JPH0468475A - Picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute suitable color conversion even when the hue of coloring due to a marker or the like exists in another area, by judging the part as a suitable designated area only when information different from the color of coloring exists. CONSTITUTION:A marker area signal extracted by a marker extraction processing part 11 and an unprocessed chrominance signal are simultaneously written in a memory 12, and a CPU 25 judges the presence / absence of a signal in a color different from that of the marker in a marker area. Only when the other chrominance signal exists, the marker area signal is written in a memory 13 as an effective area signal. Next, an area synthesization processing part 14 synthesizes pictures while reading the marker area, which is already judged as effective, from the memory 13. Thus, when converting the color by the marker, even in the case that the part in the same color as the marker already exists in an original, the part in the marker area is color-converted without erasing the above-mentioned part so as to obtain a desired picture.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus that recognizes color information on a document and extracts areas such as markers based on the recognized color information.

[Prior Art] Many image processing methods have been proposed in the past that involve region extraction using markers, etc., and the most commonly used method is to extract colored regions on a portion of a document using color markers, etc. This method reads the colored area and copies the inside of this area in a different color from other areas.

In this case, for example, specify a color conversion mode such as copying the area marked with a red marker in red, and do not output the colored part by the marker as an image, but copy the black characters, pictures, etc. in this colored area using the marker color. A method is used in which only images of a different color are identified and output as red.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in the conventional example described above, for example, when red is used as a marker, all red color information on the document is determined to be an area colored by the marker, and as a result, it is all deleted. It turns out.

Therefore, if information such as red characters already exists on the document and it is desired to convert another area to red, there is a problem that the existing red information is also deleted at the same time as the marker.

In addition, in this case, if there are two or more colors recognized by the marker, it is also possible to specify using markers of other colors and convert the characters, etc. in that area to the desired color (red in the above example). In this case, since the color of the marker and the color to be converted are different, operational errors are likely to occur and the operation is difficult to understand.

Furthermore, even if a hue other than the hue to be converted by specifying a marker exists in other areas as information such as a pattern mixed with the marker color, the color within the pattern will also be converted in the same way as in the marker area. Therefore, there was a problem that proper conversion could not be performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus that can perform appropriate color conversion even when the hue of coloring by a marker or the like exists in another area.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides an extraction means for recognizing a colored area of a predetermined color provided on a document and extracting the colored area, and an extracting means for recognizing a colored area of a predetermined color provided on a document, and extracting the colored area of the predetermined color in the colored area extracted by the extraction means. The present invention is characterized in that it includes a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of color information other than the above, and a determination means for determining whether the colored area is valid or invalid based on the detection result by the detection means.

[Operation] In the present invention, only when information different from the color of the color exists in the area determined to be a colored area by a marker or the like,
If that part is determined to be an appropriate specified area and there is no different color information, it is determined that it is existing color information, and only the color information within the specified coloring area is deleted, and the existing color information on the document is deleted. can be left without being missing.

Therefore, unlike in the past, there is no need to check the color of the original with a marker, etc. and the existing color of the original, or perform operations such as conversion and color specification, and the existing color information on the original is also not lost. It is possible to perform color conversion copying by specifying an area using a marker or the like.

Furthermore, if it is possible to set the hue for determining whether a colored area is valid or invalid, it is possible to set the hue appropriately to determine whether a colored area is valid or invalid. In this case, the color that makes one colored area valid can be specified as a color other than the pattern, and this pattern can be properly left in the image without being judged as a colored area.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

This image forming apparatus includes an original scanning section 2 in a copying apparatus main body L.
, a paper feeding section 3, an image forming section 4, an intermediate tray section 5, and the like.

First, the configuration of the document scanning section 2 will be explained.

The controller section 2a is composed of a control board in which control elements for comprehensively controlling the copying sequence are integrated.

The power switch 2b and the original exposure lamp 2c together with a scanning mirror constitute an optical scanning system, and scan and move at a predetermined speed.

The imaging lens 2d converts the reflected light from the original into photoelectric conversion elements C and C.
The image is formed on D. 1M image information is converted into electrical signals by CCD, amplified by analog processor AP, and A
/D conversion processing is performed and converted into a digital image signal. The digital image signal is processed by the image processing unit IP, Ws
Various types of image processing such as degree conversion and area processing are performed.

Next, the configuration of the intermediate training part 5 will be explained.

The intermediate tray 30 temporarily stores the cut sheets (SH) conveyed via the conveyance roller 34, and re-feeds them to the image forming section 4 via the conveyance path 31 by driving of the feed rollers 33, 35. Note that S1 to 515, 519 to S23 in FIG. 1 are sensors, and the sensor S1 detects the home position of the optical system that becomes the analog scanning unit, and the optical system stops at this position during standby. Sensor S2 detects that the optical system has moved to a position corresponding to the leading edge position of the original image, and controls the timing of the copy sequence based on this sensor output. The sensor S3 has a limiter position M(
This is to detect the reversed position). The optical system reciprocates with a scan length according to the cassette size and magnification that are supported and input using an operation unit, which will be described later.

