JPH06225147A - Facsimile equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To clearly read even an original in which a high contrast part and a low contrast part are mixed or an original in which a character and a photograph are mixed. CONSTITUTION:A color scanner 101 reads an original to which color information is added to obtain picture data. A color sensing section 102 detects color information from the obtained picture data. A slice level setting section 105 sets a binarized slice level with respect to an area according to the detected color information. A simple binarization section 104 binarizes picture data obtained according to the set slice level.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a facsimile machine, and more particularly, to a facsimile machine capable of selecting and designating a reading mode by color when reading a document.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional facsimile apparatus, a reading mode such as reading density, characters / photographs, resolution, etc. can be selected from an operation unit or the like according to a document. Normally, the reading mode can be set for each page, and when the reading is started, even if an attempt is made to change the reading mode, the reading is performed in the same mode until the reading of one page is completed.

[0003]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following problems. (1) A manuscript written on the printed manuscript with a pencil, a manuscript with mixed images such as ballpoint pen, pencil, ink, and ink, consultation,
If there is a high contrast part and a low contrast part in the same manuscript, such as a manuscript including a seal, etc. (for example, the printed part has high contrast, the pencil part has low contrast),
In the single reading mode, there are problems that the low-contrast portion is faint and the high-contrast portion is crushed in black to make it difficult to read. (2) In the case of a manuscript in which characters and photographs are mixed, when reading in the character mode, the gradation of the photograph part does not appear and it becomes dirty,
There is a problem that the characters are blurred when scanned in the photo mode. Recently, there are facsimiles that perform image area separation that automatically determines while reading a character portion and a photograph portion, but it may not be able to be discriminated depending on the original. (3) When it is desired to change the reading mode for each page, manual input from the operation unit is troublesome.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional example, and an object thereof is to mix an original document in which a low contrast portion and a high contrast portion are mixed, a character and a photograph are mixed. The point is to provide a facsimile machine that can read even a manuscript neatly. Further, in the conventional facsimile apparatus, the minimum designated unit of the reading mode of the transmission original is one page, and at the time of reading the original, the reading mode is switched for each page from the reading mode key of the operation unit, and the transmission is performed according to the mode. I was doing

However, when photographs and characters are mixed in one original, or when graphics and characters are mixed in one original, the reading mode of one original cannot be switched on the way. I was reading in mode (halftone, fine, etc.). Therefore, there are the following drawbacks. (1) The text originals are also sent in halftone, which lengthens the communication time and at the same time increases the communication charge.

(2) There is a problem that a part of the original that reaches the other party is easy to read, but the other part is difficult to read. Another object of the present invention is to shorten the communication (transmission) time, reduce the communication charge, and further to provide a facsimile apparatus that can send an easy-to-read document to the other party.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the object, a facsimile apparatus according to the present invention includes a reading unit that reads a document with color information and obtains image data, a detection unit that detects the color information from the obtained image data, A setting means for setting a binarization slice level according to the detected color information and a binarization means for binarizing the obtained image data according to the set slice level are provided.

Further, a plurality of different reading modes, a dividing means for dividing an area of one original, a setting means for setting one of the plurality of different reading modes in each of the divided areas, and the dividing means. And a reading unit for reading the document in a divided manner according to the setting by the setting unit and the setting unit.

[0009]

According to this structure, the reading means reads the original document to which the color information is added to obtain the image data, the detecting means detects the color information from the obtained image data, and the setting means detects the color information. The binarizing slice level is set according to the color information, and the binarizing unit binarizes the obtained image data according to the set slice level.

The dividing means divides the area of one original,
The setting means sets one of a plurality of different reading modes in each divided area, and the reading means divides and reads the original according to the division by the dividing means and the setting by the setting means.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. <First Embodiment> In this embodiment, the read density and characters /
It has a reading mode for photographs and resolutions. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 101 denotes a scanner, which optically reads a document, AD-converts the R.
G. The image digital multi-valued data is output from B. 10
Reference numeral 2 denotes a color detection unit, which looks at RGB multi-valued data at a predetermined position on the document and determines the color from the respective ratios thereof.
The determined color information is output. An image processing unit 103 converts RGB multi-valued data into black-and-white multi-valued data, and performs edge emphasis and resolution conversion. Reference numeral 104 denotes a simple binarization processing unit, which converts black-and-white multi-valued data into binary data at a level of a backseat. A slice level setting unit 105 sets a slice level according to the color information from the color detection unit 102 in the simple binarization processing unit 104. Reference numeral 106 denotes a γ conversion unit, which has a plurality of γ conversion tables and selects the γ conversion table according to the color detected by the color detection unit 102 to perform luminance-density conversion. Reference numeral 107 denotes a halftone processing unit, which performs halftone processing by an average density storage method, an error diffusion method, a dither method, or the like to binarize the input multivalued black-and-white image data.

