JPH01149682A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To designate an area of an optional shape by two-dimensionally storing the area of an original to be edited in a storing means of bit map memory, etc., in the unit of bit. CONSTITUTION:A designated area writing means 10 is connected with a memory 9 and a designated area is stored in the memory 9 as bit map information by means of the command of a CPU 5 issued in accordance with an instruction from a digitizer 6. When a rectangular area is designated, the area is calculated by the CPU 5 and a corresponding area is plotted on the memory 9 through the means 10 when vertexes on a diagonal line are inputted on the digitizer 6. If an area having an optional shape is designated, the area is inputted when the boundary line P of the area is traced in one direction on the digitizer 6.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an image processing device that reads image information and performs various image processing, and particularly relates to an image processing device that reads image information and performs various image processing. It relates to a processing device.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in an image processing apparatus, it is possible to designate a part of a document image as an area and perform processing different from other areas.
It is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 242480, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 60-213168, and the like. When such an image processing device is connected to a copying machine, it becomes possible to take out and copy only a portion of a document, or to convert the color of a portion of a document and copy it.

FIG. 11 shows a conventional image processing device used in such an editable copying machine, in which the output of a main scanning address counter l driven by a video crotter is sent to a designated address section detection circuit 3 in the main scanning direction. The output of the sub-scanning address counter 2 which is supplied and driven by the line synchronization signal is supplied to the specified address section detection circuit 4 in the sub-scanning direction. Both specified address section detection circuits 3 and 4 are CP
Controlled by U (central processing unit) 5, CPU 5
Coordinates can be input using a digitizer 6 connected to the digitizer 6.

Now, when specifying both ends of the diagonal of the rectangle to be edited in the manuscript shown in FIG. 12(a) using the digitizer 6,
The CPU 5 calculates the coordinates, and the specified address section detection circuit 3.4 detects the position in the main and sub-scanning directions. And A
The ND gate 7 generates a signal indicating whether the designated area is inside or outside the designated area based on the value of the main/sub-scanning address counter 1.2, and the image signal processing circuit 8 switches the processing for the image signal. As a result, processing is performed on the rectangular area indicated by diagonal lines in FIG. 12(a).

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

As mentioned above, in conventional image processing devices, the area is specified based on the value of the main/sub-scanning address counter 1.2, so the shape of the area that can be specified is a straight line parallel to the main/sub-scanning line. The enclosed area, i.e., the rectangular area B as shown in Figure 12(a), or even the 12th
The area was limited to a combination of rectangles as shown in Figure (b). Therefore, there has been a problem in that it is difficult for the user to perform the processing as intended.

The present invention was made in view of the shortcomings of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to make it possible to specify an area of arbitrary shape by storing an area to be edited bit by bit.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the image processing apparatus of the present invention includes an area specifying means for specifying an area of a document to be edited;
a storage means for recording information of a designated area in a bitmap; a means for reading out information of the area stored in the storage means in synchronization with reading or recording of an image of the document; The present invention is characterized in that it includes an image processing unit that performs predetermined image processing on the image of the document based on the information of the area.

Further, means for drawing a boundary line of the area in the storage means based on the information of the area specified by the area specifying means, and means for filling in the area inside or outside the boundary line, or Means may be provided for determining whether the read position is inside or outside the boundary line when reading the boundary line.

[Effect]

In the present invention, an area of a document to be edited is stored two-dimensionally in bit units in a storage means such as a bitmap memory. Therefore, any shape can be stored in the storage means as a bit pattern. When reading or recording an image of a document, information in the area stored in the storage means is read out bit by bit in synchronization with this. The information in this area corresponds to the original image, so if you perform predetermined image processing based on the area information, the predetermined image processing will be performed only on the specified area of the original image. become.

When storing the area after filling in the storage means,
If the contents of the tα means are read out as they are, the output will indicate the inside or outside of the specified area. In addition, in the case where the boundary line of the specified value range is stored in the above-mentioned 1.α means, image processing is performed by determining whether it is inside or outside the boundary line at the same time as reading.

〔Example〕

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Hereinafter, features of the present invention will be specifically described based on examples with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an image processing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Note that the same reference numerals are given to the parts corresponding to the structure of the conventional example shown in FIG.

