JPH0668218A - Picture reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To segment the generating part of a failure, and to speedily and easily verify it in a picture reader with which an edition device and a picture output device, etc., are connected. CONSTITUTION:An USM(unsharpness mask) processing part 30 is switched to a test pattern generating part 32 by a switch 36 connected with the output terminal 34 of an input scanner 12 and test pattern data from the test pattern generating part 32 are transferred to the edition device 14 and an output scanner 16, displayed on a screen, or outputted to a film. Which device is the generating part of the failure, the input scanner 12, editor 14, or output scanner 16 can be segmented from the output.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention transfers image data obtained by reading image information of a document in an image reading device to an editing device or the like to perform a desired image editing process, and outputs this by an image output device. At the same time, the present invention relates to an image reading apparatus capable of promptly pursuing the cause of a defect occurring in the output image.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, in the field of printing and plate-making, there is a plate-making system that electrically processes image information recorded on a read document to create a film original plate for the purpose of rationalizing work processes and improving image quality. Widely used.

In this case, the plate making system normally obtains image data by scanning a document on which image information is recorded, and performs desired color processing, magnification processing, and image processing on the image data.
An image reading device that performs contour processing, a plate collecting device that performs editing processing such as adding character information to image data from the image reading device, and a film original plate based on the image data from the plate collecting device. And an image output device for outputting.

By the way, it is conceivable that image bleeding, streak-like unevenness, magnification failure, size defect, etc. may occur in the film original printed by the image output device. In such a case, conventionally, the defective portion is verified for each of the image reading device, the plate collecting device, and the image output device.

[0005]

However, in the verification method as described above, it is necessary to output the image from the image output device and to inspect each device in order to pursue the cause, and the verification is long. There is a problem that it takes time. In addition, it has been pointed out that it is difficult to make an objective judgment promptly because each analyzer is judged based on the experience of the analyst.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned inconvenience, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image reading apparatus capable of promptly and accurately finding the cause of a defect occurring in an output image.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a test for generating test pattern data in an image reading apparatus for reading image information of a document, performing predetermined image processing and outputting the image information. Pattern generation means,
A switching unit that is provided between the output end of the image reading apparatus and the test pattern generating unit, and that switches the image data obtained from the document and the test pattern data to output the data. To do.

[0008]

In the image reading device of the present invention, when there is a defective portion in the output image from the editing device, the image output device, etc., the switching means is operated to switch between the image data and the test pattern data. Test pattern data is generated by the test pattern generating means, and this test pattern data is output from the output end to an editing device, an image output device, etc., and the verification is performed. In this case, since the test pattern generating means is connected to the output end of the image reading device, the output test pattern data is not affected by other processing functions of the image reading device and the image reading device It is supplied to an output device or the like. Therefore, from the output test pattern data, it is possible to identify the cause of whether the defect is in the image reading device, the editing device, or the image output device. As a result, it is possible to quickly and accurately pursue the defective portion.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The image reading apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 shows the overall construction of a plate making system 10 to which the image reading apparatus according to the present invention is applied. The plate making system 10 includes an input scanner 12 that reads image information recorded on a document and performs desired image processing.
(Image reading device) and plate collecting device 1 for performing an editing process using the image data processed by the input scanner 12
4 and an output scanner 16 (image output device) for outputting the image data from the input scanner 12 or the image data from the plate collecting device 14 as a film original onto the film. 1
2. The plate collecting device 14 and the output scanner 16 are connected to the node 1
Networked via 8a-18c.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional arrangement of the input scanner 12 shown in FIG. The input scanner 12 is
A document reading unit 20 that two-dimensionally reads image information recorded on a document using a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD, and A / A that converts analog image information read by the document reading unit 20 into digital image data. A D conversion unit 22, a color conversion unit 24 for converting the image data into image data of Y, M, C, and B _k color plates, and image processing such as color correction on the image data of each color plate. Color processing unit 26
And a magnification conversion unit 28 that converts the output magnification of the image data.
And USM processing (Unsharppn for image data
ess Mask processing) to perform image contour processing, a USM processing unit 30, a test pattern generation unit 32 that generates test pattern data for checking the state of the plate making system 10, the USM processing unit 30, and the input scanner 12. Provided between the output terminals 34 of the USM processing unit 3
A switch 36 (switching means) for switching and outputting the image data from 0 or the test pattern data from the test pattern generator 32.

FIG. 3 shows the detailed construction of the test pattern generator 32 and the switch 36. The test pattern generation unit 32 has a storage unit 38 for storing test pattern data generated by a CPU (not shown), and the address supply side of the storage unit 38 switches the data set address and the data output address from the CPU. An address switching section 40 for performing the above is provided, and a data switching section 42 for switching the output of the test pattern data is provided on the data input / output side. The address switching unit 40 is composed of buffers 44a and 44b that switch between a data set address and a data output address in response to a switching signal from the CPU. The data switching unit 42 is composed of buffers 46a and 46b for switching the input operation of the test pattern data to the storage unit 38 and the output operation of the test pattern data from the storage unit 38. The switch 36 has a buffer 48 for switching the image data from the USM processor 30 and the test pattern data from the test pattern generator 32 according to the switching signal.

