JPH0683361B2 - Color image processor - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a color image processing apparatus having a function of converting original image data having a gradation into image data of a predetermined designated color.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, as an image formation similar to the present invention, in a mono-color copying apparatus, a plurality of color-specific developing devices are provided, and a method of copying a desired color to a monochrome image with a single-color developer, or In a full-color copying machine, there has been proposed a method of copying fixed colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, black, red, green, and blue by combining a developer of three complementary primary colors, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. .

[Problems that the invention is trying to solve]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has a drawback that it can obtain only a single color copy of a color peculiar to the copying apparatus and can be used only for the purpose of simple color classification.

[Means and Actions for Solving Problems] In order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, the color image processing apparatus of the present invention is a conversion means for converting original image data having gradation into image data of a predetermined instruction color, The reference color is selected from the original image data and designated, and designation means for designating the density level of the converted image data is stored, and the hue of the designation color designated by the designation means is stored. However, it is characterized in that the conversion is carried out into an instruction color having a gradation proportional to the gradation of the original image data and corresponding to the density level instructed by the instructing means.

〔Example〕

 Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a schematic internal configuration of a digital color image processing system according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, this system has a digital color image reading device (hereinafter, referred to as a color reader) 1 in the upper portion and a digital color image printing device (hereinafter, referred to as a color printer) 2 in the lower portion. The color reader 1 reads color image information of a document for each color by a color separation means described later and a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD, and converts the color image information into an electrical digital image signal. The color printer 2 is an electrophotographic laser beam color printer that reproduces a color image for each color according to the digital image signal and transfers the color image onto a recording paper a plurality of times in a digital dot form for recording.

First, the outline of the color printer 1 will be described.

Reference numeral 3 is an original, 4 is a platen glass for placing the original, and 5 is a light source for collecting a reflected light image from the original chain exposed and scanned by the halogen exposure lamp 10 and inputting an image to the full-size full-color sensor 6. This is a dry array lens, and 5, 6, 7, and 10 integrally form a document scanning unit 11 for exposure scanning in the direction of arrow A1. The color-separated image signal read line by line during exposure scanning is amplified to a predetermined voltage by the sensor output signal amplification circuit 7 and then processed by a signal line 501 to be inputted to a video processing unit described later. It Details will be described later. 501 is a coaxial cable for ensuring faithful transmission of signals. The signal 502 is a full-size full-color sensor 6
, Which is a signal line for supplying the drive pulse, and all necessary drive pulses are generated in the video processing unit 12. Reference numerals 8 and 9 are a white plate and a black plate for white level correction and black level correction of an image signal, which will be described later. By irradiating with a halogen exposure lamp 10, a signal level of a predetermined density can be obtained, and a video signal It is used for white level correction and black level correction. Reference numeral 13 is a control unit having a micro computer, which is operated by a bus 508 on the operation panel 20.
Display, key input control and video processing unit 12
Control, position sensors S1 and S2 detect the position of document scanning unit 11 via signals 509 and 510, and signal line 503.
Stepping motor 14 for moving the scanning body 11 by
Stepping motor drive circuit control for pulse driving, ON / OFF control of halogen exposure lamp 10 by exposure lamp driver via signal line 504, light quantity control, digitizer 16 and internal key via signal line 505, display unit All controls of the color reader unit 1 such as control are performed. The color image signal read by the above-described exposure scanning unit 11 at the time of document exposure scanning is input to the video processing unit 12 via the amplification circuit 7 and the signal line 501, and various processing described later is performed in this unit 12. Then, it is sent to the printer unit 2 through the interface circuit 56.

Next, the outline of the color printer 2 will be described. A scanner 711 is a laser output unit for converting an image signal from the color reader 1 into an optical signal, a polygonal 712 having a polyhedron (eg, octahedron), a motor (not shown) for rotating the mirror 712, and an f / θ lens. (Image forming lens) 713 and the like. 7
Reference numeral 14 is a reflection mirror that changes the optical path of the laser light, and 715 is a photosensitive drum. The laser light emitted from the laser output section is reflected by the polygon mirror 712, and the lens 713 and the laser 714 are reflected.
The surface of the photosensitive drum 715 is linearly scanned (raster scan) to form a latent image corresponding to the original image.

Further, 717 is a primary charger, 718 is a full-face exposure lamp, 723 is a cleaner unit for collecting the untransferred residual toner, 72
4 is a pre-transfer charger, and these members are the photosensitive drum 715.
Is arranged around.

Reference numeral 726 denotes a developing unit that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 715 by laser exposure.
31M, 731C and 731Bk are developing sleeves that are in direct contact with the photosensitive drum 715 for direct development, 730Y, 730M, 730C and 730Bk are toner hoppers that hold preliminary toner, and 732 is a screen for transferring developer. Sleeve 731Y ~ 731B
k, the toner hoppers 730Y to 730Bk, and the screen 732 constitute a developing device unit 726, and these members are arranged around the rotation axis P of the developing device unit. For example, when a yellow toner image is formed, yellow toner development is performed at the position shown in the figure, and when a magenta toner image is formed, the developing unit 726 is rotated about the axis P in the figure to expose the toner. A developing sleeve 731M in the magenta developing device is arranged at a position in contact with the body 715. Development of cyan and black works similarly.

Further, 716 is a transfer drum that transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 715 to a sheet, 719 is an actuator plate for detecting the moving position of the transfer drum 716, and 720 is to be close to the actuator plate 719. Position sensor for detecting that the transfer drum 716 has been moved to the home position position by 725, a transfer drum cleaner 725, a paper pressing roller 727, a static eliminator 728 and a transfer charger 729, and these members 719,720,725,727,729 are Transfer roller 716
Is arranged around.

On the other hand, 735 and 736 are paper feed cassettes that store paper (paper sheets), 737 and 738 are paper feed rollers that feed paper from the cassettes 735 and 736, and 739,740 and 741 are towing rollers that control the timing of paper feed and conveyance. The sheet that has been fed and conveyed is guided by a sheet guide 749 and is wound around a transfer drum 716 while having its leading end supported by a gripper described later, and shifts to an image forming process.

Further, 550 is a drum rotation motor, which synchronously rotates the photosensitive drum 715 and the transfer drum 716. After the image formation process, the 750
A peeling claw that removes the paper from the transfer drum 716, 742 is a conveyor belt that conveys the removed paper, and 743 is a conveyor belt 7.
An image fixing unit that fixes the paper conveyed in 42,
The image fixing unit 743 has a pair of thermal pressure rollers 744 and 745.

First, the control unit 13 of the reader unit according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

<Control Unit> The control unit includes a CPU 22 which is a microcomputer, and controls signal lines 508 for video signal processing control, a lamp driver 21 for exposure and scanning, a stepping motor driver 15, a digitizer 16, and an operation panel 20.
The program ROM 23, RAM 24, RAM 25 are controlled organically in order to obtain a desired copy via the (bus), 504, 503, 505, etc. The RAM 25 is guaranteed to be non-volatile by the battery 31. 505 is a commonly used signal line for serial communication C
The operator inputs from the digitizer 16 according to the protocol of the PU 22 and the digitizer 16. That is, 505 is the editing of the manuscript,
For example, it is a signal line for inputting coordinates, a region instruction, a copy mode instruction, a magnification change instruction, etc. at the time of movement, composition, and the like. Signal line 50
Reference numeral 3 is a signal line for instructing the motor driver 15 from the CPU 22, such as scanning speed, distance, forward and backward movements.
Input a predetermined pulse to 4 and give the motor rotation operation. Serial 1 / F 29,30 is a general one realized by a serial I / F LSI such as Intel 8251,
Although not shown, the digitizer 16 and the motor driver 15
Also has a similar circuit. An interface protocol between the CPU 22 and the motor driver 15 is shown in FIG.

Further, S1 and S2 are sensors for detecting the position of the document exposure scanning unit (FIG. 11 in FIG. 1), and the home position is S1 and the white level of the image signal is corrected at this position. S2 is a sensor for detecting that there is a document exposure scanning unit at the leading edge of the image, and this position is the reference position of the document.

(Printer interface) Signals ITOP, BD, VCLK, VIDEO, HSYNC, SRCOM in Fig. 2
(511 to 516) are color printer units 2 of FIG. 1, respectively.
And an interface signal between the reader unit 1 and the reader unit 1.
All the image signals VIDEO514 read by the reader unit 1 are sent to the color printer unit 2 based on the above signals. ITOP is a synchronization signal in the image feeding direction (hereinafter referred to as the sub-scanning direction), and is sent once for sending one screen, that is, once for sending images of four colors ((yellow, magenta, cyan, Bk), respectively. It occurs four times in total, and this is the transfer drum 716 of the color printer unit 2.
When the front end of the transfer paper wound on the transfer image of the toner image is transferred at the contact point with the photosensitive drum 715, the transfer drum 716 and the photosensitive drum are arranged so that the position of the image of the front end portion of the original matches the position of the image.
In synchronization with the rotation of 715, the video processing unit in the reader 1 is transmitted, and is further input as an interrupt of the CPU 22 in the controller 13 (signal 511). The CPU 22 performs image control in the sub-scanning direction for editing etc. based on the ITOP interrupt. BD512 is a synchronization signal in the raster scan direction (hereinafter referred to as the main scanning direction) that occurs once per revolution of the polygon mirror 712, that is, once in one raster scan, and the image signal read by the reader unit 1 Are sent to the printer unit 2 line by line in the main scanning direction in synchronization with BD.
The VCLK 513 is a synchronous clock for sending the 8-bit digital video signal 514 to the color printer unit 2, and sends the video data 514 via the flip-flops 32 and 35 as shown in FIG. 4 (b), for example. HSYNC 515 is from BD signal 512
It is created in synchronization with VCLK513. This is the main scanning direction synchronization signal, has the same cycle as BD, and the VIDEO signal 514 is strictly HS.
It is sent in synchronization with YNC515. This is because BD signal 515 is generated in synchronism with the rotation of the polycon mirror, and thus contains a lot of jitter of the motor that rotates the polygon mirror 712.
If you synchronize the signal as it is, image jitter will occur.
This is because HSYNC515, which is generated based on the BD signal in synchronization with VCLK without jitter, is required. SRCOM is a signal line for half-duplex bidirectional serial communication, and is synchronized with 8-bit serial clock SCLK between synchronization signals CBUSY (command busy) sent from the reader as shown in FIG. 4 (C). Then, the command CM is sent, and the printer section responds to this.
Status ST is returned in synchronization with the 8-bit serial clock during SBUSY (status busy). In this timing chart, the status is "3CH" for the command "8EH".
Is returned, and instructions from the reader unit to the printer unit, such as color mode and cassette selection, and status information of the printer unit, such as jam, no paper, and weight, are all exchanged. This is done via the communication line SRCOM.

In Fig. 4 (a), one full-color image of 4 colors is displayed on ITOP and HS.
The timing chart for sending based on YNC is shown. ITOP5
11 is a yellow image when the transfer drum 716 is generated once every one rotation or two rotations, a magenta image when the transfer drum 716 is a cyan image, and a Bk image data when the cyan image is a Bk image data. Full-color image is formed on the transfer paper. For example, if the HSYNC is 420 mm in the longitudinal direction and the image density in the feed direction is 16 pel / mm, HSYNC will be sent 420 × 16 = 6720 times. It has been input, this is after a predetermined number of counts,
It is designed to interrupt HINT517 to CPU22. As a result, the CPU 22 performs image control in the feeding direction, for example, control of extraction and movement.

<Video Processing Unit> Next, the video processing unit 12 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. The original must first be exposed to the exposure lamp 10 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
The reflected light is emitted by the color reading sensor 6 in the scanning unit 11 for color separation for each image and is read by the amplification circuit 42 to be amplified to a predetermined level. 41 supplies a pulse signal for driving the color reading sensor
It is a CCD driver, and the necessary pulse source is generated by the system control pulse generator 57. FIG. 6 shows the color reading sensor and the driving pulse. FIG. 6 (a) shows a color reading sensor used in this example, which has a size of 62.5 μm (1 /
16 mm) as one pixel, 976 pixels, that is, one pixel is divided into three in the main scanning direction by G, B, and R, so that the total number of effective pixels is 976 × 3 = 2928. On the other hand, the chips 58 to 62 are formed on the same ceramic substrate and
The 1,3,5th (58,60,62) are on the same line LA, the 2nd and 4th are
It is arranged on line LB which is separated from LA by 4 lines (62.5 μm × 4 = 250 μm), and scans in the direction of arrow AL when reading a document. Each of the five CCDs is driven independently and synchronously by the drive pulse group ODRV518 at the first, third, fifth positions and EDRV519 at the second and fourth positions. O01 included in ODRV518
_A , O02 _A , ORS and E01 _A , E02 _A , ERS contained in EDRV519 are charge transfer clock and charge reset pulse in each sensor, respectively, and mutual interference between 1,3,5 and 2 and 4 Because of noise limitation, they are generated in synchronization with each other so that they are not in jitter. Therefore, these pulses are generated from one reference oscillation source OSC58 '(Fig. 5). Figure 7 (a) is O
Circuit block for generating DRV518 and EDRV519, Fig. 7 (b)
Is a towing chart and is included in the system control pulse generator 57 shown in FIG. The original clock OLK0 generated from a single OSC58 'is divided by the clock K0535.
Is a reference signal SYNC2, SY that determines the generation of ODRV and EDRV.
The clock that generates NC3.SYNC2 and SYNC3 determine the output timing according to the preset values of the presettable counters 64 and 65 set by the signal line 539 connected to the CPU bus. The devices 66 and 67 and the drive pulse generators 68 and 69 are initialized. That is, H input to this block
Based on SYNC515, all pulse groups of ODRV518 and EDRV519 are synchronized without jitter because they are all generated by CLKO output from one oscillation source OSC and all division clocks that are generated in synchronization. It can be obtained as a signal, and the disturbance of the signal due to the interference between the sensors can be prevented. Sensor drive pulse ODRV obtained here in synchronization with each other
The 518 is supplied to the 1st, 3rd, and 5th sensors, and the EDRV519 is supplied to the 2nd and 4th sensors.The video signals V1 to V5 are independent from each sensor 58, 59, 60, 61, 62 in synchronization with the drive pulse. Output to Fig. 5
Each channel shown by 40 is amplified to a predetermined voltage value by an independent amplifier circuit 42, and V1, V3, V5 are EOS534 by OOS529 timing of Fig. 6 (b) through the coaxial cable 501 (Fig. 1).
The V2 and V4 signals are transmitted at the timing of and input to the video processing unit.

