JP4390599B2 - Image processing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that executes predetermined processing using image data, such as a copying machine, a printer, and a scanner.

  Patent Document 1 relates to a memory control technique using DMA (Direct Memory Access) for data input / output of a semiconductor memory, and a technique for providing a highly versatile memory control technique and a control algorithm. Is disclosed.

  Patent Document 2 proposes a system that increases the speed of copying operation by connecting a digital copying machine.

JP-A-6-103225 JP-A-5-304575

  In an apparatus such as a copying machine configured by combining a document reading device such as a scanner or an image output device such as a printer and a storage device that stores image data, the image data is converted or processed according to a user's request. The function to perform. In addition to scanners and printers, image forming apparatuses called fusion machines that can be connected to facsimile machines and networks have various data conversion methods depending on the output form of image data. Furthermore, it is essential to perform the requested image input / output processing at high speed.

  In order to execute image data conversion at high speed, a buffer memory for performing image data conversion is often mounted for each means for inputting and outputting images in addition to the storage area (memory) of the storage device. Conventionally, it is common to temporarily hold image data for data conversion in the buffer memory, and read out the image data to perform only data conversion. That is, in this case, the image data is kept in the buffer memory for a short period of time.

  When the capacity of the buffer memory is small, it is almost impossible to identify the contents of the image data from the contents of the held data. However, depending on the data conversion method, the capacity is close to one page. Therefore, if the contents of the image data are held in the buffer memory even for a short period of time, the image data leaks, so that secret information is leaked or privacy is reduced. There is also a possibility of infringement (the image data can be read intentionally without the function of reading the image data held in the buffer memory by a copying machine or the like).

  Incidentally, in recent years, standards related to information security are being established, and when image data is held and managed in a storage device, means for preventing leakage of the held image data is also supported.

  For example, when a storage device such as a hard disk is connected to the storage device, data encryption and file access restrictions (password setting function, etc.) are required to prevent leakage of stored image information. There are products that implement functions, support functions that completely erase not only the file allocation data but also the image data area itself when erasing data, and a mechanism that allows the user to easily attach and detach the storage device To do.

  However, in the buffer memory for image data conversion described above, it is easy at this time to perform processing such as data encryption because the processing time becomes long and the productivity of the image forming apparatus may be reduced. There is a problem that it is difficult to adopt.

  An object of the present invention is to prohibit output of inappropriate images stored in a storage device without reducing productivity.

An image processing apparatus according to the present invention , in an image processing apparatus that executes predetermined processing using image data, outputs a storage device that stores the image data and the stored image data to a predetermined output destination. reading means and, means for the pre-term memory device erases the image data, the first setting means for setting whether to erase the image data from said storage device, said image data from said storage device By the second setting means for setting the image data erasing timing either before or after reading the image data from the storage device and transferring the data; and by the first setting means and the second setting means A third setting unit for setting permission or prohibition of setting change, and setting whether or not the setting by the third setting unit can be performed by an operation unit included in the apparatus. And fourth setting means comprises means for the erase, when a predetermined condition is satisfied, the first setting means, the second setting means, and in accordance with the setting by said third setting means The image data is erased from the storage device .

  According to the present invention, output of an image can be prohibited when there is a predetermined condition, such as when an image of a document is inappropriate for output. In addition, since processing such as data encryption is not performed in order to prohibit the output, the processing time can be shortened and there is no possibility of reducing the productivity of the image processing apparatus.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a digital copying machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The digital copying machine 1 implements the image processing apparatus of the present invention, and includes an image reading unit 2, an image forming unit 3, a FAX unit 4, a selector unit 5, a storage unit 6, and an operation unit 7. And a system control unit 8.

  The image reading unit 2 exposes and scans the document G with an exposure lamp 12 movable along the document table 11, and reflects the reflected light by a CCD image sensor 16 that is a photoelectric conversion element via an optical system such as mirrors 13 to 15. By receiving the light, the image of the original G is read. In an IPU (image processing unit) 17, the image signal output from the CCD image sensor 16 is subjected to processing such as shading correction, A / D converted into an 8-bit digital signal, Perform image processing such as dither processing. The image data subjected to these processes is output together with the image synchronization signal. In order to execute the process of the image reading unit 2 described above, the scanner control unit 18 takes in detection signals from various sensors and outputs control signals to actuators such as various drive motors. Various parameters are set in the IPU 17.

