JPH01155771A - Picture processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent missing of a ruled line by using a raster data so as to bury a character interval and a line interval when a specific code of a ruled line is converted into a raster data in a picture processing unit usable for a copying machine for lots of kinds of media. CONSTITUTION:An MPU 221 loads a raster data corresponding to a text code from a character generator 230 and writes the result in a page memory 228. Since the relation between the data and the address of an actual page memory 228 is stored in a ROM 223, the MPU 221 calculates it based thereupon. A conventional character is converted into a raster data in the page memory through the address calculation but in case of a ruled line font, missing is caused. Taking - and ¦ of the ruled line font, A or B is expanded at once and the font A is moved horizontally and the font B is moved vertically to apply duplicated writing. The missing of the ruled line is eliminated.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[Technical Field] The present invention relates to an image processing device, and more particularly to an image processing device that can be applied to a multi-media copying machine that is capable of copying between different media in addition to copying from a paper original onto paper. be. [Prior Art] In a multi-media copying machine, a document file on a floppy disk contains information (text printing format) about character pitch LP and line pitch CP as shown in FIG. Then, the document code data is expanded into the image memory by a character generator. Ruled line data is usually stored as vector data in a separate file from text code data, or in a separate area even within the same file, but there is no standard for the format of this vector data, and it varies from company to company. It is expanded into image memory using a dedicated algorithm suitable for that format. Such a document file is inappropriate considering the functions of a multi-media copying machine. On the other hand, some of the ruled line data is based on the JIS standard as shown in Figure 14.
Some fonts express ruled lines using codes (hereinafter referred to as "ruled line fonts"), and therefore, in this case, code data for characters and ruled lines coexist in a document file of text code data. Furthermore, since the code data of this text file is standardized by JIS, it is possible to develop ruled lines in an image memory using a single algorithm. However, as described above, the image memory development of code data is performed while maintaining the pitch between characters and the pitch between lines, so although the character code is good, when developing ruled line fonts, omissions occur as shown in Figure 15. . [Objective] The present invention was made to eliminate the drawbacks of the above-mentioned prior art, and its purpose is to provide an image processing device that can be used in a multi-media copying machine and can prevent missing ruled lines. That's true. [Structure] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an image processing device that can be used in a multi-media copying machine that enables copying between different media in addition to copying from a paper original onto paper. an image signal conversion means for converting into an electrical image signal; a reading means for reading data from a floppy disk;
centre

[Data converting means for converting a text code read from a JTSP disc into raster data; and storage for storing one page of the image signal obtained from the image signal converting means or the raster data obtained by the data converting means. means, an image forming means for forming an image from the stored data in the storing means, and a character generator memory in which bit images corresponding to character codes, ruled line codes, etc. mixed in the text code are stored. Moreover, when converting a specific code of a ruled line into raster data, the raster data is used to fill in character spacing and line spacing. Hereinafter, a detailed explanation will be given based on one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the entire digital copying machine embodying the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a system block diagram thereof. In FIGS. 1 and 2, l is an image reading device W1 (scanner) which is the input section of the digital copying machine, and is placed on the document table! I! The If image information of the original is converted into an electrical signal (image signal) by an image sensor such as a COD. 2 is a floppy disk memory device for recording/reproducing image signals, which records image signals (raster data) from a scanner and reproduces the recorded signals, or records image signals (raster data, It also has an internal page memory, scanner I/F (interface), printer I/F, and operation display I/F, and controls the entire H. Also performs buffering of image signals, 4 is an operation display section, and 3 is a printer that is the output section of the digital copying machine, and forms an image on a recording material (paper, etc.) using a laser beam printer or the like based on the image signal. It is something. Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the image reading device l
