JPH04192080A - Picture memory device and picture data processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the capacity of a picture memory and to easily edit pictures by decoding code data of a picture and converting decoded data to a code suitable for editing again by an encoder to write it in the picture memory. CONSTITUTION:External code data inputted from an interface part 1 is decoded to picture data by a first decoder 2 and is temporarily stored in a buffer 3. An encoder 4 successively converts picture data stored in the buffer to an internal code, and this internal code data is written in a picture memory 5. When this data is read out, it is successively decoded by a decoder 6 and is inputted to a recording control part 7. In this case, the internal code conversion system can be selected which is most suitable for only the user of hard copy. Thus, the circuit board is made small-sized and inexpensive because code data is written in the picture memory, and further, pictures can be edited even if the input code is difficult to edit like a variable length code.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image memory device for recording one image and an image data processing method, and particularly relates to a method of handling one image data.

[Prior Art] Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a video copy system including a conventional hard copy device, as shown in 1986 Institute of Electronics and Communication Engineers General National Conference No. 1276 ``Development of High-Quality Video Copy''. . here.

The hard copy device will be of a sublimation type thermal transfer type.

In Figure 4, (9a) is a high-quality camera, (9b
) is a high-definition television, and (9c) is a color scanner, which are the image sources (9) that provide the image data to be taken in hard copy. Further, (12) is a frame memory (image memory) that stores image data from an image source.

(7) is a recording control section connected to the frame memory (12), and this recording side ails (7) corresponds to a conventional hard copy device. The recording control section (7) includes a one-color conversion section (13), a color correction section (14), and a resistance correction section (IS).
), halftone control section (16), line type thermal head (171).

γ correction section (18), system control section (19)
, and a paper feeding device (20). In addition.

The detailed operation of each part will be described later.

Further, FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the recording principle by the sublimation type thermal transfer method, and in this figure.

(21) is a sublimation dye transfer film, and this film (21) is a sublimation dye transfer film.
1) is composed of a base material (22) and a sublimation dye (23). (24) is recording paper, (25) is recording paper (24)
The coating layer (26) is applied to the surface of the recording paper (
24) is the feeding platen roller.

Next, the operation will be explained. High quality camera (9a),
Image data input from an image source (9) such as a high-definition television (9b) or a color scanner (9C) is first stored as a digital image in a frame memory (12), and then transferred to a recording control unit (eight copy device) (7).

In the recording control unit (7), first, the frame memory (1
The image data read from 2) is sent to the one-color conversion unit (13).
is converted to complementary color. The converted data.

After color correction is performed in the color correction section (14) taking into consideration the color development characteristics of the sublimation dye transfer film (21), the resistance correction section (15)
) is corrected in order to eliminate density unevenness due to variations in resistance value of the thermal head (17). The thus corrected data is finally subjected to 64-level tone control in the halftone control section (16) while taking into account the data from the γ correction section (18), and then sent to the thermal head (17). and then printed.

The data sent to the thermal head (17) is recorded using a sublimation thermal transfer method. The recording principle will be explained with reference to the figure. That is, by heating the heating resistor on the thermal head (17) with electricity, heat is transmitted from the base material (22) side of the sublimation dye transfer film (21) to sublimate the sublimation dye (23), and the sublimation dye (23) is sublimated. ) An image is formed on the surface coating layer (25). Full color images include yellow, magenta,
The sublimation dyes of the three primary colors of cyan are sequentially sublimated and printed on recording paper (2
4) Created by layering colors on top.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] A video copy system including a conventional hard copy device is configured as described above.

The input image data is stored in a frame memory (12) in a digitized form. In this case, as the number of pixels in the original image increases, the capacity of the frame memory (12) increases, leading to problems such as an increase in the size of the circuit board and an increase in memory cost.

For this reason, 1. Although it is originally desirable to have the frame memory (12) built into the hard copy device, the frame memory (12) is placed as a stand-alone device between the image source and the hard copy device as in the conventional example. There was a problem that I had no choice but to do.

One of the ways to solve this problem is to use a zero image source (91I
It is conceivable that image data is compressed by encoding in II and the encoded data is transferred to a hard copy device.

The memory capacity can be reduced if a configuration is considered in which coded data is written directly to the frame memory (12) inside the hard copy device.

