JP6840884B2 - Image processing system and image processing method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fine line correction technique for lightly drawing thin lines with an even thickness.

Conventionally, a printing apparatus develops print data from a host computer into bitmap data, and performs printing by performing predetermined image processing on the developed bitmap data. Bitmap data is usually expanded to data having the same resolution as the resolution of the printing device.

Further, a technique has also been proposed in which bitmap data having a resolution higher than the resolution of the printing device is developed, and then the resolution is converted to the resolution of the printing device by using the spot multiplexing technology of each pixel to perform printing. By using the spot multiplexing technology, it is possible to express an image quality having a resolution higher than that of the printing apparatus.

The spot multiplexing technique is a technique for forming dots having a resolution higher than the resolution of the printer in an electrophotographic printer. Specifically, in the spot multiplexing technique, dots (exposure spots) that can overlap each other are formed on adjacent pixels by optical drawing at an intermediate potential level. When overlapping dots are formed by optical drawing at a medium potential level, the potential level of the overlapping portion becomes a high level. As a result, dots are formed even at positions between adjacent pixels that cannot be formed at the resolution of the printer, and dots having a resolution higher than the resolution of the printer are formed. Patent Document 1 discloses this spot multiplexing technique.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-336859

As mentioned above, spot multiplexing techniques generate intermediate potential level dots when generating printer resolution dots in order to form high resolution dots. On the other hand, when drawing a line lightly, in order to correct the bending of the scanning line of the laser, the laser bending correction for changing the phase in the sub-scanning direction is performed. When dots with an intermediate potential level are used for spot multiplexing, the line thickness changes because the potential level generated differs depending on the phase (depending on the position in the sub-scanning direction) even for lines of the same width. In some cases. Especially in the case of a thin line, there is a problem that the difference in thickness becomes conspicuous.

The image processing system according to the present invention is an image processing system that corrects the bitmap data to be shifted in the sub-scanning direction at a predetermined position in the main scanning direction so as to cancel the bending of the scanning line of the electrophotographic laser. An acquisition means for acquiring a drawing command for drawing a line included in the drawing data, and a drawing command in which the line width specified by the drawing command for drawing the line is an even pixel width smaller than a predetermined even pixel width. A changing means for changing the line width of the above to a predetermined even pixel width, and a generating means for generating binary bitmap data of the first resolution based on the drawing data including the drawing command changed by the changing means. The correction means for correcting the generated binary bitmap data and the corrected binary bitmap data are converted into multi-valued bitmap data having a second resolution having a resolution lower than that of the first resolution. It is characterized by having a conversion means for conversion and an output means for outputting the converted multi-valued bitmap data to a printing means.

According to the present invention, when drawing a line lightly using the spot multiplexing technique, it is possible to draw a line having the same thickness regardless of the drawing phase.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the image processing system described in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the controller of the image processing apparatus described in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the rendering process described in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the image processing described in Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for generating a multi-valued bitmap of the printer resolution described in the first embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the spot multiplexing technique described in Embodiment 1. It is a figure which shows the multi-valued bitmap at the time of phase transfer described in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a follow chart which shows the flow of the line width adjustment process described in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the multi-valued bitmap at the time of line width adjustment described in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the line width adjustment process of the bitmap explained in Embodiment 2. It is explanatory drawing of line detection of binary bitmap data described in Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the 50% line width adjustment processing of the bitmap described in Embodiment 3. FIG. It is a figure which shows the multi-valued bitmap at the time of 50% line width adjustment described in Embodiment 3. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, an example of using a multifunction processing device (MFP: Multifunction Peripheral) having a plurality of functions such as a copy function and a printer function as an image processing device will be described. The image processing apparatus of the embodiment described below may be any apparatus used for electrophotographic printing, and is not limited to the MFP.

<First Embodiment>
In the first embodiment, an image processing system using an MFP (image processing apparatus) that performs spot multiplexing processing for forming dots having a resolution higher than the resolution of the printer will be described as an example. Then, when the MFP acquires drawing data including a line drawing command, the line thickness does not change depending on the phase at the time of optical drawing (that is, the optical drawing position in the sub-scanning direction in consideration of laser bending correction). An example of correcting a line in advance will be described.

[Image processing system]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an image processing system according to the present embodiment. In the image processing system shown in FIG. 1, the information processing device (host computer) 10 and the image processing device 11 are connected to the network 15. The number of connections is not limited to the example shown in FIG. Further, in this embodiment, the network is applied as the connection method, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a serial transmission method such as USB and a parallel transmission method such as Centronics and SCSI can also be applied.

The host computer (hereinafter referred to as a PC) 10 has a personal computer function. The PC 10 transmits drawing data to the image processing device 11 via the printer driver.

