JPH08237491A - Image processing unit and method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To attain color space compression processing efficiently in a short time by providing a processing means applying color space compression to data in terms of software and a processing means applying color space compression to data in terms of hardware to the processing unit. CONSTITUTION: An interface device is provided with two kinds of scanner printer interfaces 223, 224, which interface a scanner printer of different systems such as electrostatic photographic system or ink jet system. The scanner printer interfaces 223, 224 are respectively provided with color conversion circuits 304a, 304b with different configuration. The color conversion circuit 304a has a lookup table and a matrix arithmetic table to conduct color space conversion, and the color conversion circuit 304b is configured such that the color space compression processing is conducted in terms of hardware in addition to the processing of the circuit 304a. Since a CPU of the interface 223 conducts color space compression processing in terms of software, in the case of an image of several tens of Mbytes, much time is required, but the interface 224 conducts it in real time because of hardware processing.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and method for color-processing input color image data.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, various digital color copying machines have become widespread, various interface devices are connected thereto, and a print output can be obtained based on image data from another image input device such as a scanner other than the digital color copying machine. A system that can be used is being developed.

[0003]

The digital color copying machines and the like constituting these systems each have a color reproduction range peculiar to each model, that is, an input / output range for each model. As NTSC
When printing an image that corresponds to the color reproduction range of a monitor such as Apple or Apple 13 inch with a copier, there is a possibility that it contains colors that cannot be reproduced by the printer. Therefore, compress the color space into the color reproduction range of the printer. Need to output.
However, it takes a very long time and is inefficient to perform this color space compression by a CPU by software, when the image size is several tens of megabytes.

The first invention of the present application has been made in view of the above points, and in addition to the first color space compression processing means for software-based color space compression, the second color space for hardware-based color space compression. An object of the present invention is to provide a compression processing unit so that color space compression processing can be efficiently performed in a short time.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following constitution.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an input means for inputting image data, a first color space compression processing means for softly performing color space compression on the input image data, and the input image data On the other hand, it has a second color space compression processing means for hardware-based color space compression, and a management means for managing the first color space compression processing means and the second color space compression processing means. And

The second invention of the present application, the input means for inputting a command, the first communication means for communicating with the first external device, the second communication means for communicating with the second external device,
Management means for managing the communication means and the external device in association with each other, storage means for storing the image data and the image type of the image data in association with each other, and an image corresponding to the image data stored in the storage means. C based on software based on the type and the external device set based on the command
A first color space compression processing unit that performs arithmetic processing by PU to perform color space compression conversion, a second color space compression processing unit that performs color space compression processing by hardware and performs color space compression conversion, and the first Color space compression processing means and management means for managing the second color space compression processing means, and color space compression by either the first color space compression processing means or the second color space compression processing means. And output means for outputting the image data to an external device set based on the command.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration diagram of a connection in an example of a system configuration according to the present invention. Reference numeral 101 denotes an interface device which is the core of the present invention, and shows an internal schematic configuration diagram thereof. A host computer 102 is connected to the I / F device 101 via an interface cable 106. This is a general-purpose interface such as SCSI, and is used to transfer computer graphics image data from the host computer 102 to the I / F device 101.
To the frame memories 201 and 202, and printouts can be obtained using the color copying machines 103 and 104. It is also possible to control the entire system by sending control commands. The digital color copying machines 103 and 104 are connected to the I / F device 101 by interface cables 107 and 108. These are for obtaining the image print outputs stored in the frame memories 201 and 202 in the I / F device 101 as described above. Also, color copying machines 103, 10
The image read by the scanner of No. 4 can also be stored in the frame memories 201 and 202 in the I / F device 101. Similar to the host computer 102, the color copying machines 103 and 104 can control the entire system from the operation unit. Film scanners 109 and 110 are provided with an interface cable 11
1, 112 are connected to the I / F device 101. Similar to the color copying machines 103 and 104, these can store the image read by the scanner in the frame memories 201 and 202 in the I / F device 101. Also,
HD instead of these film scanners 109 and 110
A video image capturing device such as a TV, or other various image capturing devices can be connected, and the image can be similarly stored in the frame memory in the interface device 101 and can be printed out. . The system configuration centering on the interface device 101 has been described above.

