JPH03240363A - Digital picture processing unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain required 'line' processing accurately by reading a document picture digitally, obtaining the position information of lines and applying processing to each line. CONSTITUTION:When an original 4 is set, the picture information by a CCD array 2 is read and stored in a memory 12 in 2-dimension. Then a picture information processing section 13 applies recognition processing of 'lines' to be processed. In this case, the position information of the lines of the document in X, Y directions is obtained. Thus, the processing area is obtained and the processing is implemented to the area. Thus, after the processing is implemented to the picture information the memory 12, the picture information is converted into a laser beam and radiates onto a photosensitive material 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention (Al Industrial Application Field This invention relates to a digital image processing device that reads a document image and processes the read image information such as shading and trimming at the line level) 2. Description of the Related Art Some copying machines in recent years are equipped with functions to perform processing such as shading, trimming, and masking on a portion of a document image. When processing a portion of a document image in this manner, conventionally, the user inputs the coordinates of the processing portion using a numeric keypad, tablet left, or the like.

(C1 Problem to be solved by the invention) However, in the conventional method in which the user inputs the coordinates of the processing part himself, the input work is complicated.Also, after the coordinate input is completed, the original can be copied onto the document table. However, if the position of the original is shifted even slightly, the area where processing such as shading will be performed will be shifted and the image quality will deteriorate. Since the setting is done manually, the setting position is likely to be misaligned, and the processing position described above is likely to be misaligned.Especially in document images, if the processing portion is misaligned as described above, the document becomes illegible. There were times when I couldn't do it.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can prevent the above-mentioned misalignment of processed parts from occurring in a document image (means for solving problem d1). a means for digitally reading images;
means for obtaining line position information from the read image information;
The present invention is characterized in that it includes means for performing processing processing for each row based on the position information of this row.

te) In the working document image, processing such as shading and trimming is performed almost line by line. Therefore, if the number of rows is input and processing is performed based on the number of rows, there is no need to directly input processing coordinates. In this invention, a document image is digitally read, and "lines" are recognized by means for obtaining line position information. Therefore, processing “
Just by inputting the row ゛, you can accurately process the required "row °°."

(f) Embodiment FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of a digital copying machine which is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the main parts of the same copying machine. This copying machine reads image information using a CCD array (a means for digitally reading document images), processes the read image information as necessary, and then converts the image information into laser light to drive the photoreceptor. Expose and print.

A document table 5 made of transparent hard glass is provided on the top surface of the copying machine main body. A scanning section 1 including an LED array 3 and a CCD array 2 is provided below the document table 5 . The scanning unit 1 moves along the document table 5 and scans the document 4 placed on the document table 5. That is, the LED array 3 irradiates light onto the original 4, and the CCD array 2 detects the reflected light from the original. The scanning unit 1 is controlled by an original reading control unit 11, and the state (image information) of the detected original reflected light is stored in an image memory 12. The image information stored in the image memory 12 is subjected to processing such as hatching and trimming by the image information processing section 13 as necessary. The working memory 16 is a memory used during this processing. The image information in the image memory 12, which has been processed as necessary, is converted into laser light by the laser unit 7. This laser light is then guided to a charged photoreceptor 8, and developed in the same way as in a normal electrophotographic copying machine.

An image is formed by transferring and fixing the image onto paper.

Commands for processing image information are input from an operation unit located on the top of the copying machine main body. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operating section.

The operation section includes a process selection key 21 for selecting a process, a document key 22 for inputting whether the document is "vertically written" or "horizontally written", and a line for specifying the start line and end line for the process. Designation keys 23, 24, a numeric keypad 25, a print switch 26, etc. are provided.

When the process selection key 21 is pressed, trimming is performed each time the process selection key 21 is pressed.
Masking and N4 modes are set in order. Further, when the document original key 22 is pressed, the line horizontal mode and the line vertical mode are set each time the document original key 22 is pressed. This is because the direction in which the document 4 is scanned by the scanning unit 1 is determined, and it is necessary to know in advance whether the "line" of the document is parallel or perpendicular to the scanning direction, and it is necessary to recognize the line °°. This is information.The line designation keys 23 and 24 are used to specify the line to start processing using the numeric keypad 25, press the line specification key 13, and then specify the line to end the processing using the numeric keypad. The setting is made by pressing the row designation key 24.