I will explain about it. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the image reading device t, and FIG. 4 is its block circuit diagram. In FIG. 3, 111 is a platen glass, and the original 11
2 is placed on this platen glass 111. Manuscript 1
12 is a carriage 1 that moves on a slide rail 213
Light source (fluorescent lamp) provided at 14, L 15 and 1
16. Movable mirror unit 118
is provided with a mirror 119 and a mirror 119',
It moves on the slide rail 113 and in combination with the first mirror 117 provided on the carriage 114 guides the optical image of the document 112 on the platen glass 111 to the lens reading unit 120 . The carriage 114 and the movable mirror unit 118 are
By pulleys 122, 123, 124 driven by a stepping motor 121 via a wire 12G, the carriage 114 moves at a speed of V, and the movable mirror unit 118 moves at a speed of 1
/2V in the same direction. platen glass 1
Standard white plate 127 on the back side of the home position section of 11
is provided, and is configured so that a standard white signal can be obtained before the start of document reading scanning. Lens reading unit 1
Reference numeral 20 is composed of a lens 128 as a reading lens system and a line sensor 129 attached to a reading board. The original light image transmitted by the first mirror 117 and the mirrors 119 and 119' is focused by the lens 12B,
The image is formed on the light receiving surface of line sensor CCI) 129. The CCD 129 converts the shading of the original image into an electrical signal (image signal). The processing of the image a signal will be explained below with reference to the block diagram of FIG. This image signal is amplified by an amplifier circuit 130, and converted into a multi-value digital image signal for each pixel by an A/D converter 131. This digital image signal is sent to the shading correction circuit 132.
In this method, shading caused by: (uneven light emission of the light source) (uneven light intensity distribution of the optical system (mirror, lens)) (2) uneven sensitivity of the CCD is removed. The binarization circuit 133 (1) converts sharply black and white image signals such as characters and drawings into a fixed binary level. That is, a method (threshold) in which a value processed by the CPU 134 is binarized at the pattern level of the latch circuit (RAM) 135. ■For things that require gradation, such as photographs, dither patterns (
ROM) 136 binarization method (dither processing). Select 'Jπ with the original select switch on the operation display section 4,
The image data binarized for each 0 pixel to obtain a HA copy image by switching with the selector 137 is for one line, that is, A
A4 size (210X27i) with 3 size scanners
If the resolution of the longitudinal feed of
Line buffer 1 configured with (bit) of RAM
38, the serial image signal vI) is output to the printer 3 by an output buffer 139. The oscillation circuit 140 is a CCD for driving the CCD 129.
It is applied to a CD drive circuit 141 and a synchronous signal generation circuit 142 for image (original) signals. The output of the oscillation circuit 140 is counted by a counter 143, and the count value is sent to the decoder 1.
44 and the CCD drive circuit 14 by the decoded output.
1 to generate a pulse to drive the CCD 129. The other outputs of the decoder 44 are generated by the synchronization generation circuit 142: ■ A clock VCK synchronized with the pixels; ■ A main scanning synchronization signal LGAE in the line (main scanning) direction; and ■ A sub-scanning synchronization signal FGATE in the unreasonable scanning direction. 0 pixel signal■. , Clock■. , main scanning synchronization signal L
The timings of GATE and sub-scanning synchronization signal FGATE have the relationship shown in FIG. 5A. The CPU 134 (for example, Intel 8086) is RO
It operates according to a control program written in M145, and is composed of a working memory RAM 146 and I10 (input/output) ports 147, 148, and 149, and controls the entire scanner 1. The I10 board 147 controls actuators such as the drive pulse motor 121 and the fluorescent lamps 115 and 116 for illuminating the document, and also detects the home position switch of the scanner 1 and sensors such as document detection. is an l/F (
interface) and parallel data transfer using a handshake method. Figure 5A is a diagram showing the relationship between the paper, the main scanning signal (LGATE), and the sub-scanning signal (FGATE).
