JPH04207465A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the discrimination of specific documents regardless of the form of input signals by providing means for converting the signal form of the image signals inputted by input means and a means for deciding the identity of the document image and specific images in accordance with the signal converted by the converting means. CONSTITUTION:The input means 101, 105, 107 input the image signals corresponding to the document images and the converting means 102, 103 convert the signal form of the image signals inputted by the input means 101, 105, 107. The deciding means 203 decides the identity of the document images and specific images in accordance with the signal converted by the converting means 102, 103. A processing means 204 processes the image signals inputted by the input means 101, 105, 107 in accordance with the result of the decision of the deciding means 203. The specific documents are identified regardless of the form of the input signals in this way.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to determining a specific document in an image processing apparatus.

[Prior Art] In recent years, with the increase in image quality and colorization of copying machines, there has been a concern that specific documents such as gift certificates and securities may be forged. On the other hand, as a method for recognizing a specific document in a copying machine, the applicant has proposed a method of detecting the color data distribution of a human image and comparing this with the color data distribution of the specific document.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the above conventional examples, a color original is separated into three colors by an RGB CCD sensor.
Since discrimination is performed only by signals, for example, an image output device is connected to a host computer, image processing is performed by the computer, and Y, M, C, Bk are output to an image output device.
There is a drawback that when a signal is sent, it is not possible to detect a specific target document. That is, detection could not be performed when the input color component data and the color component data used for detection were in different color spaces.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional examples, and its purpose is to improve the quality of input data in, for example, normal image copying operations or when outputting images in response to signals from external equipment. The object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device that can identify a specific document regardless of the format of the signal.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the purpose, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention includes an input means for inputting an image signal corresponding to a document image, and an input means for inputting an image signal corresponding to a document image. a converting means for converting the signal form of the image signal converted by the converting means; a determining means for determining the identity of the original image and a specific image based on the signal converted by the converting means; It is characterized by comprising a processing means for processing an image signal inputted by the input means.

[Operations] According to this configuration, the input means inputs an image signal corresponding to the original image, the conversion means converts the signal form of the image signal inputted by the input means, and the determination means converts the signal into the signal converted by the conversion means. The processing means processes the image signal inputted by the input means based on the determination result of the determination means.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the specific manuscripts used in the following explanations include:
This shall include all manuscripts for which copying of securities, gift certificates, banknotes, etc. is prohibited.

Further, in the following embodiments, a copying machine is shown as an example of application of the present invention, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to various other devices such as printers.

<First Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a copying machine to which an image processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied.

In the figure, 101 is a scanner that optically reads a document image to obtain R, G, and B signals, and 102 is a scanner 1.
From 01, convert the R, G, and B signals into Y, M, C, and Bk color image signals in a frame-sequential manner (meaning that image data for one screen is sent sequentially for each color component) according to the R, G, and B signals. An image processing unit (IPU), 105 is a scanner having the same functions as the scanner 101, 103 is a host computer that converts RlG, B signals into frame-sequential Y, M, C, Bk color image signals similarly to rpuio2, 104 is a host computer ■PU10
2 or from the host computer 103 in sequential order Y, M
, an image output unit that controls image output according to the document read according to the C, Bk color image signals, and 106
1 shows a specific document identification circuit that identifies a specific document in accordance with the frame-sequential Y, M, C, and Bk color image signals from the IPU 102 or the host computer 103 in the image output unit 104. Also, 107 is RGB dot sequential (
This is a scanner that directly inputs RGB data (which means sending RGB data for each pixel) to a specific original identification circuit 1.06. In FIG. 1, the image output unit 104 is IPLJ1
Although it has an interface for connecting to two types of input devices: 02 and host computer 103, it can also connect to three or more types of input devices. Furthermore, it may be possible to connect not only to a computer but also to input devices such as an SV (still video) camera and a VTR.

Next, the operation will be explained. A color original is separated into R, G, and 83 colors by the image scanner 101 (105).
The RlG and B signals are read digitally and the IPU
102 (host computer 103), which is equipped with an image processing function. In the IPU 102 and the host computer 103, the input R,
The G and B signals are sequentially converted into Y, M, C, and Bk color image signals. Converted Y, M, C.

