JPH02153672A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely recognize the size or the position of an original and to process an image signal satisfactorily by outputting the image signal in series by scanning the original image at every line, detecting the coordinate of an original at every scanning line, and recognizing the original based on the maxi mum and minimum values of a detected coordinate value. CONSTITUTION:A CCD driver 33 supplies a power source or a timing to CCDs 1-1 and 1-2, and receives serial signals in which the original images are photoelectrically converted from the CCDs, and amplifies them, and performs analog-digital conversion on them, and binarized them. A shift memory 34 changes two systems of image signals binarized by each of two CCDs to one serial signal. And the coordinate of the nd part of the original is detected at every scanning line based on the image signal outputted by the scan of the original image at every line, then, the maximum and minimum values of the coordinate value are discriminated. The size or the position of the original can be recognized based on a judged result, and the image signal outputted from a scanning means is processed. In such a way, it is possible to easily recognize the size of the original image, etc., and to form an appropriate image corresponding to the size.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial application field] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus.

[Conventional technology]

Traditionally, copying machines simply reproduce documents faithfully,
In addition, it was only possible to reduce or enlarge the original at a fixed magnification. The principle of the above-mentioned copying machine is that a document is irradiated with a light source such as a fluorescent lamp or a tungsten lamp, and the reflected light from the surface of the document is used as an image of the document, which is then passed through a lens or mirror directly onto a photoreceptor, which is charged with an electric charge on its surface. An electrostatic latent image is formed by irradiation, and then a developer is applied to the photoreceptor to form a visible image.

[Problem that the invention is trying to solve]

Therefore, the entire image forming process is performed under mechanical control, and the operator is therefore required to recognize the size of the original image and the state in which the original is placed.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention eliminates the above-mentioned drawbacks, makes it possible to easily recognize the size of a document (original) image, and to form an appropriate image according to the size. a scanning means for serially outputting an image signal by scanning each line; a detecting means for detecting the coordinates of an edge of the document for each scanning line based on the image signal output from the scanning means; and the detecting means. a determining means for determining the maximum and minimum values of the coordinate values detected for each scanning line; a recognition means for determining the size or position of the document based on the determination result of the determining means; The present invention provides an image processing apparatus comprising processing means for processing an image signal output from the scanning means based on a recognition result.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained based on examples.

In this embodiment, the original is irradiated with a light source, and the reflected light that forms the original image is not directly projected onto a photoreceptor, but is projected onto a photoelectric conversion element to obtain the original image as an electrical signal. Then, this electrical signal is processed by circuit means and software means to continuously enlarge/reduce the original image to an arbitrary magnification, extract an arbitrary area of the original image, or separate this area. You can move it to any area of the
By combining two functions, you can enlarge or reduce any area of the original image to any magnification, move it to any location, etc., and transmit the processed image information to a remote location. The device of this embodiment has a function that allows this. Furthermore, although several conventional image processing methods using image memory means have been proposed, the apparatus of this embodiment eliminates the need for the memory means by performing the above-mentioned processing in real time while scanning the original image. This is due to extensive cost reductions.

FIG. 1-1 shows the external appearance of a copying apparatus according to the present invention.

This device basically consists of two units.

They are reader A and printer B. Reader A and printer B are mechanically and functionally separated, so that they can be used independently. Connections are made only with electrical cables. Reader B is equipped with an operation section A-1. Details will be described later.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the structure of reader A and printer B. The document is placed face down on the document glass 3, and its placement reference is on the back left side when viewed from the front. The original is pressed onto the original glass 3 by the original cover 4. The document is illuminated by a fluorescent lamp 2, and an optical path is formed such that the reflected light is focused onto the surface of the CCD 1 via a mirror 5.7 and a lens 6. And this mirror 7 and mirror 5 are 2
: It moves at a relative speed of 1. This optical unit moves from left to right at a constant speed while applying PLL using a DC servo motor. The moving speed is 180 mm/sec on the outward path while irradiating the original, and 468 mm/sec on the return path. The resolution in this sub-scanning direction is 161 ines/mm. The document sizes that can be processed are A5 to A3, and the document placement direction is A5. B5. A4 is placed vertically, B4. A3 is placed horizontally. There are three return positions for the optical unit depending on the document size. The first point is A5°B5.
220mm from the document reference position for all A4
The point is the same on B4 (at 364mm), and the third point is the same on A3 (at 431.8mm).

Next, regarding the main scanning direction, during main scanning, the maximum horizontal width of A4 paper is 297 mm depending on the orientation in which the document is placed. In order to resolve this at 16 pel/mm, 4752 (=297 x 16) bits are required as the number of COD bits, so this device uses two 2628-bit CCD array sensors and drives them in parallel. . Therefore, from the conditions of 161 ines/min and 180 mm/sec, the main scanning period (= COD accumulation time) 7,5
It becomes 69 MHz.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the appearance of printer B placed under reader A will be described. The image signal processed by the reader A and made into bit serial is input to the laser scanning optical system unit 25 of the printer B. This unit 2
5 consists of a semiconductor laser, a collimator lens, a rotating polygon mirror, an Fθ lens, and a tilt correction optical system. The image signal from the reader A is applied to a semiconductor laser and undergoes electrical-to-optical conversion, and the diverging laser light is converted into parallel light by a collimator lens, and is irradiated onto a polyhedral mirror that rotates at high speed, thereby scanning the laser light onto the photoreceptor 8. do. The rotation speed of this polyhedral mirror is 2,600 rpm. During the scan, the width is approximately 400 mm, and the effective image is A4
The horizontal dimension is 297mm. Therefore, the signal frequency applied to the semiconductor laser at this time is approximately 20 MHz (NR
z). The laser beam from this unit 25 is incident on the photoreceptor 8 via the mirror 24.