The internal structure of the interface device 101 will be described below. Reference numeral 203 denotes a first CPU, which controls I / O other than an externally connected scanner and printer. Details will be described later. 204 is a CPU
The CPU bus 203, and the host computer 102
SCSI controller 20 to interface with
5, a program memory 206, a bus controller 207 for controlling the I / O bus 208, etc. are connected. A bus controller 211 is also connected so that it can be connected to the CPU bus 210 of the second CPU 209. The second CPU 209 will be described later. An I / O controller 212 is connected to the I / O bus 208, and includes a hard disk drive 213, a floppy disk drive 214, a keyboard controller 215, and a CR.
It controls general-purpose I / O such as the T controller 216 and the LCD controller 217. Reference numeral 218 denotes a liquid crystal display device which can always display the state of the interface device 101. Further, an operation unit 219 is connected to the keyboard controller 215 so that the initial setting of the interface device 101 can be changed and the service mode can be set independently. If necessary, a monitor can be externally connected via a CRT controller 216, and a keyboard can be connected via a keyboard controller 215. Further, AUX slot 2 is provided on the I / O bus 208.
20 and 221 are prepared, for example, an interface card such as a CD-ROM can be mounted, and various images stored in the CD-ROM can be expanded in the frame memories 201 and 202 to obtain a print output. In the future, it will be possible to support multimedia, etc.

The second CPU 209 controls externally connected scanners and printers, and also performs image processing of images stored in the frame memories 201 and 202, such as image rotation and image color space compression. It can be carried out. The memory 222 is a program memory,
The control program is loaded from the hard disk drive 213 via the bus controller 211 when the power is turned on. Further, the memory 222 is C
It is also used for communication with the PU 203. CPU bus 210
The scanner printer interface 223, 224
2 types are connected, and while making various settings, the scanner,
You are controlling the printer. 225 is a bus dedicated to the image, and the image flows through this bus when the image is scanned and printed.

The interface device 101 can be connected to two types of scanner printer interfaces, and can be connected to scanner printers of different systems such as an electrostatic photography system and an inkjet system.

Moreover, since the devices of different systems can share the same frame memory, it is not necessary to preset the frame memory corresponding to the devices of different systems, and the memory can be used efficiently. be able to.

In addition, these interfaces can be replaced with a new card including an interface board according to the type of copying machine such as electrophotographic (CLC) system or BJ system to be connected or the speed. It is possible to deal with the future.

Therefore, the equipment to be connected can be flexibly dealt with and the system can be expanded. Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, in addition to the scanner printer, two types of film scanners 109 and 110 can be connected to the scanner / printer interfaces 223 and 224 in addition to the scanner printers 103 and 104. In addition,
The device that can be connected to the present invention is not limited to the above-described film scanner and scanner printer, but may be another device such as an inkjet printer or a scanner.

FIG. 2 shows a scanner printer face 22.
3 is a diagram showing an example of configurations of the frame memories 3 and 224 and the frame memories 201 and 202. FIG. In this embodiment, a CLC card is used for the scanner printer interface 223 and a BJ card is used for the scanner printer interface 224. The frame memories 201 and 202 have the same configuration, and are the red (R), green (G), and blue (B) plane memories 311, 312 and the plane memory 31, respectively.
It has controllers 301 and 302 for controlling 1, 312. The memory controllers 301 and 302 perform control such as reading, writing and refreshing of image data in the plane memories 311 and 312, respectively.

The above two memories operate independently, that is,
While one is printing, the other is CPU bus 210
Image transfer from the host computer 102, development of Postscript image, or CPU as described above.
Image processing using 209 is possible. It is also possible to connect two to be regarded as one memory. For example, when both have a memory capacity of A4 size, by connecting two, an image of A3 size can be handled. .

Scanner / Printer Interface 22
In 3 and 224, the same circuits have the same numbers.
The masking color processing circuit 305 performs image editing processing for faithfully reproducing an image such as masking and UCR calculation processing according to the color reproduction characteristics of the connected output device.
The FIFO 306 adjusts the writing timing of the image data to the frame memory when reading and writing the image data from the same frame memory. The selector 307 switches the path of the image data depending on whether or not it is necessary to adjust the write timing. The controller 303 controls each circuit described above.

