JPH0573651A - Picture processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To execute an editing processing at high speed by executing a picture editing processing at the time of input to an encoding part or at the time of output from a decoding part. CONSTITUTION:A size/density conversion processing part 21 executes a size conversion, such as enlarging and reducing inputted picture data and picture element density conversion for adjustment to the picture element density of a recording part and outputs converted picture data to a blank addition processing part 22. It adds blanks in arbitrary length to the upper/lower/right/left parts of picture data which is size/density conversion-processed, then outputs to a character addition processing port 23. The character addition processing part 23 executes character addition which is to add the arbitrary character and mark in an arbitrary position in picture data to which the blanks are added, and executes picture alteration which is to rewrite picture element data, and it outputs processed picture data to the encoding part or a printer.

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 for processing an image with a digital signal, and more particularly to an image processing apparatus suitable for use in a high speed facsimile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional technique relating to a digital image processing apparatus, for example, the document Mitsubishi Integrated Circuit <Digital AS
SP> M66330SP / FP The technology described in the provisional materials on pages 19 to 21 is known.

In this prior art, when performing image editing processing such as enlarging or reducing an original received by a facsimile device to fit the size of recording paper of a printer, first, received code data is temporarily stored in an image memory, The received code data stored in the image memory is subjected to size conversion while being decoded, coded again and stored in the image memory. When the received code data is printed, the code data stored in the image memory after being size-converted is decoded and output to the printer.

Further, according to the above-mentioned prior art, when a character such as a sender name and a transmission time is added to the read image data to be transmitted, the image data of the character input from the MPU bus is encoded and encoded. The converted character is added to the beginning or the end of the transmission document.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the prior art, the size conversion of the received image data to match the size of the recording paper and the density conversion to match the recording density are performed.
Alternatively, when adding a margin to the top, bottom, left, and right of a recorded image for recording, the received image data is first decoded, then the size and density of the image data are converted, and the encoded data is restored again. There is a problem in that the coded data cannot be recorded while converting the size and density.

Further, according to the above-mentioned prior art, when additional information such as characters is to be added to the image data even when printing is performed at the transmission source, the additional information must be encoded before it is added to the image data. It is not possible to add additional information such as characters, and in order to realize this, it is necessary to temporarily store the read image data in the image memory, add the characters to this, and then code.

For this reason, in the above-mentioned prior art, the editing process on the image memory is required in order to perform the editing process of the image when transmitting the read image and recording the received image, so that the image is transmitted at high speed, Alternatively, there is a problem that it is difficult to record the received image at high speed.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and to perform image editing processing at the time of input to the encoding section or at the output of the decoding section, thereby achieving high speed. An object of the present invention is to provide an image processing device capable of performing editing processing.

[0009]

According to the present invention, the above object is to carry out size conversion, density conversion and margin addition processing of image data while transmitting or recording the image data. Direction size conversion rate, the number of input pixels in the main scanning direction, the number of output pixels in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, and means for setting each of the upper side margin pixel number and the left side margin pixel number. This is achieved by controlling the image output period and the margin output period based on the 1-page input end signal, and making the image input speed follow up according to the image output speed.

The above-mentioned object is to add a character from the microprocessor (hereinafter referred to as MPU) to the output image when transmitting the image stored in the code memory. The means for notifying the end of output and the output image data stored in the output image line memory are used to set a character addition position from the MPU and a character is set in the character double angle setting unit so that the target on the output image line memory is set. And a means for adding a character to a position at a target magnification.

Further, the object is to add a character while directly transmitting or recording a read image or recording a received image. Therefore, a memory for accumulating a character to be added in advance and a position for setting the character are set. This is achieved by providing a setting means and a control means for outputting the character on the memory when the output of the image data for transmission or recording reaches the set position.

[0012]

The processing of size conversion, density conversion, and margin addition for the binary image input in the image editing unit is started when the image processing permission signal is given from the MPU, and the image editing unit first determines the number of upper white lines. Outputs a white line for the set value of. During that time, no image data input request is made. The left margin addition outputs white pixels for the left white pixel number set value,
Next, this is executed by outputting image input requests for the number of input pixels in the main scanning direction to the image data supply circuit.

When the size conversion is performed and the output of the image data for one main scanning line is completed, the image editing unit thereafter outputs white pixels until the output pixel number set value in the main scanning direction is reached. Processing of the next line is started by the output of the line synchronization signal. The image editing unit repeatedly executes the image processing in the main scanning direction, and when a one-page input end signal is input, outputs a white line from the next line until the output pixel number set value in the sub-scanning direction is reached, At the same time as the output of the last main scanning line, a one-page output end signal is output.