The plate making system 10 of this embodiment is basically constructed as described above, and its operation will be described below.

First, in the input scanner 12 (see FIG. 1), the document on which the image information is recorded is read by the document reading section 20 and the image data is obtained. This image data is converted into digital data by the A / D converter 22 and transferred to the color converter 24. In the color conversion unit 24,
Image data of each color plate of Y, M, C, and _Bk is generated from the image data, and these image data are subjected to desired calibration processing such as color correction in the color processing unit 26. The image data subjected to the desired image processing is subjected to interpolation processing and thinning processing corresponding to the desired magnification in the magnification conversion unit 28.

Next, the image data is subjected to contour processing in the USM processing section 30, and then transferred from the output terminal 34 to the plate collecting apparatus 14 via the nodes 18a and 18b. The switch 36 of the input scanner 12 sets the buffer 46b to a high impedance state based on the switching signal, disconnects the test pattern generator 32, and connects only the USM processor 30 to the output terminal 34 (see FIG. 3). ).

The image data transferred to the plate collecting device 14 is
After being subjected to editing processing such as adding character information, it is transferred to the output scanner 16 via the nodes 18b and 18c. The output scanner 16 converts the image data into laser light or the like and irradiates it on the film to create a film original plate.

By the way, if there is a defect in any part of the plate making system 10, an image missing, streak-like unevenness, poor magnification, size defect, etc. may occur in the image reproduced on the film original plate. is there. Therefore, in order to verify the cause of occurrence of such a defect, the test pattern generation unit 32 is activated in the input scanner 12.

First, a CP (not shown) of the input scanner 12
U outputs switching signals to the address switching unit 40, the data switching unit 42 and the switching unit 36 of the test pattern generating unit 32 shown in FIG. 3, respectively. In this case, the switch 36 is in a state in which the test pattern generator 32 and the output terminal 34 are connected. Next, the CPU sets the data set address of the storage unit 38 to the writable state via the buffer 44a and stores the test pattern data at the address via the buffer 46a. When the writing operation of the test pattern data to the storage unit 38 is completed, the CPU specifies the data output address of the storage unit 38 via the buffer 44b and outputs the test pattern data to the output terminal 34 via the buffer 46b. Then, the test pattern data is transferred from the output terminal 34 to the plate collecting device 14 or the output scanner 16, and is output to a screen display on a CRT display or the like or a film or the like as necessary.

Here, the test pattern output to the screen display or the film is, for example, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), grayscale data arranged in the main scanning direction so that the density increases successively in the sub-scanning direction. It is assumed that the pattern is repeatedly output in the direction, a pattern having a constant density and a constant shape is output as shown in FIG. 4B, and a grid pattern having a constant density is output as shown in FIG. 4C. . Further, these test patterns may be output as a dump list.

The operator verifies the defective portion of the plate making system 10 based on the test pattern output as described above. In this case, in the present embodiment, the location where the test pattern is generated is the test pattern generating section 32 near the output terminal 34 of the input scanner 12, and the document reading section 20, which is the main processing section of the input scanner 12, A / D
The conversion unit 22, the color conversion unit 24, the color processing unit 26, the magnification conversion unit 28, and the USM processing unit 30 are not affected by this.

Therefore, for example, when there is no abnormality in the output test pattern, it is estimated that a part of the main processing unit of the input scanner 12 is defective. Further, when an abnormality occurs in the output test pattern, if it is only on the screen of the plate collecting device 14, there is a defect in the plate collecting device 14, and if it is only on the film original plate of the output scanner 16, the output scanner 16 is present. It is estimated that there is a defect. Further, when an abnormality occurs in both the plate collecting device 14 and the output scanner 16, it is estimated that the network of the plate making system 10 has a defect. As described above, by disposing the test pattern generation unit 32 near the output terminal 34 of the input scanner 12, it is possible to separate defective portions, and thereby improve the efficiency of the work of estimating defective portions. it can.

[0022]

As described above, according to the present invention, the editing device,
When there is a defective portion in the output image of the image output device or the like, the switching means is operated to generate the test pattern data from the test pattern generating means provided at the output end of the image reading device, and the test pattern data is edited. , And output to an image output device or the like for verification. In this case, the test pattern data output from the test pattern generating means is supplied to the editing device, the image output device, and the like without being affected by other processing functions of the image reading device, so that the problem is caused. It is possible to determine the cause of whether it is in the image, the editing device, or the image output device. As a result, it is possible to quickly and accurately pursue the defective portion.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration block diagram of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a plate making system to which the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is applied.

3 is a circuit configuration block diagram of a test pattern generation unit and a switch in the image reading apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of test pattern data generated by the test pattern generating unit shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Plate making system 12 ... Input scanner 14 ... Plate collecting device 16 ... Output scanner 32 ... Test pattern generator 34 ... Output terminal 36 ... Switching device 38 ... Storage unit 40 ... Address switching unit 42 ... Data switching unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image reading apparatus for reading image information of a document, performing predetermined image processing and outputting the image information, a test pattern generating means for generating test pattern data, an output end of the image reading apparatus, and the test pattern. An image reading apparatus comprising: a switching unit that is provided between the generating unit and the image data obtained from the original document and outputs the test pattern data by switching.