  Here, the image synchronization signal output from the IPU 17 of the image reading unit 2 will be described with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG. That is, the frame gate signal (/ FGATE) represents a valid image range for the image area in the sub-scanning direction, and image data while this signal is at L level (low active) is valid. The frame gate signal (/ FGATE) is asserted or negated at the falling edge of the line synchronization signal (/ LSYNC). The line synchronization signal (/ LSYNC) is asserted by a predetermined number of clocks at the rising edge of the pixel synchronization signal (PCLK), and the image data in the main scanning direction is validated after a predetermined clock after the rising of this signal. One image data is sent for one period of the pixel synchronization signal (PCLK). The image data is sent out as raster format data starting from the arrow. Further, the sub-scanning effective range of image data is usually determined by the transfer paper size.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in the image forming unit 3 that is a printer engine, the photosensitive member 22 is uniformly charged by the charging charger 21, and the charged photosensitive member 22 is rotated from the image reading unit 2. An electrostatic latent image is formed by exposure with laser light modulated by the optical writing unit 23 based on the output image data. The electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 22 becomes a toner image that is visualized by developing with toner by the developing device 24. Then, the transfer paper that has been previously fed from the paper feed tray 26 by the paper feed roller 25 and is waiting by the registration roller 27 is transported in a timing with the photoconductor 22, and the photoconductor 22 is transferred by the transfer charger 28. The upper toner image is electrostatically transferred to transfer paper. Thereafter, the transfer paper is separated from the photosensitive member 22 by the separation charger 29, the toner image on the transfer paper is heated and fixed by the fixing device 30, and the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 32 by the paper discharge roller 31. On the other hand, the toner remaining on the photosensitive member 22 after electrostatic transfer is removed by the cleaning device 33, and the photosensitive member 21 is neutralized by the neutralizing charger 34. In order to execute the process of the image forming unit 3 described above, the plotter control unit 35 takes in detection signals from various sensors and outputs control signals to actuators such as various drive motors. The image forming unit 3 can use various printing formats such as an ink jet method as well as the electrophotographic method as described above.

  The operation unit 7 includes various keys for receiving various operations from the user, an LCD display for displaying various messages to the user, and the like.

  The system control unit 8 detects input to the operation unit 7 by the user, and performs various parameter settings, process execution instructions, and the like to the image reading unit 2, the storage unit 6, the image forming unit 3, and the FAX unit 4 through communication. .

  In response to an instruction from the system control unit 8, the FAX unit 4 performs binary compression on the image data read by the image reading unit 2 based on the G3 and G4 facsimile data transfer rules, and transfers the data to the transmission destination via a telephone line. To do. In addition, image data is received from the outside via a telephone line, and the image data is restored and converted into binary image data for image formation in the image forming unit 3.

  The selector unit 5 changes the state of the selector in response to an instruction from the system control unit 8, and the image data source for image formation by the image forming unit 3 is any of the image reading unit 2, the storage unit 6, and the FAX unit 4. Switch to the image signal to be output.

  The storage unit 6 normally stores image data of the original G input from the IPU 17 and is used for a copy application such as repeat copy or rotational copy. Further, it is also used as a buffer memory for temporarily storing binary image data from the FAX unit 4. These data storage instructions are given by the system control unit 8.

  Next, the detailed configuration of the storage unit 6 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an image input / output DMAC (in the description of the embodiment of the present invention, “DMA controller” is simply referred to as “DMAC”) 41 includes a CPU and a logic LSI, and communicates with the memory control unit 42. To receive the command, set the operation according to the command, and transmit status information to notify the state of the image input / output DMAC 41 itself. When an image input command is received, the input image data is packed as memory data in units of 8 pixels according to the input image synchronization signal, and is output to the memory control unit 42 together with the memory access signal as needed. When an image output command is received, the image data from the memory control unit 42 is output in synchronization with the output image synchronization signal.