The color image signal obtained by reading the document input to the video processing unit 12 by dividing it into 5 sections is converted into 3 colors of G (green), B (blue) and P (red) by the sample hold circuit S / H43. To be separated. Therefore, after being S / H, 3 ×
5 = 15 signal processing systems. The color image signal for one channel input in FIG. 8 (b) is sampled and held, amplified, and then input to the A / D conversion circuit to obtain multiplexed digital data A / D out. A timed chart is shown. Figure 8 (a), (b)
A processing block diagram is shown in FIG.

The analog color image signals read by the above-mentioned 5-chip unity color sensor are input to the analog color signal processing circuit of FIG. 8A for each channel. Since the circuits A to E corresponding to the respective channels are the same circuit, the circuit A will be described together with the timing chart of FIG. 8C according to the processing block diagram of FIG. 8B.

The input analog color image signal is shown in Fig. 8 (c) SiGA.
In the order of G → B → R, and in addition to the effective pixels of 3072 pixels, there is a blank transfer section that is not connected to the photodiode of the color sensor of 12 pixels before the effective pixel, and then Al on the photodiode of 24 pixels. This is a composite signal composed of a total of 3156 pixels including a shielded dark output section (optical black), 36 dummy pixels, and 24 dummy pixels after the effective pixel (FIG. 8 (d)).

The analog color image signal SiGA is input to the amplifier 250,
To eliminate the DC level fluctuation of the analog color image signal SiGA in which the DC level fluctuates in AC at the same time as the composite signal is amplified to the specified signal output, and to fix the DC level of the SiGA to the optimum operating point of the amplifier 250. The signal is clamped to zero level by the feed back clamp circuit 251. The feedback clamp circuit 251 is composed of an S / H circuit 251b and a comparison amplifier 251a, and sets the output level of the dark output section (optical black) of the analog color image signal SiGa output from the amplifier 250 to the S / H circuit. The reference voltage Ref1 (Ref1 = GND in this embodiment) detected by 251b and input to the negative input of the comparison amplifier 251a is compared and the difference is fed back to the amplifier 250. Fixed to voltage Refl. Here, the DK signal is a signal indicating the section of the dark output section of the analog color image signal SiGA, and is supplied to the S / H circuit 251b to detect the DC level of the dark output section of the SiGA once in the horizontal scanning period (1H). To do.

Next, the output signal of the amplifier 250 is output to G, B, R by the S / H circuit 43.
However, since the same processing is performed for each color, in this specification, the B signal among them will be described as other G and R signals.
We will represent the signal. Now, the composite output signal of the amplifier 250 is sent to the S / H circuit 253 through the buffer circuit 252.
According to the SHG signal, only the pixel output corresponding to the B signal in the composite signal is sampled. The color-separated B signal 538 is input to a low-pass filter (L, P, F) 256 amplified by amplifiers 254 and 255. The low-pass filter 256 removes the frequency component of the sampling pulse in the S / H output signal generated in the S / H circuit 253, and extracts only the variation of the sampled S / H output signal. That is, assuming that the driving frequency of the CCD is f _D , each color signal is sampled by the S / H circuit 253 so that each color signal has a frequency f _D / 3.
Becomes a discrete signal. Therefore, the cutoff frequency f _C =
By constructing a Nyquist filter of (f _D / 3) × 1/2 f _D / 6, the above-mentioned effect is obtained, only the change component of the signal is extracted, and the frequency bandwidth of the subsequent signal processing system is reduced. It can be suppressed.

The color signal of which only the signal component has been extracted by the roper filter 256 is an amplifier 257, a multiplier 258 and a buffer amplifier 2
Gain adjustment by CPU control by 59 (Fig. 8 (e) G
In addition, each color signal whose gain is adjusted by a field back clamp system composed of a multiplier 260 and a feed back clamp circuit 261 is clamped to an arbitrary DC level. Operation is feed back clamp circuit 251
Is the same as.

In the present embodiment, the multiplier 258 is a multiplier using a multiplying DAC as shown in FIG. 52 (a), and is composed of a multiplying DAC 521, an operational amplifier 522 and a latch 523, and has an output signal Vout. Is V _OUT = V- _IN / N 0 <N <1, where N is a binary fractional value of the input digital code.

In the same sense that a basic multiplying DAC circuit is similar to an analog potentiometer that is unloaded by an operational amplifier, it is similar to a follower in which a trim circuit is connected to a feedback circuit in this circuit. Therefore, in the channel busy correction described later, the image data when the original scanning unit reads the uniform white plate is amplified to a level determined by the digital data set in the internal latch 523 via the data bus of the CPU 22. The code table is shown in FIG. 52 (b). The latch 523 is assigned as I / 0 of the CPU 22 and data is set by the control line of ▲ ▼ .SEL.

Next, a feedback back clamp system including a multiplier 260 and a feedback back clamp circuit 261 will be described.
This feed back clamp system has almost the same configuration as the previous feed back clamp circuit 251 and CPU control is applied to the reference voltage Ref2 of the feed back clamp circuit composed of the S / H circuit 261b and the comparison amplifier 261a. The multiplier 260 is connected, and is determined by digital data set in the internal latch 537 via the data bus 508 of the CPU 22 in order to shift the level of the read black level image signal in the channel busy correction described later. The reference voltage Ref2 is varied by the level of the multiplier 260, and each color signal amplified by the amplifier 257, the multiplier 258, and the buffer amplifier 259 is clamped to the level of the reference voltage Ref2. The latch 537 is a CPU22
It is assigned as I / O and data is set by the WR.SEL control line. As shown in FIG. 53 (a), the multiplier 260 is composed of a multiplying DAC 531, operational amplifiers 532 and 533, resistances R and 534 and 535, and resistance 2R and resistance 536.
Quadrant multiplier, 8bit set from CPU
A bipolar voltage is output as shown in FIG. 53 (b) according to the digital data of FIG.

Now, the color signals 541 (G), 542 (B), 543 (R) amplified and DC clamped to a predetermined white level and black level are again multiplexed by a multi-plex pulse GSEL, BSEL so as to be multiplexed into one system signal. , RSEL (544 to 546) makes one system with MP × 260, which is input to the A / D conversion circuit 45 and A / D clock 54
A / D converted by 7 and output as digital data ADOUT548. With this configuration, multiplex with MP × 260 and A / D conversion are performed, so G, B, and R each 3 colors 5 channels Total 15
The color signals of the system are performed by 5 A / D converters. The same applies to the B to E circuits.

Next, in this embodiment, as described above, four lines (62.5 μm ×
4 = 250 μm) in the sub-scanning direction, and since the original is read by the five staggered sensors divided into five areas in the main scanning direction, the preceding scanning is performed as shown in FIG. 9 (a). The reading positions of the channels 2, 4 and the remaining 1, 3, 5 are misaligned. Therefore, in order to connect this correctly, a memory for a plurality of lines is used. Fig. 9 (b)
Shows a memory configuration of the present embodiment, and 70 to 74 are memories each storing a plurality of lines and have a FiFo configuration. That is, 70, 72, 74 have a capacity of 5 lines with 1 line of 1024 pixels, and 71, 73 have a capacity of 15 lines.
Data is written line by line from the point indicated by PO75 and WPE76, and WPO or WPE is incremented by 1 when the writing for one line is completed. WPO75 is channel 1,3,5
, WPE76 is common to 2,4.

OWRST540, EWRST541 are line pointers WPO75, W respectively
This signal initializes the PE76 value and returns it to the beginning.
ERST543 is a signal that returns the value to the beginning of the read pointer (pointer at the time of reading). Now, channel 1 and 2 will be described as an example. As shown in FIG. 9 (a), the channel 2 precedes the channel 1 by 4 lines, so the channel 2 reads the same line, for example, the line Fi.
After writing to the Fo memory 71, the channel 1 reads the line 4 lines later. Therefore, if WPE is advanced by 4 from the read pointer WPO to the memory, when reading from the FiFo memory with the same read point value, channels 1, 3, 5 and channels 2, 4 read the same line. The deviation in the sub-scanning direction is corrected. For example, in FIG. 9 (b), Channel 1 has WPO, and the first line 1 of the memory has WPO, while Channel 2 has WPE.
Means 5 on the 5th line from the beginning. If you start from this point, when WPO shows 5, WPE points to 9, and the line on the document is written in the area where the pointer is 5, and after that, both RPO and RPE (read pointer) are advanced in the same way, and the cyclic Just read it to. FIG. 9 (c) is a towing chart for performing the above-mentioned control, and image data is sent line by line in synchronization with HSYNC515. EWRST541, OWRST540 are generated with a deviation of 4 lines as shown in the figure, and ORST542 is FiFo memory 70, 72, 7
4 capacities, thus every 5 lines, ERST543 is generated every 15 lines for similar reasons. On the other hand, at the time of reading, first one line is read at a speed five times faster than channel 1, then one line is similarly read from channel 2, then 3 channels, 4 channels, 5 channels are read in sequence, and channels 1 to 5 are read during 1HSYNC. You can get the connected signal of. FIG. 9 (d) 1RD to 5RD (544 to 548) show the effective section signals of the read operation of each channel. The book
A control signal for controlling image connection between channels using the FiFo memory is generated by the memory control circuit 57 'shown in FIG. The circuit 57 'is composed of a discrete circuit such as TTL, but since it is not the gist of the present invention, its explanation is omitted. Further, the memory has three primary colors of a blue component, a green component and a let component of an image, but since they have the same configuration, the description is limited to only one of these.

FIG. 10 (a) shows a black correction circuit. As shown in FIG. 10 (b), the black level outputs of channels 1 to 5 have large variations between chips and between pixels when the amount of light input to the sensor is very small.
If this is output as it is and the image is output, streaks and unevenness occur in the data portion of the image. Therefore, it is necessary to correct the output variation of the black portion, and the circuit as shown in FIG. Prior to the copy operation, the original scanning unit is moved to the position of the black plate having a uniform density arranged in the non-image area at the front end of the original table, the halogen is turned on, and the black level image signal is input to this circuit. In order to store one line of this image data in the black level RAM 78, the selector 82
Select (), close gate 80, and open (), 81. That is, the data line is connected to 551 → 552 → 553, while the output of the address counter 84 initialized by ▲ ▼ is output to the address input of the RAM, and the black level signal for one line is output. Stored in RAM78 (above black reference value capture mode).

However, the black level data fetched in this way is so small that it is generated in the analog video processing circuit. Alternatively, since it is greatly affected by noise coming from the outside through various wirings or radiation, it is not preferable to use the data as it is as the black correction data because the image of the black portion is noisy and has a rough texture. So the first
The black level data taken into the black level RAM 78 shown in FIG. 10 (c) is subjected to the arithmetic processing shown in the flow chart of FIG. 10 (d) to remove the influence of noise. Figure 10 (c),
Bi in (d) is an address of the black level RAM 78, and (Bi) is data in the address. Further, i is, for example, 16 pels / mm and 16 × 297 m if it has a width in the main scanning direction A4 longitudinal direction.
m = 4752 pixels / each color, but 6 to cover the length
16 x 61m when 5 1mm CCD chips are lined up to make 1 nic
m × 5 = 4880 pixels / i = 1 to 4880 corresponding to each color can be taken.

First, in the black level data loaded into the black level RAM 78 of (1) of FIG. 10 (c), the CPU 22 is at the addresses Bi-j to Bi + j.
Close the gate 80 to the latches 85, ..., 81
Open, and select the selector 82, 83 to access C
The work register (in RAM24) of PU22 is read as shown in (3). Next, the black level data (Bi-j) ... (Bi + j) from Bi-j to Bi + j are added and divided by the number of data 2j + 1, and the value of the central pixel Bi is added to the address Mi of the working RAM 24.
Is written to. In this way {(Bi) + ... + (Bj + 1)
+ ... + (N2j + 1)} = (Mj + 1) to {(B4880-2j)
+ ... + (B4880-j) + ... + (B4880)} = (M4880-
j) is calculated and the central pixel Bi is written in the RAM 24 as an average value from the neighborhood Bi-j to Bi + j as shown in (4). Finally, from i = 1 to i = j, i = j + 1 data, i
From i = 4880-j + 1 to i = 4880, the data of i = 4880-j was written. Incidentally, i = 1 to i = j and i = 4880-j
The pixels from +1 to i = 4880 are in the range of invalid pixels at both ends of the sensor (j = 48 in the present embodiment). Then, the data from Mj + 1 to M4880-j in the RAM 24 is restored. When the blue component of the color component image in which the noise-free black level data is written from Bj + 1 to M4800-j of the black level RAM 78 is set, is completed (Step B in FIG. 10 (d)).
Similarly, the G signal (StepG) of the green component and the R signal (StepR) of the red component are subjected to proximity calculation. In this example,
The central pixel and the neighboring pixels are calculated without weighting, but the calculation by weighting with different coefficients is also possible.

At the time of reading an image, the RAM 78 is in a data read mode, and is read and inputted to the B input of the subtractor 79 line by line and pixel by line through the data line 553 → 557. That is, at this time, the gate 81 is closed () and the gate 80 is opened (). Therefore, for the black level data DK (i), the black correction circuit output 556 is, for example, in the case of a blue signal, Bin (i) −DK (i) = Bout (i).
Is obtained (black correction mode). Similarly Green Gin,
The same control is performed on the red Rin by the 77G and 77R. Also, the control line of each selector gate for this control,
Is the latch assigned as the CPU (Fig. 2-22) I / O 85
By CPU control.