This photoreceptor 8 includes, for example, three layers including a conductive layer, a photosensitive periphery, and an insulating layer.
Consists of layers. Therefore, process components are arranged thereto which make it possible to form an image. 9 is a front static eliminator;
10 is a front static elimination lamp, 11 is a primary charger, 12 is a secondary charger, 13 is a front exposure lamp, 14 is a developer, 15 is a paper feed cassette, 16 is a paper feed roller, 17 is a paper feed guide, 1
8 is a registration roller, 19 is a transfer charger, 20 is a separation roller, 21 is a conveyance guide, 22 is a fixing device, and 23 is a tray. The speed of the photoreceptor 8 and the conveyance system is the same as the forward path of the reader (180 mm/sec. Therefore, the speed when copying by combining reader A and printer B is 3 for A4.
The number of sheets per minute is 0. Further, printer B uses a separating belt on the front side to separate the copy paper that is in close contact with the photosensitive drum 8, but because of this, the image on the backbone of the belt is missing. If a signal is added to that amount, the toner will be developed, and the separation belt will be stained by the toner, which will also stain subsequent sheets of paper. At 8 mm, the video electrical signal for print output is cut off. Also, if toner adheres to the leading edge of the copy paper, the fuser 2
2 to the fixing roller and cause a jam, so the toner should not adhere to the 2 mm width of the leading edge of the paper (the electrical signal is cut on the league side. Next, Figures 14-1 and 14-2 2 shows the main scanning direction and output image of reader A and printer B. The reader performs main scanning from the back side to the front side, and the printer performs main scanning from the front side to the back side.

The copying apparatus of this example has intelligence such as image editing, but this intelligence is performed on the league A side by processing the signals read by CCD 1, and in any case at the stage of output from reader A. However, a signal with a constant number of bits (4752) and a constant speed (13.89 MHz) is output.

The function of intelligence is to enlarge/reduce to any magnification in the range of 0.5 → 2.0 times, to a specific magnification,
It has a trimming function that extracts an image only from a specified area, and a movement function that moves the trimmed image to an arbitrary location on the copy paper. Additionally, there is a function to perform halftone processing in 32 gradations by specifying a key. Furthermore, it has a composite function that combines these individual intelligent functions.

FIG. 16 shows specific examples of these.

(a) shows the editing function, (1) shows the front surface of the document, (2) shows the state when the copy is completed when only trimming coordinates are specified, and (3) shows trimming coordinates + movement coordinates. (However, an error message will be displayed if the size exceeds the copy paper size.) (4) is when specifying the trimming coordinates, specifying the moving coordinates, and enlarging at an arbitrary magnification (However, if the size exceeds the copy paper size, an error message will be displayed.) , (5) is when specifying trimming coordinates + specifying moving coordinates + reducing the arbitrary magnification, and (6) is when specifying trimming coordinates + specifying AUTO (0
(7) shows the state when the copy is completed when the trimming coordinates are specified + AUTO is specified. show. Note that the trimming coordinates to be shifted to the movement coordinates are determined based on the coordinate point having the smallest value in the sub-scanning direction.

(b) shows the relationship between the main scanning direction of the CCD and the laser, and (c) shows the method of specifying trimming coordinates.

If it is one work surrounded by a straight line, the specified order is ■～■
Do as follows. This coordinate designation is performed using the numeric keypad 12a shown in FIG.

Furthermore, in the device of this example, the image information is in the form of electrical signals, and since the reader A and printer B are separated and each has independent functions, image information is transferred between them. enable transmission. When communicating, this device attaches a communication module to the reader side when a set of reader A and printer B or when reader A is used alone, and attaches a communication module to the printer side when printer B is used alone. By connecting these units in a loop, local communication within the premises is possible. Communication outside the premises is made possible by placing a gateway (an interface between the public line and the local network) on the loop. Furthermore, an e-mail system can be configured between the head office building and the branch office building by connecting the network and the copying device unit.

FIG. 1-2 shows a transparent holder A-2 that can be sandwiched between the document cover 4 and the glass 3. This holder is shaped like a bag with two sides glued together to store the document. It has the same width as the surface of glass 3.

On one side of the bag holder, there is a line divided into sections (as shown in the figure), and around it there are vertical,
Horizontal l or l to n at 5 to 10 mm intervals.

The coordinates of lxm are drawn. Each coordinate point corresponds to each point on the glass 3. Therefore, when a document is inserted into this bag holder with the image plane of the document facing the coordinate plane, it can be visually seen that various parts of the image plane of the document are indicated by the above coordinates. Therefore, Fig. 16 (
The trimming coordinates and moving coordinates in c) can be input by operating the keys on the operating section A-1 while visually observing this holder. After inputting, the image side of the original is turned over and put back into the bag holder and placed on the three surfaces of the glass at a specified position, or the original is taken out from the bag holder and placed. Also, C
By drawing the coordinates in colors of wavelengths to which the CDI is not sensitive, it is possible to place the original in the bag holder at the reference position on the glass surface. Incidentally, the bag holder can also be constructed by pasting three sides or one side together. If the sheet is pasted on one side, that is, in a folded sheet configuration, coordinates can be specified even for nine thick originals.