In the process of adding a character to the output image from the MPU, the MPU first sets the number of output lines up to the line to which the character is added, and sets the image processing permission. The image editing unit stops the image output when the line to which the character is added is accumulated in the output line memory, and outputs the output end signal. This allows the image editing unit to
When the character addition position is set from U, the address of the character addition pixel position is output to the line memory,
Output a character request to the MPU. MP that received this
U overwrites the character on the line memory, performs processing such as reading and changing the image data, and writes the character at the original position on the line memory.

The character double angle setting unit has a function of enlarging the character in the main scanning direction, and the character is added to the line memory at the set magnification. When it is desired to add characters continuously, it is not necessary to set a new character addition position, and it can be executed by automatically increasing the address value output to the line memory. When the addition of the character on one line is completed, the MPU sets the number of lines up to the line to which the next character is added in the image editing unit, and restarts the image processing output.

The process of adding a character while outputting image data to a high-speed recording device such as a laser printer is performed by pre-storing a character to be added to an output image in a character memory and setting a character addition position setting unit. This is executed by setting the coordinates to which each character is added and the number of pixels of the character. This process uses the output of the margin addition and size density conversion
When the pixel position matches the character's additional coordinates,
The output is switched to the character memory side and the character is output, whereby a plurality of characters can be added to arbitrary positions within one page.

[0017]

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

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall construction of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is an image processing device, 2 is a reading / binarizing unit, 3, 5 is a selector, 4 is an image editing unit, 6 is a scanner, 7 is a receiving unit, 8 is a decoding unit,
Reference numeral 9 is an encoding unit, 10 is a printer, 11 is a transmission unit, and 12 is a code memory. The illustrated embodiment of the present invention is an example in which the present invention is applied to a facsimile apparatus.

An embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is an image processing apparatus 1 including a reading / binarizing section 2, an image editing section 4 and selectors 3 and 4, and an image processing apparatus 1 connected to the image processing apparatus 1. Various functional units and M (not shown) that controls all of them
And PU. Then, this embodiment operates as follows when reading and transmitting an image.

The scanner 6 reads the image original to be transmitted, reads the image signal, and outputs it to the binarization unit 2. The reading and binarizing unit 2 converts the received image signal into binary image data, and when the image data is not edited, outputs the binary image data to the encoding unit 9 via the selector 5. On the other hand, when the image is edited, the binary image data output from the reading / binarizing unit 2 is output to the image editing unit 4 via the selector 3. In this case, the image editing unit 4
Performs edit processing such as size conversion, density conversion, and character addition on the input binary image data, and outputs the edited image data to the encoding unit 9 via the selector 5. The encoding unit 9 encodes the binary image data and transmits the encoded image data to the transmission unit 1.
Output to 1.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 1 operates as follows when receiving and recording image data.

The receiving section 7 outputs the coded data of the received image to the decoding section 8. The decoding unit 8 converts the coded data into 2
The value image data is decoded and output to the image editing unit 4 via the selector 3. The image editing unit 4 performs editing processing such as size conversion and character addition on the input binary image data, and outputs it to the printer 10.

In the illustrated embodiment, when the read image is temporarily stored in the memory and transmitted, it operates as follows.

The code data generated by the encoding unit 9 is output to the code memory 12, and the code memory 12 stores the code data and outputs it to the decoding unit 8 when transmitting. The decoding unit 8 restores the coded data into binary image data and outputs it to the image editing unit 4 via the selector 3. The image editing unit 4 performs editing processing such as size conversion and character addition on the binary image data, and outputs it to the encoding unit 9 via the selector 5. The encoder 9 encodes this binary image data and outputs it to the transmitter 11.

Further, the illustrated embodiment is also capable of a copy operation, and in this case, it operates as follows.

The scanner 6 reads the image original to be copied, reads the image signal, and outputs the image signal to the binarization unit 2. The reading / binarizing unit 2 converts the image signal into binary image data and outputs it to the image editing unit 4 via the selector 3.
The image editing unit 4 performs edit processing on the binary image data, such as size conversion according to the size of the recording paper and pixel density conversion according to the recording density, and outputs the edited image signal to the printer 10.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram for explaining the contents of the image editing section 4. In FIG. 2, 21 is a size / density conversion processing unit, 22 is a margin addition processing unit, and 23 is a character addition processing unit.

