JPH0535860A - Color image processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a desired image even for an external device for a different kind of image data with simple hardware constitution by providing a 1st mode wherein a specific color process is performed corresponding to previously given coloration information and a 2nd mode wherein color data are received in order from the external device. CONSTITUTION:An area code generating circuit 402 generates area codes made to correspond to respective areas by using coordinate information on the areas which are sent previously through the line from a computer and the CPU bus 410 in a copying machine and information indicating print positions which are outputted in real time in synchronism with the printing operation of a color printer. Further, data for Y, M, C, and Bk corresponding to optional coloration data are written in LUTs corresponding to the area codes according to the coloration data sent previously from the computer and the contents of registers for Y, M, C, and Bk are selected with a color select signal 405.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image processing system, and more particularly to a color image processing system for inputting image data to obtain a color image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art With the spread of digital color copying machines in recent years, CG images made on a computer, line drawings, or natural images read by a scanner are connected to a computer, and the computer once outputs them. Such a device that outputs a computer image has been commercialized. In such a system, a copying machine and a computer are connected to each other through a unit having a memory (hereinafter referred to as an IU) so that the memory can store a natural image and the like. A multi-valued image memory and a binary image memory for storing characters, line drawings, etc. are provided to facilitate handling of the multi-valued image and the binary image which are data handled on a computer. In many cases, a multi-valued image signal line and a binary image signal line are independently provided between the copying machine and the IU so that optimum image processing is performed. Further, in such a system, it is natural that characters and line drawings edited on a computer are printed in arbitrary colors.
In this case, since it is not possible to add an arbitrary color only with the data of the binary image signal line, before receiving the binary image signal, the area of the coloring and the color information are received from the computer in advance and the copying machine 2 Data is set so that the value image data is colored, and then the given binary signal is processed. The binary image data is used for the above-described processing, and when the image information read by the scanner of the copying machine and the binary image data are combined with the hair removal overlay, the area to which the binary image data is given is the image information read by the scanner. In order to prohibit printing, the same data is sent from the IU for each color plane on the copying machine side.

On the other hand, recently, an apparatus for outputting color binary data of characters and line drawings in a language called PostScript (hereinafter referred to as PS) of ADOBE, which uses PDL as a so-called DTP system, is also available. The number of such system products is also increasing due to the demand for mobile stations.

In the configuration in this case, as described above, the computer and the copying machine are connected to each other through a unit having a memory (hereinafter referred to as PS-IU) so that the computer and the copying machine can interface with each other. The PS language is converted into a raster image by the interpreter in the PS-IU and sent to the copying machine as a binary signal. Unlike the above-mentioned IU, the binary image data in this case is not the same data sent for each color plane of the copying machine, but the binary data corresponding to the color material of each plane is PS-I.
It will be sent from U.

[0005]

However, since the above-mentioned respective devices have different binary image data structures as described above, in order to handle both data from both devices by, for example, a copying machine. The aforementioned IU or PS-I
There is a problem that the I / F for U needs to be used in the copying machine and the software for controlling those sequences must be changed, which complicates the configuration of the same copying machine.

An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing system which solves the above problems.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus constituting such a processing system.

[0008]

For this purpose, the image processing system of the present invention receives data from an external device via a predetermined line, and performs predetermined color processing according to coloring information given in advance. And a second mode in which sequential color data is received from an external device through the predetermined line.
And a mode.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a schematic configuration of an image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention. A computer 1 is used to create various images and edit images. Reference numeral 3 is a so-called copier, which is composed of an image reading unit (scanner) and an image forming unit (printer), and has an interface capable of outputting a scanner image to the outside or printing out image data from the outside. It is provided.
In this embodiment, the copying machine 3 is a so-called frame-sequential printer that prints Y, M, C, etc. in a frame-sequential manner and superimposes them.
For example, an electrophotographic method and a thermal transfer method can be used. Reference numeral 2 is an external device for interfacing the computer 1 and the copying machine 3, and the computer 1 and 4 are general-purpose interfaces (for example, GPIB, SCSI, RS232e).
tc). Further, the color copying machine 3 is connected by a so-called video interface 5 which is device dependent, and is composed of a signal line capable of outputting an image according to the scanning speed or the printing speed of the copying machine.

