. The image is output to the image output device 34.
[0029]
Each of the optical signal transmission units 16A to 16N includes transmission circuits 18A to 18N and light emitters 20A to 20N. The optical signal transmission unit 16A generates an optical signal and enters the optical signal into the optical transmission medium 22 from the corresponding transmission node 24A. Optical Signal Transmitter Optical signal transmitter 16A includes a light emitter 20A that emits an optical signal and a transmission circuit 18A that generates an electrical signal that is a basis of the optical signal emitted from the light emitter 20A and transmits the electrical signal to the light emitter 20A. I have. The optical signal emitted from the light emitter 20A enters the optical transmission medium 22 from the transmission node 24A, propagates through the optical transmission medium 22, and exits from the reception node 26. An optical signal receiving unit 28 is provided corresponding to the receiving node 26. The optical signal receiver 28 includes a light receiver 30 that converts an optical signal emitted from the reception node 26 into an electric signal, and a receiving circuit 32 that outputs the electric signal converted by the light receiver 30 to the image output device 34. Yes. As a result, the optical signal incident on the light receiver 30 of the optical signal receiving unit 28 is converted into an electric signal, and is output to the subsequent image output device 34 by the receiving circuit 32.
[0030]
In the above description, the optical signal emitted from the light emitter 20A does not refer to the path to the transmission node 24A, but may be coupled directly or connected via an optical connector. Moreover, you may connect using the fiber transmission line provided with the optical connector. The path between the reception node 26 and the light receiver 30 is the same. In addition, since it is the same also about each of the other optical signal transmission parts 16B-16N, description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0031]
The image system 10 includes a plurality of image input devices 12, an optical signal transmission unit 16, a transmission circuit 18, a light emitter 20, and a transmission node 24. In the description of the present embodiment, an arbitrary one is provided. The symbols A to N may be omitted when referring to or generically, and when referring to any one, the symbol i (any one of A to N is substituted for the symbols A to N). In some cases, j (i ≠ j: any one of A to N) is used when referring to the other.
[0032]
FIG. 3 shows an example of an image reading device that reads an image on a document as the image input device 12. The image reading device 35 reads an image on a document and converts it into digital data for output. The image reading device 35 includes a CCD sensor 40 that is a photoelectric conversion element for reading an image on a document. The CCD sensor 40 is connected to a CCD interface circuit (CCD I / F) 42. The CCD interface circuit 42 includes an analog / digital converter (A / D converter) 44, a shading correction circuit 46, a digital filter 48, an enlargement / reduction circuit 50, an AE adjustment circuit 52, a TRC correction circuit 54, a binarization circuit 56, and The output interface circuit (output I / F) 58 is connected to output image data. The image reading device 35 also includes a CPU 36 and a timing generator 38. The CPU 36 and the timing generator 38 receive triggers for sending / receiving commands and data and adjusting timing to the CCD interface circuit 42 to the output interface circuit 58, respectively. They are connected by an address bus and a data bus so that input / output is possible.
[0033]
In the image reading device 35, the image on the document is converted into an analog electric signal by the CCD sensor 40. In general, the CCD sensor 40 outputs two-channel analog signals (EVEN, ODD) of odd pixels and even pixels in order to increase the processing speed. Although not shown, the CCD interface circuit 42 includes a sample hold circuit, an analog amplifier, and a synthesis circuit (analog switch). In the CCD interface circuit 42, an extraneous harmonic component such as a reset signal noise is removed by a built-in sample and hold circuit, and then the analog signals of the odd and even pixels amplified by the analog amplifier are converted into one signal by the analog switch. Are combined and output.
[0034]
Further, the CCD interface circuit 42 is not affected by variations in the amount of illumination light, CCD sensor sensitivity, circuit gain, etc. for each image reading device 35, deterioration with time of the illumination lamp, and changes over time such as dirt in the apparatus. In order to effectively use the conversion range of the A / D converter 44 at the next stage, an auto gain control circuit (AGC circuit) (not shown) is used to precisely adjust the black output of the CCD sensor 40 to a constant level. An auto offset control circuit (AOC circuit) is provided. The analog signal output from the CCD interface circuit 42 is converted into a digital signal by the A / D converter 44 and output to the digital signal processing unit after the shading correction circuit 46.