ATE). FIG. 5B is a timing diagram, in which the LSYNC signal is output from the printer and is a synchronization signal for laser beam scanning, ie, a laser beam position signal of the printer. ■, is read data (image signal), image clock VC
clocked at f. Figure 5B lower VCK+
v is an enlarged version of VCIl+v above it. Next, the configuration and operation of the floppy disk memory device will be explained. FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a floppy disk memory device, and FIG. 7 is a block circuit diagram thereof. In FIGS. 6 and 7, 210 represents an 8-inch floppy disk device, 211 represents a 5.25-inch floppy disk device, and 212 represents a 3.5-inch floppy disk device. In this embodiment, one floppy disk 't=W with a different medium size is installed, but such a configuration is not necessarily required, and only one or more floppy disk devices with a specific size medium are installed. 213 is a control electronic circuit, which is shown by the broken line in the block diagram of FIG. 7, 214 is an interface connector/cable that connects to the scanner,
215 is an interface connector that connects to the printer.
Cable 216 is an interface connector/cable connected to the operation display section. Next, a control circuit block diagram will be explained. The control circuit is based on a general microcomputer system, and controls each peripheral via a so-called bus. 221
is a microprocessor that supplies data, address, and control signals to bus 229. Floppy disk drive R (hereinafter referred to as FDD) 210.211.212 is FD
By illuminating the DI/F 220, logical milling (reading and writing) is performed. The RAM 222 is a working RAM and is operated under the MPU 221. ROM
Reference numeral 223 denotes a part where programs of this system are stored, and the programs control the FDD, the scanner, the printer, and the page memory. 224 is a scanner I/F composed of a parallel data I/F,
It controls the operation of the scanner. Data read from the scanner is processed via the serial-parallel data converter 226 without passing through the scanner I/F. Data from this serial-parallel data converter 226 is developed into page memory 228. Page memory 2
Reference numeral 28 has a data capacity for holding printer output paper as a full dot image. In addition, the image data in the page memory is transferred to a parallel-serial data converter 227.
The data is transferred to the printer 3 through the . Printer I/F22
5 is for performing printer operations (print start, status read, etc.), and is parallel data ■/F. It is connected to the operation display section 4 through 232 T10 boats. Next, the printer 4 will be explained. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the printer, and FIG. 9 is a block circuit diagram thereof. In FIGS. 8 and 9, reference numeral 301 is a photosensitive drum, 302 is an electrostatic charger, 303 is a developing section, 304 is a paper feed cassette, 305 is a paper feed conveyance section, and 306
is a register controller, 307 is a transfer separation charger, 308
309 is a fixing device, 309 is a paper output tray, 310 is a cleaning device, 311 is a laser, 312 is a collimator lens, 31
3 is a polygon mirror, 314 is an fθ lens, 315 is a mirror, 316 is a beam detect mirror, 317 is a beam position detector, 318 is a beam position detection circuit, 319 is a laser driver circuit, 320A and 320B are toggle line buffers, 321 , 323 is an input buffer that receives and receives the image signal from the floppy disk memory device 2, 324 is an address counter of the line buffer memory,
325 is a ROM that stores the control program for the printer 3 and the FGATE counter; 326 is a RAM that is a working memory of the CPU 324; 327 is a drive motor for the printer 3, an actuator for the fixing heater, and a paper Ilo (input/output) boat to which sensors for presence, size detection, etc. are connected, 328
inputs LGATE330, and T10 of the reset signal 331 etc. of the counter 321 that counts the FGATE counter
The board 329 is a T10 that transmits and receives control signals to and from the printer I/F 225 in the floppy disk memory device 2.