FIG. 3 is a network wiring diagram showing combinations of readers and printer modules and how they are connected in a loop. The head office and branch offices constitute each local network.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the operating section A-1 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1-1. This operation section is used when the reader is used alone or when the reader A and printer B are used as a set. log and lla are liquid crystal 5x7 dot matrix displays each having 20 digits, 10a is a standard device, and lla is an optional equipment added when a communication function is provided. Guidance (magnification,
Trimming coordinates.

movement coordinates, etc.) are displayed, and one of the displayed guidances to be selected is selected using soft keys 1a to 8a arranged below. Also, if the guidance does not contain the information you intended, please refer to 9a.
When you press Et, Set, Raki, the contents of the guidance to be selected will change one after another, so just keep pressing until the display you want appears. The copy number display 20a is a 7-segment LE so that it can be seen even from a distance.
In D, it is provided separately from the liquid crystal display. 16a-19a
are warning indicators on the printer body, 18a is jam, 19
16a indicates no copy paper, and 17a indicates overflow of discharged toner. These warning displays are also displayed as messages on the liquid crystal dot display 10a and the lla side 4. Numeral keys 12a are used to enter numerical values such as the number of copies, destination dial, number of copies to be sent, trimming coordinates, and movement coordinates of the reproduced image. Completion of entry is indicated by the rEJ key. 13a, 14a
is the copy/transmission start key, and when the button 13a is pressed, the image is output in binary, and the button 14a is the halftone copy instruction button, which outputs an image expressed in 32 tones using the dither method. be done. 15a is a stop key for stopping the copying operation.

FIG. 5 shows the display of printer B when printer B is used alone in a network. lb
is the power lamp, 2b is the receiving lamp, and 3b.

4b is the used cassette stage indicator, 5b is the paperless lamp, 6
b is a jam lamp, 7b is a toner out lamp, 8b is a discharged toner overflow lamp, and 9b is a serviceman call lamp. However, in 7b and 8b, even if there is no toner or there is an overflow of discharged toner during printing, the lamp is turned on, but printing is enabled until the cassette runs out of paper. This also applies to the operating section shown in FIG.

Further, when the lamps 5b to 9b are turned on, a warning sound is emitted assuming unmanned operation. This is 16 in Figure 4.
The same applies when the lamp of ax19a is turned on.

Detailed explanation of league units. Figure 6
A system block diagram of the unit is shown.

1-1, 1-2 are each CCD, 33 is as shown in Fig. 1O,
A COD driver circuit performs standard processing for driving the CCDs 1 and 1-2 and their output, and 34 is a shift memory circuit that performs further trimming, shifting, etc. on the output of the driver circuit 33, as shown in FIG. .

35 is a data serial/parallel converter for performing protocol (pre-communication) with the printer, and 36 is a microcomputer that inputs and outputs control data to each block via a path line BUS, and has a program ROM and data RAM. 37 is a sequence driver that controls the optical system movement sequence for sub-scanning as shown in FIG.
A signal from the b1 print start position sensor 37c is input to control paper feeding, registration, sub-scanning DC motor 37d, and exposure lamp 37e on the printer side. Each sensor is composed of a photointerrupter that is activated by the arrival of a light shielding cam provided on the block of the first mirror 7. 38 is a bus interface 38 for inputting/outputting data corresponding to the unit 38a of the operating section A-1 in FIG. 4; 39 is a bus interface for inputting/outputing data corresponding to the communication key/display unit 39a (not shown). .

The interface signals for this reader are shown on the right. Connector JRI, JR when connecting to printer
2. Connect JR3 and JR4 to the connector JPI on the printer side,
JP2. JP3. Connect each to JP4.

When the reader/printer is set and the communication is performed with the outside, the signals originally going to the connectors JRI, JR2, and JR3 are input once into the communication interface module 40a, and the communication interface is connected to JRI, JR2, and JR3. . JR4 is directly connected to printer JP4. Also, the connection from the communication interface is newly connected to optical connectors JR7 and JR8 or coaxial connectors JR5 and JR6. Optical connector JR7, 8 and coaxial connector JR
5 and 6 are designed so that either the optical connector can be selected for long-distance transmission, and the coaxial connector can be selected for short-distance transmission. JRl-J
The timing of the R4 interface signal is shown in Figures 7 and 8.
As shown in the figure.

The BEAM DETECT signal BD of JR4 is used to synchronize the output of image data to printer B with the rotation of the printer scanner (polygon mirror described later) when printer B is connected. Corresponds to the signal.

As shown in FIG. 14-2, this BD is output by the beam detector 102 on the side of the drum when it is detected that the laser beam from the printer B hits the beam detector 102 on the side of the drum. VIDEO.

CLK is an image signal and a clock, each of which is output in 4752 pieces with a width of 72 nS per line. This signal is BEAM DETECT if a printer is connected.
It is output in synchronization with the signal, and in other cases (transmission to others, etc.), it is output in synchronization with the internal pseudo signal. VIDE
OENABLEI! This is a period signal during which 4752 bits of the image data are output. This is also BEAMDETE
It is output in synchronization with the CT signal or internal pseudo signal. V
SYNC is the output of the image leading edge detection sensor 37b and BEAM
This is a signal that is output in synchronization with the DETECT signal or an internal pseudo signal, and means that image data will be output from now on. VIDEO ENABLE during signal
is the same as The PRINT5TART signal is a paper feeding command to the printer side. This PRINT 5TART,
! :The time interval with VSYNC is determined by the control circuit (FIGS. 10 and 13) in consideration of the variable magnification and the trimming area. PRINT END is a response signal from the printing side, which is issued when the trailing edge of the copy paper leaves the photosensitive drum 8 and rides on the conveyor belt 21, indicating that the printing operation has ended. This detects the completion of copy paper separation and is issued at sequence timing.

The ABXCONNECT signal indicates that communication interface module 40a is connected. When a communication interface module is connected, this terminal is connected to GND within the module, thereby activating communication. The PRINTECONNECT signal is output when the PRINTER is connected, and this terminal is connected to GND on the printer side. This causes the printer to be activated for printing.

S, DATA, S, CLK, C8CBUSY, PSCB
USY is a serial signal line for carrying out a protocol between the reader A and the printer 8 (allowing transmission between the two, exchanging information such as signals, etc.). S, DATA, S, and CLK are 16-bit protocol data and a clock, and all are bidirectional lines. C3CBUSY is output when the league side outputs data and a clock to the line, and PSCBUSY is output when the printer side outputs data and a clock to the line. Therefore, these lines indicate the transmission direction of S, DATA and S, CLK. Please refer to FIG. 8 for detailed timing.

