JPH05145777A - Image input device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To output a read-in electric signal by converting it to a color signal of a designated arbitrary color, at the time of outputting a document constituted of a character and a drawing to an output device. CONSTITUTION:A document is read as an electric signal by an image input means 11, and this signal is converted to a monochromatic signal by a monochromatic converting means 12. A color designating means 13 outputs designated arbitrary two colors as a color signal, and a monochromatic signal is converted to a color signal colored in a designated color by a color converting means 14. This device is constituted by providing a signal output means 15 for guiding this obtained color signal to an output device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image input device for reading a manuscript or a drawing as an electric signal when outputting the same to an output device such as a display.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an overhead projector or a slide has been used in the range of a still image as a means for visually explaining in various presentations. However, in recent years, due to the progress of high-definition technology, extremely high-definition images can be obtained,
It has become possible to sufficiently recognize a manuscript composed of characters even if it is digitized and output to an output device, and this has many advantages such as being able to search in a shorter time than an overhead projector. is there.

Here, conventionally, when a document or drawing is digitized and output to an output device, the target document or drawing is converted into an electric signal by an image input means and displayed on the output device in the same color scheme. ..

[0004]

However, when a manuscript or a drawing is output to a monitor, a manuscript composed of characters is often written in black characters on white paper. In many cases, the visibility is better when the other color scheme is used than when the original color scheme is output. Further, there is a problem that an image composed of white and black or monochrome does not give much interest to a person who looks at the monitor.

The present invention is intended to solve such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to color an original input as an electric signal with an arbitrary color and output the original.

[0006]

An image input apparatus of the present invention includes an image input unit for reading an original or a drawing as an electric signal, a monochrome conversion unit for converting the electric signal into a monochrome signal, and two designated arbitrary colors. Of the color designated by the color designating means and the monochrome signal obtained by the monochrome converting means.
It has a configuration including a color conversion means for converting into a GB color signal and a signal output means for guiding the signal obtained by the color conversion means to an output device.

[0007]

With this configuration, the image input apparatus of the present invention can convert the color arrangement of the input original into a color arrangement composed of two arbitrary colors and an intermediate color between the two colors.

[0008]

(Embodiment 1) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, 11 is an image input means for reading a document as an electric signal, 12 is a monochrome conversion means for converting the electric signal obtained by the image input means 11 into a monochrome signal 121, and 13 is a monochrome conversion means. Color designation means for designating an arbitrary color with respect to the maximum value and the minimum value of the signal level of the monochrome signal and outputting RGB color signals 131 and 132 of the two colors, and 14 is designated by the monochrome signal 121 and the color designation means. A color conversion unit that calculates the RGB color signals of the two colors and converts the RGB color signals into RGB color signals; and 15 is a signal for guiding the RGB color signals obtained by the color conversion unit to an output device (not shown) provided separately. It is an output means.

FIG. 2 is an example showing a block diagram of the configuration of the color conversion means, and the operation of the color conversion means in this case will be described below. In FIG. 2, reference numerals 21 and 22 are multiplication means, 23 is a calculation means, and 24 is an addition means. Further, the range of the value of the monochrome signal 121 is 0 to 1. The multiplying means 21 multiplies the monochrome signal 121 and the RGB color signal 131 of one of the two colors designated by the color designating means to obtain a multiplying means output color signal 211. On the other hand, the calculating means 23 takes the difference between the value of the monochrome signal 121 and 1, and multiplies this by the other RGB color signal 132 of the two colors designated by the color designating means, and the multiplying means output color signal 221. To get The color signals output from the multiplying means are added to the signals relating to R, the signals relating to G, and the signals relating to B by the adding means 24 to obtain color output means color signals 241.

By configuring the color converting means 14 as shown in FIG. 2, the target original can be converted into a color signal composed of the designated two colors and an intermediate color thereof.

(Second Embodiment) A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the second embodiment, the image input means 11, the monochrome conversion means 12, the color designation means 13, and the signal output means 15 in FIG. 1 have the same constructions as in the first embodiment.
The configuration of the color conversion circuit 14 is different from that of the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 shows a second block diagram of the configuration of the color conversion unit 14.