It's a boat. Synchronization signal LGAT from floppy disk memory device
The input buffer 323 receives the image signal VD synchronized with E, FGATE, and VcK (Fig. 5), and the line memory 320
Write to A or 320B. The line memories 320A and 320B are toggled by a toggle switching signal 331 from the CPU 3241, and when the line memory 320A is currently in the write state, the other line memory 320B is in the read state. The line memory counter 321 counts with the VCII opened in LGATE,
It is reset by the toggle switching signal 331 and reading/writing is always performed from address O. The reading side memory 320B controls the lighting of the laser 311 with a laser driver circuit 319, and the emitted light is shaped into parallel light by a collimator lens 312, and scanned by a polygon mirror 313 to the width of the photoreceptor drum 310, and is r- θ
Distortion is corrected by a lens 314, and the light is exposed onto the photosensitive drum 301 via a mirror 315. On the other hand, the image forming system is transferred and fixed onto paper by the electrophotographic process shown in FIG. That is, the photosensitive drum 30
Reference numeral 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow, and displays an image that is charged by a charging charge 302, exposed to the laser, and visualized by a developing device 303, and the leading edge of the paper conveyed from a paper feed cassette 304 by a paper feed conveyance unit 305. The timing is adjusted using the registration roller 306. And this paper is the photoreceptor drum 30
1, the image is transferred to paper by a transfer separation charge 307, conveyed in the direction of the arrow, and fixed by a fixing device 308. Thereafter, the paper is ejected to a paper ejection tray 309. On the other hand, residual toner is collected from the photosensitive drum 301 by cleaning 310. The configuration and operation described above are of a well-known electrophotographic process laser printer. The CPU 3 is controlled by the ROM 325 that stores these control programs.
24 is operated. It also controls via 110329 in order to notify the floppy disk memory device of start and stop commands from the operation display unit 4 and abnormal conditions such as paper jams in the printer 3. Next, the operation display section 4 will be explained with reference to the schematic plan view of FIG. 1θ. The operation display section 4 includes a standard operation section 460, a dot liquid crystal display LC0465, and a special operation section 461 having soft keys 466 as a copying machine. The standard operation section 460 is for when using the "copying from one sheet to paper" function, and includes a numeric keypad 462 for setting the number of copies, a number display section 463, a print start key 464, a key and display section 470 for setting copy conditions, etc. configured. The special operation section 461 is
This is used in the copy mode for recording/playing D. Soft keys (for data manual use) 466, LCD display 4
It is sown from 65. These are 11 in the floppy disk memory 'i device 2.
The meaning of the soft key 466, which is connected to the microcomputer system through the 0 port 232 (see FIG. 6),
All display data on the liquid crystal display 465 is determined by a program within the second microcomputer system. The feature that characterizes the present invention is that in addition to the conventional digital copier function of ``paper-to-paper copying function of outputting image signals read from a scanner to a printer,'' it is also capable of ``transferring image signals read from a scanner to a floppy disk.'' A paper-to-FD copying function that records on an FD (hereinafter referred to as FD) and reproduces image signals (handles three types of rask data, vector data, and text data) recorded on an rFD and outputs them to a printer. There are three functions: FD-to-paper copying function. Of the above three functions, copying from paper to FD and FD
Copying from to paper will be described below. In copying from paper to an FD (flowchart in FIG. 11), first the original to be recorded on the FD is set in the scanner l, and the operation display section 4 is operated to set copy conditions. The copy conditions here include, for example, selection of copy mode from paper to FD, setting of copy range, selection of FD type, manual selection of file size for file identification in FD or file name, etc. Thereafter, the print start key 464 in FIG. 10 is pressed to complete the operation. To explain the flow and effect of a series of operations at this time, the copy conditions are set on a floppy disk memory device (hereinafter referred to as
The program stored in the ROM 223 in the FDM (FDM) is interactively executed via the I10 boat 232 using the liquid crystal display 465 and soft keys 466 of the special operation unit 461 in the operation display unit 4. In this case, the display method and operation are as follows: Since the method is not related to the gist of the present invention, detailed explanation will be omitted. After setting the copy conditions, when the operator presses the print start key 464, the Progera starts printing on the FDI/F22.