The scanner / printer interfaces 223 and 224 in this embodiment are different in the configuration of the color conversion circuit.

Hereinafter, specifically, the color conversion circuits 304a, 3
04b will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

First, the color conversion circuit 304a will be described with reference to FIG.

The color conversion circuit 304a has a look-up table (LUT) 3 in which data 0 to 255 can be set.
04-a and 304-b, and a table 304-c for 3 × 3 matrix calculation. LUT
Reference numeral 304-a is a power calculation table for correcting the characteristics of the image data input to the color conversion circuit 304a depending on the input device. Matrix calculation table 304
-C is a table for 3 × 3 matrix calculation for performing color space conversion of the image data corrected by the LUT 304-a into the image data shown in the color space to be output to the output device. The LUT 304-b is a multiplication calculation table that should correct the image data that has been color space converted by the matrix calculation table 304-c to the characteristics of the output device.

Next, the color conversion circuit 304b will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, circuits having the same configurations as those of the color conversion circuit 304a shown in FIG. 3 are given the same numbers.

The color conversion circuit 304b is configured so that the color circuit compression processing can be performed by a hardware circuit in addition to the color space conversion processing.

Therefore, LUTs 304-a and 304-b
In addition to this, it is configured to have 3 × 3 matrix calculation tables 305-a and 305-c for color space conversion calculation and a 3 × 8 matrix calculation table 305-b for color space compression calculation.

The table 305-a is the LUT 304-a.
The image data corrected by is subjected to color space conversion into image data shown in the standard color space to be subjected to color space compression processing. The table 305-b is connected to the interface board. The input image data should be 3 × 8 within the color reproduction range of the output device so that it can be reproduced by the output device.
The color space is compressed using the matrix calculation of. Table 3
05-c performs color space conversion of the image data shown in the standard color space that has been subjected to the color space compression processing into the image data shown in the color space to be output to the output device.

In the following, the system of this embodiment is arranged so that the scanner / printer interface 223 is connected to the color copying machine 103 of the electrostatic photography system (hereinafter referred to as CLC system) and the scanner / printer interface 2 via the cable 107.
A concrete system operation will be described on the assumption that an inkjet type (hereinafter referred to as BJ type) color copying machine 104 is connected to the unit 24 via a cable 108.

Based on the print command issued from the host computer 102, the interface device 10
The operation in the case of outputting the image stored in the plane memory 311 in the No. 1 using the color copying machine 103 will be described.

From the host computer 102, the SCSI
The CPU 203 receives the print command via the interface 205. The CPU 209 interprets the command, and under the control of the bus controller 211, the memory 2
The received command contents are written in 22. CPU20
When 9 recognizes the writing of the command, it reads the contents of the memory 222 and executes the print command. CPU209
Issues a command for issuing a print command to the color copying machine 103 to the controller 303 in the interface 223, and the controller 303 issues a print command to the color copying machine 103 by communication via the cable 107. Cables 107, 108, 111, 11
2 inside have the same connection, and image data 24bi
t, synchronization signal, clock, and communication are bidirectional and are accommodated in one cable. Upon receiving the print command, the color copying machine 103 activates the printer and at the same time sends back the image synchronization signal. The controller 303, which has received the image synchronization signal, operates on the video bus 22 in accordance with the image synchronization signal.
Put the image request signal on the control bus in 5,
An image output request is issued to the memory control 301. The memory control 301 follows the image request signal
The image data is output to the video bus 225 as RGB 24 bits. The output image data is the interface 2
23, which is input to the color conversion circuit 304 in 23, and in the plane memory 311, from the image data of a predetermined RGB color space, magenta (M), cyan (C),
The image data in the yellow (Y) color space is converted and output to the masking color processing circuit 305. The masking color processing circuit 305 performs color processing such as masking and UCR calculation processing according to the printer characteristics of the color copying machine 103, and transfers C, M, Y, K (black) data to the color copying machine through the cable 107. .

The color space in this case is a method of expressing colors such as RGB color space and CMY color space.