The image processing device 11 displays a printer unit 14 which is an image output device, a controller 13 which controls the operation of the entire image processing device 11, a plurality of keys for the user to give an instruction, and various information to be notified to the user. It has an operation unit 12 composed of a display unit.

[controller]
FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the image processing device 11, and is a diagram including a detailed configuration of the controller 13. The controller 13 is connected to the PC 10, an external image processing device, and the like via the network 15. This enables input / output of drawing data and device information. The controller 13 includes a CPU 201, a RAM 202, a ROM 203, an HDD 204, an operation unit I / F 205, a network I / F 206, a rendering unit 207, an image processing unit 208, and a printer I / F 209.

The CPU 201 comprehensively controls access to various connected devices based on a control program or the like stored in the ROM 203, and also comprehensively controls various processes such as image processing performed inside the controller. The RAM 202 is a system work memory for operating the CPU 201, and is also a memory for temporarily storing image data such as drawing data and bitmaps. The RAM 202 is composed of an SRAM that retains the stored contents even after the power is turned off and a DRAM that erases the stored contents after the power is turned off. The ROM 203 stores a boot program of the device and the like. The HDD 204 is a hard disk drive and can store system software and image data.

The operation unit I / F 205 is an interface unit for connecting to the operation unit 12. The operation unit I / F 205 outputs image data to be displayed on the operation unit 12 to the operation unit 12, and acquires information input from the operation unit 12. The network I / F 206 connects to the network 15 and transmits / receives drawing data, image data, and information.

The rendering unit 207 receives drawing data (PDL data) transmitted from the PC 10 or the like. The rendering unit 207 generates intermediate data based on the PDL data described in the received PDL code, and generates contone (multi-valued) image bitmap data based on the generated intermediate data.

The image processing unit 208 receives the image bitmap data generated by the rendering unit 207, and performs image processing on the image bitmap data while referring to the attribute data attached to the image bitmap data. The bitmap data after image processing is output to the printer unit 14 via the printer I / F 209.

[Rendering process]
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of the rendering process of the rendering unit 207. In FIG. 3, the rendering unit 207 acquires PDL data (drawing data) transmitted from the PC 10 or the like in step 301. The PDL data includes drawing commands for drawing each object, information indicating the drawing resolution, and the like. In step 302, the rendering unit 207 analyzes the drawing data acquired in step S301 and determines whether the drawing command included in the drawing data is a drawing command of any of the attributes of characters, lines, figures, and images. The rendering unit 207 determines that the drawing command included in the drawing data is a character attribute when it is a character drawing command represented by a character type, a character code, or the like. The rendering unit 207 determines that the drawing command is a line attribute when the drawing command is a line drawing command represented by a coordinate point, a length, and a thickness. The rendering unit 207 determines that the drawing command is a graphic attribute when the drawing command is a graphic drawing command represented by a rectangle, a shape, or a coordinate point. The rendering unit 207 determines that the drawing command is an image attribute when the drawing command is an image drawing command represented by bitmap data. The rendering unit 207 generates intermediate data corresponding to the determined attribute.

Next, in step 303, the rendering unit 207 forms a pixel pattern to be drawn according to the processing resolution of the controller based on the generated intermediate data, and includes color information (contone value) to be drawn in each pixel in each pixel. Generates image bitmap data. In the present embodiment, image bitmap data having a first processing resolution, which is the processing resolution of the controller, is generated. That is, in the present embodiment, the image bitmap data of the first processing resolution, which is the processing resolution of the controller having a resolution higher than the second processing resolution, is used instead of the second processing resolution, which is the processing resolution of the printer unit 14. Generate. As described above, this resolution is based on the information indicating the resolution included in the PDL data. Further, in step 304, the rendering unit 207 generates attribute bitmap data storing the attributes analyzed in step 302 so as to correspond to each pixel of the image bitmap data, and ends the process. The attribute bitmap data is image data having the same processing resolution and the same size as the image bitmap data, and each pixel has a value indicating the attribute of each corresponding pixel of the image bitmap data.

The generated drawing bitmap data and attribute bitmap data are recorded in the RAM 202 or the HDD 204 and sent to the image processing unit 208.

[Image processing unit]
FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a processing flow of the image processing unit 208. In step 401, the image processing unit 208 acquires the image bitmap data and the attribute bitmap data of the processing resolution of the controller generated by the rendering unit 207. Next, in step S402, the image processing unit 208 converts the color information of each pixel of the image bitmap data into the CMYK or K color format which is the color format of the printer engine by using the color conversion LUT or the matrix calculation. ..

Next, in step 403, the image processing unit 208 selects a dither matrix according to the attribute information of each pixel of the attribute bitmap data, and performs dither processing using the selected dither matrix for the pixels of the image bitmap data. Give. For example, for a pixel whose attribute indicates a character, a dither matrix corresponding to the character is selected and dither processing is performed. As a result, image processing such as emphasizing or smoothing edges is performed according to the attributes. The image processing unit 208 converts each pixel value of the image bitmap of the contone value into two values by performing dither processing, and generates binary bitmap data.

