JPH04293356A - Picture synthesizing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a special picture synthesis by reproducing a picture of a 2nd original transparent through a picture of a 1st original in a form including a background picture such as a ghost picture or a fog picture. CONSTITUTION:Plural kinds of gamma characteristic data groups are stored in a gamma correction circuit, recording picture information of a 1st original is written in a memory and in the case of reading a 2nd original, the recording picture information of the 1st original is read and a gamma characteristic data group is selected based on the information and an output picture corresponding to the recording picture information of the 2nd original is selected among the selected group data and outputted. Thus, the output data results from modulating the recording picture information modulated by the recording picture information of the 1st original and a synthesis picture resulting from including the picture of the 1st original onto the picture of the 2nd original like a hidden picture is realized.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image composition apparatus that reads an original image with a scanner and displays an image of a first original as a base image of a second original.

0002

[Prior Art] In the color copying machine disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 196268/1983, when color image information written in memory and black and white image information of a document are to be combined, a superposition (logical OR) process is performed. to generate recorded image information. Jitsukai 1986
Japanese Patent No. 44565 discloses a copying apparatus that repeatedly forms images by arranging image information read into a memory on the same surface.

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In simple superimposition (logical sum) processing, superimposed images are expressed equally. On the other hand, there are also image representation applications in which one image is represented as a base image (sub-image) such as a watermark, ghost, or blurred image, and the other image is represented as a relatively clear main image.

The present invention aims to provide this type of unique imaging.

[0005]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The image synthesizing device of the present invention includes a scanner (3) that optically scans a document and generates a read image signal representing image density, and converts the read image signal into an image output image signal. image signal processing means (5 to 7) for processing;
A memory means (12) for storing image information (image output image signal) which is one of the read image signal and the image output image signal; writing means (1, 2) for writing the image information (image signal for image output) of the second read document into the memory means (12); ), the density correction means (7) corrects the density to a density corresponding to the density. Note that symbols in parentheses indicate corresponding elements or matters in the embodiments shown in the drawings and described later.

[0006]

[Operation] The density correction means (7) stores the image information (image output image signal) of the second read document in the memory means (12).
The density is corrected to correspond to the density of the image information (image signal for image output) of the first read document. The image information thus corrected (image signal for image output) is obtained by modulating the density of the image information of the second read original by the density of the image information of the first read original, and the image information of the first read original and the second read original are It includes both image information of the original. When an image is formed from the corrected image information, the image of the second read original is reproduced in a form that includes a background image such as a watermarked, ghosted or blurred image of the image of the first read original.

[0007] The scanner (3) is configured to generate read image signals representing image densities of two or more colors, and the image information of one or more colors of the first read document is written into the memory means (12), and the second read image information is written in the memory means (12). By correcting the image information of one or more colors of the original to a density corresponding to the density of the image information in the memory means (12), the above-mentioned image composition is performed for each color, so that an image with variety in base image expression can be obtained. Synthesis is realized.

Other objects and features of each invention of the present application will become clear from the following description of embodiments with reference to the drawings.

[0009]

Embodiment FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. full color
In the copy mode, the scanner 3 optically scans the original and generates three sets of image density signals separated into R, G, and B colors. Each image density signal is subjected to gamma correction corresponding to the image reading characteristics of the scanner 3 in a gamma correction circuit 5 of the image processing circuit 4. The three sets of image density signals are then converted by the color correction processing circuit 6 into recording density signals of Bk, C, M, and Y, respectively. These four sets of recording density signals are subjected to gamma correction in a gamma correction circuit 5 corresponding to the recording characteristics of each color of a laser printer 14 that performs four-color recording. The recording density signal is subjected to area gradation processing in the gradation processing circuit 9, written into the image memory 12, and then provided to the printer 14 via the output buffer amplifier 13.