The cable 107 synchronizes with the development of an image in a color copying machine, and uses 8 bits of the image data of 24 bits to transfer the image data in the order of M, C, Y and K and in the frame sequential manner. As a result, the same image data of RGB is read from the frame memory 201 four times in total, and the same processing is performed.

The present invention is not limited to frame-sequential image data transfer, and may be dot-sequential transfer or the like, and image data may be transferred by a method supported by the output device.

FIG. 5 shows how the color copying machine 103 forms an image from the image data received from the interface 223. Reference numeral 401 denotes image data stored in the frame memory.
7 illustrates a state in which a magenta electrostatic latent image in the section is formed on the photosensitive drum 402. Reference numeral 403 denotes a laser light source, which is turned on and off based on the transferred image data, and passes through the polygon mirror 404 to the photosensitive drum 40.
2 to form an electrostatic latent image. Reference numeral 406 indicates the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 402. At this time, the edge of the image is detected by the beam detection sensor 405, which detects a horizontal synchronizing signal (hereinafter referred to as HSY).
(Referred to as NC) to synchronize image transfer.
FIG. 6 shows the timing. These actions
An image is formed by repeating C, M, Y and K four times in total. The above description is for the case where the LOG conversion circuit and the masking circuit are provided on the interface 101 side, and of course, the LOG conversion circuit and the masking circuit on the color copying machine side may be used. In that case, the image data lines 24 bits inside the cable 107 are fully used and transferred as RGB image data.

Next, the operation of storing the image data representing the original obtained by using the color scanner of the color copying machine 103 in the frame memory 201 will be described in reverse to the above operation.

The CPU 203 receives, recognizes and executes the scan command from the host computer 102 via the SCSI interface 205. CPU209
Issues a scan command to the color copying machine 103 through the controller 303 through communication. The color copying machine 103 outputs RGB based on the input characteristics of the color copying machine 103 obtained by scanning the document based on the scan command.
The image data in the color space is transferred as RGB image data by fully using the image data signal 24 bits inside the cable 107. In the interface device 101, the transferred RGB image data is input to the color conversion circuit 304 in the interface 223, the image data is converted into a color space according to the file type registered with the connection device, and output to the video bus 225. To do. At the same time, the controller 30
3 outputs an action request signal to the memory control 301 to the control bus, and the memory control 301 takes in the image on the video bus 225 and stores the image in the plane memory based on the request signal. Although the frame memory 201 has been described above, similarly for the frame 202, for example, the controller 303 is
When the request signal is placed on the control bus, the frame memory 202 also starts operating. At this time, in order to avoid a bus conflict between the controllers 303 and 304, the scanner printer interface 223, 2
24 does not operate at the same time.

Next, a case where an image print is obtained from the color copying machine 104, BJ method will be described.

Similarly to the above, the host computer 102
In response to a command from the controller printer 306, the controller 306 in the scanner printer interface 224 puts a request signal on the control bus in the video bus 225, and issues an image output request to the memory control 301. The memory control 301 outputs RGB 24 bits of image data to the video bus 225 according to the image request signal.
The output image data is input to the color conversion circuit 307, and color conversion is performed according to the characteristics of the printer. The image output from the color conversion circuit 307 is stored in the memory controller 309.
It is stored in the buffer memory 308 once while being controlled by. At the same time, a print command is issued to the color copying machine 104. Upon receiving the print command, the color copying machine 104 activates the printer and, at the same time, sends back an image synchronization signal. The memory controller 306 that has received the image synchronization signal, according to the image synchronization signal, RGB24bit
The parallel data is converted into RGB 8-bit point sequential data and output. FIG. 7 shows an explanatory view showing the situation. Reference numeral 501 is print data stored in the frame memory, and is an explanatory diagram in which the shaded area 502 is printed. A roll paper 503 is a roll paper 504.
Feeds the paper in the direction of arrow C as soon as the printing at a constant interval (hereinafter referred to as a band) is completed. Reference numeral 505 is an inkjet head, which is composed of four types of heads of magenta, cyan, yellow, and black. The data sent from the scanner / printer interface 224 as RGB 8-bit point-sequential data is subjected to LOG conversion and masking processing in the color copying machine 104, and is printed in the direction of arrow A by the head 505, by a mechanical means (not shown). Printing is performed by moving in the direction of arrow B.
That is, after transferring one band of data from the frame memory to the buffer memory 308 in the direction of arrow E, it is converted into RGB 8-bit point-sequential data according to the synchronization signal 506 (hereinafter referred to as VE), and 8 bits out of the 24-bit image data signal in the cable 108. Color copier 104
Transferred to.

