JPH05344314A - Picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To designate a picture processing even to a color original by using a marker by picture-processing a detected picture processing area based on color picture information. CONSTITUTION:Three original color picture signals R, G, and B outputted from the red channel CCD, green channel CCD, and blue channel CCD of a reading unit A are converted into digital signals by an A/D converter 11. The color picture information of the read original is inputted through an interface 12 to a data selector 13. Then, the digital picture signals AR, BR, and CB of the R, G, and B outputted from a selector 13 are converted into concentration data RD, GD, and BD by concentration conversion circuits 16, 17, and 18 by each three original color. Thus, this device is equipped with a function which detects the designated area of the picture area with a fluorescent marker by each three original color, so that the picture processing can be operated even to the color picture. Then, the picture processing designation can be operated even to the color original by using the marker.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and more specifically, to color image information obtained by reading an original image by photoelectric conversion, and performing color conversion, trimming, inversion or the like on a designated image area. The present invention relates to an apparatus that performs various image processing and outputs.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an original is optically scanned, an optical image thereof is received by a photoelectric conversion element such as a line image sensor, converted into an electric signal, and the electric signal is digitized. There is known a so-called digital type color copying machine configured to form an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member by a writing device such as a semiconductor laser based on image information of an original document converted into a signal (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Sho 6-96).
2-157070, etc.).

Further, in the digital color copying machine, various image processings such as color conversion, trimming, inversion, masking, and shading are performed on a designated area of an original to record the image information. Some have an edit processing function (see Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-27369). In the image processing based on the area designation as described above, the image processing area is designated by the color information different from the original color to be read, so that the image to be read and the area designation information can be distinguished from each other.

For example, in the case of performing partial color conversion, an area to be color-converted on a black-and-white original is surrounded by a color marker such as blue or red to give an instruction, and the original is photoelectrically converted to read out color image information. The color used to specify the area and the area are detected respectively, and the image information in the detected area (or outside the area) is converted into the same color as the color marker and output. ..

[0005]

By the way, in the method of designating the image processing area by the color marker as described above, only the image portion representing the area designation is color on the black-and-white original, which should be read normally. This is feasible because the black-and-white image and the image portion indicating the area designation can be separated.

For this reason, even if an image processing area is designated by a color marker, a color original which is likely to include a color image that is difficult to identify with respect to an image designated by a color marker, should be read by the color to be read. It is difficult to stably extract from the image, and the designation of the image processing area by the color marker has a function substantially limited to a black and white original document.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of detecting a designated area on a document and performing image processing limited to this area even in a color document. And

[0008]

Therefore, an image processing apparatus according to the present invention reads an original image by photoelectric conversion to obtain color image information corresponding to the original image and a color image obtained by the photoelectric conversion. An image processing apparatus for performing image processing on information and outputting the image, wherein a fluorescent designated area detecting means for detecting an image processing area designated by a fluorescent marker on a document based on the color image information, and the fluorescent designated area detecting means. And an image processing means for performing image processing of the image processing area designated by the fluorescent marker detected by the designated area detecting means.

[0009]

According to the image processing apparatus having such a structure, when the image processing area is designated on the original by the fluorescent marker, the designated area is detected by the fluorescent designated area detecting means. And
Image processing is performed on the image processing area by the detected fluorescent marker. That is, even if the original is a color original and does not include a fluorescent image, the fluorescent marker has a higher reflectance than the original image, so that the area specified by the fluorescent marker and the color original image to be read have a high reflectance. It is possible to separate based on the difference, so that even if the designated area by the fluorescent marker is a color original, it can be detected.

[0010]

EXAMPLES Examples of the present invention will be described below. In this embodiment, the case where the image processing apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a digital type color copying machine will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the overall structure of a digital color copying machine according to this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, the digital color copying machine includes a reading unit A, a writing unit B, an image forming section C, a sheet feeding section D, and the reading unit A.
And an image processing unit E (not shown) incorporated in the.
In the reading unit A, a document 121 is placed on a platen glass 122 and illuminated by a halogen light source 125 provided on a carriage 124 moving on a slide rail 123. The movable mirror unit 126 includes a mirror 127,
128 is provided and moves on the slide rail 123, and in combination with the mirror 129 provided on the carriage 124, reflected light (optical image) from the original 121 on the platen glass 122 is transmitted to the lens reading unit 130. Derive.