Here, the procedure will be explained using as an example the case where the third and fourth lines of the document 4a as shown in FIG. 2(A) are shaded. Note that this document 4a corresponds to image information read by the CCD array 2 as it is, and pixels 42 in portions corresponding to characters of the document are black, and pixels 41 in portions corresponding to line spacing and character spacing are white. Note that the actual pixels are set smaller than the state shown in the figure. FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the processing procedure.

First, the original 4a is set on the original table 5. In this case, if the original is set so that it is written horizontally as shown in the figure, the document original mode becomes the line-horizontal mode. Then, use the process selection key 21 to input the shading mode, and use the line designation keys 23 and 24 and the numeric keypad 25 to input the process line (3
-4) is input and the print switch 26 is operated to start the process. In the following, a line of a document is indicated by "line", and a line of pixels of image information read by the CCD array 2 is indicated by "LINE".

When the print switch 26 is operated, the start line and end line for processing are respectively ``5TART line''.
and stored in “5TOP row °” (nl→n2
). Also, based on the size of the copy paper, the maximum number of pixels in the X direction and the Y direction ``MAX LINE X''' and ``MAX LINE Y'' are respectively determined and stored (n3). After these processes, the image information is read by the CCD array 2 and stored in the image memory 12 (n4→n5). This image information is shown in Figure 2 (A)
It is stored two-dimensionally as shown in . In other words, ““
MAX LINE
Image information with a number of pixels of "Y" is stored in the image memory 12. Once the image information of the entire surface of the document has been read and stored, recognition processing for the lines to be processed is performed (
n6).

First, on the LINE in the direction along the “line” of the document,
In other words, in this example, the starting position of the character on LINE in the Y direction (1s t BLACK JLINE
Yl) and end position (LAST BLACK[LIN
E Yl), and the number of black pixels (COUNT BLA
CK CL INE Yl) is determined for each LINE. First, set the number of LINEs in the Y direction in nil, that is, Y = 1, and 1 s t on that LINE
BLACK rL INEx], LAST BLA
CK [LINE IF and COUNT BLA
After finding CK [LINE 1] (n12.SUB
AA), proceed to the next LINE (n13) and perform the same process (n12). This is the lower end of the image information (MAX
Go to LINE Y) (n14) All LIN
Obtain data regarding EY (ri12).

Furthermore, C0UNT BLACK cL INE Yl
is the number of black pixels on [CLINEY] as shown on the right side of Figure 2 (A), and when this number exceeds LEVELa, it is determined that the LINE is in the line of the document, and L
When it is less than EVELa, the LINE is determined to be between lines. In addition, Fig. 2 (B) shows the 1st BLAC
An example of the coordinates of K and LASTBLACK is shown, and LI
1st BLACK [LINE y] on NEY is the coordinate in the X direction where the first black pixel appears on that LINE y, and LAST BLACK [LINE y]
E y] is the coordinate in the X direction where the last black pixel appears on LINE y. 1st BLACKCLINE y+n on LINE y+n, LAS
T BLACK [L INE y+n] is also indicated by coordinates in the X direction. This 1st BLACK, LA
ST BLACK is data necessary to know the processing range in the X direction when performing processing.

Here 1st BLACK, LAST BLACK
I will explain SUB AA to find.

First, the number of LINEs in the X direction, LINE X and C0U
NT BLACKI:LINE Yl, Ist
BLACK l:L INE Yl, LAST
Reset BLACK CL INE Yl (n21). Then, along the X direction, it is sequentially determined whether the pixel is black (character area) or white (margin area) (n22
-n23). If LINE Y is between lines, white pixels will continue to be determined until it reaches MAX LINE X (n24), but if LINE Y is LjNE in a line, black pixels will be determined eventually. Therefore, the coordinates of the first black pixel (LINE X) are 1 s t BLACK [L
INE Yl n25), along with this, add the number of black pixels to COUNT BLACK[LINEYl and LAST BLACKrL[NE
Setting of Yl is performed (n26). This determination of whether each pixel is black or white is performed up to MAX LINE X (n2
7 to n30), if there is a black pixel between them, C0UNTBL
ACKCLINE YE is added and LA
ST BLACKCLINE Yl has been updated (n28→n29). As a result, LAST BLA
CK [L INE Yl is always that LINE Y
The coordinates of the rearmost black pixel on the top are stored and its LI
The range of black pixels on NE Y can be found.