Although the image input / output operation for the color copying machines 103 and 104 has been described above, a film scanner or the like also performs the same operation.

FIG. 7 shows a signal structure between the present I / F device and a device such as a color copying machine or a film scanner. The image signal is transmitted through the 24-bit signal line as described above. The image signal is a control signal for transferring image data, and is composed of a pixel synchronization signal, a line synchronization signal, and a page synchronization signal. The communication control signal is a signal for performing operation instruction and status management by serial communication of command / status. The sequence control signal is a signal that sends information indicating the power state of each device.

FIG. 8 shows a module configuration of a control program which is downloaded to the program memory after the power is turned on and which operates on the CPU 2 side in this embodiment. The module 701 is a real-time OS and manages a plurality of tasks. Each task is event driven. Module 70
2 is a task that runs when the control program is started.
C, initial setting of frame memory, initial setting of parameter variables used in this control program, and identification of interface board. Modules 703, 704
Controls command communication with a color copying machine or a film scanner. The module 703 is a communication control task for issuing a command from the I / F device and returning the status from the color copying machine when the I / F device is the master side and the color copying machine side is the slave side. The module 704 is a reverse type of the module 703 and is a communication control task for issuing a command from the color copying machine side and for the I / F device to return a status. Module 70
Reference numeral 5 controls command communication with the CPU 1 and image transfer control. As a result, the command received from the host computer via the SCSI controller is analyzed on the CPU 2 side, and a processing start instruction is sent to the communication control task or the image processing task. Modules 706, 707, and 708 are image input / output control tasks that control input / output of image data to / from a CLC / BJ type color copier or film scanner, respectively. The module 709 controls image processing such as image compression, expansion, rotation, mirror image, color space compression, and color space conversion. The module 710 is a frame memory 201, 2
Manages image files registered in 02.

FIG. 7 is a software system configuration diagram of the I / F device. The operation of the system will be described with reference to this figure. First, after the power is turned on, the real time O of the module 701
S is activated and tasks 901 and 902 are generated. The task 901 controls the boot unit 702, and at the time of each initialization,
Set the card code in the 0 (1) Configuration Table. Configurati
The on-table is for managing whether or not a slot, that is, a board set in each of the scanner / printer interfaces 223 and 224, an output device connected to each slot, and a film scanner are connected.

Although not shown, the scanner / printer interfaces 223 and 224 have a structure in which interface boards are inserted, and each board has a board type identifying board, and an ID is set by hardware for each board type. As a result, the CPU 2 can read the data, and the set board can be automatically recognized in correspondence with the slot. The board ID indicates the communication type. Then, based on the recognition, the engine card code shown in FIG.
Write to the location of the corresponding slot of the configuration table.

Further, the power ready of the color copying machine and the film scanner sent by the sequence control signal on the interface is observed at the signal detection ports (not shown) on the boards 223 and 224, and each device is activated. If so, the Configura of FIG. 10 (1)
The communication control tasks 905, 906, and 907 are generated according to the engine card code in the action table.
Tasks 905 and 907 perform communication control in which the main I / F device of the module 703 is of the master side, and task 906 is communication control of the main I / F device of the module 704 is of slave type. / Exchange the status. Based on the information obtained by this communication, the device code, cassette information, etc. are shown in FIG.
It is set in the device information table of FIG.

Therefore, the communication type is set by first discriminating the inserted interface board and managing the card code corresponding to the slot. Next, communication is performed with the connected device based on the set communication type, and the device codes shown in FIGS. 10 (3) and 10 (5) are made to correspond to the respective slots, and as shown in FIG. 10 (1).
And the configuration shown in FIG. 10 (4).
Set in Table. Through the above processing, the interface device 101 can automatically recognize each connected device in association with the slot.

