JPH04357571A - Method and device for processing image - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To efficiently execute the processing for collecting plural rectangular images. CONSTITUTION:When new rectangular images 710, 720 are inputted in addition to the smallest circumscribed rectangle 600 containing all rectangular images 610, 620 and 630 inputted already, the smallest circumscribed rectangle 600 is changed so as to be circumscribed thereto, so that the new rectangular images 710, 720 are contained in the smallest circumscribed rectangle 700. In such a state, in the case a batch processing of the rectangular images is instructed, all the rectangular images are processed by processing the images 610, 620, 630 and 720 in the smallest circumscribed rectangle. Accordingly, by setting the smallest circumscribed rectangle, a batch processing of plural rectangular images can be executed without containing so many unnecessary areas.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a technique for manipulating images in an image processing apparatus.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art In an image processing apparatus, for example, when an image is taken in from a scanner, the image is sometimes created in the form of a rectangle. An image surrounded by a rectangle like this is called a rectangular image.

Conventionally, in an image processing device, when there are a plurality of such rectangular images in an image area, operations such as display, editing, and printing of these rectangular images are performed by individually instructing the plurality of rectangular images. Alternatively, the entire image area including a plurality of rectangular images is processed at once.

[0004] As a technique for manipulating rectangular images, there is a technique described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-300381, which reads an image within a specified rectangle on a display screen and performs an enlargement process on the read rectangular image. It has been known.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] According to such a conventional image processing device, when a plurality of rectangular images are to be manipulated at once, the plurality of rectangular images must be individually instructed and processed. There was a problem that the operation was complicated.

Another problem is that if the entire image area is processed at once, parts other than the rectangular image that do not need to be processed will also be processed, resulting in inefficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an information processing apparatus that can perform processing as efficiently as possible with simple operations even when a plurality of images are manipulated at once.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] To achieve the above object, the present invention calculates the minimum rectangular area that includes all of the rectangular images existing within a certain area, and A first image processing method is provided, characterized in that by processing only the images, all the rectangular images within the certain area are collectively processed.

[0009] In the first image processing method, the minimum rectangular area that includes all of the rectangular images existing within the certain area is defined as the minimum rectangular area that includes all of the rectangular images that exist within the certain area. Of the horizontal and vertical coordinates, the point whose horizontal and vertical coordinates are the maximum horizontal and vertical coordinates, respectively, and the point whose horizontal and vertical coordinates are the minimum horizontal and vertical coordinates, respectively. It is preferable that it is a rectangular region with vertices on a diagonal line.

[0010] Furthermore, the present invention provides the following to achieve the above object:
By finding the smallest circular area that includes all of the circular images existing within a certain area and processing only the images within the calculated circular area, a batch of circular images within the certain area can be created. The second method is characterized in that it performs processing according to
The present invention provides an image processing method.

[0011] In this second image processing method, the smallest circular area including all the circular images existing within the certain area is determined by converting any circular image into the smallest circular area. After setting the area as a shape area, the center point of the set minimum circular shape and the center point of the minimum circular shape are sequentially calculated until all circular images that are not included in the set minimum circular shape area are completed. A point on the circumference of the smallest circular shape passing through the center point of the image of another circular shape not included in the area, and a point on the circumference of the other circular shape not included in the area of the smallest circular shape. It is desirable that the region be a circular shape obtained by setting a circular shape whose diameter is a line segment having both ends at the above point as the minimum circular shape.

[0012] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
By finding the smallest rectangular area that includes all of the circular images existing within a certain area and processing only the images within the obtained rectangular area, a batch of circular images within the certain area is obtained. The third method is characterized in that
The present invention provides an image processing method.

Furthermore, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention determines a rectangular image to be processed from among a plurality of rectangular images within a certain area based on specified coordinates, and processes the image. An image processing method in which specified coordinates match both the vertex coordinates of the smallest rectangular shape that includes all rectangular images existing in a certain area and the vertex coordinates of any rectangular image. Or if they are nearby,
Depending on the number of times the coordinates are specified consecutively, only the rectangular images that match or are close to the specified coordinates are processed, or only the rectangular images that are within the smallest rectangular area that includes all of the rectangular images that exist within a certain area are processed. A fourth image processing method is provided, which is characterized in that all images are processed.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention also provides image input means for inputting a rectangular image onto an editing area, image storage means for storing an image on the editing area, and image storage means. a display means for displaying the image on the editing area stored in the display means; a designation receiving means for accepting a designation of an image to be processed on the editing area displayed on the display means; and all of the rectangular images in the editing area. a calculation means for calculating a minimum rectangular area including the image on the editing area; a minimum rectangular area storage means for storing the minimum rectangular area calculated by the calculation means; a first image processing device comprising: an image processing means for processing an image within a minimum rectangular area stored in the minimum rectangular area storage means when batch processing is accepted; provide.