[0035]
The shading correction circuit 46 corrects the non-uniformity of the light amount distribution of the optical imaging system, the non-uniformity of the pixel sensitivity of the CCD sensor 40, the non-uniformity of the dark current of the CCD sensor 40, and the like. In the digital filter 48, edge enhancement processing is performed in order to increase the sharpness of the character image, and smoothing processing is performed in order to prevent moire of the halftone photographic image. That is, the digital filter 48 performs processing for improving image quality according to the input image.
[0036]
The enlargement / reduction circuit 50 is a circuit that enlarges or reduces the size of the read image to a size required by the output destination, and performs an instruction from the user or automatic enlargement / reduction processing. For example, enlargement / reduction processing is executed according to an instruction within a predetermined range (for example, a range of 25% to 400%) according to a user's instruction, or a document size and a size required for an output destination (for example, a paper size such as a printer) The enlargement / reduction processing is executed by automatically obtaining the enlargement / reduction ratio (for example, 25% to 400%) from the relationship.
[0037]
The AE adjustment circuit 52 is a circuit that executes processing such as removing the influence of the background density of the document. For example, the AE adjustment circuit 52 performs a process for making the characters of a newspaper original easy to read, that is, a process for setting the background density to white when the background portion is not white, such as a newspaper original. The TRC correction circuit 54 performs correction to make the output gradation characteristic of the output destination, for example, the image output device 34 linear. As an example, the TRC correction circuit 54 performs correction so that the output gradation characteristic becomes linear when the output gradation characteristic of the image output device 34 such as a printer is not linear. Further, the TRC correction circuit 54 can execute tone curve correction processing so that the character image becomes clearer and the photographic image becomes richer in gradation according to the type of document. .
[0038]
The binarization circuit 56 is a circuit that converts multi-value image data into binary image data. For example, image data that has been 8-bit multi-value converted into 1-bit binary image data by processing such as an error diffusion method. Circuit. The output interface circuit 58 is an interface circuit that exchanges a synchronization signal with each device according to the output destination of the image reading device 35, that is, the transmission destination of image data such as an image output device or an image storage device, and outputs the image data. is there.
[0039]
FIG. 4 shows an example of an image storage device that can be applied as the image input device 12 and can be connected to the image reading device of FIG. In the example of FIG. 4, the image storage device 60 stores the image data read from the image reading device 35 in the page memory 66. The image storage device 60 includes a CPU 62, a timing generator 64, a page memory 66, a page memory controller 68, an input interface circuit (input I / F) 70, and an output interface circuit (output I / F) 72.
[0040]
The image storage device 60 is used to store one or several original images. The image data input to the image storage device 60 is controlled in address by the page memory controller 68 and written in the page memory 66, and the address is controlled by the page memory controller 68 to transfer the image data from the page memory 66. Reading is performed and output to another device.
[0041]
As other functions using the page memory 66, for example, an image rotation function for rotating an image by a fixed angle such as 90 ° / 180 ° / 270 ° rotation, or any m original images on one sheet of paper. There is a function to print in batch.
[0042]
Next, with reference to FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, an operation when image data is captured and stored in the image storage device 60 from the image reading device 35 configured as described above will be described. In the present embodiment, there are four types of synchronization signals exchanged between the image reading device 35 and the image storage device 60: an nPage Req signal, an nLine Req signal, an nValid signal, and a VCLK signal.
[0043]
First, in order to synchronize in the sub scanning direction, the image storage device (page memory) 60 synchronizes with the falling of the nLine Req signal and the nLine Req signal (state t1 in FIG. 6) from the image reading device 35. The nPage Req signal that becomes active is output. The nPage Req signal becomes active during a period in which the image data is valid in the sub-scanning direction, and changes from a high level signal (hereinafter, High) to a low level signal (hereinafter, Low).
[0044]
Further, since the nLine Req signal is used only for synchronization between the image reading device 35 and the image storage device 60, it does not necessarily need to match the range of effective image data. In response to this operation, an nValid signal is output from the image reading device 35 to the image storage device 60. Further, the image reading device 35 outputs a VCLK signal for synchronizing the main examination direction and image data (VDATA) synchronized with the rise of this signal (state t2 in FIG. 7).
[0045]
At this time, the nValid signal is synchronized with the rising edge of the VCLK signal (state t3 in FIG. 7) like the image data, and the active period changed from High to Low indicates the effective range of the image data. By exchanging the synchronization signal and the image data as described above, it is possible to store the format image for the template to be combined from the image reading device 35 to the image storage device 60.
[0046]
Next, an operation when image data is simultaneously transferred from the image reading device 35 and the image storage device 60 to the image output device 34 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the present embodiment, there are three types of synchronization signals exchanged between the image reading device 35 and the image storage device 60 including the page memory and the image output device 34: a page sync signal, a line sync signal, and a VCLK signal. is there.