Further, since the above-mentioned connected device recognition processing is performed every day when the power is turned on, the latest system state can be always grasped.

The task 802 controls the module 705 and analyzes the command received from the host computer.
Upon receiving the print / scan command, the image input / output control tasks 908, 909, and 910 are activated via the communication control tasks 905, 906, and 907. At this time, the slot in which the I / F card is installed is selected by the parameter associated with the print / scan command, and the Config command in FIG.
Different image input / output control is performed for each device according to the device code in the Guation Table.

As a result, which device is used for scanning or printing can be switched according to the user's application. Further, image input / output tasks of different control methods such as the CLC method and the FS method can be operated depending on the connected device.

The setting of the color processing table at the time of scanning / printing will be described.

A plurality of LUTs are prepared in advance to correct the input / output characteristics of the LUTs 304-a and 304-b based on the color space of each input / output device, and each LUT is set based on the combination of the input / output devices. An example of a combination of these tables is shown in FIG.

Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to flexibly deal with the system by combining them.

That is, the LUT to be held can be reduced.

Furthermore, since the color space conversion is performed on the data whose input characteristics are corrected using the 3 × 3 matrix calculation table, it is possible to perform accurate conversion processing independent of the input characteristics.

As described above, by performing color space conversion using a combination of three tables, various color space conversion processes as shown in FIG. 16 can be handled with a simple configuration, and a desired color space can be accurately obtained. A conversion process can be performed.

Further, since the color space conversion processing can be performed by the hardware circuit, the processing can be performed in real time.

Next, the setting procedure will be described with reference to FIG. In S10, the CREATFI shown in FIG.
The image type by the LE command, that is, the color space when the image data is stored in the frame memory 202 is IMAGE.
TYPE and IMAGE TYPE Optional
An image file is created by designating based on a combination of Codes. Figure 19 shows IMAGE TYPE and IMAG
A list of correspondences between combinations with E TYPE Optional Codes and image types is shown. At this time, the table shown in FIG. 14 is created as file information. this is,
This is information for managing the image data stored in the frame memory 202, and includes various information such as the image type and file ID designated at the time of file creation by the CREATE FILE command.

In step S20, it is set whether or not automatic conversion is performed. The automatic conversion is to automatically convert the image data in the interface device into the color space supported by the output device designated by the print command when the image data is output to the output device.

The automatic conversion is performed by the Native shown in FIG.
Color Space Auto Convers
Specifies whether or not to use the ion PAGE command. If not specified, color space conversion will not be performed automatically.

In step S30, a print command is issued.
Further, the output device for printing is connected to the slot 0, that is, CL in the above system example.
When C103 is not used, a slot switching command is also issued at the same time.

In step S40, the image input / output control tasks 908 and 909 are activated based on the print command issued in step S30, and the device type to be connected is first recognized based on the device code in the configuration table shown in FIG.

In step S50, the type of output device is determined based on whether or not the slot switching command is issued in step S30. The interface device is set so that slot 0 operates by default. However, when the slot switching command is issued, the slot is switched and the slot 1 is operated to prepare to output the image data to the CLC 104.

S60 is a color conversion circuit suitable for the file information shown in FIG. 14 corresponding to the output device for outputting the image data determined in S50 to the color conversion circuit 304 and the file storing the image data to be output. LUT in 304
As shown in FIG. 16, 304-a and 304-b and a table 304-c for 3 × 3 matrix calculation are respectively set. S70 is a communication control task 90
5, the connection device is activated via 906, and when the image data is input / output to / from the color copying machine which is the connection device, the image data is converted in real time through the color conversion circuit 304.

Next, a case will be described in which the image data in the frame memory 201 is color-converted (hereinafter referred to as "girling") by using the circuit for scanning and printing.
First, an image synchronization signal is required as in printing, but this is generated by an internal circuit (not shown). The controller 303 that receives the image synchronization signal
An image request signal is put on the control bus in the video bus 225 according to the image synchronization signal, and an image output request is issued to the memory control 301 and an image input request is issued to the FIFO 310. The FIFO 310 has two RGB independently.
It has a capacity of 56 kbytes. Memory control 301
Outputs RGB 24 bits of image data to the video bus 225 in accordance with the image request signal. Further, the output image data is input to the color conversion circuit 304 in the interface 223, and the image data once converted is F.
It is stored in the IFO 310. Next, a procedure for writing the image data stored in the FIFO 310 to the frame memory 201 again will be described. As in the case of scanning, the controller 303 outputs a fetch request signal to the memory control 301 and an image output request to the FIFO 310 to the control bus, and the memory control 301 outputs the image on the video bus 225 based on the fetch request signal. And store the image in the plane memory. F
Since the IFO 310 has only a capacity of 256 kbytes and the amount of image data is usually several megabytes or more, this work is repeated several times to convert all data.