Similarly, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides image input means for inputting a circular image onto an editing area, image storage means for storing an image on the editing area, and image storage means for storing an image on the editing area. display means for displaying the image on the editing area stored in the means; designation receiving means for accepting the designation of the image to be processed on the editing area displayed on the display means; a calculation means for calculating a minimum circular shape area that includes all of the areas; a minimum circular shape area storage means for storing the minimum circular shape area calculated by the calculation means; and the designation receiving means; a second image processing device, comprising: an image processing device that processes images within the smallest circular region stored in the minimum circular region storage device when batch processing of images is accepted; I will provide a.

Furthermore, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides image input means for inputting a circular image onto the editing area, image storage means for storing the image on the editing area, and image storage means. a display means for displaying the image on the editing area stored in the display means; a designation receiving means for accepting a designation of an image to be processed on the editing area displayed on the display means; and all of the circular-shaped images in the editing area. a calculation means for calculating a minimum rectangular area including the image on the editing area; a minimum rectangular area storage means for storing the minimum rectangular area calculated by the calculation means; a third image processing device comprising: an image processing means for processing an image within the minimum rectangular area stored in the minimum rectangular area storage means when batch processing is accepted; provide.

[0017] Furthermore, in order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the following:
An image input means for inputting a rectangular image onto the editing area, an image storage means for storing the image on the editing area, a display means for displaying the image on the editing area stored in the image storage means, and a display means. designation accepting means for accepting the designation of an image to be processed by specifying coordinates on the editing area displayed on the editing area; and calculating means for calculating a minimum rectangular area that includes all of the rectangular images within the editing area. , a minimum rectangular shape area storage means for storing the minimum rectangular shape area determined by the calculation means, and the designation receiving means,
If the accepted coordinates match or are close to both the vertex coordinates of the minimum rectangular shape and the vertex coordinates of any of the rectangular images, the coordinates are designated according to the number of times the coordinates are consecutively designated. an image processing means that processes only the rectangular images that match or are close to the coordinates of the specified area, or processes all images within a minimum rectangular area that includes all rectangular images that exist within a certain area; A fourth image processing device is provided.

Furthermore, the present invention calculates the minimum area of a predetermined geometric shape that includes all images of arbitrary geometric shapes existing within a certain area, and processes only the images within the area of the determined geometric shape. A fifth image processing method is also provided, characterized in that, by doing so, images within the certain area are collectively processed.

[0019]

[Operation] According to the image processing method of the present invention, when performing batch processing of images within a certain area, circular or rectangular images including all images of geometric shapes such as rectangles and circles existing within the certain area The minimum area of the geometric shape is determined, and only the images within the area of the determined geometric shape are processed.

[0020] Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously process images of a plurality of geometric shapes while eliminating processing of unnecessary areas as much as possible. Since the areas of images of a plurality of geometric shapes are integrated by setting the geometric shapes, calculation of the area is easy and can be realized by simple processing.

Further, according to the image processing method of the present invention, by simply specifying coordinates in succession, only the rectangular images that match or are close to the specified coordinates can be processed, and rectangular images existing within a certain area can be processed. It is possible to switch between processing all images within the smallest rectangular area that includes all of the images. Therefore, the user can instruct batch processing of images with simple operations.

Further, according to the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, when the designation receiving means accepts batch processing of images on the editing area, the image processing means receives the image input data stored in the storage means by the calculation means. Only images within a predetermined geometric minimum area such as a rectangle or circle that includes all images of a geometric shape such as a rectangle or circle inputted onto the editing area by the means are processed. Therefore, it is possible to simultaneously process all images of geometric shapes such as rectangles and circles input into the editing area from the image input means, and to eliminate processing of unnecessary areas where no input image exists. can.

Further, according to the image processing apparatus according to the present invention, the image processing means selects individual coordinates that match or are close to the designated coordinates, depending on the number of consecutive coordinate designations accepted by the designation receiving means. Processing is performed only on geometric images and on all images within the minimum geometric area that includes all images of the geometry. Therefore, for example, the user can perform batch processing of images on the editing area simply by specifying coordinates in succession.

[0024]

Embodiment A first embodiment of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below.