Then, in step 404, the image processing unit 208 changes the phase of the generated binary bitmap data in the sub-scanning direction in order to correct the bending of the scanning line of the laser (the optical drawing position is set to the sub-scanning direction). (Shift) Laser bending correction is performed.

Then, in step S405, the image processing unit 208 performs a multi-value processing process for converting binary bitmap data into multi-valued bitmap data by using a multi-valued filter for spot multiplexing processing. Before the processing of step S405, the resolution of the bitmap data is the processing resolution of the controller as described above.

Next, in step S406, the image processing unit 208 performs resolution conversion processing by thinning out the pixels of the bitmap data. That is, a resolution conversion process is performed to convert the bitmap data of the controller resolution (first resolution) into the bitmap data (multi-value) of the printer resolution (second resolution), and the multi-value of the printer resolution is performed. Generate bitmap data.

Next, the multi-value processing in step S405 and the resolution conversion processing in step S406 will be described.

[Multi-value bitmap generation process for printer resolution]
FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a process of generating multi-valued bitmap data of printer resolution from binary bitmap data of controller resolution. The multi-valued bitmap data of the printer resolution is generated by multiplying the binary-valued bitmap data of the processing resolution of the controller by using the multi-value processing and thinning out by the resolution conversion processing. In the present embodiment, the process of converting the binary bitmap data of 1200 dpi, which is the processing resolution of the controller, into the multi-valued bitmap data of 600 dpi, which is the print resolution of the printer, is shown.

FIG. 5A is a bitmap of binary values (white 0, black 1) having a resolution of 1200 dpi, in which one cell is one dot (pixel), and two lines (lines 501 and line 502) having a width of 3 pixels. ) Is a bitmap.

FIG. 5B is a filter having a weighting coefficient of 3x3 size for multi-valued use. The center position of the filter corresponds to the pixel of interest in the bitmap, and has a weighting coefficient for each position with respect to the pixel of interest and the peripheral pixels. The filter shown in FIG. 5B is a filter capable of setting the pixel value of the pixel of interest to an intermediate level density by referring to the pixel value of the surrounding pixels. The multi-value processing is performed by multiplying each pixel value (0 or 1) of the pixel of interest and the peripheral pixel by the weighting coefficient of the filter to obtain the value of the pixel of interest as the value of the pixel of interest. .. By performing iterative processing with all the pixels included in the bitmap as the pixel of interest, the bitmap data whose processing resolution of the controller is binarized is multi-valued.

For example, when the coordinate position is 3 horizontal and 2 vertical, it is expressed as the coordinate (3, 2). Assuming that the coordinates (3,2) in FIG. 5A are the pixels of interest, the peripheral pixels are the coordinates (2,1), (3,1), (4,1), (2,2), (4, 2), (2,3), (3,3), (4,3). The value of the multi-valued pixel of the coordinates (3, 2) in FIG. 5A is calculated as follows. That is, when each pixel is white 0, 0 is added, and when black is 1, 1 × weighting coefficient is added. As a result, the total sum is peripheral pixels (0 + 0 + 0 + 1 × 2 + 1 × 2 + 1 × 1 + 1 × 2 + 1 × 1) + attention pixels 1 × 4 = 12. Therefore, the pixel value (multi-value) after the filtering of the coordinates (3, 2) is 12.

FIG. 5 (c) shows a bitmap as a result of multiplying all the pixels of FIG. 5 (a). The pixel density value is expressed as a ratio to the total sum (16) of the weighting coefficients of the filter. For example, since the pixel value of the coordinates (3,2) is 12, the density value is 75% of 12/16.

When the filter of FIG. 5B is applied, the bitmap of the line having a width of 3 pixels is converted into a line of pixels having density values of 0%, 25%, 75%, and 100% by the multi-value processing (. Line 511, line 512).

FIG. 5 (d) shows a 600 dpi multi-valued bitmap obtained by converting the 1200 dpi bitmap of FIG. 5 (c) into a resolution. In the resolution conversion process, pixels are sampled every other pixel in the vertical and horizontal directions in order to reduce the multi-valued bitmap shown in FIG. 5C from 1200 dpi, which is the resolution of the controller, to 600 dpi, which is half the print resolution of the printer. That is, the pixel sampling period is two pixel periods in each of the vertical and horizontal directions. As will be described later with reference to FIG. 7, if the sampling cycle is not synchronized (matched) with the vertical and horizontal shift width (line shift width) of the line, the position where the shift (shift) occurs is used as a boundary with respect to the line. The combination of relative sampling positions changes. In addition, if the thickness (width) of the line is such that the sampling position relative to the line does not match or reverse before and after the boundary, when the spot multiplexing technique described later is applied, before and after the boundary. The thickness of the line formed by is different.