Next, in Fig. 11-1, white level correction (shading correction)
Will be explained. The white level correction corrects the sensitivity variations of the illumination system, the optical system and the sensor based on the white data when the original scanning unit is moved to a uniform white plate position and irradiated. The basic circuit configuration is shown in Fig. 11-1 (a). The basic circuit configuration is the same as in FIG. 10 (a), except that the subtractor 79 is used for black correction, whereas the multiplier 79 'is used for white correction. Therefore, the description of the same parts is omitted. At the time of color correction, first, when the original scanning unit is at the position of the uniform white plate (home position), that is, before the copying operation or the reading operation, the exposure lamp is turned on and the image data of the uniform white level is corrected for one line. RAM7
Store in 8 '. For example, if the width in the longitudinal direction of the main scanning direction A4 is 16 pel / mm, it is 16 × 297 mm = 4752 pixels, but if the CCD1 chip image data is composed of 976 pixels, it will be 976 × 5 = 4880 pixels, that is, At least the RAM has a capacity of 4880 bytes. As shown in FIG. 11-1 (b), if the white plate data Wi of the i-th pixel is Wi (i = 1 to 4880), the RAM 78 '
As shown in FIG. 11 (c), the data for the white plate for each pixel is stored in. On the other hand, for Wi, the corrected data Do = Di x FF for the read value Di of the normal image of the i-th pixel
_It should be _H / Wi. Therefore, the CPU in the controller (FIG. 22 in FIG. 2) closes the gate 80 'and opens 81' for the latches 85 '', ',', ', and the selector 8
2'and 83 'are output so that B is selected, and RAM 78' is accessible to the CPU. Next, FFH / W ₁ , W for the _first pixel W ₁
FF / W ₂ ... is sequentially calculated for ₂ to replace the data.
When the blue component of the color component image is finished (FIG. 11-1 (d) Step B), similarly, the green component (Step G) and the red component (Step R) are sequentially performed, and Do = Di for the original image data Di that is input thereafter. The gate 80 'is opened ('), 81 'is closed (') so that FFH / Wi is output, A is selected by the selector 83 ', and the coefficient data FFH / Wi read from the RAM 78' is a signal. Original image data input from one side of line 553 → 557
It is multiplied by 551 and output.

Next, regarding the channel connection correction for processing the originals of the same density by the channels 58 to 62 of the color CCD 6 as the same digital value, FIG. 11-2 ((a),
An explanation will be given with reference to the flow chart of (b). First, in order to process the black level of the B signal by the channel connection black level processing (StepD-B), the CPU 22 first sets the offset of the CH1 B signal as the reference level in StepD-B1 of the black level processing of the CH1 B signal. To do so, D1 (80H in this embodiment) is set to the latch 537 in the multiplication circuit 260 through the data bus 508, and the data of the multiplying D / A531 is set (Step 1).
In this state, the black level signal of the black plate is stored in the black level RAM 78 as in the black correction described above (Step 2). FIG. 11-2 (c) shows the black level data of the RAM 78. Next, the value of the counter i is initialized to ₁ and FF _H is set in the minimum value storing rampary memory address M ₁ in the CPU working RAM 24 (Step 3). Next, the data (Bi) and M in the black level RAM78
₁ of data _{(M 1)} comparing (Bi) is less if _{M 1} data from _{(M 1) (M 1)} and (Bi), the Bi from B1
Repeat until B976 (Steps 4, 5, 6). As a result, C in M ₁
The minimum value in H1 is stored. Next, it is judged whether or not the minimum value data in M ₁ is equal to the black level reference value D ₂ (08 _H in this embodiment) (Step 7), and if not, the size is judged (Ste
p8) If M ₁ is smaller than D ₂ , the CPU 22 sets D ₁ + α to the latch 537 in the multiplication circuit 260 to raise the offset level (Step 9), and returns to Step 3 to return to (M ₁ ) = D _{2 in} Step _7.
To judge. When CPU22 of (M2)> _{D 2} in Step8 the _{D 1} -
The value .alpha. is set in the latch 537 in the multiplication circuit 260 to lower the offset level (Step 10), the process returns to Step 3, and in Step 7, (M ₁ ) = D ₁ is determined again. As described above, (M ₁ ) = D
_The CPU changes the data D ₁ ± α to the multiply D / A531 until ₁ is achieved, and when it is achieved, Step 7 to Step D-
Move to B2, initialize counter value to 977, black level RAM
Minimum value after CH1 and like processing STEPd-B1 in CH2 in 78 to D _2. Then, in Steps D-B3, D-B4, and D-B5, CH
The minimum value of 3, CH4, CH5 is D ₂ . Step D-
G signal G, the CH2, CH3, CH4, all minimum value after the CH5 of the R signal in STEPd-R and D _2. Next, in order to process the white level of the B signal in the channel connection white level processing (StepW
-Step B-B1 of white level processing of B signal of CH1
The CPU 22 multiplies D ₃ (AOH in this embodiment) through the data bus 508 to set the B signal gain of CH1 as the reference level.
Set it in the latch 523 in 258 and multiply it by D / A521.
Set the data of (Step 11). In this state, the white level signal of the white plate is transferred to the white level RAM 78 'as in the white correction described above.
(Step 12). FIG. 11-2 (c) shows the white level data of the RAM 78 '. Then it turned into first the value of the counter i to 1, and excisional the OO _H to the maximum value storing temporary memory address M ₂ of the CPU working in RAM 24 (Step13). Next, the data (Wi) in the white level RAM 78 'and the data M of M _2
2) to compare the (Wi) is (data of _{M 2)} is greater than _{M 2 (M 2)} and (W ¥ i) Wi repeat from _{W 1} to W ₉₇₆ (Step14,15,16). CH1 is in its result M ₂
Maximum value is stored. Next, it is determined whether or not the maximum value data in M ₂ is equal to the white level reference value D ₄ (AO _H in this embodiment) (Step 17).
18) If (M ₂ ) is larger than D ₄ , the CPU 22 sets D ₄ −β to the latch 523 in the multiplication circuit 258 to lower the gain level (Step 19), returns to Step 13, and again (M ₂ ) = D in Step 17.
Judge ₄ If (M ₂ )> D _{4 in} Step 18, CPU22
Sets D ₃ + β to the latch 523 in the multiplication circuit 258 to increase the gain level (Step 20), returns to Step 13, and again determines (M ₂ ) = D ₄ in Step 17. As described above, (M ₂ ) = D
Until ₄ is achieved, the CPU changes the data D ₄ ± β to the multi-plying D / A 521, and when it is achieved Step 17 to Step
Move to W-B2, initialize counter surface to 977, white level RAM7
The CH2 in 8 'performs the same processing as the CH1 of StepW-B1, the minimum value D _4. Then the maximum value of StepW-B3, W-B4, respectively W-B5 CH3, CH4, CH5 and D _4. The above processing is Ste
CH2 and C of G signal in pW-G and R signal in StepW-R respectively
Perform on H3, CH4, and CH5, and set the maximum value of all as D ₄ .

The channel connection processing is executed according to the flow chart shown in Fig. 11-3. First, after the power of the reader unit 1 is turned on, the CPU 22 is S-m1 and the document scanning unit 11 is the home position sensor.
When not on S1 Stepping motor driver of Fig. 2
A home position return command is issued to 15 via a signal line 503, and the stepping motor 14 is rotated to perform home position return. Next, in S-m2, a lighting command for the halogen lamp 10 is issued to the lamp driver 21 via the signal line 504. After the halogen lamp is turned on, the CPU 22 uses S-m3 to scan the document 11
Sets the number of pulses corresponding to the moving distance from the home position (S1) to the reference blackboard 9 to the driver 15 and moves the document scanning unit 11 to the reference blackboard position. In that state, the channel connection black level processing of FIG. 11-2 (a) is performed (S-m4). Next, the CPU 22 sets the number of pulses corresponding to the distance between the reference blackboard 9 and the reference whiteboard 8 to the driver 15 in S-m5, and moves the document scanning unit 17 to the reference whiteboard position.
In that state, the above-mentioned channel connection white level processing of FIG. 11-2 (b) is performed (S-m6). After that, the halogen lamp is turned off at S-m7, and the home position of the document scanning unit 11 is restored at S-m8. The channel connection processing is performed as described above.

With the above configuration and operation, the speed is increased and the correction can be performed for each pixel.

Further, in this configuration, since the image data for one line can be input at high speed and the RD and WR can be accessed by the CPU 22, any position on the document, for example, coordinates (xmm, ymm on the document as shown in FIG. 12 can be used. ) When it is desired to detect the component of the image data at the point P, the (16 × x) line and the scanning unit are moved in the x direction, and the line is moved to the RAM 7 by the same operation as described above.
The component ratio of B, G, and R can be detected by reading the data of the (16 × y) pixel captured in 8 ′ (hereinafter, this operation is referred to as “line data capture mode”). Further, those skilled in the art can easily infer that an average density histogram (hereinafter, referred to as “average value calculation mode”) density histogram (hereinafter referred to as “histogram mode”) can be easily obtained by this configuration. .

As described above, the black level and the white level are corrected based on various factors such as the black level sensitivity of the image input system, the dark current variation, the variation between the sensors, the optical system light amount variation, and the white level sensitivity, and the correction is performed over the main scanning direction. The uniformed color image data proportional to the input light amount is input to the logarithmic conversion circuit 86 (FIG. 5) in accordance with the spectral luminous efficiency characteristics of human eyes. Here, an image source that is converted so that white = OO _H and black = FF _H and is further input to the image reading sensor, for example, a normal reflective original, a transparent original such as a film projector, or the same transparent original is negative. Since the sensitivity of the film, the positive film or the film, and the gamma characteristic input in the exposure state are different, as shown in FIGS. Have and use properly according to the application. Switching is performed by signal lines lg0, lg1, lg2 (560 to 562), and CPU
As the I / O port of (22), it is performed by inputting an instruction from the operation unit or the like. Here, the data output for each of B, G, and R corresponds to the density value of the output image, and B (blue)
Output corresponds to the amount of yellow toner, the amount of magenta toner for G (green), and the amount of cyan toner for R (red), so the color image data after that corresponds to Y, M, and C. Correspond to.

The following color correction is performed on each color component image data from the original image obtained by logarithmic conversion, that is, the yellow component, the magenta component, and the cyan component. As shown in Fig. 14, the spectral characteristics of the color separation filter arranged for each pixel in the color reading sensor has an unnecessary transmission area such as a shaded area, while the color toner transferred to the transfer paper. (Y, M,
It is well known that C) also has unnecessary absorption components as shown in FIG. Therefore, for each color component image data Yi, Mi, Ci, Masking correction for calculating a linear expression of each color and performing color correction is well known. Furthermore, by Yi, Mi, Ci, Min (Yi, M
i, Ci) (minimum value of Yi, Mi, Ci) is calculated, and this is used as a black (black), and black toner is added later (smiking), and the black component of each color material is added according to the added black component. Undercolor removal (UCR) operations that reduce the amount added are also common. Figure 16 (a)
Figure 2 shows the circuit configuration of masking, summing, and UCR. The characteristic of this configuration is that it has two masking matrices and can be switched at high speed by "I / O" of one signal line.

With or without UCR, one signal line “I / O” can switch at high speed.

It has two circuits that determine the amount of smear, and can switch at high speed with "I / O".

There is a point. First, prior to image reading, a desired first matrix coefficient M ₁ and second desired matrix coefficient M ₂ are set.
Set from the bus connected to CPU22. In this example However, M ₁ is set in the registers 87 to 95, and M ₂ is set in the registers 96 to 104. Further, 111 to 122, 135 and 131 are selectors, which select A when the S terminal = “1” and select B when the S terminal = “0”. Therefore, when selecting the matrix M ₁ , the switching signal
MAREA564 = "1", select matrix M ₂ "0"
And Reference numeral 123 is a selector, which selects signals C ₀ and C ₁
From (566, 567), outputs a, b, c are obtained based on the truth table of FIG. 16 (b). The selection signals C ₀ , C ₁ and C ₂ correspond to the color signals to be output, for example, in the order of Y, M, C, Bk (C ₂ , C ₁ , C ₀ ) = (0,0,0) , (0,0,1), (0,1,
0), (1,0,0), and (0,1,1) as a monochrome signal to obtain a desired color-corrected color signal. If (C ₀ , C ₁ , C ₂ ) = (0,0,0) and MAREA = "1", the output (a, b, c) of the selector 123 has registers 87,88,
The contents of 89, and accordingly (a _Y1 , -b _M1 , -c _C1 ) are output. On the other hand, from the input signals Yi, Mi, Ci, Min (Yi, Mi, Ci) = k
The black component signal 574 calculated as is Y = ax−b at 134.
After being subjected to a linear conversion (a and b are constants), the signals are input to the B inputs of the subtracters 124, 125 and 126 (through the selector 135). In each of the subtractors 124 to 126, Y = Yi− (ak−b), M is used as undercolor removal.
= Mi- (ak-b), C = Ci- (ak-b) is calculated, and the multiplier 1 for masking calculation is performed via the signal lines 577, 578 and 579.
It is input to 127,128,129. Selector 135 is signal UAREA565
Controlled by, UAREA565 has a configuration that can switch UCR (under color removal), with / without, at high speed by "I / O". The multipliers 127, 128 and 129 have (a _Y1 , -b _M1 , c _C1 ) for the A input and the above-mentioned [Yi-
(Ak-b), Mi- (ak-b), Ci- (ak-b)] = [Yi, M
[i, Ci] is input, it is clear from the figure that the output Dout is C ₂ = 0 (YorMorC is selected) Yout = Y
i × (a _Y1 + Mi × (−b _M1 + Ci × (c _C1 ) is obtained, and yellow image data subjected to masking color correction and undercolor removal processing is obtained. Similarly, M _out = Yi × ( -A _Y2 ) + Mi x (b _M2 ) + Ci x (-
_{c C2) C out = Yi ×} (-a Y3) + Mi × (-b M3) + Ci × c C3) is outputted to Dout. As described above, the color selection is controlled by the CPU 22 according to the developing order of the color printer (C ₀ , C ₁ , C ₂ ) according to the table of FIG. 16 (b). Register 1
05 to 107 and 108 to 110 are monochrome image forming registers, which operate on the same principle as the masking color correction described above.
NO = K ₁ Yi + l ₁ Mi + m ₁ Ci is obtained by weighted addition for each color. Switching signal MAREA564, UAREA565, KAFE
A587 is the high-speed switching of the masking color correction coefficient matrix M ₁ and M ₂ as described above, RAREA565 is the UCR,
Fast switching without KAREA587, black component signal (signal line
569 → output to Dout through selector 131), primary conversion switching, that is, for k = Min (Yi, Mi, Ci), Y = ck-d
Alternatively, it is a signal that switches the characteristics of Y = ek-f (c, d, e, f are constant parameters) at high speed. For example, in one copy screen, the Maskinge coefficient is different for each area, and the UCR amount or the smear amount is changed. It is configured so that it can be switched for each area. Therefore, images obtained from image input sources with different color separation characteristics, multiple images with different black tones, etc.
This is a configuration that can be applied when combining as in the present embodiment. These are the area signals MAREA, UAREA, KAREA (564,56
5, 587) is generated by the above-described area generation circuit (51 in FIG. 2).