  The image memory 43 is a memory for storing image data, and is composed of a semiconductor storage element such as a DRAM. In this example, the total amount of memory is 400 dpi, 4 Mbytes of A3 size of binary image data, and electronic The total 4 MB for sort storage is 8 MB. The image memory 43 receives reading and writing control from the memory control unit 42.

  The memory control unit 42 is composed of a CPU and a logic LSI, communicates with the system control unit 8 to receive a command, performs operation settings in accordance with the command, and provides status information for notifying the state of the storage unit 6 Send.

  The operation commands from the system control unit 8 include image input, image output, compression, decompression, and the like. Commands such as image input and image output are transmitted to the image input / output DMAC 41. Commands such as compression and decompression are transmitted to the image transfer DMAC 44, the code transfer DMAC 45, the compression / decompression unit 46, and the like.

  The code transfer DMAC 46 includes a CPU and a logic circuit, communicates with the memory control unit, receives a command, performs operation setting according to the command, and transmits it as status information to notify the state. When a decompression command is received, a memory access request signal is output to the memory control unit, and when the memory access permission signal is active, image data is received and transferred to the compression / decompression unit. In addition, an address counter that counts up in response to a memory access request signal is incorporated, and a 22-bit memory address indicating a storage location where image data is stored is output. The descriptor access operation of the DMAC will be described later.

  The compression / decompression unit 46 is constituted by a CPU and a logic circuit, communicates with the memory control unit 42, receives a command, performs operation setting according to the command, and transmits it as status information to notify the state. Binary data is processed by the MH encoding method.

  The HDC controller 47 includes a CPU and a logic circuit, communicates with the memory control unit 42, receives a command, performs operation settings according to the command, and transmits it as status information to notify the state. Read status of HD48 and transfer data.

  An HD (hard disk) 48 is a hard disk that is a secondary storage device.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the address generation unit and the comparison unit of the memory control unit 42. Hereinafter, the function will be described for each block.

  The input / output image address counter 51 is an address counter that counts up in response to an input / output memory access request signal, and outputs a 22-bit memory address indicating a storage location where the input / output image data is stored. The address is initialized once at the start of memory access.

  The transfer image address counter 52 is an address counter that counts up in response to a transfer memory access permission signal, and outputs a 22-bit memory address indicating a storage location where transfer image data is stored. The address is initialized once at the start of memory access.

  When the semiconductor memory is used as a buffer at the time of image input, the line setting unit 53 compares a value to be compared with the difference result between the input processing line and the transfer line output from the difference calculation unit 55 by the difference comparison unit 54. Set from 8. This can be set to an arbitrary value.

  When inputting an image, the difference calculation unit 55 subtracts the number of input / output processing lines output from the image input / output DMAC 42 from the number of transfer processing lines output from the compression / decompression unit 46 and outputs the result to the difference comparison unit 54.

  The difference comparison unit 54 compares the difference line number output from the difference calculation unit 55 with the set value output from the line setting unit 53 when inputting an image, and if “difference line number = set value” is satisfied, an error signal is output. The comparison request transfer request mask signal output to the arbiter 56 is made active when the number of differential lines becomes zero. Otherwise, active is not output in the state where the input / output image is not in operation.

  The address selector 57 is a selector selected by the arbiter 56, and selects either the input image or the transfer image address.

  The arbiter 56 outputs a memory access permission signal for accessing the compression / decompression unit 46. This outputs a memory access permission signal under the condition that the address comparison signal is active and the input / output memory access signal is inactive.

  The request mask 58 masks the transfer memory access request signal for accessing the compression / decompression unit 46 based on the comparison result from the difference comparison unit 54 (makes it disabled), and stops the transfer process.

  The access control circuit 59 divides the input physical address into a row address and a column address corresponding to a DRAM which is a semiconductor memory by a signal from the access control circuit 59, and outputs it to an 11-bit address bus. Further, in accordance with an access start signal from the arbiter, a DRAM control signal (RAS, CAS, WE) is output.