A standard white plate 131 is provided on the back side of the end of the platen glass 122 in the sub-scanning direction (moving direction of the mirror). By reading the standard white plate 131 when reading an original, a standard white signal (reference A white level signal) is obtained. The lens reading unit
The lens 130 includes a lens 132, a prism 133, a red channel CCD 134, a green channel CCD 135, and a blue channel CCD 136.

The optical image of the original 121 transmitted by the mirrors 129, 127 and 128 is converged by the lens 132,
Dichroic mirror 137 provided in the prism 13,
The red channel image, the green channel image, and the blue channel image are separated by 138.
An image is formed on the light receiving surface of the blue channel CCD 136, and each C
Optical images are photoelectrically converted into electric signals (electrical image information) by the CDs 134 to 136.

The red channel CCD 134, green channel CCD 135, blue channel CCD 136
The electric signal output from the image processing unit E, which will be described later, is subjected to processing such as density conversion, color reproduction processing, marker editing processing, spatial filter processing, and scaling processing, and is output to the writing unit B. The writing unit B modulates a laser beam generated by a semiconductor laser (not shown) based on the input image signal. Then, the laser beam is rotationally scanned by the polygon mirror 142 rotated by the drive motor 141, passes through the fθ lens (not shown),
The optical path is bent by the reflection mirror 143 and projected onto the surface of the photoconductor drum 151 of the image forming section C to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 151 uniformly charged.

The image forming section C includes, in addition to the photosensitive drum 151, a charger 152 for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum 151, four developing devices 153-156 for each toner color, and a transfer pole 157. Separation pole 158, cleaning device 159, fixing device
Comprised of 160. The four developing devices 153-156
Have toners of yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black Bk, respectively, and the processes of forming, developing, transferring, and separating the electrostatic latent image are repeated for each color to obtain a yellow toner image, a magenta toner image, The cyan toner image and the black toner image are superposed on each other to form a color image on the recording paper supplied from the paper supply unit D.

The paper feed section D is composed of cassettes 171 to 173 for stocking recording paper in each prescribed size, and a recording paper transportation mechanism 174 including a plurality of transportation rollers and a transportation belt. The recording paper is taken out from the corresponding cassette 171 to 173 according to the size instruction and supplied to the image forming section C. In the digital color copying machine, the colors are separated by dichroic mirrors and CCs are separated.
Although the photoelectric conversion is performed by D, the photoelectric conversion may be performed by a color CCD incorporating a color separation filter.

Here, the circuit configuration of the image processing section E for performing image signal processing between the reading unit A and the writing unit B will be described with reference to the block diagrams of FIGS. FIG. 2 shows a color image information input unit and a density conversion unit of the image processing unit E. In FIG. 2, the red channel CCD 134 of the reading unit A,
Green channel CCD135, Blue channel CC
Red R, Green G, respectively output from D136
The blue B three primary color image signals (analog signals) are A / D
It is converted into a digital signal by the converter 11.

The digitized color image information of the read document is input to the data selector 13 via the interface 12. The data selector 13 includes an external input terminal 14 and an external interface.
Image data from an external device such as a film projector can also be input via 15. The R, G, and B digital image signals AR, BG, and CB respectively output from the data selector 13 are density data RD and G for each of the three primary colors by density conversion circuits 16, 17, and 18, respectively.
Converted to D, BD.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 19 denotes a timing signal generating circuit, which has, in addition to the clock signal CLK, synchronization signals HV, V- for the main scanning direction and the sub scanning direction obtained from the writing unit B side. V and the like are supplied, and various timing signals are formed based on these signals. The density data RD, GD, BD are further processed by a color reproduction and EE circuit unit as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, the density data RD, G
D and BD are input to the MON calculation circuit 20, where the density data signal MOD for monochromatic reproduction (monotone) is calculated. Then, the density data MOD for reproducing the single color,
In the monotone selector circuit 21 to which the density data RD, GD, BD corresponding to the three primary colors corresponding to the input color image data is input, depending on whether it is a monotone copy mode such as sepia color or a normal color copy mode. The density data of the three primary colors are switched and output. That is, this embodiment has a function of outputting an original as a chromatic color monochromatic image such as sepia color.