Fig. 17 shows the area signal generation (MAREA564, UAREA565, KA
(REA587 etc.) is a diagram for explaining. The area refers to, for example, the shaded area in FIG. 17 (e), which is line-by-line in the sub-scanning direction A → B like the timing chart AREA in FIG. 17 (e). It is distinguished from other areas by a different signal. Each area is designated by the digitizer 16 shown in FIG. First
17 (a) to 17 (d) show a configuration in which the generation position, the section length, and the number of sections of the area signal can be programmable by the CPU 22 and a large number can be obtained. In this configuration, 1
The area signal of the book is generated by one bit of the RAM accessible by the CPU. For example, in order to obtain the area signals AREA0 to AREAn of the n areas, the RAM has two n-bit RAMs. (17th
(D) 136, 137). Now, the area signal AR as shown in Fig. 17 (b)
If EA0 and AREAn are obtained, RAM addresses x ₁ and x ₃
"1" is set to the bit 0 of the above and all the bits 0 of the remaining addresses are set to "0". On the other hand, "1" is set to the addresses 1, x ₁ , x ₂ , x ₄ of the RAM, and the bits n of the other addresses are all set to "0". If you read the data in RAM sequentially and sequentially in the same clock as HSYNC, for example,
As shown in FIG. 17 (c), data "1" is read at the points of addresses x ₁ and x ₃ . This read data is the 17th
Figure (d) JK flip flops of 148-0 to 148-n
Since it is in both J and K pins, the output toggles, that is, when “1” is read from RAM and CLK is input, the output “0” → “1”, “1” → “0 To an area signal such as AREA0, and thus an area signal is generated. If data = "0" across all addresses, no area section is generated and no area is set. FIG. 17 (d) shows this circuit configuration, and 136 and 137 are the above-mentioned RAMs. This is for example in order to switch the area interval at high speed, relative to RAM ₁ 37 while performing a read every line from the data RAMA136, a memory for CPU 22 (FIG. 2) from different regions set By performing the write operation, the intervals are alternately generated and the memory write from the CPU is switched. Therefore,
When the shaded area in Fig. 17 (f) is specified, A → B → A →
RAMA and RAMB are switched as in B → A, and if (C ₃ , C ₄ , C ₅ ) = (0,1,0) in FIG. 17 (d), it is counted by VCLK. The counter output is given as an address to the RAMA 136 through the selector 139 (Aa), and the gate 142 is opened and the gate 144 is closed to be read from the RAMA 136, and the entire bit width and n bits are read by the JK flip-flop 14.
Input to 8-0 to 148-n, and according to the set value, AREA
A section signal from 0 to AREAn is generated. During the writing from the CPU to B, the address bus A-Bus and data bus DB
Us and access signal / Conversely when generating a period signal based on the data set in the _{RAMB137 (C 3, C 4,} C 5) = (1,0,1) and that in which, in the same way done, to RAMA136 from CPU Data can be written.
(Hereinafter the two respective A-RAM of the _{RAM, B-RAM, C 3} ,
C ₄ , C ₅ are called AREA control signals (ARCNT) ... C ₃ , C ₄ , C ₅
Is output from the I / O port of the CPU). FIG. 17 (g) shows a correspondence table of each bit and signal name.

Next, a circuit configuration for color conversion is shown according to FIG. The color conversion here is to replace each color component data (Yi, Mi, Ci) input to this circuit with another color when it has a certain specific color density or when it has a color component ratio. Say a thing. For example, red (shaded area) of the original in Figure 18 (c)
Say that only the part of is changed to blue.

First, each color data (Yi, Mi, Ci) input to this circuit is first input to the averaging circuits 149, 150, 151. On this occasion,
The average number of pixels is set through the CPU bus from the operation panel described later. In practice, the average number of pixels is set in the window comparators 156-158 through the CPU bus. When the width is narrow, set the average number of pixels to a large value to prevent erroneous detection due to halftone images, etc., and if the width is wide, set the average pixel number to a small value. However, false detection of fine lines etc. is eliminated. One of the signals output from the averaging circuit is (Yi + Mi + Ci) detected by the adder 155, and the other color input signal is input to the B inputs of the dividers 152, 153, 154, and the other input is input to the A input.
= Yi / (Yi + Mi + Ci), magenta ratio ram = Mi / (Yi + Mi
+ Ci) and cyan ratio rac = Ci / (Yi + Mi + Ci), which are obtained as signal lines 604, 605, and 606, respectively, and are input to the window comparators 156 to 158. Here, we compare the upper limit value and the lower limit value of each color component to be set from the CPU bus, hence _{(y u, m u, c} u) and _{(y l, m l, c} l) contains the ratio between the that you are, that is, when the _{y l ≦ ra y <y u} , output =
"1", when _{m l ≦ ra m <m u} , output _{= "1", c l ≦} ra c <c
_{When u,} the output is “1”, and when the above three conditions are met, it is determined that the input color is the desired color, and the output of the 3-input AND 165 becomes 1 and is input to the S0 input of the selector 175. . The adder 155 is a signal line CHG output from the I / O port of the CPU 22.
Output when CNT607 is "1" When “0”, the output 603 = 1 is output. Therefore, when the value is "0", the A inputs of the dividers 152, 153 and 154 are output as they are. That is, at this time, not the desired color component ratio but the color density data is set in the registers 159 to 164. 1175 is a 4-input, 1-output selector,
The desired color data after conversion is input to the inputs 1, 2 and 3 as the Y component, the M component and the C component, respectively, while the masking color correction and UCR are applied to the read original image at 4 The data Vin is input and connected to Dout in FIG. 16 (a). Switching input S ₀ is the color detection is "true", i.e. "1", and other case of "0" when the predetermined color is detected, S ₁
Is the area signal CH generated by the area generation circuit in FIG. 17 (d).
In AREA ⁰ 615, the designated area is "1" and the area is "0", and when it is "1", color conversion is performed, and when it is "0", it is not performed. S ₂ , S3
Input C ₀ , C ₁ (616,617) is the same as C ₀ , C _{1 in} Fig. 16 (a).
Is the same as the signal, (C ₀ , C ₁ ) = (0,0), (0,1),
When (1,0), the yellow image formation, magenta image formation, and cyan image formation are performed by the color printer, respectively. The truth table of the selector 175 is shown in FIG. 18 (b). Register 166
168 sets the desired color component ratio after conversion or color component density data from the CPU. When y ′, m ′, c ′ are color component ratios, CHGCNT607 is set to “1”, so that the adder 155
Output 603 becomes (Yi + Mi + Ci) and is input to the B inputs of the multipliers 169 to 171, so that (Yi + Mi + Ci) × y ′, (Yi + Mi + Ci) × m ′, (i +
Mi + Ci) × c 'is input and color conversion is performed according to the truth table FIG. 18 (b). On the other hand, when y ′, m ′, c ′ are color component density data,
CHGCNT = "0" and signal 603 = "1", therefore multiplier 1
The outputs of 69 to 171 and therefore the inputs 1, 2 and 3 of the selector 175 are
The data (y ', m', c ') is input as it is, and color conversion is performed by replacing the color component density data. Area signal
In CHAREA ⁰ 615, since the section length and the number can be set arbitrarily as described above, a plurality of regions r ₁ , r ₂ , r can be set as shown in FIG. 18 (d).
By applying this color conversion only to ₃ or preparing a plurality of circuits in FIG. 18 (a), for example, the region r ₁ is red → blue, r
Color conversion over multiple areas such as ₂ → red → yellow, white → red in r ₃ and multiple colors is possible in real time at high speed. This is because the same color detection → conversion circuit as the circuit described above is facilitated, and the output of each circuit is output by the selector 230.
Required data is selected from A, B, C, D by CHSEL0, CHGEL1 and output to output 619. Area signals applied to the respective circuits are generated by the area generation circuit 51 as well as CHAREA0 to 3 and CHSEL0 and CHSEL1 as shown in FIG. 17 (d).

FIG. 19 is a gamma conversion circuit for controlling the color balance and color density of the output image in this system,
Basically, it is data conversion by LUT (lookup table), and LU is associated with the input designation from the operation unit.
The data of T is rewritten. When writing data to the RAM177 for LUT, by setting the selection signal line RAMSL623 = "0", the B input is selected by the selector 176 and the gate 178 is closed, 1
79 is opened and the buses ABUS and DBUS (address data) from the CPU 22 are connected to the RAM 177 to write or read data. RA once the conversion table is created
MSL623] becomes "1" and the video input from Din620 is RAM177
Of the video data, and the desired data is output from the RAM and input to the scaling control circuit of the next stage through the opened gate 178. This gamma RAM has five types, yellow, magenta, cyan, black, and MONO, and at least two types (A and B in FIG. 19 (b)).
The area A becomes A as shown in FIG. 19- (c) by the GARA626 generated by C ₀ , C ₁ , C ₂ (566, 567, 568) as in the figure and generated by the area generation circuit FIG. The gamma characteristic and the area B have a gamma characteristic of B so that they can be obtained as one print.

This gamma RAM has 2 types of A, B variable magnification characteristics, so that it can be switched at high speed in each area, but by adding this, it is possible to switch more characteristics at high speed. is there. The Dout 625 of FIG. 19 (a) is input to the input Din 626 of the scaling control circuit of the next stage FIG. 20 (a).

Also, as is clear from the figure, this gamma conversion RAM is designed so that the characteristics can be switched individually for each color, and it can be associated with the operation from the liquid crystal touch panel key on the operation panel.
It is rewritten from CPU22. For example, if the operator touches the density adjustment key e or f on P000 (standard screen) in FIG. 33, and touches e from the center 0, FIG. 19 (d)
Setting left and -1 → -2 as in (e) motion, the characteristics of the RAM ₁ 77 is also rewritten chosen as -1 → -2 → -3 → -4. On the contrary, when f is touched, the characteristic is + 1 → + 2 → + 3
→ It is selected as +4 and RAM177 is rewritten in the same way. That is, by touching the e or f key on the standard screen, the entire table (RAM 177) of Y, M, C, Bk or MONO is rewritten, and the density can be adjusted without changing the color tone. On the other hand, in the screen of P420 in Fig. 37 (color balance adjustment in <color create> mode), RAM177 is individually adjusted for Y, M, C and Bk in order to adjust the color balance.
Rewrite only the inner area. That is, for example, pressing the Tatsuchiki y ₁ when intra P420 to change the color tone of the yellow component black strip display extends upwardly, conversion characteristics Fig. 19 (f) -Y
As described above, the y ₁ direction, and hence the yellow component, becomes thicker. When the touch key y ₂ is touched, the characteristics are selected in the y ₂ direction, and the yellow component becomes lighter. That is,
In this operation, the density is changed only for the single color component, and the color is changed. The same applies to M, C and Bk.

In addition, the screen in Figure 36 P361 (in the <Area designation> mode,
The free color mode set in the free color mode) is realized by rewriting this gamma conversion RAM as follows.

The free color mode is the same image as when a full-color original is copied with a monochrome copying machine to obtain an image having a gradation of a single black color, and an image having a gradation of an arbitrary single hue is obtained. It is a function for.

FIG. 54- (a) shows a method for realizing the free color mode. As an example, a case will be described in which it is desired to form an image on the entire document with a blue hue. The desired hue is P362 in Fig. 36.
Specify the color on the original on the screen and read the hue,
It is obtained by designating the registered color on the screen in FIG. 36, P364, and using that hue.

The graph on the right side of Fig. 54 (a) is shown in Fig. 36, P362 or P364.
Color component data of the color with a hue desired specified in screen (light blue in this _{example) (Y S, M S,} C S) is, color red desired than this (blue) Y _S: M We get that which has a ratio of _S : C _S = 1: 2: 4. The graph on the left side of FIG. 54 (a) is a graph showing the gamma characteristics set in the MONO gamma RAM during yellow, magenta, and cyan image formation, respectively.

If MAX is the maximum value among the above-mentioned Y _S , M _S , and C _S , gamma characteristic functions GY (x), G for yellow, magenta, and cyan
M (x) and GC (x) are created as follows.

(However, MAX ≠ 0 is the same as above) By performing the gamma conversion by passing the above-mentioned monochrome image data (MONO) while changing the gamma characteristics for yellow, magenta, and cyan to the MONO gamma RAM created in this way, Has realized color mode,
In fact, for all MONO values x, Therefore, all the formed images have the same ratio for yellow, magenta, and cyan, and have the same hue. 54th
-(B) In the figure, the black part (MONO = 255) and the red part (M
ONO = 160), it shows what kind of color component the image is formed in the free color mode of this example. In this way, while the same hue is maintained, a high MONO value portion on the document is dark, and a low MONO value portion is lightly imaged.

However, as it is, it is not possible to obtain a desired density on any part of the document. For example, there is a case where the black portion of the original is desired to be a light color having a desired hue, and a red portion is desired to be a light color having a desired hue.

Therefore, the density level can be adjusted in 17 steps from level 1 to level 17 by touching the density adjustment key a on the screen in P363 or P364 in FIG. 36 (in the <area designation> mode, free color mode). . According to this density level, the gamma curve of the color component having the largest proportion (hereinafter referred to as the central color component) in FIG. 54- (a) is changed as shown in FIG. 54- (c). The standard of concentration level is level 9, at this time,
It agrees with the gamma curve in Fig. 54- (a).

Constant _M 0 is assigned to each density level ~M _{17 (M} S =
255), the gamma characteristic function GMAINi of the central color component is
It is defined by the following formula.

In this embodiment, the output of the gamma RAM is 8 bits (0 to 255), so 255 is the upper limit value.

In this way, the gradient of the gamma curve of the central color component is changed according to the density level, and the gradients of the gamma curves of other color components are also changed so that the ratio is maintained based on the gradient, so that the same hue is maintained. You can make adjustments.

FIG. 54- (d) is a gamma curve when the example of FIG. 54- (a) is changed to the density level 4. By keeping the ratio of Y, M, and C at 1: 2: 4, the black portion of the original can be made a light color of this hue.

FIG. 54- (e) is a gamma curve when the density level is changed to 15 in the example of FIG. 54- (a). To maintain the ratio,
When the central color component reaches the upper limit (255 in this case) and becomes constant, the other color components also become constant.
At this density level, the red component of the original document can be a dark color of this hue. Of course, the ratio of Y, M, C of the output data is kept at 1: 2: 4 for all MONO value inputs.