In FIG. 2, the size / density conversion processing unit 2
1 performs size conversion such as enlargement or reduction of input image data and pixel density conversion to match the pixel density of the recording unit, and outputs the converted image data to the margin addition processing unit 22. The margin adding processing unit 22 adds a blank of arbitrary length to the upper, lower, left and right sides of the image data to which the size / density conversion processing has been applied, and adds the character adding processing unit 2.
Output to 3. The character addition processing unit 23 performs character addition for adding an arbitrary character, symbol, etc. at an arbitrary position and image modification for rewriting pixel data to the image data added with the margin, and outputs the processed image data. The data is output to the encoding unit 9 or the printer 10.

It should be noted that all of the processes in the image editing unit 4 described above do not have to be performed, and only the required processes need to be performed.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining input / output signals transferred between the image editing section 4 and various functional sections connected thereto. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 36 is an MPU, and other reference numerals are the same as those in FIG.

In FIG. 3, when the image of the original is read and transmitted as image data, the following signals are transmitted and received between the functional units.

The MPU 36 outputs an image processing start signal to the image editing section 4. The image editing unit 4 sends an input request signal to the reading / binarizing unit 2 in response to the image processing start signal. After that, the read binarization unit 2 outputs an input permission signal to the image editing unit 4 and outputs the read image data in synchronization with the data transfer clock. The image editing unit 4 outputs an output request signal to the encoding unit 9 in units of 8 pixels while editing the image data. The encoding unit 9 outputs an output permission signal to the image editing unit 4 in response to this output request signal. The image editing unit 4 outputs the image data to the encoding unit 9 in response to the output permission signal.

The above-mentioned processing is continuously executed for the image input for one page of the document. Then, the reading / binarizing unit 2 inputs a page end signal to the image editing unit 4 when the data of the last main scanning line of the image data for one page is input. The image editing unit 4 recognizes the end of the input for one page by the page end signal from the reading and binarizing unit 2, and outputs the one-page processing end signal when outputting the data of the final line after the editing process to the encoding unit 9. Output to. Furthermore, the image editing unit 4 outputs a one-page processing end signal to the MPU 36 when the output of one page to the encoding unit 9 is completed.

When the image data is received and output to the printer 10, the following signals are transmitted and received between the functional units.

The MPU 36 outputs an image processing start signal to the image editing section 4. The image editing unit 4 thereby outputs the input request signal to the decoding unit 8. The post-decoding unit 8
The input permission signal and the image data are output to the image editing unit 4 in response to the input request from the image editing unit 4. The image editing unit 4 edits the input image data and outputs the edited image data in synchronization with the data transfer clock output of the printer 10.

Input requests from the image editing unit 4 to the decoding unit 8 are continuously made every time an image of one page of a document is input. Then, the decoding unit 8 sends a page end signal to the image editing unit 4 when the data of the last main scanning line of the image data for one page is input. The image editing unit 4 recognizes the end of input of one page by this page end signal, and when the output of the image data of one page to the printer 10 is completed, outputs the one-page processing end signal to the MPU 36. .. Further, the image editing unit 4 outputs white data when the transfer clock output from the printer 35 continues even after the output of the data of the final line after the editing process is completed.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the configurations of the size density conversion processing unit 21 and the margin addition processing unit 22 of the image editing unit 4,
FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the margin adding processing unit 22. In FIG. 4, 62 is an image input device,
Reference numerals 63 to 66 and 72 are parameter setting units, 67 is an image processing start permission setting unit, 68 is a size margin control unit, 69 is a size / density conversion unit, 70 is a selector, and 71 is an image output device. The image input device 62 is the reading / binarizing unit 2 or the decoding unit 8 in FIG. 1, and the image output device 71 is the encoding unit 9 or the printer 10.

In FIG. 4, the main / sub size conversion rate setting unit 72 and the size / density conversion unit 69 constitute the size / density conversion processing unit 21, and the other functional units in the image editing unit 4 A margin addition processing unit 22 is configured. Then, in the illustrated image editing unit 4, before the size margin processing is started, the parameter setting units 63 to 66, 7 are set.
The following parameters are set in 2 by the MPU 36.

The number of output pixels for one main scanning line and the number of output lines in the sub-scanning direction are set in the main / sub-scanning output pixel number setting unit 63, and the image output is set in the upper white line number setting unit 64. The number of margin lines on the upper side of the sub-scanning that is added at times is set. The left-side white pixel number setting unit 65 is set with the number of pixels of the margin line on the left side of the main scan added at the time of image output, and the main-scan input pixel number setting unit 66 is set with the main-scan pixel input from the image input device 62. The number is set. In addition, the main and sub-scanning size conversion rate setting unit 72 displays the enlargement rate of the input pixel data,
The reduction ratio is set.