The developing units) 13a and 13b are equipped with color-specific developers (red,
By driving the solenoids 14a and 14b, one of the developing units 13a and 13b is selectively placed close to the photosensitive drum 11, and the other is placed away from the photosensitive drum 11. Note that when the second recording mode is set from the operation section described later, the controller section 2a controls the recording material (cut sheet) S for a specific document.
The controller unit 2a controls the driving of the solenoids 14a and 14b so that red/black color development is performed only for H).

The transfer charger 15 transfers the toner image developed by the developing units 13a and 13b onto the cut sheet SH, and the post-transfer separation charger 16 separates the cut sheet SH from the photosensitive drum 11.

The pre-exposure lamp 17 neutralizes the surface potential of the photosensitive drum 11 and prepares it for primary charging by the primary charger 28 . The cleaner device 18 includes a cleaning blade and a cleaning roller, and collects toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11.

The fixing device 19 fixes the toner image transferred to the cut sheet SH by heat and pressure. The conveyance roller 20 and the flapper 21 are used to transport the cut sheet (S) after the fixing process has been completed.
H is conveyed in the paper ejection tray 24 via the paper ejection roller 23.
direction or the direction of the intermediate tray section 5 via the conveyance path 22.

The scanner motor 25 rotates the rotating polygon mirror at a predetermined speed and deflects the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor laser 26. Note that the scanner motor 25 and the semiconductor laser 26
etc. constitute a digital scanning unit, and the image processing section I
A laser beam is emitted according to the image information processed by P to form a document image.

Next, the operation will be explained.

First, when the power switch 2b is turned on, the heater in the fixing device 19 is energized and waits (wait time) until the fixing roller reaches a predetermined temperature at which fixing is possible. When the fixing roller reaches a predetermined temperature.

The main drive motor MM is driven for a certain period of time, and the photosensitive drum 1
1. Drive the fixing device 19, etc., and set the rollers, etc. in the fixing device 19 to a uniform temperature (weight release rotation), then,
The main drive motor MM is stopped and stands by in a copyable state (standby state).

Here, the main drive motor MM drives the photosensitive drum 11, the fixing device 19, the developing units 13a and 13b, and various transfer paper conveyance rollers. Then, when a copy command is input from the operation unit, a copy sequence is started.

That is, in response to a copy command, the memory drive motor MM rotates, and the photosensitive drum 11 starts rotating in the direction of arrow A. At the same time, high voltage is supplied from the high voltage unit HTV to the primary charger 28, and a uniform charge is placed on the photosensitive drum 11. give.

Next, the document exposure lamp 2C is turned on, the optical motor 2f is driven, and the document placed on the document table is exposed and scanned in the direction of arrow B, and is projected onto the photoelectric conversion element CCD. The image information of the document converted into an electrical signal by the COD is processed by the analog processor AP and the image processing unit IP, and then the laser 26 is emitted according to the image signal and the photosensitive drum 11 is scanned, thereby converting the document into an electrical signal. form a latent image corresponding to

Next, this latent image is developed by the developing unit) 13a or 13b, transferred to the photosensitive drum 11 by the transfer charger 15, and transferred to the photosensitive drum 11 by the separation charger 19.
separated from

Next, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 11 is collected by the cleaner device N18 and uniformly *@ed by the pre-exposure lamp 17, after which the copying cycle is repeated again.

Next, the image processing section will be described.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an image processing system in this image forming apparatus.

The CCD 21 is an in-line sensor that is sensitive to two different hues. The signal read from this sensor is
Each hue is subjected to analog processing in the analog processing block 22 and sent to the 1-image processing block 23. here,
After A/D converting the signals of each of the aforementioned hues and performing shading correction processing, the level of each hue is corrected and outputted after being distributed to one color value processing block and various image processing blocks. Ru.

Thereafter, the signal sent to the color signal processing block passes through the marker/region processing block described below, is combined with signals after various image processing, and is sent to the printer section 24 after being subjected to density conversion. , image formation is performed.

In addition, when forming an image with multiple colors, only the image signal corresponding to the color signal of the color to be developed is outputted, and the image signals corresponding to other color signals are masked. Developing is performed multiple times to form an image.

These processes are controlled by the control unit 25 and executed according to the mode set by the operation unit 26.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a marker area processing circuit in the apparatus of this embodiment.

In the aforementioned image processing section 23, the image signal separated into each hue is converted into a 2-bit color signal and sent to the marker area extraction processing section 11.

Figure 4 shows the marker area extraction process! 11 is a block diagram showing the configuration of No. 11. FIG.

Here, first, let us assume that the color signal of the marker to be extracted is a signal for each line read by the CCD 21 mentioned above.
A latch 43 latches the color signal 41 of the current line and a marker area signal 42 from 15 ins ago, and an extractor 44 extracts the change point of each signal and writes it into a memory 45.

At this time, the pattern of the latch data that is determined to be a marker area is determined by pattern matching 46, the data is converted as an area signal by a data converter 47, and the data is written into the memory 45.