The Bk signal is sent to the image output device 104, and the image output unit 104 outputs a hard copy using a laser, L, ED, or other method.

In the first embodiment, a specific document identification circuit 106 for identifying a specific document is provided in the image (II!8 section 104), thereby preventing a specific document that is not desirable to be copied from being output as a hard copy. A copier is shown.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the specific document identification circuit 106 according to the first embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 201 is a memory for storing frame-sequential Y, M, C, and Bk color image signals sent from the IPU 102 and host computer 103, and converts the stored color image signals into point-sequential signals. Output. 202 represents an arithmetic circuit having the configuration shown in FIG. 9, and 203 represents a determination circuit having the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the description of which will be given later. 204 is the judgment circuit 2
This figure shows an arithmetic circuit that converts pixels at the corresponding address of the Y, M, C, and Bk output signals into a black signal and outputs the black signal according to the address data determined to be a specific document in step 03. 2
05 is a color processing circuit that processes RGB point sequential data from the scanner 107 and inputs YMCBk field sequential data to the arithmetic circuit 204 at a predetermined timing.

Since the point sequential data from the scanner 107 is already in a signal form that can be determined, it is directly input to the determination circuit 203.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the arithmetic circuit 202 according to the first embodiment. In the same figure, 901.902,
Reference numeral 903 indicates an adder that adds C and Bk, M and Bk, and Y and Bk signals, respectively. 904,907,91
0 is a predetermined constant a in the addition result of the adder 901.
l++ az++ a, multiplier that multiplies and combines 1, 90
5,908,911 are the addition results of the adder 902 and a predetermined constant 81. .

A multiplier that multiplies aaz and ag□ and 906°9
09.912 is a predetermined predetermined value a for the addition result of the adder 903.
A multiplier that multiplies ll, a xsr a ss is shown. 913, 914.91F+ are multipliers 904, 905, 906 . Multiplier 907.908
, 909, and an adder that adds the multiplication results of multipliers 910, 911, and 912 and outputs R, G, and B signals.

As an operation, C converted point-sequentially by the memory 201
, M, and Y signals are sent to adders 901, 902, and 90, respectively.
Sent to 3. Also, the Bk signal is divided into three parts, 901
, 902, 903 separately. Adders 901, 90
2,903, based on the input signal, C′=C
+Bk, M'=M+Bk, Y'=Y+B are calculated, and C', M', and Y' are outputted to multipliers 904 to 912. The outputs of six multipliers 904 to 912 are shown in the figure, respectively. are outputted to adders 913 to 915 as R, G, and B, respectively.

This can be expressed as the following equation (1).

(1) This is the inverse matrix of the coefficient matrix used in masking processing performed in conventional color processing.

The R, G, and B signals obtained by the above calculation are as follows:
It is sent to the discrimination circuit 203.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the determination circuit 203 shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method for determining a specific document according to the first embodiment, and FIGS. 5A and 5B are a block diagram showing the configuration of the determination circuit 203 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the color space data of a specific original and the data of the judgment ROM 501, and FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between the specific original and the recognition area. It is a diagram.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the discrimination circuit 203 according to the first embodiment.

The determination ROM 501 has information written therein as to whether or not the image data of a specific document shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 6 exists in the corresponding R, G, and B spaces. If the input color signals 313, 314, and 315 match the image area of the specific document in the shaded area in the RGB space shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, 1 becomes the output signal of the determination ROM 501, and otherwise, 0 becomes the output signal. becomes.

In this embodiment, the determination ROM 501 is composed of a read-only memory with a data width of 8 bits and an address width of 15 bits, and stores data corresponding to eight types of specific documents.

The above judgment information outputted from the judgment ROM 501 passes through the latch circuit 502 and is then sent to the integrators 5011 to 501.
8 is input.

Since the integrators 501'1 to 5018 have the same configuration, the integrator 5011 will be explained as an example.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating the integrator 5011.

In FIG. 11, 601 and 602 are multipliers.

603 is an adder, and 604 is a latch circuit for timing adjustment. In the multiplier 602, the input 1
The predetermined weighting coefficient β is used for the th signal x, (O or 1), and a multiplication of x+X255(1-β) is performed and the result is input to the B side of the adder 603. On the other hand, for the (i-1)th output signal 3'+-1 output from the latch circuit 604, the multiplier 601 outputs y, -, ×β
This multiplication is performed and input to the A side of the adder 603.