[0047]
Here, the output side of the image reading device 35 is connected to the optical signal transmission unit 16i, and the output side of the image storage device 60 is connected to the optical signal transmission unit 16j. The image signals input to the optical signal transmitter 16 i and the optical signal transmitter 16 j are combined by the optical transmission medium 22 and output from the optical signal receiver 28 to the image output device 34. The image output device 34 includes an input interface circuit (input I / F) 74 and a timing generator 76, and inputs image data from the optical signal receiver 28 through the input interface circuit 74 while being synchronized by the timing generator 76.
[0048]
First, in order to synchronize in the sub-scanning direction, the image output device 34 to the image reading device 35 and the image storage device 60 are synchronized with the fall of the Line Sync signal and the Line Sync signal (state t4 in FIG. 9). The Page Sync signal that becomes active is output.
[0049]
At this time, the Page Sync signal becomes active and changes from Low to High during a period in which the image data is valid in the sub-scanning direction. The Line Sync signal synchronizes between the image reading device 35 and the image storage device 60 and the image output device 34 (synchronized with the fall of the VCLK signal (state t5) in FIG. 10) and changes from Low to High. The range of image data effective in the changed active period is shown. Further, a VCLK signal that synchronizes in the main scanning direction is output from the image output device 34 to the image reading device 35 and the image storage device 60.
[0050]
In accordance with this operation, the image reading device 35 and the image storage device 60 synchronize with the rising edge of the VCLK signal (state t6 in FIG. 10) delayed by 1/2 clock from the rising edge of the Line Sync signal. In addition, image data (VDATA1 and VDATA2) having this pixel as the first pixel of the effective image data is output. At this time, the Line Sync signal is synchronized with the falling edge of the VCLK signal (state t7 in FIG. 10) like the image data, and the active period changed from High to Low indicates the effective range of the image data. By exchanging the synchronization signal and the image data, the image data can be transferred from the image reading device 35 and the image storage device 60 to the image output device 34 at the same time.
[0051]
Next, the image data (VDATA1) output from the image reading device 35 and the image data (VDATA2) output from the image storage device 60 are combined via the optical transmission medium 22 with reference to FIGS. The operation until the image data is taken into the image output device 34 will be described.
[0052]
Image data (VDATA1) output from the image reading device 35 in synchronization with the VCLK signal output from the image output device 34, and similarly image data (VDATA2) output from the image storage device 60 in synchronization with the VCLK signal. Are converted from electrical signals into optical signals in the optical signal transmitters 16i and 16j, respectively, and emitted from the corresponding transmission nodes 24i and 24j into the optical transmission medium 22.
[0053]
As shown in FIG. 12 (combined VDATA), the optical signals respectively emitted into the optical transmission medium 22 are combined into optical signals and output from the reception node 26 to the optical signal receiving unit 28. The synthesized image data (synthesized VDATA) converted from the optical signal to the electrical signal by the light receiver 30 in the optical signal receiving unit 28 is binarized by the receiving circuit 32 and sent to the image output device 34. At this time, the light intensity when the image data (VDATA1) output from the image reading device 35 and the image data (VDATA2) output from the image storage device 60 are converted into optical signals by the optical signal transmission units 16i and 16j, respectively. May be of any strength. Then, when binarization is performed by the receiving circuit 32, it is possible to binarize the synthesized optical signal by using the threshold Th having a small value among the thresholds necessary for binarizing each optical signal. . The composite image data sent to the image output device 34 is latched by the VCLK signal in the input interface circuit 74 and sent to the next processing unit in the image output device 34.
[0054]
FIG. 13 shows a format image G1 to be combined with another image and output from the image reading device 35, temporarily stored in the image storage device 60, and then an image G2 read from the image reading device 35. It is an example which showed each image G1, G2, G3 when the synthesized image G3 obtained by the synthesis | combination is output from the image output apparatus 34. FIG.
[0055]
In FIG. 14, data such as “prohibited copying” and “circulation warning” that are built in in advance when outputting confidential documents are added, or information such as page numbers is added when outputting a large number of sheets. The image output device 34 outputs an image G6 obtained by combining the image G4 of the annotation image storage device 60 to which date information can be added and the image G5 read from the image reading device 35. It is an example which showed each image G4, G5, G6.