  In response to an image input instruction from the system control unit 8, the memory control unit 42 is initialized and enters a standby state for image data, and image data is input to the storage unit 6 when the scanner 2 operates. The input image data is once written in the semiconductor memory. The number of processing lines of the written image data is counted by the image input / output DMAC 41 and input to the memory control unit 42. The compression / decompression unit 46 receives the image transfer command and outputs a transfer memory access request signal. However, the request signal is masked by the request mask unit of the memory control unit, and actual memory access is not performed. When one line of input data from the image input / output DMAC 41 is completed, the mask of the transfer memory access request signal is released, the semiconductor memory is read, and the transfer operation of the image data to the compression / decompression unit 46 is started. Further, the difference calculation unit 55 calculates the difference between the two processing lines even during the operation, and if it becomes 0, the transfer memory access request signal is masked so that the address is not overtaken.

  Next, the image transfer DMAC 44 will be described. The image transfer DMAC 44 is composed of a CPU and logic, communicates with the memory control unit 42, receives a command, performs operation settings according to the command, and transmits it as status information to inform the state. When a compression command is received, a memory access request signal is output to the memory control unit 42. When the memory access permission signal is active, image data is received and transferred to the compression / decompression unit. In addition, an address counter that counts up in response to a memory access request signal is incorporated, and a 22-bit memory address indicating a storage location where image data is stored is output.

  The above is the description of the configuration of the storage unit 6.

  The overall operation of the storage unit 6 is to write or read image data in a predetermined image area of the image memory by the image transfer DMAC 44 according to an instruction from the system control unit 8 when inputting an image and storing data. At this time, the image transfer DMAC 44 counts the number of image lines.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the relationship of software used in the digital copying machine 1. The digital copying machine 1 is a fusion machine. That is, an image forming apparatus in which the functions of each device such as a printer, a copy, a facsimile, and a scanner are housed in one housing is called a multi-function machine. The digital copying machine 1 includes a software group 102, a multi-function apparatus starting unit 103, and hardware resources 104.

  The MFP starter 103 is executed first when the digital copying machine 1 is turned on, and starts the application layer 105 and the platform 106. For example, the multi-function apparatus activation unit 103 reads the programs of the application layer 105 and the platform 106 from the HD 48 and transfers each read program to the memory area and activates it. The hardware resources 104 include a monochrome laser printer (B & W LP) 111, a color laser printer (Color LP) 112, and hardware resources 113 such as a scanner and a facsimile.

  The software group 102 includes an application layer 105 and a platform 106 activated on an operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) such as UNIX (registered trademark).

  The application layer 105 includes programs that perform processing specific to user services related to image formation such as a printer, a copy, a fax, and a scanner. The application layer 5 includes a printer application 121 that is an application for a printer, a copy application 122 that is a copy application, a fax application 123 that is a fax application, and a scanner application 124 that is a scanner application.

  Further, the platform 106 interprets a processing request from the application layer 105 and generates a hardware resource 104 acquisition request, and manages one or more hardware resources 104 to control the control service layer 109. A system resource manager (hereinafter referred to as SRM) 139 that arbitrates acquisition requests from the SRM 139, and a handler layer 110 that manages hardware resources 4 in response to acquisition requests from the SRM 139.

  The control service layer 109 includes a network control service (hereinafter referred to as NCS) 131, a delivery control service (hereinafter referred to as DCS) 132, an operation panel control service (hereinafter referred to as OCS) 133, a fax control service (hereinafter referred to as FCS) 134. , Engine control service (hereinafter referred to as ECS) 135, memory control service (hereinafter referred to as MCS) 136, user information control service (hereinafter referred to as UCS) 137, system control service (hereinafter referred to as SCS) 138, etc. The service module is configured to be included.

  The platform 106 is configured to have an API 153 that can receive a processing request from the application layer 105 using a predefined function. The OS executes the software of the application layer 105 and the platform 106 in parallel as processes.

  The process of the NCS 131 provides a service that can be commonly used for applications that require network I / O. Data received from the network side according to each protocol is distributed to each application, and data from each application. Mediation when sending to the network side.