The MPU 36 sets the start of image processing in the image processing start permission setting section 67 after completing the setting of the parameters in the respective parameter setting sections. When the start of image processing is set in the setting unit 67, the size margin control unit 68 sets
The white image data for the number of lines set in the upper white line number setting unit 64 is output to the image output device 71.
This processing can be realized by selecting the ground as the input of the selector 70 by the size density conversion permission signal which is a control signal to the selector 70.

After the output for the number of upper white lines is completed, M
The PU 36 outputs white pixels for the number of pixels set in the left-side white pixel number setting unit 65 from the next line, and then outputs an input request to the image input device 62. This input request is output by the set value of the main scanning input pixel number setting unit 66. The image input device 62 outputs the image data to the size / density conversion unit 69 in response to the input request.

The size / density conversion unit 69 follows the set value set in the main / sub-scanning size conversion ratio setting unit 72.
Conversion processing such as enlargement and reduction of image data is performed, and the image data is output to the image output device 71 via the selector 70. At this time, even if the output of the image data for the set value set in the main scanning input pixel number setting unit 66 is finished, the main scanning output pixel number set in the sub scanning output pixel number setting unit 63 is set. If not, the size margin control unit 68 outputs white pixels for the remaining portion.

The above-described processing for one line of main scanning is performed until the one-page input end signal is output from the image input device 62 to the size / margin signal section 68. Further, the margin processing unit 68 outputs a white line for the amount less than the set value of the sub-scanning output pixel number setting unit 63 at the time when the one-page input end signal is input. When outputting the last image data of one page, a one-page output end signal is output to the image output device 7.
It outputs to 1 and completes a series of outputs.

When the above process is interrupted, the MPU
From 36, the image processing start permission setting unit 67 may be set to stop, whereby the size margin control unit 68 interrupts the process, outputs a one-page output end signal, and ends the process.

According to the configuration of the above-described embodiment of the present invention, for example, when the postcard size image data is to be output to the central portion of the A4 size recording paper, the size of one page and the density conversion are performed. , By simply setting the control parameters from the MPU, it is possible to automatically add a margin and output the image data to the central portion of the recording paper, so the image data is once expanded and white pixels are added to the top, bottom, left and right. It is possible to eliminate the need for a bitmap page memory for this purpose, and it is possible to perform high-speed image processing because the MPU does not intervene in line units.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the character addition processing section 23 in the image editing section 4, and FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the character addition processing. In FIG. 6, 8
2 is a character addition position setting unit, 83 is a character double angle setting unit, 84 is a character addition control unit, 85 is a size margin processing unit, 86 is a sub-scanning output line number setting unit, 87 is a selector, and 88 is a line memory. The size margin processing unit 85 has been described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 6, a character addition position setting unit 82 is means for setting a pixel position to add a character on the main scanning line, and sets a memory address of the line memory 88 in which one main scanning line is accumulated. To be done. The character double angle setting unit 83 is means for enlarging a character to be added on the image output data to a size of 1 ×, 2 ×, 4 ×, etc. The character addition control unit 84 uses the MPU3
6, when the character addition position is set in the character addition position setting unit 82, the input of the selector 87 is switched to the character side, the character addition address is output to the line memory 88, and the character request is output to the MPU 36. Control the addition of. When adding characters continuously, set the character addition position by M each time.
It is not necessary to set from the PU 36, and the address output to the line memory 88 is automatically updated every character setting.

Next, the operation of the character addition processing section 23 will be described with reference to the timing chart of FIG.

The MPU 36 sets the number of image output lines until the character addition line is accumulated in the line memory 88 in the size margin processing section 85, and then sets the image processing permission. The size margin processing unit 85 outputs the image data to the image output device 71 via the line memory 88, and outputs the output end signal to the MPU 36 after the output for the set number of lines is completed. At this time, the line to be the character addition target is stored in the line memory 88.

The MPU 36 has a character addition processing section 23.
The character addition position is set in the character addition position setting section 82 inside. The character addition control unit 84 outputs a memory address corresponding to this character addition position to the line memory 88, and outputs a character request signal to the MPU 36. The MPU 36 thereby sets the character in the character addition control unit 84. In this case, MP
The U 36 can read the image data on the line memory 88, can change the image data, and write the image data on the line memory 88 again. The character addition processing unit 84 performs double angle control and writes the character in the line memory. When setting characters continuously, the memory address output is updated automatically.

When the character addition processing on the line is completed as described above, the MPU 36 again causes the size margin processing section 85 to start the image processing and the number of image output lines until the next character addition line comes on the line memory. Set the permission and restart the output to the line memory.