In this state, it is difficult to perform editing such as rotating the image, changing the magnification, and cutting out a portion of the image. The code used for data transfer between devices generally uses a variable length code in which the code data length differs for every 9 pixel data in order to increase the compression rate. It is necessary to decode an intermediate portion, and there is a problem in that it is difficult to manage which part of the encoded data a given pixel on the original image belongs to.

This invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems. By storing encoded data in an image memory, the circuit board is small and inexpensive, and it is also possible to use input codes for image editing such as variable length codes. An object of the present invention is to provide an image memory device and an image data processing method that allow image editing even with difficult codes.

[Means for Solving the Problems] An image memory device according to a first invention includes a first decoder that inputs and decodes data compressed by encoding from one image source, and It has an encoder that encodes image data using another method suitable for image editing, stores the encoded data generated by the encoder in the image memory, and decodes the stored encoded data. A device is provided between the image memory and the recording control section.
Ru.

Further, an image memory device according to a second invention is the image memory device according to the first invention in which switching means is added for switching whether or not data coming from one image source is decoded depending on whether it is coded data or not. It is.

Furthermore, the image data processing method according to the third invention includes a step of decoding encoded image data, and an encoding step of further encoding the encoded image data suitable for nine-image editing.
The process of memorizing this.

This method includes a step of decoding the stored image data again.

[Operation] In the image memory device according to the first invention, coded data of images inputted from nine image sources is decoded by the first decoder, and then re-converted to a code suitable for editing by the encoder. Since this encoded data is written into the image memory, the capacity of the image memory can be reduced. Furthermore, the second decoder can restore the encoded data to image data and also perform nine-image editing.

Since the image memory device according to the second invention is provided with a switching means, it is possible to input both unencoded image data and encoded data.

In the image data processing method according to the third invention, the input encoded data is restored to its original state, and then the encoded data is encoded according to the user's own desired encoding, thereby facilitating the subsequent data processing.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1st
In the figure, (9) is one image source, and the encoder (11
)have. (12) is an image memory device according to the present invention. (1) is an interface unit with an image source that receives code data from the image source.

(2) is a first decoder that decodes encoded data.

(3) is a buffer that temporarily stores decoded data, (4) is an encoder that performs encoding that allows image editing, (5) is an image memo J that stores coded data, and (6) is coded data inside the image memory. A second decoder (second decoding means) for decoding the data, +71 is a recording control unit similar to the conventional one.

The interface section (1) and the decoder (2) constitute a first decoding means (8).

Next, the operation of the apparatus according to the ninth embodiment will be explained. Note 9
The code input from the image source will be referred to as an "external code," and the code used inside the hard copy device will be referred to as an "internal code."

Image data to be recorded is input through the interface section (1). Image data is encoded in advance on the image source side, and external encoded data is actually input. Any encoding method may be used, but the encoder (11) on the image source side and the decoder (2) on the hard copy device side must be compatible. It is thought that in the future, methods that will be internationally standardized will be used as encoding methods for transfer between devices.

External encoded data input from the interface section C1) is decoded into image data by the first decoder (2). The decoded data is temporarily stored in a buffer (3).

The buffer (3) has the capacity necessary for the next internal encoding inside the hardcopy device. Encoder (4)
sequentially internally encodes the image data stored in the buffer. and.

The buffer (3) is updated with image data obtained by decoding the externally encoded data input from the interface (1) in accordance with the progress of internal encoding. In addition, the internally encoded data is written to the image memory (5).

When the data compressed by internal encoding is read out, it is sequentially decoded by a decoder (6) and then input to the recording control unit (7), where it is subjected to the same processing as conventional methods and then printed onto recording paper. recorded.

Since the external code is used for data transfer between devices, it is desirable that the external coding method be a standardized method, but since the internal code is used only inside the hard copy device, the internal coding method is called hard copy. You can choose the most suitable method depending on your application. Hard copy devices may support editing functions such as image rotation, scaling and 2-part cutting, and external codes that place emphasis on compression ratio are almost always variable-length coding, which is not suitable for image editing. . Therefore, a fixed length code is considered as a code suitable for 9-image editing. In the case of a fixed-length code, the compression rate of a variable-length code is not as high as that of a variable-length code, but the code part for any pixel of the original image can be immediately found on the code data, and that part can be extracted and decoded. In this way, it is desirable for the internal code to be one that makes it easy to manage coded data even if the compression rate is reduced to some extent.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the image memory device according to the first invention, and also serves as a diagram for explaining the image data processing method according to the third invention.