Returning to FIG. 6 again, the CPU in the microcomputer 36 plays a central role in controlling the league unit.

The role of this CPU is to control the keys/display, sequence control, optical fiber communication protocol, and printer protocol, and to control various counters in the discrete image processing circuit from the key/display. It is to preset certain calculated values according to image processing instructions. The COD driver 33 has two CCs.
In order to drive D, the power supply and timing are set to CCDl-1,1.
-2, receives a serial signal obtained by photoelectrically converting the original image from the COD according to the timing, amplifies the signal, performs analog-to-digital conversion, and binarizes the signal. The shift memory 34 converts the two series of binarized image signals for each of the two CODs into a single serial signal without overlapping.
Line 4752 bit serial VIDEO signal, C
This is where the various timing signals mentioned above, including LK, are generated. The serial/parallel converter 35 is an interface unit with the CPU that converts a serial signal for a protocol with the printer into a parallel signal and can be directly connected to a pass line of the CPU. Sequence driver 37
Built-in is an interface for three sensors provided on the optical system, a fluorescent lamp drive circuit for the light source, a drive circuit for the sub-scanning DC motor, and a PLL circuit for speed control. Bus interfaces 38 and 39 are interfaces between the operation keys shown in FIG. 4, the 5×7 dot 20-digit liquid crystal driver circuit, and the CPU pass line BUS. Communication interface module 4 as an option
There is a path interface 40 for connecting 0a and the CPU and performing protocols.

Sequence control will be explained according to FIGS. 9 and 7. As shown in Figure 9, there are three
position sensors 37a to 37c. The optical home position sensor (signal OHP) is located on the far left side when viewed from the front of the league.
(output), and the optical system normally stops at this position. When the reader A is driven, the optical system starts scanning from left to right, and the image leading edge sensor 37b is provided exactly at the reference position of the image. The control circuit is this sensor 37
When b is detected, the image data signal (VIDEO, CLK)
At the same time, each main scanning cycle (347, 2μs
) Data validity period (VIDEO ENABLE)
Generates a signal indicating. And the control circuit is this VID
The sensor 37b starts counting the number of EOENABLE signals, and when the count value α corresponding to the first point, second point, and third point according to the cassette size or magnification of printer B is reached, the optical system moves forward. Turn off the drive signal, switch to reverse drive signal and invert. On the way back, PRI
An NT 5TART sensor 37c is provided, and when the optical system activates this sensor 37c after reversal, the control circuit judges whether or not the specified number of copies have been scanned, and if the number does not match the specified number of copies, the next sheet is fed to printer B. Generates a PRINTSTART signal for giving instructions. Furthermore, the 9th
It is necessary to adjust the position of the sensor 37c so that T2 in the figure is equal to T.

(Magnification Variation) Next, a method for enlarging/reducing the original image will be described based on FIG. The basic concept of variable magnification is to make the speed of the DC servo motor 37d variable in the sub-scanning direction. The CPU calculates the speed based on the key input magnification, further calculates the PLL frequency corresponding to the speed, and presets it in the I10 latch (1) 58 before scanning. During the return trip, a fixed value is set, which returns the optical system at high speed. This means that the value stored in the CPU's ROM is this I1.
This is done by presetting to 0 latch (1) 58.

Therefore, when enlarging to 2 times, the speed at the same time (180 m
m/sec), and when reducing to %, it moves at twice the speed. Main scanning is a method of sampling the serial signal (after A/D conversion) of CCD 1, which is output at a constant frequency, at a clock rate that corresponds to the magnification. For example, when magnifying by 2 times, the COD clock rate is If you sample at twice the clock rate, data will be obtained by increasing 1 bit for every 1 bit of original information, and when reducing by η times, if you sample at each clock rate of the COD clock rate, you will get 1 bit for every 2 bits of original information. Thinned data can now be obtained.The CPU calculates this clock rate based on the input magnification and sets it to I10 latch (2) 50 before starting sub-scanning.As mentioned above, CCD1 is 2628
The bit structure includes 36 dummy bits and 2592 valid bits. Its driving frequency is 7.569 MHz, and its signal line is the φ1 clock line 55. Clock φ2 for scaling is the same source oscillation as φ1 and I1
Based on the value of 0 latch (2) 50, the frequency oscillated by VC049 is synchronized with PLL 48 to form a variable frequency as φ2. 2592 output from CCDI
The bit analog signal is amplified by AMP42 and AGC (
automatic gain control circuit). The AGC 43 detects the white level because the white level changes due to long-term changes in the light intensity of the fluorescent lamp, the background of the document, etc., and clamps the white level so that the relative amount of change is applied to the A/D converter 44. This is a circuit that does this. The output of the AGC 43 is then A/D converted into 6 parallel binary bits. On the other hand, the dither ROM 54 is set to output the same weighting code (6 bits) at bit intervals in the main scanning direction and at 8 bit intervals in the sub-scanning direction.
Two types of weight codes are assigned. Therefore, different weight codes are output by addressing this dither ROM 54 using a 3-bit main scanning counter 51 and a 3-bit sub-scanning counter 52. Moreover, there are a plurality of combinations of weight codes set in this 8×8, and it is considered that the reproducibility of the halftone image can be changed depending on the combination. The selection of this combination is made by I10 latch (3) 53, and this latch (
3) Presetting to 53 is performed by the CPU before starting sub-scanning. The main scanning counter 51 is driven by a φ2 clock whose frequency is variable depending on the magnification, and the sub-scanning counter 52 is driven by the BEAM DETECT signal.

Then, the 6-bit weight code from the dither ROM 54 and the A/D converted 6-bit code are sent to the comparator 4.
7, a serial halftone reproducible image signal is obtained which is compared and binarized. Therefore, sampling at different taro rates means that the A/D conversion values are compared with weighting codes output at different clock rates.