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

This image processing apparatus includes a CPU 100, a rectangular image memory 101, a scanner 102, a CRT 103, and an F
DD (floppy disk drive) 104, mouse 10
5. Consists of a minimum circumscribed rectangle memory 106.

The CPU 100 includes a rectangular image memory 101, a scanner 102, a CRT 103, and
FDD104, mouse 105, minimum circumscribed rectangle memory 1
Controls 06.

Further, the CPU 100 sends the image input from the scanner 102 to the rectangular image memory 101. Furthermore, as will be described in detail later, the vertex coordinates of the rectangular image are extracted, and the vertex coordinates of the minimum circumscribed rectangle are calculated.

The calculated vertex coordinates of the minimum circumscribed rectangle are sent to the minimum circumscribed rectangle memory 106. Furthermore, one rectangular image data is created by surrounding the plurality of rectangular image data in the rectangular image memory 101 with a minimum circumscribed rectangle, and is sent to the minimum circumscribed rectangle memory 106.

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

Now, a rectangular image 2 is obtained from the scanner 102.
It is assumed that 00 is input. FIG. 2 shows a rectangular image, and the rectangular image 200 includes each vertex A and B of the rectangle.
is input with coordinate information. When a rectangular image is input, the image processing device according to the first embodiment calculates the minimum circumscribed rectangle of all the rectangular images that have already been input, but at this point, the vertex coordinates of the minimum circumscribed rectangle of the rectangular image are Equal to the vertex coordinates of the input rectangular image.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, it is assumed that a new rectangular image 300 is input.

In this case, the CPU 100 obtains a new minimum circumscribed rectangle using the procedure shown in FIG.

That is, when a rectangular image is input to the image area (4
00), extract the coordinates of each vertex of the rectangular image (4
01), and is compared with the coordinates of each vertex of the minimum circumscribed rectangle stored in the minimum circumscribed rectangle memory 106 before inputting the new rectangular image (402). If the rectangular image input here is outside the minimum circumscribed rectangle, the minimum circumscribed rectangle memory 10
The vertex coordinates of the minimum circumscribed rectangle stored in 6 are changed (403).

If another rectangular image is input (404), the above operation is repeated.

Next, a comparison process of the vertex coordinates of the minimum circumscribed rectangle (402), a process of changing the vertex coordinates of the minimum circumscribed rectangle (402), and a process of changing the vertex coordinates of the minimum circumscribed rectangle (402).
403) is shown in detail in FIG.

Now, let the x coordinate of the vertex C of the newly input rectangular image 300 shown in FIG. 3 be xs, the y coordinate be ys,
Let the x coordinate of D be xe and the y coordinate be ye.

Further, let the x coordinate of the vertex A of the minimum circumscribed rectangle 200 before inputting the new rectangular image be Xs, and the y coordinate be Ys,
An explanation will be given assuming that the x coordinate of vertex A is Xe and the y coordinate is Ye. Also, the x-coordinate becomes larger towards the right than the left of the image area,
It is assumed that the y-coordinate is larger in the downward direction than in the upward direction.

First, the x-coordinate Xs of the vertex A of the minimum circumscribed rectangle 200 is compared with the x-coordinate xs of the vertex C of the rectangular image 300 (501). At this time, x of the vertex C of the rectangular image 300
If the coordinate xs is smaller than the x-coordinate Xs of the vertex of the minimum circumscribed rectangle A, the x-coordinate xs of the vertex C of the rectangular image 300 is assigned to the x-coordinate Xs of the vertex A of the minimum circumscribed rectangle 300 (50
9).

Next, the y-coordinate Ys of the vertex A of the minimum circumscribed rectangle 200 is compared with the y-coordinate ys of the vertex C of the rectangular image 300 (502). At this time, y of the vertex C of the rectangular image 300
If the coordinate ys is smaller than the y-coordinate Ys of the vertex A of the minimum circumscribed rectangle 20, then the y-coordinate Ys of the vertex of the minimum circumscribed rectangle 200
Assign the y-coordinate ys of the vertex of the rectangular image 300 to (50
8).

Next, the x coordinate x of the vertex D of the rectangular image 300
It is determined whether e is larger than the x-coordinate Xe of the vertex B of the minimum circumscribed rectangle 200 (503), and if it is, the x-coordinate Xe of the vertex B of the minimum circumscribed rectangle 200 is set to the
The x coordinate xe of is substituted (507).