Reference numeral 108 denotes a switch, which is the color detection unit 102.
The output of the simple binarization processing unit 104 and the halftone processing unit 107 is selected according to the color detected in. A coding processing unit 109 compresses and codes the binarized image data. 110 is an image memory. Reference numeral 111 is a CPU that controls the entire apparatus, 112 is a ROM that stores programs for operating the CPU 111, and 113 is a RAM that is used as a work area for various programs.

Next, a method of reading a document will be described. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a read document according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a color detection unit 102 according to the first embodiment.
3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the main part of FIG. In FIG.
Reference numeral 31 is a pixel counter, 32 is a gate, 33 is an AND gate, 34 is a color identification unit, and 35 is a selector.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart for explaining the image processing procedure according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 2 (1),
In the original A, characters of normal darkness, light characters, and photographs are mixed. This manuscript A is in character mode, "normal"
When you read in the darkness of, the part of the thin text may be faint and the halftone of the photo part may not appear. In this case, Fig. 2 (2)
As shown in the original B shown in, the left side of the photo and light letters
Color scanner 101 is provided with marks 2-1 and 2-2 at predetermined positions with a color representing "dark" and a color representing "photograph".
Read the original from.

In the operation of FIG. 4 described below, the whole is C
PU111 controls and each part in FIG. 1 performs each process. Therefore, the scanner 101 scans the original document and outputs the RGB3
Image data in primary colors, that is, digital multi-valued data is output (S1). While sending the digital multi-valued data to the image processing unit 103, the color detection unit 102 takes in the digital multi-valued data for a predetermined bit from the beginning of each line, and determines the color from the size and ratio of each R, G, B data. Is determined, and the color information is latched and output. The latched color information is reset for each line (S2). Further, the RGB multi-valued data when a color is detected is replaced with the data of the pixel immediately before that which is detected, so that the color attached to the document cannot be read. Image processing unit 10
The digital multi-valued data sent to 3 is subjected to color / monochrome conversion, resolution conversion, edge emphasis, and simple binarization processing unit 1
04 and the γ conversion unit 106 (S3). The simple binarization processing unit 104 binarizes the black-and-white multivalued data at the slice level set by the slice level setting unit 105 (S4). The γ conversion unit 106 selects the γ conversion table based on the color information from 102 and performs γ conversion on the black-and-white multivalued data (S5). The γ-converted monochrome multivalued data is binarized in the halftone processing unit 107 (S
6). The binarized image data binarized by the simple binarization processing unit 104 is selectively output by the switch 108 and encoded by the encoding processing unit 109 (S7).

Here, a specific operation will be described with reference to FIG. The color information signal output from the color detection unit 102 includes a slice level setting unit 105, a γ conversion unit 106,
It is connected to the switch 108. In the above-mentioned original B,
When the "deep" color is read, the slice level setting unit 105 switches the level from "normal" to "deep" slice level according to the color information, and outputs it to the simple binarization processing unit 104. Further, when a color of'photograph and darkness' is read, the switch 108 selects and outputs the output of the halftone processing unit 107 according to the color information. At this time, if the density is not “normal”, the γ conversion unit 106 performs γ conversion using a γ conversion table that is not “normal”.

As a result, it is possible to read thin characters and a photograph portion neatly. If the mark 3-1 is applied in one color like the original C, the page can be read in the reading mode indicated by the color. As described above, according to the first embodiment, the color corresponding to each reading mode is added to the document at a predetermined position to read the document.
The reading mode can be set automatically without inputting from the operation unit. In addition, even if you cannot scan well in one scanning mode, you can change the scanning mode and indicate the part you want to read in a color that corresponds to the scanning mode, so that the scanning mode is optimal for any part of the document. Can read. Therefore, the low contrast part,
Even originals with high-contrast areas and originals with text and photographs can be read neatly.

<Second Embodiment> FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of the essential parts of a color detecting section according to the second embodiment. In the figure, 50 is a pixel counter, 51 is a gate, 52 is an AND gate, 53 is a color identification section, 54 to 56 are selectors, and 57 to 59 are NOR. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a read document according to the second embodiment.