If this comparison is done at the same rate as φ, and then scaling is done by simply thinning out and inserting bits using a certain algorithm, this is fine for normal binary images, but halftone If you do something that is dithered, the 45° dither pattern will become a 30° or 60° pattern, or it will become step-like, making it impossible to obtain a smooth reproduction. In this example, the comparator rate is changed according to the magnification.

Next is the circuit 45. Since the conversion time by A/D conversion differs depending on each bit, it is latched again at φ1 for synchronization. Also, as a matter of course, the address counter 63 of the shift memory 57-1, 57-2 is operated by the φ2 clock. With the above, the shift memory 57
-1.57-2 contains 2592 bits at the same size, %
When doubling, 1296 bits are stored, and when doubling, 5184 bits are stored.

For the speed of the sub-scanning DC motor 37d, the value preset in the I10 latch (1) 58 of the CPU is input to the VCO 59, and the resulting oscillation frequency is synchronized with the original oscillation and the PLL 60 and applied to the servo circuit 61. It is controlled by. Note that the stroke of sub-scanning when changing magnification is at the third point (431, 431,
8mm). This is convenient for specifying an area for stepless scaling.

(COD seam correction) How to automatically connect two CCDIs (main scanning direction)
Let's talk about.

As shown in Figure 11, on the home position of the reader (optical system) (
A white plate is provided throughout the main scanning of the switch 37a (above switch 37a), and when the optical system is normally in the home position and the light source is turned on, this white plate is illuminated, and the reflected light is transmitted to the CCD.
It is designed to be input to I and 2. Therefore, when the control circuit is at the home position, it corrects the variation in the amount of light and the variation in the sensitivity of the two CCDIs (shading correction). In addition, a 2 m
A thin black line Bl having a width of m and long in the sub-scanning direction is provided. It is sufficient that this thin line has a size that is an integral multiple of quantization. and,
Similarly, when the optical system is in the home position, by turning on the light source, this black thin line appears on the bit at each end of the two CCDIs, so these CCDIs.

2 is input to the shift memory, and the lower 128 bits of the CCD1 system signal and the upper 128 bits of the CCD2 system signal are compared. It is confirmed that each of these 128-bit data always has a white bit before and after, and a sandwich of black bits. Then, the number of bits obtained by adding the number of lower white bits of the CCDI system and the number of upper white bits and the number of black bits of the CCD2 system is thinned out when reading from the shift memory of the CCD2 system. In the figure, the arrows at CCD1, 2 indicate the main scanning direction, and the sub-arrows indicate the sub-scanning direction.

A specific method is shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13. shift·
In order to write the image signal to the memory, shift memory 57 is used.
-1.57 Since static RAM is used for -2, write address counter (write address counter 63
) and a read address counter (read address-counter 64.65). The amount of information input to COD differs depending on the magnification ratio, so in this example, we first input CC
The DI system write address counter (1) is counted up from the LSB using the input clock φ2, and it is confirmed at what count it has stopped. CP this
Store in U's RAM. If the magnification was the same, it would have stopped at 2592 counts. Next, the upper 8 bits of the CCDI system (the first bit that appears in main scanning is MS
B) and the lower 8 bits of the CCDI system, C
Set the above confirmed value to the write/address writing counter of the CD1 system, and set 0 to the address counter of the CCD2 system.
Set 8H (hex code 08) to specify down count mode. - 8-bit shift registers 74 and 76 are provided to input image signals from each COD, and the drive period of these shift registers 74 and 76 is determined from the rising edge of the VIDEOENABLE signal indicating the main scanning period of the COD by the counter (VIDEOENABLE). The shift register 74 of the CCD1 system is controlled by the clock output for a period of time up to a ripple carry of (.).
In this case, the image signal of the most significant 8 bits of the CCD1 system and the image signal of the least significant 8 bits remain in the shift register 76 of the CCD2 system. And these shift registers 74.7
The value remaining at 6 is read by the CPU and stored in memory.

Next, in order to take out the upper 9 to 16 bits of the CCD1 system and the lower 9 to 16 bits of the C0D2 system, the write address counter of the CCD1 system is set to (the confirmed value - 8
), set IOH in the write address counter of the CCD2 system, and read out the following using the same method as described above. Repeat this operation one after another to find the top 1 in the CCDI system.
After expanding the lower 128 bits of the 28-bit C0D2 system into memory, the number of black bits, the number of lower white bits of the CCDI system, and the number of upper white bits of the CCD2 system are calculated. and C.C.
The number of bits obtained by adding the number of lower white bits of the DI system, the number of upper white bits of the CCD2 system, and the number of black bits is calculated by shifting the number of bits of the CCD2 system.
By thinning out data when reading from memory (2) 57-2, splicing in the main scanning direction is achieved.

Next, the operation of the shift memory after the continuity logic is established will be explained. When writing to shift memory 57-1.57-2,
The value determined at which count the number of counts stopped is preset in the write address counters of the CCDI system and CCD2 system, and the shift memory is addressed and written using the down count. When reading from the shift memory, the first thing that must be considered is the reference in the main scanning direction of the document. As shown in Fig. 11, the document placement reference point is 148.5 mm from the center of the black line for splicing (width 1.5 mm), so CCD1 system shift memory (1) 5
The read start address of 7-1 is (number of lower white bits above) + (number of black bits/2) + (148,5X16
X magnification). The read start address of the C0D2 system is the value of (the above-mentioned confirmed value) - (the number of transition bits). Then, first, the read address counter (1) 64 of the CCDI system is down-counted by the read clock of 4752 pulses at 13.89 MHz, and when it reaches 0 and a ripple carry occurs, the read address counter (1) 64 of the CCD 2 system is started. (2) Move 65 by counting down.

FIG. 13 shows a circuit diagram related to these shift/mechanisms.

