JPH03280172A - Picture processing area setting method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To set plural partial areas of optional shapes as processing areas, and to shorten time required for setting as well by making data necessitated for setting the picture processing area into a pair of a left edge coordinate and a right edge coordinate to define the processing area of a horizontal line for every horizontal line. CONSTITUTION:A coordinate generating part 18 outputs Y-coordinate to a processing area memory 13 and X-coordinate to a coordinate coincidence detecting part respectively. At that time, the processing area memory 13 in which the processing area of the horizontal line is set by a pair of the left edge coordinate and the right edge coordinate for every horizontal line outputs the first left edge coordinate of the Y-th horizontal line to a coordinate coincidence detecting part 20. The coordinate coincidence detecting part 20 compares X-coordinate from the coordinate generating part 18 with the left edge coordinate from the processing area memory 13, and in the case of coincidence, it outputs the coordinate subsequent to this coordinate to a picture processing part 21 to execute the processing as the processing area. Thus, the time required for setting is shortened, and the shape of the processing area is set optionally.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to a method for setting an image processing area in image processing.

"Prior art" In image processing, input from an image input device or
In many cases, it is desired to select and process only a necessary partial area from input and stored image data.

A conventional method of setting an image processing area is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

In FIG. 3, processing area 12 for image data 1]
are the X and Y coordinates (Xmin, Ym
in) and the X and Y coordinates (Xmax, Ymax) of the pixel P2 to be read out last. Xm1n, Ymin, XmaX, Yma
The processing area 12 is set by setting X in the processing area memory 13.

In FIG. 4, the processing area 12 is set by setting a mask pattern 15 indicating execution/non-execution of processing on a pixel basis in a mask pattern data buffer memory 14 having the same image size as the image data 11.

"Problem to be Solved by the Invention J The method shown in Figure 3 uses four coordinates, so the time required for setting is small, but there is a problem that the processing area is limited to a single rectangular area. The method shown in FIG. 4 performs setting on a pixel-by-pixel basis, so that an arbitrary shape and a plurality of partial areas can be used as processing areas, but there is a problem in that the setting takes a long time.

``Means for Solving the Problems'' In order to solve these problems, the present invention provides data necessary for setting the image processing area for each horizontal line, including left edge coordinates and right edge coordinates that define the processing area of the horizontal line. It is a set of coordinates.

"Operation" That is, since the setting data of the image processing area is compressed to only the edge coordinates, the time required for setting is short and any shape and a plurality of partial areas can be used as the processing area.

"Example" FIG. 1 shows a method for setting an image processing area according to the present invention.

When setting the processing area 12 for image data 11 having m pixels in the horizontal direction and n pixels in the vertical direction, a set of left edge coordinates and right edge coordinates is set for each horizontal line by n94.
The following settings are made for the processing area memory 13 that stores 7 minutes.

When performing raster scan image processing on the image data 11, the pixel (Xio, Yjo) is processed first. This Xio is set in the first memory of the j line of the processing area memory 13 as the first left edge coordinate.

After this coordinate, the area up to the (Xi2-1.Yjo) pixel is defined as the processing area, and the scan is performed on the same line (x2, Yjo).
When the pixel YJO) is reached, it becomes a non-processing area. This X
Set i2 to the second memory of the j line.

Similarly, the third processing area memory for the j line has ×7.4
Set Xi8 as the second. From this point on, if there is no processing area on the same line, set an X coordinate that does not match the scanned X coordinate, for example, a coordinate larger than m.

Thereafter, the processing area is defined by performing similar settings for all horizontal lines including the processing area.

When changing the processing area, rewriting is performed in units of edge coordinates of the corresponding horizontal line.

FIG. 2 shows an example of an ellipse for concretely implementing the setting of an image processing area according to the present invention.

When image data input from the image memory 17 by the image input device 16 or the coordinate generation unit 18 is subjected to raster scan image processing of a required processing area, the coordinate generation unit 18 uses the processing area memory 13 The Y coordinate is output to the coordinate matching detection unit, and the X coordinate is output to the coordinate matching detection unit.

At this time, the processing area memory 13, in which the horizontal line processing area is set for each horizontal line by a set of left edge coordinates and right edge coordinates, determines the first left edge coordinate of the Y-th horizontal line by the coordinate matching detection unit 20. Output to. The coordinate coincidence detection unit 20 compares the X coordinate from the coordinate generation unit 18 with the left edge coordinate from the processing area memory 13, and if they match, the image processing unit 21 determines that the coordinates after the coordinates are the processing area and executes the process. Output to.

After matching the left edge coordinates, the processing area memory 13 is incremented by one address by the processing area memory address generation section 19 and outputs the right edge coordinates to the coordinate matching detection section 20. The coordinate match detection unit 20 compares this right edge coordinate with the X coordinate input from the coordinate generation unit 18, and if they match, the main image processing unit 21 determines that the area after this pixel is a non-processing area. Output execution.

From then on, repeat until the horizontal line scan is completed.
After one horizontal line ends, the processing area memory address generation unit 19 is cleared and outputs the memory address of the first left edge coordinate of the next line. In this way, image processing of the required processing area is realized by performing raster scanning that includes the required processing area.

"Effects of the Invention" According to the present invention, the setting data is the left and right edge coordinates for each horizontal line, which are the minimum required to define the processing area, so the time required for setting is short and the shape of the processing area is Can be set arbitrarily. Therefore, when image processing is required with different processing areas for each image, and when the processing area is made up of multiple partial areas or each partial area has an arbitrary shape, it is shorter than the conventional method. You can set the processing area according to time.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 shows a method for setting an image processing area according to the present invention. FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a conventional method for setting an image processing area (part 1). Area setting method (Part 2) 11... Image data 12... Processing area 13... Processing area memory 14... ...Mask pattern data buffer memo 15...Mask pattern 16...
. . . Image input device 17 . . . Image memory 18 . . . Coordinate generation section 19 . . . Processing area memory address generation section 20...Coordinate coincidence detection unit 21...
...Image processing section

Claims (1)

[Claims] When setting the image processing area, store the edge coordinates of the processing area for each horizontal line in memory as left edge coordinates for odd-numbered pixels from the left, and right edge coordinates for even-numbered pixels. When image processing is performed using the raster scan method, the edge coordinates of the horizontal line being scanned are read from the memory, the edge coordinates are compared with the horizontal coordinates of the horizontal line being scanned, and the left edge coordinates and the left edge coordinates are compared. If they match, the processing area is from this pixel onwards, and if it matches the right edge coordinates, the processing area is from the current pixel to the previous pixel. 1 horizontal line 1 by inputting the edge coordinates of the horizontal line of the processing area An image processing area setting method characterized by setting a processing area in pixel units.