FIG. 2 shows the general structure of the laser printer 14 of the full-color copying machine shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. The laser printer 14 has monochrome recording units arranged at predetermined intervals (120 mm) as shown in FIG. A recording paper conveyance belt is arranged along these arrays, and the recording paper is conveyed by this recording paper conveyance belt to form a Bk toner image, a C toner image, an M toner image, and a Y toner image in this order. The images are sequentially transferred to a recording paper, and the recording paper after full-color transfer is subjected to a fixing process. Although Bk image recording (exposure: latent image formation) can be started with almost no time delay with respect to document scanning by the scanner 3, C image recording, M image recording, and Y
The image recording distance is 110mm and 220m respectively.
It must start after reading the document for 330 mm and 330 mm. Therefore, in the full color copy mode, the image memory 12 has three areas (as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) that can store gradation-processed image signals of 110 mm, 220 mm, and 330 mm, respectively. C memory, M memory, Y memory), and each
A toner image signal, an M toner image signal and a Y toner image signal are stored. That is, the image signal whose recording is delayed by the recording (transfer) delay due to the arrangement of the recording devices of each color of the laser printer 14 is stored in a delayed memory in the image memory 12, thereby compensating for the deviation in recording of each color due to the recording delay. Image memory 12 is therefore a data delay memory.

Referring again to FIG. Operation/display board 1
Full color copy selection key, single color (Bk, C, M
, Y) copy selection indicator key, binary recording selection key
, gradation recording selection key, composite selection key, area input key, composite output key, etc., various input keys for color recording and composite recording selection, copy number input key, and recording paper size selection. Various input keys for copying instructions such as key, magnification input key, start key, etc., status indicator light, warning light, character display for displaying the number of sheets, and two-dimensional liquid crystal display for various notifications and area input display. It is equipped with display means such as a display. Image processing modes that can be set are as follows.

A. Full color copy: Bk, C, M
, Y superimposition record, B. 3-color copy: C, M, Y overlay recording, C.
Two-color copy: Overlay recording of any two colors among Bk, C, M, and Y, D. Monochrome copy: Recording in any one color among Bk, C, M, Y, and E. Synthesis: Modulated image synthesis of two images of any one or more colors among Bk, C, M, and Y (overall/within specified area).

The above mode A is for obtaining a full color copy, and its processing mode is as described above. B,C
In the modes D and D, recording processing similar to that for full color copying is performed only for the selected recording color.

When the modulated image synthesis mode of E is set,
Roughly speaking, when full-surface processing is specified, the entire surface of the first and second documents is obtained by modulating the recording density signal of the second document with the recording density signal of the first document, as shown in FIG. A composite image of the composite density signals is generated. When an area of the second original is specified, the recording density signal of the second original is modulated by the recording density signal of the first original only within that area, and the recording density signal of the second original is not modulated in other areas. . In either case, the obtained composite density signal is processed by the gradation processing circuit 9 into a 3x3 pixel dither pattern section, and the composite density signal (9 pieces) addressed to the 3x3 pixels assigned to the pattern is divided into 3 x 3 pixel dither pattern sections. The density value of each pixel is compared with the threshold value of the dither pattern, and when the density value is above the threshold value, "1" is assigned to the pixel indicating recording, and when it is below the threshold value, "0" indicating non-recording is assigned to the pixel.
is assigned as an image signal (output), and the memory 12
Write. When this processing of the second image is completed, the image signal in the memory 12 is output to the printer 14. According to this process, when the images of the first original and the second original are as shown in FIG. 5, the composite image has a high density of the image of the second original in areas where the image of the first original is high, and In areas where the image of the first original has a low density, the image of the second original has a low density, and the composite image represents the image of the second original, and also includes watermarks and ghosts of the first image. Alternatively, it is expressed as a background image similar to blurring.

Referring again to FIG. In order to perform the above-mentioned synthesis processing, the gamma correction circuit 7 shown in FIG.
). A look-up table (memory) 701 of the gamma correction circuit 7 stores a plurality of gamma correction data (characteristic curves). One type is used when no compositing processing is performed, and its gamma correction characteristics are shown in FIG. 4(b). The horizontal axis is the input data (
The vertical axis shows the corrected output data (recording density signal after gamma correction). The lookup table 701 stores gamma correction data (gamma characteristic curve) associated with each density within the range from the lowest density to the highest density represented by the recording density signal. Several types of these gamma correction data are shown in FIG. 4(c). Referring to FIG. 4, when modulated image synthesis of E is specified, the recorded density signal of the first original read by the scanner 3 is written into the memory 12, and when the second original is read by the scanner 3, The recording density signal of the first document at the scanning position of the scanner 3 is read out from the memory 12 and given to the lookup table 701, which is then converted into gamma correction data (
Specify the characteristic curve). That is, the sub-scanning direction clock LSYN shown in FIG. 4(d) generated by the scanner 3
Counters 702 and 703 shown in FIG. 4(a) count C and main scanning direction clock CLK, respectively, and apply the count data as address data to memory 12 and lookup table 701. The recording density signal at the position on the first document corresponding to the current scanning position is read from the memory 12. Lookup table 701 stores gamma correction data (
A characteristic curve) is specified, and an output density signal corresponding to the recorded density signal of the second original is extracted from the specified gamma correction data (characteristic curve) and output. When the recorded density signal of the first original indicates a high density, the gamma correction data (
Characteristic curve: gamma correction data (characteristic curve) in which the output recording density signal (output density) is relatively high compared to the input recording density signal (input density) in c) of Fig. 4. It is specified. The output recording density signal corresponding to the recording density signal of the second original is specified from the gamma correction data (characteristic curve) specified in this way, and this is stored in the lookup table 70.
is output from. In this embodiment, the composite signal is written for one page in the memory 12 and then output to the printer 14, so the composite signal (OUTPUT DATA in a of FIG. 4) is processed by the gradation processing circuit 9 into area gradation representation. The data is converted into binary data and written into the memory 12.