Next, the y-coordinate Ye of the vertex B of the minimum circumscribed rectangle 200 is compared with the y-coordinate ye of the vertex D of the rectangular image 300 (504). At this time, y of the vertex D of the rectangular image 300
If the coordinate ye is larger than the y coordinate Ye of the vertex B of the minimum circumscribed rectangle 200, the y coordinate ye of the vertex D of the rectangular image 300 is substituted for the y coordinate Ye of the vertex B of the minimum circumscribed rectangle 200 (506).

Now, through the above processing, the minimum rectangular image is changed as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in accordance with the manner in which a new rectangular image is input.

FIG. 6 shows a case where a rectangular image is added within the minimum circumscribed rectangle.

FIG. 6(a) shows a rectangular image 61 on the image area.
0, 620, 630 and their minimum circumscribed rectangle 600.

FIG. 6(b) is a diagram in which a rectangular image 640 is added to the image area of FIG. 6(a). Rectangle image 6
40 is within the minimum circumscribed rectangle 600, the vertex coordinates of the minimum circumscribed rectangle 600 do not change.

FIG. 7 is a diagram in which a rectangular image is added at a position outside the minimum circumscribed rectangle or beyond the area of the minimum circumscribed rectangle.

FIG. 7(a) is a diagram in which rectangular images 710 and 720 are added to the image area of FIG. 6(a). Rectangle image 7
10, 720 is located outside the minimum circumscribed rectangle 600. In FIG. 7B, since the added rectangular images 710 and 720 are located outside the minimum circumscribed rectangle 600, the vertex coordinates of the minimum circumscribed rectangle 300 are changed and a new minimum circumscribed rectangle 70 is created.
0 is created.

Now, as described above, the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment performs image editing processing using the created minimum circumscribed rectangle.

[0050] Editing processing includes processing for collectively editing multiple rectangular images surrounded by a minimum circumscribed rectangle (hereinafter referred to as batch processing), and processing for editing only specified rectangular images within the minimum circumscribed rectangle. Two types of processing (hereinafter referred to as designated processing) are provided.

[0051] Here, the procedure for specifying images to be edited will be explained when performing this batch processing and when performing specification processing.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a procedure for specifying an image to be edited when performing editing processing.

FIG. 8(a) shows a rectangular image 81 on the image area.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a case where batch processing is performed on 0, 820, and 830.

When performing batch processing for moving rectangular images 810, 820, and 830, use the mouse or cursor keys to select any point (for example, point I) in the diagonally shaded area (excluding the boundary line) in FIG. 8(a). Give instructions and perform the movement process.

[0055] When enlarging or reducing the rectangular images 810, 820, and 830 all at once, the mouse,
Alternatively, use the cursor keys to select one of the vertices E, F, G, or H (for example, G
point) and perform enlargement or reduction processing. Note that at this time, the point on the diagonal of the vertex of the selected minimum circumscribed rectangle (for example, point E) serves as the fulcrum for enlargement and reduction.

FIG. 8(b) shows a rectangular image 81 on the image area.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a designation procedure when performing designation processing on 0, 820, and 830;

When specifying movement to the rectangular image 830, use the mouse or cursor keys to move the rectangular image 830.
An arbitrary point (for example, point N) in the diagonally shaded area (excluding those on the boundary line) is designated and movement processing is performed.

[0058] When enlarging or reducing the rectangular image 830, use the mouse or cursor keys to select one point (for example, point L) among the vertices J, K, L, and M of the rectangular image 810. Instruct and perform enlargement or reduction processing. At this time, the fulcrum is a point on the diagonal of the vertex of the selected rectangular image 830 (for example, point J).

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a rectangular image 81 on the image area.
8 shows another example of the procedure for specifying images to be edited for 0, 820, and 830.

In FIG. 9, vertices O, P, Q, and R represent rectangular image 8.
It is the top of 10. Additionally, vertices E, F, G, and H are the vertices of the minimum circumscribed rectangle 800. Vertices O and E are vertices located at the same coordinates. Note that vertices located at the same coordinates include cases where a plurality of vertices are located nearby.

When vertex O or E is designated with the mouse or cursor keys, the specified enlargement or reduction processing is performed using rectangular image 810 as the image to be edited.

When enlarging or reducing the rectangular image 810, the minimum circumscribed rectangle 800 is also enlarged or reduced in synchronization with the enlarging or reducing process of the rectangular image 810.

On the other hand, there are two vertices O or E in succession.
If the instruction is given, as shown in FIG. 10, enlarging or reducing the rectangular images 810, 820, and 830 surrounded by the minimum circumscribed rectangle as images to be edited is performed at once.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show rectangular images 810 and 820.
, 830 shows another example of the procedure for specifying an image to be edited.