In the adder 603, Xt X255 (1-β)
+y+-+Xβ is added, and the result is yl
is output as That is, the integrator 5011 has the following equation (0
). That is, yl =)(, x255 (t-β) + y huge, ×β...
・This is a circuit that performs the integral processing that becomes (0) for all input data.

By executing the above calculation, when the input value 1 to the integrator 5011 is continuous as shown in FIG. 12B, the output value from the integrator 5011 becomes 255 as shown in FIG.
If the input value O is continuous, the output value will be close to O.

Comparison computing units 5001 to 5008 have the same configuration, so to explain the comparison computing unit 5001 as an example, integrator 501
The magnitude of the a force value A from 1 and a predetermined constant value B stored in the register 5021 is determined, and a determination signal indicated by C is output. That is, according to formula (1), C,= 1:AI> BI C,= OVA, ≦ 81...
(1), and by the above processing, the input color signal becomes
If the image data continuously match the image data of the specific document, the output C1 from the comparison calculator 5001 becomes 1. In addition, comparison calculation units 5002 to 5008. Registers 5022-50
28 functions similarly.

The counters 521 to 528 have the same configuration, and the counter 521 is a counter that counts up only when the output C3 is 1. This counter 521 calculates the number of pixels included in the specific document recognition area shown in the shaded area in FIG.

The OR writing circuit 511 includes comparison calculation units 5001 to 50.
This is a circuit for OR writing the output signals C3 to C6 of 08 into the RAM 521. Also, the RAM 512 is a judgment ROM 50.
FIG. 3B, which is a RAM of the same size as 1, with a bit width of 8 bits and an address width of 16 bits, is an OR write circuit 51.
1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of FIG. 5111 is an SRAM in 32 and serves as an address bus, A0 to A, R in 4,
Each 5-bit G and B signal is manually input and converted into data. ~D7 contains data 5021 to 502 after OR operation, which will be described later.
8 is input. 5112 is a timing generation circuit that generates the timing signal shown in FIG. 3C.

In the OR operation section within the diagonal line, data stored in accordance with the read enable OE at the timing of CLK' is calculated for the addresses specified by A0 to AI4. ~D? and latched into each latch circuit. On the other hand, the input signals 5021 to 5028 and the latched memory data are ORed in each OR circuit, and Ri
It is output from the buffer at the inverter timing of o.

In this way, for each address defined by 5 bits each of R, G, and B, out of the data sequentially input by 5021 to 5028, a small number (if each one is 1, the SR
The data is stored in AM511.1.

D0 to D are each stored at independent addresses, so
Judgment processing can be performed in parallel on eight types of specific documents.

By measuring the number of bits of the determination result "1" stored in the RAM 512, the volume in the R, G, and B space of the shaded area, which is the observation data in FIG. 4, is calculated.

515 is a CPU that controls the entire specific document determination unit 403;
515a indicates a ROM that stores programs and the like according to the flowchart of FIG. 8 for operating the CPU 515, and 515b indicates a RAM used as a work area for various programs. The CPtJ 515 mainly reads data in the counters 521 to 528 and the RAM 512, and determines whether a target document exists among the input documents.

The input of the integrator in FIG. 13 is indicated by Xl, and the output is indicated by Y (1≦i≦8). As processing, calculation according to the following equation (2) is performed.

Yl*+=β・Y, +255 (1−β)X.

(2) In the above equation (2), β is a constant that controls the integration effect of the integrator. Moreover, in the range of O×β<1, the following relationship holds true.

0 ← β −l (small) (integral effect) (large) In other words, the integral value change curve changes more gradually as the set value of β approaches 1 shown in Figure 12B, and as the set value of β approaches O
(and vice versa, it changes rapidly. In the first embodiment, β=31/32.

, it is assumed that the recognition target is a document the size of a banknote, but if the recognition target is a smaller document image, such as a stamp, a smaller value for β, such as β = 7/8, is appropriate. It is. The value of this β depends on the recognition target.
It may be possible to make arbitrary settings using a scanning section (not shown).