In addition, on the screen of P365 in Fig. 36 (in <area designation> mode, free color mode), P362 or P3 in Fig. 36 described above is displayed.
Color with a hue desired specified in 64 screen (Y _S,
It is also possible to adjust the density by designating a point on the original document where the same density as M _S , C _S ) is desired.

First, the MONO value at the point specified on the manuscript (reference MONO value)
Is read, and when that MONO value is input, Y _S , M _S , C _S
Set the gamma curve of each color component of MONO gamma RAM so that is output. When the reference MONO value is small, the inclination becomes large as shown in FIG. 54- (e), and when the reference MONO value is large, the inclination becomes small as shown in FIG. 54- (d).

As described above, the free color mode can be realized by only three times of image formation of Y, M, and C, but BK is possible due to the mixture with other modes.
When the image formation is performed, the gamma curve for BK may be set so that 0 is output for all inputs.

FIG. 20 (a) 180 and 181 are 16 × 297 = 475 each in the main scanning direction for one line, for example, 16 pel / mm, A4 longitudinal width 297 mm.
This is a FiFo memory with a capacity of 2 pixels, and as shown in FIG. 20 (b), write operation to the memory during ▲ ▼, ▲ ▼ = “Lo”, read section during ▲ ▼, ▲ ▼ = “Lo” When the operation is performed, the output of A when ▲ ▼ = "Hi" and the output of B when ▲ ▼ = "Hi" are in a high impedance state, so that the respective outputs are wired-ORed and output as Dout627. FiFoA, FiFoB180,18
1 is a write address counter / read address counter (the first that operates with WCK and RCK (clock) inside)
As shown in Fig. 20 (c), the internal pointer is advanced. Therefore, as is generally done, give CLK, which is the video data transfer clock VCLK588 in the system thinned by the rate multiplier 630, to RCK. It is well known that when CLK that does not decimate VCK588 is given to, the input data to this circuit is reduced at the time of output, and when it is given the opposite, it is expanded, and FiFoA and B perform their read and write operations alternately. Be seen. Furthermore, W address counter 18 in FiFo memory 180,181
2, R address counter 183 has enable signals (WE, RE ... 6
35,636) is enabled (counting by the clock progresses only during the "Lo" section and is initialized by RST (634) = "Lo"). For example, as shown in Fig. 20 (d), RST (main In the configuration, the synchronization signal in the main scanning direction ▲
▼ is used), and then pixel data is written from the n1 pixel to m pixels only ▲ ▼ = "Lo" (the same applies to ▲ ▼), and only the m pixels from the n2 pixel to ▲ ▼
When the pixel data is read out with "Lo" (same for ▲ ▼), it moves like ERITE data → READ data in the figure. That is, ▲ ▼ (and ▲ ▼), ▲
By changing the generation position and section of ▼) (and ▲ ▼), the image can be arbitrarily moved in the main scanning direction as shown in FIGS. 20 (e), (f), and (g), and By combining with WCK or RCK decimation, it is possible to easily control the magnification and movement. Input to this circuit ▲
▼, ▲ ▼, ▲ ▼, ▲ ▼ are generated as described above by the area generation circuit FIG. 17 (d).

In FIG. 20, scaling control is performed in the main scanning direction as needed, and then edge enhancement and smoothing processing are performed in FIG. FIG. 21 (a) is a block diagram of this circuit. The memories 185 to 189 each have a capacity of one line in the main scanning direction, and a total of five lines are sequentially and cyclically stored and simultaneously output in parallel in a FiFo configuration. have. 190
Is a commonly used second-order differential space filter, an edge component is detected, and the output 646 is multiplied by the gain of the characteristic shown in FIG. The shaded area in FIG. 21 (b) is the smallest of the components output by edge enhancement,
That is, it is clamped to 0 to remove the noise component. On the other hand, the buffer memory outputs for five lines are input to the smoothing circuits 191 to 195, and are averaged in pixel block units of the five sizes shown in FIG. Of 645, a desired smoothed signal is selected by the selector 197. SMSL signal 651 is CPU22 I
It is output from the / O port and controlled in association with the designation from the operation panel as described later. Further, 198 is a divider, for example, CPU3 when 3 × 5 smoothing is selected.
When “15” is set by 2 and 3 × 7 smoothing is selected, “21” is set by the CPU 22 and averaged.

The gain circuit 196 has a look-up table (LUT) configuration, and the CP circuit is the same as the gamma circuit FIG. 19 (a) described above.
RAM to which data is written by U22, input EAREA6
When 52 is set to "Lo", the output becomes "0". Furthermore, this edge enhancement control and smoothing control correspond to the LCD touch panel screen on the operation panel.
On the screen in Figure (d) (P430 in Figure 2-7), <Sheepness>
As it is operated by the operator 1, 2, 3, 4 in the strong direction,
The conversion characteristic of the gain circuit is as shown in FIG.
Rewritten by. On the other hand, when the operator operates 1 ', 2', 3 ', 4'in the direction of <sheepness> weak, the switching signal SMSL652 of the selector 197 causes the smoothing block size to be 3x3, 3x5, It is selected to be as large as 3 × 7 and 5 × 5. At the center point C, 1 × 1 is selected, the gain circuit input EAREA651 = “Lo”, the input Din is neither smoothed nor edge enhanced, and is output as Dout at the output of the adder 199. In this structure, for example, moire generated on a rope original is improved by performing smoothing, and edge enhancement is performed on the character and line drawing portions to improve sharpness. When the dot original and the character line drawing are in the same original, for example, smoothing is applied to improve moire and the character part is blurred, and the edge of the edge is emphasized. By controlling EAREA651 and SMSL652 generated in Fig. (D), for example, SMSL652 3x5
Select the smoothing of EAREA651 as shown in Fig. 21 (e).
When A is generated like A ', B'and applied to the original of the dot + character, the moire is improved for the dot image and the sharpness is improved for the character area. Signal TMAR
EA660 is generated by the area generation circuit 51 like EAREA651,
Output when MAREA = "1" Dout = "A + B", TMAREA = "0"
Dout = "0". Therefore, when a signal such as that shown in FIG. 21 (f) 660-1 is generated by the control of TMAREA660,
Removing the shaded area (inside the rectangle), Fig. 21 (g) 660-2
When such a signal is generated, the shaded portion (outside the rectangle) is extracted (white).

FIG. 5 shows a document coordinate recognition circuit 200 for recognizing the coordinates of the four corners of the document placed on the document table.
U22 reads the coordinate data from the register. JP-A-5
Detailed description is omitted because it is disclosed in detail in Japanese Patent Publication No. 9-74774. However, in the spare scan for recognizing the position of this document,
After the black correction and white correction shown in Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 (a),
The masking calculation coefficient shown in FIG. 16 (a) is k ₁ , l
Select ₁ , m ₁ for monochrome image data generation, and C ₀ , C ₁ , C ₂ in the figure are (0,1,1), and do not perform UCR (under color removal) UAREA565 = "Lo". By doing so, it is input to the document position recognition unit 200 as monochrome image data.

FIG. 22 shows an operation panel section according to the present invention, particularly a control section of a liquid crystal screen and a key matrix. Fig. 5 CPU bus 508
This operation panel is controlled by a command given to the liquid crystal controller 201 shown in FIG. 22 and an I / O port 206 for controlling the key matrix 209 for key input and touch key input. The fonts to be displayed on the liquid crystal screen are stored in the FONT ROM 205 and are transferred to the refreshing RAM 204 at every moment by the program from the CPU 22. The liquid crystal controller sends the screen data for display to the liquid crystal display 203 via the liquid crystal driver 202 to display a desired screen. On the other hand, all the key inputs are controlled by the I / O port 206, and the key pressed by the generally-used key scan is detected and input to the I / O port → CPU 22 through the receiver 208.

Fig. 23 shows this system (Fig. 1).
The configuration when the 211 is mounted and connected is shown. The same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1 are the same components, and a reflection mirror is placed on the document table 4.
A mirror unit composed of 218, Fresnel lens 212, and diffusion plate 213 is placed, and the transmitted light image of the film 216 projected from the film projector 211 is scanned in the direction of the arrow by the original scanning unit described above while the original projection is performed. Read the same as the original. The film 216 is fixed by a film holder 215, and the lamp 212 is a lamp controller 212.
PJON655, PJC from the I / O port of CPU22 (Fig. 2) in the controller 13 to control ON / OFF and lighting voltage
NT657 is output. The lamp controller 212 determines the lamp lighting voltage as shown in FIG. 24 according to the value of the 8-bit input PJCNT657, and is usually controlled between Vmin and Vmax. At this time, the input digital data is D _{A to} D ¥ B. FIG. 25 (a) shows an operation flow for reading an image from the film projector and making a copy, and FIG. 25 (b) shows an outline of the timing chart. S1 is the operator film
216 is set in the film projector 211, the lamp lighting voltage Vexp is determined by the shading correction (S2), AE (S3) described below according to the operation procedure from the operation panel described later, and the printer 2 is activated (S4). ITOP from the printer
Prior to the (image leading edge synchronization signal) signal, PJCNT = Dexp (corresponding to the proper exposure voltage), and the light amount becomes stable during image formation. The Y image is formed by ITOP signal, and stretched out next advance dark lit by between D _A until the time of exposure _{(corresponding} to the minimum exposure voltage), preventing deterioration of the filament due Ratsushiyu current during lamp operation life . After that, similarly, after forming M image, C image and black image (S7 to S12), PJC
Turn off the lamp with NT = "00".

Next, according to FIGS. 29 (a) and 29 (b), a processing procedure of AE and shading correction in the projector mode will be shown.
When the operator selects the projector mode from the operation panel, the operator first selects whether the film to be used is a color negative film, or a color positive, a black and white negative, or a black and white positive. If it is a color negative, set the film carrier 1 with a cyan color correction filter set in the projector, set the unexposed part (film base) of the film to be used in the film holder, and then set the film ASA sensitivity. 100 or more 400
When it is less than or more than 400 and the shielding start button is pressed, the projector lamp is lit at the reference lighting voltage V ₁ . Here, the cyan type filter cuts the orange base part of the color negative film, R, G,
Adjust the color balance of the color sensor with the B filter attached. Further, by extracting the shading data from the unexposed portion, the dynamic range can be widened even in the case of a negative film. If it is not a color negative film, set the film carrier 2 with the ND filter embedded (or no filter) and press the shade start key on the LCD touch panel.
The projector lamp lights at the reference lighting voltage V ₂ . Actually, if the operator selects the negative film or the positive film, the reference lighting voltages V ₁ and V ₂ may be automatically switched by recognizing the type of the film carrier. Then, the scanner unit moves to the vicinity of the center of the image projection part, and the average value of one CCD line or a plurality of lines is set to R, G,
For each B, the data is taken into RAM 78 'in FIG. 11 (a) and the projector lamp is turned off.

Next, set the image film 216 to be actually copied to the film holder 215, and if focus adjustment is necessary, turn on the projector lamp with the lamp lighting button on the operation panel, and after visually adjusting the focus, Turn off the lamp again by pressing the lamp on button.

When the copy button is turned on, the projector lamp is switched to V ₁ or V depending on the selection result of whether or not the color negative described above.
_The light is automatically turned on at ₂ and the Prisqueyan (A
E) is performed. Pre-scanning is for determining the exposure level of the film to be copied at the time of shooting, and is performed by the following procedure. That is, by inputting R signals of a predetermined plurality of lines in the image projection area by CCD, and accumulating the appearance frequency of the R signal pairs, a histogram as shown in Fig. 25 (c) is created (Fig. 11 "Histogram"). Creation mode ”). From this histogram, find the max value shown in the figure, and
Determine the maximum and minimum R signal values Rmax and Rmin at which the histogram crosses 1/16 the level of the ax value. Then, the lamp light amount multiple α is calculated according to the film type initially selected by the operator. The value of α is 255 / Rmax for color or black and white positive film, α = C ₁ / Rmin for black and white negative, α = C ₂ / Rmin, ASA sensitivity 40 for color negative less than 400.
In the case of 0 or more color negative, it is calculated as α = C ₃ / Rmin. C ₁ , C ₂ and C ₃ are values determined in advance by the gamma characteristic of the film, and are values of about 40 to 50 out of 255 levels. The α value is converted into output data to the variable voltage power source of the projector lamp by a predetermined lookup table. Then, the projector lamp is lit by the lamp lighting voltage V thus obtained, and the logarithmic conversion table 3 (a) and the masking coefficient 16 (a) are set to appropriate values according to the film type. It is set and the normal copying operation is executed. As shown in FIG. 3 (a), the selection of the logarithmic conversion table is made such that eight kinds of tables 1 to 8 are selected by a switching signal of 3 bits, 1 is for reverse original, 2 is for color positive, and 3 is for Use for black and white positive, 4 for color negative (less than ASA400), 5 for color negative (ASA400 and above), 6 for black and white negative, and so on. The contents can be set independently for each of R, G, and B. FIG. 13 (b) shows an example of table contents.

With the above, the copying operation is completed. When transferring to the next film copy, film layer properties (negative / positive, color / black and white et
The operator determines whether or not c) changes. If it changes, the process returns to FIG. 29 (a). If it does not change, the process returns to and the same operation is repeated.

From the above, the negative film,
Print output corresponding to each of positive, color, and black-and-white films can be obtained. With this system, as can be seen in Fig. 23, the film image is enlarged and projected on the original table surface.
There are few fine character line drawings, and it is necessary to reproduce particularly smooth gradation from the viewpoint of film applications. Therefore, in this system, the gradation processing on the color LBP output side as shown below is different from that when printing from a reflection original.
This is performed by the PWM circuit (778) included in the printer controller 700.

The details of the PWM circuit 778 will be described below.

A block diagram of the PWM circuit is shown in FIG. 26 (A), and a timing diagram is shown in FIG. 26 (B).

