JPH05183730A - Method and device for picture processing - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To change even the form of a inputted character or a line drawing. CONSTITUTION:The character or the line drawing in the inputted picture is extracted as its contour vector, and a shade generating part 201 determines the generating area of a shade pattern by judging whether a contour is to be shaded or not on the basis of its vector component. Then, in the case that picture element data in that area is read in, a pattern generating part 202 generates a designated pattern, and it is outputted after being synthesized with an original picture by a synthesizer 203.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing method for processing an input image and its method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A typical example of this type of apparatus is a copying machine. In recent years, copiers have come to be able to perform a variety of processes in addition to simply outputting a copy of a document image in response to user needs. For example, it is possible to set only the designated area as a copy target or change the color.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the form of characters and line drawings in the original document to be copied has not been changed, and there is still room for improvement.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned prior art, and provides an image processing method and apparatus capable of changing the form of a character or a line drawing in an input image. It is the one we are trying to provide.

In order to solve this problem, the image processing method of the present invention has the following configuration. That is, a discrimination process for discriminating a character / line drawing in an input image, a shadow pattern generation process for generating a shadow pattern for the discriminated character / line image, and a shadow pattern generated in the generation process for a corresponding character / line image. And an additional step of adding.

The image processing apparatus of the present invention has the following configuration.

A discriminating means for discriminating a character / line drawing in an input image, a shadow pattern generating means for generating a shadow pattern for the discriminated character / line drawing, and a character / line drawing corresponding to the shadow pattern generated by the generating means. And an adding means for adding to.

[0008]

In the structure of the present invention, the character or line drawing in the input image is discriminated and the generated shadow pattern is added.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the system configuration of this embodiment. Hereinafter, each component will be described together with its operation.

When an original is placed on the original table glass 100 with its original surface (the surface having the image to be copied) facing downward and a copy start key (not shown) is pressed, the optical scanner unit 102 scans the original image and the scan is completed. Information is optically transmitted through the reflection mirrors 103 to 105 to the lens 106.
To the BLUE,
It is separated into three color lights of GREEN and RED, and converted into electric signals of BLUE, GREEN and RED by the respective line sensors of the color three-line CCD sensor 108. The document image information converted into an electric signal by the color 3-line CCD sensor 108 is subjected to image data processing, and then projected as laser light from a laser transmitter 109, and a polygon mirror 110 and reflection mirrors 111 and 112. An image is formed on the photoconductor 113 via the. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 113 is developed by the developing device 120 and transferred onto the transfer paper sent from the non-transfer paper stacking section 117 or 118. Then, after being conveyed to the fixing device 115 by the conveyance belt 114 and fixed, the sheet is ejected from the paper ejection unit 116. Reference numeral 119 denotes a control unit for controlling the entire apparatus, which receives an instruction from an operation panel (not shown) and displays various messages on the operation panel, as well as an electric signal by the 3-line CCD sensor 108. The converted data of each color component is received, the processing described later is performed, and the laser oscillator 109 is driven.

An outline of processing in the image forming apparatus of the embodiment having the above configuration will be described below.

In the embodiment, the original image is read and not only the shadowing process is applied to the characters and line drawings in the image, but also various patterning processes are applied to the shadow part and the character / line drawing main body part. Apply.

FIG. 2 (a) shows the character before the shadow is cast.
(B) shows a state where shadows are applied. In the embodiment, FIG.
In addition to (b), as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the shadow portion is patterned. Furthermore, patterning is also performed on the character body,
It is intended to provide a variety of outputs.

For example, FIG. 2D shows the case where the character portion and the shadow portion are patterned in the same manner, and FIG. 2E shows the case where only the character is patterned and the shadow portion is solid or halftone. This is the case with a shadow. FIG. 2F is an example in which different types of patterns are applied to the character portion and the shadow portion.

Here, the principle of generating a shaded character pattern in the embodiment will be described. In order to simplify the description, the shadow in the embodiment has a horizontal right direction at an angle of “0 °”,
A case where a shadow having a predetermined length (depth) is added in the minus 45 ° direction will be described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.

It is now assumed that the rectangular image (A) specified by the points 130 to 133 (the inside is assumed to be filled) is read. When this image (A) is input, first, the contour of the image is tracked counterclockwise to extract the contour vector. Since the vector extraction of the contour itself is known, its description is omitted.

When the contour vector of the pattern whose interior is filled is extracted counterclockwise, the character pattern exists in the left-hand direction with respect to the direction of the vector. Then, in the extracted vector group, only the vector to be shaded is extracted.