For example, the vertical coordinates are sampled at 0,2,4,6,8,10 every other pixel, and the horizontal coordinates are sampled at 0,2,4,6,8,10,12,14 every other pixel. , Converts to a multi-valued bitmap with a resolution of 600 dpi. In a multi-valued bitmap with a resolution of 600 dpi, the line 501 having a three-pixel width in FIG. 5A is a line 521 composed of two pixels having a density value of 75% and 75%. The line 502 having a three-pixel width in FIG. 5A is a line 521 composed of three pixels having a density value of 25%, 100%, and 25%.

The multi-valued bitmap data having a resolution of 600 dpi converted to the resolution of the printer by the resolution conversion process is output to the printer unit 14 via the printer I / F 209. The above is the description of the filter processing in step S405 and the resolution conversion processing in step S406 in FIG.

[Spot multiplexing technology]
FIG. 6 shows the principle of subdot formation between dots (exposure spots) by superimposing laser exposures by the spot multiplexing technique. In the spot multiplexing technique, since the spot diameter by laser exposure corresponding to one pixel is larger than that one pixel, the spots of adjacent pixels partially overlap each other. Spot multiplexing technology actively utilizes the overlap of these parts. Dots with intermediate potential levels are struck on the upper and lower pixels 611 and 612 on the actual scanning line shown by the solid line, and the exposures overlap to form dots 631 in the middle of the actual scanning line, resulting in a higher resolution than the scanning line. Express. That is, using the resolution example described with reference to FIG. 5, it is possible to express the resolution of 3 pixels at the controller resolution of 1200 dpi instead of expressing the resolution of 2 pixels at 600 dpi (4 pixels at the controller resolution of 1200 dpi).

The 3-pixel width line 501 whose vertical phase (position in the sub-scanning direction) in FIG. 5 (a) starts at an even coordinate is the 2-pixel line 521 having a density value of 75% and 75% in FIG. 5 (d). Represented. The line 521 is exposed with dots 611 at a potential level of 75% and dots 612 at a potential level of 75% on the actual scanning line of FIG. As a result, the line 631 corresponding to the width of 3 pixels is drawn at the coordinates in the middle of the actual scanning line.

Further, the line 502 having a three-pixel width in which the vertical phase (position in the sub-scanning direction) in FIG. 5 (a) starts at an odd coordinate is the density value of 25%, 100%, and 25% in FIG. It is represented by a pixel line 522. This line 522 is exposed on the actual scanning line of FIG. 6 with dots 621 having a potential level of 25%, dots 622 having a potential level of 100%, and dots 623 having a potential level of 25%. As a result, the line 632 corresponding to the width of 3 pixels is drawn at the coordinates on the actual scanning line centering on the dot 622 having a potential level of 100%.

[Phase transfer processing]
Next, the phase transfer process performed in step S404 for correcting the bending of the scanning line of the laser will be described. The bending of the scanning line of the laser is caused by the non-uniformity of the lens of the deflection scanning device, the deviation of the mounting position, and the deviation of the assembly position of the deflection scanning device to the image processing apparatus main body. Due to this misalignment, the scanning line is bent. The image processing unit 208 performs a process of shifting the scanning line toward the sub-scanning line at a predetermined position (transfer position) in the main scanning direction so as to cancel the bending of the scanning line. Specifically, the bitmap data is shifted by one pixel in the sub-scanning line direction at a predetermined position (transfer position). By scanning using the bitmap data with the bending correction, as a result, optical drawing in which the bending is eliminated is performed. When the bending correction is performed on the data having a low resolution, the shift amount for one pixel is larger than that in the case of performing the bending correction on the data having a high resolution, so that the step becomes conspicuous. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the bending correction is performed at the stage of the resolution of the controller having a high resolution.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a multi-valued bitmap at the time of phase transfer and a filter used at the time of phase transfer. The place synergistic processing is performed on the bitmap data of the resolution (1200 dpi) of the controller as described above. FIG. 7A is a binary bitmap with a resolution of 1200 dpi that has undergone phase transfer, and is a bitmap showing a line 701 having a width of 3 pixels. By performing phase transfer by laser bending correction at the position of the horizontal coordinate 12, a bitmap of a line whose phase is shifted downward by one pixel is obtained.

FIG. 7 (b) is a filter having the same weighting coefficient of 3x3 size for multi-value as in FIG. 5 (b). FIG. 7 (c) is a multi-valued bitmap in which the bitmap after the phase transfer of FIG. 7 (a) is multi-valued by using the filter of FIG. 7 (b). Although filters of other sizes may be used, it is desirable to use a 3x3 filter for the following reasons. For example, if the filter is not an odd x odd size filter, the pixel values after the filter will be biased. Further, for example, when a 5x5 filter is used, the pixel value becomes a blurred value as compared with the case where a 3x3 filter is used.