Next, the image composition processing operation of the copying machine shown in FIG. 1 will be explained. The operator sets the above-mentioned "E. Modulation image composition" on the operation/display board 1, and specifies the desired color.
When the first original is set on the scanner 3 and the start key is pressed, the image of the first original is read by the scanner 3 in R, G, and B color separation, and the image density signals are Bk, C, and M. ,Y
Each color is converted into a recording density signal, and among the four sets of signals, the recording color designated by the operation/display board 1 and read by the controller 2 is written into the image memory 12 for one page. At this time, the controller 2 sets the processing function in the image processing circuit 4 as shown in FIG. 6A, and only the recording density signal of the designated recording color is written into the image memory 12. Next, when the operator sets the second original on the scanner 3 and presses the start key without setting the area, the image processing circuit 4
The inside is set to the processing function shown in FIG.
These image density signals are converted into recording density signals for each color of Bk, C, M, and Y, and among these four sets of signals, the recording density signal data of the designated recording color is applied to the gamma correction circuit 7. Meanwhile, the recording density signal data of the first original is read out from the memory 12 and applied to the gamma correction circuit 7. As a result, the gamma correction circuit 7 adjusts the gamma correction data (characteristic curve) specified by the recording density signal data of the first document.
An output recording density signal corresponding to the recording density signal data of the first original is generated, and this is converted by the gradation processing circuit 9 into binary data expressed in area gradation and stored in the memory. 12
written to. When the update writing of one page to the image memory 12 is completed, the data in the image memory 12 is given to the printer 14 along with recording color designation data, and the data in the image memory 12 is
The image indicated by the data is recorded.

Next, a mode will be described in which a region is specified and modulated image synthesis is performed only within the region. When reading the image of the first document, the image of the first document is read by the scanner 3 in R, G, and B color separations, and these image density signals are Bk, C, Each color of M and Y is converted into a recording density signal, and among these four sets of signals, the recording color specified on the operation/display board 1 and read by the controller 2 is written in the image memory 12 for one page. be included. At this time, the controller 2 sets the processing function in the image processing circuit 4 as shown in FIG. 7A, and only the recording density signal of the designated recording color is written into the image memory 12. When the operator inputs area information on the operation/display board 1 before reading the second original, the image processing circuit 4 is set to the processing function shown in FIG. 7(b), and blocks are generated. The circuit 10 generates a 1-bit signal (“1”: inside the area/“0”: outside the area) that has different states (levels) inside and outside the area as document scanning progresses.
In response to this signal, the gamma correction circuit 7 generates gamma correction data (characteristic color) specified by the recording density signal data of the first original. - generates an output recording density signal corresponding to the recording density signal data of the first original in (b), and converts this into binary data expressed by area gradation in the gradation processing circuit 9. and written into the memory 12. When the value is "0" outside the area, the gamma correction circuit 7 selects one gamma correction data (characteristic curve) that is unrelated to the recording density signal data of the first original, and selects one gamma correction data (characteristic curve) for the first original. An output recording density signal corresponding to the recording density signal data of
written to. When the update writing of one page to the image memory 12 is completed, the data in the image memory 12 is given to the printer 14 along with recording color designation data, and the data in the image memory 12 is
The image indicated by the data is recorded. In this case, modulated image synthesis processing is performed only within the designated area, and the second
It becomes the original image itself.