In the masking circuit 22 to which the density data from the monotone selector circuit 21 is input, R,
A color that discriminates each pixel based on the density information of each color of G and B, and indicates which color (for example, black Bk, yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, white W, etc.) each pixel belongs to. The code signal CC is output. Furthermore,
In the masking circuit 22, the density information for each color of R, G, B is displayed as yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, black Bk.
It is converted into density data for each color (toner color) and output. The density data for each color of Y, M, C, Bk is selected by the selector circuit 23, and the color code signal CC and the density data corresponding to the color code signal CC are output for each pixel. ing.

In FIG. 3, the EE circuit 24 is a circuit for controlling the sampling area of the image data based on the information of the density histogram, and the RAM 25 is a work memory used for creating the density histogram. The color code signal CC, a density signal ND indicating the density data thereof, and a density signal MOD for reproducing a monotone.
Is subsequently processed by the marker edit processing unit shown in FIG.

In FIG. 4, the marker edit processing circuit 32 as an image processing means, in the case of the present embodiment, converts the image information of the image processing area designated as a closed loop by the fluorescent marker (highlight pen) on the document. It is a circuit that performs various image processing (color conversion processing, halftone processing, inversion processing, masking processing, trimming processing, etc.), and performs image processing based on a control signal consisting of fluorescent marker area information and processing mode information. , Density signal MD subjected to image processing
Output (marker processing output). It is to be noted that, in the present embodiment, the marker editing process means that the image information of the area designated by the marker on the original document is subjected to various image processes and outputted.

Further, the color / monotone selector 34 has a density signal ND corresponding to the color code signal CC.
Is input via the delay circuit 33, the color code signal CC via the delay circuit 31 and the monotone density signal MD via the area discrimination circuit 36, which will be described later, are input, and density data for color copying and a single color are input. The density data for copying is selectively output to the marker edit processing circuit 32.

The monotone density signal MOD is input to the area discriminating circuit 36. Here, the original image is a photographic image having gradation, or a character / line drawing image composed of characters or lines. Is determined based on the monotone density signal MOD, and the determination result is output as a determination signal PM for each pixel. Incidentally, in FIG.
Is a RAM as a work memory attached to the area discrimination circuit 36.

When the image processing area is designated by a color marker on the black and white original, the marker area processing circuit built in the marker edit processing circuit 32 generates the marker area signal based on the color code signal. And output. The image-processed density signal MD (marker processing output) output via the marker edit processing circuit 32 is subjected to gradation conversion processing by a spatial filter processing unit as shown in FIG.

The spatial filter processing circuit includes two spatial filter processing circuits 41 and 42 for performing gradation conversion based on different coefficients A and B, and the density data gradation-processed by these spatial filter processing circuits 41 and 42 respectively form an image. The data selector 43 based on the discrimination selects one of them according to the discrimination signal PM and outputs it as the density data FD. That is, the characteristics of gradation processing can be automatically switched to, for example, sharp or soft depending on whether the original image is a photographic image or a character / line drawing image.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 44 is a RAM as a work memory for spatial filter processing calculation. The density data FD subjected to the gradation conversion processing by the spatial filter processing circuit shown in FIG. 5 is subsequently sent to the scaling processing section shown in FIG. The scaling processing unit includes an input-side scaling processing circuit (A) 51, an output-side scaling processing circuit (B) 52, a linear interpolation table (ROM) 53, and the scaling processing circuit (A),
It is composed of RAMs 54 and 55 respectively attached to (B). Image processing for enlarging / reducing a document is performed by such a configuration. For example, during enlarging processing, linear density interpolation is performed between adjacent density data, and this is output as converted data. , Input density data is thinned out, and this is output as converted data.