FIG. 7 (d) is a multi-valued bitmap obtained by converting the multi-valued bitmap of FIG. 7 (c) into a resolution of 600 dpi by a resolution conversion process. In FIG. 7D, since the phase of the line shifts by one pixel before and after the phase transfer, the line 711 before the phase transfer is composed of two pixels having a density value of 75% and 75%, and the line 712 after the phase transfer has a density. It is composed of 3 pixels with values of 25%, 100% and 25%. That is, since the sampling period is two vertical pixels, the sampling results in the vertical direction do not match or invert before and after the boundary of phase transfer.

The sum of the density values of the lines 711 and 712 is 75% + 75% = 150% (line 711) and 25% + 100% + 25% = 150% (line 712), which are the same values. However, the dots having an intermediate potential level of 25% or 75% density are more unstable than the dots having a solid density of 100%, so that the thicknesses of the lines 711 and 712 drawn by light do not completely match. , The thickness may be different. In particular, when drawing a thin line such as a thin line with light, the difference in thickness becomes conspicuous.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the line width is adjusted so that the line thickness does not differ due to the phase transfer.

[Line width adjustment process]
FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the line width adjustment process. The line width adjustment process is performed by the printer driver of the PC 10. That is, before transmitting the drawing data (PDL data) to the image processing device, the printer driver performs a process of adjusting the line width. The processing of the printer driver is executed by loading the printer driver program stored in the HDD into the RAM and executing the processing in the PC 10 including the CPU, the RAM, and the HDD.

In FIG. 8, the printer driver acquires drawing data in step S801 and sequentially analyzes drawing commands included in the drawing data. In step S802, the printer driver determines whether or not the drawing command is a line drawing command as a result of the analysis in step S801. If it is a line drawing command, the process proceeds to step S803. If not, the process ends.

In the case of a line drawing command, in step S803, the printer driver acquires the line width specified by the drawing command. In step S804, the printer driver determines whether the width of the line is smaller than the predetermined width. Here, the default width is a value for determining a thin line in which a difference in line thickness is likely to appear when the phase shifts, and for example, an odd pixel width such as a 3-pixel width or a 5-pixel width is specified. This line width is the pixel width of the resolution of the controller. As described above, the drawing data includes information indicating the resolution in addition to the drawing command, and in the present embodiment, the resolution of the controller is specified.

If it is determined in step S804 that the width is smaller than the predetermined width, the process proceeds to step S805, and if not, the process ends. In step S805, the printer driver determines whether or not the line width is an odd width (also referred to as an odd pixel width). This is because when the resolution conversion is performed on the bitmap (FIG. 5 (c)) of the multi-valued line using the 3x3 size filter of FIG. 5 (b), the line width is odd. This is because the density values of the pixels constituting the line (521,522) differ depending on the phase. If it is determined that the line width is an odd width, the process proceeds to step S806, and if not, the process ends.

In step S806, the printer driver sets (corrects) the line width to an even width (also referred to as an even pixel width) by increasing the line width by +1 and ends the process. Perform the above processing for the drawing command included in the drawing data. Here, the printer driver analyzes the drawing data and performs the above processing, but the printer driver may be as follows. That is, in the process of creating drawing data (drawing command), the printer driver analyzes the drawing command sequentially sent from the interface such as GDI provided in the OS (operating system) (not shown) of the PC10, and issues the line drawing command. Identify. Then, the printer driver generates a PDL format drawing command having an even-numbered line width for the line drawing command sent from GDI. For other drawing commands, a PDL format drawing command according to the drawing command from GDI may be generated.

The drawing data (PDL data) including the drawing command of the line whose line width is set to an even width is sent to the image processing device 11 via the network 15 as described above.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a multi-valued bitmap at the time of line width adjustment. FIG. 9A shows an example in which lines 902 and 903 are added to the binary bitmap of the line having a three-pixel width shown in FIG. 7A. That is, it is a bitmap in which one line width is added in the line width adjustment process to make it an even-numbered width of 4 pixels. In this specification, "1 line" is a line having a pixel width corresponding to the resolution of the controller. Similar to FIG. 7A, by performing phase transfer by laser bending correction at the horizontal coordinates 12, a bitmap of a line whose phase is shifted downward by one pixel is obtained.

FIG. 9 (b) is a filter having the same weighting coefficient of 3x3 size for multi-value as in FIG. 7 (b). FIG. 9 (c) is a multi-valued bitmap in which the bitmap of FIG. 9 (a) is multi-valued using a filter (FIG. 9 (b)). As compared with FIG. 7C, the line width is increased by one pixel, and the line 911 having a density value of 100% is increased.