[0056]
FIG. 15 shows an example of the configuration of the image storage device 60 for enabling the annotation image shown in FIG. 14 to be added. Here, the image storage device 60 is an annotation memory for storing ready-made character strings such as “prohibited copying” and “circulation notice”, arbitrary character strings input by an operator from an operation panel (not shown), page numbers, and date information. 78, a memory controller 80 which is a controller for inputting / outputting corresponding data to / from the annotation memory 78, and a font ROM 82 which stores arbitrary fonts for character data. The font ROM 82 is connected to the CPU 62, and the memory controller 80 is connected to the annotation memory 78, the output interface circuit 72, the CPU 62, and the timing generator 64. The annotation memory 78 is also connected to the CPU 62 and the timing generator 64.
[0057]
In actual operation, in accordance with an instruction from an operation panel (not shown), necessary character string data is read from the font ROM 82 by the CPU 62, expanded, and written into the annotation memory 78. At the time of reading, unlike the time of writing, the address is controlled by the memory controller 80, the character string data is read from the memory controller 80, and is output to another device.
[0058]
FIG. 16 shows an example in which a hard disk 84 is provided as the image storage device 60 as a block diagram. The example of FIG. 16 shows an example of the image storage device 60 that stores the image data read from the image reading device 35 in the hard disk. The hard disk 84 is used for storing several to several tens of original images. Here, the image storage device 60 includes a hard disk 84 for storing image data, and a hard disk controller 86 that is a controller for inputting and outputting the corresponding image data to the hard disk 84. The hard disk controller 86 is connected to the CPU 62, hard disk 84, input interface circuit 70, output interface circuit 72, and timing generator 64.
[0059]
Other functions using the hard disk 84 include an electronic sort function that prints a plurality of sets (for example, N copies) collated in one original scan, and a signature function that creates a booklet. The image data input to the image storage device is written to the hard disk 84 by the hard disk controller 86 using a general-purpose transfer method such as Ultra ATA. Similarly, the image data of the image data is read from the hard disk 84 by the hard disk controller 86. Reading is performed and output to another device.
[0060]
Also, when an image is written to the hard disk 84, it can be performed after the image capacity is reduced by reducing the data capacity. In the present image storage device 60, similarly to the image storage device using the page memory, a format image desired to be combined with another image and output is read from the image reading device and temporarily stored. It can be used for the process shown in FIG. 13 in which the image read from the apparatus is combined with the image output from the image output apparatus.
[0061]
As an image input device that can be connected to the system of the present invention, in addition to the image reading device 35 and the image storage device 60 described above, image data handled by a personal computer or the like is received via a network or the like. In addition, there are controller devices that edit, process, and store, and FAX devices that transmit and receive image data via a telephone line or the like. By connecting the controller device, for example, arbitrary image data created by a personal computer or the like can be combined with image data of a document read by the image reading device without once printing and outputting on paper. Similarly, by connecting a FAX apparatus, it is possible to combine the received image data with the image data of the original read by the image reading apparatus without once printing and outputting the received arbitrary image data on paper.
[0062]
[Second Embodiment]
FIG. 17 shows a schematic configuration of an image system 11 including an image processing apparatus using an optical transmission medium according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The image system 11 according to the present embodiment is intended for smaller circuit blocks, ASICs, and the like such as the image reading device 35 and the image output device 34 of the image system 10 according to the above-described embodiment.
[0063]
The image system 11 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of circuit blocks 88A to 88N of the same type or different types for inputting image data, and the plurality of circuit blocks 88A to 88N are connected to the image processing device 14. ing. The image processing apparatus 14 includes an optical signal transmitter 16, a sheet-like optical transmission medium 22, and an optical signal receiver 28. The optical signal transmitter 16 includes optical signal transmitters 16A to 16N corresponding to the plurality of circuit blocks 88A to 88N. These optical signals are combined in the optical transmission medium 22 and supplied to the optical signal receiver 28. The optical signal receiving unit 28 is connected to a circuit block 90 for outputting image data.
[0064]
Thus, in this embodiment, since a small circuit block, ASIC, or the like can be used as the image input device or the image output device, a more compact circuit configuration can be realized.
[0065]
[Third Embodiment]
FIG. 18 shows a schematic configuration of an image system 11A including an image processing apparatus using an optical transmission medium according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the present invention is applied when image processing is performed using two digital filter circuits as an image input device.
[0066]
In the present embodiment, the first digital filter 91, the second digital filter 92, and the character photo separation circuit 94 are configured to output two types of image data as a part corresponding to the image input device. Yes. A downstream image processing block 96 is connected to the output side of the image processing apparatus 14.
