JPH08242369A - Image processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To change a specific image set as a target for the prohibition of a normal image reproducing operation. CONSTITUTION: This device is provided with an input means(image reading means) which inputs image data, a reloadable storage means (storage means C) which stores reference data relating to the specific image, and a judging means(comparison means D) which judges the identity of the specific image and an image represented by the image data inputted by the input means by using the reference data stored in the storage means. The identity of the image represented by inputted image data and the specific image is judged by the judging means, and the normal image reproducing operation is prohibited by a control means E based on a judged result.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an image having a function of determining the identity between an image represented by input image data and a specific image, and prohibiting a normal image reproducing operation based on the determination result. The present invention relates to a processing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a digital color copying apparatus has been developed which combines a color image device using a CCD or the like with a digital color printer such as a laser beam printer or an inkjet printer. It has become possible to faithfully reproduce and record the data including the data. For this reason, there is a fear that the copy-protected paper sheets and documents such as bills and securities will be easily forged.

Therefore, a copying apparatus has been proposed which can prohibit the copying of such originals.

[0004]

However, conventionally, it is necessary to recreate the reference data when the manuscript to be prohibited from copying changes. For example, when a new banknote is introduced, it is already on the market. It was difficult to adapt the existing copying machine to this.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an image processing apparatus capable of changing a specific image which is a target of prohibition of normal image reproduction operation.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention determines the identity between an image represented by input image data and a specific image, and determines a normal image based on the determination result. In an image processing apparatus having a function of prohibiting a reproduction operation, an input unit for inputting the image data, a rewritable storage unit for storing reference data relating to the specific image, and a reference data stored in the storage unit are used. And a determination unit that determines the identity between the specific image and the image represented by the image data input by the input unit.

The present invention has a rewritable storage means for storing reference data relating to a specific image having the above-mentioned configuration, and the reference image stored in the storage means is used to input the specific image and the image data input by the input means. Since the determination unit determines the identity with the image represented by, it is possible to provide the image processing apparatus capable of changing the specific image to which the normal image reproduction operation is prohibited.

[0008]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the basic construction of an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, A is an area designating means for designating an arbitrary area of a document image. B is a data conversion unit that reads the document image data in the area designated by the area designation unit A and converts it into pattern data. C is a storage unit that stores the pattern data converted by the data conversion unit B as reference data in accordance with a registration instruction. Reference numeral D is a comparison means for comparing the pattern data obtained from the data conversion means B with the reference data stored in the storage means C during normal image formation. E is a control means for stopping the image forming process according to the comparison result of the comparison means D.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic internal structure of a digital color copying apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device of this embodiment is
As shown in the figure, a digital color image reading device (hereinafter, referred to as a color reader) 1 is provided on an upper part, and a digital color image printing device (hereinafter, referred to as a color printer) 2 is provided on a lower part. The color reader 1 reads color image information of a document for each color by a color separation means and a photoelectric conversion element such as a CCD (charge coupled device) and converts it into an electric digital image signal. The color printer 2 is an electrophotographic laser beam color printer that reproduces a color image for each color in accordance with the digital image signal, and transfers and reproduces the image in a digital dot form a plurality of times on a recording sheet.

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

Reference numeral 3 is a document, 4 is a platen glass on which the document 3 is placed, 5 is a reflected light image from the document exposed and scanned by the halogen exposure lamp 10, and the image is input to the full-size full-color sensor 6. A rod array lens 7 for this purpose is a sensor output signal amplifying circuit, and these 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 used as a sensor output signal amplifier circuit 7.
After being amplified to a predetermined voltage by, the signal is inputted to the video processing unit 12 through the signal line 501 and processed. The signal line 501 is a coaxial cable for ensuring faithful transmission of signals. Reference numeral 502 is a signal line for supplying a drive pulse of the full-size full-color sensor 6, and all the necessary drive pulses are generated in the video processing unit 12.

Reference numerals 8 and 9 denote a white plate and a black plate for correcting the white level and the black level of the image signal, and by irradiating these with a halogen exposure lamp 10, the signal levels of predetermined densities are respectively made equal. It can be obtained from the full color sensor 6, and this signal level is used for white level correction and black level correction of the video signal.