Although it is judged whether or not the vector is a shadow-adding vector, since it is assumed that the shadow is added in the -45 ° direction here, the vector direction is -45 as shown in FIG.
Judge whether it is in the range of ° to 135 °. Thus, as shown in FIG. 13B, a solid line vector excluding the wavy vector, a vector (131, 132) having a point 131 as a start point and a point 132 as an end point in the figure, similarly to (132, 13).
Only 3) will be extracted. Further, in reality, since the contour of the character pattern has a curved portion to some extent, if the difference from the direction of the immediately preceding vector is a predetermined value or less, it is recognized as a group of the same vector. That is, since the change in the vector direction is large at the position of the point 132, that point is recognized as the end point of one vector group.

The reason for doing this is as follows.
That is, in the case of the image shown in FIG. 15, between the points 150 and 151, there are a plurality of vectors whose directions gradually change. This is because it is convenient to recognize this part as one vector group.

Returning to FIG. 13, since the change in the vector direction is large at the position of the point 132, that point is recognized as the end point of one vector group.

Now, the vector end points 131, 1
When 32 and 133 are recognized, as shown in FIG. 13C, points 131a to 131a, which are separated from each end point by a predetermined distance in the −45 ° direction.
Create 133a and draw a line segment to that point. Then, by moving the previously extracted vector to be shaded by a predetermined distance in the angle −45 ° direction, each point 131
A vector connecting a to 133a is drawn. As a result, the outline of the shadow portion can be obtained. After that, the shaded portion is filled with a predetermined pattern and is combined (logical sum) with the input image (A), whereby a shaded pattern as shown in FIG. 13D can be obtained.
When the characters or line drawings (ruled lines, etc.) themselves are to be patterned, the inside thereof may be filled with a desired pattern based on the extracted contour vector.

Based on the above principle, the operation contents of this embodiment will be described below.

First, before actually performing the copying process, whether the normal copying or the shadowing process is executed is set by the operation panel. Next, according to the instruction on the display on the operation panel, the item setting, which is the process of the shadowing process + α, is determined by the setting screen as shown in FIG. Here, the shadowed pattern is, so to speak, for selecting the type of shadow. If you select this,
A list of patterns as shown in is displayed.
Will choose one. The pattern set in the pattern input mode for bit map (not shown) may be freely input. In addition, the ruled line processing is for setting the contents such as adding a shadow to the ruled line on the original, patterning the ruled line itself, or performing both processes. The upper-case / bold-character processing is to set pattern processing, shadowing, or both of heading characters existing on the image original. Here, when the process of or is not selected, only the normal shadowing process is performed with the preset pattern. FIG. 3A shows the input image itself, and FIG. 3B shows the case where the ruled line patterning and the shadow pattern are performed at the same time. Here, the determination as to whether the input image is a ruled line or a character may be made by determining whether or not each extracted vector group falls within a preset range when the contour is extracted.

The series of processes described above is as shown in FIG.

First, the overall processing contents of the shadowing process will be described with reference to FIG.

When a shadowing process is instructed, a menu as shown in FIG. 6 is displayed on the display unit provided on the operation panel to receive the setting (step S1). Next, in step S2, it is determined whether or not the settings have been made. If it is determined that the setting has been made, the process proceeds to step S3, corresponding image processing is performed, and output processing is performed in step S4.

Here, if the "shadow pattern" is selected in the menu display, the process of FIG. 4B is executed.

In step S10, the type of pattern as shown in FIG. 5 is displayed on the display portion of the operation panel, and in step S11 one of them is operated to determine. However, if no pattern is selected, a predetermined pattern is selected. However, for example, the previously selected pattern may be processed.

When "ruled line processing" in the menu display is selected, the processing is performed according to FIG. 4 (C).

First, it is set whether or not the ruled line itself is to be patterned. If the ruled lines are to be patterned, the process proceeds to step S21, the line width to be specified is designated,
The type of pattern is displayed in step S22, and one of them is selected in step S23. After this, or if it is specified in step S20 that patterning of the ruled lines is not to be performed, the process proceeds to step S24, and it is selected whether or not the ruled lines are shaded. When it is specified that a shadow is added, the type of pattern is displayed in step S25, and one of them is selected in step S26.

On the other hand, when "capital letters, bold letters" is selected in the menu display, the processing is performed according to FIG. 4 (D).