In the figure, 9 indicates a memory. This memory 9 is a bitmap memory that stores image data as a two-dimensional bit pattern. A designated area writing means 10 is connected to the memory 9, and stores the designated area in the memory 9 as bitmap information in response to a command from the CPU 5 based on an instruction from the digitizer 6. Further, the memory 9 is connected to a reading means 11 that controls reading in synchronization with a synchronization signal.

In the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, when specifying a region such as a rectangle, use the digitizer 6 to
By inputting the vertices, the CPU 5 calculates the area, and the corresponding area can be drawn on the memory 9 via the specified area writing means 10. And page sync,
By reading out the contents of the memory 9 by the readout means 11 driven by each synchronization signal such as line synchronization, video clock, etc. and supplying it to the image signal processing circuit 8, it is possible to specify a rectangle for the image signal as in the past. .

Further, when specifying a region C having an arbitrary shape as shown in FIG. 2, input is performed by tracing its boundary line P on the digitizer 6, for example, in the direction of an arrow. In this case, the digitizer 6 is used in a mode in which position information is continuously transmitted during the trace period, rather than in the normal mode in which position information is transmitted only when the pen is down. Based on the position information, the CPU 5 draws a boundary line of an arbitrary shape specified by the area on the memory 9 via the specified area writing means 10, and then fills in the outside or inside of the boundary line to store the specified area. - In this way, in this embodiment, the designated area is stored in the memory 9 in the form of a bitmap, so not only the rectangular area B shown in FIG. 12 but also the arbitrarily shaped area C as shown in FIG. It is also possible to specify.

In addition, if the boundary line is stored on the memory 9 instead of filling out the pit pattern in the memory 9 corresponding to the area, it is detected in real time whether or not it is within the specified area when reading the specified area. It is necessary to provide hardware between the memory 9 and the image signal processing circuit 8. The area detection hardware and its algorithm will be described later.

FIG. 3 shows a more detailed block diagram of the image processing apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

As mentioned above, the memory 9 is a means for marking the specified area with a pit map, and the graphic display controller (indicated by GDC in the figure) 21 controls the memory 9 to draw straight lines and mark the specified area. It performs image processing such as filling in the background of the image at high speed. That is, the graphic display controller 21 is configured to perform drawing processing at high speed independently from the CPU 5 by inputting parameters such as coordinates, commands such as drawing type, etc. from the outside. In this embodiment, an integrated circuit μPD 7 is used as a graphic display controller 21 which is a designated area writing/reading means for this memory 9.
220 (manufactured by NEC Co., Ltd.), the memory 9 uses the position information traced and output by the digitizer 6.
A straight line is drawn in the area, and when the area is specified, the area outside the specified area is filled in.

In the above example, the position information sent from the digitizer 6 was developed in the memory 9 in real time, but instead of this, the position information is temporarily stored in the memory (not shown) and specified. The data may be stored in the memory 9 after the completion of the process.

Further, the graphic display controller 21 is
Since the refresh operation or read operation of the memory 9 is automatically executed at any time, the output can be used for reading.

There are three types of external synchronization signals: page synchronization, line synchronization, and video clock, and the timing generation circuit 23
Based on these synchronization signals, a signal is generated to read data corresponding to the location where reading or recording is being performed.

A signal from the memory 9 indicating whether the specified area is inside or outside is input to the data processing ROM 24, and color conversion is performed only within the specified area according to a function from the CPU 5.

Back shading, trimming, masking, etc. are executed.

Regarding the drawing function, the CPU 5 outputs straight line drawing commands to the graphic display controller 21 in real time based on continuous position information sent from the digitizer 6, and draws the boundary line of the specified area. I'll draw it.

In the case of a rectangle, ready-made basic software for drawing rectangles is available and can be used. There is also ready-made basic software for filling in areas, but in this case, it is necessary to provide a starting point for filling. Here, if you fill in the area outside the specified area, you can specify a memory address outside the document area as the starting point for filling.
Filling can be executed reliably. In other words, if the designated area is filled in, the starting point of filling must be changed depending on the position of the closed loop, which is inconvenient.