Reference numeral 13 is a control unit (controller) having a microcomputer. The control unit 13 controls the display on the operation panel 20, the key input control, and the video processing unit 12 via the bus 508, and detects the position of the document scanning unit 11 by the position sensors S1 and S2 via the signal means 509 and 510. Further, the stepping motor drive circuit 15 for pulse-driving the stepping motor 14 for moving the document operating unit 11 is controlled through the signal line 503, and the exposure lamp driver turns ON / OFF the halogen exposure lamp 10 through the signal line 504.
Control and light amount control are performed, and all control of the color reader unit 1 such as control of the digitizer 16 and internal keys and display unit via a signal line (bus) 505 is performed.

The color image signal read by the document scanning unit 11 at the time of document exposure scanning is input to the video processing unit 12 via the amplifier circuit 7 and the signal line 501 and undergoes various processes in the unit 12. Then, it is sent to the color printer 2 via the interface circuit 56.

Next, the outline of the color printer 2 will be described.

Reference numeral 711 denotes a scanner, a laser output unit (not shown) for converting an image signal from the color reader 1 into an optical signal, a polygon mirror 712 having a polyhedron (for example, octahedron),
A motor (not shown) for rotating this mirror 712 and f /
It has a θ lens (imaging lens) 713 and the like. Reference numeral 714 is a reflecting mirror that changes the optical path of the laser light, and 715 is a photosensitive drum. The laser light emitted from the laser output unit is reflected by the polygon mirror 712, linearly scans the surface of the photosensitive drum 715 through the lens 713 and the mirror 714 (raster scan), and forms a latent image corresponding to the original image. .

Further, 717 is a primary charger, 718 is a full-surface exposure lamp, 723 is a cleaner section for collecting the untransferred residual toner, 724 is a pre-transfer charger, and these members are provided around the photosensitive drum 715. It is arranged. A developing device unit 726 develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 715 by laser exposure. 731
Y, 731M, 731C, 731Bk are developing sleeves that come into direct contact with the photosensitive drum 715 for direct development, 730Y, 730M, 730C, 730Bk are toner hoppers for holding the preliminary toner, and 732 is a screw for transferring the developer. These sleeves 731Y-73
1Bk, toner hopper 730Y to 730Bk and screw 73
The developer unit 726 is composed of 2 and these members are arranged around the rotation axis P of the developer 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. Cyan and black development work similarly.

A transfer drum 716 transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 715 onto a sheet. Reference numeral 719 is an actuator plate for detecting the moving position of the transfer drum 716, 720 is a position sensor for detecting that the transfer drum 716 has moved to the home position by being close to the actuator plate 719, 725 is a transfer drum cleaner, 727 is the paper retainer roller, 728 is the static eliminator and
729 is a transfer charger. These members 719,720,725,72
7,729 are arranged around the transfer roller 716.

On the other hand, reference numerals 735 and 736 are sheet feeding cassettes for storing sheets (paper sheets), 737 and 738 are sheet feeding rollers for feeding sheets from the cassettes 735 and 736, and 739, 740 and 741 are timing rollers for timing sheet feeding and conveyance. The paper fed and conveyed through these members 735 to 741 is guided to the paper guide 749 and is wound around the transfer drum 716 while being supported by the gripper at the leading end, and shifts to the image forming process.

A drum rotation motor 550 rotates the photosensitive drum 715 and the transfer drum 716 synchronously. 750 is a peeling claw for removing the paper from the transfer drum 716 after the image forming process is completed, 742 is a conveyor belt for conveying the removed paper,
An image fixing unit 743 fixes the paper conveyed by the conveyor belt 742. The image fixing unit 743 has a pair of thermal pressure rollers 744 and 745.

FIG. 3 is an operation panel of the color copying apparatus of FIG.
Show 20 details. In FIG. 3, 400 is a copy start key (copy button) for instructing the start of copying, 401 is a reset key for returning to the standard mode, 402 is an enter key for setting the registration mode or the service mode, and 404 is a setting key. Numeric keypad for entering numerical values such as the number of sheets, and 403
Is a clear / stop key for clearing the numbers and stopping during continuous copying. Reference numeral 405 is a liquid crystal display and a touch panel for displaying the setting of each mode and the state of the printer 2 by finger pressing.