FIG. 8(a) shows the configuration of a gamma correction circuit 70 used in a second embodiment of the present invention. In the above embodiment, the image information of the first document is stored in the memory 1 for modulated image synthesis.
In this second embodiment, the gamma correction circuit 70 includes a memory 704 that stores image information of the first original for modulated image synthesis. The counters 702 and 703 are capable of setting count values and repeating the counting operation of the set count values.

FIG. 9(a) shows the function settings of the image processing circuit 4 when reading the image of the first original when modulated image synthesis is specified in this second embodiment. FIG. 9(b) shows the function settings when reading an image. When reading an image of the first original, if no area of the first original is specified, the recorded density signal data of the first original is written to the memory 704 from the scanning start edge of the first original for the memory capacity of the memory 704. It will be done. When an area is specified, the recording density signal data of the specified area of the first original is written into the memory 704. When reading an image of the second document, if there is no area specified for the second document, the entire screen of the second document is scanned, if there is an area specified for the second document, the specified area is scanned, and the specified area of the first document is scanned. (If no area is specified, the memory 704
The recording density signal data corresponding to the capacity of the memory 704 is repeatedly read out and provided to the lookup table 701. That is, the counters 702 and 703 repeatedly display the coordinates (X, Y
) is loaded and read out repeatedly from 0 to X in the main scanning direction and from 0 to Y in the sub-scanning direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the composite image is created in the main scanning direction
, recording density signal data of a specified area in the sub-scanning direction Y (or the capacity of the memory 704 if no area is specified).
An iteratively synthesized image is obtained by repeatedly using the data in the main scanning direction x and the sub-scanning direction y of the second original.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image of the second read original is reproduced in such a manner that the image of the first read original is overshadowed and includes a background image such as a ghost or a blurred image. , a unique image composition is obtained. In the case of color-separated image reading, image composition can be performed on a color-by-color basis, so that image composition with a variety of base image expressions can be realized.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a block diagram showing an outline of the configuration of the full-color copying machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG.

3 is a block diagram showing memory group divisions for data delay during full color copying of the image memory 12 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG.

4 is a diagram showing the configuration of the gamma correction circuit 7 of the full-color copying machine shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4(a) is a block diagram showing the configuration of the gamma correction circuit 7, c) is a graph showing the characteristics of the data stored in the lookup table 701 shown in (a), and (d)
is a time chart showing count pulses given to counters 702 and 703 shown in (a).

5 is a plan view illustrating how the full-color copying machine shown in FIG. 1 performs compositing processing of two images; FIG.

6 is a block diagram showing the image information processing function of the image processing circuit 4 of the full-color copying machine shown in FIG. 1 when performing modulated image synthesis processing for the entire screen area; FIG.
(b) shows the functions when processing the image information of the original document; (b) shows the functions when processing the image information of the second original document.

7 is a block diagram showing the image information processing function of the image processing circuit 4 of the full-color copying machine shown in FIG. 1 when performing modulated image synthesis processing of a designated area, and (a) of FIG. (b) shows the functions when processing the image information of the second document.

FIG. 8(a) is a block diagram showing the configuration of a gamma correction circuit 70 according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8(b)
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an outline of a composite image obtained in this example.

9 is a block diagram showing the image information processing function of the image processing circuit 4 when modulating images are synthesized using the gamma correction circuit 70 shown in FIG. 8, and (a) of FIG. 9 is an image of the first original. (b) shows the functions when processing information, and (b) shows the functions when processing image information of the second original.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: Operation/display board
2: Controller 3: Scanner
4: Image processing circuit 5: Gamma correction circuit
6: Color correction 7: Gamma correction circuit
9: Gradation processing circuit 10: Block generation circuit
12: Image memory 13: Output buffer amplifier 1
4: Full color laser printer

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A scanner that optically scans a document to generate a read image signal representing image density, an image signal processing means that processes the read image signal into an image signal for image output, and the read image signal and image output. a memory means for storing image information which is one of the image signals for the first reading, a writing means for writing the image information of the first read original into the memory means, and a writing means for writing the image information of the second read original into the memory means. An image synthesizing device comprising a density correction means for correcting the density to a density corresponding to the density of image information. 2. A scanner that optically scans a document to generate a read image signal representing image density of two or more colors, an image signal processing means that processes the read image signal into an image signal for image output, and the read image. a memory means for storing image information which is one of a signal and an image signal for image output; a writing means for writing the image information of one or more colors of a first read original into the memory means; An image synthesizing device comprising a density correction means for correcting the image information of one or more colors to a density corresponding to the density of the image information in the memory means.