Vertices O, P, Q, and R are the vertices of rectangular image 810. Also, vertices E, F, G, and H are the minimum circumscribed rectangle 8
It is the apex of 00. Vertices O and E are vertices located at the same coordinates.

When the vertex O or E is specified with the mouse or cursor keys, in this example, rectangular images 810, 820, and 830 surrounded by the minimum circumscribed rectangle are used as images to be edited, and enlarging or reducing is performed at once.

On the other hand, if vertex O or E is specified twice in succession, a rectangular image 810 is displayed as shown in FIG.
The image to be edited is designated as enlargement or reduction.

Furthermore, when specifying the vertex O or E to specify enlargement or reduction of the rectangular image 810, the minimum circumscribed rectangle 800 is also enlarged or reduced in synchronization with the specification process of enlarging or reducing the rectangular image 810. Perform reduction processing.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show rectangular images 810 and 820.
, 830 shows another example of the procedure for specifying an image to be edited.

Vertices O, P, Q, and R are the vertices of rectangular image 810. Also, vertices E, F, G, and H are the minimum circumscribed rectangle 8
It is the apex of 00. Vertices O and E are vertices located at the same coordinates. When vertex O or E is specified with the mouse or cursor keys, rectangular images 810, 820, 83
0 and the minimum circumscribed rectangle 800 are not edited.

On the other hand, if vertex O or E is designated twice in succession with the mouse or cursor keys, enlarging or reducing the rectangular images 810, 820, and 830 surrounded by the minimum circumscribed rectangle is performed at once.

In this case, the designation process for each rectangular image is performed by a combination of designation with the mouse and input of a specific key from the keyboard.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show rectangular images 810 and 820.
, 830 shows another example of the procedure for specifying an image to be edited.

Vertices O, P, Q, and R are the vertices of rectangular image 810. Also, vertices E, F, G, and H are the minimum circumscribed rectangle 8
It is the apex of 00. Vertices O and E are vertices located at the same coordinates. When vertex O or E is specified with the mouse or cursor keys, rectangular images 810, 820, 83
0 or the minimum circumscribed rectangle 800 is not edited.

On the other hand, if vertex O or E is designated twice in succession with the mouse or cursor keys, the rectangular image 810 is designated to be enlarged or reduced.

In this case, processing for the minimum circumscribed rectangle 800 is performed by inputting a specific key from the keyboard.

[0077] Here, a specific example of batch processing or designation processing specified by the above editing target image designation procedure will be shown.

FIGS. 17 and 18 show a plurality of rectangular images 171
17 is a diagram showing a case where editing processing is performed on 0, 1720, and 1730. FIG.

[0079] Also, FIGS. 17(a), 17(b), FIG.
8(a) and FIG. 18(b) are diagrams showing the case where the plurality of rectangular images are subjected to batch processing.

When a batch process of moving a plurality of rectangular images surrounded by the minimum circumscribed rectangle 1700 in FIG. 17(a) is performed, FIG.
7(b).

That is, a batch process is performed in which rectangular images 1710, 1720, and 1730 surrounded by the minimum circumscribed rectangle 1700 are moved on the image area from the position shown in FIG. 17(a) to the position shown in FIG. 17(b). In this case, rectangular images 1710, 172
The contents displayed on the screen of 0 and 1730 are not changed.

When rectangular images 1710, 1720, and 1730 surrounded by the minimum circumscribed rectangle 1700 in FIG. 18(a) are collectively enlarged, the results are as shown in FIG. 18(b).

That is, the minimum circumscribed rectangle 1700 is enlarged to the minimum circumscribed rectangle 1800, and the contained rectangular image 1710,
Both 1720 and 1730 are rectangular images 1810 and 1820
, 1830. At this time, rectangular images 1810, 18
20 and 1830 are enlarged to rectangular images 1810, 1820, and 1830 equal to the enlargement rate of the minimum circumscribed rectangle 1700.

On the other hand, FIG. 17(c), FIG. 17(d), FIG.
8(c) and FIG. 18(d) are diagrams showing cases where designation processing is performed on a plurality of rectangular images surrounded by the minimum circumscribed rectangle.

When the rectangular image 1730 in FIG. 17(c) is designated with a mouse or cursor keys to specify movement, the movement on the image area from the position in FIG. 17(c) to the position in FIG. 17(d) is performed. A movement designation process is performed on the rectangular image 1730.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 17(d), the rectangular images 1710 and 1720 within the minimum circumscribed rectangle 1700 do not move together, and the contents displayed on the screen of the rectangular images 1710 and 1720 are not changed. In addition, the minimum circumscribed rectangle 170
0 is changed to the minimum circumscribed rectangle 1740.