FIG. 8 is a flowchart explaining the operation by the CPU of the first embodiment.

First, when information to start reading the original is detected, 5120
1, the lNH404 signal is turned O at the start of document reading.
Set to . After this, in 81202, an instruction is given to read the document. At 51202, a variable n is set to 1. That is, the counter values of the n-th counter are stored in the RAM 512 in order. In 51204, 3rd A
The counter in the figure, in this case the counter 521 because n=1
The value is read and stored in the variable area set on the RAM 512.

51205, the variable a of the RAM 512 in FIG.
The total number of l stored in rea is calculated, and this value is set as the variable v
It is set to ol.

Here, the variable vol is a value indicating the volume of the shaded area in FIG. 4, that is, vol=Tjd.

51206, the value of the variable area is a predetermined constant K
Determine whether or not it exceeds.

The value of the variable area corresponds to the number of pixels in the recognition area shown in the shaded area in FIG. Therefore, by comparing and determining the size of the value of the variable area with a constant, it is determined whether or not there is a possibility that the document is a banknote document. That is, the variable a r e a>K
In this case, it is determined that there is a possibility that the document is a bill document.

In 51027, the variable vol set in 5L205
, the observed image data in the color space expressed by the following equation (3), and the similarity r between the image data of the specific document are calculated and compared with a constant β.

In FIG. 4, Tol and la are image data of a specific manuscript registered in advance (hereinafter referred to as specific image data),
Corresponding to the shaded area displayed in R, G, B space, R, G, B
It shows the volume between coordinates. In addition, Tjd is the image data of the scanned original (hereinafter referred to as observation image data)
, and the 8 power signals of the comparison/judgment devices 5001 to 5008 are 1
This corresponds to the shaded area in which the observed image data is displayed in R, G, and B space, and indicates the volume in R, G, and B coordinate space.

The similarity r at this time is expressed by the following equation (3), which means that the closer the value of the similarity r is to 1, the higher the similarity between the observed image data and the specific image data.

Here, from Vol=Tjd, determine (gamma, that is, γ is a constant determined by experiment and indicates the matching rate in the color space. Let γ=0.7), and if true, the observation It is determined that the degree of similarity 2 between the image data and the specific image data is high, and that duplication should be prohibited.

When it is determined that a specific document exists by the above method, the address data of the portion where the specific document exists is sent to the arithmetic circuit 20.
Send to 4. In the arithmetic circuit 204, the separately sent Y,
The pixels at the corresponding addresses of the M, C, and Bkl power signals are converted into black signals and output.

As explained above, according to the first embodiment, Y, M, C
By identifying a specific original using the , Bk signal, it is possible to identify a specific original both in a normal image copying operation using an image output unit and in a system that outputs an image in response to a signal from an external device. I can do it.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of a copying machine to which a second embodiment of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied.

In FIG. 10, 1201 is an image scanner section, which reads an original and performs digital signal processing. A printer unit 1202 prints out an image corresponding to the original image read by the image scanner unit 1201 on paper in full color.

In the image scanner unit 1201, reference numeral 1200 denotes a mirror pressure plate, and an original 1204 on an original table glass (hereinafter referred to as a platen) 1203 is irradiated with a lamp 1205, guided to mirrors 1206, 1207, and 1208, and then passed through a lens 120.
9 forms an image on a 3-line sensor (hereinafter referred to as CCD) 210, and provides full color information of red (R) and green (G).
, blue (B) components are sent to the signal processing unit 1211. Note that 1205.1206 is the speed V, and 1207.
1208 scans the entire document by mechanically moving at 1/2v in a direction perpendicular to the electrical scanning direction of the line sensor. The signal processing unit 1211 electrically processes the read signal, decomposes it into magenta (M), cyan (C), yellow (Y), and black (Bk) components, and sends them to the printer unit 1202. In addition, the image scanner section 1
For one document scanning (scanner) in 201, M
, C, Y, and Bk in the printer section 120.
2, and one printout is completed by scanning the document four times in total.

M, C, sent from the image scanner unit 1201
The Y or Bk image signal is sent to the laser driver 1212. A laser driver 1212 modulates and drives a semiconductor laser 1213 according to the image signal. The laser beam is transmitted through a polygon mirror 1214. f-theta lens 1215. mirror 121
6, the photosensitive drum 1217 is scanned.