Reference numeral 407 is a center movement key for designating the center movement in the movement mode, 408 is an original recognition key for automatically detecting the original size and the original position at the time of copying, 406 is a projector key for designating the projector mode, and 409 Is a recall key to restore the previous copy settings,
410 is a memory key (M1, M2, M3, M4) for storing or recalling preprogrammed setting values of each mode, and 41
1 is a registration key for each memory.

FIG. 4 shows the external appearance of the digitizer 16 used as an example of a device for designating an area. In FIG. 4, 422
Is a zoom key, 423 is a move key, 424 is an area designation key, 425 is a color create key, 426 is a magnify copy key, and 427 is an inset composite key.
423,424,425,426,427 are entry keys for setting each mode. Reference numeral 420 is a coordinate detection plate (coordinate position detection plate) for designating an arbitrary area on the document or setting a magnification. 421 is its coordinate detection plate 420
A point pen that specifies the top coordinates. These keys
The key information and coordinate input information from the 422-427 and the coordinate detection plate 420 are stored in the RAM (random access memory) in the control unit 13 by the CPU (microcomputer) in the control unit 13 via the bus 505 in FIG. Remembered.

To specify the processing area on the original, the user first presses the area specifying key 424. When this key 424 is pressed, the area designation mode is entered. In this area designation mode, one location on the original or a plurality of areas can be designated. For each designated area (area), there are four modes of trimming mode, masking mode, image separation mode, and copy prohibition registration mode. You can set any of these modes. Since the former three modes among them are not directly related to the present invention, detailed description thereof will be omitted, and here, the "copy prohibition registration mode" which is the central part of the present invention will be described.

In this copy prohibition registration mode, the image inside the area designated by the point pen 421 is read, patterned and stored in the RAM (31 in FIG. 6) in the control unit 13. The data stored in this RAM serves as a reference pattern, and if a pattern similar to the reference pattern exists at the time of copying, it is controlled so that copying cannot be performed.

A specific operation procedure in the copy prohibition registration mode described above will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the area designation key on the digitizer 16
When 424 is pressed, the content displayed on the LCD 405 with panel keys on the operation panel 20 changes to screen P300, and the user places the document on the coordinate detection plate (editor) 420 of the digitizer 16 according to the message on this screen. , Point pen 421
Use to specify the area.

When two points in the area are pressed, the liquid crystal display 40
The display content of 5 changes to the screen P310, and if the user determines that the designated area is acceptable according to the message on this screen, the user presses the touch key (OK key) a on the screen P310. When the touch key a is pressed, the display content of the liquid crystal display 405 changes to the screen P320.

Next, the user selects this designated area on the screen P3.
Select one process of trimming or masking, image separation, and copy prohibition registration displayed at 20, and press the displayed key.

At this time, if the user's designation is copy prohibition registration, the display content of the liquid crystal device 405 returns to the screen P300 and proceeds to the next area designation.

By repeating the above-mentioned operation, when all areas to be registered as copy-prohibited have been designated, the user next places the original on the platen glass (copy stand) 4 in FIG. When button 400 is pressed, the reference pattern of the copy-inhibited document is displayed on the control unit 13
Registered in the internal RAM.

FIG. 6 shows a circuit configuration example of the control unit 13 of FIG. In FIG. 6, 22 is a CPU (central processing unit) that performs the control operation according to the present invention in accordance with the control procedure as shown in FIG. 7, 23 is a ROM (read-on memory) in which the control procedure and constants are stored in advance, 24 and 25 are CPU2
RAM (random access memory) used as the second work area. 26 is an I / O that sends a control signal from the CPU 22 to the lamp driver 21 for dimming that drives the halogen exposure lamp 10.
(Input / output port) 29 is a serial interface (I / F) for exchanging data with the digitizer 16. 27
Is an interrupt controller for interrupt, and 28 is a timer circuit.

Reference numeral 30 is a patterning processing circuit for patterning the data in the designated area by binarization processing, and 31 is the reference data (reference data) for the data patterned by the patterning processing circuit 30 in the copy prohibition registration mode. (Patterned data)
RAM for registration, 33 is a comparison RAM for storing the data patterned by the patterning circuit 33 during the prescan in the normal copy mode, and 32 is the patterned original data of RAM33 and the reference data of RAM31. Compare with
It is a comparison circuit that determines the correlation between both data. Comparison circuit
The control signal with correlation output from 32 is sent through signal line 34.
Input to CPU22. These components 22 to 33, the video processing unit 12 and the operation panel 20 are connected to each other via a bus 508.