Shift Φ memory (1) 57-1 is a static memory into which CCD1 system image data is stored. Shift memory (2) 57-2 is a static memory into which CCDZ-based image data is stored. Write address counter (1) 63 is connected to shift memory (1) 57-1 and (
2) It is an address counter when writing data to 57-2. The read address counter (1) 64 is an address counter when reading data from the shift memory (1) 57-1.
2) 65 is an address counter when reading from shift memory (2) 57-2. Address selector (
1) 71 selects either the address signal of the write address counter (1) 63 or the address signal of the read address counter (1) 64 and shifts the memory (1)
The address selector (2) 71 selects either the address signal of the write address counter (1) 63 or the address signal of the read address counter (2) 64. This is for addressing the shift memory (2) 57-2. The shift register 74 is a register for taking out the image data of the CCD1 system 8 bits at a time from the lowest order, and the shift register 76 is a register for taking out the image data of the CCDZ system 8 bits at a time from the most significant. F/F73 is set at the rising edge of the VIDEOENABLE signal, and the write address counter (1)
There is also a note to control the period of input to the shift register 74 with a flip-flop (F/F) that is reset by the ripple carry of 63, and F/F 75 is VIDEOE.
Set at the rising edge of NABLE, read address
This F/F is reset by the ripple carry of the counter (2) 65, and is used to control the period of input to the shift register 76. The I10 port 72 is an Ilo for the CPU to read and check how far it has counted when the write address counter (1) 63 is operated by up counting. The I10 registers 66, 67, and 69 are write address counter (1) 63 and read address counter (1) 64. (2) This is a register for the CPU to give a preset value to each of the registers 65 and 65.

The I10 register 68 is the write address counter (1
) 63, read address counter (2) for the CPU to specify whether to count up or down to 65, and address selector (1) 70. (2
) 71 for the CPU to specify which counter value to select, read address contention counter (2)
This is for deciding whether to move the 65 with a light clock or a single clock, and a test for making a joint.
By applying a signal, one line of image data can be converted to C.
This is for the CPU to control so that the OD driver circuit supplies the shift memory circuit.

Referring to this circuit diagram, the operation of extracting 128 bits of image data of the CCD 1 system from the least significant 8 bits at a time and from the most significant 8 bits of the image data of the CCD 2 system for splicing will be explained.

■The CPU first registers the writing address counter (1) 63.
to up-count mode, I10 register (1) 66
Set O to . ■I10 register (4) 68 TE
By applying one pulse as the ST signal (corresponding to machine start), one VIDEO ENABLE and φ2 clock corresponding to the magnification are generated from the COD driver in FIG. 10, and the data is transferred to the shift memory (1) 57-1. (2
)57-2.

■Write address counter (from I10 port 72)
1) The CPU takes in the value of 63. ■ Set write address counter (1) 63 to down-count mode, read address counter (2) 65 to down-count mode, ■ preset 10 register (1) 66 with the value stored in ■, I10 register (3) 7 to 69
Preset H. (2) Give one pulse to the TEST signal and when VIDEO ENABLE disappears, 8 bits of shift registers 74 and 76 are sequentially fetched into memory and stored. ■I10 register (1) 66 (value of ■-7H)
, and set 10H in the I10 register (2) 67.

Do ■■. ■Similarly, I10 register (1) 6
6 (value of ■ - 77H), I10 register (2) 67
Set 7FH to 7FH, give the TEST signal, and repeat until the shift registers 74 and 76 are read. Details regarding the seam correction described above can be found in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 128073/1983 filed by the same applicant.

FIG. 15 illustrates a method of image editing in which a trimmed image is scaled to an arbitrary magnification based on an arbitrary point. Figure A is a document surface, Figure B is an enlarged view, and Figure C is a shift diagram. The basic method of image editing is (1) Calculating post-editing coordinate values based on the coordinate values of the trimming area, the movement coordinate values, and the magnification (Figures A to C). (1) The CPU determines the minimum (based on the document placement standard) of the main scanning direction coordinate value (X) and sub-scanning direction coordinate value (y) from the coordinate values of the trimming area. , yo. Since the coordinates are entered using the keys in mm units, and since it is 16 lines/mm, the number of lines is the y0 coordinate. becomes (yoX16). Also, x(, information amount of coordinate!) is (x□X16) (Figure A).

(2) The CPU determines the minimum value in the X and Y directions from the edited area coordinate values and sets it as X++3'+ (Figure C).

(2) Based on XQ, magnification, and xl, determine the preset value of the read start address in the read address counter read from the shift memory (calculation of address A3 in Figure C). This point will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 15-I. In order to expand this by two times using shift memory (4752
There is an X2) bit. Amount of information in memory when simply expanded
, becomes (X0×magnification×16) bits. Also, the address A of the shift memory according to the magnification of the x0 coordinate is CAr
It) becomes. In addition, A1 is the first address of memory and C
It is stored in the RAM when correcting the OD connection. By the way, the number of lines L2 according to the magnification of the y0 coordinate is (L0 x magnification)
becomes.

Next, in order to output this enlarged image from the shift point to X, the read start address A3 of the shift memory is determined, but it is
It becomes 2+12. Note that ■2 is the shift coordinate X.

The amount of information corresponds to (X, X16). By the way, the number of lines in the y1 coordinate is ylX16.

Next, print the above PRINTST based on y0, magnification and yl.
Determines the generation interval from the generation of the ART (paper feed) signal until the start of the optical system or until the generation of VSYNK (L3
calculation). That is, t, L2 corresponds to it. When this difference is +L3, the 5TART signal or VSYNK signal is output L3×main scanning cycle (347, 2 μS) earlier than the reference. Also, when -L, (7), 5TART signal or VSY
The NK signal is output later than the above.■In order to output the image only to the editing area, a start bit counter and an end bit counter are provided to gate only a part of the image data in the main scanning direction. These correspond to 80 and 81 in Figure 13, respectively.