When the rectangular image 1730 within the minimum circumscribed rectangle 1700 in FIG. 18(c) is designated with a mouse or cursor keys and enlarged, the rectangular image 1730 becomes a rectangular image 1840, and the minimum circumscribed rectangle 1700 becomes the minimum This becomes a circumscribed rectangle 1850.

A second embodiment of the image processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described below.

The image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment handles circular images, unlike the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment, which handles rectangular images.

The configuration of the second embodiment is the same as the configuration of the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment (see FIG. 1), so a description thereof will be omitted.

However, the rectangular image memory (Figs.
01) is used as a memory for a circular image, and a memory for a minimum circumscribed rectangle (106 in FIG. 1) is used as a memory for a minimum circumscribed circle.

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

FIG. 19 shows an example of a circular image input from the scanner 102. A circular image is input with information on center point coordinates (A) and radius length (R).

When circular images are input, the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment calculates the minimum circumscribed circle that circumscribes all the circular images.

Assume now that a new circular area 2010 has been input as shown in FIG. In this case, the minimum circumscribed circle is changed by the procedure shown in FIG. 21.

When a new circular image is input (2100), the center point coordinates and radius length are extracted (2110),
Using this and the center point coordinates and radius length of the minimum circumscribed circle, it is determined whether a circular image is included in the minimum circumscribed circle (21
20) If the input circular image is outside the minimum circumscribed circle, then
Change the center point coordinates and radius length of the minimum circumscribed circle (2
130). Then, if a circular image is further input (2140), the above operations are repeated.

Next, FIG. 22 shows the determination process (2120) and the minimum circumscribed circle change process (2130).

That is, as shown in the figure, first, when a circular image 2010 is input, the center coordinates (X, Y) of the minimum circumscribed circle 2000 and the center point coordinates (x, Y) of the circular image 2510 are
, y) is determined (2210).

Next, by comparing the sum of the distance between the center points and the radius r of the circular image 2010 with the radius of the minimum circumscribed circle 2000, the circular image 2510 becomes the minimum circumscribed circle 250.
Determine whether it is included in 0 or not (2220)
. If the circular image 2010 is not included in the minimum circumscribed circle 2000, the radius of the minimum circumscribed circle is set to 1/2 of the sum of the distance between center points, the radius of the circular image 2010, and the radius of the minimum circumscribed circle 2000 (2250 ).

Next, the coordinates of the center point of the changed minimum circumscribed circle are determined from the determined radius (2230). Next, a changed minimum circumscribed circle is created (2240).

Now, through the above processing, the minimum circumscribed circle is changed as shown in FIGS. 23 and 24 depending on the input mode of a new circular image.

That is, when a circular image 2340 is added to the image area of FIG. 23(a), since the circular image 2340 is within the minimum circumscribed circle 2300,
The center point coordinates and radius length of 00 do not change.

In addition, FIG. 24(a) Minimum circumscribed circle 2300
If a circular image 2410 is added to a position outside of
As shown in (b), since the added circular image 2410 is located outside the minimum circumscribed circle 2300, the center point coordinates and radius length of the minimum circumscribed circle 2300 calculated by the calculation unit of this image processing device are changed. and a new minimum circumscribed circle 2400
is set.

Now, the image processing apparatus according to the second embodiment performs image editing processing using the minimum circumscribed circle, similarly to the image processing apparatus according to the first embodiment described above.

[0105] In addition, editing processing includes editing multiple circular images surrounded by a minimum circumscribed circle at once (hereinafter referred to as batch processing), and editing only specified circular images within the minimum circumscribed circle. There are two types of processing (hereinafter referred to as designated processing).

[0106] Here, concrete examples of batch processing and designation processing will be shown using FIGS. 25 and 26.

FIG. 25(a), FIG. 25(b), FIG. 26(a)
), FIG. 26(b) shows a case where a plurality of circular images surrounded by a minimum circumscribed circle are subjected to batch processing.

When performing batch processing for moving a plurality of circular images surrounded by the minimum circumscribed circle 2500 in FIG. 25(a), circular images 2510, 2520, surrounded by the minimum circumscribed circle 2500,
2530 is moved on the image area from the position in FIG. 25(a) to the position in FIG. 25(b). In this case, the contents displayed on the screen of circular images 2510, 2520, and 2530 are not changed.