1218 is a rotary developing device, and a magenta developing section 1219
, Cyan Gensobu 1220. Yellow developing section 1221. It is composed of a black developing section 1222, and four developing devices alternately contact the photosensitive drum 1217 to develop an electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 1217 with toner. A transfer drum 1223 winds the paper fed from the paper cassette 1224 or 1225 around the transfer drum 1223, and transfers the image developed on the photosensitive drum 1217 onto the paper.

After the four colors M, C, Y, and Bk are sequentially transferred in this manner, the paper passes through the fixing unit 1226 and is discharged.

In the above-mentioned normal color image copying machine,
In the second embodiment, a document discrimination circuit 1226 is provided before the laser driver 1212. The configuration of the document discrimination circuit 1226 is similar to that shown in the first embodiment. This makes it possible to prevent copying of a specific document that the user does not wish to have copied.

<Third Embodiment> In each of the first and second embodiments, the frame sequential signal, which is the input signal to the image output unit, is input to the memory 201. The arithmetic circuit 202 converts the Y, M, C, and Bk signals into point-sequential Y, M, and Bk signals.

The signal value of C and the specific document Y, M, C information stored in the determination RO-M 501 shown in FIG. 3 may be compared and referenced to determine the specific document.

As described above, according to the embodiment described above, a specific document is determined after converting the signal form, such as converting a field sequential signal to a point sequential signal or changing a YMC color space to an RGB color space. Judgment is possible regardless of the signal form of the input device.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, a specific document can be identified in any system.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of a copying machine to which an image processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a specific document identification circuit 106 according to the first embodiment. 3A is a block diagram showing the configuration of the determination circuit 203 shown in FIG. 2, FIG. 3B is a block diagram showing the configuration of the OR writing circuit 511, FIG. 3C is a timing chart of the timing generation circuit 5112, and FIG. FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are diagrams explaining the relationship between the specific document and color space. FIG. 6 is the color space data of the specific document and the determination ROM 501. 7 is a diagram showing the positional relationship between a specific document and the recognition area, FIG. 8 is a flowchart explaining the operation by the CPU of the first embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the arithmetic circuit 202 according to the first embodiment; FIG. A block diagram showing the configuration of the integrator 5011, and FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams for explaining the integration effect. In the figure, 101, 105... Scanner, 102... Engineering PU, 103... Host computer, 104...
Image output unit, 106...Specific original identification circuit, 201.
...Memory, 202, 204...Arithmetic circuit, 203.
... Judgment circuit, 501... Judgment ROM, 502, 51
3゜514...Flip-flop, 511...OR
Write circuit, 512...RAM, 5151...C
PU, 515a-ROM, 515b-RAM152
1 to 528...Counter, 1201...Image scanner section, 1202...Printer section, 1203...
Platen, 1204... Original, 1205... Lamp, 1206° 1207.1208... Mirror, 120
9...Lens, 1210...3 line sensor, 12
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... Signal processing part, 1212... Laser driver, 1213... Semiconductor laser, 1214... Polygon mirror, 1215... f-theta lens, 1216...
・Mirror, 1217...Photosensitive drum, 1218...
Rotating developer, 1219... Magenta developing section, 1220
... Cyan developing section, 1221... Yellow developing section,
1222...Black developing section, 1223...Transfer drum, 1224.1225...Paper cassette, 122
6... Fixing unit, 5001-5008... Comparison calculation circuit, 5011-5018... Integrator, 5021
~5028...Register. Figure 3C - Anatomy of Akihiro

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) an input means for inputting an image signal corresponding to a document image; a conversion means for converting the signal form of the image signal input by the input means; and identifying the document image based on the signal converted by the conversion means. An image processing device comprising: a determination unit that determines identity with an image; and a processing unit that processes an image signal input by the input unit based on a determination result of the determination unit. (2) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input means has an interface for inputting image signals from a plurality of external devices. (3) The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input means inputs the image signals in a frame-sequential manner. (4) The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the converting means is a means for converting the frame-sequential image signal into a point-sequential luminance signal.