FIG. 7 shows the CPU 22 in the control unit 13.
The control procedure of the above-mentioned copy prohibition registration in FIG.

First, in response to the depression of the copy button 401, the halogen exposure lamp 10 is turned on in step S100, the black level correction process is performed in the next step S101, and the white level correction process is performed in step S102. A detailed description of these processes is omitted because it is not the gist of the present invention.

Next, in step S103, the reading mode of the area designated by the digitizer 16 is entered, and the image data black-corrected and white-corrected by the video processing unit 12 of FIG. It is sent to the patterning processing circuit 30. In the patterning processing circuit 30, for example, binarization processing is performed, and the data after this processing is used as reference data in FIG.
It is stored in RAM31. Subsequently, in step S104, the halogen exposure lamp 10 is turned off, and the main registration processing ends.

A specific example of the area registered by the user will now be described. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, when copying of a document with a secret mark is prohibited, the area shown in FIG.
The broken line frame indicated by (A) on the digitizer 16
It may be set by using 1, and this area (A) may be loaded into the above-mentioned RAM 31 as reference data.

During normal document copying, the image data of the document is sent to the patterning processing circuit 30 during the prescan,
The same binarization processing as described above is performed and stored in the RAM 33.

Next, the patterned original data stored in the RAM 33 is sent to the comparison circuit 32 and compared with the reference data (reference patterned data) already stored in the RAM 31. For this comparison, for example, the value L of the following equation (1) is used.

[0042]

[Equation 1]

Here, i and j are pixel numbers, n and m are the number of pixels of the reference patterning data, p and q are shift numbers, x _ij is the value of the reference patterning data at (i, j), and X _ij is ( i, j) is the value of the patterned document data.

This comparison value L is

[0045]

[Formula 2] When L> L _th (2) (where L _th is a threshold value), the comparison circuit determines that the patterned original data has a pattern similar to the reference pattern.
32 determines and sends a control signal for prohibiting copying (copy prohibition control signal) to the CPU 22 through the signal line 34.

Upon receipt of the copy prohibition control signal, the CPU 22 stops the copy operation and displays a message as shown in FIG. 9 on the display 405 of the operation panel 20 to inform the user of the copy prohibition.

On the other hand, the comparison value L obtained by the calculation of the above equation (1)
But

[0048]

If L ≦ L _th (3), the comparison circuit 32 determines that there is no pattern similar to the reference pattern in the patterned original data, and the comparison circuit 32
Since the copy prohibition control signal is not sent from 32 to CPU 22, CP
U22 performs normal copying operation.

FIG. 10 shows a circuit configuration of another embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 13 of this embodiment has a ROM 35 for registering patterned reference pattern data (reference data) in the copy prohibition registration mode, and a rotation processing circuit 36 for rotating the reference data of the ROM 35. The structure is almost the same as that of the embodiment shown in FIG.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, first, at the time of factory shipment, the reference data of banknotes and securities, which are the references to be compared, are written in the non-erasable ROM 35. The reference data converted into the patterned data is, for example, ternarized data as shown in the following equation (4).

[0051]

[Equation 4]

[0052] However, Y _ij is (i, j) converted data in, Y _^'ij is read document in (i, j) _{data, Y 0, Y 1, Y} 2
Is a constant.

Since these data are written in the ROM 35, they cannot be changed or deleted. Therefore, forgery can be prevented by converting the data of bills and securities into the data of the above formula (4) by the patterning processing circuit 30 and writing the data in the ROM 35.

At the time of normal copying, the image data of the original is sent to the patterning processing circuit 30 at the time of prescanning, the same ternarization processing as described above is performed, and stored in the RAM 33.

Next, the patterned original data stored in the RAM 33 is sent to the comparison circuit 32. At the same time, the reference data stored in the ROM 35 is sent to the rotation angle processing circuit 36, data rotated by the angle θ is created in the rotation angle processing circuit 36, and the data is sent to the comparison circuit 32, where the patterned original document Compared to the data. This rotation process is performed by
Performed by calculation in (5).