[0067]
The first digital filter 91 is set with parameters so that optimum image processing is performed on the character image in the document, and the input image data is converted into the character designated by the character / photo separation circuit 94 described later. It is connected so as to output image data subjected to image processing to the image area to the optical signal transmitter 16A. The second digital filter 92 is set with parameters so that optimum image processing is performed on the photographic image in the document, and the input image data is converted into a photo designated by a character / photo separation circuit 94 described later. The image data processed for the image area is connected to be output to the optical signal transmitter 16B.
[0068]
The character / photo separation circuit 94 is connected to each of the first digital filter 91 and the second digital filter 92, and the character / photo separation circuit 94 separates the character image and the photographic image in the document from the input image data. I do. As a result of the separation, for example, an image area separation signal that is “L” level (LOW) in the character image area and “H” level (HIGH) in the photographic image area is output. This image area separation signal becomes the active signal of the first digital filter 91 and the second digital filter 92, and when it is at the “L” level, the first digital filter 91 becomes active and optimum processing is performed on the character image in the document. The performed image is output, and when it is at the “H” level, the second digital filter 92 is activated, and an image obtained by performing optimum processing on the photographic image in the document is output.
[0069]
In this case, the synchronization signal exchange between the first digital filter 91 and the second digital filter 92 and the subsequent image processing block 96 is similar to the above-described FIGS. 9 and 10 in that the Page Sync signal, the Line Sync signal, and the VCLK signal. It is performed by a method using three types. Since the image data is multi-value data composed of, for example, 8 bits, an optical signal combining block composed of an optical transmission medium, a plurality of optical signal transmission units, and an optical signal reception unit as shown in FIG. It can be.
[0070]
The present invention is not limited to the image processing apparatus 14 having such a stacked structure. That is, a single layer structure can also be used. In this case, it can be easily applied by converting the input 8-bit signal as a parallel signal, converting the parallel signal into a serial signal on the input side, and converting the serial signal into a parallel signal on the output side.
[0071]
Next, the operation of the image system 11A according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Here, the image data (VDATA 1) output from the first digital filter 91 and the image data (VDATA 2) output from the second digital filter 92 are combined via the optical transmission medium 22, and the subsequent image processing block 96. The operation until it is taken in is described. Note that the image data output from the first digital filter 91 and the second digital filter 92 will be described in the case of an 8-bit configuration. However, in order to simplify the following description, the description will be given focusing on the lowest bit 0.
[0072]
When the image area separation signal output from the character photo separation circuit 94 is at the “L” level, it indicates a character image area. Therefore, valid image data is output from the first digital filter 91, and from the second digital filter 92. “L” level image data is always output.
[0073]
On the other hand, when the image area separation signal from the character / photo separation circuit 94 is at the “H” level, it indicates a photographic image area, so that the first digital filter 91 always outputs “L” level image data, and the second digital Valid image data is output from the filter 92. It is assumed that the image area separation signal used at this time takes into account the delay amounts of the image data of the character / photo separation circuit 94, the first digital filter 91, and the second digital filter 92, respectively.
[0074]
Image data (VDATA1-bit0) output from the first digital filter 91 in synchronization with the VCLK signal output from the subsequent image processing block 96, and similarly output from the second digital filter 92 in synchronization with the VCLK signal. The image data (VDATA2-bit0) is converted from an electrical signal to an optical signal in the optical signal transmission units 16A and 16B, respectively, and emitted from the corresponding transmission nodes 24A and 24B into the optical transmission medium 22. The optical signals emitted into the optical transmission medium 22 are combined as shown in FIG. 20 and emitted from the receiving node 26 to the optical signal receiving unit 28.
[0075]
The synthesized image data (synthesized VDATA-bit0) converted from the optical signal to the electrical signal by the light receiver 30 in the optical signal receiving unit 28 is binarized by the receiving circuit 32 and sent to the image processing block 96 at the subsequent stage. At this time, the image data (VDATA1-bit0) output from the first digital filter 91 and the image data (VDATA2-bit0) output from the second digital filter 92 are converted into optical signals by the optical signal transmission unit, respectively. The light intensity may be any intensity.
[0076]
When binarization is performed by the receiving circuit 32, the combined optical signal can be binarized by using a threshold having a small value among the thresholds necessary for binarizing each optical signal. The composite image data sent to the subsequent image processing block 96 is used in the subsequent image processing block 96 after being latched by the VCLK signal.