The input VIDEO DATA 800 is VCLK801 in the latch circuit 900.
It is latched at the rising edge of and is synchronized with the clock. (See (B) FIGS. 800 and 801) The VIDEO DATA 815 output from the latch is gradation-corrected by a LUT (Rookup Table) 901 composed of ROM or RAM, and D / A (digital
The (analog) converter 902 performs D / A conversion to generate one analog video signal, and the generated analog signal is input to the comparators 910 and 911 at the next stage and compared with a triangular wave described later. Signal input to the other side of comparator 808,809
Is a triangular wave (808 in FIG. 808) generated individually and synchronized with VCLK. That is, a synchronous clock 2VCLK803 having a frequency twice that of VCLK801, one of which is J-
A triangular wave WV1 generated by a triangular wave generation circuit 908 in accordance with a triangular wave generation reference signal 806 divided by 2 by a K flip-flop 906, and a signal 807 ((B ) The triangular wave WV2 generated by the triangular wave generation circuit 909 according to FIG. 807). Each triangle wave and VIDE
All O DATA are generated in synchronization with VCLK as shown in FIG. Further, each signal is HSYNC inverted in order to synchronize with HSYNC 802 generated in synchronization with VCLK, and initializes the circuits 905 and 906 at the timing of HSYNC. As a result of the above operation, the input VI is connected to the outputs 810 and 811 of the CMP1910 and CMP2911.
Depending on the value of DEO DATA 800, a signal having a pulse width as shown in FIG. That is, in this system,
When the output of AND gate 913 is "1", the laser is turned on, dots are printed on the print paper, when it is "0", the laser is turned off and nothing is printed on the print paper. Therefore, the control signal LO
You can control the turn-off with N (805). FIG. 6C shows a state where the level of the image signal D changes from left to right from “black” to “white”. The input to the PWM circuit is "FF" for "white",
Since "black" is input as "00", the output of the D / A converter 902 changes like Di in FIG. On the other hand, the triangular wave is similar to WV1 in (a) and WV2 in (b), so the output of CMP1 and CMP2 becomes like PW1 and PW2. It gets narrower. Also, as is clear from the figure, when PW1 is selected,
The dots on the print paper are formed at intervals of P ₁ → P ₂ → P ₃ → P ₄ , and the amount of change in pulse width has a dynamic range of W1. On the other hand, if PW2 is selected, the dot is P ₅ → P ₆
The pulse width dynamic range is W2.
Is 3 times that of PW1. Incidentally, for example, the print density (resolution) is set to about 400 lines / inch for PW1 and about 133 lines / inch for PW2. Also, as is clear from this, when PW1 is selected, the resolution is about 3 times better than when PW2 is selected, while when PW2 is selected, the pulse width dynamic range is about 3 times wider than PW1. , The gradation is remarkably improved. So if, for example, high resolution is required,
When high gradation is required for PW1, SCRSEL804 is given from an external circuit so that PW2 is selected. That is, figure (A)
Reference numeral 912 denotes a selector. When the SCRSEL804 is "0", the A input is selected, that is, when PW1 is "1", PW2 is output from the output terminal. Print.

The LUT 901 is a table conversion ROM for gradation correction, and has addresses 812, 813 K ₁ , K ₂ , 814 table switching signals, 81
VIDEO D with 5 video signals input and corrected from output
ATA is obtained. For example, if SCRSEL804 is set to "0" to select PW1, the output of ternary counter 903 becomes "0".
The correction table for PW1 in 01 is selected. Also K0, K
1, K2 can be switched according to the output color signal, for example,
When K ₀ , K ₁ , K ₂ = “0,0,0”, yellow output “0,1,0” magenta output, “1,0,0” cyan output “1,1,1” When it is 0 ", black is output. That is, the gradation correction characteristic is switched for each color image to be printed. This compensates for differences in gradation characteristics due to differences in image reproduction characteristics depending on the colors of the laser beam printer. Moreover, it is possible to perform a wider range of gradation correction by combining K2, K0, and K1. For example, it is possible to switch the gradation conversion characteristics of each color according to the type of input image. Next, when SCRSEL is set to “1” to select PW2, the ternary counter 603 counts the line synchronization signal and “1” → “2” → “3” → “1” → “2”. → “3”…
Is output to the address 814 of the LUT. As a result, the gradation correction table is switched for each line to further improve the gradation.

This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. For curve A in FIG. 9A, for example, PW1 is selected and the input data is “FF”, that is, “white”.
It is a characteristic curve of input data versus print density when changing from "0" to "black". As a standard, it is desirable that the characteristic is K. Therefore, B, which is the inverse characteristic of A, is set in the gradation correction table. FIG. 7B shows the gradation correction characteristics A, B, and C for each line when PW2 is selected, and the pulse width in the main scanning direction (laser scan direction) is changed by the above-mentioned triangular wave and at the same time the sub-scanning direction is changed. As shown in the figure, (gradation direction of image) is given three gradations to further improve gradation characteristics. That is, the characteristic A becomes dominant in the portion where the density change is sharp, the sharp reproducibility is reproduced, the smooth gradation is reproduced by the characteristic C, and the gradation B is effective for the middle portion. Therefore, even when PW1 is selected as described above, a certain level of gradation is ensured with high resolution, and when PW2 is selected, extremely excellent gradation is guaranteed. Further, regarding the above-mentioned pulse width, for example, in the case of PW2, ideally the pulse width W is 0 ≦ W ≦ W
Although it is 2, due to the electrophotographic characteristics of the laser beam printer and the response characteristics of the laser drive circuit, etc., the area where the dots are not printed (does not respond) with a pulse width shorter than a certain width.
Fig. 0 ≤ W ≤ pw and the area where the density is saturated Fig. 28 wq ≤
There is W ≦ W2. Therefore, the pulse width and the density are set so that the pulse width changes within the linear effective region wp ≦ W ≦ wq. That is, when the input data 0 (black) changes to FFH (white) as shown in Fig. 28 (B), the pulse width is wp.
It changes from wq to wq to further guarantee the linearity between input data and density.

The video signal converted to pulse width as described above is a line
Laser light L is added to the laser driver 711L via 224.
Modulate B.

The signals K ₀ , K ₁ , K ₂ , SCRSEL, LON in FIG. 26 (A) are output from a control circuit (not shown) in the printer controller 700 in FIG. 2 and serial communication with the reader unit 1 (described above).
Output based on SCRSEL = “0”, especially for reflective originals
When using the film projector, SCRSEL is controlled to "1" to reproduce a smoother gradation.

<Image forming operation> Now, the laser light LB modulated corresponding to the image data is
A polygon mirror 712 that rotates at high speed horizontally scans at a high speed within the width of arrow AB in FIG. 30 and connects the surface of the photosensitive drum 715 through the f / θ lens 13 and the mirror 714 to obtain a dot corresponding to the image data. Expose. One horizontal scan of the laser beam corresponds to one horizontal scan of the original image, and in this embodiment, corresponds to a width of 1/16 mm in the feeding direction (sub-scanning direction).

On the other hand, since the photosensitive drum 715 is rotating at a constant speed in the direction of the arrow L in the figure, the above-described laser beam scanning is performed in the main scanning direction of the drum, and the photosensitive drum 715 is moved in the sub scanning direction of the drum. Since the rotation is performed at a constant speed, the planar images are successively exposed to form latent images. From the uniform charging by the charger 717 prior to this exposure → the above-described exposure → and the toner development by the developing sleeve 731, toner development is formed. For example, by developing with the yellow toner of the developing sleeve 731Y in response to the first original exposure scanning in the color reader, a toner image corresponding to the yellow component of the original 3 is formed on the photosensitive drum 715.

Next, the tip of the transfer drum 7 is supported by the gripper 751.
A yellow toner image is transferred and formed on the paper sheet 754 wound around 16 by a transfer charger 729 provided at the contact point between the photosensitive drum 715 and the transfer drum 716. The same processing optimization as this is repeated for the M (magenta), C (cyan), and Bk (black) images, and each toner image is transferred to the paper sheet 75.
By superimposing on 4, a full-color image with 4 color toners is formed.

Thereafter, the transfer paper 791 is peeled from the transfer drum 716 by the movable peeling claw 750 shown in FIG.
Thus, the toner image on the transfer paper 791 is fused and fixed.

<Explanation of the operation section> Fig. 31 is an explanatory view of the operation section of the color copying apparatus.
1 is a reset key for returning to the standard mode, key 402 is an enter key for setting a registration mode or a service mode described later, key 404 is a numeric keypad for inputting a numerical value such as a set number, and key 403 is a numeric keypad. A clear / stop key for clearing or stopping during continuous copying, and 405 is for displaying the setting of each mode by the touch panel key and the status of the printer 2. A key 407 is a center movement key that designates a center movement in a movement mode described later, a key 408 is a document recognition key that automatically detects a document size and a document position at the time of copying, and a key 406 designates a projector mode described later. Projector key, key 409 is a recall key for restoring the previous copy setting state, key 410 is a memory key (M1, M2, M3, M4) for storing or recalling the preset value of each mode etc. ), And a key 411 is a registration key for each memory.

<Digitizer> FIG. 32 is an external view of the digitizer 16. Key 422,423,
Reference numerals 425, 426, and 427 are entry keys for setting each mode described later, the coordinate detection plate 420 is a coordinate position detection plate for designating an arbitrary area on the document or setting a magnification, and the point pen 421 is The coordinates are specified. These keys and coordinate input information can be
Data is transmitted to and received from the CPU 22 via 5, and the information is stored in the RAM 24 and the RAM 25 accordingly.

<Description of Standard Screen> FIG. 33 is an explanatory diagram of a standard screen. The standard screen PO00 is a screen displayed when copying or setting is not being performed, and variable magnification, paper selection, and density adjustment can be set. In the lower left part of the screen, so-called standard variable magnification can be designated. For example, when the touch key a (reduction) is pressed, the size change and the magnification are displayed as shown on the screen PO10. Further, when the touch key b (enlargement) is pressed, the size and the magnification are displayed in the same manner, and in the color copying apparatus, reduction 3 stages and enlargement 3 stages can be selected.
When returning to the same size, press the touch key h (1x) to get the same size.
100% magnification. Next, when the touch key c in the center of the display is pressed, the upper cassette and the lower cassette can be selected. Further, when the touch key d is pressed, it is possible to set an APS (auto paper select) mode in which the cassette containing the paper most suitable for the document size is automatically selected. Touch keys e and f on the right side of the display are keys for adjusting the density of the print image and can be set even during copying. As for the touch key g, the description of each touch key and the method of making a copy are described when operating the color copying apparatus. This is an explanation screen, and the operator can easily handle this screen. In addition to the explanation of the standard screen, the explanation screen of each mode is prepared in each setting mode described later. A black strip-shaped stripe display section at the top of the screen displays the status of each mode currently set so that the user can confirm the operation mistake or setting. The message display section at the bottom of the screen displays the status of the color copying machine such as the screen PO20 and a message such as an operation error. Further, in the JAM and each toner replenishment message, the printer section 16 is further displayed on the entire screen, so that it is easy to determine which part has paper.

<Zoom variable magnification mode> The zoom variable magnification mode M100 is a mode for printing by changing the size of an original, and is composed of a manual zoom variable magnification mode M110 and an automatic zoom variable magnification mode M120. Manual zoom variable magnification mode M110 has X direction (sub scanning direction) and Y direction.
The magnification in the direction (main scanning direction) can be set independently in units of 1% from the editor or the touch panel. Auto-zoom scaling mode M120 is a mode that automatically calculates and copies an appropriate scaling ratio according to the original and the selected paper size.In addition, XY independent auto scaling, XY same-ratio auto scaling, X auto scaling Four types of Y auto scaling can be specified. In the XY independent automatic scaling, the magnifications in the X and Y directions are independently and automatically set so that the original size or the paper size selected for the designated area on the original is obtained. XY
In the same rate auto scaling, the XY independent auto scaling results in the smaller magnification, and both XY are scaled and printed.
The X automatic scaling and the Y automatic scaling are modes in which the automatic scaling is performed only in the X direction and only in the Y direction.

Next, a method of operating the zoom magnification / reduction mode will be described using a liquid crystal panel screen. When the zoom key 422 of the digitizer 16 is pressed, the display changes to the screen P100 shown in FIG. When the user wants to set the manual zoom here, the point pen 421 sets the intersection of the magnifications in the X and Y directions written on the coordinate detection plate 420 of the editor 16. At this time, the display is screen P110.
, The designated X and Y magnification values are displayed. Therefore, when it is desired to finely adjust the displayed magnification, for example, in the X direction only, the left and right keys (up, down) of the touch key b are pressed and adjusted. If you want to make adjustments at the same XY ratio, use the left and right keys of the touch key d and the display will be updated at the same XY ratio. Next, when it is desired to set the auto zoom, from the screen P100, use the digitizer 16 in the above-described method or press the touch key a to advance the display to the screen P110. Therefore, the above-mentioned four types of auto zoom, XY independent auto scaling, XY same ratio auto scaling, X
To specify automatic scaling and Y automatic scaling, press touch keys b and c, touch key d, and touch key b, respectively.
A desired auto zoom can be obtained by pressing the touch key c.

<Movement Mode> The movement mode M200 includes four types of movement modes, which are a center movement M210, a corner movement M220, a designated movement M230, and a binding margin M240. Center move M21
0 is a mode in which the document size or a designated area on the document is moved so as to be printed exactly in the center of the selected sheet. The corner move M220 is a mode in which the document size or a designated area on the document is moved to one of the four corners of the selected sheet. Here, as shown in FIG. 43, even when the print image is larger than the selected paper size, it is controlled to move starting from the designated corner. The designated movement M230 is a mode in which an original or an arbitrary area of the original is moved to an arbitrary position on the selected sheet. The binding margin M240 is a mode that moves to the left and right of the selected paper feeding direction so as to create a so-called binding margin.

Next, in the color copying machine, the actual operation method
This will be described with reference to FIG. First, when the move key 423 of the digitizer 16 is pressed, the display changes to screen P200. On screen P200, the four types of movement modes described above are selected.

If you want to specify center movement, press touch key a on screen P200 to finish. In the corner movement, when the touch key b is pressed, the display changes to the screen P230, and one of the four corners is designated there. Here, the correspondence between the actual movement direction of the print paper and the designated direction on the screen P230 is
As shown in FIG. 35 (b), the image of the selected cassette on the digitizer 16 is not changed, and the image is the same as the one placed as it is. When you want to make a designated move,
The touch key c on the screen P200 is pressed to proceed to screen P210, and the digitizer 16 is used to specify the destination position. At this time, the display changes to the screen P211, and the up-down key in the figure can be used for further fine adjustment. Next, when the user wants to move the binding margin, the touch key d on the screen P200 is pressed, and the length of the margin is designated by the up-down key on the screen P220.

<Explanation of Area Designation Mode> In the area designation mode M300, one area or a plurality of areas on the original can be designated, and any one of three modes of trimming mode M310, masking mode M320 and image separation mode can be specified for each area. You can set the mode. The trimming mode M310 described here is to copy only the image inside the specified area.
20 is to copy by masking the inside of the specified area with a white image. The image separation mode M330 is further composed of a color mode M331, a color conversion mode M332, and a paint mode M3.
33, color balance mode M334, free color mode M335
You can select any of these modes. In color mode M331, 4 full colors in the specified area,
3 colors Full color Y, M, C, Bk, RED, GREEN, BLUE 9 color modes can be selected.