In the color detection unit 102 (FIG. 3) according to the first embodiment, the color information is not reset by the line synchronization signal which is used for each line in the second embodiment, but the color information is reset.
The color information set once is retained until another color is detected and set next. According to this, FIG. 2 (1)
When the document A shown in FIG. 6 is read, as shown in the document D shown in FIG. 6A, "character, darkness is normal" and "normal" in the first predetermined position of each part of characters, light characters, and photographs. Colors 5-1 and 5-2 and 5 that represent "text, dark" and "photo, normal"
Add -3 to read. First, when a "character, normal" color is detected, the mode is read until the next "character, dark" color is detected, and the reading mode is switched each time a color is detected. As a result, thin characters and photo parts can be read neatly. Further, as in the case of the document E shown in FIG. 6B, by adding the color 5-4 to the first predetermined position of the document, one page can be read in the reading mode indicated by the color.

As described above, the same applies to the case where there are a plurality of originals. When reading all in the same mode, it is sufficient to color the first predetermined position of the first page, and when changing the mode,
It suffices to mark the first predetermined position of the portion. <Third Embodiment> FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a read document according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a color detection unit according to the third embodiment. In FIG. 8, 81 is a color identification unit, 82 to 84 are selectors, 85 is an inverter, 86 and 87 are ANDs, and 88 is NOR.

The case of reading the original shown in FIG. 7 will be described. When the original F shown in FIG. 7A has a character and a photograph on one line and it is desired to read in different reading modes, As in the case of the original G shown in FIG. 2B, the characters and photographs are surrounded by the colors 7-1 and 7-2 indicating the reading mode, and the color information is output only during the surrounding. It can be realized by For that purpose, the following implementation is necessary. That is, the read R
When a color is detected from the GB multivalued data, the color information signal is set and output. After that, the color information signal is reset when the color is once undetected and then detected again, or when a color other than that color is detected, or by a line synchronization signal.

With the configuration shown in FIG. 8, while the color information is set and output, the reading can be performed in the reading mode represented by the color information, and characters and photographs can be read neatly. <Fourth Embodiment> FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal structure of a facsimile apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 91 is a modulator / demodulator (MODEM) that modulates and demodulates transmission data, 92 is an NCU (network control unit) that controls the interface with a line 98, 93 is a control circuit that controls the entire embodiment, and 94 is a reading unit. During transmission, the document reading operation is performed according to the reading mode.

Reference numeral 95 denotes an operation unit, which has keys for registering the divided reading mode and selecting the divided reading mode. Reference numeral 96 is a memory for storing the contents of the divided reading mode registered by the operation unit 95, 97 is an image memory for storing the image data of the original read according to the divided reading mode, and 98 is a facsimile line connected to the apparatus of this embodiment. In other words, it is configured to be able to perform facsimile communication with other facsimile devices via the facsimile network.

The general operation of this embodiment having the above configuration will be described below. First, before the transmission operation is performed, the operation unit 9
The registration mode is entered from step 5, and the division reading mode of the original is set, and the contents are stored in the memory 96. When the divided reading mode is set and the divided reading mode is selected by the divided reading mode selection key of the operation unit 95, the original reading mode of the transmission original is read from the memory 96 at the time of transmission, and the original is read according to the mode. The reading unit 94 reads the image data and stores the image data in the image memory 9
Store in 7.

After that, the data is read from the image memory,
The transmission image is sent from the facsimile line 98 to the other party via the MODEM 91 and NCU 92. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of setting the original reading mode. In the figure, when the item for setting the document reading mode is selected from the operation unit, the number of pages is input. In this state, when the number of pages is input (S11), the number of pages is put in the variable m (S12), and 01 is set in the variable n of the division line (S13). Therefore, the reading mode (halftone,
Resolution, density, ...) are set (S14), and when the reading mode is confirmed, the set key is pressed (S15).
The reading mode is stored in the memory (P _m L _n ) γ (S16).

If the set key is not pressed, the process waits for setting the reading mode in S14. When the reading mode is set in this way, next is the input of the number of lines,
When the number of lines is input (S17), the line number variable n
Is incremented by 1 (S18). Therefore, the reading mode is set from the reading mode of the operation unit, and when the reading mode is confirmed (S19), the set key is pressed (S2
0), the reading mode is stored in the memory (P _m L _n ) γ (S21). In addition, the input line number is stored in the memory (P _m L _n ) l as a division line (S2).
2).