FIG. 9D is a multi-valued bitmap converted to a resolution of 600 dpi by sampling the multi-valued bitmap of FIG. 9 (c) every other pixel by a resolution conversion process. In FIG. 9D, the phase of the line is shifted by one pixel before and after the phase transfer, but the line 921 before the phase transfer is composed of three pixels having density values of 25%, 100%, and 75%, and after the phase transfer. The line 922 is composed of three pixels having a density value of 75%, 100%, and 25%. That is, the sampling period is two pixels in the vertical direction, but thanks to the correction of the line width, the relationship in which the sampling results in the vertical direction are inverted before and after the boundary of the phase transfer is maintained. Before and after the synergistic change, the density values of the line are inverted at the top and bottom, but the thickness of the line does not change because it is composed of a combination of pixels with the same density value.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, when the line width of the line drawing command is an odd width, by adding one line to make it an even width, a line having the same thickness is always created regardless of the phase. It becomes possible to draw.

In the present embodiment, when the line width of the line drawing command is an odd width, an example of increasing the line width (specifically, adding one line to make it an even width) has been described, but the line width has been described. May be processed to reduce (for example, delete one line) to make the width even. In the case of an extremely short line width, the line may not be drawn lightly by deleting one line. Therefore, in the case of deleting one line, a lower threshold value is set and the line is larger than the threshold value. When the width is large, one line may be deleted.

Further, in the present embodiment, the example in which the line width adjustment process is performed by the printer driver of the PC 10 has been described, but the line width adjustment process may be performed by the image processing device 11. That is, when the rendering unit 207 of the image processing device 11 interprets the PDL data and generates the intermediate data, the processing shown in FIG. 8 may be performed. Further, in the present embodiment, according to the process shown in FIG. 8, the line command having a line width less than the specified width and an odd width is thickened by one pixel width. However, the following processing may be performed. That is, the line width of the line command of the specified width or less (for example, 3 pixel width or less ) may be set (corrected) to the pixel width of the specified width + 1 (that is, 4 pixel width). By doing so, it is possible to thicken a line having an even width (2 pixel width) that is less than the specified width, and it is possible to draw the line without being affected by the phase.

<Second embodiment>
In the first embodiment, an example of adjusting the line width of the line drawing command of the drawing data has been described, but the line may be drawn by using the drawing command of an image or a figure instead of the line drawing command. When drawing a line with a command other than the line drawing command, the line width is not set, so that the line width cannot be adjusted by the method described in the first embodiment.

Therefore, in the second embodiment, a process of detecting a line from a binary bitmap of the processing resolution of the controller and adjusting the line width will be described. In this embodiment as well, the process of converting the binary bitmap of 1200 dpi, which is the processing resolution of the controller, into the multi-valued bitmap of 600 dpi, which is the print resolution of the printer, is shown as in the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the flow of the line width adjustment process of the bitmap. The bitmap line width adjustment processing in the present embodiment is performed on the binary bitmap data generated by the dither processing (S402) of the image processing unit 208.

First, in step S1001, the image processing unit 208 acquires binary bitmap data having a processing resolution of 1200 dpi of the controller generated by the dither processing in step S402.

In step S1002, the image processing unit 208 performs pattern matching of each pixel of the bitmap data using the NxM detection window, and detects line data from the bitmap data. The detection window should be large enough to detect thin lines.

Next, in step S1003, the image processing unit 208 calculates the line width of the line data detected in step S1002.

In step S1004, the image processing unit 208 determines whether or not the line width is equal to or less than the predetermined width. As the default width, for example, as described in the first embodiment, a 3-pixel width, a 5-pixel width, or the like can be specified. If it is determined that the line width is equal to or less than the default width, the process proceeds to step S1005, and if not, the process ends.

In step S1005, the image processing unit 208 determines whether or not the line width is an odd width. If it is determined that the line width is an odd width, the process proceeds to step S1006, and if not, the process ends.

In step S1007, the image processing unit 208 thickens the line data by one pixel and ends the process.

After that, as described in the first embodiment, the image processing unit 208 performs a multi-value processing (S404) and a resolution conversion processing (S405) on the line data that has been thickened by one pixel.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating line detection of binary bitmap data. FIG. 11 is a diagram obtained by cutting out a part of binary bitmap data in the NxM detection window. FIG. 11 shows an example using a 7x7 window. Line detection processes each pixel in the window line by line. For example, if all the pixels in a row in the window are OFF, it is determined that the row is white. If the number of ON pixels in a row in the window is 5 or more, it is determined that the row is black. Other than the above, it is determined to be gray. In FIG. 11, the first line is white, and the second and subsequent lines are black. This group of lines following black is judged as a "line". In FIG. 11, the line and the line width are detected by determining the number of consecutive black lines from the second line to the fourth line as the line width. In FIG. 11, a line having a line width of 3 is detected.