The free color mode M335 can select a mono-color image in a color other than the above-mentioned seven kinds of mono-color within the designated area.

The color conversion mode M332 is a mode in which a predetermined color portion having a certain density range is replaced with another arbitrary color in the designated area and copied.

The paint mode M333 is a mode for making a copy uniformly painted over in the designated area with another arbitrary color. The color balance mode M334 is a mode in which the density of each of Y, M, C, and Bk in the designated area is adjusted to print with a color balance (color tone) different from that of the undesignated area.

A specific operation method in this embodiment of the area designation mode M300 will be described in order with reference to FIG. First digitizer
16 Press the area designation key 424 above to display the wave crystal screen P300
Then, the original is placed on the digitizer 16 and the area is designated by the point pen 421. When two points in the area are pressed, the display changes to the screen P310, and if the specified area is good, the touch key a on the screen P310 is pressed. Next, this designated area is displayed on screen P320, which includes trimming, masking, and image separation 1
Select one and press the key. If the designation is trimming or masking at this time, the touch key a key on the screen P320 is pressed to proceed to the next region designation. When image separation is selected on the screen P320, the process proceeds to a screen P330, and any one of color conversion, paint, color mode, color balance, and free color mode is selected. For example, if the image in the specified area is Y, M, C, Bk
If you want to print in 4 colors, press touch key a (color mode) on screen P330, and press touch key a from 9 color modes on screen P360 to finish printing the area in full color. .

When the touch key b for specifying the color conversion is pressed on the screen P330, the display proceeds to the screen P340 and the point having the color information to be color-converted in the specified area is specified by the point pen.

Color conversion is performed based on this color information. At this time, the color range to be color-converted can be changed by the conversion range designation key in the center of the screen P341. The conversion range mentioned here indicates the width of the range of the color information that is regarded as the same color as the color information of the designated point (hereinafter referred to as the conversion range). For example, if the range of conversion is widened with the touch key b, it is possible to convert up to the region where the density and tint are different, and if it is narrowed with the touch key c, on the contrary, only the region of the specified density and the specified tint can be converted. .

If the designated position is acceptable, touch the touch key a on the screen P341 and proceed to the screen P370. Screen P370 is a screen for specifying the color after conversion. It is one of four types of standard color, specified color, registered color and white.
Specify one. Here, when the color after conversion is selected from the standard colors, the touch key a on the screen P370 is pressed and any one of the seven types of yellow, magenta, cyan, black, red, green and blue displayed on the screen P390 is selected. Specify the color here. In other words, the standard color is the color information unique to this color copying machine,
In the case of the present embodiment, the density of the print image is printed at the intermediate density as shown in FIG. However, there is of course a request to make the density of the specified color a little lighter or darker.
By pressing the density specification key in the center of P390, you can perform color conversion with the desired density.

Next, when touch key c (designated color) is selected on screen P370, proceed to screen P380, and specify the point with the converted color information with the point pen in the same specification method as the color coordinates before conversion.
Go to screen P381. Again, as described above, if you want to perform color conversion by changing only the density without changing the tint of the designated coordinates, press the density adjustment k key a in the center of the screen P381 to perform color conversion at the desired density. It becomes possible to do.

Next, on the screen P370, when there is no standard color and the desired color on the original, color conversion can be performed using the color information registered in the color registration mode M710 described later. In this case, screen P3
Press the touch key c of 70 and press the touch key of the color number you want to use among the colors registered on screen P391. Also here, the density of the registered color can be adjusted by changing only the density without changing the ratio of each color component. If touch key c (white) is specified on screen P370, the above-mentioned masking mode M3
It has the same effect as 10.

Next, when you want to specify the paint mode M333 of the image separation mode M330, press the touch key c on the screen P330, and the screen P370
Go to. The subsequent color designation after painting is completely the same as the setting method after the screen P370 of the color conversion mode M332.

On the screen P330, if you want to print with the desired color balance (color tone) only in the specified area, press the touch key d (color balance). At this time, the display changes to the screen P350, and here, the density adjustment of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, which are the toner components of the printer, is performed using the up-down touch key. Here, on the screen P350, the black bar graph shows the state of density designation, and a scale is displayed next to it to make it easy to see.

When the touch key e for designating the free color mode is pressed on the screen P330, the display proceeds to the screen P361. screen
P361 is either a designated color or a registered color for mono color 1
Specify one.

When touch key a (designated color) is selected on screen P361, the screen advances to screen P362, a point having desired mono / color color information is specified with a point pen, and the process advances to screen P363. Again, if you want to change the density without changing the tint of the specified mono color and perform mono color, press the density adjustment key a on the screen P363 to enter the free color mode with the desired density. Things are possible.

If you press the OK key b on screen P363, you will proceed to screen P365, and enter the position of the reference color information that you want to have the same density as the density of the color information specified on screen P362 with the point pen. It is possible to set it to mode.

Next, when the touch key b (registered color) is selected on the screen P361, the process proceeds to a screen P364 and one desired mono / color color information is selected from the registered colors. Here too, it is possible to adjust by changing only the density without changing the tint of the mono color.
Further, the OK key on the screen P364 is pressed to proceed to the screen P365, and as described above, the free color mode in which the densities of the registered color specified on the screen P364 and the reference color specified on the screen P365 match can be selected.

<Explanation of color create mode> In the color create mode M400 shown in FIG. 41, the color mode M410, the color conversion mode 420, the paint mode M430, the sharpness mode M440, the color balance mode M450, and the free color mode M460 are selected from six modes. One or more can be specified.

Here, in the area specification mode M300, the color mode M331,
The difference between the color conversion mode M332, the paint mode M333, the color balance mode M334, and the free color mode M335 is that the color create mode M400 operates on the entire document, not on a certain area of the document. Just others do exactly the same thing. Therefore, the description of the above five modes is omitted.

The sharpness mode 440 is a mode for adjusting the sharpness of an image, and is a mode for adjusting the ratio of emphasizing edges on a so-called character image or producing a smoothing effect on a halftone image.

Next, the color create mode setting method will be described with reference to the explanatory diagram of FIG. When the color create mode key 425 of the digitizer 16 is pressed, the liquid crystal display changes to the display of screen P400. When touch key b (color mode) is pressed on screen P400, the process proceeds to screen P410, where the color mode to be copied is selected. When the color mode to be selected is a monochrome color mode other than the three-color and four-color modes, the display further proceeds to screen P411, and negative or positive can be selected. When the touch key c (sheepness) is pressed on the screen P400, the screen changes to the screen P430 and the sharpness for the copy image can be adjusted. When the strong touch key i on the screen P430 is pressed, the amount of edge enhancement increases, as described above, and particularly fine lines of a character image are copied neatly. When the touch key h, which is weak, is pressed, the peripheral image is smoothed, the amount of so-called smoothing is increased, and settings can be made so that moire or the like at the time of halftone dot original can be erased.

The operations of the color conversion mode M420, the paint mode M430, and the color balance M450 are the same as those in the area designation mode, and will not be repeated here.

<Explanation of embedding composition mode> In embedding composition mode M6, the specified color image area is specified for the monochrome image area (color image area may be used) for the originals E and F in Fig. 42. Within
This is a mode in which printing is performed by moving the image in the same size or in a variable size.

A method of setting the embedded combination mode will be described with reference to a picture on the liquid crystal panel and a touch panel key operation. First digitizer
When the original is placed on the 16 coordinate detection plate and the inset composite key 427, which is the entry key in the inset composite mode, is pressed, the liquid crystal screen changes from the standard screen P000 in FIG. 33 to the screen in FIG. 39.
Change to P600. Next, the color image area to be moved is designated by the point pen 421 at two points on the diagonal line of the area. At that time, on the liquid crystal screen, two dots that are similar in shape to the actually specified position are displayed as in screen P610. If it is desired to change the designated area to another area, the touch key a on the screen P610 is pressed and two points are designated again. If the set area is good, the touch key b is pressed, then two points on the diagonal line of the destination monochrome image area are designated by the point pen 421, and if good, the touch key c on the screen P630 is pressed. At this time, the liquid crystal screen changes to screen P640, and the magnification of the moving color image is designated here. When it is desired to fit the moving image in the same size, the touch key d is pressed, and the end touch key is pressed to complete the setting. At this time, as shown in A and B of FIG. 2-12, when the moving image area is larger than the moving destination area, it is fitted according to the moving destination area, and when it is small, the open area is printed as a white image. Is automatically controlled.

Next, when it is desired to change the size of the designated color image area and fit it, press the touch key e on the screen P640. At this time, the screen is changed to the screen P650, and the magnification in the X direction (sub scanning direction) and Y direction (main scanning direction) is set in the same manner as in the zoom variable magnification mode operation method described above. First, when you want to fit the specified moving color image area with automatic scaling of XY same ratio, screen P6
Press the Tatsu key g of 50 to reverse the key display.
Also, when it is desired to print the moving color image area in the same size as the destination area, the touch keys h and i on the screen P650 are pressed to reverse. Also, when setting the variable magnification only in the X direction only, the Y direction only, or the XY same ratio, the setting can be done by pressing the up down touch key.

When the above setting operation is completed, press the touch key j,
The screen returns to the standard screen P000 in Fig. 33, and the setting operation of the inset compositing mode is completed.

<Enlarged continuous shooting mode> Enlarged continuous shooting mode M500 is used when the original size or the specified area of the original is copied at the set magnification and the selected paper size is exceeded. In this mode, the document is automatically divided into two or more areas according to the size, and each part of the divided document is output on a plurality of sheets of paper. Therefore, by combining these plural copies, it is possible to easily make a copy larger than the designated paper size.

First of all, the actual setting operation is the enlarged continuous shooting key of the digitizer 16.
The setting is completed by pressing 426 and pressing the end key of touch key a on screen P500 of FIG. Now all you have to do is select the desired magnification and paper.

<Registration Mode> The registration mode M700 is composed of three types of modes: a color registration mode M710, a zoom program mode M720, and a manual feed size designation mode M730.

The color registration mode M710 is the color creation mode M4 described above.
00 and area designation mode When the color conversion mode and paint mode of M300 are designated, the color after conversion can be registered in this mode. The zoom program mode M720 is a mode in which the magnification is automatically calculated by inputting the size of the original and the length of the copy paper size, and the resulting magnification is displayed on the standard screen P000, and is then copied at that magnification. Is. In the manual copy size specification mode M730, in this color copying machine, in addition to the upper and lower cassettes, copying can be done manually, and if you want to use it in so-called APS (auto paper select) mode, specify the size of the manual feed. It is a mode that can.

First, when the * key 402 on the operation unit of FIG. 31 is pressed,
The display changes to screen P700 in Figure 40-1. Next color registration mode
When you want to register the color of M710, touch key a on screen P700.
Press to register colors on the digitizer 16 or place an original on screen P710, and specify the color part with the point pen 421.

At this time, the screen changes to screen P711, and press the touch key of the registration number you want to set. If you want to register other colors, press the touch key d on screen P711 and
Return to P710 and set in the same procedure. When the input of the coordinates to be registered is completed, the touch key e is pressed, and the touch key f which is the reading start key on the screen P712 is pressed.

After the touch key f is pressed, it operates according to the flow chart process of FIG. First, in S700, the halogen lamp 10 is turned on, and in S701, the number of moving panels of the stepping motor is calculated from the specified coordinates (sub-scanning direction), and the original scanning unit 11 is moved by issuing the specified moving command. In S702, one line of the sub-scanning position whose coordinates are designated by the line data acquisition mode is shown in Fig. 11-1 (a).
Take it into RAM78 '. In S703, the CPU 22 calculates the average value of 8 pixels before and after the main scanning position for which the coordinates are specified from the fetched 1-line data, and stores it in the RAM 24. In S704, it is determined whether or not the designated number of registered coordinates have been read, and if there is any, go to S701 and perform the same processing. When all the reading positions are completed, the halogen lamp 10 is turned off in S705, the document scanning unit is returned to the HP position which is the reference position, and the operation is completed.

Next, when the touch key a (zoom program) is pressed on the screen P700, the screen changes to a screen P720, where the length of the original size and the length of the copy size are set with the UP key. The set numerical value is displayed on screen P720 and The% value of is displayed. Further, the calculation result is displayed at the magnification display position of the standard screen P000, and the magnification at the time of copying is set.

Next, when the touch key c (manual feed size designation) is pressed on the screen P700, the screen advances to a screen P730 where the paper size of the manual feed paper is designated. This mode is, for example, an APS mode, or an auto zoom function can be applied to a manual feed sheet.

The numerical values and information set by the touch panel or digitizer coordinate input in each mode are stored in the pre-arranged areas of RAM24 and RAM25 under the control of CPU22, and are called and controlled as parameters during the subsequent copy sequence. It

Next, the service mode will be described.

First, press the * key 402 on the operation section of FIG. 31 and change the display screen to the screen P700 of FIG. 40-1.
When is pressed, the display changes to screen P800 in Figure 40-2. Next, when it is desired to adjust the black level, touch the touch key a on the screen P800 to display the screen P850, and press the touch key b on the screen P850 to display the screen P852. The touch key c and the display C on the screen P852 are used to input whether or not the mode is such that the black level signal of one line of the CCD 16 is taken into the black level RAM 78 before copying. If the display of C is in the state shown in FIG. 40-2, the mode of not capturing is set to RAM24, RAM25, and if the character portion of the display of C is reversed by the input of touch key c, the mode of acquiring the black level signal Is set to RAM24, RAM25. The operation of the touch key c is a toggle operation.
The other service modes are not directly related to the present invention and will not be described.

Fig. 51 shows the operating procedure of the operation unit when the film projector (Fig. 24 211) is installed. Film Projector
After the 211 is connected, turn on the projector mode selection key shown in FIG. 31, 406, and the display on the LCD touch panel displays P800.
Turns into. On this screen, select whether the film is negative or positive. For example, if you select a negative film here,
The screen changes to select P810, the ASA sensitivity of the film. Here, for example, the film sensitivity ASA100 is selected. Among them, as described in detail in the procedure described in FIG. 29, by setting the negative base film and turning on the P820 shading start key, the shading correction and then the negative film to be printed are set in the holder 215. Then, by turning on the copy button (400 in FIG. 31), the AE operation for determining the exposure voltage is performed, and then as shown in FIG. 25 (a), image formation is performed in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and Bk (black). Repeat.