After that, the process returns to S17 to wait for the input of the next line number, and if the line number is input, S18.
The operations of to S22 are repeated, and if the number of lines is not input, the process returns to S11. If the next page number is input in S11, the processes of S12 to S22 are performed to set the divided reading mode of the page.

If the next page number is not input, the setting of all pages is completed and the registration mode is completed. FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a document reading operation during transmission.
In the figure, when the divided reading mode is designated from the operation unit (S31), 01 is set in the page number variable (S32) and 01 is also set in the line number variable (S33), and the reading mode is set. From memory 96 (P _m L
_n ) The reading mode of γ is read and the reading mode is set (S34).

Then, the reading of the original is started, the read image is input to the memory 96 (S35), and when the number of lines for reading the original reaches (P _n L _n ) 1 of the above-mentioned setting, the reading of the divided portion is performed. Is finished (S36). next,
The line number variable is incremented by 1 (S37), and it is determined whether reading of one page is completed (S38). If not completed, the process returns to S33, and the reading operation of the next divided portion is repeated.

When the reading of one page is completed in S38, the page number n is incremented by 1 (S39), and the presence or absence of the next page is determined (S40). If there is a next page, the process returns to S33 to repeat the divided reading operation for the next page. If there is no next page, the reading is ended and the read original is transmitted.

In S31, if the divided reading mode is not set, the reading mode is set from the operation unit 95 (S41), the original is read, and the original is input to the memory 96 (S42). The reading operation of S42 is performed until the reading of one page is completed (S43). When one page is finished, check whether there is a document on the next page (S
44) If there is a next page, the process returns to S41 and the reading operation for the next page is repeated. If there is no next page, the reading is ended, and then the read original is transmitted.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the contents of the memory for storing the original reading mode. In the figure, P _a ,
P _b and ˜P _x are pages for which the divided reading mode is set by the registration operation, and L ₁ , L ₂ , and ˜L _n indicate the number of lines of the divided part of each page. As the reading mode, various modes (halftone, density, ...) Are stored in the memory corresponding to the divided lines.

In FIG. 12, the table shown on the right shows the reading mode of the document corresponding to the table on the left. As described above, by designating the reading mode for the details of the transmitted document, the transmission time can be shortened, the communication fee can be reduced, and further, an easily readable document can be sent to the other party.

By the registering operation, the original reading mode is specified by pressing a certain one-touch key instead of selecting the original reading mode and selecting the reading mode from the operation unit during transmission. You may make it a read mode and it may be transmitted. Also,
The transmission is not limited to one-touch transmission, but may be transmission by speed dial. Further, the division reading mode may be registered not only for a specific one destination document but also for a plurality of destination documents.

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

[0036]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to read neatly even a document in which a low contrast portion and a high contrast portion are mixed and a document in which characters and photographs are mixed. Further, by designating the reading mode for the details of the transmitted document, it is possible to shorten the transmission time, reduce the communication charge, and send the document which is easy to read to the other party.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a read document according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a color detection unit 102 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an image processing procedure according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a color detection unit according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a read document according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a read document according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a main part of a color detection unit according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a facsimile apparatus according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an operation of setting a document reading mode in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an operation of reading a document at the time of transmission in the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the contents of a memory for storing a document reading mode in the fourth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference numeral 91 MODEM 92 NCU 93 Control circuit 94 Reading unit 95 Operation unit 96 Memory 97 Image memory 98 Facsimile line 101 Color scanner 102 Color detection unit 103 Image processing unit 104 Simple binarization processing unit 105 Slice setting unit 106 γ conversion unit 107 Halftone Processing unit 108 Switch 109 Encoding unit 110 Memory

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A reading unit for reading image data with color information to obtain image data, a detection unit for detecting the color information from the obtained image data, and 2 according to the detected color information. A facsimile apparatus comprising: setting means for setting a slice level for binarization; and binarizing means for binarizing the obtained image data according to the set slice level. 2. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the color information is composed of lines and is attached at least one line in the sub-scanning direction in one document. 3. The color information is composed of a frame, and at least one is attached to one document.
The described facsimile machine. 4. The color information is composed of dots, and at least one is attached to one manuscript.
The described facsimile machine. 5. A plurality of different reading modes, a dividing means for dividing an area of one original, a setting means for setting one of the plurality of different reading modes in each of the divided areas, and the dividing means. And a reading unit for reading an original in a divided manner according to the setting by the setting unit and the setting unit. 6. The facsimile apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the division of the dividing unit, the setting of the setting unit, and the reading of the reading unit are repeated for a plurality of originals.