The selector 311 sends the image data passed through the color conversion circuit to the frame memory 20 via the FIFO 310.
It is selected whether to write the data in No. 1 or 202 or to write through without passing through the FIFO 310. This selector is set to “through” when the image data is taken into the frame memory from the external device.

The color space compression process will be described below.

First, the color space compression processing in the interface board 223 will be described.

Further, the color space compression processing in the interface board 223 will be described.

A color conversion table is provided in the color conversion circuit 304a.
7 (a) is set, and each registration file is displayed in the standard color space using the above-described round and round rotation.
Convert color space to type. Then, the CPU performs a color space compression process by performing an arithmetic operation on the basis of the information about the color space compression process, and further, the color conversion circuit 304 stores the color conversion table.
(B) is set, and the color space compressed CRGB type image file is converted into the color space of the output device and output.
That is, in the case of the interface board 223, the CPU performs the software-based color space compression processing using a table that stores the results of the color space compression processing regarding the representative points and the interpolation operation.

This procedure is illustrated in FIG. 21 (a).

That is, in the interface board 223, the registration file is once converted into the CRGB type color space, and the C
Since it has to be processed by the PU, a considerable time is required for an image of several tens of megabytes.

Next, the color space compression processing in the interface board 224 will be described.

Since the interface board 224 has a configuration for performing the color space compression processing by hardware as described above, each LUT is set based on the color space of each input / output device, that is, the image type, and Performs a color space compression process on data by hardware. A combination example of each table is shown in FIG.

This procedure is shown in FIG. 21 (c).

That is, since the color space compression conversion is performed on the data whose input characteristics are corrected using the 3 × 3 matrix operation table and the 3 × 8 matrix operation table, accurate color space compression conversion independent of the input characteristics is performed. Processing can be done in real time at the time of printing.

Next, the interface board 224
A case will be described in which the color space compression processing is performed using the circuit of (1) and the image is output from the interface board 223.

First, the color conversion table shown in FIG. 18 (b) is set in the color conversion circuit 305, and the registration file is color space compressed as a CRGB type image by using the turning around. Further, this time, the color conversion circuit 304 is provided to the color conversion table 304.
By setting (b), the compressed CRGB type image file is converted into the color space of the output device and output.

This procedure is illustrated in FIG. 21 (b).

That is, by using the color space compression circuit of the interface board 224, it is not necessary to perform arithmetic processing by the CPU, and the processing speed is greatly improved even in the case of the interface board 223 that does not have a color space compression circuit.

Next, when the interface board 223 having no color space compression circuit is used to perform color space compression for printing, the above two color space compression processing methods, namely CP.
A procedure for selecting one of a method of performing arithmetic processing by U, that is, a software processing and a method of using a color space compression circuit, that is, a hardware processing will be described.

Basically, the method utilizing the color space compression circuit is preferentially selected.

Flowchart showing procedure The card type of the interface board connected to the engine to be printed is recognized in s1 of FIG. This is obtained from the engine card information in the table of FIG. Next, in s2, the BJ whose interface board has a color space compression circuit
It is determined whether the card is a CLC card or not. BJ
If it is a card, it is compressed by the color space compression circuit on the interface board and printed out (s2). Also,
If it is a CLC card, it is determined in s4 whether the interface board mounted in the other slot is a BJ card. If it is a BJ card, it is compressed using the color space compression circuit on the interface board (s5), and the compressed image is printed out from the CLC card (s).
7). If the BJ card is not installed in the other slot, the CPU performs arithmetic processing to utilize the compression (s6), and the compressed image is printed out (s7).