[0077]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress the generation of electromagnetic noise even when the signal speed increases, and the circuit scale does not increase even if the number of connected image data sources increases. In addition, there is an effect that an increase in cost can be suppressed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a basic configuration for handling an optical signal.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an image reading apparatus that converts an image on a document into digital data.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an image storage device that stores image data in a page memory.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a flow of image data and a synchronization signal when image data is captured from the image reading apparatus to the image storage apparatus.
FIG. 6 is a timing chart of synchronization signals in the sub-scanning direction when image data is captured from the image reading apparatus to the image storage apparatus.
FIG. 7 is a timing chart of synchronization signals in the main scanning direction when image data is captured from the image reading apparatus to the image storage apparatus.
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a flow of image data and a synchronization signal when image data is combined via an optical transmission medium.
FIG. 9 is a timing chart of synchronization signals in the sub-scanning direction when image data is transferred from the image reading device and the image storage device to the image output device.
FIG. 10 is a timing chart of synchronization signals in the main scanning direction when image data is transferred from the image reading apparatus and the image storage apparatus to the image output apparatus.
FIG. 11 is a timing chart showing a flow when the image data from the image reading device and the image data from the image storage device are combined.
FIG. 12 is a signal diagram showing waveform data when two image data converted into optical signals in an optical transmission medium are combined.
FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram illustrating image synthesis and a process when an image reading apparatus and an image storage apparatus are used according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram illustrating image synthesis and the process when an image reading device and an image storage device (annotation) are used according to the first embodiment;
FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image storage device for annotation that stores image data.
FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image storage device that stores image data in a hard disk.
FIG. 17 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an image system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of an image processing unit of an image system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 19 is a timing chart showing a flow when the image data from the first digital filter and the image data from the second digital filter are combined.
FIG. 20 is a signal diagram showing waveform data when combining image data (bit 0) of the first digital filter and the second digital filter converted into an optical signal in the optical transmission medium.
[Explanation of symbols]
10. Image system
12. Image input device
14 Image processing apparatus
16: Optical signal transmitter
18 ... Transmission circuit
20 ... Light emitter
22: Optical transmission medium
24 ... Sending node
26: Receiving node
28: Optical signal receiver
30 ... Receiver
32. Receiving circuit
34. Image output device
35. Image reading device

Claims (12)

In an image processing apparatus that synthesizes a plurality of images by synthesizing input image data and outputs image data based on an electrical signal corresponding to the synthesized image,
It is either an optical coupler that transmits an optical signal or an optical sheet medium that is formed in a sheet shape and transmits an optical signal, and the position and density of a pixel on an image input from each of a plurality of image data sources. a transmission medium for combining a plurality of images by optical calculation, each of the image data by the optical signal is input, to synthesize each image data according to the inputted plurality of optical signals representing,
An optical signal for receiving an optical signal corresponding to a synthesized image synthesized by the transmission medium and transmitting the received optical signal to an image output device for converting the received optical signal into image data using an electrical signal and outputting the image data as image data. Receiving means;
An image processing apparatus comprising: The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission medium is a predetermined part of the combining process . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the image output apparatus is a printing apparatus that prints an image based on the image data . 4. At least one of the image data sources includes an optical signal transmission unit that converts image data input as an electrical signal into an optical signal and transmits the optical signal. An image processing apparatus according to 1. 5. The image according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of the image data sources is an image reading device that converts a document image into image data based on an electrical signal using a photoelectric conversion element in order to convert the document image into a digital image. Processing equipment. The at least one of the image data sources is a controller device that is connected to a network configured to exchange image data and that performs at least one of editing, processing, and storage of image data. 5. The image processing apparatus according to 4 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of the image data sources is an image storage apparatus that stores image data in a storage unit . 5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein at least one of the image data sources is a facsimile apparatus that outputs communication data received from a communication line as electronic image data as image data . The at least one of the image data sources is at least one image processing block that outputs image data based on electrical signals among a plurality of image processing blocks that perform image processing on image data based on electrical signals. 5. The image processing apparatus according to 4 . A plurality of the image processing blocks are provided as the image data source, and the plurality of image processing blocks are image processing blocks having the same image processing function and executing different image processing with different operation parameters. The image processing apparatus according to claim 9 . The image processing apparatus according to claim 9 , comprising a plurality of the image processing blocks as the image data source, wherein the plurality of image processing blocks are image processing blocks having different image processing functions . The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image output apparatus is an image processing block that performs image processing on image data based on an electrical signal .

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