Send 0 to check the FD. The FD check mentioned here means, for example, whether the FD is set in the FDD, whether it is formatted, and whether the file name or file name is registered twice. When the FD check is completed, the program executes the scanner reading operation using the scanner T/F 224. Data read from scanner 1 is developed into page memory 228 through serial-parallel data converter 226. Since the page memory capacity is reserved for the original paper, development in the memory continues until the original reading operation is completed. When the reading operation is completed, the contents of the page memory are then recorded on the FD. This recording operation is performed through the FDDI/F 220. Next, copying from FD to paper (flow chart in FIG. 12) will be explained. The user sets the FD on which the file to be copied is recorded into an FDD that matches its size, and operates the operation display section 4 to set copy conditions. The copy condition settings here include selecting the copy mode from FD to Gion, setting the number of copies, and copying I" D D
size (8', 5.25". 3.5"), etc. This copying condition setting is performed interactively by a program stored in the ROM 223 in the FDM via the I10 boat 228 and on the liquid crystal display 465 and soft keys 466 of the special operation section 461 in the operation display section 4. RO when the operator finishes setting the copy conditions.
The program stored in M223 checks the FD through FD17F220.
Is it set in the FDD and ready? ■Is there any abnormality in the FDD hardware? ■Is there any problem with the FDD hardware?
If the format can be processed by the program in the ROM 223, it is 1 or 0, etc. If a failure occurs during these checks, the operator is notified of the error occurrence through the operation display section 4, and an error handling routine is entered. Since this error processing is not the gist of the present invention, its explanation will be omitted. Next, the program reads the file directory to be copied, displays a file list on the special display section 461 of the operation display section 4, prompts the operator to select the file to be copied, and presses the soft key 461 also on the operation display section 4. Request input of selection information. At this point, the series of condition settings are completed, and the operator presses the print start key 464. When the print start key 464 is pressed, the program starts l? Execute the reading operation in D. If the read data is raster data (data from a scanner or fax machine), it is expanded to the page memory as is, and if the data is text data (data from a computer or word processor), it is stored in the working memory. I'll remember it. The text data stored in the working memory is converted into a rask pattern according to the code using the character generator 230, and then developed in the page memory 228. When the expansion into the page memory 228 is completed, the contents of the page memory 228 are output to the printer 3. The print format in this case uses the format stored in the FD. If the next page data exists in the file, the process repeats from the execution of the FD read operation. Further, when the number of copies is two or more, the contents of the page memory for the number of copies are repeatedly output. Copying ends when all data has been output to the printer 3. Referring again to FIG. 7, working memory 222 stores the text code of the document. The MPU 221 reads the text code via the bus, loads raster data corresponding to the text code from the character generator 230, and stores it in the page memory 2.
Write to 28. As shown in FIG. 16, the data writing positions of the page memory 228 are right margin (RM), left margin (LM), top margin (UM), bottom margin (BM),
Data such as character pitch (LP) and line pitch (CP) are written in the print format within the document file, and the relationship between this data and the actual page memory 228 address is stored in the ROM 223. Therefore, the MPU 221 calculates based on that. In FIG. 16, P is the horizontal length of the printable area PR, P is the vertical length of the printable area, C8 is the horizontal length of the character data, Cy is its vertical length, DPR
indicates the document print area. Right, left, top and bottom margins RM, L for the printable area
The area surrounded by M, UM, and BM becomes the document printing area, and one character on the first line is written at position A in FIG. 16. The writing position of the next character is the position B in the figure, and if there is a code (CR), it is written at the position C, which is the first character on the next line. For example, the character data in the character generator 230 is C, XC, and dot data, and the printer 3
When the writing density of is D books/fl, A, B, C
The coordinate values (address values) of each are A=PX XDX (UMXD+C, -1)+LM'X
DB-A+CM+LPXD C-A+PX xDx (Cy-1)+(PXD). In other words, the address of the nth line, mth character is (address)
, 1m-A+m (B, -A)+n (corresponds to C-A>). Now, even if ordinary characters (alphanumeric characters, kanji, etc.) are converted to raster data in the page memory 228 by calculating the above address, However, in the case of a ruled line font, omissions will occur as described above (Figure 15).Therefore, we focused on the - and 1 of the ruled line font, and as shown in Figure 17, once A or B is After expanding, the font for A is shifted left and right, and for B, the font is shifted up and down and written twice.While the MPU 221 is expanding the text code in the working RAM 222 to the page memory 228, -
(i.e., A in Fig. 17) or 1 (i.e., B in Fig. 17) after developing the ruled line font, in the case of -, the left font address = (address) n, - (LP) x (
-) Right font address = (address). , +(LP)×(
-) and expands it to the page memory 228 again. If 1, upper font address - (address) fi, - (CP) ×
DxP, lxD Lower font address - (address) Fl11+ (C
P) Move the address to XDXPxXD and develop it in the page memory 228. The operation up to this point is shown in a flowchart as shown in FIG. As is clear from FIG. 19, which shows how the ruled lines are developed in the page memory 228 using this method, this method eliminates the problem of missing ruled lines. Also, if - or l are consecutive, the same ruled line font (8' or B' in Figure 17) is used twice between the fonts.
