JPH04328688A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an image processor capable of modifying and outputting the special area and non-special area of an image with simple constitution. CONSTITUTION:Respective red, green and blue component data read from a scanner 13 are respectively stored in image storing means 15, 16 and 17. When from a keyboard and mouse 14, the special area is designated, a CPU 10 transfers and replaces the green component data of an area except a special area stored in an image storing means 16 to the same area of image storing means 15 and 17 by a transferring means 11. A display means 18 reads respective component data from the image storing means 15, 16 and 17 and displays them at a CRT 9. The red, blue and green data values are all equal and the area except the special area is displayed in black and white.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus such as an electronic filing apparatus that processes images, and more particularly to a technique for modifying and outputting a specific area of an image.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional techniques related to a technique of modifying and outputting a specific area of an image in an image processing apparatus are disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-57382 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-1
A technique described in Japanese Patent No. 58878 is known.

[0003] These techniques will be explained below.

First, the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-57382 will be explained with reference to FIG.

According to this technique, in correspondence with a specific area of image data stored in the image memory 61, a flag indicating the specific area is stored in the overlay memory 62.

Then, the image data stored in the image memory 61 is selected by the selection means 63 according to the output signal of the overlay memory 62, and the image data outside the specific area is selected by the first lookup table. - Bull (hereinafter referred to as LUT) 6
4, and the image data within the specific area is input to the second LUT 65.
Enter. Then, the output data of the two LUTs are combined and displayed on the CRT 67.

Here, the first LUT 64 stores color data for a normal image, and the second LUT 65 stores color data for masking the image semi-transparently.

[0008] Therefore, on the display screen, the specific area is displayed with a semi-transparent mask.

Next, the technique described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2-158878 will be explained using FIG. 7.

According to this technique, first, the editing memory 72
Based on this information, the select means 73 switches between input video data and predetermined density data set by the CPU 71 and outputs the selected data.

That is, in a specific area set in the editing memory 72, the selection means 73 selects and outputs video data, and in other areas, the selection means 73 outputs predetermined density data.

As a result, a certain density is output only outside the specific area.

[0013]

[Problem to be solved by the invention] The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 64-57
According to the technique described in Japanese Patent No. 382, there was a problem in that it was necessary to provide a dedicated LUT for modifying a specific area.

[0014] Furthermore, according to this technique, there is a problem in that it is not possible to apply different modifications to each of a plurality of specific areas and output them in a manner that allows them to be individually identified.

Furthermore, according to the technique described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-158878, the image outside the specific area is expressed with a certain specific density and the image outside the specific area is made invisible.
There has been a problem in that the operator is unable to recognize areas outside the specific area, resulting in a heavy burden on editing such as image correction.

[0016] Accordingly, a first object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device that can modify and output a specific area of an image or an area outside the specific area without having a special LUT or the like. shall be.

A second object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can apply different modifications to a plurality of specific areas of an image and output them in a manner that allows them to be individually identified.

[0018]

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the first object, the present invention provides an image memory that stores an image separately into red component data, green component data, and blue component data; replacing means for replacing red component data and blue component data stored in an image memory corresponding to an area outside the area specified in the image memory with green component data stored corresponding to the same area; Provided is an image processing device characterized by having an output device that reads each component data of an image from a memory and outputs it as an image.

The present invention also provides an image memory for storing image data, a specific area storage means for storing information about a specified area within an image, and an output device for outputting an image according to the given image data. , reads the image data from the specified area image memory, refers to the specific area storage means, converts the values of the image data of the area outside the specified area, and converts the values of the image data of the specified area. An image processing apparatus is provided, comprising: image data value conversion means for providing the image data to the output device without converting the value.

[0020] In order to achieve the second object, the present invention also provides an image memory that stores an image, and a memory that stores images corresponding to outer frame areas of a plurality of areas specified within the image. replacing means for replacing the image data corresponding to each of the outer frame areas with image data showing a different color, and an output device for reading out the image data from the image memory and outputting it as an image. An image processing device is provided.

[0021] Additionally, the present invention provides an image processing device that opens a plurality of windows and further displays information displayed in the nth (n is an integer) window.
(m is an integer) when displaying in the nth window.
An image decoration display method is also provided in which an area other than the area displaying the information displayed in the m-th window in the m-th window is displayed in a color or brightness different from that of the original image. This image modification display method allows the operator of the image processing device to recognize the relevance of information displayed in different windows.

[0022]

[Operation] According to the image processing device according to the present invention, when a specific area is specified in an image, the replacement means stores red component data stored in the image memory corresponding to the area outside the specified area. and blue component data are replaced with green component data stored corresponding to the same area. Then, the output device reads each component data after image replacement from the image memory and outputs it as an image.