The color conversion means shown in FIG. 3 is provided with respect to the monochrome signal 121 obtained by the monochrome conversion means 12,
This is intended to separate a background portion and a signal area corresponding to a character or a drawing portion in an original so that each of them can be converted into a different color. The operation will be described below.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 31 is a threshold value designating means,
Reference numeral 32 is a comparison means, 33 is a calculation means, 34 and 35 are selectors, and 36 is a multiplication means. The threshold value specifying means 31 arbitrarily sets a threshold value for separating the input monochrome signal 121 into two areas. The comparison means 32 compares the levels of the monochrome signal 121 and the threshold value signal 311 obtained by the image input means, and outputs according to the result. The calculation means 33 obtains and outputs the difference between the value of the monochrome signal 121 and 1. The selectors 34 and 35 select the monochrome signal 1 according to the value of the output signal 321 of the comparison means 32.
21 or the calculation means output signal 331 and one of the RGB color signals of the two colors designated by the color designating means 13 are selected, and the selector output signal 341 and the selector output RGB color signal 351 are output respectively. The multiplication means 36 multiplies the selector output signal 341 by the selector output RGB color signal 351, and the result is used as the color conversion means output color signal.

By configuring the color converting means 14 as shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to separate the background portion of the original from the area corresponding to the characters or the drawing portion, and it is possible to specify different colors for each of them and input. The specified manuscript is 2
It is output as an RGB color signal composed of a color and these two dark and light colors. Therefore, it is effective to convert the color of a two-color original which originally has a gradation of light and shade.

If the output of the selector 35 is output as it is in the color conversion means 14, the color designation means 13
Since the image can be output only with the two colors specified in step 2, the same result as in the case of binarization can be obtained, which is effective when an intermediate gradation is not required when outputting the image. ..

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, an original inputted as an electric signal can be colored in an arbitrary color and outputted. That is, it is possible to select and output a color arrangement with good visibility. In addition, it is possible to provide an image that can give the viewer a stronger interest as compared with the conventional monochrome image.

Particularly, in the image input device according to the third aspect, since the inputted original document can be converted into the color signal composed of the designated two colors and the intermediate color thereof,
An image of a natural color change can be obtained.

According to another aspect of the image input device of the present invention, even if the inputted original is originally a two-color original, if the original color has a gradation of light and shade, the color is converted while maintaining the gradation. can do.

Further, since the image input device according to the fifth aspect outputs the image with only the designated two colors, when it is used when an intermediate gradation is not required when outputting the image, an image with high contrast is obtained. Obtainable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an image input device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an image input device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the color conversion means in the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 image input means 12 monochrome conversion means 13 color designation means 14 color conversion means 15 signal output means 121 monochrome signals 131, 132 two-color RGB color signals

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image input unit for reading an original document and outputting it as an electric signal, a monochrome conversion unit for converting the electric signal into a monochrome signal, and R for each designated arbitrary two colors.
A color designating unit for outputting as a GB color signal, a color converting unit for converting the monochrome signal obtained by the monochrome converting unit into a color signal colored with the RGB color signal output from the color designating unit, and the color converting unit. An image input device provided with signal output means for guiding the obtained signal to an output device. 2. An image input means for reading a document and outputting it as a monochrome signal, and RG for each of two designated arbitrary colors.
A color designating means for outputting as a B color signal, a color converting means for transforming the monochrome signal obtained by the monochrome converting means into a color signal colored with the RGB color signal output from the color designating means, and the color converting means. An image input device provided with signal output means for guiding the obtained signal to an output device. 3. The color conversion means outputs a monochrome signal obtained by the monochrome conversion means and the first RG output from the color designation means.
A first multiplication means for multiplying the B color signal, an arithmetic means for producing a signal in which the level of the monochrome signal is inverted, a signal obtained by the arithmetic means and the color designation means. 2. A second multiplication means for multiplying a second RGB color signal, and an addition means for adding the signals obtained by the first multiplication means and the second multiplication means. The image input device described. 4. A color conversion means, a threshold designating means capable of setting an arbitrary level, a threshold value signal outputted by the threshold designating means, and a level of a monochrome signal obtained by the monochrome converting means. Comparing means for outputting an output in accordance with the magnitude thereof, computing means for producing a signal in which the level of the monochrome signal is inverted from the monochrome signal, and the monochrome signal or the aforesaid monochrome signal in accordance with the output of the comparing means. A first selector for selecting and outputting an output signal of the computing means;
A second selector for selecting and outputting one of the two color signals designated by the color designating means; and a multiplying means for multiplying the output signal of the first selector by the output signal of the second selector The image input device according to claim 1, wherein 5. A color conversion means, a threshold value specifying means capable of setting an arbitrary level, a threshold value signal outputted by the threshold value specifying means, and a level of a monochrome signal obtained by the monochrome converting means. And a selector for selecting and outputting one of the two color signals designated by the color designating means in accordance with the value output by the comparing means. The image input device according to claim 1, wherein the image input device is provided.