This presets the cant data for the gate via Ilo. The flip-flop 82 is set when the counter 80 counts up, and is reset when the counter 81 counts up. The operation is shown in FIG. 15-G. ■Calculate the number of lines between changing points in the sub-scanning direction from the coordinate values and magnification of the trimming area (Figures D, E, and F)
. This is done by counting the CPU "C" VIDEOENABLE. In the figure, M is the number of lines between changing points in the sub-scanning direction, H is the number of bits in the main scanning direction, and N is the changing point in the sub-scanning direction when changing magnification. Number of lines between (N=MX magnification)
It is.

(2) Preset values of the start bit counter 80 and end bit counter 81 at the change point (2) are calculated from the edited X-direction coordinate value and set as shown in Figure 15-H.

Note that even when the image is output on the entire surface without trimming, the start bit counter 80 and the end bit counter 81 are used to create a leading edge margin. The initialization is the same as above, but the tip margin is 2 m.
After counting m x 16 lines = 36 lines, set the start bit counter 80 to 7 to avoid the possibility of applying the separation belt.
．． Set 5mm x 16 bits = 120 bits.

Figure 17-1 shows a document 3 on the document table glass 3 of reader A.
00 is placed. Basically, the placement position is fixed as described above, but it can also be placed diagonally as shown in the figure.

In this case, the coordinates of four points (X r
+Yr)+(X jij+Y2)1(X
3+ Y s)+ (X 41 Y 4) is detected by pre-scanning the optical system during the pre-rotation operation of the printer. This allows the size and position of the document to be determined. This makes it possible to determine the scanner scan stroke during multi-copying and to select a desired cassette.

The document cover 4 (FIG. 2) is mirror-finished so that image data outside the area where the document is placed is always black data. In pre-scanning, main scanning and sub-scanning are performed to cover the entire glass surface, followed by scanning for printing. This sub-scanning speed is faster than that during printing.

The circuit diagram in FIG. 17-2 shows the logic for detecting the coordinates. The image data VIDEO that has been binarized by the previous scan is input to the shift register 301 in units of 8 bits. 8
When the bit input is completed, the gate circuit 302 checks whether all of the 8-bit data is a white image, and returns Yes.
If so, 1 is output to the signal line 303. After starting scanning the original, the F/F 304 is set when the first 8-bit white appears. This F/F 304 is reset in advance by VSYNC (image leading edge signal). After that, the next VSY
Leave it set until NC comes. When the F/F 304 is set, the value of the main scanning counter 351 (main scanning counter 51 in FIG. 10 or a dedicated counter) at that time is loaded into the latch F/F 305. This becomes the X coordinate value. Further, the value of the sub-scanning counter 352 (sub-scanning counter 52 in FIG. 10 or a dedicated counter) at that time is loaded into the latch 306. This becomes the Y coordinate value. Therefore, Pl
(xl+Y+) is found.

Also, each time 1 is output to the signal 303, the main scanning counter 351
Load the value from into latch 307. This value is immediately stored in latch 308 (until the next 8 bits enter shift register 301). When the value from the main scan when the first 8-bit white appears is loaded into the latch 308, it is compared in magnitude with the data in the latch 310 (which is set to "0" at the time of VSYNC) in the comparator 309. Ru. If the data in latch 308 is greater, the data in latch 308, that is, the data in latch 307, is loaded into latch 310.

Also, at this time, the value of the sub-scanning counter 352 is loaded into the latch 311. This operation is processed until the next 8 bits enter shift register 301. Latch 30 like this
8 and the latch 310 for the entire image area, the maximum value of the original area in the X direction remains in the latch 310, and the coordinate in the Y direction at this time remains in the latch 311. This is the P3 (X3°Y3) coordinate.

F/F312 is an F/F that is set when 8-bit white appears for the first time in each main scanning line, and horizontal synchronization signal H3Y is set.
It is reset by NC and the first 8 bits are set to white and held until the next H3YNC. When the F/F 312 is set, the value of the main scanning counter 351 is set in the latch 313, and is loaded into the latch 314 until the next H8YNC. Then, the latch 315 and the comparator 316 compare the magnitude. The latch 315 has an X value when VSYNC occurs.
The maximum direction value is preset. If latch 31
If the data in latch 314 is greater than the data in latch 314, signal 317 becomes active and the data in latch 314, that is, latch 313, is loaded into latch 315.

This operation is performed between H8YNC and HSYNC. If the above comparison operation is performed for the entire image area, the minimum value of the document coordinates in the X direction remains in the latch 315. This is X2. Also, when the signal line 317 is output, the value from the sub-scanning counter 352 is loaded into the latch 318. This becomes Y2.

Latches 319 and 320 are loaded with the values of main scanning counter 351 and sub-scanning counter 352 each time 8-bit white appears in the entire image area.

Therefore, when the document pre-scanning is completed, the count value at the time when 8-bit white appears last remains on the counter. This is (X4.Y4).

The above eight latches (306, 311, 320, 318
゜305, 310.315. 319) is connected to the CPU pass line BUS in FIG.
U will read this data at the end of the previous scan.

Of these data, X2. X3゜Y l
The +Y4 area is determined as the original area, and the above-described trimming process is performed when scanning the original for printing. That is, the coordinate components of the original document are X2+x8.
By YIt y4, the coordinates of the dotted rectangle surrounding the document positions P1 to P4 can be recognized, and it can therefore be seen that at least a sheet of a size corresponding to the rectangle is required.

Therefore, as a first example, the cassette size data from the printer and the original size data are compared, and the cassette that is closer to the original size is selected. It is a CP as shown in Figure 17-3.
Due to the flow of U. Calculate the distance Δy between the coordinates Y4 and YI (Step 1), compare whether it is smaller than the one corresponding to A4 size (Step 2), if it is smaller, send the A4C data to the printer to select the A4 cassette. (Step 3). If the size is larger and smaller than the B4 size, the B4 cassette is output, and if the size is larger than the B4 size, the A3 cassette is selected (steps 4-5). The CPU on the printer B side processes these data (S
.