Further, a gate 25 is provided between the output side of the memory 9 and the graphic display controller 21 to prevent the output of the graphic display controller 21 from colliding with the output of the memory 9. Filling can be performed while referring to the contents of the memory 9. That is, only when the bus of the graphic display controller 21 enters the manual mode, this gate 25 opens and transfers the contents of the memory 9 to the graphic display controller 21.
It can be loaded with .

Next, the operating procedure will be explained with reference to the digitizer 6 shown in FIG.

The digitizer 6 has two modes: a mode in which data is sent only once when the pen is down, that is, when the tip of the pen 61 is pressed against the surface of the document area D of the digitizer 6, and a mode in which data is sent continuously during the pen-down period. Yes, and usually the former.

Further, a key area E is provided on the digitizer 6 separately from the document area D, and keys 621 to 62i are arranged therein. Keys 621-G on digitizer 6
2i is pressed, the C-PU 5 checks the position from the data transmitted by the digitizer 6 and learns that the key has been selected. That is, when the detected coordinates are in key area E, they are input manually as key data rather than as area designation coordinates.

When specifying an area, first, when the reset key 62a is selected, the memory 9 is cleared. Next, depending on the shape of the area you want to specify, the rectangle key 62b or the arbitrary key 62
Select C.

When the rectangle key 62b is selected, input both ends of the diagonal from the document area D of the digitizer 6, and press the set key 6.
Select 2d. As a result, a rectangle defined by both ends of the diagonal is designated as the target area.

Next, the area filling process when the arbitrary key 62c is selected will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. The point that the memory 9 is cleared first is the same as in the case of a rectangle. The digitizer 6 is in a mode where it continuously sends the position when the pen is down to the CPU 5.
The PU 5 writes the boundary line into the memory 9 according to the flow shown in FIG. That is, a straight line is continuously drawn until a start point designated by the pen 61 is received and the pen is raised from this point. In this way, after manually editing the specified area, the function keys 6 corresponding to color conversion, back shading, trimming, and masking are added.
Select 28 to 62h, and finally select the end key 62 dishes. As a result, a control instruction is given from the CPU 5 to the graphic display controller 21, and the area outside the specified area is filled by the graphic display controller 21.

In the manner described above, functions for performing color conversion, back shading, trimming, or masking on arbitrary areas can be added to the digital copying machine.

In the above-described embodiment, a dedicated actual circuit such as the previously mentioned integrated circuit μPD7220 was used as the specified area writing means, but the CPU is not limited to this.
By using a high-performance one as the CPU 5, the CPU 5 can also function as a designated area writing means.

In addition, although the above embodiment has been explained using a digital copying machine as an example, when the present invention is applied to an analog copying machine, the image signal processing circuit 8. ROM24 for data processing
The same processing as in this embodiment can be performed by using means such as an LED array that selectively removes charges on the surface of the photoreceptor drum instead of the image data processing means such as the above.

In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the area is stored in the memory 9 in a filled state, but if only boundary line information is stored in the memory 9, the memory 9 shown in FIG.
Between the data processing ROM 24 and the data processing ROM 24, a means for determining in real time whether the boundary line is inside or outside is required when reading the memory 9. An example of this area determination means is shown in FIG.

In the figure, 41 is a line memory for storing the status of one line of the read document. Note that the status here indicates the attribute of a pixel or block, and for example, when a closed loop L is formed on the document A as shown in FIG. 7, it is defined as follows.

Inside the area rlJ Outside the area "0" On the closed loop rMJ Indeterminate rXJ In addition, in the case of this embodiment, the line memory 41 also stores the history of the status of each block, that is, which status was before the currently displayed status. It is assumed that the above is ○.

The status information in the line memory 41 is read out in synchronization with the address counter 42, and is read out from the D-type flip-flop (
After being latched by the FF (indicated by D-FF in the figure) 43, it is supplied to the status calculation section 44.

Status calculation aB44 is a D-type flip-flop 43
The status of the previous line latched in the previous line and its own output are latched by the D-type flip-flop 45, that is, the status of the previous block and the mark information S, l from the memory 9 in which the boundary line information is stored are used to determine the pixel of interest. It is calculated by calculating the status and its history.

The output of the status calculation unit 44 is configured to sequentially rewrite the status of the line memory 41 via a D-type flip-flop 45 and a buffer 46.