FIG. 2 is a simple block diagram showing a main part of the external device 2. Image data created on a computer is roughly classified into multi-valued data that handles natural images and 2 like character and line drawings.
The external device 2 according to the present embodiment can be classified into value data, and the external device 2 of the present embodiment corresponds to the multivalued data and the binary data so that the data can be easily handled. It consists of

The computer interface 200 is
A handshake with a general-purpose I / F 4 from a computer is performed, and a binary image or a multi-valued image is passed through a binary memory 203 or a multi-valued memory 202 through a selector 201 under the control of a CPU via a CPU bus (not shown). I / O is performed. Further, the computer interface controls the control commands of the color copying machine 3 other than the image data, and the print information (for example, the coloring information for the binary image and the information of the coordinates to be colored), and if necessary, the video interface. The information is output to 205 and the above-mentioned control command and the above-mentioned coordinate information can be notified to the color copying machine 3 via a line 505 described later. The multi-valued image data stored in the multi-valued memory 202 is converted by the color correction circuit 204 from the R, G, B brightness data into the density data of each toner component which is the color material of the color copying machine. It is sent to the color copier along with the control line 505 through the R component signal lines 211 and 501. The data of the signal lines 211 and 501 is data in which color data such as Y, M, and C is output in the frame sequential manner in accordance with the frame sequential printing operation of the color copying machine. Again 2
Similarly, the binary image data stored in the value memory 203 is 2
It is sent to the color copying machine 3 through the video interface 205 in parallel through the signal lines 14 and 504 in synchronization with the above-mentioned multi-valued image data. The lines 211 to 213 and 501 to 503 in this embodiment are bidirectional data lines, and when storing the scan image read by the scanner section of the color copying machine in the memory 202, R and G are stored. , B respectively 501, 502, 50
The image data from the R, G, and B scanners are stored in the multi-valued memory 202 by inputting from the signal line 3 through the video interface 205, passing the color correction circuit 204 through. At this time, if necessary, for example, image data from the scanner is transferred to the image data by a comparator (not shown) provided in the video interface 205
It can also be digitized and stored in the binary memory 203 as binary data via the selector 201. Further, the stored binary data or multi-valued data can be output to the computer side by an instruction from the computer 1. The control line 505 is composed of a transfer control line for image data, which will be described later, and a communication control line for exchanging information with the color copying machine 3.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a scanner section constituting a color copying machine. Reference numeral 301 is a line sensor in which a color separation filter is attached to a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD. At the time of image reading, a color image can be read by moving the sensor 301 with respect to a document (not shown) with a motor or the like.

Next, the output image signal from the sensor 301 is
The R, G, B signals are input to the A / D conversion circuit 302 and converted into digital RGB signals. A /
The RGB digital signal output from the D converter 302 is subjected to shading correction by a shading correction circuit 303 in order to correct unevenness in light amount and output characteristics of pixels.
Next, the corrected image signal has an R value obtained by conforming the spectral characteristics of the color separation filter of the sensor 301 to the color space and the NTSC standard.
Color correction is performed by the sensor color correction circuit 304 to correct the GB data. Next, in 305, RGB which is luminance data
Are logarithmically converted into density data, and in 306, color correction is performed according to the spectral reflection characteristics of the toner, which is the color material of the printer. Further, the color separation image data input in parallel is converted into frame sequential image data here. Although the description has changed, when printing the image data from the sensor 301, the document is read repeatedly as many times as the number of color materials used in the printer. Therefore, the color-separated image data generated by being repeatedly read is input to 306. In this embodiment, when printing in full color by the printer, full-color print output is possible by superimposing several basic color materials, and C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), Bk. Although four types of (black) are used, the number of this color material may be three or another number.

The signal output from the printer color correction circuit 306 is input to the image processing / image editing circuit 307 which is the main part of this embodiment. This allows the image processing and editing to be programmable by a code number obtained from an area code generator described later. The signal 314 output from the image editing circuit 307 is the printer interface 308.
It is output to the printer via the and printed.

The above is the flow of the image data in the case of the ordinary color copying machine. Next, the image data from the external device will be described.

When outputting a scanner image to an external device, the processing up to the sensor color correction circuit 304 is performed in the same manner as described above, and the R converted into the above-mentioned NTSC standard is performed.
The GB signal is input to the video interface 309,
It is output on the signal lines 501, 502, 503 and stored in the memory 202 or 203 of the external device.

On the other hand, the multi-valued image data and the binary image data stored in the memory in the external device pass through 501 and 504 for each color plane and the image editing circuit 307.
Is input to the printer and is controlled according to the instructed mode and output to the printer. Further, in this case, the positional information of the image respectively input and the color information for coloring the characters and the like are sent in advance through the control line 505 from the external device, and the image editing circuit 307 controls them based on the information. It

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the image editing circuit 307. The selector 401 is a circuit for selecting either the image 311 output from the sensor obtained by scanning the document or the multi-valued data 312 sent from the external device 2, and is used for combining the image from the scanner and the multi-valued data from the external device. The coordinate information for the above-described composition is previously received from the computer via the external device 2, and the image is switched by the select signal according to the coordinate information. Alternatively, the switching information is not limited to the coordinate information described above, and may be a simple switching command. The output data of the selector 401 is input to the selector 403 through 408. On the other hand, the area code generation circuit 402 outputs in real time in synchronization with the coordinate information of the area and the area coordinate information previously sent from the computer through the lines 4 and 5 in FIG. 1 and the CPU bus 410 in the copying machine and the printing operation of the color printer. An area code associated with each area is generated from the information indicating the print position to be printed, and the area code 406 is 404.
Connected to the LUT of the selected register (8b
It) is output.