Next, when reading the data in the memory 45, the color signal 48 from one line before and the marker area signal 49 from two lines before are latched by the latch 50 in the same manner as described above, and the change point of each data is latched by the latch 50. The extraction unit 51 extracts the data, reads the data from the memory 45 at that timing, and outputs it as the marker area signal 52. Here, line memory 53
Line memories 54 and 55 are line memories for delaying the color signal by one line and the marker area signal by two lines.

Next, a process for determining whether a marker area is valid or invalid in this embodiment will be described.

In FIG. 5, the image signal read by pre-scanning the original is sent to the marker extraction processing section 11 described above.
The marker area signal extracted by
2).

Next, the color signal and marker area signal written in the memory 12 are read out by the CPU 25. CPU25
determines whether there is a signal of a color different from that of the marker in the marker area (S3), and only if a different color signal exists, writes the marker area signal to the memory 13 as a valid area signal (S4). ).

Furthermore, if there is no color signal other than the marker in the marker area, that part is determined to be a color signal on the document of the same color as the marker, and is excluded from the marker area (S5).

Next, during main scanning to form an image of the document, the area compositing processing section 14 performs image compositing while reading marker areas that have already been determined to be valid from the memory 13. Therefore, for example, during black development, all the images and marker parts within the above-mentioned effective marker area are deleted and an image is formed, and when developing with the next marker color, images other than the markers within the above-mentioned effective marker area are formed. Then, the image of the invalidated marker area, that is, the image of the same color as the existing marker outside the marker area on the document, is developed to form an image.

Here, the controller 16 is an address and data controller for writing and reading color signals and marker regions in the memory 12. 14 controls the read processing from the memory 13.

When performing color conversion of an image using a marker as described above, even if a part of the same color as the marker already exists in the document, that part will not be deleted, and the part within the marker area will be color-converted to the desired color. It becomes possible to obtain images of

FIG. 6(1) is a schematic diagram showing an example of an image processed in this embodiment in comparison with a conventional image.

As shown in the figure, when an area is specified with a red marker, conventionally the red characters (D in the figure) outside the specified area disappear, but in this embodiment, they appear properly.

Furthermore, by having a configuration in which a hue other than the marker color for determining whether the marker area is valid or invalid can be set in advance using the operation unit 26, for example, as shown in FIG. There is a picture surrounded by "red", and.

If you want to convert the black text part to red using a red marker, if you set the valid hue of the marker area to "black", the pattern part will have a different hue in the area surrounded by red. Even if "blue" information exists, it is not determined to be a marker area and color conversion is not performed. Only the black text part surrounded by the "red" marker is color converted, and the pattern part is deleted. It appears in the image without a trace.

Furthermore, in the color settings of the operation section mentioned above, as an initial setting, the colors that exist for color conversion in the marker area are
If "black" (achromatic color) is set, the setting most frequently used for color conversion becomes the default setting, and operability can also be improved.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, according to the present invention, even if color information of the same color as the color for area specification exists on the document, the area specification can be performed without missing the color information. This has the effect of making color conversion possible.

In addition, if it is possible to selectively specify the hue of the color information used to determine whether a designated area is valid or invalid, even when converting the color of a document containing a mixture of multicolored designs by specifying the area.
The above-mentioned patterns and the like are not recognized as designated areas, and a proper image can be obtained.

Furthermore, by setting the color for validating the specified area to an achromatic color such as black, which is most frequently used for color conversion, the number of times a single color setting operation is performed is reduced, improving operability. can be measured.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an image processing system in the image forming apparatus of the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a marker area processing circuit in the image forming apparatus of the same embodiment. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a marker area extraction processing section in the image forming apparatus of the same embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process for determining whether a marker area is valid or invalid in the same embodiment. FIGS. 6(1) and 6(2) are schematic diagrams showing examples of images processed in the same embodiment in comparison with the conventional image. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Marker area extraction processing unit, 2.13... Memory, 4... Area synthesis processing unit, 6... Controller, 1... CCD, 2... Analog signal processing unit. 3... Image processing section, 4... Printer section, 5... Control section, 6... Operation section. Patent application letter Canon Co., Ltd. Kubo Arata for the same agent Figure 2 Figure 5 Figure 6 (1) [Revised] [Fruit Spring゛j1] [Shiomasa J? 'l

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) Recognize the colored area of a predetermined color provided on the document,
Extracting means for extracting this colored area; Detecting means for detecting the presence or absence of color information other than the predetermined color in the colored area extracted by this extracting means; Based on the detection result by this detecting means, the colored area An image processing device comprising: determining means for determining validity or invalidity of the image processing apparatus. (2) In claim (1), the colored area is made valid only when the color information existing in the colored area is an achromatic color, and when color information other than an achromatic color exists, the colored area is made invalid. An image processing device characterized by: (3) In claim (2), the coloring area has a selection means for selecting a hue of color information existing in the colored area, and the effectiveness of the colored area is determined depending on the presence or absence of the color information set by the selection means. , an image processing device that determines invalidity.