As a result, the designated area has the same red, green, and blue component values, so it is displayed in black and white. Furthermore, in a general image, the intensity distribution of the green component is similar to the brightness distribution of the image, so it is possible to perform an output close to black and white output based on the original brightness distribution of the image.

Further, according to the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, when a specific area is specified within the image, the image data value conversion means reads out the image data of the specified area from the image memory, and Refers to the specific area storage means and converts the image data in the area outside the specified area by compressing the value, for example, and does not convert the value for the image data in the specified area. to the output device. The output device outputs an image according to the given image data.

As a result, the designated area will be displayed in a different tone from the original image. If the value is compressed, areas other than the specified area will be output dark.

Further, according to the image processing device according to the present invention, when a plurality of specific areas are specified in the image, the replacement means corresponds to the outer frame areas of the plurality of areas specified in the image. The image data stored in the image memory is replaced with image data showing different colors for each of the image data corresponding to each of the outer frame areas. The output device reads image data from the image memory and outputs it as an image.

[0027] Therefore, each specified area is outputted with an outer frame of a different color.

[0028]

Embodiments Below, embodiments of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

First, a first embodiment of an image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be explained.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment.

In the figure, a scanner 13 separates and reads a color image into red, green, and blue color components, and performs dither processing on each color component. Image storage means 15, 16, 1
7 stores the color image read by the scanner 13 and subjected to dither processing for each color component of red, green, and blue.

The keyboard/mouse 14 acquires the coordinates of a specific area from the coordinate values input from the keyboard or from the position of the mouse cursor at the time of the coordinate acquisition instruction.

The transfer means 11 receives a transfer command and the coordinates of the area to be transferred from the CPU 10, and performs a transfer operation to the image storage means 15, 16, and 17 storing color image data.

The display means 18 includes the image storage means 15 and 16.
, 17 is read out and displayed on the CRT 19. The area determination means 12 stores the image storage means 15 in response to an instruction from the CPU 10 to execute area determination processing.
, 16 and 17 are separated into character areas and image areas in the color images.

The operation of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment will be explained below.

Color image data read by the scanner 13 is stored in image storage means 15, 16, and 17 for each color component.

Thereafter, the operator selects a method for specifying the specific area, and specifies the coordinates of the specific area by operating the keyboard or mouse. The keyboard/mouse 14 obtains the specified coordinates.

The acquired coordinates are sent by the CPU 10 to the transfer means 11 together with a transfer command.

The transfer means 11 transfers the image data outside the specific area in the image storage means 16 storing the green data to the other image storage means 15 and 17 based on the received coordinates. Forward.

As a result, when the display means 18 reads and displays the data stored in the image storage means 15, 16, and 17, the same color image as the original image is displayed only in a specific area, and the intensity of the green component is changed outside the specific area. A monochrome image is displayed in black and white depending on the

The display means reads each red, green, and blue image data stored in the image storage means and displays it on the CRT. Outside the specific area on the display screen, red, blue, and green are displayed at the same position due to the transferred green data, so a monochrome image is displayed, and within the specific area, a color image is displayed.

That is, the intensity distribution of the green component of an image is characterized by being closer to the luminance distribution of a color image than the red and blue components. Therefore, by utilizing this characteristic and making the red and blue data of the image outside the specific area equal to the green data, it is possible to perform a monochrome display close to the monochrome image of the input image.

Furthermore, instead of obtaining the coordinates of a specific area by operating a keyboard or mouse, either the character area or the image area determined by the area determining means 12 may be processed as the specific area. good. In this case, the operator
By simply specifying whether a text area or an image area is to be designated as a specific area, only the specific area can be displayed in color, and outside the specific area, a monochrome image can be displayed.

Note that the division of the character area and the image area by the area determining means 12 can be determined from, for example, a power spectrum with respect to spatial frequency.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an image displayed as a result of the above operations.

As shown in FIG. 4, when the operator specifies an image near the peak of a mountain as the specific area 41, the image in the specific area 41 including the mountain peak is displayed as the original image, and other areas outside the specific area are displayed as original images. 42 images are displayed in monochrome. Therefore, the outline of the mountain can be easily recognized, and the specific area 41 and the outside of the specific area 42 can also be easily distinguished.

According to the first embodiment, by transferring the green data outside the specific area by the transfer means 11, the area outside the specific area of the image can be modified and output. Further, as the single-phase means 11, a transfer function conventionally provided in the CPU 10 can be used. Further, once the transfer is completed, the coordinate information of the specific area is no longer needed, so there is no need for a memory to hold it.