The density data MRD subjected to the enlargement / reduction processing by the configuration shown in FIG. 6 is processed by the color balance processing unit shown in FIG. 7 in order to avoid the occurrence of moire due to the enlargement / reduction. In FIG. 7, first, the density data MRD after the enlargement / reduction processing is processed by the spatial filter 61, and the color balance is adjusted by the color balance circuit (PWM circuit) 62 to be converted into the video signal VD.

In the case of this embodiment, the video signal VD is supplied to the writing unit B, and the video signal VD is supplied.
A latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 151 by modulating the laser beam according to the above and exposing and scanning the photosensitive drum 151. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 63 is a calculation R of the spatial filter 61.
AM. Further, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a processed document discrimination data unit for processing various kinds of image discrimination information obtained by the pre-scan, and the color code signal CC, the marker region signal, and the color code signal CC decoded by the decoding circuits 101a to 101d, respectively. The image discrimination signal PM and the designation data of the processing mode in the marker edit processing are sequentially determined through the writing circuit 104 having a function as a data selection circuit.
You can write to 5.

The various image determination information stored in the determination information storage circuit 105 is read by the CPU 71, which will be described later, via the read circuit 106.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a microcomputer unit including a CPU 71 for controlling the processing circuit portions and peripheral circuits thereof. The processing circuits shown in FIGS. 2 to 8 and the CPU 71 are CPUs.
It is connected via a bus line.

The CPU 71 is a communication interface.
Through the 72, the communication unit 73 of the printer body (writing unit B, image forming unit C) is used to specify the recording paper and report the detection result of the document size. In Figure 9,
In addition to the above configuration, the CPU monitor circuit 74 and the reset circuit 7
5, ROM76, RAM77, address decoding circuit 78, etc. are shown.

Here, the marker editing process according to the present invention will be described in detail. First, in the present embodiment, even if the original to be read is a color original, the reflectance exceeding 100%, which is higher than the reflectance of a normal color original, is set so that the image of the area designation can be separated from the color original image. An image processing area was designated on the original color original document to be copied by using a fluorescent pen (writing instrument containing a fluorescent substance in ink) having a ratio. That is, when an image processing area is designated by a general color marker on a color original, it is difficult to separate the marker signal on the color code. The marker area signal can be separated not by the difference but by the difference in reflectance.

Now, the characteristics of the reflectance of the fluorescent pen obtained by experiments will be described. 10 and 11 show the results of measuring the reflectance of a plurality of commercially available fluorescent pens in a form close to the reading conditions in the digital color copying machine of this embodiment. FIG. 10 shows the experimental results for the Stanford fluorescent pen, and FIG. 11 shows the experimental results for the pilot fluorescent pen.

In measuring the reflectance, the recording paper used in the copying machine of this embodiment was coated once with a fluorescent pen, and the light source (illumination) spectrum in the digital color copying machine of this embodiment was used. A light source (see FIG. 12) that is approximately equal to the spectral source was projected at an incident angle of 45 °, and the vertical reflection component of the fluorescent pen coated portion was measured (see FIG. 13). Further, in order to approximate the reading conditions in a copying machine, a sheet corresponding to the original cover was placed under the recording paper coated with the fluorescent pen, and the transparency of the recording paper used in the experiment was also considered. Further, the white reference level was calibrated with a standard white plate of titanium oxide.

On the other hand, how the color material of the measured spectral spectrum component is actually identified by the digital type color copying machine was obtained by the spectrum calculation. That is, the spectral sensitivity characteristics of the CCD and the characteristics of the dichroic film are experimentally obtained in advance, and the spectral characteristics of the blue channel and red channel under standard conditions are obtained based on these as shown in FIG. Then, in order to calculate the spectrum correction by the shading correction, the spectral reflectance of the reference white plate and the CCDs of the blue channel and the red channel are calculated.
The values obtained by multiplying the sensitivities and performing the area integration of the spectrum waveform are set as B (W) and R (W), respectively.