  For example, the NCS 131 controls data communication with a network device connected via a network by HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol Daemon) by HTTP (HyperText Transfer Protocol).

  The process of the DCS 132 performs control such as distribution of stored documents. The process of the OCS 133 controls an operation panel serving as an information transmission unit between the operator and the main body control. The FCS 134 process provides APIs to perform fax transmission / reception using the PSTN or ISDN network from the application layer 105, registration / quotation of various fax data managed in the backup memory, fax reading, fax reception printing, etc. To do.

  The process of the ECS 135 controls engine units such as the monochrome laser printer 111, the color laser printer 112, and the hardware resource 113. The process of the MCS 136 performs memory control such as acquisition and release of memory and use of the HDD. The UCS 137 manages user information.

  The process of the SCS 138 performs processing such as application management, operation unit control, system screen display, LED display, hardware resource management, and interrupt application control.

  The SRM 139 process, together with the SCS 138, controls the system and manages the hardware resources 104. For example, the process of the SRM 139 performs arbitration in accordance with an acquisition request from an upper layer that uses the hardware resource 4 such as the black and white laser printer 11 and the color laser printer 12, and performs execution control.

  Specifically, the process of the SRM 139 determines whether the requested hardware resource 104 can be used (whether it is not used by another acquisition request). The upper layer is notified that the resource 104 is available. In addition, the process of the SRM 139 performs scheduling for using the hardware resources 104 in response to an acquisition request from an upper layer, and the request contents (for example, paper conveyance and image forming operation by the printer engine, memory allocation, file generation, etc.) Has been implemented directly.

  The handler layer 110 has a fax control unit handler (hereinafter referred to as FCUH) 140 for managing a fax control unit (hereinafter referred to as FCU), which will be described later, and an image for allocating memory to the process and managing the memory allocated to the process. Memory handler (hereinafter referred to as IMH) 141. The SRM 139 and the FCUH 140 make a processing request for the hardware resource 104 by using the engine I / F 54 that enables transmission of a processing request for the hardware resource 104 by a predefined function. The digital copying machine 1 can centrally process the processing commonly required for each application by the platform 106.

  Next, a hardware configuration of the system control unit 8 and the like of the digital copying machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. The digital copying machine 1 includes an FCU 80, a USB device 90, an IEEE 1394 device 100, and an engine unit 120.

  The system control unit 8 includes a CPU 161, a system memory (MEM-P) 162 storing various control programs for centrally controlling each unit, a north bridge (hereinafter referred to as NB) 163, and a south bridge (hereinafter referred to as SB). 164, ASIC 166, local memory (MEM-C) 167, and HDD 168.

  The operation unit 7 is connected to the ASIC 66 of the controller 60. Further, the MLC 43, the FCU 80, the USB device 190, the IEEE 1394 device 200, and the engine unit 220 (the above-described image reading unit 2, the image forming unit 3, etc.) are connected to the ASIC 166 of the system control unit 8 by a PCI bus.

  In the system control unit 8, a local memory 617, an HDD 168, and the like are connected to the ASIC 166, and the CPU 161 and the ASIC 166 are connected via the NB 163 of the CPU chipset. Thus, if the CPU 161 and the ASIC 166 are connected via the NB 163, it is possible to cope with a case where the interface of the CPU 161 is not disclosed.

  Note that the ASIC 166 and the NB 163 are not connected via a PCI bus, but are connected via an AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) 165. Thus, in order to control the execution of one or more processes forming the application layer 105 and the platform 106 in FIG. 5, the ASIC 166 and the NB 163 are connected via the AGP 165 instead of the low-speed PCI bus to prevent performance degradation. It is out.

  The CPU 161 performs overall control of the digital copying machine 1. The CPU 161 starts and executes NCS 131, DCS 132, OCS 133, FCS 134, ECS 135, MCS 136, UCS 137, SCS 138, SRM 139, FCUH 140, and IMH 141 as processes on the OS, and also executes a printer application 121 and a copy application that form the application layer 105 122, the fax application 123 and the scanner application 124 are activated and executed.