With the above-described structure and operation, the embodiment of the present invention is required to have a line memory for one main scanning line in addition of a character to image data, and an arbitrary character can be placed at an arbitrary position. Can be set.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing another configuration example of the character addition processing section 23 in the image editing section 4, and FIG. 9 is a diagram explaining an example of data set in the character addition position setting section. In FIG. 8, 96 is a character memory. The illustrated example is a configuration example that does not require the addition of characters from the MPU during the processing of one page, and is effective when used for example when adding characters while outputting to a laser printer.

In FIG. 8, the character addition position setting section 82 is means for receiving and setting the pixel positions of all the characters to be added on one page of image output from the MPU 36, and for each of the plurality of characters, Information as shown in 9 is set. Character memory 9
Reference numeral 6 denotes a memory in which characters to be added to the image output are stored in advance. Each character is set by continuously setting the main scanning character for the sub-scanning character length on the character memory address shown in FIG. To be done. This setting is used for MPU before starting image editing of one page.
It is set from 36.

When the image data input from the size margin processing unit 85 reaches the character addition coordinates set in the character addition position setting unit 82, the character addition control unit 84 inputs the selector 97 to the character memory 96.
Then, the data in the character memory 96 is output to the image output device 71.

The character addition control unit 84 recognizes the main scanning pixel coordinates and the sub scanning pixel coordinates of the image data output from the size margin processing unit 85, and sets these coordinates and the character addition position setting unit 82. Main scanning,
When the sub-scanning coordinates match, the input of the selector 97 is automatically switched to the character memory 96 side, and when the output of the character for the main scanning character length is completed, the input of the selector 97 is automatically moved to the image data side, that is, Since the size margin processing unit 85 is switched to, it is possible to output the image data with the character added to the image output device 71 without interrupting the image output for one page.

[0057]

As described above, according to the present invention, the image editing process is executed in the process of transferring the image data from the reading / binarizing unit to the transmitting unit or from the receiving unit to the recording unit. It is possible to perform high-speed image editing processing without requiring an image memory. Also, since the MPU does not need to control during the image processing of one page, the MP
The processing load on U can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating the contents of an image editing unit 4.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating input / output signals transferred between an image editing unit and various functional units.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing configurations of a size density conversion processing unit and a margin addition processing unit.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart illustrating an operation of a margin adding processing unit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a character addition processing unit.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an operation of character addition processing.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating another configuration example of a character addition processing unit.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of data set in a character addition position setting unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image processing device 2 Read / binarization unit 4 Image editing unit 6 Scanner 7 Receiving unit 8 Decoding unit 9 Encoding unit 10 Printer 11 Transmitting unit 12 Code memory 21 Size / density conversion processing unit 22 Margin addition processing unit 23 Character addition Processing unit 36 MPU 62 Image input device 63 to 66, 72, 83, 84 Parameter setting unit 67 Image processing start permission setting unit 68 Size margin control unit 69 Size / density conversion unit 71 Image output device 82 Character addition position setting unit 83 Character Double angle setting unit 84 Character addition control unit 85 Size margin processing unit 86 Sub-scanning output line number setting unit 88 Line memory

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yasuyuki Kojima 4026 Kuji Town, Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture Hitachi Research Laboratory, Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuhiko Takaoka 216 Totsuka Town, Totsuka Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture Hitachi Totsuka Factory

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus for editing image data based on input binary image data, wherein the image editing apparatus performs input processing in accordance with an output speed of the edited image data while performing editing processing of the image data. An image editing method characterized by instructing a user to input image data. 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the edit processing is at least one of size conversion processing, density conversion processing, margin addition processing, and character addition processing. 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the editing process is controlled in page units of image data by a set value and an end signal instructed by a microprocessor. 4. The size conversion processing, density conversion processing, and margin addition processing include main and sub-scanning size conversion rates, main and sub-scanning output pixel numbers, upper margin pixel numbers, left margin pixel numbers, and main scanning input pixel numbers. 4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing apparatus is controlled by each setting value of 1) and an image data 1-page input end signal. 5. The character addition process is performed at an arbitrary position of an image area on which a size conversion process and a margin addition process are performed.
The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing apparatus is a process for adding an arbitrary character. 6. The character addition process adds a character previously stored in a memory to an arbitrary position of an image area which has been subjected to size conversion processing, margin addition processing or has not been subjected to these processings. The image processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the image processing apparatus is processing. 7. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the editing process is performed before the image data obtained by reading the original image is encoded or output. 8. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the editing process is performed before the image data output from the decoding unit is output or before being encoded.