In addition, the minimum circumscribed circle 250 in FIG. 26(a)
When performing batch reduction processing of circular images 2510, 2520, and 2530 surrounded by 0, circular images 2510, 2520, and 2530 surrounded by the minimum circumscribed circle 2500 in FIG. 26(a)
is reduced. In this case, the minimum circumscribed circle 2500
is the circular image 251 included in the minimum circumscribed circle 2600
0, 2520, 2530 are also circular images 2610, 26
Reduce to 20,2630. In addition, circular image 2510
, 2520, 2530 are reduced equal to the reduction rate of the minimum circumscribed circle 2500.

FIG. 25(c), FIG. 25(d), FIG. 26(c)
), FIG. 26(d) shows a case where designation processing is applied to a plurality of circular images surrounded by a minimum circumscribed circle.

[0111] When the circular image 2530 is designated with a mouse or cursor keys and a movement specification process is performed, the circular image 2530 on the image area is moved from the position shown in FIG. 25(c) to the position shown in FIG. 25(d). do. However, Fig. 25 (d
), the circular image 25 within the minimum circumscribed circle 2500
10, 2520 do not move together, circular images 2510, 2
The content displayed on the screen of 520 is not changed.

Further, in this case, the minimum circumscribed circle 2500 is changed to the minimum circumscribed circle 2540.

FIG. 26 is a diagram in which a circular image 2530 within the minimum circumscribed circle 2500 is specified using a mouse or cursor keys to specify reduction. When the circular image 2530 within the minimum circumscribed circle 2500 in FIG. 26(c) is specified to be reduced, the circular image 2530 becomes a circular image 2650,
The minimum circumscribed circle 2500 is changed to the minimum circumscribed circle 2640.

[0114] In the second embodiment, the minimum circumscribed circle is set in order to set the area where each circular image area is integrated, but instead of this, the minimum circumscribed rectangle may be set. .

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, an image processing apparatus that handles rectangular images and circular images on the image area has been described, but images of other shapes can also be handled in the same way by setting the minimum circumscribed figure. Can be done.

As described above, according to this embodiment, when it is desired to display, edit, or print a plurality of rectangular images or circular images in a unified manner, images within the minimum circumscribed rectangle or Images within the minimum circumscribed circle can be processed all at once. In addition, since the minimum circumscribed figure is set for multiple images as an area that unifies multiple images, the processing target area does not include many unnecessary areas.
Processing can be performed efficiently.

[0117] Furthermore, since editing can be specified for a plurality of images at once, operability is improved.

[0118]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention provides an image processing device that can perform processing as efficiently as possible with simple operations even when a plurality of images are operated at once. be able to.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

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 an explanatory diagram showing a rectangular image handled in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a minimum circumscribed rectangle setting operation according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a minimum circumscribed rectangle setting procedure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing details of a minimum circumscribed rectangle setting procedure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of setting a minimum circumscribed rectangle according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of setting a minimum circumscribed rectangle according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a procedure for specifying an image to be edited according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a procedure for specifying an image to be edited according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a procedure for specifying an image to be edited according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a procedure for specifying an image to be edited according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a procedure for specifying an image to be edited according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a procedure for specifying an image to be edited according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a procedure for specifying an image to be edited according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a procedure for specifying an image to be edited according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a procedure for specifying an image to be edited according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of editing processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of editing processing according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing a circular image handled in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the minimum circumscribed circle setting operation according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a procedure for setting a minimum circumscribed circle according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing details of a procedure for setting a minimum circumscribed circle according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of setting the minimum circumscribed circle according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of setting the minimum circumscribed circle according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of editing processing according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of editing processing according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

100 CPU 101 Rectangular image memory 102 Scanner 103 CRT 104 FDD 105 Mouse 106 Minimum circumscribed rectangle memory 600
Minimum circumscribed rectangle 610 Rectangular image 620 Rectangular image 630 Rectangular image 640 Added rectangular image 700 Minimum circumscribed rectangle 7 with changed vertex coordinates
10 Rectangular image 720 Rectangular image

Claims (11)