Next, the measured spectral distribution of the fluorescent pen and the blue channel and red channel CCDs
In the same manner, the sensitivity distribution of 1 is multiplied, and the area integration of each is performed. If the result is B (X) and R (X), CC
When the density level is DK, the level obtained as the output of D is R level = (R (X) / R (W)) × DK B level = (B (X) / B (W)) × DK Required by.

The CCD output obtained by the above calculation is the output corresponding to the solid portion, and the output change due to the resolution (MTF) of the fine line portion is not taken into consideration, but the image processing area is designated as in the present embodiment. When using a highlighter pen for
Since it is estimated that the line is drawn as a relatively thick line (for example, 3 mm or more), it is expected that the CCD output obtained by the above equation will be a substantially correct value. The calculation of the spectral components was limited to the visible wavelength range of 400 nm to 700 nm.

Observing the measurement results obtained as described above (see FIGS. 10 and 11), samples a, b, c, d, e, f
There is a wavelength range where the reflectance exceeds 100%. Since the reflectance does not exceed 100% for color originals that do not include ordinary fluorescent images, use a fluorescent pen with a reflectance of more than 100%, and use a fluorescent pen with a reflectance of 100%.
By observing the output of the CCD in which the wavelength range exceeding 100% and the sensitivity range overlap, the image processing area designated by the highlighter pen can be extracted from the color image to be read based on the difference in the reflectance level. ..

That is, if the CCD output corresponding to a reflectance of 100% is used as a reference and the pixels for which an output exceeding this reference is obtained are coded as designated area pixels with a highlighter pen and output, the color image information is converted into fluorescence. It is possible to extract the image processing area with the pen. For example, assuming a case where the image processing area is specified using the fluorescent pen of the sample a, in this case, the fluorescent marker having the reflectance of 100% or more shown in FIG. A signal corresponding to the area (A) is obtained, and a signal corresponding to the fluorescent marker area (A) cannot be obtained in the portion corresponding to the original image to be read, and the original area (reflectance less than 100% ( Since the signal corresponding to B) is obtained, the image of the specified region by the highlighter pen is extracted from the image information by determining which of the regions (A) and (B) the signal corresponds to. Therefore, the image processing area specified by the highlighter pen can be recognized on the document.

In selecting the highlight pen, the color discrimination of the highlight pen should be taken into consideration so that color conversion corresponding to the color of the highlight pen used to specify the area can be performed in the marker color color conversion process. Is preferred. Alternatively, it is possible to convert to a color designated in advance. Next, a circuit configuration for detecting the image processing area will be described with reference to FIG.
The circuit configuration shown in FIG. 16 corresponds to the fluorescence designated area detecting means in this embodiment.

The image signal in FIG. 16 is the output of the green channel CCD 135, and the green channel CC
The output of D135 is used when the highlighter pen used for designating the image processing area in this embodiment is 500 nm to 55 nm as shown in FIG.
This is because the reflectance exceeds 100% in the wavelength range of 0 nm, and this wavelength range overlaps the sensitivity region of the green channel CCD 135 (see FIG. 17). Therefore, it may be appropriate to use the output of, for example, the red channel CCD or the blue channel CCD for detecting the image processing area depending on the reflectance characteristic of the fluorescent pen used.

The outputs (analog outputs) of the green channel CCD 135 are analog circuits (A) 111, respectively.
(B) 112 is input to the analog circuit (A) 111,
(B) At 112, only the output in the predetermined voltage range is taken out. In this embodiment, since the reflectance of the highlighter pen used for designating the area exceeds 100%, if the voltage that defines the white level of the original at the analog signal level is, for example, 0.8 V, this voltage is applied to the highlighter. It indicates the voltage to be exceeded (see FIG. 18), and the signal area (density area) corresponding to the original image to be read and the signal area (density area) corresponding to the portion painted with the highlighter pen to specify the area. Will be divided into two based on the white level.