Next, the area to be shaded is determined. The processing range is set for each "row". First, the process start line “
'5TART row '° is set to 5EARCH, and the processing area of that row is determined (n15, n17). At this time, ""POINT is the number of rows counted from the processing start row.
'" is set (016). In this example, the shaded area of the third row (PO[NT=1) is first found.
Specifically, the shaded area in the second row is the area shown by the diagonally shaded area 30 in FIG. 2(C). In order to obtain this oblique vA area 30, the following processing is performed.

First, find the coordinates in the Y direction. LINE on n31
Y and row are reset. And LINE
Y is added one by one, and each time the LEVEL of the COUNTBLACK of that LINE is determined (n32-+n33). C0UNT
If the BLACK LEVEL exceeds the a value, the LINE is in line, as described above, and if it is below the a value, it is between lines. Then, when moving from between lines to inside a line, "line'" is counted up (n34). In other words, this process recognizes the lines of the document ((means for obtaining line position information)
. Continue this process until the number of lines reaches the search line (3rd line) (n32→n33→n34→n35.n36→n37
). If the line 5EARCH is searched, the process advances to n38, and first the number of LINEs in the Y direction of the search line is stored. Then, advance the number of LINEs in the Y direction until the end of that "'line", and memorize the number of LINEs in the Y direction at the end of the "'line" (n39
→n40→n41). At this time n38. The values stored in n40 are the Y-direction coordinates 5TARTY ARRjll and 5TOP YA of the processing area 30 in FIG. 2(C).
It is RRCt3.

Next, coordinates in the X direction are determined after n42. This is the above-mentioned n38. Coordinates stored in n40 5TART
1st BLACKELINE X at the front between Y ARR[1] and 5TOP YARRII
] and the rearmost T-A S TBLACK [L
It is obtained by determining the coordinates of INE X3. That is, PO3I of 5TART YARR[1]
Starting from TION (n42), 5TOP Y A
1st until reaching RR[1] (n49)
The value when BLACK is the smallest (and (n43→n
44→n45→n, 46), the value when LAST BLACK becomes the largest and (n43.n47→n48)
and seek. This is 5TARTX of processing area 30
ARRrl] and 5TOP X ARR[1].

If the processing area of the first row to be processed is found as described above, search at n, 17 ° “Row” “SEA,”
Add RCH and find the processing area in the next row. For example, if it is the fourth row, it is the diagonally shaded Q area 31 in FIG. 2(C). Then, this process is performed until reaching 5 TOP rows (n1
9) Find all processing areas.

Once the processing area is determined in this way, processing is performed on the area (n7). For example, in the case of halftone processing, the halftone pattern is read out in n51, and the SUB
OR processing between the halftone dot pattern and the image pattern is performed for each ILINE on the area within the processing range determined by the AB processing (n52→n53→n54).

After the image information in the image memory 12 is processed as described above, this image information is converted into laser light and is irradiated onto the photoreceptor 8. Note that although this example shows an example in which shading processing is performed, processing such as trimming and masking may also be performed depending on the range of the determined rows.

fg) Effects of the Invention As described above, according to the present invention, the coordinates of the area to be processed are recognized by the apparatus itself, and there is no need to input coordinates from the outside. Therefore, there is no need to set the original in accordance with the input coordinates, and the processing area will not shift due to a discrepancy between the input coordinates and the original setting position. Also,
The complicated work of inputting coordinates is also eliminated.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the procedure of image processing in a copying machine which is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS.
(C) is a diagram showing coordinates of image information, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the operation section of the copying machine, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are main block and front schematic views of the copying machine. 1-Scanning unit, 2-CCD array, 3-LED array, 4
-Manuscript, 7-laser unit 7.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) means for digitally reading a document image; means for determining line position information from the read image information; and means for processing each line based on the line position information;
A digital image processing device characterized by being provided with.