First, in step S30, it is selected whether or not to pattern the uppercase letters and bold letters. When patterning, the process proceeds to step S31 to specify the size and thickness of the target character. After this, step S32
Proceed to step S33 to display the type of pattern, and step S33.
To select one of them. Subsequent processing proceeds to step S24 (FIG. 4C).

Here, the patterning of the shadow will be described. FIG. 7 shows a configuration for realizing the shadowing process.

In the figure, the input image signal is a signal from a memory (not shown) (hereinafter referred to as an image memory) in which the read original image is developed.

As described above, when the area to be shaded is determined in the read original image, the image data is sequentially read from the image memory as an image signal.
Then, one day, the pixels in the corresponding area will be read. When the shadow generation unit 201 determines that the pixels in the area are read, it transmits a corresponding signal to the pattern generation unit 202. The pattern generator 202 is the shadow generator 2
When the signal from 01 is output, the signal of the pattern set by the CPU is combined with the synthesizer (logical sum gate) 203.
Output to. The synthesizer logically sums the input image signal and the signal output from the pattern generation unit 202 and outputs the result as a signal representing a shaded pattern.

FIG. 8 shows an example of the structure of the pattern generating section 202.
The operation is shown in FIG. 8A, and its operation will be described with reference to FIGS.

In FIG. 8A, reference numeral 301 denotes a memory (RAM) which stores various patterns, and one pixel of one pattern is selected by an address to the memory 301.

The memory 301 stores, for example, a pattern (1F × 1F = 31 × 31 dots) as shown in FIG. 9A in a bank switching system. The number of bits x for identifying N patterns is x = logN / log2
Calculated by rounding up to the nearest whole number. For example, RA
When 20 patterns are stored in M301, x = log20 / log2 = 4.32, so 5 bits are sufficient (rounded up to the right of the decimal point). In addition, a bit for specifying an arbitrary pixel position in the corresponding pattern is required.

Therefore, the address for the RAM 301 has a bit structure as shown in FIG.

This addressing is realized by the register 309 and the counters 303 and 304 in FIG.
That is, the register 309 is used for bank switching (sets the value for the pattern specified by the operator), and the counters 303 and 304 are the horizontal synchronization signals 307 and
The pixel clock 308 (see FIG. 8B) is counted. However, since the counters 303 and 304 have 5 bits, they become "00" when "1F (hexadecimal number)" is exceeded. Further, the counters 303 and 304 are reset each time an image destination signal (a signal indicating the start position of the effective area of the original image) is input.

The selector 305 is for determining whether to output the pixel data read from the RAM 301 as a pattern signal according to the level of the select signal. That is, when it is determined that the pixel position of interest is within the shaded area, the level is set to "1" and the bit signal read from the RAM 301 is output as a pattern signal.

As described above, the pixel data of the shadow portion is output from the pattern generation unit 202 of FIG. This is combined with the original image by the combiner 203 and output as a shaded pattern, which is used as a drive signal for the laser transmitter 109 to form an output image through the electrophotographic processing steps described above.

By using a character pattern processing unit (not shown) to pattern the character portion as shown in FIGS. 2D to 2F, various process results can be obtained in a selectable manner. I can.

In the above description, the detection of characters / ruled lines and the process of specifying a shaded portion are examples, and may be realized by other methods. For example, regarding the means for detecting the line width, the character size, etc., and the means for setting the width of the line and the character size for actually performing image processing, Japanese Patent Application No. 3-59656 filed by the applicant of the present application has already been applied. It may be realized by the processing proposed in No.

[Second Embodiment] Regarding character pattern processing and ruled line patterning as shown in FIG.
Contour processing may be performed at the time of patterning. Therefore, for the same reason as above, a contour may be formed in the shadow portion even in the shadow pattern processing to clearly express the shadow portion as shown in FIG.

This circuit configuration is shown in FIG. As shown in the figure, a shadow generation unit 201, a pattern generation unit 202,
The AND circuit 203 is similar to that shown in FIG. Here, FIG.
When the pattern of the character “I” such as reference numeral 403 in FIG.
A pattern 404 is generated by the signal input to 02. Further, a contour 405 is generated by a signal input from the shadow generating unit 201 to the contour generating unit 401. Further, the pattern 404 and the contour 405 are combined by a combiner (OR circuit), and the combiner 203 can obtain an output as shown in FIG.

[Third Embodiment] With the configuration of the first embodiment,
The same effect can be obtained by changing and outputting the type of the shadow patterning pattern depending on the size of the character. The circuit configuration is the same as that of the series of FIG. 7, FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, or the character size detection unit 31 as shown in FIG.
The type of pattern can be switched depending on the detection result.