In the analog circuit (A) 111, the voltage (0.8 V in the case of FIG. 18) that defines the white level is used as a reference voltage for marker determination, and the voltage output from the green channel CCD 135 in the prescan is used for the determination. A voltage exceeding the reference voltage, that is, only the image signal of the portion coated with the fluorescent marker is taken out, and this is used as a marker information determination circuit (A /
It is output to the D conversion circuit (A) 113.

The marker information determination circuit 113 compares the voltage output from the analog circuit (A) 111 with a reference voltage to determine whether or not the determination voltage is exceeded, in other words, to specify a processing area. The 1-bit information indicating whether the application portion of the highlighter pen or the original image portion to be read is output as marker detection data. The marker detection data is sent to the marker region signal generation circuit 115, where the marker for distinguishing the image processing region and the non-image processing region is based on the fluorescent marker formed across each scanning line. An area signal is generated and this marker area signal is sent to the processed document discrimination data unit shown in FIG.

The marker detection data separates the marker signal from the original image signal even when the reading target is a color original, as in the case where the image processing area is designated by a color marker on a monochrome image. Therefore, the marker area signal generation circuit 115, when designating an image processing area with a color marker on a black-and-white image, uses a circuit substantially similar to a known circuit for generating a marker area signal from a color code signal. You can

In the processed document discrimination data unit, the marker area signal is written and stored in the discrimination information storage circuit 105. Here, the CCD output corresponding to the fluorescent marker portion output from the analog circuit (A) 111 may be converted into a digital signal, which may be output as marker detection data. On the other hand, analog circuit (B) 11
2 is the voltage that defines the white level (0.8 in the case of Fig. 18).
V) is a reference voltage for determining the original image (original reference voltage outside the marker), and only the voltage (original image signal) lower than the reference voltage for determination is extracted from the voltages output from the green channel CCD 135.

Then, in the A / D conversion circuit (B) 114,
The voltage of the original image output from the analog circuit (B) 112 is A / D converted, and further shading correction is performed.
The image signal data excluding the fluorescent portion for specifying the area is output to the image processing unit shown in FIG.
The voltage defining the white level by the analog signal level is obtained by reading the standard white plate 131 before pre-scan, and the shading correction data is obtained by reading the standard white plate 131.

The reference voltage for marker determination and the reference voltage for original determination (original reference voltage outside marker) are set to the same voltage in the above embodiment (0.8 V in the example shown in FIG. 18). If the fluorescent pen used has a particularly high reflectance, a voltage higher than the original determination voltage set as the voltage defining the white level may be used as the original cover determination voltage.

The detection of the image processing area using the circuit configuration of FIG. 16 is performed based on the image information obtained by the prescan, and the marker obtained by this prescan and written in the judgment information storage circuit 105. The area signal is read during the main scan, and the marker edit processing circuit 32 executes image processing in the designated area in accordance with the read image processing area.

By using the afterglow characteristic of the fluorescent substance of the fluorescent pen, the CCD reads the image with a time delay with respect to the irradiation of the illumination light. The designated marker may be detected. Here, the setting of the processing mode in the image processing area designated by using the highlighter pen as described above is as follows.
If the highlighter shows different characteristics that can be distinguished,
The processing mode can be set for each characteristic of the fluorescent pen. However, when only the same type of fluorescent pen is used, normally only one processing mode is set within the same original document. With respect to the area designated within, only one selected process among various processes such as inversion and shading is performed in each designated region.

However, it is possible to set different processing modes for each of a plurality of areas using the same type of fluorescent pen as follows. That is, the processing mode is set after the prescan, and a plurality of image processing areas detected by the prescan are automatically numbered, for example, in order along the scanning direction, and each image processing area is assigned according to the number guide. Let the process mode be selected. And
The selected processing mode is stored in the judgment information storage circuit 105 as edit data as shown in FIG. 19, for example.