However, the output image is not affected. Also,
If the font immediately before or on the line is - or 1, the font may not be expanded to the right or above. In Figure 19, A is - phono!・、B is】font,
A', A", B', and B" respectively indicate fonts that are written in a shifted manner as shown in FIG. [Effects] According to the present invention, a predetermined image can be processed by an image processing device that can be used in a multi-media copying machine that enables copying between different media in addition to copying from a paper original onto paper. an image signal conversion means for converting into an electrical image signal; a reading means for reading data from a floppy disk; a data conversion means for converting a text code read from the floppy disk into raster data; A storage means for storing one page of the obtained image signal or raster data obtained by the data conversion means, an image forming means for forming an image from the data stored in the storage means, and a mixture in the text code. A character generator memory that stores bit images corresponding to character codes and ruled line codes, etc. To provide an image processing device that can be used in a multi-media copying machine and has the effect of filling in missing ruled lines due to character spacing and line spacing that occurred when developing ruled line fonts in conventional devices. be able to.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing the entire digital copying machine implementing the present invention, FIG. 2 is a system block diagram thereof, FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of an image reading device, and FIG. 4 is its block diagram. The circuit diagram, Figure 5A, shows the synchronization signals LGATE, F.
FIG. 5B is a timing chart of synchronizing signals and image data; FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing the configuration of a floppy disk memory device; FIG. 7 is a block diagram of its control circuit; FIG. is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the printer, Figure 9 is its pro rough circuit diagram, and Figure 10 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the printer.
The figure is a schematic plan view showing the operation display section, FIG. 11 is a flowchart of copying from paper to a floppy disk (FD),
Figure 12 is a flowchart of copying from FI) to paper;
Figure 13 is a schematic diagram explaining the text printing format in the document file of a floppy disk, and Figure 14 is a JIS
Figure 17 is a schematic diagram explaining the standard inclusion position, Figure 17 is a schematic diagram explaining the development of ruled line fonts, Figure 18 is a flowchart explaining the operation of developing ruled line fonts, and Figure 19 is the method of the flowchart in Figure 18. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing how ruled lines are developed in a page memory. 1... Image reading device (scanner), 2... Floppy disk memory device, 3... Printer (image forming device), 4... Operation display unit, 210, 211, 212
...Floppy disk device, 221...MPU. 223...ROM, 226...serial-parallel data converter, 227...parallel-serial data converter, 228...page memory, 230...character generator, 461...operation unit. Figure 1 - Figure 5 (0) Figure 5 (b) GArE Figure 11 Figure 16 Figure 17

Claims (1)

[Claims] In an image processing device that can be used in a multi-media copying machine that enables copying between different media in addition to copying from a paper original to paper, an image signal conversion means for converting a predetermined image into an electrical image signal; a reading means for reading data from a floppy disk; a data converting means for converting a text code read from the floppy disk into raster data; and an image signal obtained by the image signal converting means or an image signal obtained by the data converting means. raster data 1
A storage device for storing pages, an image forming device for forming an image from data stored in the storage device, and a character storing bit images corresponding to character codes, ruled line codes, etc. mixed in the text code. 1. An image processing device comprising: a generator memory; when converting a specific code of a ruled line into raster data, the raster data is used to fill character spacing and line spacing.