  The NB 163 is a bridge for connecting the CPU 161, the system memory 162, the SB 164, and the ASIC 166. The system memory 162 is a memory used as a drawing memory of the digital copying machine 1. The SB 164 is a bridge for connecting the NB 163 to the ROM, PCI bus, and peripheral device. The local memory 67 is a memory used as a copy image buffer and a code buffer.

  The ASIC 166 is an IC for image processing applications having hardware elements for image processing. The HDD 168 is a storage for storing image data, document data, programs, font data, forms, and the like.

  The function of the ASIC 166 is a DMAC function for transferring an image, and is connected to the engine unit 220 through the PCI bus as shown in FIG.

  The ASIC 166 has two channels of video input DMAC (DMAC 166a, 166b) and a video output DMAC 166c, which are assigned different PCI bus addresses, and transfer video data of scanner input 1, scanner input 2, and plotter output. Can be performed in parallel.

  When the images read by the image reading unit 2 are transferred simultaneously to the MEM-C 167, the IMH 141 secures the memory for the transfer image size (vertical and horizontal Xw, Yw) in the MEM-C 167 in response to the process request from the SRM 139. Transfer can be performed by setting the transfer image sizes Xw and Yw and the secured address of the MEM-C 167 in the video input DMAC 166a or 166b.

  FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of the engine unit 220. The image data control IF controller 332 is directly controlled by the CPU 331. The engine unit 220 includes a storage device (frame memory) 335 serving as a buffer memory such as a DRAM for temporarily storing an image input signal such as an input of the CCD 16 or a PCI input, and one or more image output means 336. have. Further, it is possible to output data from the input signal to the external storage device and input data from the external storage device via the PCI bus.

  The frame memory 335 is a storage device for temporarily storing input data. This is used to adjust the data writing speed to the image output means 336. In this example, it is assumed that writing of input data to the frame memory 335 and reading of an output image from the frame memory 335 can be executed in parallel.

  The image writing operation to the frame memory 335 is divided into the following two operations.

  1. The data signal input by the data input means is written into the frame memory 335.

  2. A data signal stored in the frame memory 335 is read out and imaged as image data by an output device such as the image output means 336.

  However, if there is no frame memory 335 depending on the device configuration or if the memory capacity of the frame memory 335 is small, this 1.2. It is also possible to write directly to the image output means 336 without dividing into two operations as described above.

  First, as an example of inputting data of an external storage device via a PCI bus, 1. Will be explained. That is, the data in the external storage device is transferred via the PCI bus. Data received by the image data control IF controller 332 is transferred by the PCI transfer controller 327 to the frame memory 335 side via the DRAM controller 303 by the selector on the output side. In the frame memory 335, input data is sequentially written and stored.

  Next, 2. Will be described. Data stored in the frame memory 335 is transferred to the input IF 319 via various image signal processing function blocks (reference numerals 314 to 318). The transferred data is combined as image data by the output means 336. The image signal processing functional blocks (reference numerals 314 to 318) include functional blocks such as an image expansion 314, an area expansion / reduction 315, a print composition 316, and a gradation processing 317.

  The PCI transfer controller 327 has functions of outputting a plurality of image data output from the selector 326 to the storage device and inputting image data from the storage device. It is possible to set the required data capacity and image data transfer speed for each image data.

  Reference numerals 333 and 334 denote image input means corresponding to the front and back sides of the document, respectively. Reference numerals 337 and 338 are shading means for correcting shading of the image data, and correspond to the front and back sides of the document, respectively. Reference numerals 301 and 302 denote input IFs corresponding to the front and back sides of the document corresponding to the image input means 333 and 334, respectively. Reference numerals 304 to 313 denote various image processing function blocks, which are related to mask, filter, scaling, area expansion / reduction, and image compression processes, respectively. Reference numeral 325 is a CPU IF corresponding to the CPU 331, reference numeral 322 is a control IC, reference numeral 320 is a status register, reference numeral 321 is a control register, reference numeral 323 is a host IF, and reference numeral 324 is an image input controller.