Since the multi-value processing and the resolution conversion processing are described above with reference to FIG. 9, they are omitted in the present embodiment.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the line is determined from the binary bitmap of the processing resolution of the controller, and the line width is adjusted. As a result, it is possible to always draw a line having the same thickness regardless of the phase, even for a line drawn by a command other than the line drawing command.

In the present embodiment, the thickening process has been described as an example for adjusting the line width, but the thinning process may be used as in the first embodiment. Further, also in the present embodiment, the following processing may be performed. That is, the line width of a line having a specified width or less (for example, 3 pixel width or less) may be set (corrected) to a pixel width of the specified width + 1 (that is, 4 pixel width). By doing so, it is possible to thicken a line having an even width (2 pixel width) that is less than the specified width, and it is possible to draw the line without being affected by the phase.

<Third embodiment>
In the first embodiment and the second embodiment, an example has been described in which one line is added or deleted from an odd-numbered line to adjust the line to an even-numbered line.

By changing the odd-width lines to even-numbered widths, it was possible to solve the problem that the line thickness changes due to phase transfer, but the thickness becomes the same as the original even-numbered width lines. For example, since a line having a width of 3 pixels is adjusted to a line having a width of 4 pixels, the line has the same thickness as the line having a width of 4 pixels and cannot be distinguished.

Therefore, in the embodiment, a line having a density of 50% and a pixel width of 50% is added to the line having an odd width, and one line (a line having a pixel width) of the original lines is thinned to a density of 50%. A process for making it possible to distinguish between an odd-width line and an even-width line will be described.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing the flow of the 50% line width adjustment process of the bitmap. The 50% line width adjustment processing of the bitmap is performed in the image processing unit 208, and is performed on the binary bitmap data generated by the dither processing (S402).

Since the processes from step S1201 to step S1205 can be the same as the processes from step S1001 to step S1005 described in the second embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

If the line width is equal to or less than the predetermined width and the line width is an odd number through steps S1204 and S1205, the process proceeds to step S1206.

In step S1206, the image processing unit 208 thickens the width of one pixel with 50% line data thinned out every other pixel. Then, in step S1207, the image processing unit 208 thins out one line of the line edge on the opposite side to one line of the line edge thickened by one pixel width every other pixel to obtain 50% line data, and ends the process.

After that, the multi-value processing (S404) and the resolution conversion processing (S405) are performed on the line data for which the 50% line width adjustment described with reference to FIG. 12 has been performed.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a multi-valued bitmap at the time of 50% line width adjustment and a filter used at the time of 50% line width adjustment. 13 (a) shows 50% line data 1302 and 1304 thinned out every other pixel in the 50% line width adjustment process with respect to the binary bitmap of the line of the three pixel width of FIG. 7 (a). This is the added bitmap. Further, it is a bitmap of a line in which one line of the line edge on the opposite side of the added 50% line is thinned out every other pixel to obtain 50% line data 1303 and 1305. Similar to FIG. 7A, by performing phase transfer by laser bending correction at the horizontal coordinates 12, a bitmap of a line whose phase is shifted downward by one pixel is obtained.

FIG. 13 (b) is a filter having the same weighting coefficient of 3x3 size for multi-value as in FIG. 7 (b).

FIG. 13 (c) is a multi-valued bitmap in which the bitmap of FIG. 13 (a) is multi-valued using a filter (FIG. 13 (b)). Since the line was adjusted by 50% as compared with FIG. 7C, the line 1311 is composed of pixels having density values of 0%, 12%, 50%, 88%, 88%, 50%, 12%, and 0%. To.

FIG. 13 (d) is a multi-valued bitmap converted to a resolution of 600 dpi by sampling the multi-valued bitmap of FIG. 13 (c) every other pixel by a resolution conversion process. In FIG. 13D, the phase of the line is shifted by one pixel before and after the phase transfer, but the line 1221 before the phase transfer is composed of three pixels having density values of 12%, 88%, and 50%, and the line after the phase transfer. 1222 is composed of three pixels having density values of 50%, 88%, and 12%. Before and after the synergistic change, the density values of the line are inverted at the top and bottom, but since the lines are composed of pixels with the same density value, the thickness of the line does not change. Further, the total density value of the pixels constituting the line is 12% + 88% + 50% = 150%, and the total density value of the pixels constituting the line in FIG. 9D is 25% + 100% + 75% = 200%. And the thickness can be distinguished.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, a line having a pixel width of 50% is added to an odd-numbered line, and a line having a pixel width of 50% is thinned out to a density of 50%. .. This makes it possible to always draw lines of the same thickness regardless of the phase, and further, it is possible to distinguish between odd-width lines and even-width lines.