[Fourth Embodiment] In the first to third embodiments described above, the contour vector of the read image is extracted and processed. However, according to this, the processing content becomes complicated, and depending on the case. May slow down the processing speed.

Therefore, the principle of speeding up the generation of the shadow portion will be described below as a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the operation of the fourth embodiment.

The image just read (hereinafter, original image) 16
Suppose there was 0. As shown by reference numeral 161, this original image 160 is shifted in the unit of several dots (preferably 1 dot) in the diagonally right direction, and at the same time, in each shift work, the image generated by the shift work just before is logically combined with the image. Take the sum. In this way, the image 162 is obtained. This image 1
The shadow image 163 is obtained by taking the exclusive OR of 62 and the original image 160.

Therefore, if the above-described patterning process is applied to this shadow image and the logical sum is obtained with the original image, a shadowed pattern similar to that of the first to third embodiments can be generated. It will be possible.

As described above, the processing of the fourth embodiment is much simpler than that of the previously described embodiments. Therefore, the processing can be speeded up.

Since the processing contents are simple, such processing can also be realized by hardware.

That is, a delay circuit for a number corresponding to the length of the shadow (for example, a delay circuit for 1 line + 1 dot) is provided, and an OR gate for ORing the images output from the respective delay circuits is provided. Then, an XOR for exclusive ORing the image output from the OR gate and the original image
If the gate is provided, the pattern of the shadow portion can be generated. When patterning, the data from the pattern memory may be output when the bit output from the XOR gate is "1". After that, the logical sum of the original image is output. However, when patterning the original image, the logical product of the original image and the pattern data and the patterned shadow image may be logically ORed.

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to add a desired pattern shadow to a character or a line drawing (ruled line, etc.) in a read original image.
Therefore, it is possible to enhance the expressiveness of the original image and arouse the reader.

In the embodiment, the input image is the result of optically reading the image and the output is realized by the laser beam printer, but the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the input target may be, for example, data received via a line in a facsimile device or the like, print data sent from a host computer, or a storage medium (IC card) such as an image storage device. Or images stored on a floppy disk or the like). Further, the output target is not limited to printers of various types (inkjet type, thermal transfer type, wire dot type), but may be a storage medium if transmitted via a line.

The present invention may be applied to a system composed of a plurality of devices or an apparatus composed of one device. Further, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to the case where it is achieved by supplying a program to a system or an apparatus.

[0060]

As described above, according to the present invention, since a shadow can be added to a character, a line drawing, etc. in image data, an emphasized document can be generated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram of a copying apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of shaded characters in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining patterning of ruled lines.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the processing contents of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining an operation of selecting a shadow pattern in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a screen for selecting items in the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block circuit for realizing the addition of a shadow pattern in the embodiment.

8A and 8B are a block configuration diagram of the pattern generation unit of FIG. 7 and a timing chart for explaining the operation thereof.

9 is a diagram for explaining stored contents and addressing of the RAM in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a shaded character in the second embodiment.

11A and 11B are a configuration diagram for realizing the second embodiment and a diagram for explaining the operation outline thereof.

FIG. 12 is a block configuration diagram of a pattern generation unit in the third embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining the outline of the shadowing process.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing the principle of distinguishing a vector to which a shadow is applied and a vector to which a shadow is not applied.

FIG. 15 is a diagram for explaining endpoints of a vector.

FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining an operation outline of the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 201 shadow generation unit 202 pattern generation unit 203 combiner 301 RAM 302 address control unit 303 and 304 counter 305 selector 309 register

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A determination process for determining a character / line drawing in an input image, a shadow pattern generation process for generating a shadow pattern for the determined character / line image, and a shadow pattern generated in the generation process for a corresponding character. An image processing method characterized by comprising an additional step of adding to the line drawing. 2. The pattern generation step includes a designated step for designating a desired pattern in a memory storing a plurality of patterns in advance, and the designated pattern is generated as a shadow pattern. The image processing method according to claim 1, wherein: 3. A discriminating means for discriminating a character / line drawing in an input image, a shadow pattern generating means for generating a shadow pattern for the discriminated character / line drawing, and a character corresponding to the shadow pattern generated by the generating means. An image processing apparatus, which is provided with an addition unit for adding to the line drawing. 4. The pattern generating means includes a storage means for storing a plurality of patterns and a designating means for designating a desired pattern stored in the storage means, and the pattern designating means is designated by the designating means. The image processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the pattern is generated as a shadow pattern.