Therefore, unlike the image processing apparatus according to the prior art, a specific area of an image can be modified and output without having dedicated hardware such as an LUT, an overlay memory, or an editing memory. It is possible to provide an image processing device that can perform

Next, a second embodiment of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment includes density restoration means 28, instead of the transfer means 11 of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment (see FIG. 1).
It is provided with a brightness reduction means 29 and a brightness reduction area storage means 27.

The brightness reduction area storage means 27 holds a brightness reduction flag in the area where the brightness is to be reduced corresponding to the area outside the specific area. The brightness reduction area storage means 27 outputs a brightness reduction signal, which will be described later, in accordance with this flag.

The density restoration means 28 includes the image storage means 15,
The color image data stored in 16 and 17 is subjected to density restoration processing and converted into multivalued image data of 6 bits each for red, green, and blue.

The brightness reduction means 29 receives the multivalued image data and the brightness reduction signal from the brightness reduction area storage means 27. The brightness reduction signal becomes valid in synchronization with the input of multivalued image data of an area outside the specific area.

If the brightness reduction signal is valid, the brightness reduction means 29 outputs the brightness level by shifting the multi-level image data to the lower order by one bit, and if the brightness reduction signal is invalid. output as is.

The operation of the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment will be explained below.

Similar to the first embodiment described above, the scanner 13
The color image read in is dithered for each red, green, and blue color component and stored in image storage means 15, 16, and 17. Next, the operator specifies a specific area using the keyboard/mouse 14. Or area determination means 12
Specifies that either the character area or the image area divided by is to be the specific area.

The coordinates of the specific area are passed to the CPU 10. The CPU 10 writes a brightness reduction flag in the brightness reduction area storage means 27 corresponding to the area other than the closed area indicated by the coordinates. On the other hand, image data of 1 bit each for red, green, and blue is sequentially read out from the image storage means 15, 16, and 17, and the multivalued image data of 6 bits each for red, green, and blue is read out by the density restoration means 28.
converted to data. Note that in this second embodiment, the CRT
9 performs multi-level gradation display according to 6-bit image data for each color component.

The converted multivalued image data is transferred to the brightness reduction means 29 from the brightness reduction area storage means 27.
According to the brightness reduction signal outputted in synchronization with the brightness reduction signal, if the brightness reduction signal is invalid, no brightness reduction processing is performed, and if the brightness reduction signal is valid, the value of the multivalued image data is reduced to about 1/2. That is, according to the flag stored in the basic deterioration area storage means 27, the value of the multi-value image data in the specific area is not converted, but the value of the multi-value image data outside the specific area is reduced to 1/2.

[0060] The multivalued image data that has been subjected to the luminance reduction process is
It is displayed on the CRT 19 by the display means 18.

As a result, images within a specific area within the display image are displayed at a prescribed brightness level, and images outside the specific area are displayed at a brightness level that is approximately 1/2 that of images within the specific area. be done.

FIG. 4 shows a display example according to the second embodiment.

According to the second embodiment, within the specific area 41
is displayed as the original image, and the image outside the specific area 42 is displayed with reduced brightness. Therefore, the specific area 41
can be easily identified, and the outline of the image can be recognized even outside the specific area 42.

Since the brightness reduction means 29 can be implemented as a circuit using a simple shifter, it is possible to realize a display that modifies areas outside the specific area with a simpler configuration than an image processing device according to the conventional technology that has a dedicated LUT or the like. be able to.

Next, a third embodiment of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment.

As shown in the figure, the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment adds a specific area to the configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment described above by using a brightness reduction means, and also adds color information/coordinate management means to the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment. 31. The color information/coordinate management means 31 stores the coordinates of N (N is an integer) specific areas;
It manages arbitrary color data assigned to each specific area.

Furthermore, in the third embodiment, the transfer means 32 has a function of transferring the color data managed by the color information/coordinate management means 31 to the image storage means 15, 16, 17.

The operation of the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment will be explained below.

Similar to the first embodiment described above, the scanner 13
The color image read in is dithered for each red, green, and blue color component and stored in image storage means 15, 16, and 17.

Next, the operator selects a specific area with the keyboard.
Specify using the keypad/mouse 14. Or area determination means 1
Specify that either the character area or the image area divided in step 2 is to be the specific area.

In the third embodiment, since the color information/coordinate management means 31 manages N (N is an integer) specific area specific areas, it is possible to specify a plurality of specific areas.

Therefore, it is possible to set specific areas using both the keyboard/mouse 14 and the area determining means 12 in a mixed manner.

Next, the transfer means 32 refers to the color information and coordinates of the color information/coordinate management means 31, and transfers the image to the image storage means 15.
, 16, 17, a frame of a different color is attached to each specific area.