In the present embodiment, an example in which 50% of line data thinned out every other pixel is added, and one line of the line edge on the opposite side of the added 50% line is thinned out every other pixel has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the combination of pixel values (density values) that have been multi-valued and resolution-converted may be the same combination (including upside down) before and after the correction. For example, 50% line data obtained by thinning out 2 pixels every 2 pixels may be added, and 1 line of the line edge on the opposite side of the added 50% line may be thinned out by 2 pixels every 2 pixels. Further, the thinning line may be a form in which a line one pixel above the edge is thinned out instead of a line serving as an edge. This is because the combination of pixel values (density values) that have been multi-valued and resolution-converted by performing a 3x3 filter process is the same combination (including upside down) before and after the correction.

Further, in the present embodiment, the mode of detecting the line from the bitmap data has been described, but the drawing command as described in the first embodiment may be changed. For example, when the drawing width of the drawing command indicates a three-pixel width, a line having a density of 50% is added to, for example, the upper part of the drawing area of the drawing command. Further, the line width of the drawing command may be changed to a two-pixel width, and one line having a density of 50% may be added to the lower part of the drawing area of the changed line.

(Other Examples)
In each of the above embodiments, since the bitmap data is shifted by one pixel in the sub-scanning direction in the phase transfer processing, the combination of the relative positions of the pixel sampling with respect to the line does not match before the line width is corrected. explained. However, the scope of application of the present invention is not limited to the case where the phase transfer processing is performed. That is, it can be applied to all cases where the combination of the relative positions of pixel sampling with respect to the line does not match unless the line width is corrected. For example, an odd-width line that is deviated in the sub-scanning direction for each pixel in units of several pixels is corrected to an even-width line, and pixel sampling with a sampling period of 2 pixels (even-numbered pixels) is performed on the corrected line. You may do it. The above-mentioned multi-value may be performed between the line width correction and the pixel sampling.

The present invention supplies a program that realizes one or more functions of the above-described embodiment to a system or device via a network or storage medium, and one or more processors in the computer of the system or device reads and executes the program. It can also be realized by the processing to be performed. It can also be realized by a circuit (for example, ASIC) that realizes one or more functions.

Claims (9)

An image processing system that corrects the bitmap data to shift in the sub-scanning direction at a predetermined position in the main scanning direction so as to cancel the bending of the scanning lines of the electrophotographic laser.
An acquisition method for acquiring drawing commands for drawing lines included in drawing data,
A changing means for changing the line width of a drawing command whose line width specified by the drawing command for drawing the line is an even pixel width smaller than a predetermined even pixel width to a predetermined even pixel width, and
A generation means for generating binary bitmap data of the first resolution based on the drawing data including the drawing command changed by the change means, and a generation means.
A correction means for performing the correction on the generated binary bitmap data, and
A conversion means for converting the corrected binary bitmap data into multi-valued bitmap data having a second resolution having a resolution lower than that of the first resolution.
An image processing system including an output means for outputting the converted multi-valued bitmap data to a printing means. The changing means changes the line width of a drawing command whose line width specified by the drawing command for drawing the line is an odd pixel width smaller than the predetermined even pixel width to the predetermined even pixel width. The image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the image processing system is characterized. The image processing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the changing means increases the line width. The image processing system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the changing means reduces the line width. Any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the conversion means converts the corrected binary bitmap data into multi-value bitmap data, and converts the resolution of the converted multi-value bitmap data. The image processing system described in the section. The conversion means obtains the corrected binary bitmap data by using a filter capable of setting the pixel value of the pixel of interest to an intermediate level density by referring to the pixel values of surrounding pixels. The image processing system according to claim 5, wherein the image processing system is converted into value bitmap data. The image processing system according to claim 6, wherein the conversion means uses, as the filter, a 3x3 filter in which the coefficient at the center position is set higher than the coefficient at the other position. Any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the changing means determines that when the line width is an odd number, the combination of pixel values of the pixels constituting the line is different before and after the correction. The image processing system described in the section. It is an image processing method for correcting the bitmap data to be shifted in the sub-scanning direction at a predetermined position in the main scanning direction so as to cancel the bending of the scanning line of the electrophotographic laser.
The acquisition process to acquire the drawing command to draw the line included in the drawing data,
A change step of changing the line width of a drawing command whose line width specified by the drawing command for drawing the line is an even pixel width smaller than a predetermined even pixel width to a predetermined even pixel width, and
A generation step of generating binary bitmap data of the first resolution based on the drawing data including the drawing command changed in the change step, and a generation step.
A correction step of performing the correction on the generated binary bitmap data, and
A conversion step of converting the corrected binary bitmap data into multi-valued bitmap data having a second resolution having a resolution lower than that of the first resolution.
An image processing method comprising an output step of outputting the converted multi-valued bitmap data to a printing means.