FIG. 46 is a flow chart of sequence control of this color copying apparatus. The following is a description along the flow chart. By pressing the copy key, the halogen lamp is turned on in S100, and the black correction mode which is the operation described above in S101, S102
To perform the white correction mode shading processing.

Here, the black correction mode of S101 will be described. The black correction mode is, as described in FIGS. 10 (a), (b), (c), and (d), the steel reference value acquisition mode, the calculation processing mode of the black level data, and the black correction for correcting the actual image data. There are modes. As described above, the black level data captured in the black reference value capture mode is easily affected by noise, and measures are taken to reduce the effect of noise in the arithmetic processing mode in the CCD main scanning direction. Similarly, there is a slight level variation between CCD channels. Therefore, if the data captured as black level data includes a level difference between the channels, it occurs as a color shift of the image between the channels. To avoid this, the service mode M800 (40th
-Figure 2) ADJUST mode In M852, in DARK ADJ mode, press the touch key c to set the mode for loading the black level signal to the black level RAM78 to RAM24, 25, and the black correction mode S1.
In 01, the mode set in the RAM 24, 25 is determined in S101-1, and the black level signal is fetched in S101-2, S101-3.
At -4, black correction is performed and the copied image is confirmed. If color misregistration occurs between CCD channels after checking the copied image, repeat the copying operation to check the image. As a result, when black level data that does not cause color misregistration between CCD channels is fetched, display C is reversely displayed by pressing touch key c in DARK ADJ mode in service mode M800, and the black level signal is transferred to black level RAM78. RAM not captured
Set to 24,25, and after that, in the black correction mode S101, S
Without executing 101-2 and S101-3, the black correction of S101-4 is performed by the previously acquired black level data.

Next, if the designated color conversion is set in the color conversion mode or the paint mode, the color registration and designated color reading processing of S104 is performed, and the color-separated density data of the designated coordinates is used for the registration mode and the designated color detection. In response, each is stored in a predetermined area. This operation is as shown in FIG. In S105, it is judged whether the document recognition mode is set, and if so, the scanning unit 16 in S106-1 is scanned by the maximum document detection length of 435 mm, and the document recognition 200 described above is used to scan the document via the CPU bus. The position and size of the. If not certified, the paper size selected in S106-2 is recognized as the document size, and these pieces of information are stored in the RAM 24. In S107, it is determined whether or not the moving mode is set, and when the moving mode is set, the document scanning unit 16 is moved to the document side in advance by the moving amount.

Next, in S109, based on the information set by each mode,
Create a bit C map for outputting the gate signal of each function generated from RAMA136 or RAMB137.

FIG. 49 shows the RAM 2 of the information set in each mode described above.
4 is a RAM map diagram set in RAM 25. FIG. The AREA MODE stores the identification information of the operation in each designated area, for example, each mode such as painting and trimming. AREA X
Y contains the document size and size information for each area, and A
REA ALPT stores the information after color conversion, and whether the standard color or the designated color is the registered color. AREA ALPT XY is an information area of color coordinates when the contents of AREA ALPT are specified colors.
DENS is the density adjustment data area after conversion. AREA PT
XY is an information area of color coordinates before conversion in the color conversion mode. AREA CLAD stores the color mode information of the original or the designated area.

The REGI COLOR stores each color information registered in the color registration mode and uses it as a registered color. This area is stored in the backup memory of the RAM 25 and is stored even when the power is turned off.

The bit map shown in Fig. 50 is created based on the above set information. First, from AREA XY that stores the size information of each area in FIG. 49, from the coordinate data in the sub-scanning direction, the X ADD area is sorted in order from the smallest value,
The main scanning direction is similarly sorted.

Next, "1" is set at the BIT MAP positions of the start and end points in the main scanning direction of each area, and the same process is performed up to the end point coordinates of the sub scanning. The bit position which gives "1" at this time corresponds to each gate signal generated from the RAMA136 or RAMB137, and the bit position is determined by the mode in the area. For example, area 1 which is the original area corresponds to TMAREA660, and area 5 for color balance designation corresponds to GAREA626. In the same way, create a bit map for the area in the BIT MAP area of Fig. 50.

Next, in S109-1, the following processing is performed for the mode in each area. First, the area 2 is a monochrome monochrome image in the monochrome monochromatic color mode.
Even if the video is sent to the area 2 as it is during cyan development,
In the area 2, only the image of the cyan component is printed, and the images of the other yellow and magenta components are not printed.
Therefore, if the specified area is selected in the single color mode, the masking coefficient register in Fig. 16 (a) will change to the next coefficient in the register selected when MAREA564 becomes active so that it becomes an ND image. To set.

αY1, αY2, αY3 0, 0, 0 βM1, βM2, βM3 0, 0, 0 γC1, γC2, γC3 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 k2, l2, m2 0, 0, 0 Next, MAREA564 The masking coefficient register selected by "0" indicates that the data (4
Color or use in 3 color mode). next,
For the area 2 which is the paint mode, the above-mentioned BIIMAP
Gate signal CHAREA for each bit in the area
Data is set in each register of FIG. 18 (a) selected by 0, 1, 2, 3. First, in order to convert all input videos, yu159 to FF, yl160 to 00, mu161 to FF, ml162 to 0.
Set 0, Cu163 to FF and Cl164 to 00, load the converted color information stored in Fig. 49 from AREA ALPT or REGI COLOR, and set the coefficient of the AREA DENS density adjustment data for each color data. And the density data after conversion to y'166, m'167, c'168 are set. For the color conversion of area 4, each of the above-mentioned yu159, ..., cl164 registers is added with a certain offset value added to each density data before conversion shown in FIG. 49, and so on. Set the converted data.

At this time, the offset value can be varied by the parameter set by the conversion range designation key shown in P341 of FIG.

In the color balance of the area 5, the gate signal GAREA626 is set in the Y, M, C, Bk areas of the RAM 177 selected by "1".
Set the above-mentioned data values from the color balance value AREA BLAN when specifying the area shown in Fig. 49, and set the data to the area selected by GAREA626 by "0" from BLANCE which is the color balance at the time of color creation.

In S109, the start command to the printer is output via SRCOM516. This is shown in the timing chart of FIG. 47 at S110.
ITOP is detected, and the output video signals C ₀ , C of Y, M, C, Bk are detected in S111.
Switching between ₁ and C ₂ , and turning on the halogen lamp in S112. S1
In 13, judge the end of each video scan, and if finished
In S114, the halogen lamp is turned off, and in S114 and S115, a check is made to end the copy. When the check is completed, a stop command is output to the printer in S116 and the copy ends.

The sequence control when the free color mode is set will be described using the flowchart of FIG. By pressing the copy key, the halogen lamp is turned on, black correction processing, and white correction processing are performed in S301. Next, in the free color mode, if the specified color mode and the density adjustment by the coordinate specification are set, the color information of the specified color is read in S303 and the MONO of the coordinate specification is set.
The value is read and stored in a predetermined area. This operation is also as shown in FIG.

In S304, the start command to the printer is output via SRCOM516. S305 shows the timing chart of Fig. 47
ITOP is detected, and Y, M, C, Bk output video signals C ₀ , C are detected in S306.
Switch between ₁ and C ₂ . In S307, the gamma curves for Y, M and C are set in the MONO gamma RAM as shown in FIG. 54- (a) corresponding to the switching. In the case of Bk, the gamma curve is set so that 0 is output for all inputs. S308
To turn on the halogen lamp. In S309, the end of each video scan is judged, and when it is finished, the halogen lamp is turned off in S310, the check of copying end is performed in S311 and S312, and when it is finished, a stop command is output to the printer in S313. , Finish copying.

FIG. 48 is a flowchart of the interrupt processing of the signal HINT517 output from the timer 28. In S200-1, check whether the stepping motor start is completed, and if it is completed, start the stepping motor and start it in S200. The 1-bit BIT MAP data indicated by X ADD shown in FIG.
Set to 36 or RAM137. In S201, the address of the data set at the next interrupt is incremented by 1. RAM13 for S202
6, RAM137 switching signal C3595, C4596, C5593 is output, S203
Then set the time until the next sub-scan switching to timer 28,
The contents of BIT MAM indicated by X ADD below are sequentially stored in RAM136 or RAM137.
Set the gate signal and switch the gate signal.

That is, each time the carriage moves in the sub-scanning direction and an interrupt occurs, the processing content in the X direction is switched, and color processing such as various color conversions can be performed for each area.

As described above, according to the color copying apparatus of this embodiment, various color modes are possible and free color reproduction is possible.

In this embodiment, a color image forming apparatus using electrophotography has been described as an example, but not limited to electrophotography, various recording methods such as ink jet recording and thermal transfer recording can be applied. Further, the example in which the reading unit and the image forming unit are arranged close to each other as the copying apparatus has been described, but the present invention can of course be applied to a system in which image information is transmitted by a separated communication line.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to output a copy of various originals such as a single color and a full color by converting it into a desired color desired by the operator and a desired gradation.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a diagram showing a digital color copying machine of this embodiment, FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of a reader controller, FIG. 3 is a diagram showing protocols of the motor driver 15 and CPU 22 of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4A is a timing diagram of control signals between the reader unit and the printer unit, FIG. 4B is a video signal transmission circuit diagram between the reader unit and the printer unit, and FIG. 4C is a signal line.
SRCOM signal timing diagram, FIG. 5 is a detailed circuit diagram of the video processing unit of FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 (a) is a color CCD.
FIG. 6 (b) is a diagram showing a sensor layout, FIG. 6 (b) is a signal timing diagram of each part of FIG. 6 (a), and FIG. 7 (a) is a diagram showing a CCD drive signal generation circuit (system control pulse generator 57 internal circuit). , FIG. 7 (b) is a signal timing diagram of each part of FIG. 7 (a), FIG. 8 (a) is a block diagram of the analog color signal processing circuit 44 of FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 (b) is 8th
Detailed circuit diagram of CCD1 channel in the block of Fig. (A),
FIG. 8 (c) is a signal timing diagram of each part in FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b), FIG. 8 (d) is a CCD drive timing diagram, and FIG. 8 (e) is an input / output conversion characteristic diagram. FIG. 9 (a),
(B), (c) and (d) are explanatory views for obtaining each line signal from the staggered sensor, and FIG. 10 (a) is a black correction circuit diagram,
10 (b), (c) and (d) are explanatory views of black correction,
FIG. 1 (a) is a white level correction circuit diagram, FIG. 11-1 (b),
(C) and (d) are explanatory diagrams of white level correction, FIGS. 11-2 (a), (b), and (c) are explanatory diagrams of CCD channel connection, and FIG. 12 is FIG. 13 (a) is a logarithmic conversion circuit diagram, FIG. 13 (b) is a logarithmic conversion characteristic diagram, FIG. 14 is a spectral characteristic diagram of the reading sensor, and FIG. 15 is a development color toner. Spectral characteristic diagram, Fig. 16 (a) is masking, inking, UCR circuit diagram, Fig. 16 (b)
Is a diagram showing the relationship between the selection signals C0, C1, C2 and the color signals, and FIGS. 17 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f),
(G) is an explanatory diagram of the area signal generation, FIG. 18 (a),
(B), (c), (d), (e) are explanatory views of color conversion,
19 Figures (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f)
Is an explanatory diagram of gamma conversion for color balance and color density control,
20 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e),
(F) and (g) are explanatory views of the variable power control, FIG. 21 (a),
(B), (c), (d), (e), (f), and (g) are explanatory views of edge enhancement and smoothing processing, FIG. 22 is a control circuit diagram of the operation panel unit, and FIG. 23 is a film. Fig. 25 is a block diagram of the projector, Fig. 24 is a diagram showing the relationship between the control input of the film exposure lamp and the lighting voltage, Fig. 25 (a), (b), (c).
Is an explanatory diagram when the film projector is used, FIGS. 26 (A), (B) and (C) are explanatory diagrams of the PWM circuit and its operation, and FIGS. 27 (A) and (B) are gradation correction characteristic diagrams. 28 (A) and 28 (B) are diagrams showing the relationship between the triangular wave and the laser lighting time, FIGS. 29 (a) and 29 (b) are control flow charts when a film projector is used, and FIG. 30 is a laser. FIG. 31 is a perspective view of the printing unit, FIG. 31 is a top view of the operation unit, FIG. 32 is a top view of the digitizer, FIG. 33 is an explanatory view of a liquid crystal standard display screen, FIG. 34 is an explanatory view of zoom mode operation, and FIG. Figures (a), (b)
Is an operation explanatory diagram of the moving mode, FIG. 36 is an operation explanatory diagram of the area designation mode, FIG. 37 is an operational explanatory diagram of the color create mode, FIG. 38 is an operational explanatory diagram of the enlarged continuous shooting mode, and FIG. 39 is an inset FIG. 40-1 is an explanatory view of the registration mode, FIG. 40-2 is an explanatory view of the service mode, FIG. 41 is a functional diagram of the color copying apparatus of the present embodiment, and FIG.
Figure is an explanatory view of the inset combination mode, Figure 43 is a figure showing a print image when moving a corner, Figure 44 is a control flow chart in color registration mode, Figure 45 is a figure showing color components of standard colors, Fig. 46 is a control flow chart of the entire system, Fig. 47 is a time chart of the entire system, Fig. 48 is an interrupt control flow chart, Fig. 49 is a diagram showing a RAM memory map, and Fig. 50 is a bit map. Fig. 51, Fig. 51 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the projector, Fig. 52 (a) is a circuit diagram of the multiplier 258 in Fig. 8 (b), Fig. 52 (b) is a diagram showing its code table, and Fig. 53. FIG. 8A shows the multiplier 26 of FIG. 8B.
No. 0 circuit diagram, Fig. 53 (b) shows the code table, Fig. 5
4 (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) are explanatory views of the free color mode, and FIG. 55 is a control flow chart when the free color mode is set.

Front Page Continuation (72) Inventor Yasumichi Suzuki 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc. (72) Inventor Toshio Honma 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A conversion unit for converting original image data having gradation into image data of a predetermined indicator color; a specifying unit for selecting and designating the indicator color from the original image data; And a designating means for designating a density level of the image data, storing the hue of the designated color designated by the designating means,
A color image processing apparatus, which performs conversion into an instructed color having a gradation proportional to a gradation of the original image data and corresponding to a density level instructed by the instructing means.