The edit data shown in FIG. 19 includes 1-bit information indicating whether or not the image processing area is a marker area signal, as well as which processing mode (shading, inversion, trimming, masking, designated color conversion). ) Is executed. The designated color conversion of the processing modes is for converting an image in an image processing area into a designated color, and the designated color is such that density information is finely set for each color component, or a plurality of rules are specified. You can choose whether to select from the colors.

Here, the operation of the marker editing process described above will be briefly described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.
First, an area to be subjected to image processing on an original document to be copied as a document is specified by using a highlighter pen so as to form a closed loop. Then, set the original document whose area has been specified by the highlighter on the copying machine,
Since the set original is the original for which the marker editing is performed, the mode for performing the marker editing is selected, and then the copy start button is pressed.

When the copy start button is pressed, a prescan is performed as an internal process, and the image information obtained by this prescan is separated into a fluorescent marker signal and a document image signal by the circuit configuration shown in FIG. It Then, a marker region signal indicating the image processing region is generated based on the separated fluorescent marker signal, and the marker region signal is stored.

Here, when a plurality of processing modes are set, processing such as shading, inversion, trimming, masking, and color conversion is performed for each designated area determined based on the stored marker area signal. Which of the modes is to be executed is selected, and information on the selected processing mode is stored together with the marker area signal. Next, a main scan is performed while reading the stored information about the marker region signal and the processing mode, and the image signals in the marker region among the image signals read by the main scan are processed according to the set processing mode. To do.

Then, the image-processed image signal is sent to the writing unit to form an image-processed original image on the recording paper. Although the present embodiment describes the digital color copying machine, it may be a so-called image scanner or the like in which the reading unit A in this embodiment is a single device, and the reading unit A is a CRT or the like. The image signal may be output to the display device or the electronic filing device.

[0058]

As described above, the image processing apparatus according to the present invention has the function of detecting the designated area of the image processing by the fluorescent marker from the read image information, so that it is a color original document. Also, if the image processing area is designated using the fluorescent marker, the image processing of the designated area can be performed, and the image processing can be designated using the marker even in the case of a color original. ..

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a digital color copying machine according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing an input / density conversion unit of an image processing unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a color reproduction / EE circuit unit of an image processing unit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a marker processing unit of the image processing unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a spatial filter processing unit of the image processing unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a scaling processing unit of the image processing unit.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a color balance processing unit of the image processing unit.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a processed document discrimination data unit of an image processing unit.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a microcomputer unit of an image processing unit.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing reflectance data of a highlighter pen.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing reflectance data of a highlighter pen.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a light source characteristic used in a reflectance detection experiment.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an experimental device used for a reflectance detection experiment.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a sensitivity characteristic of a CCD.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing how the regions are distinguished by the reflectance.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration for obtaining a marker area signal.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the relationship between the reflection characteristics of a fluorescent pen and CCD sensitivity characteristics.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a document cover and CCD output corresponding to the document.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a configuration of edit data for executing marker edit processing.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing the flow of marker editing processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

 71 CPU 105 Judgment Information Storage Circuit 111 Analog Circuit (A) 112 Analog Circuit (B) 113 Outside Document Information Judgment Circuit (A / D Conversion Circuit (A)) 114 A / D Conversion Circuit (B) 115 Marker Area Signal Generation Circuit 121 manuscript 134 red channel CCD 135 green channel CCD 136 blue channel CCD

Front page continuation (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI Technical display location G06F 15/66 470 A 8420-5L H04N 1/40 Z 9068-5C 1/46 9068-5C

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for reading a manuscript image by photoelectric conversion to obtain color image information corresponding to the manuscript image, performing image processing on the color image information, and outputting the color image information. A fluorescence designated area detecting means for detecting the image processing area designated by the marker based on the color image information; and an image processing means for performing image processing of the image processing area detected by the fluorescence designated area detecting means. An image processing device configured to include.