  In the configuration as described above, the image data read by the image reading unit 2 serving as an image reading device is once stored in the frame memory 335 in the engine unit 220, processed by each image processing unit, and stored in the image memory 43. Saved.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart of processing for setting whether to execute data erasure of the frame memory 335 in the digital copying machine 1. First, whether or not the user can set “data erasure timing in the frame memory 335” and “data erasure timing” when the data erasure is set by the operation unit 7, and its permission or prohibition setting ( If the prohibition is set (Y in step S31), the process is terminated as it is. Otherwise (N in step S31), the user sets “data erasure execution status in frame memory 335” and “data erasure timing” when data erasure is set by the operation unit 7 (Y in step S32). ). Settings are made according to the contents (step S33). The data erasing timing selected here indicates the timing at which data in the frame memory 335 is erased before the data transfer from the frame memory 335 is started or data is erased after the data transfer. Then, data is erased at the timing selected here.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart of execution of the setting determined in step S31. The user can set “data erasure execution presence / absence of frame memory 335” determined in step S31 and “data erasure timing” when data erasure is set by operating the operation unit 7 or the like. If the permission or prohibition is set (Y in step S41), the permission or prohibition is set (step S42). It is desirable that only a specific user can perform this user operation, for example, it is possible only when a predetermined keyword is input to the operation unit 7.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 11, processing when the original is read by the digital copying machine 1 will be described. In FIG. 11, first, reading control setting is performed (step S1). This starts the reading process. In the reading process, when the document arrives at the specified position (Y in step S2), the document is read (details will be described later) (step S3). Thereafter, the process waits until the reading is completed and the image data is transferred from the frame memory 335 (step S4). After the reading, if there is a next original (Y in step S7), the process returns to step S3. If there is no next original (N in step S5), the process is ended as it is.

  FIG. 12 is a control flowchart of the image reading process in step S5 described above. First, in order to execute document reading (input from the CCD 16 to the frame memory 335) and data transfer (output from the frame memory 335 to the PCI bus) in parallel, the document reading process and the data transfer process are started. .

  In the document reading process, document reading is started immediately (step S11). Then, the input signal of the read image of the original recognizes the characteristic (characteristic such as whether it is a banknote or a securities) (step S12). Thereafter, the process waits until the original arrives at a predetermined reading end position (step S13).

  In the data transfer process, the process waits until the condition for starting data transfer is satisfied (N in step S14). If the data transfer start condition is satisfied (Y in step S15), first, it is confirmed whether or not the setting of “execute erasure of frame memory 335” is permitted (step S15). If permitted (Y in step S15), it is confirmed whether or not the setting is such that erasure is performed before the start of data transfer (step S16). If this setting has not been made (N in step S16), data transfer is started as it is (step S19). If this setting is made (Y in step S16), it is determined whether or not a predetermined condition is satisfied (step S17). In this example, this condition is that an image having a predetermined characteristic is detected in step S12 (the original is a bill or a securities). In this case, the read image is not suitable for output such as printing. Since a technique for determining whether or not a read image is a banknote is well known, a detailed description of this point is omitted. Then, when a predetermined condition is satisfied by detecting that the read image is of a banknote (Y in Step S17), the data in the frame memory 335 is deleted (for example, filled with white data). (Step S18) Then, data transfer to the frame memory 335 is started (Step S19). When the predetermined condition is not satisfied (N in Step S17), the data transfer of the frame memory 335 is started as it is (Step S19).

  Here, it is assumed that the data transfer start condition determined in step S13 is set in advance. For example, there are conditions such as “the document reading process has started” and “the number of lines written to the frame memory 335 has reached a predetermined value”. In the case of the former example, data is read out from the frame memory 335 and transferred to the PCI bus simultaneously with writing of the original data into the frame memory 335. In the case of the latter example, after several lines of document data to the frame memory 335 are performed, the data transfer to the PCI bus is started at different timings.