[Claims] [Claim 1] By finding the smallest rectangular area that includes all of the rectangular images existing within a certain area, and processing only the images within the obtained rectangular area, the rectangular image within the certain area is processed. An image processing method characterized by performing batch processing of shape images. 2. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein the minimum rectangular area that includes all of the rectangular images existing within the certain area includes each rectangular image within the certain area. Among the horizontal and vertical coordinates of each vertex of An image processing method characterized in that the area is a rectangular region whose vertices on a diagonal line are a point and a point. 3. By finding the smallest circular area that includes all of the circular images existing within a certain area and processing only the images within the calculated circular area, the circular image within the certain area is processed. An image processing method characterized by performing batch processing of shape images. 4. The image processing method according to claim 3, wherein the minimum circular area that includes all of the circular images that exist within the certain area is determined by converting any circular image once; After setting the minimum circular shape area, the center point of the set minimum circular shape and the minimum circular shape are sequentially determined until all circular images that are not included in the set minimum circular shape area are completed. A point on the periphery of the smallest circular shape and another circle that is not included in the smallest circular shape, passing through the center point of another circular image that is not included in the circular shaped area. An image processing method characterized in that the region is a circular shape obtained by setting a circular shape whose diameter is a line segment whose both ends are points on the circumference of the shape as the minimum circular shape. 5. By determining the smallest rectangular area that includes all of the circular images existing within a certain area and processing only the images within the calculated rectangular area, the circular image within the certain area is processed. An image processing method characterized by performing batch processing of shape images. 6. An image processing method for determining and processing a rectangular image to be processed based on specified coordinates from among a plurality of rectangular images within a certain area, the method comprising: matches or is close to both the coordinates of the apex of the smallest rectangular shape that includes all rectangular images existing in a certain area, and the coordinates of the vertex of any rectangular image, the corresponding Depending on the number of consecutive specified coordinates,
Process only the rectangular images that match or are close to the specified coordinates, or process all images within the smallest rectangular area that includes all rectangular images that exist within the certain area. Featured image processing method. 7. Image input means for inputting a rectangular image onto the editing area, image storage means for storing the image on the editing area, and a display for displaying the image on the editing area stored in the image storage means. means, a designation receiving means for accepting a designation of an image to be processed on an editing area displayed on a displaying means, and a calculation means for calculating a minimum rectangular area that includes all of the rectangular images within the editing area. , a minimum rectangular shape area storage means for storing an area of the minimum rectangular shape determined by the calculation means, and the designation receiving means, when accepting batch processing of images on the editing area, the minimum rectangular shape An image processing device comprising: image processing means for processing an image within the smallest rectangular area stored in area storage means. 8. Image input means for inputting a circular-shaped image onto the editing area, image storage means for storing the image on the editing area, and a display for displaying the image on the editing area stored in the image storage means. means, a designation receiving means for accepting a designation of an image to be processed on the editing area displayed on the displaying means, and an arithmetic means for calculating a minimum circular area including all of the circular images in the editing area. , minimum circular shape area storage means for storing the region of the minimum circular shape determined by the calculation means, and the designation receiving means, when receiving batch processing of images on the editing area, the minimum circular shape an image processing device for processing an image within the smallest circular area stored in the area storage device. 9. Image input means for inputting a circular-shaped image onto the editing area, image storage means for storing the image on the editing area, and display for displaying the image on the editing area stored in the image storage means. means, a designation receiving means for accepting a designation of an image to be processed on the editing area displayed on the displaying means, and an arithmetic means for calculating a minimum rectangular area that includes all of the circular images in the editing area. , a minimum rectangular shape area storage means for storing an area of the minimum rectangular shape determined by the calculation means, and the designation receiving means, when accepting batch processing of images on the editing area, the minimum rectangular shape An image processing device comprising: image processing means for processing an image within the smallest rectangular area stored in area storage means. 10. Image input means for inputting a rectangular image onto the editing area, image storage means for storing the image on the editing area, and display for displaying the image on the editing area stored in the image storage means. means, a designation receiving means for accepting designation of an image to be processed by specifying coordinates on an editing area displayed on a displaying means, and a minimum rectangular area within the editing area that includes all of the rectangular images. a calculation means for calculating, a minimum rectangular shape area storage means for storing an area of the minimum rectangular shape determined by the calculation means, and coordinates accepted by the designation reception means are the vertex coordinates of the minimum rectangular shape; , if the vertex coordinates of any of the rectangular images match or are close to each other, process only the rectangular image that matches or is close to the specified coordinates, depending on the number of times the coordinates are consecutively specified. Alternatively, an image processing device that processes all images within a minimum rectangular area including all rectangular images existing within a certain area. 11. Determine the minimum area of a predetermined geometric shape that includes all images of an arbitrary geometric shape existing within a certain area,
An image processing method characterized in that images within the certain area are collectively processed by processing only the images within the area of the determined geometric shape.