Further, in the LUT corresponding to the area code, Y, M, C, Bk corresponding to the coloring data based on the arbitrary coloring data to the binary image sent from the computer in advance via the CPU bus 410. Data has been written, and the color select signal 405 causes Y,
The contents of the registers for M, C and Bk can be selected. The color select signal is a 2-bit signal indicating the color component being formed by the above-mentioned frame sequential color printer, and is, for example, "01" when the Y component is printed by the printer. It is a good signal.

As described above, the 8-bit data addressed by the area code 406 and the color select signal 405 and the output of the selector 401 are input to the selector 403, selected by the binary signal from the external device, and each area is selected. Any color can be added to the binary image of.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a sample in which binary data is printed from an external device. The letters A, B, C and D are present from the beginning of the paper feed, and the letters are red, cyan, yellow and black respectively. Is colored.

Next, the processing for outputting these samples will be described step by step. First, the operation when the above-mentioned device called IU is connected as the external device 2 in FIG. 1 will be described.

A from a computer via an external device,
Area information surrounding B, C, and D and color information in the area are sent. Based on these information, the coordinate information A to D and the area code are set in advance in the area code generation circuit 402 of FIG. Further, since information indicating the real-time print position is input to the area code generation circuit 402, each area code is generated in synchronization with the reading of the binary image data from the binary memory 203 of FIG. To Next, assuming that the area for A is area 0, Y is FF _H , M = FF _H , C = 00, Bk = 0 because A is red in each register of area 0.
Set to 0. Area B is cyan because B is Y = 00
Set _H , M = 00 _H , C = FF _H , Bk = 00.
Similarly, data is set in the CD area. After the above settings are made, the computer issues a print operation instruction to the color copying machine, and the printer starts operation.

FIG. 6i) is a timing chart at that time, and ITOP is a synchronizing signal of each plane sequential color plane generated from the printer, and when an image is sent from the rising edge, it is printed from the leading edge of the transfer paper. There is.

In the M cycle, magenta is selected by the color select 405 in the LUT of FIG.
~ The contents of the M register in area 3 (A to D) are sequentially output according to the print position, and when the binary signal (indicated by 313 in Fig. 4) from the external device is "1", it is selected and A Magenta is transferred only to the characters. Similarly, C
Only B in cycle, A and C in Y cycle, Bk
In the cycle, only D is transferred by each toner, and the output of FIG. 5 is obtained.

Next, as the external device 2 shown in FIG.
The operation when a device called -IU is connected will be described.

On the other hand, ii) of FIG. 6 is a timing chart when binary data corresponding to a color material such as color Postscript is sent from an external device. In this case, the CPU sets in advance in the area code generation circuit 402 so that data designating the area 0 of the LUT is always generated regardless of the real-time print position, and the CPU sets each register of the area 0 via the bus 410, for example. Y =
FF _H , M = FF _H , C = FF _H , and Bk = FF _H are set so that each toner is transferred to all the binary data sent in each color cycle.

The data set in each register in the present embodiment may be other data than "FF".

In this embodiment described above, the binary image data is received from the external device for generating the binary image data,
A color image forming apparatus for forming a color image, the first mode in which the same binary image signal is received for each color plane and color processing is performed on the receiving side, and the colors used in the printing operation of the printer. The printer has a second mode in which frame-sequential binary image data indicating each color plane corresponding to the type of material is received, and the printer performs binary printing for each plane in accordance with the image data. Alternatively, the instruction means for instructing the second mode selectively executes the mode corresponding to each instruction with respect to the binary image data from the external device.

In the present embodiment, the processing of the different binary signals described above can be set by the operation unit 3-1 of the color copying machine 3 in the service mode, for example. At the time of printing a binary signal, control is switched according to this service mode information.

The selection of these types can be notified by communication between the color copying machine and the external device. That is, the above-mentioned two types may be selected on the color copying machine side by discriminating the characteristics of the respective devices via the line 505 shown in FIG. Also, line 5 as described above
05 may not be used. For example, it is possible to pull up or pull down an unused signal line on the connector connecting the color copying machine and the external device on the external device side so that the color copying machine side can judge.

[0033]

As described above, a desired image can be obtained even for an external device having different types of image data with a simple hardware configuration.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the external device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a scanner of the color copying machine shown in FIG.

4 is a block diagram of the image editing circuit shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an output sample.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a timing chart when receiving data from an IU and a timing chart when receiving data from a PS-IU.

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Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first mode in which data is received from an external device via a predetermined line and a predetermined color process is performed according to coloring information given in advance, and a sequential color is sent from the external device via the predetermined line. And a second mode for receiving data. 2. The color image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising switching means for switching between the first mode and the second mode in response to a manual operation. 3. The color image processing system according to claim 1, further comprising switching means for switching between the first mode and the second mode based on a communication result with an external device. 4. The color image processing system according to claim 1, wherein the sequence is a frame sequence.