First, digitized information generated from one image source is assumed to be original data A, B, C, . . . . These A
, B, C, . . . are generated in predetermined units such as -line units, -page units, etc. These are in a form suitable for data transmission when these data are output from the image source (9).

Alternatively, it may be converted to a more compatible standard format. This transformation is performed by the encoder of the image source (9).

That is, according to this figure, variable length data A, B, C, -. will be output from the image source (9). When this is input into the 9-image memory device (12), it is first processed by the first decoder (2).

The original data A, B, C, etc. are reproduced (first decoding step). This data is stored in a buffer (3) for a period of time, but the buffer (3) only needs to have at least the maximum length of the original data, and the data stored in the buffer (3) is immediately encoded. Vessel (4
) is converted into fixed length data (encoding process).

As soon as the original data A is converted into fixed length data, it is stored in the image memory (5) (storage step). Next, original data A in buffer (3) is erased, and original data B is input to buffer (3) (buffer (3)
If is large, original data B is also buffered first (3)
). The encoder (4) also encodes this and stores it as fixed length data B in the image memory (5).

Next, when a request is received from a hard copy device or display device, the second decoder (6) searches the image memory (5) for data that meets the request, decodes it into original data, and outputs it. (second decoding step).

In the above embodiment, the processing content of the recording control section (7) is the same as the conventional one, but the processing content is not particularly limited. Further, as the recording method on the recording paper by the recording control section (7), other methods may be used in addition to the conventional sublimation type thermal transfer recording method.

Regarding the internal code, although a fixed-length code is shown in the above embodiment, a variable-length code may be used as long as it is easy to manage code data and can be decoded from any part of the code sequence, not from the beginning. .

Next, the second invention will be explained. The data input from the interface section is code data in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but as shown in FIG. 3, a switching means (10) is inserted between the interface (1) and the decoder (2), By providing a bus that passes through the decoder (2) and a bus that does not pass through the decoder (2) using the switching means (1 (+)), it is also possible to input raw image data that is not encoded.In other words, it is possible to input external encoded data. In this case, the switching means (8) operates in altlJ and is decoded through the decoder (2).
When inputting raw image data, the switching means (8) is set to b.
It operates on the side and does not pass through the decoder (2).

Note that the image memory device according to the present invention may be independent from other devices or other parts, or may be incorporated into other devices or other parts.

Further, the 9 buffer and the image memory may be memories in the same space, or may be separate memories.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the present invention, after the first decoder decodes the external code data of the image input from nine image sources, the encoder regenerates it into an internal code suitable for editing. Since the encoded data is converted and written into the image memory, the capacity of the image memory can be reduced. Furthermore, the coded data can be restored to image data by the second decoder, and nine-image editing can be easily performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an image memory device according to an embodiment of the first invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an image data processing method according to an embodiment of the third invention. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing an image memory device according to a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a video copy system including a conventional hard copy device. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the recording principle using a sublimation type thermal transfer method. In the figure, (2) is the first decoder for the outer code, (3) is the buffer, (4) is the encoder for the inner code, (5) is the image memory, and (6) is the second decoder for the inner code. (7) is a recording control unit. (24) is recording paper. In addition, in FIG. 1, the same reference numerals indicate the same or corresponding parts. that's all

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) An image memory device having the following elements: (a) inputting image data encoded by the first method;
a first decoding means for decoding input image data; (b) a buffer for temporarily storing the decoded image data; and (c) a second method for encoding the image data stored in the buffer. an encoding means; (d) an image memory for storing image data encoded by the encoding means; and (e) a second decoding means for decoding at least a part of the image data stored in the image memory. (2) In the image memory device according to claim (1), the first decoding means decodes the input data if it is already encoded image data; 1. An image memory device comprising a switching means capable of switching not to decode image data that is not encoded. (3) An image data processing method having the following steps: (a) a first decoding step of decoding image data encoded using a predetermined method; (b) encoding the decoded image data using a different method; (c) a storage step of storing the encoded image data; (d) a second decoding step of extracting and decoding at least a part of the stored image data.