Further, the address counter 42 switches its counting mode between an up mode and a down mode every time an address is scanned once, so that the address always makes one round trip when determining the status of one line.

Algorithm designation information, which is switched depending on whether the address counter 42 is in the up mode or the down mode, is input to the status calculation unit 44, and the status calculation algorithm in the status calculation unit 44 is selected. This is because the arithmetic algorithms are different between forward and backward address scanning, as will be described later.

Note that the above-mentioned status calculation unit 44 calculates, for example, the status information of the previous line, the status information of the previous block,
This can be realized by a ROM that uses mark information Sx and algorithm specification information as addresses and status as data.

Furthermore, when the address counter 42 is in the down mode, D
Since the status latched in the type flip-flop 43 is in the middle of calculation, the status holding unit 4 stores a series of statuses when the address counter 42 is in the up mode.
7 and use it when returning.

8 and 9 show examples of forward and backward calculation algorithms in the status calculation section 44.

For the past time, the status of the previous line at the time of return or the status of the current line is referred to.

First, if the pixel of interest is on a closed loop as shown in FIG. 8(a), that is, the status is rMJ, then the status is r.
Let's call it MJ.

In cases other than the above, the status one line before or the status one block before is "0" as shown in Figure 8 (c).
”, the status is set to “0”.

In cases other than the above, as shown in Fig. 8(C), the status of one line before or the status of one block before is N.
If it is J, the status is set to rN.

In cases other than the above, if the status one line before is rXJ as shown in Figure 8 (6), change the status to rXJ.
shall be.

If none of the above is true, if the history is "0", the status is set to rlJ, and if the history is rN, rMJ or r
If it is XJ, the status is set to rXJ.

Further, in the return calculation algorithm, the previous status of the current line or the status of the previous block is referred to.

First, if the status one line before is rMJ as shown in FIG. 9(a), the status is set to rMJ.

In cases other than the above, the status one line before or the status one block before is "0" as shown in Figure 9 (c).
”, the status is set to “0”.

In cases other than the above, the status one line before or the status one block before is rl, as shown in FIG. 9(C).
If it is J, the status is set to rIJ.

In cases other than the above, if the status one line before is rXJ as shown in Figure 9 (6), change the status to rXJ.
shall be.

If none of the above is true, if the history is "0", the status is set to rIJ, and if the history is rN, rMJ or r
If it is XJ, the status is set to rXJ.

FIG. 10 shows status transitions when simple area 11 identification is performed using these calculation algorithms.

As can be seen from this figure, statuses are assigned according to the area. In this way, it becomes possible to determine in real time what is inside and outside the area.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, in the present invention, the area to be edited is marked tα using a bitmap. Therefore, arbitrary coordinates can be manually stored in bits using a digitizer or the like. This results in
Any shape can be specified as the m-collection area, and by performing image processing on this editing area, it becomes possible to edit as intended by the user.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of an image processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of an area edited by the image processing device, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the basic configuration of an image processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a plan view showing the digitizer, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure for filling in an area, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of an area determination section that performs area determination in real time. Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between each area, Figures 8 and 9 are explanatory diagrams showing the algorithm for area determination, Figure 1O is an explanatory diagram showing the area determination results, and Figure 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the area determination result. FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of the device, and is an explanatory diagram showing areas that can be specified by the conventional image processing device. 6: Digitizer (area specifying means) 8: Image signal processing circuit (image processing means) 9: Memory (storage means) 11: Reading means A: Original
B, C: Area D: Original area E: Key area Patent applicant
Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Representative Masu Kobori (and 2 others) Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 b2c bzg bzn No. 5 @ Whistle Figure 6 S&l Figure 9 Whistle Figure 10

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. Area specifying means for specifying an area of a document to be edited, storage means for storing information on the specified area in a bitmap, and synchronization with reading or recording of an image of the document. and an image processing means for performing predetermined image processing on the image of the document based on the read information of the area. An image processing device characterized by: 2. It is characterized by comprising means for drawing a boundary line of the area in the storage means based on the information of the area specified by the area specifying means, and means for filling in the area inside or outside the boundary line. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1. 3. means for drawing a boundary line of the area in the storage means based on the information of the area designated by the area designation means; and whether the read position is within the boundary line when reading the boundary line from the storage means; The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for determining whether the image is outside or not.