  Next, the process waits until the data transfer end condition (reach the specified data transfer amount) (step S20). If the data transfer end condition is satisfied (Y in step S20), it is confirmed whether or not “setting of data deletion in frame memory 335 is performed” is set (step S21). If it has been set (Y in step S21), it is confirmed whether or not to erase the data in the frame memory 335 after the data transfer (step S22). If not set (N in step S21), the data transfer process is terminated as it is. If data erasure after transfer is set (Y in step S21), the data in the frame memory 335 is erased (for example, filled with white data) (step S23), and then the data transfer process is terminated.

  After waiting for both the document reading process and the data transfer process to end, the reading process in step S5 is ended.

  As described above, when the predetermined condition is satisfied (step S17), the data is read from the frame memory 335 and is erased before the data is transferred (Y in step S16). S19) Since the data in the frame memory 335 is erased by replacing it with white data or the like before (step S18), when there is a predetermined condition such as when the image of the document is inappropriate for output The output of the image to a predetermined output destination such as the storage unit 6 and the image forming unit 3 can be prohibited.

  Further, since processing such as data encryption is not performed to prohibit image output, the processing time can be shortened, and the productivity of the digital copying machine 1 is not reduced.

  Furthermore, since it is possible to set whether or not to perform such processing (step S33), for example, when it is necessary to prevent image data from being automatically deleted by an application using the image reading unit 2 (input image). When data is transferred to a plurality of image output means by performing different data conversion, it is necessary to delete the data when all the data conversion is completed), and the versatility according to the operation of the digital copying machine 1 is high. Control can be realized.

  However, in this case, although the degree of freedom of application software development is improved, there is a possibility that the risk of information leakage may increase, but whether or not the setting of FIG. This makes it possible to improve the security function.

  10 is set according to the specific information of the device to which the data of the frame memory 335 is output (the storage unit 6, the image forming unit 3, an interface such as the USB 190 for outputting the image data to the outside). May be automatically determined, and permission or prohibition corresponding to the setting of FIG. 10 (step S42) may be performed.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13, when the determination in step S15 in FIG. 12 is not performed and there is a predetermined condition (step S17), the data in the frame memory 335 is forcibly erased and stored. Data may be transferred (steps S18 and S19).

  In this embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a digital copying machine has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to a copying machine, and a predetermined process using image data such as a printer or a scanner is executed. The present invention can be applied to various image processing apparatuses.

1 is a block diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a digital copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. 3 is a timing chart of each signal of the digital copying machine. It is a block diagram of the electrical connection of a memory | storage part. It is a block diagram of the electrical connection of a memory control part. It is explanatory drawing explaining the relationship of the software used with the digital copying machine. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a system control unit of a digital copying machine. It is explanatory drawing explaining the connection of ASIC and an engine part. It is a functional block diagram of an engine part. It is a flowchart of the process which sets the presence or absence of execution of the data deletion of a frame memory. It is a flowchart of execution of the setting determined in step S31. 6 is a flowchart for explaining processing when reading a document with a digital copying machine. It is a control flowchart of the image reading process in step S5. It is another example of the control flowchart of the image reading process in step S5.

Explanation of symbols

1 Image Processing Device 335 Storage Device

Claims (3)

In an image processing apparatus that executes predetermined processing using image data,
A storage device for storing the image data;
Means for outputting the stored image data to a predetermined output destination;
It means for the pre-term memory device erases the image data;
First setting means for setting whether to delete the image data from the storage device;
A second setting means for setting, as the image data erasing timing, either before reading the image data from the storage device or after reading the image data from the storage device and transferring the data;
Third setting means for setting permission or prohibition of setting change by the first setting means and the second setting means;
Fourth setting means for setting whether or not the setting by the third setting means can be performed by an operation unit included in the apparatus;
Equipped with a,
The means for erasing is
When the predetermined condition is satisfied, the image data is erased from the storage device in accordance with the setting by the first setting means, the second setting means, and the third setting means. Image processing device. Means for discriminating the characteristics of the image storing the image data;
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a characteristic of a specific image is determined by the determination as the predetermined condition. The predetermined condition is:
The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image data is read from the storage device and data transfer is completed.

Images