DTATA line), compare the size signals already obtained from the two cassettes, and if there is a corresponding size signal, control the paper to be fed from the corresponding cassette, and if not, issue a warning. The data to that effect is sent back to the side. Reader A displays that fact. On the printer B side, paper feeding control of the registration rollers 18 is performed so that the leading edge of the paper and the coordinate Y are synchronized. In the standard mode, the registration roller 18 is operated by the signal VSYNC from the reader A (synchronized with the image tip sensor 37b described above), but in this case, as in the case of the trimming shift described above, this signal and the image tip sensor 3 are operated.
This is done by providing a time corresponding to Y between the signal from 7b. Also, each cassette is placed at the reader's reference position S.
Since it is loaded based on the position corresponding to the P side, the image output is shifted by Xl in the main scanning direction. This is done by presetting the read address counter in the same way as in the trimming shift described above. The above control mode is selected by the shift key corresponding to the display set by the above-mentioned setter key, but it can also be achieved by providing a dedicated key and inputting it.

As a second example, by inputting the above-mentioned auto command, it is possible to print this portion while changing the size to fit the sheet in the cassette. This means that the printer's selected cassette size signal is S, DATA.
Since the signal is sent to the reader via the line, the desired copy can be obtained by sequentially performing trimming, shifting, and scaling according to the procedure described above in FIG. 16 using this signal. That is, Auto 1 is set as shown in Fig. 17-4 (the X direction of the original with respect to the sizes Px and Py of the cassette sheet in the X direction and Y direction,
The ratios mx and my of the sizes ΔX and Δy in the Y direction are determined (step 1l-14). Then, the smaller ratio is set in the RAM as a common magnification for X and Y (steps 15 to 17), and the aforementioned magnification changing procedure is performed.

Therefore, a copy with automatic scaling based on one direction of the sheet can be obtained. As shown in Figure 17-5, Auto 2 calculates the ratios of the original in the x and y directions relative to the x and y directions of the sheet (steps 21, 22, 24, and 25), and calculates the magnification in the x and y directions. Set each independently (Step 2
3.26). Therefore, the original image can be copied onto the sheet cup. Those auto 1. 2 can be similarly executed in automatic magnification change performed by specifying trimming coordinates.

As a third example, a document skew warning can be issued. That is, the 17th-
As shown in Figure 6 (P, -P 4's X, , X2 is X3 +x
4 is yll Y3 is Y2. Steps 31 to 3 determine whether Y and Y are equal (with a difference of several bits).
4) If not, a warning is displayed (step 36). However, printing operations are possible. The above flowchart is a program flow processed by the reader's CPU.

Incidentally, FIG. 15-L shows a flowchart of the above-mentioned trimming, scaling, and shifting procedures. XO only if there is a shift
+ 'I took measures regarding the Yo point first (No. 15-J)
If there is no shift (movement), Xo, yo'→x5. start bit counter 80.yll in FIG. By controlling the end dot counter 81, the area outside of trimming can be made white. In this case, the area that can be trimmed is 1 surrounded by a straight line.
An area divided into rectangles in the y-axis direction is specified by specifying two diagonal points using xy coordinates. Note that the maximum value is to divide the same document into three. Enter the unit in mm.

In other words, (XO)'01 XIYI) + (X2)'21
X3)'3) +(X4)'4 +X5Y5) is sequentially performed. In the case of manual shift or auto, coordinate conversion is performed as described above to control the VIDEO output.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the present invention, the coordinates of the edge of the document are determined for each scanning line based on the image signal output from the scanning means that serially outputs the image signal by scanning the document image line by line. The size or position of the original is recognized based on the maximum and minimum coordinate values detected for each scanning line, so it is possible to recognize the size or position of the original based on the maximum and minimum coordinate values detected for each scanning line. The size or position of the image can be reliably recognized, and therefore, based on the recognition result, it is possible to satisfactorily process the image signal output from the scanning means.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1-1 is a sectional view of an image processing device to which the present invention can be applied, FIG. 1-2 is a perspective view of a document holder, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1-1, and FIG. Figure 1-1 is a block diagram of a local network connected to the devices, Figures 4 and 5 are plan views of the operating section in Figure 1-1, and Figure 6 is a block diagram of the local network connected to the devices shown in Figure 1-1.
- Figure 1 is a circuit block diagram of the image processing device; Figures 7, 8, and 9 are operation time charts of Figure 6;
Figures 10 and 13 are the circuit diagrams in Figure 6 and 11.
Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram of COD seam correction, Figure 14
Figure-1 and Figure 14-2 are explanatory diagrams of main and sub-scanning, and Figure 15
Figures -A to 15-F, 15-H and 15-I are explanatory diagrams showing image conversion control, Figure 15-G is an operation time chart of Figure 13, and Figure 15-1. - Figures 15-L are control flowcharts for image editing, Figure 16 is an example of image conversion, Figure 17-1 is an explanatory diagram of coordinate recognition, Figure 17-2 is a circuit diagram for coordinate recognition, and Figure 17-2 is a circuit diagram for coordinate recognition. Figure 17-3 ~ 1st
Figure 7-6 is a control flowchart based on recognition. In the figure, A is the league club and B is the printer club. 1st - Wa

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] Scanning means for serially outputting image signals by scanning an original image line by line, and determining the coordinates of the edge of the original for each scanning line based on the image signal output from the scanning means. a detection means for detecting the coordinate values; a determination means for determining the maximum value and minimum value of the coordinate values detected for each scanning line by the detection means; and determination means for determining the size or position of the document based on the determination result of the determination means. An image processing apparatus comprising: a recognition means for recognizing; and a processing means for processing an image signal output from the scanning means based on a recognition result of the recognition means.