[0056]

(Equation 5)

For comparison in the comparison circuit 32, for example, the value L of the following equation (6) similar to that described above is used.

[0058]

(Equation 6)

Here, i and j are pixel numbers, m and n are the number of pixels of the reference patterning data, p and q are shift numbers, and y '.
_ij is the reference patterned data of (i, j) when rotated by the angle θ, and Y _ij is the patterned original data of (i, j).

This comparison value L is

[0061]

If L> L _th (7), it is determined that the patterned original data has a pattern similar to the reference pattern, and a control signal for prohibiting copying is transmitted to the CPU 22 through the signal line 34. Upon receiving this copy prohibition control signal, the CPU 22 stops the copy operation, displays a message as shown in FIG. 11 on the operation panel 20,
Notify the user that copying is prohibited.

On the other hand, the comparison value L obtained by the calculation of the above equation (6)
When L ≦ L _th , the angle θ is changed by θ + Δθ (where Δθ is a small angle), the comparison value L is calculated again by the same processing procedure as above, and the same control as described above is performed.

In this way, when the comparison value L remains L ≦ L _th when the angle θ in the above equation (5) in the rotation angle processing circuit 30 reaches 360 °, the patterned original data The comparison circuit 32 determines that there is no pattern similar to that of the reference pattern data, and causes the CPU 22 to perform a normal copying operation.

As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the user can freely specify a partial area of the original document for which copying is prohibited by the area specifying means, and the specified area is specified according to the registration instruction. Data is read and converted into pattern data by the data conversion means, then the data is registered in the storage means as reference data, and the pattern data of the read original obtained from the data conversion means during the subsequent normal image formation. The comparison means compares the reference data in the storage means with the reference means, and when it is determined that the same pattern as the reference data exists in the document, the control means automatically stops the image forming process. Thus, it is possible to easily and surely prevent the duplication of important documents such as secret documents which are desired to be prohibited from duplication. Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, by making the storage means an irreversible memory, reference patterns of banknotes, securities, etc. are registered in the memory when the product is shipped from the factory, and forgery of banknotes, securities, etc. is possible. It can also be prevented.

[0065]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A rewritable storage unit for storing reference data relating to the specific image is provided, and the reference data stored in the storage unit is used to determine the identity between the specific image and the image represented by the image data input by the input unit. Since the determination is made by the means, it is possible to provide the effect that it is possible to provide the image processing apparatus capable of changing the specific image that is the target of prohibiting the normal image reproduction operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an overall schematic internal configuration of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an external appearance example of the operation panel of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an example of appearance of the digitizer shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing an example of display contents displayed on a display screen during copy prohibition registration in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a control unit of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a control procedure of copy prohibition registration in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an example of a document subject to copy prohibition registration and its registration area.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a display example on the display screen when it is determined that the copy-prohibited document is used in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a control unit according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a display example on the display screen when it is determined that the copy-prohibited document according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 color reader (digital color image reading device) 2 color printer (digital color image printer and device) 3 original 4 platen glass 6 full-size full color sensor 10 halogen exposure unit 11 original scanning unit 12 video processing unit 13 control unit (controller) 16 Digitizer 20 Operation panel 22 CPU 23,35 ROM 24,25,31,33 RAM 30 Pattern processing circuit 36 Rotation processing circuit 400 Copy button (copy start key) 402 Enter key 404 Numeric keypad 405 Liquid crystal display and touch panel 420 Coordinate detection plate ( Coordinate position detection plate) 421 Point pen 422 Zoom key 423 Movement key 424 Area designation key 711 Scanner 712 Polygon mirror 715 Photosensitive dry 716 Transfer drum 726 Development unit 731 Development sleeve 735,736 Paper feed cassette 743 Image fixing unit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An image processing apparatus having a function of determining the identity between an image represented by input image data and a specific image, and prohibiting a normal image reproduction operation based on the determination result. Input means for inputting data, rewritable storage means for storing reference data relating to the specific image, and the specific image and image data input by the input means using the reference data stored in the storage means. An image processing apparatus, comprising: a determination unit that determines the identity with an image represented.