As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to automatically perform the color space compression processing with the optimum processing speed.

That is, in the above-mentioned conventional example, the circuit for performing the color space compression is mounted on the base for controlling the digital color copying machine. However, in order to control the two copying machines, two sheets are provided in the system. When the circuit having the control board and the circuit for performing the color space compression is mounted only on one of the control boards, when the color space compression processing is printed out from the board on which the color space compression circuit is not mounted, It is possible to solve the problem that the color space compression processing must be performed by the CPU.

In other words, even if the board on which the color space compression circuit is not mounted is present in the system, the CPU that uses the automatically mounted color space compression circuit can be used. It is possible to perform the color space compression processing without performing the calculation in.

Incidentally, The term “software-like” means that processing is performed by a computer such as a CPU operating on the basis of a program. On the other hand, the term "hardware" means that a circuit such as a color space compression circuit is used to perform arithmetic processing.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, it is assumed that the BJ card has the color space compression circuit and the CLC card does not have the color space compression circuit. Not limited.

Further, although the CRGB color space is used as the standard color space in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and other standard color spaces such as the L ^* a ^* b ^* color space and the XYZ color space can be used. Color space is also acceptable.

[0087]

As described above, according to the first invention of the present application, in addition to the first color space compression means for software-based color space compression, the second color space compression for hardware color space compression is provided. By providing the processing means, the color space compression processing can be efficiently performed in a short time.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the communication means and the external device are associated with each other, the management means and the storage means for storing the image data in association with the image type of the image data are automatically provided. The optimal color space compression process can be performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a color image processing system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing in detail a part of the internal configuration of the device shown in 101 of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a color conversion circuit 304a.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a configuration of a color conversion circuit 304b.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of image formation in a color copying machine.

6 is a timing chart showing a signal form when outputting color image data to the color copying machine shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of a signal configuration between the I / F device of this embodiment, a color copying machine, and a film scanner.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a module configuration of a control program of a CPU 209 according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a software configuration diagram of the present embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a storage format and contents of device information of a color copying machine / film scanner.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a storage format of information about a paper cassette.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a flow of an example of color conversion processing of the present embodiment.

FIG. 13: Command CREATE for creating a file
The figure which shows the format of an ILE command, and description of a parameter.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing registered file information.

FIG. 15: Automatic conversion designation command Native for color conversion
Color Space Auto Convers
The figure which shows an ion PAGE command format.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a relationship among a device type, a file type, and a color conversion table of a color copying machine.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an example of a combination of tables in the scanner printer interface 223 when performing color space compression processing.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an example of a combination of tables in the scanner printer interface 224 when performing color space compression processing.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a file type code.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing an example of a color space compression processing method setting procedure.

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing an example of a procedure in each color space compression processing method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 101 interface device 102 host computer

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. Input means for inputting image data, first color space compression processing means for performing color space compression on the input image data by software, and hardware for the input image data An image processing apparatus comprising: a second color space compression processing unit that performs color space compression; and a management unit that manages the first color space compression processing unit and the second color space compression processing unit. . 2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising first communication means for communicating with the first external device and second communication means for communicating with the second external device. . 3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the management unit performs color space compression processing on the input image data by preferentially using the second color space compression processing unit. 4. Input means for inputting a command, first communication means for communicating with a first external device, second communication means for communicating with a second external device, the communication means and the external device. Managing means for managing the image data, the storing means for storing the image data and the image type of the image data in association with each other, the image type corresponding to the image data stored in the storing means, and the command based on the command. A first color space compression processing unit that performs arithmetic processing by a CPU by software based on an external device to be set and performs color space compression conversion, and a first color space compression processing unit that performs color space compression processing by hardware and performs color space compression conversion. Two color space compression processing means, management means for managing the first color space compression processing means and the second color space compression processing means, the first color space compression processing means or the second color Spatial compression The image processing apparatus characterized by an output means for outputting the image data subjected to color space compression by any means to the external device that is set based on the command. 5. An input step of inputting image data, a first mode in which color space compression is performed on the input image data by software, and a color space compression is performed by hardware in the input image data. An image processing method comprising: a second mode; and a management step of managing the first mode and the second mode.