For example, when creating a red frame, frame data is written in the image storage means 15 that stores red data, and the image storage means 15 stores green and blue data. 1
6 and 17, black data is written in the form of a frame. When creating a blue frame, frame data is written in the image storage means 17 that stores blue data, and the image storage means 15 and 16 stores red and green data. There is a black mark in the shape of a frame.
Write the data.

Furthermore, for areas that are not included in any specific area, data in the image storage means 16 for storing green data is transferred to the image storage means 15 and 17, as in the first embodiment. do. In the display means 18, image storage means 15, 16, 1
7, the image data is read out and displayed on the CRT 19.

FIG. 5 shows a display example of the image processing apparatus according to the third embodiment.

In FIG. 5, the specific area 51 is
The frame is designated by the mouse 14, and red color information is added to the frame.

At the same time, the specific region 52 is determined by the region determining means 12 for characters/images, the character region is extracted, and blue color information is added to the frame.

Then, outside the specific area 53, the color image is converted into a monochrome image, as in the first embodiment. As a result, the two specific areas 51 and 52 and the outside specific area 53
The image is identified by whether it is color or monochrome, and the two specific areas are identified by the color of the frame of the specific area.

According to the third embodiment, it is possible to apply different modifications to a plurality of specific areas of an image and display them in a manner that allows them to be individually identified.

In the above embodiments, the display on a CRT has been explained as an example of image output, but the present invention can also be applied to output to a printing device, for example.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to output the specific area and the outside of the specific area so that it can be easily identified, and for a plurality of specific areas, frames of different colors can be attached to the specific areas. This allows output to be individually identifiable. Further, the specific area designated by the operator can be displayed as is in the input original image, making editing such as correction easier.

[0084]

As explained above, according to this embodiment, an image processing device capable of modifying and outputting a specific area or a non-specific area of an image without having a special LUT or the like is provided. can be provided.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide an image processing apparatus that can apply different modifications to a plurality of specific areas of an image and output them in a manner that allows them to be individually identified.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image processing apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an image processing device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of displaying images in the image processing apparatus according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of displaying an image in an image processing apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a first image processing device according to the prior art.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a second image processing device according to the prior art.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 CPU11
Transfer means 12
Area determination means 13
Scanner 14 Keyboard/mouse 15, 16, 17 Image storage means 18 Display means 19
CRT27
Brightness reduction area storage means 28
Concentration restoration means 29
Brightness reduction means 31
Color information/coordinate management means 32
Transfer means 41 Specific area 42 Outside specific area 51, 5
2 Specific area

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image memory that stores an image separately into each component data of red component data, green component data, and blue component data; and an image memory that stores data corresponding to an area outside a specified area within the image. replacement means for replacing red component data and blue component data stored in the same area with green component data stored corresponding to the same area; and an output device that reads each component data of the image from the image memory and outputs it as an image. An image processing device comprising: 2. An image memory that stores image data, specific area storage means that stores information about a specified area within the image, an output device that outputs an image according to the given image data, and an output device that outputs an image according to the given image data. Reads image data from the area image memory, refers to the specific area storage means, converts values for image data in an area outside the specified area, and converts values for image data in the specified area. an image processing apparatus comprising: image data value converting means for providing the output device to the output device; 3. An image memory for storing an image, and an image data stored in the image memory corresponding to outer frame areas of a plurality of areas designated in the image, corresponding to each of the outer frame areas. What is claimed is: 1. An image processing device comprising: a replacement means for replacing each piece of image data with image data representing a different color; and an output device for reading out the image data from an image memory and outputting it as an image. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the replacing means further comprises image data stored in the image memory corresponding to outer frame areas of a plurality of areas designated within the image. An image processing apparatus characterized in that each of the image data corresponding to each of the outer frame areas is replaced with image data indicating a different color. 5. An image memory for storing an image; and area determining means for determining a character area and an image area within the image.
replacement means for replacing image data stored in an image memory corresponding to an outer frame region of the region determined by the region determining means with image data indicating a color according to the region type determined by the region determining means; An image processing device comprising: an output device that reads image data from an image memory and outputs it as an image. 6. A method for modifying and displaying an image, comprising converting an area outside a specified area within the image into a color tone different from that of the original image and displaying the area. 7. A method for displaying an image in a modified manner, characterized in that outer frame areas of a plurality of areas specified within the image are displayed in different colors. 8. In an image processing device, when a plurality of windows are opened and the information displayed in the nth (n is an integer) window is further displayed in the mth (m is an integer) window. In this method, an area other than the area displaying the information displayed in the m-th window in the n-th window is displayed in a color or brightness different from that of the original image. .